Vertigo (08.04.18)

[FGA Office]

The opening guitar riff of “Man in the Box” by Alice in Chains starts over the sound system and a roar of approval reverberates through the FGA crowd in attendance. From behind the back curtain, Malcolm Drake emerges wearing a black leather jacket, old “The Murder” T-shirt, tattered jeans and black combat boots. He’s also sporting a nasty, purplish bruise that encircles his neck; a relic from the violent Dog Collar Match at Glory Road.

Despite the gnarly-looking injury, Drake cracks a trademark smirk as he saunters toward the ring, the crowd serenading him with the chorus of his entrance music. Rolling under the bottom rope, Drake takes a moment to play to the crowd, leaning over the top ropes, before calling for a microphone.

He is handed one, and Drake begins to pace slowly back and forth in the ring as the crowd’s din settles into a low murmur. Presently, he raises the microphone to his lips.

Malcolm Drake: They say…

Drake begins, his words lithe and airy.

Malcolm Drake: ...that you can define ‘insanity’ as doing the same thing over and over AND OVER… again, but expecting a different result. Hmmm. At Glory Road, I did EXACTLY what I said I was going to do… I brought Chris Bond down to my level. I BROKE Chris Bond. Hehehe… and I took the last vestiges of his sanity.

There is a mix of applause and confusion in the crowd’s reaction, as Drake seems to be gloating about the no-contest finish to the Dog Collar Match.

Malcolm Drake: You see for the past few months Chris Bond has been doing everything in his power to BREAK me. He whined, he screamed, he cajoled. He threw a little tantrum here, he got his wife involved there. He kissed the ass of everyone in a suit he could get his lips on to finally get a chance… at a match… with me…

Malcolm Drake: And with each FAILURE, each desperate, sad attempt… I upped the ante. I called Chris Bond’s bluffs. I stuck the knife into his heart and twisssssssted over and over… and over again. I watched this sorry, pathetic excuse for a man break and bloody his fists hitting a brick wall, thinking that if he just TRIED hard enough he could break it… that he could break ME!.

The carefree smirk on Drake’s face has turned to a scowl; his bedraggled locks intermingling with his unkempt beard, covering most of his face.

Malcolm Drake: You can’t break the unbreakable, you can’t stop the unstoppable, you can’t F*CK WITH the UN.F*CK.WITH.ABLE. But I… hehe… I could break you, Bondo. I could break you and that’s EXACTLY what I did. See, you NEEDED to beat me at Glory Road. You very existence depended on it; you wrapped yourself in the definition that you would be the man to beat Malcolm Drake into submission.

Malcolm Drake: You. FAILED. You failed, because you - Chris Bond - are a FAILURE.

Malcolm Drake: THAT is your definition. THAT is who you are, and THAT is who you’ve always been and always will be. And there’s not a f*cking thing you can do about it, because you can’t beat me.

The crowd gives a tepid response; they rooted for Drake to defeat Bond, but as his tirade becomes more unhinged they seem to start to shy away.

Malcolm Drake: See, I… I never NEEDED to beat you. How many times do I have to say it? This isn’t about getting to add a little number into a little column and mark wins and losses in a meaningless book. This has been about Chris Bond trying to destroy Malcolm Drake, and Malcolm Drake trying to break Chris Bond.

The little smirk returns to Drake’s lips.

Malcolm Drake: As far as I see it, I WON. And mine is the only perspective that matters, because MINE is the only true perspective, and MINE are the only eyes that see clearly.

A smattering of boos begin to mix into the pauses in Drake’s tirade.

Malcolm Drake: I said by the end of this that when Chris Bond looked at his reflection, he’d be staring back at what he hated most… at me. But now… hehe… now I don’t think so. I think that Chris Bond is BENEATH me. And Chris Bond will go to his grave knowing that he could never beat Malcolm. F*cking. Drake.

Malcolm Drake: Memento mori.

Drake casually flips the microphone in the air, producing a dull thud as it strikes the canvas. There is a low murmur bordering on a stunned silence that washes over the crowd as they try to piece together what the Head Crow has laid before them.

• Commercial Break •

[FGA Office]

The cameras switch to a corridor where Neal Durden and Lowri Moss are seen together. Having showered and changed following his match earlier, Neal is now wearing a pair of shorts and a t-shirt bearing the Vertigo logo, while Lowri is ready for her forthcoming match, dressed in her ring attire together with one of her t-shirts and a backwards snapback, and she has the Mid-Atlantic Legacy Championship wrapped securely around her waist. The two Welsh grapplers are already deep in conversation.

Lowri Moss: And whether I win or not, once the match is over, then we’ll do what we talked about, okay?

There is a nod of the head from Neal.

Neal Durden: Okay. I’ll wait back here for now. But if I see Dom or Annie make any attempt at all to interfere in the match, I’ll get down to ringside as quickly as I can, to fend them off.

Lowri smiles, somewhat nervously.

Lowri Moss: Alright. Wish me luck.

Neal Durden: Break a leg… actually, don’t, but you know what I mean…

Figuring out he kind of botched his attempt at wishing Lowri good luck, he simply leaned forward and gave her a kiss on the cheek, and left her to it. As Neal returns to the locker room, Lowri begins to make her way towards the gorilla position. However, she has not gotten very far when for the second time tonight, a member of Pendragon runs into - although not literally, in Lowri’s case - Jessie Pederson.

Jessie Pederson: Hey, Lowri!

Lowri acknowledges the reporter with a nod.

Lowri Moss: Hi, Jessie.

Jessie Pederson: I know your match is just moments away, but can I ask you a question or two first?

She gives Jessie a courteous smile.

Lowri Moss: Sure, ask away… although, I think I can probably guess what the two things you want to ask me about are.

A curious Jessie raises her eyebrows.

