Dispatches
May 26, 2019 13:19:40 GMT -5
Post by James Edwards on May 26, 2019 13:19:40 GMT -5
March 7, 2019
The following was posted to the wrestling section of CBS Sports website:
Reports surfaced late last night that Frontier Grappling Arts wrestler James Edwards is in hot water with management following a contentious meeting after the 2019: A New Odyssey pay-per-view.
Edwards, 24, defeated popular United States Champion Salem (Byrne) in a match centered around the Kentucky native’s open contempt for the title belt. A less than enthused Edwards refused to celebrate his victory and dragged the belt across the arena floor as he made his way backstage.
An unnamed group from management confronted Edwards later demanding he apologize for his treatment of the belt.
Edwards reportedly shot back he didn’t want it and had told them that over and over. He offered to vacate the title on the spot and said he’d rather challenge the winner of the Chandler Scott vs. Jimmy Page main event.
Edwards was informed he wouldn’t be allowed to give up the championship and that his request would be taken under consideration.
To which Edwards responded that it wasn’t a request before storming off.
______________
March 11, 2019
The following is a transcript of a video shared to YouTube by an unknown FGA fan.
(James Edwards sits at a table signing autographs for a line of 10-15 fans. The U.S. Championship lays plate-down on the ground beside him)
Fan: So what think your chances in the Beat the Clock Challenge?
James Edwards: I don't really care about it.
Fan: I thought you wanted to face Jimmy Page?
James Edwards: I do, but I ain't going to waste my time competing against people that don't deserve it the chance, man. Who the fuck has Nina Stokes beaten? Why are Salem and Savannah Taylor in the mix? They haven't done anything in the last few months, except lose to me. That doesn't make em' relevant either. It just goes to show what a joke this company is when it comes to the main event. Everybody in the world gets a shot at it, even when they don't deserve it. Hell, they go to the front of the line if they have a sob story just like the current champ. Guys like me...
(He nods back toward the U.S. Championship)
James Edwards: Guys who bust their ass and do things the right way, we get pushed to the back of the line or get saddled with fights for consolation prizes; ones we didn't want and ones that management make us keep. For a company that's supposed to be about the fightin' and where wins and losses are supposed to matter, this place is just like the rest of the sport. It rewards name value instead of hard work. That's a joke, and if they're going to treat it like a joke, then so the fuck will I.
(The fan doesn't say anything in response and moves on in line as James mutters something to himself)
__________________________
March 13, 2019
The following is a web exclusive for FGA.com:
James Edwards drags the United States Championship down the hall on his way back to the locker room. The Burning Heart is perhaps the most unhappy defending champion in the history of the business. Waiting for him outside the dressing room is Amanda Johnson. James looks less than thrilled at the prospect of an interview but figures it is better to get it over with now. He drops the belt behind him and motions for Amanda to meet him halfway, which she does.
Amanda Johnson: I'm going to cut to the chase, James, what happened out there?
James Edwards: Max Power didn't have what it takes to seize the biggest opportunity of his life.
Amanda gives James a puzzled look.
Amanda Johnson: I thought he put up a pretty good fight.
James shakes his head.
James Edwards: That ain't it. That part of my night was fine--well considering what he didn't do. Max knew the deal when came down to the ring, pin me and take the belt. Easy, right? He does that, and we both get what we want. Hell, management would have gotten what it wanted. Max gets a belt, and the company gets a champion that wants to head the second tier division. Me, I get set free from this nightmare of a title reign.
Amanda doesn't hide her disgust.
Amanda Johnson: Some competitors don't want to be handed a championship simply because the champion thinks the title is beneath him. They would rather earn it instead.
James chuckles.
James Edwards: That's a bunch of naive bullshit. That belt laying on the ground behind us hasn't been worth shit since the company introduced it. The only reason it exists is that Flashpoint needed a belt for the number two fighter on the shower. Management could have just unified the 15 and Mid-Atlantic Championships. Then the damn thing would've had some history to it. As is, that thing is just a shell that Noelle Smith and Savannah Taylor fought over for no damn reason, and Salem staked her entire existence to it. There's nothing worth fighting for with it.
Amanda Johnson: Then why don't you add some prestige to it?
James Edwards: Because I'm not the number two on this show.
