Vertigo (4.30.16)

[FGA Office]

[FGA Office]

¡Uno!
¡Dos!
¡Tres!
¡Catorce!

Hello hello
(Hola)
I'm at a place called Vertigo
(Donde esta?)
It's everything I wish I didn't know
Except you give me something
I can feel, feel

Yea, yea, yea, yea, yea, yea, yea, yea
Yea, yea, yea, yea, yea, yea, yea, yea

Broadbent Arena
Louisville, KY

The beginning of "Dam Dadi Do" by Nightcore fills the arena speakers over. Playing over the song was a loud siren, the crowd in the arena on their feet letting their voices be heard. The lights in the arena dim down just enough for the spotlight in the arena to shine directly on center stage.

Dam dadi doo dam dam didoodi dam
Dam dadi doo dam dam didoodi dam
Dam dadi doo dam dam didoodi dam
Dam dadi doo dam dam didoodi dam

When the beat kicks in heavily, the crowd grows a little ruthless behind the cheers, but it quickly fades when Zero McHannon is seen walking through the curtains with a hood pulled over his head and the FGA World Championship held firmly across his shoulder. McHannon turns his back to the crowd as they shower boos on him, then quickly turns around to the sound of Cindy Parker’s music, making a “Z” with his hand before pulling it away, and starting to make his way down the rampway.

McHannon slides under the bottom rope and into the ring as he hops right back up his feet and spreads his arms to the jeers from the audience. Zero holds up the FGA World Championship as the keep booing him on, but he doesn’t seem to care very much about what the fans thing, all while taking a microphone that was being handed to him from the outside.

Zero McHannon: Ahhh, that’s right. You guys were expecting a retirement speech from Cindy Parker. You guys really expected to see Cindy walk down that ramp after the loss she took to me at the Gold Rush? Did you expect to see her come down and say a few kind words about how much all of you meant to her? Were we all supposed to line up backstage and give a round of applause just like we did with Sean Sands while he took the walk of shame out of the building?

Zero smirks as the fans show their disapproval. His face turns to disgust as he turns back to the audience.

Zero McHannon: Why would you want Cindy when you have the TWO TIME FGA World Champiooooonnnnnn! Cindy might not care enough about you guys to come out here and tell you “goodbye”, or whatever it is people say and do when they retire, but me? I care enough to come out here and say exactly what I promised… “I told you so”.

The fans really didn’t like this as they erupted into boos, but Zero cuts them off with the microphone before they can really get started.

Zero McHannon: You ‘thought’ you wanted a champion like Cindy Parker… before you actually got it. It’s something that tastes so bittersweet. You think it will be the greatest time in the history of FGA, but when it happens, it’s nothing that you expected it to be. Cindy cried and pouted her way backstage for months before I set things right again at the Gold Rush. She might’ve not liked what I had to say shortly after our match at Canadian Stampede, but I back up those words the very next live pay per view, and any doubt she had in her mind that she could actually defeat me… faded away.

McHannon starts to shake his head at the thought of him taking away Cindy’s dreams, but he starts to laugh some shortly after.

Zero McHannon: That’s basically the story for every wrestler in this company. They all come here for hopes and dreams of becoming the next FGA World Champion, but how many of them can make it? How many of them can make their new name, new legacy, in the company within one of the shortest periods of time in this industry? Me, and only me. We just watched Cindy Parker chase this dream for years… and I LET her have the spotlight for as long as I could stomach it. Looking on twitter and seeing her little smartass remarks after I did her a favor of throwing the match and letting her be the first ever female world championship within this company… Never again. You will never see me make a faulty decision like that again.

He leans over and kisses the FGA World Championship that he’s holding before giving a faint laugh and throwing it right back over his shoulder.

Zero McHannon: And even though the Gold Rush Rumble ended exactly the opposite way that it’s advertised, we seem to have two new contenders to the title that have been doing the exact same as every other wrestler in this company… waiting their turn just to come up short, like it has been for SOOO long now. Johnny Cannon and his pimp, Tony Carmine.

The crowd begins the boo the names that Zero mentioned but only give a small shrug before continuing on.

Zero McHannon: Yes, ladies and gentlemen, you’re right back where you started and you only have yourselves to blame. This “change” that you want in FGA will never come because you don’t appreciate it when it’s knocking at your front door, just like the bunch of spoiled brats you are. You don’t deserve it, quit your bitching.

This time Zero looks back towards the rampway and raises an eyebrow, half expecting Tony and Cannon to cut him off at this point, but they haven’t.

Zero McHannon: Of course… I go on a tear after last years All Star Showdown and this year people are looking for a repeat performance of what happened only a year ago. Well, as much hell as I suffered on that day, it has been that pay per view that has opened my eyes to what this company really is. It was then that I decided if I wanted to be great, that performance wasn’t going to cut it. Here I am now, a year later, holding FGA’s most prized possession right in front of everyone else who wants it. Especially Tony Carmine, who is getting another shot, and Johnny Cannon, the man who would love to be in my shoes right now, no matter how much he tries to deny it. Two idiots that need each other to lean on while I took the solo road to get where I’m at. And who’s the one holding the world championship, boys? Who’s the one that captures the main events, and before you try to make it seem like I don’t, numbers don’t lie, even the s*** that comes out of your mouths half the time does. Who’s the guy that didn’t come up short, time and time again, whenever he got chance after chance, just like Johnny Cannon trying become the FGA Pride Champion, or Tony Carmine trying to prove that he’s better than his big brother and idol, Chandler Scott?

Zero turns towards the crow again as his face turns to stone.

Zero McHannon: Me. Zero mother ****ing McHannon.

The fans turn to pure hatred as Zero spins the microphone in his hand and looks back towards the backstage area where the curtain is.

Zero McHannon: This is your cue, dumbasses. This is the part when you come out from your hole backstage and start to tell me everything that’s on you mind. Where Cannon’s manager does the talking for him and then comes in with his own web of lies that never have any backbone of proof to them. This is where you walk down the ramp together, hand in hand, or hand in asscheek, however you two ***s enjoy it. Come out here and assert your dominance as the number one contenders, but when the pay per view happens, there’s only two ways it’s going to go… win or lose. One of you can win, the other will lose. Or you both can lose and then what’s going to be your excuse besides the fact that you’re pathetic excuses for athletes and you can’t even get the job done together? Either way… someone loses. And that’s when this whole new formed alliance? It’s stops just as fast as it started. It shows that neither of you can make it on your own or have the “Zero McHannon Story” that ends with only one word… success, while everyone else can only watch the greatness unfold. You two will… either take it like a couple bitches, or you’ll pretend to smile while the other one actually makes something out of his career in this company. Because let’s face it, when it comes to holding the greatest championship that this company offers, then you have to be a great----........

Suddenly Zero is cut off by “Solarflare” the crowd’s boos only gets louder as Sunshine Scandalous Tony Carmine emerges from backstage. Draped in a furry lavender mink, the Scandalous One claps slowly with a microphone in his hand. Tony waves his hands in the air to stop the music.

Sunshine Tony: Whoa there sweetie pie. Save some of that fire for our match baby.

Tony laughs.

Sunshine Tony: You’re so riled up. So full of hate, anger and resentment. You hate the fact that you’ve been busting your ass around here to no respect. But what the hell does that have to do with the New Kings? We never made you believe that to be the best, you had to beat the best. Nope. To be the best is something you’re born with. See Zero, you don’t understand something. You can’t manufacture talent. You’ve been studying the greats all your career, desperately trying to carve your own little niche in wrestling. All you’ve done was leech off of those more popular than you and claim to be better just by beating them in a match. It’s pathetic. It’s laughable. It’s you’ll never be a real star like Cannon and I.

Tony smiles and blows Zero a kiss as he makes his way down the ramp.

Sunshine Tony: However I digress. We’re not coming out here for you, jackass. Despite what you think, everything isn’t about you. In fact, nothing is about you. You’re a body that’s keeping the FGA World Championship warm for the New Kings. Whether it’s the Scandalous One or the British Bulldog Cannon, your days are numbered. That’s already set in stone, so there’s no need for us to harp on it any longer. Tonight was supposed to be a celebration of sorts. We came out here not only to celebrate the career of our beloved Cindy Parker. We came out here to celebrate the fact that the NEEEWWWW KINGS have prevailed…

After thinking about it for a second…

Sunshine Tony: ...and of course the obligatory, “Zero sucks and we’re going to kick his hairy asshole.” But that wasn’t going to be until later.

Right on cue, "Voodoo Child" (Jimi Hendrix" Cover) by Brick + Mortar hits the speakers to boos, and not before long do we see two individuals stop out into plain sight. On the left, already shouting into a microphone is Quinn Goodrich. As usual he's dressed in a simple suit. Navy's the color for the evening.

Quinn Goodrich: Tony… Tonyyyy… TONNYYYY! You hit the nail right on the head, or whatever that lower class American slogan is.

The music quickly fades as Goodrich begins to clear his throat, preparing to introduce the man on the right - the British Mamba, Johnny Cannon. Unlike his confidante, Cannon is always flashy. He stands dawning a single button tuxedo jacket, right from the Ralph Lauren Purple Label - styled in a navy floral pattern complemented by a crisp white shirt, black bowtie, some hundred dollar slacks and a pair of shoes you’ve had on your wishlist.

Quinn Goodrich: But right now we’re going to cut right to the chase because you said something that got me going, Sunshine. You said something about tonight being where we celebrate how the NEW KINGS… DOMINATED… DECIMATED… DESECRATED… AND COMPLETELY OBLITERATED… FGA! Ring a bell?

Goodrich shoots a glance at Tony, he laughs and shrugs. Tony mouths out “Facts Only” to Quinn.

Quinn Goodrich: I mean you didn’t say it in that exact way, but the facts are the facts… and the fact remains… we handled business. And anyone who believes they’re the best in the business, they were in that Gold Rush Rumble… they had to deal with the New Kings… and my God we gave them the BUSINESS! And I can tell you’re afraid of us. And you SHOULD be! You should be afraid of Sunshine Scandalous Tony Carmine!

Tony just smiles, blowing kisses to the ring as Quinn goes on.

Quinn Goodrich: And well, you may not be afraid of me, but I know for sure you’re afraid of this man.

At that point Cannon steps forward, standing beside Carmine, pointing right at McHannon whilst he turns to the Scandalous One.

Johnny Cannon: Get a load of this whippersnapper, Tony. He took a whole fifteen minutes to stand in the ring and tell lies out of his H&M beard, and his filthy thrift store clearance aisle mug - fifteen minutes of our lives that we’ll never get back either. These goddamn millennials have to be stopped!

Cannon looks at Zero now, his face morphing into a bitter scowl, sounding like a angry old man.

Johnny Cannon: You kids these days with your five dollar haircuts, and your go-go tunes, and your social media where you post selfies in your skin tight jeans that you stole from your little sister's closet, and your v-neck shirts that are two sizes too little. You make me sick.

Cannon shakes his head as he looks down at the ring, twitching his nose ever so snobbishly.

Johnny Cannon: Let me make this brisk. I’m the type of man that gets to the point, while others choose to beat around the bush, and scream as loud as they can to misdirect everyone from the fact that they’re bumbling idiots. And you Zero, fit the bill. You’re exactly what it looks like when your parents let the television raise you. You become a man who’s too stupid to read the writing on the wall. However, I’ll say this about you, McHannon. Despite your intellectual handicap, and your pre-pubescent level of maturity, you’re smart enough to understand two numbers.

Cannon holds up two fingers as the crowd listens and looks on.

Johnny Cannon: The first number is fourteen. That’s how many days you’ve been able to call yourself the two time FGA World Champion.

Zero stands tall in the ring, holding the FGA World Title as Johnny goes on, the Scandalous One enjoying every minute of it.

Johnny Cannon: And the other is zero. Because that’s the exact amount of chance you have of holding onto that belt because at All Star Showdown V… The New Kings are going to kick your bloody ass, and we’re going to beat the living hell out of you… and one of us is going home with the biggest prize in this business, and you’re going home on a stretcher with your pride stripped, your manhood taken, and your head kicked off your shoulders.

The British Mamba’s fingers fold down, save for the middle, which he brandishes in Zero’s direction.

Sunshine Tony: So your best bet right now is to get the hell out of our ring so the festivities can commence. We got hos from different area codes ready get out, get down and boogie-oogie-woogie with the real stars, the real men. The REAL Kings. The New Kings of FGA. There’s plenty of time for you to get your head kicked in by the rulers. But tonight, we have more important matters to attend to, honey.

Tony twirls around before posing for the cameras to an eruption of boos. He looks out to the crowd offended.

Sunshine Tony: What!? You all don’t want to party??? You all would rather listen to this trainwreck drunkard spew out a bunch of bullshit all night??? You don’t want to see my oh so beautiful face??? Would you like to see the New Kings take that strap from around Zero’s waist and beat him with it? Zero you may have never had a daddy that loved you, but if you really want to see who’s superior you’d stop acting like you’re scared to fight us and man the hell up. But no that’s not what you do. You take a broken woman and take advantage of her fatigue. You lowly son of a bitch. Yet we’re the bad guys just for telling the truth. Just for doing what we say and saying what we do. What a time to be alive where the real gets condemned by the fakest piece of trash this business has ever seen.

McHannon is just staring at the couple on the outside with a bit of awe in his face as he shakes it off and holds up a hand.

Zero McHannon: I’m sorry, guys. I keep hearing about how great the two of you are and how you’ve dominated, decimated, and blah blah blah. But then my mind goes right to remembering your “amazing team” was put on their ass by Molly Reid. Perhaps you guys are as “great” as you’d like the world to believe. You call that Gold Rush Rumble an actual match where the winners are truly deserving of a shot at MY title? You poor morons couldn’t even top my number of eliminations from the last year. Now if you two are done tooting your own horns, with no merit, then I guess there’s only one thing left… I’m out here to celebrate something worth a damn. If you two want to have your own little baby shower… well, this leaves us in a bit of an awkward position, now doesn’t it?

Zero’s microphone hand drops to his side as he stares again in Cannon’s and Carmine’s direction. He then gives a shrug of the shoulders and mouths “what are we going to do, boys” their way. Tony smirks before shooting Cannon a look. “Green light” the Scandalous One says as he and Johnny Cannon step on opposite sides of the apron as Zero’s eyes begin to widen with surprise. Just as both men step one foot inside of the ring, they stop before stepping back down to ringside.

Sunshine Tony: This is what you want Zero. We’ll give it to you when you’re ready boo thang. Just keep the belt warm...oh and don’t have any unfortunate accidents between now and All Star Showdown, kay babe? Toodles.

Carmine taps Cannon on the shoulders. The New Kings along with Goodrich head back up the ramp, both gesturing having the title around their waists. The crowd boos at the cowardice of Johnny and Tony, but they paid the audience no mind. Both just kept a maniacal gaze towards the champion.

[FGA Office]

We cut backstage at the Broadbent Arena to find Johnny Karma and Cherry Baum are stood by a monitor and they look very unimpressed with what they are watching - which is of no surprise, as they are watching The New Kings’ show-opening diatribe

Johnny Karma: You know, I thought the two-on-one and even three-on-one beatdowns were the worst thing they could do, but at least when that was happening I didn't have to listen to those bolvans running their lip off the whole time.

Karma shakes his head in disgust

Johnny Karma: The worst thing is that this whole situation is exactly what I wanted to see ushered out of FWA’s doors, and for a while it looked like that was going to be the case - until it wasn’t, and we got a brand new twist on the bad old days. What makes it even worse is that it’s obvious that they don’t even have any plans other than jumping somebody whenever they walk into the building because of reasons, because it’s easy for them to jump me on the arena floor for fifteen minutes straight but once they found themselves standing across from each other in the ring it’s clear they hadn’t planned for it and ran out of ideas faster than Rick Santorum. And yet despite having no ideas and no clue, they somehow lucked into title contention in a fashion that would make Forrest Gump blush by both managing to be in the wrong place at the right time to such a degree the officials just said “baren es” and said both of them won so they wouldn’t have to spend the rest of the weekend scouring the replays for a definitive answer. As victories goes, that’s about as dominant as the age-old battle of fly vs windshield.

