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Post by FGA Office on Aug 31, 2020 21:44:04 GMT -5
Vertigo’s next shot opens on Ashlyn De Luca, now in her locker room, partially changed into her wrestling gear-- black-and-green long tights, stretched down to her ankles, though still sporting the vintage PW shirt. She bends down, shuffling through her Fila sports bag that lies alone on the wooden bench in the dressing room. As she does, pulls her hair out of a ponytail, allowing golden-brown locks to fall around her head. Finding the top to her wrestling gear, Ashlyn stands upright, turning to make her way toward the shower room and out of the camera’s field of vision.
The camera pans up, focusing only on the white tile wall of the shower room, giving us a view of Ashlyn’s shadow.
Click!
Out of frame, a lock quietly shifts out of place. There is a very faint, quick, but barely-audible kriiik! as hinges groan. We hear shuffling. Shuffling. Shuffling. And then quiet.
Inside the shower room, De Luca turns on the sink faucet, and even her shadow disappears for a few seconds before the water stops. De Luca’s shadow returns to the wall, shaking her hands dry before she walks out of the shower room, back into frame, now completely dressed in her gear, sans boots. De Luca walks back toward her sports bag--
--and freezes.
Ashlyn De Luca: Wha…
Our camera pans down a bit… revealing a cracked, gray Samsung Galaxy tablet lying face-up on top of Ashlyn’s bag.
Ashlyn De Luca: Erm. Hellooo?
She looks in each direction. Quickly, De Luca makes her way to the ajar locker room door and leans out of the doorway, peering in each direction of the corridor for a few seconds before slowly pulling herself back in and pushing it closed.
With a look of distrust, Ashlyn turns her attention to the tablet again. She reaches into the side pocket of her bag, retrieving a single nitrile glove that she slides over her hand before she begins tapping at the screen of the tablet.
Ashlyn De Luca: The hell is thi--?
Without much more prompting than a tap, a white screen fires to life and a voice, deep and firm with a hint of a foreign accent booms from the tablet’s speakers, cutting Ashlyn off.
VOICE: Good evening Miss De Luca or, if you prefer, Mrs. Evans. Hopefully this message finds you well. I know that your night didn’t start out as such. Certainly not as good as you might have hoped after coming in that door. Might make you question whether an early arrival was worth it.
De Luca freezes, eyes locked on the white screen, as if waiting for something to accompany the voice.
VOICE: I’m sure you have several things you’d like to ask. First among them is likely ‘Who the BLEEP is this talking to you?’
It continues.
VOICE: I am merely a messenger of a mutual acquaintance of ours who wanted to get in touch with you, but was unable to do so directly. Apparently the two of you have some business affairs that need to be set in order. I am here to help facilitate that.
Ashlyn bites her lip. Her eyes drift from one direction to the other-- to the door-- anywhere. Her hands clench into fists.
VOICE: I’m sure that you have no interest now in settling issues that are not readily apparent to you, seeing as you are in the process of carving out your legacy in FGA, having disposed of the things holding you back some time ago. That work is surely proceeding with all haste at the moment, despite the fact that your prize still resides in the hands of another, rather than yours. At least your confidence isn’t shaken.
De Luca scoffs, shaking her head, trying-- and quickly failing-- to mask her annoyance as she folds her arms and turns her gaze to the tablet again. She opens her mouth to say something, but the voice continues, somehow just a tiny bit louder than before. As if intentionally.
VOICE: Surely you will soon set aside the faults of others that have cost you what you feel you deserve. But before you get to advance your grand plans, being the main event and all, I will be in touch about setting your affairs in order soon.
A brief pause.
VOICE: Be well until then… because it might not last much beyond that point.
The cracked tablet screen falls dark again. De Luca stands there, as if waiting for something else to happen, before she shakes her head in frustration.
Ashlyn De Luca: You mother[muted] have too much [muted] time on your hands. WHO--
Ashlyn bites her tongue. She marches to the door, yanking it open, shouting out into the corridors while pointing a finger back at the tablet as if whoever was listening could piece the two together.
Ashlyn De Luca: WHOSE [muted] IS THIS?! I DON’T THINK IT’S FUNNY!
No voice calls back in response. Ashlyn hangs her head, standing there in the doorway before she chuckles dryly to herself, running a hand through her hair.
Ashlyn De Luca: Losing my mind… losing m…
She closes the door and looks at the tablet again, shaking her head with a bitter smirk.
Ashlyn De Luca: Not enough to just beat me. But now she has to send goons to mock me too. Jesus Christ…
De Luca knocks the tablet off of her bag and to the ground as she walks back toward the shower room, muttering under her breath. Our camera pans down to the tablet, fading our scene to black.
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Post by FGA Office on Aug 31, 2020 21:43:56 GMT -5
We return to the hallway now, the hallway near the curtain set up. And since it is almost time for him to go on coming into view is the well traveled veteran Seth Iser. He’s already switched into his ring gear with the sheen of his steel knee brace on that left knee doned in the style of a Japanese flag, the countries of every place he’s ever wrestled in is in this particular variation of his usual black and the well traveled warrior has the black briefcase in his right hand and the preverbal white cast on his left. As he’s walking in, the interviewer Spencer Burke walks in front of the camera and gestures toward Iser as he’s putting the briefcase down to take one last drink of bottled water and dumping some over his head in one last little prematch thing.
Spencer Burke: Seth, a moment of your time if you will.
The veteran hears Spencer’s call for an interview. Seth for a brief second opens his mouth for a verbal response before tilting his head to the side and then gesturing with his casted hand for Spencer to do his job. Spencer peers up a little at the taller, intimidating man who is scowling down at him.
Spencer Burke: In two different matches both you the challenger and the champion prepare for what is one of the more anticipated title matches in quite some time with two different matches. Fujiko is scheduled in an attempt to win the tag team championships in our main event tonight...meanwhile in just a few minutes you are are going to have a wrestling match with Patrick Jones. Are you surprised that she’s gunning for another title?
Seth has half of a smirk etched on his face as he’s asked that question as he chews over the question.
Seth Iser: No.
A one word response with a slight shake of the head as Spencer pauses for a moment waiting for Iser to continue onto a speel. After a pause, Seth does continue speaking.
Seth Iser: We’re professional wrestlers, Spencer. Anytime you look for some sort of acknowledgement that you’re one of the best in the world at what you do you take it. She has an ego as big as mine whether she’d admit to that or not and we’re both greedy people when it comes to our own success. That means whether you like the person opposite you or not...whether you care for your partner or not, and she and Cordy are cordial I’d say if not best of friends...you go out there and look for any way to expand your own brand.
The half smirk has vanished from his face as the all knowing stern and steely expression is back on his face.
Seth Iser: Whether she succeeds in winning the championships or not is another question entirely. And I’m not going to make a prediction on that. Quite frankly her own ambitions I don’t give a damn about. She has the thing I want the most in the end and I’ll be a watchful hawk keeping an eye on the little subtleties she’s developed over the past year or so. And I’ll have the best seat in the house on commentary tonight.
Spencer glances at Seth with a slight look of worry wondering what he could be planning.
Spencer Burke: You’re going to be on commentary for the main event?
Seth Iser: I am, yes. I will not intervene in said main event physically but I asked to and was granted my request of doing commentary for that match. So I’ll be at the table...studying Fujiko while also doing the job a commentator should in that spot. I’ll call everything how I see it.
Spencer Burke: I can think of one instance where you crashed a main event.
Seth’s eyes narrow on Spencer slightly. With a slight turn of the head, his eyes are shown to be agitated.
Seth Iser: Izzy and I were and are playing under different rules, Spencer. You know I don’t like doing that type of thing unless it’s a last resort...because it is unprofessional behavior. But as much as we know the score in that situation...I’m a challenger to the World Championship. The last time I had an opportunity at a World Title in a one on one setting was at the beginning of 2016. And I was screwed out of that opportunity as far as I’m concerned. And for how hard I scraped and I crawled and grit, grinded and even schemed to get to this spot...I’m not going to put that in any sort of jeopardy by doing something that would be unprofessional to the championship in my spot.
And after he delivers that he scowls at Spencer for a moment.
Seth Iser: So A: You have my word I won’t intervene physically. And B: I figure I will also be wrestling next week so if Fujiko wants to do the same thing to me...fair is fair. She’s welcome to take a seat on the announce desk if she desires. She might find things enlightening doing that job. But there is something we need to focus on the here and now…
Spencer looks at Seth for a moment before nodding his head as Iser crosses his arms with a frown etched on his face.
Spencer Burke: You are wrestling Patrick Jones for the first time in almost five years.
Seth Iser: It’d be five years almost exactly in a month…Spencer, you are a journalist, how many times have Patrick and I wrestled each other in singles matches?
Spencer takes a moment to ponder Iser’s question as he seems legitimately curious on how read up Spencer is.
Spencer Burke: I recall two of them.
Seth Iser: Two is the correct answer based on my own memory. But despite the two matches in VoW in that time period our paths crossed back in a little English promotion called TEW. I’m still hated to this day in the United Kingdom as a whole considering my mindframe during that time but something always stuck with me. This young kid who I thought was going to be a punk came in there...and he took some of the damnedest ass kickings I’ve ever seen. And then...he did something in that company I didn’t do. He won championship gold. He was a tag champion.
The veteran rubs his temple a little as if he’s thinking of his own missed opportunities in some disgust as he shakes his head.
Seth Iser: And the thing that carries with him from NEW and his other major championship accomplishment to VoW to here in FGA...one thing really stands out when you think of Patrick Jones when he steps in that ring. No matter his inconsistency in the win-loss record...he just doesn’t stay down. In that regard...he might be the most stubborn son of a bitch I’ve ever stepped in the ring with. And if you stuck a microphone in his face and asked him his thoughts on me...it’d be one of the most conflicted but elaborate answers because he’s probably seen the WORST parts of me as I was fighting for my career...my fatherhood...Hell in some aspects I was fighting for my life. Just because you quit taking drugs and you straighten up doesn’t mean the stigma just goes away.
And then there is a semblance of a smile, far from the usual ones that are full of menace with him. There’s the slightest bit of warmth there.
Seth Iser: But I’m a far better person than I was back then. A better man...a better father than I was then. I’m in better ring shape than I was in that time period too...might be in the best shape of my life. Not career: life. And well...I’ve said it for a while now...but I don’t think I’ve ever been a better wrestler than I am now. And for as much as I think the world of Patrick Jones' ability to take a beating...he knows that he has to wrestle the perfect match to beat me.
And then the arrogance is starting to bream in with that smirk.
Seth Iser: And Patrick, brother, I don’t think you can. Not right now. As good as he is at enduring...you can ask Neal, Lowri, Izzy, especially Owen...I’m one of the best at finding a way to break someone down in that ring that has that super human quality. And as much as I think he’d love to finally get one on me...he, and the paying audience are going to be disappointed. The result from nearly five years ago will not change. I’ll find another way to win as I’m the Greatest Mind in the sport and it’ll be a perfect showcase of both how far I’ve come and just how narrow the margin is between good, great, and truly one of the game’s elite. His rare quality pushes him toward great when motivated. He’ll be motivated tonight because it’s against me. But I’m one of the game’s elite. I’ve been that way for a long damned time and everyone knows it isn’t me spouting hot air…
And then the arrogant smirk is gone as he’s back to being determined as he grabs the briefcase in his hand before starting to march toward the curtain to wait for his match.
Seth Iser: And this elite wrestler will get his just dues when Only the Strong truly survive as the ultimate prize hunter finally becomes the World Champion. And he is one step closer to that when I go out there and kick PJ’s ass tonight. It has been your pleasure Spencer.
Before Spencer can let out another retort he knows Seth is concluded as he begins walking over about ready to make said entrance with that walk of determination. There’s no limp to his step and even with the cast, he seems about as healthy as he can be.
