Vertigo (08.18.18)

[FGA Office]

[FGA Office]

U.S. Bank Arena
Cincinnati, OH

*Static Cut Intro*
This is a public service announcement
Sponsored by Just Blaze and the good folks at Roc-A-Fella Records..

The arena darkens as the ominous piano intro to Jay Z’s “Public Service Announcement” plays, and the fans are able to make out the silhouette of two individuals walking out from the back. The Man crosses his arms into an X in front of his and lowers his head as the intro concludes…

ALLOW ME TO RE-INTRODUCE MYSELF, MY NAME IS HOV.

A single spotlight suddenly illuminates the entrance way to show The New FGA Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion, Marlon Cure stood with both arms stretched, his crown tilted sideways and dressed to impress as always. Trailing behind The Champion is one of his drivers, Keiko, holding the Legacy Championship.

Once inside of the ring, Cure is met with loud boos from the crowd, as well as growing “YOU SUCK!” Chants as he stands and soaks it all in with a smirk.

Marlon Cure: It would be so much easier for y’all if I did suck, wouldn’t it?

The booing only grows louder from here as the self professed “King” goes on a roll.

Marlon Cure: It would be easier for y’all to swallow my ego or my arrogance because it’d be undeserved. I’d be making a damn fool of myself coming out here week after week, talking a big game and never quite backing it up and y’all would get your six - seven chuckles off at my expense. Just like when I first said I was king and everybody wanted to laugh. Just like when y’all took me for jokes when I said day one that I was here for the money and the gold. It’d be so much easier if y’all could say I wasn’t as good as I proclaimed myself to be, right right?

Cure motions for Keiko to hand him the Legacy Championship, which she does quietly. “King” Cure gives a cocky smile as he places the title on his shoulder in a deliberate manner.

Marlon Cure: ...Unfortunately for y’all, I’m not your favorites. Mediocre isn’t in my name and I don’t do half measures. I come out here week in, week out and tell you I’m the sh*t and you know what I do then? I face off against the best in the world at what they do, people whose hearts beat for this business we all tryna survive in and I back up everything I say. I take their matches from “They Aiight” to automatic match of the night. I MAKE your favorites, your idols, your heroes bow down and admit greatness between these ropes when they realize I say I’m king for a reason. And it hurts every single one of y’all to admit that.

Tossing a smirk at a particularly mouthy member of the crowd, Cure continues on.

Marlon Cure: When I said I was gonna make the Mid-Atlantic Legacy Championship THEE Championship for the brand? I meant that sh*t. I’m not about to play the waiting game to see who the powers that be wanna designate as my first title defense. Now the question is… who?

Cure thinks on it as he paces back and forth.

Marlon Cure: Valero…? Nah, that boy too busy playing hypeman to somebody else, tryna siphon off his shine. Moss? It was an honor and privilege to get her up out and take this title up off her hands. Maybe she looking to shoot the 5s a third time? Maybe a member of The New Murder…

At hearing that name, the crowd’s booing grew even louder, more intense than before. Cure waves off the fans with a roll of the eyes.

Marlon Cure: Nah, they know to pick their battles and who to play games with. As bad as they think they are, they ain’t tryna have somebody chasing them all over the country to every place they under contract to.

Stopping on a dime, Cure turns and looks towards the entrance way.

Marlon Cure: With no clear challenger to pick from out of the so called “Elite” on the brand, why not blow it wide open and see what the roster can really give me? Some of y’all are starving for an opportunity to show the world at large who you are, right? Consider this your chance to catch the best wrestler alive under 225 slipping. So! With that in mind...

Keiko places a chair down behind cure and takes his crown and coat at his behest as Cure stretches both arms out wide.

Marlon Cure: …Who want it with the king?

Cure sits down in the chair, facing the entrance way as the crowd cheers loudly as the gauntlet is laid down. Cure, as well as the crowd, waited patiently for someone - anyone come down and accept the Mid Atlantic Legacy Champion’s challenge. After a few moments of silence, the crowd began to boo once more as Cure’s lips curl into a smirk.

Marlon Cure: Nobody wanna come out here and shut me up? Take this title up off my hands after being gifted a free shot by truly yours? Nobody at all?

Cure mockingly thinks for a brief moment, before pushing himself back up.

Marlon Cure: Know what? Lemme sweeten the pot for Vertigo’s best. I got something for y’all.

Cure motions for Keiko to hand him his coat. Cure pulls out his signature cigar and chomps on it, before he pulls out a gigantic wad of cash. He counts out a lot of bills, before placing a stack on the faceplate of the title.

Marlon Cure: 10 bands. That’s $10,000 on the faceplate for anybody in the back, anybody in the audience that feels like they got what it takes to knock me up off my throne. Now, let's try this again… who in FGA feelin’ themselves enough to take that step, walk out here, look me in the eye and say “I want what you got, and I wanna take it from you.”?

After a pause “All Grown Up” blasts in the arena, the crowd erupts as Susan Kent appears on the stage, she makes her way to the ring shaking hands with the fans she walks around the ring and grabs a mic and steps into the ring.

Susan Kent: What’s up Cincinnati.

The crowd cheer loudly for the fan favorite, as Marlon sits with a huge smirk on his face.

Susan turns to the Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion.

Susan Kent: Bet your weren’t expecting me, well I’m sure all these of the fans of Vertigo would love to see me challenge you for the Mid-Atlantic Legacy title. Am I right folks?

The crowd erupts in cheers.

Susan Kent: Now I’m sure you're wondering why I deserve a shot at your title, well I’m going to tell you. Everyone knows my story by now and they know why I wanted a wrestling career, and there isn’t anyone who has been working harder than me here in Vertigo lately. I show up and I never complain and I always give the fans a great match. Marlon you wanted a challenger, well you have one, me.

Cure looks on, unimpressed as he crosses his arms over his chest. Dragging his hand over his face, “King Cure” mutters to himself before nodding.

Marlon Cure: Yeah… yeah, you know what? I can work with this. You right, you have worked your ass of to scratch, claw, and drag yourself to a shot just to get dusted by me. But at least you’re not a complete and utter rando looking to bring fame to their name. Like --

Before Cure can finish, “My Curse” by Killsiwtch Engage begins to play, causing him to throw up his arms in exasperation as Bryan Law begins to make his way down to the ring. As Law makes his way halfway down the ramp, he’s cut off by a figure emerging from the crowd, the winner of the interbrand battle royal, Piper Lennon. She enters the ring somewhat unnoticed amongst all the chaos, and before Law can make whatever case he was going to, Lennon sidles up beside Cure and speaks into his mic.

Piper Lennon: Ooh, shiny, I like it; I think I’ll take it.

She strokes the belt’s nameplate, drawing Marlon’s ire. Instead of acknowledging the fact that he looks ready to throw down, she instead waves at Kent.

Piper Lennon: Oh hey Suzie, what a coinkydink, me upstaging you again-- not intentional I swear.

Piper glances down the ramp.

