BACKGROUND: Anne Francis earned this fight with a solid-if-unspectacular career as a studio wrestler at 20th Century Fox - frequently jobbing for their ‘stars.’ Her film and wrestling careers both took a turn for the better when she was recognized for her strong supporting role in “Bad Day at Black Rock” - followed by a star turn as the scientist’s daughter in “Forbidden Planet” where her long legs and willingness to ‘job’ drew interest from other studios. Instead, 20th Century decided to push their new discovery and Francis beat Joan Collins - her first victory over an ‘A-list’ celebrity.

A few months later, Anne defeated Joi Lansing (Warner’s) in the final of a studio vs studio tournament and Fox was so grateful they ‘rewarded her’ with a match against house champion Joanne Woodward. Francis upset Woodward to win the title but studio executives were unsure what to do - they’d been certain Woodward, undefeated in 12 straight, would prevail and so hadn’t foreseen her defeat. In the end, Woodward herself came up with the solution. “Loan her to Frank.” That not only gave Francis the opportunity for greater visibility outside the studio, it also vacated the 20th Century Fox crown - which Woodward promptly won back in a ‘top contenders tournament’ over Joan Collins, Carol Lynley and Barbara Eden!
******
The weeks following Nikki’s humiliation by Ethel (see Chap. 23) were unusually quiet as Nikki carefully avoided Ethel who got to spend more time with Mitzi; irritatingly referring to her as ‘my champion’ while totally ignoring Cyd and Nikki’s contributions to Mitzi’s success. Nikki only spoke up once, when Ethel elbowed her away from Mitzi as they were being seated in a restaurant. Nikki couldn’t help seeing the irony as she and Cyd were uncomfortably forced to sit hip-to-hip while Mitzi and Ethel took chairs with their back to the ‘public.’

Mitzi was hounded by newspapers, radio and TV for interviews and Edward R. Murrow wanted Mitzi for ‘Person To Person.’ Ethel, however, insisted they shoot at HER home instead, with Mitzi and Cyd introduced as ‘dear friends.’ After some resistance from CBS, Ethel - grudgingly - agreed to include Mitzi in the full segment, but when she show aired, she put her hand on Mitzi’s thigh, looked into the camera and purred, “Ed, as you know, Mitzi just won my first title as a manger. I couldn’t be prouder of my girl. And Cyd, here, is my trainer. She’s done a terrific job of whipping Mitzi into shape. Right now, we’re having a little celebration to honor my new champion.” Then Ethel proceeded to hog the camera as she showed viewers around her palatial, tastefully appointed, showcase home while Mitzi trailed in her wake; usually just out of the picture.

Poor Nikki wasn’t even allowed to watch from behind the camera - being left home alone in the cottage she and Mitzi shared with Cyd (and Ethel whenever she was around and wanted sex.) Nikki realized Ethel wanted to force her into conflict with Cyd to give her an excuse to stifle Mitzi’s protests when Ethel had Cyd throw Nikki out of the house - and Mitzi’s life - once and for all!

Of course, there were the obligatory movie and wrestling fan mag photoshoots for the newly crowed champ - with Ethel and Cyd issuing carefully crafting quotations attributed to Mitzi; all crediting Ethel’s management expertise and Cyd’s training regimen for her success.

Ethel monopolized all of Mitzi’s time, taking her anywhere they could be photographed together and Wherever Mitzi made a champion’s obligatory appearance, Ethel was at her side in every picture, usually identified as ‘Miss Gaynor’s manager.’ Ethel was having the time of her life but then she had to return to New York to start rehearsal for a new play on Broadway.

Once Ethel left, Cyd and Nikki returned to their previous state of undisguised disdain and loathing for one another. With Ethel no longer there to ‘enforce harmony’ - or drag Mitzi out of the gym to parade her around town - Cyd worked Mitzi harder than ever; repeating her mantra, “It’s a lot harder to keep a championship than win one.” And once the week before the fight arrived, Cyd again imposed a ban on sex - something Ethel had regularly ignored for her own pleasure.

Ruefully recalling how she’d been thrashed after Mitzi’s victory party, Nikki didn’t rebel openly, but she took every opportunity to sneak in to ‘be with’ Mitzi whenever Nikki was out or looking the other way and they could steal a few hours. Mitzi was so confident she could beat Anne Francis, she resented not being allowed time with Nikki - since Ethel was out of the picture. But Cyd was adamant, “There’s no easy fight when you’re the champ. Everyone wants what you got and some will stop at nothing to get it! You have to be on your toes all the time or you’ll end up like Rita, in the hospital feeling sorry for yourself.”

Cyd continued to work Mitzi hard - while carefully monitoring Nikki’s movements at night. Once, Cyd caught Nikki in the hall at three AM, grabbed her arm and dragged her back to her room; ignoring the slender blonde’s protests she was just going to the kitchen for a glass of water! Nikki spent the rest of the night locked in her room muttering and cursing Cyd’s over-controlling nature.

All three women grew tense, irritable and surly. Cyd because of pressure from Ethel who called daily for progress reports on Mitzi’s training; Mitzi from her frustration over missing the orgasms she’d grown accustomed to having every night - either from Ethel or Nikki. Nikki was just generally angry; it seemed everyone was conspiring to keep her from being happy and fulfilled!

Despite the distractions, Mitzi worked hard preparing for her first title defense against a young woman she’d befriended when Anne had worked, briefly, as one of her sparring partners. Anne Francis was an athletic young actress who hoped the fight would get her noticed by one of the studios and earn her a contract - if not a championship! Anne couldn’t hide her gratitude to Mitzi for, as she later said in her autobiography, “…giving me a once in a lifetime chance!”

