Lionesses of Wrestling - From The Ground Up

[Blake Trask]

 

 

Shortly before Lionesses of Wrestling XVIII…

 

As I warmed up, Svenja sidled over to me. I started a count in my head.

 

“Ward.”

 

“Hi, Svenja.”

 

She looked me up and down. She was a little taller than me, and her boots added a bit extra. “...saw you’ve got me putting Lace over.”

 

Less than fifteen seconds. She was getting efficient about this.

 

“I’ve got Samba costing you the match, yeah.”

 

“I think it makes me look weak.”

 

For christ’s sake. “It’s for your feud with Samba. And Lottie’s one of the best we have. You don’t look bad for losing to her off a distraction.”

 

Svenja rolled her eyes. “Look, Ward, I know you grew up on USPW and Supreme TV—”

 

“Joshi and North of the Border, actually.”

 

She kept going like I hadn’t even spoken. “But at this level, it’s about what happens in front of the crowd of the night. They’re not going to care about Samba and I having a storyline. They’re just going to see me lose.” She folded her arms and nodded assertively. “I should go over. Maybe Samba can get a hit in after the bell. It achieves the same goal.”

 

Svenja stopped, apparently satisfied that she had made her point.

 

“Okay, well. I’m not changing the finish.”

 

Her eyes narrowed.

 

“It’s too short notice and I think this is what’s best. Sorry. But it’s all going somewhere and we’re running a lot of shows. You’ll get wins back.”

 

“Whatever.” Svenja started off towards the kitchenette, and then stopped, looked back over her shoulder. “Guess I’ll go put over the girl that mum’s paying to be here.”

 

Before I could come up with a response, she was gone.

[Blake Trask]

Card for Lionesses of Wrestling XIX: Storm

Lottie Lace vs. High Executioner

Astrogirl (Countess) vs. Rajni Smith

Samba Barnes vs. Svenja Schwartz

Shinobi (Sakuyama) vs. Aviator Agarwal (Rajni)

Ellen Ward vs. Steph Blake

Sakuyama © vs. Countess

[Croquemitaine]

Lottie Lace vs. High Executioner

Astrogirl (Countess) vs. Rajni Smith

Samba Barnes vs. Svenja Schwartz

Shinobi (Sakuyama) vs. Aviator Agarwal (Rajni)

Ellen Ward vs. Steph Blake

Sakuyama © vs. Countess

 

For once, I'm not sure of any of these picks.

 

I'm kind of hoping Svenja will lose just to see the backstage fallout.

[Blake Trask]

 

 

Svenja found me the day after the show, swinging by the corner shop I worked part time. I didn’t spot her until the exact time I was going on my break, but she materialised so instantly that I figured she had to have been waiting her chance.

 

Couldn’t say I was thrilled. A couple of the other girls—outside Sal, Raj, and Abbi—knew where I worked, but the difference between Svenja and say Samba or Millie was that they were actually fun to hang around with. Svenja only ever seemed to speak to me to complain about things.

 

I tried to keep my irritation from showing, in part because I wasn’t convinced that Svenja wouldn’t just complain to my boss if I annoyed her, and just shot her a smile. “Wasn’t expecting you in this neck of the woods.”

 

To my surprise, she smiled back. “Oh you know. It’s my day off and I was in the area. Though I’d drop by.”

 

“Fair.”

 

There was an awkward silence. It occurred to me that I’d never really had many conversations with Svenja. She mostly kept to herself and her mum, keeping most of her interactions with the rest of us to things like laying out her matches. I barely knew a thing about her.

 

“Sooo. Feel like we’ve got off on the wrong foot a little bit.”

 

I glanced at her and hesitated. This felt like a loaded comment. “You think?”

 

She smiled again, rueful and wry. “Well. We’ve had our disagreements about my booking.”

 

And there was the bullet. I nodded carefully.

 

Svenja sighed. “I’m sorry for giving you a hard time. I know you’re new to this, and I know that I put myself across pretty forcefully.”

 

“Oh uh. Right. Yeah. No prob.” I wasn’t really sure what to say and honestly kind of taken aback. An apology wasn’t what I’d come to expect.

 

“I wanted to offer a couple of suggestions. An olive branch,” she held up a hand. “Not about booking. Signings.”

 

I was glad of the clarification. “Yeah?”

 

She nodded. “Mm. Couple of girls I’ve worked with. I think they’d be good fits for a spell. There’s a particular lady from Germany who moved over here this year, I’m a big fan of hers. Hilde Zeller. Maybe you’ve seen some of her matches?”

 

I had. “You know her?”

 

“We’ve teamed a few times. There’s Hilde, she’s great. Then we have…”

 

The conversation went on.

 

I was late back from my break.

