In a wrestling career filled with several high and lows, Barbie Doll was once again on an upswing. Her popularity amongst the fans was on the rise after a brief losing spell, and her wrestling skills seemed to be coming into their own. Her last match was a huge win for her, against one of the POWA's toughest wrestlers, ToniAnn. It had been a grueling match, one in which Barbie took some lumps, but in the end, it was her blonde opponents' shoulders which were pinned to the mat.
The win was a huge one for Barbie Doll in a number of ways. First of all, it gave her a bit of revenge. ToniAnn had been the Doll's opponent in her first professional wrestling match and used that opportunity to really take Barbie to school, roughing her up pretty good and taunting her the entire time. ToniAnn had also edged out Barbie Doll in the 1999 POWA Fan Popularity Poll, beating her by just one vote. So even though she didn't admit it publicly, Barbie Doll relished the way in which she had begun to settle the
score against a rival.
Secondly, the televised show on which Barbie beat ToniAnn had received the POWA's highest ratings to date, providing Barbie Doll with some great exposure. She won over a number of new fans on that night with her courageous performance and had begun to solidify her reputation as a very proficient, technical wrestler. Though not as big and strong as some of the other POWA stars, Barbie had begun to convince people that she belonged in the ring with them nonetheless. And that fact had been recognized by Matt and the rest of the POWA brass.
But even though Barbie Doll was viewed as a potential star, she still needed to prove herself further. She was developing nicely, but had yet to prove that she could consistently win the "big" match. But that opportunity had now been presented to her. Her next match was scheduled against Marisol, one of the POWA's elite wrestlers. It would surely be a tough match, and Barbie took it very seriously. But the match was perhaps even more important than she realized. What Matt had not let her know, for fear it might make her too nervous, was that if she were in fact able to beat Marisol, she would likely earn the opportunity to wrestle for the title in her next match.
But even though unaware of the perks of winning the match, the perky housewife was highly motivated for it anyway. She spent hours upon hours in preparation for the match over the next several weeks, each morning dropping her two kids off at school and then heading directly to the gym. There she would spend most of her morning and afternoon in training, working hard on both her physique and technique. She lifted weights, participated in aerobics, did hundreds of sit ups, took kick-boxing classes and whatever else she could find to get her mind and body ready. The weeks of training had done a great job of getting her trim body in even better shape than usual, a fact which did not go unnoticed by her 9 year old daughter, Stephanie.
On one day in particular, just a few days away from the match, after Barbie had dropped off her son at Karate lessons, just she and Stephanie remained in the minivan driving home. Barbie and her husband Geoff had tried very hard to shield their kids from their mothers' wrestling career, fearing that the other kids might tease them about it. But with the popularity of the POWA's televised shows, it was just a matter of time before they found out, and Stephanie was the first to bring it up. As Barbie drove the minivan home, she heard a cute little voice ask the dreaded question from the back seat.
"Are you going to beat Marisol in your wrestling match this week mommy?"
Barbie was stunned and immediately skidded off to the side of the road, not sure how to react. She sat silently for a moment before undoing her seatbelt and turning to face her daughter. She had thought about this day for sometime, but had not expected it to come so soon. Thinking quickly, she knew that she could not lie to her daughter, but debated the proper response. Finally, after a long pause, she replied.
"I hope so Steph, but Marisol is a very good wrestler so it won't be easy."
"I know mommy, but you can do it. Is it going to be on television, just like your last match was?"
Again Barbie was shocked, not realizing her daughter was aware that the POWA matches were on television. She again paused to think about her response, but then continued.
"Yes honey, it will be on TV. But it is on very late at night, well after your bedtime."
"I know mommy, but couldn't I stay up, just this one time to watch you? Lots of my friends got to watch your last match and they were all talking about it at school the next day. So why can't I?"
Barbie was in trouble, and she knew it. First of all she did not realize how many kids right in her own town had been watching the POWA shows. And if the kids were watching, that means the parents were watching too! But she knew that she had to be firm yet gentle in denying her daughter's request.
"Maybe when you get a little older sweetey, then you can watch mommy wrestle, okay?"
Little Stephanie began to sulk, bowing her head in disappointment. But as young kids do, she was relentless, lifting her head up quickly as she smiled and voiced another option.
"Okay mommy. But one of my friends said that if you win this match, then you will probably get to wrestle against the champ! If you do, then can I watch that?"
Barbie was shocked at the assessment, again amazed at how closely some of the kids were following her wrestling career. But though flattered, she didn't necessarily agree with the kids view. So since she knew her daughter was not going to give up, and since she doubted that she would have the possibility of her earning another shot at the title in the near future, she hastily nodded her head in agreement.