But then Ethel returned from New York in time to take part in the pre-fight publicity, reclaiming her place at Mitzi’s side for photos, at interviews with the press, at Frank’s pre-fight gala dinner and, of course, in Mitzi’s bed! Mitzi had gotten used to having the spotlight to herself and she found Ethel’s return unsettling on several levels - not the least of which was her nightly demand that Mitzi satisfy her sexually. Mitzi had found that during her absence, Ethel’s libido had kicked into overdrive and she’d grown more demanding - and insatiable - than ever.

By the weekend of the fight, all four women were wound tight as a drum. Unable to stand up to Ethel because of her financial and business connections, or to Mitzi because she had to keep her mentally satisfied, Cyd did the only thing she could under the circumstances - she took out her anger and frustration on poor Nikki while Mitzi worried she’d be too tired and too distracted by all the dram to fight when Saturday night finally rolled around!
* * * *
Prefight (Mitzi’s Dressing Room):
The night of the match Mitzi, who had enjoyed being the center of attention as the champion, found herself back in the same dingy, dirty, dressing room where she and Nikki had been two months before the night Mitzi won her title.

“I thought being the champ an’ all, I’d get a better dressing room,” she pouted.

“They’re all the same,” Nikki sighed. “You think Frank’s gonna spend money back where the fans can’t see? You should be glad you’ve got hot water for the shower. You never got that when you fought prelims.”

“Luke warm,” Mitzi muttered.

“What?” Nikki asked, looking up as she pulled Mitzi’s suit out of her gym bag.

“Lukewarm. The water hasn’t been hot for months; it’s barely lukewarm. But since I’m usually icing down some part of my body anyway, I hardly notic….”

Just then, Cyd interrupted by storming in without knocking. As usual before one of Mitzi’s fights, she was scowling - though this time she appeared even more worried than usual.

“What’s happened now?” Nikki asked, exasperated.

Cyd ignored her as she had every day for the last month except the times she was screaming at Nikki for some transgression - real or imagined - and told Mitzi, “You better be ready! Marge Danzer’s been working Francis hard. I was hopin’ to get this fight out of the way before your ‘friend’ learned too many tricks. Marge is out for blood - she blames you for crippling Rita. I gotta be careful…I don’t wanna lose Ethel’s belt in my first defense.” Cyd was acting like it was HER championship… or Ethel’s…rather than Mitzi’s at stake!

“Where’s Ethel?” Mitzi asked as she pulled up her suit and carefully tucked her full, firm, breasts into the reinforced cups she’d insisted upon after all too often finding herself topless in the middle of a match when her suit ‘mysteriously failed.’ As champion, she’d insisted and, after some resistance, Frank agreed. Mitzi had chosen famous Hollywood costumer Edith Head to work on the suit and was pleased with both the appearance and fit.

“Ethel’s out front with the big-wigs, kissing their butts,” Nikki muttered. “Where else!”

“You shut your mouth,” Cyd growled, shaking a finger in Nikki’s face. “You wouldn’t have a job if it weren’t for Ethel. I’d have canned your ass and kicked you to the curb months ago, but apparently you showed her a hidden ‘talent’ nobody else knew you had!”

Nikki’s pale face flushed bright red at Cyd’s veiled reference to the night she’d been forced to submit sexually to Ethel. She turned away, hoping Mitzi hadn’t seen her blush. That damn Cyd certainly knew how to push her buttons!

KNOCK! KNOCK! “Two minutes, Ms. Gaynor!” a young man said after a warning knock; alerting Mitzi it was time to head to the ring. She pulled up her suit and ran her hands over her butt, smoothing the fabric; then cupped her breasts, gave them a squeeze; closed her eyes as she pinched her erect nipples. Mitzi felt a tremor and sighed…

“You think this suit makes me look fat?” she asked. “Everybody (i.e., Cyd and Ethel) is trying to make me add muscle; you know my weight really stunted my acting career…the camera adds 10 pounds!”

“You look sensational…sexy as hell,” Nikki said, pinching Mitzi’s butt and giving her full, firm, breasts a squeeze. “I don’t know why you keep obsessing about your weight anyway; you got a terrific figure.”

“Have you gotten a good look at Anne?” Mitzi sighed. “She’s so damn slim and trim. I wish I had her figure!”

Nikki just chuckles. “No you don’t. You had her figure, what would I have to hold onto in bed every night! I like your figure just fine the way it is. And as far as her figure goes, it’s not built for a fight the way yours is. So maybe you got some glutes on you - every dancer I ever knew has got a butt on her. You watch what happens to Miss Flat Ass the first time you drop her on that bony behind!” Nikki laughed. “It’s liable to stick right in the mat like one of those darts in that dart board down at the corner bar.” She slapped Mitzi’s ass and told her, “You’re gonna kick that bitches ‘flat ass’!” She just knew Mitzi would!
* * * *
The crowd was still buzzing after the exciting semi-final in which petite Debbie Reynolds won a shocking upset over Janet Leigh with a high-flying aerial leap off the top turnbuckle that flattened Leigh - who’d been in control and looked to be about to win the match at that point. Reynolds victory was all the more impressive because it was her second straight over a top opponent - having beaten Barbara Nichols in her previous bout. With a record of 6-1, Reynolds had suddenly become the hottest woman in Frank’s promotion next to Mitzi!

As Frank stepped to the middle of the ring holding a microphone, Mitzi waited behind a curtain for the introduction of her opponent. Frank glanced at the card in his hand, then turned his back to Mitzi. “Our final contest is the main event of the evening. Introducing first, the challenger; from 20th Century-Fox; standing 5’8” and weighing 112 pounds…she won kudos in ‘Bad Day at Black Rock’ and starred in ‘Forbidden Planet’…she’s the former 20th Century studio champion …Anne Francis!”