Jessie Pederson: Really?

Lowri Moss: Yup. I think the first thing you probably want to ask me about is what happened three weeks ago, at All-Star Showdown.

Now it is Jessie’s turn to nod.

Jessie Pederson: That’s correct.

Lowri lets out a sigh that almost sounds more like a groan, her smile fading.

Lowri Moss: I know you spoke briefly with Neal earlier - I didn’t see it, but I’ve heard about it - and I’m aware that when you asked him about what happened at All-Star Showdown, you didn’t get much of a response out of him… and you’re not going to get much out of me either, Jessie.

She then puts her hands on her hips.

Lowri Moss: There’s plenty I could say about All-Star Showdown, and what occurred that night. I doubt it’ll surprise anyone to hear that Neal and I want to get our belts back, and that we want to get some retribution - but for now, that’s all I want to say on the subject; like you said, Jessie, I’ve got a match just moments away - a particularly important match - and that’s what I need to have my mind on: on Marlon Cure, not on Dom Harter or Annie Zellor.

Jessie Pederson: Okay, I can understand that. So, the other thing I wanted to ask you about is of course your upcoming match. As you just alluded to, you’re going to be defending the Mid-Atlantic Legacy Championship against Marlon Cure, and the last time the two of you met, in a non-title match, he defeated you; how confident are you that things will be different this time?

Lowri gazes down at the floor for a few seconds, as she considers the question. She then lifts her head back up, returning her attention to Jessie.

Lowri Moss: You’re right, Jessie; he did beat me - there’s no getting away from that. But it was just one match, it was just one loss, and I’ve learned from it, as I’ve subsequently gone on to make history.

A half-smile creeps onto her face. She may currently only have one of her two belts with her, but that does not change the fact that she is the second double champion in FGA history, and taking her hands away from her hips, Lowri runs the fingers of her right hand over the faceplate of the Mid-Atlantic Legacy Championship, recalling something in the process.

Lowri Moss: You know, Jessie, I remember speaking to you after I won this title, and declaring that I wanted to be a champion that FGA and its fans can be proud of. However, it’s now five and a half months since I became champion, and this is only the second time that I’ve gotten to defend it - I’ve arguably become something that I definitely didn’t want to be: a paper champion.

Jessie Pederson: And how do you feel about that?

There is another sigh from Lowri.

Lowri Moss: I’m not exactly pleased about it. When I said that I wanted to be a fighting champion, I meant it. It’s not by choice that since winning this title, I’ve only defended it once prior to tonight. Maybe I’ve even been a victim of my own success - if Neal and I hadn’t gone all the way in the US tag title tournament, maybe I would’ve defended the Mid-Atlantic Legacy title on one of the Vertigos leading up to All-Star Showdown, possibly even against Marlon Cure. And even with us doing what we did in that tournament, I still expected to defend the title at the pay-per-view, until we were put into that big tag team match.

Lowri gives a gentle shrug of her shoulders.

Lowri Moss: But while I can’t change what has or hasn’t happened before now, I can control what’s still to come. I want to be a better champion than I have been thus far, and this match I’ve got coming up - Lowri Moss verus Marlon Cure part two - can be the start of that. My first defence of the title was against Sadie San Francisco, who I had publicly stated I wanted to be my first challenger, and after his win over me in our last match, if it had been up to me choose my second challenger, Cure would’ve been at the top end of the list. Remember though, before our match at Only The Strong Survive, Sadie had beaten me in our only previous one-on-one match, but second time round, the result was different, so although Cure may have gotten the better of me last time we were in the wrong, don’t expect that to happen again tonight.

Lowri reaches behind her head, touching the peak of her snapback.

Lowri Moss: I don’t have a crown like ‘King’ Cure. Instead, I have gold of a different sort - although as has already been touched upon, after recent events, I don’t have as much gold in my possession as I should have. And, after having had my US tag title belt stolen from me, I have no intention of letting Marlon Cure, or anyone else, take this away from me.

She shakes her head vehemently.

Lowri Moss: I can’t claim to know how much he wants this title, but I do know how much I want it. Because... before the United States tag titles, before Vertigo versus Flashpoint, before the brand split… before any of that, there was a young girl from South Wales, in FGA, a few thousand miles from home, trying to win the first title of her career. It took me a number of months of trying, before finally I won the Mid-Atlantic Legacy Championship, and while I haven’t gotten to defend it as often as I would’ve liked, I’m still as proud to be champion now as I was on the day back in February when I won the title.

Lowri places her thumbs between her waist and the belt, with her fingertips resting on the belt.

Lowri Moss: And just because I’ve won another title since then, I’m not in the least bit ready to give this one up just yet. I know what Marlon Cure is capable of, and I know the threat he poses to my reign as champion, but he won’t catch me out like he did in our first match - not this time. He talks about taking over, but his takeover of FGA is going to have to wait, because I’m taking at least one belt home with me tonight, if not two.

And with that, Lowri turns away from Jessie and resumes her walk towards the ring, ready to defend her championship.

[FGA Office]

HEADLINE
• FGA Mid-Atlantic Legacy Championship •
Lowri Moss vs. Marlon Cure

The match starts off with Cure and Moss circling the ring before engaging in a collar-and-elbow tie up. Cure quickly gains the advantage by throwing Moss down with a japanese arm drag. As Moss gets back up, Cure latches onto the arm and wrenches it. After another arm wrench from Cure, Moss reaches over and reverses into an arm wrench of her own. The crowd is solidly behind the double champion as she continues to control the arm. After turning down the opportunity to submit, Cure rolls forward, leans back, kips up and reverses into an arm wrench of his own. Moss then rolls forward, turns over onto her knees, flips over with a headstand and reverses into an arm wrench of her own. Cure then rolls forward, brides back, spins over onto his knees, flips over with a headstand, spins in place and reverses into a hammerlock from behind. After Cure is brought down with a jumping snapmare, Moss turns and heads into the far ropes. When Moss returns, Cure leapfrogs over her. Moss continues to run the ropes. When Moss returns, he crouches down and rolls backwards towards Moss while Moss hurdles over him. She then continues to run the ropes. When Moss returns, the crowd boos when Cure brings her down with  a rolling koppu kick for a two count.

