Flashpoint (08.12.18)

[FGA Office]

[FGA Office]

"Perfect Insanity" by Disturbed plays as a video package is shown of various FGA grapplers making their way through various entranceways. The video then switches to various FGA grapplers getting kicked, punched, slammed, suplexed and dropped onto the mat....

Come inside and be afraid
Of this impressive mess I've made
If you take a look now you will find

I have thrown away my vice
Done away with paradise
See what's going on inside my mind
Please let me out
Please let me out
Please let me...

After dramatic slow motion shots of various grapplers flipping off the top turnbuckle, the video switches to the Flashpoint logo as the chorus kicks in.



The video fades to an outside shot of the Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah. We then transition inside to a wide shot of the arena. The camera then pans around, capturing the excited crowd. An FGA chant breaks out throughout several sections of the crowd...

★★★ TAG TEAM MATCH ★★★
The Resistance vs. Rhett Bands & Banner Bands

The Resistance start off the match by attacking the Bands Brothers from behind. Ragnar grabs Rhett by the throat and moves him into one corner to choke him while Gunnar moves Banner into the opposite corner. On cue, they whip Rhett and Banner out of their respective corners and send them crashing into each other in the center of the ring! As Banner stumbles back, Gunnar grabs him from behind before knocking him down with a ripcord headbutt. Across the ring, Ragnar takes Rhett and brings him down with a flapjack. After an irish whip sends Rhett into the ropes, Ragnar scoops him up from the side before bringing him down with a sidewalk slam. Rhett is then whipped back into the corner. Gunnar charges across the ring and nails him with a running knee before Ragnar delivers a discus clothesline! Ragnar scoops Rhett up across his shoulders and delivers a running powerslam into each corner. After delivering a running powerslam into the final corner, he heads towards the center of the ring and throws Rhett down with a final running powerslam! While Gunnar heads into the ropes, Ragnar reaches down and lifts up Rhett by the throat. When Ragnar lifts Rhett slightly in the air, Gunnar connects with a spinning back kick, laying out Rhett with the Honorable Death!The boos continue as Gunnar makes the cover, getting the ONE, TWO, THREE!

The Resistance O || Honorable Death (1:43) || Rhett & Banner Bands X

[FGA Office]

PREVIOUSLY RECORDED

Our scene fades in on a dimly-lit room unfamiliar to most, adorned with various modern paintings and cream-colored walls. At first, we are greeted to the sight of Amanda Johnson, who looks over to her out-of-frame guest with a small smile on her face, clearly interested at the prospect of the interview.

Amanda Johnson: You doing alright?

A second camera angle reveals Ashlyn De Luca, giving Amanda a somewhat tired half-smile, dressed in an ironically-fading “Stryke Force Academy” t-shirt, with both of the FGA World Tag Team Championships in tow, one draped over each shoulder.

Ashlyn De Luca: Doin’ primo.

Amanda Johnson: For those of you that may not have recognized it by the abundance of Tag Team Championships in the room, I’m here on a day-trip to Atlanta in the home of Ashlyn De Luca, one half… or maybe the... entirety of the reigning FGA World Tag Team Champions. Ashlyn, first of all, thanks for inviting us here for this. I know it was short notice.

Ashlyn De Luca: You and Camera Bro are always welcome in the dungeon; you know that.

Ashlyn flashes a soft wink to the young man behind the camera, who nervously clears his throat. Amanda laughs, shaking her head slightly before going on.

Amanda Johnson: So… let’s just recap a bit here. You and Logan Alexander were among a roster full of Flashpoint Grapplers that were essentially at war with the members of Vertigo. You guys were brutally attacked by members of the Vertigo roster and as a whole, Flashpoint was made even more vulnerable-- some would say betrayed-- when the Dogs of War stepped out of the way and allowed that attack to reach unthinkable heights. As weeks went on, you guys were recruited to be team leaders, or captains, in an eight-team tag match which would put Flashpoint’s premier tag teams against Vertigo’s… a role that you guys didn’t want…

Ashlyn shifts a little, audibly sighing, causing Amanda to pause before going on.

Amanda Johnson: ...and even though Team Flashpoint was victorious in that match, Logan went to great lengths to disrupt the team. At one point, he left the match altogether after using some choice sign language to convey his feelings toward the Dogs of War and Smart Style…

Ashlyn nods a little and the interviewer goes on.

Amanda Johnson: ...then this all culminated a couple of weeks ago in a two-out-of-three falls match for the Tag Team Championships. Beforehand, you had told Logan to stay in the back, but instead, he ambushed Smart Style before the opening bell and throughout the match was so hellbent on punishing them, he nearly jeopardized your championships at multiple points. And now after all that, Ashlyn, where do you stand?

Ashlyn De Luca takes a deep breath, leaning back in the chair a bit. She takes a few seconds to consider the question-- or consider her answer. Amanda raises a hand up a little.

Amanda Johnson: Actually, let’s make this easier. Let’s take it all the way back to All-Star Showdown. You, as one of the Grapplers standing on that apron-- what was going through your head? How surprising were Logan’s actions in that match?

De Luca scratches her nose for a moment and then shakes her head, giving Amanda a small shrug.

Ashlyn De Luca: I was selfishly up there thinking about how humiliating it was to be one half of the World Tag Team Champions and have no idea what my partner was up to. I didn’t even know where he was in the days or hours or minutes leading up to that match. So I was angry. I was embarrassed. But I had a job to do. As hollow as it might have seemed to him, it was important to me and six other people. We had a match to win. And he didn’t care. So, yeah, all that was going through my head.

Amanda Johnson: Did you guys talk about that after?

Ashlyn De Luca: Eventually. Yeah.

Amanda Johnson: Were you able to reach a place of mutual understanding?

Ashlyn gives a bitter chuckle, rubbing tiredly at her eyes before making eye contact with the interviewer.

Ashlyn De Luca: I don’t get the vibe that he’s asking anyone to understand, really. But on the surface, I get it. Logan felt like he couldn’t trust the Dogs of War, and I felt the same way. Logan thought it was waaay counterproductive for our match against Smart Style at the end of June to end the way it did. He thought it felt like the Dogs were firing shots at us while we were still in a position where we were basically being forced to depend on them. And I felt like that too.

The champion looks down at the belts, from her own, over to the one bearing Logan Alexander’s name on the faceplate. Sighing softly again, she looks up into Amanda’s eyes again.

Ashlyn De Luca: Logan was tired of people feeling like they could walk on him-- walk on us-- and then expect us to play nice. It defied our very namesake, y’know?

She shakes her head and looks away again, clearly frustrated.

Ashlyn De Luca: But it was bigger than us, man. It’s that simple.

She snorts softly, correcting herself.

Ashlyn De Luca: Should’ve been that simple. But instead, my partner decides that the best time for revenge is in the middle of the Chaotics’ first All-Star Showdown. He… he decides that the best time for revenge is at the beginning of what’s supposed to be a classic tag team match against Smart Style and uh… that’s… it’s not okay. I didn’t sign up to play guessing games and do this trendy ‘in-fighting’ crap with my team. I came to FGA to win. I... came here to become a legend.

Amanda Johnson: And with respect to that, does Logan Alexander help you or hinder you?