"Okay sweetey. Next time I get to wrestle for the championship, you can watch it on television. Okay?"
Satisfied, Stephanie smiled widely, nodding her head happily. Barbie was satisfied too, knowing that she had just bought herself some time before she was faced with this issue again. Leaning over, she gave her daughter a kiss before sliding back into the drivers' seat, her forehead tingling from nerves.
A match for the championship was the furthest thing from Barbie's mind, so it didn't seem like a big deal to agree to that. In fact, Barbie was happy that the whole thing was finally over! It had to happen sooner or later, and better that it happened in this way than something which could have been far worse. But now she was faced with an even tougher task.... telling her husband Geoff about the incident and the promise she had made to their daughter.
Marisol meanwhile was also preparing for the match, but with much less vigor than her spry opponent. Ever since her husband Hector had passed away several months ago, Marisol was having a hard time getting motivated. Hector was her biggest fan, a source of inspiration to Marisol and a loving husband. So without him around, Marisol found it difficult to prepare with the same intensity she had in the past. She was still in great shape, her skills as sharp as ever, but she seemed to be lacking the killer instinct which had made her famous.
Marisol was known for her viciousness and cruelty to her opponents, a trait which Hector adored. He called her his "Warrior Goddess" and Marisol relished the title. But without him in the audience, Marisol found it harder and harder to keep up her intensity. She would spend most of her days first visiting the cemetery before coming home to run through her training sessions. But she would get so depressed after visiting Hector's grave that her training began to suffer.
On the night before the match however, she came across some of the old videotapes she had of her private matches against Maggie. Marisol had placed them in the coffin with him since he had enjoyed them so much in his life, but what she did not realize was that he had copies made and had left them in several places around the house. As Marisol sat in the dark living room, letting the video play through, tears began to roll down her cheeks as she watched the action.
Though Marisol brutalized Maggie on each of the videos, many of the scenes only brought back memories of the delighted expression on her husbands' face as he watched them. Even though the matches themselves had not been painful to Marisol, the memories of her husband watching them stirred up some great emotional pain for Marisol. Much moreso than even the physical pain which Maggie had endured during those matches. In fact, the last time Marisol remembered seeing Hector watch those tapes, she had fallen asleep by his side. As the tape played on, he woke her from a sound sleep and proceeded to make love to her with as much passion as he ever had in their lives. Marisol continued to stare at the television screen, watching as Maggie's battered body was tossed around the ring. Marisol wiped the tears from her eyes before getting up and turning the television off. She then sat down on the sofa once again, sitting quietly and thinking.
Her marriage had been wonderful, all of her memories pleasant and heart warming. But since his death, Marisol had been having a difficult time. As she pondered her fate without Hector however, she slowly began to realize that it was time for things to change. Hector had loved to watch her wrestle, loved to see
her conquer other women, loved to see her express her aggressive side. But instead of carrying on that tradition in his honor, Marisol instead spent most of her time brooding, which would have made Hector very upset. What he would have wanted most was for Marisol to continue to exploit her wrestling prowess,
exercise her dominance and flaunt her supremacy. And as Marisol sat in silence, she slowly began to realize that. Gradually, for the first time since his death, she began to feel warm inside, almost as if she could feel him with her. For the first time in months, Marisol felt motivated to succeed. And with her match against Barbie Doll just one day away, her change of heart was just in time!
Back at Barbie Doll's house, she too was awake. She had not had the courage to speak to Geoff about the incident with Stephanie, but with her match just a day away, it was now or never. She explained to Geoff how Stephanie had confronted her about her wrestling, and asked to watch. Geoff's face grew red with anger as he closed his mouth tightly and listened. He wasn't very happy about his wife's wrestling to begin with, and this would only make things worse. Waiting for his wife to finish, Geoff finally erupted.
"She is NOT going to watch you wrestle and that's final! You want to wrestle... that's fine. But our daughter is not going to be a part of it!"
"But she is a part of it already Geoff! I didn't want her to find out either, but she did, so now we have to deal with it. She wants to watch me, and maybe it's not such a bad idea. We can gradually get her prepared for it, you know?"
"Do you remember your last match? Sure, you won. But remember what that little blonde bitch did to you after the match. She knocked you senseless! How do you think your 9 year old daughter would react to seeing her mommy get knocked senseless by another woman as a mass of cheering animals cheered her on!!!?"
Barbie sat back with a worried look on her face. She obviously did not have the answers, but wasn't quite willing to just dismiss the issue either.
"I don't know Geoff, I just don't know. Of course I don't think I'm going to get knocked senseless, but that is always a risk. But I do know that some of her friends are watching already, so she is going to find out about it whether we like it or not. I just think it might be better for her to see it for herself, than to hear about from one of her friends."