Karma then throws his arms in the air

Johnny Karma: But that’s what we’re stuck with, and that’s what gets me the most. The next few weeks will be nothing but a long, grim march towards something that nobody wants yet we are all supposed to accept because it’s there, and yet we’re supposed to enjoy it? Embrace it? No, we just endure it and wish it will just go away in the hope that something better will be on the other side - which is an example of the age old battle of hope vs experience, which may not be quite as one-sided, but the defeats are just as painful. But you know what? I’m not going to just shrug my shoulders, keep my head down and hopes it gets better once ASSV is in the books - because I have a plan to make things that little bit more bearable for everyone who is already sick and tired of the company being derailed by a couple mamzers who think the company should be renamed Frontier Beatdown Arts.

Cherry turns to look at Karma, and she has an impressed look on her face

Cherry Baum: So what’s the plan J-K?

The camera zooms out a bit, indicative of someone else becoming present. Sure enough, the smiling face of one Fujiko Mine stands opposite both Johnny Karma and Cherry Baum. Her appearance on-screen causes the crowd to cheer. She’s clad in a black and purple shirt with Prince’s symbol on it. She nods to Cherry in a welcoming manner, and then turns her attention to Johnny.

Fujiko Mine: Hey, Johnny. I know I said this on social media a bit ago, but I wanted to come say it to you face to face.

Her smile grows a little bit.

Fujiko Mine: Thank you. I know we’ve had our differences, but I’m really appreciate of you coming and chatting with me back at Final Frontier. I don’t think I would’ve been able to get where I am now without you. So again, thanks.

She nods to him, and again to Cherry, before making a move to leave the two of them alone again.

Johnny Karma: Wait…

Fujiko stops and turns back towards Karma

Johnny Karma: I’ve got a suggestion.

She arches her left eyebrow, intrigued.

Fujiko Mine: A suggestion, you say? Well, I’m listening.

She places her hands in her front pockets, doing her best to not seem too eager.

Johnny Karma: Actually, let me backtrack a bit. First of all, even though you and I haven’t always been on the same page, in the same book, or in the same section of the library, thanks for running interference a couple of shows ago when I was having my tuches handed to me on a silver platter, because if you didn’t make the save it’s quite possible that I'd still be getting stomped into the canvas right now. So, yeah, once again thanks for that.

Fujiko Mine: You’re welcome, but you certainly don’t need to thank me. Needed to practice what I was preaching. Also, Tony kind of dared me to, and watching him run from me was pretty satisfying.

She stifles a laugh, allowing Johnny to continue.

Cherry Baum: Funny how much less brave he is when there’s a fair fight headed his way, isn’t it?

Karma nods in agreement before he claps his hands together

Johnny Karma: Anyway, let’s get to brass tacks here, and the plan I have in mind: I think you and I can both predict that ASSV is going to end with an utter travesty, as there’s Zero and a pair of zeroes battling it out to see who can do the most damage to the FWA Championship’s already trashed lineage - in short, the most important match on the card has become the least appealing, and because of that somebody has to salvage the card’s dignity by putting on a match worth watching.

Fujiko rolled her eyes at the mention of Zero and his opponents to be.

Fujiko Mine: Watching those three brings disgust to my mind, but it’s on me for not defending better. Whether I like it or not, they threw me out. No excuses. Anyway, go on.

Johnny Karma: So here’s what I’m thinking - if there’s anything that will restore this show’s pride, it’s up to me as Pride Champion to look for a way to steal the show and give the people who paid to watch it a darned good reason to not demand refunds, and that got me thinking about opponents. Who has been on a roll lately, who had the longest stint in the Gold Rush Rumble, and who doesn’t think jumping people from behind isn’t the only form of career advancement in this company?

Fujiko catches on to his meaning, and a flash of her eyes show that she is very intrigued by the idea.

Fujiko Mine: Why, Mr. Karma...I do believe I fill at least those last two criteria…

A coy look crosses her face.

Fujiko Mine: If you’re suggesting what I think you’re suggesting, then I’m certainly interested. Fujiko Mine versus Johnny Karma for the Pride Championship? Yes, indeed. On one condition.

She looks back, as if she is waiting for someone to attack her.

Fujiko Mine: We keep each other from having to suffer the indignity of being trapped in one on two, or one on three situations from the New Jokers, yeah?

Johnny Karma: Of course. As Miss Baum says, we’ll see how bold they are when they don’t have a numerical advantage - or to put it another way, we’ll see how many seconds it takes before they bust out that tried and true calling of all Junior High bullies, and say we’re not worth it.

Fujiko Mine: We both know boldness is only a trait Mr. Cannon, Danny, Tony and Zero share when they have that advantage; or in Zero’s case...when he’s trying to benefit from being a two-faced loser. It’s sad when the woman who they claim is so plastic is more real than the four of them together.

A cold smirk crosses her face as she says this.

Fujiko Mine: In any event, I believe we’ve come to an agreement.

She pauses for just a moment.

Fujiko Mine: We’ll keep the new “kings” from taking over, then we steal the show on the grand stage. I can’t wait.

Her excitement creeps through; Fujiko bouncing on her heels a bit. She exchanges the cold smirk in favor of a smile to match her excitement.

Fujiko Mine: I’ll leave you two to it. Bye for now!

Beaming now, she nods to both of them and exits the scene.

[ COMMERCIAL BREAK ]

[FGA Office]

Earlier tonight...

As the final preparations are being made before this week's edition of Vertigo goes live, we cut backstage and see the two members of Silk & Cyanide, Erin Mariani and Sara Mason, walking through the backstage area as if they already own the place

Erin Mariani: Well doesn't this look like a place that has been crying out for us? Not this arena run-down dive that should be thankful the money and the reason for being there was pretty goddamn good because I wouldn't be here otherwise, but this collection of deluded individuals that clearly need somebody to teach them a thing or six, and I know there's a couple of ladies in the building who can whip them into shape - and I am most certainly not referring to MagiCastle, as they are first in line for a little bad education.

Sara Mason: You heard what the two of them were saying about us before this match?

Erin Mariani: Indeed I did, but even though I gave them the courtesy of listening to what they had to say that doesn't mean I had to enjoy having those four minutes of my time wasted, as those four minutes were far too precious to be listening to a long string of nothingness from a pair of girls who think that being "quirky" is adorable, rather than insufferable for anyone who has to sit through their tired nonsense.

At that moment, Mariani stops walking as something occurs to her

Erin Mariani: Come to think of it, there is some other nonsense that I cannot sanction.

Sara Mason: There is?

Erin Mariani: Oh yes, there most certainly is.

As quick as a flash Mariani turns tail and starts to march down the corridor, the click of her heels against the floor echoing through the corridor, and as she marches Mason keeps pace with her until they find someone - but we cannot see who, as they are obscured by Mariani and Mason standing in the camera's way

Erin Mariani: You look like you work here, so you can tell me something: where is the idiot in charge of promoting this show?

At that moment the camera finds a way past the pair and we see Cherry Baum is leaning against the wall with a look of intense concentration on her face, meaning she doesn't even register Mariani and Mason converging upon her - something which grates with Mariani

Sara Mason: Hey, ginger. You were asked a question. Where is he?

As soon as Mason hurls that question at Cherry, she lets out an irritated growl before she looks up towards Mariani and Mason, and she certainly looks PO'd at the interruption

Cherry Baum: What the hell is wrong with you? My snake was top ten, and because of you I just collided with that noob and I have to start all over again!

Sara Mason: What the hell are you talking about?

Cherry Baum: I was on the best slither.io run of my life, and I just binned it because you distracted me!

Rather than get dragged into a conversation involving multiplayer snake games, Mariani is quick to impose herself on the conversation once more

Erin Mariani: And now you aren't distracted, so you can answer the question: Where is that idiot who has been spelling my name incorrectly time and time again?

Cherry Baum: Don't ask me, I work in front of the cameras, not behind them.

Sara Mason: You "work", do you? By the looks of you, all the work you do is lying on your back.

At this exact moment, where it looks like Cherry is weighing up the positives of going full-on Coney on Mason for that last remark, Johnny Karma walks in on the scene with a very pertinent question...

Johnny Karma: What the heck is going on here?

Erin Mariani: Do you know this girl?

Johnny Karma: You're new here, right?

Mariani lets out a amused snort at Karma's response

Erin Mariani: The first night of many, don't you worry. As for what's going on here, I was asking your piece of fluff where I can find the idiot whose job it is to promote these shows, as they have been spelling my name wrong for several weeks. I am sure you agree that shows a lack of professionalism that is unacceptable.

Cherry Baum: You could've just told someone to fix the mistake you know.

Two sets of eyes both dart in Cherry's direction, and you can almost feel the chill in the air when Mariani and Mason glare at her for her intrusion

Johnny Karma: If your looking for that guy, he's probably in a production meeting right now, so look for the room with a lot of shouting on the other side of the door - but don't worry too much about why they're shouting, half the time it's because somebody's Subway order got messed up and they're refusing to do the show until they get a sandwich with mustard or without mayo or...you get the gist of it.

Sara Mason: Gee, thanks for being so helpful...

Mariani lifts a finger to call for a little silence

Erin Mariani: What my partner means to say is thank you for at least trying to be helpful...

Mariani fires a glare in Cherry's direction

Erin Mariani: ...but we'll take it from here.

Mariani turns to walk away while Mason takes a moment to give a less than friendly wave to Cherry, as the pair leave the area and head back along the corridor, leaving Karma and Cherry alone for a second as we hear the sound of their heels click-clacking away, and when the sound has started to get further away Karma turns to Cherry

Johnny Karma: Okay, that was weird.

Rather than say anything in response, Cherry gives an "I know, right?" shrug before the pair head off in their own direction

[FGA Office]

DYNAMIC DUOS TAG TEAM TOURNAMENT (First Round)
The Good Guys vs. Yun Goeun & Camella D. Magna

J.A. Aldridge: Our opening contest is a tag team match and I scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, at a combined weight of 267 pounds … YUN GOEUN & CAMELLIA D. MAGNA!

"They say, I have no answers...

They see me as a problem child.

I'm just young and free. (Ay Ay)

They say, I don't listen.

I should say the same thing.

What chu know 'bout me? (Huh?)

They say that I'm crazy.

Its okay, everybody is crazy.

Why not me? (Ay Ay)

They say, that I'll never make it.

But all I want to be is my self."

"FxxK Wit Us" by Lee Hi plays over the PA system as Yun and Cami come out from the back to a chorus of boos. They both smirk and ignore the boos as they walks down to the ring. As Yun hits the ramp, her new bodyguard Yoshihiro Gotoh steps out from the back and just stands there, keeping his eyes on the fans around her as Yun continues to make her way to the ring, not once even so much as looking to the fans. As Cami reaches the ring she slides in and quickly walks to her corner and climbs to the middle rope to pose for the fans. As Yun gets in the ring, her bodyguard walks down to the ring and takes his position in her corner.

Kris Cruise: Two weeks these two found themselves on the losing end of a bout against Ruby Way, but tonight Yun and Cami are set to take part in the Dynamic Duos tournament.

Stephy Auger: And they’ve got one of the tougher first round draws, Kris; Rex and Evan have both had successful solo careers throughout the years, in some of the biggest promotions across the country. But this is the first time they’re teaming together in tag action.

Kris Cruise: Could their team inexperience be a factor? Yun & Cami have been working together for nearly five months now, will that be enough to swing things in their favor?

J.A. Aldridge: And their opponents, at a combined weight of 447 pounds … REX EVANS, EVAN ENVI … THE GOOD GUYS!

“The People’s Elbow” by Attack Attack! begins to play throughout the arena as Rex Evans and Evan Envi make their way out from behind the curtain. The crowd here in Louisville cheer for them, despite Evan, as both men pose for the fans.

Stephy Auger: The fans are certainly excited to see The Good Guys.

Kris Cruise: They’re two of the biggest names in pro wrestling today, Stephy, and they’re ready to go!

Rex and Evan shed their tops in the aisleway before charging down towards the ring, sliding in under the bottom rope. The referee calls for the bell to start the match as Rex makes a beeline for Yun, and Evan for Cami. The Good Guys come out swinging, throwing rights and lefts that have their opponents reeling. Rex clothesline Yun over the top rope, leaving Evan and Cami in the ring as The Chief backs Magna into a corner. The referee ushers Rex back to the corner as Evan stomps at his opponent in the corner. An Irish whip sends her from pillar to post before her runs in after her with a jumping splash! Cami tries to fall to the mat, but Evan picks her up and delivers some knife edge chops to the chest. He grabs her in a front facelock and makes his way to the corner where Rex is waiting for the tag out.

Kris Cruise: And in comes Rex Evans, the powerhouse of the team.

Stephy Auger: The pair of them discussing tactics on the fly it seems.

Evan tries to explain what he wants before sending Cami against the far ropes with an Irish whip. As she rebounds, Evan drops down, causing Cami to hop over him and right into the path of Rex Evans and a powerful clothesline. Evan leaves the ring as Rex makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Yun makes the save!

And she keeps stomping at Rex until the referee intervenes, pushing Yun back to the corner. She’s shouting something in Korean as an irate Rex Evans glares over at her. He shakes his head as he stands back up, bringing Cami with him. A body slam follows, with authority, but Rex drags her right back to her feet again. This time Rex lifts Cami up high for the stalling vertical suplex…

Stephy Auger: Cami escapes!

She lands on her feet behind Rex, but he quickly turns around with a clothesline attempt. Cami ducks under and sets off against the ropes, coming back with a headscissors takedown, adding in a couple of rotations for effect! Evans is sent across the ring as Cami picks herself back up, as she launches herself towards the corner to catch Evan Envi with a forearm smash!

It’s enough to knock him off the apron and distract the referee as Evan tries to get back in; Yun enters the ring behind the referee’s back as she and Cami stomp at Rex Evans, keeping the big man grounded. Yun splits the leg, delivering a stomp below the belt as the crowd boo, but she’s out of the ring before the referee finally turns back around.

Kris Cruise: Yun and Cami taking full advantage of the distraction there. And they’ve done a bit of damage to Rex Evans.

Stephy Auger: That’s what they do so well, Kris. And that’s what they’ll need to do to neutralize the threat,

Cami makes the tag out to Yun allowing them some more time to double team Rex. Yun charges in with a high kick as Cami delivers a chop block, and Rex goes down. Yun makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Rex powers out!

Yun lands nearly two feet away and looks back in shock as Rex begins to get back up. But she’s quickly on the case, peppering Evans with right and lefts. Until he lands a shot to the gut. And another. Rex stands back up as Yun leaps up with a spinning heel kick. It’s enough to send Rex staggering back against the ropes, but he comes right back with a stiff forearm strike!

Yun hits the mat and rolls backwards, allowing Rex the chance to try and make the tag out. Only for Cami Magna to storm the ring and catch Rex with a couple of forearm shots. Evan hits the ring, taking out Cami with a flying forearm shot. Magna rolls out of the ring and is quickly followed by Evan as the two of them continue brawling on the outside.

Kris Cruise: This one spilling to the outside as Evan Envi and Cami Magna are trading blows…

Rex turns his attention back to Yun, who’s used the ropes to get back to her feet. He charges in with a Cactus clothesline, sending both of them tumbling over the top rope to the outside.

Stephy Auger: Rex with the momentum sending both him and Yun over the top rope, and that looked like an awkward landing.

ONE!