Ashlyn narrows her eyes.

Ashlyn De Luca: I think that’s a pretty obvious answer right now. Don’t make me say it.

Amanda Johnson: Fair enough. Well, two weeks ago after you and Logan managed to successfully retain your titles in the evening’s headline, we saw you take both championships and storm to the back. The optics are a little questionable there, so can you tell us what this means? Is Logan… out of Chaotics?

The camera pans in on the FGA World Tag Team Championship belts while Ashlyn inhales.

Ashlyn De Luca: He’s…

We pan back out, showing that Ashlyn looks off into the distance, pondering.

Ashlyn De Luca: Right now, I don’t know where we stand. I know we have the Dogs of War gunning for our titles. We have Polychromatic eyeing us up… and then Dynamic Duos is right around the corner. It’s-- there’s a lot of pressure right now. And I… um…

Ashlyn moves a hand through her hair, biting the inside of her cheek for a moment before looking at Amanda, giving her a half-smile.

Ashlyn De Luca: I know I don’t have a lot of time to figure it out, but I’ll figure something out.

Amanda Johnson: ...without Logan?

Ashlyn narrows her eyes a bit, looking away before back at Amanda.

Ashlyn De Luca: I’ll figure something out.

Instead of a formal exit, the camera pans in on the face of De Luca before the scene cuts to black.

★★★ COMMERCIAL BREAK ★★★

[FGA Office]

★★★ TAG TEAM MATCH ★★★
Polychromatic Lion Attack Squad vs. Olé Anderson & Gully Blanchard

Anderson & Blanchard attack PLAS in the corner as the bell sounds. Anderson grabs Peaches and drags her over into the opposite corner while Blanchard delivers shoulder thrusts to Herrera in the near corner. After Anderson chops away at Peaches’ chest, he calls for Blanchard across the ring. The two then go to send PLAS crashing into the center of the ring with an irish whip. While Herrera is whipped out of the corner, Peaches reverses. This sends Anderson over towards Herrera, who spears him down in the middle of the ring! Blanchard marches over to attack Herrera, but Peaches brings him down with a running hurricanrana. After Blanchard returns to his feet, he runs over to attack PLAS. But PLAS are ready and bring him down with a catching hip toss! Herrera and Peaches each grab a leg before delivering a wish bone!

Anderson comes up from behind and hits Herrera with a clubbing shot to the back of the neck. He turns Herrera around and goes for an irish whip. But Herrera reverses. When Anderson returns, Herrera brings him down with a drop toe hold before Peaches follows up with an elbow drop. He then sends Anderson into the corner before running over and delivering a lariat. Herrera takes a few steps back before dropping down to all fours. Peaches then runs across the ring, leaps off Herrera’s back and delivers the Up & At Em (Poetry in Motion)! Herrera then lifts Anderson up onto the apron before lifting him off, heading out of the corner and delivering the Walking Papers (Muscle Buster)! Peaches then scales to the top turnbuckle, leaps off and crashes down on Anderson with the Booty Drop (flying seated senton) for the ONE, TWO, THREE!

Polychromatic Lion Attack Squad O || Move (1:20) || Olé Anderson & Gully Blanchard X

[FGA Office]

The show cuts backstage to the office of Hadley Herrera, where the General Manager appears to be in the company of The Dogs of War. Liam Richardson III and Rumble Reyes are standing next to one another, with Hadley seated behind her desk. Her elbows resting on the table as she leans forward, listening to what the DoW have to say.

Liam Richardson: The fact of the matter is, on the June 16th edition of Flashpoint you made a certain promise to these two men. Do you remember what that promise was, Hadley?

Hadley Herrera: I do…

Liam Richardson: Then you know what you must do. That night was when the Dogs of War declared that we were the best tag team in FGA today. That was when we stated that were worthy of a shot at the FGA World Tag Team Championships...only to be scoffed at and derided by the other members of Team Flashpoint.

The two men look at each other disapprovingly; Reyes shakes his head as Liam continues talking to the General Manager.

Liam Richardson: But we helped you, Hadley. We helped to prove that Flashpoint isn’t full of pushovers. We helped you prove that Flashpoint isn’t full of lacklustre talents. We helped prove that Flashpoint is better than Vertigo, just like you wanted. Just like you asked us to do.

"Rumble" Reyes: And we solidified ourselves as contenders.

Reyes pipes up, prompting Liam to smile knowingly. Hadley nods her head in agreement, knowing full well what she said a few months ago.

Hadley Herrera: I’ll admit, I was a bit surprised when you two agreed to the match at All Star Showdown. Especially with what had happened a few weeks before...when you left the Flashpoint roster to get beat down by the invaders.

The DoW members just shrug their shoulders. That wasn’t their problem, there was no need for them to be involved. But Hadley’s stern tone doesn’t soften as she continues.

Hadley Herrera: And I certainly didn’t expect you to get along with the other members of Team Flashpoint at All Star Showdown--

Liam Richardson: Who really suspected that Logan Alexander would be the weak link in the chain?

Hadley clears her throat instead of answering the cheeky question.

Hadley Herrera: Well, you did uphold your end of the deal, so--

Peaches: Hold up!

The voice sounds out from the doorway. The Dogs of War turn their heads to see the Polychromatic Lion Attack Squad standing there, before Dan and Peaches enter the office. Hadley smiles at her half-brother and sister in law as they take a place next to the DoW.

Peaches: What’s this we heard ‘bout the tag titles?

Liam Richardson: Your ears must have been burning. We were just reminding our esteemed General Manager here about the promises she made on June 16th, when we agreed to be part of the team at All Star Showdown.

Dan and Peaches share a look this time, before he turns to Hadley.

Dan Herrera: I’ll admit that - to the surprise of us all - the Dogs of War were team players back at All Star Showdown. They helped us defeat Vertigo, that’s a fact.

Peaches: But...if I remember correctly...back in June you guys came into that office practically undefeated. They came in as a dominant team with all the momentum in the world, which is why you could make them demands you did. But now?

The four wrestlers turn to stare off against each other, with Hadley remain an arbiter of peace between them.

"Rumble" Reyes: You got something to say? Spit it out.

Peaches: I’m sayin’ the only match you guys have won lately was at All Star Showdown. Otherwise you’re picking up more Ls than Rhett and Banner Bands!

That one doesn’t sit well with neither Liam nor Reyes, both of whom furrow their brows as they glare at the Polychromatic Lion Attack Squad members.

Dan Herrera: So if there’s one team who deserves a shot at The Chaotics and those FGA World Tag Team Championships, it’s us.

Liam snickers to himself as Reyes remains silent by his side.

Liam Richardson: You finally get booked on a card and suddenly you’re the cock of the walk, huh? Please, tell us how difficult it was to defeat Olé Anderson & Gully Blanchard tonight. We’ll wait.

"Rumble" Reyes:  Smart Style had their shot. Now it’s our turn.

Liam Richardson: And you two have two options: accept it and get out of our way, or we’ll just move you out of our way...again.

He smirks, knowing the Dogs of War were victorious in their last encounter against the PLAS. Now it’s Dan and Peaches’ turn to scowl at their foes, before Hadley claps her hands together to draw everyone’s attention. As the four wrestlers turn to her, the GM begins to speak again.