Geoff turned over, pulling the covers toward him in annoyed frustration. It was obvious that he was ending the conversation, and emphasized it with his final remark.
"I don't think a 9 year old should be exposed to that, no matter what you think!"
With that, Geoff went to sleep, leaving Barbie to sit up, worrying about the issue alone. She turned to look at the alarm clock and saw that it read 1:45AM. It was late, and she had a big day ahead of her, so Barbie finally placed her head won on her pillow and tried to get some sleep.
The next day was rather uneventful, Barbie leaving early to head to the POWA arena, leaving Geoff to watch the kids. Marisol too arrived early, both women reaching their respective locker rooms over two hours before their matches. Each had a fair amount on their minds, but chose to deal with those thoughts in different ways. Barbie changed into her bikini and immediately began running through an exercise regimen to burn off some of her nervous energy.
She did four sets of sit-ups and tried to do four sets of push-ups before taking a break and drinking some water. The activity allowed her to avoid thinking of her daughter and the fight she had with Geoff, at least for the time being. She continued to pace around the room, doing whatever she could to occupy her thoughts. The time seemed to drag as Barbie quickly ran out of distractions, her thoughts shifting back to issues at home.
Marisol on the other hand had a different approach. She chose to calmly change into her bikini and then get comfortable on the sofa in her room. She closed her eyes and began to daydream about her late husband, a smile crossing her lips as she tried to draw inspiration from his memory. The time seemed to fly, and when
the knock came on the door, Marisol was very calm, though mentally ready for battle. She blessed herself quickly and then blew a kiss up into the air before walking out of the locker room and preparing for her
introduction. Marisol stood in front of the door, listening to the bustling crowd inside of the arena.
She knew of Barbie doll, knew that she was still fairly new to wrestling but that she had come a long way. Marisol did not underestimate her either, knowing that this had the potential to be a tough match. But Marisol also knew that Barbie had not yet faced someone with the level of experience which she possessed, and so Marisol planned to use that to her advantage.
Assuming that Barbie had already been introduced, Marisol strutted confidently, though briskly toward the ring, receiving a rousing ovation. The crowd obviously respected her, but in addition, the death of her husband had been a very publicized event, and so most were sympathetic to her situation. Marisol gratefully acknowledged the cheers with a few unassuming waves. She was not a boisterous personality outside of the ring, choosing to save her outbursts for her opponent. But as she approached the ring, she was surprised to see that her younger, less experienced challenger had not yet been introduced, a fact which annoyed the veteran.
The more accomplished, more experienced wrestler was always introduced last, but not in this match it seemed. Even though Barbie Doll was the number one ranked competitor, with Marisol at number 2, the veteran still considered herself the top contender until proven otherwise. So the fact that Barbie had been given that honor did not make Marisol happy. Nonetheless, Marisol strode to ringside and adeptly jumped up into the ring, graciously acknowledging the cheers as she settled back into her corner.
She wore a yellow, hip length jacket, which she slid off to reveal her usual yellow bikini, outlined in silver glitter. Though in her mid 40's, Marisol still had a killer body, even though marked with a few small scars from some of the wrestling wars she had been involved with over the years. Her skin was a deep, light brown color, evidence of her Puerto Rican ancestry, her hair a dark red tone. All in all, Marisol was a very attractive woman, though she also had the look of a killer. Her eyes were intense, and you could tell that she was a tough woman, just by looking into them.
The crowd began to settle back down, but then Barbie Doll was introduced, and the cheers again rose up from the throng. The ovation was similar in volume to that of Marisol's, both women popular and well known. But unlike Marisol's measured and restrained entry, Barbie Doll hopped joyfully down the aisle, slapping hands and smiling from ear to ear at the welcome. Reaching ringside, the energetic Doll climbed up into the ring and skipped around, Marisol leaning back in her corner and watching carefully. Barbie could feel the fiery stare, almost as if it were burning a hole through her, but refused to look back, instead heading directly toward her corner.
Wearing a bright, blue, green and white bikini, Barbie was in great shape. Her peach-fuzzed, dimpled abdomen and taut thighs were testament to the time she had spent in the gym, while the darkness of her honey colored skin was testament to the time spent in the tanning salon. Though not typically the kind who use a tanning salon, Barbie Doll was conscious to look her best, considering the amount of new fans who were now apparently watching her on TV. She had also let her thick, curly head of hair grow even fuller and had lightened it to a light, caramel brown shade. So as she bopped in her corner, she looked as good as she had during her wrestling career.