TWO!


THREE!


Rex begins to get back up, picking Yun up with him as she delivers a low blow to The Brute. The referee didn’t see it however, as he turned his attention to the clattering of steel as Cami Magna caught Evan with a drop toe hold into the guard rail.


FOUR!


FIVE!


Yun peppers Rex with a couple of forearm shots, sending him further up the aisle.


SIX!


SEVEN!


But Rex gets his arms up to block one, countering with a headbutt as he sends Yun stumbling closer to the curtain.


EIGHT!


NINE!


TEN!

J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, this match has ended in a double count-out.

Rex continues hammering away at Yun as they disappear behind the curtain; at ringside Evan and Cami are still brawling as they’ve spilled over the barricade and into the crowd.

Kris Cruise: A draw?

Stephy Auger: Looks like Ruby Way are getting a bye in the next round, Kris.

[FGA Office]

Izzy Anders: He doesn’t think that I won’t accept his terms. He does this to me all the time, ya know? He makes me have these ultimatums. He wants me to abandon what I cherished so I can execute him.

Izzy walked around her locker room, speaking to herself. A camera operator had settled behind her door, peeping in. She paced around, not noticing the man.

Izzy Anders: I’ll accept his terms. Yup, that’s what I’ll do.

The former MAL champion walked out of frame for a moment, leaving the camera operator confused. He took a peek inward, but no one was there. When he further walked about, he suddenly got caught by a hand. He kept his scream muted, but he whipped around to see Izzy glaring at him.

Izzy Anders: You caught all of this, right?

A nod.

Izzy Anders: Good. So since you’re here, I’ll tell you. Dom, if you’re listening, which I know you are. I accept your terms. I’ll leave the little hero alone to go after you. We’re not done yet, you know. But I never sacrifice without something else following behind it. You’ll hear from me soon enough, Dominic.

She patted the operator on the shoulder.

Izzy Anders: Just like this mouse here, I could be anywhere now. I don’t have a beacon on my shoulder. So Dom, I need you to watch your step. I don’t know if I can contain myself anymore.

The Dreamkiller trudged past the operator, who followed with the camera, but Izzy stuck her hand out.

Izzy Anders: I wouldn’t stay here if I was you.

[FGA Office]

DYNAMIC DUOS TAG TEAM TOURNAMENT (First Round)
MagiCastle vs. Silk and Cyanide

The darkened arena is illuminated with the purple lights that pulse in time with How To Destroy Angels' "BBB" which is slithering its way across the arena's PA system

Get down

And with that line, the purple lights fully illuminate the arena as Erin Mariani & Sara Mason walk out at the top of the ramp, looking out across the arena like a pair of hunters that are toying with their prey

On the ground

The pair begin their walk down the ramp towards the ring, both walking with an air of assured superiority towards everyone in the arena, be it their opponents or the fans in attendance, to the point they simply do not register those fans nearest to them

J.A. Aldridge: The following contest is scheduled for one fall and it is a First Round match in the Dynamic Duos Tag Team Tournament! Introducing first, making their way to the ring at a total combined weight of 248 pounds! They are the team of Erin Mariani and Sara Mason… SILK & CYANIDE!

Don't move, make a sound

The pair reach the ringside area, and once they reach ringside Mason stops by the nearest set of ring steps while Mariani continues to walk to the set furthest along

No more
No control

Once Mariani reaches her set of ring steps, the duo climb their respective set of steps in unison, and once they step onto the ring apron they both immediately step through the rops into the ring

You do what you're told

Once inside the ring, Mariani climbs onto the middle rope as she looks down at the crowd with a look of pure spite, while Mason climbs the nearest set of turnbuckles where she too looks down upon the crowd and laughs at them, before the pair both climb down and decide which corner is rightfully theirs, and that is where they stand.

Kris Cruise: Match two is about to get underway. This will be the second of four First Round Matches here tonight. Of course, The Good Guys versus Yun Goeun and Camellia D. Magna ended in a Draw. The winners of that match would have gone on to face #RubyWay in the Quarterfinals. As we noted early, because of the Draw, that now gives #RubyWay an automatic bye into the Semifinals. As if that wasn’t good enough news for the duo, the two recent won White Lion’s Infinity Tag Gauntlet. You couldn’t ask for a better weekend if you’re those two.

Stephy Auger: Well good for them. They’ll need all the luck they can get.

“Blood on My Leather” By DZ Deathrays slowly faded in at a low hum before its melodic tone echoed its way throughout the venue. The lights dimmed down to complete darkness, before piercing strobe lights flooded the arena. LeCavalier came from behind the curtains stranding slightly aloof. She’s seen peering at the crowd before setting her eyes onto the ring. She began slowly walking down the aisle way until she got to the end, that’s where she sneered at the crowd as if she wanted to destroy them. At her own pace she made her way up the steel steps, walking towards the center of the apron as she then stepped between the ropes casually.

J.A. Aldridge: And their opponents… introducing first, from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada! She is “THE LOST MONARCH” RYAN LECAVALIER!

Once in the ring she walked up to the adjacent set of ropes, as she leaned forward into them with both arms at her side looking at the crowd. She was waiting on her opponent as she looked as if she was thinking about the match ahead.

"I'll get you my pretty... and your little dog too!"
"There's no place like home!"

The funky drum beat and riff of 'Phenomena' by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs fills the arena and the quirky yet energetic Salem Cartier appears at the entrance wearing a hooded dark purple leather tailcoat with huge silver buttons, the hood pulled over her eyes. She carries a silver cane, the top a silver claw gripping a dark purple crystal that has a plasma globe effect. She's tapping her foot and bopping her head to the beat...

She raises both hands and motions for the fans to get hyped, swinging the cane, then bops her way toward the ring in time with the song, popping her shoulders up and down, swaying her arms around with a coy smile and wink to the audience.

"Hey! Don't touch, kid; sleep with the lights on
Touch, kid; how you surprise me
Now roll kid, rock your body off!"

She steps up the ring steps, throws her hood back, clutches the top rope and puts her feet on the bottom rope, gazing around and rocking up and down on the ropes...

"You're something like a phenomena
Something like an astronoma'
Now roll kid, rock your body off!"

She slides through the ropes, twirls off her jacket with a flourish and drops to a knee in the center of the ring, extending her arms out holding up the cane and playing to the crowd as the music fades. She takes the jacket and cane to the corner, ready for the match.

J.A. Aldridge: And her partner, now residing out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada… “Something Like a Phenomena” … SALEM CARTIER!

Kris Cruise: Silk & Cyanide come into this tournament with a lot of intrigue. You look around at the rest of the field and you see known quantities. Even if some of these teams have never tagged up before, they’re accomplished singles wrestlers. I’ll have to be honest. I’ve never even heard of Silk & Cyanide before.

Stephy Auger: That could play well to their advantage. We’ve seen video on Salem both from here and HKW. We all know how great Ryan LeCavalier is. But Silk & Cyanide are the unknown. They aren't THE mystery team that’s being revealed later. But they are a mystery to everyone else in this tournament and Kris, you can’t prepare for something that you don’t have any info on.

Kris Cruise: That’s very true. But Salem is no rookie and everyone knows that LeCavalier is a student of the game. They might catch MagiCastle off guard initially. But I suspect that the two of them will adapt pretty quickly to what Erin Mariani and Sara Mason throw at them.

The match starts with Salem and Erin circling the ring before locking up. After jockeying for position, Erin places Salem in a side headlock. But Salem is quick to shove Erin off of her and into the ropes. When Erin comes back, Salem knocks her down with a shoulder block. She then runs into another set of ropes as Erin gets back to her feet. When Salem comes back, Erin leapfrogs over her. Salem continues to run into the ropes. When Salem comes back, Erin goes for a hip toss. But Salem steps through it and goes for a own hip toss. But Erin blocks it. She then knees Salem in the midsection, doubling her over. After draping her leg across the back of Salem’s neck, Erin performs a backflip. After she lands on her feet, she goes to throw out a clothesline. But Salem ducks. When Erin turns around, Salem sends her flipping down to the canvas with a leg-feed enzuigiri. The crowd cheers as she makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
Erin kicks out.

Kris Cruise: Salem quickly takes Mariani off her feet with that enzuigiri, but it only gets two.

Stephy Auger: I’m still shocked by that double count out in the opening contest. Most people figured that The Good Guys would run away with that one. But we were all surprised by that outcome. You’ve got to wonder what other surprises this tournament has in store.

Kris Cruise: Well there is a mystery team that’s going to be revealed later.

Salem picks up Erin, moves her into the corner and unleashes a series of knife edge chops that echo throughout the arena. She then takes Erin and goes for an irish whip. But Erin reverses, sending Salem into the opposite corner. She then runs across the ring, hops onto Salem and monkey flips her out of the corner. But Salem magically lands on her feet. So he runs into the ropes. When Salem comes back, Erin runs out of the corner and goes to cut her off with a clothesline. But Salem ducks and runs into the far ropes. When she comes back, the crowd cheers as she knocks Erin down with a lariat takedown. She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Erin kicks out.

Salem picks up Erin, doubles her over with a knee to the midsection and follows up with a rolling snapmare. Salem then returns to her feet before bouncing into the ropes. When she comes back, she blasts Erin in the face with a discus knee. She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Erin gets her shoulder up.

Salem picks up Erin, wrenches her arm, drags her over and tags in Ryan LeCavalier. But as soon as RyCav gets in, Erin yanks herself free. Once there’s distance between the two, Erin and RyCav begin circling the ring. But Erin is quick to head over and tag in Sara Mason.

Kris Cruise: It looks like Mariani’s bark is bigger than her bite. After all that trash she talked about LeCavalier, she sure was quick to tag out as soon as RyCav got in.

RyCav and Mason begin circling the ring. They then inch towards each other for a lock up. But Mason opts for a rake across the eyes, which garners boos from the crowd. She then knocks RyCav back with forearm strikes to the face. She takes RyCav, marches into the corner and slams her face-first into the top turnbuckle. Mason follows up with a leaping back rake. She then turns RyCav around, unleashes a stinging chop and goes for an irish whip. But RyCav reverses, sending Mason into the opposite corner. LeCavalier then runs across the ring, but Mason catches her with a back elbow to the face. While LeCavalier stumbles back, Mason runs out of the corner and throws out a clothesline. But LeCavalier ducks the clothesline, grabs the arm and brings Mason to the canvas with a hammerlock leg sweep. She drops down and makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
Mason kicks out.

LeCavalier picks up Mason and applies a side headlock. But somehow, Mason is able to slip out and reverse into a hammerlock. Mason thinks she’s got the advantage. But with ease, LeCavalier is able to slip out and reverse into a hammerlock of her own. She then spins Mason around before sending her back to the mat with Our Love To Admire. While Mason sits up and clutches her arm, LeCavalier takes off into the ropes. When she returns, she knocks Mason flat on the canvas with Leif Erikson. The crowd cheers as she makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Mason gets her good arm up.

Kris Cruise: I know it’s early, but so far, MagiCastle seems to have this match well under control.

Stephy Auger: You just said it yourself. It’s early. We haven’t really seen what Silk & Cyanide are capable of yet.

Kris Cruise: Well with the rate this match is going, we may never get to see what they’re capable of.

LeCavalier takes a hold of Mason’s right arm and wrenches it. After a quick tug on the arm, LeCavalier delivers another arm wrench… and another… and ano-NO! LeCavalier is cut off by a poke to the eyes. Mason then snapmares her down and delivers a stiff kick to the spine. She then drops down, pushes LeCavalier on the canvas and makes the lateral press.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
LeCavalier kicks out.

Kris Cruise: Yet another cheapshot by Sara Mason.

Stephy Auger: Hey, it cut off LeCavlier’s momentum, didn’t it?

Mason picks up LeCavalier, moves her into the Silk & Cyanide corner and tags Mariani back in. Once Mariani gets back in, Silk & Cyanide take LeCavalier, move her out of the corner and whip her into the ropes, where Salem makes the blind tag. When LeCavalier comes back, Silk & Cyanide set up for a back body drop. But LeCavalier hurdles over them and runs into the far ropes. But instead of coming back, LeCavalier hangs onto the ropes. Mariana then comes over to attack LeCavalier. But LeCavalier dumps her over the top rope and to the floor with a fireman’s carry. Mason then turns around into a flying calf kick from Salem. Mason returns to her feet, but Salem returns her to the mat with another calf kick. On the opposite side of the ring, Mariana grabs LeCavalier by the ankles, yanks her down to the canvas and then pulls her outside the ring. She then takes LeCavalier and whips her into the barricade.

Back in the ring, Salem knocks Mason down with another calf kick. As Mason gets up and staggers back, Salem runs forward and sends them both over the top rope and to the floor with a Cactus Clothesline. As Salem gets up on the outside, Mariani steps out onto the apron. When Salem turns around, Mariani runs along the apron, flips off and knocks her down with a cannonball senton. Mariani returns to her feet. But she’s quickly knocked down by a suicide dive from LeCavalier. The crowd cheers as LeCavalier stands tall.

Kris Cruise: There’s body all over the floor except for one, Stephy.

LeCavalier picks up Mariani and rolls her back into the ring. After Salem pulls herself up using the edge of the apron, she rolls back into the ring and makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Mariani gets her shoulder up.

Salem picks up Mariani, tags LeCavalier back in and whips Mariani into the ropes. When Mariani come back, LeCavalier knocks her down with a running high knee. She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Mariani gets her shoulder up.

LeCavalier picks up Mariani, wrenches her arm and knocks her down with a short-arm clothesline. LeCavalier yanks her back up by the arm and knocks her down with another short-arm clothesline. LeCavalier yanks Mariani back up, wrenches her arm and follows up with an Australian Suplex. She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Mariani gets her shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: MagiCastle remain in firm control. Silk & Cyanide need to come up with something quick or else MagiCastle is going to run away with this one.

LeCavalier goes over and tags Salem back in. Once Salem gets in, she picks up Mariani and whips her into the ropes. When Mariani comes back, Salem doubles her over with a kick to the midsection and follows up with a double underhook suplex. She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Mariani gets her shoulder up.

Salem picks up Mariani and goes for an irish whip. But Mariani reverses, sending Salem into the ropes (where Mason nails her with a knee to the back). After arching her back, Salem turns and goes to strike Mason. But Mason hops down off the apron. While Salem’s still distracted, Mariani comes up from behind and spikes her with a bridging backdrop suplex.

Kris Cruise: Salem just got dropped right on the back of the neck!

Stephy Auger: This could be it right here...


ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
TH-NO!

Salem gets her shoulder up.

Mariani picks up Salem, brings her into the corner and tags Mason back in. Once Mason gets in, Silk & Cyanide take Salem and whip her into the ropes. When Salem comes back, they throw her down with a double Japanese arm drag. Mason then picks up Salem, whips her into the corner and delivers multiple running dropkicks. On the last dropkick, Salem slumps down in the corner. Mason then gets up and tags Mariani back in. Once Mason heads back towards the center of the ring, she runs into the corner. Mariani then takes Mason and hip tosses her into Salem. Mariani then drags Mason from out of the corner and makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
TH-NO!

Salem gets her shoulder up.

Stephy Auger: What were you saying about MagiCastle being in firm control? They don’t seem to be in control of anything right now, Cruise.

Mariani heads over and tags Mason back in. After Mariani drops down to a knee, Mason takes Salem and delivers a one-handed bulldog across Mariani’s knee. She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
TH-NO!

Salem gets her shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: Salem got her shoulder up. But her head much be ringing after getting it driven across Mariani’s knee.

Mason picks up Salem, turns and brings her down with a kneeling neckbreaker. She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
TH-NO!

Salem gets her shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: As much as I hate to say it, Silk & Cyanide are wisely targeting the neck of Salem Cartier.