Hadley Herrera: You know, if our tag team champions were in the building I might ask them who they’d prefer to face. I know they’ve been wanting to get their hands on the Dogs of War for the longest time--

Peaches: Ain’t nobody gonna blame ‘em for wantin’ a piece of these backstabbers.

Hadley Herrera: --but, at the same time they’ve butted heads with the Polychromatic Lion Attack Squad several times this year, and there’s the history there too. Unfortunately neither Ashlyn nor Logan felt the need to show up tonight, so asking them their opinion is out of the question.

Hadley shakes her head in dismay.

Hadley Herrera: But you both make compelling arguments, and you both have points. So we’re going to settle this the old fashioned way. In two weeks time in Tucson, Arizona we’re going to see the Dogs of War versus the Polychromatic Lion Attack Squad in a number one contenders match! And the winners of that match will go on to Above & Beyond VI to face The Chaotics for the FGA World Tag Team Championships!

That seems to have all four wrestlers in agreement; the Dow members staring down the PLAS pair as the show cuts to commercial.

★★★ COMMERCIAL BREAK ★★★

[FGA Office]

[FGA Office]

★★★ SINGLES MATCH ★★★
Alex Chalwell vs. A.C. Smith

Smith starts off the match by using his size & strength advantage to overpower Chalwell. Multiple collar-and-elbows end with Chalwell being shoved down to the mat or thrown across the ring. Chalwell rushes over to attack. But he bounces off of Smith after Smith stands his ground with a shoulder block. After a hard irish whip into the corner, Smith catches Chalwell off the rebound and throws him down with a back body drop. Smith then holds Chalwell in the air for what seems like an eternity before bringing him down with a vertical suplex. Chalwell howls in pain while he holds his back.

Chalwell begins to scoot away from Smith. He begs for a timeout. But Smith doesn’t want to hear any of it. Smith goes in to attack when he gets a thumb to the eye! The boos continue when Chalwell takes Smith and slams him face-first into the top turnbuckle. Chalwell turns Smith around before lighting up his chest with chops. But the chops seem to have little effect on Smith, who quickly grabs Chalwell, tosses him into the corner and hacks away at his chest with chops. An irish whip sends Chalwell back into the corner. As Smith runs over to attack, he gets turned around with a big boot to the face. After a high knee to the back of the head sends Smith staggering towards the center of the ring, Chawell delivers an arm wrench into a short-arm clothesline. The move knocks Smith back a few steps. So Chalwell turns, runs into the ropes, returns and delivers a running lariat. Again, Smith is knocked back a few steps. So Chalwell runs back into the ropes. When he returns, the crowd cheers as Smith lifts him into the air for the Big Apple Asskicker (gorilla press slam). But The cheers turn to boos when Chawell reaches down and rakes him across the eyes. After slipping down behind Smith, Chalwell brings him down with a chop block to the back of the left knee!

As the match continues, Chalwell scales to the top turnbuckle, leaps off and knocks Smith back down with a flying clothesline for a two count. A pendulum backbreaker gets a two count. Chalwell delivers a swinging neckbreaker for another two count. Chalwell applies another arm wrench. This time, he follows up with a shoulder jawbreaker. After delivering a jumping knee drop, Chalwell heads back to the top turnbuckle. He leaps off for a diving headbutt. But Smith’s able to roll out of the way, causing Chalwell to crash onto the canvas. In the fifth minute, Smith turns him inside out with a clothesline! Smith then delivers a belly to belly suplex for a two count. He scoops up Chalwell before going for a running powerslam. But Chalwell slips down from behind before shoving Smith off into the ropes. When Smith returns, Chalwell sends him crumbling to the mat with a low dropkick to the knee! The boos continue as Chalwell pulls Smith back up, hooks his leg and delivers the Mirror Shot (Perfect Plex) for the ONE, TWO, THREE!

Alex Chalwell O || Mirror Shot (6:11) || A.C. Smith X

★★★ COMMERCIAL BREAK ★★★

[FGA Office]

As Flashpoint comes back from a commercial break, the scene opens up in the backstage area of the Maverik Center. Amid the usual sea of chaos that comes with producing FGA’s true A show, the sight of Amanda Johnson standing in front of the Flashpoint backdrop is always a welcome sight. She stands there with a microphone in her hand and a bright smile on her face.

Amanda Johnson: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the United States champion...Savannah Taylor.

The crowd reacts pretty much as expected as Savannah makes her way onto the scene. Clutching her United States championship over her right shoulder, she is dressed to compete in the main event later tonight. She regards Amanda with a nod of her head as Amanda begins to speak.

Amanda Johnson: Savannah, later tonight, you are set to go one on one in a non title match in the main event against Ashley Sullivan. But before we get into that, I want to get your thoughts on what transpired on Flashpoint two weeks ago. Eight people fought in two separate Fatal Four Way matches where the winners of those would go on to fight for the International Heavyweight championship. Knowing that you were originally scheduled to be part of this, but couldn’t because of a scheduling conflict, what is your take on what went down?

A sigh escapes Savannah’s lips as she cocks her head to the side.

Savannah Taylor: I thought the entire thing was hard fought and all eight participants should be PROUD of the effort that they put forth to ensure this went off without a hitch. Each and every participant should pat themselves on the back for a job well done.

Her voice was positively dripping with sarcasm as she glances over at Amanda.

Savannah Taylor: That is what you were expecting me to say, weren’t you? Amanda, I wanted nothing more than to be one of the winners. I wanted to be going on to Above and Beyond to make FGA history again. Instead, while I was off handling a slightly more important and personal matter, I had to sit back as someone else took my place.

Amanda Johnson: You’re of course referring to Salem Kaiser, who along with Cassius Reed and BROOKFORD went on to lose to Johnny Karma.

Savannah Taylor: You know, when I learned who was replacing me, I had high hopes. I hoped that she would be a worthy enough replacement that she would have, oh I don’t know, WON. She has the talent, but doesn’t apply herself. She could have been the chosen one and be heading to Above and Beyond, but she couldn’t get the job done. Some replacement she turned out to be.

Amanda Johnson: Let me ask you this. If you didn’t have the scheduling conflict and you were indeed in the main event two weeks ago, do you believe the end result would be different? Do you think it would be you versus Chandler Scott at Above and Beyond instead of Johnny Karma?

Savannah purses her lips together slightly and simply shrugs her shoulders in a sort of “We’ll never know” manner. Before she can expand upon Amanda’s statement, her eyes roll as something in the distance catches her eye. It is none other than the aforementioned witch herself; Salem Kaiser. Savannah’s demeanor drops with an eye roll. Coming into camera view, Salem regards Amanda and Savannah and then looks to her wrist at a nonexistent watch.

Salem Kaiser: Well well well, look who it is. I just had to double check the time and date, I didn’t recall this being a special holiday when the mighty US Champ ‘Fights When She Wants To’ Savannah Taylor affords us with the luxury of gracing us with her presence here tonight. I would like to echo one fact that your dismissive shrug just now clearly exudes, Savannah; we’ll never know how you fared in that match because you weren’t here. At least I was, but I guess I’m just some slacker that fumbles opportunity left and right, huh?

