Z SAVES TRAVIS

By Mr. Bear

A week had gone by and Z wore the memory of that beating and the humiliation like a tight coat. It was uncomfortable and he knew he had to fight back, do something about it to turn things around. He knew the fans liked him, but could not fathom why the promoters didn’t.

He hit the gym harder than before determined that he would never again be put down like that. Steve Travis was in the gym that Saturday morning and Z went over to the treadmill where Steve was jogging. Z patted him on the back and said, "Morning Steve, you got a match tonight?" "Sure do Tom, and I have a problem. It was supposed to be a handicapped match, but the guy I was partnering with ate some bad beef or something and has been puking his guts out for a day now. He is in no shape to fight, I was wondering if you could partner with me for the match tonight?" asked Steve. Z’s eyes lit up, he hadn’t been offered a match yet this week, and here was a golden opportunity. "Hell Yeah!" whooped Tom. Steve looked relieved and worried. "You ever wrestled Kamalah the Giant?" he asked. "No, how big and bad is he?" asked Z.

"About 500 pounds of snarling nastiness, he is no muscle boy, but he is still a lot of man to reckon with" said Steve. "Whoa! Sounds tough, but I bet we can manage him" replied Z. "I’ll talk with the promoter, tell him I want you on my side or I don’t wrestle" said Steve. "Thanks Steve, I appreciate you helping me like this, I’ll cover you tonight for sure man" chirped Z.

"You want that loser to help you out!" exclaimed the promoter. "Yes sir I do" answered Steve. "NO NO out of the question," "But sir Z is a great wrestler he will……."Wait a minute you may have a point" interrupted the promoter. The promoter puffed on his stale stogie and looked at Steve. "OK I’ll allow it" he growled. Steve had no idea why the sudden change of heart, but he was grateful to get his friend some work so he did not question it.

Saturday night came around again. Finally the time came for Z and Travis to have their match with Kamalah.

Z and Travis entered the ring and awaited the giant. Jungle drum music sounded over the loudspeakers and the visage of this huge black man in a leopard skin loincloth entered the arena. People gasped as the giant made his way down to the mat. What Travis did not tell Z was that Kamalah was 6 foot 8 and 500 pounds!

Z was taken aback he had no idea that this was why it was a handicapped match. The announcer began "In this corner the at a combined weight of 453 pounds Steve Travis and Tom Zenk!" The crowd cheered the underdogs. "An in this corner at a weight of 500 pounds from darkest Africa KAMALAH!" Kamalah looked crazed and barked at the audience in some strange language. "This is for one fall and a ten minute time limit, both challengers may be in the ring at the same time under the special provisions of this handicapped match."

THE BELL RANG! Z and Steve circled around K sizing him up. He was behaving erratic and looked as if he was half crazed on something. Suddenly Z and Steve both grabbed an arm of the giant and wrung him out like laundry. The giant looked stunned and seemed to grow angry. They wrung the arms again of the giant and the giant went down on the mat.

Like an earthquake the ring shook violently as the big man went down. Z and Steve wasted no time in each dropping an elbow into the gut of the big man. They knew that alone they would be like flies against him but that if they could work in concert they could get a win.

Kamalah grunted with the assault and Z and Steve stood up over him in a victory pose. Kamalah’s manager was howling at the ref from outside the ring. Steve and Z came over to tell him to shut up. The next thing Steve heard was the crowd howling wildly. Steve turned to see K drop a double ax handle on Z’s back. Steve had no time to shout out a warning; Z went down on the mat face first clutching the back of his head as he fell. An angry Kamalah turned to face Steve. Steve put up his hands in defense trying to ward off the big man.

Kamalah backed Travis into the corner, practically smothering him under 500 pounds of angry bull. He began to level great slaps and thrusts on Steve, knocking the wind out of him. Kamalah felt a pounding at his back he turned leaving Steve hanging onto the top rope gasping for air. He grabbed Z by the throat and lifted him up. Z couldn’t believe the power of this giant. He spun Z around and shoved him into the same corner as Steve.