[Blake Trask]

Lionesses of Wrestling XIX: Storm

 

Friday, Week 3 May 2020

Gloucester Street Youth Centre

Attendance: 71

Not broadcast

Commentary: None

 

 

• Bosun Bakshi starts us off in the ring, shorn of both her Cap’n and Polly. She is uncharacteristically serious, apologising to Sakuyama for allowing herself to sail ‘deep into the dreaded uncharted red mists’ and causing her to have to defend her title. Bakshi lost her cool seeing the captain and the mascot in danger. She would like to bury the hatchet (not the treasure). Sakuyama is not forthcoming. Bakshi paces around the ring for a little while, and then sighs, says she understands, and assures Sakuyama that if she doubts a pirate’s words, then she will prove a pirate’s deeds. — D-
   
   
  
• As Lottie Lace comes out for the opener, she is suddenly attacked by a scrawny weasel of a woman, who puts the boots to her and then flees, cackling like a schoolyard bully hiding behind the big kid. — E+
   
   
  
• Weakened by the assault, Lace is in serious trouble against High Executioner, who shows no mercy in exploiting the wounds of war. Lace gets absolutely battered, and while she has a shining spot of hope with a gorgeous northern lights suplex, Lace collapses out of the bridge, and Executioner takes her to the gallows. Hangman’s neckbreaker! Tree of woe choke! Executioner hauls Lace into the middle of the ring… powerbomb! This is over! — E+
   
   
  
• Astrogirl and Rajni Smith face off. Astrogirl leaps and jumps around the ring in slow motion and Rajni desperately tries to catch her. Wait, she knows what to do! She steals the timekeeper’s belt and hooks Astrogirl in with it! They exchange laboured fisticuffs, and Rajni sends Astrogirl verrrrrrry slooooooowly flying into the ropes—they collide heads on the rebound! It’s a double KO! The referee stares at the audience, then the competitors, then the audience again. She rules it a draw. — E+
   
   
  
• Samba Barnes has campaigned for and received her rematch with Svenja Schwartz, much to Schwartz’s visible and vocal displeasure. She takes an absolute age to make it down to the ring, and then insists the referee check Barnes for weapons twice. The second go around, she takes the opportunity for a cheap shot. The story is Barnes’ energy and hyped-up intensity against Schwartz’s low down and dirty tactics, and this go around, Barnes looks like she has the upper hand. Henson press! Schwartz goes for the hair, but Barnes wrenches her around into the corner and punches! Her! In! The! Face! Schwartz doesn’t know where she is, she stumbles clear—and grabs hold of the referee! The official struggles, and Schwartz throws her into Barnes! As soon as the ref goes down, a severe-looking woman with her hair in a bun runs in through the crowd and hits Barnes in the back! There’s a two on one beatdown, and Schwartz hits the Invasion (Curbstomp). She revives the ref, apologising profusely, and as soon as Barnes stirs, curbstomps her back into the mat again and claims the win. — E+
   
   
  
• Ninja vs. Airwoman, the battle of the century. Agarwal is fired up to finally get her hands on the nefarious ninja, and manages to get her on the back foot with rights and lefts and almost passable flying forearms. Shinobi has to deploy her ninja training to the fullest in order to keep from getting overwhelmed. (Ninja training for some reason involves cheating a lot in wrestling matches). Agarwal doesn’t give a damn about the cheating, Shinobi’s square on her radar! She flies, she soars, she—has nobody home for the splash! Shinobi vanished from the drop zone! Ninjutsu! Shinobi nimbly springs to her feet and locks on the sleeper. Agarwal can’t fight out of it! She takes a nap, and takes the L. — D-
   
   
  
• Steph Blake and Ellen Ward face off, opposite sides of the ring. They go nose to nose. The tension builds. Ward headbutts Blake. The brawl explodes. The two women are hammer and tongs, throwing fists like an everything must go sale at the punching emporium, kicking the ever loving crap out of each other, in the ring, out of the ring, back in, back out. The timing issues from their previous contest still persist, still dog the quality, but the fans are forgiving of some bungled sequences when there’s this much energy. With such explosive action on display, the conclusion can only be sudden and violent: one second they’re brawling, the next, Blake has spiked Ward right on her head with a vicious DDT. One, two, three. — E+
   
   
  
• The champion is wearing her game face, giving nothing away as Countess slinks down to the ring, her High Executioner in tow. Countess has a Cheshire cat’s grin as the bell rings, but it rapidly crumbles into a Cheshire cat’s grimace as Sakuyama simply charges the length of the ring to smash her with a forearm that wouldn’t have been out of place in Jimbo’s heyday. Countess powders out faster than she ever has before, and doesn’t return until the referee’s nine count. That sets the tone. Countess, it appears, is looking to be as frustrating as humanly possible, ducking outside the ropes to force breaks, complaining to the referee about every tiny infraction, and then punishing recklessness at every turn. Sakuyama’s anger builds, builds, she swings a wild lariat, Countess ducks—THE WRIT—no! Sakuyama held on to the top rope! She’s regained her focus! Her fighting spirit ignites! Ogiwara chops! Hatoyama feint kick! KAGAWA—Executioner’s on the apron! Sakuyama drops Countess to face her. But wait, Bakshi is full sails down to the ring! She launches herself at Executioner and drags her down! The two struggle, Countess rolls Sakuyama up! One, two—kick out! Sakuyama pops up and nails the Kagawa Driver 20! At ringside, Executioner has the better of Bakshi and is choking her down to the ground. Sakuyama looks at them, looks at Countess… and covers! Three count, but Bakshi is sprawled out motionless on the floor from Executioner’s attack! — D-
  

 

SHOW RATING: D-

[Historian]

That damn Executioner!

[Blake Trask]

QUICK RESULTS

High Executioner def. Lottie Lace

Astrogirl drew w/ Rajni Smith

Svenja Schwartz def. Samba Barnes

Shinobi def. Aviator Agarwal

Steph Blake def. Ellen Ward

Sakuyama def. Countess

 

--

 

So this is the show that I confirmed to myself that Rajni in a comedy match can actually kind of deliver. Raj is an eminently bad wrestler. At this stage she has <40 basics, no experience, weak top rows, poor consistency, can't work a scripted match but has abysmal psychology. What she does have is charisma and the Comedy Match Worker attribute, and the difference is night and day. She's not good, but contrast Lottie vs. Executioner, Samba vs. Svenja; every single worker there is better than Raj, but the comedy match was at the same level.