Anne came bounding down the aisle on the far side of the ring wearing a red, one-piece, suit and high top wrestling boots. She as accompanied by her trainer, Marge Danzer, who’d been awarded both Anne and a title fight as compensation for Mitzi injuring Rita Moreno. Danzer had been vocal with her protests of Mitzi’s tactics in the Moreno fight; the ‘quality’ of the fighter she’d been given to replace Moreno and a lack of sufficient time to get Anne ready for a title fight.

After Anne entered the ring, Frank turned to introduce Mitzi, “And introducing our new champion, ‘The Hungarian Countess’…standing 5’6” and a weighing in at a robust 122 pounds… in her first title defense… Mitzi Gaynor!”

Mitzi was accompanied by Cyd as she came bouncing down the aisle in her bare feet in a black two-piece. She hopped onto the ring apron and swung her legs between the ropes one after the other, then went to her corner where she did a couple of quick knee bends, toe-touches and then touched her elbows together behind her back - thrusting her full bosom out into prominence as she slowly twisted her body left and right a few times, getting cat-calls and whistles of approval from her fans.

When the referee called them together for a quick review of the rules - all for show since they’d been covered in a pre-fight meeting - but Anne grabbed the microphone from Frank and started to speak. “Look at her legs,” Anne said, pointing to Mitzi’s muscularly thick dancer’s thighs. “I think the fans would like to tell us what they think of those ‘turkey drumsticks’ compared to my sleek legs. Whaddya say folks, you up for a beauty contest?”

Mitzi grabbed the microphone and glared at Anne as she snarled, “I’ll break your skinny legs like toothpicks, you flat-chested whore!”

The fans erupted with loud applause, whistles and catcalls. Frank looked around, unsure how to respond to the wrestlers taking over his event, but then he realized the fans liked the idea so he shrugged and took back the microphone. “All right girls, we’re gonna have an old fashioned beauty contest right here in the ring before the fight. Each of you take a minute to pose for the fans, then I’ll have them vote by their applause for…”

“WAIT just a second!” Anne protested, grabbing back the microphone. “I want them to vote for EACH PART of our bodies; face, breasts, mid-section, legs and ass. After all, everybody knows some men like one part better than others. I want everyone to get to vote for whatever part of my body they like the best!” She tossed the mike back to Frank and put her hands on her hips in a silent challenge to his authority.

Frank knew he’d been bested and just nodded, “OK girls, each of you has a minute, then I’ll have the fans vote for who is the best in each category. Start your posing…”

Anne quickly struck a series of poses that she and Marge Danzer, her manager, had rehearsed; assuming Frank wouldn’t refuse any outright challenge to his champion. When Anne finished, Mitzi - who was unprepared and caught unawares - did a few dance moves from her latest picture. She was fluid grace, but the dance routine didn’t display her body as well as Anne’s carefully crafted posing did for hers.

When Frank stepped behind the two girls and held his hand over their heads, the crowd went wild. The applause for the two beauty’s faces was about equal and Mitzi squeaked out a narrow win over Anne for her fuller bosom - but Anne’s flat, hard, stomach, tight tush and her long, lean legs all beat Mitzi…each winning by a bigger margin than the part preceding.

When Anne got more - and louder - applause for her legs, Mitzi went ballistic and Cyd and Nikki had their hands full trying to restrain her from attacking Anne even before Frank announced what was - obviously - a foregone conclusion. They pulled Mitzi back to her corner and tried in vain to calm her down before the bell…which rang almost immediately!
* * * * * * * *
FIRST FALL
Mitzi and Anne both start tentatively, Mitzi afraid of making some crucial error and Anne clearly nervous in this, her first ‘big time’ fight in front of a large audience. They lock up at mid-ring and push and twist, each trying to unbalance the other to gain an advantage. After a minute of no action, the fans start to grumble and they referee steps in to break them apart.

Anne takes a step back and starts to circle, but Mitzi charges and tackles her, slamming Anne back into the ropes, then using the spring off them to hip toss her onto her butt in the center of the ring. Just as Anne is sitting up holding her back, Mitzi comes running, leaps over Anne’s head, grabs her by the hair and, as Mitzi lands on butt, slams Anne’s face to the mat between her own legs. Anne’s body flops back onto her back and she lays groaning and holding her head while Mitzi rolls over and gets to one knee, grinning at Cyd who had taught her the move.

Anne struggles to her feet shaking her head while Mitzi bounces up, runs to the ropes and rebounds back to drive a shoulder into Anne’s chest, slamming her all the way back to the ropes. Mitzi grabs two handfuls of Anne’s hair, sits down and kicks both feet up into Anne’s stomach as she pulls her off the ropes and Monkey Flips her back over her head. Mitzi keeps a tight grip on Anne’s hair as Anne crashes to the mat flat on her back, knocking the wind out of her. Mitzi rolls backward and comes up straddling Anne’s chest with her knees on her shoulders in a Schoolgirl pin. Anne bucks and kicks wildly, breaking free after a two count.

Anne is still dazed and gasping for air when Mitzi hair-hauls her to her feet and whips her into the ropes. Anne rebounds right back into a huge elbow between her ‘perky’ breasts that flips her upside down as her feet go flying up into the air and she crashes to the mat, landing on the back of her head and shoulders. As her limp legs drop to the mat, Anne is flat on her back stunned! Mitzi throws herself across Anne’s chest and tries for another quick pin, but Anne kicks out at ‘TWO!’

Angrily, Mitzi knees her in the ribs, sending her rolling, then arm drags Anne back to her feet; swings her around and whips her into the corner turnbuckle. Her back hits hard and her knees buckle and she has to grab the ropes to stay on her feet! Fans start to boo the obvious mismatch!

Mitzi walks up to Anne and chops Anne’s across the chest with her left hand, then turns and does it again with her right! Anne starts to slump into the corner and Mitzi squares up, powering one fist, then another, into Anne’s belly. The punches are so hard that Anne’s butt is forced back between the ropes and her feet lift off the mat. Anne’s head falls forward, her already disarrayed hair cascading down to cover her face.

