We are happy to bring to you, a classic match from our archives. Before the AFW, there was the Fitness
Wrestling Federation or FWF. The pioneers of the sport battled for gold and glory and we are going to
bring you one of those matches now. It is a David vs. Goliath story as two Hall of Famers clashed: the
original Human Highlight Reel, Marla Duncan went up against the juggernaut Bev Francis.
BACKSTORY
Bev Francis had burst onto the FWF scene like Godzilla storming Tokyo. She had decimated several of
the federation stars and injured Rachel McLish. This caused Rachel to have to forfeit the World title and a
tournament was started. Bev rolled into the finals vs. Gladys Portugese. In a surprise turn, Gladys was
about to put Bev away when Lenda Murray interfered. With the referee unconscious, Lenda delivered her
dreaded HEART ATTACK heart punch. As the referee stirred, Lenda then handed Bev a steel chair and
she smashed Gladys into dreamland. The three count was academic and Bev became the champion.
After two one-sided title defenses (neither of which was a rematch with Gladys), the former Middleweight
champion and current Inter-Continental champion Marla Duncan challenged the wrestling juggernaut to a
title match. A series of embarrassing encounters later, Bev agreed with one stipulation: the match would
be a Hell in a Cell match.
THE INTERVIEWS
Wrestling Federation or FWF. The pioneers of the sport battled for gold and glory and we are going to
bring you one of those matches now. It is a David vs. Goliath story as two Hall of Famers clashed: the
original Human Highlight Reel, Marla Duncan went up against the juggernaut Bev Francis.
BACKSTORY
Bev Francis had burst onto the FWF scene like Godzilla storming Tokyo. She had decimated several of
the federation stars and injured Rachel McLish. This caused Rachel to have to forfeit the World title and a
tournament was started. Bev rolled into the finals vs. Gladys Portugese. In a surprise turn, Gladys was
about to put Bev away when Lenda Murray interfered. With the referee unconscious, Lenda delivered her
dreaded HEART ATTACK heart punch. As the referee stirred, Lenda then handed Bev a steel chair and
she smashed Gladys into dreamland. The three count was academic and Bev became the champion.
After two one-sided title defenses (neither of which was a rematch with Gladys), the former Middleweight
champion and current Inter-Continental champion Marla Duncan challenged the wrestling juggernaut to a
title match. A series of embarrassing encounters later, Bev agreed with one stipulation: the match would
be a Hell in a Cell match.
THE INTERVIEWS
- MARLA DUNCAN
“Bev Francis, you ARE the World champion. You are an unbelievable physical specimen. You are
the strongest woman in the FWF and probably one of the strongest ever anywhere. But this is just
about strength. It is about how many bodybuilding titles you’ve won or even how many fitness
crowns I’ve won. This is really about respect. That’s something that you don’t have for me or
anybody else in the federation. You’ve gone out of your way to injure several women, including my
friend Rachel McLish. You even forced Lisa Lyon to retire after you powerbombed her repeatedly. I
intend to put an end to this carnage of yours. I know you are underestimating me. Many people
are. But those people will not recognize the woman that gets in the ring with you. That woman is
going to do whatever it takes to make you respect her and the sport you are in. And by the end of
the evening, you’ll have to refer to that woman as Marla Duncan…WORLD CHAMPION.”
- BEV FRANCIS
“Marla, you sniveling little bitch. You decided you want to play with the big girls, huh? Well, they
don’t get any bigger than me. I could’ve forgiven you when you interfered with my pounding of Lori
Bowen. I could’ve even forgiven you when you stopped me from punishing Lisa Lorio. But when
you began trying to make a fool of me with your feeble acrobatics, you MADE ME MAD! When I get
mad, somebody gets hurt. They get hurt real bad. So, now I’m not going to make this quick. You
are going to suffer like nobody in the federation has suffered before. Make no mistake about it.
This will be the last time you ever set foot in the ring.”