But as she glanced across at Marisol, she was easily intimidated by the hard looking veteran. Sure Barbie was in great shape, but she was not the warrior which Marisol was, and she knew it. She would need to be quick both physically and mentally in order to avoid the punishment which Marisol was looking to give to out. And as Marisol spent more time dwelling on the introduction snub, she was looking forward to transferring some of that hurt onto her cute, little challenger. The psychological warfare continued for a few more moments, but luckily for Barbie Doll, the bell rang, changing the focus to real warfare.
Barbie hopped spryly out of her corner, crouched forward and ready for anything. Marisol moved quickly as well, spryly moving closer to her target. Marisol was not known for subtlety or for finesse and Barbie knew it. So when Marisol lunged at her, Barbie was ready. The two locked arms, moving shoulder to shoulder as the struggle began. Barbie could feel Marisol's strength, but even more importantly, hear the intensity of her attack with the low, muffled growls which emanated from her.
Barbie Doll did not get flustered however, instead quickly dropping to one knee and forcing Marisol off balance. She then grabbed her from behind her head and tossed her forward across her shoulder. Marisol flipped onto her back, but hastily jumped back to her feet as Barbie waited. The crowd began to cheer as Marisol again charged forward, this time snatching hold of Barbie's wrist before she could react. With a quick turn, she coiled the Doll's arm beneath her, pulling it out to the side of her body with Barbie now hunched forward.
Marisol then jumped up and out to the side, spreading her legs apart and wrapping them around Barbie's head in a mid air leg scissors. Marisol then fell to the mat on her side, forcing Barbie to tumble down with her. But as Marisol fell, she pulled the Doll's head down by her legs in order to quickly flip her onto her back.
The move exhibited not only Marisol's experience, but also the great strength which she possessed. Barbie tried to get up, but Marisol kept her muscular legs tightened firmly around the sides of her cut little head.
Barbie kicked her legs in protect, trying to pry Marisol's legs apart with her hands, but to no avail. Finally, after her head began to feel like a walnut trapped in a nutcracker, she decided to buck her legs into the air, eventually gaining enough momentum to kick out of the scissors hold.
But Marisol was quick and charged over, grabbing two handfuls of Barbie's hair in the process. She yanked her onto her feet before quickly snapping her into a flip once again. Barbie tumbled over before landing painfully and ending up sprawled on her back, her legs flying apart upon the unceremonious landing.
Once again Marisol quickly raced over to the now dizzied Doll, again plucking her off of the mat by her wrist. Wasting not time, Marisol once again jerked on Barbie's arm and flipped her through the air, sending her crashing onto her back. Barbie's eyes rolled in her head form the dizzying array of flips and throws. She rolled onto her side, but was slow to get up, allowing the vicious veteran to storm over and stomp the sole of her boot into Barbie's fuzzy, dimpled abdomen, crushing it into the mat.
Barbie's taut tummy yielded to Marisol's foot as she moaned loudly while her head shot up into the air, her face distorted in pain. Marisol then took a step back, but abruptly leaped up, pulling her elbow out in front of her as she descended toward her prey. But Barbie was able to hastily roll out of the way, causing Marisol's elbow to ram painfully into the mat.
Though still groggy from the attack, Barbie had the sense to get up onto one knee just as Marisol had gotten to her feet, rubbing her aching joint. Barbie took a deep breath, her thick, curly hair strewn wildly around her pretty, pixie-like face as she took a few deep breaths. The counterattack had only angered the veteran however, who charged over to the kneeling Barbie, reaching for a handful of her hair. But Barbie showed her prowess by delivering a short, quick jab into Marisol's unsuspecting gut.
The punch wasn't sufficient to hurt Marisol, but it startled her enough to delay her attack. But the veteran recovered quickly and rashly reached for Barbie's hair once again. The rashness of her move proved costly however, leaving the same opening which Barbie had just taken advantage of. Once again the Doll delivering a straight jab into Marisol's midsection, this one more potent than the first. Marisol stumbled back several steps this time, slumping forward slightly to grab her pounded paunch.
Barbie now had the space to get to her feet, which she did quickly. Knowing that she did not have the luxury of more time however, she acted quickly, placing Marisol in a side headlock and keeping her at bay, at least temporarily. Barbie finally had the chance to catch her breath as she squeezed her forearm tightly beneath Marisol's chin, keeping her hunched forward.
The crowd cheered loudly at the fast paced action, but Barbie was much too focused on her imposing opponent to hear the cheers. Instead, she knew that she needed to try and take control of the match before Marisol could escape, and so she settled on her next move, designed to do just that. Backing up into the corner with Marisol tucked beneath her arm, Barbie took a quick breath before charging forward toward the center of the ring. Reaching it, she leaped in the air, pulling her legs out in front of her as she rose.