Piper Lennon: Oh, and Jet Li is here too, neat. Anyways--

Law at this point has grown incensed at his challenge being interrupted and the martial artist enters the ring to confront Piper, pie-facing Kent aside as he does. Susan grabs his arm, telling him to watch it and he starts getting in her face. Lennon, ever the pot-stirrer, hits a cheap shot forearm to the side of Law’s head. He shoves Kent down and fires back at Piper with a side kick which she ducks, causing it to hit the newly crowned MAL Champ instead! Finally having had enough of Law’s attacks on her, Susan drops him with a left hook as he turns around, while a visibly amused Piper claps her hands from outside the ring and snaps a polaroid of Kent standing over Law and Cure, while telling her to make sure she brings that to their match later on. Meanwhile, FGA security run out to prevent things from breaking down any further as the irate Law and Mid-Atlantic Champion Cure push themselves back to their feet.

• Commercial Break •

[FGA Office]

Vertigo returns from commercial to see the ‘rightful’ US Tag Team Champions standing by. The New Murder members, Dom Harter and Annie Zellor are ready dressed in their ring attire, with matching leather jackets and bandanas around their necks. Annie has her title belt wrapped around her waist, while Dom hangs his from the front of his pants.

Dom Harter: And now the time has finally come. For the rightful FGA United States Tag Team champions to once again step foot in an FGA ring. And to compete for you lucky bastards in the crowd, or those watching at home.  

Annie Zellor: Over one year away. But being here? Wrestling for an FGA crowd?

She pauses, smiling wryly as she nods to herself.

Annie Zellor: It just feels like home, y’know. And to make it even better, I get to do it as a champion…

Annie gestures to the belt around her waist, still smirking as Dom takes over the speaking duties.

Dom Harter: Alas, things aren’t all sunshine and rainbows in The New Murder camp right now. I mean, the higher ups still refuse to recognise us as the US Tag Team Champions. The history books still say Pendragon are the inaugural holders of these belts…

Annie Zellor: Urgh.

Annie sticks her tongue out in revulsion as Dom shakes his head for a moment.

Dom Harter: ...my thoughts exactly. But worse than that, those same higher ups who refuse to acknowledge us as champions have decided to punish us. I mean, who seriously makes someone wrestle his own fan club?! What kind of sadists do we have in charge?! Who would do this to Chad and…

Pause.

Dom Harter: ...the other two.

Annie Zellor: Chip and Chico.

Dom Harter: Yeah, them! These are my biggest fans! People who idolise me, and worship me. They stare at me with reverence, with a deep sense of admiration … and I have to crush their hopes and dreams, by dropping them head first into that canvas. These young men with their whole lives ahead of them, and after tonight they’ll never be the same again. Such a shame…

Annie Zellor: Wait…

She says as Dom holds his face in one hand. The situation is just too much for the man to bear! But Zellor seems to have an idea as she smiles once more.

Annie Zellor: ...what if, like, this is just their way of making us ‘earn’ these titles.

Complete with the air quotes gesture.

Annie Zellor: And by beating The Dom Harter Fan Club tonight then nobody’s gonna be able to tell us we’re not the rightful champions! And Lowri and Neal won’t have a leg to stand on!

Dom Harter: So...if we win tonight we’re officially the FGA United States Tag Team Champions? I like it, I like it a lot.

Harter smirks as he runs a hand through his hair. Annie, looking proud with herself for coming up with that ‘genius’ idea, puts her hands on her hips as she closes out the segment.

Annie Zellor: Sorry Chad, Chip, and Chico. But tonight you’re gonna get wrecked!

She winks at the camera as the scene ends, and the show transitions elsewhere.

[FGA Office]

In another area backstage at the U.S. Bank Arena, the cameras find Spencer Burke, who has with him the bona fide United States Tag Team Champions, Pendragon. With their match not being until later on in the show, neither Neal Durden or Lowri Moss are dressed in their ring attire yet, instead they are each wearing a pair of jeans and a Wrestling, Innit? t-shirt (now available from Irish Whip Clothing). Stood with her arms folded and a scowl on her face, Lowri is clearly not amused by what she has just witnessed.

Spencer Burke: Neal, Lowri, later on tonight the two of you are going to be in a non-title match against Jaelynn Ramsey and Fenrys, but before we come on to that, I’ve got to ask you both for a reaction to those comments from Dom Harter and Annie Zellor.

Looking off to one side, Lowri scoffs derisively, while giving a shake of her head, and so it falls to Neal to reply to Spencer. Not in the best of moods himself, Neal looks to the side and sees Lowri who, clearly is not in the mood and then lets out a deep sigh.

Neal Durden: Rightful champions... Spencer… rightful champions... you know how many times I’ve heard that being said in the time I’ve been wrestling? You have any idea of how many people proclaim themselves to be champions just because they please to do so? Sure, Dom and Annie might have the physical belts with them...

Neal looks at Lowri, who is visibly annoyed and clearly does not want to speak right now, so he continues.

Neal Durden: But, for how long? What merits them those belts? The same stupid path Dom Harter has tried time and time again, and failed time and time again. Trying the same thing; to replicate the success of the original Murder? Spencer, I believe it was Albert Einstein who once said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results”... well, there you have my answer to what Dom and Annie just said.

Now Lowri decides to chip in, unfolding her arms as she turns to look in the direction of Spencer Burke.

Lowri Moss: They’re taking the [BEEP]ing piss, Spencer!

She stops to take a breath, in a vain attempt to calm herself down.

Lowri Moss: Excuse my language, but they are. They…

Again Lowri pauses briefly. She clenches - and then unclenches - her hands.

Lowri Moss: We earned those titles, Spencer. We defeated three teams, including the current FGA World Champion and the Pride Champion-elect, as well as a team who until that point had beaten everyone that had crossed their paths, and we earned our place in the history books as the first ever US Tag Team Champions. Now though, we have to watch two thieves - one of whom hasn’t had a match in FGA since the beginning of March, while the other one has been gone for even longer - parade around with our belts, acting like they’re the champions.

Lowri exchanges a glance with Neal, before returning her attention back towards Spencer.

Lowri Moss: It has been two months since we won the titles, and yet for most of that time, the belts have been in the hands of those frauds. But if this is how they want to do things… sneak attacks, stealing other people’s property… well, we’ve been down this road before, haven’t we? And like Neal just alluded to, Dom would do well to remember what happened at A New Odyssey - he should’ve known better than to try to pick up from where we left off at Steel Warfare. Because the outcome isn’t going to be any better for him this time, not even now that he has roped in Annie to help him fight his battles.

Neal looks at Lowri and puts his hand over her shoulder. He looks at Spencer and continues the train of thought Lowri started.

Neal Durden: You know, Spencer… at A New Odyssey, Dom had an all-star cast surrounding him; and he lost. Now he looks for those who are closer to him, trying to find an opening… but he’s just merely poking the dragon right out of its slumber. The crows -- wait, no… it’s not the crows… because, let’s be honest, Malcolm Drake isn’t Dom… he wouldn’t be doing petty things… IF DOM wants to go down the same road time and time again, well, he’ll have to deal with the same damn wall time and time again… if it’s a fight he wants, it’s a fight he’ll get.

Spencer Burke: Alright, well, as for your match tonight with Jaelynn Ramsey and Fenrys--

Spencer does not get a chance to ask whatever question he had in mind, as Lowri is quick to interrupt him.

Lowri Moss: Another thief, and a dirty wolf.