- ******
|
As a techno beat filled the air, Marla Duncan strode down the ramp toward the menacing looking cage
that surrounded the ring. Though the fans cheered loudly, Marla never stopped focusing on the cell. Not
displaying her disarming smile, the Inter-Continental champion carefully entered the cell and walked
around the three-and-a-half-foot wide area between the cage and the ring. After one lap around, Marla
slid into the ring and removed her rope to reveal a stunning white, French-cut, one-piece suit with
matching leather boots. The outfit was a perfect contrast to the blonde’s well-tanned body. Removing
her title belt, Marla waited.
When the fans cheering turned to boos and catcalls, World champion Bev Francis had appeared at the
top of the ramp that led to the ring. Standing below the JumboTron screen, the massive bodybuilder
flexed, eliciting even more catcalls. Confidently and with a sneer on her face, Bev slowly walked toward
the confining cell. As she entered the cage, Bev motioned at Marla who stood in the center of the ring.
Making a motion as if she were breaking a twig, Bev smiled at the fitness beauty. Walking alongside the
ring until she was dead center, Bev stopped, unfastened her title belt and held it aloft while facing the
unimpressed crowd.
As she turned around, Bev’s eyes widened with shock. Marla had catapulted over the top rope and
slammed into the bodybuilder with enough force to send the back of her head slamming into the
unforgiving metal of the cage. Both woman crumpled to the floor, though it was Marla who quickly got to
her feet. With the speed of pistons in a car engine, Marla’s feet and fists beat a tattoo into the skull of the
shocked champion. Grabbing Bev by the feet, Marla parted the imposing woman’s legs. Motioning as if
she were about to land a low blow, Marla relented. Instead, she tucked both legs underneath her armpits,
grabbed hold of Bev’s calfs and fell backward.
The ensuing slingshot sent Bev flying through the air and into the metal ring post head first. Bev’s eyes
rolled back in her head as blood began to stream from a cut opened on her forehead. The decibel rise in
the crowd noise caused Bev to blink rapidly as she dabbed at the blood slowly trickling down her cheek.
Then, something locked into her hair and forced her forward toward the metal ring steps.
Unseen by Bev, Marla had jumped onto the ring apron, taken a running start and leapt into the air. In mid-
flight, the blonde bombshell had twisted so that she could grab Bev by the hair and smash her face first
into the metal steps. The end of Marla’s flight was stopped by the cage, but it was a small price to pay.
As Bev’s face smashed into the metal, the bodybuilder staggered back a few steps, turned and then fell
face-first onto the arena floor. The slow trickle of blood became a steady stream thanks to the impact
and a pool of blood formed underneath Bev’s face.
Slowly, Marla got to her feet and approached the downed World champion. Grabbing a handful of hair
and the waistband of Bev’s suit, the Inter-Continental champion slid her opponent into the ring. Climbing
the nearest turnbuckles, Marla steadied herself and then went airborne again. Bev had barely lifted her
head off the mat when Marla made impact with a devastating legdrop from the top rope. Hoping to end it
quickly, Marla scrambled over, flipped Bev onto her back and made the cover.
At two, Marla was amazed to find herself lifted into the air and off Bev. The bodybuilder flipped her
opponent off and half a ring away, showing that the fight was nowhere near finished. As she sat up, Bev
had a look on her crimson covered face that would have stopped a truck. However, as she got to her
feet, Bev was sent hurtling toward the ring ropes courtesy of a perfect dropkick. Spinning through the top
and middle ropes, Bev landed bottom-first on the ring apron.
When Marla got to the ring ropes and reached down for Bev, the World champion showed she was ready
to go on the offense. Grabbing a handful of Marla’s hair, the bodybuilder jumped to the arena floor, the
slingshot move snapping Marla’s throat across the top rope and sending her flying back into the middle of
the ring. The blonde beauty was still gasping for breath when Bev got back into the ring. Maliciously, the
heavier woman pressed her boot across the damaged throat. The referee warned Bev about illegal move
to no avail as she continued to grind her foot into Marla’s throat. Furiously, Marla clutched at the
juggernaut’s foot while her feet stamped into the mat. Finally, Bev stood up and finished her walk across
Marla’s throat.
