Afterburn for Flashpoint E39

[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 Frontier+.

[Cordy]

Fresh out of the main event battle royal to crown the number one contender to the International Heavyweight Championship, returning superstar Cordelia Stevenson is seen making her way through the backstage area after having had a little fun with the crowd after the match. Despite the controversial ending, Cordelia seems to be in quite good spirits as Amanda Johnson calls out to her.

Amanda Johnson: Cordy, may I have a word with you?

Not really one to turn away a microphone or a camera, Cordy halts in her tracks allowing Amanda a moment to catch up to her.

Cordelia Stevenson: Of course you can, chica.

Cordy shifts her stance and begins studying her arms as Amanda finally makes it to her.

Amanda Johnson: Thank you Cor—

Before she can finish, Cordelia holds up a finger to stop her. She then holds her arm out for Amanda to look at.

Cordelia Stevenson: Hey, look. Do you see that? What are those?

Glancing down at Cordy’s outstretched arm, Jessie runs her free hand along it and then raises an eyebrow as she answers Cordy’s question.

Amanda Johnson: Those are goosebumps, Cordelia.

Cordy nods.

Cordelia Stevenson: Exactly. Goosebumps, Amanda. I’ve got goosebumps right now and I think that says everything that needs to be said and answers the first question you’ve got lined up. I know how this goes Mandy, and chances are one of your first questions is going to be…

Cordy shifts her stance, almost mimicking Amanda to a tee as she pretends to hold a microphone and delivers a dead on Amanda Johnson impersonation.

Cordelia Stevenson: (in her A. Johnson voice) Cordelia, how does it feel to be back after having been gone from FGA for nearly two years?!

Cordy shifts back to her normal stance and chuckles. She holds up her arms towards the camera.

Cordelia Stevenson: Let these be the answer to your question. Being back here, being back in front of those amazing FGA fans, it gave me goosebumps, Mandy. You’ve got to admit there’s just a special vibe, a special electricity in the air when Cordelia Stevenson is in the building, and I know you feel it chica, cause I can feel it. And I know damn well that those people out there felt it too. It feels great to be back, Amanda. It feels friccin amazing to be home, but more importantly it feels great to have *she nods towards her arms* this feeling again, because there was a good while where I didn’t, and that was what led to my retirement.

Amanda Johnson: Wow, I must say that it is good to have you back, Cordelia. But of course, as we saw moments ago, your first night back didn’t necessarily end without controversy, now did it?

Cordy rolls her eyes.

Cordelia Stevenson: That’s because that other random ref wanted to not mind his business!

She turns to the camera, arms outstretched.

Cordelia Stevenson: Mind ya business maaaannnn, Mind ya business!

Cordy drops her arms back down to her sides and laughs, not letting the events that transpired get to her.

Cordelia Stevenson: Nah, honestly… I can’t even be upset or anything for real, because that’s 100% on me.

Amanda Johnson seems a bit curious about Cordy’s response.

Amanda Johnson: On you?

Cordelia Stevenson: Yup. 100% on me. I saw that window of opportunity to get Johnny Karma up out of there and I got a bit… overzealous I guess. It’s like in football, when a receiver is wide open, and the ball is heading his way and all he can think about is the open field ahead of him. They’re so busy thinking ahead that they momentarily lose focus in that moment and forget step one; to catch the ball. This was simply me dropping the ball and not securing the catch because I was too busy thinking about scoring that touchdown.

She sighs and shakes her head.

Cordelia Stevenson: But nah, I’m not even gonna lie to you. I tried to send ole Johnny boy straight to the front row with that one just for old times sake; let the fans in the front get a good photo op with the Karmic Lion, y’know? Just a little too much momentum on my part and voila, the door has opened for debate and controversy, and that is 100% on me. Johnny Karma knows I had him dead to rights, and the world knows it too. But what can ya do.

Cordy shrugs.

Amanda Johnson: So what happens next?

Cordelia Stevenson: The waiting game I guess. I mean, nothing was really settled tonight. As it stands now, there is no winner? Two winners? I mean, I thought it was clear as day that I won the match but apparently not. Hopefully the GM or the board takes a look at the situation and makes the right decision in the matter. It’s technically out of my hands now and I hate that, especially knowing that I could have left everything resolved in that ring and left no questions, put a true stamp on my return, you know? But we’re just going to ride it out and see what’s what. I’m going to move forward with business as usual and do what I have to do. At the end of the day I’m just grateful for the opportunity and I’m just glad to be back, man. The energy tonight was too real.