After softening her body up, Mitzi pulls Anne out of the ropes to the middle of the ring where she bulldogs the dazed beauty facefirst into the mat. Mitzi rolls her over, hooks a leg and lays back across her chest for a cocky, lazy, pin. The ref counts ‘two’ but Anne stubbornly kicks out again. Mitzi pops up, hair-hauls Anne to her feet, scoops her up with a hand between her legs, then body slams her! This time the referee counts Anne down and raises Mitzi’s arm as fans pepper the ring with crushed soft drink cups, popcorn bags and other detritus you’d expect in a fight arena at the end of the evening.

Cries of “fix” and “da bum ain’t tryin’” fill the air as Mitzi stands and pumps her biceps; having taken the first fall without hardly breaking a sweat! She swaggers back to her corner, ducking debris that is being thrown where Cyd throws a towel over her head and shoulders to protect her from most of the trash being thrown.

Anne struggles to her feet and wobbles back to her corner where her manager/trainer Marge Danzer, screams at her for not being prepared and “not even making an effort” in the first fall. Anne flops morosely on her stool and bows her head as she endures her managers diatribe; Marge shaking her finger in Anne’s face and threatening her with all manner of punishment for “…embarrassing me in front of Frank and the other trainers.”
* * * * * * * *
BETWEEN FALLS
As Anne slumped on her stool, Marge Danzer climbed through the ropes and knelt between her knees, squired water in her flushed face, then handed the water bottle to Rita Moreno who was on crutches outside the ring. Rita put it aside with a sneer of disgust, then turned to look at the crowd. She saw Gretchen and her ‘nieces’ - Eva and Karin - who sat thigh-to-thigh hungrily eyeing Mitzi in the other corner while ‘Aunt Gretchen’ held a whispered conversation with Ethel Merman.

SMACK! The sound of a slap brought Rita’s eyes back to the corner where Marge Danzer had rocked Anne’s head with a hard, open-handed, slap. WHACK! She cuffed Anne again and even Rita felt a brief twinge of sympathy for her.

“You get your head in this fight!” Marge snarled. “If you aren’t good enough to beat that bitch; you can at least HURT her. You think these people paid to watch your bony ass bounce on the mat? This’s a goddam title fight; at least ACT like you want to win!”

“I…I’m sorr…” Anne stammered.

SMACK! Marge shut her up with another hard slap. “I don’t want apologies; I want you to show me something.” Marge pressed her fist up under Anne’s left cup and twisted her wrist, digging her knuckles into the soft tissue. “Every chance you get, put yur fist in’er tit. She gets you in a headlock, bite her! If you have her on the mat, use yur knees, elbows, fists - anything you can! Pound her soft sacks ‘til they’re flat as pancakes - you hear me!?”

Anne nodded glumly. She didn’t like deliberately trying to hurt anyone, even in a fight. This was supposed to be wrestling, not a street fight. But she knew if she didn’t show Frank, and the other managers, a little gumption, it may be her last fight. Like everyone else, she knew Marge blamed Mitzi for injuring Rita in her last fight - and would do anything to make her lose a title Marge felt she didn’t deserve.

Anne felt like a sacrificial goat led to slaughter, but was aware that if she impressed Marge, or another manager, with her willingness to follow orders, she may earn another chance to show what she could do. She was inexperienced, but she thought she was good enough to at least get the exposure she needed to be considered for good roles. So she nodded obediently and promised Marge, “You’ll see a new me this next fall.”

Across the ring, Mitzi was barely breathing hard and didn’t even sit down between the first and second falls, instead standing with her back to the ring, her arms over the top ropes, chatting with Cyd. “Just keep doing what you were doing,” Cyd said as she wiped Mitzi’s face and upper chest with a soft terry cloth towel. “She doesn’t know what she’s doing out there! All you gotta do is put her in a couple of holds to either make her submit or pin her. She’s so raw she might not even know how to kick out!”

“It’s too bad they gave her this match before she was ready,” Mitzi sighed. “I talked to her at the weigh-in and she seems like a sweet kid. I hate to embarrass her like this…”

“Stop that!” Cyd growled. “You’re the champ now. Act like one. You’re supposed to dominate and embarrass girls like her. You want a rough and tumble, hard bout, I’ll get you one some other night. You’re not here to make HER look good, she’s supposed to make YOU look good. So stop feeling sorry for her. The kindest thing you can do for her right now is put her away fast and not drag out her humiliation any longer than necessary. OK?”

Mitzi nodded and turned around, took a deep breath and stepped out of her corner as the bell rang for the second fall!
* * * * * * * *
SECOND FALL
“WHOOOFF!” Mitzi was slammed back into her corner when Anne came flying out of her corner, shoulder lowered, and tackled the champ so hard her head snapped back over the top turnbuckle in her own corner. The impact with the back of her head on the metal support behind the turnbuckle stunned Mitzi and Anne’s shoulder smashing into her solar plexus knocked the air out of her. Mitzi’s body folded limp over Anne’s shoulder and Anne, taking advantage of her completely unresisting opponent, grabbed the ropes on either side of Mitzi’s hips, drew back and, WHUMP slammed her shoulder into Mitzi’s belly again!

Mitzi’s hair, carefully coifed before the fight and barely mussed during the first fall - now cascaded down over her face, hiding her eyes which showed concern for the first time since the opening bell! Anne stepped back again, and this time when she lunged forward, she brought her right elbow up and CRUSHED Mitzi’s left breast against her breastbone. The shock of unexpected pain made her bleat in surprise as much as the pain. Her agonized cry seconds later was caused by Anne hammering her fist into the very same spot on her breast…twice!! WHAP! SPLAT!