The fitness star was still trying to force oxygen into her lungs when Bev pulled her to a standing position
face-to-face. Effortlessly, Bev lifted Marla into the air and threw her opponent toward the corner,
executing a perfect belly-to-belly suplex. Unfortunately for Marla, as her back smashed into the corner
turnbuckles, her leg became hooked on the metal linking the corner to the ringpost. Trapped upside
down, Marla was helpless. As Bev approached, she shouted at Marla “YOU’RE IN FOR A WORLD OF
HURT NOW BABY. AND I’M GOING TO ENJOY GIVING IT TO YOU.”
A series of kicks later, Marla was beginning to wonder if a hospital stay was in her future. The strain on
her ankle was bad, but nothing compared to the thunderous kicks from the bodybuilder. Though the
referee admonished Bev, there was really little he could do due to the nature of the match. Tired of the
interference, Bev grabbed the official and tossed him over the top rope. Unhampered, Bev returned to
her attack.
Quickly leaving the ring, Bev hit the arena floor and stood directly behind the trapped Marla. Reaching
underneath the ring ropes, the bodybuilder grabbed Marla by the chin and pulled back, using the ring
apron for leverage. The pressure on Marla back and neck was nearly crippling. If not for her spectacular
conditioning, the blonde beauty would have screamed out her submission. As it was, she simply
screamed. A half minute later, Bev was still pouring on the pressure and Marla was still screaming.
Fortunately, Marla’s ankle slipped free of its entanglement and she flopped stomach first to the mat.
Not giving Marla a chance to recover, Bev pulled her out of the ring and lifted the fitness icon onto her
shoulders. Holding her opponent in place, Bev raced at the far ringpost with devastating results. Marla’s
forehead connected with the metal, making a dull ‘THUD’ sound. As she collapsed to the floor, blood
poured from the wound caused by the impact. Still unsatisfied, Bev pulled Marla up to her knees and then
began to smash her right fist into the Inter-Continental champion’s forehead. Gleefully, Bev repeated the
move six more times, opening the cut on the fitness star’s forehead further and turning her face into
something straight from a horror flick.
Though Bev had the match in her hands, her sadistic side won out and she continued her assault on
Marla. After Marla struggled to stand, Bev slipped in behind her and lifted her into the air for a back
suplex. Instead, the ironwoman again ran at the ringpost, the metal pole splitting the V of Marla’s legs and
slamming into her crotch. Before she can fall to the arena floor, the bloodied beauty’s ankle becomes
locked by the second turnbuckle brace. Upside down, Marla moans from the agony in her crotch and the
realization she is in a horrible position.
A few seconds later, Marla finds out how horrible when Bev takes a running start and spears Marla
against the metal ringpost. A ‘Holy S***!’ chant erupts from the crowd as the impact shakes the ring. With
all the oxygen crushed from her lungs, Marla can barely moan, her eyes fluttering madly. Bev gets to her
feet and finds that her opponent is barely conscious. Shaking her head, Bev screamed, “NOW, I’M
GONNA BREAK YOU IN TWO.”
Cockily, Bev retreated a half dozen steps, put her head down and took a running start, intent on ending
Marla’s career. Instead, the blonde fitness star came awake and managed to sit up, the move causing
Bev to slam shoulder first into the metal post. A bloodcurdling scream escaped the bodybuilder’s lips as
she crumpled to the arena floor. As she did, Marla manages to unhook her ankle and then, she too, lies
in a heap only inches away.
With Bev writhing on the ground, holding her left shoulder, Marla had to decide whether to press her
advantage or try to deal with the shooting pain in her back and ribs. Choosing the latter course of action,
Marla put some distance between her and the not-so-impervious juggernaut. As she reached the
opposite side of the ring, Marla began stretching and bending. She hoped she could alleviate the agony
that centered near the base of her spine. Just as the pain had subsided to a dull ache, Marla slid into the
ring and waited for Bev to do the same.
The referee had already made it to “Eleven” when Marla broke the count and slid out of the ring. With her
back to Marla, Bev didn’t see the enraged blonde pull a metal chair from underneath the ring. As the
bodybuilder turned around, Marla swung the chair and connected solidly with Bev’s skull. Staggering
backwards, Bev then pitched forward onto the floor, blood flowly freely again from her forehead wound.