Amanda Johnson: Salem, I think the fans of FGA know you’re slightly more than that. A great deal more actually.

Salem winks at her and wags a finger.

Salem Kaiser: No no, Amanda. Let’s continue down this road. If she wants to diminish me as someone who just doesn’t try that hard, then what does that say about what happened a few weeks ago when I beat the current reigning United States champion in a non-title match. I guess that was pure dumb luck, huh? No, I made a statement. And the way I see it, your grasp on that belt is not long for this earth, Savannah.

Amanda Johnson: Salem, what are you saying?

Salem Kaiser: I think that if people keep at it, they eventually get what they deserve. And since I’ve got that victory over Savannah still fresh on people’s minds, then I’m cashing in my chips. Let me spell it out for the ones still catching up.

Salem taps the belt on Savannah’s shoulder.

Salem Kaiser: I want a T-I-T-L-E S-H-O-T. Because as fashionable as you are Savannah, you and I both know that belt looks horrible on you.

Savannah had been fuming listening to Salem’s words and was about to give her a tongue lashing in return, when she was interrupted by a cough off camera. Stepping into the scene is none other than BROOKFORD, who happens to be Salem’s opponent later tonight. Savannah and Salem look at BROOKFORD like he is an unwanted guest in their war of wars. BROOKFORD simply folds his arms.

BROOKFORD: LADIES... looks like we have a problem. More specifically, I have one. My problem is I am not United States Champion.

BROOKFORD looks directly at Savannah.

BROOKFORD: Savannah, I’m gonna take your advice. Instead of complaining about the fact two championships have alluded my grasp due to unfair circumstances, I’m gonna do something about it.

BROOKFORD now focuses his menacing gaze directly at Salem.

BROOKFORD: You beat her!

BROOKFORD points to Savannah.

BROOKFORD: Good for you. The way I see it, I am owed a fair opportunity to challenge for the United States Championship. Savannah knows if Sage didn’t cost me my match against Noelle Smith, she wouldn’t have a claim at all to the US Championship. It would have been mine in January. And I would still be champion now. I want what’s owed to me. Salem, you’re gonna have to wait. Matter a fact, tonight, we’ll settle this issue. I’ll beat you. Once that is cleared up, Savannah belongs to me. But don’t worry, I’m a man who keeps his promises. When I choke Savannah out, you get the first shot, least I can do.

Savannah is watching the two go back and forth while biting her tongue, letting them say whatever it is that they feel compelled to say.

Savannah Taylor: I bet you are a real hit at parties.

She says with a hint of a laugh to her voice before she becomes more serious.

Savannah Taylor: Listen bigman, you need to learn a few things. You don’t just waltz in here, throwing your obvious weight around like a complete Neanderthal and threatening anything that moves if you don’t get your way. Until Johnny and Chandler have their match at Above and Beyond, I remain Flashpoint’s top champion. Don’t like it? I welcome you to try and do something about it.

She turns her attention to Salem.

Savannah Taylor: And as for you? You want to make accusations and assumptions as to my work ethic and my title reign? You would be no different than anyone else, which is a real shame because I thought for a moment that you would be different than the rest. Instead you are no different than the rest of the sheep. So go ahead, keep on keepin on. Because at the end of the day? I’ll still be holding this…..

She taps her title belt.

Savannah Taylor: While you and the House Lannister bannerman over here are left in the dust.

Salem looks at Savannah, then at BROOKFORD, and finally at Amanda who only offers up a shrug. Salem gets a devilish grin on her face looking back at Savannah.

Salem Kaiser: Oooooh, Game of Thrones. Way to stay edgy and hip, champ.

She regards BROOKFORD once more.

Salem Kaiser: See, Brooks Brothers… you come out here and offer up this labyrinth Rube Goldberg scenario of intricate dominoes that had to fall a certain way for you to be champ. I mean, rationalize it anyway you want. I'll take my straightforward actual event where I pinned her, call me crazy. *aside* YOU’RE CRAZY! *ahem* Anyway, I'll see you later tonight and beat you too, and then it will really be problem solved, BROOKFORD.

She looked at Savannah again, winking.

Salem Kaiser: And then when I beat him, you tell them I'm coming, and hell's coming with me! Danger, Will Robinson! I'll get you my pretty, and your little *belt* too. Pop. Culture. References. Toodles….

Salem turned and walked off in a flourish. BROOKFORD eyes follow Salam as she walks away. He has a half smirk on his face.

BROOKFORD: She’s a real comedian ain’t she? Her charm isn’t saving her tonight.

BROOKFORD turns his attention back to Savannah.

BROOKFORD: It should have been you two weeks ago, not her. Congrats on handling your other commitment. You and me, this collison has been seven months in the making. Ain’t nothing personal, champ. Got no reason to have beef with ya. I do respect what you’ve accomplished in your career. I respect what you’ve done in FGA. I would be a fool not to acknowledge how good you are. The problem is you are holding a championship that should be mine right now! I’m gonna fix that. Later, I’m gonna extinguish any claim Salem believes she has. Once the dust is settled, you belong to me. We clear?

Savannah sighs as she glances at BROOKFORD, then down at her championship belt, then back at BROOKFORD, her ice blue eyes narrowing slightly.

Savannah Taylor: Let me make one thing crystal clear. I don’t belong to you. I don’t belong to Salem. The sooner you can get that though your meathead, the better off we will be. You want my title so badly? Earn. Your. Spot. Other than that? We have no beef.

She looks down at the ground before looking back at BROOKFORD, her yesnow seeming to twinkle.

Savannah Taylor: But if you forget anything that I have said, I suggest you get on YouTube and watch the show I wrestled on two weeks ago. You’ll see what happens when someone pushes me to the breaking point. That was your one and only warning.

She raises her belt above her head, right in his face, her face curling up in a smirk. She places the belt back over her shoulder and heads in the direction of her locker room, leaving Amanda standing there with BROOKFORD as the scene cuts somewhere else.

[FGA Office]

★★★ SINGLES MATCH ★★★
Sloan Talbot vs. Sage Clark

Talbot stalks Clark into the corner to start off the match. He lunges forward to pounce on Clark. But The All-American is able to slip out of the way. When Talbot turns around, Clark hits him with a knife edge chop. Talbot takes a hard swipe at him. But Clark ducks before hitting him with another knife edge chop. He goes for an irish whip, but Talbot reverses. When Clark returns, he knocks Talbot back with a spinning back elbow! A pair of dropkicks knock Talbot closer to the ropes. After Clark runs into the far ropes and comes back, he blasts Talbot with a roaring elbow, knocking him into the ropes! While Talbot tries to shake out the cobwebs, Clark turns and heads back into the far ropes. When he returns, he goes for a crossbody block, sending them both tumbling over the top rope. Talbot’s able to land on his feet with Clark in his arms before throwing him down with a powerslam! Talbot brings the action back inside and makes the cover, but he only gets a two count.