Cure stays in control as he knocks Moss into the ropes with multiple knife edge chops. After an irish whip sends Moss into the far ropes, Cure rushes over and turns her inside out with a running dropkick to the face for another two count. Cure takes a hold of the arm again, wrenches it and follows up with a bridging northern lights suplex. But Moss gets her shoulder up at two. Cure continues to control the arm as he delivers a pair of arm wrenches. After pulling Moss into a side headlock, he transitions into a spinning drop toe hold, bringing Moss down to the canvas. After dropping down to apply a front facelock, Moss slips out and goes to place him in the Severn Bridge (Tiger suplex transitioned into a Bridging double chickenwing) to a rush of cheers. But Cure is able to slip out of her grasp.

Both grapplers circle the ring in the fifth minute before locking up. After jockeying for position, it’s Moss that gains the upper hand with a side headlock. She doesn’t stay in control for long as Cure shoves her off into the ropes. When Moss returns, he knocks Cure down with a running shoulder block. King Cure quickly returns to his feet with a kip up before getting in Moss’ face and taunting her by brushing off his shoulder. Moss responds by kicking him in the midsection and bringing him down with a swinging neckbreaker for a two count. A sitout jawbreaker sends Cure stumbling backwards into the corner. After rushing over and delivering a knife edge chop, Moss takes Cure and whips him hard into the opposite corner. As Cure staggers away from the ropes, Moss brings him down with a trio of japanese arm drags before transitioning into an armbar. The ref asks Cure if he wants to give up. But King Cure refuses. After battling back to a vertical base, Cure uses his free arm to move Moss into the near ropes before shoving her off into the far ropes. When Moss returns, Cure goes for a leapfrog. But Moss catches him in mid air, counters with an inverted atomic drop and follows up with a russian leg sweep. While Cure is down, Moss steps out onto the apron before scaling to the top turnbuckle. Once Cure returns to his feet and turns around, Moss leaps off and connects with a diving crossbody!

But Cure rolls through it. The crowd boos as he grabs a hold of Moss, pulls her up as he returns to a vertical base and hoists her up across his shoulders for The Blackout (fireman’s carry dropped into an overhead kick)! The boos continues as Cure pushes her off his shoulders and throws out the kick. But the boos turn to cheers when Moss grabs his leg on the way down and counters with a dragon screw leg whip! As Cure tries to get up, Moss rushes over and flattens him with a Shining Wizard! She makes the cover, but Cure is able to get his shoulder up at two. An irish whip is then reversed, sending Moss into the ropes. When she returns, she goes for a tilt-a-whirl headscissors takeover. But Cure is able to cartwheel out of it before bringing Moss down with a running headscissors takeover. A roundhouse kick to the head follows, knocking Moss through the ropes and to the floor. While the Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion tries to get back to her feet on the outside, King Cure stands in the center of the ring. As soon as he spreads his arms out to the side, the hard camera zooms out to show the crowd. He then turns and heads into the far ropes. When Cure returns, he takes out Moss with The Sky Is The Limit (springboard Shooting Star Press)! The boos continue as he rolls Moss back inside and follows up with a topé atomico. He turns to make the lateral press. ONE! TWO! T-NO! Moss gets her foot on the bottom rope.

In the eighth minute, Cure drags Moss towards the center of the ring and applies a grounded abdominal stretch. The ref asks Moss if she wants to give up. But the double champion refuses. She then reaches out towards the ropes with her free arm. But she’s nowhere near them. While Moss keeps her arm held out, a section of the fans in the crowd hold their arms out towards Moss, as if to give her their energy. Moss does her best to fight through the pain while Cure continues to fight for the submission. When it becomes apparent that Moss won’t give up, Cure lets go. He turns Moss over into the prone position before going for a deadlift German Suplex. As he’s got Moss off the ground and in the air, she counters with multiple back elbows to the face. Once Moss lands on her feet, She turns around and blasts Cure with a headbutt. A second headbutt drops Cure to a knee. He quickly bounces back up to his feet before a third headbutt turns him away from Moss and sends him staggering over towards the ropes. As Moss approaches from behind, Cure stops her with a back kick. After another back kick, Cure turns around and throws out a rolling elbow. But Moss ducks. When Cure turns around, Moss knocks him off his feet with a dropsault. She makes the cover. ONE! TWO! Cure gets his shoulder up.

As irish whip sends Cure into the ropes. When he returns, Moss knocks him down with a spinning heel kick. After Cure is knocked back down with a Slice of Heaven (springboard enzuigiri), Moss heads into the corner, scales to the top turnbuckle, flips off and goes for a moonsault. But Cure gets his knees up! The crowd erupts with boos when Moss bounces off his knees before curling up off the mat. Cure then marches over, grabs Moss and throws her down with a deadline German Suplex! He makes the cover. ONE! TWO! T-NO! The crowd cheers when Moss gets her shoulder up. Cure then lifts her up before driving her down with Harvin’s Revenge (Michinoku Driver II)! The ref slides into place to make the count. ONE! TWO! TH-NO! The crowd cheers when Moss gets her shoulder up. Cure pulls up Moss and delivers multiple knee lifts to the midsection. After a spinning back kick drops Moss to all fours, Cure quickly wraps her up in La Magistral. ONE! TWO! THR-NO! The crowd cheers when Moss gets her shoulder up. Cure gives the ref a look. But the ref assures him that it was only a two count.