 

Very useful bit of information to have squared away.

 

Also we got the debut of possibly my favourite character in the diary to write; we're beginning to get into the meat of stuff that I was/am really enjoying.

 

That damn Executioner!

 

ikr? darn heels ruining our fun.

 

For once, I'm not sure of any of these picks.

 

I'm kind of hoping Svenja will lose just to see the backstage fallout.

 

aww c'mon. svenny's just misunderstood.

[Blake Trask]

 

 

There was a party atmosphere backstage after the show; we’d had a warm reception and the main event was probably the best we’d hosted so far. Combine that with Sam managing to pull off a ridiculous prank on everyone involving at least three mannequins, and the whole locker room was in a fantastic mood. Even Claire—High Executioner—had stuck around to enjoy herself, and she tended to quietly vanish most nights before I could even say goodbye.

 

As everyone fussed over and congratulated Sally and Millie, I found my sister, who was perched up on a countertop in the kitchen, guzzling a can of Coke. I drew up next to her, leaning back on the draws.

 

“Hey, loser.”

 

“Hey, rugrat.”

 

She grinned. “Sup?”

 

“I didn’t even notice you out there.”

 

Vivi snorted. “What, cause your little monitor that’s older than you was too small?”

 

“Nah, cause you weren’t in the way.”

 

She laughed. “Gee, thanks, Ellie.”

 

“That’s a good thing.”

 

Vivienne made a face at me and I rolled my eyes.

 

“No seriously Viv, like, listen, I do mean it as a good thing. Before, you kept on being out of position and standing too close or too far back.”

 

“Still waiting on how this is supposed to be a compliment.”

 

“God if you’d shut it for like two seconds maybe I’d get there.”

 

She stuck out her tongue.

 

“Anyway, what I’m getting at is that you’ve started getting a hang of where you need to be and when, Viv, and it makes a difference. A shite referee can hurt a match a lot.”

 

“So you’re calling me shite?”

 

“Less shite.”

 

“You’re really bad at compliments, Ellie.”

 

“Brat.”

 

“Nerd.”

 

Vivi giggled. I hid a laugh in my hand. “Seriously, though, Viv, I can tell how hard you’re working and I appreciate it a lot. Without your help, this would just be me and my mates faffing around in a ring for an hour.”

 

“It isn’t?” It was the obvious line, and Vivi was smirking, but I could tell that she was a bit taken aback. We didn’t usually have serious conversations, just talked about, well, normal sibling things when you’re two years apart and one of you spends all her time watching wrestling.

 

After thirty seconds or so, she spoke again. “So you know how last month was my birthday…”

 

“Yeah?” Both our birthdays, actually. Hers a week after mine.

 

“Can I wrestle yet?”

 

“Absolutely not.”

 

“Ughhhhh.”

 

“Viv, mum and dad would actually kill me if I let you wrestle when you’re under eighteen.”

 

“You did!”

 

“And mum and dad were fuming when they found out.”

 

She pointed an accusatory finger at me. “Kept doing it though!”

 

“Yeah, sneakily. Not in front of 50 people a week.”

 

“Aaaaaaugh. You’re the worst.”

 

“Soz, Viv. Maybe… maybe you can take some bumps when me and Sal are training. How about that?”

 

She considered.

 

“Yeah… yeah, okay.”

 

I smiled, tried to grab a noogie (she evaded), and headed back into the main room.

[Blake Trask]

Card for Lionesses of Wrestling XX: Live!

Abbi Archer vs. Rajni Smith

Ellen Ward vs. Brynn Davies (newbie)

Steph Blake vs. Elizabeth Cain

Hilde Zeller (Svenja's new pal) vs. Ophelia Oswell

 

LoW BRITISH TITLE

Sakuyama © vs. High Executioner

 

 

Worker Profile - High Executioner

Date of Birth: May 19th, 1997

Debut Date: May 2018

Hometown: Sunderland, England

Height: 5'8

Size: Toned Small

Style: Regular

Finish: Mirror, Mirror (Powerbomb)

Key Attributes: Loner, 100% Heel, Unmarketable

 

The Duchess, also known as High Executioner, is a new arrival to the women's wrestling scene of the UK, first appearing on independent shows in early 2018. Putting it charitably, Duchess doesn't have looks on her side, but actually uses this to great effect when portraying her character; an evil queen type of persona obsessed with proving she's prettier than all the other girls. Duchess is decent in the ring and a shrieking harpy on the microphone (in a good way), and definitely has potential.

[Croquemitaine]

Abbi Archer vs. Rajni Smith

Ellen Ward vs. Brynn Davies (newbie)

Steph Blake vs. Elizabeth Cain

Hilde Zeller (Svenja's new pal) vs. Ophelia Oswell

 

LoW BRITISH TITLE

Sakuyama © vs. High Executioner

 

Is it time for a title change? Has Executioner stepped past the Countess in the pecking order? Maybe or maybe not, but I didn't want my picks to get boring...