Stephy Auger: It’s well known that Salem’s got an old neck injury. So why not go after it? Whatever gets the job done, I say. There’s a World Tag Team Title Match on the line at the end of this tournament. So I say go after Salem’s neck. Go after Ryan’s knee. Do what you have to do to get yourselves one step closer to those titles!

Mason picks up Salem, moves her into the corner and chokes her with her foot while pulling down on the top rope. The ref gives her until the count of five to break the hold.

Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR…

Mason lets go. She then takes Salem and whips her into the opposite corner. Mason runs across the ring, but Salem catches her with a back elbow to the face. After stumbling back, Mason runs back into the corner. But again, Salem nails her with a back elbow strike. Mason stumbles back, but then shakes off the blow. She goes to charge back into the corner, but Salem catches her with a forward palm strike. Salem then nails her with more palm strikes; each strike knocking Mason back closer towards the center of the ring. Salem then takes off into the ropes. When she returns, the crowd cheers as she brings Mason down with a wheelbarrow bulldog.

Kris Cruise: Mason was driven face-first into the mat after that bulldog.

Stephy Auger: But can she make the cover?

While Mason’s down, Salem slowly turns over and tries to make her way towards the ropes. But on the opposite side of the ring, Mariani gets in the ring, grabs Mason by the legs and drags her over towards the Silk & Cyanide corner. The ref scolds her for letting go of the tag rope. But Mariani pays him no mind as she reaches in through the ropes and tags herself back in.

Kris Cruise: Hey, she can’t do that!

Stephy Auger: Well, she just did!

Mariana steps in the ring and tries to stop Salem from tagging out. But it’s too late as the tag to RyCav has been made.

Kris Cruise: Oh, here we go!

LeCavalier and Mariani race to the center of the ring. Mariani throws out a clothesline. But LeCavalier ducks. When Marinai turns around, the crowd cheers as she gets caught with an open palm strike across the face. LeCavalier follows up with a jumping Muay Thai knee to the face, followed by a shoot kick to the chest and finishes off with a leg sweep that knocks her down. While Mariani struggles to return to her feet, LeCavalier runs over and knocks Mason off the apron with a hard European Uppercut.

Stephy Auger: Cheap shot by LeCavaliar!

Kris Cruise: “Cheap shot”? How!?

LeCavalier marches back over towards Mariani and nails her with another shoot kick that nearly knocks the wind out of her. She then takes Mariani and goes for an irish whip. But Mariani reverses, sending LeCavalier into the corner. Mariani runs across the ring. But LeCavalier steps out, catches Mariani and delivers an Exploder Suplex into the turnbuckles. She then marches into the opposite corner as Mariani remains crumbled in the corner. Once Mariani finally pulls herself up and turns around, LeCavalier runs across the ring and delivers a yakuza kick.

Kris Cruise: Did you hear the impact from that kick!? My goodness!

LeCavalier shoves a barely conscious Mariani onto the canvas before stepping out onto the apron. After climbing up to the top turnbuckle, the crowd cheers as LeCavalier dives off and delivers Without Feathers. She hooks the leg.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Mason dives over and breaks up the pin.

Kris Cruise: Nice save by Mason.

Mason gets up and puts the boots to LeCavalier. But she’s quickly spun around by Salem, who knocks her back with a forward palm strike. She then takes Mason and whips her into the ropes. But instead of bouncing back, Mason hangs onto the ropes. So Salem runs over to attack. But Mason pulls down the top rope, sending Salem falling to the floor.

Stephy Auger: Aw, poor Witch.

Back in the ring, Mariani and LeCavalier briefly trade blows until LeCavalier gains control. She begins unleashes a series of targeted strikes and combinations. She then turns to run into the ropes, but she’s caught by a European Uppercut from Mason. Silk & Cyanide then take LeCavalier and whip her into the ropes. When LeCavalier comes back, they set up for a double back body drop. But LeCavalier stops and kicks Mason in the face. When Mariani stands up, LeCavalier throws out a kick to the midsection. Mariani catches her foot. LeCavalier follows up with an enzuigiri. Mariani ducks, which causes Mason to get hit with the enzuigiri. The kick hits Mason in the face and turns her away. She then stumbles across the ring towards Salem, who jumps up and plants her with a monkey flip DDT. Salem then takes Mason and tosses her through the ropes and to the floor. Salem then takes off into the ropes. When Mason gets up on the outside, Salem goes for a tope con hilo. But Mason moves out of the way at the last second, causing Salem to crash onto the floor.

Kris Cruise: Salem with a hard fall to the floor!

Back in the ring, LeCavalier takes Mariani and goes for an irish whip. But Mariani reverses, sending LeCavalier into the ropes. When LeCavalier comes back, she spikes Mariani with the Cruel Sport. The crowd cheers as LeCavalier makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
THRE-NO!

The ref’d distracted as Yun Goeun is upon the apron.

Kris Cruise: What the heck is this!? What is Yun doing out here!? She’s got nothing to do with this match!

LeCavalier gets up and sees Yun up on the apron. So she runs over to knock Yun off. But Yun hops down at the last second. While LeCavalier’s distracted, Silk & Cyanide lift up LeCavalier from behind and deliver the Sanctity. The crowd boos as Mariani makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
THREE!

“BBB” plays over the speakers as the crowd begins to boo.

J.A. Aldridge: Here are your winners, SILK & CYANIDE!

The crowd continues to boo as Mariani and Mason raise each others arms in victory.

Kris Cruise: First we have our opening match in the tournament end in a double countout. Now Silk & Cyanide pull off the majority upset of MagiCastle. But a major assist has to go to Yun Goeun.

Stephy Auger: You can cry about the outside interference. You can cry about how MagiCastle had the match won. But guess what? Silk & Cyanide took advantage of an opportunity. They sealed the deal when MagiCastle couldn’t and now, they’re advancing to the Quarterfinals!

Salem rolls into the ring and checks in on LeCavalier. She then turns towards Yun, who feigns shock over what transpired. Salem gets up and marches over to the ropes to demand an explanation. But Yun just smirks she she backs up the aisle and shrugs her shoulders. Salem continues to stare down Yun as Yun makes her way up the aisle and to the back...

[ COMMERCIAL BREAK ]

[FGA Office]

Spotlights swirl around the auditorium in fuchsia and lime green, and the speakers slam into life with the syncopated, minimalist beat and shrieking synthesisers of Micachu's "56565656".

Kris Cruise: What the... who's this now?

Stephy Auger: Oh god. I can only think of one person pretentious enough to use something like this as entrance music.

















The audience's anticipation builds as they wait to see who's about to emerge. There's a brilliant flash around the entrance and a burst of smoke, and as it fades, a solitary figure swims into view. Long black hair hangs from under the bowed hood of her sequinned, sleeveless hooded top; a cheer goes up as she throws the hood back to reveal the grinning face of Laurel Anne Hardy! She slaps the outstretched hands of fans and pokes her tongue out at the camera while winking one glitter-eyeshadowed eye, all before extracting a microphone from the waistband of her long gypsy skirt and gesturing for the crowd to quiet down. She remains just at the head of the entranceway, fans no more than a couple of feet away from her on either side, as she speaks.

Laurel Anne Hardy: "With one exception, I have no challenges left. I have no mountains still to climb." ...an excerpt from a statement I released a few weeks ago, an' wrote, well, a little while longer ago than that.

She pauses for just a moment as her smile, that familiar bastard hybrid of a cocky smirk and genuine delight to be here, threatens to engulf her face.

Laurel Anne Hardy: Don't tell me you didn't know what that one exception was.

Another cheer goes up.

Laurel Anne Hardy: The one mountaintop I've never been to. The one albatross I've never been able to shake off from around my neck. The one thing, or at least the one tangible thing, that if I had to retire tomorrow I'd be look back on an' think... if only. If you'll allow an old fool her melodrama, the one an' only missing brick in the LEGO tableau that's been my career.

Hardy looks pensive for a moment. More cheers, but they're a bit quieter now. A shot panning around the audience shows that her dismissiveness of so much of the sport of wrestling is rubbing some people up the wrong way - after all, there are plenty of other prestigious accolades she's never won, and she's talking like they barely exist.

Laurel Anne Hardy: You know my past in this scenario right here - finalist in 2013, finalist in 2014. Then in 2015, as reigning champion this time last year, I wasn't allowed to enter. And believe me, I tried. I went upstairs; I said "what'll it take to make this happen?" I said I'd be happy to put the title on the line in the tournament if it meant I could enter; I said I'd vacate my half, let Annie pick a new partner, if that was what it took. No go. Now... now it's 2016.

She smirks slyly.

Laurel Anne Hardy: As for all this "mystery team" stuff for the record, all the secrecy... sorry. I know that shit's old an' hackneyed. This whole mystery reveal, bein' announced after everyone else, that was never part of the plan; the fact of the matter actually is that up until about a week ago I, er, didn't have a partner set. Now, from the second the bell rang on last year's tournament, there was no doubt in my mind I'd be back for this year's. But workin' out who I'd be standing in that corner with -

- she points across to the appropriate part of the ring -

Laurel Anne Hardy: - that was the hard part. I've been fortunate enough to have so many great tag team partners throughout my career, from my #sparklebuddy Annie Zellor to my fellow Zodiac Killer, Allison Lorraine. To Beowulf an' Ruby Tyler in STORM, to Fujiko Mine in the recent charity tag gauntlet over in PWP, to even my brother Matty. But with all love an’ respect to my other tag team partners, for Dynamic Duos 2016, there's only person I wanted by my side.

She seems like she's about to speak further, but after a moment Laurel just shakes her head and lowers the mic. Shortly thereafter a new song starts to come across the speakers: the pulsating synth riff panning into driving drums of Mankind is Obsolete's "Victory", and as the guitar crunches in, white and purple lights flare around the entrance. The figure that emerges through them is, of course, none other than Evangelista! She's wearing a neck brace - which she tears away and flings into the crowd with a roar! She punches her palm hard then throws the fist into the air, smiling as the fans chant "WELCOME BACK! WELCOME BACK!". Hardy and Evangelista embrace, then Laurel offers the mic to her best friend and the music fades.

Evangelista: Hey!

The crowd pops! The former Gold Rush ironwoman looks humbled.

Evangelista: Thank you all. After five months of rehab, of wondering if I would ever be able to wrestle again, you don’t know how incredible it is to be back here, to see you all again. As you maybe heard, I was originally scheduled for Gold Rush Rumble... unfortunately I ended up pushing myself too hard and setting back my return. But now - now I’m back, and I might’ve missed the Rumble but I am here in Dynamic Duos!

Another wall of cheers go up. Evangelista hands the mic back.

Laurel Anne Hardy: Ladies an' gentlemen... it's time for Dragons to fly again.

Laurel and Evangelista clasp their hands together and raise their arms as more music hits - neither "56565656" nor "Victory" but a song that hasn't been heard on FGA programming in years, Glass Candy’s "Candy Castle". Hardy blows kisses to the fans as we mix back to the commentary desk.

Kris Cruise: The final team for Dynamic Duos is set! Four-time world tag team champions together and finalists of the first ever Dynamic Duos tournament back in 2013! It's been almost a year and a half since the Dragons last teamed, but they're back together in FGA!

Stephy Auger: It's good to see Evangelista back and ready to go again.

Kris Cruise: It's great to see both of them!

Stephy Auger: I stand by what I said: I'm happy to see Evangelista back.

[ COMMERCIAL BREAK ]

[FGA Office]

Izzy Anders vs. Sara Cochran

“Key Entity Extraction V: Sentry the Defiant”’s (by Coheed and Cambria) opening guitar settles the crowd. They know who is coming, but remain unsure if they should cheer or boo. When the lyrics begin to come in, Izzy Anders makes her way from the back. She stands on the stage, looking out at the audience. She bathes in the rapid cascades of red, yellow, and orange. She looks up for a moment, devoid of any of the gleeful energy she once had. She shakes her head and lets out a war cry. She then takes down the walkway, taking somewhat heavy steps at a quickened pace.

J.A. Aldridge: The following contest is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia … IZZY ANDERS!

Once she reaches the edge of the ring, she leaps onto the apron. There, she spins around the ropes, turning her back to them and hooking her arms around them. She lets out an excited yell, before flipping backward into the ring. She looks around the whole arena, not pandering nor alienating them. It’s sure that Izzy is only focused on the match at hand, not on anything else. She looks around the ring, showing her untrusting nature, but finally comforts herself. As she concludes her search, she crouches down to the mat, and begins to crack joints. She only waits for the bell to ring.

Stephy Auger: That is not the face of a content woman, Kris; we all saw the travesty that occurred two weeks ago when Izzy was robbed of her Mid-Atlantic Legacy title.

Kris Cruise: A matter made worse when Dom Harter then emerged to make the save for Annie Zellor. But Izzy looks to have her match set for All Star Showdown V against Harter. Tonight, however, she’s set to face one of the people who impressed many in the Gold Rush Rumble, Sara Cochran.

Stephy Auger: And who since has claimed she could step up and fill Cindy Parker’s boots…

"Classic" by MKTO hits, and the top of the ramp fills with smoke. Sara Cochran bursts through the curtain, and emerges from the smoke to a tepid reaction from the FGA faithful. She bounces on the balls of her feet with a smile on her face before sprinting down the ramp to get a head of steam, then leaping into the ring between the bottom and middle ropes, doing a lucha roll up to one knee as she takes the center of the ring. That draws a small pop with a tiny smattering of boos mixed in, and she pops to her feet.

J.A. Aldridge: And her opponent, from Bellevue, Washington … SARA COCHRAN!

Heading to her corner, she climbs up to the second turnbuckle, and blows a kiss towards the stands before hopping off to await the start of her match.

Kris Cruise: Some of her claims may be a little unorthodox, sure, but there’s no denying Sara Cochran can get the job done inside the ring.

Stephy Auger: Unless she mistakenly thinks she’s broken her neck again. I’m sure these fans remember that one as well, Kris.

The bell sounds to start the match as both competitors circle the ring for a few moments; Cochran claps her hands to try and rally the crowd, but they don’t seem all that interested. As they lock up collar and elbow, Izzy gains the initial advantage as she applies a side headlock. After a few moments she takes Sara down to the mat, but Cochran applies a headscissors to break the hold.

Both competitors scramble back to their feet, measuring each other up before they lock horns again. The pair of them jockey for position until finally Sara uses her size advantage to push Izzy back into a corner. The grapple hold is still in effect as the referee counts for the break, which Sara grants him at the count of three. As she steps back, however, Izzy performs a double leg takedown and mounts her opponent, delivering several punches before Sara manages to kick her away!

As they get back to their feet again, Cochran gets the upper hand as she takes her opponent with an arm drag. Again, both competitors get back up, and again Cochran hits the arm drag, this time keeping hold for the arm bar.

Kris Cruise: Sara Cochran starting brightly here tonight. As I mentioned earlier, she impressed many with her performance in the Gold Rush Rumble, but a victory tonight over the former Legacy champion would really set Sara Cochran on the right path.

Stephy Auger: You say that as if it’s an easy task, Kris. Izzy Anders is out for victory tonight, to help right the wrongs that have committed against her in recent weeks. She won’t stop until this match is hers for the taking.

Sure enough, as Stephy says that, Izzy begins to fight back. She works her way back up to a kneeling position before popping up and countering with an arm wringer. She torques it once, doubling Sara over before Izzy drops an elbow down across the shoulder. But Cochran grabs hold of the ropes to break the hold as the referee starts the five count. Izzy releases at four, but delivers a sharp knife edge chop to the chest. Then another. An Irish whip sends Cochran running across the ring as Izzy runs at her with a jumping leg lariat! And the pin attempt.

ONE!
.
.
Sara kicks out.

