Above & Beyond V (8.20.16)

[FGA Office]

[EARLIER TODAY]

It’s early afternoon in Anaheim and the sun is shining upon the area around the Honda Center, and while the sun beams down its combination of searing heat and blinding sunlight we see a rental car turn off South Douglas Road and pull into the arena parking lot that’s been blocked off for anyone who isn’t performing at the show tonight

As the Chrysler 200 Cabrio makes a beeline for one of the spaces in the shadow cast by the arena, with the driver using a remarkable amount of urgency to find the perfect spot before parking the car, and once the car is parked up Cherry Baum climbs out of the passenger door before grabbing her messenger bag from the back seat

Cherry Baum: I don’t think we needed to be at the arena quite so early, J-K, after all we’re about the only ones who are here.

Climbing out of the driver’s door, Johnny Karma decides not to answer the question directly, instead he points to a car parked in one of the spaces in direct sunlight, with its windshield directly in the sun’s glare

Johnny Karma: Best hope whoever owns that car doesn’t have to make a Gatorade run, because they’ll be getting third degree burns on their fingertips the second they touch their seat belt buckle.

As the car’s roof begins to raise back in place, Karma walks behind the car to access the trunk, pulling out a large gym bag and placing it on the ground before he slams the hood back down and activates the car’s central locking

Johnny Karma: So…shall we?

Cherry Baum: Wait a minute…

Cherry reaches into her pocket and grabs her phone, before she walks towards Karma and puts an arm around his shoulder while holding her phone at an elevated angle

Cherry Baum: Strike a pose!

Cherry flashes a smile as Karma looks a combination of bemused and confused at the second that Cherry’s phone takes the selfie of the pair of them with the Honda Center in the background, at which point Cherry slides her arm from around Karma’s shoulder so she can check the photo

Johnny Karma: So you weren’t trying to find Chococat?

A look of mock indignation crosses Cherry’s face

Cherry Baum: I can go a few hours without hunting Pokemon you know!

Cherry places her phone back in her pocket…although it appears she’s somewhat reluctant to do so, just in case there’s a Rhyhorn in the vicinity…

Cherry Baum: Anyway, I was thinking that there’s a few times where you’ve been in places where you can make some history, but you’ve missed the chance to commemorate the moment, so I thought…

Cherry mimes taking a selfie

Cherry Baum: …for posterity.

With that out of the way, Karma picks his bag off of the ground before he and Cherry approach the arena entrance, showing their credentials to a bored-looking pair of security guards who look like they’ve been standing around for a while without anything to do, and once inside they wander the halls for a while before they eventually come upon their locker room, where Karma pushes the door open and holds it in place

Johnny Karma: Ladies first.

Cherry gives a mock curtsy of gratitude before she steps into the locker room, and once inside she places her messenger bag on the nearest bench and removes her laptop, logging on while Karma places his gym back on a different bench and removes his ring gear as Cherry starts rattling her fingers against the keyboard before calling Karma over

Cherry Baum: So I’ve got the playlists ready, if you want a look.

Karma looks over his shoulder

Johnny Karma: Thanks, I’ll be over in a second.

Karma hangs his ring jacket up on a hanger before he approaches Cherry and her laptop, leaning in to get a better view of the screen – and at this point we realise it’s not a playlist of potential Frontier Lions Cup opponents, rather the playlist contains a series of Karma’s matches, such as his recent match with Zero McHannon, his match against Chandler Scott at last year’s Above & Beyond, and various other matches where he has come so close yet fallen so far

Cherry Baum: So which match are you thinking of watching first?

Johnny Karma: Hmm…let’s look at my match against Cordy from last year’s qualifier, that seems like a good place to start.

With a swift flick on the trackpad Cherry scrolls down to Karma’s qualifier against Cordy Stevenson, while Karma slides a chair over so he can sit down and watch

Cherry Baum: What’re you hoping to find J-K?

With the video still playing the respective entrances, Karma looks up in Cherry’s direction

Johnny Karma: Mistakes, Miss Baum, mistakes – because it’s one thing to scout your opponents, learning what makes them tick and how to predict what’s coming, but it’s just as important to find out what it is that I need to improve on, because there comes a point where you start to hear about commentators talking about making one mistake three or four or five times, and when you hear it three or four or five times maybe it’s time to pinpoint what goes wrong so I know how to fix it.

Karma settles in to watch the first match of many he'll be watching this afternoon, as Cherry takes a seat behind him to observe

[FGA Office]

Theater at The Honda Center
Anaheim, CA

Kris Cruise: Welcome to the Theater at the Honda Center! Welcome to Anaheim, California! Welcome… to… ABOVE & BEYOND V! I’m Kris Cruise, alongside Stephy Auger for this Pay Per View extravaganza! Tonight, one of eight grapplers will be crowned the 2016 Frontier Lions Cup winner! The winner will go on to face the FGA World Champion at the Retribution event in October. Three matches in one night, Stephy. These guys are in for a loooong night!

Stephy Auger: They are, Cruise. The quicker they advance, the better off the better off they’ll be as they progress throughout this tournament. The first two winners of this event went on to win the championship. The last two did not. What will be the fate of tonight’s Frontier Lions Cup winner? We’ll find out in a few months!

Kris Cruise: Also here tonight, Status Quo, RubyWay and The Next Level will be in a Triple Threat Tag Team Match for the Tag Team Titles!

Stephy Auger: Status Quo are the current FGA World Tag Team Champions. RubyWay are the current WLW Tag Team Champions. The Next Level are the former FGA World Tag Team Champions. Tonight, it’s winner take all!

Kris Cruise: That match will also be found under Scramble Rules, so you can expect the action to be quick in that one. Of course, we’ve got to talk about the big match on tonight’s card. A Triple Threat World Championship Match between the champion, Johnny Cannon and his two challengers, Zero McHannon and Sunshine Scandalous Tony Carmine!

Stephy Auger: This match was supposed to take place two months ago at All-Star Showdown V. Unfortunately, Tony Carmine was injured early on in the match and had to be carted off. Cannon was then able to beat McHannon for the title. But now, Carmine is back. He’s got another chance at the gold. One year ago, we won the Frontier Lions Cup. Now, he’s back fighting for the gold. With this second chance, you have to think that Carmine’s gonna lay it all on the line tonight.

Kris Cruise: I’m pretty confidant that all three men will wrestle a match that we won’t forget. But right now, let’s send it to the ring as we’re ready to kick things off with the Frontier Lions Cup!

[FGA Office]

FRONTIER LIONS CUP - QUARTERFINALS
Molly Reid vs. Johnny Karma

The arena lights flash in a myriad of different colours in time with John Bonham's quite remarkably epic drum intro that is filling the arena, and just as it reaches a crescendo Cherry Baum emerges at the top of the ramp, standing to one side so she can present The Man, The Myth, The Johnny Karma to His adoring public, and at the exact moment Jimmy Page's riff begins making love to the crowd's ears He arrives at the top of the ramp, strutting to a vantage point where the entire crowd can see Him and, as Cherry applauds Him, He blows a kiss to the arena.

Karma strolls down the ramp with Cherry stood by His side, chatting and waving to the fans who have paid to see Him do His thing tonight while making sure that every single hair on his head is in the exact place it should be.

As the pair reach ringside, Cherry quickly climbs onto the ring apron and sits on the middle rope to hold it open, as Karma climbs the ring steps and walks along the apron, turning to face His audience and slowly raising an arm before raising his index finger to let everyone know that He is #1, before he steps through the ropes into His ring.

Once inside His ring, Karma climbs onto the nearest turnbuckle and unzips his ring jacket, looking out over His crowd and nodding in acknowledgment that they are all there to see Him, and that He is grateful for this.

If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break
If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break
When The Levee Breaks I'll have no place to stay

Karma climbs down from the turnbuckle and crosses the ring, climbing onto the opposite turnbuckle to salute His followers.

Mean old levee taught me to weep and moan
Mean old levee taught me to weep and moan
It's got what it takes to make a mountain man leave his home
Oh well, oh well, oh well

Karma climbs down, as Cherry applauds him.

J.A.. Aldridge: THIS is a Quarterfinals Match in the Frontier Lions Cup tournament! It is scheduled for one fall with a fifteen minute time limit! Introducing first, from Queens, New York! Weighing in at 233 pounds… JOHNNY KARMA!

Kris Cruise: This is Johnny Karma’s third time being in the Frontier Lions Cup tournament, having qualified for the tournament back in 2013-2014. Karma didn’t get the results that he wanted and he definitely get the results he wanted last year when he lost to Cordelia Stevenson in the qualifying round. But Karma has overcome a lot this year. He’s slayed a lot of demons this year. He’s beaten Tony Carmine. He reclaimed the Pride Championship for a period of time. Will he claim the Frontier Lions Cup as his own this year as well?

Stephy Auger: Karma is the one with the most experience when it comes to this tournament. He knows better than anyone what needs to be done to advance. But the fact that he’s had worse and worse results tells me that he can’t.

Kris Cruise: Well unlike last year, he did qualify so he’s off to a good start. But the grappler that’s about to walk through those curtains is no walk in the park.

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: His opponent, from Los Angeles, California! Weighing in at 122 pounds… 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. She then turns her attention to outside the ring where Evan Envi can be seen making his way down to the ring. Envi heads down to the ring as he’s wearing a shirt with a large image of Reid’s face on the front. Envi claps loud and obnoxiously before giving Reid two thumbs up.

Kris Cruise: Molly Reid qualified for this tournament by defeating Salem Cartier a few weeks back. Reid did it all by her lonesome. But tonight, it looks like she’s got some help in the form of Evan Envi. Let’s take a look back to see how this, um, “unique” pairing happened.

TWO WEEKS AGO

Spencer Burke: Evan Envi, tonight you picked up your second consecutive FGA victory, this time over Liam Graves in a much more dominating performance than your debut and--

Evan cuts Spencer off, pointing down the corridor.

Evan Envi: Walk with me.

Spencer Burke: O-- oh… okay.

Evan marches down the corridor, passing by the locker-rooms until he reaches the infamous professional wrestling catering area. He walks toward a familiar female figure with her back turned to the camera, phone pulled up to her face as she leans against the wall… and we pan back toward the focused faces of Evan and Spencer.

Evan Envi: Spencer…

Spencer Burke: Uhhrm. Yes?

Evan Envi: She’s magnificent.

Spencer Burke: Oh. Uh-

The camera spins around, back toward the female figure, though we hear Evan shout at the top of his lungs off-screen.

Evan Envi: MOLLY REID!

Molly Reid jumps out of her shoes at the sound of Evan’s voice. She clutches her heart as she turns around, exhaling deeply when she sees who called her.

Molly Reid: Jesus Evan you scared the hell out of me.

Evan Envi: I’ll do it, Molly Reid. I'll do it.

Evan nods to Molly. Then nods to Spencer. Spencer awkwardly nods at Evan, clearly unaware of what's going on. And Evan nods again at Molly, who looks as equally confused as Spencer does.

Molly Reid: Uhhhh, what?

Evan smiles at her and points toward his own head.

Evan Envi: You don't even need to say it. With everything riding on the Frontier Lion’s Cup, OF COURSE you need someone watching your back. And of course I'll be that person, friend.

He narrows one eye, pointing a finger right at Molly.

Evan Envi: You're exactly the kind of wrestler the foundation for Hope was built for.

Molly stares at him with a puzzled look on her face, before eventually shaking her head and smiling at Evan.

Molly Reid: Uhh...Thanks I guess, but I’m perfectly capable of handling myself out there Evan. I don’t really need anyone watching my back or anything. I’m just gonna go out there and wrestle my best and try to win.

Evan Envi: Don't be so modest, Molly Reid.

Evan walks forward, wrapping his arms around Molly’s head and pulling her into an embrace, dangerously, dangerously close to the Chief’s left armpit.

Evan Envi: We’re gonna go all the way. If there's anything I can promise you, it's that.

With that, he releases Molly, turning to Spencer once more. Evan gives him a nod. Spencer nods back out of a lack of curiosity about what happens should he not. Evan nods at Molly and begins to back away.

Evan Envi: Imma be in touch!

Molly stares at Evan as he slowly backs away before turning around and walking out of sight around a corner.

Stephy Auger: When someone of Evan Envi’s stature says he’s got your back, you should be thrilled! I know I’d be thrilled if I had someone that looked like him watching me! But Molly over here looks more annoyed than anything. What’s her deal, anyway?

Kris Cruise: Maybe she just wants to do this all on her own.

Stephy Auger: Well maybe she should stop looking a gift horse in the mouth and just take the help.

The bell sounds as Karma and Reid circle the ring. The two then stop and turn to the crowd.

Kris Cruise: This crowd is a house divided here inside the Theater at the Honda Center! Pro-Karma and Reid chants are echoing throughout this venue right here.

The two grapplers then size each other up before making their way towards each other. Karma goes for a lock up. But Reid ducks underneath.

Stephy Auger: A little too slow there, Karma.

Karma turns around and heads back over towards Reid. He goes for another lock up. But once again, Reid uses her quickness to duck and avoid the encounter.

Stephy Auger: Reid’s just a step too fast for Karma.

Karma runs his hand down his face before slowly inching his way across the ring. Reid stays on her toes as she feints moves to her right and left.

Kris Cruise: We heard that Reid was definitely going to use her speed to her advantage in this one. But in my opinion, she’s got a bit of a striking advantage over Karma as well.

After Karma inches his way across the ring, Reid motions to her right. But Karma cuts her off. She then motions to her left. But again, Karma cuts her off. The former Pride Champ then lunges forward to grab a hold of Reid. But Reid ducks. When Karma turns around, the crowd cheers as Reid nails him with an alternating combo of knife edge chops and forearm strikes. On the outside, Envi can be seen punching along with Reid. She then takes Karma and whips him for the far ride. Reid runs across the ring to attack. But Karma counters with a back elbow to the face. After stumbling back, Reid runs back into the corner. This time, Karma nails her with a boot to the face. As Reid turns and stumbles away from the corner, Karma comes up from behind and delivers a hammerlock spun into a DDT.

Kris Cruise: Instant Karma! He’s going for the cover...

ONE!
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TWO!
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Reid kicks out. Envi can be heard clapping loudly on the outside while yelling “Good kickout, Molly, good kickout!”

Kris Cruise: Karma with a nearfall already. These quarterfinals matches only have a 15 minute time limit. When you think about it, that’s not a lot of time to play with.

Stephy Auger: In the past, we’ve definitely seen grapplers be more aggressive when it comes to going for pinfalls. Also, the quicker you finish the match, the more energy you save. Tonight is a marathon, not a sprint.

Karma picks up Reid and wrenches her arm. The ref aks Reid if she wants to give up. But Reid refuses. So Karma takes Reid by the wrist and deliver another arm wrench. Reid immediately drops down to a knee while she cringes in pain. Envi can he heard on the outside yelling, “Don’t you quit on me!” The ref gets down and asks her if she wants to give up. But Reid refuses to give up. She then rolls forward, spins around on her knees and sends Karma down to the canvas with a fireman’s carry takeover.

Karma rushes back to his feet. But he’s quickly caught in an arm wrench of his own. The ref asks Karma if he wants to give up. But Karma refuses. So Reid performs another arm wrench. The ref checks back in with Karma and asks him if he wants to give up. But once again, The Karmic Lion refuses. So Reid wrenches his arm once more before going for a short-arm clothesline. But Karma ducks and immediately goes behind Reid. After breaking from of Reid’s grip around his wrist, Karma quickly grabs Reid by the wrist, pulls her around and throws out a wristlock transitioned into a Bionic Elbow. But Reid ducks. When Karma turns around, Reid knocks him down with a dropkick. Karma gets back to his feet, but Reid is quick to knock him back down after a second dropkick, which garners another round of cheers. When Karma returns to his feet, Reid grabs him and goes for an irish whip. But Karma reverses, sending Reid into the ropes. When Reid returns, Karma leans forward to set up a back body drop. Reid sees this and counters with a sunset flip. But Karma rolls through it, gets to his feet and lifts up Reid’s legs. He then turns around the leg and goes for a figure four leglock. But Reid reaches up, grabs Karma and pulls him down into a small package.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Karma rolls over on top of Reid.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Reid rolls over on top of Karma.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Karma back over on top of Reid.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Reid rolls back over on top of Karma.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Karma kicks out. Cheers and applause are soon heard throughout the crowd.

Karma rolls out of the ring and turns around to see Reid holding her index and thumb about an inch apart. He then turns to Envi, who does the same thing. Karma turns to Cherry and motions to Envi as if to say, “who is this momzer?” When Karma turns back to Envi, Envi motions for him to get back in the ring. Back in the ring, Reid has her hands on her hips as she looks over at Envi distracting Karma. As Karma climbs back up onto the apron, Reid tells Envi to calm it down.

Once Karma is back in, the two grapplers circle the ring before locking up. After jockeying for position, Karma moves Reid across the ring and against the ropes. The ref heads over and gives both grapplers until the count of five to break the hold.

Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR…

Both grapplers make a clean break. Karma then blasts Reid with a knife edge chop that echoes throughout the arena.