[Historian]

Abbi Archer vs. Rajni Smith

Ellen Ward vs. Brynn Davies (newbie)

Steph Blake vs. Elizabeth Cain

Hilde Zeller (Svenja's new pal) vs. Ophelia Oswell

 

LoW BRITISH TITLE

Sakuyama © vs. High Executioner

[Deamon]

Abbi Archer vs. Rajni Smith

Ellen Ward vs. Brynn Davies (newbie)

Steph Blake vs. Elizabeth Cain

Hilde Zeller (Svenja's new pal) vs. Ophelia Oswell

 

LoW BRITISH TITLE

Sakuyama © vs. High Executioner

[Blake Trask]

Lionesses of Wrestling XX: Live!

 

Saturday, Week 4 May 2020

Gloucester Street Youth Centre

Attendance: 50

Not broadcast

Commentary: None

 

 

• Business as usual to see Abbi Archer opening up the show. She’s upset at what happened last week while she wasn’t here: it’s great that Sakuyama was able to retain, but how could she let Bakshi get hurt like that? She’d like Sakuyama to come out, she just wants to talk. Sakuyama does not appear. Rajni Smith, however, does. Rajni calls Abbi to account for getting on Sakuyama’s case when she couldn’t even be bothered to show up. If anyone’s to blame for Bakshi getting hurt, it’s Abbi. Archer is defensive; if she could have been here, then she would have. Rajni scoffs. Sure, yeah, whatever. Not a very good friend, are you, blud? — D
   
   
  
• It’s been a while since Archer and Smith (or relatively similar but legally distinct personas) went one versus one, and the crowd are hot for the clear chemistry between the pair as opponents. Rajni chats absolute BS the entire time, winding up Abbi with the nonstop trash talk. It’s clearly getting into Archer’s head, and her confidence falters, her attacks land with less conviction… Rajni goes for the dirty rollup, feet on the ropes! Archer manages to kick out, and it’s like a shock to the system. She punches Rajni right in her smug mouth, she blocks out the trash. Punch, punch, dropkick, Rajni stumbles upright—BULLSEYE! That’s the match! — E
   
   
  
• A debut for Brynn Davies, a normal looking gal with normal wrassling style. She takes it to Ellen Ward, perfectly balanced. She throws hands! She goes up top! She grapples! She’s just too well-rounded, there are no openings! Ward thinks hard… and then knocks Davies out of the ring! Suddenly she’s out of her element, and Ward exploits the uncertainty to her advantage, brawling around the ringside area, breaking up the 10 count. By the time they return to the ring, Davies is flagging, her roundedness chipped. Glittering Magician! Ward takes it! — E+
   
   
  
• Countess comes down to the ring with her Executioner. She tells Sakuyama to enjoy her final hour, because when the clock strikes, her time is up, and her title reign will be dancing upon the gallows. She hopes Sakuyama picked out something nice for her last meal. — D+
   
   
  
• Elizabeth Cain is the next wrestler to get into the sights of Steph Blake, and it ain’t gonna end well for her. Cain is undaunted by the task ahead of her, but maybe she should have been a bit daunted: Blake takes her best and biggest hits, her nastiest punches, legal or otherwise, and just keeps coming. Cain can’t keep her down, and Blake motors to victory with the Slingshot DDT. — E+
   
   
  
• In the ring with her new ally, Svenja Schwartz is all smiles. Smug, smug smiles. She introduces Hilde Zeller, a fine colleague of hers from Europe. Try not to gawk, she knows that British hooligans aren’t used to seeing discipline. With Zeller in her corner, rabble like Samba Barnes will never lay their hands upon her again. Efficiency over energy, ten times out of ten. Ophelia Oswell, Zeller’s opponent, comes out. Far as she’s concerned, doesn’t matter where you’re from, a boot to the face will knock you out. If it bleeds, she can kick it. — E+
   
   
  
• True to her word, Oswell does her level best to kick the hell out of Zeller, but Zeller is drilled, regimented, disciplined, she blocks many of the hits, waiting for an opening… and sees it. She catches the leg, takes Oswell down, and starts to take her to pieces. Ruthless efficiency! Clinical holds! Oswell is dismantled! She tries to fight back into it, but she can’t land clean strikes while hopping on one leg. Zeller catches her in a Fisherman’s suplex and bridges for an efficient pinfall. — E+
   
   
  
• Big match feel as Sakuyama places the British title on the line against the other half of Noblesse Oblige, and the two of them deliver in spades. Executioner has power aplenty and uses it to great effect, slinging Sakuyama around the ring. Last time around the belt wasn’t on the line. Tonight, Executioner has a sentence to carry out. Sakuyama does what she’s able; she’s not able to get enough of a base to pull off any of her suplexes, and so she picks the ankle and the second Executioner is on the ground, focuses on her shoulder, slamming knees into it, torquing a grounded hammerlock. Executioner powers out of it multiple times, gets more big slams off, but every time Sakuyama has some breathing space, it’s back to the shoulder, even bending the rules by curling Executioner’s arm over the ropes and then jumping down to ringside. Countess realises where this is going and yells at Executioner to end it quickly! Executioner obliges! She twists out of an armbar, hangman’s neckbreaker! She ties Sakuyama in the tree of woe, boot choke! The gallows are in sight, powerbomb—Sakuyama slams an elbow into Executioner’s shoulder and it gives out! Sakuyama springs clear… Kagawa Driver 20! One eye on Countess, Sakuyama covers, and gets three! — D
   
   
  
• The victorious champion celebrates, though she doesn’t turn her back on a fuming Countess until she’s hauled Executioner backstage. Sakuyama does a circuit of the ring, and then… three keyboard notes. And again. Steph Blake emerges and marches down to the ring, expression set and determined. The two women face off in the middle of the ring. Sakuyama raises the British Championship high in the air. Blake looks up to it, and then down to Sakuyama. She grins. Sakuyama glances out at the cheering crowd… and then nods! — D+
  

 

SHOW RATING: D

[Blake Trask]

QUICK RESULTS

Abbi Archer def. Rajni Smith

Ellen Ward def. Brynn Davies

Steph Blake def. Elizabeth Cain

Hilde Zeller def. Ophelia Oswell

Sakuyama © def. High Executioner

 

--

 

Nobody expects the full left side sweep!

