Chapter 4

Dixie Clements vs. Carrietta Hart

"You know anything about this girl Dixie?" Aisha asked her fellow Texan.

Dixie and Aisha were sitting next to each other in one of the locker rooms. She had finished her warm up stretches and was now just waiting for them to call her to the ring entrance.

"Nah. I looked her up though and I'm impressed. She's been around on some of the small promotions a bit but she's mostly stayed in her home city's. The girl's got some moves though."

"That don't mean anything."

Dixie shook her head at her dismissive friend and rival.

"She's been doing this for 9 years. I think since she was 16 if what I read was right. That's longer than me Aisha so I'm not going to underestimate her. I can't afford to. Though somethin' is nagging at me."

"And what's that?"

Dixie shrugged her shoulders, "I'm just wonderin why she came here. It's nothing against the Rumble Roses; you know what a lot of people think about it and the "style" of wrestling it is. This doesn't seem like it'll help her career. It might even hinder it."

"Bah," the diva said with a dismissive wave. "It's her choice and she's gonna have to deal with it. Don't let that distract you though. You just need to focus on kicking her ass and giving her a good old 'Dixie' styled hello. Make it a first match she won't ever forget!"

Dixie smirked at her friend, "I intend to. She better be ready because I'm going to give her all I got!" Dixie then lost her confident smirk. "Do you really need to leave Aish?"

A knock was heard on the door before a female employee stuck her head in.

"They're ready for you to come up Ms. Clements."

Dixie nodded before the worker closed the door.

"I've got a tour booked, Clements, along with plans for a new CD. This could possibly be a solid comeback for me and I am not missing this chance."

"I know, I know. I'm just going ta miss you girl. You're a pain but you're my friend," Dixie said standing up. "Let's get dinner afterwards at least. My treat?"

"Sure thing girl. Good luck out there. Heh, not like you'll need it!"

Aisha held up a fist and Dixie put hers to it.

"Thanks Aish. See ya after the show."

The Three-Count Cowgirl took her leave and headed towards the ring entrance. When the door closed behind her, Aisha's confident smile fell away.

"I can't stay on a sinking ship Dixie. I don't have much confidence in Stone setting it right."

…...

In another locker room was the last of the newcomers. Carrietta Marie Hart was finishing her warm up stretches when the door opened and slammed closed very quickly. Carrie raised her head from her left knee; seeing Aoi and Cassidy bracing against the door.

"What are you two doing?" she asked after removing the headphones over her head.

Aoi put a finger to her lips

"Shhhhhh!"

Carrietta only cocked an eyebrow but humored the two. The only sound in the locker room was the chorus of a Sabaton's "Primo Victoria" blaring out of the headphones. The sound of some fast moving footsteps could be heard as some annoyed voices could be heard with them. They soon disappeared when they continued walking down the hall.

"Are they gone?" Cassidy asked.

"I don't know! You look!"

Cassidy shook her head; her curly red-orange hair waving wildly as her eyes were wide with terror.

"Well I'm not looking Red!" Aoi turned to Carrietta. "Carrie, you go and look will ya! Tell us if those lunatics are gone."

The tall girl sighed as she got up from her stretches before turning off her cherry red MP3 tossing it, and her large headphones, on her duffel bag. She opened the door after the two smaller wrestlers scurried off behind some of the lockers and poked her head into the hallway. All she saw was a few of the workers but she did catch a glimpse of a black gi and short, blue dress going down the hall.

"Who am I looking for?"

"Those lunatics with, like, five hundred pounds of make-up on!" Aoi exclaimed.

"I think they were Great Khan and…Black Belt Demon?" Cassidy responded quietly.

"Well they're gone. They just rounded a corner. I'm guessing they're on a rampage because of the victories you two got?"

"You're guess is as good as mine! I blame Red over here: she's the one who decided to win in 13 seconds. I just won because that Mongolian weirdo was P. about her friend loosing."

"I-I didn't mean to! She came at me and I kicked her," Cassidy responded defensively. "I panicked okay!"

Carrietta crossed her arms as she looked at the two, "You shouldn't apologize for a win. I'm proud that you made it out there after you became glued to your position with stage fright."

"Yeah but that was after you threatened to carry me out there against my will!" the red head replied before settling down on a bench.

"You had to be forced out to the ring?" Aoi asked incredulously. "How can you throw such a kick but seem scared of your own shadow! No wonder you ran at the first sign of trouble."

"You were running too!"

The two began arguing when the door the blonde was standing in front of was thrust open, smashing into her, and making her fall to the floor.