Her face flushing bright red in embarrassment, Mitzi grunted as she felt herself being dragged out of the corner by the arm, then going airborne after Anne snapped the arm down and twisted, sending the champion tumbling headfirst to the mat, rolling head over heels!

The crowd, droning with boredom, suddenly came to life, cheering and roaring their approval at the newcomers sudden burst of aggressiveness! Anne paused a second to look around and bask in their adulation, then shook herself and went after Mitzi who had just sat up; her head spinning. Anne walked up behind her and hair-hauled the squealing Mitzi to her feet, spun her halfway around and…

“AARRGHH!” Mitzi uttered a squeal of pain as Anne powered a hard uppercut into the underside of her left breast! Only the sturdy cup of her new suit kept the heavy breast from popping up and out into view. Mitzi turned away, holding her breast; tears welling and her lower lip quivering. She looked like a spanked schoolgirl about to cry. Nikki rose halfway out of her seat in her reflex to comfort her hurting lover, but Cyd grabbed her shoulder and jerked her back down.

Anne used a handful of Mitzi’s hair to pull her backward, driving her knee up into Mitzi’s firm, round bottom, aching her body over backward as she continued to pull Mitzi’s hair. As Mitzi struggled to keep her balance, Anne raised her other arm and WHOMP smashed her forearm across Mitzi’s chest, driving her to the mat flat on her back and out of breath!

Anne pranced around Mitzi’s convulsing body, playing to the cheering crowd. How quickly they abandoned their favorite Mitzi in support of a woman who, a few minutes before, they’d booed unmercifully! Anne turned back and hair-hauled Mitzi to her feet, bringing the wheezing champion upright, then THWAP chopped her across the breasts with her open hand, sending Mitzi reeling back into the ropes in pain. Mitzi’s back hit the ropes and she bounced straight back toward Anne who wound up and…

…missed!

Mitzi ducked under Anne’s sweeping Clothesline attempt and flung herself into the far ropes, rebounding back toward Anne who was slow to turn around, her surprised expression bringing joy to Mitzi’s heart as she left her feet and leaped - feet first - toward Anne…

SPLAT! Mitzi’s Running Dropkick caught Anne square in the upper chest and sent her outstretched body flying backward parallel to the mat…until gravity exerted inexorable force and brought it crashing to the mat in a cloud of rosin dust!

As Anne lay moaning and writhing, trying to catch her breath, Mitzi grabbed Anne by her ankles and did a front somersault between her spread legs, landing with her own feet planted firmly on the mat on either side of Anne’s head; her body bridging above Anne’s; Mitzi’s arms pulling Anne’s feet forward until her folded body was bent into a U with her feet above her shoulders. The referee dropped and slapped the mat…

“ONE…TWO…THREE!”

Mitzi relaxed and dropped her butt on Anne’s face, releasing her legs and letting them flop back down to the mat. Mitzi looked down between her thighs into Anne’s stunned, breathless, face and smiled. She patted Anne’s cheek and told her, “Nice try, rookie! Better luck next time.”

Then she stood up, turned and offered her hand to Anne - who took it sheepishly and allowed Mitzi to pull her to her feet. Mitzi put her arm around Anne’s shoulder, then dropped her hand down her back and gave her ass a sharp SPANK before taking her hand and shaking it.

They hug but Anne is brushed aside by Cyd, Nikki and Ethel as they surge into the ring, surrounding the champion; Ethel raising Mitzi’s arm in the air; Cyd handed her the championship belt and Nikki, like Anne, elbowed rudely aside in the scramble to have pictures taken with Mitzi - and Frank - by every celebrity and hanger-on in Tinseltown.

Anne turned away and trudged back to her corner to face the ire of her manager, Marge Danzer. But instead of berating her, Marge hugged her and said, “You showed me something that fall, hon. I’m just sorry you didn’t go like that from the start. You’re better’n that slut; you coulda beat her and now you’d be the champ, gettin’ your picture took with Frank and his crony’s. You still interested in this game after that?”

Anne nodded, unable to speak in her excitement. She, too, realized she was capable of fighting at this level and the next time she was in Frank’s ring, she didn’t intend to let anything stand between her and victory!
* * * * * * * *
AFTERWARD IN mitzi’s dressing room
Nikki was already in Mitzi’s dressing room waiting by the time Mitzi, Cyd and Ethel finally broke away from the crowd to join her. Ethel grabbed Nikki’s elbow and steered her to the door, pushing her out and telling her, “Wait outside, toots.”

As Nikki left, Ethel turned to Cyd, her face red with anger, and snarled, “Well that was a pretty sad performance by your champion. Why’m I paying you at all salary if that’s the best you can get out of her? I may as well let little miss hot pants out there,” she jerked her thumb toward the door, “do the mattress mambo with her every night. I know she’d have plenty of stamina, right hon?” she asked Mitzi who nodded silently; wishing Ethel had never returned from New York to watch her fight.

“You’re being to hard on her,” Cyd defended Mitzi. “Sure Francis came on a bit in the second fall, but we expected her to. She’s not some pushover; she beat some good gals when she was fightin’ at 20th Century. Mitzi handled herself well in there. It’s tough being the champ; everyone brings their best to the ring when they face you. This was her big shot and Francis wasn’t goin’ down without a fight. Besides,” Cyd put her arm around Mitzi’s shoulder, “this was Mitzi’s first title defense. She was a little nervous, right?” Mitzi nodded numbly, not really sure what she’d been feeling other that relief at having gotten out of the ring with her title intact.

“Well, I expect more from my champion,” Ethel huffed indignantly, casting a baleful glare at Cyd. “And it’s your job to see that I get it. Understood?” Cyd nodded, but didn’t say anything - probably because she didn’t trust herself not to say something she’d regret later. “OK,” Ethel said, her tone indicating she thought she’d set things right. “Mitzi, get changed and meet us outside. We’ve got a victory party to get to.”