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Post by FGA Office on Aug 31, 2020 21:43:38 GMT -5
SINGLES MATCH Tyler Storm vs. Laura Perelli The arena goes dark for just a moment, as the opening riffs to Voodoo Johnson's "United Divided" play through the PA, before the white lights are replaced by swirling blue and yellow replacements. A few seconds pass, though, and it’s only when the drum beat kicks in that the curtain is pushed aside, and Laura Perelli comes spinning through, immediately spreading her arms out wide, a sly little smile on her face as she glances out into the arena. She holds her spot in the center of the stage, rolling her neck out to either side, only making her way down the ramp when she’s good and ready. Ooo, standing up, being a captive to my disease And I’ll start when I wanna start
It’s not a trip but a diviiiiiiine right to be This is my castle and I’m keeping
All Locked Laura’s not exactly in a particular hurry, as she more saunters down the ring, occasionally glancing to either side of her to take in the fans at the aisleway. It’s never for more than a moment or two, though, as the most regard Laura’s willing to give is a little tilt of the head to one fan in particular trying to get her attention--whatever he may have been saying, it didn’t do much to faze her, and she just continues to move on. At her own pace, she eventually reaches the ring steps, pausing with one boot on the bottom step, closing her eyes for just a second before quickly jogging up onto the apron, casually wiping the soles of her boots off before spinning around to face the crowd--if only to smirk a little bit. J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, hailing from Trenton, New Jersey, weighing in at 127 pounds, this is LAURAAAAA PERRELLIIIIIIIII! Laura swings herself through the ropes, spinning in a half circle to face the opposite side fans and stretching both arms out, holding the pose for more than a couple seconds before eventually backing herself into her corner, shrugging her jacket off and dumping it out of the ring. Grabbing the top rope with one hand, she leans down, stretching her opposite leg out in preparation for the match. Kris Cruise: Laura Perelli was able to sneak away with a victory last Vertigo over Zack Gall. Stephy Auger: You call it “sneaking away.” But I think it would be more accurate to say that Perelli outsmarted Gall and his manager. Though it’s Gall and Difranco we’re talking about here. They’re not exactly the sharpest tools in the shed. What happened earlier tonight pretty much confirmed that. Kris Cruise: I will never question Zack Gall’s fighting spirit. He fought very valiantly out there earlier tonight. But back to Perelli. We’ve seen her give the likes of Izzy Anders a run for her money in her short in-ring career. She isn’t one to be overlooked. Stephy Auger: Definitely not. Tyler Storm has years upon years of experience on her. But we’ve seen here and elsewhere how quickly Perelli improves. Show after show, she just gets better and better. If she gets you in an armbar? It’s over. You better tap out quick or else you’ll be leaving the arena with your arm in a sling! The lights begin to slow fade out to the opening tunes of "Eye of the Tiger" before flashing quickly back on once the rifts of the guitar begin playing, along with being met with flashes of blue and gold light on the stage. Once the song picks up into its normal tune about 25 seconds in, Tyler Storm rushes out from behind the curtain to a positive pop, bobbing his head to the beat of the song and mouthing out to the fans. Once the lyrics start, Tyler begins making his way down the ramp, walking along the left for the first half of his trek to the ring and high-fiving fans or talking with them, and doing the same in the second half of his walk on the right side. Before long he reaches ringside and after interacting with a few more people at ringside, he works his way up the stairs onto the ring apron. He rubs his feet off for a few moments, then gripping onto the top rope he jumps up and slides his legs in between the top and middle ropes and into the ring. J.A. Aldridge: Her opponent, hailing from Tuscaloosa, Alabama! Weighing in at 215 pounds… TYLER STORM! The song goes on for a few more moments with Storm motioning out to the crowd for a reaction before rushing to one side of the ring just as the drawn out "Eye of the Tiger" lyric hits, landing his right foot on the bottom rope and his left on the middle rope with his arms spread out open with the audience cheering. He then hops back off the ropes and walks over to his corner as the music fades. Kris Cruise: Tyler Storm got his answers moments ago from Lowri Moss. On the last episode of Vertigo, Tyler made his case for getting one more shot at Lowri Moss. Well, Lowri accepted his challenge and will be defending her Pride Championship against him at Only the Strong Survive! Stephy Auger: Tyler’s even forgoing entering the Gold Rush Rumble to commit all of his focus towards the Pride Championship! He’s going all in! Kris Cruise: Indeed he is. Some have questioned Storm’s line of thinking on that one. But I think it’s commendable what Storm’s doing, just like I think it’s commendable that Moss is willing to defend both the Pride and World Tag Team Championships on pay per view! The match starts off with a lock up. They jockey for position until Perelli gains the upper hand. She keeps Storm locked in place before performing a standing switch and transitioning into a hammerlock. Perelli stays in control until Storm spins out and reverses into a hammerlock of his own. The former Pride Champion keeps the hold locked on until Perelli uses her free arm to nail him with a back elbow to the face. The boos continue as Perelli brings him to the mat with a spinning drop toe hold. Perelli is quick to pounce on Storm’s back and tries to lock him in the New Jersey Necktie (Rings of Saturn)! But Storm is able to scramble across the mat and make it to the ropes. Perelli stays on Storm’s back with a satisfied smirk as the ref gives her to the count of five to get off him. Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR… Perelli heads back towards the center of the ring. Storm then pulls himself back up using the ropes before heading back over to his opponent. Stephy Auger: Storm is lucky he got to the ropes. This match would have been over quick if Perelli was able to trap both of his arms. Kris Cruise: You mentioned it before, Stephy. Perelli loves her submissions. She’s at home on the ground. Storm has to try and stay on his feet. They size each other up before motioning for another lockup. This time, Perelli ducks under, goes behind and applies a rear waist lock. Perelli stays in control until Storm reaches down, slowly pries her hands from around his waist and reverses into an arm wrench. After a second arm wrench is delivered, Perelli rolls forward, spins over onto her knees and then brings Storm down to the mat with a fireman’s carry. She then tries to slip on a side headlock, only for Storm to slip out and reverse into a grounded hammerlock. Perelli slaps the mat out of frustration. The referee kneels down and asks her if she wants to give up. After refusing, Perelli battles back to her feet. She then slowly reaches back with her free arm, grabs a hold of Storm and brings him down with a jumping snapmare. She quickly takes off into the ropes, comes back and throws out a Sliding D. The crowd gasps when she whiffs on the strike after Storm rolls out of the way. Once both grapplers are back to their feet, Storm pushes forward and throws out a bicycle kick. Perelli catches his foot before knocking him down with a leg sweep. She then lifts up Storm’s other leg before flipping over into a jackknife pin. ONE! . . TWO! . . Storm bridges up, turns, turns again and hooks Perelli’s arms before slowly bringing her down with a backslide pin. ONE! . . TWO! . . The crowd gasps when Perelli slips out before slipping on a fujiwara armbar! Kris Cruise: Uh oh! Stephy Auger: She’s got him caught! Storm is heard groaning as Perelli pulls back on his arm. The ref asks Storm if he wants to give up. He refuses. Storm then reaches out to the side with his free arm and tries to pull himself across the mat. But he slows down when Perelli starts bending his fingers. Perelli continues to manipulate the joints while Storm struggles to drag himself across the ring. Storm reaches out… and grabs the bottom rope, forcing a rope break. Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR… Perelli takes Storm’s arm and keylocks it before delivering a stomp to it! “BOOOOOOOOOO!” Kris Cruise: Oh come on! Stephy Auger: That’s the type of ruthlessness you need to succeed, especially in a Gold Rush Rumble. Unlike Tyler Storm, I have it on good authority that Laura Perelli will be competing. Can you imagine, Laura Perelli changing for one of the top championships at All-Star Showdown Nine? Kris Cruise: She could very well do just that. But there will be 29 other competitors standing in her way. Stephy Auger: Perelli could pull off the upset. If she has her way, 29 other competitors will be leaving that match with broken arms, broken legs and broken hearts. Perelli moves Storm into the corner and lights up his chest with several knife edge chops. She then sets up for an irish whip when Storm reverses, sending her into the far corner. Storm rushes across the ring, only to get caught with a back elbow that knocks him back. After shaking off the blow, Storm rushes back in. This time, he gets knocked back with a boot to the face. Perelli rushes out of the corner to attack when Storm lifts her up, turns and throws her down with a spinebuster! The cheers continue as he then rolls across Perelli and hooks the near leg. ONE! . . TWO! . . Perelli reverses into a grounded crucifix. ONE! . . TWO! . . Perelli kicks out. Kris Cruise: Nice reversal there by Perelli, but it only gets two. After both grapplers get back to their feet, Perelli pushes forward. She goes for a jumping leg lariat, only for Storm to catch her in mid air, rush into the corner and counter with a Buckle Bomb! Storm takes hold of Perelli and sets up for a Backdrop Driver, but Perelli counters with multiple elbows to the back of the head. While Storm is doubled over, Perelli takes off into the ropes. When she returns, she sees Storm run past her towards the same set of ropes. When Perelli turns around, Storm knocks her down with a spinning heel kick! The cheers continue as he makes the cover. ONE! . . TWO! . . Perelli gets her shoulder up. Storm sets up for an irish whip when Perelli reverses and brings him down with an irish whip feint into a double knee armbreaker! Storm is pulled back to his feet before Perelli brings him down with an arm drag into an armbar! Storm quickly locks his hands together to keep Perelli from fully locking on the armbar. But Perelli counters this by repeatedly bringing her leg down across Storm’s face until Storm’s grip is broken. Perelli then falls back and fully locks on the armbar! Stephy Auger: It’s in now! The crowd boos as Storm is heard howling in pain. Perelli elevates her hips to further apply pressure. The official asks Storm if he wants to give up. Storm refuses. He reaches out with his free arm. But he can’t reach the ropes. He then tries to kick his far leg over toward the bottom rope. Storm continue to kick his leg out until he’s able to get the tip of his boot underneath the bottom rope, forcing a rope break. Stephy Auger: Storm was lucky to get his boot under the bottom rope. He was this close to losing this match. Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR… Perelli breaks the hold before bringing her leg down hard across Storm’s face. She then drags Storm away from the ropes before sitting him up and clamping down with a Shoulder Claw. Kris Cruise: Yet another submission for Perelli. She’s got Storm right where she wants him. We’ve seen the damage that Storm has endured. This submissions have taken their toll. But does Storm have enough left in him to fight back? The official asks Storm if he wants to give up. Storm refuses before turning over to his knee. After battling back to a vertical base, Storm nails Perelli with repeated elbows to the midsection before bringing her down with a swinging neckbreaker. Kris Cruise: Storm is down! Perelli is down! Who will get back to their feet first? Both grapplers start to pick themselves up off the mat. Once they’re back up to their feet, Storm strikes first with multiple knife edge chops before a spinning forearm knocks Perelli into the corner! He then pushes forward, takes Perelli and whips her into the far corner before running across the ring and connecting with a hesitation dropkick! As Perelli staggers out of the corner next to the ropes, Storm heads over and pulls Perelli towards the center of the ring before delivering a Backdrop Driver! ONE! . . TWO! . . Perelli gets the shoulder up. Storm doubles Perelli over with a boot to the midsection before backing up against the ropes. The former Pride Champion comes back and throws out a Scissors Kick. He whiffs when Perelli slips out of the way. Perelli takes control of his back and tries to bring him down with the Code of Silence (Saka Otoshi into Sleeper Hold)! But Storm is able to grab onto her arm before throwing her down over his shoulder. Perelli scrambles back to her feet, only to get caught with a bicycle kick that knocks her back to the canvas! Perelli turns over and tries to push herself off the mat, only for Storm to hit the ropes, return and knock her down with a Scissors Kick! Storm then scoops Perelli up before throwing her down with a Blue Thunder Bomb! ONE! . . TWO! . . Perelli gets the shoulder up. Kris Cruise: Another nearfall for Storm! He’s getting to delivering that knockout blow. Stephy Auger: C’mon, Perelli! The crowd cheers as Storm scoops Perelli across his shoulder. He then lifts her up higher for the Bite Wound (Crucifix Cutter)! At the last second, Perelli starts to kick her legs before slipping down from behind. After catching Storm with a European Uppercut across the back of the neck, she turns Storm around and lifts him up across her shoulders! The crowd gasps as she’s got Storm in place for an Ushi Goroshi. Before Perelli can hit the neckbreaker, Storm fights his way out with elbows to the side of the head. He then slips down from behind before blasting Perelli with the Hybrid Crackdown (Inverted Headlock into Rolling Elbow)! Perelli is then scooped up across Storm’s back before being brought down with the Rolling Tide (Air Raid Crash Neckbreaker)! Storm scans the cheering crowd. He then shouts out “Time to..” before the crowd responds with, “be witness!” Storm then takes Perelli and lifts her up onto his shoulders before driving her down with the Eye of the Storm (Electric Chair Driver)! ONE! . . TWO! . . THREE! The crowd cheers as “Eye of the Tiger (Metal Cover)” blasts over the PA. J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this bout… TYLER STORM! The cheers continue as the referee raises Storm’s good arm after the win. Kris Cruise: Tyler Storm picks up the W. He left last week’s match in rough shape. Perelli did a number on his arm here tonight. Will Storm be ready for Lowri Moss? Will he head into Only the Strong Survive at 100%? We’ll find out on Pay Per View! • COMMERCIAL BREAK •
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Post by FGA Office on Aug 31, 2020 21:43:24 GMT -5
The cameras switch to a corridor where the FGA World Tag Team Champions of Neal Durden and the Pride Champion, Lowri Moss, are seen sitting beside one another on a crate, with their titles next to them. Ahead of their match later, they are both already dressed in their respective ring attire, with each of them also wearing an Irish Whip Clothing branded Pendragon t-shirt. The pair are both gazing towards the camera, and with a smile on her face, Lowri is the first of the two to speak.
Lowri Moss: What's occurring, FGA?
That greeting of Lowri’s does not elicit a pop of the magnitude that it usually would, due of course to the limited number of people that are currently able to be in attendance inside the BB&T Pavilion; she continues, undeterred.
Lowri Moss: Later tonight, in the main event, we’ll be defending the world tag team titles against Cordy Stevenson and Fujiko Mine, in a repeat of the main event from the last show… and we’re going to talk about that shortly, but firstly, there’s something else from the last show that I need to address.
While Lowri speaks, Neal simply looks at the belt in his hands, not even giving a look towards the camera. It is almost as if he is thinking about what happened last time out, and how things might play out tonight.
Lowri Moss: Four weeks ago, Tyler Storm returned to FGA and made it known that he has his sights set on the Pride Championship, and that he wants it back. Now, I already have a match scheduled for Only the Strong Survive, as Neal and I are going to be up against the Hellcat Spangled Death Squad and Silk & Cyanide, so if I was to accept Tyler’s challenge, that could potentially-- depending on what happens later-- mean me having to defend two titles in the same night, which is a possibility that I actually discussed prior to the match with Tyler back in February when I won the Pride Championship and became a double champion again; at the time, I said that if necessary, I would be prepared to defend both the world tag titles and the Pride title in the same night-- and my feelings haven’t changed since then.
Lowri pauses to take a breath.
Lowri Moss: I’m also not one to shy away from a challenge, so, Tyler, if you want a return match for the Pride Championship… I’ll see you at Only the Strong Survive.
She exchanges a glance with Neal, who gestures for her to continue.
