AfterBurn for Only the Strong Survive

[FGA Office]

Catch up with your favorite FGA grapplers on AfterBurn! Get their thoughts on the latest, their opponents, and other backstage happenings right here, only on AxxessNet!

[Susan Kent]

Former 3GW wrestler front row at Only The Strong Survive.

Former 3GW superstar Susan Kent was spotted in the front row of Only The Strong Survive, speculation is now running rampant, as to why she was there.

More To Come.

[Lou]

Moments after being eliminated from the Gold Rush Rumble, an agitated Ricky Valero bursts through the curtains and into the backstage area in a fit of rage. His eyes immediately set on a camera crew, and he wastes no time spewing his frustrations.

RICKY VALERO: Did you see what happened out there? Did you see what happened earlier tonight? Everything I do, everything I say is met with opposition from every mental midget on the roster who wishes they could possess even a morsel of my talent. It’s one big, giant conspiracy and I’m sick of it!

He looks away from the camera, placing his hands on his hips but continuing to walk down the hallway toward the locker room area. Sweat beads down his body, climbing over scrapes and bruises before dropping to the concrete floor beneath his feet.

RICKY VALERO: I know I sound bitter. I’m bitter as fuck. Tonight was supposed to be my night. Tonight was supposed to affirm everything I’ve said since I got here in FGA, now someone like Molly Reid or Chandler Scott or…

He shudders.

RICKY VALERO: ...Johnny Karma might walk out of here with a World Title shot in their pocket. And it’s all because every single competitor on this roster, every crew member in the back, and every fan in attendance is jealous of me. They’d rather destroy this beautiful sport than see me succeed, so they’ll sacrifice it at every turn just to make sure I never achieve the things I said I would. All that I’ve done for this sport, all that I’ve given for these self-righteous so-called fans of professional wrestling, and they CHEER when I’m eliminated from the Gold Rush Rumble??! They should be thankful for every opportunity they are blessed with to watch me work inside that ring. NOBODY works as hard as I do, gives as much as I do or entertains as well as I do, yet those foul-smelling, bucktoothed scumbags can’t appreciate and show some respect for a renowned legend of the game...

He spits at the floor and scoffs in utter disgust.

RICKY VALERO: That may never happen, but make no mistake about it, I will achieve everything I set out to when I first came here to FGA. And I’ll do so while putting the entire industry on my back and carrying back on into the golden era of professional wrestling if I have to. I will never stop fighting. I will never let detractors or politics stand in my way. Throw anyone on the roster at me, I’m gonna come out bigger and better than ever. This is just a bump in the road, something drawn up by the conspirators to prolong the inevitable. I won’t let it keep me down, because no matter how much bullshit is thrown my way, you can’t eliminate me from the equation.

Valero, who’d been walking down the hallway this entire time with the camera crew at his side comes to a halt as he’s met by Nate Bristow and Tully Barnes. Barnes hands him a white hand towel to wipe the sweat from his face. As he brings his hands away from his face, all three men turn toward the camera with matching smirks.

RICKY VALERO: This world is ours now.

[bmac]

Backstage we see Jessie Pederson walking down the hallway, with a microphone in her hand. In the distance, former FGA Pride Champion Molly Reid is walking towards Jessie. As she approaches, she smiles softly at Jessie and slows down. Molly’s newly short hair is messy and she looks absolutely exhausted but still stops to talk.

Molly Reid: Hey Jessie.

Jessie Pederson: Quick word?

Molly Reid: Of course.

Jessie Pederson: Molly, first off, how are you feeling? I don’t want to be rude but you look like you’ve seen better days

Molly laughs as she wipes some sweat off her forehead. She takes a deep breath as she tries to gather herself after the long night she’s just gone through.

Molly Reid: Ha, yeah I have. Honestly I’m just completely exhausted. I had as violent a match as I’ve ever had against Artemis Kaiser two days ago, then another big match last night in England. Flew here this morning, then had my title match against Madison and the Rumble. My cardio is good, my stamina is good, I can do a lot and not get tired. But man Jessie, now that the adrenaline is wearing off, it’s all catching up to me. So I just need to take a few days off to recover after this.

Jessie Pederson: Do you think that was a reason for what happened tonight? That is, do you think you were too tired to give each match your all?

Molly shakes her head vehemently.

Molly Reid: No, absolutely not. When I’m wrestling I don’t even notice it. Like I said, it all just caught up to me after. But each match I was fine. There was never a point where I felt like I was slower, or tired and that it affected me or anything I wanted to do. I was able to do exactly what I wanted to do and when I wanted to do it for the most part. And when I couldn’t, it was because of what my opponent did, not me running out of energy. So no, that’s not an excuse, that’s not a blame or anything like that. Madison was the better man tonight. Karma was the better man tonight. That’s why they beat me. Simple as that.