As they left, Nikki returned to help Mitzi out of her suit, then Nikki stripped and joined Mitzi in the shower. By the time they had finished, both had enjoyed multiple climaxes. It has almost an hour later when Mitzi, fashionably attired in a strapless gown, went to join Ethel, Cyd and Frank at the party already underway.
* * * * * * * *
AT MITZI’S VICTORY PARTY
Ethel took Mitzi’s arm as the champion came sweeping into the hotel ballroom in a figure hugging, glittering, silver gown that turned heads. Ethel, whose figure was nothing like it had been 20 years before, still knew how to make an entrance - or maybe it was because she had Mitzi Gaynor on her arm. But whatever the reason, applause broke out as the Mistress and her minion walked down the rows of managers, fighters and other celebrities who surged to greet Ethel and her fighter as they strode through the crowd to the front where Frank Sinatra was holding court with Peter Lawford, Dean Martin, Joey Bishop along with Sammy Davis, Jr. and wife May Britt.

Ethel kissed Mitzi on the cheek and smacked her ass, casually dismissing her; sending her to chat with the other celebrities while she made a bee-line for Frank who saw her coming, said something to Deano, then slipped into the crowd.

Martin put on his bravest smile and intercepted Ethel before she could catch up to Frank. “Congrats Ethel,” he said smoothly, offering his hand while at the same time draining the booze in his glass.

“Get outta my way Dean,” Ethel growled, trying to step around him. “I got business with Frank!”

“I know you do,” Dean said as he suavely glided with Ethel, keeping himself between her and Frank’s retreating back. “And Frank said he really wants to sit down with you; but he’s gotta make an important call. Somebody’s casting a pic he’d be perfect for; he wants to get his bid in. You know how that goes, sweetheart…”

“Don’t give me that shit,” Ethel said, punching Dean in the belly just hard enough to let him know she meant business. “Ain’t nobody taking calls on a Saturday night. Hell, if it was somebody he really wanted to talk to, he’da made damn sure they were sitting with him at the fight. What’s really going on, Dean? He cutting some deal to sell out my girl?”

Dean just shrugged, looking around desperately for a waiter to refresh his drink. “Your guess is as good as mine, Ethel. But I don’t think Frank would do you wrong; he likes you and he damn sure loves to watch that Mitzi wrestle. Whatever’s up, you can be sure he’s not gonna do anything without your OK so just relax, have a good time and don’t make trouble. Frank wants me to make sure you and Mitzi enjoy celebrating her first successful defense.”

Ethel grumbled something under her breath, then turned away, telling Dean over her shoulder, “I’ll behave, but you tell your boy I’ll be calling him in the morning and he damn well better take my call or there’ll be hell to pay!”

As Ethel disappeared into the crowd, Dean took out his handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his brow. Just as he flagged down a waiter and got a fresh drink, another woman appeared in front of him. Her black face barely registered and his hand had already started to instinctively reach for a canapé when he realized she wasn’t holding a tray of food but a drink of her own.

Dean blushed when he realized he hadn’t immediately recognized one of THE most recognizable Black faces in Hollywood, Eartha Kitt - the champion of his friend Sammy Davis’ ‘Black League.’ Catching himself just in time, Dean laid his hand on Eartha’s upper arm and pulled her into an awkward, if seemingly genuine, hug as they both tried not to spill their drink on the other.

“So,” Eartha said, cutting her eyes to Ethel’s girdled hindquarters as they flounced away, “she already lobbying Frank for another set-up cupcake for her girl?”

“I don’t get involved in Frank’s business,” Dean said, looking around for Sammy who was rarely far from his champion - especially in these racially charged times. Dean had no problem with black people, nor did anyone else who was a friend of, or did business with, Frank who was on record has a staunch advocate of equal rights and a man who lived his life by his principals. “But if you asked me to guess, I’d say ‘yeah, she’s trying to get another gimme for her girlfriend’.”

“You said ‘girlfriend’ like you don’t approve of that relationship,” Eartha grinned. “You know I’VE had a couple of female lovers in my time…”

“Oh, don’t get me wrong,” Dean said quickly. “I don’t care what you, Ethel, Mitzi, or anyone else does in private. But it’s bad for business when it gets into the public. Most in this country can’t abide it and if you want to be successful in show biz, you need a squeaky clean image. How many guys are gonna get all excited about an actress they know is doing women and wouldn’t give him the time of day? I’m just saying…”

Eartha nodded. “True. But the heart’s gotta do what the heart’s gotta do. Besides, I don’t think there’s a lot of dirty old men fantasizing about Ethel Merman any more…do you?”

Dean chuckled. “No. But, it’s Mitzi I’m concerned about. She’s a big star - one who could be a lot bigger with the right breaks and a little bit of push from the right manager. I’m not sure that Ethel’s not so wrapped up in being her manager - and basking in her reflected glory - that she can’t see she’s hurting Mitzi’s chances to become a huge film star.”

Eartha shrugged and nodded in Mitzi’s direction, “She seems to be attracting quite a crowd tonight.”

Dean looked over and saw Mitzi surrounded by a crowd that included three busty blondes: Mamie Van Doren, Jayne Mansfield and Joi Lansing - all members of the same stable. They - and three other women - were circling Mitzi like a pack of hungry wolves looking to take down a doe. “If you’ll excuse me Eartha,” Dean said gallantly, uncharacteristically putting down his drink. “It’s time I asked the champ for a dance - before a fight breaks out. You know, Frank hates his celebrations to degenerate into a free-for-all.”

As he hurried away to save Mitzi, Eartha chuckled, “Yeah Deano, I do know; Sammy’s the same way…don’t give it away when you can sell tickets for it.”