Neal gestures to Lowri to calm down before he speaks.

Neal Durden: Now, now… Fenrys is not guilty of who adopted him from the dog pound. In all honesty, he deserves better. But I agree on Jae. See, Spencer… Dom stripped his group from the top tier and stayed with Jae and Fenrys. Tonight we face them both; yet, let’s be honest to ourselves… where there’s one, there’s usually three or more of them. So I wouldn’t be surprised if shenanigans happen. Even if I’m under the belief, they have talent, just, like Fenrys, it has been misguided.

Neal shrugs and directs a glance towards Lowri, before continuing.

Neal Durden: And I know Lowri has a lot of anger boiling right now and waiting to explode, so... let’s keep this simple; you messed with us… time and time again. Let me go back to my earlier comments, you’ve been poking a sleeping dragon for far too long. Don’t be surprised if that dragon suddenly decides to bite back, and trust me… it won’t be pretty.

Lowri gives a shrug of her own.

Lowri Moss: Never mind being bitten by the dragons…

She turns to face Neal.

Lowri Moss: They ought to be worried about being burned by them.

Not wanting to spend any more time talking about The New Murder, at least for now, Lowri then grabs Neal by the arm, pulling him away, and the show cuts back to ringside.

[FGA Office]

• Tag Team Match •
The Tenacious Wrecking Crew vs. Dom Harter Fan Club

The match starts with Dom Harter and Annie Zellor rushing across the ring to attack Chip & Chad from behind! The crowd erupts with boos as Zellor places Chip in a side headlock before raking his face along the top rope. Meanwhile, Harter slams Chad face-first into the turnbuckle multiple times before turning him around to deliver shoulder thrusts and knee strikes in the corner. After Chad is sent slumping down in the corner after a flurry of right hands, Harter applies a foot choke while pulling down on the top rope. After seeing his partners being taken advantage of, Chico climbs onto the apron to scold Harter. But he quickly gets a punch to the face for his troubles, sending him down to the floor. Back inside in the far corner, Zellor delivers alternating shoot kicks to Chip’s legs. After a side kick to the midsection, Zellor connects with a bicycle knee to the head, sending Chip slumping down in the corner. The Tenacious Lil Bitch runs into the opposite corner, bounces off the turnbuckles, runs back over to the previous corner and connects with the Sparklebutt (running butt bump to seated cornered opponent)! She slowly pulls Chip back to his feet and taunts him before kissing her fist and popping him with a right hand. An irish whip then sends Chip into the far corner. After Zellor runs back over and delivers a discus corner clothesline, she heads back across the ring as Harter charges over and nearly drives the air out of chip with running double knees to the chest! The boos continue as he pulls Chip away from the corner before heaving him across the ring with an overhead belly to back suplex. While Zellor climbs the turnbuckles, Harter heads over and lifts up Chip’s legs. After Harter spreads the legs apart, Zellor leaps off the top turnbuckle and connects with a diving headbutt to the groin! Chip howls in pain as he curls up. The Tenacious Wrecking Crew aren’t done as they are quick to put the boots to him. Harter pulls up Chip before whipping him into the ropes. When Chip returns, The Tenacious Wrecking Crew bring him down with Cross Bones Style (flapjack from Harter into a Codebreaker for Zellor)! The boos continue as Zellor makes the cover. ONE! TWO! THREE!

Tenacious Wrecking Crew O || Cross Bones Style (1:13) || Dom Harter Fan Club X

Post-match, the Tenacious Wrecking Crew celebrate with "their" US Tag Titles until Pendragon races\ down to the ring to ruin the celebration. TWC quickly bail out of the ring. But Zellor drops one of the Tag Titles. Moss rushes over to grab it until Harter quickly reaches back inside and yanks it out just before Moss can snatch it up.

• Commercial Break •

[FGA Office]

A close up shot of Susan Kent standing in the ring above Marlon Cure and Bryan Law is all that fills the frame at first, until finally it pans out and we see Piper Lennon hanging the picture she took earlier in the night to a board in her locker room. She smiles and adjusts her glasses as she cocks her head at it.

Piper Lennon: Felt bad I had to dip out there, not usually my style, I like to be in the thick of things. But I just had to document that, because that was some fascinating stuff, man.

A beat.

Piper Lennon: Like it just goes to show that nature has an end result, a way things turns out, you know? Because like, you could say I stirred things up there by cutting the line and it started a fight, but let’s just think for a second. This is wrestling, do you really think a segment where person after person after person after person ends up interrupting to say their little bit would’ve ended up any other way but a fight? No, of course that’s how it would’ve ended up, so this was really a cool like shot of the natural order of things playing out-- all roads lead to the same end place and all that.

She whirls on her heel.

Piper Lennon: I’ll tell you what was a bit different though, ol’ Suzie Kent showing a bit of a backbone and some fire. First by coming out to start this whole dealio, then just decking Donnie Yen to close it out. That’s exciting, that’s something new; I’ve tangled with her a couple of times and I haven’t seen that yet. Like, she’s always skilled enough, plugging along working hard and doing her job, but never ready to just stop me-- playing that pesky little ground squirrel-- from ripping that all away from her.

Piper clenches her fist.

Piper Lennon: But tonight? Tonight I feel like she might just try to really put a stop to it. Put some poison traps out for me instead of just trying to drive me away from her yard with some noise machines-- can’t wait!

With a tiny giggle and crinkle of her nose, the scene cuts out.

[FGA Office]

Inside Susan's locker room, Susan is preparing for her match against Piper Lennon, the person who eliminated her from the Interbrand Battle royal at All-Star Showdown.

Kendra Hollis: So yet another match set-up to make Susan look bad.

Dana Wheeler: Susan hasn't looked bad in her recent matches.

Kendra Hollis: That's not what I meant, this is another opportunity to make Piper Lemon look good at Susan's expense.

Dana Wheeler: Anyone could have won that battle royal.

Kendra Hollis: But Piper Lemon won, and I don't mean to be a bitch here but every time Susan has wrestled her she's lost. Remember that time when she got the fluke win over Susan and did that stupid taking a picture thing? This company has no respect for Susan's hard work, and I'm getting tired of saying that.

Dana Wheeler: And to be honest I'm tired of hearing it, nobody is given anything in wrestling, they earn it.

Kendra Hollis: Well Susan has earned the opportunity, but well they give it to her of course not, but I bet they'll give it to Piper Lemon if she wins tonight.

Susan Kent: Lennon.

Kendra Hollis: What?

Susan Kent: Piper's last name is Lennon, and your both right, I've worked hard to get where I am, and I fell I have earned more opportunity to be in bigger matches. But like Dana said those opportunities aren't given they're earned. I know every time I've been in the ring with Piper I've lost, she's good.

Kendra Hollis: She's not better than you and tonight you need to go out there and prove it.

Dana Wheeler: For once I actually agree with Kendra. Tonight is the night to prove to everyone that Piper Lennon isn't a good as you, and tonight when you beat the winner of the Interbrand battle royal in the middle of the ring. The folks that run this place will have to provide you with better opportunities.

Susan Kent: I have to win first.

Kendra Hollis: I have faith in you.

Susan Kent: Thanks.

