Grapple Kingdom 2 (02.24.18)

[FGA Office]

[FGA Office]

Backstage, the camera catches up with Flashpoint interviewer Amanda Johnson as she walks backwards down the hallway. The camera begins rolling as she nods at the cameraman to indicate that she is ready to roll. She goes to speak, but her heel hits a shipping box in the hallway and she stops. She shakes her head turning to walk straight down the hallway instead. She looks back at the camera still though as if somehow this new technique will improve the eyes in the back of her head.

Amanda Johnson: I’m here backstage, welcome to the show everyone, I’ve been invited to the office of Flashpoint’s very own Hadley Herrera. She’s informed me of a few things she’d like to get out of the way near the top of the show. I’m on my way to her office now, so we’ll see what’s going on.

Amanda makes it to the door of Hadley’s office where she pushes on the handle and the door slides open. Amanda pops her head in and Hadley stands up asking Amanda to come in. Amanda and the cameraman make their way in and Hadley asks her to take a seat. Once Amanda has sat, Hadley then sits down in her office chair crossing her legs and arms as she sits across from the interviewer.

Hadley Herrera: Thanks for coming Amanda. As you know, I’ve got some things I wanted to make sure everyone knew tonight for the show.

Amanda Johnson: Of course, you’ve made some very important information drops in the times you’ve stepped out from the backstage area to speak to the fans. So I’m sure you’ve got some good information for us.

Hadley Herrera: Well, I’m not sure about all that, but it is important for the fans to know what’s going on. But the first thing I have in the way of announcements is pretty exciting.

Hadley smirks at Amanda.

Amanda Johnson: What’s that smirk about?

Hadley Herrera: Tonight we will be having a special guest at Grapple Kingdom. They’ll be around later tonight and I’m very excited that they are here.

Amanda Johnson: Wait, really? Who is it? That’s not all you’re going to say I hope.

Hadley Herrera: No of course not. I’ll also say that they are the /newest/ member of the Flashpoint roster. Now that’s it.

Hadley’s smirk grows a bit more as Amanda shakes her head.

Amanda Johnson: So I’m not pulling anything else out of you am I?

Hadley shakes her head no.

Amanda Johnson: Well while we’re on the subject then. Will we be seeing Julian Tijerina tonight?

Hadley’s smile turns to a bite of her bottom lip. She thinks for a moment before she begins to speak.

Hadley Herrera: As you may or may not know, Julian has been claiming an injury since the moment he was traded to Flashpoint. The problem with that is that I’ve not received any information or doctor’s notes about this injury. Neither FGA staff or his own doctor have reached out to me to let me know what’s going on with him. So until he returns to active competition or a doctor contacts me… I’m docking his pay. So for his own sake, he better show up tonight.

Amanda’s eyes raise for a second. She seems a bit confused for a moment.

Amanda Johnson: That seems a bit excessive no?

Hadley is already shaking her head no as Amanda asks the question.

Hadley Herrera: No, and I’ll tell you why. You’ve not gotten the full information yet that went into that decision. You see, Tijerina talked to me this past week and in the process confirmed my suspicions about his involvement with the attack on Bryan Stryker at Vertigo two months ago. The attack that sabotaged his chances at the Pride Championship.

Amanda Johnson: Oh wow… yeah that changes things a little bit.

Hadley shakes her head yes as Amanda speaks. A single finger going into the air to indicate that Hadley isn’t done yet though.

Hadley Herrera: That was no surprise, but what he said after that was. You see, I wasn’t aware that it wasn’t Tijerina’s idea to take out Stryker. It was Brandon Macdonald’s.

Hadley stops speaking. Her hands cracking her fisted knuckles now. A small spark of anger forming the eyes of the former wrestler.

Amanda Johnson: What?! Why?!

Hadley Herrera: I wish I knew Amanda. I really, really do. If I said I was disappointed it would be an understatement. I tried talking to Macdonald directly, but all of my calls have gone unanswered. I guess I’m not surprised now. But that’s why I called you in here Amanda. So that I could look into the camera and say this.

Hadley Herrera: Brandon, you betrayed my trust. I believed you to be better than this. I don’t want to fully accept that this is the type of person you are. But you won’t return my calls and with each passing day my belief that it is grows stronger. This is your chance, if you’re watching this, to tell me why you did what you did having Julian attack Brian. Regardless of your answer, I don’t plan to forget, and I don’t plan to forgive… I deserve to know why. Call me back Brandon. Explain yourself.