Kris Cruise: Hello!

Karma grabs Reid, moves her into the corner and unleashes a series of knife edge chops. He then takes Reid and whips her into the opposite corner. Karma runs across the ring and into the corner, but Reid nails him with a back elbow to the face. After stumbling back, Karma runs back into the corner. This time, Reid nails him with a boot to the face that turns Karma around. As Karma staggers away from the corner, Reid hops through the ropes. When Karma turns around, the crowd cheers as Reid delivers a springboard headscissors. She makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Karma kicks out.

Reid picks up Karma and goes for an irish whip. But Karma reverses, sending Reid into the ropes. When Reid returns, she knocks Karma down with a leaping leg lariat. She makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Karma gets his shoulder up.

Reid picks up Karma, moves him into the corner and unleashes a series of shoulder thrusts to the midsection. While Karma’s doubled over, Reid grabs him by the back of the neck with both hands and delivers a series of Muay Thai Knees to the face. Reid then brings Karma from out of the corner before whipping him into the far ropes. When Karma turns, Reid knocks him down with a flying knee. She makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Karma gets his shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: Reid’s really going for it tonight and nearly had Karma there!

On the outside, Cherry can be seen slapping the canvas as she tries to rally behind Karma. Reid picks up Karma and nails him with four forearm strikes to the face. She then steps back and throws out a roundhouse kick. But Karma ducks, grabs Reid from behind, runs, leaps over the top rope and drops Reid throat-first across the top rope.

Kris Cruise: Macho Karma!

Karma hops back up onto the apron before climbing up to the top turnbuckle. The crowd cheers as he leaps off and knocks Reid down with a diving double axe handle smash. He makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Reid gets her shoulder up. Envi can be heard on the outside praising Reid for getting her shoulder up.

Karma picks up Reid and whips her into the ropes. When Reid returns, Karma scoops her up from the side before delivering a backbreaker. But instead of letting Reid bounce off his knee and hit the mat, Karma keeps her held across his knee. He then lifts up Reid as he returns to his feet, walks across the ring and tosses Reid through the ropes and to the floor.

Kris Cruise: Reid landed hard on the outside. You’ve got to wonder how much that took out of her.

While Reid’s on the floor, Envi scurries over, takes off his Molly Reid shirt and begins fanning Reid with it. As Reid gets up on the outside, Karma takes off into the far ropes. When Karma returns, Envi scurries out of the way as he knocks Reid down with a baseball slide clothesline.

Kris Cruise: Karma with “This is For The Front Row”!

Karma picks up Reid and rolls her back into the ring. Karma goes to climb back into the ring. But his attention gets caught by Envi, who throws the Molly Reid shirt at him. He then yells at Karma for “carelessly” tossing Reid out of the ring. When Karma turns back to Reid, Reid runs over and connects with a dropkick that knocks Karma off the apron and to the floor. Reid then climbs up onto the apron and waits for Karma to get up. After Karma returns to his feet, the crowd cheers as Reid flips off and knocks him down with a corkscrew moonsault.

Kris Cruise: What a moonsault by Molly Reid!

Stephy Auger: … that was set up perfectly by Evan Envi! See, this is why it pays to have him in your corner, Molly!

Reid picks up Karma and rolls him back into the ring. But before she rolls herself back in, she tells Envi to stay out of this. Envi reassures her that he’s just looking out for his buddy. Reid slides back in and makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Karma gets his shoulder up.

Reid picks up Karma and whips him into the ropes. When Karma returns, Reid sets up a back body drop. Karma sees this. So he stops, grabs Reid, turns and drops her with a hangman's neckbreaker

Kris Cruise: Reid gets taken down with the Bum Trip!

Karma heads into the corner and hoists himself up onto the middle ropes. After measuring the distance, he leaps off and connects with a diving fist drop. The crowd cheers as he makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Reid gets her shoulder up.

Karma picks up Reid and whips her into the ropes. When Reid returns, Karma knocks her down with a running high knee. He then bounces into the near ropes. When Karma returns, he connects with a jumping knee drop. He makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Reid gets her shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: Reid had the advantage. But now, not only has Karma mounted a comeback, but he’s now in control. What does Reid have to do to get back in this one?

Stephy Auger: Let Evan Envi work his magic!

Karma picks up Reid and whips her into the corner. He then runs across the ring and connects with an NYC Uppercut. Karma takes Reid and whips her into the opposite corner. He then runs across the ring and goes for another NYC Uppercut. But Reid counters with a back elbow to the face. While Karma’s dazed, Reid hoists herself up onto the middle ropes, grabs him and delivers a Tornado DDT. Envi nearly jumps out of his shoes at that one.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Karma gets his shoulder up.

Reid picks up Karma and doubles him over with a spinning back kick to the midsection. After an axe kick knocks Karma down on all fours, Reid stands him up on his knees before planting him with a kneeling DDT. She turns Karma over and makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Karma gets his shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: Another DDT by Reid, but it only gets two.

Stephy Auger: Reid was trying to knock Karma out with those DDTs. But it still wasn't enough. How much time do we have left.

Kris Cruise: It’s looking like about six or seven minutes.

Envi can be seen on the outside slapping the canvas and telling the ref that was three. Reid looks over and tells Envi to calm it down.

Reid picks up Karma and goes for an irish whip. But Karma reverses, sending Reid into the ropes. When Reid comes back, Karma leans forward to set up a back body drop. But Reid gives him a taste of his own medicine by countering with a swinging neckbreaker. She makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Karma gets his shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: Another nearfall for Reid. These two have to pick it up here.

Reid picks up Karma, moves him into the corner and unleashes a ballistic combination of rights and lefts to the body. She then takes Karma and whips him into the opposite corner. Reid then runs across the ring, leaps up and connects with a Superman Punch. After Karma crumbles from out of the corner, Reid rolls across him and hooks the leg.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Karma gets his foot on the bottom rope, but Envi quickly knocks it off.
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THRE-NO!

Karma gets his shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: Did you see that!?

Stephy Auger: See what?

Kris Cruise: Envi knocked Karma’s foot off the bottom rope!

Stephy Auger: What!? What are you talking about!? I didn’t see anything!

Kris Cruise: I know Molly Reid didn’t see it. But you definitely did!

Reid picks up Karma and nails him with an elbow strike. Karma comes back with an NYC Uppercut. Reid nails him with a second elbow strike. Karma comes back with another NYC Uppercut. Reid then nails Karma with a spinning back elbow. She then throws out a spinning backfist. But Karma ducks. When Reid turns around, Karma rattles off three snapping jabs before knocking her down with a right cross.

Kris Cruise: Sugar Ray Karma!

The crowd cheers as Karma knocks her down with another right cross. Karma turns and runs into the ropes. When Karma comes back, Reid stops him with a back elbow strike, followed by a spinning backfist. She then delivers a leg feint head kick which rocks Karma. While Karma is dazed, Reid turns and takes off into the ropes. When she returns, Karma lifts her up, turns and throws her down with a spinebuster. After taking a second to catch his breath, he rolls across Reid and hooks the leg.

ONE!
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TWO!
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THR-NO!

Reid gets her shoulder up.

Stephy Auger: Soooooooo close.

Kris Cruise: Reid may have gotten her shoulder up, but you know that spinebuster took a lot out of her.

Karma steps through the ropes and climbs up to the top turnbuckle. The crowd cheers as they know what’s about to come next.

Kris Cruise: Karma’s about to jum-wait, what’s going on here?

Before Karma jumps off, Envi climbs up onto the middle ropes to grab both he and the ref’s attention.

Kris Cruise: Dave Landry needs to get Evan Envi the heck out of here. A match like the one we’re seeing with these two top athletes doesn’t need him in it!

After Envi sees Reid returning to her feet out of the corner of his eye, he smile, apologizes and puts his hands in the air as he hops back down to the floor. Karma turns his attention back to Reid. He leaps off and goes for a diving double ax handle smash. But Reid jumps up and counters with a double knee facebreaker.

Kris Cruise: What a counter!

Reid gets up, marches over to the ropes and points at Envi, telling her that for the last time, he doesn’t need her help. This time, it’s a bit more forceful than it was the last time. Envi taps his heart, tells her that he understands and that he’s sorry.

Kris Cruise: It looks like Envi finally gets it that Reid doesn’t need his hel-

When Reid turns around,

*THWACK*

Karma knocks her down with a superkick.

Kris Cruise: Check Your Chiclets!

Karma steps through the ropes and scales up to the top turnbuckle. From there, the crowd cheers as he leaps off and connects with a flying elbow drop.

Stephy Auger: From The Stars Above!

Karma picks up Reid, grabs her from behind, turns her around and turns her inside out with Hard Times. The crowd goes wild as he makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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THREE!

“When The Levee Breaks” blasts over the PA as the crowd explodes with cheers.

J.A.. Aldridge: Here is your winner, JOHNNY KARMA!

The crowd continues to cheer as Karma gets his arm raised by the ref. Cherry Baum makes her way into the ring and raises Karma’s arm to another round of cheers.

Kris Cruise: Johnny Karma picks up the victory and advances to the Semifinals, a place that he made it to way back in his first Frontier Lions Cup back in 2013. But for Molly Reid, the night is over for her.

Stephy Auger: It didn’t have to be over for her. She could’ve gone all the way! All she had to do was let Evan Envi guide the ship. But nooooo, she was ungrateful! Her good friend, her buddy, her pal was out here to cheer her on and help her achieve her dreams! Evan Envi didn’t want her dreams to just be dreams. He wanted to make them a reality! Then she tells Envi to go screw himself? The nerve!

Kris Cruise: What? She definitely did not tell Envi to go screw himself. But she did make it clear throughout the match, especially at the end, that she wanted him to stay out of this. We know how close Reid has come to gold both here and elsewhere and now, she’s going to have to wait just a little bit longer. But if I know anything about Molly Reid, it’s that she’s a fighter. She’s strong! She’ll bounce back from this. I have a strong feeling that she’s going to be a champion here one day… and it’ll be without Evan Envi’s help!

[FGA Office]

FRONTIER LIONS CUP - QUARTERFINALS
Fujiko Mine vs. Savannah Taylor

The fans in the arena are in their seats, anxiously awaiting the start of the match. Before they have a chance to say anything, the lights suddenly fade to black. The noise of the crowd is replaced by a loud whistle emanating from the sound system. The whistle repeats, only this time it is accompanied by a few riffs from a synthesizer. As the synth pulses on for a few seconds, red strobe lights around the entrance begin to pulse in perfect synch with the music. The heavy guitar and drum tandem that follows truly signals the beginning of “Engel” by Rammstein. The black of the arena has been replaced by a vivid crimson as the song plays on. The fans immediately leap to their feet and show their displeasure at the arrival of the one and only Savannah Taylor. The blonde steps out onto the stage for a few seconds and glances to either side of her before walking purposefully down the aisle, an air of arrogance displayed in her gait.

J.A. Aldridge: The following is a Quarterfinals Match in the Frontier Lions Cup tournament! It is set for one fall with a fifteen minute time limit! Introducing first, from Las Vegas, Nevada! Weighing in at 120 pounds… SAVANNAH TAYLOR!

She climbs the steps and stands on the apron, scanning the crowd before shaking her head at the fans. Stepping into the ring, she stands in the center and raises her hands above her head, seeming to soak in the boos. She then rests her back against the turnbuckle and waits for the lights to return to normal and the music to fade out.

Kris Cruise: Savannah Taylor has come up short here in FGA more often than not. But tonight could turn that all around for her. The Frontier Lions Cup could turn her fortunes around and earn her an FGA World Championship Match. Will tonight be the night?

Stephy Auger: Oh I think so. I was speaking with her earlier on. I saw that fire in her eyes, Cruise. She’s got a huge chip on her shoulder. She knows that everyone is looking past here. That just might be when she’s her most dangerous.

Kris Cruise: Well she’s got a huge opportunity in this quarterfinals match against the reigning Pride Champion...

The deep riffs of an electric guitar and hard thumps of drums combine with a Shamisen, which gets the crowd cheering. The lights dim, except for a single pink spotlight. BABY METAL’s “Megitsune” ramps up, and as the main part of the song kicks in, Fujiko emerges from the back, posing with her arms behind her head.

[Sore! Sore!
Sore Sore Sore Sore!
Sore! Sore!
Sore Sore Sore Sore!]

The fans chant “Go!” along as Fujiko stands there, soaking in the moment. The Pride championship is fastened tight across her chest, pushing the 'girls' up. Blue, yellow, and pink lights dance around the arena. She takes a few steps to position herself on the ramp.She pauses there for a moment as fans throw blue and yellow streamers around her on the ramp.

She leaves them, and begins making her way down to the ring. Once she reaches ringside, Fujiko leaps onto the apron from the floor, balancing with one foot for a moment. She jumps from the apron to the top turnbuckle, and stabilizes herself for a second. She reaches behind her, unfastens the Pride Championship from around her chest, and hoists it high in the air.

[Ah...
So yo itsu demo onna
Wa joyu yo
Kitsune ja nai!
Kitsune ja nai!
Otome wa megitsune!]

Fans throw more blue & yellow streamers around her, which are quickly removed by ringside personnel. Fujiko nods to the audience, and then points at the Pride championship before hopping down. She moves to the center of the ring, but then moves to the ropes. Reaching them, she leans her back into the middle rope, using it and her legs to keep her leaning. She holds onto this pose, letting the Pride championship drape across her as a gold spotlight focuses on her.

J.A. Aldridge: Her opponent… from Milwaukee, Wisconsin! Weighing in at 140 pounds! She is “Lady Luck”, FUJIKO MINE!
[Ah...
So yoi tso demo onna
Wa joyu yo
Kitsune ja nai!
Kitsune ja nai!
Otome wa...
Name tara ikan zeyo]

It holds on her for a moment before returning to normal. She walks over to hand off her Pride championship, and then stretches in her corner; ready to start the match.

Kris Cruise: … and here is the Pride Champion, Fujiko Mine! Fujiko won that championship off of Johnny Karma back at All-Star Showdown V. The two of them have joined forces in recent months against the New Kings. Tonight, they’ll be looking to join each other in the Semifinals!

Stephy Auger: Oh I’m sure that Karma is hoping Fujiko advances so he can gain some measure of revenge. But I think he’s going to have to do wait on that one as I see Savannah Taylor advancing.

The bell sounds as Fujiko and Taylor circle the ring before locking up. After jockeying for position, Taylor shoves Fujiko away from her, which garners some boos from the crowd. Fujiko takes a few stumbles back before regaining her balance. The Pride Champion then stretches her neck before circling the ring. After sizing Taylor up, Fujiko heads back over and locks up. After jockeying for position, Taylor begins to moves Fujiko across the ring. Just then, Fujiko puts on the brakes before shoving Taylor. Taylor stumbles back a few steps before stopping. She then looks Fujiko up and down before circling the ring. After sizing Fujiko up, Taylor inches back over towards Fujiko before going for a lock up. After jockeying for position, Fujiko moves Taylor across the ring and towards the corner. At the last second, Taylor pivots and presses Fujiko against the turnbuckles. The ref then heads over and gives both grapplers until the count of five to break the hold.

Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR…

Both grapplers appear to make a clean break. While Fujiko’s arms are still in the air, Taylor takes advantage and delivers a kick to the midsection. The crowd boos as she begins firing off a series of right hands that send Fujiko slumping down in the corner. Taylor steps back before delivering a series of stomps to the chest. The crowd continues to boo as she chokes Fujiko while pulling down on the top rope. The ref gives her until the count of five to release the choke.

Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR…

Taylor lets go.

Kris Cruise: Taylor’s coming out aggressive!

Stephy Auger: Why shouldn’t she? She knows what’s on the line here tonight.

Taylor reaches down, pulls up Fujiko by the hair and delivers a blistering knife edge chop. Taylor pulls her arm back before delivering another knife edge chop. She then takes Fujiko and whips her into the opposite corner. After Taylor runs across the ring and heads into the corner to attack, Fujiko goes for a boot to the face. But Taylor puts on the brakes at the last second and catches Fujiko’s foot. She then goes to yank Fujiko out of the corner. But Fujiko counters with a headscissors takeover. Taylor gets back to her feet, but Fujiko throws her down with an arm drag. Taylor gets back up. But Fujiko is quick to send her back down with another arm drag. As Taylor gets up, Fujiko goes for an irish whip. But Taylor reverses, sending Fujiko into the ropes. When Fujiko returns, she delivers a tilt-a-whirl headscissors takedown. As Taylor is getting up off the canvas, Fujiko runs over and delivers a dropkick, which knocks Taylor through the ropes and to the floor.

Kris Cruise: Just like that, Fujiko regains control of this contest. Taylor’s pretty quick on her feet. But not as quick as Fujiko, as you just saw right there.

Stephy Auger: Whatever.

Fujiko jumps up and down, getting the crowd riled up before taking off into the ropes. When she comes back, she runs across the ring before delivering a baseball slide into a headscissors takeover.