Adjusting her grip, she pulled Marisol's head closely to her hip as they began to descend. Just as Barbie's butt struck the mat, she pushed down on the back of Marisol's head, ramming her face into the mat. The crowd erupted as Marisol's body splashed into the canvas, her face taking the brunt of the impact. Marisol was hurt, her body spread face down as Barbie sat alongside of her, her adrenaline pumping from the thrill of taking charge of the match. Barbie pumped her fist into the air as her fans spewed their praise loudly.
Marisol lifted her head enough to shake it from side to side, but was too disoriented to get up yet. Instead, she planted her elbows on the mat to lift her head, her face showing her pain. She was stunned that Barbie had been able to administer the Bulldog on her, and her mind began to wander.
The Bulldog was one of Hector's favorite moves, and one which Marisol had often used in the past to set her opponent up for more punishment. She would always look out and watch Hector cheer as she sat on the mat next to her suddenly disoriented opponent. But now she found herself on the other end of it, and she was not happy.
Barbie slowed the pace, still dizzied from the earlier assault leveled against her. She watched Marisol closely, smiling secretly as the crowd continued to cheer. After a few seconds however, Barbie Doll went right back on the attack, reaching down and grabbing Marisol from beneath her chin and pulling her up and onto her knees.
Barbie got Marisols' upper body into an upright position, though still kneeling on both knees. She then set herself in front of the veteran before kicking her foot forward and stomping the sole of her boot into the side of Marisol's ribcage. Marisol's body shook as she huddled forward. But Barbie quickly grabbed her wrist and again yanked her upright before landing another stomp into the same spot on her ribcage.
Marisol faltered forward again, wrapping both arms around her chest in order to protect her aching ribs. Knowing that she slowed Marisol considerably, Barbie stepped back, breathing deeply as she pondered her next move. She respected Marisol enough to know that she could not let up, but wanted to ensure that she also saved her energy. Marisol wasn't going to give in so easily, and Barbie knew it.
So she again reached down and grabbed Marisol, this time by her right armpit, using it to yank her upright. Barbie then walked around behind the ailing veteran before lifting her own leg, bending it at the knee and shoving her knee into the middle of Marisol's back, directly between her shoulder blades. Barbie then reached forward and hastily grabbed hold of each of Marisol's wrists, yanking her arms back behind her while twisting on each of her wrists.
Marisol was slowly yanked upright, though still kneeling on both knees. Her upper body was now being pulled backward, but kept in an upright position from the force of Barbie's knee being planted in her back. Barbie continued to yank on Marisol's arms while keeping her knee pressed forward, causing Marisol's back to arch painfully while her shoulders ached from the pressure on both joints. Marisol grunted in low muffled tones, her face cringing from the pain. Barbie's face was also cringed, showing the exertion being used to keep the pressure on her opponent. Her arms began to quiver form the strain, perspiration now beginning to drip off of both combatants.
The crowd roared their approval as Marisol continued to grunt more loudly, Barbie beginning to grunt as well in her high pitched voice. Both women were straining, though Barbie's strain being much easier to take. Finally, with her arms tiring, Barbie released her hold, allowing Marisol to slump forward, her shoulders pocked with aches and pains.
Barbie stood upright, her slick skin highlighting the lithe muscles on her thin arms. The crowd cheered her as Marisol remain slumped forward, recovering from the torturous hold. But Barbie only took a short while to recover before walking back in front of her foe, preparing to again go on the offensive. She stood in front of the crouched veteran and again placed her hand in Marisol's armpit, using it to pull her up.
As Marisol rose, Barbie lifted her foot and sent another stomp toward the ailing veteran's ribs, but the cagey Marisol was able to grab hold of Barbie's foot before it struck her, much to the curly haired grapplers surprise. Barbie's face dropped as her leg was lifted out in front of her. Marisol gradually got to her feet, still clenching tightly onto the booted ankle of the Doll. She then yanked and twisted on the ankle, wrenching it to the side as Barbie wailed in pain, hopping on her other leg to keep her balance.
Marisol slowly got to her feet, keeping hold of Barbie's ankle and pulling her leg up even further in the process. Marisol then set herself in front of the teetering Barbie, pulling on her ankle even more, thereby stretching the Doll's leg as far away from her body as it would go. Barbie continued to hop on one leg to keep her balance, the hamstring on her elevated leg stretched and bulging from the back of her leg.