Amanda Johnson: Indeed it was, Cordelia. And judging by that crowd out there tonight, it seems they were pretty glad to see you. I don’t think you could say the same about your opponents though. You seemed to have a preeeetty huge target on you out there tonight. Did that surprise you?

Cordy scoffs.

Cordelia Stevenson: Not at all. Actually, it was what I expected to be honest. Being in this business, and having the career that I’ve had, you learn to live with that massive target on your chest. You’ve just got to know that everyone is going to be gunning for you in one way or another, whether it be out of respect or whether it be out of hate. From a competitive standpoint, some people are just gonna want to see where they stand against a hall of famer, and some are going to aim my way out of sheer jealousy. For others it may just be a bragging rights thing. Some people find pure joy in playing the role of the spoiler and ruining my return? Well, that would definitely be something I’d gun for if I were in their shoes. I knew right off the bat that a lot of people would be gunning for me. That’s just something I’m always prepared for, so no, there was no surprise there. Whenever I’m in that ring, it’s go time and I hardly doubt that’s a secret at all. So I know I’m perceived as a threat, and anyone with sense would want to eliminate the biggest threats asap. I wasn’t in there with any novices tonight. I was there with a bunch of talented and savvy ring veterans, some of the best wrestlers in the world if I must say so myself, that know what it takes to win, and they understood that getting rid of me was one of their biggest win conditions. But I always give as good as I get, so if you come gunning for me, just make sure you don’t miss. I don’t run, I return fire and I think that’s a lesson that everyone in that ring learned tonight if they weren’t aware of it already.

Amanda Johnson: Well, Cordelia. Thank you for your time, and just like you, we’ll all be waiting to see what comes from the events that transpired tonight.

Cordelia Stevenson: No problem, chica. Anytime.
I don’t know what’s going to come from what just happened out there, but I do know that this shower is about to be like, the greatest thing in the world, and I can’t wait.

She gives one final wink to the camera and then continues on towards the locker rooms.

[The Mason]

Our scene opens up on the office door of the new Flashpoint General Manager, Kayden Jade Jones. For seconds, we just linger here, unmoving until finally the door is pulled open. Sadie San Francisco exits-- noticeably without the FGA 15 Championship in her possession. She stands in the doorway, gaze downcast for a moment before she takes a deep breath and strides forward. As she continues down the hall, we see the familiar faces of Jillian Clay and Nando Fresno: Alien Hunter of the Saturnian Connection, each positioned against the wall on either side of the hall, where— judging by their posture— they’d been for some time, waiting for their friend.

Nando Fresno: So?

Sadie pauses between the two of them, gaze still set toward the floor for a moment.

Sadie San Francisco: I did it.

Jillian Clay: You turned in the 15 Title… that’s-- that’s great, right? You get a match for the U.S. Championship.

Jillian furrows her brow in confusion, looking up to Nando and then back to Sadie when the now-former champion doesn’t respond.

Jillian Clay: ...right?

Nando watches curiously as Sadie takes a few steps forward before turning on her heel to look at her friends, shaking her head a little.

Sadie San Francisco: I told her that I wanted to put my U.S. Championship match on the line against Kendall.

The alien hunter’s eyes grow to the size of saucers before narrowing in disbelief. Jillian looks equally perplexed, but doesn’t state it.

Nando Fresno: Wh-- you-- for what?

Sadie moves a hand through her hair. For a few seconds she’s silent; contemplative, before she folds her arms and turns to look at Nando.

Sadie San Francisco: You heard her earlier tonight.

Nando Fresno: Hm. Yeah. Sounded like a bunch of shit that I would’ve ignored until after I got my hands on the U.S. Title if you’re asking for my opinion--

Sadie San Francisco: I wasn’t.

A soft scoff from Fresno.

Sadie San Francisco: Kendall was right. We have unfinished business. Out of everybody that I beat to defend the championship and to get to this point-- Kendall’s the one that just never felt finished. And she knows it. She knows I feel the way she does about it, and then--

She inhales sharply and sighs.

Sadie San Francisco: And then the Battle Royal…

She shakes her head a little, gaze falling from Nando, back toward the ground as her fingers squeeze into fists, just for a moment.