Anders sits her opponent up and applies a straightjacket choke hold; the crowd here in Louisville starting to rally behind Izzy as she chokes out Cochran, which seems to take Anders by surprise. She looks around the arena in confusion as Sara begins to fight back, working her way up to her feet before dropping down with a pinning counter!

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Anders kicks out!

Kris Cruise: Sara Cochran almost stealing the victory out from under Izzy there!

Stephy Auger: And it might just be me, Kris, but I don’t think the crowd would have liked that.

Both competitors get back up again, and Sara leaps up with a standing dropkick that sends Izzy tumbling backwards. She falls through the middle rope and lands on the apron. Cochran runs at her, sliding out between Izzy’s legs before yanking her feet out from under her. Izzy falls off the apron, hitting it face first on the way down, before Cochran turns her around and unloads with some precision elbow strikes. Sara whips her opponent into the barricade as Izzy crashes into the steel and crumples to the floor, giving Cochran the chance to slide back into the ring. As Anders begins to stir on the outside, Cochran runs against the ropes, coming back with a suicide dive!

Stephy Auger: She didn’t mess it up this time, at least.

The sarcastic barb comes as Cochran sends Izzy flying back into the steel again, before posing for the fans … who give her a mixed reaction. Undeterred, Sara slides her opponent back into the ring before following Izzy in, and going for the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Izzy kicks out.

Kris Cruise: I’m beginning to see what you mean, Stephy. This Louisville crowd does not seem to like Sara Cochran for some reason.

Stephy Auger: Perhaps they’ve read her blog, where she says she can fill the shoes of Cindy Parker.

Sara brings her opponent back to her feet once more, backing Izzy against the ropes before going for the Irish whip. But Izzy reverses. Cochran hits the far ropes as Izzy waits in the center of the ring, where she leapfrogs over her approaching opponent. Cochran hits the ropes again, coming back off them and getting caught a submission hold; Anders dragging her down to the mat, looking for a Fujiwara armbar, but Cochran drags herself towards the ropes before it can be locked in. The referee sees the boot across the bottom rope and calls for the break as a frustrated Izzy Anders stands back up and stomps at her opponent.

Izzy drags her opponent back to a vertical base after several stomps, backing Sara into the corner, whereupon she stomps at the midsection more. An Irish whip sends Sara from pillar to post, but she vaults up off the top rope to try and get behind her opponent. Only for Izzy to catch her across her shoulder. Anders drops her opponent across the top turnbuckle as Cochran collapses into the corner, allowing the former Legacy champion the chance to unload several European uppercuts. Each one drawing a small cheer from the crowd. Another Irish whip sends Cochran across the ring. She hits the far turnbuckle and waits as Anders charges in with a running European uppercut, drawing a cheer from the crowd. Anders runs back across the ring before charging in with another running European uppercut, and again the crowd cheer.

Stephy Auger: Some stiff strikes by Izzy Anders, and the fans are loving it, Kris.

Kris Cruise: What’s wrong with them?

Izzy applies an arm wringer as she brings Sara out of the corner, stepping through the ropes for an assisted armbreaker. The fans cheer again as Anders drops off the apron, looking out across the crowd with a look of shock on her face. But she rolls back into the ring and puts the boots to Cochran again until the Washington native gets back to her feet, nursing that arm. Izzy grabs the injured arm and delivers a double knee armbreaker before going for the pin.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Sara kicks out.

Relentless, Izzy just rolls her opponent over and applies an arm bar, her knee down across the shoulder as she wrenches back on the arm. Cochran is calling out in pain, but won’t quit despite the crowd’s encouragement for her to do so. Finally Sara works her way back up to a vertical base before she rolls through to counter the submission hold. She lashes out with a couple of elbow strikes before going South with a toe kick, but Izzy catches the boot, but can’t do anything to stop the enziguiri!

Izzy flips through the air and lands back first as both competitors are down momentarily. She begins to stir, moving towards the ropes to gather her bearings as Cochran stands back up in the center of the ring. Sara runs against the ropes, passing by Izzy, as she springboards up and over her opponent, before dropping Anders with a reverse DDT! Sara grabs a leg as the referee counts.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
THR-NOO!

Kris Cruise: A moonsault into a reverse DDT; very impressive by Sara Cochran, but not enough to put Izzy away for the three count.

Stephy Auger: Not that the fans would agree with you, Kris.

A cheer goes up as Izzy kicks out, but Sara gets back up regardless. She stomps at the prone Anders a couple of times before dropping a twisting elbow drop down across the sternum. And another. Cochran takes a run up before delivering a knee drop across the chest, and another pin attempt follows.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Izzy kicks out.

The cheers sound out again as Cochran looks around the arena, but smiles as she drags Izzy back to her feet. An Irish whip sends Izzy towards the corner as Sara runs in after her, handspringing into a clothesline – NO! Izzy ducks out of the way and Cochran hits the turnbuckle chest first! She staggers out of the corner as Anders meets her with a boot to the gut, hooking the arms before planting Cochran with Spin The Black Circle!

Izzy crouches over her opponent, catching her breath as she watches a dazed Cochran finally get back to her feet. And just in time to witness the spectacle of a Cape Town Sunset! Cochran drops to the mat, and Izzy hooks a handful of tights for good measure.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
THREE!!!

J.A. Aldridge: Here is your winner, IZZY ANDERS!

Kris Cruise: Izzy pulling off the victory just as Sara Cochran looked to have the upper hand, but would you listen to these fans.

A small cheer can be heard before the referee raises Izzy’s arm, which is when the usual boos take over. Anders heads backstage, shaking off the crowd’s reaction as Sara Cochran gets back up to a mixed reaction from the crowd.

Stephy Auger: A hard fought victory for the former Legacy champion, Kris, and you know that’s what she’ll want to do against Dom Harter in a few weeks time.

Kris Cruise: Indeed she will. Izzy Anders will be looking for blood at All Star Showdown V. Until then she might be biding her time with those FGA management sends her way.

[ COMMERCIAL BREAK ]

[FGA Office]

Pre-recorded via satellite…

Spencer Burke: Ladies and gentlemen, I’m here with the new FGA Mid-Atlantic Legacy champion, Annie Zellor. Annie, welcome.

Annie Zellor: Heyyy Spencer!

Annie waves at the camera as the screen splits in two. The smiling #sparklebuddy is half way around the world in England at the moment, her belt slung across her shoulder. Spencer remains in the other half as he continues the interview.

Spencer Burke: Before we get started, congratulations on winning the Mid-Atlantic Legacy title. Izzy Anders held that belt for nine months, but her record breaking reign came to an end at the Gold Rush Rumble. How does it feel to be the one to end her reign?

Annie Zellor: I’m not gonna lie, Spencer, it feels amazing. Like, this is my first singles title since I was in Hard Knox Wrestling over two years ago; combine with the fact I beat Izzy for the belt, and it’s just an awesome feeling. I’ve had a bit of success in tag teams throughout my career – the #sparklebuddies here in FGA, the Small Boob Wrecking Crew over in Japan, The Whitest Girls You Know in the UK – but to finally get some singles gold … I don’t have the words to describe this.

Spencer Burke: I can only imagine. Now, as we all saw after the match Izzy attacked you with a steel chair, only for you to be saved by none other than Dom Harter.

Annie Zellor: It was kinda surreal…

Spencer Burke: Is there some sort of alliance between the two of you? You and Dom. First you saved him from an attack at Final Frontier, now he’s saved you from an Izzy attack as well.

Annie Zellor: Alliance? No…

She shakes her head.

Annie Zellor: I dunno if he was just repaying the favor, or if he just wanted to stick it to Izzy. I’m just thankful he did it.

Spencer Burke: And of course he’s since laid down the challenge to Izzy for a match at All Star Showdown, with the condition that accepting that means she can’t invoke her rematch clause against you. What does that mean for you, and for the Mid-Atlantic Legacy title?

Annie Zellor: Uh, the good thing is that there’s plenty of contenders out there that just need a chance, Spencer. I’m not gonna deny that Izzy brought this belt up a level with the length of her reign, and number of defenses. And I’ve got something to try and beat now. And there’s people like Savannah, Salem, Aries, Sara, Ruby who are all dying to get their first gold here in FGA to really get themselves started. But I contacted the head office during the week with a suggestion.

Spencer Burke: Well are you going to share this suggestion with the rest of us?

Annie Zellor: Uh huh. Tonight, it’s been decided that the match between Molly Reid and Nero Darling is gonna be a number one contender’s match for the Mid-Atlantic Legacy title to see who’ll face me at All Star Showdown V! And after all that Danny Diamond put them through over the last few months, and after their awesome match at the Gold Rush Rumble, I can’t think of two more deserving challengers.

Spencer Burke: A number one contender’s match? So at All Star Showdown you’ll be facing either Molly Reid or Nero Darling in your first title defense?

Annie Zellor: That’s right. So, you two, best of luck in your match tonight and I’ll see one of you at AS–All Star Showdown V!

Annie stops herself from calling it ASS V, as instructed by head office, before pulling a #grrface for the camera. Her half of the screen minimizes, leaving just Spencer on screen as he draws the interview to a close.

Spencer Burke: There we have it folks, tonight we’ll find out the next challenger for the Mid-Atlantic Legacy title. And we’ll find out who it is soon.

[FGA Office]

DYNAMIC DUOS TAG TEAM TOURNAMENT (First Round)
Status Quo vs. Team Nox

The opening notes of “Lunar” by David Guetta and Afrojack begins to play as a hush befalls the crowd. As the beat begins to build, so does the crowd's anticipation. Finally the bass drops and Asa Constant explodes from the back bringing about cheers from the crowd. He’s bobbing his head as he points to the crowd. He makes his way to the ring, slapping the hands of fans. He leaps onto the apron and clutches the ropes. He pumps his arm before throwing a fist into the air bringing about more cheers. He hops over the ropes into the ring and runs to the far corner and hops the turnbuckle. He spreads his arms out like he’s flying before hopping down.

“I am Home” by Massive Attack begins to play as “The Hubristic Fox” Zorro del Castillo burst through the back. He lets out a roar to the crowd as he beats his chest rapidly, instantly causing them to boo.

J.A. Aldridge: The following contest is scheduled for one fall and it is a First Round match in the Dynamic Duos Tag Team Tournament! Introducing first, weighing in at a total combined weight of 370 pounds! They are the team of Zorro del Castillo and Asa Constant… TEAM NOX!

Kris Cruise: Here comes Troy Dawes’ second attempt at managing a duo in FGA’s tag team scene. Hopefully Zorro del Castillo can actually coexist with Asa Constant, as opposed to what happened the last time with Stoney Stone.

Stephy Auger: You’ve got it all wrong. Zorro not pulled his weight, but he carried the first incarnation of Nox Sports in FGA. Stoney Stone was nothing but dead weight. As long as Asa Constant does his job, Team Nox and the Nox Sports brand as a whole will be fine.

...Spoken...

"May I remind you again, this is a dream, and in dreams, you can do anything you darn please!"

When the first bass drum thumps, Dan pulls the curtain back and walks out from behind the curtain with his girlfriend Peaches hanging onto his arm. He gives a head nod to the fans before leaning over and giving Peaches a long kiss at the top of the ramp. He then begins heading towards the ring as a spotlight stays on them.

My knuckles have turned to white

There's no turning back tonight

Kiss me one last time

J.A. Aldridge: And their opponents! Introducing first, being accompanied to the ring by Peaches! Now residing out of Raleigh, North Carolina! Weighing in at 200 pounds! He is DAN “THE MAN” HERRERA!

As Dan and Peaches make their way to the ring Dan slaps hands with the fans on one side of the entranceway while Peaches walks down the other side slapping hands with the fans there. At the bottom of the entranceway, Peaches leans in and gives Dan a peck on the cheek as the pair go their separate ways. Dan gets to the ring and walks up the stairs. He swings around the ring post and ducks between the top and middle rope. Peaches on the other hand walks around the ring apron towards the commentary desk where she finds a folding chair waiting for her next to the ring announcer. Once in the ring Dan walks over showing his taped wrists to the referee who nods at him and sends him to his corner. He grabs the ropes on either side of the turnbuckle and leans in with his head down prepping himself for the match to begin.

Kris Cruise: We haven’t seen Dan Herrera compete inside the squared circle in months. But if you ask me, he looks great.

Stephy Auger: You know, I kind of enjoyed not having Dan Herrera on my screen. I wasn’t clamoring to see him return. We all know how this is going to end. He’ll make it exciting. He’ll get the fans invested in his story. Then, he’ll drop the ball. That’s what Dan Herrera does. That’s what he’s always done. He’s Mr. “Close, But No Cigar”. This journey in this tournament will be no different.

The lights dim down and take on a purplish hue as a light smoky mist fills the entranceway. The opening riff to Janet Jackson's "If" pierces the air as a shapely silhouette can be seen taking form in the mist.

As the beat drops, the crowd gives a loud pop as Cordelia Stevenson emerges from the mist with a bounce in her step. She comes to a stop atop the walkway, glancing around and taking in the reception before giving the crowd a warm smile. She rolls her neck around before bowing her head and letting her hair fall in front of her face. A few seconds go by before she snaps her head up, whipping her hair back from in front of her face.

J.A. Aldridge: And his partner, from Freeport, Long Island! Weighing in at 146 pounds… CORDY STEVENSON!

She continues on down the ramp, working from side to side with a big smile as she slaps the hands of fans along the way. She gets to the ring and hops up onto the apron, mouthing the words and bouncing to the music as she makes her way around the side, towards the middle. She turns and faces her crowd, stretching her arms out to the side and slightly tilting her head backwards as she soaks in their reaction. She gives them an appreciative nod and blows a kiss at them, before stepping into the ring and making her way over towards the opposite turnbuckle. She quickly hops up and holds her arms out, drawing a reaction from that side of the crowd as well. She unzips her hoodie and tosses it away before hopping down and making her way over to her corner as the music dies down.

Kris Cruise: These fans have been dying to see Saint Sexy return to the ring. She’s put on so many classic matches inside the ring. She’s even won the Frontier Lions Cup and the Gold Rush Rumble. But actual gold has always alluded her.

Stephy Auger: Well, if she wanted to actually win some gold, then she should’ve picked a better partner than Dan Herrera.

The bell sounds as Zorro and Asa run up from behind and attack Status Quo to boos from the crowd. Asa knocks Cordy down with a front dropkick while Zorro tackles Dan into the corner. Zorro unleashes a ballistic combination of rights and lefts to the body, followed by an uppercut that rocks Dan. After a series of shoulder thrusts to the midsection, Zorro steps through the ropes and brings Dan out onto the apron. He then lifts up Dan from the side, jumps down and delivers a belly to back suplex across the apron.

Kris Cruise: Zorro with a back suplex right onto the hardest part of the ring!

Stephy Auger: I see Zorro is trying to put Dan right back on the shelf.

Back in the ring, Asa takes Cordy and whips her into the opposite corner. He then runs, jumps and connects with a Corner Splash. As Cordy slumps down in the corner, Asa steps back towards the center of the ring. He then runs forward and connects with a cannonball senton in the corner. Asa then drags Cordy from out of the corner and makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Cordy kicks out.

Asa picks up Cordy, runs and tosses her through the ropes and to the floor. He then turns to Troy Dawes on the outside and asks for a chair.

Kris Cruise: What’s he calling for?

Stephy Auger: A chair!

Kris Cruise: What’s he going to do with a chair?

Dawes looks underneath the ring and pulls out a steel chair. He then tosses it into the ring to Asa. Asa catches the chair opens it up and places it near the ropes. As Cordy gets up on the outside, Asa takes off into the ropes. When he comes back, he jumps off the chair, soars over the top rope and knocks down Cordy.

Kris Cruise: What a dive to the outside by Asa Constant!

