Behind the Scenes at Double Trouble

The world of staged matches, like any form of scripted entertainment, requires us to engage in a willing suspension of disbelief. In other words, we know that Russel Crowe isn't a gladiator or a captain in the British Navy, but we suspend that knowledge in order to immerse ourselves in the world presented to us on the screen. While the mainline forms of entertainment have plenty of outlets for releasing "behind the scenes" information (which in some small way gave birth to the brilliant HBO series "Entourage"), those producing staged female wrestling matches seem to have an uneasy relationship between the backstage and frontstage, rarely letting us a peek at the former.

With all of that as prelude, I find this photo fascinating on a number of different levels. Absent the heading indicating that the ladies are signing a contract with Double Trouble before filming a wrestling match in 1991, the viewer could have imagined that the ladies were filling out an application to community college, or checking their little sister's Girl Scout cookie order before sending it down to the regional HQ. The scene is entirely pedestrian, the dining room in a middle class home, with a fancy vase up front and some china neatly displayed in a cabinet to the right. The Marlboro Lights and the Coke can almost serve the role that a bowl of fruit might in a 17th century portrait -- to place the persons within the frame in some kind of context. The context being one of commerce and fantasy, for however much we all willingly suspend our disbelief, in the end we must know that the ladies are doing it for the money and, given that this is America, contracts must be signed before the camera begins to roll.

Perfect Ring Portrait

I often go a little over the edge in my analysis of lady wrestling and catfighting photos, but these two shots show that getting a good pre-match shot of a lady in the ring is really simple. As long as she's attractive, has a nice smile, and her bikini is a bit too small, you're going to have a superior photo.

Rhoan v. Kiomi

Here are some photos of Rhoan against Kiomi, an attractive and more experienced wrestler. In their first match (first three pictures), points could be scored by pins or submissions. In the second bout, only by pins.
Although Rhoan is on the short end of things in the above photo, its nice to see that she has captured Kiomi in a body scissors while maintaining (as they would say in the MMA world) a full guard. And below, she gets her own back with a body scissors. But note how calm Kiomi's expression is, the mark of a good and calculating wrestler.
Kiomi doesn't hold back, and tries to pin our lovely Rhoan by with a hands to the face press.
In the pins-only match, its nice to see Rhoan go for a score as Kiomi attempts to bridge out. Particularly enticing is the way that Rhoan's shoulder blades pop out at us with force of her exertions. Of course, the two dimples above her bikini line are also a delight to behold.
And once again Rhoan shows us that she's not just topless for show, willingly pressing her bosom against Kiomi as she goes for the pin.

Rhoan -- A Star in the Making?

Some ladies just have that something special that makes you take notice when they step onto the mat or into the ring. I think that Rhoan (topless) of ManilaFights.com might just have that something. It's not just that she has a fabulous body, perfectly shown off by her choice of bikini bottoms. There is something in the way that she faces off against MJ below that makes her look so innocent and open, such that she commands our attention.
Of course, there are alot of pretty faces attached to well toned bodies out there who hit the mats and just sort of lay there like a fish out of water. Not so with Rhoan as she charges into MJ. Based on MJ's expression, it looks like Rhoan wasn't going half-speed with her charge.
Any lady wrestler who is going to entrance us over time needs to be able to take the good and the bad. Here we see Rhoan taking the bad as MJ nails her with what I hope is a blatantly illegal choke hold.

Emu Kojima v. Sayaka Tomita

Both Ms. Emu Kojima, in the violet bikini, and Ms. Sayaka Tomita have a good sense of purpose in this match. At the outset, Ms. Tomita shows that she's got a plan in mind -- to go after Ms. Kojima's crotch at every opportunity. For her part, Ms. Kojima isn't too pleased as her opponent executes on this strategy with a quick reach around grip.Ms. Kojima tries for a grip of her own, but Ms. Tomita has her all tied up and is in perfect position to resume her attack (albeit from behind).
Finally, Ms. Kojima manages to lay on her own grip, and is paying careful attention to its application as Sayaka begins to suffer.
With both ladies stripped of their tops, Ms. Kojima gets her own back with a clever reach around crotch grip of her own. Note how Ms. Kojima's left leg keeps Ms. Tomita from closing her legs together to protect her crotch.