"Found you!" the Great Khan shouted as the Naughty Empire stormed in.

"Oh give me a break!" Aoi remarked.

The BBD went flying at Cassidy, who was toppled over, and The Great Khan was throwing shots into the petite girl against the lockers. Carrietta didn't take a hard blow but the big door's hit stunned her. As a brawl took place, it didn't take long before a camera made its way to the commotion.

"I guess they really do have cameras everywhere in places like this," Carrie thought.

Aoi was trying in vain to tank the angry fists of the Great Khan while Cassidy tried to crawl away from the BBD. Someone tried to call for some kind of help as Carrie shook out of her haze. As quick as she could, she pulled the struggling Cassidy under the bench and out of the judo practitioner's grasp. The shorter girl tried to push her but the blonde didn't budge. Without a second, thought the Missourian grabbed her by the gi and hurled her over the bench and to the ground. Then she stepped over and towards the Mongolian, yanking her off of Aoi.

"What's your damage girl? Geez Louise!" Carrie remarked.

Without waiting for an answer, the much taller girl slammed Great Khan against the lockers before sending her over the bench. Without a second thought, she went and grabbed the Japanese girl by the gi. The loose uniform was nearly pulled off as she was manhandled out of the locker room. A clubbing blow hit Carrietta's spine and pushed her out into the hallway.

"What in tarnation is going on here!?" a thick, southern accent called down the hallway.

Great Khan dashed forward with a clothesline attempt. Seeing the attack as she turned around, Carrie ducked under and wrapped her arms around the other's waist. The eyes widened in shock as she was lifted up, spun around, and brutally slammed with a spinebuster on the hard floor of the stadium hallway. The judo master was, more or less, spartan kicked in the chest as she tried to move in on Carrie.

"What the hell is going on here?" a man's voice shouted.

Four security guards, three men and a woman, were hurrying down the halls.

"These two are off their rocker!" Carrie responded pointing at the grounded khan. "They attacked Cassidy and Aoi in the locker room."

The curly, brown haired head of security motioned for the two men to get the Naughty Empire.

"Take them to the trainer. If they try to get away, someone get Lauren or Morgan. And you," he pointed to Carrietta, "Get to the ring entrance. They just got Dixie and you best get on too. Alma, take Clements and Hart there. And get that camera off! Why there's a camera by a locker room, I have-…"

The camera feed was cut.

…...

"Well that was certainly something folks. Perfect timing to be back from commercial wouldn't you say Claire?" Ken asked as he opened a bottle of water.

"I couldn't agree more. I bet Carrietta wasn't expecting to get dragged into Aoi's or Cassidy's battle that's for sure. And I think she might regret doing that with the Naughty Empire."

Claire opened a bottle of Pepsi as Ken talked back to the T.V. audience.

"We are about to have our final match of the evening everyone. Dixie Clements, the Three Count Cowgirl from Texas, against our final newcomer, Carrietta Hart from Missouri. And if Carrietta is planning on showing that kind of gusto in this fight, then I think it should be a great one. Hopefully we get to see that spinebuster again as that was a thing of beauty!"

Claire nodded as she finished a drink from the bottle, "If Arn Anderson saw that, he'd be proud."

"And from San Antonio, Texas! The Three Count Cowgirl: Dixie Clements!"

"Here we go folks/Let's get fighting," the two commentators said.

As the music played and the Texan made her way slowly out to the ramp with the music, Ken motioned for his partner to lean in and take off her headset.

"Claire, is this Carrietta…you know?" he asked so only she heard her.

Claire shook her head with a skeptical look on her face.

"Can't be. Probably just a coincidence. I mean come on Ken, this one is really tall! Ours was really short."

Some people were starting to get on to them and Claire gave them a look as Ken said, "Someone can always get a growth spurt but you're probably right. What are the chances.

The two put their headsets back on as Dixie finished her entrance in the corner like she usually did.

"Sorry about that folks," Claire reassured the audience. "Just some minor technical hiccups or something."

There was a brief pause before the lights dimmed.

"And from Maverick, Missouri: Carrietta Hart," Lenne announced.

"Fight through the fire, fight like Hell! Never give up for your desire!" the vocalist in the opening theme began.

A short, rapid drum intro followed by a screaming guitar riff belted out over the speakers as a power metal type tune began playing. A tall figure slowly made her way out onto the stage with the opening The lights had dimmed during the intro and flashed on, revealing the last fighter in the Rumble Roses.