Marisol toyed with Barbie for a few more seconds, pulling her forward and forcing Barbie to hop briskly to keep her balance. But then Marisol kicked ferociously upward, impaling the tip of her boot into the tightened muscle on the backside of the Doll's thigh. Barbie squealed in pain as Marisol's foot landed back on the mat, only to be kicked up once again, driving the hard, leather point of her boot into the bulging and now aching muscle. Barbie was in agony, her leg feeling crippled as she desperately hopped on her good leg for balance.
Barbie leaned forward, her leg in tremendous pain as she hopelessly tried to rub it. But Marisol then grabbed the top of the Doll's bowed head with both hands while releasing the Doll's wounded leg. She then forced Barbie's head downward even further and between her legs until she was able to press the sides of her knees around the Doll's bowed head. Just as she tightened the grip, Marisol quickly dropped to the mat, using her knees to drive Barbie's face into the canvas.
Once again the crowd erupted, this time cheering Marisol's deftness as Barbie was now the one spread, face down on the canvas. But unlike her opponent had done earlier, Marisol did not take the opportunity to rest, instead going right back on the attack, pulling the dazed Doll onto her feet by the hair.
Barbie's eyes were glazed as she rose, Marisol tightly clutching two handfuls of the thick, curly hair on the top of her head. Marisol then took off, racing toward the corner, towing the hunched Barbie alongside her. She picked up speed as they approached the corner, Barbie preparing to have her face slammed down into the padded turnbuckle. She closed her eyes as they approached, waiting for the impact to happen. She knew it would be painful, but she also knew that she should be able to recover quickly from the impending collision. And so as she was dragged forward, Barbie began to consider her possible counters after impact. But what Barbie did not realize was that the padded turnbuckle was not her final destination. A more painful and debilitating fate awaited her.
Marisol pulled mightily on the top of Barbie's head, but rather than aim for the turnbuckle, she actually tossed Barbie's head forward, sending it rocketing between the top two turnbuckles and headed directly for the thick, steel pole. There was a loud roar from Marisol's fans just before the frightful CLANK, as the top of Barbie's skull struck the rigid, metal pole in the corner. Barbie's head came to an abrupt stop as the rest of her body moved forward, driving her neck down and sinking into her shoulders. Her legs stumbled awkwardly before she fell straight back, landing on her butt. Her eyes seemed to roll in her head as she remained in an upright, seated position for a few moments, her expression completely blank. Her arms fell limply to her sides, almost as if she were comatose, her body swayed slightly from side to side, evidence of her anesthetized state. Finally, with the crowd cheering the carnage, Barbie tumbled backward and landed flat on her back against the canvas.
The crowd cheered loudly upon Barbie's landing, her ears ringing and the pain slowly gripping her entire body. The pretty, housewife was out of it, staring blankly up into the air, oblivious to her surroundings. The top of her head had taken all of the impact, the exact same spot which had taken such a pounding in her catfight against Diane. That fight had proved very painful for Barbie, and several blows to the head had left her feeling much the same way she did right now. At the time she had not realized the severity of her pain, nor did she now.
She had not then, nor could she now, realize that both instances had ended in the same result. The catfight pounding which the top of her head had taken had given her a mild concussion, and this latest blow to the same spot had done the same. So as she lay in her dizzied state, her brain was throbbing inside of her skull.
Marisol did not realize the extent of the damage either, so she grabbed a handful of Barbie's hair, yanking her up onto her feet. Barbie was like a zombie, her arms hanging limply at her sides as she was pulled up. Marisol then thrust one arm between Barbie's legs and grabbed her across her shoulder with the other, scooping the petite housewife off of the mat and lifting her into the air. Barbie's body was lifted, first into a horizontal position as Marisol paraded her to the side of the ring. The crowd cheered as Marisol displayed her opponent to the crowd before lifting her into a vertical position.
Barbie could hear the cheers as she was upended in midair, but was unable to fully comprehend her situation. She stared out into the sea of upside down faces, her mind a blank. But soon after, she felt herself being slammed to the mat, and she knew it was going to hurt.
She was right too! Her back crashed against the canvas, jarring her spine, the pain emanating up her back. Her arms fell out and over her head, her long hair covering most of her face as she bent one knee up and off of the mat as she lay motionless. The excruciating pain in her head combined with the ache in her back to place Barbie in a precarious position. She wasn't able to focus her thoughts, not able to devise a plan of defense, leaving her vulnerable to Marisol's attack. And attack Marisol did.
With her renewed confidence and desire to show that she could once again be the wrestler her late husband had loved to watch, Marisol aggressively went on the prowl. She hovered around the flattened body of the Doll, almost as if stalking her prey before making her move. Reaching down, she grabbed the Doll by her right wrist and yanked on her arm, lugging her body off of the mat. Barbie's head snapped back as her shoulders lifted into the air, but Marisol then stomped downward, ramming the sole of her boot into the left side of Barbie's ribs, jarring her back down.