 

I enjoyed this show. Rajni vs. Abbi wasn't as good as the rest of the card, but they're rookies and I couldn't script it. Both of them are coming along. Svenja gets her crony and another enjoyable worker to write for. Zeller's actually very good, especially for our relative size, and working as a sidekick might be doing her a disservice.

 

Sakuyama continues to develop and grow. We're hitting the point in things where I'm realising just how well she can do with momentum and a decent opponent.

 

For readers and predictors, I'd be interested in hearing who else you'd like to see profiled or otherwise featured.

 

LoW BRITISH TITLE

Sakuyama © vs. High Executioner

 

Is it time for a title change? Has Executioner stepped past the Countess in the pecking order? Maybe or maybe not, but I didn't want my picks to get boring...

 

I'm honestly using Executioner in a slightly weird way, because she's more like Countess without the SQ than a monster heel, but sometimes when your talent pool is paper thin, you make do. She's got a little more menace and power than average and has the gimmick, so she's the muscle.

[Blake Trask]

Card for Lionesses of Wrestling XXI: Live!

Lottie Lace vs. Elizabeth Cain

Amy Skrewt (Lace's attacker) vs. Ellen Ward

Brynn Davies vs. OM2

 

LoW BRITISH TITLE

Sakuyama © vs. Steph Blake

[Deamon]

Lottie Lace vs. Elizabeth Cain

Amy Skrewt (Lace's attacker) vs. Ellen Ward

Brynn Davies vs. OM2

 

LoW BRITISH TITLE

Sakuyama © vs. Steph Blake

[Croquemitaine]

Lottie Lace vs. Elizabeth Cain

 

Amy Skrewt (Lace's attacker) vs. Ellen Ward

- debuting wrestler (and already in a sorta storyline) vs established main eventer who needs to rebuild momentum after losing a feud. Both need the win. This is a tough pick.

 

Brynn Davies vs. OM2

 

LoW BRITISH TITLE

Sakuyama © vs. Steph Blake

- I flip-flopped on this. The bottom line is that I'm expecting Shenanigans, so I'm calling a DQ or countout win for Blake with the title not changing hands. This can set up a rematch, or possibly even a Sakuyama/Blake team-up vs whoever interfered (probably Countess/Executioner).

[Blake Trask]

 

 

I smelled food as I stepped into the Youth Centre. I’d been checking a couple things with Nicky ahead of time, so I’d been outside for a few.

 

Somebody had set up a cooking station in the kitchen, grilling burgers and hotdogs. They’d even brought along ketchup and mustard. I didn’t have to look far for the culprit. Samba had found a little chef hat from… somewhere and was cooking away with it perched merrily on her head.

 

I snorted and watched her for a few. After a little bit, Vivi slid on over and offered to take a turn, and Sam transferred the chef hat to her head, which put a small smile on my face. It was good seeing Vivi fitting in like this. She wasn’t really that much younger than the rest of us, but she was still in secondary school. That felt like a whole different world a lot of the time. Anyway, looking out for her was kind of my job as big sister. Looking out for slash teasing relentlessly. I couldn’t look myself in the eye if something happened to her thanks to my own crazy idea.

 

Samba went over to her wrestling things, so I took the opportunity to rock up alongside her.

 

“Hey, Ellen. Got some food going if you want.”

 

“Yeah, I saw, cheers.”

 

“No prob.” She flashed me a grin, pulling on one of her boots. It was white trimmed with pink, matching the rest of her gear. I really had to upgrade mine.

 

“Isn’t this like the fourth time you’ve brought food?”

 

“Eh, only the third.”

 

“Still.” She tilted her head to the side, so I continued. “Well, it’s just a lot. Not that I don’t appreciate it or anything, cause I do. But you don’t have to.”

 

Sam’s grin got a bit wider. “I know, but I want to.”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“Mm.” She pulled the other boot on, then wriggled both her feet, checking they were snug. “LoW deserves the support.”

 

I squinted at her, rolling my wrists, more for something to do than anything else. “It’s got to be costing you more to drive here and get all this food then you get paid for turning up, though.”

 

Sam shrugged. “Not really about the money, Ellen.” She looked down at her hands for a long couple of moments. “I want to succeed. For me to succeed, LoW needs to succeed. If people are happy being here, then we’ll do better, and the chances go up.”

 

That shut me up completely. I wasn’t sure if I was flattered she cared so much or disappointed that she was so, well, utilitarian about it.

 

She patted me on the shoulder. “Don’t get me wrong. I like it here and I like working for you. We should hang out more.”

 

“Oh! Yeah, yeah. Sure thing, Sam.”

 

“Awesome. You should go get some dogs before Rajni eats them all.”

 

My head snapped around. Motherfu—

[Blake Trask]

Lionesses of Wrestling XXI: Live!

