MAIN EVENT
★★★ EIGHT MAN TAG TEAM MATCH ★★★
Johnny Karma, Noelle Smith, The Chaotics vs. Savannah Taylor, Smart Style, ?
The inaugural United States Champion Savannah Taylor makes her way to the ring first. She’s soon followed by the reigning FGA World Tag Team Champions, Smart Style. Out next are the former FGA World Tag team Champions, The Chaotics. Out next is the reigning United States Champion, Noelle Smith. FGA Undisputed Champion Johnny Karma is the last to enter. Karma, Smith and The Chaotics are going over strategy on their side of the ring while Taylor and Smart Style try to figure out how they’re going to handle this match 4 on 3. Sudden, “Can You Feel It?” blares throughout the arena. The crowd erutps with boos as the “Chief” Evan Envi is officially announced as Ricky Valero’s placement.
Once Envi gets in the ring, he heads over towards his teammates. The foursome huddles up before breaking out, charging across the ring and trying to get the jump on their opponents. But Karma, Smith and The Chaotics are ready. The crowd explodes with cheers as the fists start flying between the two sides. Karma moves Envi into one corner, Smith moves Taylor into a second, De Luca moves Bisley into a third while Alexander moves Majima into the final corner. Alexander lights up Majima’s chest with knife edge chops. Majima then takes Alexander tosses him into the corner and unleashes machinegun chops. Alexander then fights back with European Uppercuts before moving The Strong Style Savior back into the corner and giving him another series of chops. In the opposite corner, Smith places Taylor in a Muay Thai Clinch and delivers alternating knee strikes to the head. In the third corner, De Luca is unloading on Bisley with wild lefts and rights. Bisley tries to cover up. But some of the blow still connect. In the opposite corner, Karma delivers a series of knife edge chops that echo throughout the arena. On cue, Karma, Smith and The Chaotics take their opponents and whip them from out of their respective corners, causing them to crash in the center of the ring. As Taylor stumbles back, Smith takes her off her feet with a legsweep! Karma plants Envi with Instant Karma (hammerlock spun into a DDT)! Alexander delivers the Chaotic Shockwave (inverted implant DDT) to Majima! De Luca then brings Bisley down with an inverted Tornado DDT!
Smart Style and Envi roll to the outside, Smith takes Taylor and whips her into the ropes. When she returns, Smith brings her down to a knee with a basement dropkick. She then rolls over and connects with a Listo Kick, sending Taylor rolling to the outside. De Luca then runs into the far ropes. When she returns, she knocks Bisley down with a suicide dive front dropkick! Back inside, Smith runs into the far ropes. When she returns, she leaps through the ropes and knocks Taylor down with a suicide dive! Back inside, Karma runs into the far ropes. When he returns, he takes out Envi with This Is For The Front Row (baseball slide clothesline)! Back inside, Alexander runs into the far ropes. When he returns, Majima slides back in and throws him down with the Uragaeshi (STO to running opponent)! He makes the cover. But it only gets a count of two.
The Strong Style Savior brings the action into the corner, rips open Alexander’s black tank top and proceeds to blister his chest with machinegun chops. An irish whip then sends Chaos Stryke into the opposite corner. Majima the runs across the ring to attack. But Alexander cuts him off with the Chaotic Impact (STO)! He makes the cover. But it again, it only gets two. An irish whip is reversed, sending Alexander back into the corner. Majima connects with the Kao No Nai (Yakuza kick to a cornered opponent)! He then turns Alexander around in the corner before nearly dumping him on his head with the GOJU50 (half and half suplex)! He makes the cover. But De Luca dives through the ropes and breaks it up just after the two count.