Kris Cruise: Fujiko takes Taylor down again!

Fujiko rolls back into the ring and is greeted by cheers and applause from the crowd. As soon as she turns around, she sees Taylor slowly pulling herself up using the top of the guard rail. After hyping up the crowd, Fujiko turns and takes off into the ropes. When Fujiko returns, Taylor slides back in, leaps up and tackles Fujiko down with a Lou Thesz Press. The crowd boos as Taylor mounts herself on top of Fujiko and hammers away with right hands to the face before getting off of her and yelling at the crowd.

Stephy Auger: These mutants wanted to see another flippy doo dive. But Taylor had other plans!

Taylor heads back over, snapmares Fujiko over and heads into the ropes. When Taylor returns, she flattens Fujiko with a dropkick to the face. She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Fujiko kicks out.

Taylor picks up Fujiko, marches into the corner and slams her face-first into the top turnbuckle. After turning Fujiko around and unleashes a series of knife edge chops, Taylor takes the Pride Champ and whips her into the opposite corner. Taylor then runs across the ring, connects with a clothesline and goes to follow up with a running bulldog from out of the corner. But Fujiko shoves Taylor off of her and into the ropes. When Taylor returns, she flattens Fujiko with a Yakuza Kick. Taylor stands tall and looks around at the booing crowd as Fujiko struggles to get off the canvas.

Kris Cruise: Good God what a kick!

Fujiko slowly sits up and tries to shake out the cobwebs. As she slowly turns over and gets up on one knee, Taylor runs over and knocks her down with a Shining Wizard. She makes the cover.

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

Fujiko gets her shoulder up.

Stephy Auger: Fujiko nearly got knocked out again. I think the ref should step in and stop this. She can’t can’t defend herself.

Kris Cruise: I think you should just calm it down. Fujiko is fine.

Taylor picks up Fujiko and nails her with four knee lifts to the midsection before planting her with a DDT. She turns over and makes the cover.

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

Fujiko gets her shoulder up.

Taylor makes another lateral press.

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

Taylor makes another lateral pres and holds down Fujikos wrist.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Fujiko kicks out.

Taylor makes yet another lateral press and holds down Fujiko’s wrist.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Fujiko kicks out.

Stephy Auger: Those constant kicking are taking more and more energy out of Fujiko.

Kris Cruise: That was smart of Taylor, I’ll give her that.

Taylor takes a few steps back and waits for Fujiko to get in position. As Fujiko is rising up off the canvas hunched over, Taylor runs over and leaps up for a curb stomp. But Fujiko moves out of the way. As soon as Taylor lands in front of her, the crowd cheers as Fujiko leaps up from behind and brings her down with a jumping reverse bulldog.

Kris Cruise: Great counter there by Fujiko.

Stephy Auger: But can she even make the cover?

The ref kneels down and checks in on Fujiko, then Taylor. He then stands back up and starts his count.

ONE!





TWO!





THREE!




FOUR!




FIVE!





SIX!




SEVEN!




EIGHT!





NINE!



TE-

After both grapplers slowly return to their feet, Taylor nails Fujiko with a right hand. Fujiko comes back with a right hand of her own. Taylor then nails Fujiko with another right hand. Fujiko comes back with another right hand of her own. Taylor throws out another right hand. But this time, Fujiko blocks before countering with a right hand of her own. Taylor throws out another right hand. But Fujiko blocks and counters with another right hand. Fujiko then fires off another right hand… and another… and anoth-NO! Taylor cuts her off with a spinning backfist.

Stephy Auger: Desert Rose!

Taylor makes the cover.

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

The crowd gasps, then cheers as Fujiko gets her shoulder up.

Taylor picks up Fujiko and tries to lift her up for a brainbuster. But Fujiko blocks the move. Taylor tightens her grip before trying for another brainbuster. But again, Fujiko blocks the move. So Taylor nails Fujiko with four punches to the ribs and lifts her up for a brainbuster. But Fujiko slips down from behind. She then gropes Taylor’s chest, which temporarily distracts Taylor. Fujiko then spins Taylor around, delivers a northern lights suplex, bridges over, pulls up Taylor, lifts her up and plants her with a brainbuster. The crowd cheers as Fujiko turns over and makes the cover.

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

The crowd sighs, then boos as Taylor gets her shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: So close!

Fujiko picks up Taylor and connects with a spinning back kick to the midsection before taking off into the ropes. When Fujiko comes back, she connects with a step-up enzuigiri. After Taylor is knocked down on all fours, Fujiko steps up onto her back. Fujiko goes for a standing moonsault. But Taylor rolls over onto her back and gets her knees up.

Kris Cruise: Oh no!

Fujiko crashes across Taylor’s knees. After rolling off the knees, Fujiko curls up while she guards her midsection. Taylor picks up Fujiko and whips her into the corner, runs across the ring and connects with a yakuza kick. After lowering her leg, Taylor places Fujiko in a headlock, runs from out of the corner and brings her down with a bulldog. Taylor then picks up Fujiko and delivers a Corkscrew Neckbreaker.

Kris Cruise: Taylor with The Gamble! Will it pay off?

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

The crowd explodes with cheers as Fujiko gets her shoulder up.

Taylor picks up Fujiko and whips her into the ropes. When Fujiko returns, Taylor flattens her with a running hip strike. She then steps over Fujiko before going for a standing moonsault of her own. But Fujiko returns the favor by getting her knees up.

Stephy Auger: Ah! No!

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

ONE!




TWO!





THREE!





FOUR!





FIVE!




SIX!






SEVEN!






EIGHT!

After both grapplers slowly return to their feet, Taylor throws out a right cross. Fujiko ducks. She then quickly throws out a left cross. But again, Fujiko ducks. Taylor throws out another right cross. Fujiko ducks and counters with a handstand calf kick. While Taylor stumbles back, Fujiko returns to her feet before heading into the ropes. When Fujiko returns, she turns Taylor inside out with a single leg dropkick.

Kris Cruise: Fujiko with the 4-Play!

As Taylor turns over and gets on all fours, Fujiko heads into the ropes. When Taylor stands up on her knees, Fujiko plants her with a basement hurricanrana. She makes the cover.

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

Taylor gets her shoulder up.

Fujiko steps through the ropes and slaps the top turnbuckle three times before climbing up to the top turnbuckle. When Taylor gets up and turns around, Fujiko leaps off and goes for the High Fly Flow. But Taylor counters with a mid air dropkick.

Kris Cruise: This could be it right here… NO!

Stephy Auger: The Hot Spring Skinny Dip was denied, Cruise!

Fujiko going back to curling up while she guards her midsection. When Fujiko rolls over on all fours, Taylor runs over, jumps up and delivers a curb stomp. She then picks up Fujiko and heads into the corner. After lifting Fujiko up onto the middle ropes, Taylor steps through the ropes and climbs up to the top turnbuckle. She reaches back, grabs Taylor, flips over and delivers an avalanche shiranui.

Kris Cruise: Welcome to Sin City!

Stephy Auger: I think we’ve got ourselves a winner, Cruise!

Taylor makes the cover

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

The crowd gasps, then explodes with cheers as Fujiko gets her shoulder up.

Stephy Auger: How!? HOW!?

The capacity crowd is stomping their feet in an attempt to rally behind Fujiko. Meanwhile, Taylor steps through the ropes and scales up to the top turnbuckle. When Fujiko returns to her feet, she doesn’t see Taylor in front of her. But before she can turn around, Taylor leaps off and connects with a missile dropkick to the back, which sends Fujiko tumbling across the canvas.

Taylor steps out onto the apron and twirls her index fingers before scaling to the top turnbuckle.

Stephy Auger: Snake Eyes! Snake Eyes is coming, Cruise!

After Taylor scales to the top turnbuckle, she crouches down and waits for Fujiko to get up. After Fujiko slowly pushes herself back to a vertical base, Taylor stands up and flips off for a diving somersault hurricanrana. But Fujiko counters with a bakflip flash kick.

Kris Cruise: Lucky Shot!

Stephy Auger:

The crowd explodes with cheer after Fujiko countered with the Lucky Shot.

Kris Cruise: Taylor looks out of it, Stephy!

Stephy Auger: But Fujiko can’t make the cover!

While Taylor is sprawled out on the canvas, Fujiko slowly turns over on all fours. She pulls herself over towards Taylor before draping her arm across her chest.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
THE BELL SOUNDS!

Kris Cruise: What’s going on here? Did Fujiko win? I think she won!

Stephy Auger: I don’t think so, Cruise!

The crowd explodes with cheers as “Megitsune” blasts over the PA.

Kris Cruise: She’s got it! She’s done it! Fujiko’s heading onto the Semis...

Just then, the music fades as referee Drew Dillinger heads to the outside and relays a message to J.A. Aldridge.

J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the time limit has expired and the referee declares this bout a DRAW!

Boos can be throughout the crowd as Fujiko puts her hands on her head.

Stephy Auger: Oh no.

J.A. Aldridge: Therefor, both participants have been ELIMINATED from the tournament!

Stephy Auger: OH NO!

The crowd erupts with boos. Fujiko can be seen muttering something to herself before kicking the bottom rope. She then drops, rolls to the outside and takes her Pride Championship belt. She shakes her head as she makes her way up the aisle.

J.A. Aldridge: Furthermore, as a result of this decision, Johnny Karma will receive a BYE and advance to the FINALS of the tournament!

The crowd cheers at the decision regarding Karma. Back in the ring, Taylor is starting to stir on the canvas.

Kris Cruise: Well I’m just as disappointed as these fans are. It looked like Fujiko was just a second away from advancing when the time limit expired!

Stephy Auger: You don’t know that! Savannah Taylor could’ve kicked out! She could’ve gotten a shoulder up!

Kris Cruise: Maybe, maybe not. But this I do know. Johnny Karma has hit the jackpot as he now advances to the Finals! Talk about an advantage!

Stephy Auger: We haven’t seen a Draw in the Frontier Lions Cup tournament in about two years, Cruise. Karma definitely lucked out here tonight. Now he gets to kick back and watch the remaining four competitor beat each other up.

Kris Cruise: Karma does have an advantage. But at the same time, he’s got to stay loose. He’s got to stay warm. He can’t get too comfortable. But I know this. Karma isn’t about to take this lightly. Not in the slightest. Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve got more Frontier Lions Cup action coming up and still to come, we’ve got the Winner Take All Tag Team Match AND the Triple Threat World Championship Match!

[FGA Office]

Savannah Taylor remains in the ring, just beginning to stir, holding onto the ropes as she uses them to pull herself up off the canvas. She leans over the top rope, her face buried underneath her blond streaks of hair, now sweated out and distressed as if she’s been exposed to humidified air courtesy of her bout with Fujiko Mine.

Kris Cruise: Taylor looks worse for wear, Stephy. That was a hard fought match.

Stephy Auger: That's what's so great about the Lions Cup. Having to wrestle three times in one night. It's the most physically demanding tournament in wrestling, and the winner most certainly deserves that World Title opportunity.

As she lifts her head up the anguish is written all over her face. Feeling like she’d just marched through hell and back, the only thoughts in her mind are to hit the showers and start the immediate process of putting the match behind her. Despite her body not wanting her to budge, Savannah proceeds to step through the ropes. She gets one leg onto the apron, until her progress is suddenly halted by the dimming of the lights.

The Theater at the Honda Center is abruptly drenched in darkness, a quiet hush falling over the venue as the teaming masses in attendance sit in anticipation and confusion. The Las Vegas Siren is just as perturbed as the audience, as the entire arena remains immersed in the shadows for what feels like an eternity until a large spotlight shines down upon the entrance. Almost on cue with the new source of lightning does commotion break out by the stage, as a conglomerate of human flesh emerges. The aforenamed bodies belong to children, all small in stature and build yet all smiling and grinning as they make their way down to ringside in droves.

Stephy Auger: What the hell is going on?

Savannah looks on in silence, cautiously pulling herself back into the squared circle, an unsettling feeling coursing through her body. Though she's unaware of their purpose, she knows something nefarious is afoot with her intuition stemming from the recent encounters she's had with these individuals. Still, the Nevadan remains nervous as she watches the numbers grow until the group is large enough to fill up the aisle between the barriers. They stand there, almost eerily as they stare at Savannah like statues. Their intentions don't appear to be set on entering the ring. However, they don't appear to be offering her safe passage backstage either. Seconds upon seconds pass as the crowd looks on intently, spectating an apparent stalemate, until finally there's movement. The children all point back toward the entrance, beckoning Taylor to do the same.

That's when the opening chords of “Vicarious” by Tool begin, all eyes immediately fixating on the stage in response to the unfamiliar tune. As the drums finally drop and the rhythmic guitars bellow throughout the depth of the arena a tandem of silhouettes are seen emerging from the shadowy depths of the entrance area. Eventually the figures finally make their ascension onto the stage which sends a shockwave throughout the arena.

“Eye on the TV, cause tragedy thrills me
Whatever flavor it happens to be

Like, "killed by the husband"
"Drowned by the ocean"
"Shot by his own son"
"She used a poison in his tea
Then kissed him goodbye"
That's my kind of story
It's no fun til someone dies.”

Kris Cruise: OH. MY. GOD.

Stephy Auger: Is that… IS THAT WHO I THINK IT IS!

Now center stage, one of the most notorious teams in wrestling today, lead by one of the most infamous, and diabolical men to ever step foot in a wrestling ring. Dressed in his trademark white tuxedo pants, and black boots, displaying the brilliant tapestry of tattoos across his upper body is one Ryuji Kamigawa. The “God in White” stands tall and triumphantly behind the man kneeling in front of him, whom of which slowly removes a burlap sack from his head to reveal his jet black hair that dangles haphazardly over his visage. Sporting a sleeveless “RIP Nick Kramer” t-shirt, black tights and boots is the one and only Magnus Gunner as he poses in the crucifix.

Savannah Taylor looks on, her body frozen with slight apprehension, the look on her face intimating that she had seen a ghost of some sorts. Her eyes blink several times to make sure a trick isn't being played on them. The sight remains intact, and the realization begins to set in. There's no mistaking their identity. They are -

Kris Cruise: GODS AND MONSTERS!!!

With that, both men begin sauntering down the ramp, Gunner leading the way, parting the children like Moses would the Red Sea. The expression on his face is downright stoic, totally void of emotion as if his body is animated on its own without a soul to serve as the engine. Kamigawa and Gunner reach ringside, with the former remaining in the background with the children who form a cluster once again. The latter stands by the ring, his solemn glance meeting the eyes of his former pupil. Upon meeting eye contact with his one time disciple his stare down remains for moments on end - Savannah’s mind is polluted with a menagerie of reverberating sound in the tune of million dollar questions.

Why?

And why now?”

As her eyes remain widened with disbelief, Gunner’s head turns slightly, his eyes locking on the referee, a request for a microphone quickly being issued. Obliging with the madman’s wishes, he jogs across the ring and retrieves a mic from the timekeeper, delivering it to the man famously known as Christum Furor. The possession of the microphone prompts Tool’s musical talents to come to a close, fading into nothingness as the Michigander raises the mic to his lips.

Magnus Gunner: Savannah, my child…

Gunner knees up onto the apron, planting a boot onto the canvas as he steps through the ropes and takes a stand across from Taylor.

Magnus Gunner: You're shaking.

Gunner points at her body, noticing her frame trembling slightly, her fists balled as if she is preparing to strike, teeth clenched with vehemence in utter repulsion to the man before her - yet she is unable to act on these impulses. The sight of him, his ominous voice, it's all paralyzing to her.

Magnus Gunner: Is it because you deserted me? Is it because you threw away everything I endowed you with, and turned your back on everything we built together in the pursuit of superficialities and worldly pleasures? Misguided ideals like love? The sad irony is that no one has ever loved you more than me, my child.

Gunner’s head tilts askew as he looks her up and down. As his head returns to its straightened position, the eloquent madman runs his fingers through his hair, water flicking to the canvas revealing his follicles to be wet and dampened.

Magnus Gunner: Yet you ran away from home all the same. You left your family behind. You’ve tried to forget about us, you’ve attempted to build a future over the ashes of your past, but the foundation is prosthetic. I don't blame you, my child. It is part of our human nature to erase our history, because the scars from a life once lived preclude our progress, our evolution, and we desperately want to alleviate the pain. I too wanted to erase those memories. I thought I could start over. But I kept hearing voices. Voices in the wind that called out to me. That whispered to me. And they whispered your name.

Gunner steps closer, his fingers grabbing a strand of Taylor’s long, blond hair as he smiles vindictively. The madman takes a deep breath now, his eyes closing as he leans his head back.

Magnus Gunner: That's when I realized that the past is prologue, and that those scars are not meant to be healed. They're meant to remind us of who we are, and we cannot run away from who we are and what we've done, Savannah. No matter how far we run, the bonds that we’ve created, those chains can NEVER be broken. We are eternally bound by these links molded by the pain we've shared TOGETHER, the blood we’ve spilled TOGETHER, and the crimes we’ve committed TOGETHER!

Gunner takes his hand now, placing it along Savannah’s check, looking right into her blue eyes.