In the second minute, Talbot brings Clark into the corner and unleashes a barrage of strikes. Clark gets caught with a series of shoulder thrusts, followed by a series of knee strikes, followed by a series of back elbow strikes. After a hard irish whip into the opposite corner, Clark staggers back over to Talbot, who brings him down with a sidewalk slam for a two count. A European Uppercut sends Clark stumbling backwards into the ropes. After Clark is shot off across the ring with an irish whip, Talbot catches him off the rebound with a Samoan Drop for another two count. Talbot shoots Clark into the ropes once more. When The All-American returns, Talbot brings him down with a hip toss neckbreaker for another two count.

Talbot goes to display his power by lifting Clark. He keeps the young Clark held up in the air for a delayed vertical suplex. Suddenly, Clark begins to kick his legs. Once he slips down behind Talbot, Clark reaches back and pulls the big man down with a hangman’s neckbreaker. Once Clark gets back to his feet, he takes off into the far ropes. When he comes back, he goes for another crossbody block. But he’s once again caught in mid air by Talbot. Before Talbot can send him flying across the ring with a fallaway slam, Clark hits him with multiple elbows to the side of the head. Once he drops down to the mat, he takes Talbot and hits him with multiple atomic elbows. After a front kick to the midsection, the crowd cheers when Clark plants him with a DDT! He makes the cover, but Talbot kicks out at two. An irish whip is then reversed, sending Clark back into the ropes. When he returns, he knocks Talbot off his feet with a spin wheel kick! Clark goes for the cover. ONE! TWO! Talbot kicks out at two.

Clark brings Talbot into the corner and slams him face-first into the top turnbuckle. He then turns Talbot around, climbs up onto the middle ropes and punches him while the crowd counts along.

Crowd: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR! FIVE! SI-

Talbot grabs Clark, marches out of the corner and doubles him over with an inverted atomic drop. He follows up with a release fisherman suplex. Talbot slowly pulls up Clark by the hair before turning to run into the ropes. When Talbot returns, he nearly knocks Clark’s head right off with a running big boot! He then reaches down, latches onto Clark’s throat, yanks him back to his feet, lifts him up and throws him down hard with a chokeslam! The boos continue as Talbot pulls Clark up, lifts him high above his head and throws him down even harder with  Diggin’ Grave (gorilla press spinebuster)! The boos continue as Talbot makes the cover, getting the ONE, TWO, THREE!

Sloan Talbot O || Diggin’ Graves (7:42) || Sage Clark X

★★★ COMMERCIAL BREAK ★★★

[FGA Office]

[FGA Office]

★★★ TAG TEAM MATCH ★★★
Ashley Marie Chase & Antoinette Sands vs. Dogs of War

The match starts off with Rumble Reyes running through both members of AAA! He flings AMC across the ring by the hair before throwing Sands down with a big back body drop. A running big boot knocks Chase through the ropes and to the floor! He then flattens Sands with another running big boot for a two count!

Reyes brings the action in the corner, where he doubles Sands over with multiple punches to the midsection. He makes the tag out to Richardson, who follows up with knife edge chops of his own. After Reyes is tagged back in, he applies a foot choke. He lets go in time… before applying a two handed choke! Once the ref’s count reaches ‘four’, Reyes flings Sands across the ring. As Sands gets back to her feet, Reyes runs out of the corner to attack when Sands counters with a spin kick that knocks Reyes back! As Reyes turns around, Chase leaps off the top turnbuckle and connects with a missile dropkick. AAA then rush over and connect with a pair of dropkicks, sending Reyes through the ropes and to the floor. Richardson rushes in to attack, but AAA throw him down with a pair of double japanese arm drags. Chase & Sands then whip Richardson into the far ropes. When Richardson returns, they send him over the top rope with a double back body drop. But Reyes catches him on the way down. Chase then springboards to the top turnbuckle and connects with a diving forearm smash, knocking both members of the Dogs of War down!

Sands helps Chase roll Reyes back inside. She gets the cover. But Reyes shoves her off at one. Tag out to Chase. Once Chase gets in, AAA put the boots to Reyes. They go for a double suplex. But Reyes counters with a suplex on both grapplers! While Sands rolls to the outside, Reyes delivers an elbow drop on Chase for a two count. He then drops a leg on Chase for another two count. After a scoop slam, Reyes heads into the ropes. When he comes back, he goes for a body splash. But Chase rolls out of the way. Once Reyes gets up on a knee, Chase delivers repeated kicks to the chest. She then chastises Reyes before whacking him across the face with The Chase-Tizer (wicked slap), followed by the Kick of Doom (superkick)! She makes the cover. But Reyes kicks out at two. Chase goes for a running bulldog. But Reyes shoves her off into the ropes. When Chase returns, Reyes sets up for a back body drop. So Chase stops and counters with a swinging neckbreaker for another two count!

As the match continues, Sands is tagged back in. AAA take Reyes and send him into the corner with an irish whip. Sands runs over and hops onto Reyes for a monkey flip. But he catches her in the air, turns and sits her down on the top turnbuckle. Sands knocks him back with repeated front kicks to the face. But before Sands can hop down, Richardson comes out of nowhere and connects with a dropkick, sending Sands tumbling to the floor! Chase runs over and throws out multiple right hands before going for an irish whip. Richardson reverses! When Chase returns, she slides through Richardson’s legs. When Richardson turns around, she pops up and throws out the Kick of Doom. But Richardson catches her foot, swings the leg away from him and shoves her over to Reyes, who brings her down with a Samoan Drop!

In the seventh minute, Richardson goes to work on Sands in the corner. He delivers consecutive clotheslines to the point of exhaustion before tagging Reyes back in. Once Rumble gets in, he delivers a BOLO CHOP (backhand chop) that echoes throughout the arena. The move causes Sands to clutch her chest as she slumps down in the corner. Reyes pulls her up, whips her into the opposite corner, runs across the ring and squashes her with a corner body avalanche. He pulls Sands out of the corner before turning her inside out with a lariat. He makes the cover, but Sands gets her shoulder up at two. The tag is then made to Richardson, who gets back in and puts the boots to Sands. Richardson hoists her up, delivering a rolling fireman's carry and goes for a springboard moonsault off the second ropes. But Sands gets her knees up!

After crawling across the ring, Sands dives over and tags Chase back in! Chase springboards to the top turnbuckle, flips off and knocks Richardson down with a moonsault for a two count. She gets an irish whip reversed. But Chase uses the momentum to connect with a springboard roundhouse kick for another two count. Chase sends Richardson into the corner with an irish whip, heads over and connects with a corner knee. She follows up with a bulldog for another two count. Chase scales to the top turnbuckle, leaps off and knocks Richardson down with It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's A Chase (high cross body block)! But Richardson rolls through it, pulls her up as he gets to his feet, hoists her up onto his shoulders, hits the rolling fireman’s carry and follows up with a springboard moonsault off the second rope! Richardson makes the cover. But Sands dives over and breaks up the count before it reaches three. This brings in Reyes, who knocks Sands down with a pair of headbutts. After Sands is sent into the ropes with an irish whip, she hangs onto them to stop herself from coming back. Reyes rushes over to attack. But Sands drops down and pulls the top rope, sending Reyes crashing to the floor! Back inside, Chase runs over and hits the Walk of Fame (running spear) on Richardson. She then drags him into position while Sands scales to the top turnbuckle. Before she can deliver the Cotton Candy Crush (shooting star press), Gunnar and Ragnar march down to the ring. Ragnar climbs up onto the apron, grabs Sands and shoves her off the top turnbuckle, sending her crashing to the floor for the DQ! Gunnar gets in and starts trading fists with Chase. The two continue to exchange lows until Ragnar runs over and knocks her down with a big boot to the face. The boos continue as The Resistance lay out Chase with the Honorable Death!