Lowri Moss: Back to tonight then, and as I alluded to just a moment ago, we're going to be defending our titles against Cordy and Fujiko, after their non-title victory against us last time out. As part of our preparations for this contest, we watched back the first match between ourselves and Cordy and Fujiko, and I want to pick up on something that Kris Cruise said following the match, which is that Fujiko and Cordy’s win was “an upset.” I was actually a bit surprised to hear him say that, although admittedly I can kinda understand why he said it, considering that Fujiko and Cordy aren't an established tag team, whereas Neal and I have been a team for four years, and have won multiple titles in that time. However, we're talking about the current FGA World Champion and International Heavyweight Champion, not to mention everything else that they've both accomplished in their respective careers, so I really don't think that it should be considered an upset-- just like my victory against Cordy at the Artemis Kaiser Power Hall wasn't an upset, either.
She gives a wink to the camera.
Lowri Moss: Upset or not though, we aren’t going to sit here and make excuses for what happened four weeks ago. We didn’t get overconfident, they didn't catch us by surprise with how well they worked together as a team, and we certainly didn't underestimate them. On that night, they earned their win, and while they might not have expected it, they deserve the shot at our titles that they’re now about to receive.
Finally Neal seems to get out of the trance-like status he has been in so far, as he gets his head up and smirks at the camera before speaking.
Neal Durden: Last time out wasn’t a fluke, but it wasn’t the norm for us either. We wanted to end the first FGA show back from hiatus with a bang and I think we did it… and this week we get to do it all over again. Yet, for all the accolades they have, for all the praise they do get, you have to understand lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same place. The four of us know we have to basically put on a perfect performance in order to walk out with the victory. The four of us know that we need to work as a well-oiled machine in order to get that final moment in the spotlight standing. Last time, I was the one with my back on the canvas looking up… this time, I refuse to leave like that.
Lowri places a hand on Neal’s shoulder, as she picks up where he left off.
Lowri Moss: We both refuse to leave like that. The loss we suffered against Cordy and Fujiko was our first loss anywhere in a tag match since the Final Frontier of two years ago, and only our second loss in the better part of three years. In that time, we have made a habit of winning - winning matches, winning tournaments, and winning titles… and we plan on getting straight back into that habit, at the first attempt. We can’t let Fujiko and Cordy get the better of us again, nor do we intend to allow them to. We need to win this match, not only to make up for what happened last time, not only to ensure that the titles remain in our possession ahead of the big three-way tag team match at Only the Strong Survive, but also to tie the record for the most successful defences of the World Tag Team Championship that was set by our predecessors, The Chaotics, so that we can further etch ourselves into the annals of history here in FGA.
Neal nods in agreement with what Lowri has just said, clutching the belt he holds in his hands and speaks.
Neal Durden: We have a mission to bring FGA’s tag team division further than it has ever been. Tonight we have the opportunity to seal our place in the three-way tag team match at Only the Strong Survive as the World Tag Team Champions… we won’t waste it.
And on that note, the camera cuts back to ringside.
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Post by FGA Office on Aug 31, 2020 21:42:49 GMT -5
Frontier Grappling Arts interviewer, Amanda Johnson, appears on the screen and the picture comes to life. A couple of seconds pass before the cameraman gives her the cue to go ahead. Amanda Johnson: Good evening everyone. I hope you are well. I’m currently joined by the former United States Champion, Nine Stokes. The camera pans over to the right to reveal Nina standing there. There’s a nonchalant aura surrounding her as she places her hands inside the pouch of her Nike hoodie. She tilts her head in Amanda’s direction, barely even acknowledging the woman’s complimentary introduction. Nina Stokes: I. Hate. Liars. Her tone is so gruff that it causes Amanda to widen her eyes. Nina Stokes: Wouldn’t you agree, Amanda? She doesn’t wait for Amanda to respond. Instead, she continues speaking. Nina Stokes: Deceivers? Liars? Throughout the course of our existence as humans, those types of people have been referred to as the “scum of the earth.” They are not to be cheered and praised― There’s a small pause. Nina Stokes: They are to be punished beyond imagination. A couple of more seconds pass before Nina continues on. Nina Stokes: However, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. Today’s current state of affairs? It’s all par for the course. FGA has been a safe haven for deceivers and liars since its inception. This place has always been complicit in allowing them to tell tall tales without any recourse. Therefore, Sadie’s lack of accountability and integrity? It was encouraged by the culture of the promotion. And honestly? That’s really f*cking sad. Once more, the weight of Nina’s words seem to linger in the air like a foul smell. Amanda looks as if she wants to recoil away. However, she elects to keep holding the microphone steady. Nina Stokes: And since this company is perfectly fine with people being willfully ignorant, allow me to enlighten everyone with the truth. A tiny pause results. Nina Stokes: Sadie wrestled a fine match at Grapple Kingdom III. She showed all that heart and fire that everyone claims that they love. She had some nice highlight footage. But what she couldn’t do, is put me down for the count. Well guess what? Most people in FGA have failed to put me down for the count. Sadie was just another person on that huge list― Nina Stokes: And that probably made her angry. However, it also made her desperate. During the course of that match, she gained a revelation. She gained a revelation that people all across the world have been privy to since 2015. That being? That Nina Stokes is a better wrestler than them. There’s a brief pause. Nina Stokes: That desperation coupled with that revelation allowed Sadie to forsake all of her morals. She threw all of them away in order to cheat me out of the United States Championship… At this point, a tired smirk crosses Nina’s face. Nina Stokes: And honestly? Had Sadie just owned up to what she did, I wouldn’t have much of an issue. If you are a nasty motherf*cker, then be a nasty motherf*cker. Just don’t lie about it. Nina snaps her fingers. Nina Stokes: But that’s Sadie’s problem. She just can’t stop lying. Silence persists for a moment or two. Nina Stokes: Sadie? You snuck a foreign object into our match. You used that object for the express purposes of blinding and incapacitation. And the use of that foreign object directly led to you winning the championship. That act would be classified as cheating in wrestling, basketball, soccer, judo. You name the sport; it would be illegal. Your actions at Grapple Kingdom III constituted an open and shut case of blatant cheating. And if you can’t understand that Sadie? Then you are touched up above and need to be committed to a facility. A second passes. Nina Stokes: Also, let me address one last matter. I’ve never been unprepared for a match. I’m a professional of the highest caliber, and I have been for a great while. However, for hypothetical purposes, let's assume that I was― Nina Stokes: If I had been adequately prepared, well, you wouldn’t have needed that mist, right? That heart and fire would have quashed my meager flame. Those highlight sequences would have sealed the deal― Nina Stokes: But that didn’t happen. Her smirk returns for a small moment. Nina Stokes: That’s the fun thing about liars. They can’t help but let the truth they are trying to hide slip out. Another second passes. Nina Stokes: Sadie? I want you to thoroughly enjoy your time as the United States Champion. Enjoy your little challenges. Enjoy ducking me. Enjoy that blissful little ignorance you are living in. But realize this. One day, there won’t be any more challenges. One day, you won’t have the wherewithal to duck or deny me. One day, I’m going to get my hands on you… Nina Stokes: And I’m going to hurt you. Because that’s what con artists like you deserve. Afterwards, Nina turns in Amanda’s direction. Nina Stokes: I apologize for not fielding your questions. But hopefully that was enough for you. Amanda nods. Amanda Johnson: It’s not a problem. Thank you for your time. With that, the camera begins to fade out. • COMMERCIAL BREAK •
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Post by FGA Office on Aug 31, 2020 21:41:55 GMT -5
SINGLES MATCH Savannah Taylor vs. Antoinette Sands There was silence; the lights began to fade away slowly. A soft instrumental echoes out across the audience. It starts slowly, a beautiful sound that contrasts the heaviness of the world. Like feathers, it glides among the waiting audience. The lighting fixtures produce a gentle spotlight upon the stage, offset by the occasional flash here and there. As the song continues, a woman’s words begin to come through. Her voice is tender, not raising upon a whisper. Deceived by my eyes and all I was told I should see Opinions not mine, the person they taught me to be One night in the dark, a vision of someone I knew And in the darkness I saw, a voice say, I'm you. On the stage, a feminine figure appears. Her head lowered to everything. People cannot make out who it is. As she stands there, the flashes briefly illuminate her figure. It only gives small clues on who stands at the gate. She stands in the spotlight, her shadow cast large and proudly among the stage. Inside me a light was turned on… The instrumental picks up again. An electric guitar now joins the progressively exciting instrumentals of before. The singer’s voice suddenly intensifies. Then I was alive! In the light, it is revealed that it was Savannah Taylor. She stands at the gate, a robe of obsidian and ivory hues. The hood of it shadows her eyes, but the intensity of the final EXODUS World Champion remains clear as day. She starts off down the ramp, with a serious aura radiating from her body. J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, hailing from Las Vegas, Nevada! Weighing in at 120 pounds! She is the “Las Vegas Siren,” SAVANNAH TAYLOR! If you close your eyes your life, A naked truth revealed Dreams you never lived, And scars never healed Savannah makes her way up the ring steps. She looks out towards the audience for a moment before entering the ring. From there, she heads for a turnbuckle. She stands there, taking in everything. She then lifts her up on top of it. She peers out in nothing, then takes off the hood with a flashy flourish. Her blonde locks fly up in the air. They descend, shaping her face as they famously do. In the darkness, light will take you to the other side You'll find me waiting there you'll see, if you just close your eyes While she stands in her corner, she closes her eyes and takes a heavy breath. When her bright eyes open, Taylor is completely composed. There is nothing more than the heat of battle awaiting her. She takes off her robe, giving it to a stagehand. She stretches her wrists before devoting her mind to the war upon the horizon.. J.A. Aldridge: Her opponent, already in the ring… ANTOINETTE SANDS! Sands makes her way towards the center of the ring after the opening bell. She motions over for Taylor to come bring it. Taylor, however, remains relaxed as leans up against the turnbuckles before sauntering over. Kris Cruise: Savannah doesn’t look too bothered, does she? Stephy Auger: She came into the arena tonight saying she was going to crush an ant. What do you think? Taylor meets with Sands in the middle of the ring. She looks Sands up and down before scoffing at her. The Las Vegas Siren takes a couple of steps back before circling Sands. She then slowly inches back over towards her. Both grapplers motion for a lock up until Taylor cheap shots her with a boot to the midsection. Kris Cruise: I figured Savannah would be better than that. I should’ve known better. Taylor places her fingertips underneath Sands’ chin and slowly lifts her head up before socking her with a right hand. Stephy Auger: Right in the kisser! Taylor reaches down, slowly pulls Sands up off the mat and knocks her down down with a right hand. She then pulls Sands back up to her feet before a pair of knee strikes double her over. The former International Champion takes off into the ropes. After the return, she brings Sands down with the Emerald Weapon (corkscrew neckbreaker)! She makes the cover. ONE! . . TWO! . . Taylor pulls Sands up by the hair. Kris Cruise: Oh come on. Stephy Auger: What’s the problem? Taylor takes Sands and whips her into the corner. She then charges across the ring before connecting with a corner back elbow. The Las Vegas Siren is quick to follow up with a pelé kick! Taylor then grabs Sands by the hair before pulling her out of the corner. After she’s got Sands hooked, she lifts her up before bringing her down with a cross legged fisherman neckbreaker. Taylor goes for the cover. ONE! . . TWO! . . Taylor pulls Sands up by the hair. Kris Cruise: Is this even necessary? Why is Savannah doing this? Stephy Auger: What? She simply wants o give Ant a chance to fight back. That’s all. Taylor takes Sands, places her in a headlock and gyrates her hips before pulling her down with the Deadly Seduction (Rude Awakening)! Taylor returns to her feet with a kip up before shouting “Let’s get it!” to the crowd. “BOOOOOOOOOOO!” Stephy Auger: Dare I say Savannah did that better than Cordy! Taylor stands with her arms folded before rolling her eyes heavily. She then dismisses the boos as she heads into the corner. Once Sands starts to pick herself back up, Taylor rushes out of the corner before bringing her down with a Sling Blade. She then pulls Sands back up before planting her with the Siren’s Song (Scissored DDT)! Taylor makes the cover. ONE! . . TWO! . . THREE! J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this bout… SAVANNAH TAYLOR!
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Post by FGA Office on Aug 31, 2020 21:41:44 GMT -5
As the show returns from commercial break, the International Heavyweight Champion, Cordelia Stevenson is seen slowly spinning in what looks to be some sort of office chair.
Cordelia Stevenson: Are you really going to eat ALL of that after the match tonight?
The camera begins to pan back as Cordelia brings the chair to a stop. She motions her head over and nods towards something off camera. As more of the scenery comes into view, we see a large table with a variety of foods spread across it. Cordelia stares at the vast array of delicacies with wide eyed delight. She then glances up behind her.
The camera then moves a bit to the right and reveals who Cordelia is talking to. It’s none other than the FGA World Champion, Fujiko Mine. Fujiko still has her Scarlet Flint shirt on, and her umbrella from earlier hangs off the corner of the table nearby.
Cordelia Stevenson: You sharing, right?
Fujiko twirls a fork in her left hand, with a wolfish glint in her eyes. Cordelia’s question forces her to stop.
Fujiko Mine: Cordy, you’re hilarious. Honestly, I’m liable to eat this before our match tonight, if we’re being real. That way, we can have a celebratory dinner as well!
A rosy blush adorns her cheeks as her mind grips with the idea of another celebratory dinner in her future. Cordelia simply blinks and then glances back at the food.
Cordelia Stevenson: I thought I ate a lot, but I swear you amaze me every time, chica. They need to have you on those Man vs Food challenges for real.
She spins around in the chair again, with a chuckle.
Cordelia Stevenson: And here I was thinking this WAS the celebratory dinner. But you know what?
She hops up out of the chair, slinging the International Heavyweight Championship over her shoulder.
Cordelia Stevenson: I’m just happy to know that we’re on the same wavelength and looking forward to a celebration at the end of the night. Not to say that tonight will be easy by any means. Lowri and Neal? They’re as tough as it gets. They’re hands down one of the best tag teams in the world, and after last Vertigo? I already know they’re coming out with a vengeance. But this entire year has just been ridiculous and I swear it seems like a dark cloud is hanging over humanity. Things just seem to be getting worse and worse with each passing month, and reasons to celebrate seem to be few and far between with all the tragedy and sadness we seem to be surrounded by. But tonight? Well, what better reason to celebrate than becoming a double champion once again?