Hadley Herrera: Thank you Amanda, that’s is all.

Hadley smiles at Amanda, picking up some paperwork from her desk and straightening it. Amanda looks at Hadley for a second just in case something else is to be said. When nothing is, she stands up. She nods to the cameraman as the two begin to head out of the office...

[FGA Office]

And now, Flashpoint presents…

The scene shifts to an outside shot of the United Center in Chicago, Illinois! We then transition inside the arena, where blue and white fireworks shoot off in various patterns. We then head to a wide shot of the arena. The camera pans around, capturing the rabid crowd.

Geoff Penzer: Hello, wrestling fans, and welcome to GRAPPLE KINGDOM 2! I am your host, Geoff Penzer! Tonight, Flashpoint presents to you it’s first brand-exclusive pay-per-view of 2018 and man, do we have a card lined up for you tonight! All of Flashpoint’s championships will be on the line here tonight! To kick things off, we’ve got Brian Stryker challenging Neon for the 15 Championship! Stryker wasn’t exactly thrilled that the legacy that he left with the 15 Championship was now in the hands of someone like Neon. The Queen of Mean took exception to this and ended up costing Stryker his match in the United States Championship tournament. Now Stryker has his chance reclaim the 15 Championship once again. Will arguably the greatest 15 Champion in FGA history be able to call this title his once again? Or will The Queen of Mean be able to escape Chicago with her title?

Geoff Penzer: Up next, we have our first of two tag team matches. This one, of the Triple Threat variety as the Polychromatic Lion Attack Squad, the Dogs of War, Robbie Black and Terrence Tillman all go at it! The Dogs of War have been planting their flag all throughout the wrestling world and they’ve done so right here on Flashpoint! The team of Mark Storm and Liam Richardson the Third have set their sights on both of their opponents here tonight. Both the Polychromatic Lion Attack Squad, Black & Tillman have fought back in recent weeks. The Dogs of War are outnumbered. But only one team can win! The Polychromatic Lion Attack Squad are looking to get themselves back in the Tag Team Title conversation. Can they do so with a win here tonight? Will the Dogs of War make another statement here in Chicago? Or will the Leader of the T-Unit help pull off the upset alongside “The Bullet” Robbie Black?

Geoff Penzer: In our third contest of the evening, the inaugural United States Champion, Savannah Taylor, defends her championship against Noelle Smith! It was Smith that Taylor defeated in the finals when she displayed her new finisher, the Heartless Angel, on FGA television. In recent weeks, we’ve seen a newfound aggression from the Las Vegas Siren after she’s capturing her second singles championship in FGA. While she did in fact defeat Smith, it was not be pin or submission. Instead, it was by referee stoppage. On one hand, a win is a win. On the other, Taylor was not able to make Smith tapout. The competitor in Taylor led her to agreeing to Smith’s request for a championship match. But in recent weeks, we’ve seen Taylor be almost dismissive of Smith as a challenger. Will that arrogance come back to bite her here tonight? Or will the Las Vegas Siren reign supreme?

Geoff Penzer: Speaking of reigning supreme, the self-proclaimed DNA of FGA, Chandler Scott, goes one on one with Sunshine Scandalous Tony Carmine! For most of 2017, Carmine snuck his way back into FGA and wrestled under the guise of El Stravito. Stravito’s long con came together at Final frontier, when he turned on both Scott and Noelle Smith after they won a Six Man Tag Team Match. In recent weeks, Carmine has gotten the jump on Scott and had left him laying. Will Carmine once against best the FGA Hall of Famer? Or will Scott put away Carmine as he did years ago?

Geoff Penzer: In our Headline Bout of the night, The Chaotics defend their FGA World Tag Team Championship against the free agent tag team of Smart Style. Mark Bisley and Shintaro Majima have had it in for The Chaotics since being eliminated from the Dynamic Duos Tournament last Summer. Throughout the fall, they made their return to FGA by attacking The Chaotics after their tag team match against the Polychromatic Lion Attack Squad. They then maneuvered their way into a Triple Threat Tag Team Match against both teams. The Chaotics left the match victorious. But neither member of Smart Style were pinned. Which leads up to tonight’s matchup. The personal issues between both teams goes back a long ways. But a Chaotics win here tonight could put Smart Style in their rear view mirror once and for all. Can the team of Logan Alexander and Ashlyn De Luca bounce back from this losing streak and defeat Smart Style? Or will The New Dynasty begin here in Chicago with a Tag team Championship win?