Kendra tends to a matter on her phone as Dana and Susan go over the game plan for her match.

[FGA Office]

The scene switches to Spencer Burke, who is standing by backstage in front of the green Vertigo backdrop.

Spencer Burke: We've got a ton of action still to come later on tonight. But up next, we've got a match with big implications as...

*GLUNK-GLUNK-GLUNK*

The noise causes a confused expression to form on Spencer's face. The veteran interviewer turns to his right. The camera follows by slowly panning to the left, revealing the familiar faces of Max Powers and Landon Knight. A roar of cheers comes from the crowd at the sight of the Super Mario Wrestling Bros! The camera catches up with them in mid conversation as they make their way down the hall...

Max Powers: ... no, no, no. I told you we should have taken the second tunnel in the Warp Zone, not the third!

Landon Knight: Wait just a minute, Max! Look around us! Look at where we are.

Max takes a gander at his surroundings.

Max Powers: Okay?

Landon Knight: I know this place! This...

Landon pauses, for dramatic affect.

Max Powers: ...

Landon Knight: ... is FGA!

A large roar of cheers can be heard from the crowd at the mention of the promotion's initials. A smile forms on Max's face after being back in familiar surroundings.

Landon Knight: I even know this guy right over here!

Landon says with a smile while pointing at Spencer Burke. The SMWB member walks right over to Spencer and gives him a pat on the back.

Landon Knight: Justice Young! My man! Long time, no speak! Say, you look a lot paler since the last time we saw you. How does that work?

Landon rubs his chin as he seriously ponders the question. Max shakes his head before slapping Landon on the arm.

Max Powers: That's not Justice Young. That's Spencer Burke!

Landon squints his eyes as he gets a good look at Spencer.

Landon Knight: Oh... OH! Spence, my man! it's so good to see you! Saaay, have you lose weight? Looking good, Spencey, looking good.

Landon, clearly embarrassed by his screw up, tries to suck up to Spencer by brushing off his shoulders and fixing his tie. But Spencer is quick to slap his hand off of him.

Spencer Burke: I was doing just fine, thank you very much.

Landon Knight: Sorry, sorry...

Spencer Burke: I must say, this is a bit of a surprise. The SMWB, here, on Vertigo?

Max Powers: Why the shock, Burke?

Spencer Burke: Well, it has been reported that the two of you were removed from the 2018 Dynamic Duos Tag Team Tournament

Max Powers:  ... which starts next week, by the way...

Max flashes a cheesy grin to the camera while giving a thumbs up to the viewing audience.

Spencer Burke: .... right. The two of you dropped out of the tournament and were replaced by The Saturnian Connection. We all figured that your travels took you elsewhere. You know, with you guys being "explorers of the world" and all.

Landon Knight: That's where you're wrong, my friend. See, we've been all over the map. Donut Plains? Forest of Illusion? Chocolate Island? Been there, done that. Dire, Dire Docks? Tall, Tall Mountain? Tick Tock Clock? Yep, we’ve mastered those places, too. We've been all over, Burke.

Max Powers: Places where we were the smallest guys around and even places where we dwarfed everyone else.

Spencer Burke: I find that last one hard to believe.

Max Powers: You would be surprised...

Landon Knight: But me and Max? We felt it was time to come back to where it all started. FGA. Now, we could have entered the Dynamic Duos Tag Team Tournament. But think about it. We've already won the FGA World Tag Team Titles. So while winning those titles again would be great, we've got our eyes on another set of tag titles. The United States Tag Team Titles! So why go through a tournament... when we can just hop on down that tunnel, land right here on Vertigo and get right in the thick of things?

Max Powers: Word around the Mushroom Kingdom is that Dudeman Durden and Dudette Moss were real bummed about us not being in DDT3. But don't you worry, guys. Because the Red n Green Machine is right here on Vertigo. And once the rightful US Tag Champs get their titles back from the Tenacious Little Bastard and the Snotnosed Sparklebrat, we'll be right here waiting for 'em. While Pendragon will be taking it to The New Murder and the Tenacious Wrecking Crew, the SMWB will be bouncing on the heads of the competition here on the green brand.

Landon Knight: That's right, Spence. It's our pleasure to announce that the SMWB have officially signed to Vertigo!

The SMWB high five each other before they each play the air guitar. A guitar solo snippet can be heard in the background, causing Spencer Burke to look around in confusion.

Spencer Burke: What in the world?

Landon Knight: We don't want to take way from all the good talent over there on the orange show. They're are plenty of good teams over there, like the Chaotics, Smart Style and even the team of Peaches and dan Herrera.

The mention of Herrera causes Max to clutch his throat.

Landon Knight: Dude, are you alright?

Max Powers: I'm okay. I just got a crazy flashback.

Max massages his throat as he thinks back to when Herrera nearly choked the life out of him.

Landon Knight: Right, right. Like I was saying, plenty of great teams over there. But the US Tag Titles are over here. So as far as we're concerned, this is the palce to be.

Spencer Burke: Do you feel that you guys coming here and staking your claim will rub some people the wrong way?

Max Powers: Spencer, we're not staking our claim to anything. We're not demanding anything. Nor are we arrogant enough to steal titles and claim them as our own. We're looking to do this the right way. We'll start from the ground floor and work out way to the top. That way, whether it be Pendragon or whomever, when they look across the ring and see us us, they will know that we earned our championship match. But if any teams take issue with us making our intentions known? Then they're more than welcome to come see us in the ring. Landon and I? We've got no problems 1Upping the competition.

Spencer Burke: This is huge news. The Super Mario Wrestling Bros are back here in FGA. Guys, welcome back and I wish you all the best.

[FGA Office]

• Singles Match •
Piper Lennon vs. Susan Kent

The match starts with both grapplers locking up in a collar-and-elbow. After Lennon moves Kent into the corner, both grapplers slowly let go after the ref’s instruction. While Kent’s still got her arms in the air, Lennon goes for a sucker punch. But Kent slips out of the way. When Lennon turns around, she’s met with backhand chops to the chest! Kent goes to follow up with an irish whip. But Lennon reverses! She then runs across the ring and goes for a leaping corner bionic elbow. But Kent slips out of the way again, causing Lennon to crash elbow-first into the corner! As Lennon stumbles back and turns around, Kent brings her down with a pair of arm drags before slipping on an armbar.

Lennon battles back to a vertical base and uses her free arm to push up on Kent’s chin and move her into the ropes. Once again, both grapplers break it up at the ref’s instruction. Boos soon follow when Lennon rakes Kent across the eyes. She then doubles Kent over with multiple right hands to the midsection. Lennon grabs Kent, turns and chucks her through the ropes and to the floor. Lennon steps out onto the apron, takes a few steps back before running forward and jumping off for a Cactus Elbow. But Kent rolls out of the way, causing Lennon to crash elbow-first on the floo!. Kent brings the action back inside and delivers a trio of arm wrench. Lennon follows up with a thumb to the eye.

The boos continue as Lennon moves the action back into the corner by slamming Kent face-first into the top turnbuckle. She then brings Kent down with a snapmare before following up with a spinning bootscrape. Lennon pulls Kent back up before delivering a sitout jawbreaker that sends Kent stumbling back into the ropes. As Lennon approaches Kent keeps her at bay with kicks to the midsection. That is, until Lennon swats away the last kick and counters with a gamingiri that knocks her down. Lennon makes the cover. But Kent is able to get her foot on the bottom rope.