The Chaotics take Majima and whip him into the far ropes. When he returns, they knock him down with a double dropkick. Majima then holds Majima in place with a wheelbarrow lift while De Luca heads into the ropes. When she returns, she knocks Majima down with a scissors kick! With Majima already in the prone position, Alexander applies the Perfect Chaos Theory (edgecator)! Bisley slides in and goes to make the save with a superkick. But De Luca swats his foot away from Alexander, hops onto his back and spikes him with a poison rana! She then applies an ankle lock to Bisley! The crowd cheers as both members of Smart Style have looks on anguish on their faces. Taylor slides in and goes after De Luca when Smith runs out of nowhere, leaps up and catches her in a standing guillotine with bodyscissors! The Chief then goes to slide back in, but Karma grabs him by the ankle and drags him back out. Karma throws out a right hand. But Envi blocks, counters with a kick to the midsection, lifts Karma up, turns and delivers an Alabama Slam across the edge of the apron! Envi rolls back into the ring, rushes over towards Alexander and whacks him in the head with a Buzzsaw Kick! He then comes heads over to De Luca and blindsides her with a superkick, breaking that submission, also! He then rushes past Smith, springboards onto the middle ropes, rebounds back and connects with a roundhouse kick to Smith’s face, breaking the hold! Envi then gets up, runs into the far ropes, comes back, leaps through the ropes and knocks Karma down with a suicide European Uppercut! Envi leaps to his feet and gives the double “V” fingers while the crowd erutps with boos.
As the match continues, Majima tags out to Bisley, who puts the boots to Alexander. He pulls Chaos Stryke up and delivers the Iko Uwai (cravat with repeated knees to the head). After a rolling solebutt kick to the midsection doubles Alexander over, Bisley tosses him through the ropes onto the apron. Alexander goes to pull himself up when Bisley delivers a slingshot DDT onto the apron! A large thud can be hard as Alexander is planted face-first onto the apron. After Alexander crumbles to the floor, Bisley, Majima and Taylor all jump on him with multiple stomps. Alexander is brought back into the ring and covered. But it only gets a two count. A tag is then made to Majima, who knocks Alexander down with the Hakai Tsuchi (slingshot shoulder block) for a two count. Majima sits up Alexander and delivers repeated soccer kicks to the back before delivering a bridging German Suplex for a two count. Majiam then throws out the Akuma-fu (repeated short-arm clothesline). But Alexander ducks and counters with a release German Suplex!
After a crawl across the ring, Alexander tags out to De Luca! De Luca springboards onto the top rope, leaps off and drives Majima down with double knees for a two count! After an irish whip into the ropes, De Luca brings him down with a hurricanrana. She then rushes over and brings him back down with a running hurricanrana. She then throws out an Axe Kick. But Majima reaches up and catches her foot on the way down. After getting back to a vertical base, Majima hurls her across the ring with a capture suplex for a two count!
A tag is made to Taylor, who gets in and taunts De Luca while she circles her. The Las Vegas Siren swoops in and stomps away on the former Tag Champ. She then slams De Luca face-first into the top turnbuckle. After a running hip strike into the corner sends De Luca crumbling to the mat, Taylor makes the cover. But it only gets two. An irish whip is then reversed, sending Taylor into the ropes. When she returns, she slides through De Luca’s legs. When De Luca turns around, Taylor tackles her down with a single leg. She tries to turn De Luca over into the Heartless Angel (Stretch Muffler)! But De Luca uses her free leg to kick Taylor off of her. De Luca then hits another running headscissors, sending Taylor rolling to the outside. She then ru sinto the far ropes. When De Luca returns, she goes for a suicide dive when Bisley perfectly times a running knee lift! The crowd boos as De Luca’s limp body slips through the ropes and crumbles to the floor. Taylor climbs up onto the apron and taunts the crowd. She points across the ring and blows a kiss at Smith before knocking De Luca back down with an Asai Moonsault! De Luca is brought back inside and covered. But it only gets two.