Meanwhile, Zorro takes Dan and whips him into the barricade. He then runs down the ringside area and knocks Dan over the barricade and into the crowd with a running Shotei.

Stephy Auger: Team Nox is having their way with everyone’s favorite!

Kris Cruise: Well let’s remember that they jumped Dan and Cordy from behind!

Back on the other side of the ring, Asa slams Cordy face-first onto the apron before shoving her back into the ring. After rolling himself back in, he makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Cordy reaches over and grabs the bottom rope.

Asa picks up Cordy and moves her into the corner. After a series of open-hand chops to the chest, he takes Cordy and whips her into the opposite corner. Asa runs across the ring, jumps and goes for another corner splash. But this time, Cordy moves out of the way, causing Asa to crash into the corner. After he stumbles back a bit and turns around, Cordy nails him with the Foot Fetish, sending him through the ropes and to the floor.

While Asa stirs on the outside, Cordy runs into the far ropes. When Cordy comes back, the crowd boos as Zorro slides in and knocks her down with a Shotei. Zorro reaches down, picks up Cordy, grabs her by the wrist and goes for a short-arm clothesline. But Cordy ducks, runs into the corner, runs up to the top turnbuckle and dives off, knocking Asa down with a Skytwister Plancha.

Kris Cruise: What a dive to the floor by Cordy! She just flattened Asa with that plancha and now she’s got this capacity crowd on their feet!

Zorro turns and sees this, so he takes off into the far ropes. When Zorro comes back, Dan knocks him down with a hard shoulder block. He then picks up Zorro, delivers a double leg pick up and rams him back-first into the corner. After unleashing a series of shoulder thrusts to the midsection, Dan takes Zorro and whips him into the opposite corner. Dan runs across the ring, but Zorro catches him with a back elbow to the face, followed a throat thrust that sends him stumbling back. Zorro then heads from out of the corner and throws out a spinning backfist. But Dan ducks, grabs Zorro around the waist and throws him down with a belly to belly suplex. He makes the cover. But he’s not the legal man. Cordy and Asa are, but they’re both still sprawled out on the floor.

… FOUR!






FIVE!






SIX!







SEVEN!

Cordy pulls herself up using the edge of the apron. She then takes Asa and rolls him back into the ring. After she rolls herself back in, she makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Asa gets his shoulder up.

Cordy picks up Asa, moves him into the corner and delivers a stinging chop before tagging Dan in. Once Dan gets in, he takes Asa moves him from out of the corner and whips him into the far ropes. When Asa comes back, Dan sets up for a back body drop. But Asa sees it coming, so he counters with a sunset flip. But Dan rolls through it, gets to his feet, quickly wraps up Asa’s legs and turns him over into a Texas Cloverleaf.

Kris Cruise: Forced Retirement!

Asa screams in pain as Dan keeps the hold locked up. But it doesn’t stay on for long as Zorro knocks him down with a Rolling Kesagiri Chop to the side of the head. As Zorro heads back out onto the apron, Asa turns Dan over and makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Dan kicks out.

Asa picks up Dan, wrenches his arm and follows up with a single arm DDT. He then goes over and tags in Zorro. Once Zorro gets in, he goes over, picks up Dan and delivers an armbreaker across his right shoulder. He then delivers an arm wrench before transitioning into a hammerlock. He then turns Dan around before executing a hammerlock suplex. Zorro turns over and makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Dan gets his good arm up.

Kris Cruise: It looked like Status Quo were turning the tide. But just like that, Team Nox is back in control...

Stephy Auger: … and you want to know why? Everything changed for the better as soon as Zorro got back in and started controlling the action.

Zorro picks Dan, takes him by the left arm and delivers another arm wrench. But Dan is quick to reach over and reverse into an arm wrench of his own. The ref asks Zorro if he wants to give up. But he refuses. He then rolls over, turns over onto his knees, flips over with a handstand, takes Dan and throws him down shoulder-first to the canvas with an arm wringer. He then drops down, pulls Dan over and makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Dan kicks out.

Zorro picks up Dan, presses him up against the ropes and knees him hard in the midsection. He then takes Dan and whips him into the far ropes. When Dan comes back, Zorro throws him down with a belly to belly suplex. He then goes over and tags Asa back in. Asa slingshots himself into the ring and bounces against the ropes. When he comes back, he connects with a rolling senton. He then reaches back and hooks Dan’s leg.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Dan turns him over into a grounded crucifix pin…

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Asa kicks out.

After both grapplers return to their feet, Asa kicks him in the midsection, wrenches his leg arm and then drops him with an arm trap neckbreaker. He makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Dan gets his right shoulder up.

Asa picks up Dan and whips him into the ropes. When Dan comes back, Asa lifts him up and delivers a flapjack. As Dan gets up on his knees, Asa steps back before catching him with a savate kick. He makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Dan gets his right shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: Team Nox continue to control this matchup, Stephy.

Stephy Auger: We could be well on our way towards our second upset of the night.

Asa picks up Dan and whips him into the corner. He then runs, jumps and goes for a corner splash. But Dan catches him in mid air. He then runs from out of the corner before delivering an inverted atomic drop. While Asa’s doubled over, Dan grabs him from the side and brings him down with a russian leg sweep. He makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Asa gets his shoulder up.

Dan picks up Asa, places him in a side headlock, brings him over towards the Status Quo corner and tags Cordy back in. Once Cordy gets in, she delivers a kick to the ribs. She then takes Asa and goes for an irish whip. But Asa reverses, sending her towards the ropes. But Cordy uses the momentum to counter with a handspring enzuigiri. The crowd cheers as she makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Asa gets his shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: I know Dan and Cordy haven’t wrestled in several months. But they both look to be in good shape and that ankle doesn’t appear to be bothering Cordy.

Stephy Auger: But everyone knows that’s her weakness. She’s had two major surgeries on that ankle. As long as she continues to perform in the ring, it’ll always be a target. Maybe she should take a page out of her buddy Cindy’s book and voluntarily retire before someone retires her for her.

Cordy picks up Asa and whips him into the corner. She then runs across the ring before going for a handspring back elbow. But Asa rolls out of the way, causing Cordy to crash into the corner. Asa gets up to his feet, staggers over and tags Zorro back in. Zorro gets in and immediately rushes into the corner. He unleashes a ballistic combination of rights and lefts to the midsection, followed by an uppercut. He then takes Cordy and whips her into the opposite corner. Zorro then charges across the ring and connects with a Shotei. After bringing Cordy from out of the corner, Zorro throws out a spinning backfist. But Cordy blocks the blow and counters with a russian leg sweep. She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Zorro kicks out.

As Cordy picks up Zorro, Zorro knocks her hands from off of him and follows up with a throat thrust, doubling her over. He then takes Cordy and whips her hard across the ring. After Cordy collides sternum-first with the corner and stumbles back, Zorro hooks her from behind and delivers a Regalplex.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Cordy gets her shoulder up.

Zorro picks up Cordy, hooks her from behind and delivers a Half Nelson Suplex. He makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Cordy gets her shoulder up.

Zorro picks up Cordy and goes for a belly to back suplex. But Cordy rolls over his shoulder and lands on her feet. She then shoves Zorro into the ropes. When Zorro comes back, Cordy throws out the Foot Fetish. But Zorro swats down her foot, grabs her from behind and delivers a bridging German Suplex.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
T-NO!

Cordy gets her shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: Zorro nearly dropped Cordy on her head with that third suplex. But Cordy stays alive after getting that shoulder up.

Zorro picks up Cordy, grabs her by the wrist and goes for a short-arm clothesline. But Cordy ducks and counters with a leaping reverse bulldog.

Kris Cruise: What a counter by Cordy Stevenson!

Stephy Auger: But look at her! She doesn’t have the energy to make the cover!

While both grapplers are down, the ref starts his count.

ONE!






TWO!






THREE!






FOUR!





FIVE!

After both grapplers return to their feet, Cordy begins to nail Zorro with a series of right hands. But Zorro cuts her off with another throat thrust. He then takes Cordy and whips her into the ropes. When she comes back, the crowd cheers as she spikes him with a Blockbuster DDT.

Kris Cruise: Head Over Heels!

While Zorro’s face down on the canvas, Cordy turns over and begins to crawl over towards Dan. Dan begins slapping the top turnbuckle repeatedly while he’s got his other arm stretched out for the tag. While Cordy continues to crawl, Asa runs over, jumps off of Cordy’s back and knocks Dan off the apron with a front dropkick.

Kris Cruise: Asa Constant from out of nowhere with that dropkick!

Stephy Auger: He’ll jump off of anything or anyone, Cruise.

Asa picks up Cordy and whips her into the ropes. When Cordy comes back, Asa throws out another savate kick. But this time, Cordy catches it. She then spins Asa around. When Asa comes back, Cordy kicks him in the midsection and sets him up for a DDT. But Zorro knocks her down with a spinning backfist. He then drops down and makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Cordy gets her shoulder up.

Team Nox then pick up Cordy and whips her into the ropes. When Cordy comes back, they go for a double clothesline. But Cordy ducks, runs, hops onto the middle rope and knocks them both down with a springboard corkscrew body press.

Kris Cruise: Cordy takes them both out with that corkscrew!

Stephy Auger: But can she make the cover?


While Zorro and Cordy are down, the ref starts his count…

ONE!






TWO!






THREE!






FOUR!






FIVE!






SIX!






SEVEN!

Zorro dives over and tags Asa back in while Cordy tags Dan.

Both grapplers run towards the center of the ring. But Dan strikes first by knocking Asa down with a clothesline. Asa gets back up, but Dan knocks him back down with another clothesline. After Asa gets up, he throws out a wild strike. But Dan ducks. After doubling him over with a kick to the gut, Dan lifts him up and throws him down with a pumphandle slam.

Kris Cruise: Final Word!

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Zorro dives over to break up the pin.

Zorro picks up Dan and sets up for a German Suplex. But Dan repeatedly elbows him in the face. After a standing switch, Dan lifts Zorro up onto his shoulders. As Dan heads over towards the corner, Cordy climbs up onto the top rope. The crowd cheers as she leaps off, knocking Zorro off of Dan’s shoulders with a doomsday spinning heel kick.

As soon as Cordy gets up, Asa knocks her through the ropes and to the floor with a savate kick to the back of the head. When he turns towards Dan, Dan throws out a discus elbow strike. But Asa ducks. When Dan turns around, Asa kicks him in the midsection and delivers a sitout jawbreaker. While Dan’s stunned, Asa takes off into the ropes. When Asa comes back, Dan lunges forward and knocks him down with a spear.

Kris Cruise: Dan nearly speared Asa in half!

While Asa’s down, Cordy climbs up onto the apron. She then begins to scale the ropes as Asa begins to stir. Once he finally returns to his feet and turns around, the crowd cheers as Cordy leaps off the top turnbuckle and delivers Get Familiar. Asa bounces back into the clutches of Dan, who lifts him up, turns and sits him down on the top turnbuckle. Dan then wraps up Asa, turns, runs from out of the corner and delivers the Walking Papers. The crowd cheers as he makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
THREE!

“Dangerous Business Since 1979” blasts over the PA as the crowd explodes with cheers.

J.A. Aldridge: Here are your winners, STATUS QUO!

Dan and Cordy get their arms raised as the crowd continues to cheer.

Kris Cruise: Valiant effort there by Team Nox. But it was a returning Cordy Stevenson and Dan Herrera that picked up the win!

Stephy Auger: Yeah, yeah, yeah. They looked good out there tonight. They got themselves a win. But guess what? There’s three more rounds after this, Cruise. Which means the road is only going to get tougher and more grueling from here. We’ll see how well their bodies hold up in the coming weeks. But if you ask me, I don’t think they’re going to be able to last.

[ COMMERCIAL BREAK ]

[FGA Office]

#1 Contendership to the Mid-Atlantic Legacy Title Match
Molly Reid vs. Nero Darling

The lights in the arena dim as Crazy Bitch by Buckcherry begins to play over the loudspeakers in the arena. A spotlight appears on the stage as Molly Reid walks out in her wrestling gear, bouncing around with a happy grin on her face, singing along to the song. She walks down the ramp to cheers from the crowd, reaching out and high fiving some of them.

J.A. Aldridge: The following contest is scheduled for one fall and is to determine the number one contender for the FGA Mid-Atlantic Legacy title! Introducing first, from Los Angeles, California … MOLLY REID!

She slides into the ring and jumps up, holding her arms in the air as the crowd cheers loudly. Molly runs to a turnbuckle and jumps onto the second rope, posing for the crowd once more, before climbing down and moving to her corner.

Stephy Auger: What a surprise, Kris. Annie Zellor gets to pick who’s her next contender and one of those people is Molly Reid.

Kris Cruise: Don’t start this, Stephy; two weeks ago at Gold Rush Rumble both Molly and Nero won an impressive fatal fourway match. Plus they’ve both picked up crucial wins thus far in their short tenures here.

Stephy Auger: It’s favoritism, nothing less.

The lights dim down before the opening strains of "Hate Me Now" by Nas sweep through the arena and the Nerolings begin screaming in anticipation. Teal blue lights sweep through the crowd and over the ring until they center on Nero Darling. She steps out onto the stage, her face and signature blue hair hidden under the hood of a black sweatshirt. Her head bowed so that her face is in the shadows of the hoodie as she pauses at the top of the ramp.

J.A. Aldridge: And her opponent, from right here in LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY! YOUR GLORIOUS LEADER... NERO DARLING!!!

As the beat picks up intensity, Nero stretches her arms out and walks slowly towards the ring. The lights pick up the words on the back of her hoodie, cursive and embossed in gold, "Ms. 502". She basks in the screams and cheers of the audience and hides a bright grin in the shadows of her hoodie.

Kris Cruise: I suppose you have something to say about Nero being in this match also? Since she and Annie collaborated on a song for the Annie Raps album, I suppose this is favoritism too.

Stephy Auger: I’m just saying, Kris, out of the names Annie mentioned earlier – most of whom are worthy of a title shot – why these two?

Kris Cruise: Besides the fatal four way win, besides the tag win, besides Molly holding beating Mark Storm, Nero Darling beating Cami Magna, the pair of them winning the six man tag match? Aries and Ruby are in Dynamic Duos and may be busy on the night of All Star Showdown. Savannah had her chance at the Gold Rush Rumble. Like it or not, head office agreed to this match. One of these women will challenge for the title in June.

She finally breaks into a run, sliding into the ring on her stomach and popping up to her feet as she throws the hoodie off and runs to the ring ropes, hopping up on the middle rope with her arms outstretched. She holds the pose as the beat picks up around her and she blows kisses to her fans, many of whom are holding up signs emblazoned with her name and hearts. Nero drops down to the canvas and bounces in place with a bright smile on her face as she waits for the match to begin.

Kris Cruise: And we’re about to find out who it’ll be. Here we go!

The bell sounds to start the match as Nero and Molly circle the ring momentarily, before Molly runs against the ropes to test them. The crowd here in Louisville are firmly behind their home town hero, Nero Darling, as she goes to lock up with Molly. But Reid dives around the back with a rear waistlock. Nero manages to pry the hands apart and reverse into a rear waistlock of her own before bringing Molly down to the mat with a belly-to-back suplex, transitioning into a front facelock. But Molly manages to break free of that, countering with a wristlock as the pair are down on the mat.

Nero pushes herself up and rolls through and gets to her feet, countering the hold with a standing wristlock of her own before bringing in close for a side headlock. Reid manages to free herself after a few seconds, pushing Nero away and towards the corner. She charges in after her opponent, but Nero vaults up off the turnbuckle, catching Molly with a headscissors takedown!

Kris Cruise: Impressive counter from Nero Darling to try and match Molly here in the early goings. We all know if Molly can take it to the mat, she’ll have the advantage. But she’s certainly no slouch in the aerial game either.