Fujiko’s brow furrows as Cordy speaks..
Fujiko Mine: In all seriousness...there is no guarantee that even the two of us will be able to overcome the challenge of Pendragon two weeks in a row. We represent the two best in FGA currently, but those two have been a top tag team for an impressive amount of time. They learn. They evolve. Unlike most, they actually do have hidden tricks up their sleeves. And they’ll be looking to settle the score.
Fujiko absentmindedly taps the fork against the table.
Fujiko Mine: They remind me a lot of us.
She stops with the fork.
Fujiko Mine: Neal especially is going to want to prove himself, after the way the tournament shook out. No one wants to be known as the ‘weak link’ of a team.
Cordy’s brows furrow now, as she nods in agreement.
Cordelia Stevenson: Indeed. The man definitely carries a chip on his shoulder, but it’s what makes him so dangerous. Their team is dynamic, there’s no doubt about that, and their ability to adapt is what has kept them atop the tag ranks for God knows how long. They’re tactical, and after the last show, I already know they went back to the drawing board to prepare even harder for this time around.
Cordy takes a deep breath and then raises her eyes to Fujiko.
Cordelia Stevenson: We’re definitely going to have our work cut out for us, because you’re right…. they are a lot like us and we’ve always been known for bouncing back stronger than ever. No obstacle was ever too high and no matter what, you and I? We always figured out a way to overcome it. Tonight, the tag champions find themselves in that very same predicament, and we’re the obstacles. Beating them is hard. Doing it twice in a row? That’s a very tall order indeed. But you know me, chica.
Cordy smirks.
Cordelia Stevenson: I love a good challenge.
Fujiko takes a quick glance at the fork in her hands, before placing down on top of a napkin on the table.
Fujiko Mine: Another trait I’m sure the four of us share. But if we have our way, it’ll be us overcoming the challenge tonight. I do miss the privilege of getting to carry around some extra gold.
Fujiko takes another wistful look at the food in front of her before pushing her chair back and standing up. She unbuckles the championship from around her waist and hoists it over her left shoulder.
Fujiko Mine: My right shoulder does miss carrying some gold alongside my left, so maybe we go out there and do our best to make a little history tonight?
She punctuates her suggestion with a wink.
Cordelia Stevenson: Ayyyeeee, sounds like a plan to me. This could be the return of two belt Cordy! I just hope that it all goes down without a hitch, you know? Way too many haters out there that just don’t know how to keep from sticking their noses where it doesn’t belong.
She pivots and turns towards the camera, giving a casual wave.
Cordelia Stevenson: Hi, Savannah.
Rolling her eyes, she turns her attention back to the World Champion.
Cordelia Stevenson: Win, lose, or draw, I just want the better team to walk out tonight as the tag team champions. And since I do love a challenge…
Cordy glances back over her shoulder at the assortment of foods once more.
Cordelia Stevenson: If we win, you and I… celebratory eating contest. I’ve got a $100 that says you don’t stand a chance.
Fujiko’s stare is unwavering for a solid fifteen to thirty seconds. She barely moves, to the point where Cordy’s smile fades as Fujiko continues to stare. She adjusts her championship, and then shakes her head like Bunk from the wire and exits the room. Cordy watches Fujiko as she walks away.
Cordelia Stevenson: Is that a yes to my challenge?! Don’t get scared now!!!
Of course, there is no response. Cordy sighs and turns on her heels, focusing her attention back onto the table of deliciousness. She slowly tiptoes over towards the table, singing aloud.
Cordelia Stevenson: Here we are, all aloooonnneee in this room. Whoaaaa.
She hits a spin move as she slowly reaches out towards the table, looking to grab some crisps pieces of bacon from one of the platters. Suddenly a loud voice can be heard yelling her name in the distance, causing Cordelia to freeze in her tracks, eyes wide like she just got caught with her hand in the proverbial cookie jar.
Cordelia Stevenson: Damn… how’d she know?! Hmph.
Reluctantly, she drops her hand and follows her tag team partner out of the locker room as the scene fade away.
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Post by FGA Office on Aug 31, 2020 21:41:32 GMT -5
MID-ATLANTIC LEGACY CHAMPIONSHIP (c) Ace Voltage vs. Nando Fresno: Alien Hunter The lights in the venue dim, and multiple green-and-blue lasers illuminate the interior of the building with what appear to be starlight, giving its ceiling the look of a planetarium. "Attention, all personnel, this is CBTS; phase vehicle pre-count operation will start on my mark in
FIVE.
FOUR.
THREE.
TWO.
ONE.” Polaris’ “Hey Sandy” explodes across the PA system as the house lights explode to life, casting shades of blue and green across the venue as Nando Fresno: Alien Hunter emerges from the back. His expression is one of apparent indifference as he makes his way toward the ring. Once he’s a few feet away, the hunter gets a running start and leaps up onto the apron. He looks out into the audience, surveying those in attendance for a few seconds before he grabs the top rope with both hands and springs over it, into the ring. J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall and it is for the FGA Mid-Atlantic Legacy Championship! Introducing first, the challenger! Hailing from Fresno, California! Weighing in at 145 pounds… he is NANDO FRESNO: ALIEN HUNTER! Nando walks toward the ropes closest toward the hard camera, unblinking. He motions toward his eyes, and then back out toward the camera with two fingers, a silent “I’m watching you”, leaning against the ropes, staring out into the world for several seconds before the tiniest smirk crosses his face. Nando finally turns, running the ropes as his music fades. Kris Cruise: Nando Fresno successfully pinned Ace Voltage in tag team action on the last episode of Vertigo. Can Fresno pull off the upset again? Stephy Auger: The title is on the line, Cruise. Ace Voltage lives for moments like this. He shouldn’t be subjected to having to defend his title against Nando because of a mistake that Reed made. But he’ll go out there and get the job done. I can promise you that. The arena goes dark and "Thunderstruck by AC/DC starts blaring over the sound system. As the words "THUNDER" are shouted into the arena each time, the lights flash yellow. I WAS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A RAILROAD TRACK A white spotlight shines on the ramp and Ace Voltage appears once the lyrics start. He is wearing a black jacket with his name on the back and his light blue tights. He shines a smirk to the crowd, zips open the jacket to show his shiny championship around his waist as the rest of the lights come on, with yellow and blue lighting flashing around. He walks down the ramp, nodding his head to the music, laughing to himself when he hears the boos and insults from the crowd. J.A. Aldridge: His opponent, hailing from London, England! Weighing in at 15.8 stone! He is the reigning… defending… FGA Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion, ACE VOLTAGE! As he's going down the entrance ramp, he walks close to the guardrail ready to slap the hands of the one or two fans. Before he can slap their hands, he quickly rips his hands away, smirks to the booing fans and walks down to the ring. He jumps up onto the apron and steps into the ring. He walks to the corner, jumping on the second rope, looking out into the crowd. He raises his championship in the air, smirking and yelling to the fans, "I am the Main Event." After a few seconds, he jumps down, takes his jacket off and waits for the match to start. Kris Cruise: Ace was awfully full of himself moments ago with Amanda Harrington. Stephy Auger: Why shouldn’t he be? Kris Cruise: You can dismiss Nando all you want. But the facts are the facts. He’s beaten champions here in FGA time and time again. Stephy Auger: But never when the title is on the line and tonight won’t be any different. The bell sounds as Voltage and Fresno start things off with a lockup. After jockeying for position, Voltage gains the advantage with a side headlock. Voltage wrenches down on the hold until Fresno pushes him off into the ropes. The Champion comes back off the rebound and knocks Fresno down with a running shoulder block before quickly dropping down for the cover. ONE! . . Fresno kicks out. Voltage puts Fresno in another side headlock. The referee gets down and asks Fresno if he wants to give up. But the Alien Hunter refuses. After battling back to a vertical base, he moves Voltage into the near ropes before pushing him off into the far ropes. When Voltage returns, he knocks Fresno down with another running shoulder block. He makes the cover. ONE! . . Fresno kicks out. Voltage places Fresno into another side headlock. The challenger ultimately battles back to his feet. He tries to push Voltage off. But this time, Voltage stays locked on him. Fresno then moves Voltage into the near ropes before trying to push him off into the far ropes. Voltage drops down to a knee while still keeping the side headlock applied. After the official checks in with him, Fresno gets back to his feet. He then takes hold of Voltage’s arm and tries to push it from around his neck. The crowd cheers as Fresno is able out to reverse into a top wristlock. Both grapplers arms shake as they fight for control. Ultimately, Voltage overpowers Fresno and slaps the side headlock back on. Voltage tries to keep Fresno in place until Fresno reverses with a running back suplex! He makes the cover. ONE! . . Voltage kicks out. Fresno sets up for an irish whip, only for Voltage to reverse. When Fresno comes back, he baseball slides through Voltage’s legs before pulling him down to the mat. He goes to wrap Voltage up in a single leg crab until Voltage uses his free leg to shove him down to the mat. After both grapplers return to their feet, Fresno rushes forward before bringing Voltage down with a wheelbarrow victory roll! ONE! . . TWO! . . Voltage kicks out. Voltage scrambles back to his feet, only to get brought back down as he gets wrapped up in a small package. ONE! . . TWO! . . Voltage kicks out. Voltage gets back to his feet and rushes towards the ropes. He tries to escape to the outside to catch a breather, but Fresno is right on him and wraps him up with AbductHim! Katahajime/Tazzmission to opponent exiting the ring)! The crowd cheers while Fresno tries to choke out the champion. Before Fresno can pull him all the way back towards the center of the ring, Voltage reaches forward and grabs onto the top rope, forcing a rope break. Stephy Auger: Get him off of him, ref! Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… As soon as Fresno lets go, Voltage cheap shots him with a back elbow to the face. The boos continue as Voltage finally retreats to the outside. Kris Cruise: Oh come on! Voltage takes a breather on the outside. But unbeknownst to him, Fresno is perched up on the top turnbuckle. Stephy Auger: Ace, look up! The moment Voltage turns around, he does a double take as Fresno leaps off before tackling him down with a corkscrew moonsault! Kris Cruise: Shades of his partner Jillian Clay in our previous match! Voltage is rolled back inside before Fresno climbs back to the apron. He heads over towards the ring post and waits for Voltage to get in position. Once Voltage is back to his feet and turns around, Fresno knocks him down with a springboard flying crossbody! ONE! . . TWO! . . Voltage kicks out. Kris Cruise: Only two! Voltage reverses an irish whip, sending Fresno into the ropes. Voltage sets up for a back body drop. But Fresno is able to counter with a sunset flip. ONE! . . TWO! . . Voltage kicks out. Kris Cruise: Another nearfall for Fresno! Ace has been on the defensive over these past couple of minutes. Nando is coming at him with pin after pin! You can see how badly he wants to win this match! Once both grapplers scramble back to their feet, the crowd boos when Voltage pokes him in the eyes. Voltage then takes the challenger, places him in a headlock and rakes his face across the top rope. He then slams Fresno face-first into the top turnbuckle before turning around and lighting up his chest with knife edge chops. Fresno then takes Voltage, switches positions in the corner and rocks him with multiple European Uppercuts. Voltage starts to cover up, but Fresno doesn’t stop throwing strike after strike at him. The official then steps in and moves Fresno back. The Alien Hunter moves the ref out of the way before heading back over into the corner. He goes to grab Voltage when Voltage rakes him across the eyes. Kris Cruise: Ace is getting desperate now. He’s doing everything he can to turn this match around. Voltage pushes Fresno back before nailing him with multiple jabs. The champion then throws out a right hand. But Fresno ducks and counters with a series of jabs of his own. He throws out a roundhouse kick, only for Voltage to swat it away. Voltage then tries for a kick to the gut. But Fresno is quick to catch his foot before bringing him down with a dragon screw. Fresno targets the leg with frantic stomps! He then lifts up Voltage’s left leg before dropping down into a Heel Hook! Voltage howls in pain while Fresno increases the pressure of the hold. The ref asks Voltage if he wants to give up. Voltage shakes his head ‘no’ before scooting himself backwards towards the side of the ring. He then reaches back and grabs a hold of the middle ropes, forcing a rope break. ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… Fresno breaks the hold. While Voltage stays seated and favors his legs, Fresno drags him back towards the center of the ring. He then hits the far ropes, comes back and flattens Voltage with a Sliding Knee Strike! ONE! . . TWO! . . Voltage kicks out. Kris Cruise: Fresno has been all over Ace during this match. Ace never took Nando seriously and it’s showing right here. Fresno pulls Voltage back to his feet before lifting up his leg. Voltage desperately tries to hit Fresno with wild strikes. But Fresno leans away from the strikes before bringing Voltage down with another dragon screw. The champion rolls away from Fresno and heads towards the ropes. Fresno makes his way over to Voltage and grabs a hold of him. He starts to pull Voltage back to his feet when Voltage grabs him by the front of the tights and yanks back, sending Fresno through the ropes and to the floor. Kris Cruise: Ace is desperately trying to buy some time now. When Fresno rolls back into the ring, Voltage pounces on him with a flurry of right hands. The boos continue as Voltage gets back to his feet before putting the boots to the challenger. Voltage continues to stomp away on Fresno before delivering repeated knee drops across the face and chest. Voltage then gives Fresno a taste of his own medicine by dragging him away from the ropes before delivering multiple elbow drops across the leg. He then sets up for a Sharpshooter when Fresno counters by using his legs to shove him into the corner. When Fresno turns over to a knee, Voltage rushes out of the corner before flattening him with the Ace of Spade (Shining Wizard)! The boos continue as he goes for the cover. ONE! . . TWO! . . Fresno gets the shoulder up. Kris Cruise: Ace only got a two count, but he’s finally in control of this match. Stephy Auger: See? I told you. It was only a matter of time. Voltage takes Fresno and whips him into the ropes. When Fresno returns, Voltage sends him flipping down to the mat with a running dive to the knee! Fresno struggles to get back to his feet. But he doesn’t stay standing for long as Voltage rushes up from behind and kicks Fresno in the back of the leg, sending him down to the mat with a backflip. Voltage then bends Fresno’s leg at 90 degrees, lift the leg up off the mat and then throws the leg down knee-first across the canvas. The champion does this again before locking Fresno in a Sharpshooter. Stephy Auger: Nando mind as well quit now. I won’t hold it against him. Voltage is seen yelling at Fresno to tap. But Fresno won’t give up. The official asks Fresno if he wants to submit. Fresno shakes his head ‘no.’ As the crowd starts to rally behind him with a “FRESNO!” chant, the Alien Hunter begins to feed off their energy and fight his way across the canvas. After making his way towards the side of the ring, he reaches out… and grabs a hold of the bottom rope, forcing a rope break. Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR.. FI- Voltage reluctantly breaks the hold. He puts his hands in the air as he heads towards the center of the ring. The referee admonishes the champion for pushing his luck with breaking the hold as late as possible. The official then gives Voltage a warning, but he pays the ref no mind. As he turns around, he sees Fresno struggling to pull himself up using the ropes. So he marches over, yanks Fresno away from the ropes before bringing him down with a German Suplex! Voltage keeps hold of Fresno as he rolls over, pulls Fresno back to his feet and hits a second German Suplex! Voltage throws him over his head to complete the rolling Germans. But Fresno is able to rotate in the air and land on his feet! Before Fresno can fight back, his knee leg buckles, forcing him to drop to a knee! Kris Cruise: Oh no... Voltage smirks as he sees Fresno hurt. The champion saunters over to his challenger before grabbing a hold of him. Voltage starts to pull Fresno up until he gets caught with a small package! ONE! . . TWO! . . TH-NO! Voltage kicks out. Kris Cruise: NANDO NEARLY GOT HIM! After both grapplers scramble back to their feet, Voltage doubles him over with a boot to the midsection before planting him with a Cradle DDT! He makes the cover. ONE! . . TWO! . . Fresno gets the shoulder up. Voltage takes control of Fresno’s back before hitting another German Suplex. Voltage then successfully hits a second German Suplex! He keeps hold of Fresno as he rolls over and pulls him back to his feet. Voltage motions for a third German when Fresno counters with a back elbow to the face. Another back elbow connects. Fresno then fires off repeated back elbows before performing a standing switch, pulling Voltage down into an O’Connor Roll and then bridging back with a prawn hold. ONE! . . TWO! . . TH-NO! Voltage kicks out. Kris Cruise: Ace nearly got beat again with a rollup! Voltage scrambles back to his feet. He darts over towards Fresno and tries to take his head off with a running big boot. But Fresno catches his foot before bringing him down with another dragon screw. With Voltage down on all fours, Fresno quickly wraps him up in la magistral. ONE! . . TWO! . . THR-NO! Voltage kicks out. Kris Cruise: Nando almost got him again! Stephy Auger: Ace, please! Voltage is whipped into the ropes. Fresno throws out a front dropkick. But he does so too early, which allows for Voltage to hang onto the ropes after spotting it from a mile away. The crowd boos when Fresno lands on his back. Voltage then saunters back over towards Fresno before Fresno brings him down with a kip up headscissors takeover! Fresno returns to his feet and slowly removes his elbow pad before charging over at Voltage. Kris Cruise: Here we go! The crowd cheers as Fresno knocks him into the corner with a rapid palm strike flurry before following up with a discus elbow! He then delivers an irish whip, follows Voltage across the ring and connects with a Stinger Splash! He goes for another irish whip, but he gets countered. Voltage then charges across the ring and throws out Thunderstruck (Helluva Kick), only for Fresno to catch his foot again! He then shoves Voltage back, sending him down to the canvas. After Voltage rolls back and gets onto a knee, Fresno rushes out of the corner to attack. Voltage tries for a back body drop, only for Fresno to slip down from behind and counter with a snap German Suplex! The cheers continue as Fresno hits Voltage with Barnard 33 (Reverse Snapmare into a Bicycle Knee Smash)! He makes the cover. ONE! . . TWO! . . THR-NO! The crowd boos when Voltage gets the shoulder up. Kris Cruise: How close was that!? Stephy Auger: Phew! Fresno takes Voltage and whips him hard into the corner. As Voltage staggers out of the corner, Fresno rushes over before planting him with a Satellite DDT! While Voltage is splayed out on the mat, Fresno heads out to the apron before scaling the turnbuckles. Kris Cruise: Fresno’s heading to the top! He wants to put this one away right here! We could be seconds away from a new champion! Stephy Auger: Ace! ACE! GET UP! NOW! Fresno measures the distance. He then leaps off for the Flüsse Rand (Long distance Frog Splash), only to crash down hard across Voltage’s knees! Stephy Auger: Ace got his knees up! Fresno bounces off of Voltage’s knees before rolling across the ring. Fresno struggles ot get back to his feet. But he remains hunched over as he continues to favor his ribs. Before he can even turn his attention back to Voltage, he gets brought down from behind with three rolling German Suplexes! Voltage looks like he’s about to hit a fourth German when he transitions into a spinning sitout powerbomb! Instead of staying seated for the cover, Voltage drags Fresno in place before exiting to the apron. The boos continue as Voltage heads up to the top turnbuckle before flipping off and crashing down on Fresno with High Voltage (450 Splash)! He hooks the leg. ONE! . . TWO! . . THREE! The crowd boos when “High Voltage” hits the speakers. J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this bout… aaaaaaand STIIILLLLL the FGA Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion, ACE VOLTAGE! The boos continue as Voltage holds the Mid-Atlantic Legacy Championship high above his head. Kris Cruise: Ace Voltage retains his championship! Stephy, Ace didn’t take Nando seriously heading into this match. By the time Ace finally wisened up and made adjustments, t was nearly too late! Stephy Auger: But he did make the adjustments, Cruise. He rose to the occasion like a champion should! Nando Fresno got his win last time. But once again, he showed tonight that as far as FGA is concerned, he’s not able to pull out the win when the title is on the line. Kris Cruise: Not yet at least. I doubt we’ve seen the last of Nando or Jillian Clay in title matches, since both have just signed deals to FGA. You know what else? Ace hasn’t seen the last of Cassius, either. Despite Ace’s protests to the matter, he will be defending his championship against The Funky Dragon at Only the Strong Survive! Stephy Auger: Now that’s a championship match where I can get behind both champion and challenger! • COMMERCIAL BREAK •
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Post by FGA Office on Aug 31, 2020 21:41:22 GMT -5
We see the camera pan to the backstage area where Amanda Johnson is standing, her guest is not in the shot as of now.
Amanda Johnson: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome by guest at this time, just a few minutes before his title defense, Ace Voltage.
The camera pans out and we see Ace Voltage in the shot, with his ring gear on and his Mid-Atlantic Legacy championship around his waist. He has an annoyed look.
Ace Voltage: Amanda, honey. Please introduce me as the Mid-Atlantic champion next time! Actually, the best Mid-Atlantic champion of all time!
Amanda rolls her eyes.
Amanda Johnson: So tell me Ace, what’s going through your mind minutes before your big title defense against Nando Fresno?
Ace Voltage: Well first of all, this match shouldn’t even be happening! Champions like me in FGA should not have to succumb to random title defense like this. Especially against someone like Nando! He has no chance Amanda!
Ace shines a smile to the camera as he pats his title.
Amanda Johnson: I think you may be underestimating him Ace, he did pin you on our last show…
Ace’s happy demeanor quickly turns to anger and annoyance.
Ace Voltage: That was absolutely ridiculous! First I was paired with this idiot, Cassius Reed and then because of him, we lost the match! Why is he still in my life Amanda? I needed him for one purpose! He served his purpose for the greater good and that was it. Mr. Reed does NOT deserve to be in the spotlight with me. Just like Nando he does not deserve to ever get a shot at my beauty.
Ace points down to his title.
Amanda Johnson: Cassius has been getting hot lately, it does seem like he is coming after your title.
Ace Voltage: How about this, Amanda? I don’t care. He has not earned a title shot, he would be lucky to lace up my boots if he got the chance! Management made a mistake putting me in a tag match with him. Myself and the rest of the champions in FGA, the “high class”, deserve better. We are not treated with the respect we deserve, that we earned! I am doing my best to fight for the champions to make sure we get what we deserve.
Amanda Johnson: Well I necessarily wouldn’t say…
Ace cuts her off.
Ace Voltage: Before you say something stupid, don’t. I wouldn’t want to see something bad happen to you.
Amanda has a confused look on her face.
Ace Voltage: Once I defeat Nando tonight, he will go back into obscurity where he belongs. Reed can join him! I will show everyone that I am the fighting champion that the people here need. I will show everyone why I am the BEST Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion ever! Tonight is just another chapter in my title reign, a reign that will not end any time soon. Now it’s time to beat this idiot, I accept your congratulations for the victory.
Ace smirks as he walks out of the camera shot and on his way to his upcoming match. The scene fades.
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Post by FGA Office on Aug 31, 2020 21:41:12 GMT -5
SINGLES MATCH Cassius Reed vs. Jillian Clay The lights in the venue dim, and multiple green-and-blue lasers illuminate the interior of the building with what appear to be starlight, giving its ceiling the look of a planetarium. "Attention, all personnel, this is CBTS; phase vehicle pre-count operation will start on my mark in
FIVE.
FOUR.
THREE.
TWO.
ONE.” Polaris’ “Hey Sandy” explodes across the PA system as the house lights explode to life, casting shades of blue and green across the venue as Jillian Clay emerges from the back. She has a distant smile on her face, walking to the ring with an unfocused expression as thoughts swim behind her eyes, arms swaying at her sides. J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, hailing from The Outermost Rings of Saturn! Weighing in at 144 pounds… JILLIAN CLAY! Jillian Clay climbs up onto the apron and pauses, glancing out at the audience in the attendance. With a smile, Clay nods a bit to herself and climbs the turnbuckles, holding two fingers skyward, looking up until she closes her eyes for just a moment, muttering something to herself before she swings herself into the ring over the ropes. Slowly, she raises her head, pushing her hair out of the way of her face as the music fades. Kris Cruise: Last show, Jillian Clay, along with Nando Fresno, were able to defeat Cassius Reed and Ace Voltage in tag team action. Tonight, they’re going to try and do it again in singles competition. Stephy Auger: The Saturnian Connection got a fluke win last time out. But lightning won’t strike twice for this alien freak! It’s not my fault your girlfriend likes me, I do her hard like fucking warp speed, Your Dad’s mad, it’s not my fucking fault, That your Mom wants to fucking fuck me! As the intro to “You Suck” by Pour Habit blasts throughout the arena, out from the back bursts Cassius Reed! Slowly rotating in his gold lined black ring robe Cassius soaks in the atmosphere for just a moment. Spinning to face the ring, he shadow boxes at the top of the ramp a short time more, before posing, spreading his arms wide, and sprinting down to the ring at full pace! J.A. Aldridge: Her opponent, Fighting out of Funkytown, USA, and tipping the scales tonight at 205lbs… CASSIUS! REED! Sliding in under the bottom rope, he quickly rolls onto his back before kipping up! Giving a quick smirk and raised eyebrow to the referee, he turns and leaps to the top of the nearest turnbuckle, before whipping off his ring robe with a flourish. He poses just a moment at the top of the turnbuckle, smug grin on his face, robe hanging from his hand, before dropping back to the mat, consigning his entrance gear to the outside whilst he finishes warming up for the match with more shadow boxing. Kris Cruise: Cassius Reed and Ace Voltage failed to get on the same page in their tag team match, which let to their loss to The Saturnian Connection. Stephy Auger: The Saturnian Connection took advance of two strong willed singled competitors in a tag team match. That macth was in their environment. Tonight, they’re Cassius and Ace’s environment and the results will not be the same as last time! The match kicks off with Reed and Clay meeting in the center of the ring. After The Funky Dragon extends his hand, Clay looks out to the crowd to see what she should do. “NO!”
“NO!”
“NO!”