Tag back out to Bisley, who stomps away on De Luca. After a rolling solebutt kick to the midsection doubles her over, Bisley delivers Greetings from the Twin Cities (hangman's neckbreaker over the knee) for a count of two. The Blind Destiny (Canadian backbreaker rack dropped into double knee gutbuster) also gets a count of two. Bisley then takes it to the air, knocking De Luca down with a missile dropkick! He makes the cover. ONE! TWO! TH-NO! De Luca gets her shoulder up. A rear chinlock is then applied. Karma, Smith, Alexander and the Southaven crowd are trying to rally around De Luca. De Luca begins to slowly turns over onto her knees. Once she’s back to her feet, she delivers multiple elbows to the midsection to break the hold. She then turns and goes to make a beeline towards her corner. But Bisley reaches out, yanks her back over towards him and goes for a belly to back suplex. But De Luca rolls over his shoulder, lands on her feet and stumbles backwards into the ropes. Bisley rushes over to attack. But he gets knocked back by a back elbow. De Luca then bounces off the ropes before knocking him down with the Syxx Kick (Running Double Spinning Wheel Kick)!
With both grapplers down, the ref starts his count. Once the count reaches six, De Luca begins to stir. Around the count of eight, she gets up on all fours and begins crawling towards her corner. Bisley begins to shake out the cobwebs. He turns over and sees De Luca near her corner. So he scrambles to his feet as best he can and rushes over. He’s able to grab one of her ankles. Smith’s got her arm stretched out and so does De Luca! But Bisley’s hanging on for dear life. De Luca grunts as she lunges forward, slipping through Bisley’s hands and making the tag to Smith! Smith knocks Bisley down with a springboard flying forearm! Majima then egts in and throws out the Kurimuzon Kasai (lariat). But Smith rolls underneath it. When Majima turns around, he gets caught with a pelé kick. The kick knocks Majima back. As he turns around, Alexander comes out of nowhere with a spear! Speaking of out of nowhere, Envi spins Smith towards him before throwing her down with a Uranage! Taylor then springboards to the top turnbuckle, leaps off and crashes down across her with a Frog Splash! Across the ring comes Karma, who knocks Envi down with a jab/right hook combo! He then turns to Taylor and knocks her down with a jab/right hook combo! When Karma turns to Bisley, Bisley delivers an inverted atomic drop. He then sets up for the MOTY (Shirnaui)! But Karma is able to counter with Hard Times (wrist lock transitioned into a Bionic Elbow)!
When Karma turns around, Taylor doubles him over with a kick to the midsection before bringing him down with Blonde Ambition (forward russian leg sweep)! When Taylor turns around, she gets walloped by a reverse roundhouse kick from Smith! Majima then grabs Smith from behind and throws her down with the GOJU50! Once Majima gets to his feet and turns around, De Luca brings him down with a diving Tornado DDT! When De Luca turns around, Bisley near knocks her head off with a superkick. When Bisley turns around, Karma sends spittel flying out of his mouth with Check Your Chiclets (superkick)! When Karma turns around, Envi knocks him down with the Kapowski Kick (quick spinning heel kick)! Envi hops out onto the apron and throws up the double ‘V” fingers before going for Helter Skelter (springboard 450 splash). The crowd explodes with cheers… when Karma gets his knees up, causing Envi to crash down hard across them! Envi bounces off of Karma’s knees and guards his midsection while howling in pain. Once The Chief returns to his feet and turns around, Alexander brings him down with a spear! Envi howls in pain while he once again guards his ribs. Once he turns over, gets back to his feet and turns around, he gets laid out with Check Your Chiclets from Karma! De Luca heads into the corner, climbs to the top turnbuckle, flips off and connects with a diving moonsault across Envi! Smith then picks up Bisley, places him in a Muay Thai Clinch and doubles him over with a hard knee to the ribs. After Bisley drops down to his knees, Smith connects with the Moroccan Sunset (Muay thai style axe kick)! She makes the cover. ONE! TWO! THREE!