Uncharacteristically, Marla marched over to Bev and began jamming the metal chair into her opponent’s
ribs, each blow eliciting a scream from the bloodied World champion.
Tossing the chair into the ring, Marla pulled Bev to her feet and rolled her back into the squared circle.
Slowly, Marla followed suit, her back still throbbing. As she got to her feet, Marla saw that Bev was getting
to her feet! Worse yet, she had grabbed the discarded metal chair. Realizing she had to act fast, Marla
went into action. Just as Bev had become erect with the chair in both hands, Marla jumped into the air
and delivered a perfect spinning heel kick. It sent the metal chair squarely into the bloodied face of the
world champion, extracting another collective gasp from the crowd. Almost like a giant redwood, Bev
collapsed in the middle of the ring.
Feeling her energy begin to wane, Marla headed for the far corner and began climbing the turnbuckles.
As she reached the top, the fitness beauty steadied herself, made the sign of the cross and then leapt
into the air. Flying halfway across the ring, Marla landed one of her signature moves, THE FITNESS
HAMMER, a flying elbow to the sternum of Bev Francis. Wasting no time, she covered the seemingly
devastated bodybuilder and hoped the referee would reach three.
The official’s hand was coming down for the third time when Bev managed to lift her right shoulder,
interrupting the count. Pounding the mat in frustration, Marla stood and made her way back toward the
corner. Again, she climbed the turnbuckles and waited. This time, she intended to land a rocket dropkick
to the massive chest of the bodybuilder. Instead, Bev had come to her senses and simply swatted Marla
away like one would do a fly.
Landing hard, Marla could do nothing as Bev picked her up and proceeded to deliver three across-the-
knee backbreakers, each causing the fitness icon to scream. Dropping the blonde to the mat, Bev smiled
as Marla twitched spasmodically. Lackadaisically, the bodybuilder exited the ring, pulled up the apron
cover and reached underneath. A few seconds later, she pulled out a folding table. Sliding it into the
ring, Bev repeated the move. After a third table was pushed in, Bev re-entered the squared circle and
began setting the tables up, one on top of the other near one of the corners. With the third table, the
bodybuilder placed it across the top ropes that met at the corner, wedging the legs into the ropes to hold
it in place.
Meanwhile, Marla had only managed to roll onto her stomach since her back was screaming at her again.
Her breather was cut short as Bev picked her up by the hair and led her toward the corner with the
tables. Pulling her out onto the ring apron, Bev hoisted the fitness icon onto her shoulders and began
climbing the turnbuckles. As she reached the top, she tested the stability of the table placed across the
top. Satisfied, the bodybuilder lowered her prey onto the table, then bent her over, placing Marla’s head
between her legs. Grabbing the blonde around the waist, Bev hoisted her high into the air and then
brought her down through the stacked tables. As Marla smashed through the wooden tables, the crowd
collectively began to chant “OH S***!
Jumping off the wedged table in the corner, Bev stood over the bloodied and broken Marla Duncan. As
the referee got into position to count the academic three-count, Bev waved him off. She then shouted
down at Marla, “THIS S*** AIN’T OVER BY A DAMN LOT. YOU ARE ON YOUR WAY TO THE HOSPITAL
WARD WITH ALL THE OTHER CRIPPLES.”
Bev then climbed through the ropes, jumped to the floor and began searching underneath the ring for
another table. When she secured her object, the bodybuilder slid it into the ring and then re-entered.
The referee had managed to clear away most of the table debris around Marla, so Bev simply erected the
table over where Marla lay, barely moving. The bodybuilder then retrieved the steel chair that had been
used against her and placed it on top of the table.
Pulling Marla from underneath the table and to her feet, Bev ascended the turnbuckles while dragging her
opponent up by the hair. Climbing onto the table placed across the top ropes, Bev pulled Marla into
position for another powerbomb. Though both girls were bloodied and exhausted, it seemed that Bev still
had some gas in the tank (though it seemed to be instinct she was really working on) and Marla didn’t.