“NO!” Reed pleads with Clay not to listen to them. He even puts one hand behind his back in an attempt to sell himself being on the up and up! Clay narrows her eyes before rubbing her chin. Despite the pleas from the crowd, Clay cautiously goes in for the hand shake. At the last second, Reed pulls back and runs his hands through his afro as he moonwalks away from Clay. “BOOOOOOOO!” Reed continues his moonwalk until Clay rushes forward and connects with a running double knee stroke, sending Reed flying backwards into the corner! Stephy Auger: HEY! Kris Cruise: Reed was too busy taunting and he got caught! As Reed reaches up and pulls himself up in the corner, he gets caught when Clay rushes into the corner and hits him with a step-up knee. Clay then delivers an irish whip, follows Reed across the ring and catches him with a Koppu Kick. The kick sends Reed slumping down in the corner. Reed tries to shake out the cobwebs. But he doesn’t recover in time as Clay rushes back in and hurls herself at him with a running cannonball! She then drags him out of the corner before making the cover. ONE! . . TWO! . . Reed kicks out. Kris Cruise: This isn’t how Cassius imagined this match starting out. Stephy Auger: Yeah, he didn’t expect for Clay to cheap shot him! Clay takes Reed by the wrist and performs an arm wrench. Reed then spins over onto his knees, flips over with a headstand and spins in place before whacking her across the face with a Pimp Slap. No! Clay ducks the slap before sending Reed down with a running somersault arm wringer. Reed is then sent for the ride before being caught on the return with a snap arm drag. A second snap arm drag returns Clay to the mat. The SatCon member then rushes over before delivering an overflow arm drag, which sends Reed though the ropes and to the floor. Kris Cruise: Reed is sent to the floor! He’s all out of sorts at the start of this match! Stephy Auger: Cassius, take a breather! Relax! Don’t play her game! Reed tries to gather his bearings on the floor as Clay heads into the corner. Once she ascends to the top turnbuckle, the crowd cheers when she flips off and knocks him down with a corkscrew moonsault! Kris Cruise: Clay with a huge moonsault to the outside! Stephy Auger: Gah! Clay rolls Reed back inside before sliding back in for the cover. ONE! . . TWO! . . Reed kicks out. Kris Cruise: Clay is proving that her win with Nando was not a fluke. She has dominated this match since the opening bell! Stephy Auger: It’s still early! Clay takes control of Reed’s wrist. She then executes another arm wrench before following up with repeated slaps to the chest. She then sets up for another irish whip before being reversed. When Reed returns, he sees Clay setting up for a back body drop. So he grabs her by the hair with both hands before throwing her down with a mat slam! Kris Cruise: Oh come on! Stephy Auger: Hey, if she’s dumb enough to lower her head, then that’s what she gets! Reed proceeds to put the boots to Clay before dropping a leg across her throat. A second leg drop hits the mark. The Funky Dragon then heads into the far ropes before connecting with a running leg drop. He turns over into a lateral press. ONE! . . TWO! . . Clay kicks out. Reed moves the action into the corner before delivering a ballistic combination of rights and lefts to the body. Reed then hits the Ali Shuffle before catching Clay with a left hook, followed by a discus right hand! Kris Cruise: Cassius is showing off now. Stephy Auger: As he should! An irish whip then sends Clay into the far corner. Reed rushes across the ring and goes for a jumping Spanish Archer (Bionic Elbow), only to catch nothing but the top turnbuckle when Clay slips out of the way! As Reed staggers back, Clay leaps onto his shoulders from behind. She’s about to deliver the Weltraumschrott (Stalling Reverse Rana) until Reed pushes her off his shoulders. After Clay lands in front of him, Reed scoops her up from behind. He’s got Clay set up for a belly to back suplex. But instead of bringing Clay down, he rushes forward before chucking her over the top rope and to the floor! Stephy Auger: Clay just got tossed to the floor with no regard! Good! While Clay is writhing in pain on the floor, Reed peers over the top rope to trash talk her from the ring. He then backs up all the way to the far ropes as he waits for Clay to get into position. Once Clay starts to finally pick herself up on the floor, Reed rushes forward before bringing her down with a slingshot huracanrana! Reed pulls Clay up into a front facelock before using the edge of the apron to hit a Tornado DDT on the outside! Reed then delivers a belly to back suplex across the apron before pushing Clay back inside. The Funky Dragon then leaps up to the apron before heading back inside with a slingshot left elbow drop. He goes for the cover. ONE! . . TWO! . . Clay gets the shoulder up. Reed goes for another cover. ONE! . . TWO! . . Clay gets her shoulder up again. Instead of going for another, Reed swings over into a full mount before raining down MMA punches to Clay! The crowd boos as he trash talks Clay before raining down another combination of rights and lefts to the face. He then pulls Clay up off the mat by the hair, moves her into the ropes and proceeds to delivers multiple European Uppercuts. Clay is then pulled back off the ropes before being brought down with a split-legged Stunner. With Clay sprawled out on the mat, Reed steps out to the apron before climbing the turnbuckles. Kris Cruise: Cassius is heading to the top now. Stephy Auger: He’s had enough to Clay. It’s time to put this thing away. He’s got a Mid-Atlantic Legacy Championship match to think about. Once Reed gets to the top, he flips off… and connects with a diving somersault leg drop! The boos continue as he goes for the cover. ONE! . . TWO! . . Clay gets her shoulder up. Reed yanks Clay off the mat before throwing her back down with a snap suplex. The Funky Dragon then faces away from her before throwing out Funky Knee, Funky Do (Kneecolepsy)! He misses! Clay rolls out of the way, causing Reed to land hard on his knees! Stephy Auger: Oh no... Clay gets back to her feet before nailing Reed with three savate kicks! The cheers continue as Clay hits the ropes, comes back and spikes him with a hurricanrana driver! She makes the cover. ONE! . . TWO! . . Reed kicks out. Clay pulls Reed into a font facelock before planting him with a Snap DDT! She rolls over for the cover. ONE! . . TWO! . . Reed gets his shoulder up. Clay sets up for another irish whip, only to get reversed again. After Clay hits the corner, Reed rushes in to attack, only to get turned around with a boot to the face. While Reed staggers away from the corner, Clay runs up from behind and brings him down with a victory roll into a leaping double foot stomp! Clay stays on top of him as she heads towards the side of the ring, leaps onto the middle ropes, flips back and hits a Lionsault! She hooks the leg. ONE! . . TWO! . . Reed gets the shoulder up. Kris Cruise: Another nearfall! Clay heads into the corner. While she waits for Reed to get up, she raises her index and middle fingers together toward the sky, as if communicating with some unseen force. Once Reed is in position, Clay runs out of the corner. She throws out a step-up enzuigiri, but Reed ducks. He then grabs Clay by the back of the tights before pulling her off the mat. He goes for a belly to back suplex, only for Clay to roll over his shoulder and land on her feet. She then quickly hops back up onto Reed’s shoulders before spiking him with the Weltraumschrott! Clay heads into the corner before scaling the turnbuckles. After reaching the top, she flips off for another corkscrew moonsault… and misses when Reed rolls out of the way! Kris Cruise: Clay missed! Stephy Auger: Her luck was going to run out eventually, Cruise! Clay slowly turns over onto her back, only to get crushed by Reed with Funky Knee, Funky Do! Reed then drags Clay over towards the corner before climbing the turnbuckles, flipping off and crashing down hard across her again with Plan C (Split-Legged Corkscrew Moonsault)! The boos continue as he hooks the leg. ONE! . . TWO! . . THREE! The crowd boos as “You Suck” hits the speakers. J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, here is your winner… CASSIUS REED! The boos continue as Reed shoos the ref out of the way before taking the spotlight all for himself in the center of the ring. Kris Cruise: Cassius Reed is victorious here tonight. Will his tag partner from the last show get some revenge as well? The Funky Dragon will have his eyes locked on the upcoming Mid-Atlantic Legacy Championship match. He’ll be challenging the winner next month at Only the Strong Survive! We’ve got more Vertigo to come, right after this... • COMMERCIAL BREAK •
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Post by FGA Office on Aug 31, 2020 21:41:06 GMT -5
VOICE: Ahhh. The BB&T Pavilion. Looks unsuspecting, right? Innocent enough.
We are greeted to a wide, far shot of the BB&T Pavilion. Though the voiceover is familiar, our camera angle is odd at best-- and soon it’s evident that we’re observing the venue via drone!
VOICE: Yeah-- yeah it looks unsuspecting, but WRONG.
We pan away from the scene-- revealing that we’d been watching from a large monitor this entire time. Nando Fresno: Alien Hunter, stands in front of the monitor with an elaborate af looking joystick drone controller. He keeps his gaze on the monitor for a few more seconds before turning to face the handheld camera, operated presumably by Jillian Clay.
Nando Fresno: It’s become clear that FGA is just one of many wrestling entities willing to harbor the very entities that have been trying to invade and conquer the business for years!
Jillian Clay: Decades!
Nando Fresno: Centuries!
The camera shakes slightly as Clay takes a step closer to Nando, who turns his attention back to the monitor, guiding the drone over the BB&T Pavilion-- apparently switching to a thermal vision mode that Nando should have no mf access to, displaying tiny figures representing all of the people currently existing within the venue.
Nando Fresno: I see dozens upon dozens of vulnerable little yous and mes down there, just existing, minding their own Earthly business. And you know what I realized, Jill?
Jillian Clay: What’s that?
Nando Fresno: Most of these bodies we see on the heat map-- they belong to very capable, competent people. These are well-trained athletes and fighters, but they need protection from something Bigger. That’s why we’ve signed our official FGA contracts.
Jillian turns the camera on herself, displaying a bright, eager smile that serves as some sort of confirmation before she swings the lens back to her tag team partner.
Nando Fresno: Because FGA needs its own line of defense against--
Nando turns toward the camera, smirking slightly.
Nando Fresno: --well, you know what against.
He begins redirecting the drone, bringing it closer to the ground before he goes on.
Nando Fresno: I’ll say it anyway. ALIENS.
Jillian Clay: ...thought we weren’t using broad terms.
Nando Fresno: Right, right, right. HOSTILE EXTRATERRESTRIAL THREATS. Because we don’t want to assume that all “aliens” are, uh… bad.
Jillian Clay: Better.
Nando turns toward the venue-sanctioned camera instead, mouthing “aliens” before turning back to Clay with our scene returning to the view of our handheld lens.
Nando Fresno: I hear you in the discussion threads now though. “Nando, if you’re so worried about fighting hostile extraterrestrial threats, then why are you devoting so much time to becoming a professional wrestler?” I’ll tell you why. Because through this business, the sport of kings, I met my tag team partner. As a lot of you know, Jillian wasn’t born here. Through no fault of her own, Jillian was brought to this planet from the Outermost Rings of Saturn. But through patience and understanding, I grew to admire Jill. I figured out she wasn’t some tentacled, face sucking comet hijacker here to pollute our crops and poison our oceans--
Jillian Clay: Nope.
Nando Fresno: Nope. Jillian is loyal to the cause. She wants to protect the whole world from nefarious cosmic scamps but, for now, our reach extends only so far.
Nando guides the drone into the building through an open pair of double doors-- and a crew member ducks out of the way, cursing aloud as he nearly drives himself into the wall to avoid the drone.
Nando Fresno: So we’ll have to settle for protecting the sport of kings.
Jillian Clay: Oh-- oh, this is a good part for the segway!
Nando Fresno: Yes. Head down.
Jillian stoops down, turning to focus on the drone which violently clatters to the floor, spinning to an uneasy stop. Jillian shoots Nando a thumbs-up, visible in the lens, giving the landing her stamp of approval. Shel swings the camera back to Nando, who tucks the droid controller under his arm, fixing a serious look on the camera as he continues.
Nando Fresno: If our comrades are going to take us seriously and accept the Saturnian Connection’s Earth protection, then we’re gonna need to build our credibility. We’ve already won Tag Team Titles in New Kingdom Pro, in Portland Pro-- but now that we’re FGA official, we need wins that matter under the FGA banner.
Nando looks off-camera, deep in thought for a few seconds before he looks back to Jill.
Nando Fresno: We tried to take the US Tag Team Titles from Silk & Cyanide. And at first-- fine, we didn’t succeed. But we know we’re one of the best teams in this company. We’re well aware that we’re not the winningest but we’ll get another shot at tag gold. We’re as good as we’ve ever been, maybe better, and we proved it a couple of weeks ago against Ace Voltage and Cassius Reed.
A pause.
Nando Fresno: The issue with gaining credibility from a win like the one over Voltage and Reed is-- you’re beating a couple of really talented individuals, sure, but you didn't beat a truly cohesive team. Fine. And the other argument is— you beat a couple of really talented individuals, sure, and one of them is even the Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion, but… it wasn’t one on one.
Nando sighs.
Nando Fresno: So how do we remedy this?
Jill zooms in on Nando’s pseudo-inquisitive expression. Nando then shoots a small smile at the camera.
Nando Fresno: We beat them both again, this time as individuals. That’s how.
Nando extends his hand out to Jill, silently demanding the camera.
Nando Fresno: Tell Cassius a little bit more.
The scene shifts and the room bounces for a moment as the camera trades hands from Clay to Fresno. As we steady, we focus on Jillian Clay, who looks past the camera and toward her partner for a second. She steadies her stare on the camera and beams at whomever is watching.
Jillian Clay: Oooh, what should I tell Cassius?
Nando Fresno: Wh-- that he’s gonna get more of what he and Ace got last week. Tell Cassius that he’s not gonna have a tag team partner to hide behind as an excuse when you make him quit in the Rings of Saturn. Tell him that the only person that he has to blame is himself. After all this hype he forced on himself when he came through FGA’s doors, let him know that this is as good as it gets; writhing in pain and screaming for help on the mat at the hands of the Frontier’s first resident Saturnian! Tell him!
Clay frowns at Fresno slightly, shrugging.
Jillian Clay: You already told him. And now you’ve already told him all the good stuff.
Nando Fresno: Think of more good stuff, Jill.
Clay looks at the camera again.
Jillian Clay: It’s a shame you don’t have a title too, Cassius. Nando is competing for a title tonight. I understand the importance of wins and losses and title contention but I wanted a belt too.
Jill’s frown grows bigger as she looks at Nando.
Jillian Clay: What is it that you’re doing that I’m not doing to get the title shots?
Nando turns the camera onto himself, grinning broadly.
Nando Fresno: I’m pinning the right people when they’re at their lowest. Right place, right time. I mean, it’s literally the life of a hunter.
He turns the camera back on Jill, whose arms are now crossed in dissatisfaction.
Jillian Clay: Fine. Well, that’s what I’m going to do tonight.
Nando Fresno: You think Cassius is at his lowest?
Jillian Clay: Maybe not. But he had so much energy when he first came here. He and his whole family were something to watch and something to admire. He still has that, but I didn’t feel all of the energy when we were in the ring two weeks ago. I saw the person, but I didn’t feel the energy I’ve felt before just by watching. Did you?
Nando Fresno: I’m not interested in giving him any excuses. Let’s talk about Ace. Let’s talk about the Mid-Atlantic Legacy Championship.