Johnny Karma, Noelle Smith, The Chaotics O || Moroccan Sunset (24:18) || Evan Envi, Savannah Taylor, Smart Style X
Geoff Penzer: What a showcase. Heading into Only the Strong Survive, momentum is important, and… oh. Look.
Evan Envi rolls onto his side, arms around his torso as he takes deep breaths. He sits upright a bit… but collapses back to the mat, rolling closer to the ropes as he tries to compose himself.
Geoff Penzer: The Chief isn’t looking too hot.
Evan Envi: Gimme that!Envi reaches out beneath the bottom rope and swiftly snatches the microphone out of Melanie Sierra’s hand before rolling onto his back, clutching the mic to his chest. He breathes heavily into it, ignoring the boos that rain down on him from the crowd. The music fades from the PA system, intensifying the sound of Envi’s attempts to catch his breath.
Evan Envi: Come back. C… come back. That’s not how th… not how this ends.
He coughs a bit, pushing himself onto his stomach, trying to force his knees beneath himself.
Evan Envi: This… is
not... the final image the people see before Only the Strong Survive. This is… not how we walk… away from this. Come
back, Johnny.
Evan groans loudly before pushing himself to a kneeling position. He rolls his neck a bit and sighs, pulling the microphone to his lips before glaring up at the top of the ramp.
Evan Envi: Come
back. The last thing that these people get to see before we walk into Only the Strong Survive— is me… me standing over your body with the Undisputed Title over my head. THAT… that’s how we end this. That’s how we end this…
Envi turns his head, coughing again before leaning back, gripping the microphone with both hands, seeming to silently reason with someone above before lowering his gaze to the ramp again.
Evan Envi: Fight me alone.
He staggers to his feet, falling against the ropes for support.
Evan Envi: Come out and fight m…
The audience comes alive with a roar and Envi lowers his microphone a bit, eyes widening. The cameras pan toward the top of the stage where we see Karma once again emerge at the top of the ramp, wearing a facial expression that combines pity with extreme annoyance, and he looks towards the ring for a moment as he catches his breath before he says his piece
Johnny Karma: What’s the point of this?
Lowering the microphone, Karma holds his arms out wide in an expression of pure “What the hell?” knowing full well the answer to his metaphorical question
Johnny Karma: There’s a
very good reason why I turned and walked away once we were finished for this evening, Envi, and I’m sure you know why that is: because there’s no reason for me to waste another drop of energy on you
now when Only The Strong Survive is right around the corner.
As he says this, Karma’s expression changes from one of pity and annoyance to one of someone who is just fed up of everything he's been through in the past few months thanks to Evan Envi
Johnny Karma: I don’t want to give you the chance to have Best Friend of the Week 6 jump me from behind because I know full well that’s my next match, and if you think for so much as a split second that I’m willing to risk giving you any advantage…
Realising he's getting worked up, Karma stops short of finishing his sentence and, after a slight pause, his voice returns to the previous decibel level
Johnny Karma: I pity you, Envi. Really I do. You got inside my head last time, but that didn’t get the job done and what have you got left? Having your pal NEON attack someone I care about? You already did that. Mocking my dead grandfather? The New Kings already did that. Stealing the taste of victory away from me time and again and thinking you'd keep me down? Izzy Anders already did that. You had your chance to prove you could be the champion you claim to be, but that’s gone now - so give it a rest.
With a shake of the head, Karma doesn't bother wasting another drop of energy telling Envi exactly what he thinks of him and he turns to walk away, still holding the mic in his hand but showing no intention to use it for so much as another syllable, and as he walks towards the curtain Evan once again picks up his mic.
Evan Envi: Wait.
With more desperation in his voice, he lifts the mic again.
Evan Envi: Stop!
A look of bitterness crosses Envi’s face as Karma keeps walking.
Evan Envi: It was me, Johnny. I planned it.
Envi glares at Johnny, who freezes, back turned to Envi at the top of the ramp.