As Marla was lifted into position, she awoke from her trance and began smashing rights into the side of
Bev’s face. Still, the juggernaut’s grip held. Almost like magic, Marla reversed the hold by spinning
around on Bev’s shoulder and then pivoted backwards. The move sent both off the table and into the
air. As Bev crashed through the table intended only for Marla, the landing on the back of her head and
neck was compounded by Marla’s weight and the metal chair, the fitness icon now on top of the
bodybuilder as the crowd in unison chanted “OH S***!!! The muscular juggernaut screamed out in pain
just before she began fading in and out of consciousness. Marla wasn’t in much better shape, blood still
trickling from her forehead and her body still feeling the effects of Bev’s earlier pounding.
Still, Marla’s adrenaline had not ebbed and the fitness legend slowly got to her feet. Sliding out of the
ring, Marla reaches underneath the ring and pulls out two more metal chairs. Inside the ring, Bev has
barely moved while the referee clears the mat of the table debris and removes the table placed across the
corner turnbuckle. Marla re-enters the ring with her weapons. Placing one of the chairs across Bev’s
chest, Marla takes the other and begins to climb the turnbuckles. Once she has balanced herself on the
corner, Marla holds the chair in front of her and leaps into air. Completing a mid-air somersault, Marla
lands her FITNESS FALL, a 450º splash with the chair onto the ironwoman’s chest. Upon impact, the
bodybuilder cried out in anguish while spitting out a wad of blood. As she went limp, Bev ‘s eyes fluttered
close and a thin stream of crimson fell from the corner of her mouth.
Although the move left her own chest aflame, Marla uncurls from her fetal position and crawls over to
cover her opponent. Sucking in much needed oxygen, Marla drapes an arm across the vanquished Bev
Francis and waits as the referee dives into position. As his arm slams the mat a third time and the
timekeeper rings the retrieved ring bell, Marla closes her eyes and begins to weep. Her dream of
becoming the best in the FWF has finally come true.
that surrounded the ring. Though the fans cheered loudly, Marla never stopped focusing on the cell. Not
displaying her disarming smile, the Inter-Continental champion carefully entered the cell and walked
around the three-and-a-half-foot wide area between the cage and the ring. After one lap around, Marla
slid into the ring and removed her rope to reveal a stunning white, French-cut, one-piece suit with
matching leather boots. The outfit was a perfect contrast to the blonde’s well-tanned body. Removing
her title belt, Marla waited.
When the fans cheering turned to boos and catcalls, World champion Bev Francis had appeared at the
top of the ramp that led to the ring. Standing below the JumboTron screen, the massive bodybuilder
flexed, eliciting even more catcalls. Confidently and with a sneer on her face, Bev slowly walked toward
the confining cell. As she entered the cage, Bev motioned at Marla who stood in the center of the ring.
Making a motion as if she were breaking a twig, Bev smiled at the fitness beauty. Walking alongside the
ring until she was dead center, Bev stopped, unfastened her title belt and held it aloft while facing the
unimpressed crowd.
As she turned around, Bev’s eyes widened with shock. Marla had catapulted over the top rope and
slammed into the bodybuilder with enough force to send the back of her head slamming into the
unforgiving metal of the cage. Both woman crumpled to the floor, though it was Marla who quickly got to
her feet. With the speed of pistons in a car engine, Marla’s feet and fists beat a tattoo into the skull of the
shocked champion. Grabbing Bev by the feet, Marla parted the imposing woman’s legs. Motioning as if
she were about to land a low blow, Marla relented. Instead, she tucked both legs underneath her armpits,
grabbed hold of Bev’s calfs and fell backward.
The ensuing slingshot sent Bev flying through the air and into the metal ring post head first. Bev’s eyes
rolled back in her head as blood began to stream from a cut opened on her forehead. The decibel rise in
the crowd noise caused Bev to blink rapidly as she dabbed at the blood slowly trickling down her cheek.
Then, something locked into her hair and forced her forward toward the metal ring steps.