As the match continues, Lennon applies a wrenching side headlock. Kent tries to shover her off, but its to no avail. Kent then tries for a belly to back suplex. But Lennon rolls over her shoulder, lands on her feet and applies the side headlock again. Kent is then brought down to the mat with a side headlock takeover. After Kent reverses into a headscissors, Lennon escapes with a kip up. As Kent scrambles back to a vertical base, Lennon catches her with a cross chop to the throat. The boos continue as she brings Kent down with a side russian leg sweep for another two count. Lennon knocks her back with a front kick to the chest before blasting her with open hand chops. After Kent gets shoved into the corner, Lennon lets off alternating jab/knife edge chop combinations. While Kent is slumped down in the corner, Lennon scrapes her boot across Kent’s face repeatedly. Lennon pulls her back up by the hair and sends her into the opposite corner with an irish whip. Lennon runs over to follow up with an attack, but she gets turned around by a boot to the face. Kent goes to follow up with a bulldog when Lennon shoves her off into the ropes. When Kent returns, she brings Lennon down with a running hurricanrana. A pair of dropkicks return Lennon to the mat. Once Lennon gets back to a vertical base, Kent runs over and delivers a headscissors takedown. Kent gets back to her feet and returns to the ropes. When Kent comes back, she connects with a Rolling Thunder senton for another two count.

Kent stays in control during the eighth minute, bringing Lennon down with a belly to belly suplex. She follows up with a standing moonsault for another two count. Kent pulls up Lennon and hits her with a European Uppercut. She goes for another running bulldog. But once again, Lennon shoves her off into the ropes. When Kent returns, Lennon throws out  running double axe handle. But Kent ducks and continues to run the ropes. When Kent returns, she knocks Lennon down with a spinning heel kick. She makes the cover, but Lennon gets her shoulder up at two. Kent pulls Lennon back up and goes for a vertical suplex. But Lennon blocks and counters with a small package. ONE! TWO! Kent kicks out. After both grapplers scramble back to a vertical base, Kennt throws out a hard left hook. Lennon ducks and throws out a gamengiri, which Kent ducks. Kent then brings Lennon down with a Codebreaker! While Lennon is sprawled out on the mat, Kent heads to the side of the ring, hops onto the middle ropes and flips back, delivering a Lionsault! She hooks the leg. ONE! TWO! Lennon gets her shoulder up.

Lennon is sent into the corner with an irish whip, Kent runs over and connects with a spinning heel kick, sending Lennon slumping down in the corner. After heading into the opposite corner, Kent runs back over and goes for a Bronco Buster. But there’s nobody home after Lennon rolls out of the way! She then takes Kent and brings her back down with a jumping neckbreaker slam for a two count. After Lennon whips Kent into the corner, Lennon runs across the ring and bashes her with a leaping corner bionic elbow. She then lifts up Kent, turns and hotshots her across the top rope! She makes the cover. ONE! TWO! T-NO! Kent gets her shoulder up. Lennon throws Kent back down with a scoop slam and follows up with a jumping double stomp before heading into the corner. Lennon positions herself up on the middle ropes and waits for Kent to get into position. Once Kent gets back to her feet and turns around, Lennon leaps off and knocks Kent back down with a flying knee attack. She takes Kent by the arm, pulls her up to her knees and and delivers a soccer kick flurry to the chest. After pulling Kent up to her feet, Lennon throws out a Heart Punch. But Kent ducks and counters with an inverted headlock backbreaker.

Kent is on the comeback in the eleventh minute, planting Lennon with a Tornado DDT for a two count. She then delivers a springboard flying hurricanrana, sending Lennon rolling underneath the ropes and to the outside. Once Lennon gets back to her feet, Kent runs over and knocks her down with a somersault plancha to the outside! Kent rolls her back inside and delivers hard left hooks to the head and body before bringing Lennon out of the corner with a running bulldog. She makes the cover, but she only gets a two count. Kent brings Lennon back to her feet and delivers a flurry of hard left hooks until Lennon ducks and counters with a knee thrust to the midsection. She then turns and runs into the ropes. When Lennon comes back, Kent stops her in her tracks with a European Uppercut before hopping onto her shoulders, turning around and flipping back to deliver an inverted hurricanrana! As Lennon tries to get back to her feet, Kent rushes over and brings her back down with a running corkscrew neckbreaker! Kent pulls Lennon back up, doubles her over with a boot to the midsection and then brings her down with Star Struck (Pedigree)! She slowly pushes Lennon over and makes the cover. ONE! TWO! THREE!

Piper Lennon X || Star Struck (12:56) || Susan Kent O

• Commercial Break •

[FGA Office]

We find Owen Gonsalves sitting backstage dressed in comfortable track pants and a GNSLVS shirt. He sits with what appears to be a coffee flask, sipping on some drink while watching the happenings of the show. As he does this, a backstage assistant enters the room.

??: Sorry, Owen? I uh...I was just given this package by an anonymous sender, I was told to give it to you as soon as possible.

Owen Gonsalves: Mail. Thanks? I'll have a look at it in a moment.

The assistant calmly hands over the package as Gonsalves temporarily places it aside, engrossed in the show for the moment. It doesn't take long for his eyes to drift over back to the package though, intrigued by that too now. He picks it up and has a read of the note attached. His eyes widen and it's almost as if a cold shiver comes over him. He rips the note off and throws it aside before proceeding to carefully tear open the packaging.

Out comes a mask. Grey in colour, kept well by appearance, the detail is impeccable from the wrinkles in the face it forms to the demonic symbols scribed on the forehead of the mask. The horns sticking out the top end are still full in colour, however there's a sense of age in the mask. It looks new, but the aura that comes off of it is one filled with history...and war.

Gonsalves is cold, nearly expressionless as he analyzes the mask. A mask he's familiar with. A mask that has changed everything. And with that he stuffs it back in the packaging before rising to his feet and rushing out the door.

Owen Gonsalves: (barely audible) Who sent you this?! What else did they say?

The view pans over to the note sitting on the floor, a note that reads:

"You're right...it'll never be over."

[FGA Office]

Exhaling a cloud of coffee–scented vapour as she lounges upon her chaise longue, Erin Mariani is the picture of contentment…or at least she would be if she wasn’t rhythmically tapping a crimson-painted fingernail upon the headrest as something is lingering at the back of her mind, a thought that simply won’t shift, yet for some reason she’s equally unable to place it

Sensing her partner’s mild irritation, Sara Mason slinks her way towards the chaise longue and makes herself comfortable, sitting cross-legged at the end as she absent-mindedly twists a strand of her black-and-red dyed hair around her finger

Sara Mason: Penny for your thoughts, E?

Rather than respond, Mariani simply places her vaping pen to one side and folds her hands together, letting her fingers weave between one another as they interlock, at which point she leans forward a little so her hands are placed upon her knee and she looks her partner in the eye to say…

Erin Mariani: I do hope your boots aren’t dirty.