Eartha eyed Mitzi, then shrugged and made a bee-line for the buffet; hoping to get some food before the evening got too exciting.
* * * * * * * *
FRANK SHOWS A MOVIE
“Ethel brought this film back with her on the plane and tells me she hasn’t seen it yet herself. This is a fight for the ‘New York Championship’ that took place last weekend between Bettie Page and Broadway actress Edie Adams who slithered her way to a Tony Award for her bodacious ‘Daisy Mae’ in "Li'l Abner" in 1956. Lights!” Frank started the projector and a crisp, first-generation print of the famous fight lit up the screen. The audience settled into their seats and were entertained by two skilled and worthy adversaries locked in combat.

Black-haired, banged, Bettie Page (34 y/o; 5’5 1/2”) in her trademark black bra, panties, corset and stockings faced off against tousle-headed blonde Edie Adams (30 y/o; 5’6”) wearing a similar white outfit. They were grappling on the rug in a penthouse apartment (judging by the view from the windows behind them of a breath-taking New York skyline seen from high above the rooftops). Bettie controlled the action early, putting the blonde in several painful holds and getting a couple of near falls. After five or so minutes, Edie had lost her bra and one stocking and the other stocking was flopping around loose below her knee. Bettie’s left bra cup had been torn away, but the right still held firm. The left side of Bettie’s black panties had been ripped open from the hip and her left butt cheek was exposed and a flap of the tattered material dangled loose from the elastic at her left buttock.

Midway through the film, the blonde began to come on and the fight stabilized; turning into an entertaining, even, back-and-forth, contest for the next five minutes. Then the younger blonde Adams started to assert herself and the last few minutes of the fight consisted of Edie dominating Bettie as few women ever had. Time and again she trapped Page on her back and nearly pinned her.

Finally, with Bettie breathless and exhausted after fighting on her back for nearly ten minutes, Adams managed to trap the legendary brunette in a crushing head scissors between her powerful thighs and her butt planted firmly on Page’s red face. Bettie couldn’t reach Edie’s face or bosom to claw her way free because Adams had both hands firmly held by her wrists and Page had to face the unpleasant choice of suffocation or submission. As her slowly sweeping legs fell still, the referee jumped in and waved her arms over head; having heard Bettie gasp out her surrender with her last breath.

Even the crowd watching the film had fallen silent as they watched Bettie Page’s fading struggle and they burst into spontaneous applause when the referee (redhead Jayne Meadows) helped the panting blonde to her feet and raised her hand. As the New York crowd rushed to celebrate Adams, one could barely make out Meadows helping the woozy Page to her feet before they both disappeared from the frame as Edie was mobbed by her fans.

When the house lights came up, Frank stepped back in front of the screen and pointed to Mitzi, “And right here is another young champion - one who beat Miss Page right here in Hollywood a few years back. How’d you like that fight Mitzi?”

Mitzi nodded and told Frank, “It looked like fun. Maybe you should do some of those apartment things, Frank. Kinda like ‘dinner theater’ huh?”
* * * * * * * *
LATER THAT NIGHT
It was after 2AM when Ethel, Cyd, Mitzi and Nikki returned to Mitzi’s cottage. Instead of going to her own home, Ethel announced she wanted to spend “a couple of nights with Mitzi” which meant Cyd would have to make sure Nikki stayed out of the way. Apparently Ethel was the only one who failed to see that the other three women would all be much happier of Mitzi and Nikki were together - and Cyd were left to her own devices, since she didn’t fancy a career as ‘baby-sitter disappointed lovers’ - but Ethel was paying the bills and Cyd wanted to keep her job.

So Cyd made sure she kept Nikki out of Ethel’s way while Mitzi did her ‘duty’ - spending as much time in Ethel’s bed as it took to keep her patron satisfied. In their few moments together, Mitzi tried to explain to Nikki that “it’s just business” but Nikki couldn’t hide her true feelings; that Mitzi was selling herself to Ethel in hopes of advancing her career; and she more than once called Mitzi a ‘whore’ for sleeping with Ethel.

For two days, Mitzi did what she could to keep Ethel satisfied during lunches and dinners at high profile restaurants and meetings with movie producers. Ethel called Frank on Monday and scheduled a meeting for Tuesday afternoon to discuss Mitzi’s next match and then she and Cyd put their heads together to come up with several ‘acceptable’ opponents - that is, women they were sure Mitzi would almost certainly be able to beat.
* * * * * * * *
TUESDAY
On Tuesday morning, Ethel announced that would have to return to New York to continue rehearsing for her new Broadway show, then she’d head on the road for two weeks before the official opening. As a ‘reward’ for defending her title, Ethel said she would take Mitzi with her and, as a special treat, they’d appear on the ‘Ed Sullivan Show’ that Sunday night.

That afternoon, Ethel, Cyd and Mitzi went to Frank’s to discuss Mitzi’s next match. They were surprised to find the other managers in Frank’s organization were also there and the discussion quickly deteriorated into a series of accusations, charges and counter-charges.

Doris Sheppard, who managed Jayne Mansfield, Mamie van Doren and Kim Novak, as well as several other buxom blonde bombshells, was there as well as Gretchen Curry who not only represented Shirley MacLaine, Debra Paget and Janet Leigh, but several promising young wrestlers like Natalie Wood, Barbara Eden and Stella Stevens.

Marge Danzer, who managed Anne Francis as well as the injured Rita Moreno plus Debbie Reynolds and dancers like Julie Newmar also showed up to make her case for Reynolds as the ‘logical number one contender.’ But Frank pointed out, “…two of your girls, Moreno and Francis just had two bites at that apple…” and suggested it was only fair to, “…give another manager a shot at the title.”

Gretchen Curry jumped in and offered Shirley MacLaine who, “…is ready and willing to kick Gaynor’s fat ass tonight if you want. Just name the time and place and we’ll be there. Frank put up his hand to silence her as she started into a long tirade and observed that Mitzi had already fought, and beaten, MacLaine not so long ago and she’d also faced Debra Paget not that long ago.