Sadie San Francisco: She made her point.

Nando shakes his head, looking to Jill as if looking for another soul to share his feelings of how bad the situation is, but Jillian simply looks at Sadie in curiosity.

Nando Fresno: Clearly we have very different opinions. Why risk a sure thing? It’s bad math.

Sadie San Francisco: So, what, if I tell Kendall next week “hey, I thought about it, and I’m gonna have to pass on that whole rematch thing. Not feeling it.” How does that make me look?

Nando shrugs.

Nando Fresno: Like someone that weighed their options and chose wisely.

Sadie nods a little, smiling to herself before responding.

Sadie San Francisco: It’s already done. And it’s something I have to do. I’m gonna get my U.S. Title match, but I’m gonna do it leaving no doubt in anyone’s head that I deserve to be there.

A beat.

Sadie San Francisco: No doubt in my head.

Jillian nods, offering Sadie a faint, but supportive smile, but Nando seems set in his opinion. With his hands now shoved into his pockets, he gazes at Sadie in silence.

[David]

While out in the ring, the main event of Flashpoint continues, backstage at the Landers Center, a camera finds Lowri Moss and Neal Durden, who have just passed through the Gorilla position, following their elimination from the battle royal and the subsequent brawl with their uninvited guests from Vertigo. Lowri is particularly unhappy about what has just happened. In fact, she is - as they say in Wales - tamping.

Lowri Moss: [BEEP]ing Silk & Cyanide.

She runs her hand over her face, partly in an effort to calm herself down, but also to check that there is no lasting damage, after her face smacked against the edge of the ring when Erin Mariani yanked her off the apron. Neal has a faint smile on his face - more than likely due to the fact he lasted longer than Lowri in the match, which is rare for him - but he tries his best to not have Lowri notice, believing all of her anger would go towards him if she finds him with even the slightest hint of a smile on his face in this moment. However, as she glances around about her, Lowri becomes aware of the presence of the camera, and that is what her attention is drawn to, looking towards it with a sigh.

Lowri Moss: By their very nature, battle royals are unpredictable. A mass of bodies all in one ring, everyone trying to survive until the end, not knowing who might be about to knock them on their arse, or worse still, dump them over the top rope.

Lowri pauses ever so briefly to take a breath.

Lowri Moss: And one thing that I definitely wouldn’t have predicted about tonight’s battle royal, is that I would be eliminated not by one of my nine opponents, but by someone who, nevermind not being part of the match, isn’t even [BEEP]ing part of the Flashpoint roster!

She clenches - and then unclenches - her hands, as she again tries to remain calm, and avoid having this simply turn into an expletive-laden rant. Meanwhile, Neal remains completely calmed. Sure, he is not happy about what happened, yet, he does not seem as angry as his better half. Taking advantage of Lowri calming down a bit and needing a couple of seconds to regroup, he interjects.

Neal Durden: Sure, sure… you two made your statement. You picked your spot. I can understand that, I can even see some strategy and commend you for it. Yet, you provoked something that even I can’t even fathom to provoke…

Neal takes a peep at Lowri, who is fuming, he shrugs and looks directly at the camera.

Neal Durden: You made her angry…

Neal stares at the camera, making a face somewhat close to what Jim from The Office would often make, as Lowri storms right back into her diatribe.

Lowri Moss: You know, I didn’t necessarily expect to win, but I did stand as good a chance as anyone else in that ring of being the one to earn a shot at the International Heavyweight title--

Lowri stops and turns to look at Neal.

Lowri Moss: We both did.

She then looks back in the direction of the camera.

Lowri Moss: And you… Erin… Sara… You took that away.

Neal shrugs as he looks at the camera and simply says…

Neal Durden: I told you, you made her angry… Not even I dare do that…

Lowri points towards the camera, as if she is pointing directly at the two members of Silk & Cyanide.

Lowri Moss: If the two of you think that you’re just going to be able to go back to the safety of Vertigo, and get away with what you just did, then you’ve got another thing coming. Just because we’re on different brands, don’t think that this is over.

After glaring at the camera, Lowri then turns away, and she and Neal trudge back towards the locker rooms. They only take a couple of steps though before Lowri - without turning back to face the camera - adds one final comment.

Lowri Moss: And [BEEP] Ashlyn De Luca an’ all.

Another second or two later, and the Welsh duo disappear from view, following which, the scene cuts away.