 

Saturday, Week 1 June 2020

Gloucester Street Youth Centre

Attendance: 56

Not broadcast

Commentary: None

 

 

• Straight into the action, Lottie Lace faces off with Elizabeth Cain. The gruesome Geordie came with a plan in mind, and spoilers, it’s the same plan as always and involves a lot of clawing and biting and torturing. Lace writhes in pain on the mat, doing her best to cover up. Cain’s giddy with sadistic glee, and she leaves herself open for the fightback. Lace forces her way back up to her feet and comprehensively outgrapples Cain, slamming home the Penalty Kick (Running Soccer Kick). — E+
   
   
  
• Amy Skrewt, the woman who attacked Lottie Lace two weeks ago, makes her in-ring debut, and she’s very solid, but also the biggest whiner known to man, or at least Gloucester Street. Ward’s using closed fists! Ward grabbed her hair! Ward pinched her! Ward took her lunch money! Ward is unamused, and shows Skrewt exactly what closed fists really feel like. Skrewt whinges and cries… and pokes Ward in the eye. Skrewt’s confidence grows! She twists Ward’s arm behind her back, Chinese burn! Stop hitting yourself! Stop hitting yourself! Skrewt struts like a peacock—Ward Is Done With This Nonsense. She wails on Skrewt with a barrage of strikes and throws and… Skrewt’s had enough! She rakes Ward’s eyes and runs away! It’s a count out! — E+
   
   
  
• The crowds need a bit more warming to Brynn Davies, but it’s an acceptable outing against OM2, and she takes immediate charge with her perfectly balanced offence. She throws hands! She goes up top! She grapples! She’s just too well-rounded, there are no openings! OM2 looks short on ideas, but digs deep and enters the Zone… she spies a crack in the armour and attacks it with pinpoint precision! Davies falters, and eats the Death Kick Kombo. —E
   
   
  
• Samba Barnes comes out to the ring and demands Svenja Schwartz show her face. She’s been talking a lot, but talking herself up doesn’t change that everyone knows she cheated. Schwartz arrives at length, and questions what part of ‘keeping out the rabble’ Barnes doesn’t understand. She wants something, she can take it up with Hilde Zeller. Barnes understands… she understands damn well that Schwartz is running scared. Im gegentiel, Schwartz knows what her time is worth, and Barnes isn’t. — D-
   
   
  
• The biggest match in LoW’s young life. Sakuyama, the unbeatable champion. Steph Blake, the accomplished international star. It’s showtime. Blake feels out what Sakuyama is capable of, slipping clear each time Sakuyama is fetching to hit a big move, using her veteran instincts to avoid major damage. The champ isn’t just going to let Blake puzzle her out, though, she realises what’s happening and begins to throw in unexpected twists and feints, transitioning holds in unusual ways to gain an advantage. The innovation arms race can’t hold up forever, though, and unconventional also means vulnerable to counters that wouldn’t hit otherwise—a huge gasp rushes through the crowd as Sakuyama changes a takedown into a spinebuster midway through and Blake counters to PLANT her on her head with a DDT. Dazed, Sakuyama kicks out at two and a half. She knows she has to go deep, she has to channel her heroes. Piledriver attempt, blocked! Ogiwara chops! Hatoyama feint kick! Blake catches her cold and slams her to the mat! It’s getting desperate for the champion as she’s hurled to ringside—wait did she just rip off the turnbuckle pad trying to catch herself? The referee goes to fix the offending item, Blake goes after Sakuyama… who blasts her in the head with the British title! The ref didn’t see it! Blake’s out cold! Sakuyama drags her back into the ring and finishes it off using the Kagawa Driver 20. She slowly smiles as she’s handed her championship belt. — D
  

 

SHOW RATING: D-

[Blake Trask]

QUICK RESULTS

Lottie Lace def. Elizabeth Cain

Ellen Ward def. Amy Skrewt

OM2 def. Brynn Davies

Sakuyama © def. Steph Blake

 

--

 

Amy Skrewt debuts this week!

 

God I love Amy Skrewt. She is endlessly entertaining to write, and it comes very easily.

 

 

Sakuyama © vs. Steph Blake

- I flip-flopped on this. The bottom line is that I'm expecting Shenanigans, so I'm calling a DQ or countout win for Blake with the title not changing hands. This can set up a rematch, or possibly even a Sakuyama/Blake team-up vs whoever interfered (probably Countess/Executioner).

 

Well, there were certainly some shenanigans...

 

-

 

 

 

 

The buzz of a successful show was already getting pretty addictive. I’d worried that Steph would get offended at the very idea of putting Sally over, but she hadn’t had a word of complaint. The match itself had been great, and we’d completed the very first turn and what I felt to be the very first story arc of the company’s life. Ideas for future booking were already lining themselves up in my head, and I couldn’t wait.

 

I congratulated Sally, then stepped away to let her have a bit of a moment with everyone. The two of us would have a blow by blow over things later, always did. That was for both enjoying what we’d done and to see where we could improve, which spots worked and which didn’t. Now, though, wasn’t the time for studying a recording. She’d just had a great match and that took priority.

 

I was a bit envious of her, honestly. Not for the title. That was whatever. More just that she could get on the same page with Steph. It wasn’t even that they had any kind of special connection out there, it just wasn’t the anti-connection that Steph and I had. We’d wrestled twice now and it definitely wasn’t a fluke. We were just awkward in the ring together. It shed some light on some of the disjointed performances I’d seen from very good workers, but it would have been nice to encounter it while working… more or less anyone else on the roster.

