Afterburn for Grapple Kingdom V

[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+.

[Mister Harris]

Earlier this evening...

Shifting backstage, in one of the catering areas, Logan Alexander and Theodore Harris can be found watching a time delayed broadcast of Grapple Kingdom. Theodore has a cup of coffee sitting on the table in front of him, while Logan has a closed bottle of water in front of him. The two remained focused on the feed as Theodore begins to speak.

Theodore Harris: Well, it has been a strange cycle of events leading up to this point.

He turns his gaze to the camera.

Theodore Harris: A few months and Vertigos back, Sparrow had laid out an option for he and Logan to square up once more in the ring, but with no other distractions to have them try and settle things in the ring. I wouldn't say once and for all, but maybe to have something resembling a definitive conclusion between them in the ring for once. Something beyond a time limit draw and a split decision two fall match. Neither man has been able to say that they have been the better man in those situations. Of course, Sparrow does have four battle royal slash rumble eliminations on Logan and he took the first fall out of the two fall split, so I'm sure that anyone can make a case for Sparrow being the better competitor and that's before even considering championship resumes in FGA.

He smirks slightly.

Theodore Harris: Just keeping it factual.

He pauses for a moment to take a drink from his cup.

Theodore Harris: But after Sparrow made that option for a match, a United States title match no less which, to be fair, was unnecessary for what is essentially a professionally based grudge match, we declined to accept it. It was not something Logan had earned in our opinion. We don't want to be accepting handouts. So we passed any future decision on that matter to management. Whether they think Logan is a valid candidate for a title match or they just figure that they'll be serving up an easy outing to pad Sparrow's title reign, they get to make that call. So they did. And here we are.

He lets out a soft sigh.

Theodore Harris: But we're still not that happy about it.

He frowns and shakes his head briefly.

Theodore Harris: It's a golden opportunity for Logan. This is a chance to breakthrough and push into the next level here. And it feels like it's been a really long road to get to this point... despite the fact that he lost the Legacy championship only six Vertigo broadcasts ago. There's only been one supershow in there as well, so it's something like two cycles between dropping one title and getting an opportunity at one a tier above, without cashing in the Fifteen championship either. A loss followed by two wins and then a handicap match win, securing the pinfall over the new Pride champion, TJ Techniques in that time span.

He smiles again.

Theodore Harris: Now that last win there might offer an opportunity at the Pride championship should things go sideways here tonight. Just saying.

At that, Logan turns his head to regard Theodore. Theodore just smiles back at him and a few moments later, Logan turns his attention back to the broadcast. Theodore looks back to the camera.

Theodore Harris: But, back on topic. We're not that happy about this opportunity here tonight because of the circumstances around this match. Logan has something to prove here against the United States champion but you need a level playing field in order to do that. FGA has not offered that level field here tonight.

He lifts his left hand, holding up three fingers in front of himself.

Theodore Harris: Three things.

He lowers his middle and ring fingers, just leaving the index up.

Theodore Harris: One: TJ Techniques challenged Julian Tijerina earlier on for the Pride championship to kick off the show.

He raises his middle finger to join his index.

Theodore Harris: Two: Def Before Dishonor will challenge Silk and Cyanide for the World Tag Team championship in a little while.

He then raises his ring finger to join the other two again.

Theodore Harris: Three: Logan challenges Sparrow for the United States championship as the second last act here tonight, before Lowri Moss and Nina Stokes try to bludgeon each other into unconsciousness for the World championship.

He offers the camera an amused smirk in response to that thought.

Theodore Harris: In summary form, Sparrow is pulling double duty tonight and his tag team partner in one of those matches is also pulling double duty. It's possible, if not likely, that Sparrow isn't going to be at his best by the time his title defense rolls around. Now he has had deep runs in the Gold Rush Rumble the last two years, so he's got endurance, but Silk and Cyanide aren't going to ease up on him just because he's got another match tonight or that his partner has already wrestled a three fall Pride title match earlier. Sparrow might need to try and carry a bit more of that Tag title match, which means he could be taking a lot more punishment before stepping in with Logan later.

With his smirk gone once again, he gives the camera a knowing look.

Theodore Harris: Hardly a level playing field.

There is a brief pause before Theodore resumes speaking.

Theodore Harris: Should Sparrow win though, he'll look like a million bucks out there. He'd already have been put through the wringer by the tag champs, so to then came back out and dig down enough to pick up the win and retain his title would be quite a showing for him. Probably would be a definitive answer for us as to just who is better too.

This draws another look from Logan, but no comment before he turns his attention away again.

Theodore Harris: If he doesn't though, it's just going to diminish the victory for Logan. He didn't beat the man at his best, so there's always going to be an asterisk there, even if it's just for us, until Logan gets another rematch with Sparrow at his best.

Theodore shakes his head briefly.

Theodore Harris: That won't do at all. We don't want to walk out of here tonight with any ifs or buts following behind if Logan leaves with the title. As Logan showed a few days ago on Vertigo, if he's going to win, he wants to prove that it was done straight up. He wants it to be because he was the better one out there and not because there was some extenuating circumstances that led to it. To the consternation of Silk, Cyanide and Seth Iser, Logan gave TJ Techniques a chance to get his wits about him before they squared off a few days ago rather than just taking advantage of his situation. It made things harder and gave it gave their side a chance to carry the tempo for some time in that match. While it didn't truly make it a fair fight since they were short one on his side regardless, it was a clean ending with Logan doing what he does so well to secure the win.