Jillian Clay takes the camera back into her hands, turning it to face Nando, who looks into the lens, presumably right into the eyes of Ace Voltage.
Nando Fresno: You said I wasn’t gonna get lucky a second time, Ace, but I beg to differ. I get lucky tons of times. And I think tonight is gonna be the night that Nando Fresno: Alien Hunter becomes Nando Fresno: Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion. The thing is, you can’t blame anyone either-- and with as much as you have on the line, I’d be looking for any excuse I could get if I were you. Now… it’ll be a rough road for me. As I’ve already experienced, you know what you’re doing out there. You’re a threat.
Nando raises a brow.
Nando Fresno: But as you’ve already experienced, even if it’s by the skin of my teeth, I know how to deal with this threat. Take me seriously, Ace. Take us seriously.
Nando takes the camera from Jill once more, swinging the lens toward her, unsteady and out of focus as our scene blinks out to black.
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Post by FGA Office on Aug 31, 2020 21:40:58 GMT -5
We go over to Jessie Pederson who is standing by with Ashley Marie Chase
Jessie Pederson: I am here with the number one contender to the FGA 15 Championship Ashley Marie Chase. Last week we learned that Mark Bisley would be the champion that you would face after his victory over your partner or is it ex partner Ashley Sands?
AMC smirks.
AMC: Last show I watched very closely from back here and I like everybody else beared witness to Markie Mark pin Lesser Ashley and nobody was surprised were they? I mean were you surprised that he won Jessie?
Jessie seems nervous about answering the question.
Jessie Pederson: Well, um, it does not really matter if I was surprised or not as it is you and not me that now has to wrestle against Markie Mark err I mean Mark Bisley.
AMC chuckles to herself at Jessie refusing to take sides.
AMC: The truth is it didn’t really matter who won last week as I am taking that title at Only the Strong Survive. Sands just saved herself a butt whooping is all and now, Mark gets it instead.
Jessie Pederson: So you do prefer that Mark has the belt and not Ashley Sands?
AMC does not look happy in the least with that question.
AMC: I will tell you straight that everybody knows I AM the uncrowned FGA 15 Champion! I had Sands beat when Mark interfered because he knew he could not beat me! Then during the triple threat match, I again was about to win the title but Mark again got in my way and tossed me to the outside because he knew he could not beat me! Now yes I am very happy to face him and whoop dat ass because Mark CAN NOT beat me and he knows it. I am in his head because he knows I won't be beat and I won't back down and I won't stay down. He will need to kill me to keep me down because I want that 15 championship and I will do whatever it takes to get that belt!
AMC grins again.
AMC: However as much as I want to slap Mark upside his noodle I would have been fine with facing Sands one on one again. I saw her little twitch stream when she was asked about me and she claimed I knew what I did and we were not talking. Yes we are not talking because what I did was tell the world who the better Ashley was. Don’t go crying to Ant hoping that she will comfort you because we both know that Ant knows what I said to be true. Yeah I know what I did and I make NO Apologies for anything! Just like at Only the Strong Survive, I make NO apologies for what I will do to Mark to get my hands on that 15 Championship!
AMC whips her hair around nearly hitting Jessie in the face as she walks off leaving Jessie shaking her head.
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Post by FGA Office on Aug 31, 2020 21:40:54 GMT -5
SINGLES MATCH Sloan Talbot vs. Zack Gall As the first sounds of “Hey Man, Nice Shot!” by Filter begin blasting through the P.A System; the arena goes dark and a single spotlight appears in the middle of the stage. After a couple of seconds, the imposing and mysterious figure of Dante Difranco appears on the spotlight followed by his client, Zack “The Dragon” Gall. J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, being accompanied to the ring by Dante Difranco. Weighing in at 190 pounds… ZACK “THE DRAGON” GALL! Gall shakes a bit, moving his arms and hands while shaking his head from side to side as the light slowly comes back on. Gall and Difranco look around and the Italian signals his client to move towards the ring. As the two march down, Gall takes some seconds to inspect the surroundings. Once they get near the apron, Gall slides under the bottom rope and once he’s in the middle of the ring he gets to his knees, extending his arms and hitting the mat a couple of times before getting on his feet and rushing towards the ropes making a throat cut sign. Kris Cruise: Last time on Vertigo, Zack Gall suffered defeat at the hands of someone that’s quickly becoming a rival of his, Laura Perelli. He’s going to look to bounce back here tonight. Stephy Auger: Well, he picked a bad week to try and bounce back. Look at who’s about to walk through the curtain! The first few bars of “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” begin to play as the lights pulsate in time with the music. Slowly the curtains part, and Sloan Talbot steps through - his pace slow and methodical. “You can run on for a long time Run on for a long time Run on for a long time Sooner or later God'll cut you down Sooner or later God'll cut you down...” J.A. Aldridge: His opponent, hailing from Norfolk, Virginia! Weighing in at 247 pounds… SLOAN TALBOT! Sloan runs a hand through his hair as he makes his way down the aisle, a stoic expression on his face. Completely ignoring the fans either side of him Talbot reaches ringside, placing a knee on the apron before pulling himself up using the middle rope. He takes a quick glance around the arena before stepping into the ring and making his way to the corner. Kris Cruise: Last show, Sloan Talbot had the nerve to interrupt to interrupt James Edwards’ goodbye speech! Stephy Auger: He didn’t just interrupt the speech, he ran him out of FGA! He dared Edwards to try and do something to stop him. But what did Edwards do? He tucked his tail between his legs and ran! To that I say good riddance! If Gall and Difranco are smart, they’ll follow Edwards’ lead and exit stage left quickly! The match starts off with both grapplers meeting in the center of the ring for a lockup. It doesn’t take long for Talbot to use his strength advantage to shove Gall down to the mat! Gall quickly gets back to his feet with a kip up before marching back over towards Talbot. Another collar-and-elbow ensues. This time, Talbot grabs Gall and launches him across the ring. Gall bounces off the turnbuckles before hitting the the mat. Kris Cruise: I don’t think getting into a test of strength with Talbot is the best idea. Stephy Auger: You think? Talbot marches over to Gall, yanks him up by the hair and shoves him back into the corner. He tries to take Gall’s head off with a lariat. But Gall is lucky to duck out of the way in time. Talbot turns around and gets caught with a forearm flush to the jaw. But it has no effect on him! Gall then bashes Talbot with another forearm. Again, Talbot isn’t phased. So Gall decides to unleash a barrage of forearms. He then takes control of Talbot’s wrist and goes for an irish whip. Talbot hangs onto the top rope with his free hand to block it. Gall then tries to go for another irish. Again, Talbot blocks it. Talbot then grabs Gall by the neck, throws him back into the corner and delivers multiple knee strikes to the midsection before doubling him over with multiple shoulder thrusts. He then takes Gall by the wirst before whipping him hard across the ring. Gall comes barreling across the ring before colliding back-first into the turnbuckles. As Gall staggers out of the corner, Talbot comes barreling across the ring before turning him inside out was a lariat! Kris Cruise: Good Lord! Difranco is seen on the outside pleading for Gall to get up. But Gall hasn’t moved an inch as he remains splayed out on the mat. Talbot slowly makes his way back over towards his downed opponent. He reaches down to grab Gall when, in the blink on an eye, Gall reaches up and traps him in a triangle armbar! Kris Cruise: Gall’s got Talbot trapped! Stephy Auger: What? Talbot immediately clasps his hands together as tries to keep Gall from fully applying the hold. But Gall is fighting like hell to get the submission. Kris Cruise: Talbot let his guard down! Gall is making him pay for that mistake! Stephy Auger: Get out of the hold, Sloan! Tabot remains doubled over until he starts to slowly hoist Gall up off the mat. The crowd gasps as Gall shakes his head ‘no’. Once Talbot has Gall all the way up, he slams him down hard with authority, breaking the submission! Stephy Auger: There we go! Kris Cruise: Gall might be out of it! Sloan’s going for the cover... ONE! . . TWO! . . T-NO! The crowd cheers when Gall quickly grabs Talbot’s wrist from the bottom and reverses the pin into a Kimura! Kris Cruise: Gall with another submission out of nowhere! Stephy Auger: Gah! Talbot’s eyes widen as Gall continues to push his wrist up behind his back. Kris Cruise: How much longer can Talbot hang on for? Gall again fights like hell for the submission. This time, Talbot escapes the submission by pulling himself towards the side of the ring and grabbing hold of the bottom rope. Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR… As soon as Gall breaks the hold, he quickly gets back to his feet and starts stomping away on Talbot. As Talbot gets up to a knee, Gall takes off into the far ropes, comes back and catches him with the Death By Knee (V-Trigger)! Gall takes off into the far ropes, comes back and catches Talbot with a second Death By Knee! Kris Cruise: Talbot’s getting caught with knee after knee! Talbot tries to shake out the cobwebs as Gall turns and heads into the far ropes. Gall runs back across the ring and throws out a third Death By Knee. He misses when Talbot slips out of the way. The moment Gall turns around, he gets clotheslined over the top rope and to the floor! Kris Cruise: I don’t know how Talbot recovered. If he got hit with a third knee, that might have been it. Talbot circles the ring while he continues to recover from the knees to the head. On the outside, Difranco is giving his client words of encouragement as he pulls himself up using the edge of the apron. When Gall pulls himself up to the apron, he gets caught with a shoulder thrust through the ropes. Talbot then steps up onto the bottom rope before setting up for a superplex from the apron. Stephy Auger: Enter Tragedy coming up... Talbot starts to lift Gall up, only to lower him back down when Gall starts kicking his legs. Gall blocks another attempt at Enter Tragedy. He then breaks free of Talbot’s grip before nailing him with a rope-assisted gamengiri, which knocks Talbot off the far ropes. Talbot shakes off the blow as Gall heads over and starts to climb the turnbuckles. Gall leaps off for a diving knee strike! He connects! The crowd cheers while Talbot staggers back again. Gall looks around at the crowd before taking off into the far ropes. He picks up speed after rebounding off the ropes. Gall hurls himself at Talbot, only to get caught in mid air. Kris Cruise: Uh oh... Talbot takes Gall and delivers a backbreaker. Instead of letting Gall fall to the mat, Talbot lifts Gall up from off his knee before hurling him across the ring with a fallaway slam! Gall rolls across the canvas before stopping just shy of the ropes. Kris Cruise: Gall was starting to fight back... Stephy Auger: … but Talbot put a stop to that! Talbot heads over, yanks Gall up off the mat and whips him hard back into the corner. He then catches Gall staggering out of the corner before bringing him down with a sidewalk slam. Instead of going for the cover, Talbot yanks Gall back up, scoops him up from the side and drives him down hard with a second sidewalk slam. He then opts out of going for the pin to hit a third sidewalk slam. The boos intensify when Talbot grabs Gall by the hair, drags him towards the side of the ring and drops him down right in front of Difranco. He then motions towards Difranco, as if to tell him to call off the rest of the match. Kris Cruise: We’ve seen this happen before last year where Difranco threw in the towel for his client. Stephy Auger: if I’m Difranco, I’m running to grab that towel RIGHT NOW! Difranco looks at Gall as he struggles to pull himself up using the ropes. Gall then slowly steps back away from the ropes. The moment he turns around, he gets thrown down with a hip toss neckbreaker! Talbot yanks him back up before tossing him through the ropes and to the floor. Kris Cruise: Talbot just sent Gall back to the floor next to Difranco. Stephy Auger: Go ahead and do it, Dante. You know it’s the right thing to do. Gall struggles to pull himself back up to using the edge of the apron. After rolling himself back inside, Talbot reaches down and grabs him by the throat. He then yanks Gall back to his feet before chokeslamming him over the top rope! The crowd boos as Gall bounces off the apron before hitting the floor. Kris Cruise: Good Lord, Talbot is trying to break Gall in half! Stephy Auger: I told you that he should have taken James Edwards’ lead and backed down! Difranco kneels down next to Gall and asks him if he wants him to throw in the towel for him. But Gall puts his hand on Difranco’s leg before shaking his head ‘no.’ Kris Cruise: Gall won’t let him! If Gall is going on, it’s going to be on his own terms. Stephy Auger: What a fool! He’s letting his pride get the better of him! Gall continues to use Difranco’s body to pull himself back up. Once he’s back to his feet, Talbot reaches over the top rope, grabs Gall by the hair and pulls him up to the apron. Talbot sets Gall up for a chokeslam when Gall quickly takes him arm and drops off the apron, delivering an armbreaker across the top rope! Kris Cruise: Talbot got caught again! Stephy Auger: No! Talbot doubles over and favors his arm while Gall climbs the apron. Gall then scales to the top turnbuckle. As soon as Talbot stands back up, Gall leaps off and nails him with a diving knee to the back of the head, sending Talbot staggering forward before collapsing across the middle ropes! Gall sees how Talbot is positioned. So he hits the far ropes and runs back across the ring before nailing Talbot in the face with a tiger feint kick! Talbot rolls across the ring before rolling over onto his knee. Kris Cruise: Gall’s got Talbot reeling! He’s about to put the big man away! Gall heads over, takes Talbot and whips him into the corner. He then runs across the ring and hits Talbot with a running lariat, followed by a running dropkick, followed by a running double knee strike! He then brings Talbot out of the corner and sets up for an overhead belly to belly suplex when Talbot counters with a forearm shiver to the face. He then lifts Gall up for a one arm brainbuster when Gall knees him in the head on the way up. After falling back down, Gall turns and takes off into the ropes. When he comes back, he goes for another cross bodyblock. But once again, he gets caught in mid air. Talbot walks around holding Gall until he hoists him in the air, catches him across his shoulders before bringing him down with a Samoan Drop! Talbot then pulls Gall back to his feet before him up high above his head. He looks over directly at Difranco while keeping Gall held in place before diving him down hard with Diggin’ Graves (Gorilla Press Spinebuster)! The boos continue as Talbot makes the cover. ONE! . . TWO! . . THREE! The crowd boos as “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” hits the speakers. J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this bout… SLOAN TALBOT! The boos continue as Talbot stands victorious over Gall. The ref goes to raise Talbot’s arm, but Talbot is quick to pull the arm away. Kris Cruise: Sloan Talbot gets the win over Zack Gall here on Vertigo. Stephy Auger: Difranco should have just thrown in the towel. Talbot gave him chance after chance. But he should have thrown in the towel. Gall should have just stayed down. They’re both at fault for what happened here tonight. Kris Cruise: Talbot continues his winning ways as he eyes the Gold Rush Rumble next month. Both Talbot and Gall will be two of the 30 names that make up the Rumble. Stephy Auger: You know how Talbot got eliminated last year? Kris Cruise: Remind me. Stephy Auger: By Sadie San Francisco spewing that red mist right in his face! Just like she did against Nina Stokes! Talbot was only able to be eliminated by being temporarily blinded! He was cheated out of the Rumble last year! But he won’t be cheated this year. I can’t think of one person on this roster that can take him. Not a one! Kris Cruise: Talbot has been imposing his will over the last several months. Will he do the same to 29 other participants in the Gold Rush Rumble? We’ll find out next month at only the Strong Survive! • COMMERCIAL BREAK •
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Post by FGA Office on Aug 31, 2020 21:40:44 GMT -5
In a unique change of pace, cameras fade in outside of the BB&T Pavillion. They focus on a pitch black 1989 Nissan Skyline GT-R Coupe parked in the uncovered staff parking. The camera trucks around the car, to note the car’s suspension sets the car incredibly low to the ground. The cameras stay covered in shelter spots as the rain slowly falls on the car. But the car is not alone. Leaned up against the car, holding an umbrella over her, is the FGA World Champion, Fujiko Mine. A glint near her midsection gives away that the championship she’s come to hold since last May is on her person. She has a Scarlet Flint shirt on, with a pair of acid washed jeans. The camera angle switches to something closer to the Apex Goddess.