 

No point in dwelling on it now. There would hopefully be a lot of great wrestlers in Sally and I’s future, and there would probably be a handful of them that neither of us matched up great with. It wasn’t that important.

 

“Hey, Ellen.”

 

Speak of the devil, Steph was right at my side. I gave her a big smile. I was starting to get less starstruck around her. A little less. “Steph! Great match.”

 

“Thanks. Been a good little run.” She’d already got changed out of her wrestling gear. Planning on getting out early, most likely.

 

“Having you here has been amazing, Steph. Seriously.”

 

A small nod, her lips quirking up ever so slightly. “You’ve got my number. If you want me back in again, all you have to do is call.”

 

I blinked. “Back in?”

 

Steph laughed. “Tonight was my fifth date, remember? I know it’s gone by quickly.”

 

Um. What.

 

“Oh right, it’s Debra that does the arranging isn’t it? Still, either of you can call any time. I’d be happy to work LoW again.”

 

I tripped over about seven words in a row. Only five dates? That wasn’t what—that hadn’t even come up with Debra! What the hell?

 

“Right,” I managed.

 

No wait that wasn’t what—

 

“You seem a bit tired. I’ll get out of everyone’s hair.”

 

Then she was gone. A strangled noise came out of my throat, which was probably better than desperately crying out for her to stay, but not by much.

 

I had to talk to Debra.

 

Fortunately she wasn’t fine, sipping a beer as she pulled on her coat, obviously preparing to head home.

 

“Debra!”

 

She raised her eyebrows. “Yeah, Wardy?”

 

“Steph just told me she’s finished up.”

 

“Yeah, and?”

 

That stopped me short, and it took a second before I recovered. “I thought we were bringing her in full time.”

 

Debra gave me a thin smile, like I was a trapped bird and she a particularly malevolent cat. “Oh, well, you know. Had to watch the ol’ purse strings. Maybe if we’d saved a few bob and kept the shows to the wrestlers…”

 

I stared at her. Bit back a response. Stalked off.

[Blake Trask]

Card for Lionesses of Wrestling XXII: Live!

OM2 vs. Rajni Smith

Amy Skrewt vs. Abbi Archer

Shinobi vs. Brynn Davies

Samba Barnes vs. Elizabeth Cain

Lottie Lace vs. Ellen Ward

 

 

Worker Profile - Amy Skrewt

Date of Birth: January 27th, 1996

Debut Date: January 2016

Hometown: London, England

Height: 5'7

Size: Skinny Small

Style: Regular

Finish: Skrewt Boot (Running Facewash)

Key Attributes: Professional, Easy To Do Business With, Notorious Ribber

 

'Cheeky' Amy Skrewt is a scrappy British fighter who is all about a good fistfight. Well aware that she lacks the kind of superstar look or outstanding charisma that she would need to break out of her limited scene, Skrewt seems already prepared to settle in for a nice career as an aggravating heel to bump for up and coming babyfaces on small shows. If there were any proper women's companies out there in Britain, then maybe Skrewt could carve out a niche in the midcard workhorse role, but alas, there are not.

[White Dolphin]

I'm sorry, how the hell is Lionnesses losing money when they've got sponsorships from Daljit and Daljit? Hell, that'd probably give them better cash flow than I had with 5SSW......

[Blake Trask]

I'm sorry, how the hell is Lionnesses losing money when they've got sponsorships from Daljit and Daljit? Hell, that'd probably give them better cash flow than I had with 5SSW......

 

I know right? It's gotta be bad if Daljit and Daljit aren't enough to maintain the bank balance...

[Blake Trask]

Lionesses of Wrestling XXII: Live!

 

Saturday, Week 2 June 2020

Gloucester Street Youth Centre

Attendance: 55

Not broadcast

Commentary: None

 

 

• Rajni Smith opens the show in the ring with a microphone, her weapon of choice. It’s been far too long since we heard her talk, right blud? Anyway, she’s just going to point out that there are way too many clowns around here, and everyone’s lucky to have somebody around that doesn’t bore them all to tears. You’re welcome. Ugh honestly she is already bored just standing here; it’s like the dullness is seeping in from all around. She’s going to beat her next opponent in five minutes flat, or she’ll lay down and take the L. — D
   
   
  
• OM2 is a tricky order to beat inside of five, and what doesn’t help is when nobody has the psychology to tell that kind of story and Rajni cannot remember a script to save her life. Sort of a lose/lose situation, you know? In any case, OM2 hits Rajni a few times, Rajni cheap shots her back, and then starts getting cocky, right up until the crowd starts counting down from 10. Rajni visibly panics in remembrance of her self-imposed time limit, and rolls OM2 up with a hand on the ropes to squeak a three count with two seconds to spare. — F+
   
   
  
• Circus music. Uh. What. Two excitable and gymnastic jesters come prancing and pirouetting out from back. Rajni looks baffled and disgusted both, especially as they start capering and cartwheeling around her. No. No. Absolutely effing not. She bails. Exit, pursued by jesters. —E+
   
   
  