Gesturing towards Mason’s Doc Martins as they get themselves intimate with the fabric of the chaise longue, her words dripping with disinterest, and having spoken she reclines as she’s determined to get to the bottom of what it is that she’s finding so distracting

Erin Mariani: I do, however, have a question for you.

This time it’s Mason’s turn to lean in closer, with a conspiratorial look in her eye as she does so

Sara Mason: And what would that question be?

Erin Mariani: A quite simple one: why are the insects we so casually destroyed crawling back so we can do it all again?  Once we had finished inflicting as much pain and misery as we felt compelled to give them, did they stumble towards whoever they needed to stumble towards and beg him for more?

With a click of the tongue, Mariani’s tone shifts disinterest to outright disgust

Erin Mariani: If they had a scrap of decency between the two of them, let alone some manners, they would know that if they want pain, misery and humiliation to be the cornerstones of what is left of their lives they do not crawl their way towards a third party in the faint hope that they will be allowed a little more of what they crave.  No, if they crave our attention and everything they say they dread but secretly desire, they crawl their way to us and they beg for what they wish to receive, their heads bowed as they find the anticipation of our answer to be as thrilling as it is suffocating.

Letting out a dark chuckle, as a wicked smile crosses her lips and a downright predatory look flashes in her eyes, Mariani appears to be enjoying the mental image she’s creating – and she certainly isn’t alone, as Mason snickers at the thought

Erin Mariani: There is one thing that they fail to understand, though, and it is this: while we will gladly test the limits of their endurance, they do nothing but test the limits of our patience.  After all, the one thing I recall from the last time we allowed them to feel a fraction of our wrath…

Placing a couple of fingers to her forehead, uses quickly wipes something from her forehead using her middle finger before looking at her fingertip, and as she does she lets out a small sigh of amusement

Erin Mariani: …just as I thought, my sitting here has generated the same amount of perspiration as our destroying the two of them did.  How whimsical…

With little more than a roll of the eyes, Mariani stretches to her full length, her arms reaching high above her head as she lets out a small sigh of pleasure – meanwhile, at the other end of the chaise longue, Mason is tapping her fingertips together

Sara Mason: It’s probably worth asking what’s left of them why they felt the need to come back for more, though.  After all, if they want us to tear them to pieces in back-to-back matches that either means we’re doing something wrong…or we’re doing something a little too well.  So maybe leave one of them in a state where they’re capable of actual speech, rather than cries, grunts and screams, just for the sake of convenience.

Letting out a disdainful laugh, Mariani picks up where she left off

Erin Mariani: I think it would be best for both parties if we left the two of them feeling thoroughly inconvenienced, incapable of darkening our doorstep for a period of time so we are able to do what we demand without a pair of lovelorn puppies following us around every single step, whimpering as they expect a little attention.  

Sara Mason: Spoilsport…

Chuckling to herself at Mason’s response, Mariani places her hands together as she considers the intricacies of what their opponents will be subjected to later this evening - and judging by the keen look on Mason's face, she's ready to hear just what that is...

[FGA Office]

• Tag Team Match •
Silk & Cyanide vs. Maritza Diaz & Pedro Gonzales

The match starts with Sara Mason rushing in and trying to get the jump on Maritza Diaz. But The Power Princess knocks Mason down with a standing shoulder block. Mason return to her feet, but Diaz runs right through her with another shoulder block. An irish whip then sends Mason into the ropes. When Mason returns, Diaz lifts her up high in the air. The crowd cheers as she begins to military press Mason. Once Erin Mariani gets in and tries to attack Diaz, Diaz throws Mason into Mariani with a press slam, knocking her down. The Power Princess then takes each member of Silk & Cyanide and slams their heads into each other with a double noggin knocker. While Mason & Mariani are dazed, Diaz heads into the far ropes while Gonzales slingshots himself in. When they return, Diaz knocks Mason down with a flying forearm while Gonzales delivers a running hurricanrana, sending Mariani through the ropes and to the floor. Back inside, Gonzales returns to his feet before heading into the far ropes. When Gonzales returns, he takes out Mariani on the outside with a cartwheel plancha!

Back in the ring, Diaz stays in control as she delivers chops after chop to Mason. After an irish whip sends Mason into the far ropes, Diaz throws her down with a belly to belly suplex for a two count. Diaz pulls up Mason and holds her in the air for ten seconds… before falling back, completing the delayed vertical suplex. She rolls over into another lateral press for a two count. The tag is then made out to Gonzales, who goes to work on Mason’s arms. After multiple arm wrenches, Gonzales unleashes the Sadistic Combo (Uppercut to the jaw, elbow to the face, roundhouse kick to the arm, sweep kick)! Mexico City’s Favorite Son makes the cover, but Mason gets her shoulder up. After a scoop slam, Gonzales steps out onto the apron before delivering a senton atomico for another two count. He then whips Mason into the far ropes. When she returns, she sees Gonzales stepping up for a back body drop. So she stops, places Gonzales in a headlock, runs forward and dives through the ropes, snapping Gonzales neck on the middle ropes! The boos continue as Mason heads back inside and makes the cover. But Gonzales kicks out.

The tag is finally made to Mariani in minute three. Gonzales is still down after getting dropped neck-first across the middle rope. Mariani slinks over, crouches down and gets just out of Gonzales’ reach. She begins to beckon Gonzales with her finger. Mariani lunges forward, grabs a hold of Gonzales and places him in a front facelock before delivering multiple knee lifts. The last of which knocks him down for a two count. After sending Gonzales into the far ropes, Mariani catches him off the rebound and sends him flipping down to the canvas with a kitchen sink. When Gonzales sits back up, Mariani hits him with a kick to the spine, followed by an eye rake, then a knee drop for a two count.

Mariani heads over and makes the tag to Mason. As soon as Mason gets back in, she rushes over and brings Gonzales back down with a step-up enzuigiri. She follows up with a one-handed bulldog for a two count. Gonzales is then sent into the ropes with an irish whip. When Gonzales returns, Mason delivers an inverted atomic drop before knocking Gonzales down with a cross chop to the throat. While Gonzales sits back up, Mason heads into the ropes, comes back and flattens him with a sliding clothesline for another two count.

As the match continues, Gonzales starts to fight back. He goes for an irish whip. But Mason reverses and sends him into the ropes. When Gonzales returns, Mason throws out a back elbow. But Gonzales ducks before running the ropes. When he returns, Mason throws out a clothesline. But again, Gonzales ducks. When he returns, Mason tackles him down with a Lou Thesz Press before delivering multiple headbutts. After Mariani is tagged back in, Silk & Cyanide deliver a double arm wrench before delivering stereo palm thrusts to the chest, knocking Gonzales back down! While Mason heads towards the ropes, Mariani lifts his legs and hooks her arms around them. When Mason returns, Silk & Cyanide deliver the F.W.Y. (Mariani slingshots the opponent into the ropes as Mason hits a slingshot crossbody to drive them onto Mariani's knees)! Mariani makes the cover. ONE! TWO! TH-NO! The crowd cheers when Diaz marches over and breaks up the pin with a stomp to the back.