Everyone got a good look at the wrestler: She was tall like Dixie at about 5'11". She had long, natural, platinum blonde hair that stopped to the middle of her back and an almost silver or smokey blue eye color (though most couldn't tell that until the camera got close enough to her face). Carrie was a hybrid combination of athleticism and beauty, having enough muscles to showcase her apparent strength but they didn't overshadow her physical attractiveness. The best possible and simple definion of her might be Junoesque. Her face didn't have make up at all and naturally had a soft beauty to it most might not expect a veteran wrestler to have (what with the beatings they tend to take). She did have a somewhat larger forehead but her bangs helped hide them a little bit. Her innate attractiveness didn't mean she didn't have signs of her time in the business, what with some scars along her body, arms, and neck.

Her ring attire was a red and white majority color scheme; with a bra-like top made out of the shiny material used consistently in ring gear. It had white trim and a "C" on the right breast and "H" on the left. Her bottom trunks/tights were like shorts and had "Hart" on the rear. She had white elbow and knee pads, red and white boots, and white athletic tape wrapped around her wrists and finger joints.

"I lived my life how I want to live it. Every time I was knocked down, I rose back up from the ashes! Fight fire…with fire! Burn down your foes with flames of blue! A blazing blue, sapphire hue!"

She made her way a little farther down the ramp before stopping and turning around. The music built to a climactic point where she spun around and punched the air, posing for the crowd. This got the crowd cheering for her and she made her way down the ramp-waving to them in the process.

"Fight through the fire, fight like Hell! Never give up for your desire! Sow your flames of fire and fury, be the one standing tall above all else! Like a phoenix from the ashes, you'll rise again and be reborn anew; better than you were, learning from the past. Your passion shows with a burning heart."

"A lot of fire in that song Claire. Did Susan hire a pyromaniacal wrestler or did our wrestler find a pyromaniacal song writer?"

The female commentator shrugged casually while tapping her foot, "Beats me but the drum and guitar are catchy. Singer sounds a little familiar."

Ken nodded in agreement, "Probably a frequently entrance song writer. Susan must have gotten a bulk deal with the group or something; these singers has been in a number of the new girl's themes."

Upon entering the ring via jumping over the ropes like a number of the other competitors did, she made her way to the right turnbuckle's second rope and raised her arms. Carrie tried to work the crowd louder by lifting her arms a few times to symbolize an increase in volume. The blonde took in the crowd before dropping down and turning to her opponent; ready and rearing to go.

"A lot of the crowd seems to be getting behind her. I wonder if she's actually got fans here because of her past exploits?" Claire wondered.

"Possibly. At nine years in the business, she's developed a fanbase of her own and she seems incredibly comfortable in the ring right now. Though you can tell she isn't used to an audience this big."

"Quite perceptive Ken. The stadium is definitely a far shot from the armories and gyms you start out in. Even the last promotion she worked for doesn't compare in size here," Claire added as she looked at the stadium crowd herself. "And our official for the match, Min-seo Shin, is finishing up explaining the rules. Not like they need it but it's got to be done."

…...

The much shorter, South Korean woman finished her schtick before backing up.

The Texan looked the other up and down, sizing up her opponent and how best she might have to beat her.

"You certainly drank your milk and ate your vitamins."

"I used to be really short actually but what can I say: I hit a growth spurt in high school!"

"Well good luck to you then. You sound like a heck of a wrestler from what I've read but I ain't gonna make this easy on ya."

Carrietta pushed her hair back over her shoulder after it had rested on it.

"Thanks for the compliment. I can't say I am to familiar with you Dixie but you look like you can go. And I don't want you to be easy anyways. It's different world here, so to speak, but the rules are the same. Bring it!"

The referee gave the signal for the announcer and bell.

"Roses," Lenne began, "On your mark…fight!"

As the bell sounded, the two blondes began to circle each other as they looked to size each other up. The two locked up into a collar and elbow tie up and tried to jockey for a superior position. No one gave an inch so the two released each other when it seemed there wasn't any leeway given. Dixie was used to overpowering her opponent, even the likes of Aigle, but that wasn't the case right now. They tried again but neither gave an inch. Dixie tried to circle around for a waist lock but wasn't successful as the other managed to slide away.

"And it seems Dixie isn't able to muscle her way past Carrietta here."

"That's a turn of events for the Texan Ken. The Great Khan is probably the only person who could physically match her in terms of raw strength but even then, the height advantage always played in Clement's favor. She won't get that with Hart."

Dixie raised her right hand in the air.

"One more time eh?" she asked.