Unseen by Bev, Marla had jumped onto the ring apron, taken a running start and leapt into the air. In mid-
flight, the blonde bombshell had twisted so that she could grab Bev by the hair and smash her face first
into the metal steps. The end of Marla’s flight was stopped by the cage, but it was a small price to pay.
As Bev’s face smashed into the metal, the bodybuilder staggered back a few steps, turned and then fell
face-first onto the arena floor. The slow trickle of blood became a steady stream thanks to the impact
and a pool of blood formed underneath Bev’s face.
Slowly, Marla got to her feet and approached the downed World champion. Grabbing a handful of hair
and the waistband of Bev’s suit, the Inter-Continental champion slid her opponent into the ring. Climbing
the nearest turnbuckles, Marla steadied herself and then went airborne again. Bev had barely lifted her
head off the mat when Marla made impact with a devastating legdrop from the top rope. Hoping to end it
quickly, Marla scrambled over, flipped Bev onto her back and made the cover.
At two, Marla was amazed to find herself lifted into the air and off Bev. The bodybuilder flipped her
opponent off and half a ring away, showing that the fight was nowhere near finished. As she sat up, Bev
had a look on her crimson covered face that would have stopped a truck. However, as she got to her
feet, Bev was sent hurtling toward the ring ropes courtesy of a perfect dropkick. Spinning through the top
and middle ropes, Bev landed bottom-first on the ring apron.
When Marla got to the ring ropes and reached down for Bev, the World champion showed she was ready
to go on the offense. Grabbing a handful of Marla’s hair, the bodybuilder jumped to the arena floor, the
slingshot move snapping Marla’s throat across the top rope and sending her flying back into the middle of
the ring. The blonde beauty was still gasping for breath when Bev got back into the ring. Maliciously, the
heavier woman pressed her boot across the damaged throat. The referee warned Bev about illegal move
to no avail as she continued to grind her foot into Marla’s throat. Furiously, Marla clutched at the
juggernaut’s foot while her feet stamped into the mat. Finally, Bev stood up and finished her walk across
Marla’s throat.
The fitness star was still trying to force oxygen into her lungs when Bev pulled her to a standing position
face-to-face. Effortlessly, Bev lifted Marla into the air and threw her opponent toward the corner,
executing a perfect belly-to-belly suplex. Unfortunately for Marla, as her back smashed into the corner
turnbuckles, her leg became hooked on the metal linking the corner to the ringpost. Trapped upside
down, Marla was helpless. As Bev approached, she shouted at Marla “YOU’RE IN FOR A WORLD OF
HURT NOW BABY. AND I’M GOING TO ENJOY GIVING IT TO YOU.”
A series of kicks later, Marla was beginning to wonder if a hospital stay was in her future. The strain on
her ankle was bad, but nothing compared to the thunderous kicks from the bodybuilder. Though the
referee admonished Bev, there was really little he could do due to the nature of the match. Tired of the
interference, Bev grabbed the official and tossed him over the top rope. Unhampered, Bev returned to
her attack.
Quickly leaving the ring, Bev hit the arena floor and stood directly behind the trapped Marla. Reaching
underneath the ring ropes, the bodybuilder grabbed Marla by the chin and pulled back, using the ring
apron for leverage. The pressure on Marla back and neck was nearly crippling. If not for her spectacular
conditioning, the blonde beauty would have screamed out her submission. As it was, she simply
screamed. A half minute later, Bev was still pouring on the pressure and Marla was still screaming.
Fortunately, Marla’s ankle slipped free of its entanglement and she flopped stomach first to the mat.
Not giving Marla a chance to recover, Bev pulled her out of the ring and lifted the fitness icon onto her
shoulders. Holding her opponent in place, Bev raced at the far ringpost with devastating results. Marla’s
forehead connected with the metal, making a dull ‘THUD’ sound. As she collapsed to the floor, blood
poured from the wound caused by the impact. Still unsatisfied, Bev pulled Marla up to her knees and then
began to smash her right fist into the Inter-Continental champion’s forehead. Gleefully, Bev repeated the
move six more times, opening the cut on the fitness star’s forehead further and turning her face into
something straight from a horror flick.