Amanda stares at James like he is out of his mind.
James Edwards: And don't tell me that Jimmy Page is just because he's the International Heavyweight Champion. I have the best record on this show in the last year, and I've been here longer. Page hasn't done shit to earn that right, and it's only a manner of time until I put that crazy son of a bitch in the back of the ambulance.
Amanda's skeptical stare remains.
Amanda Johnson: Well, Savannah Taylor gets the first shot at that. I'd say you have Salem in your future in a rematch for the championship she proudly defended.
James snickers and starts to walk past Amanda.
Amanda Johnson: What about the belt?
James Edwards: I don't give two shits about it, just like Salem.
___________________
March 19, 2019
The following are highlights from James Edwards' appearance on the Inside Combat Sports podcast.
On why he laid down during the match with Max Power: "I think that's obvious, y'all, I didn't appreciate being told what to do by management. Forcing me to keep the belt is a slap in the face to me and it. It deserves somebody that wants it, and I deserve to be competing in world title level fights. Not wasting my time in divisions I've already proven above. Laying down would've freed me and the belt. It ain't my fault Max Power didn't have the balls to do what needed to be done. Next question.
On his antics costing him a shot at the International Heavyweight Championship: "The Beat the Clock Challenge was a joke, to begin with. I don't need to earn another shot at the belt. With Chandler gone for who knows how the fuck long, I've got the best record on Flashpoint. That's all management needs to know. Putting me the likes of Salem and Savannah Taylor on the same level was bullshit. Neither of them had done a damn thing to even sniff the main event, the fact they were there is an insult to me."
On a possible rematch with Salem: "I don't fucking care at this point. I've beaten her twice now. She had her shot to shut me up and didn't. There's nothing left for me to prove against her."
On if he thinks Taylor can beat Jimmy Page: "Hell no! Jimmy Page is a fucking lunatic. Savannah beating an over the hill Chris Madison doesn't make her a bad bitch. She is going to get killed, and I can't wait to laugh my ass watching it."
On why he left the U.S. Championship belt layin in the hall after the last episode of Flashpoint: "Christ, do I have to keep explaining this to people? I don't want it. So why would I take the damn thing everywhere with me? Maybe the people that run things will finally get the message and strip me of it."
The following was posted to the wrestling section of CBS Sports website:
Reports surfaced late last night that Frontier Grappling Arts wrestler James Edwards is in hot water with management following a contentious meeting after the 2019: A New Odyssey pay-per-view.
Edwards, 24, defeated popular United States Champion Salem (Byrne) in a match centered around the Kentucky native’s open contempt for the title belt. A less than enthused Edwards refused to celebrate his victory and dragged the belt across the arena floor as he made his way backstage.
An unnamed group from management confronted Edwards later demanding he apologize for his treatment of the belt.
Edwards reportedly shot back he didn’t want it and had told them that over and over. He offered to vacate the title on the spot and said he’d rather challenge the winner of the Chandler Scott vs. Jimmy Page main event.
Edwards was informed he wouldn’t be allowed to give up the championship and that his request would be taken under consideration.
To which Edwards responded that it wasn’t a request before storming off.
______________
March 11, 2019
The following is a transcript of a video shared to YouTube by an unknown FGA fan.
(James Edwards sits at a table signing autographs for a line of 10-15 fans. The U.S. Championship lays plate-down on the ground beside him)
Fan: So what think your chances in the Beat the Clock Challenge?
James Edwards: I don't really care about it.
Fan: I thought you wanted to face Jimmy Page?
James Edwards: I do, but I ain't going to waste my time competing against people that don't deserve it the chance, man. Who the fuck has Nina Stokes beaten? Why are Salem and Savannah Taylor in the mix? They haven't done anything in the last few months, except lose to me. That doesn't make em' relevant either. It just goes to show what a joke this company is when it comes to the main event. Everybody in the world gets a shot at it, even when they don't deserve it. Hell, they go to the front of the line if they have a sob story just like the current champ. Guys like me...
(He nods back toward the U.S. Championship)
James Edwards: Guys who bust their ass and do things the right way, we get pushed to the back of the line or get saddled with fights for consolation prizes; ones we didn't want and ones that management make us keep. For a company that's supposed to be about the fightin' and where wins and losses are supposed to matter, this place is just like the rest of the sport. It rewards name value instead of hard work. That's a joke, and if they're going to treat it like a joke, then so the fuck will I.