Fujiko Mine: I love the rain.
She gives a self-satisfied smile.
Fujiko Mine: The very first time I stepped foot in a wrestling ring, it was raining. They say that rain on significant days is meant to bring good luck. I’m inclined to agree.
She crosses her legs, taking a few moments to watch the rain as it drops on the hood of the car.
Fujiko Mine: Last Vertigo, Cordelia Stevenson and I were able to prove that we have what it takes to defeat one of the best tag teams in FGA history. We took the fight to them, and after Neal tasted a little Bliss...we took the victory. So now...the question has been asked. It’s been asked by my very own partner, in fact. Can we do it again?
She tilts her head down, smiling to herself.
Fujiko Mine: The answer? Unequivocally yes. I mean, look at the resume between Cordy and myself. Tag team champions, Pride Champion, Mid Atlantic champion, FGA World champion, and International championship title reigns between the both of us. It has simply been proven that the two of us know how to win gold. It’s one of the things we do best. But will we?
Fujiko takes a moment to watch the rain. She closes her eyes for a moment, letting the sound of the rain lull her. She gives a gentle sway before opening her eyes again.
Fujiko Mine: That is the true question to ask. Lowri and Neal have been put on notice. They know how dangerous we are now. They know that if they aren’t on our level tonight? They will leave Vertigo as former tag team champions. So they will be prepared. Cordy and I are ready. Pendragon is ready. So, will Cordy and I emerge with more gold to pad our impressive resumes? Or will Pendragon manage to keep their promise to show their dominance over the two teams that mean to challenge them at Only the Strong Survive?
She gives a coy shrug.
Fujiko Mine: Who's to say?
She crosses her legs the opposite way, taking the time to lean away from the car for a moment to maintain her balance before leaning up against the car again. There is a pause from her, and then she brings her head back up. The camera angle changes, and she adjusts her gaze to match the new angle.
Fujiko Mine: But that’s not all I have to put my mind to. I also have to focus on the next challenger.
She loses the smile as she uses her free hand to caress the main plate of the FGA World championship.
Fujiko Mine: Why. How. Why.
She rolls her eyes. The camera can see in her eyes that where the fire was when she spoke about Pendragon...has vanished. In its place is a look of boredom. Mild exasperation.
Fujiko Mine: Why does everyone come at me like this? Everyone. Seriously.
She looks up into the umbrella, as if it weren’t there and she were pleading into the heavens themselves.
Fujiko Mine: With the exception of the venerable Izzy Anders, everyone that I’ve defended the Frontier Grappling Arts World championship against has trotted out this same tired rhetoric. And Izzy actually knew me.“Oh Fujiko, your time is up, my time is now. I’m going to be the one to dethrone you, because I wanna be champion.”
Fujiko turns to a nearby camera, and gives a stare so blank you’d think she became a porcelain doll on the spot. She holds it for an uncomfortably long amount of time before continuing.
Fujiko Mine: So instead of inheriting a challenger that would actually be interesting, would actually say something new to me, and would actually communicate to me that they truly take me seriously as a threat...I have someone who studied meticulously what the majority of my previous challengers did...and then hit ‘copy’ and ‘paste’.
She turns to another camera.
Fujiko Mine: So how does that make you any different? There’s been a parade of characters that, like lemmings, follow the leader when they try to come after me. And just like the previous lemming, this one won’t be different. You think it’s because you won a tournament to face me? It doesn’t matter if you won a tournament, you won the gold rush rumble, or you just caught me backstage and asked. I will treat you the same if you roll up and disrespect me the way that you have. It doesn’t matter if you’re wrestling’s laborious mind, a king, a desperate man, or a vindictive snake. You approach the Apex Goddess looking to take what is hurts, you will be smacked down and turned into a statistic.
She exhales quickly.
Fujiko Mine: I told you my goals not as a call for empathy or pity. I don’t expect you to have enough braincells devoted to anyone other than yourself to care. I tell you my goals so that when you’re staring up at the lights, hearing “AND STILL”, you can think back to this exact moment and realize why it is that you failed. Because I have been driven since the DAY I walked into the doors of this company that I would drag myself kicking and screaming to the top. That I would be the best. And after back to back wrestler of the year victories, grand slam status, and on the cusp of tying the record for most championship defenses...you think I’m going to fail here?!
She shrugs plainly.
Fujiko Mine: Please. If you’re going to insist on going down this road...at least acknowledge that you have seen this plan fail, and that you plan on persisting anyway. Because if you’re banking on the fact that you used a roll of quarters to get one over on me once as some sort of ‘leg up’ on your predecessors…? I’ll swiftly remind me that you failed to take the Pride championship from me, you failed to eliminate me from the Gold Rush Rumble, and you will fail to take this championship from me as well.
She pushes off the car carefully, and begins to approach the camera nearest to her.
Fujiko Mine: If I sound a bit sassier than normal? It’s because I’m just supremely disappointed. I suppose I should know better by now. But I will, for those who have supported me, work harder than I ever have to make sure that my reign does not end at the hands of this carbon copy. That is the will of the goddess...
She looks down at the championship on her waist, and then back up at the camera. She seems to have recovered from her temporary melancholy, and puts up a smirk.
Fujiko Mine: Back to tonight...rest assured that if I have my way? The will of the goddess will bring you another set of dual champions here in FGA.
Fujiko grins and winks at the camera, before beginning to make her way away from the car, and into the building. As she makes her way in, the microphone just catches her speaking to herself.
Fujiko Mine: I wonder what we’d call ourselves. Saint Goddesses? Apex Sexy? I’m sure one of those is good...
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Post by FGA Office on Aug 31, 2020 21:40:33 GMT -5
EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON Our camera person doesn’t seem to be prepared to catch anything significant this early in the day. Instead, he focuses on Amanda Johnson, who leans against the wall, arms crossed, looking rather unimpressed as one of the FGA sound technicians-- sporting the nametag “LOUIS” plays his SoundCloud album aloud, nodding his head along to it on his phone. He sighs and hits the pause button on his screen before looking toward the camera, then back to Amanda. Louis: Wha-- well, it’s better if you hear it live. Someone drop a beat, and suddenly you’ll be like “damn! Damn, Lou, I get it now!” Amanda stare blankly at Lou for a moment, before she shrugs. Raising her hands to her mouth-- Amanda begins to provide a perfect beat. The sound tech’s eyes widen in surprise. Louis: Uhhh-- With a CLANG! the steel door of the BB&T Pavillion’s rear entrance opens, and latches back shut into place. The camera operator turns away from the disappointing hip-hop duo to catch whoever is walking into the otherwise near-empty building. The former International Heavyweight Title number-one contender rounds the corner. Ashlyn De Luca’s eyes are partially hidden behind rose-colored sunglasses but the sudden surprise-- replaced by annoyance-- is still visible on her face. She’s still dressed in her street clothes, clad in a gray, years-old Phoenix Wrestling Legacy t-shirt. She shakes her head as she approaches Amanda and the staff. Johnson is clearly not prepped for an interview. She has no microphone in hand and her hair is still tied into a loose ponytail, but her body language suggests she’s been waiting on De Luca’s arrival for hours. Amanda Johnson: Ashlyn, you’re here pretty early. Ashlyn slows to a stop. Not because she wants to be polite-- but out of habit. Ashlyn De Luca: Yeah. I was trying to beat everyone here so I wouldn’t have to… De Luca glances at the sound tech, then directly at Johnson. Ashlyn De Luca: ...answer any stupid [muted] questions. Amanda Johnson: Gotcha. De Luca rolls her eyes, pulling her gym bag up onto her shoulder before continuing her trek past Amanda and company, until-- Amanda Johnson: How about one or two really good questions then? De Luca’s head falls back and she chuckles once. Bitterly. Ashlyn De Luca: Are you serious-- Amanda Johnson: Where were you a couple of weeks ago? FGA was hosting its first event since the whole world went into lockdown and you may as well have not even existed. I just thought that after a fight like you had with Cordy Stevenson at Grapple Kingdom, you would want to come back and address some things. I figured maybe you would tell us what happens next for Ashlyn De Luca. De Luca continues walking, answering in a low tone. Ashlyn De Luca: That’s what you figured? Amanda Johnson: You had really high aspirations for yourself going into your match with Cordy. After the result at Grapple Kingdom, though, is that still the case for y--? Ashlyn De Luca: You LITERALLY SAID you had “good” questions! Amanda Johnson: That is a good question! You didn’t even show up to Vertigo last time. What is the average person supposed to think? What is Nina Stokes, your opponent tonight, supposed to think? Ashlyn slows to a stop. She doesn’t turn around to look at Amanda, but the interviewer goes on. Amanda Johnson: Do you think you belong in a main event? Because I think your confidence is shaken and I just want you to tell-- Ashlyn De Luca: Is this what you do now? Ashlyn turns, taking the sunglasses off, glaring back at Amanda. Ashlyn De Luca: Do you just wanna see how far you can push, or--? Amanda Johnson: This should not be pushing. If answering these questions are challenging for you, then I’m pretty spot-on with my assessment. Ashlyn takes a deep breath. She forces a small smile, crossing her arms again. Ashlyn De Luca: Mmm. Yeah. I’ve… I… my “confidence is shaken.” That’s like-- not even close, Amanda. You totally suck as an investigative reporter or whatever the hell you’re cosplaying as. I was taking an extra week off to protect my health and look out for the health of everyone here at FGA. How dare you mock me for being so selfless and forward-thinking during a time like this? Johnson narrows her eyes, giving Ashlyn a knowing, fake smile of her own. De Luca continues in a low tone. Ashlyn De Luca: Besides. Nina Stokes-- she had a bad night at Grapple Kingdom too. She got mercilessly screwed by Sadie San Francisco and, like, the whole system. And as a wrestler that’s unfairly hated by some of our so-called ‘professional’ zebras, I get where she’s coming from. I do. Amanda Johnson: So you’ve found some common ground with your opponent then. Ashlyn De Luca: Of course. She was a great U.S. Champion and she was screwed. I’d be pissed and I hope Nina gets revenge because Sadie’s a smug little twat if you ask me. Nina was a great United States Champion. Like-- she sooo FIT in that role. And I fit in the role of the International Heavyweight Champion; the role of the main event. Because there’s obviously levels. Amanda Johnson: ...and you’re a level above Nina Stokes, right? Ashlyn De Luca: Dude. I knew you were a lowkey smartypants. De Luca sighs, fond of herself after boosting her own ego just a notch. Ashlyn De Luca: As a matter of fact, I think I might look for Nina before our match when she gets here later this evening. Amanda Johnson: Oh-- oh wow. You want to tell her to her face about these “levels”? Ashlyn gives Amanda a bemused look. Ashlyn De Luca: What? No. I’m gonna let Nina know that we’re entering tonight’s match as respectful competitors that OBVIOUSLY stand together, looking at the bigger picture. We’re out here fighting the same enemy-- the FGA machine that works to spite us. Amanda Johnson: Right, right. De Luca takes a step back and prepares to turn, heading toward her dressing room… but she furrows her brow in frustration after studying Johnson’s gaze. Ashlyn De Luca: Ugh. Just say whatever you wanna say. The interviewer shakes her head quickly, initially rejecting the invitation to say anything more-- before she shrugs her shoulders and responds a few seconds later. Amanda Johnson: Nothing. Part of me was just wondering if this was some sort of attempt to get Nina to let her guard down after you already took your best shot against Cordy Stevenson. For a few seconds, Ashlyn is silent. She rolls her eyes, turning away from Amanda. Ashlyn De Luca: Stop playing detective. No one’s seen my “best shot” yet. When you see it, you’ll know. With a scoff, Ashlyn shifts the bag on her shoulder and walks out of frame, rounding the corner toward the dressing room area, leaving us to fade to black on Amanda Johnson.
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