Geoff Penzer: Then finally, it is our main event when the 2017 Frontier Lions Cup winner, Evan Envi, challenges Johnny Karma for the FGA Undisputed Championship! Envi won this title shot by winning the Frontier Lions Cup back in December at Final Frontier. In recent weeks, things have gotten contentious between both men. Things then took a turn for the worst when NEON took it upon herself to attack Karma’s longtime associate, Cherry Baum. This left Karma enraged. The Karmic Lion took his anger out on Envi associate Ashlyn De Luca in their match a few weeks ago. Karma did his best to apologize after the fact. But things remained hostile between the Undisputed and World Tag Team Champions. On the flipside, Env claimed that Neon was just trying to help him and doing what she thought would benefit him. However, Envi has been repeatedly pressed on whether or not he had prior knowledge of the attack and to this day, Envi has not given us a straight answer. In recent months, the crowd had turned the corner on Envi. They were starting to support The Chief. He was even getting positive reactions from the crowd that nearly rivaled Karma’s. But after the events of the past few months, the crowd has started to turn on Envi once again. There is no doubt that the city of Chicago will be solidly behind the champion here tonight. Thus far in his reign, Karma has successfully defended his championship against the likes of Chandler Scott, Dom Harter and Molly Reid. Will he add Envi to that list here tonight? Or will Envi finally win that top championship that has eluded him throughout his professional career?

Geoff Penzer: Ladies and gentlemen, we have a solid night of action for you here tonight! So let’s not waste anymore time! Let’s send it on over to the ring where Melanie Sierra is standing by to give the ring introductions...

[FGA Office]

★★★ FGA 15 CHAMPIONSHIP ★★★
© NEON vs. Bran Stryker

"The following beat down has been brought to you by Dark Horse Protection. Dark Horse Protection: Protecting your ass, cause we need root beer money."

"Yeah,
I've made my mistake
I've seen my heart cave in
I got my scars
I've been to hell and back again"

Dark Horses by Switchfoot starts to play as the guitar intro hammers out into the arena. Brian Stryker walks out from behind the curtain, his hood up. Brian walks to the center of the stage. He gets down on one knee and runs his hand over the floor of thee stage. He rises to his feet and throws his hood back as the fans start singing the bridge.

"Born for the blue skies
We’ll survive the rain
Born for the sunrise
We’ll survive the pain"

He walks down the ramp, not taking his eyes off the ring. When he gets to the steel steps, he walks up them and climbs the turnbuckle to the top. He looks out to the crowd before holding out his arms as the crowd sings the chorus.

"We’re singing…
Hey, you can’t count us out
We’ve been running up against the crowd
Yeah, we are the dark horses
We’re singing…
Wait! It’s not over now
We’ve been down but we’ve never been out
Yeah, we are the dark horses"

Stryker sits himself on the top turnbuckle as he waits for the ref to start the match.

Melanie Sierra: The following contest is scheduled for one fall with a fifteen minute time limit and it is for the FGA 15 CHAMPIONSHIP! Introducing first, hailing from Maui, Hawaii! Weighing in at 215 pounds! He is “The Dad of Professional Wrestling” BRIIIIIIAAAAANNNN STRYYYYYYKERRRR!!!

Geoff Penzer: Brian Stryker has his chance to become 15 Champion for the second time here tonight. However, Stryker was never given his proper opportunity to challenge for the 15 Championship after he was jumped two months ago. Everyone strongly believed that it was Julian Tijerina and Serpent’s Touch that were the culprits As we just heard at the top of the show, Flashpoint GM Hadley Herrera confirmed that Tijerina was indeed behind the attack. But Hadley delivered a bombshell by stating that it was Vertigo GM Brandon Macdonald who orchestrated the whole thing. Ms. Herrera isn’t the only one disappointed in Macdonald’s actions. I had a great deal of respect for the Vertigo GM and to know that he would stoop so low, it’s sickening. There’s no word on if Stryker got wind of this information before coming out here. But when he does, I can assure that you he is going to be livid!

Neon’s music hits and the bass echoes around the arena fusing with a sea of boos from the audience and she glides with decorum laced arrogance acknowledging the crowd around her with glacial eyes and a sinister smile. She raises both her arms so they hang level with her shoulders and the white lights begin to flicker heavily as she lingers for a brief moment.