Though Bev had the match in her hands, her sadistic side won out and she continued her assault on
Marla. After Marla struggled to stand, Bev slipped in behind her and lifted her into the air for a back
suplex. Instead, the ironwoman again ran at the ringpost, the metal pole splitting the V of Marla’s legs and
slamming into her crotch. Before she can fall to the arena floor, the bloodied beauty’s ankle becomes
locked by the second turnbuckle brace. Upside down, Marla moans from the agony in her crotch and the
realization she is in a horrible position.
A few seconds later, Marla finds out how horrible when Bev takes a running start and spears Marla
against the metal ringpost. A ‘Holy S***!’ chant erupts from the crowd as the impact shakes the ring. With
all the oxygen crushed from her lungs, Marla can barely moan, her eyes fluttering madly. Bev gets to her
feet and finds that her opponent is barely conscious. Shaking her head, Bev screamed, “NOW, I’M
GONNA BREAK YOU IN TWO.”
Cockily, Bev retreated a half dozen steps, put her head down and took a running start, intent on ending
Marla’s career. Instead, the blonde fitness star came awake and managed to sit up, the move causing
Bev to slam shoulder first into the metal post. A bloodcurdling scream escaped the bodybuilder’s lips as
she crumpled to the arena floor. As she did, Marla manages to unhook her ankle and then, she too, lies
in a heap only inches away.
With Bev writhing on the ground, holding her left shoulder, Marla had to decide whether to press her
advantage or try to deal with the shooting pain in her back and ribs. Choosing the latter course of action,
Marla put some distance between her and the not-so-impervious juggernaut. As she reached the
opposite side of the ring, Marla began stretching and bending. She hoped she could alleviate the agony
that centered near the base of her spine. Just as the pain had subsided to a dull ache, Marla slid into the
ring and waited for Bev to do the same.
The referee had already made it to “Eleven” when Marla broke the count and slid out of the ring. With her
back to Marla, Bev didn’t see the enraged blonde pull a metal chair from underneath the ring. As the
bodybuilder turned around, Marla swung the chair and connected solidly with Bev’s skull. Staggering
backwards, Bev then pitched forward onto the floor, blood flowly freely again from her forehead wound.
Uncharacteristically, Marla marched over to Bev and began jamming the metal chair into her opponent’s
ribs, each blow eliciting a scream from the bloodied World champion.
Tossing the chair into the ring, Marla pulled Bev to her feet and rolled her back into the squared circle.
Slowly, Marla followed suit, her back still throbbing. As she got to her feet, Marla saw that Bev was getting
to her feet! Worse yet, she had grabbed the discarded metal chair. Realizing she had to act fast, Marla
went into action. Just as Bev had become erect with the chair in both hands, Marla jumped into the air
and delivered a perfect spinning heel kick. It sent the metal chair squarely into the bloodied face of the
world champion, extracting another collective gasp from the crowd. Almost like a giant redwood, Bev
collapsed in the middle of the ring.
Feeling her energy begin to wane, Marla headed for the far corner and began climbing the turnbuckles.
As she reached the top, the fitness beauty steadied herself, made the sign of the cross and then leapt
into the air. Flying halfway across the ring, Marla landed one of her signature moves, THE FITNESS
HAMMER, a flying elbow to the sternum of Bev Francis. Wasting no time, she covered the seemingly
devastated bodybuilder and hoped the referee would reach three.
The official’s hand was coming down for the third time when Bev managed to lift her right shoulder,
interrupting the count. Pounding the mat in frustration, Marla stood and made her way back toward the
corner. Again, she climbed the turnbuckles and waited. This time, she intended to land a rocket dropkick
to the massive chest of the bodybuilder. Instead, Bev had come to her senses and simply swatted Marla
away like one would do a fly.