Evan Envi: I planned what happened to Cherry. But it wasn’t supposed to go down the way it did. Neon wasn’t supposed to do what she did, Johnny. I…
Evan takes a breath and smirks.
Evan Envi: I meant for it to be so much worse. We were never supposed to get her back.
The reaction from the audience is a low, deep one— more of disgust than the outright booing we’ve heard all night.
Geoff Penzer: Good lord…
As the crowd continue to boo, one sound echoes throughout the arena - the sound of Karma dropping his microphone onto the entrance ramp, drawing the crowd’s attention towards Karma as he stands there and is clearly seething, to the point that the crowd become deathly quiet as they wonder just what the hell Karma is going to do
Geoff Penzer: What the hell was going through Envi’s mind?! Johnny Karma is-- well-- I can only imagine what he’s thinking.
Slowly, ever so slowly, Karma turns his head towards the ring and looks over his shoulder at Envi, with pure unbridled fury in his eyes as what Envi said sinks in. Envi pushes himself back toward the center of the ring, breathing heavily, glassy eyed locked on the champion-- followed by Karma turning on his heels and facing the ring with his eyes locked firmly on Envi inside the ring as he looks ready to explode
Evan Envi: My only… regret… is that I didn’t get to experience it the way Ne got to. I didn’t get to he--
Before Envi can finish saying what he's trying to say, Karma is already bearing down on the ring, running at a full sprint down the ramp. Envi hurriedly tosses his mic as Karma hurls himself under the ropes to get inside the ring and immediately tackles Envi off his feet! He starts unloading on Envi with an avalanche of punches to a thunderous roar from the crowd!
Geoff Penzer: Here we go!
In a futile attempt to break up the one-sided battering the referee attempts to drag Karma off of Envi, but even when grabbing hold of Karma he can't budge him as much as an inch as Karma continues to rain down punches, so the ref thinks “Screw it” and bails, running up the ramp to get out of dodge.
Geoff Penzer: And there goes the official! No one’s here to stop this!
“THANK YOU KARMA!”
“THANK YOU KARMA!”
“THANK YOU KARMA!”
A second camera angle reveals the bloodied nose of the Chief as he tries to scramble away from Karma-- only to be grabbed in a side headlock and wrestled to the ground as Karma uses his free hand to throw hammer-fists down onto the head and neck area of Envi!
Geoff Penzer: It sounds like a cliche but… the Chief might not make it to Only the Strong Survive!
Suddenly, the cheers turn to boos! The cameras pan toward the ramp where many of the members of the audience focus their attention.
Geoff Penzer: Oh-- what’s this?!
The boos reach a fever pitch as the former FGA 15 Champion, the “Queen of Mean” Neon steps onto the stage with a lead pipe gripped in her left hand. Calmly she begins to march down the ramp, dragging the pipe behind her, eyes locked on the occupants inside the ring.
Geoff Penzer: The cavalry has arrived! Ricky Valero’s not here, but an old friend might have just saved the day!
Johnny Karma leaps to his feet, face red as he glares down at the Chief. With a grunt of pure rage, he forces Envi upright with two handfuls of hair-- but stops, catching a glimpse of Neon out of the corner of his eye. Karma lets go of Envi, allowing him to fall to his knees as he slowly turns toward the ringside area where “The Queen of Mean” stands at the bottom of the ramp, eyes locked on Karma as she tightens her grip on the lead pipe… and a small smirk begins to cross her lips. The camera pans in on Envi who sits on his knees behind Karma, a small smirk beginning to cross his as well.
”BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
Geoff Penzer: It was a setup all along! Evan had no intention of staying out here and squaring off against Karma! None whatsoever!
Karma breathes heavily, still seething with rage as Neon moves to the ring and climbs up onto the apron. The audience jeers Neon from all sides, deafening in doing so.
Geoff Penzer: We should’ve known!