Magnus Gunner: I created YOU for the sole purpose of destroying this system, and ending this endless cycle of death and despair where there are no winners, only losers. We were supposed to rule the New Age TOGETHER! But you abandoned ME. You abandoned US. You abandoned your MISSION. And it's because of your selfishness that I FAILED. And due to my failure, he DIED!

Taylor glimpses at the shirt he’s wearing, knowing Magnus Gunner is never one to do something without there being a calculated reason behind it.

Magnus Gunner: He took his own life because of you, these people, and this wretched society - you made him hate himself, made him think he wasn't special, made him think he was beyond saving. He was my son, your BROTHER in arms, and now he lives on as a haunting memory and a shadow that shrouds every step I take. But you’re not the only one to blame. I hold MYSELF accountable as well. I am responsible for his fall, but it's due to his end that I’ve been given a new beginning, for only through his death was my new destiny revealed.

Gunner places both hands on Savannah’s face now, holding it gently.

Magnus Gunner: I thought my destiny was to destroy the system. But I was wrong. We ARE the system, and we cannot destroy OURSELVES! Each and every one of us, we contribute to this decadence when we watch others die for enjoyment. We’re enthralled by the suffering. We LOVE death, because it's what makes us ALIVE! It's what breathes life into our empty shells. Pain is what makes us human, and it is through pain that we understand each other. And Savannah, you WILL understand my PAIN. You will understand why it is my burden not to destroy this world, but rather to balance it. That's why I have returned. I've come for you, my child.

Magnus kisses Savannah on the forehead. As he peels away he stares at her for a moment, peering deep into the windows of her soul.

Magnus Gunner: I'VE COME TO TAKE YOU HOME!

He suddenly knees her in the solar plexus, doubling her over before hoisting the Nevadan onto his shoulders and into the Gory Special. He turns around, facing Kamigawa and the mob of children at ringside, cackling madly as he flips her over into a Piledriver and sits down to spike her head first into the canvas with the Hammer of Dawn!

Kris Cruise:
GOOD GOD! She's out cold!

Gunner climbs out of the ring, stepping onto the apron, sliding the burlap sack back onto his head as Savannah Taylor lies motionless in the ring. The camera looks at the children now, who are all suddenly wearing their own burlap sacks. The leader of G&M suddenly poses in his iconic crucifix, as does Kamigawa and everyone else as the internet savvy portion of the crowd pops loudly.

[ FADE OUT ]

[FGA Office]

The scene opens up with a suited Spencer Burke standing in front of an FGA backdrop, a microphone to his hand and a smile on his face. 

Spencer Burke: Ladies and Gentlemen with me at this time is the self proclaimed prince of CHAOS, Mark Storm.

The camera turns to a focused looking Mark Storm who doesn't look at the camera but beyond, hopping on the spot whilst chewing his gum. The crowd's reaction was positive as soon as Storm came onto the scene, dressed in his complete ring attire with a hood slung over his head.

Spencer Burke: Mark, this is perhaps the biggest moment of your career here thus far. Tell me, what's going through your mind right now going into this quarter final match with Yun Goeun?

Storm remains silent, allowing the audience to chant his name in the background. And once the cheers down die a little, he licks dry lips and leans into the microphone that Spencer holds out towards

Mark Storm: Every match I have here get's bigger and bigger, and this, you're right is the biggest one yet. There's an opportunity tonight, where I may not even have one single match, but compete in three. Three matches, all in the hopes that at the end of the night, I'm heralded the Frontier Lions Cup winner. I've faced Yun before and I beat her Spence. I face her again tonight and I'm hoping for the same result, in fact, I know it's going to be the same result. I've worked too hard for too long Spencer, I'm not wasting this opportunity.

Spencer Burke: If you do get through, it only get's harder and harder -

Before Burke can finish his sentence Storm interrupts him.

Mark Storm: You don't have to tell me it get's harder Spence. I know that. The people out there, they know that. Heck, the whole locker room knows it too. The possibility of facing Dom Harter or Chandler Scott in the next round, two former champions who have built their careers in this place, it's insane. I've said it so many times that I want to face those two, because they're two of the best. But don't let what they've done here cloud your judgement. What they've done here doesn't matter tonight, what everyone's done here, it doesn't matter. Tonight, we're all on the same boat, all fighting towards the end goal Spence, we're all equals.

Crew Member: Storm, times up!

Once his name is called out Storm bows his head and closes his eyes tight, silence exasperating the moment.

Mark Storm: This is it Spencer, this is my moment.

He opens his eyes and looks at the camera.

Mark Storm: This is our moment.

[FGA Office]

FRONTIER LIONS CUP - QUARTERFINALS
Mark Storm vs. Yun Goeun

"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 myself."

"FxxK Wit Us" by Lee Hi plays over the PA system as Yun Goeun comes out from the back to a chorus of boos. Yun smirks and ignores the boos as she walks down to the ring. As she 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.

J.A. Aldridge: THIS is a Quarterfinals Match in the Frontier Lions Cup tournament! It is set for one fall with a fifteen minute time limit! Introducing first, being accompanied to the ring by her bodyguard, Yoshihiro Gotoh! From Seoul, South Korea! Weighing in at 122 pounds… YUN GOEUN!

As Yun reaches the ring she slides in and quickly walks to her corner and sits down, crossing her legs as she does, leaning back against the lower turnbuckle. With Yun now in the ring, her bodyguard walks down to the ring and takes his position in her corner.

Kris Cruise: Yun qualified for this tournament just a little over a month ago when she defeated Matt Bishop. She talked about not being satisfied with her performance over the last several months. She talked about rededicating herself to wrestling. Tonight could turn her fortunes around in a major way.

Stephy Auger: Yun has been a champion elsewhere. She knows what it takes to make it to the top. She’s just three matches away from that guaranteed title shot.

The lights in the arena begin to dim and the FGA audience rise to their feet, as the nostalgic melody of "Bad Guy" by Jordon Comoli begins to play through the PA speakers. Smoke begins to rise from the stage and the audience begin to applaud, as emerging from the clouded mist is the self proclaimed spokesman of a generation - Mark Storm, who stands tall at the top of the entrance ramp. A smile is plastered on his face as he marvels at the scenery, embracing all the cheers as he close his eyes and widens his arms before coming down the ramp.

J.A. Aldridge: Her opponent… from New York, Brooklyn! Weighing in at 220 pounds! He is “The Schizophrenic Prince of Pro Wrestling”, MARK STORM!

Standing by the edge of the ring, he lets out a triumphant roar, with the audience roaring back to him as he jumps onto the apron before he slingshots his way over the top rope. Dressed in his usual wrestling attire; consisting black boots, with black knee pads, wrestling trunks with his name written on them and with stars coming down both sides, tape wrapped around his elbows, and mixed martial arts styled gloves. He falls to his knees in the middle of the ring, looking up at the heavens as his theme music slowly begins to fade out.

Kris Cruise: Mark Storm has al-

While Storm is still on his knees, Yun comes up from behind and nails him in the back of the head with a standing side kick. The crowd boos as she turns him over and makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Storm kicks out.

Kris Cruise: Yun wasting no time going right after Storm!

Yun picks up Storm and whips him into the corner. She then runs across the ring before delivering a stiff clothesline. After tossing Storm through the ropes and to the outside, Yun reaches through the ropes and grabs a hold of him. She then takes Storm, pulls him along the middle rope and then plants him with a spike DDT. She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Storm kicks out.

Kris Cruise: Yun just planted him with that DDT! He kicked out, but I think that was off of instinct more than anything.

Yun picks up Storm and whips him into the corner. She runs across the ring, hurls herself at Storm and connects with running knees. After taking a few steps back, Yun connects with a roundhouse kick that rocks Storm. She then brings her opponent from out of the corner before delivering a single knee facebreaker. She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Storm kicks out.

Kris Cruise: Yun has been the aggressor early in this match. I haven’t seen Yun fight like this in ages!

Stephy Auger: It’s a sight to see, Cruise! If she keeps this up, she’ll have punched her ticket to the Semis!

Yun picks up Storm and whips him into the ropes. When he returns, Yun goes for a running clothesline. But Storm ducks and stops as Yun heads into the ropes. When she returns, Storm turns around and connects with a bicycle knee that stops her dead in her tracks. While Yun is dazed, Storm turns around and delivers a Pelé Kick. Storm returns to his feet, turns Yun around, grabs a hold of her and delivers an inverted exploder suplex.

Kris Cruise: Now Storm is fighting back!

Storm picks up Yun and delivers a forearm to the face, then a slap, shoot kick to the thigh, spinning back-fist and follows up with a clothesline that turns her inside out. He makes the cover.

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

Yun gets her shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: Storm nearly got the three there!

As Storm picks up Yun, Yun begins to nail him with a series of punches to the midsection. She then turns and takes off into the ropes. When Yun comes back, she throws out a clothesline. But Storm ducks and runs towards the ropes. When Yun turns around, she gets caught with a springboard cutter.

Kris Cruise: Storm Search! Storm Search from out of nowhere!

Stephy Auger: Come on, Yun, come on...

Storm picks up Yun and lifts her up onto his shoulders before delivering the GTS.

Kris Cruise: Dystopia! That’s gotta be it!

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
THREE!

“Bad Guy” plays throughout the arena as the crowd cheers.

J.A. Aldridge: Here is your winner, MARK STORM!

Storm gets his arm raised as the crowd continues to cheer.

Kris Cruise: Storm picks up the win! He’s advancing to the Semifinals against the winner of Dom Harter and Chandler Scott. Yun came out hard and nearly got the three count over Storm. But Storm was able to catch her with that bicycle knee strike to the jaw and it was all downhill for Yun from there.

Coming up next is the fourth and final Quarterfinals Match of the night between Dom Harter and Chandler Scott. But right now, let’s send it to the back where Spencer Burke is standing by. Spencer!

[FGA Office]

(Spencer Burke is standing by)

Spencer Burke: We still have a ton of great matches for you here tonight. But joining me at this time is Chandler Scott.

Spencer Burke: Tonight, you step into the ring with Dom Harter for the first time. What are your thoughts as you head into this Dream Match?

Chandler Scott: They say you never forget your first. Unless your first is Dom Harter. In which case, you want to do everything you can to forget that awful memory.

FGA still has the sour taste in its mouth from when you won two Gold Rush Rumbles. There’s still the rancid stench in the air from when you became the first Triple Crown Winner. Thankfully, we don’t have to hear you droning on for hours on end about being the first Golden Crown Winner. Looks like Cordy beat you to that, didn’t she? I guess that’s something else she’ll be able to hold over your head, huh?

And if I have anything to say about it, you won’t be the next Golden Crown Winner. At least not tonight. Because I plan on going in that ring, doing what I do best and advancing to the Semifinals. Now Dom, I’m by no means looking past you. I’m not even selling you short. I’ll give you your credit. You’re tenacious. No, that’s not just a nickname. But it’s a way of life for you. I can think of names throughout our industry. Guys that are ten times as talented as you. But here’s the thing. They have no motivation. Their work ethic? Nonexistent. But your work ethic isn’t piss poor and you’re certainly not lacking in motivation. You’ve got a keen eye. You’re opportunistic. You’re able to take advantage of key situations which is why you’re ten times as successful as they’ll ever be. But being tenacious will only get you so far out here tonight.

When it comes to pure wrestling, this isn’t a contest. But I’m not expecting a pure wrestling match with you, Dom. I’m not expecting us to chain wrestle and go hold for hold. I’m expecting you to take every shortcut. I expect you to throw every eye rake, poke, choke and low blow at me. The self-admitted trickster doesn’t just have a few tricks up his sleeve. You’ve got a whole magic show up there and you will go throw every last one of them to advance.

Which is why I have to keep my eyes peeled, Burke. Not just for the tricks. But for his people. Oh Dom, did you think we forgot? Let’s rewind back to a few months ago when you were chasing Izzy Anders throughout the halls with two masked assailants in tow. Those same two people haven’t been seen since. Is the band back? Are the crows flocking together again? Who knows. But even if they are, the three of you won’t be able to rip that Cup away from these talons.

Tonight, Burke, I head to the ring for the first of three times. And no matter who I face in the semi finals or the finals, at the end of tonight, every head must bow and every tongue must confess that Chandler… Reigns… Supreme.

[FGA Office]

FRONTIER LIONS CUP - QUARTERFINALS
Dom Harter vs. Chandler Scott

The lights dim as the sound of a guitar plays throughout the arena. Red lasers soon begin to shoot out from the stage. Once their attention has been captured, the crowd turns to the entryway to prepare for the man that's about to walk out. At the 25 second mark, “Animal Ghosts” bursts through the speakers. Chandler Scott steps through the curtain with outstretched arms to a loud ovation from the crowd.

J.A. Aldridge: The following is a Quarterfinals Match in the Frontier Lions Cup tournament! It is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, from Hyannis, Massachusetts! Weighing in at 228 pounds… CHANDLER SCOTT!

Chandler makes his way down to the ring with a smirk on his face. After slapping hands with a fan or two, he rolls himself into the ring as the lights come back on. Chandler times his ascension onto the middle ropes with the beginning of the chorus. The crowd sings along with the chorus while Chandler poses with his arms stretched. When the chorus ends, Chandler hops off the middle ropes, turns and lands on his feet. He begins slipping off his leather jacket and tosses it to the outside as he waits the opening bell.

Kris Cruise: Chandler Scott has done a lot of things here in FGA. He’s been beyond impressive. He’s often regarded as one of the best to ever do it here. But one thing he’s never done in this.

Stephy Auger: That’s right. He’s never been in a Frontier Lions Cup before. So you’ve got to wonder if he’s got the stamina to potentially make it through all three matches here tonight. He’s also coming off of an injury as well. How will his body hold up? You would have to imagine that the Chivalry is Dead Match is still taking his toll on him.

Kris Cruise: Scott has made it clear that he views this tournament has his chance to get back to the top. The match is simple. Three matches and you’re back in the title picture. But that’s much easier said than done. You brought up a good point earlier though. Scott’s coming back from an injury. But so is Harter. I wonder how both of their bodies will hold up in this match. Forget the Finals or the Semi. Will they even be able to make it past this match? You brought up the Draw between Fujiko Mine and Savannah Taylor. I think we might just see another Draw here as well.

The opening chords of “Low Self Opinion” begin to play throughout the arena as the some of crowd begin to boo, while others cheer. After ten seconds or so, Dom Harter steps out from behind the curtain. He throws his arms out to either side, the ever familiar crooked grin plastered on his face as he begins to stride down the aisle, soaking in the reaction that are coming from the fans here in Anaheim, California.

J.A. Aldridge: His opponent, from Cambridge, Ontario, Canada! Weighing in at 225 pounds! He is “The Tenacious Little Bastard”, DOM HARTER!

Harter climbs up the ring steps and climbs in through the middle rope; once inside the squared circle, Harter climbs up to the middle rope, posing for the fans as he waits for the match to start.

Kris Cruise: It arguably doesn’t get any better than this, Stephy. It’s Dom Harter and Chandler Scott in the Quarterfinals. Not the Finals. Not the Semis. The Quarters!

Stephy Auger: After everyone qualified, the popular opinion was that the winner of this match would go on to win the entire tournament. But with Karma having a Bye to the Finals and Storm defeating Yun is just a little under seven minutes, I wouldn’t be surprised if either of these two don’t have enough left in the tank after this match. Heck, we’ve already seen one Quarterfinals Match end in a Draw. This match is even more even than that was one, so I wouldn’t be shocked it Harter and Scott go the limit here, as well.

Kris Cruise: Since Dom Harter has returned from injury this past Spring, he’s talked about three things and three things only. Nudes, The Grand Slam, and the Frontier Lions Cup. He and his former tag partner Malcolm Drake won the first Dynamic Duos tournament way back in 2013. Dom Harter is also a two-time Gold Rush Rumble winner, winning them in 2013 and 2014. He’s a former Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Champion, Pride Champion and two-time Heavyweight Champion. But there’s just two things missing from his mantle, Stephy. The Mid-Atlantic Legacy Championship and the Frontier Lions Cup. You can hear it in his voice whenever he talks about it. You can see it in his eyes whenever he mentions it. He wants this and he wants this in a bad way.

The bell sounds as both men slowly make their way out of the corner and head towards the center of the ring. The two men stare each other down while “Harter” and “Chandler” chants ring throughout various pockets of the crowd.

Kris Cruise: It looks like we’ve got fans of both men in the house tonight.

Stephy Auger: Yeah, but they’ve got their detractors as well.

Both men step back before circling the ring. After sizing each other up, they inch towards each other and motion for a lock up. But Chandler ducks under, goes behind and applies a waist lock from behind. He then hoists Harter up before throwing him down with a waist lock takedown. Harter gets back up on all fours. As soon as he returns to a vertical base, Scott throws him back down with another waist lock takedown. He then spins around on Harter’s back and applies a front facelock. When Harter tries to return to his feet, Scott brings him back down to the canvas with a gator roll. Harter tries to return to a vertical base. But again, Scott brings him down with another gator roll. After slapping the canvas out of frustration, Harter slowly returns to his feet. He then uses his strength to move Scott across the ring and against the ropes. The ref then gives Scott until the count of five to break the hold.

Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR…

As soon as Scott gets his arms in the air, Harter goes for a cheap shot. But Scott ducks the punch before scurrying back to the center of the ring.

Kris Cruise: Harter’s not going to win a wrestling match with Scott.

Stephy Auger: Nope, but he can with a slugfest!

Harter makes his way over towards Scott and locks up with him. After jockeying for position, Harter places Scott in a side headlock. But Scott doesn’t stay there for long as he’s able to slip out and reverse into a hammerlock from behind. He then spins Harter around and catches him in a side headlock. Harter then shoves Scott off him and into the ropes. When Scott returns, Harter knocks him down with a standing shoulder block. He then runs into the ropes. When Harter returns, Scott turns over onto his stomach. But instead of skipping over his opponent like most grapplers would, Harter delivers an elbow drop to the back. He then pulls Scott over and makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Scott kicks out.

Harter picks up Scott and goes for an irish whip. But Scott reverses, sending Harter into the ropes. When Harter returns, Scott leapfrogs over him. Harter continues to run into the ropes. When Harter returns, Scott knocks him down with a clothesline. He makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Harter kicks out.

Kris Cruise: Both men with a nearfall thus far. They know the importance of getting through this match as quickly as possible. They know they don’t have forever in there. There’s no feeling out process. You won’t see these two trying to kill time. They’re gonna go for it, Stephy.

Scott picks up Harter, moves him into the corner and unleashes a series of knife edge chops. He then takes Harter and goes for an irish whip. But Harter reverses, sending Scott into the opposite corner. Harter runs across the ring. But he runs into a back elbow to the face. As Harter stumbles back, Scott hoists himself up onto the middle ropes. But before he can dive off and knock Harter down with a European Uppercut, Harter runs into the corner and shoves Scott, sending him over the top rope to the floor.

Kris Cruise: Oh! Scott with a hard fall to the floor!

Harter rolls to the outside and puts the boots to Scott. Harter yanks him up, spins around and throws him hard against the guard rail. While Scott is seated against the rail, Harter begins to stomp away on his chest. He then reaches down, yanks up Scott and whips him hard into the steel steps.The steps go flying as Scott clutches his shoulder.

Kris Cruise: Scott crashes hard into the steps shoulder-first!

Stephy Auger: That wasn’t just any shoulder, Cruise! That was the left arm that was previously injured!

As Scott tries to pull himself up using the edge of the apron, Harter comes up from behind and connects with a kidney shot. After slamming Scott face-first onto the apron, Harter shoves him back into the ring. The Tenacious Little Bastard then rolls himself back in and makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Scott kicks out.

Harter picks up Scott, performs an arm-wrench and then delivers a series of short-arm shoulder blocks to the arm. Each shoulder block causes Scott to grimace. After wrenching Scott’s arm again, Harter follows up with a short-arm clothesline that nearly knocks the air right out of Scott. He drops down and makes the cover.

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

Harter picks up Scott, places him in a side headlock and rakes his face along the top rope. When Harter lets go, Scott stumbles into a nearby corner. After delivering a clubbing shot across the back, Harter turns Scott around and delivers a series of shoulder thrusts to the midsection. Harter begins to hammer away with a series of forearm shots that send Scott slumping down in the corner. While Scott’s seated in the corner, Harter steps back and chokes him. The ref gives Harter until the count of five to break the choke.

Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR…

Harter willingly lets go and motions to walk away… only to come back, choke Scott and pull down on the top rope.

Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR…

Harter reluctantly breaks the choke. He then reaches down and begins pulling Scott back to his feet. Once Scott gets back up, he nails Harter with three punches to the midsection. But the comeback is cut off by a knee strike to the midsection. He then brings a doubled over Scott from out of the corner, grabs a hold of his tights and plants him with a pulling piledriver. Harter turns over and makes the cover.

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

Kris Cruise: Chandler Scott looked to have something going early on. But Dom Harter stopped that and it’s been all Harter since.

Stephy Auger: Yep. Harter has also gone to work on that previously injured left arm. We’ll see if Harter continues to attack it.

Harter picks up Scott and doubles him over with another knee strike. He then turns and heads into the ropes. When Harter comes back, he connects with a knee lift that sends Scott stumbling back into the ropes. Harter sees Scott trying to shake out the cobwebs. So he runs over and throws out a lariat. But Scott ducks and dumps him over the top rope and to the floor.

Kris Cruise: And now Harter has been sent to the outside!

As Harter begins to get up on the floor, Scott turns and grabs a hold of the top rope. When Harter returns to his feet, Scott goes for a slingshot plancha. But Harter catches him in mid air.

Kris Cruise: This doesn’t look good for Scott!

After shifting Scott over onto his shoulder, Harter runs forward and goes to launch him face-first into the ring post. But Scott slips down from behind and shoves Harter into the ring post.

Kris Cruise: Right into the post!

Scott rolls back into the ring as Harter rounds the ring post after smacking his face off of it. He then crouches down as he waits for Harter to get into position. While Harter tries to shake out the cobwebs, Scott turns and takes off into the far ropes. When Harter turns around, Scott leaps through the ropes and goes for a suicide dive. But Harter counters with a powerslam onto the floor.

Kris Cruise: My goodness! Harter counters the suicide dive with a powerslam right into the floor! Did you hear that thud?

Stephy Auger: I felt it!

Harter quickly picks up Scott and rolls him back into the ring. He then slides himself back in and makes the cover.

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

Harter picks up Scott and whips him hard into the corner. Scott arches his back in pain as soon as his spine collides with the turnbuckles. Harter goes over, takes Scott and whips him hard into the previous corner. As Scott stumbles from out of the corner, Harter scoops him up for a Samoan Driver. But Scott is able to slip down from behind before shoving Harter into the ropes. When Harter comes back, Scott sends him flipping down to the canvas with a kitchen sink to the midsection. As Harter sits up, Scott runs over and delivers a rolling neck snap. He then picks up Harter, brings him over towards the corner and delivers a snap suplex into the turnbuckles. Harter tolls out of the corner. He howls in pain while holding his back and kicking his legs. Scott heads over and makes the cover.

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

Scott picks up Harter, lifts him up and delivers a rib breaker. He makes the cover.

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

Scott picks up Harter and whips him into the ropes. When Harter comes back, Scott scoops him up from the side and delivers a pendulum backbreaker. He then heads into the corner and hoists himself up onto the middle ropes. When Harter gets up and turns around, Scott dives off and knocks him down with a European Uppercut. He makes the cover.

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

Scott picks up Harter and goes for an irish whip. But Harter reverses, sending Scott into the ropes. When Scott returns, Harter sets up for a back body drop. But Scott stops, grabs him around the neck, hooks his leg and delivers a snap fisherman neckbreaker. He makes the cover.

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

Harter gets his shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: Scott’s starting to pull away here. Harter’s in trouble.

Scott picks up Harter and whips him into the ropes. When Harter returns, Scott sets up for a back body drop. But Harter stops, grabs Scott around the neck, hooks his leg, lifts him up and plants him with a fisherman buster. He turns and makes the cover.

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

Scott gets his shoulder up.

Harter makes another lateral press.

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

Harter makes another lateral press and holds down Scott’s wrist.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Scott kicks out.

Harter mounts himself on top of Scot and pummels him with a series of right hands. After getting off of Scott, Harter reaches down, pulls him up and delivers a series of knees to the midsection. While Scott’s doubled over, Harter goes for a flapjack powerbomb. But as soon as Scott gets up on Harter’s shoulders, he begins hammering away with right hands to the head. After slipping down in front of Harter, Scott nails him with a four European Uppercuts. He then takes Harter and whips him into the corner. Scott then runs across the ring and towards the corner. But the crowd cheers as Harter steps out, grabs Scott and delivers an overhead belly to belly suplex into the turnbuckles.

Kris Cruise: What a counter by Dom Harter!

Stephy Auger: He folded him up!

Harter drags Scott from out of the corner and makes the cover.

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

Scott gets his shoulder up.

Harter picks up Scott and whips him hard into the corner. After Scott collides sternum-first with the corner, he stumbles back into Harter, who lifts him up and delivers a belly to back suplex. Harter purposely delivers a high angle version so that Scott also falls on his lift shoulder. Harer pulls him over and makes the cover.

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

Scott gets his shoulder up.

Harter picks up Scott and positions him for another piledriver. But Scott quickly counters with a standing double leg takedown. He then takes Harter’s legs, crosses them and tries to turn him over into a Sharpshooter. But Harter uses his leg strength to shove Scott down. As Scott tries to get up to his feet, Harter beats him to the punch. He then runs over and connects with a high knee lift. While Scott’s dazed, Harter takes off into the ropes. When Harter returns, he throws out a lariat. But Scott ducks and runs into the ropes. When Scott returns, the crowd cheers as he brings Harter down with a spinning sitout sleeper slam. He makes the cover.

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

Harter gets his shoulder up.

Scott picks up Harter, lifts him up and delivers a Shotgun Stunner. He then sits up Harter before taking off into the ropes. When Scott returns, the crowd cheers as he flattens Harter with a sliding forearm smash. He makes the cover.

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

Harter gets his shoulder up. He then turns over to the side, shakes his head and gingerly touches his jaw.

Kris Cruise: Harter got his shoulder up. But boy did he get rocked by that forearm.

Stephy Auger: Scott might have dislocated his jaw.

Scott picks up Harter and lifts him up off the ground with a fireman’s carry, but Harter stops him with an elbow to the side of the head. Harter then nails Scott with another elbow… and another… and another. While Scott’s doubled over, Harter turns and takes off into the ropes. When Harter returns, the crowd cheers as Scott lifts him up onto his shoulders with a fireman’s carry. But before he can flip Harter over into a neckbreaker, Harter nails him with rapid elbows to the side of the head. He then slips down from behind, hooks his arm around Scott’s neck, lifts him up and delivers a reverse implant DDT. Harter then quickly lifts up Chandler before locking him in a Dragon Sleeper.

Kris Cruise: Empty Shell!

The crowd is buzzing as Harter locks in the Empty Shell. Scott begins frantically waving his free arm around. He’s trying to grab onto anything and everything can. But he’s nowhere near the ropes. The ref asks him if he wants to give up. But Scott refuses. So Harter cinches in the hold.

Kris Cruise: He’s got nowhere to go!

Harter can be seen gritting his teeth as he tries to choke out Scott. The ref asks Scott if he wants to give up. But again, Scott refuses.

Kris Cruise: Scott’s trying to fight it off.

Stephy Auger: But for how long? How long can he hold out?

As Harter keeps the hold applied, Scott’s legs begin to go out and he slips down to the canvas. Harter smirks as he stands hunched over while keeping the hold applied. The ref gets down and asks Scott if he wants to give up. But Scott doesn’t respond. So the ref asks him again if he wants to give up. But still, there’s no response. So the ref reaches down and raises Scott’s arm. The ref lets go and watches the arm falls down to Scott’s side.

Kris Cruise: That’s one!

The ref raises Scott’s arm for a second time and lets go. He watches as the arm falls down to Scott’s side.

Stephy Auger: That’s two!

Harter smirks as the ref raises Scott’s arm for a third time. The ref lets and watches as the arm fall, then stops halfway. Harter’s eyes widen with shock.

Stephy Auger: What!?

Kris Cruise: There’s still some fight left in him!

Harter begins yelling at Scott to tap. Scott respond by using his free hand to grab onto Harter’s hair. He then pulls Harter’s head down while reaching up with one of his legs and nailing him with a knee to the face. Scott continues to nail Harter with a knee to the face until Harter breaks the hold. While Scott turns over on all fours, Harter stumbles into a nearby corner. Once Harter shakes out the cobwebs, he turns and sees Scott pulling himself by using the ropes in the opposite corner. So Harter charges across the ring, hurls himself into the corner and goes for a double knee strike. But Scott moves out of the way, causing Harter to crash into the corner to a roar of cheers.

Kris Cruise: Harter missed!

Scott picks up Harter and whips him into the corner. He then runs across the ring and connects with a European Uppercut. He then takes Harter and whips him back into the previous corner. Scott runs across the ring and goes for a flying corner elbow smash. But Harter moves out of the way, causing Scott to crash into the corner. After Scott stumbles from out of the corner and turns around, Harter scoops him up across his shoulder and plants him with a Samoan Driver. He turns over and makes the cover.

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

Scott gets his shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: So close!

Harter picks up Scott and knocks him down with a short-arm clothesline. But Harter hangs onto Scott’s wrist. So he yanks up Scott back to his feet before swatting him down with another short-arm clothesline. Again, Harter doesn’t let go of the hold. Harter yanks up a limp Scott back to his feet before throwing out another short-arm clothesline. But Scott ducks and counters with a spinning sitout sleeper slam.

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

ONE!





TWO!





THREE!





FOUR!





FIVE!





SIX!






SEVEN!

Scott picks up Harter and nails him with an elbow smash. Harter comes back with an elbow smash of his own. Scott comes back with another elbow smash. Harter answers back with an elbow smash of his own. Scott then nails Harter with another elbow smash. Harter goes to answer, but Scott cuts him off with a European Uppercut. Scott then delivers an elbow smash, followed by a European Uppercut. He then delivers another elbow smash, European Uppercut combo… and another… and another…. And anoth-NO! Harter cuts him off by lunging forward and cracking him in the skull with a heabdutt. The thud from the blow echoes throughout the crowd.

Kris Cruise: Jesus!

Scott appears glassy eyed as he slowly drops down to a knee. Harter then turns and takes off into the ropes. When Harter returns, Scott gets back to his feet and knocks him down with a Pinpoint Dropkick. He then picks up Harter, lifts him up across his shoulders and finally delivers a fireman’s carry neckbreaker. The crowd roars with cheers as Scott picks up Harter, turns and blasts him with a hangman’s Roaring Hammer. He drops down and makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
THREE!

“Animal Ghosts” blasts over the PA as the crowd explodes with cheers.

J.A. Aldridge: Here is your winner, CHANDLER SCOTT!

Scott gets his arm raised while the crowd continues to cheer.

Kris Cruise: Chandler Scott picks up the win! He advances to the Semifnal where he’ll be facing Mark Storm! Meanwhile, Johnny Karma receives a Bye due to the draw between Fujiko Mine and Savannah Taylor, so he advances to the Finals. Who do you got, Stephy?

Stephy Auger: Any of these three can win it, I guess. How much will Scott have left? There’s Storm, who is clearly the fresher of the two. Then there’s Karma, who is the freshest of the three. But will his hot hand be cold by the time the Finals roll around? All three of them have something going for them and against them.

Kris Cruise: Coming up next, we shift our focus from the Frontier Lions Cup to tag team action. It’s Winner Take All as Status Quo, the reigning FGA World Tag Team Champions take on RubyWay, the reigning WLW Tag Team Champions, and The Next Level, the former FGA World Tag Team Champions!

[FGA Office]

Standing before the FGA Above and Beyond banner, we find Spencer Burke with a microphone in hand, ready to conduct his next interview.

Spencer Burke: Ladies and gentlemen, we are moments away from a huge triple threat tag team match for the coveted FGA World Tag Team Championship that will also look to unify the WLW tag team belts to crown the undisputed tag team champions. I know that I can’t wait to see which of these great teams walks out of the Honda Center with all of the gold. My next guest will also be very interested to see the outcome of this match, you all know him as the man who pissed himself on national TV…

Burke snickered as Rother screamed at him from off camera.

“Very funny, Burke!”

Rother stepped into the shot wearing one of his usual, ill-fitting suits from Joseph A. Bank.

Anthony Rother: Oh yes, let’s all have a good laugh at the man who was robbed of ten thousand dollars two weeks ago. Let’s all have a good laugh at the man who was embarrassed at the hands of crooked management who put him in a dangerous situation in order to sell tickets to the mutants. A company, I might add, that has done everything to rob Jason Marx and Chris Tryon of their rightful position in the tag team division. The Usual Suspects have pinned Ruby Tyler, they have beaten Status Quo, and are rightfully due for a shot at the tag team titles. But no, they continue to punish the men who put the tag team titles on the map because they can’t stand the fact that they have employed me, the man who always tells the truth, Anthony Reginald Rother.

Spencer Burke: Hey, even I admit that The Usual Suspects are a great team, but your guys lost fair and square two weeks ago on Vertigo.

Rother jerked his head and glared at Burke with disdain.

Anthony Rother: Says you! What I saw was a referee that was obviously paid off by Ruby Tyler and Kevin Hardaway to make sure that they went into Above and Beyond with a victory under their belts.

Spencer Burke rolled his eyes in amusement, almost as if he was waiting for whatever lies were about to come out of Rother’s mouth.

Anthony Rother: The Usual Suspects were controlling that match, and had it won at least three times, but NO! The official noticeably counted much slower every single time the Suspects went for a pin. It’s a travesty, Burke. Even the trolls on social media are questioning the legitimacy of this upcoming match taking place without greatest team in the company partaking in it.