The lights suspend again and Neon makes her way down the ramp, painted with the same expression she arrived into the arena with, fixating her gaze solely on the ring, remaining ignorant to the fans around her that send floods of jeers her way. She takes her hoop earrings off as she is walking down and throws them to the floor casually.

Melanie Sierra: And his opponent, hailing from Milan, Italy by way of Los Angeles, California! She is the reigning and defending FGA 15 Champion! She is “The Queen of Mean” NEEEEEEEEEEEOOOOONNNNN!!!

She runs towards the closest set of steel steps, peeling her mink off of her before motioning to the camera to come closer as she travels the apron, tossing it over it as it begins to get closer forcing it to jump to another on the other side of the ring which is witness to her slowly entering the ring. She walks to the centre and the lights begin to quiver again as she raises her arms in identical fashion to that on the ramp as the audience’s boos only strengthen in sound.

The lights pulsate finally until they rest on a solid white and Neon walks slowly backwards into her corner, widening her smile and toying with her hair in her hands…

Geoff Penzer: “The Queen of Mean” has been a busy lady these past few weeks, from costing Brian Stryker his match in the US Title Tournament to attacking Cherry backstage. She was able to escape with their championship two weeks ago as a result of a disqualification. I’m not sure if she’ll be so lucky this time around.

The bell sounds NEON and Stryker motion to lock up. But at the last second, NEON opts out in favor of a kick to the midsection. The crowd continues to boo as NEON takes Stryker, places him in a front facelock and rakes his face along the top rope. After Stryker stumbles into the corner, NEON comes up from behind and delivers a back rake. She then turns Stryker around before hitting him with several knife edge chops in the corner. After taking Stryker by the wrist, NEON sends him into the opposite corner with an irish whip. The Queen of Mean runs across the ring to attack. But Stryker is able to duck the attack and dump NEON over the top rope. After she lands safely on the apron, she doubles Stryker over when he turns around with a shoulder thrust through the ropes. After pulling Stryker’s upper body through the ropes, the crowd boos as NEON nails Stryker with multiple knee lifts. After shoving Stryker down into the ring, NEON steps back in through the ropes to make the over.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Stryker kicks out.

NEON picks up Stryker and blasts him with a right hand before sending him into the far ropes with an irish whip. When Stryker returns, NEON doubles him over with a knee to the midsection. She then turns and runs into the ropes. When NEON comes back, she nails Stryker with a high knee lift. While Stryker is dazed, NEON takes off into the ropes. When she returns, she knocks Stryker down with a dropkick to the face. The boos continue as she makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Stryker kicks out.

Geoff Penzer: Neon’s controlled the action thus far. But you can’t make the mistake of counting Stryker out this early in the contest.

NEON picks up Stryker, brings him down with a snapmare and runs into the ropes. When she comes back, she throws out a front dropkick. But Stryker rolls out of the way. He quickly gets back to his feet and goes for a running Shooting Star Splash. But NEON is able to roll out of the way. When NEON sits up, Stryker lands on his feet and follows up with a back kick to the face. He then picks up NEON, takes her by the arm and sends her stumbling into the ropes with the First Stryke (arm twist/hook kick combination). Stryker then turns and runs into the far ropes. When he comes back, he sends both him and NEON over the top rope with a clothesline! While NEON falls to the floor, Stryker hangs onto the top rope. After reaching up and grabbing the top rope with his other hand, Stryker “skins the cat,” pulling himself over the top rope and back into the ring. He then waits for NEON to get back to her feet. As the champion starts to pick herself up off the mat, Stryker turns and runs into the far ropes. When Stryker comes back, the crowd cheers when he knocks down NEON with a springboard Shooting Star Splash to the outside!

Geoff Penzer: Stryker takes it to the air and takes out Neon with a Shooting Star Splash!

Stryker rolls back inside and heads into the corner. He looks down and waits impatiently for NEON to get back to her feet. As the champion slowly returns to a vertical base, Stryker knocks her back down. This time, with Flight of the Valkyries (top rope walk into a crossbody)!

Geoff Penzer: The high-risk pays off again for the high flyer!

Stryker pulls up NEON and rolls her back inside. He then slides back in and makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
NEON kicks out.