Ashley Marie Chase & Antoinette Sands O || Disqualification (9:30) || Dogs of War X

[FGA Office]

Sitting backstage with his attention firmly glued to a replay of the previous edition of Flashpoint, Mark Bisley appears to be on the verge of letting his cool façade drop as he watched The Chaotics cheat their way to yet another undeserved victory that tarnishes the legacy of the Frontier Grappling Arts Tag Team Championships, as he studies the footage with an intense focus to the point you can almost hear his brain cells buzzing with activity

After a period of time Bisley finally looks up towards the camera and is quick to swipe the video off his phone’s screen, putting his phone to one side as he folds his arms and aims a condescending look down the camera lens

Mark Bisley: I’m sure you remember what I said at the last show, don’t you?  About how it wouldn’t be long before Ashlyn De Luca finally grows either a brain or a spine and realises that the primate who grunts something that sounds almost like “partner” of hers isn’t going to last due to said primate having to make every little thing about himself, and when somebody wants to talk, or wrestle a match, or breathe, he handles it with the style and grace of an infant looking to see how many toys they can hurl out of their crib in order to get as much attention for themselves as possible.  Well for one thing, ape, there’s a time and a place for that sort of behaviour and it’s called Twitter.  But most importantly, and this goes to Ashlyn, I hope you never, ever forget the fact that we made the offer to you that all you had to do was give the ape a taste of his own medicine and leave him fighting for himself for the seconds it would take us to put him out of our collective misery, but you refused our offer and it wasn’t long before you realised the mistake you made because you’ve got to co-exist with that evolutionary throwback for a little longer.

Tilting his head slightly, giving the sort of look that somebody gives when looking at someone they believe to be a complete doofus, Bisley continues

Mark Bisley: Here’s the thing: because Ashlyn once again didn’t think of herself and instead thought about what the primate waiting for her on the apron wants, all she’s going to do is prove everything that I said was 100% correct, and it will all end in tears when she finally understands she cannot continue with the charade for a minute longer and has enough of that obnoxious, entitled, arrogant child who she calls partner but it’s never occurred to her that the feeling might not be mutual and she’s seen as a mere convenience – and when it does, we all know what that means: the titles will be held in Abeyance, and you can almost smell the irony can’t you?  Once we see the back of Ashlyn & The Ape a tournament will be held to hit a hard reset on the division, and that’s where we prove our superiority once again and give this roster some actual champions, people to look up to rather than one person that everyone feels sympathetic to because they’re hanging around with a deadbeat who treats her like dirt.

Clapping his hands together, Bisley suddenly adopts a more upbeat tone of voice as he changes the subject entirely

Mark Bisley: …which is the best reason there is to be in peak condition, because the moment you sit on your laurels and assume you’ll be winning because of reasons is the moment you walk into a small package or a schoolboy and find yourself wearing the expression of somebody who just got bamboozled in front of several thousand people in the arena and many times more than watching at home.  Believe me, it’s not a good look.

At the exact moment Bisley says this, Shintaro Majima walks into the room and nods in Bisley’s direction

Shintaro Majima: I see you are focused on tonight’s match, not the match from two weeks ago.

Bisley does his darndest to not grit his teeth at Majima’s observation, then decides to just power through it rather than think about what he said for another second

Mark Bisley: All of which brings us to Vince Steel, otherwise known as one half of…

To illustrate his point, Bisley actually resorts to using finger quotes

Mark Bisley: …“The Fam” with a man that my partner knows all too well from their interactions in Frontier Grappling Arts’  various Developmental leagues.  It’s worth mentioning in relation to that team that they seem to have a similar setup to how we’re based, with one member looking to methodically take the opponent apart one piece at a time, while the other prefers to smash them to smithereens the second they get their hands on them.  Naturally, rather than going for the symmetrical option, the scalpel that is myself has been put up against the sledgehammer that is Vince Steel.  Well I guess somebody has to take a horse to water in order to teach them how to drink – or, in this case, wrestle.

Majima noticeably shakes his head in the background

Mark Bisley: I know the exact approach that Vince Steel will take for this match: he’s a Mac truck, which means he can go full-force in a straight line and anything in his path is going to have a bad day, but if whatever’s in his path gets out of his way he isn’t the most manoeuvrable and he’ll burn off the gas in the tank a lot quicker just trying to keep moving forward.  So while he might look scary, especially from the neck down, it’s up here…

Bisley taps the side of his head

Mark Bisley: …where victory is decided, and that’s the exact place where I’ve already laid out the perfect plan to stay just out of your reach every single time you think you can grab hold of me and throw me around, it’s the place where I’ve identified each and every body part that I intend to break down so you get that little bit less resilient every single time I catch you on the hop, and it’s the place you’ve already lost 999 times so I may as well make it a nice, round figure when I step into the ring and put everything I’ve laid out into practise.  And what are you going to do in response?  Try and throw me around some more?  Please, Vince, after I dismantle your legs they won’t even be capable of carrying the weight you’re putting on them by standing still, so anything you try and do on top of that only serves to accelerate the speed at which my victory occurs.

Pausing for a moment, Bisley raises a finger and slowly, methodically wags it to camera

Mark Bisley: …I bet you thought I just gave my entire plan away, didn’t you?  Target the legs and break the big guy down, easy to counter when you know it’s coming.  Well I hate to break it to you, but that’s not my plan – that’s the second phase of my plan, because the first phase is making sure you can’t defend your legs to begin with, and you won’t know if it’s because I’m using my speed to wear you down, picking you off with strikes, or just tiring you out by forcing you into your Kryptonite: an actual wrestling match.  Or maybe a combination of the three, or maybe something I know I have planned but made sure I didn’t mention so I can catch you by surprise, but it all adds up to your strength being your fatal weakness just as it adds up to my victory being assured.  Although I’ll let you know one thing: you shouldn’t sneak through the crowd and attack me from behind to start the match, because that tactic has become really annoying…

★★★ COMMERCIAL BREAK ★★★

[FGA Office]

★★★ SINGLES MATCH ★★★
Mark Bisley vs. Vince Steel

Bisley gets overpowered early on with severals shoves, tosses and throws. After an irish whip sends “Smart” Mark into the ropes, Bisley comes back and slides through Steel’s legs. When Steel turns around, Bisley pops up to his feet and whacks him across the face with a slap. He follows up with an arm wrench. But Steel is quick to send Bisley flipping down to the mat with a hard arm wrench. He reaches down, grabs Bisley, yanks him up by the wrist and turns him inside out with a short-arm clothesline! A pair of running shoulder blocks also return Bisley to the mat. Bisley is once again shot off into the ropes. This time, Steel hoists him up and walks around the ring military pressing Bisley over his head. He then runs across the ring before throwing Bisley to the floor with a press slam!