• Sakuyama appears, British championship around her waist. The fans give her a heavily mixed reaction. She asks Abbi Archer to come out. They need to talk, and Sakuyama owes her an explanation. Archer appears in due time, expression shading between wary and hurt. She reaches the ring. Okay. Explain. Please. She knows that she has to have good reasons for what she did. Sakuyama reassures her that she does. The explanation… is that she’s sick and tired of people trying to dictate how she should act, how she wins her matches, and whose back she needs to watch. Abbi earned her trust, and then she started trying to get her to look out for the idiotic pirates as well. Archer says that she never wanted to control Sakuyama, she just thought she actually cared about other people. She trusted Sakuyama. The champ looks away… and then snaps back! Kagawa Driver 20! She stands over Archer. What a disappointment you turned out to be. — D
   
   
  
• Amy Skrewt scurries out from backstage, eager to pick Archer’s bones. The referee is visibly concerned about starting the match, but Archer slowly staggers to her feet and waves her off. She’s got this. The bell rings, and Skrewt’s swarms Abbi immediately, trapping her in the corner and teeing off with a flurry of blows. Skrewt’s confidence grows! She twists Abbi’s arm behind her back, Chinese burn! Stop hitting yourself! Stop hitting yourself! Skrewt struts like a peacock, pushing Abbi’s head back and taunting her to take a swing. Archer boots her in the stomach. Skrewt goes down, crying that it was a low blow. Literally nobody believes her. Either way, Archer is struggling, feeling the effects of the Driver. Skrewt looks sure to take it, and then Lottie Lace shows up at ringside! Skrewt breaks away from stomping on Abbi’s fingers to start screeching at the referee that Lace is interfering, she’s going to cheat, she’s going to attack her—small package from Abbi! 1, 2, 3! Skrewt is furious! — E+
   
   
  
• Shinobi takes on Brynn Davies, and she shows off her preparation and meticulous planning by having an answer for each and every one of Davies’ strategies. Ninjutsu! Just, you know, the not very flashy kind of ninjutsu. Davies simply cannot get it started, and is swiftly put to sleep in the middle of the ring. — D-
   
   
  
• Probably a little long for the limited experience between the two workers, but Samba Barnes and Elizabeth Cain work their way through a serviceable match. Cain’s very eager to slam a series of knees into Barnes’ stomach, Barnes is very eager to fling her halfway across the ring with a sambo suplex. Cain doesn’t know how to derail the hype train, and Samba runs it right over her, going wild with all her best and biggest moves. Sunshine Twister! (Tilt-a-whirl DDT) — E
   
   
  
• Ellen Ward comes down to the ring. She talks about her consecutive losses to Steph Blake. She has no excuses. She lost. And she’s furious about it. Second best is not good enough. Second best is NOT good enough. She has to be better. She has to fight more. She has to fight everyone. If she’s going to fulfil her dreams, if she’s going to be the best, then she needs worthy opponents. Somebody get the hell out here and fight her right this bloody instant. — C-
   
   
  
• Lottie Lace is the woman to answer Ward’s challenge. Ward gestures to bring it on, bring it on, demanding Lace’s best shot. Lace pauses, sizing Ward up, and then slams a forearm right into her jaw. Ward reels, and then roars back with one of her own. Lace retaliates. It’s on. The two of them are all over each other, exchanging hammer blows that wouldn’t be amiss in 5 Star Supreme. Ward’s blood is up, and it seems that the harder Lace hits her, the harder she strikes back, relishing each pounding blow as it comes, screaming in Lace’s face to hit her again, hit her again. Lace, usually unflappable, looks genuinely alarmed. She goes to the well one too many times, winds up just a bit too much for a discus elbow, and Ward catches the arm, leaps, crucifix! A&E (Crucifix Armbar)! Ward wrenches hard and brutal, and Lace taps almost immediately. Ward releases her, and then stares down, wild-eyed and chest heaving with exertion. She’s on a mission, and god help anyone who gets in the way. — D-
  

 

SHOW RATING: D-

[Blake Trask]

QUICK RESULTS

Rajni Smith def. OM2

Abbi Archer def. Amy Skrewt

Shinobi def. Brynn Davies

Samba Barnes def. Elizabeth Cain

Ellen Ward def. Lottie Lace

 

--

 

This, alas, will not be the last time that I forget that Rajni has scatterbrained and her scripted matches suck. Ophelia/OM2 is quite good but really raw, and her psychology is a notable weak spot, so I was setting myself up to fail on that one.

 

Sakuyama cements the turn to freshen up the main event. She'd kind of ran through most of her challengers on either side of the face/heel divide so this shakes things up without necessarily needing to drop the title, and kept Steph from losing clean. She warrants that kind of Big Deal treatment.

 

Another step towards getting Ellen's own character fully established. I was happy with the beats here.

 

-

 

 

Worker Profile - Brynn Davies

Date of Birth: May 11th, 1999

Debut Date: March 2018

Hometown: Aberystwyth, Wales

Height: 5'5

Size: Small

Style: Regular

Finish: Welsh Suplex (Dragon Suplex)

Key Attributes: Quiet, Giving Performer, What's My Line?

 

Rookie wrestler Brynn Davies is part of the uncommon breed that is the pro grappling community in Wales. However, this uncommon trait is actually the most interesting thing about her; as a wrestler, Davies is resoundingly average. While she is safe and reliable, Davies lacks any compelling hooks to latch onto and at times seems to actively be on a mission to be as bland and by the numbers as humanly possible, as if terrified of anyone actually paying attention to her. Quite why she has chosen a profession that entails performing in front of live crowds on a regular basis is anyone's guess. There's a pretty good chance that it's a bet that got out of hand.