Stryker picks up NEON, moves her into the corner and gives her a series of chops. He then takes NEON and goes for an irish whip. But NEON reverses, sending Stryker into the corner. She runs across the ring to attack, but Stryker knocks her back with a back elbow to the face. After stumbling back, NEON charges back into the corner. This time, Stryker knocks her back with a boot to the face. After shaking off the blow, NEON charges back into the corner. This time, Stryker hoists himself up into a seated position on the top turnbuckle and throws out a front kick to the face. But NEON catches his foot. The crowd boos as she taunts Stryker. But the boos turn to cheers when Stryker uses his free foot to kick NEON in the face. He then knocks her back with a double front kick to the face. While NEON is dazed, Stryker stands up on the top turnbuckle, leaps off and brings her down with a diving crossbody!

… but NEON’s able to roll through it! She hooks both legs for the cover!

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

Geoff Penzer: Neon nearly stole the win!

NEON picks up Stryker and whips him into the ropes. When Stryker returns, NEON throws out a boot to the face. But Stryker catches her foot. Stryker begins to taunt NEON until NEON knocks him down with an enzuigiri. The boos continue as she pushes Stryker over and makes the cover.

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

Geoff Penzer: Stryker paid the price there.

NEON picks up Stryker, marches into the corner and slams him face-first into the top turnbuckle. The crowd boos as NEON sends Stryker slumping down in the corner with mudhole stomps to the chest. She then applies a foot choke. The crowd boos NEON while the ref gives her until the count of five to break the choke.

Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR…

NEON lets go… only to apply another foot choke! This time, she pulls down on the top rope.

Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR…

NEON lets go. She then steps back towards the center of the ring before charging forward and squashing Stryker with a running crossbody. The boos continue as she drags Stryker away from the corner before making the cover.

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

NEON sits up Stryker and applies a rear chinlock. The ref gets down and asks Stryker if he wants to give up. When Stryker refuses, NEON pulls back on his chin. Stryker reaches up and tries to pull NEON’s hands from off his chin. But it’s to no avail. NEON can be heard yelling at Stryker to give up. But the former 15 Champion refuses. Even when the ref asks him if he wants to give up, Stryker continues to refuse. While Stryker remains in the hold, the capacity crowd in Chicago begins to rally behind The Dad of Professional Wrestling. Stryker begins to shake his arm while he feeds off the energy of the crowd. He slowly turns over onto his knees. NEON can be seen shaking her head in disbelief as Stryker slowly returns to a vertical base. From there, Stryker nails her with multiple elbows to the midsection. Once the hold is broken, Stryker turns and runs into the ropes. When he comes back, the crowd boos when NEON rocks him with a discus forearm before knocking him down with a big boot. She makes the cover.

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

Stryker gets his shoulder up.

NEON picks up Stryker, delivers an irish whip, follows him into the corner and connects with another discus forearm. She then takes Stryker, delivers another irish whip, follows him into the opposite corner and connects with a running wheel kick. NEON brings Stryker from out of the corner before bringing him down with a swinging neckbreaker. She makes the cover.

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

Stryker gets his shoulder up.

Geoff Penzer: Stryker isn’t out of it just yet!

NEON pulls up Stryker and doubles him over with jumping knees to the abdomen. She then turns and runs into the ropes. When NEON returns, she throws out Lights Out (running scissors kick). But Stryker slips out of the way, grabs her arms from behind and brings her down with the Overdose (straight jacket shiranui)!

NEON remains sprawled out on the canvas while Stryker pushes himself up on all fours. After getting his second wind, he picks himself back up. After pulling NEON back to her feet, Stryker goes for Stryke 2 (leg-hook saito suplex). But NEON blocks the move with repeated elbows to the back of the head. She then turns and runs into the ropes. When she comes back, Stryker runs past her into the ropes. So NEON comes to a stop. When she turns around, she turns into a running hurricanrana from Stryker. As NEON gets up on her knees, Stryker delivers a spiking hurricanrana. While NEON is down, Stryker drags her into position before heading into the corner and looks for something off the top turnbuckle. As Stryker springboards to the top turnbuckle and flips off for a Phoenix Splash, NEON rolls out of the way. At the last second, Stryker lands on his feet before his momentum sends him rolling forward. Once Stryker gets to his feet and turns around, NEON throws out another big boot. But Stryker’s able to catch her foot. He then swings her leg away from him. NEON uses the momentum to throw out a discus forearm. But Stryker ducks and counters with Stryke 2! He then pulls NEON back up before sending her into the corner with an irish whip. Stryker runs across the ring, connects with a running back elbow and follows up with a CSS Enzuigiri. While NEON is dazed in the corner, Stryker turns her around, lifts her up and sits her down on the top turnbuckle. After climbing up and sitting down on the top ropes, Stryker grabs NEON around the waist and hurls her over his head. The crowd cheers as he brings NEON down with a Spider Suplex. Stryker hangs upside down in the corner before slowly sitting back up. While NEON remains sprawled out on the mat, Stryker stands up on the top turnbuckle, turns to face the ring, flips off and crashes on top of NEON with the Final Stryke (Shooting Star Press leg drop)! The cheers continue as the cover is made…

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
THREE!