Spencer Burke: Interesting, I haven’t seen anybody wondering why your men aren’t booked tonight.

Anthony Rother: Then maybe you should get on Twitter and follow our great world champion, Johnny Cannon. Even the champ took the time out of his busy schedule of being a gentlemen and promoting this company to point out the fact that The Usual Suspects should be in this match tonight. Besides, you really need to scroll through his photos, so you can see what true professionals dress like.

Rother ironically tugged at Burke’s blazer, which probably cost more on its own than Rother’s entire ensemble.

Spencer Burke: The only stirrings that I’ve heard involving Jason Marx and Chris Tryon, is that they don’t seem to be too happy with you.

Rother scoffed and laughed all too fake, displaying an uncomforting reaction.

Anthony Rother: Lies, Burke. Don’t tell me that you’ve been reading all of this nonsense from that idiot blogger behind Wrestlescoop.com…

Spencer Burke: I have, and whoever this person is, seems to have taken exception to you trying to discredit their reporting. In fact, they sent in video proof to back their story, let’s roll the footage now.

Anthony Rother: What?!?!?![/p]

Anthony Rother sat on the wooden bench with his head in his hands, shortly after the match with RubyWay in Vegas. Our vantage point consisted of a grainy view from a hidden camera in one of the walls; the quality wasn’t great, but it was good enough to see the still wet crotch area from Rother’s gray slacks. Jason Marx and Chris Tryon entered the room, still in their gear, towels draped over their shoulders, and a few plates of food from the catering area in their hands. Both men sat down at a small table in the center of the dressing room and begin eating from their plates.

“After twenty years,” Marx began with a mouthful of food, “still nothing better than a post-match meal.”

“Mmmm…” Tryon sounded back half-heartedly, “tastes better after a victory, but still not bad. I still say we should all band together as a roster and push for FGA to run more shows out of Vegas. When was the last time they actually had shrimp for us?”

“I told you to stay away from that,” Marx pointed a half-eaten drumstick, “was probably thrown out by one of the casinos. Don’t ever trust food that’s not normally part of the spread.”

“Friendly advice from the veteran,” Tryon chuckled as bits of food flew from his mouth.

“What the hell is wrong with you guys?” Rother yelled at the two men. They both shared a short confused look with each other before they turned their attention to their manager.

“We LOST tonight!” he screeched. “All of the momentum we had, gone” he jerked his arms up for illustration. “We had a chance to muscle our way into that tag team match at the Above and Beyond with a win tonight. I don’t care HOW management tried to play this one off, there’s no WAY that we could have been left out of the discussion.”

Rother stood up from the bench and inched closer to Marx and Tryon.

“It was ours for the taking, but look what happened…” Rother motioned to his soiled slacks. “I was embarrassed on national TV, and you two,” he pointed an accusing finger at the two men, “you BLEW it!”

“YOU cost us our shot at a big money payout,” he indicted, “YOU cost us a chance at the tag team titles,” he charged, “YOU have allowed us to be the odd men out,” he blamed, “and once again we find ourselves doing NOTHING while the rest of these LOSERS get a bigger paycheck.”

Rother moved closer and got in Marx’s face. “I hope you’re enjoying the scraps laid out before you,” he motioned to the plate of food, “because it’s ALL you’re going to get here in this god forsaken company!”

Historically out of the two men, Jason Marx had always been the brains of the operations. Chris Tryon was all emotion, but Marx – being the crafty veteran – had almost always kept any anger, any rage, hidden from view. All of those emotions, he felt, might give you some sort of short-term momentum, but it also led to carelessness and mistakes; case in point, Chris Tryon being slaughtered by Dom Harter in that Dearborn steel cage match.

In this moment, however, something snapped in Jason Marx. Perhaps it was the fact that as far as the three men knew, nobody else would bear witness to the events unfolding before us; or maybe the aging veteran felt that his time was running short; or maybe, just maybe, the one person Marx refused to ever be chastised by was a slimebag like Anthony Rother.

Rother’s eyes grew wide as Marx flipped over the table, dumping the food onto the ground, and in one fluid motion grabbed his manager by the collar of his shirt and flung him into the lockers behind him. Rother slammed against them with a loud crack and slumped to the floor while Marx angrily flung a folding chair in his direction. As Rother scurried out of the way of the chair, Marx flew over and pulled him to his feet, placing a forearm across his throat and slamming him against the lockers again.

“Listen here you little sh-censored-t,” Marx snorted as bits of food flew into Rother’s face, “you are here because you made promises. You promised that you could do the same for us, as you did with your boys back in Florida. You promised us, that you had the unlimited funding from mommy that would take care of all our expenses. You promised us that you would take care of promoting us so all we had to do was focus on wrestling.”

Rother’s face had transformed from a pale white to shades of red as Marx cut off his air supply.

“We. Don’t. Need. You…” Marx calmly stated. “We could have approached FGA on our own, and they gladly would have taken us back. You are here, because we allow you to be here. You are here to do a job, and you seem to have forgotten what your job was. Your job as a mouthpiece, is to speak for us so we don’t have to be bothered with all of that, your job is to promote us and to get us booked onto the big shows like Above and Beyond. Keep the focus on your clients, that’s what you do – and you suck at your job, Rother.”

Rother began convulsing for air, but Marx pressed even harder as his face had now turned purple.

“You made this sh-censored-t tonight about you and Ruby Tyler, you took the focus off of us, and because of that – she made you look like a blithering fool and you pissed yourself in front of a national audience,” he stated with disgust. “Yeah, we lost tonight. It happens sometimes. You learn from it and you move on, and that’s what we’ll do. That’s what our job is. Your job is to somehow figure out, how to get us on Above and Beyond, your job is to figure out how we’re going to make an impact, and I suggest you begin doing your job or else we can find out somebody who can.”

Marx removed his forearm and dropped Rother to the ground. He immediately began gasping for air as if his life depended on it. Marx angrily stormed off and left the room while Tryon looked over at Rother with a blank stare.

“Mother f-censored-ker…” Tryon stated coldly, “that was the last of the shrimp, Rother…”

The feed cuts as we return to a smirking Spencer Burke and a horrified Anthony Rother.

Spencer Burke: Your response to this?

A stunned Rother seems at a loss for words.

Spencer Burke: Oh my god, I think we have a first ladies and gentlemen, Anthony Rother is speechless.

Anthony Rother: THAT’S A VIOLATION OF MY PRIVACY! HOW DARE YOU ALLOW THIS TO BE AIRED!!!

Spencer Burke: The truth hurts, doesn’t it?

Anthony Rother: You want truth, Burke? I’ll give you truth! I promised all of you a few weeks ago that we would no longer play games with this corrupt management. We are going to do things our way, and tonight – The Usual Suspects will make an impact that nobody can ignore.

We cut back to the arena feed...

[FGA Office]

TRIPLE THREAT TAG TEAM MATCH
For the FGA WORLD TAG TEAM and the WLW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
(c) Status Quo vs. (c) RubyWay vs. The Next Level

The arena goes dark and “The Game” by Motorhead starts to play, sending the crowd into a roaring frenzy.

Green and red strobes flash throughout the arena as Ricky Valero and Luke Jackson emerge from the backstage area standing side by side. They stand at the top of the rampway, basking in the crowd’s cheers. The share a few words with one another, a confident look on both their faces, before bumping fists and starting toward the ring.

J.A. Aldridge: The following contest is for the WLW TEAM TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP and the FGA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP! It is scheduled for one fall and will be fought under Scramble Rules! Introducing first, the challengers! Making their way to the ring at a total combined weight of 392 pounds! They are the team of Ricky Valero and Luke Jackson… THE NEXT LEVEL!

Jackson sprints down the ramp, slapping hands with the fans before sliding under the bottom rope and crawling to the center of the ring. Valero, meanwhile, climbs up the steel steps and walks across the apron to the corner. He leaps up to the second turnbuckle and throws a fist in the air. Inside the ring, Jackson steps up onto the bottom rope, then props himself up on the middle rope with his other foot and throws one fist in the air as well.

Kris Cruise: The Next Level are the former champions. Since losing the gold, they’ve been on a downward spiral.

Stephy Auger: Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I don’t see that downward spiral stopping anytime soon.

The lights immediately go out in the arena and the roar of the crowd can be heard.

Suddenly, a haunting yet melodic synthesizer riff plays among the PA system as the crowd can be heard clapping their hands to the beat of the song. Obviously they are aware of the song being played for the entrance. “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” by Journey. Yet, when the smooth vocal harmonies of Steve Perry start singing out, the crowd is still clapping and as the first verse plays, a spotlight comes on near the entrance as Kevin Hardaway is standing there at the ramp, lip-syncing the verse as he’s the one singing it, pantomiming to the crowd

Here we stand
Worlds apart
Hearts broken in two, two, two
Sleepless nights
Losing ground
I'm reaching for you, you, you

As the second verse starts playing though, another spotlight appears on the entrance ramp as Ruby Tyler is standing there. She...is not singing. Actually, she’s absolutely baffled and annoyed by what in the hell is going on. She looks at Kevin and starts arguing with him but as the pre-chorus starts playing, the lights come back on and the both of them walk towards the ring. Kevin walking with a bit more bit in his step, Ruby behind him just casually walking to the ring, obviously wondering where she went wrong in this situation.

J.A. Aldridge: Their opponents! Making their way to the ring at a total combined weight of 363 pounds! They are the reigning and defending WLW Tag Team Champions! They are the team of Kevin Hardaway and Ruby Tyler… RUBYWAY!

As the chorus hits, Kevin stands on top of the turnbuckle and Ruby just casually enters the ring. She’s ready for the match, sure...she’s just not ready to deal with Kevin in the same corner right now. Kevin hops off the turnbuckle and slaps Ruby’s shoulder, running around in circles around her. If there ever was a definition of these two in a nutshell, this is indeed it. The song ends and Kevin stands next to Ruby, ready to actually talk strategy oddly enough.

Kris Cruise: RubyWay are looking to capture those FGA World Tag Team Championships here tonight. They’ve been after those belts for awhile now. Tonight could finally be the night!

Stephy Auger: It very well could and I like their chances. They’re not taking anymore crap. They’re standing up and fighting for what they want. They did what Status Quo FAILED to do and that was beat the Usual Suspects. If you ask me, they’ve got the hot hand, Cruise.

...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

As Dan and Peaches make their way to the ring Dan slaps hands with the fans on one side of the entrance-way while Peaches walks down the other side slapping hands with the fans there. At the bottom of the entrance way, Peaches leans in and gives Dan a peck on the cheek as the pair go their separate ways.

J.A. Aldridge: Their opponents! Introducing first, from Raleigh, North Carolina! Weighing in at 200 pounds! He is one-half of the reigning and defending FGA World Tag Team Champions… “The Boss” DAN HERRERA!

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.

The lights dim down and take on a purplish hue as a light smoky mist fills the entranceway. The opening to A$AP Ferg's "New Level"  cues up. 

I’m on a new level

I’m on it, I’m on it

As the beat drops, the crowd gives a loud pop as Cordelia Stevenson emerges from the mist with a bounce in her step and dancing to the music. 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: His partner, from Freeport, Long Island! Weighing in at 146 pounds! She is one half of the reigning and defending FGA World Tag Team Champions… 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: Here are Status Quo, the team that was undefeated for months until they ran into the Usual Suspects just a few weeks ago. There’s been months worth of history between these two teams. There’s some respect here. But there’s some hard feelings as well. Pride won’t be the only thing on the line tonight. The WLW and FGA Tag Titles will be as well. It’s winner take all!

The bell sounds as Cordy Stevenson and Ricky Valero look to start things off. But just as Steven’s about to walk over and engage in a lock up, Kevin Hardaway slaps Stevenson on the back of the shoulder, tagging himself in.

Stevenson does a double take as Hardaway enters the ring. Hardaway looks her up and down before pointing his thumb behind him, motioning for her to take a hike. Stevenson narrows her eyes as she reluctantly steps out onto the apron.

Kris Cruise: I don’t think Stevenson appreciated that tag.

Stephy Auger: I’m pretty sure that Hardaway doesn’t care.

Hardaway turns his attention to Valero, who is waiting eagerly to engage. Hardaway doesn’t make him wait any longer as he marches over and locks up. After jockeying for position, Hardaway moves Valero into the ropes. The ref heads over and gives both men until the count of five to break the hold.

Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR…

Both men make a clean break. While Hardaway's still got his arms in the air, Valero goes for a kick to the midsection. But Hardaway is quick to catch his foot. Hardaway wags his finger at Valero. Valero answers back with an enzuigiri, which sends Hardaway stumbling over towards the ropes. Valero heads over, turns Hardaway around and nails him with a knife edge chop. He then nails Hardaway with another chop… and another. But Valero doesn’t stay in control for long as Hardaway grabs him and tosses him into the corner. After unleashing a ballistic combination of rights and lefts to the midsection, Hardaway begins delivering a series of European Uppercuts that rocks Valero’s head back and forth. He then takes Valero and whips him into the RubyWay corner. Hardaway then runs across the ring and connects with a hard clothesline. The thud from the impact can be heard throughout the arena. Hardaway takes Valero and whips him back into the previous corner. He then runs across the ring and connects with a another hard clothesline.

Hardaway brings Valero from out of the corner and whips him into the ropes. When Valero returns, Hardaway throws him down with an STO. He makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Valero kicks out.

Hardaway picks up Valero, wrenches his arm and then drags him into the corner before tagging in Ruby Tyler.

Kris Cruise: Here comes Ruby Tyler to a nice ovation for the crowd!

Tyler gets in and nails Valero with a punch to the ribs that doubles him over. After delivering a headbutt that causing Valero to stumble over towards the ropes, Tyler heads over, turns Valero around and whips him into the far ropes. When Valero returns, Tyler knocks him down with a jumping side kick. She makes the cover.

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

Tyler picks up Valero and whips him into the ropes. When Valero comes back, Tyler goes for another jumping side kick. But Valero ducks and heads into the ropes, where Luke Jackson makes the blind tag. When Valero returns, he ducks a clothesline from Tyler. When Tyler turns around to face Valero, Jackson comes up from behind and rolls her up in a school boy.

ONE!
.
.
Tyler kicks out.

After both grapplers scramble to get back to their feet, Jackson rolls her up in a small package.

ONE!
.
.
Tyler kicks out.

After both grapplers scramble to get back to their feet, Jackson takes Tyler by the arm and performs an arm wrench. But Tyler is quick to reverse into an arm wrench of her own. The ref asks Jackson if he wants to give up. But Jackson refuses to throw in the towel. He then rolls forward, leans back, kips up and reverses into another arm wrench. The ref checks in with Tyler and asks her if she wants to give up. But she’s not about to throw in the towel. She then rolls over, turns over onto her knees, flips over with a handstand, cartwheels over and sends Jackson flipping down to the canvas with a hard arm wrench. Jackson gets back to his feet, but Tyler knocks him back down with a legsweep. She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Jackson kicks out.

Stephy Auger: Jackson’s pretty quick. But he can’t match Tyler’s speed.

Tyler picks up Jackson and goes for an irish whip. But Jackson reverses, sending her into the ropes. When Tyler returns, Jackson throws out a clothesline. Tyler ducks the clothesline. But she’s not able to avoid Stevenson, who dumps her over the top rope and to the floor with a fireman’s carry.

Kris Cruise: Tyler gets dumped to the outside by Stevenson! Now her and Jackson are the legal grapplers in the ring!

Back in the ring, Stevenson runs over towards Jackson and brings him down with a running hurricanrana. When Jackson gets back to his feet and turns around, Stevenson runs back over and connects with a dropkick, which sends Jackson through the ropes and to the floor.

Stevenson stands up. She looks in front of her and sees Jackson on the outside. She then turns around and sees Tyler on the outside. So she runs over towards the ropes, leaps through them and knocks Tyler down with a suicide dive. Stevenson rolls back in, gets to her feet, runs across the ring, hurls herself over the top rope and knocks down Jackson with a suicide plancha.

Kris Cruise: Stevenson’s flying all over the place! She’s got this capacity crowd going wild!

Stevenson picks up Jackson and rolls him back into the ring. After rolling herself back in, she makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TW-NO!

Hardaway yanks Stevenson up from off of Jackson and tosses her through the ropes and to the floor. He then turns back and makes the lateral press on Jackson.

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

Hardaway picks up Jackson and whips him into the ropes. But instead of coming back, Stevenson grabs him by his legs and yanks him down. After pulling Jackson to the outside, Stevenson goes to get back into the ring to go after Hardaway, but Hardaway cuts her off with a baseball slide.

As Jackson and Stevenson slowly get up on the outside, Hardaway takes off into the far ropes. When Hardaway returns, the crowd cheers as he runs across the ring, hurls himself through the ropes and knocks both Stevenson and Jackson down with a suicide dive.

Kris Cruise: GTFO~!

Valero steps into the ring and bounces against the ropes. When Hardaway gets up and turns around on the outside, Valero flips over the ropes and knocks him down with a somersault plancha.