As the match approaches the eleventh minute, Moss is shot off into the ropes. When she returns, Cure throws out a roundhouse kick. But Moss ducks before continuing to run the ropes. When Moss returns, the crowd cheers as she ducks a rolling elbow before continuing to run the ropes. When Moss comes back, the crowd boos when Cure brings her down with The Moment of Clarity (running Spanish Fly)! King Cure slingshots himself out onto the apron before crashing down across Moss with No Ceilings v2 (springboard corkscrew senton bomb)! Cure makes the cover and gets the ONE! TWO! THRE-NO! The crowd gasps, then cheers when Moss gets her shoulder up. Cure can’t believe it! He looks up at the ref with disbelief. But once again, the ref assures him that it was only a two count.

Cure steps out onto the apron and gets into position. Once Moss gets to her feet and turns around, Cure throws out a springboard forearm smash. But Moss ducks. When Cure lands on his feet, Moss grabs him from behind and throws out a German Suplex. But Cure’s able to rotate and land on his feet. Once Moss turns around, Cure rushes back over towards her. But the double champ throws him down with an STO! The cheers continue as she makes the cover. ONE! TWO! Cure gets his shoulder up. Moss picks up Cure and delivers a bridging fisherman’s suplex. ONE! TWO! T-NO! Cure gets his shoulder up. Moss heads into the corner and goes for a Tornado DDT. But Cure shoves her off in mid air. Once Moss lands on her feet, Cure runs over and dazes her with a jumping knee strike. While Moss is still stunned, Cure heads into the ropes. When he returns, Moss doubles him over with a kick, lifts him up and plants him with a cradle piledriver! The cheers continue as she makes the cover. ONE! TWO! TH-NO! The crowd boos when Cure gets his shoulder up. An irish whip is reversed, sending Moss into the ropes. When she returns, Cure throws out a rolling elbow. But Moss ducks, floats over across his back and spikes him with a crucifix driver! The crowd explodes with cheers as Moss makes the cover and gets the ONE! TWO! THR-NO! The cheers turn to boos when Cure gets his shoulder up just in time!

Moss into the corner and begins waving up Cure. As Cure fights to get back to his feet, the crowd begins to clap their hands. The claps get faster the closer Cure gets to returning to a vertical base. When Cure gets back up and turns around, Moss comes out of the corner and throws out the Breuddwydion Melus (Superkick). But Cure catches her foot, swings the leg away from him and clobbers her across the back of the head with a rolling elbow! The boos continue as he pulls Moss over and makes the cover. ONE! TWO! THRE-NO! The crowd gasps, then cheers when Moss gets her shoulder up.

Cure pulls up Moss by her hair. He then goes for a vertical suplex. But Moss slips down from behind. She positions him for a German Suplex when Cure runs backwards and squashes her in the corner. After staggering out towards the center of the ring, Cure turns around and rushes back into the corner. But Moss turns him around with a boot to the face before bringing him down with a Diamond Dust! The cheers continue as she makes the cover and gets the ONE! TWO! THR-NO! The crowd sighs when Cure gets his shoulder up.

As Moss slowly pulls Cure back up, he shoves her away from him before rocking her with a roundhouse kick. He then turns and heads into the ropes. When Cure returns, Moss rocks him with a roundhouse kick of her own. She then turns Cure around and places him in a front facelock. The crowd explodes with cheers when they see Cure set up for the Nos Da (rolling cutter). But Cure spins in place, grabs Moss and brings her down with a bridging northern lights suplex. He then rolls through it, pulls Moss back up and delivers The Takeover (exploder suplex lift dropped into a modified scoop powerslam), followed by the One Shot Kill (running 450 Splash)! The boos continue as he hooks the leg. ONE! TWO! THREE!

TITLE CHANGE!
Lowri Moss X || One Shot Kill (0:00) || Marlon Cure O

• Commercial Break •

[FGA Office]

As Vertigo returns from the commercial break, a glum looking Lowri Moss is seen stood in the middle of the ring, having now been joined by Neal Durden, who is commiserating with her on her loss of the Mid-Atlantic Legacy Championship. Neal says something to Lowri that prompts her to nod her head, and stepping away from him momentarily, she goes over to collect a microphone from J.A. Aldridge. Lowri then returns to the centre of the ring, to again stand beside her other half, and she puts on a brave face, before raising the microphone towards her mouth.

Lowri Moss: So… obviously that match didn’t quite go the way I wanted it to. I knew it wasn’t exactly going to be easy to get the better of Marlon Cure - I already knew from firsthand experience just how talented he is - but despite that, I was still confident that I could pull off a win, and retain the title. I knew my time as Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion had to come to an end at some point, but I wasn’t ready for the end to come tonight - I planned on having my reign as champion go on for at least a little bit longer. I… I guess that wasn’t to be, though.

There is a very brief pause, as Lowri lets out a sigh.

Lowri Moss: However, while I didn’t want to lose possession of it, at least the Mid-Atlantic Legacy Championship was taken from me in the right way - unlike mine and Neal’s United States tag team title belts.

There are boos from some of the fans, who are well aware why the inaugural United States Tag Team Champions are currently lacking their belts.

Lowri Moss: Look, I’m not going to stand here and beat around the bush. Besides, you shouldn’t need me to tell you all what happened three weeks ago at All-Star Showdown anyway - I’m sure you all saw it.

The two members of Pendragon exchange a glance. Lowri’s demeanour has now changed, the volume of her voice beginning to rise.

Lowri Moss: Neal and I intentionally waited until now to do this, once we had both had our matches, but now… we’re not going to wait any longer. So Dom… Annie… get your arses out here, and bring our titles with you!