In the second minute, Bisley has returned to the ring. But he’s still getting overpowered by Steel. After Steel moves him into the corner, Bisley is hit with multiple clubbing forearm strikes to the chest. He’s then whipped hard into the opposite corner. As Bisley staggers out of the corner, Steel brings him down with a gorilla press slam. Steel follows up with a running elbow drop right to the chest for a two count. Steel sends Bisley back into the corner before connecting with a running clothesline. Bisley is then chucked out of the corner towards the center of the ring. As the Smart Style member tries to get back to a vertical base, Steel rushes out of the corner and throws out the Hand of Steel (Iron Claw Slam). But before Steel can palm his face, Bisley counters with a superkick that stuns him. Another superkick knocks Steel back. After a low dropkick drops Steel down to a knee, Bisley returns to his feet and rocks Steel with another superkick. While Steel is still rocked, Bisley takes advantage and delivers the Iko Uwais (cravate with repeated steels to the head)! Once Bisley lets go, he takes off into the ropes. When Bisley returns, he knocks Steel down with a step-up enzuigiri for a two count.

“Smart” Mark stays in control as he chops away at Steel’s chest in the corner. After an irish whip sends Steel into the ropes, Bisley doubles him over with a rolling solebutt off the rebound. Bisley follows up with Greetings from the Twin Cities (hangman’s neckbreaker across the knee) for another two count! Bisley then scales to the top turnbuckle. Once Steel returns to his feet, Bisley stands up, leaps off and connects with a missile dropkick to the back of the head, sending Steel staggering across the ring before falling through the ropes and to the floor. While Steel struggles to pull himself up on the outside, Bisley takes off into the far ropes. When Bisley returns, he goes for a suicide dive. But Steel reaches up and catches him in mid air by the neck with both hands! The crowd cheers while Steel keeps Bisley held in the hair before delivering a two handed overhead chokeslam toss! Steel brings him back inside for the cover. But Bisley gets his foot on the bottom rope just as the ref was about to count to three.

Steel stays in control, hitting a running powerslam for a two count. He goes for another running elbow drop. But this time, Bisley rolls out of the way. Bisley stays on him, delivering clubbing strikes across the arm before slapping on a head & arm sleeper. The ref asks Steel if he wants to give up. But Steel refuses. After battling back to a vertical base, he throws Bisley down in front of him. Steel goes wild, bounces off of each set of ropes and following up with a running clothesline. Steel follows up with a deadlift German Suplex! He goes over to make the cover. ONE! TWO! T-NO! Bisley gets his shoulder up. Steel catches Bisley off an irish whip rebound and sends him flying across the ring with an overhead belly to belly suplex! He makes the cover. ONE! TWO! THR-NO! Bisley gets his foot on the bottom rope.

As the action continues, Steel goes for a Uranage, but Bisley counters with multiple elbows to the side of the head. After delivering a shinbreaker, Bisley heads into the ropes, comes back and brings Steel down with a high speed running dropkick to the kneecap. Steel battles back to his feet, but Bisley brings him back down with a dragon screw. Bisley goes to apply the Minnesota Cloverleaf (Texas Cloverleaf with a knee to the back). But Steel’s legs are too thick. So Bisley lets go before putting the boots to Steel. He then waits out on the apron. Once Steel gets back to a vertical base, Bisley goes for a springboard lariat. But Steel catches him in mid air and throws him down with a spinebuster! Steel limps over into the corner and waves up Bisley. Once Bisley gets back to his feet and turns around, Steel motions for a spear. But Bisley catches him with a well-timed knee lift to the face. While Steel is dazed, Bisley turns and brings him down with the Move Of The Year (Shiranui)! The boos continue as he makes the cover. ONE! TWO! THREE!

Mark Bisley O || MOTY (10:19) || Vince Steel X

★★★ COMMERCIAL BREAK ★★★

[FGA Office]

We come back to a panned shot of tonight's hot crowd here in West Valley City. Amanda Johnson welcomes us back from break as she stands on the side interview platform that is to the left of the stage.

Amanda Johnson: The International Heavyweight Championship will be up for grabs in just a little bit over a month at Above & Beyond VI! One of the men challenging for the new championship is Johnny Karma!

The announcement of Karma causes the crowd to go wild at the mention of his name.

Amanda Johnson: The other man challenging for the championship is my guest at this time. Ladies and gentlemen, Chandler Scott!

The lights dim as the sound of a guitar plays throughout the arena. Red lasers soon begin to shoot out from the stage. Once their attention has been captured, the crowd turns to the entryway to prepare for the man that's about to walk out. At the 25 second mark, “Animal Ghosts” bursts through the speakers. Chandler Scott pushes through the curtain to a loud ovation from the crowd. Chandler points to the side platform before making his way over to it. The FGAce is decked in casual attire tonight, including his white and red "FGAce" tee. Once the theme music dies down, both he and Amanda take in the hot crowd.

Amanda Johnson: Chandler, you and Karma will be going head-to-head over the Flashpoint-exclusive championship live on pay per view on September 22nd.  What does this opportunity mean to you?

The announcement of the match gains cheers and applause from the crowd. Chandler puts his hand up for a quick wave before addressing the question at hand.

Chandler Scott: Amanda, when you've been around FGA for as long s I have, it's rare that you find yourself in a position of "firsts". When you've accomplished the things that I have in this business, both inside and outside of FGA, it's very rare that you find yourself in a position to make history. But that's the exact position that I'll be in on September 22nd. At Above & Beyond VI, I will have the honor of challenging for the International Heavyweight Championship. Hadley Herrera took eight of this brand's top athletes and put them into two separate Fatal 4-Ways. Above & Beyond VI will be the culmination of that journey, which will see me on one side of the ring and Johnny Karma on the other. It was an honor to have been one of those eight selected. It will be an honor to challenge for the new championship and Amanda? It will be an honor to be your inaugural International Heavyweight Champion, because at Above & Beyond VI, the DNA of FGA will become the IHC.

There's a roar of cheers coming from the crowd.

Amanda Johnson: I'm sure Johnny Karma will have something to say about that.

Chandler flashes a smirk as he imagines Karma's protest.

Chandler Scott: I'm sure he will. Over the past year and a half, FGA has seen the ascension of Johnny Karma. There wasn't a glass ceiling he had to bust through. There weren't any politics he had to overcome. The only thing Karma had to overcome... what what was up here between the ears.

Chandler points to his temple.

Chandler Scott: Johnny Karma always had the tools. He always walked like a champion. He always talked like a champion. He always looked the part. But he was never able to become that top champion until he finally put it all together. Over the last year and a half, that is exactly what Johnny Karma has done.

Amanda Johnson: And these fans have enjoyed every second of it. Listen to this crowd!

Loud "KARMA!" chants come from each and every direction of the Maverik Center. While Chandler scans the crowd, the smile on his face slowly fades.

Chandler Scott: Yeah... uh huh. A lot of people are happy that Karma has been on the top of FGA. A lot of people are proud of him. But you want to know one person that hasn't been happy? You want to know one person who wasn't over the moon with Karma occupying that top spot? You're looking right at him.

Chandler keeps a stonefaced expression while a smattering of cheers can be heard coming from the crowd. The majority of the audience continues to listen intently.

