Before Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs, there was one other Battle of the Sexes. At least, that’s what occurred in Saturday Night Live‘s revisionist historical past.
In the vein of Netflix’s Untold collection, the November 18 sketch tells the story of one other tennis matchup between feminine participant Charna Lee Diamond and male opponent Ronnie Dunster (performed by host Jason Momoa).
“There’d be no Billie without Charna,” one sports activities journalist ponders. “There just wouldn’t be.”
Once they take the court docket, it doesn’t take lengthy for issues to go awry. Ronnie serves the ball, sending it flying straight via Charna’s stomach. Literally. There is now a gap in her abdomen. Adrenaline retains her going, and she or he calls for Ronnie serve the ball once more.
He’s reluctant, however Charna insists. It’s for girls, in spite of everything! So, he serves the ball as soon as extra. Only this time, it decapitates her.
“We should have seen it coming,” the sports activities journalist admits. “He was 300 pounds of pure muscle, and she was one of the lowest ranked female players at the time.”
Adds Ronnie himself: “It was definitely the f*cking weirdest game of tennis I’ve ever played.”
Despite her grotesque downfall, Charna nonetheless paved the way in which for feminine gamers, in line with SNL. In truth, her legacy lives on within the tennis corridor of fame, the place the costume she wore that day hangs, gap and all.
Watch the sketch above.