"I don't think I've done this before. Why not?"

Carrietta clasped her right hand in the air and held her left up as she adjusted her footing. Dixie followed suit and a test of strength began between the two women. As the two pushed against each others strength, the crowd watched in anticipation at who might give out first. Dixie shifted her feet and began pushing Carrie back. Instead of moving her feet, she was bent backwards.

"The flexibility on this girl!" Ken remarked.

Carrietta was being pushed further down but her feet were not budging an inch. Instead she was awing the crowd (and surprising Dixie) with a display of her flexibility. As she strained against the power of Dixie, her back was nearing the ground as she gave a forceful push and began to regain her standing position.

"Holy crap!" was all the cowgirl could think as Carrietta slowly pushed herself back to her feet.

The platinum blonde all of a sudden yanked Dixie forward and drove a knee into her gut before releasing her hold on the hands. Like lighting, she sprung up in the air and wrapped her long legs around the neck of her opponent, pulling her over with a standing hurricanrana. Dixie tumbled and rapidly retreated against the ropes as the audience cheered the athleticism.

"What an impressive display of power and agility by the newcomer. She does seem to be a jill of all trades Ken!"

"I'm sure she has more up her sleeve than just that if my sources are correct. This girl has quite the deep and varied bag of tricks. But according to said source she is less of a Bob Backlund type wrestler and more of an intelligent brawler."

Carrie leaned forward and shifted the weight back and forth on her feet. She wasn't wearing a cocky grin but she definitely enjoyed surprising her first time opponents. Dixie was allowed back to her feet as she cautiously began circling the other.

"Not bad. Not bad at all," she said under her breath.

Dixie, trying to take Carrie off guard, abruptly ran into the other and locked up again. With her momentum, she had pushed Carrietta into the ropes and managed to spin and drag her around into the corner. The Texan began to lay in with sledgehammer-like body blows afterward. Min-seo began to give a count and got to 3 when Carrie pushed her knees up and kicked the other woman off her. Carrie moved in with a strike of her own but was met with a hip toss. The nimble, young woman kept total control of her body and twisted in the air to land on her feet. As soon as she did, Dixie was hit with a big standing dropkick before going for a quick pin.

"Now that's some great body control and a picture perfect dropkick to boot," Claire remarked. "And Dixie kicks out at one!"

Carrietta didn't take a breather after the pin. She started to make a number of rapid punches to the head and chest before following up with targeted elbow drops.

"That reversal reminded me of something Marty Janetty did. She's definitely got some athletic ability that is surprising Dixie. She's going to have to try and figure a way to work around Carrie, that's for sure," Ken examined. "And those three elbow drops have found their marks too-…".

Ken seemed to trail off as he saw Carrie jump into the air as high as she could. While in the air she spun her arm around and put her hand on the fist she made for the elbow drop. Just as the falling girl's elbow connected, she pushed her arm down to give more force to the attack. The Texas powerhouse writhed as the impact wracked her gut with pain.

"And Hart goes for another pin after an impressive standing, elbow drop."

Ken looked at his commentary partner with a cocked eyebrow.

"Coincidence?" Claire mouthed.

Carrietta had been boosted off after another one count but wasn't letting up. This time she had floated over into a full mount before raining down her own hammering strikes. Dixie managed to get her hands up to protect against the brunt of them but that didn't mean she couldn't feel the pain.

"Those are just some down and dirty hammerfists right there. This match is barely outside the gate and Carrie has surprised Dixie for sure." Claire said. "A hurricanrana, dropkick, elbow barrage, and now some nasty strikes; the Texan just can't get an opening!"

Dixie was able to catch a strike and hook the arm, doing the same with the other. Using her powerful hips, she bridged and pushed the other wrestler off of her. Dixie crawled to her feet with the other and barely missed getting hit by some kind of Capoeira back kick. A second one grazed her skull as she tried to step back but she was caught flush on the chest and face by a spinning leg lariat. As quick as Carrietta hit her, Dixie rolled out of the ring to buy herself a moment's reprieve.

"That was some serious leg work Claire! Dixie was smart to get out of the ring because that was a ridiculous amount of momentum going at her."

"I had no idea this girl did Capoeira Ken. It's not often you see someone of her size spin around like a freaking helicopter."

Dixie wisely positioned herself away from the ring as Min-seo began the 10 count. She wasn't sure if this newcomer was going to fly through the ropes but with the athleticism she was hit with, she wasn't taking any chances.