Landing hard, Marla could do nothing as Bev picked her up and proceeded to deliver three across-the-
knee backbreakers, each causing the fitness icon to scream. Dropping the blonde to the mat, Bev smiled
as Marla twitched spasmodically. Lackadaisically, the bodybuilder exited the ring, pulled up the apron
cover and reached underneath. A few seconds later, she pulled out a folding table. Sliding it into the
ring, Bev repeated the move. After a third table was pushed in, Bev re-entered the squared circle and
began setting the tables up, one on top of the other near one of the corners. With the third table, the
bodybuilder placed it across the top ropes that met at the corner, wedging the legs into the ropes to hold
it in place.
Meanwhile, Marla had only managed to roll onto her stomach since her back was screaming at her again.
Her breather was cut short as Bev picked her up by the hair and led her toward the corner with the
tables. Pulling her out onto the ring apron, Bev hoisted the fitness icon onto her shoulders and began
climbing the turnbuckles. As she reached the top, she tested the stability of the table placed across the
top. Satisfied, the bodybuilder lowered her prey onto the table, then bent her over, placing Marla’s head
between her legs. Grabbing the blonde around the waist, Bev hoisted her high into the air and then
brought her down through the stacked tables. As Marla smashed through the wooden tables, the crowd
collectively began to chant “OH S***!
Jumping off the wedged table in the corner, Bev stood over the bloodied and broken Marla Duncan. As
the referee got into position to count the academic three-count, Bev waved him off. She then shouted
down at Marla, “THIS S*** AIN’T OVER BY A DAMN LOT. YOU ARE ON YOUR WAY TO THE HOSPITAL
WARD WITH ALL THE OTHER CRIPPLES.”
Bev then climbed through the ropes, jumped to the floor and began searching underneath the ring for
another table. When she secured her object, the bodybuilder slid it into the ring and then re-entered.
The referee had managed to clear away most of the table debris around Marla, so Bev simply erected the
table over where Marla lay, barely moving. The bodybuilder then retrieved the steel chair that had been
used against her and placed it on top of the table.
Pulling Marla from underneath the table and to her feet, Bev ascended the turnbuckles while dragging her
opponent up by the hair. Climbing onto the table placed across the top ropes, Bev pulled Marla into
position for another powerbomb. Though both girls were bloodied and exhausted, it seemed that Bev still
had some gas in the tank (though it seemed to be instinct she was really working on) and Marla didn’t.
As Marla was lifted into position, she awoke from her trance and began smashing rights into the side of
Bev’s face. Still, the juggernaut’s grip held. Almost like magic, Marla reversed the hold by spinning
around on Bev’s shoulder and then pivoted backwards. The move sent both off the table and into the
air. As Bev crashed through the table intended only for Marla, the landing on the back of her head and
neck was compounded by Marla’s weight and the metal chair, the fitness icon now on top of the
bodybuilder as the crowd in unison chanted “OH S***!!! The muscular juggernaut screamed out in pain
just before she began fading in and out of consciousness. Marla wasn’t in much better shape, blood still
trickling from her forehead and her body still feeling the effects of Bev’s earlier pounding.
Still, Marla’s adrenaline had not ebbed and the fitness legend slowly got to her feet. Sliding out of the
ring, Marla reaches underneath the ring and pulls out two more metal chairs. Inside the ring, Bev has
barely moved while the referee clears the mat of the table debris and removes the table placed across the
corner turnbuckle. Marla re-enters the ring with her weapons. Placing one of the chairs across Bev’s
chest, Marla takes the other and begins to climb the turnbuckles. Once she has balanced herself on the
corner, Marla holds the chair in front of her and leaps into air. Completing a mid-air somersault, Marla
lands her FITNESS FALL, a 450º splash with the chair onto the ironwoman’s chest. Upon impact, the
bodybuilder cried out in anguish while spitting out a wad of blood. As she went limp, Bev ‘s eyes fluttered
close and a thin stream of crimson fell from the corner of her mouth.
Although the move left her own chest aflame, Marla uncurls from her fetal position and crawls over to
cover her opponent. Sucking in much needed oxygen, Marla drapes an arm across the vanquished Bev
Francis and waits as the referee dives into position. As his arm slams the mat a third time and the
timekeeper rings the retrieved ring bell, Marla closes her eyes and begins to weep. Her dream of
becoming the best in the FWF has finally come true.