Mason gets tagged back in. After Mason climbs to the top turnbuckle, Silk & Cyanide deliver The Pleasure Principle (Mariani holds the opponent in a front facelock as Mason comes off the top rope to rake the opponent's back) before throwing Gonzales down with the Descent (double suplex dropped into sitout gourdbuster from Mariani)! While Gonzales is down, Mason steps out onto the apron and scales back to the top turnbuckle. She goes for a flying elbow drop to the back. But Gonzales rolls out of the way to safety! The crowd then cheers as Mason crashes to the canvas!

In the seventh minute, Gonzales rolls forward, dives over and tags Diaz back in. The Power Princess rushes Mason, tackles her to the mat with a double leg takedown and delivers rights and lefts to her opponent. Diaz continues to go to work on Mason until Mariani clotheslines her down from behind. The boos continue while Silk & Cyanide put the boots to Diaz. They then pull up Diaz and go for the Descent. But Diaz counters with a simultaneous vertical suplex on both Mason & Mariani! Diaz then runs over Mariani with the Miami Express (bicycle knee strike)! She goes to throw out the Miami Express at Mason. But Mason side steps, wraps her up from behind and counters with the Aenigma (Mason rolls up the opponent into a kneeling position with a schoolboy, where she grabs their head and slams it into the mat)! She makes the cover. ONE! TWO! Diaz gets her shoulder up. Diaz then reverses an irish whip, sending Mason into the ropes. When Mason returns, she counters a back body drop attempt with a sunset flip. The crowd cheers while Diaz tries to regain her balance. Once she does, she reaches down, grabs Gonzales by the neck with both hands and yanks her back to her feet before chucking her across the ring with Head Over Heels (overhead choke suplex)! While Mason pulls herself up in the corner, Diaz marches over to attack when Mason pokes her in the eye. After switching positions, Mason sends Diaz slumping down in the corner with stomps. She then applies a foot choke while pulling down on the top rope. The ref gives her to the count of five to break the hold. But once the ref’s count reaches five, Mason continues to keep the choke applied. The ref is then forced to call for the bell.

Silk & Cyanide X || Disqualification (8:48) || Maritza Diaz & Pedro Gonzales O

Gonzales heads over to try and break up the attack. But he gets blindsided by Mariani! Silk & Cyanide continue to go to work on Diaz in the corner as the crowd boos. Suddenly, the lights go out. The crowd murmurs amongst themselves after the arena goes pitch black. The fans in the U.S. Bank Arena begin to gasp when a pair of large red, blue, green and yellow lights begin to flash in the ring. When the lights come back on, the crowd explodes with cheers at the sight of the Super Mario Wrestling Bros in their Starman light up jackets! Silk & Cyanide rush over to attack. But Max Powers doubles Mason over with a spinning back kick while Mariani is brought down with a pancake from Landon Knight. Knight picks up Mariani and whips her over towards Powers, who ducks and dumps her over the top rope and to the floor. Back inside, the crowd boos when Mason nails Knight with a cross chop to the throat. She then goes for an irish whip. But Knight reverses. When Mason returns, Knight lifts her up across his shoulders while Powers runs into the ropes. When Powers returns, the SMWB deliver the Koopa Troopa Drop (samoan drop/running corkscrew neckbreaker combination) to Mason! The SMWB go over and help Diaz and Gonzales back to their feet while Silk & Cyanide retreat up the aisle...

• Commercial Break •

[FGA Office]

[FGA Office]

• Singles Match •
Tyler Storm vs. Rhett Bands

Rhett is immediately overpowered by Storm after the opening bell. Both grapplers engage in a collar-and-elbow tie up. But Storm gains the advantage when he drops down, delivers a double leg pickup, heads over to the corner and rams Rhett back-first into the turnbuckle. After several shoulder thrusts to the midsection, Rhett gets rocked with a trio of European Uppercut. He’s then sent hard across the ring with an irish whip. When Rhett crashes into the turnbuckles, he staggers out of the corner and back over towards Storm, who flattens him with a bicycle kick. After picking Rhett back up, Storm doubles him over with a boot to the midsection before heading into the ropes. When Storm returns, he knocks Rhett down with a scissors kick. Rhett is brought back to his feet before Storm lifts him up onto his shoulders. The Shootcamp member heads to the center of the ring before throwing Rhett down with authority using an Alabama Slam! Storm turns Rhett back over into the prone position before locking him inside the Tiger’s Cage (double underhook crossface)! When Storm pulls back on the hold, Rhett is quick to verbally submit.

Tyler Storm O || Tiger’s Cage (1:05) || Rhett Bands X

• Commercial Break •

[FGA Office]

The opening drum notes and churning guitars of Alice in Chains’ “Man in the Box” begin to rumble through the sound system. The crowd in the U.S. Bank Arena responds with an initial burst of excitement that tempers into a more mixed reaction, as Malcolm Drake emerges.

Stephy Auger: And here comes FGA’s walking case of hemorrhoids…

Kris Cruise: Malcolm Drake, former Head Crow of the original Murder, receiving a rather tumultuous reaction from the crowd here. And if you missed the last Vertigo, you would’ve missed a rather self-aggrandizing promo from Drake that may help explain this response.

Stephy Auger: That or the manic, rambling Twitter rant. Never tweet, Cruise. Never tweet.

Drake, attired in a ratty black leather jacket; tattered jeans; and an original Murder T-shirt, saunters toward the the ring. A smirk sits between the matted mess of beard and scraggly curls that encircle his head more like a lion’s mane than a hairstyle. Drakes rolls under the bottom rope into the ring, and motions for a microphone which he is promptly handed.

Kris Cruise: It looks we’ll be hearing from the former FGA Tag Champ. I’d say to expect some explanation, but you never know what to expect with Drake.

Stephy Auger: Delete your account!

Kris Cruise: Will you stop? Conspicuous by his absence over the past few weeks is Chris Bond, who has not only not denied the allegations and assaults from Drake on Vertigo and Twitter, but has made no comments or appearance at all since Glory Road…

The crowd settles in as the music tapers off. Drake, for his part, ignores the usual protocol of facing the hard camera, and instead sits down against the bottom ring ropes facing the FGA locker room. His legs splayed out in front of him, he raises the microphone to his lips.

Malcolm Drake: When you have a theory... you have to put it to the test. You can’t just believe it blindly. (Drake briefly glances around at the crowd) Right, forgot where I was. This will probably fall on deaf ears anywhere in the Midwest, like most facts. But when you have a THEORY, you test it. You come up with a hypothesis… (Drake again looks out at the crowd)... something you think you will happen if you act in a specific way. When you’ve shown enough of your hypotheses to be correct, you start treating your theory as fact.

Malcolm Drake: Let me give you an example. I… have a theory that Chris Bond is a gutless puke of a coward.

The crowd gives a mild response, some even chant for Bond, if for no other reason than to be spared a lecture.

Malcolm Drake: Now, my first hypothesis was that if I came out on Vertigo two weeks ago and called Chris Bond a COWARD… he wouldn’t do or say a damn thing because he knows - deep down - that he is afraid of me. Well… that hypothesis was proven correct. Hypothesis number TWO… if I go on Twitter - the preferred venue of cowards and wives of cowards - and waste my time tearing down Chris Bond… he STILL won’t do a damn thing, except stay hidden in his little hole, licking the wounds I INFLICTED upon his flesh!