"I've been looking at my notes and my source says, 'Really fast striker.' I've got nothing on her being a practitioner of the sport but I was definitely told she's got some lethal and speedy kicks."

Carrietta hadn't stopped moving and she looked to be hopping and dancing on her feet. Not in the extravagant way a capoeirista does but just in a fashion Carrie did to keep her blood pumping. She didn't like to stop moving in a fight and it helped her stay focused.

"You got some serious moves girl! You're gonna need to do better than that though," Dixie warned before getting back into the ring.

"The girls begin circling each other and you can see Carrie hasn't stopped moving. She's staying on her toes and is ready to move at a moments notice. She has some moves but I think she's more of a brawler than anything else. At least that's what my notes say." Ken fiddled with a mechanical pencil as he looked at some papers on his table."

"This is smart by the new rose Ken," Claire pointed to her monitor. "Carrietta is checking Dixie with some stiff kicks every time she tries to get close. And they seem VERY stiff too. Her long legs are creating a natural barrier that Dixie might not be able to just muscle past."

The cowgirl checked a kick then inched closer. She checked another, the slap still audible, and delivered a quick toe kick to the bare stomach of the other woman. Dixie delivered a hammering forearm to the back while keeping a hand in the others long hair. She had to make sure to keep Carrietta at a slower pace. The Texan was no wrestling scientist but it didn't take one to see the other wrestler liked a fast paced match. There was another strike to the middle of the back followed by a kick to the chest. With a fist full of hair, she slammed the other down to the mat and managed to turn the match in her favor. She pulled the downed wrestler into a sitting position and started to ram her knee into the small of her back.

"Dixie looks to be targeting the back. I don't agree with that particular place Ken," Claire remarked. "If I took notice that my opponent likes to throw kicks then I'd make those my target."

The male commentator nodded in agreement as everyone watched the Texan bury her knee into the spine and pull back on the arms with a surfboard stretch.

"Yeah. Boston Crabs, ankle locks, slamming the knee, etc. You want to slow down a potentially speedy opponent by taking out their greatest asset. I know you liked to kneecap your opponents preferably."

Claire chuckled as Carrie tried to strain against the submission, "An opponent can't run or jump if their knee keeps buckling. There's nothing complicated about it!"

The platinum blonde strained against the simple hold. As she began to muscle forward, Dixie got up and jammed the knee into her back again. Min-seo asked if she wanted to submit but Carrie shook her head. She goaded Dixie into standing up for another knee strike by pulling forward with her strength. When her opponent took the bait, she adjusted her body and pulled the other over her shoulders. Dixie missed with a clothesline attempt and Carrie came rebounding off the ropes. She was met with a one armed belly-to-belly suplex that knocked the wind right out of her. Dixie lifted her up and wrapped her arms around her waist; planting her feet and arching backwards. With all the might she could muster, the other was tossed head over heels with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.

"Ouch! That was not a nice landing."

"You can say that again. Carrie landed hard on her back and neck Russo but look at this!"

"Smart move! She's rolling out of the ring and isn't giving her foe a chance to pin her. The two are definitely doing a good job at showing their ring awareness in this match."

The Missourian placed a hand on the barricade as she made sure nothing was wrong with her neck. It wasn't the first time she was hit with a big suplex and it certainly wouldn't be the last.

"Yee-haw! C'mon people!" Dixie called out as she tried to rally the people to her side.

She waved her arm in a circular fashion to incite them a bit.

"Don't slow down! C'mon Carrie, c'mon!" she thought as she slapped herself a bit to psyche up.

Carrietta slid into the ring as Dixie turned back around. Without a moment's hesitation, the two locked up but Carrie had other ideas. She ducked under and was belly to back with her hands clasped tight. Dixie blocked the lift attempt and slammed an elbow into her head. Carrie took it and tried again but was met with another block and elbow. The Texan reached up and grabbed the back of her foe's head. Pushing up and twisting her body, she used a snapmare takedown to create distance. The other tall girl rolled through to her feet and the first tried to follow up with a clothesline. The wrestling background of Carrietta was shown when she ducked the attack and popped the elbows up, lifting her opponent by the legs and waist over her shoulder, and slamming her to the ground with a double-leg takedown.

"Now that was an impressive slam Ken. And these are equally impressive knees she's throwing into Dixie's sides," Claire remarked with approval as she reached under the desk for something.

"Definitely. We've been seeing…are you opening another Pepsi?" Ken asked incredulously as the click and hiss of a can could be heard.

She just looked at him and shrugged as she took a sip.

"That's your second can after your second bottle. You got a two liter in that purse or something?"