Stephy Auger: Her MMA training might come in handy for a change.

Molly is sent through the ropes with that headscissors as Nero rallies the crowd from her position inside the ring. A loud cheer sounding throughout the Broadbent Arena as Nero runs against the far ropes for momentum, coming back with a baseball slide as Molly is beginning to get up. But Reid ducks back down, avoiding the baseball slide as Nero lands on her feet, and gets charges back first into the barricade!

Molly immediately rolls her opponent back into the ring, following her in as she goes for the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Nero kicks out.

Reid lifts her opponent back to her feet and drives a knee up into the midsection, doubling Nero over before she gets whipped towards the corner. This time Nero hits the turnbuckle back first as Molly rushes in with a high knee strike. Nero staggers out of the corner into a snap suplex before Molly pops back to her feet, leaping up with a senton bomb across the midsection as she hooks a leg.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Nero kicks out.

Stephy Auger: Only a two count for Molly, but she’s started this match brighter than I thought she would. Perhaps the title opportunity is just what she needed to finally kick it into gear.

Kris Cruise: Don’t count Nero out just yet, there’s still plenty left in the tank.

Molly lifts her opponent back up again, doubling her over with a side kick to the gut. Another Irish whip sends Nero away against the ropes this time. She comes back with a wheelbarrow counter, though, only for Molly to keep her suspended in midair, blocking the bulldog. Nero thinks quickly, however, and rolls forward with a modified victory roll taking Molly over for the pin attempt!

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Molly kicks out!

Both competitors scramble back to their feet as Molly lashes out with a roundhouse kick. Nero ducks under it, though, and runs against the ropes. She springboards off the middle rope with a flying back elbow, catching Molly flush against the jaw! The crowd pop as Nero pushes herself back to a vertical base ahead of her opponent. She climbs out onto the apron, taking a moment to catch her breath as Molly gets back up. Nero leaps onto the top rope, flying at Reid with a springboard forearm smash! And the pin attempt.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Molly kicks out!

Kris Cruise: I felt that one from here, Stephy, but it’s not enough to put Molly away.

Stephy Auger: But Nero seems to have found a rhythm here, what can she do to try and win this one?

Nero rolls towards the ropes, using them to pick herself back up as Molly remains down in the center of the ring. Reid gets up to a doubled over position as Nero charges in, catching her opponent with a bulldog to drive Molly face first into the mat. But Reid bounces up to her feet, albeit dazed, as Nero sets off against the ropes, coming back with a headscissors takedown that sends Molly sprawling across the ring and out under the bottom rope.

She lands in the aisleway with a thud, but stands back up by the count of three as Nero sets off against the ropes, coming back with a no hands plancha over the top rope! The crowd cheer loudly as Their Glorious Leader hits the high flying move, standing back up and posing for the fans soon afterwards.

Kris Cruise: Nero going high risk, and it paid off.

The referee restarts his count as Molly is lifted back to her feet once more, and she’s dragged closer to the ring. Nero throws her head long into the apron, but Molly puts her hands down to block. A quick side elbow to the midsection breaks Nero’s concentration as Molly counters, sending Nero face first into the apron!

Darling staggers away as Molly tries to quickly catch her breath. But she doesn’t want to slow down, so she charges at her opponent – NO! Nero sees her coming and counters with a drop toe hold, sending Molly face first into the steel steps! Another cheer from the crowd as Nero rolls Reid back into the ring, following her in as she hooks the leg.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
THR-NO!

Stephy Auger: Molly kicking out at two and a half. But I’m not sure how much more she has left in her after these last few minutes, Kris.

Kris Cruise: Nero has taken control of this one, and she’s doing whatever she can to put Molly away. A title shot this early in her career would be a huge boost for Nero, I doubt she wants to miss out on that!

Nero hears the crowd chanting her name as she kneels over the prone Molly Reid. A smile on her face as she stands up, bringing Molly with her. Nero goes for the Irish whip, but manages reverse it with an Irish whip of her own. Reid lowers her head for the back body drop, but Nero has it scouted, countering with a boot to the face. She takes a step back as Molly spins on the spot before lunging forward with a clothesline, only to get caught with another drop toe hold!

A loud cheer sounds out again as Molly lands throat first across the middle rope. Nero runs against the far ropes for momentum, coming back with a tiger feint kick as she drives both knees into Molly’s face! Reid falls down, laid out in the ring as Nero stands on the apron, posing for her adoring fans…

Kris Cruise: We all know what’s coming next, Stephy! Superhappy Shiny Rainbow Time!

Sure enough, Nero leaps up onto the top rope as she springboards in with a 450 splash…

Only to land across Molly’s raised knees!

Stephy Auger: Crash and burn! Molly somehow had the wherewithal to counter the 450 splash, and now Nero could be in trouble.

Nero rolls towards the ropes, clutching at her ribs as Molly moves towards the opposite side of the ring. Both competitors stand up at roughly the same time, staggering towards the center of the ring as they collide, their backs slamming against one another. Each turns around to face their opponent as Molly lashes out with a forearm smash to the face. But Nero shoots one right back. Molly fires off a knife edge chop, but Nero responds in kind again. But Molly goes South with a knee to the gut before lifting Nero up for a gutbuster.

Molly drops down for the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
THR-NOO!

The crowd cheer as Nero kicks out again, but Molly doesn’t argue with the referee. Instead she lifts Nero back to her feet and grabs her with a rear waistlock. Before Darling knows what’s happening, she’s taken down with a German suplex. But Molly keeps her hands wrapped around the midsection as she lifts Nero back up for a second German suplex!

Kris Cruise: Two Germans in a row, and I don’t think Molly’s done yet.

Stephy Auger: Not a combination we usually see from her, but Molly is pulling out all the stops here.

As she goes for the third German, however, Nero manages to wrap her foot around the leg to block it. Molly tries again, but it’s still blocked before Nero fires off some desperate back elbows. The third one finally breaks Molly’s grip as Nero runs against the ropes, only to get caught by a spinebuster – NO! Nero counters in mid air, driving Molly down with a tornado DDT!

Both competitors are down for a moment as the referee starts his count.

ONE!


TWO!


THREE!


FOUR!


Kris Cruise: The DDT counter seems to have Molly down for the count, but I think Nero landed awkwardly on those ribs, Stephy.

Stephy Auger: Molly’s been focusing on those throughout the match, and it looks to be working. But Nero needs to get up before her opponent now to finish this one off.


FIVE!


SIX!


Molly is beginning to stir, pushing herself up to all fours as Nero does the same soon after. The referee stops counting as Molly gets back up, running back against the ropes as she tries to catch Nero with a Superman punch! But Nero underneath the punch and dives around the back of her opponent, taking Molly up and over with the Osaka Street Cutter!

Kris Cruise: PIKA PIKA PIKACHUUUU! This could be it!

Reid collapses to the mat as Nero forces herself to her feet, looking towards the corner as the crowd cheer her on. Slowly but surely, Darling steps out onto the apron and begins to climb up towards the top rope. She steadies herself, posing for the fans again as she leaps off with the AK-47!

And misses!

Nero hits the mat knees first as Molly rolls to one side. Darling rolls through and stumbles back to her feet as, out of sheer desperation, Molly drags herself to her feet and charges, driving shoulder first into Nero’s midsection with a huge spear! The Aaron Donald connecting as Molly drops down on top and hooks both legs!

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
THREE!!!

J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this match and new number on contender to the Mid-Atlantic Legacy title … MOLLY REID!

Kris Cruise: She’s done it, Stephy. A huge spear out of nowhere was enough to keep Nero down for the three count, but both of these competitors gave this all they had.

Stephy Auger: They had to if they wanted to earn the title shot Annie Zellor tried to gift to them. But at All Star Showdown V, we’ll see Molly Reid and Annie Zellor one on one for the gold.

Molly stands back up with the referee’s assistance as he raises her hand high in the air. The crowd still cheer for her, just not as loud as other crowds have, but the cheers turn to jeers as the crowd see a figure rushing down the aisle. Before Molly can react, Izzy Anders slides in under the bottom rope as she clotheslines Molly from behind!

Stephy Auger: Oh thank God, Izzy Anders is here to save the day!

Izzy continues stomping at the prone Molly Reid for several seconds before picking her up and tossing her over the top rope. After that Izzy turns her attention to Nero; the crowd booing even louder as Izzy looks towards the arm of Nero Darling.

But the boos turn to mild cheers as...

Kris Cruise: Sara Cochran?! What's she doing out here?

Cochran runs down the aisle and slides into the ring, attacking Izzy to break the cross armbreaker she has on Nero Darling! The cheers grow louder as Anders slides out of the ring to escape the wrath of the woman she wrestled against earlier tonight. Anders backs up the aisle as Cochran helps Nero back to her feet in the ring. Outside of the ring, Molly picks herself up and all three women glare out at Izzy as she leaves.

[ COMMERCIAL BREAK ]

[FGA Office]

[FGA Office]

DYNAMIC DUOS TAG TEAM TOURNAMENT (First Round)
Justice Riot vs. Project Continuum

"The Good Life" blares throughout the speakers as a masked Shouta Kurosawa and A-P step out from behind the curtains. The two stare out at the people in attendance before Shouta rushes down to the ring an A-P follows with a smug look on his face and a slow pace to his walk.

J.A. Aldridge: The following contest is scheduled for one fall and it is a First Round match in the Dynamic Duos Tag Team Tournament! Introducing first, making their way to the ring at a total combined weight of 402 pounds! They are the team of Shouta Kurosawa and A-P… PROJECT CONTINUUM!

Kurosawa quickly hops on the apron and pounds his chest before pointing to the heavens. He then enters the ring and takes off the mask while A-P still walks down to the ring. Once A-P does enter the ring, he and Shouta run the ropes a bit before heading over to their corner and discussing their gameplan.

Kris Cruise: Project Continuum have made their mark throughout HKW and its affiliated brands. Now they’re expanded over into FGA, where they’re looking to add the FGA World Tag Team Championship to their collection. But first, they’ve got to navigate their way through the Dynamic Duos Tag Team Tournament!

Stephy Auger: As long as A-P doesn’t get any ideas and follows Shouta’s instructions to a T, there’s no reason why this team shouldn’t advance.

Kris Cruise: Well, I can think of two reasons: Wulf Erikssen and Jolyne Dysart!

As I Wanna Riot blasts out from the PA, Justice Riot enter the arena, Wulf with a bottle of beer in his hand. Wulf stands to once side, drinking from the bottle whilst saluting the crowd, as Jolyne raises her arms up high, basking in the crowd’s reaction. Wulf then downs the remainder of the bottle, before smashing it over his head, provoking Jolyne to put her palm to her face and shake her head.

J.A. Aldridge: And their opponent, making their way to the ring at a total combined weight of 364 pounds! They are the team of Wulf Erikssen and Jolyne Dysart… JUSTICE RIOT!

Following this, the pair sprint to the ring, Wulf sliding in under the bottom rope whilst Jolyne hops onto the apron and then slingshots into the ring with a couple of smooth motions. The pair climbing diagonally opposite turnbuckles, Wulf raising a single arm in salute to the audience whilst Jolyne raises both arms above her head. Jumping down, the pair retreat to their corner, Wulf cracking his knuckles whilst they wait.

Kris Cruise: Speaking of which, here come Justice Riot! Jolyne Dysart has been making waves, especially after her performance in the Young Guns Cup a few months back. Then there’s Wulf Erikssen, who is the very definition of a tag team specialist.

Stephy Auger: He’s also the definition of stupid, but that’s another story for another time. Both of these teams feature one partner that is very inexperienced…

Kris Cruise: Well, Shouta doesn’t have nearly as much in-ring experience as Wulf.

Stephy Auger: True, but Wulf is semi-retired while Shouta is VP of one of the most formidable groups in all of wrestling. Justice Riot aren’t slouches. But in my opinion, Project Continuum have the edge here.

The bell sounds as Shouta and Wulf circle the ring before locking up. After jockeying for position, Wulf is quick to shove Shouta down to the canvas. Shouta rolls up onto his knees before looking out at the crowd. He huffs before standing back up and marching back over towards him. The two lock up again. After jockeying for position, Wulf shoves Shouta back down to the canvas. Shouta slaps the canvas before returning to his feet. He then paces back and forth while he goes over strategy in his head. Once he’s figured something out, Shouta begins circling the ring before inching back over towards Wulf. The two lunge forward and lock up. After jockeying for position, Shouta begins to muscle Wulf across the ring. But Wulf puts on the breaks. After a struggle, Wulf begins to move Shouta across the ring and against the ropes. The ref goes over and gives both men until the count of five to break it up.

Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE…

Shouta switches positions with Wulf and presses him up against the ropes.

Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR…

Both men make a slow, clean break. But Shouta is quick to rake his forearm across Wulf’s face. The crowd boos as Shouta steps back with his arms in the air. Wulf touches his face to check and see if blood’s been drawn. Once he sees that he hasn't been cut open, he makes his way off the ropes.

Kris Cruise: A bit of a cheap shot there by Shouta.

Stephy Auger: Well can you blame him? How many times did Wulf pull on Shouta’s hair!?

Kris Cruise: What!?

Both men continue to circle the ring before locking up. Wulf is quick to muscle Shouta into the corner. Again, the ref gives both men until the count of five to break it up.

Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR…

Both men make a clean break. But Wulf is quick to deliver quick shoulder thrusts to Shouta’s midsection. While Shouta’s doubled over, Wulf lifts him up by the chin before cracking him across the face with a right hand. He then nails Shouta with a knee strike to the midsection before blasting him with a back elbow strike to the head. He then takes Shouta and whips him into the opposite corner. Wulf runs across the ring. But Shouta catches him with a back elbow of his own. After Shouta slingshots himself out onto the apron, Wulf throws out a right hook. But Shouta ducks and then counters with a gamengiri. While Wulf stumbles back, Shouta knocks him down with a springboard dropkick. Shouta returns to his feet, but only for a mere second or two as he quickly follows up with a standing moonsault.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Wulf kicks out.

Kris Cruise: That Shouta sure is nimble, isn’t he?

Stephy Auger: They don’t call him “The Cheetah” for nothing.

Shouta picks up Wulf, doubles him over with a knee strike and then holds him in places as he delivers a series of rapid knee lifts to the face. He then applies a side headlock. Shouta really grinds on the hold. But Wulf is able to shove Shouta off of him and into the ropes. When Shouta comes back, Wulf knocks him down with a standing shoulder block. He follows up with an elbow drop. But Shouta rolls out of the way. After both men return to their feet, Shouta delivers a shoot kick to the right leg and follows up with an arm wrench. But Wulf is quick to follow up with an arm wrench so hard that it flips Shouta down to the canvas.

Wulf brings Shouta back to his feet, wrenches his arm and delivers short-arm shoulder blocks to the arm. He then transitions into a standing armbar. The ref asks Shouta if he wants to give up. But Shouta refuses to quit. With his free arm, Shouta reaches over, grabs Wulf by the hair and pulls him over into the ropes. Once again, the ref gives both men until the count of five to break it up.

Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR…

Both men make a clean break. But Shouta nails him with a knee to the midsection that’s a borderline low blow.

Kris Cruise: A little low, don’t you think?

Stephy Auger: Was it below the belt? No? Well alright then...

Shouta takes Wulf and whips him into the ropes. When Wulf comes back, Shouta knocks him down to a knee with a dropkick to the thigh. Once Shouta returns to his feet, he unleashes a flurry of shoot kicks to the chest. He then steps back, runs forward and knocks Wulf down with an enzuigiri. The crowd boos as he pulls Wulf over and makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Wulf gets his shoulder up.

Shouta picks up Wulf, moves him into the corner and delivers the Shouta Hour combination, which sends Wulf slumping down in the corner. A-P then takes it upon himself to tag himself in.