He began gut blocking Z driving him into Steve at the same time. Steve and Z ground together the sweat running down between the two muscle studs. The ref finally free of Kamalah’s manager came over to get the guys out of the ropes.

He forced the giant to back off and both Z and Steve fell into a heap on the mat. Kamalah came over and picked up Steve by the hair and got a grip on him between the legs and around the back. In a move which seemed impossible for a man of his size he bodyslammed Travis three times onto the mat using his full 500 pounds to come crushing down on him. Steve lay there stunned and panting for air.

Kamalah got up and went over to Z who was at this time on his knees in the corner trying to get his composure. Z looked at this monster coming at him and shook his head saying no.

K had no mercy on Z he drove him back into the corner applying his 500 pounds into a searing nerve hold on Z’s tight pecs. Z cried out in pain as the giant put the hurt on him.

The ref made K break the hold as Z was on the ropes. K got in the ref’s face and turned to go back to work on a recovering Travis. Steve was somehow on his feet and trying to make an impact. He delivered a standing drop kick on the giant, but it had little effect than to knock him back a few feet. Steve got up and tried it again this time springing off the ropes. He came flying back toward the giant but the giant wasn’t there!

K had stepped back just far enough for him to miss. Steve landed hard on the mat. Z was on his feet again as Kamalah landed a body press on a prone Travis. Travis shuddered as the big man crushed him again.

Z dove on Kamalah’s back and got him in a chokehold around the neck. Z figured the only thing he could do was keep this behemoth on the mat and wear him down. Z was able to roll him off Steve so that Steve could hopefully recover.

Steve lay there groaning. The last time Kamalah landed on him it cracked a couple of Travis’ ribs.

The chokehold seemed to be working Kamalah was wearing down and looked to be passing out. Z detected that the time was right for a pin. He let the giant flop to the mat and covered him. TO EVERYONE’S AMAZEMENT Z got the pin!

The crowd was going wild and the promoter nearly swallowed the cigar he was smoking. Z rolled off the giant, who’s manager jumped in to make sure he was ok, and went over to Steve’s side to check on his buddy. Steve groaned and tried to push himself up off the mat. He went back down in a cascade of pain. Z yelled at the ref to get a stretcher. Some paramedic types came rushing over and Z helped his fallen comrade onto the stretcher.

Travis was on his way to the doctor when Z heard the crowd go wild and turned in time to see the world go black as the giant dove onto him. Z was knocked back against the ropes and Kamalah had his oversized hands around Z’s throat. Z tried but could do nothing. The bell was clanging wildly and the ref left to get help in restoring order.

Pillman and Atlas came running out to the ring. They dove under the bottom rope and Kamalah looked stunned. Kamalah backed off Z and the other two men grabbed Z by the arms and flung Z into the ropes. Z rebounded right into their clothesline.

Flat on his back in a hostile ring was no place for Z! Atlas Grabbed Z’s arms and Pillman his legs. They yelled for the giant to splash him. Z saw the giant bouncing off the ropes and prepared for the worst. He squirmed trying to get free, but to no avail. Kamalah landed squarely on the midriff of the helpless stud. Atlas and Pillman climbed on the back of the giant adding to the burden on Z already.

Z was hardly breathing as the ref and several other refs returned to the ring to clean house. They got the pig pile off Z and the assailants out of the ring. Z lay there his sweaty chest heaving as he coughed in air.

Another stretcher was needed as they carted him back to the first aid station. Pillman slapped Z’s face as he lay in the stretcher. "When you gonna learn rookie!" he growled. Z blacked out.

The crowd was on its feet, and the promoter smiled a vile smile. He knew he could make some money off Z as long as he could keep him hungry and give him false hope of actually winning. He knew exactly what kind of contract to offer him now.

"Z, Z, are you ok man?" asked Steve. Z opened his eyes and realized he was back in his hotel room. Everything swam; his body ached really badly. "The doc said you were ok nothing broken, just badly bruised," said Steve. "Steve arrgh, are you …. " shhhhh said Steve.

Steve stripped off his clothes and lay next to Tom in the bed. He fell asleep next to him.

End