Kris Cruise: Valero with a dive to the floor!

Tyler gets back into the ring, surveys the damage on the outside and readies herself by grabbing onto the top rope with both hands. When Valero returns to his feet and turns around, Tyler knocks him down with a springboard diving forearm smash.

Stephy Auger: Down goes Valero!

Dan Herrera looks around at all the bodies on the floor before turning to look around at the crowd.

Kris Cruise: What’s Dan Herrera thinking about?

Stephy Auger: He’s thinking about how shiny his head is.

Kris Cruise: Stop it.

Herrera hops down off the apron and crouches down, causing the crowd to cheer with anticipation.

Kris Cruise: Oh boy...

Stevenson slowly gets up on the outside, followed by Jackson, Hardaway, Valero and Tyler. When Tyler turns around, Herrera charges over and launches himself at her. But Tyler dives out of the way. Herrera ends up spearing Valero, who falls into Hardaway. The domino effect causes Hardaway, Jackson and Stevenson to fall down as well.

Kris Cruise: Spear by Dan Herrera!

Stephy Auger: He almost knocked everyone down with it!

When Herrera gets up to his feet and turns around, Tyler jumps up onto the edge of the apron and knocks him down with a springboard roundhouse kick.

Stephy Auger: Tyler’s just too quick for the competition here tonight!

Tyler picks up Herrera and rolls him back into the ring. She then rolls herself back in and makes the cover.

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

Tyler picks up Herrera, marches into the corner and slams him face-first into the top turnbuckle. After turning Herrera around, Tyler delivers an alternating combo of chops and jabs. She then takes Herrera and whips him into the opposite corner. Tyler runs across the ring and goes for a big boot. But Herrera catches her foot with both hands. He then shoves Tyler down to the canvas. After Tyler rolls back up to her feet, Herrera heads from out of the corner and throws out a discus elbow strike. But Tyler ducks and runs into the ropes. When Tyler comes back, she knocks Herrera down with a single leg dropkick. She makes the cover.

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

While Herrera slowly rolls to the outside, Stevenson picks up Tyler, whips her into the ropes and sets up for a back body drop. But when Tyler hits the ropes, Hardaway makes the blind tag. When Tyler comes back, she hurdles over Stevenson. When Stevenson stands up, the crowd cheers as RubyWay knock her down with a leg lariat/chop block combo. He makes the cover.

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

Kris Cruise: The scramble rules that are in place have kept the action face, Stephy. But even with the frantic pace of this match, RubyWay have been able to in control for most of it.

Hardaway picks up Stevenson and nails her with a European Uppercut that sends her stumbling into the ropes. Stevenson bounces off the ropes and comes back with a right hand. She then nails Hardaway with another right hand… and another… and anoth-NO! Hardaway cuts her off with a knee strike to the midsection. He then stomps on the back of her head and throws out a rolling elbow. But Stevenson ducks, hops onto Hardaway's shoulders, turns and goes for a hurricanrana. But instead of Stevenson flipping back to hit the hurricanrana, the crowd cheers as Hardaway counters with a falling powerbomb. He makes the cover.

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

Hardaway picks up Stevenson and whips her into the corner. He charges into the corner. But Stevenson hoists herself up onto the middle ropes and nails Hardaway with a front kick to the face. After slipping down, Stevenson hits Hardaway with a kick to the midsection before tossing him through the ropes. While Hardaway pulls himself up using the ropes, Stevenson doubles him over with a shoulder thrust through the ropes. After taking a few steps back, Stevenson runs into the corner and goes for a Triangle DDT. But after slingshotting herself over the top rope, Hardaway catches her in mid air, runs and rams her back-first into the ring post.

Kris Cruise: OH!

While Stevenson’s on the floor, Tyler runs along the apron, leaps off and crashes on top of her with a flying elbow drop.

Stephy Auger: Look Out Below!

Tyler picks up Stevenson and rolls her back into the ring, where Hardaway drops down with a lateral press.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Stevenson gets her foot on the bottom rope.

Hardaway picks up Stevenson, brings her into the RubyWay corner and tags Tyler back in. RubyWay then take Stevenson and whip her into the far ropes. When Stevenson returns, RubyWay deliver a double flapjack. After Stevenson gets up on her knees, they knock her down with a double superkick. Tyler makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Valero breaks up the pin.

Valero takes Tyler, runs and tosses her through the ropes. But unbeknownst to him, Tyler only lands on the apron. Back in the ring, he makes the cover on Stevenson.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Stevenson gets her shoulder up.

Valero picks up Stevenson and goes for an irish whip. But Stevenson reverses, sending Valero into the ropes. Tyler pulls down the top rope, which sends Valero tumbling to the floor. After Tyler gets back up on the apron, Jackson heads over to attack. But Tyler fends him off with a back elbow to the face. She then turns her attention back to Stevenson, who runs over to attack. But Tyler ducks and counters with a shoulder thrust through the ropes. While Stevenson is doubled over, Tyler executes a sunset flip. The crowd cheers as Stevenson swings her arms wildly to try and regain her balance. Once she does, Stevenson knees down, reaches back, hooks both of Tyler’s legs and leans forward for the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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THR-NO!

Tyler kicks out.

Stevens does a double take before looking at the ref. The ref holds up two fingers.

Kris Cruise: I thought that was going to be three as well!

Stevenson picks up Tyler and whips her into the ropes. When Tyler returns, she brings Stevenson double with a sling blade. She makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Stevenson gets her shoulder up.

Tyler picks up Stevenson and whips her into the ropes. When Stevenson returns, the crowd cheers as she spikes Tyler with a running blockbuster DDT.

Kris Cruise: Head Over Heels!

Stevenson slowly turns over and makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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THRE-NO!

Hardaway dives over and breaks up the pin.

While Tyler slowly rolls to the outside, Hardaway picks up Stevenson and nails her with three elbow strikes to the face. While Stevenson is dazed, Hardaway turns and takes off into the ropes. When Hardaway returns, he throws out a lariat, but Stevenson ducks and runs towards the ropes. When Hardaway turns around, the crowd cheers as he gets knocked down by a springboard roundhouse kick.

Kris Cruise: The Beautiful Nightmare. She makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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TH-NO!

Hardaway gets his shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: Another close call for RubyWay!

Stevenson heads over and tags Herrera back in. When Herrera gets in, he pulls Hardaway up and whips him into the corner. He then runs into the corner and connects with a lariat. After hoisting Hardaway up onto the top turnbuckle, he goes to lift Hardaway up off the turnbuckle for a Muscle buster. But Hardaway blocks by hanging onto the top ropes. Herrera then tries to yank Hardaway off the ropes. But Hardaway hangs onto them for dear life.

Stephy Auger: Herrera’s trying to deliver the Walking Papers. But Hardaway’s having none of it.

Herrera lets go and goes to strike Hardaway with a punch. But Hardaway kicks away Herrera’s hand with one leg and counters with a front kick to the face using the over. Hardaway then nails Herrera with another front kick to the face… and another… and anoth-NO! Herrera catches Hardaway’s keg and yanks him off the top turnbuckle. After Hardaway crashes onto the canvas, Herrera drags him towards the center of the ring, turns him over and applies a Texas Cloverleaf.

Kris Cruise: Forced Retirement!

The crowd cheers as Herrera is yelling at Hardaway to tap. The ref gets down and asks Hardaway if he wants to give up. Hardaway refuses.

Stephy Auger: Hardaway’s trying to hang on!

While Herrera keeps the hold applied, Tyler slides back into the ring before running into the far ropes. When she returns, she connects with a single leg dropkick, breaking the hold.

Kris Cruise: Timely save there by Tyler!

As Herrera tries to shake out the cobwebs, Tyler bolts into the corner and lines her up in his sights.

Stephy Auger: She’s taking aim, Cruise!

After Herrera gets up and turns over on one knee, Tyler runs from out of the corner with the intention of delivering the Dead Aim. But out of the corner of her eye, she sees Stevenson charging over to cut her off with a clothesline. So Tyler ducks. When Tyler turns, Stevenson connects with a jumping back kick to the face, which knocks her through the ropes and to the floor.

Kris Cruise: Foot Fetish from Stevenson!

Stevenson goes and runs into the far ropes. When Stevenson returns, The Next Level knock her down with a double clothesline. Valero and Jackson then pick up Stevenson, run and tosses her through the ropes and to the floor.

Jackson steps out onto the apron and scales up to the top turnbuckle. When Stevenson and Tyler get up, Jackson flips off and knocks them both down with a Moonsault.

Kris Cruise: Luke Jackson with a moonsault to the floor.

Stephy Auger: Yeah, but it looks like it took a bit out of him, too!

Back in the ring, Valero picks up Herrera, grabs him from behind and delivers the PinnaclePlex. While Herrera’s sprawled out on the canvas, Valero steps through the ropes and scales up to the top turnbuckle. He then leaps off and goes for a diving double foot stomp. But Herrera rolls out of the way. When Valero lands on the canvas, his momentum sends him rolling forward. After Valero rolls back to his feet and turns around, Herrera clocks him with a discus elbow strike. The strike causes Valero to turn around into a spinning back kick from Hardaway. He then lifts up Valero before delivering a brainbuster across his knee.

Stephy Auger: Lights Out Brainbuster!

Kris Cruise: Hardaway’s got him! He’s got the cover!

ONE!
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TWO!
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THR-NO!

Herrera drags Hardaway off of Valero before making the lateral press on Valero.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Hardaway pulls Herrera off of Valero.

Herrera gets up in Hardaway’s face. The two men are nose to nose.

Kris Cruise: Here we go!

Herrera shoves Hardaway back. Hardaway responds with an elbow strike. Herrera comes back with an elbow strike of his own. Hardaway comes back with another elbow strike. Herrera answers back with one of his own. The two men continue to trade elbow strikes until Hardaway gains the advantage with a European Uppercut. He then nails Herrera with another European Uppercut… and another… and another. After a knee strike to the midsection, Hardaway delivers a stomp to the back of the head, followed by a rolling elbow that sends Herrera crumbling to the canvas.

Kris Cruise: KTFO~!

Stephy Auger: He’s got him down! He’s got the cover on him!

ONE!
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TWO!
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THRE-NO!

Jackson dives over and breaks up the pin.

Jackson picks up Hardaway and whips him into the ropes. When Hardaway returns, Jackson throws out a clothesline. But Hardaway swats it down as he heads into the far ropes. When Jackson turns around, the crowd cheers Hardaway turns him inside out with a Decap Lariat.

Kris Cruise: My goodness what a lariat!

Stephy Auger: I think I see Luke’s head out in Row 8, Cruise.

Unbeknownst to Hardaway, Stevenson has climbed up onto the top turnbuckle. When Hardaway turns around, the crowd cheers as Stevenson delivers a diving corkscrew stunner.

Kris Cruise: Get Familiar!

Stevenson heads over and makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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THREE!

NO! Tyler dives over and breaks up the pin.

Kris Cruise: Another timely save from Ruby Tyler!

Tyler picks up Stevenson and whips her into the corner. She then runs into the corner and connects with a hard European Uppercut. Tyler takes Stevenson and whips her into the opposite corner. After lining up Stevenson, Tyler charges across the ring and connects with a big boot that sends spittle flying out of Stevenson’s mouth.

Stephy Auger: Did she get rocked by that big boot for what!?

While Stevenson is dazed, Tyler moves her to the side as she climbs up onto the middle ropes. She then sets up Stevenson for a somersault cutter. But Herrera runs into the corner, jumps up and nails Tyler with an elbow strike to the face.

Kris Cruise: Tyler was about to deliver the Ruby Cutter, but Herrera cut her off.

Herrera grabs Tyler from off the top rope, turns and goes to deliver the Walking Papers. But Hardaway connects with a superkick that knocks Herrera down.

Hardaway picks up Herrera and lifts him up for the Lights Out Brainbuster. But Stevenson connects with a the Foot Fetish to the midsection. She then positions Hardaway and goes for The Allure. But Hardaway shoves Stevenson off of him and into the ropes. When Stevenson returns, Hardaway turns her inside out with a Decap Lariat.

Stephy Auger: Another lariat!

Hardaway takes Stevenson and tosses her through the ropes and to the floor. He then runs over and clotheslines Herrera, sending him over the top rope and to the floor. When Hardaway turns around, The Next Level knock him down with a double superkick.

Kris Cruise: The Next Level have again come from out of nowhere!

Valero picks up Hardaway before lifting him up with an Electric Chair. While Hardaway’s held up, Jackson steps through the ropes and begins to climb to the top turnbuckle. Hardaway reaches down and behind nailing Valero with 12-to-6 elbows to the top of the head. He then slips down from behind and shoves Valero into the corner, where Valero makes contact with Jackson. Jackson slips, falls and winds up crotched on the top turnbuckle.

Stephy Auger: Hello!

Tyler runs over and connects with a big boot that knocks Jackson off the top turnbuckle and sends him tumbling hard to the floor. Back in the ring, Hardaway takes Valero and whips him into the ropes. When Valero returns, RubyWay delivers The Crimson Peak. Tyler makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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THR-NO!

Herrera drags Tyler to the outside before tossing her hard against the guard rail. When Herrea turns around, Hardaway leaps through the ropes and takes him out with the GTFO~!

After rolling back in, the crowd explodes with cheers as Hardaway picks up Valero and delivers a vertical suplex lifted and dropped into a double knee backbreaker.

Kris Cruise: The End of Heartache!

Stephy Auger: He’s got it, Cruise!

Hardaway turns over and makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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THREE!

NO! The crowd explodes with cheers as Stevenson crashes on top of Hardaway with a 630 Senton, breaking the pin.

Kris Cruise: The Beauty School Dropout!

Stephy Auger: Where did she come from!?

Stevenson rolls Hardaway out of the ring before making the cover on Valero.

ONE!
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TWO!
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THREE!

“New Level” blasts over the PA as the crowd explodes with cheers.

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

After Herrera rolls back into the ring, Stevenson helps him back up to his feet. The ref heads over and gives them both the FGA World Tag Team and the WLW Tag Team Championship belts. Stevenson and Herrera take one of each and raise them high above their heads.

Kris Cruise: They’ve done it! They’ve done it! Status Quo are walking out with the titles!

Stephy Auger: You mean the titles that they stole. Kevin Hardaway clearly had the match won and Cordy Stevenson just stole the match from RubyWay!

Tyler and Hardaway meet in the aisle before turning to wall up the ramp. The two shake their head, knowing that they were less than a second away from walking out with all the gold. As they head through the curtain, Status Quo continue to celebrate in the ring with Peaches.

Until they get jumped from behind by The Usual Suspects.

Kris Cruise: What the hell!?

The crowd erupts with boos as Jason Marx takes Stevenson, runs and tosses her shoulder-first into the ring post. As she slowly slips through the ropes and falls to the floor, Peaches heads to the outside and checks on her. Meanwhile, Chris Tryon kicks away at Herrera in the corner. The Suspects then bring Herrera from out of the corner and whip him into the ropes. When Herrera returns, The Suspects turn him inside out with a double clothesline.

Kris Cruise: What’s the meaning of this!?

Stephy Auger: Rother said they were going to make an impact, Cruise!

The Suspects look down at the four title belts at their feet. They look at each other, then down at Herrera, then over to the belts, then back up to each other.

Kris Cruise: Oh no...

Tryon snatches up one of the WLW Tag Title belts and tosses it over to Marx. After Marx catches it, Tryon reaches down and snatches up one of the FGA Tag Title belts.

Kris Cruise: No no no no no no no no no...

The Suspects clutches the belts as Herrera tries to shake out the cobwebs. When he returns to his feet, Peaches slides into the ring and pushes Herrera out of the way, causing the Suspect two nail her with stereo belt shots to the head.

Kris Cruise: NO!

After Peaches crumbles to the canvas, the Suspects scoop up the titles, roll out of the ring and hop over the guard rail. They then make their way to a spot in the crowd where Anthony Rother is waiting. When Marx and Tryon stand by his side, Rother raises their arms in their air triumphantly while the crowd explodes with boos.

[FGA Office]

As the camera cuts backstage we see Spencer Burke holding a microphone in hand.

Spencer Burke: Ladies and gentleman, please welcome my guests at this time. Quinn Goodrich and his client, the FGA World Champion, Johnny Cannon.

Boos instantly fill the Honda Center, being heard in the background as the camera focuses on the two men who were just name dropped. Team Cannon as always are dressed in their Sunday's best on a Saturday, with Goodrich donning a black Windsor suit by Tom Ford -- while “The British Mamba” stands beside him in an Ivory Tuxedo Jacket of the same make and brand, complemented by a black bow tie. The FGA World Championship rests on his right shoulder, as he stands ever so confidently whilst waiting for Burke’s first question.

Spencer Burke: Johnny, tonight you defend the FGA World Championship against two time holder Zero McHannon, and your partner Sunshine Scandalous Tony Carmine. There's talk about the pressure solely being on your shoulders going into the match -

Like the perfect attack dog, Quinn interjects to defend his clients honor, stepping forward and loudly scoffing at the idea.