He lets out a sigh, pausing for a few moments again.

Theodore Harris: But I guess the simple fact of the matter tonight is that this is the hand we've been dealt, so we'll just have to play these cards. It's entirely possible that Sparrow will have plenty of time to recover between his two matches. Owen and Henny will be followed by Carmichael and Scott and those are both likely to be battles of attrition that keep going until someone physically cannot. That could be well over an hour, so all this musing could be a moot point once the bell rings for us.

He shrugs to the camera and smiles slightly.

Theodore Harris: Well, we've got some time to go before we see just how this will shape up. Nothing else to do except hope for the best. We'll see you later.

With a nod to the camera, Theodore turns has attention back to the monitor showing the Grapple Kingdom broadcast. Then the camera cuts away.

[Betsy Gallagher]

Backstage, a camera crew finds Betsy Gallagher and Maria helping Julian Tijerina into his expensive sports car. Maria and Julian are speaking in Spanish, clearly agitated by what happened during his title loss, when Maria notices the camera crew. She hurriedly gets Julian into the car and gestures for Betsy to handle the camera crew before entering the car herself and leaving the exasperated Englishwoman all on her own.

Betsy Gallagher: Oh, yeah, just leave me here, will you? Thanks, love! 

She annoyingly heaves a sigh, shaking her head, her hands on her hips, before turning to the camera with a scornful smirk.

Betsy Gallagher: ...this isn't really the time for you to get all "paparazzo" on me and my buddies, random FGA camera crew, but you know what?

She pauses, squinting in the distance, before deciding to go against her rationality and carry on with an impromptu rant.

Betsy Gallagher: Tonight was obviously not our night. Julian lost his FGA Pride Championship, and what I assume is part of his face; Maria lost her mind because of Julian losing both his title and his face; and I, of course, lost my opportunity when a certain Summer Page decided to mess with me. Well, you know what, Summer Page?

Betsy stomps closer to the camera and grabs it as if it was someone else's face. 

Betsy Gallagher: Summer is officially over! It's time to turn the final page of your book, send it back to the library, because you've earned my ire and I'm not even from Ireland! 

Betsy snarls at the camera but takes a second to recompose herself before snarling some more.

Betsy Gallagher: You want my bloody attention, Page? Well, you've got my bloody attention! You want an audience with the Queen? You'll get the Queen's Lariat! This isn't a fairy tale, Page, but I sure as bloody hell will give you a Fairy Tale Ending, you wanker!

Betsy then mouths sorry to the camera man before angrily walking out of view, stomping her way and audibly grunting. 

Betsy Gallagher (O.S.): Now how the bloody hell am I supposed to get to my hotel?! Does anyone have Uber? HEY KAYLA GIVE ME YOUR CAR KEYS

The camera fades to black.

[sasso]

The new FGA Legacy Champion Piper Lennon is beaming ear to ear, cradling the belt she’s won now for the second time to her chest as she walks down the hallway with a skip in her step. Intrepid reporter Amanda Johnson is seen darting into frame trying to catch up with Lennon, presumably to get the scoop on her actions after the victory.

Amanda Johnson: Piper! Piper! A word please?

The new champ whirls around and stares at Amanda like she has three heads.

Amanda Johnson: Congratulations on your victory of course, but I think what everyone wants to know is why you betrayed Ant like that. Were you ever her friend? Was this your plan all along?

Piper Lennon: Are you new here?

A beat skips.

Piper Lennon: Rhetorical question, I know you’re not; you’ve worked here for like 80 years or something. Which is why I feel like you should know that I don’t do the whole interview thing. I speak my truth on my own time, in my own place, that’s just how it works. Now, I mean I get it, pretty captivating trailblazing stuff I accomplished here at the Graps Queendom ... #feministAF; but, and this is just me … I feel like it doesn’t mean your selfish wants should be able to violate my personal boundaries.

She lets out a sigh.

Piper Lennon: I’m a nice person though, so if you want an exclusive soundbite or whatever you can say this and put it on the FGA Tiktok or whatever, “Piper Lennon is an example, not just to single mothers, but young women of all ages.”

The interviewer blinks.

Amanda Johnson: .. What? I just want t–

Piper cuts her off.

Piper Lennon: No, no, you’re saying it wrong. Let’s try it from the beginning. “Piper Lennon is an example, not just to single mothers, but young women of all ages.”

Amanda Johnson: Piper …

Piper Lennon: … Lennon is an example.

Amanda tries to remain unflustered and get a word in edgewise.

Amanda Johnson: I just think that …

Piper Lennon: Pi–

Amanda Johnson: … people really deserve some answers.

Piper Lennon: Piper Lennon is an ex–

Finally, Johnson throws her hands up and shakes her head, starting to walk away. Cupping her hands to her mouth, the Legacy Champ encouragingly calls after her.

Piper Lennon: “Piper Lennon is an example, not just to single mothers, but young women of all ages!” It’s a pretty simple line, I know you probably went to public school, but I know you can get it if you try again!

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