Jessie Pederson: Let's first talk about your Pride Championship match earlier tonight. You lost an extremely close match to Chris Madison, and your impress title reign came to an end at 196 days, or the second longest reign in Pride Championship history. You just said that Chris Madison was the better man tonight, you really feel that way? Even after these last couple of months?

Molly clearly looks disappointed in herself for not finding a way to defend her Pride Championship earlier in the night. She shakes her head slightly, trying to think about where it all went wrong. Eventually she shakes her head again and sighs.

Molly Reid: Absolutely I do feel that way. Look, I’ve been saying this for months. I never wanted things to get as bad as they did between Chris and I. What happened at Grapple Kingdom was an accident. Plain and simple and I’ve never lied about that. I understood why he got mad but all I could do was explain myself and apologize truthfully. So when he didn’t accept it, I wasn’t exactly happy. And then him and Frankie kept sort of rubbing it in, so I got a bit defensive and tried to fight back. If you back me into a corner I’m not just gonna sit there and take it, and that’s exactly what those two did. So I came back fighting, and things got a bit heated. I know personally I could’ve handled it better, and I think if you ask Chris and Frankie now, they’d agree that they could’ve handled it a little differently. But at the end of the day, we’re two fierce competitors fighting over something we care deeply about. We clashed, and things got a bit crazy. But this match was a fantastic match between two top superstar wrestlers. I got a little bit frustrated, I’ll admit it. You all saw it. But I took a deep breath and calmed myself down, and realized what I was doing. If I was going to win, I was going to win honorably. Because that’s what I’m about. And unfortunately, I couldn’t quite pull it out. But if we had that match ten times, we’d probably split it five-five. That’s how close we are. So I can’t be too upset. It is what it is. I’m glad the Pride division is going to have a great champion to represent the belt after my long reign.

Jessie Pederson: You touched on it a bit, but just take us through your head when you went and grabbed that Pride Championship belt in the middle of your match

Molly Reid: Yeah, so I had just tried two or three pinfalls, I can’t exactly remember, and he just barely kicked out of both. I had thrown so much at him and he just kept coming. And I’ll be honest, I was starting to think about the Gold Rush Rumble too. In my mind, I didn’t want to wrestle forever against Chris because I knew that could affect me in the Rumble. And as I stared at him, all I could think about was the shit that Madison and Morrison had been talking to me over these past few months. I was so frustrated, angry, upset, everything and in that split second I thought I’d just end it. I’d grab the belt, smack him in the face as final payback for all the shit they’d put me through by not just believing me and accepting my apology. So I grabbed the belt. I figured I’d hit him in the face as payback, get disqualified but keep my title, and then just leave and be done with all of this. But then when I got into the ring, I sort of snapped to my senses. And I realized that what I was doing was not even close to who I want to be. I won the Pride Championship fair and square, and I’ve always tried to represent it as best I possibly can. I thought about what I had to go through after Grapple Kingdom and I decided that that isn’t who I want to be. This isn’t what I want to be known for. I said before the start of Only the Strong Survive that I’d be using it to vault my career to the next level. That doesn’t happen by taking the easy way out. So I dropped it. If I was going to win, I was going to win the right way. And if I lost, I could hold my head high because I left it all out there and didn’t take any shortcuts. Which is exactly where we are now Jessie. I may not have won tonight, but I showed everyone that I’m not a cheat. I showed Chris that I can push him to his limits with my wrestling ability alone. He weathered my storm and he won. In hindsight, I shouldn’t have gone after the belt at all. But what are you gonna do. Hats of to Chris. He’s going to be a great champion.

Jessie Pederson: Well put Molly. I think the fans especially appreciated what you did. Especially the ones that stuck with you, to be proven right like that. Well, moving on to later in the night, the Gold Rush Rumble. You predicted that you’d be in the final four of the match weeks ago, and that came true tonight. Do you feel good about that prediction, even though you didn’t win?

Molly nods her head in agreement, although there is still a slight look of disappointment on her face for not being able to come away the winner of the Gold Rush Rumble.

Molly Reid: Yeah, I guess. I don’t know I never really feel good about predictions in hindsight. I mean I said I was going to come top four before I knew I would. I wasn’t necessarily predicting as much as I was saying that it was going to happen. I knew I would be one of the four best wrestlers in that Rumble match and I was right. So I do feel partially vindicated that people now know that I know what I’m talking about. But yeah I’m a little bummed about not being able to win.

Jessie Pederson: But overall, you entered at number 20, eliminated three wrestlers and lasted twenty one minutes. I think the fans agree that it was a very impressive performance by any standards.