The crowd explodes with cheers when “Dark Horses” blasts over the PA.

Melanie Sierra: Here is your winner and now, the NEEEEWWWWWWW FGA 15 Champion, BRIAN STRYKER!!!

The cheers continue as Stryker gets his arm raised in the air.

Geoff Penzer: Brian Stryker has done it! He is once again the FGA 15 Champion! Knowing what we know now, maybe Stryker wouldn’t cash in the 15 Championship for a Pride Championship match over on Vertigo. Maybe he would have kept it the whole time. Who knows what would have happened. What we do know is that Stryker is once again the 15 Champion! Congratulations, Brian!

After the ref hands him the 15 Championship, Stryker raises it in the air to cheers and applause from the crowd.

[FGA Office]

Our cameras fade into the backstage area, where the audience immediately respond to the sight on-screen with a deafening mixed reaction. Eyes closed, hands clasped together in front of his face as he leans forward in his chair, the number one contender to the FGA Undisputed Championship, Evan Envi sits before the camera. Perhaps unaware of the cameraman’s presence, Envi is silent for a while until there’s a light knock on the door.

Evan Envi: Who’s there? Ne?

Amanda Johnson: Amanda. Did you have a sec?

Evan looks up briefly before lowering his head back into-- or against-- his clasped hands.

Evan Envi: Yeah. Come in.

The interviewer walks into the room, looking down at Envi for a bit before clearing her throat and disappearing from frame for a bit to pull up a chair next to him. Amanda sinks down into the seat and glances around the room a bit before her gaze settles on Envi.

Amanda Johnson: Evan.

Evan responds without looking at her, without removing his face from his hands.

Evan Envi: You wanted to get my thoughts before my match, right? Wanted to see where my head was before my first ever FGA Undisputed Title match? Stuff like that?

Amanda Johnson: That could be where we start.

Envi lowers his hands and narrows his eyes a little before turning to Amanda.

Evan Envi: Alright. Well. We can start by discussing the kind of a guy Johnny Karma is. Right?

Amanda starts to respond, but Envi has already gone on.

Evan Envi: You saw me go in there and try to make things right with him, and instead, he treated me like a child. When I tried to speak with Johnny Karma, he pretended we weren’t on the same level. So I took that on the chin. Later on in the same night, after I tried-- I TRIED-- to make things right, he went after Neon.

Amanda Johnson: ...well, in fairness, Neon did--

Evan Envi: And I knew the position he was in, okay? I know what must still be going through his head, but this was never supposed to be about Cherry or Ne, and all I wanted to do was put the focus back where it belonged-- on the Undisputed Championship. I didn’t want us to cross this line. I didn’t want this to become something else, Amanda. I just wanted a chance to show that I belonged in the main event. I wanted a chance to have MY moment, after eleven years of doing this. My moment, just-- just finally grabbing the invisible brass ring. I wanted to pull us back to the wrestling and WHAT did Johnny Karma wanna do?

Envi runs his hands over his face, taking another breath.

Evan Envi: He tried to maim her.

He looks at Amanda, eyes narrowing again.

Evan Envi: So now it’s something else. Which is exactly what I didn’t want. This is exactly--

Amanda Johnson: What was your involvement in Neon’s attack on Cherry Baum?

Envi’s face almost instantly begins to turn red. He glares at the interviewer.

Evan Envi: Are you serious right now?

Amanda Johnson: In fairness, Evan, I have been patient and the fans and some of your peers have given you the benefit of a doubt, but for weeks, we’ve just wanted to know what your role was. Did you know Neon was going to attack Cherry and you didn’t do anything to stop it? Were you covering for her?