That statement draws another cheer from the crowd, and the two Welsh grapplers turn and look expectantly, up the aisle, towards the stage. The seconds begin to add up, with nobody appearing in the aisle way, as Lowri paces back and forth in the ring.

Stephy Auger: Who does Lowri think she is, demanding the United States Tag Team Champions to come to the ring like this?

Kris Cruise: The New Murder are not the champions. They’re thieves!

But still, there is no sign of The New Murder, as Lowri and Neal can be seen - but not heard - talking to each other in the ring. The fans begin to chant, “Fuck ‘em up, Lowri! Fuck ‘em up! Fuck ‘em up, Neal! Fuck ‘em up!” as the Pendragon members point backstage. Moss is just about to step out through the ropes to go find her foes, when suddenly:

I THINK YOU’VE GOT A LOW SELF OPINION MAN
I SEE YOU STANDING ALL BY YOURSELF

The crowd erupts into a chorus of boos and jeers as ‘Low Self Opinion’ plays throughout the Little Caesars Arena. Sure enough, Dom Harter and Annie Zellor step out from behind the curtain dressed in jeans and, respectively, their own new t-shirts - they are opting not to promote their relationship with the Denver Divas tonight. The camera zooms in on the nameplates and, sure enough, they have replaced them, just like they said they had.

Inside the ring, Pendragon stand stoically, glaring out at The New Murder as they hold those United States Tag Team titles up high above their heads. The boos rain down on the self-proclaimed champions, as they settle the belts across their shoulders; Annie wearing a Cheshire cat grin as she looks directly at Lowri Moss, who glowers back at her now-former friend. The music dies down as Dom picks the microphone from his pocket.

Dom Harter: Ah, Pendragon…

He is cut off, however, as the boos pick up once again. Harter shrugs his shoulders, smirking as he lets the fans get it all out of their system.

Kris Cruise: I don’t think the FGA fans missed Dom Harter too much during his absence, Stephy.

Stephy Auger: They just don’t realize what they had. But now he’s back, and with Annie Zellor by his side! Business has just picked up.

The crowd quieten down again as Dom readies himself to speak, gesturing towards Lowri and Neal in the ring as he does so.

Dom Harter: I know you two were hoping that I had disappeared after A New Odyssey. Ridden off into the sunset while your stars continued to rise. While Lowri got to represent our beloved homeland in the WCS World Cup. While Pendragon got to face the ‘best’ tag teams that Vertigo has to offer in the tournament to decide the first ever FGA United States Tag Team Champions…

The crowd cheer for all of Lowri’s and Pendragon’s achievements over the last few months, wiping the smirk off Dom’s face. If only for a moment.

Dom Harter: But you know what they say: you just can’t keep a good man down.

He hands the microphone off to Annie who takes the opportunity to speak--

Annie Zellor: And more than that…

She is drowned out by the booing crowd, who start chanting, “Lowri’s Gonna Kill You,” in her general direction. In response, Annie just pats the title belt on her shoulder, as she stares straight at Lowri Moss. Durden can be seen holding back his tag team partner, restraining her from doing as the crowd suggest, as Annie tries to talk again.

Annie Zellor: Yeah, I like being back too. But I bet ya, you two, wanna know why I’m back. Now. And with him!

She points to Dom, who wraps his arm around his girlfriend’s shoulder in response.

Annie Zellor: You wanna know why Annie Zellor is in The New Murder? And why we ‘stole’--

She uses air quotes.

Annie Zellor: --’your’ tag titles … but isn’t it obvious?

Lowri Moss: Is it because you’re a bitch?!

Lowri shouts into the microphone, prompting the crowd to cheer once again.

Stephy Auger: Can she really say that?!

Kris Cruise: Well….

But Annie does not seem impressed. She shakes her head, pouting as she sees Lowri taunting her, beckoning The New Murder to come down the aisle.

Annie Zellor: Really? The B word. I dunno, it’s probably ok since you guys have made Vertigo into the B show while we were gone! And here I was thinking we were friends, Lowri. After all that encouragement I gave you after Dommy kicked your butt at Final Frontier…

The New Murder start to slowly walk down the aisle as Lowri tosses her head back and looks off to one side for a moment, angrily grinding her teeth. She shakes her head slightly in disbelief at the gall of Annie, before looking back towards her former friend, and staring daggers at her.

Lowri Moss: Why, Annie - why did you do it? I mean, I’m not in the least bit surprised at him…

Lowri points in the direction of Dom, not that it was not obvious who she was referring to.

Lowri Moss: He’s got previous - and not just where I’m concerned. But you…

There is a sigh of frustration from Lowri.

Lowri Moss: Did our friendship really mean that little to you, Annie? Or were you just stringing me along the whole time?

Although Lowri’s voice remains calm, her flared nostrils give a truer indication of her present emotion.

Lowri Moss: I want to know, Annie. Look me in the eye and tell me why you turned your back on me, and helped him steal those belts from Neal and me.

She takes a step backwards and does a sweeping gesture with her free hand, in a somewhat sarcastic manner, seemingly inviting Annie to get into the ring. The New Murder stop at the bottom of the aisle, within striking distance as they stare up at Pendragon in the ring. Slowly and cautiously, Annie lifts the microphone to her lips once more.

Annie Zellor: I…

She pauses, looking around at the crowd for a moment, her lips pursed as she looks back towards Lowri and Neal in the ring. There is a rumble in the crowd as Annie speaks again.

Annie Zellor: I...I don’t have an answer for you…

Annie lowers her head in shame.

Annie Zellor: But maybe they do!

She says as two figures appear in the ring behind Pendragon. Steel chairs get slammed across the backs of Lowri Moss and Neal Durden, knocking them down to all fours and their knees respectively. On the outside, Annie and Dom can be seen laughing hysterically. The crowd booing even louder than before as the two figures in the ring bring the chairs down again. Lowri getting hit across the back, while Neal takes a shot to the head!