Envi nods, grinning up at Neon as she turns her gaze back to him, smiling warmly… before slowly shaking her head, earning a mixed reaction from Southaven! Envi’s smile slowly fades, mouth slightly agape with a look of near-disbelief on his face. Neon tosses the lead pipe into the ring and hops down from the apron, raising a single, offensive finger in the Chief’s direction before turning and marching up the ramp.
Geoff Penzer: Uh-oh!
Chants of
”YES!” echo throughout the arena as Envi watches Neon walk away.
Geoff Penzer: Looks like we were mistaken! Evan is on his own! This is exactly what number forty-seven
didn’t want!
Karma slowly turns back to Envi, the look of anger returning to his face with ease. Evan looks toward the ramp, watching with a look of the feet as neon the crosses through the curtains and disappears to the back… but his look slowly evolves into one of realization as he turns to look at the Undisputed Champion.
Geoff Penzer: And suddenly, everything just became clear to Johnny Karma and unfortunately for Envi— everything just became clear to him too!
Seeing the pipe lying on the canvas close to him, so close he just needs to crawl a matter of inches to grab hold of it, Envi summons the energy to make his move and drags himself along the canvas so he can get a hand on the pipe…yet as he tries to pick up the pipe he can't pick it off the mat no matter how hard he tries to move it, and in his frustration he soon sees why - because Karma’s foot is placed firmly on the pipe!
Geoff Penzer: That’s unfortunate.
As soon as the reality of the situation dawns on Envi his entire body seems to slump in resignation, at which point Karma bodily yanks him up off the canvas and tosses him sternum-first into the nearest corner, pausing only to kick the pipe out of the ring!
Geoff Penzer: Every advantage the Chief had has been systematically stripped away!
Even though Karma looks drained from the physical exertion he’s given in beating the ever-loving crap out of Envi, he looks far from finished as he approaches Evan with purpose and looks to continue the beating for a lot longer - yet before he can lay another hand on his challenger, boos rain down from every direction.
Geoff Penzer: Hadley Herrera has sent security!
Four men of comparable size rush into the ring and they quickly swarm Karma as chants of
”LET HIM GO!” immediately ring out. He’s dragged away by arena security making a long-overdue intervention, and in spite of their numerical advantage they’re still having trouble pulling Karma away from Envi, let alone holding him in the opposite corner as he continues to try and find a way to finish what he started.
Geoff Penzer: Security’s trying to break this up! We’re running out of time here…
“JOHNNY KARMA!”
“JOHNNY KARMA!”
“JOHNNY KARMA!”
“JOHNNY KARMA!”
As Karma furiously wrestles with his captors, Evan raises his head off of the mat, nose and mouth both bloodied. He looks at Karma with disdain and begins to mutter something to him-- but flinches as Karma manages to break one arm free of security, making a lunge for the Chief! Evan weakly tries to push himself back on the mat, before ultimately coughing and groaning in agony, rolling into the fetal position beneath the ropes.
Geoff Penzer: This isn’t the image Envi wanted to close the show out on! If this is a sign of things to come, eleven years may not lead Evan Envi to prominence in two weeks. In two weeks, Evan Envi may be forced to pay for every sin he’s committed during the course of his career! There will be no security detail, no Neon, no Camp Envi-- no Ricky Valero!
Security finally manages to get Karma out of the ring, backing him up the ramp as he stares coldly at the fallen Chief.
Geoff Penzer: On April twenty-first, Envi faces Karma. Johnny Karma has had one of the most incredible runs as the Undisputed Champion in recent memory and if tonight is any indication, he’s just getting warmed up! I can’t remember the last time we’ve seen this side of Karma, but it can only mean bad news for the Chief! I’ll see you in two weeks at Only the Strong Survive!
We fade to black on the image of Karma’s cold gaze toward Envi, while the bloodied, battered Envi is visible on the Tron, staring back at him from the ring.