Quinn Goodrich: Pressure? Pressure? You want to talk about pressure Spencer? Let's talk about the pressure that's been put on my client's shoulders to deliver every single time he steps out there in that ring and competes. The rest of this roster, they're not required to perform at the highest level every two weeks. Annie Zell-or-whatever her name is this week, she doesn't have to tear the house down. Fujiko, it's perfectly acceptable for her to go out there and keep cooking up those 2 star matches. The World Tag Champs, as long as they don't make people turn the channel they're doing their job.

He claims, his face aghast that Spencer was even suggesting what he was about to suggest before Quinn interrupted him.

Quinn Goodrich: They don't have to kill it. They don't have to break a leg. They don't have to be the bee's knees every other week. That's not what's expected of them. However, my client doesn't have that luxury. He has to wrestle a five star match every time out. He has to steal the show every time out. He has to do these things because that's your job when you're the best in the world at what you do. So when he talks about being the highest paid wrestler in FGA, of course he doesn't know the specific numbers - that's my job, I'm the one who negotiates his contracts, and looks them over. What he's simply articulating is the fact that he has much more value to this company than anyone else.

Cannon nods in the background, as Quinn continues.

Quinn Goodrich: That's directed specifically at that blithering imbecile, Zero McHannon, who has never been the brightest or sharpest tool in the shed -- though he’s still a tool all the same. No my client is not an idiot for thinking he makes more or should make more than the people who have been in FGA long before he stepped in this company and turned it on it’s head. You want to know why? It's because of this.

Quinn points at the FGA World Championship, which Cannon slaps a few times to accentuate his point.

Quinn Goodrich: In less than a year - I repeat - LESS than a goddamn year my client has climbed the mountain and has claimed the mantle. He's stepped in and taken the crown. He’s broken through the glass ceiling. You know who hasn't? Cordy Stevenson for starters.

A large pop is heard at the mention of Saint Sexy’s name.

Quinn Goodrich: She's been in FGA since what? 2014. She's constantly mentioned as one of the best, if not greatest wrestlers to ever step foot in FGA. Gold Rush Rumble, Dynamic Duos and Lions Cup wins under her belt. The she completed the tournament trifecta, right? If I am I’m sure you’ll correct me, but I'm pretty sure my facts are straight. Nevertheless. Want to know how many times she's actually sat on the throne in FGA? Zip. Zilch. Nada. Not a damn title run as World Champion.

Cannon laughs lightly to himself as Quinn runs off more names.

Quinn Goodrich: Who else is there? Oh a bloke who's been here since forever, Johnny Karma.

Another huge ovation for Karma now, causing Goodrich to roll his eyes.

Quinn Goodrich: He’s the definition of an FGA Original. He breathes and bleeds FGA, even though the idiot can't seem to get the acronym right. But he's certainly as tough as they come. My client wouldn't even dispute that. Karma, he’s a two time Pride Champion. Lots of big wins under his belt - you know -- every big win accept the BIG one. He’s had a few scrapes and claws at primetime, but he's always failed to get over the hump. He’s just a stepping stone. A guy who looks good enough to do it, but doesn't possess the talent to do so. My client just can't relate. He not only looks good, he is good.

Cannon continues to nod, agreeing with every sentiment as Goodrich fires off more accurate hot takes.

Quinn Goodrich: Hell, what about Sunshine? Boy, the only thing bigger than his mouth is the shadow he's in - my client’s that is. Tony, Tony. TONY! I know you're young, and naive, and suffering from serious delusions of grandeur which seems to be the downfall of your generation. As great as you are as a former two-time Pride Champion, as great as you are as a proven competitor, regular Main Eventer, and top performer - you have NEVER been here. So you need to stop talking like you have. Every time Sunshine’s been given an opportunity at the big leagues he’s been eclipsed! He's been SUNBLOCKED! And for him to think my client was a hired gun, that he was a pawn in play for him to get to the promised land is downright laughable.

Cannon chuckles at the thought, as Goodrich points at the World Title once again.

Quinn Goodrich: You want to talk about pressure, Spencer? My client thrives under pressure. That's why he’s holding the big gold belt. That's why he’s wearing a five-thousand dollar custom fitted, perfectly tailored tuxedo. He overcame the pressure of building a name for himself, the pressure of climbing from the bottom, the pressure of coming from nothing and having to create new wealth and prosperity for himself, his family, and his future descendants. He's dealt with tremendous pressure since day one - and since day one he's fought tooth and nails for everything he's got. He's earned everything he's ever gotten in his life, and every bit of success he's tasted in his career.

The smiles vanish, as Cannon’s mug becomes serious, a murderous look now being etched on his face as he stares daggers into the camera.

Quinn Goodrich: Zero talks about not having any pressure, like he's playing with house money, when in reality he has no money. My client cleaned you out at All Star Showdown. In fact, you now have more pressure to prove that you can actually beat him, because you’ve failed to do that on two separate occasions! You have the pressure of pinning my client to win your third World Championship, because if you don't and still go on to win, that’ll always hang over your empty little head, and no one will give you any bloody respect. You’ll be a three-time PAPER Champion.

Quinn shakes his head now, clenching his teeth angrily in response to whatever thought just crossed his mind.

Quinn Goodrich: Tony Carmine, to be honest I'm sick and tired of your goddamn attitude, and I've had enough of pretending like you deserve to soar in the same skies as my client. It's funny, you talk about all the losses you've had since teaming with the World Champion, and I'll admit, he's never been one fond of tag team wrestling. It's not his strong suit. That's why he got rid of his last partner, and he respected her a hell of a lot more than he does you. The fact is, he’s much better flying solo. Speaking of which, tonight you have more pressure than ANYONE -- because tonight you have to prove on one hand that you actually ARE as good as you THINK you are in your THIRD opportunity at the FGA World Championship -- and on the other hand you have to prove to my client why you still deserve to be considered a king.

Quinn grabs Burke by the collar now, getting in his face, beginning to get fired up.

Quinn Goodrich: YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT PRESSURE, SPENCER? MY CLIENT ISN’T WORRIED ABOUT THE PRESSURE. In fact, he's not even WORRIED about tonight's outcome. You want to know why?

Spencer vigorously shakes his head yes, as Goodrich smiles devilishly.

Quinn Goodrich: Because It doesn't even bloody matter. If my client wins tonight and successfully retains the FGA World Championship, it’ll just be business as usual. Just another notch under his belt, another classic he's put on, another Match of the Year he’s had. Even if he loses, it won't break him. Nothing can break the Baddest Man on the Planet. He'll simply regroup, watch tape, work harder, and then come back stronger like he always does. He’ll go on to beat the bloody hell out of Chris Bond at First Wave on September 8th, 2016 live and only on AxxessNet! And after that’s done, he’ll work his way back into World Title contention, and he'll win it again.

Goodrich releases Burke, dusting off the FGA interviewer’s shirt.

Quinn Goodrich: My client’s attitude and demeanor has not changed since becoming World Champion, contrary to popular belief. He is STILL the last real man in this business. Make no mistake, Spencer -- my client is the best wrestler walking this Earth today, he was the best before he captured the FGA World Championship, and he’ll STILL be the best without it. It took him less than a calendar year to do what ninety percent of the roster has YET to do and will probably NEVER do in their careers. He’s headlined BACK to BACK PPVS! He’s wrestled too many great matches to remember even though each one of them was UNFORGETTABLE! My client has NOTHING to prove! Not to ZERO! Not to TONY! Not to YOU, any of those CLOWNS in the locker room, or any of these WANKERS in this putrid cesspit of a town!

Quinn turns to the camera now, grabbing Cannon by the shoulder as he gives his final thoughts.

Quinn Goodrich: My client has changed the landscape and the dynamic in FGA. Everyone wants a piece of him. Everyone measures themselves against him. He’s the new standard. And tonight, he's going to remind everyone why -- why they can only watch the throne while he does everything I'm his power to keep it.

And with that Team Cannon walks off.

[FGA Office]

The fans here in Anaheim give Spencer Burke a warm round of applause, with some whooping cheers as he makes his way down the aisle.

Kris Cruise: We understand Spencer Burke has got some interview time for one of our champions, although he’s been tight lipped about which one it is.

Stephy Auger: I’m going to take an educated guess at the one who isn’t in action tonight, Cruise. The derpface little troll herself.

Burke climbs into the ring as the crowd begin to quieten down. He raises the microphone to his lips to speak.

Spencer Burke: How are we doing Anaheim?

He gets the cheap pop!

Spencer Burke: That’s what I like to hear. But I’m out here to conduct an interview, so ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my guest at this time, the FGA Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion, Annie Dupree!

“Jager Yoga” by CSS begins to play throughout the arena as Annie Dupree steps out through the curtains … to a mixed reception? The majority of the crowd still cheering the perennial underdog, but a portion of the fans are booing the Legacy champion. Annie doesn’t appear too perturbed by the ordeal, however.

Stephy Auger: She can’t blame these boos on wearing a Yankees jersey, Cruise.

Kris Cruise: Certainly not.

Annie climbs into the ring with the belt slung over one shoulder as she moves towards Spencer in the center of the ring. They shake hands as Spencer speaks again.

Spencer Burke: Thank you for joining me, Annie. Now, as we all know you’ll be defending that belt against Salem Cartier in two weeks time at First Wave. That’s one of the matches that’s been confirmed for the AxxessNet special, and one we’re all looking forward to…

The crowd seems to agree.

Spencer Burke: But I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention your recent run of bad results in the build up to this match. Your disqualification loss to Dom Harter in the qualifier for the Frontier Lions Cup, your defeat against Tony Carmine two weeks ago on Vertigo…

Annie Dupree: I’m not gonna lie, Spencer, I’ve had some tough matches recently. And it’s a case of win some lose some; but Dom and Tony are both amazingly tough wrestlers so I’m not gonna get too down on myself for losing to them. I’ve just gotta put those matches behind me befo--

Spencer Burke: And what do you say to the people who say you got disqualified on purpose? That you meant to low blow Dom Harter.

Annie stands there with her mouth agape; the fans “ooh” as the question is asked, but the champion recomposes herself.

Annie Dupree: He surprised me when he went for the boobplex, is all. I never meant to kick him in the balls; I haven’t got myself disqualified in a match on purpose in the three years I’ve been wrestling - except for this and the Round Robin qualifier against Jimmy Page, I dunno if I’ve ever been disqualified … so unless you think I kicked the referee on purpose as well?

Spencer Burke: Nobody’s accusing you of that, Annie. But it seems like between that, your attitude before your match against Tony and what happened over in Germany--

Annie Dupree: I don’t wanna talk about that…

The crowd murmur in confusion - they’re not all NKP fans, apparently.

Kris Cruise: For those watching at home who are unaware, Annie Dupree and LDFC wrestler, The Crimson Baroness are … were a tag team together in German based promotion, NKP.

Stephy Auger: Were. Annie disowned her partner before the match and went into a handicap match against her opponents, in which she lost their tag team titles. After the match, however, is when the interesting activities occurred.

Spencer Burke: I think it bears talking about, Annie. After all, I believe it was the first time in recent memory that you’ve swung a weapon.

The crowd boo louder than before.

Annie Dupree: I saw red for a moment, it happens to the best of us.

Spencer Burke: You hit former FGA World Tag Team Champion, Ashley Sullivan, with a pair of brass knucks.

Annie looks visibly upset at the mention of the incident … or the name? But the fans boo again as they’re told what happened that night. Dupree looks around the arena, surveying the crowd, before speaking again.

Annie Dupree: It was a moment of madness. It won’t happen again.

Spencer Burke: That’s all well and good you saying that, Annie, but can we believe you? What does Salem have to expect going into this match at First Wave? Will she be getting the Annie Dupree that beat Molly Reid at All Star Showdown, or the wild child who’s out here low blowing people and hitting others with brass kn--

Annie Dupree: Did you watch the show, Spencer? Or do you just hear the buzz off the Internet? Did you see me tell The Crimson Baroness I didn’t want her there so there’d be no hijinx in the match? Did you see go out there and battle for nearly twenty minutes in a handicap to try and defend those belts with honor? Did you see nearly beat them by myself, then get left to the wolves after the match? Nah, of course you didn’t - you just wanna paint me as the villain. So you wanna know if Salem has anything to worry about, I’ve gotta ask you, why would she?

Annie pushes the microphone back into Spencer’s chest as the interviewer is left flustered momentarily; he struggles to gather his thoughts after the unexpected outburst. Fortunately he’s saved by the music! “Phenomena” begins to play over the speakers as Salem appears at the top of the ramp. The crowd roars upon seeing The Witch as she makes her way down pumping her fist in the air and slapping a few hands as she climbs the ring steps and enters the ring.

Kris Cruise: Well fans, this is a bit of a surprise. Annie's challenger at First Wave is here!

Stephy Auger: But why? This isn't her interview!?!

Salem walks over and shakes Burke's hand looks at Annie, smiling and shrugging giving her a friendly hug.

Spencer Burke: And here is the Mid-Atlantic Legacy challenger herself! What brings you out here, Salem?

Salem Cartier: A few reasons, Spence...you guys are out here speculating on if I should be worried, what I should expect? No reason to be putting words in my mouth or thoughts in my head, right? Since I am in the building tonight right here in Anaheim, California!

The crowd goes up for the cheap pop.

Salem Cartier: First of all, I expect one heck of a match. Above all else, Annie here is the Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion… she has done everything expected of her to rise to the top of the division and she has that gold. Now, Annie has had a string of events lately that weren't exactly ideal, shall we say? But the First Wave match in two weeks? Should I be worried about low blows or brass knuckles? No, I'm not going to be focused on that. Focusing on what has basically a zero chance of what might happen distracts me from focusing on what very likely will happen: that Annie will bring her A-game in that ring and do everything in her power and use her obvious skill to retain her title.

Spencer Burke: But you know what else she's capable of, Salem! If she were to--

Salem cuts him off, shaking her head.

Salem Cartier: Spence baby, you're not listening. There's an old quote that goes like this: ‘If if’s and but’s were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas every single day.’ I can't go on second guessing. Sure I'll be cautious just like in every match. Heck, I've even seen red before as she calls it. It happened in a match in HKW once upon a time. Beat a guy basically unconscious in a casino match out in Vegas. During a match, mind you. So people are capable of a lot of things, but I'm going to give Annie the benefit of the doubt. I consider her a friend in and out of the ring, and I'm guaranteeing we will have an amazing match at First Wave. Right, champ?

Annie Dupree: Exactly, if Salem isn’t judging me then why are you, Spencer? My opponent, the next challenger for this belt--

She raises the belt in the air before placing it back on her shoulder.

Annie Dupree: --says she trusts me then she’s gonna get the kinda match that she deserves - that these fans deserve to see. So there might be Johnny Cannon vs. Chris Bond, there might be TROUBLE! Vs. The Turks, but everyone is gonna remember Annie Dupree vs. Salem Cartier!

Annie extends her hand to Salem, who gratefully accepts the handshake before turning away to exit the ring. The champion removes the belt from off her shoulder and holds it one hand, her gaze fixed on the back of Salem’s head - but The Witch turns around just before Annie raises the belt high above her head, drawing another pop from the crowd. The two women staring at one another as Salem climbs out of the ring, followed close behind by Annie, then Spencer.

[FGA Office]

October 15, 2016
Roy Wilkins Auditorium
St. Paul, MN

[FGA Office]

Kris Cruise: Things were getting a little heated there between Annie Zellor and Spencer Burke.

Stephy Auger: Well if Spencer Burke was putting words in my mouth, I’d be pretty heated, too. The woman made a mistake and he wants to crucify her for it. If Salem isn’t going to hold it against her, then why should anyone else?

Kris Cruise: I guess you have a point.

Stephy Auger: What do you mean “you guess?”

Kris Cruise: … Nothing. Don’t worry about. That match will be taking place at First Wave! First Wave is the first-ever special airing on AxxessNet! That’ll be taking place in two weeks on September 4 in lovely Honolulu, Hawaii. Also on the card will be Nest taking on Terrence Tillman! The Turks taking on TROUBLE in a special attraction Tag Team Match. Then there is Chris Bond, who will have his shot at revenge on Johnny Cannon in a Grudge Match. Last December, Cannon intentionally injured Bond. He didn’t just put him out on the shelf. It looked like Bond’s career was over. But the former two-time Pride Champion returned two months ago and is out for blood in the main event of First Wave. But we’ve also got one more match to announce to complete the card.

Stephy Auger: What are you talking about? I thought there was only going to be four matches?

Kris Cruise: Earlier today, another match was signed. Zero McHannon will go one on one with...

























CYNCITY!

Stephy Auger: Get the hell out of here!

Kris Cruise: I will not! For those of you who follow Hard Knox Wrestling, Cindy Parker came out of retirement to challenge Zero McHannon on the latest episode of Subversion. But Zero McHannon refused, stating that Cindy was signed to Defiance while he is signed to Subversion. Well that excuse will not work here because FGA's Brand Ambassador will return to an FGA for one night only at First Wave!