(The fan doesn't say anything in response and moves on in line as James mutters something to himself)
__________________________
March 13, 2019
The following is a web exclusive for FGA.com:
James Edwards drags the United States Championship down the hall on his way back to the locker room. The Burning Heart is perhaps the most unhappy defending champion in the history of the business. Waiting for him outside the dressing room is Amanda Johnson. James looks less than thrilled at the prospect of an interview but figures it is better to get it over with now. He drops the belt behind him and motions for Amanda to meet him halfway, which she does.
Amanda Johnson: I'm going to cut to the chase, James, what happened out there?
James Edwards: Max Power didn't have what it takes to seize the biggest opportunity of his life.
Amanda gives James a puzzled look.
Amanda Johnson: I thought he put up a pretty good fight.
James shakes his head.
James Edwards: That ain't it. That part of my night was fine--well considering what he didn't do. Max knew the deal when came down to the ring, pin me and take the belt. Easy, right? He does that, and we both get what we want. Hell, management would have gotten what it wanted. Max gets a belt, and the company gets a champion that wants to head the second tier division. Me, I get set free from this nightmare of a title reign.
Amanda doesn't hide her disgust.
Amanda Johnson: Some competitors don't want to be handed a championship simply because the champion thinks the title is beneath him. They would rather earn it instead.
James chuckles.
James Edwards: That's a bunch of naive bullshit. That belt laying on the ground behind us hasn't been worth shit since the company introduced it. The only reason it exists is that Flashpoint needed a belt for the number two fighter on the shower. Management could have just unified the 15 and Mid-Atlantic Championships. Then the damn thing would've had some history to it. As is, that thing is just a shell that Noelle Smith and Savannah Taylor fought over for no damn reason, and Salem staked her entire existence to it. There's nothing worth fighting for with it.
Amanda Johnson: Then why don't you add some prestige to it?
James Edwards: Because I'm not the number two on this show.
Amanda stares at James like he is out of his mind.
James Edwards: And don't tell me that Jimmy Page is just because he's the International Heavyweight Champion. I have the best record on this show in the last year, and I've been here longer. Page hasn't done shit to earn that right, and it's only a manner of time until I put that crazy son of a bitch in the back of the ambulance.
Amanda's skeptical stare remains.
Amanda Johnson: Well, Savannah Taylor gets the first shot at that. I'd say you have Salem in your future in a rematch for the championship she proudly defended.
James snickers and starts to walk past Amanda.
Amanda Johnson: What about the belt?
James Edwards: I don't give two shits about it, just like Salem.
___________________
March 19, 2019
The following are highlights from James Edwards' appearance on the Inside Combat Sports podcast.
On why he laid down during the match with Max Power: "I think that's obvious, y'all, I didn't appreciate being told what to do by management. Forcing me to keep the belt is a slap in the face to me and it. It deserves somebody that wants it, and I deserve to be competing in world title level fights. Not wasting my time in divisions I've already proven above. Laying down would've freed me and the belt. It ain't my fault Max Power didn't have the balls to do what needed to be done. Next question.
On his antics costing him a shot at the International Heavyweight Championship: "The Beat the Clock Challenge was a joke, to begin with. I don't need to earn another shot at the belt. With Chandler gone for who knows how the fuck long, I've got the best record on Flashpoint. That's all management needs to know. Putting me the likes of Salem and Savannah Taylor on the same level was bullshit. Neither of them had done a damn thing to even sniff the main event, the fact they were there is an insult to me."
On a possible rematch with Salem: "I don't fucking care at this point. I've beaten her twice now. She had her shot to shut me up and didn't. There's nothing left for me to prove against her."
On if he thinks Taylor can beat Jimmy Page: "Hell no! Jimmy Page is a fucking lunatic. Savannah beating an over the hill Chris Madison doesn't make her a bad bitch. She is going to get killed, and I can't wait to laugh my ass watching it."
On why he left the U.S. Championship belt layin in the hall after the last episode of Flashpoint: "Christ, do I have to keep explaining this to people? I don't want it. So why would I take the damn thing everywhere with me? Maybe the people that run things will finally get the message and strip me of it."