Kris Cruise: A-P looks like he’s eager for action, Stephy!

Stephy Auger: Well, he better not screw this up for Shouta, that’s all I know...

Shouta does a double take as A-P gets in the ring. But A-P tries to assure him that he’s got this. He reaches down, picks up Wulf and delivers a stinging knife edge chop. He then takes his time delivering another knife edge chop before letting out a “Woo!” While A-P’s savoring the moment, Shouta motions for him to stay on Wulf. Just as A-P turns his attention back to Wulf, Wulf delivers a double leg pick-up, runs across the ring and rams him back-first into the Justice Riot corner.

Kris Cruise: A-P’s inexperience was showing there.

Stephy Auger: ...

Wulf then tags Jolyne Dysart in. Once Jolyne gets in, she unleashes a series of knife edge chops that echo throughout the arena. She then brings A-P from out of the corner before going for an irish whip. But A-P reverses, sending Jolyne into the far ropes. When Jolyne comes back, A-P goes for a back body drop. But Jolyne slips down from behind. She then turns A-P around and delivers a series of right hands to the face. While A-P’s dazed, Jolyne turns and runs into the ropes. When she comes back, A-P knocks her down with a back elbow to the face. Jolyne sits up and covers her jaw. A-P sees this, so he runs over and delivers a soccer kick to the back. He then reaches down, picks up Jolyne and throws her down with a scoop slam. He steps back, measures up Jolyne and follows up with a fist drop. He makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!!
.
.
Jolyne kicks out.

Stephy Auger: It looks like A-P is starting to redeem himself here...

A-P picks up Jolyne and chops her so hard that she stumbles back into the corner. He then takes his time as he makes his way over into the corner. But he gives Jolyne too much time to recuperate. So she catches him with three kicks to the midsection. She then grabs A-P, moves him into the corner and unleashes another series of knife edge chops. She then takes A-P and goes for an irish whip. But A-P reverses, sending her into the opposite corner. A-P runs across the ring, but Jolyne greets him with a boot to the face. After A-P turns and staggers away from the corner, Jolyne runs from out of the corner and brings him down with a bulldog. The crowd cheers as she makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
A-P kicks out.

Kris Cruise: We’ve seen a draw in our first match, a huge upset and an expected victory thus far in the First Round. How do you see this one going?

Stephy Auger: I know it’s early. But again, as long as A-P doesn’t screw up, I see Project Continuum advancing. But no matter who wins, they’re in for a battle in the Quarterfinals.

Kris Cruise: That’s right. The winners of this match will be facing Le Pacte de Immortels, the team of Lady Magdalena and Sophie El. Talk about drawing the short straw.

Jolyne picks up A-P and places him in a side headlock. She then does a standing switch and transitions into a hammerlock from behind. She then turns A-P around and doubles him over with a knee to the midsection. Jolyne then takes off into the ropes. When she comes back, she nails A-P with a running knee lift. As A-P stumbles back, Jolyne turns and runs back into the ropes. When Jolyne comes back, A-P turns her inside out with a clothesline. The crowd boos as he makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Jolyne gets her shoulder up.

A-P picks up Jolyne, moves her into the corner and socks her with a closed fist uppercut that rocks her. Shouta then forcefully puts his hand out for the tag. A-P tags him back in. Once Shouta gets back in the ring, Project Continuum take Jolyne, move her from out of the corner and whip her into the ropes. When Jolyne comes back, Project Continuum deliver a double flapjack. Shouta then turns Jolyne over and makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Wulf breaks up the pin with a stomp to the back.

Kris Cruise: Nice save there by Wulf!

While Wulf goes to head back out onto the apron, Shouta runs over and delivers a shove to the back. He then turns his attention back to Jolyne. As Shouta picks her up off the apron, she begins to nail him with rights and lefts to the midsection. While Shouta’s doubled over, Jolyne turns and takes off into the ropes. When she comes back, Shouta knocks her down with a leg lariat. He makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Jolyne gets her shoulder up.

Shouta picks up Jolyne and goes for a vertical suplex. But Jolyne counters with a small package, which results in cheers from the crowd.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Shouta kicks out.

Kris Cruise: Jolyne nearly snuck away with the win there!

After both grapplers return to their feet, Shouta delivers alternating shoot kicks to the legs before knocking her down with a gamengiri. The crowd boos as he makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Jolyne gets her shoulder up.

Stephy Auger: Jolyne was no match for those kicks, Cruise.

Shouta marches back over and tags A-P back in. Once A-P gets in, Project Continuum pick up Jolyne and whip her into the ropes. When she comes back, they go for a double clothesline. But Jolyne ducks. When they turn around, Jolyne catches Shouta with a dropkick. But when she gets back up, A-P rakes her across the eyes before knocking her down with a right hand. The crowd boos as he makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Jolyne gets her shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: Is that what Shouta’s teaching this kid? Eye rakes and various other cheap shots?

Stephy Auger: As long as it gets the job done, does it really matter?

A-P picks up Jolyne and doubles her over with a punch to the midsection. He then takes off into the ropes. When he comes back, he goes for a swinging neckbreaker. But Jolyne rolls through it and connects with a headbutt. She then takes A-P and goes for an irish whip. But A-P reverses, sending Jolyne into the corner. A-P runs into the corner. But Jolyne knocks him back with a back elbow strike to the face. She then follows up with a rolling koppu kick out of the corner. She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
A-P kicks out.

Kris Cruise: Jolyne connects with the Rolyne kick. But it wasn’t enough to put A-P away.

Jolyne picks up A-P, wrenches his arm, brings him over to the Justice Riot corner and tags Wulf back in. once Wulf gets back in, Justice Riot takes A-P and whips him into the ropes. When A-P comes back, they throw him down with a double spinebuster. The crowd cheers as Wulf makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Shouta breaks up the pin with a stomp to the back.

Kris Cruise: Shouta returning the favor from earlier in the match.

As Shouta turns to head out to the apron, Wulf gets up and delivers a shove to the back. He then goes back over, picks up A-P and goes for a bulldog. But A-P shoves Wulf off of him and sends him into the corner. A-P then charges into the corner. But Wulf catches him with a back elbow to the face. Wulf then hoists himself up onto the middle ropes before driving A-P down with the Calf Branding. He makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
A-P gets his foot on the bottom rope.

Kris Cruise: Some good ring awareness shown there by this young man.

Wulf picks up A-P and goes for an irish whip. But A-P reverses, sending Wulf into the ropes. When Wulf comes back, A-P throws out a running clothesline. Wulf ducks and stops as A-P’s momentum sends him into the ropes. When he comes back, Wulf knocks him down with a discus clothesline. He makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
A-P gets his shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: This A-P kid has been beaten around for the past few minutes. But I’ve got to give him credit. He’s hanging in there. The kid’s got some toughness.

Stephy Auger: Project Continuum just don’t pick up random bums off the street. If that were the case, you’d be a prospect.

Wulf picks up A-P, brings him over towards the Justice Riot corner and tags Jolyne back in. Once Jolyne gets in, Justice Riot take A-P and whip him into the ropes. When A-P comes back, Justice Riot deliver a drop toe hold/running knee lift combo. The crowd cheers as Jolyne makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
A-P gets his shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: I’m surprised he wasn’t knocked silly after that combination.

Jolyne goes over and tags Wulf back in. Once Wulf gets in, Justice Riot take A-P and whip him into the ropes. When A-P comes back, they kick in the midsection before delivering a double suplex. Wulf turns over and makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
A-P gets his shoulder up.

Stephy Auger: A-P needs to tag out like right now! Shouta is over there chomping at the bit to get back in there.

Kris Cruise: But Justice Riot has effectively cut off the ring and have singled out the less experienced A-P.

Wulf picks up A-P and goes for another irish whip. But A-P reverses, sending Wulf into the ropes. As Wulf hits the ropes, Shouta pulls down the top rope, which sends Wulf falling hard to the floor. The crowd boos as they see Wulf writhing in pain on the floor. A-P then goes over and tags Shouta back in. Once Wulf gets up on the outside, Shouta knocks him down with a standing Shooting Star Press off the apron. After delivering a double headbutt, Project Continuum takes Wulf and deliver a double suplex on the outside. They then pick up Wulf and plant him with a double DDT. Shouta picks up Wulf and rolls him back into the ring. He then slides himself back in and makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Wulf gets his shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: Wulf avoided the three count. But some serious damage was down on the outside.

Stephy Auger: That padding out there is only so thick. It’s only going to soften those slams on the floor but so much.

Shouta picks up Wulf and goes for an irish whip. Wulf reverses and sends Shouta towards the ropes. But Shouta uses his momentum to counter with a handspring back elbow. The crowd boos as he makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Wulf gets his shoulder up.

Shouta picks up Wulf and whips him into the corner. He then runs across the ring and throws out the Shouta Kick. But Wulf catches his foot. He then shoves Shouta down to the canvas. As Shouta rolls up to his feet, Wulf comes from out of the corner and throws out a discus clothesline. But Shouta ducks. When Wulf turns around, Shouta knocks him down with Kurosawa Knockout. While Wulf’s down, Shouta steps through the ropes and climbs up to the top turnbuckle. He then leaps off and connects with a diving elbow drop. The crowd boos as he makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
TH-NO!

Wulf gets his shoulder up.

Shouta sits up Wulf and applies a rear chinlock. The ref asks him if he wants to give up. But Wulf refuses to quit. So Shouta takes his index and middle fingers, sticks then in Wulf’s nostrils and pulls back. Wuld groans as the ref gives Shouta until the count of five to break the hold.

Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR…

Shouta transitions back into a rear chinlock. The ref kneels back down and asks Wulf if he wants to give up. When Wulf refuses to quit, Shouta stands up and delivers a knee drop right into Wulf’s spine. He then reapplies the hold before pulling back.

Kris Cruise: Wulf’s in a bad way here, Stephy.

Stephy Auger: My how the tide has turned. It wasn’t that long ago that Justice Riot had the advantage. But look at them now, Cruise. Look at Wulf now. Shouta's got him right where he wants him!

Wulf slowly turns over onto his knees before getting back to his feet. He elbows Shouta four times in the midsection, breaking the hold. While Shouta’s doubled over, Wulf takes off into the ropes. When he comes back, Shouta hops up for a hurricanrana. But Wulf catches him and counters with a sitout powerbomb. Wulf then falls back on the mat.

Kris Cruise: Who is going to tag out first!?

The crowd stops their feet as both grapplers slowly turn and begin to crawl towards their respective corners. Shouta slowly rolls over towards his corner while Wulf continues to crawl. Wulf then gets to his feet, staggers over and tags in Jolyne while Shouta rolls over and tags A-P back in.

Jolyne and A-P run towards the center of the ring. A-P throws out a punch. But Jolyne slides through his legs. When A-P turns around, Jolyne rattles off a series of snapping jabs before socking him with a right hook. She then takes A-P and goes for an irish whip. But A-P reverses, sending her into the ropes. But instead of bouncing back, Jolyne hooks her arms on the ropes. A-P sees this, so he charges over at her. Jolyne then slingshots herself onto the apron and catches A-P with a shoulder thrust through the ropes. As A-P stumbles back, Jolyne knocks him down with the Neo Rider Kick. The crowd cheers as she makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Shouta breaks up the pin with a stomp to the back. He then picks up Jolyne, runs and tosses her over the top rope…

… but Jolyne lands on the apron. As Shouta runs over to attack, Jolyne goes for another Neo Rider Kick. But Shouta side steps and swats her down. Project Continuum then pick up Jolyne and position her for a double DDT. But Wulf comes up from behind, grabs Shouta and A-P by their heads and delivers a double noggin knocker. He then takes A-P and whips him hard into Shouta. After their heads collide, A-P stumbles back while Shouta falls through the ropes and to the floor.

Back in the ring, Wulf turns A-P around, hooks his arms and delivers a series of trapping headbutts. Wulf then unhooks AP arms, turns him around and lifts him up in an Electric Chair. Once Wulf gets in position, Jolyne dives off the top rope and knocks him down with a Doomsday Rider Kick.

Kris Cruise: Imperium’s Legacy!

The two then stand on opposite sides of A-P and wait for him to get back up. As Shouta pulls himself back up onto the apron, Wulf runs over and knocks him back to the floor with a Falcon Punch.

Kris Cruise: Down goes Shouta!

Wulf heads back over to get into position. Once a groggy A-P finally returns to his feet, the crowd cheers as Justice Riot run towards him and deliver the Blue Falcon. After A-P crumbles to the canvas, Jolyne makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
THREE!

“I Wanna Riot” plays as the crowd begins to cheer.

J.A. Aldridge: Here are your winners, JUSTICE RIOT!

Wulf and Jolyne get their arms raised while the crowd continues to cheer.

Kris Cruise: What a match to cap off the First Round of the Dynamic Duos Tag Team Tournament! Both teams brought it! We’ve never seen Shouta Kurosawa in an FGA ring before. But he more than backed up all the hype surrounding him. Even A-P was impressive with the way that he was able to withstand everything that was being thrown at him. But in the end, it was Justice Riot that advances to the Quarterfinals. With our next round of tag action set, we’re one step closer to finding new #1 contenders for those precious World Tag Team Titles!

[ COMMERCIAL BREAK ]

[FGA Office]

We cut backstage where we find FGA interviewer Spencer Burke standing by with one half of the World Tag Team Champions, Ricky Valero.

Spencer Burke: Ladies and gentlemen, I’m pleased to be joined at this time by Ricky Valero just a few minutes before he heads out to face Jimmy Page in our main event.

Ricky, with his hands on his hips above his championship belt, nods his head.

Ricky Valero: Thanks for having me, Spence.

Spencer Burke: Well, first and foremost, what are you feeling heading into this big matchup tonight?

Ricky Valero: Anticipation.

Spencer Burke: Oh?

Ricky smirks.

Ricky Valero: Yea, I’ve been looking forward to this match for a week and a half. I’ve been counting down the days, Spence, because I know this is going to be a brutal one. I know Jimmy Page is going to hit me with everything he’s got, and he feels pretty confident thinking I won’t be able to handle it. He’s in for a rude awakening, however. Page wants to know why he’s heard all the hype about me? He wants to know what makes me so special? He’s going to find out tonight.

Spencer Burke nods his head, moving on to his next question.

Spencer Burke: People still haven’t forgotten how you eliminated your own tag partner, Luke Jackson, from the Gold Rush Rumble and that includes Jimmy Page, who called you out on it this week calling you a backstabber, among other things..

Ricky rolls his eyes, once again annoyed that he’s being bothered about this.

Ricky Valero: People are going to talk, Spence. That’s already old news, and I don’t think I really need to address it anymore.

Spencer Burke: Do you disagree with Page’s statements about you then that you’re a “weasel” who “crushed Luke Jackson’s dreams” with no honor looking to seize any opportunity to be “larger than life” whenever it may arise?

Ricky just stares at Spencer for an awkward amount of time. He doesn’t say anything, but you can see the fire beginning to rage inside him.

Ricky Valero: Jimmy Page can believe whatever his little heart desires. It’s not my prerogative to please him or you with anything I do. I’ve done some horrible things to good people in my career to move me forward and push them down. That’s not news. That’s simply rehashing something everyone already knows about me. All I can say is that the Gold Rush Rumble was not one of those circumstances and that I’m doing everything I can to repair the image I’ve made for myself, so that people don’t question my honor and integrity when they look back at my meaningless legacy, as I think Page put it. I guess that continues tonight, when I am fully prepared to go to war with Page and leave everything we have in that ring. We’re going to leave no doubt who the better competitor is tonight. He believes that’s him. I believe it’s me. Let’s go find out.

With nothing left to stay, Ricky exits the scene. As we pan in on Spencer Burke, the scene fades.