Barbie groaned in her sweet, high pitched voice while Marisol again yanked on her wrist, pulling her up by the arm. Barbie rose reluctantly, her right arm stretched up as Marisol tugged on it, this time allowing her to be forced onto her feet. Barbie stood shakily, but did not need to wait long before Marisol was whipping her across the ring, sending her body dipping into the ropes. Barbie ran quickly, her head still ringing loudly from the pain of the concussion. The cheers of the crowd seemed to fold into the loud buzzing and ringing too, making the noise even more irritating.
She sank into the ropes before her momentum shot her right back to Marisol, who delivered a tactfully placed submarine move on the ailing Doll. Barbie flipped into the air before once again crashing onto her back, her shapely legs now tightly together as they bent up in the air.
Barbie's face was covered with her own, curly hair as she lay on the mat, her hands reaching up to massage the terrible pounding in her head. But Marisol moved quickly, not allowing the Doll time to wallow in her pain before again yanking her onto her feet. The Doll went for another ride across the ring, this time hit with a stiff clothesline as she emerged from the ropes. The crowd began to sense that the end was near, and so did Marisol, as she began to plan how to finish her less experienced opponent off. But not before she took the time to do some celebrating.
Meanwhile, back at Barbie's house, Geoff had gotten the kids to sleep, and had tuned into the match just a few short minutes ago. He watched as his wife wallowed on the mat, obviously in trouble and in pain. His thoughts then turned to his daughter and the consequences of having her witness her mother getting beaten like this. Geoff sat on the edge of his seat, concerned about everything.
But the crowd seemed much less concerned, happy to cheer Marisol as she stormed around the ring, receiving their praise. But as Marisol smiled, she again remembered back to Hector as she looked out into the crowd. He would always sit in the same section, but as she turned and looked there, his face was nowhere in sight. She felt a sudden sadness, and paused for a moment, not listening to the cheers.
Barbie meanwhile, though in great pain, was not yet ready to give up. Though still having trouble fighting through the pain, she was nonetheless determined not to give up without a fight. She used the time to try and focus her thoughts, and as Marisol finally stormed over and yanked her up by the hair, Barbie slowly tightened her right hand into a fist, cocked her arm, and then delivered the hardest punch she could muster into Marisol's breadbasket.
Marisol was startled by the blow, though as before, it wasn't hard enough to do much damage. In fact, it barely slowed her down. But with Barbie now kneeling in front of her on both knees, Marisol reached forward with both hands, locking her fingers around Barbie's. The two were now locked in a test of strength, Barbie at a distinct disadvantage as she knelt below her attacker.
The disadvantage was soon highlighted as Marisol thrust her foot forward, mercilessly driving the point of her yellow wrestling boot into the taut tummy of the ailing Doll.
"GGGAAAWWWHHH!"
Barbie Doll blubbered loudly as she folded forward, her long hair flying forward as well as she wrapped her arms around her midsection and curled her head into her knees. Curled into a ball, Barbie was truly suffering. Marisol knew that there was little fight left in the Doll by this point and so she again took the opportunity to reflect on Hectors' absence. Parading around the ring with her arms stretched over her head and looking up toward the heavens, Marisol's strengths soon became obvious. Though not an overtly muscular woman, nonetheless it became easy to appreciate her strength. Slick with perspiration, her body glistened under the bright lights which shined down into the ring. The reflection helped to accentuate the limber arms and legs of the Puerto Rican warrior, and the crowd showed their appreciation by giving her a standing ovation. Marisol was surprised by the reaction, and out of character for her, waved happily in appreciation. She then blew a kiss up toward they sky, and for the first time since her husband's death, seemed like she was truly enjoying herself in the ring.
Meanwhile Barbie Doll remained kneeling on the canvas, curled forward into a ball as the bumps of her spine protruded through her light brown skin. The lights also danced off of her, though her body was recoiled, as opposed to Marisol's extended, celebrating form. Barbie was still desperately trying to regain control of herself, but it did not look good. Marisol was parading triumphantly over her and Barbie Doll was providing no reason why she shouldn't be.
The crowd was appreciative of the fast paced, brutal action to this point, and their loud cheers were evidence of that fact. Marisol showed her own appreciation for a short period of time before eventually turning her attention back to the ailing Doll. Reaching down, she plucked Barbie off of the mat by her hair, yanking her into an upright position. Barbie looked back into Marisol's eyes and saw the grit and determination of a true warrior as she found herself being whipped toward the ropes.