Evan Envi: This--

Amanda Johnson: I know you’ll say it’s not relevant but it is. The Johnny Karma that you’re facing tonight is not the Johnny Karma I believe you’d be facing if things had played out as normal. And you may have caused that. Maybe you didn’t. But I’m just offering you a chance to clear your name, for yourself, before you go into the ring with the Undisputed Champion.

The crowd grows loud in anticipation as Amanda stops. The camera pans in on Evan, who looks toward the ground for a bit before he takes a small breath and turns to the interviewer.

Evan Envi: You wanna know something, Amanda?

Amanda raises a brow in curiosity. Evan take a breath and leans back in his chair, rubbing his jaw for a moment.

Evan Envi: I…

He lowers his hand into a fist.

Evan Envi: I… couldn’t care less which Johnny Karma I’m getting in the ring tonight. Either way, Johnny Karma’s walking out there with the Undisputed Championship and he’s going home without it. Any Johnny Karma. Every Johnny Karma.

Boos begin to slowly resonate through the arena, mainly as a result of the non-answer. Amanda sighs, clearly disappointed as well. Envi flashes a signature peace sign in her direction.

Evan Envi: Later, Amanda.

Amanda Johnson: Yeah… thanks… good luck, Evan.

Amanda forces a polite smile to the Chief as she stands up and walks out of frame. Envi smiles back… though it devolves into a glare, turning his nose up in her direction as she walks off. Still in his chair, Envi crosses his arms and leans back, closing his eyes once more as he plunges deep into thought. We fade to black.

[FGA Office]

The show cuts backstage to the locker room of the former FGA World Tag Team Champions, The Polychromatic Lion Attack Squad. Both Dan Herrera and his new wife, Peaches have determined looks on their faces as they standing, looking at one another.

Peaches: Tonight’s the night. One more match, and we’ll be right back in title contention.

Dan Herrera: They want to be the greatest faction in wrestling today, they want to claim Flashpoint as Dogs of War territory.

Peaches: Not on our watch.

Peaches shakes her head vigorously.

Peaches: Not after the last show.

Dan Herrera: They may have won those triple threat matches last time around, but when it comes to tag teams, we’re the top team on Flashpoint.

Peaches: An’ the next FGA World Tag Team Champions.

She smiles, but Dan just nods his head, his expression not changing.

Dan Herrera: We’ll get those belts back soon enough, whether it’s from Smart Style or The Chaotics. But tonight, Terrence Tillman and Robbie Black, The Dogs of War?

Peaches: Their asses are grass!

That one causes Dan to crack a smile, but Peaches knows better than to say the next line.

Peaches: An’ now it’s time to prove we’re the best tag team on Flashpoint, an’ bring these dogs to heel.

Dan Herrera: Lets do this.

The pair fist bump, with Peaches adding an explosion. Dan just smiles, laughing to himself as they walk away, ready for their upcoming triple threat tag team match.

[FGA Office]

Standing on the concourse of the United Center are Mark Bisley and Shintaro Majima, the two members of Smart Style, and Bisley appears to be in a particularly ebullient mood this evening

Mark Bisley: Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Mark Bisley and the first thing I need to do is thank Frontier Grappling Arts for allowing this match to happen so close to that theatre of mediocrity, Soldier Field.

A loud jeer breaks out from the crowd that’s not a few feet from where the two are standing, which causes Bisley to look over his shoulder in their direction in much the same way an exterminator looks at a cockroach

Mark Bisley: Oh please, given how the Vikings have your number, I’d have thought you’d be used to Minnesotans walking out of here with another victory.

The jeer grows in volume and intensity, which only seems to amuse Bisley further

Mark Bisley: Such a shame the United Center doesn’t share the sponsor’s love of dragging people out of their seats and dumping them on the sidewalk with a few cuts and bruises, because if that’s what it takes to teach those six loud guys booing a little respect…

Once more the crowd jeer, but Bisley just smirks while miming himself playing a fiddle, giving the not-too-subtle implication that he’s playing the crowd in much the same way – but once the jeers have died down he taps Majima on the arm and suggests the two take a walk, and that’s what they do, leaving the area immediately next to the arena and heading to the nearest down escallator

Mark Bisley: Now allow me to explain something to you all, as it hasn’t been explained to our good friends Ashlyn De Luca and Logan Alexander: luck is a finite resource that only a fool would think they can rely on indefinitely.