Molly Reid: Yeah, and it took the winner to eliminate me which I can’t be too mad about. If I’m gonna get eliminated, at least it’s by the guy who outlasted everyone. But that’s exactly it Jessie. Despite having wrestled earlier in the night, in the hardest, longest match of anyone else in the Rumble, because it was two out of three falls, I was still able to last twenty-one minutes or whatever it was. I think fourteen wrestlers were eliminated from when I entered the match to when I was eliminated. I could’ve done better. Of course I could’ve done better. I was right there at the end. I could’ve made it all the way to the end. I could’ve avoided the elimination by Karma and gotten him instead. But I didn’t. He got me out and he won for a reason. My hat’s off to him because he was a beast out there. But yeah I guess back to what you’re asking. I definitely felt I could’ve done better and I’m a little disappointed in myself but overall I’m proud of what I accomplished tonight. I don’t think anyone in the company spent more time in the ring tonight than I did, and I think I held my own for every damn second I was out there. So hopefully I can build on this. I didn’t make quite the statement I wanted to make here. But I still made a statement. And now I’m not going to stop until I reach the top. And I think with my performance tonight, I proved that I can be one of the best in the company. That I can hang with any and everybody this company puts in front of me. I set out to prove that I’m without a doubt one of the best wrestlers in this company tonight. I think I was successful.

Jessie Pederson: So where do you go from here? Do you invoke your rematch clause with Madison and try to win back your Pride Championship? You still have issues with Evan I’m sure. Or there was a moment where you and Savannah were trading shots in the ring, is that what’s next for you?

Molly Reid: Slow down Jessie. I have no idea. The show just ended, I need to go back home and think about things. My ultimate goal in FGA is to become world champion. Whether that takes three months or three years. That’s my goal. So I need to figure out the best way to do that. Maybe that’s try to win back my Pride Championship. Sorry, Chris’ Pride Championship. Maybe it’s beat as big a name as I can at All Star Showdown. Right now I think the only people who know what’s going to happen to them at All Star Showdown is Izzy and Karma. Everyone else is in the same boat as me. So I’ll go home and figure things out. I’ll talk to the people that I need to talk to. And at Vertigo, I’m sure I’ll have a much better idea of what’s coming next. Whether that’s Chris, Evan, Savannah, I don’t know. But I can promise you that no matter who it is, I’m going to be giving them everything I’ve got and I’m not going to stop until I’m victorious. Today was a bit of a speedbump in my ultimate goal. But all that does is slow me down a bit. I’ll get back up to speed real soon and blaze a path towards the FGA Championship. No matter who stands in my way. And as for right now? I need to go celebrate a friends birthday. Thanks Jessie.

Molly pats Jessie on the shoulder, before smiling at the camera and turning away. She walks down the hallway slowly, as Jessie looks on and the screen fades out.

[David]

While the Gold Rush Rumble continues out in the ring, stood backstage at the Amalie Arena is Jessie Pederson. It is at this moment that Lowri Moss trudges past, following her rapid elimination from the Rumble. Lowri has her head down, and has begun to unwrap the tape around her wrists; Jessie calls out to her.

Jessie Pederson: Lowri!

Lowri replies curtly, without even so much as a glance at Jessie.

Lowri Moss: Not now, Jessie.

She takes a few more steps, before coming to a stop. She then raises her head, and turns to face Jessie.

Lowri Moss: I’m sorry, Jessie. That was rude of me.

Lowri walks back to where Jessie is stood.

Lowri Moss: I’m not angry at you, Jessie, I’m angry at myself, after my performance in the Rumble - or perhaps I should say, my non-performance. I didn’t expect to win it, but the Gold Rush Rumble could’ve been the setting for me to produce a star making performance. Instead though, what I produced out there was...it was...

There is a pause, as Lowri searches for a suitable adjective; once she comes up with one that she is satisfied with, she spits it out.

Lowri Moss: Pathetic.

Ashamed, Lowri looks down towards the floor.

Lowri Moss: I was in the match for barely a minute. I think the clip of me talking about the Gold Rush Rumble that aired prior to the match actually lasted longer than I was in the Rumble for.

She then looks back up at Jessie.

Lowri Moss: I thought I had dodged a bullet when Big John Match was eliminated right before I was due to enter, but nope.

Having finished removing her wrist tape, Lowri throws it to the floor in frustration.

Lowri Moss: I’m more annoyed about this than I was two weeks ago, when I had victory in the battle royal snatched away from me by AMIRA.

Lowri runs a hand through her hair.

Lowri Moss: By tomorrow morning, I’ll probably be over this disappointment, and I’ll start to think about whatever challenge may lie ahead for me next. Now though, I don’t feel much like talking, I just want a fucking drink.

Lowri lets out a long sigh.

Lowri Moss: I’ll see you later, Jessie.

She gives the reporter a meek smile.

Jessie Pederson: Bye, Lowri.