Desperately, Barbie knew that she had to avoid being at the mercy of Marisol, and so she hooked her arm over the top rope as she sank into them, somehow able to hold herself back. But once Marisol saw this, she charged over and immediately lifted her leg, sending a stomp forward towards, Barbie's ribs. The hurting but nimble housewife was able to shift her body enough to the side that Marisol's stomp only glanced her side, the perspiration which soaked her honey colored skin acting as a lubricant and sending Marisol's foot sliding off of her.
As a result, Marisol's foot slid off of Barbie's body and skipped through the bottom two ropes. As she lifted her leg to step back into the ring however, Barbie mustered the strength to stand up and quickly lift her knee into Marisol's side, stopping her in her tracks. It was not a brutal blow by any means, but it caused Marisol to freeze and stumble slightly, causing her to further lose her balance. So with one leg on the ring apron and the other still in the ring, Marisol was walking a tight rope.
Acting quickly, Barbie again lifted her knee, this time ramming it into Marisol's kidney, causing the veteran to groan softly and reach behind her to massage the pain. Adroitly, Barbie grabbed her wrist and abruptly twisted it upward, pressing it against Marisol's back, directly between her shoulder blades.
Barbie held on tightly to Marisol's wrist with one arm, but the bent her other arm at the elbow and rammed the point of it into the back of Marisol's neck, causing the veterans' head to snap backward. Barbie then wrapped her free arm around Marisol's neck, trapping her in a quasi choke hold.
With Marisol's right arm trapped behind her back and Barbie's arm locked beneath her chin, the Doll had made an incredible comeback of sorts. She cautiously forced Marisol back toward the center of the ring, allowing her to step between the ropes in the process. Barbie was concentrating with all of her might, trying to fight through the ringing in her head and aches and pains over the rest of her body. But the look in her eyes was one of steely determination, and as she became to push Marisol forward toward the corner, the possibility of her having a chance to win the match once again looked reasonable.
Driving Marisol forward form behind, the veteran knew that the collision into the corner was going to be a painful one. With her arm trapped behind her, she had no way to protect herself, and as Barbie pushed forward, her suspicions proved accurate.
The front of Marisol's body collided painfully with the corner as Barbie released both holds, causing Marisol to collapse to one knee. Barbie backed away and hunched over, catching her breath and still trying to fight through the pain. But as she looked up, she saw Marisol beginning to get to her feet. Barbie wasted no time however, and just as Marisol stood up, she grabbed her head from behind and pushed it back down, ramming Marisol's face into the turnbuckle.
The veteran shot out of the corner, falling backward and landing flat on her back. Barbie grit her teeth and jumped down onto her knees alongside the dizzied Marisol, setting herself before reaching forward. She quickly grabbed hold of both of Marisol's legs, securing her grip before folding them up and forward towards Marisol's head.
Marisol knew what was happening and began to buck and kick, trying desperately to kick free. But Barbie grunted loudly, her will to succeed proving to much to overcome as she pushed down on the back of Marisol's legs and held on for dear life. The housewife had the unruly veteran trapped in a match book, and no matter how loud Marisol screamed in protest or how angrily she slapped the mat, she could not get free.
The referee jumped down next to her and proceeded to count, finishing quickly and waving his arms to signal the end of the match. The crowd erupted, all of them jumping to their feet, most cheering fervently, a small minority protesting the quick count. The ref grabbed Barbie by the arm and helped pull her onto her feet before lifting her arm in the air. Barbie smiled half-heartedly, her head still pounding, her body in great pain.
At home, her husband Geoff watched his wife, amazed at the level of violence in the match. He looked closely into his wife's eyes and could see the pain she was in, and did not feel good about it. His thoughts then shifted to his daughter, and wondering what affect it would have had on her to see her mother hurt like this.
Meanwhile, back in the ring, Marisol slowly got to her feet, placing her hands on her knees as she shook her head in disbelief. Barbie did the same on the other side as the announcer made her victory official. Marisol then stood up and began to make her way across the ring, her expression one of angered frustration. But as she reached her opponent, she smiled, sticking her hand in a congratulatory expression of sportsmanship.
Barbie was still hunched over, but looked up at Marisol, smiling as she shook her head.
"I can't believe I won. You're the best wrestler I've ever faced." She said as she shook Marisol's hand.
"Good match. You're a good wrestler yourself." The veteran replied before turning and walking out of the ring. Though disappointed in losing, Marisol seemed to handle it well. In fact, as she climbed out of the ring, she seemed calm and at peace. She then looked toward the sky and blew a kiss while a half smile crossed her lips. It seemed that somehow, Hector had let her know that she had done well, win or lose.....