Drake’s aggressive speech pattern momentarily throws his hair back, revealing the bruising, still visible along his own neck from the Dog Collar Match at Glory Road.

Malcolm Drake: Hypothesis. Number. THREE. And this… will prove my theory… If come out here and straight up lay out my plan to embarrass and emasculate Chris Bond - more than I already HAVE - then either Chris Bond will do something to try and silence me, OR… Chris Bond is nothing more than spineless, gutless, ball-less, cowardly INSECT that I think he is! That Chris Bond has wormed his way way back into whatever hole he crawled out off when he jumped me from behind four months ago! That Malcolm. F*cking. Drake. Is the the bigger. F*CKING. Man.

Drake begins to chuckle, which slowly morphs into a full-blown cackle. Some in the crowd cheer, a small portion even boo, but most start chanting for Chris Bond and a reignition of the rivalry that engulfed FGA for the past several months.

Kris Cruise:W ell, this is probably from the well-worn cliche pile, but: Malcolm Drake is a madman.

Stephy Auger: Madman? He just verbally doused the ring in gasoline and now he’s trying to light a match. Wasn’t Glory Road enough?

Kris Cruise: I think it was enough for everyone except Drake, even Chris Bond seems to--

"You Know My Name" by Chris Cornell interjects over the sound system and the place damn near comes unglued. Chants of “Bond! Bond! Bond!” start to reverberate in anticipation of the Battle-Hardened Veteran. Drake springs to his feet, walking toward the front of the ring in anticipation as well.

But Chris Bond does not emerge. Instead, The Crimson Baroness, Jaelynn Ramsey, Fenrys, Annie Zellor, and Dom Harter push the curtain aside and stand shoulder-to-shoulder across the entranceway, with Dom slightly behind the rest. The crowd begins to murmur about the imminent conflict, before coalescing into a chorus of boos. They may not be on board with what Drake is selling, but they know they hate The New Murder.

Stephy Auger: Here we go!

Kris Cruise: Malcolm Drake’s mouth has been writing checks for weeks, and the New Murder looks like they’re here to cash them.

The Crimson Baroness: Sweetie, stop…

She holds up a hand, asking Drake to be silent as the crowd boo her as per usual.

The Crimson Baroness: You’re just embarrassing yourself now. You’re talking about my husband as if he’s a coward. As if you know him at all. But we can all see that isn’t the case because, sweetie, if you knew Chris Bond at all - like you claim you do...then you’d know that my husband is anything but a coward!

TCB jabs a finger towards the ring as she speaks. She remains calm, however, almost implacable in her demeanour as she continues to stare down Malcolm Drake from a distance.

The Crimson Baroness: Chris Bond has never backed down from a challenge before. Not in Simcoe, not in Revival, not when he was a hero to these fans, and especially not now when he has the backing of The New Murder...

Malcolm Drake: Little children. You know, whoever said imitation was the sincerest form of flattery was never imitated by the likes of YOU!

The New Murder begins slowly walking toward the ring, but Drake keeps ranting.

Malcolm Drake: I see a FRAUDULENT flock of PIGEONS painted black… but no Chris Bond. Is this his latest act of cowardice? Afraid to face me even with the numbers on his side? He must’ve learned that from you, Dominic!

Harter only smirks wolfishly in anticipation of the slaughter at hand. The New Murder begins to circle the ring, but Drake barely reacts. He simply locks eyes with Harter, the two old foes staring daggers at each other. The New Murder climb onto the apron, still no reaction from Drake. Some start looking to Harter to see if this is some kind of trap, but Harter keeps his focus on Drake. The New Murder cautiously enter the ring.

Malcolm Drake: Enough of this foreplay. LET’S F*CKING GO!

Drake drops the mic, and before it can even thunk to the canvas, Drake and Harter are viciously trading shots back and forth with violent, chaotic, unbridled fury and loathing. It only takes a moment for the crows of the New Murder to descend on Drake, The Crimson Baroness sneaking up behind him with one of her patented low blows as Drake falls to his knees. The New Murder pounce, driving him to the mat and stomping him down.

Every time Drake makes an effort to get back to his feet, he is met with a fist or an elbow or a boot. Finally, Ramsey and Fenrys haul a half-limp Drake to his feet. Drake throws his head back, pushing the hair from his face, and revealing a trail of blood from his nose and mouth, discoloring his mangy beard. Drake locks eyes with TCB and spits a wad of blood directly into her face. The crowd cheers as Drake cackles maniacally, only to be silenced with a savage superkick that separates Drake from consciousness, hanging limply between Ramsey and Fenrys.

Dom Harter: Pick him up…

With that, Jae and Fenrys pass the lifeless body to Dom who hooks both arms. Annie head towards the corner and climbs, before The Tenacious Wrecking Crew members hit the King Rides By (Spike Lifting Double Underhook Piledriver) on Malcolm Drake. The former Crow remains motionless for a moment as the crowd fall silent, unsure of what to expect next.

Dom Harter: Pick him up…

Annie and TCB drag Drake back to a vertical base once again, and this time it’s Fenrys who takes a run up, before connecting with Loki’s Wrath (Bicycle Knee Strike)! Drakes falls to one knee as Jae Ramsey climbs to the middle turnbuckle. She leaps off with The Savagery (Diving bulldog) driving Drake face first into the mat to a chorus of boos from the crowd.

Dom Harter: Pick him up…

He says once again, as TCB lifts the former crow to his feet, albeit in a doubled over position. With both arms hooked, The Baroness plants Drake with Dom’ed (double arm DDT) as The New Murder look down on the crumpled heap of Malcolm Drake, laying in the center of the ring. The crowd boo louder than before, prompting Harter to look around the arena with that familiar crooked grin plastered on his face, before he leads the exodus from the ring. The Crimson Baroness wipes her boots next to Drake’s head and Fenrys spits on his back as they exit.

Stephy Auger: Well, it looks like Drake got what he was asking for.

Kris Cruise: A five-on-one assault? I think what he was asking for was Chris Bond.

Stephy Auger: Hey, you mess with the bull you get the horns.

Kris Cruise: What is that, ‘86?

Stephy Auger: ‘85.

As the New Murder walk up the ramp, Drake begins to stir in the ring. Drake drags himself along the canvas over to the discarded microphone. He wraps a bloodied paw around it, his heavy breathing preceding his voice through the sound system.

Malcolm Drake:: You’re… you’re… going to have to change your name… b-because… that… THAT was not WORTHY of the “Murder” name…

This elicits a small cheer from the crowd, as the New Murder stop along the entryway and turn their heads back to the ring, before deciding to shrug it off, continuing to the back.

Malcolm Drake: Typical… typical Dom Harter… leaving things half-finished. Isn’t that right, ANNIE?

The crowd erupts into a loud “oooohh,” Annie tries to head back to the ring, but she’s held back by Dom. A storm descending upon The New Murder as the smiles that were on their faces a moment ago have been replaced by scowls and glares. But they head backstage, The Crimson Baroness stomping ahead, and with Harter visibly shaking with rage as Drake cackles into the microphone before rolling onto his back, releasing the mic but continuing to laugh up at the lights.

• Commercial Break •