She bends down to pick up her discarded wrist tape.

Lowri Moss: As annoyed as I am right now, I’m still not a litterer.

Lowri then walks off, soon disappearing from view. However, a couple of seconds later, she can be heard asking a question loudly, to no-one in particular.

Lowri Moss: What’s the opposite of being the Iron Man in the Gold Rush Rumble?

The scene then cuts away.

[sasso]

The brand new FGA Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion AMIRA is stood in an isolated area backstage, keeping both arms wrapped tightly around her newly won belt as if she's a United Airlines employee trying to forceably re-accommodate it. Staring straight ahead, she spits out a simple, low utterance.

AMIRA: I told you so.

A beat.

AMIRA: I told you all, so perhaps now you will start to finally listen when I tell you that AMIRA does not make promises, or predictions, she foretells the future of what is to come. Let us not dwell too long on the atrocity that was the Gold Rush Rumble, where the field was determined to gang up to get rid of me. Where the powers that be still forced me to 'randomly' enter as early as they could, thanks to my victory last Verteego which they clearly did not want, which was clearly intended to help them promote one of the weak women out there who need the boost such as Welshie. All that did was confirm that there is a clear and present bias against yours truly succeeding, a fear of what a real powerful, strong, visionary woman can accomplish.

She shakes her head.

AMIRA: A fear which I have succeeded in spite of. Let us not lose track of the fact that I am still unpinned, unsubmitted since I broke free of my Chrysalis and reached the higher state of being, a state of being known simply as ... AMIRA.

Holding her arms out wide, she soaks in, uh whatever exactly it is she's trying to soak in when she does that-- still clutching the belt tightly in her left hand.

AMIRA: I am not a fool, I know that there will be some who try to cast aspersions on my victory, where I drove my knee through the black heart of Francis and brought his tyranny to an end. Perhaps he will try to decide that we have unfinished business, but here is the problem with that.

She raises her arms high and bellows.

AMIRA: I CALL THE SHOTS NOW! THIS IS MY CHAMPIONSHIP!

AMIRA raps the belt with her finger.

AMIRA: Maybe the Mid-Atlantic Champion would do whatever they were told, but I am not, this piece of tin will soon be repurposed to the Magnificent-AMIRA Legacy Championship. If anyone does not like it, remember that I told you all of my plans, I told you I would remake this belt in my image and that I had grand visions in mind. The best way to prevent these plans from coming to fruition would have been to stop me from earning a title shot, or to stop me from winning my Championship match, but the unwashed smegma of the Frontier Grappling roster do not possess such capabilities. As such, they must bow down to my whims; ones which dictate that I am done with Francis. He does not deserve the chance to once more attempt to steal my spotlight, because for him, this was just a checkmark on him becoming Mr. Grand Slam. For me, it is part of a greater cause, one which he does not figure into. If he is fired up now brother now that I have managed to fully get his attention? That is too bad, if he had simply accepted the inevitability of his defeat, it would be much easier for him to move on graciously-- his mental deficiencies are my problem no longer.

A waggle of the finger.

AMIRA: No, there is too much work to do! For my Magnificent-AMIRA Legacy Championship will be the most prestigious in all this business, which is why I am not resting on my laurels. No, I am immediately getting to work, scouring the globe and all the promotions out there. I am seeking out the best of the best, I am seeking out their Champions, until I find the one who is most worthy of doing battle with AMIRA atop my volcano. Once I have found the best, the Champion of Champions and proved my supremacy by casting them down into the volcanic ash, perhaps then it will sink in that the bar has not just been raised--it's been taken off the rack. Keep your eyes transfixed to my social media, for an announcement will be forthcoming once I have had time to make an informed decision! The gauntlet will be thrown down, the challenge made, so proclaimeth your overseer, the Magnificent ... AMIIIIRRRAAA!!!

[STORM]

MARK STORM: Eh, twenty minutes, huh? 

He tried to sound impressed with himself but he couldn't. Despite lasting longer than most individuals in the match, it wasn't enough to see him through to the very end and that in itself, wasn't good enough, but it was indeed a stepping stone. With one hand supporting the back of his head, and another placed on his hip - Storm stood evidently exhausted in front of an FGA logo'd backdrop. He huffed and puffed, struggling to regain his composure as he winced in pain, closing his eyes tight before beginning to realign his breathing. 

MARK STORM: I should be proud, right? 

He asked, rhetorically, looking at Jesse Pederson who stood beside the camera man but you could see her microphone sticking out towards Mark. He cleared his throat and once again, relaxed himself with gentle breathing. 

MARK STORM: I came into this Gold Rush Rumble with no one expecting anything from me. I leave, being one of the guy's who lasted the longest and I take great pride in that. Don't get me wrong! But it still, isn't enough. But hey, we're getting there Jesse, and my time will come, despite it not being tonight - there will be a time where I am at the top of this promotion. There's a time and a place for everything.. and I guess it just wasn't my time tonight. 