"Ha! Don't give me ideas Ken. You'd be surprised what us women can fit in these things."

As the banter commenced, Carrie's brawling did too. Transitioning from knees to elbows and from elbows to fists. Min-seo had to actually start a count to stop the barrage of strikes.

"Damn Ken, she rocked Dixie. There doesn't seem to be any malice in those hits but you don't technically see a good girl getting handsy like that!"

Carrie backed into a corner as Dixie crawled into one, groggy from the storm of strikes. The platinum blonde was bouncing her right foot in anticipation while waiting for her to stand.

"If you ask me it's her trying to keep the pace fast and furious. We've seen little hints of technical fighting or practiced striking but she's always gone back to brawling. She seems like some kind of…tactical brawler if you will."

Claire began writing something on a piece of paper as she watched the newcomer start revving up the engines so to speak. Carrie charged forward as the other got to her feet.

"Haven't heard that in awhile," it said.

Carrietta jumped and hit a clothesline as she went feet first between the middle and top ropes. She let Dixie fall to the ground and to her back as she maneuvered to the top rope. Rising to her full height, she sprung off the top rope for an elbow drop attack. The grounded woman managed to roll out of the way just in time. She felt her sides and jaw as she stood, definitely knowing there were going to be bruises in the morning. Carrie's elbow was hurting despite the pad she wore. When both women were standing up, Dixie swung wildly with a kick that was easily blocked. The other answered with a high kick to the head that got pushed aside and answered with a bicycle knee to the jaw. Dixie followed the knee with a yakuza kick that knocked her opponent to her knees. A second boot was loaded into the side of her head that floored the woman.

"Gotta slow this down. She's gonna run rough shot over me if I let her." Dixie felt her ribs again. "Girl can certainly brawl!"

Dixie placed both hands on the ring ropes and began to lay into her foe with Stone Cold styled stomps to the stomach and chest. The Texan's heavy stomps did their damage before Dixie was called off by the ref. She pulled Carrie towards the center of the ring and flipped her over before doing another series of stomps. She backed up a little before jumping, back first, onto Carrietta with a standing senton bomb.

"These two girls are certainly trying to keep the pace of the match in their favor Claire. Dixie has been cutting Carrie off at every corner she can but Carrie, likewise, has been doing the same to her with dialing up the speed."

"Dixie's still trying to work that back with a Boston Crab. I don't agree with this," Claire remarked as the cowgirl pulled back to force a submission. "The crab will hurt your legs for sure but I still feel she just needs to go after those legs like a loan shark who hasn't been paid back."

Carrietta's back was on fire as her opponent wrenched back with the simple, but effective, submission. She groaned as she managed to use her muscles and push up. Though they were starting to strain a bit, she was able to crawl towards the bottom rope but Dixie pulled her back from it. Instead of going back into the Boston Crab she pulled her downed foe's legs up higher. She dropped her knee down and buried it into the back of Carrie's neck with a Liontamer.

"A good old fashion Liontamer. That's gonna hurt like Hell," Ken said.

"And look at the pressure she's applying," Claire pointed out with a pen. "Knee firmly on her neck, legs being wrenched back with authority. This is a good move to use in this stage of the fight. If she can just keep it up, Carrie's gonna need to tap out or face a broken neck or back. Chris Jericho got mileage out of this move when he used it and Dixie is trying to do the same as well."

The pain was excruciating and Carrie was in the center of the ring with nowhere to go.

"C'mon girl! Tap out 'cause I ain't lettin go!" Dixie taunted.

Carrietta was muffled with her face in the mat but she could still be heard shouting, "No!" among her stifled grunts of pain.

The hold was locked in for about 30 seconds and everyone was shocked at the pain tolerance Carrie exhibited. She grunted in pain but such a devastating maneuver usually brought out cries of pain. People weren't able to see the expression on her face as it was buried into the canvas, but her not giving into the hold was impressive to the audience.

"It's been a little bit since the hold was locked in and Dixie is not letting up. And will you stop with the Pepsi Claire: that's your third can this match!" Ken said as he stared at the two empty cans by his fellow commentator.

Claire just stared at him as Carrietta began wriggling to get her head free and slowly cracked open the can to bug Ken.

"God damn woman. How are you not 300 lbs or running to the bathroom right now?" he asked, turning back to the monitor.

She shrugged as she took a sip.

"I've got a bladder of steel. Hold up now: it looks like Carrie's making progress at freeing her head."