Kris Cruise: What’s this?! This is disgraceful. This is disgusting. Neal and Lowri have both had matches already tonight, and now they’re victims of a four-on-two attack!?

Finally, Annie and Dom enter the ring as they’re flanked by the two figures. The crowd are baying for blood as The New Murder members raise the title belts above their head again, accompanied by Jaelynn Ramsey and Fenrys.

Stephy Auger: Jaelynn Ramsey is back too! The New Murder is getting stronger every day, Cruise!

Kris Cruise: Pendragon have overcome the odds before. They’re our United States tag champs for a reason. But right now?

Stephy Auger: It’s ok, I wouldn’t want to be them either...

Sure enough, Jae and Fenrys stand alongside their fellow New Murder members as ‘Low Self Opinion’ starts playing again. The four of them step over Pendragon as they leave the ring, their heads held high as the crowd continue to boo and jeer loudly. In the ring, Lowri and Neal manage to pick themselves up just enough to see four of the members of The New Murder standing at the top of the aisle way. The scowls on their faces tell the whole story as they watch their rivals leave with the United States tag titles in tow.

• Commercial Break •

[FGA Office]

[FGA Office]

MAIN EVENT
• FGA Pride Championship •
Fujiko Mine vs. Seth Iser

The sounds as Fujiko plays keepaway from Iser as he stalks her around the ring. Fujiko ends up accidentally backing herself up into the corner. Thinking that he’s got Fujiko trapped, Iser lunges forward with an attack. But Fujiko slips out of the way. When Iser turns around, the crowd cheers when Fujiko fires off a flurry of shoot kicks to the chest. She then goes for an irish whip, but Iser reverses and follows her across the ring. Instead of crashing into the corner, Fujiko grabs a hold of the top ropes and counters with a corner slipshot headscissors. As Iser gets back to his feet, Fujiko takes him and whips him into the far ropes. When Iser returns, Fujiko leapfrogs over him as he continues to run the ropes. When Iser returns, Fujiko goes for another leapfrog. This time, Iser catches her in mid air, takes several steps back and then drops her throat-first across the top rope with a Stun Gun! The boos continues as he makes the cover. But it only gets him a two count.

Iser brings things into the corner, nailing Fujiko with a trio of back elbow strikes to the face. An irish whip then sends the Pride Champion into the opposite corner. Iser runs full steam ahead into the corner… and gets caught with a back elbow to the face. Iser stumbles back while holding his jaw. He then takes off back into the corner. This time, Fujiko knocks him back with a boot to the face. After shaking off the blow, Iser rushes back in. Fujiko throws out another boot to the face. But this time, Iser catches her foot. Fujiko quickly responds with a rope-assisted enzuigiri that knocks Iser back. While the challenger is stunned, hops onto the apron through the ropes and knocks him down with a springboard dropkick! She makes the cover. But Iser kicks out at two.

Fujiko stays in control of the match with by latching onto Iser’s arm. Fujiko takes the arm and wrenches it several times. Iser then reaches over, grabs Fujiko and sends her flipping down to the canvas with a hard arm wrench of his own. Iser goes to follow up with an elbow drop. But Fujiko rolls out of the way before slapping on an arm bar. Iser battles back to a vertical base, moves Fujiko into the near ropes and then shoves her off into the far ropes. When the champion returns, she slides through Iser’s legs. When Iser turns around, Fujiko quickly leaps up and throws out the Lucky Shot (backflip flash kick) to gasps and cheers. Bt Iser’s able to slip out of the way just in time. Once Fujiko lands on her feet, Iser quickly doubles her over before pulling her into a front facelock. The crowd boos when they see Fujiko set up for the Deprivation DDT. Before Iser can fall back and plant her with the move, Fujiko slips out of the hold and shoves Iser back. Iser marches back over towards the champ to keep the pressure up. But Fujiko’s able to stop him with a gamengiri. While Iser is stunned, Fujiko runs over, leaps up and applies a front guillotine choke. Before Fujiko can really get the hold cinched in, Iser runs over into the corner and rams her back-first into the turnbuckles, breaking the hold. The boos continue as Iser delivers multiple shoulder thrusts in the corner. After hoisting Fujiko up onto the top turnbuckle, Iser climbs the turnbuckles with visions of hitting a superplex. Iser goes for the superplex, but Fujiko blocks the move. Iser tries to muscle her up for another superplex attempt. But again, Fujiko blocks the move. So Iser lets go and throws out a punch. Fujiko blocks and counters with a palm strike across the face. Iser then throws out another punch. But again, Fujiko blocks and counters with a palm strike. Iser motions for another strike. But Fujiko cuts him off with three more strikes. She then shoves Iser down to the mat. After climbing up onto the top turnbuckle, Fujiko leaps off for a diving double foot stomp. But Iser rolls out of the way. Once Fujiko lands on her feet, her momentum sends her rolling forward. Once Fujiko rolls back to her feet and turns around, the crowd boos when Iser knocks her down with a running big boot. He makes the cover, but Fujiko gets her shoulder up at two.

Iser delivers a delayed vertical suplex in the seventh minute for a two count. A pendulum backbreaker follows. Iser then bounces into the ropes, comes back and tries for a jumping knee drop. But Fujiko rolls out of the way. Before Iser can get back to his feet, Fujiko blasts him with a buzzsaw kick. She then heads into the ropes, comes back and drives Iser face-first into the canvas with a headscissors facebuster! After delivering Sealed With A Kick (grounded arm pull roundhouse kick). The Pride Champion heads out onto the apron and waves up Iser. Once Iser gets back to his feet and turns around, the crowd cheers when Fujiko plants him with a springboard DDT! She pulls Iser back up, doubles him over with a spinning back kick and connects with the Lucky Shot to an explosion of cheers. She makes the cover and gets the ONE, TWO, THREE!