Chandler Scott: Don't get me wrong, I'm not hating. Good for him for finally getting to that next level. But I'd be lying to you if I said I didn't have a sour taste in my mouth every time I looked at the top of the card and saw his name. I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel some type of way when Karma was holding the Undisputed Championship. And the thing that grinds my gears the most? It came at my expense. Johnny Karma beat me last year, in the middle of the ring, on Vertigo last Spring. Fast forward to the the 2017 Gold Rush Rumble, where everyone talks about the classic battle that he and I had at the very end. But how good can I feel about such a battle when it was me on the losing end? How am I supposed to feel when it was me being thrown over that top rope? Some people run around here bragging about becoming the Runner-up in this Gold Rush Rumble or that Gold Rush Rumble. But being the Runner Up is just being a glorified loser and the last thing I ever want my name associated with is losing. But unfortunately, that's what my name ultimately becomes when it's across Karma's on the card. Because if we fast forward to last fall here on Flashpoint, it was Karma defending his newly won Undisputed Championship against yours truly. I had the chance to end his reign before it truly got off the ground. I had the opportunity to rain on his parade. But the only thing that happened is that Johnny Karma beat me, once again, in the middle of this ring.

Another roar of cheers can be heard from the crowd. But Chandler is agreeance, as evident by him shaking his head.

Chandler Scott: Amanda, I've achieved a lot of things in my career. I could have easily gone home at this point and been content with all of my accomplishments. Yet I still compete. Do I compete for the love of the sport? Sure. But I compete to be the very best. I don't continue to compete to be some gatekeeper. I don't compete here in 2018 to be someone's stepping stool. I don't compete so people can make a name for themselves off of me! I am tired of being a notch on Karma's belt. I am tired of Karma having something to hold over my head. Simply put, I am sick and tired of losing to Johnny Karma.

The crowd cheers. But there are boos mixed in as well.

Amanda Johnson: That doesn't seem to be a popular statement with some members of this crowd, Chandler.

Chandler Scott: I've been booed before, Amanda. I'll be booed again. I'm not here to make friends. I'm not here to hold hands. I'm here to get to the very top. I'm here to reclaim my spot at the top and I will do what I have to do to get back to the top.

That last line causes Amanda to do a double take.

Amanda Johnson: It's interesting that you mention that, especially when taking into consideration who your opponent is. We've seen people in the past like The New Kings and their tasteless remarks towards Cherry Baum. We've seen Cherry come under attack from the likes of Izzy Anders last year and Evan Envi this year. You just stated that you'll do whatever you have to do to win the International Heavyweight Championship. Please, tell me that you aren't desperate enough to stoop so low that you would attack Ms. Baum.

Chandler rolls his eyes at the thought.

Chandler Scott: Amanda, I don't have to go through Cherry to win the IHC. I'll just go through Karma…

With that, “Animal Ghosts” picks back up at the 25 second mark, signaling the end of the interview. Chandler stands with his hands on his hips and scans the crowd once more. There's another roar of cheers from the crowd. But there are some boos, which Chandler hears. He nods his head while narrowing his eyes as the scene fades...

★★★ COMMERCIAL BREAK ★★★

[FGA Office]

Flashpoint cameras go backstage to an interview area where Amanda Johnson is standing by with a beaming FGA 15 Champion, Kendall Kingham. She’s dressed in her street clothes, all of which are fairly bright and outlandish. As for the Championship, it’s resting over her left shoulder.

Amanda Johnson Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m here with the FGA 15 Champion, Kendall Kingham.

Kendall waves.

Kendall Kingham: Sup!

Johnson smiles before continuing.

Amanda Johnson First off, I’d like to congratulate you on your first successful title defense and seemingly wrapping things up with Mark Storm.

That last part seems to give Kendall a little pause.

Kendall Kingham: Well, I don’t want to say they’re totally done. I did make him tap out twice in a row now, so I’d think we’d go our own ways and stuff. But you know, I kinda learned that I can’t assume anything is ever on the level or will go as planned in this business, even here in the Flashpoint Zone. Stuff surprises me all the time so I kind of want to be ready for anything.

She perks back up.

Kendall Kingham: But yeah, it feels good to show what happened the first time wasn’t a fluke and that things won’t just be like ending right away now that I’ve gotten to a point I worked really hard to get to. It’s easy to say I’m just getting started, but I gotta actually go out there and prove it.

The interviewer nods.

Amanda Johnson I’m sure you are eager to keep going out there and proving it. So along those lines, any ideas on what’s next for you?

???: OH LET THIS BROTHA TELL YOU WHAT NEXT.

Both Amanda and Kendall’s heads turn to the side, as bursting into the interview area comes Cassius Reed. The Rey del Aire wastes no time in requisitioning the microphone from Amanda, as he continues to rant and rave.

Cassius Reed: Oh you think you’re funny don’t you, girl? Steppin’ out after All-Star Showdown, reeling of this list of 17 bazillion suckas who all could deserve a shot at that hunk of tin, and you “accidentally” forget to mention The Funky One? The Next Next Biggest Thing? Cassius Motherfunkin’ Reed? Nuh uh. Cassius ain’t buyin’ it. You there listin’ your hairdresser and the hobo down the road who sucks off dogs for quarters, but you ain’t gonna drop the breath on Cassius? THE MAN WHO IS A DOUBLE KING? Nahh, Cassius ain’t standing for that.

Kendall blinks after taking that all in.

Kendall Kingham: Yikes.

She manages to refocus and clears her throat.

Kendall Kingham: Uh, first things first please don’t call the Championship a hunk of tin. Second, you can believe what you want, you’re a great wrestler but I thought the guy who just beat me and the guy who had a rematch coming were the most important people to list as contenders. I crossed one of those off my list, but I don’t need to wait for the other one to pay attention to me. Looks like you’re already set for tonight but next show, you and me. If you want to jump to the front of the line let’s quit talking and settle it in the ring with some good old fashioned graps, right here in the Flashpoint Zone!

Cassius Reed: Damn, Cassius don’t know now whether he should be beatin’ you ass or slicin’ you up and layin’ you on a pizza, all thick like. THAT WAS CHEESY AS FUNK, YO. But you on, girl. Cassius will more than happily kick yo’ ass… tell you what. Jus’ sit back, relax, put your feet up in the air and savor the weight of that belt, whilst Cassius goes out there and gives you a show by beatin’ Patrick Jones so hard he’ll rethink his career, go back home, open that little ice-cream parlor he always dreamed of when he was a kid, propose to his high school sweetheart… and eventually die destitute and alone because he ain’t worth sh*t, he probably don’t know the first thing about the cut throat world of the dairy industy, and the girl next door just became the whore down the street. NOW EXCUSE CASSIUS. HE HAS WORK TO DO.

And with that, Cassius barges out of the room in grandiose style, leaving Kendall and Amanda in his wake. Kingham adopts a wide-eyed expression, clearly shellshocked by all that was Cassius. Trying not to speak loud enough that the cameras can pick her up, she turns to Amanda and asks if she understood what he said because all she understood was that he accepted. Not getting a response besides a shrug, the 15 Champion starts awkwardly ambling back.

Kendall Kingham: Welp, I better find a place to check that match out, it’s been real!

On that note, the scene fades out and we cut elsewhere in the arena.