The girl managed to work her head free of Dixie's knee with a few targeted jabs to it. The Texan kept the hold on tight but the other wrestler began pushing up with her arms and, in another impressive showcase of strength, threw her foe over and out of the hold. The crowd found themselves getting behind the newcomer because of this endurance and spunk she was showing. Dixie was up on her feet first and moving in for a continued assault but she was met with a double palm thrust. She took a couple more desperation shots to the chest before pulling Carrie up by her hair. She let go when Carrie rammed her forehead into hers.

"Ohhhhhh," came the crowd's reaction; everyone's head was hurting from the cranium on cranium contact.

Stunned by the ferocious headbutt, she was bent over with a sharp thrust kick to the gut. Lifting her head up was a mistake because Carrie made her eat a quick thrust kick to the jaw, that was followed by a whirling Capoiera styled kick. The combination sent her rolling out of the ring.

"My God that was a hell of a headbutt! I could feel that from here," Claire exclaimed.

"And those kicks were picture perfect too but Carrietta is trying to rub some feeling into her back. Wait a minute, is Dixie busted open?" Ken asked as he leaned closer to the monitor.

"Dang Ken: I think she might be!"

The camera managed to center on a stunned Dixie Clements' head and, sure enough, a slight trickle of blood could be seen from where the headbutt had landed. She was trying to shake some sense back into her head before she noticed it. Touching the wound with her fingers, she winced and looked at the blood on her fingertips. Not a lot to be worried about as it was just a trickle but her head felt like she got headbutted by a goat.

"Damn you got some fire," she thought.

Dixie wanted to take a quick break for her head but she knew she should keep on the newcomer. She started to climb to the apron and Carrie noticed her. Dixie caught her with a quick hotshot that bounced her back to the mat. Without even thinking, Dixie adjusted her footing before pulling back and launched herself over the ropes, crashing down on Carrietta with a slingshot senton.

"Holy crap, that actually worked!" Dixie said to herself; as surprised by the move as the audience.

Immediately getting to her feet, she pulled the other up and put her head between her thighs. Dixie then wrapped her arms around her waist and lifted her up before dropping her down with a brutal powerbomb. She kept her hands locked and lifted her up again before slamming Carrietta down with as much force as possible. Hands still locked, she lifted her up again but spun around 360 degrees with the motion and dropped down into a final sitout powerbomb.

"And Min-seo starts the count: 1…2…and she kicked out!" Claire said amazed.

The look on Dixie's face was one of shock as she looked at Min-seo for conformation.

"That was definitely a 2 and a half count. She may have actually gotten that if she used her feet to cover Carrie's shoulders," Ken explained.

Claire nodded in agreement.

"Oh definitely. There's a chance that may have done it too. That transition into the spin was graceful and added a brutal level of momentum to the final bomb too. I'd say the newcomer's back is ripe for the picking now. A submission like the last one may do the trick."

Dixie slapped the mat in a show of annoyance as she stood back up. She delivered a number of swift stomps to the lower back as she looked at the nearest ring corner. Dixie then decided to drag her opponent, still facedown, into better position before climbing to the top.

This might be the beginning of the end for Hart," Ken analyzed. "That thunderous trio of powerbombs might have blasted out the last of her gas and momentum."

"And Dixie's feeling desperate I bet. She's gone to the top rope before for a savage elbow drop but the top rope is not her specialty in the slightest."

Ken nudged Claire, "Heh, I see what you did there."

Dixie steadied herself on the top rope and couldn't help but survey the crowd as she made the motion for an elbow drop attack. However she stopped when someone caught her eye in the front row: Reiko was sitting in a seat, clad in her black leather casual wear and the kendo stick accompanying her like usual. She just stared and gave a little wave like a queen or model might do. Suddenly Dixie was sent flying off the ropes to the unprotected metal grates. The fall was nasty and the Texan could only look up as Carrie rapidly mounted the top rope. The newcomer hurled herself off with reckless abandoned. An elbow was driven into her chest and everything hurt far worse now.

"Good Christ on Golgotha! What a fall and what a drop!" Claire exclaimed shocked.

"That was a hell of an elbow but Carrie had to have caused as much damage to herself the way she threw her body on Dixie. Those grates hurt like a bitch," Ken said as he scribbled something else down. "And what is Reiko doing out here Claire? She has no stake in this fight."

"She probably just wanted a front row show. And probably wanted to give Dixie another solid caning, Singapore style."

Claire looked down at the note that read, "I know other people do elbow drops to the outside but she did that too."