(c) Mine -1
Iser - 0

When the bell sounds to start the second fall, Fujiko heads over to pull Iser up off the mat. But Iser falls back to the canvas. Fujiko reaches back down to pull Iser up. But once again, he slips through her grasps and falls to the mat. Fujiko then crouches down and grabs Iser. As she slowly lifts Iser up off the mat, Iser pulls Fujiko into a front facelock in a flash and falls back, planting her with the Deprivation DDT! The crowd erupts with boos as Iser taps his temple. He turns over and makes the cover, getting the ONE! TWO! THREE!

(c) Mine - 1
Iser - 1

When the bell sounds to start the third and final fall, Iser marches over and puts the boots to Fujiko. The boos continue as he pulls up Fujiko by the hair and knocks her back with a knee lift, sending her stumbling back into the ropes. While Fujiko tries to shake out the cobwebs, Iser marches over to attack. Fujiko throws out a kick to the midsection. She then delivers another kick. Then another. She goes for another kick. But this time, Iser catches her foot. Iser proceeds to drag the champion away from the ropes. Fujiko goes to counter with another enzuigiri. But this time, Iser ducks. He then yanks Fujiko up off the mat from behind and throws out a release German Suplex. But Fujiko’s able to rotate and land on her feet! When Iser turns around, Fujiko rushes over and connects with a front dropkick, knocking Iser into the corner. Fujiko then runs over and connects with a corner dropkick, sending Iser slumping down to a seated position. Fujiko slowly pulls up Iser, climbs up onto the middle ropes, turns and brings him down with an inverted Tornado DDT! She makes the cover. ONE! TWO! Iser gets his shoulder up. Fujiko pulls up Iser, places him in a front facelock and nails him with a back kick to the face. She then lets go of Iser before knocking him back with a handstand calf kick. While Iser is dazed, Fujiko turns and takes off into the ropes. When Fujiko returns, Iser delivers a release belly to belly suplex, sending Fujiko flying across the ring. After bouncing off the mat, Fujiko’s momentum sends her rolling to the outside. The ref begins to count out Fujiko while Iser gets on all fours. Once the count reaches ‘seven’, Fujiko pulls herself up using the edge of the apron. As she pulls herself up onto the apron using the ropes, Iser meets her with a shoulder thrust through the ropes. He goes to bring her back inside with a vertical suplex. But Fujiko slips down from behind and follows up with an O’Connor Roll. She bridges back into a prawn hold! ONE! TWO! Iser kicks out.

When both grapplers return to a vertical base, Fujiko whacks Iser with a palm strike to the face. She then catches Iser with another palm strike. Then a third. Fujiko motions for another strike when Iser socks her with a straight right hand! Fujiko gets jelly legs, drops to a seated position and then finally falls flat on the mat. The crowd erupts with boos at the closed fist being thrown in a match under Pride Rules. The ref gives Iser a warning for the closed fist and tells him that next time, it will cost him a rope break. But Iser pays him no mind. Fujiko tries to sit up. But she’s quickly knocked back down with a jumping stomp to the face. Iser then heads into the ropes, comes back and drops his knees across Fujiko’s face. He then uses his knee to grind his bulky knee brace across the champ’s face. Fujiko is pulled back by Iser before being whipped hard into the turnbuckles. As Fujiko staggers out, Iser turns and heads into the ropes. When Iser comes back, he knocks Fujiko down with a discus clothesline to the back of the neck! The boos continue as Iser pushes Fujiko over and makes the cover. ONE! TWO! T-NO! Fujiko gets her shoulder up.

Iser pulls up Fujiko and quickly knocks her back down with a European Uppercut. He slowly pulls up Fujiko by the hair before rocking her with another European Uppercut. This time, Fujiko is sent stumbling backwards into the corner. While Fujiko tries to shake out the cobwebs, Iser runs over and connects with a lariat, sending the champ over the top rope and down to the floor! Iser drops and rolls to the outside. He pulls up Fujiko, lifts her in the air and holds her in place. After ten seconds, Iser falls back and delivers a hard vertical suplex on the outside! Fujiko groans as she arches her back in pain. When the ref’s count reaches ‘thirteen’, Iser brings the action back inside and makes the cover. ONE! TWO! TH-NO! Fujiko gets her foot on the ropes. The action breaks the pin, but costs Fujiko one of her three alloted rope breaks.

As the match continues in minute fourteen, Iser delivers another pendulum backbreaker. He makes the cover. ONE! TWO! TH-NO! Fujiko gets her shoulder up. The challenger then shoots Fujiko off into the ropes. When she returns, Iser throws out another lariat. But this time, Fujiko ducks before continuing to run the ropes. When Fujiko returns, Iser brings her down with the Icebreaker (Irish Curse)! The boos continue as he makes the cover. ONE! TWO! TH-NO! The crowd cheers when Fujiko gets her shoulder up. As Iser pulls up Fujiko off the mat, Fujiko nails him with a flurry of forearm strikes to the face. While Iser is rocked, Fujiko turns and takes off into the ropes. When the champion returns, Iser throws her down with a sidewalk slam! The boos continue as he makes the cover. ONE! TWO! THR-NO! The crowd cheers when Fujiko gets her shoulder up.

Iser yanks up Fujiko before sending her into the corner with an irish whip. After delivering a lariat in the corner, Iser hoists Fujiko up onto the top turnbuckle. Iser climbs up onto the middle ropes and goes for a superplex. But Fujiko blocks the move. Iser then tries to muscle Fujiko up for another superplex attempt. He begins to lift Fujiko up. But she nails him with a knee to the head on the way up! When Fujiko’s let back down, she climbs up onto Iser’s shoulders, turns and flips back, bringing Iser down with an avalanche poison rana to an explosion of cheers from the crowd!!! With both grapplers are down, the ref starts his count.