Sinking into silence, he shrugged although there was a scent of optimism about him as he looked back up at the camera, his signature smirk embedding on his face as he done so. 

MARK STORM: Your Hero and Mine made a statement tonight. I reminded the rest of the roster that I am a force to be reckoned with. Someone, they shouldn't - not even for a slight second, take lightly. I'm in this for the long run and I promise you, better days are on their way. Tonight, has already seen masses of change within the titles pictures.. and I need to get myself back to where I was a few months back.. the Pride championship picture. 

Once more he smirked, licking his dry lips before concluding. 

MARK STORM: From Your Hero, And Mine.

The feed then faded to black.

[El Dragón]

While the Gold Rush Rumble continues in the ring, we see Julian Tijerina and Blake Rogers continue their animosity against each other with a chaotic brawl on their way to the back. Referees and security try their best to keep them apart but both men are creative and determined enough to get some strikes in against each other every now and then. Rogers can be heard screaming "I hate you, you dumb <censored>" to Tijerina who replies with "You smell like cheap deodorant." Referees and security keep yelling at them to stop but to no avail. A few more shots are sneaked in against each other by both men before referees and security finally succeed in keeping them apart. Blake Rogers is dragged away, screaming expletives at Julian, whereas The Spanish Sweetheart is being pinned against the Gold Rush Rumble backdrop, in his place, by referees and security.

Julian Tijerina: It's okay, it's okay... I'm good, I'm bueno, muy bueno...

The referees and security on him hesitate to let everyone's favorite guerrero go until Spencer Burke, alongside his loyal camera crew, appears from out of nowhere. Spencer seems concerned with Julian, though he maintains his professional ground. Julian takes quick but deep breaths, calming himself down.

Spencer Burke: Julian? Can we have a moment of your time?

Julian turns to Spencer with a smirk.

Julian Tijerina: Sure, but only if you can get these men off of me.

Julian turns to the men in black and those in black in white with a grin.

Julian Tijerina: I'm feeling better, amigos, much better. It's okay. It's all bueno. Really. Muy bueno.

One of the head security guys turns to Spencer who simply, confidently nods. That same security guy frowns before turning to Julian who flashes him his patented guapo grin. He hesitates but gestures for his men, for everyone, to let Julian go. Julian heaves a sigh of relief as everyone gives him space, well, everyone but Spencer and his crew.

Spencer Burke: Julian, the pay-per-view isn't over, but your participation in the main event, the Gold Rush Rumble, is. You showed impressive will to stay in the match, surviving every attempt by numerous other competitors to do away with you. That was, until Blake Rogers eliminated you and himself...

Julian sighs but retains his grin.

Julian Tijerina: Si, si, si... Karma, right? I mean, props to Johnny Karma for winning the Rumble, amigo's impressive, but he's not the only "karma" that crushed my chances, my shot, my opportunity, for my first title reign, my first gold, here in Frontier Grappling Arts, FGA, Wrestling tonight.

Spencer nods solemnly. Julian continues.

Julian Tijerina: A Vertigo ago, I cost myself another opportunity, which was to get a better number for my entry in the Gold Rush Rumble. I could've been #30 instead of #1.

Julian shakes his head but only momentarily. He feigns sadness but quickly returns to his jovial demeanor.

Julian Tijerina: But I honestly don't regret that, amigo. I don't regret screwing myself over a Vertigo ago. I did get my hands on Blake Rogers, I screwed him over in the process as well, and I got my revenge for his sneak attack prior to that match on that same night.

Spencer nods again, this time with a smile, as Julian puts a hand on his shoulder.

Julian Tijerina: Tonight, though...

Julian lets out a laugh. Spencer smiles, keeping it together.

Julian Tijerina: Tonight, amigo, karma did prove how much of a <censored> she really is. Rogers returned the favor, right? He cost me, the both of us, another career-changing opportunity.

Julian shakes his head, still smiling.

Julian Tijerina: But you see, I get it now. I truly do. I could be the greatest talent FGA has ever known, its greatest guerrero, but until I do away with Blake Rogers, with whatever this thing is between us, I won't truly achieve my potential. In order to prove my greatness, I would have to go through him, through Blake Rogers, no matter how.

Just then, Julian stops, distracted by something, someone, outside of the camera's view. Spencer turns behind him just in time for a beautiful woman in purple lipstick, a black sportsbra-inspired top, and a black and purple skirt walk towards them. Behind the woman is another woman, her black hair tied in a ponytail, an oni bandana around the lower half of her face, and a kendo stick poking behind her back. Spencer's eyes narrow in confusion. Julian's smile grows wider.