"Do your notes have anything more to add to Ms. Hart's bio? Like how she's batshit enough to throw her body onto a grounded opponent residing on steel grates?"

Ken looked through and pointed, "My buddy made mention of her having a daredevil fighting style. Likes to fly over and off of the ropes through people and things.

Claire scribbled something down herself as the wrestlers writhed on the ground, "Maybe? But how or why?"

Carrie was the first to her feet on an adrenaline spike. She pulled herself into the ring as Min-seo continued counting. Dixie began to get up slowly herself and that's when Carrietta decided on her next move. The platinum blonde began to stomp her feet and attempted to warm up the crowd before running to rebound off the ropes. The referee had to quickly sidestep out of the way as Carrietta stepped up and off the middle rope. She tucked her legs and spun forward, crashing back first on top of Dixie like a meteor.

"Holy shit!" both commentators exclaimed.

Both were standing up and looking out towards the ring, Claire barely managing to save her Pepsi. Part of the camera panned to them and caught a glimpse of Claire mouthing something to Ken.

"Harbinger?

He looked through his notes from his friend and looked back up to Claire.

"Ladies and gentlemen, according to my notes, that move is dubbed the Harbinger. An impressive display of athleticism right there."

"Tope Con Hilo's are an impressive and dangerous move," Claire added as she settled back down into her chair. "Not many people step up on the ropes like that though. Can't say it gives much of an increase to the impact but it definitely makes for a spectacle. I can only immediately recall one other person who does it like that and ACH is definitely not a performer here."

Carrie is again the first back on her feet and she chucks Dixie back into the ring. In the center of the ring, she stands the Texas powerhouse up enough to have her in a hunched over position. The brawler then turned around and made a heart symbol with her hands before dramatically breaking it. Ken and Claire paused mid commentary when they saw the heart break symbol she used. Hooking Dixie's arms, she turned around and bends so her head is under her butt. Pushing up, she stands so Dixie is hung upside down and helpless.

"Oh shit," Ken cursed as he again scribbled something down.

"Hartbreaker," it read as Claire looked from it to the monitor.

"Folks it looks like we're about to see a good old fashioned Kudome Valentine. Brace your spines!" she warned as Carrie turned to wink at the nearest camera.

The Missouri girl dropped down to her butt as Dixie's neck impacted on the mat and Carrie rolled her for the pin. Min-seo got to the three count and signaled for the bell as a blur came flying into the ring from the top rope. Knees practically caved in the victorious wrestler's abdomen as a black leather jacket and pants wearing woman stood up in the center of the ring.

"What the Hell is going on here?" Claire asked furiously. "Who does she think she is spoiling this for her!?"

"Couldn't have Reiko waited for a better time to attack Dixie?" Ken spat lividly. "Why'd she have attack the new girl too!?"

Boos rang throughout the audience as Rowdy Reiko Hinomoto tossed down her kendo stick and dragged a wounded Carrie off her rival. She couldn't do much of anything as she was having trouble breathing after the Fallen Angel to her chest and stomach. Reiko yanked a barely conscious Dixie to her feet and tucked her head between her legs. She hooked an arm over the back and one beneath her chest then lifted her up; spinning her like a top with a pull of the arms. Dixie's neck and head were dropped to the mat with this same motion and momentum for the Sunset Driver. The boos became louder as she placed a foot on her chest cockily and victoriously. Then the Queen Cobra yanked Carrie up and hit the Sunset Driver on her too. The Japanese woman got down on her knees and stomach to just stare at the sweaty and unconscious women. Before standing up, she glided onto Carrie and provocatively straddled her before placing a kiss on her lips. She did the same, straddling Dixie a little while longer, and placed a kiss on her lips as well. Reiko then got to her feet, picked up her kendo stick as her music began playing, and left the ring. Only looking back winking as the camera's watched her walk to the back.

"And the kiss of the cobra strikes once more," Ken remarked annoyed.

Claire, typically okay with villainous actions every now and again, was livid at this moment, "Thanks for joining us and we hope you enjoyed the show."

Ken and Claire just looked at the monitor of a camera shot that lingered over the bodies of the two. One of them panned to Carrie and the two couldn't hide the growing malice in their voice.

"Goodnight everyone," the two said as the television feed was then cut.

Fin

Yeeeeeeeeeeeah: no excuses for the several months in between this and the last. I have no idea when I'll be starting on the next chapter either but I think I'm going to try doing that now more than later. There might be less wrestling and more story drama. I have had the next few chapter summaries written down at least so I do have something of a plan. As always, you people have a good day/night.