ONE!





TWO!





THREE!





FOUR!





FIVE!





SIX!





SEVEN!





EIGHT!





NINE!





TEN!





ELEVEN!





TWELVE!





THIRTEEN!





FOURTEEN!





FIFTEE-

Fujiko is the first to get back to a vertical base. As Iser gets up on a knee, Fujiko rushes over and spikes him with a basement hurricanrana! She makes the cover. ONE! TWO! TH-NO! Iser gets his shoulder up. Fujiko sets up for an irish whip. Iser reverses, but Fujiko uses the momentum to catch him with a handspring Ace Crusher! The champion follows up with a running Shooting Star Press! ONE TWO! THR-NO! The crowd boos when Iser gets his shoulder up. Fujiko picks up Iser, heads into the corner and slams him face-first into the top turnbuckle while the crowd counts along.

Crowd: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR! FIVE! SIX! SEVEN! EIGHT! NINE! TEN!

Fujiko turns Iser around and sends him crashing into the opposite corner. As Iser staggers out, Fujiko knocks him down with a 360 Kick! She makes the cover. ONE! TWO! THR-NO! Iser gets his shoulder up. After hitting Iser with a second Sealed With A Kick, she goes for a standing moonsault. But Iser gets his knees up! The boos continue when he shoots her off into the ropes. When Fujiko returns, Iser throws her down with the Pillar of Truth (Bossman Slam)! He makes the cover. ONE! TWO! TH-NO! The crowd cheers when Fujiko gets her shoulder up. Iser pulls up Fujiko, delivers an irish whip and follows her into the corner. Instead of crashing into the corner, Fujiko runs up the turnbuckles, backflips off the top turnbuckle and lands behind Iser. She then turns and heads into the far ropes. When Fujiko returns, the crowd boos when Iser throws her down with a spinning spinebuster!! He rolls across Fujiko and hooks the near leg for the cover. ONE! TWO! THRE-NO! The crowd gasps, then cheers when Fujiko gets her shoulder up.

Iser slowly pulls up Fujiko before running into the ropes. When Iser returns, he runs past Fujiko before heading into the far ropes. When Iser returns, the crowd erupts with boos when he turns Fujiko inside out with a lariat! He pulls her over and makes the cover. ONE! TWO! THRE-NO! The crowd cheers when Fujiko gets her shoulder up. Iser pulls Fujiko back up and goes for a German Suplex. But Fujiko counters with a wheelbarrow victory roll! ONE! TWO! TH-NO! Iser kicks out. After both grapplers scramble back to a vertical base, Iser throws out a big boot. But Fujiko catches his foot, swings the leg away from him and counters with a gamengiri to the back of the head! While Iser hold the back of his head, Fujiko runs into the ropes, comes back and knocks him down with the 4-Play (running single leg dropkick)! She then pulls Iser up before heading towards the ropes. Fujiko bounces off the ropes and comes back with a handspring enzuigiri. As Iser turns and drops down to a knee, Fujiko heads back into the ropes, returns and connects with a 4-Play to the side of the head, knocking Iser back down! Fujiko slowly pulls up Iser, doubles him over with a spinning back kick and follows up with the Lucky Shot! The crowd explodes with cheers as Iser crumbles to the mat. Fujiko makes the cover. ONE! TWO! THREE!

TITLE RETAINED!
Fujiko Mine O || Lucky Shot (22:13) || Seth Iser X

After the match, Fujiko is once again handed her FGA Pride Championship belt after a successful defense. The Apex Goddess celebrates with her championship in the ring to cheers and applause from the crowd. But the cheers quickly turn to boos when Natalie McKinley runs down ringside and clocks XENA from behind with a lariat to the back of the head. As Fujiko motions towards the ropes to help XENA, the crowd erupts with boos when The Good Guys - Evan Envi and Ricky Valero - roll into the ring from behind. Fujiko does a double take as she glances up at the Video Tron and sees the two best friends behind her. She then turns and charges towards the duo. But the duo take her down with a double flapjack. While McKinley takes out XENA at ringside, Valero picks up Fujiko and holds her in place while Envi runs into the ropes. When the World Champion returns, The Good Guys deliver the Pinnacle Kick (Pinnacle Plex/Kapowski Kick combo)! Once McKinley hits the ring, the trio proceed to put the boots to Fujiko while the crowd let’s them have it.

GOOD GUYS SUCK!

GOOD GUYS SUCK!

GOOD GUYS SUCK!

The Good Guys continue to stomp away on Fujiko until someone bursts through the curtain. The crowd explodes with cheers as Jimmy Page races down the ramp with a steel chair in hand! Valero does a double take after seeing Page run down to the ring. He quickly pats McKinley and Envi on the shoulder before pointing out to the aisle. As Envi and McKinley turn, Page slides into the ring. The King of the F’n World gets to his feet, grips the chair with all his might and starts swinging wildly! The Good Guys quickly powder to the outside. McKinley pushes Envi and Valero in front of her. She then turns and walks backwards up the aisle with her arms spread out, protecting both Envi and Valero. The camera cuts back to Page, who is marching back and forth across the ring like a madman. The King of the F’n World doesn’t take his eyes off the trio for a second. He slowly backs up before dropping to a knee. He checks in on Fujiko before helping the Pride Champion back up to her feet. Page makes his way back over to the rope before pointing directly at Envi. “Murdered Out” blasts over the PA as Page continues to point at Envi. Envi leans over McKinley’s shoulder and trash talks Page while holding his World Championship in the air...