Faye Valentine: No matter how?

The woman in the purple lipstick, Faye Valentine, grins seductively at Julian. The woman with the oni bandana, Kimiko, stares at him intently.

Julian Tijerina: No matter how.

Valentine smirks, grabs Julian by the back of his head, and plants a slow, wet kiss on his lips. Julian reciprocates, much to Spencer's awkwardness. Spencer turns to Kimiko who pays him no attention. The interviewer swallows air and looks down, still holding the microphone towards Julian's direction. Valentine finally pulls away, smirks again, winks at Julian, and pushes him away. She starts to walk off. Kimiko follows suit but stops inches from Julian's face. She murmurs something in Japanese, to which Julian replies in fluent Japanese. She nods and walks off as well. Julian smiles, running a thumb on the edge of his lips.

Spencer Burke: Err, Julian... I think you have a...

Spencer tries to remove the purple lipstick smudge Valentine left on Julian's lips but Julian grabs his hand before Spencer could make any physical contact. The Spanish Sweetheart continues staring at the two women off-screen before turning to Spencer with a devilish grin.

Julian Tijerina: Leave it. Purple is my color.

Julian lets Spencer's hand go and walks away. Spencer swallows air once again. He is left staring at Julian off-screen as the camera fades off. A viper's head then appears out of nowhere and "bites" the viewers.

[C.S.O.]

It’s a couple of hours after the end of Only the Strong Survive and the scene comes into focus outside one of the entrances to the Amalie Arena. Standing before the camera is Spencer Burke fresh off his light schedule from the supershow.

Spencer Burke: “Hello everyone and welcome back to AfterBurn. We’re a couple of hours past the end of Only the Strong Survive, and we had something of a late addition to this program here tonight. I am joined by one of the new additions to the Frontier Grappling Arts roster…”

The camera pans over bringing a second individual into view. The newcomer is a male of average height, wearing a black jacket with a red maple leaf in front on the left side, along with a pair of black pants and a blue shirt. His black hair is cut short and smiles slightly towards Spencer.

Spencer Burke: “… Logan Alexander.”

Spencer turns to address Logan directly.

Spencer Burke: “So, Logan… what brings you here tonight?”

Spencer holds his mic out towards Logan, who leans in a little closer to it.

Logan Alexander: “Well Spencer, why do most wrestling fans come to wrestling events nowadays? I’m here because I wanted to see, first hand, the high class talent that Frontier Grappling Arts has at its disposal. Now this isn’t the first time I’ve been to an FGA show, or even a supershow. I’ve caught a couple of Vertigo episodes in the north eastern U.S. and I also made sure to be at Grapple Kingdom in February. After all, who wouldn’t want to take in the superb matches that FGA offers?”

Spencer Burke: “I certainly can’t fault you for that. So, if you’ve been following FGA events since Grapple Kingdom, why are you only making an appearance now?”

Logan frowns slightly at the question.

Logan Alexander: “To be honest, I wasn’t ready at that time.”

He sighs softly before continuing.

Logan Alexander: “I’m not new to the wrestling world, but I have been away for quite some time. I didn’t want to just go waltzing into any major company sporting a lot of ring rust. I take a lot of pride about how I present myself in the ring and wilfully going in at less than my best is unthinkable. Now, I was almost ready to go in February and I knew I was prepared in March, but by then the last Vertigo before tonight was already scheduled so that left me with the options of debuting in the Gold Rush Rumble, which I immediately rejected, or…”

Holding up a hand, Spencer cuts Logan off.

Spencer Burke: “Wait! You turned down an opportunity to be in the Gold Rush Rumble? Why? You have the entire roster fighting tooth and nail to be in that match for the opportunity it represents.”

Logan fixes Spencer with a calm stare before replying.

Logan Alexander: “Because I don’t possess the level of arrogance required to march into match like that to make my debut. You leave those matches to the people who deserve to be there and those who fool themselves into thinking they do. Now, as I was saying, I could have been in the Rumble tonight or I could have come out and done a backstage interview or done up a video package or just wandered out to the ring to introduce myself without actually being part of a match… but who does that sort of thing on a supershow?”

He smirks slightly, but then continues before Spencer can offer a reply.

Logan Alexander: “How about we just leave that as a rhetorical question and ignore the fact that there were five people who did at least one of those things tonight?”

He then rolls his eyes.

Logan Alexander: “People don’t come to these shows to see new people run their mouths. They come here to see the big showdowns you expect at events like this. So, I didn’t really want to waste anyone’s time during the main show just to say ‘Hi, I’m here now’ and then walk off. Instead I decided it would be better to go bother one of the interviewers after everything else had wound down and you’d likely be available without stepping on anyone else’s toes. And on that note, let me just say thank you for being willing to put up with doing this when you could be just about anywhere else. You are a professional Spencer, and not enough people here respect you for the job you do.”