Frank turned to Doris Sheppard and asked, “Who have you got that you think is ready for a title fight?”

The big blonde thought a moment, then smiled and shrugged. “Take your pick; Jayne, Mamie or Kim. Any one of them would pound that soft girl into the canvas in a few minutes.”

Frank blinked and leaned back in his chair. “Really? Hmmmm. I like all three of them, really; and I agree they’re pretty formidable opponents for Mitzi. I’m just worried the fans will feel the same way. Ticket sales could suffer if the public doesn’t see it as a good match. I’d like to either build Mitzi up a little more - or find another champion who’d be seen as tougher.”

Doris immediately suggested, “Well, how about you let any one of MY girls fight her…I’ll find enough people to fill the seats. Then you’ll have a dominant champion. Hell, I’ve got several who’d give her a real scrap.”

“Me too!” Marge Danzer said. “I can put Newmar or this new girl Juliet Prowse up against any one of her blondes and they’ll kick her from one end of town to the other. Gaynor’s a drag on your whole promotion, Frank. You need to kick her to the curb and get a real champion!”

“WAIT just a minute!” Ethel said, springing to her feet. “You’re not being fair to Mitzi. She beat Moreno to win the title and she defended it. You can’t talk about her that way. Besides, I noticed nobody’s even talking about the logical number one contender - a woman who has EARNED the right to face Mitzi for the title…Debbie Reynolds. She’s beaten just about every one of your girls at one time or another, what about her?”

“NO!” Curry and Sheppard screamed in unison. “You already gave Danzer’s girls two title fights in a row. You can’t give her another one!” Gretchen argued.

“Yeah. We’re tired of being shut out,” Doris growled. “You can pick any girl from my stable right this minute and I’ll put ‘em in the ring with Gaynor. Go on, Frank. Pick someone…hell, here’s a list of my girls,” she said, pulling a sheet of paper from her purse and holding it up against the wall. “Throw a dart and whoever’s name it hits gets the fight. Just don’t give Danzer another chance for one of her lame gals to lay down for Gaynor.”

“OK. OK!” Frank yelled. “Enough. I’ve heard enough. You three go home and I’ll call you later and tell you my decision. Ethel, you hang around a minute, we need to talk!”

Muttering and mumbling, the other three managers departed, leaving Ethel, Cyd and Mitzi alone with Frank. “Well, ladies. I gotta do something and they all made a good case for one, or more, of their fighters. Now I don’t want to see Mitzi lose the title - at least not for a while - but I gotta tell you, we better come up with a credible opponent; someone people will see as not only a real threat to win Mitzi’s title, but someone who - if she does win - can be seen as a legitimate champion. You got any ideas? Because if you can’t come up with somebody acceptable to me, then I’ve got a couple of names in mind and I’ll just pick one of them. So, what do you say, Ethel?”

Ethel thought a minute, then smiled at Frank. “Debbie’s overdue and she’s earned a chance at the title, Frank” she said, standing up and retrieving her purse from the floor beside her chair. “Let’s give the girl a chance. Make it Reynolds!”
* * * * * * * *
NEW YORK STATE OF MIND
Mitzi and Ethel left Los Angeles the next morning for New York and headed straight to the Ed Sullivan Theater on Friday afternoon for the run-through of the Sunday night Ed Sullivan show. Ethel introduced Mitzi to actress Edie Adams - who was starring as Daisy Mae on Broadway in ‘Lil Abner’. Edie was also the ‘New York City Champion’ and was scheduled to appear on the show with Mitzi. Ed wanted them to do a skit in which Sullivan fantasizes about Mitzi and Edie fighting over him. They rehearsed a couple of throws and rolled around a bit - all lighthearted and played for comic relief.

Afterward, Ethel invited Adams to join her and Mitzi for a threesome at Ethel’s New York apartment! Mitzi was jealous, but - as usual when Ethel demanded something - she went along to keep peace!

Saturday, after the final Sullivan Show rehearsal, Ethel and Edie left the theater together to attend Edie’s show - pointedly not asking Mitzi to join them! After sulking in her dressing room, Mitzi bumped into Carol Heney (she’d played the lead in ‘Pajama Game’ on Broadway and after she missed a couple of shows with an injury, her understudy - an unknown named Shirley MacLaine - stepped in. Shirley did such a great job that Hal Wallis offered her a Hollywood contract. Shirley went on to fame and fortune on the ‘silver screen’ while Heney got left behind; finishing her career as a solid, if unspectacular, presence on the New York stage.)

Mitzi and Carol shared an unpleasant past that had a common denominator - Shirley MacLaine - which gave them something in common to talk about when Mitzi went back to Carol’s apartment with her and they made love.

Then Sunday night, Edie and Ethel again disappeared after the Sullivan show and Mitzi took Carol back to Ethel’s where they were making love when Ethel and Edie Adams walked in unexpectedly! Edie eagerly offered to help Ethel throw the naked dancer out and she dragged Carol kicking and screaming into the hall and threw her to the floor in her birthday suit!

Then as Edie sat and watched, Ethel and Mitzi had a terrific argument before Ethel angrily banished Mitzi to her room. Mitzi cried herself to sleep while Ethel took Adams to bed for loud, raucous, raw sex - the sounds of which Mitzi was unable to muffle despite covering her head with a pillow as she sobbed!

Monday morning, a furious Ethel put Mitzi in a taxi and sent her to the airport, ordering her to fly back to Hollywood where, during her absence, Cyd had been making Nikki’s life miserable. To ‘escape’ Cyd, Nikki had been spending more and more time with Gretchen and her ‘nieces’ - which suited Cyd just fine. She’d rather not deal with Nikki and her ‘drama’ while trying to get a firm grip on the reins of Mitzi’s wrestling career.