Spencer is surprised by the praise and he fumbles for a reply.

Spencer Burke: “Oh… well, um, thank you for that.”

He quickly regains his composure and carries on.

Spencer Burke: “So then, now that you’ve officially joined FGA, and made your first appearance as it were, what do you do from here? What goals do you have for yourself in FGA?”

Looking towards the camera, Logan throws his arms up and then makes a declaration.

Logan Alexander: “I’m gonna become the FGA Undisputed Champion!”

A few moments of silence pass. Logan glances sidelong towards Spencer.

Logan Alexander: “That’s what I’m supposed to say, right?”

He then smirks slightly as he lowers his arms.

Logan Alexander: “Seriously though, it’s true that every wrestler aspires to become a champion, if not THE champion, when they join a new company. I’m not much different in that regard, but winning titles is only a secondary objective for me. I’ve spent the last few months watching FGA events and I’ve seen a lot of people that I’d like to step in the ring with. There are a lot of talented competitors on this roster and I’m sure that many of them will test me in unexpected ways. That is what I am really here for. I want to compete against the best that FGA has to offer because, by doing that, I will improve and evolve in the ring as well. I’m not so much interested in being the best in the world as I am in being the absolute best that I can become. It just so happens that in trying to reach my personal pinnacle of ability, I’ll get the chance to climb through the ranks here and see how I measure up to others along the way. Maybe somewhere in there I can get a few more great matches in for everyone to see.”

He smiles a bit more at that thought.

Logan Alexander: “I’m from an old school of wrestling with a more traditional style to it and I look forward to putting it up against the best that everyone here can bring to the table. But that that is probably going to have to wait for a Vertigo broadcast somewhere down the line. Hopefully then I’ll get a chance to leave another mark in the world of wrestling.”

He glances back at Spencer with a more contemplative look on his face.

Logan Alexander: “For now though, I think I’m just going to sit back, observe, and take note of the lay of the land here in FGA. Seeing everything from the inside will offer some much needed perspective. And with that… I should probably let you get out of here Spencer. You’ll have a week or two to think up some more questions for me, and it’s not like I’ll be that difficult to find.”

Spencer Burke: “Well, thank you for your time as well Logan.”

Logan touches two fingers on his right hand to his right temple, then offers the camera a slight wave with them before moving out of the field of view.

Spencer Burke: “Logan Alexander everyone. Perhaps in a few weeks we’ll see what he and all the other recent additions to the FGA roster do to shake things up any further around here.”

A few moments later, the scene fades to black.

[ChrisMadison]

The Amalie Arena has emptied out completely. Crew members were breaking down the ring and disassembling the Only The Strong Survive set. The Afterburn camera crew panned the area and caught a glimpse of Chris Madison sitting on the opposite side of the security barrier dressed down in his street clothes. He clutched the FGA Pride Championship which was draped over his shoulder as Jessie Pederson shuffled toward him. Frankie Morrison quickly intercepted the young reporter before she could ask Chris any questions.

Frankie Morrison: Working a little overtime tonight, huh Jessie?

She flashed a smile while trying to look around the loquacious manager.

Jessie Pederson: We had thought just about everyone cleared out for the night until one of the ring crew members told us Chris was sitting out here. Wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t try to get a word with the new FGA Pride Champion!

Frankie Morrison: Fair enough…

Chris Madison: Frankie, just get out of her way and let the young lady do her job.

Frankie raised his eyebrows as he stepped aside. Jessie Pederson closed in on Chris Madison and took a seat right next to him in the front row. For a second, the newly crowned FGA Pride Champion glared forward as the ropes and turnbuckles were removed from the ring.

Jessie Pederson: First, I’d like to just congratulate you on dethroning Molly Reid from atop of the pride division. I’m sure it’s hard to sum up all of the emotions you’re feeling after a long drawn out feud that resulted in your first taste of FGA championship gold.

Chris Madison: Thanks Jessie. When I re-signed with FGA, it was mostly because I had felt that I still had more to show this loyal fan base. My first run didn’t play out the way I thought it would. I’m not going to make excuses; I failed. Over the seventeen years I’ve been in this business, failure has never sat well with me. I take my losses, learn from my mistakes, and then push as hard as I can to improve on my faults. Since returning I have been blessed with opportunity after opportunity to get over that hump and cement myself as a major player in FGA. Defeating Molly Reid, taking the FGA Pride Championship away from her, proves exactly that!

Jessie Pederson: Over the weeks it had gotten pretty heated between you and Molly. It’s got to be a weight lifted off of your shoulders to presumably be done with that chapter of your career.

Chris Madison: It is a weight lifted off of my shoulders; but not because my feud with Molly is over. It’s been a hundred and seventy-one days since I surrendered the 4CW Pride Championship after an ugly contract dispute. This entire time I have felt like a piece of me was missing. Winning this strap fills that void! As for my feud with Molly, she is one hell of a competitor and one of the best talents this business has to showcase. All I ever wanted from her was a clean fight that gave the better wrestler a chance to shine. Tonight, she helped define what the Pride Division is about, what wrestling as a sport is supposed to be about. With all of the buzz and commotion surrounding some of the tactics she used in recent times, it was nice to see that inner struggle and decided to not take the easy route by cracking my skull open with the championship belt. She took pride in herself and what that belt represents and made the right decision. Unfortunately for her it meant the end of the second longest Pride Championship title reign in FGA history.

Jessie Pederson: Sure, it was the second longest reign in FGA’s history; but like you said leading up to this match, she only had two successful defenses over that time.

Frankie Morrison: Let me tackle this one Chris. Molly Reid may not have had frequent title defenses, which we weren’t shy about alluding to. But she survived a bitter feud with Evan Envi, who despite his obnoxious ego, is one hell of an in-ring competitor. Then she went head to head with Chris Madison; a man who had just come off of an impressive undefeated run that encompassed fourteen grueling months of competition at a high level. Molly Reid earned our respect. I know it’s not much of consolation prize after dropping a title that meant so much to her, but she’s got so much going for her. Molly is going to continue to rise in this business; the sky’s the limit!

Chris bit on his bottom lip as he nodded his head, agreeing with manager’s outlook on the former champion.

Jessie Pederson: I’m sure it’s a little early to say, but now as the defending Pride Champion, is there anyone in mind that you’d like to see get a shot to challenge you for the championship?

Chris Madison: This roster is stacked from top to bottom. Tonight proved that as all three singles championships changed hands. I have few names in mind that I feel are deserving of a shot, but in the long run, that decision is up to the committee. Rest assured, whoever they choose is going to be met head on with one hell of a fight! Every time I come out to this ring, the FGA faithful are going to be reminded of the kind of pure wrestling this belt is supposed to signify. Every time I defend this belt, I will lay it all on the line and sacrifice everything for another successful showing.

Jessie Pederson: As successful as you were in the Pride Championship match, we also saw you compete in your first Gold Rush Rumble; a venture that obviously failed to yield the same success as your earlier match.

Chris Madison: Yeah… That Gold Rush Rumble was filled with top notch talent. As simple as the concept of a match like that is, it’s tough to prepare for. Johnny Karma outlasted twenty-nine others and is getting a well deserved shot at the FGA Undisputed Championship and its new champion, Izzy Anders. I’m sure they’ll put on a hell of a match, but I can’t be concerned with that. The only thing I’m focusing on is defending this belt…

Chris pats the front plate with his free hand.

Chris Madison: …and giving the fans the kind of Pride Champion that they deserve!

Jessie Pederson: Chris, thank you so much for your time and once again, congratulations!

Jessie nods her head towards the camera crew to signal the end of her interview and the feed cuts out.

[James Edwards]

"Thrive or dive."

The syrupy yet oddly melodic drawl of James Edwards fills the ears of the viewers. As usual, he sits on his flight of stairs, where they may be.

James Edwards: I think that was the story of the show y'all finished watchin' tonight. Folks thrived or took a dive straight off the mountain. That's what big shows like this are supposed to do, separate the contenders from the pretenders. For Johnny Karma and Izzy Anders, they finally got to show the world they are real, man. One man didn't get a chance to do that tonight.

James shuffles his feet and spreads his legs a bit to shift into a more casual position. He slouches over, a sign he is about to broach a serious subject.

James Edwards: I might as well be honest. I ain't happy about being left off Only The Strong Survive, but I'm just tellin' the truth, no sour grapes, I swear. I'm just antsy. I've been ready to fight for close to three weeks. It's go time as far I'm concerned.

James nervously runs his fingers through his hair. He hopes what he just said won't piss off FGA management.

James Edwards: It all goes back to dive or thrive. I sort of touched on this the last time I talked. This ain't an easy place to break into. Even at the bottom of the card, there are fighters like Evan Envi and Logan Alexander, guys my trainer Sean Styles told me about from his days in the old AWA. Shit, Lowri Moss is here. I fought her in England twice; the girl is not an easy out. If a man doesn't take this place seriously, then he is gonna take a nose dive very soon. I wanna know if I'm that guy or someone good enough to compete on the lower card. Just give me a fight, I don't care against who, just give the call booking committee and I'll be on the first flight out.

On the surface, there seems to be a lot of bravado in the words of the newcomer, but wisdom too. He knows how high the stakes are in an organization of this prestige. One chance is all a wrestler may get, so he damn well better make it count.