Reaching the bottom of the escalator, Bisley and Majima walk a few steps into the United Center’s main atrium, where a few late arrivals make a hasty line towards the escalators and are barely aware a couple of the FGA roster are literally walking past them as they bustle towards their seats

Mark Bisley: All we have heard from the two of them is how they managed to defeat us…once.  Frankly, it’s getting sad to see the two continue to cling to something they have failed to replicate ever since, almost as sad as it is to see them continue to pretend their so-called “victory” was in any way legitimate.  Feel free to check the footage of that match and answer this simple question: why did the referee not disqualify the two of them for violating the strict five count on two partners being in the ring at the same time?  It’s funny how much they want to throw shade in our direction, yet are only too keen to pretend they did not cheat.

Shintaro Majima: It is no wonder they have no concept of respecting their opponents.

Mark Bisley: But let’s look at the follow-up to that, shall we?  The first time we faced them as the hottest free agents on the Frontier Grappling Arts roster –  hint, hint – they failed to do anything other than instigate a fight with the auxiliary announce team at ringside.  The second time they faced us, they were so confident of victory – yet not only did they have to make do with defeating that same auxiliary announce team, they exploited an error between the two partners because they could not get the job done themselves.  And let’s not forget a couple of weeks ago where we faced each other in a six-person match, and which team was victorious?

Bisley merely gestures between himself, Majima, and a spot of fresh air where Savannah Taylor may as well be standing

Mark Bisley: If I were a scientist I would notice a pattern emerging there.  But, alas, I am no scientist – although that History major does come in remarkably useful for situations such as these.

If Bisley is trying not to look smug he’s doing it really badly – but if he is trying to look smug, he’s doing it pretty goddamn well

Shintaro Majima: I am sure that the two of them have their excuses already written: saying that it was not their night, imagining that the rules were stretched to breaking point against them…

Majima cannot help but side-eye Bisley as he says this

Shintaro Majima: …most obvious of all, there is the injury to Ashlyn De Luca’s leg that I am sure the two are only too willing to fall back on as the sole reason that they were defeated.  With this in mind, I will make one thing clear: as happened before, I will not attack that leg, to prove I do not need to exploit an injury to defeat you.

Mark Bisley: Something I’m sure she’ll appreciate…

Ignoring his partner’s burst of snark, Majima continues

Shintaro Majima: As for her partner, it is time that he learned that his mouth is not as effective a weapon as he believes.  Words can hurt, but something else is capable of hurting so much more while weakening him the longer the match continues.

Majima simply taps the back of one hand with a couple of fingers of the other, not needing to labour the point for a second longer

Shintaro Majima: He needs to concern himself with the fact that, as he is not injured, I have no need to promise that I will not hesitate when I attack him.

Bisley nods approvingly, understanding his partner’s motivations while also mentally figuring them into a strategy…but he can’t resist pointing out one thing that Ashlyn wouldn’t like to hear

Mark Bisley: One thing I do need to say, though, is that I do have a submission manoeuvre that targets the legs and lower back, and if the opportunity arises to lock it in…yeah, Ashlyn, no promises from me that I’ll spare that leg of yours, not when there’s titles on the line.

The matter-of-fact tone to Bisley’s voice is strangely cold compared to his usual smug, boastful tone – which appears to catch Majima slightly off guard as well, especially since Bisley snaps right back to his usual tone immediately afterwards

Mark Bisley: Think about it this way, Ashlyn: your leg was a target for our momentary comrade Savannah Taylor and she exploited that injury to its fullest, and before that it was almost wrenched out of the socket by that animal we’re supposed to call “champion” and it led to your big moment being ruined, so you need to ask yourself how much you’re willing to sacrifice to try and prove a point you never had?  Because to be honest, your long-term wellbeing is more important than you and your partner trying to keep up the ludicrous façade that you’re superior to us.

A smug, if slightly sinister, smirk crosses the corner of Bisley’s mouth

Mark Bisley: But don’t worry, once we take those belts from you there’s plenty of time for you to get the necessary rest & relaxation, because we’ll be eagerly awaiting the day when the two of you are fully fit and demand to exercise your rematch clause.  And when that happens, we’ll dismiss your claims once and for all.

[FGA Office]

Mark Storm: Monsters... that's what they'll call us.

Standing in front of a Grapple Kingdom logo'd backdrop is the self proclaimed leader of the FGA arm of the Dogs of War, Mark Storm, who stands proudly next to his partner for tonight, fellow Dogs of War member Liam Richardson. Both men are already in their ring gear and both wearing their Dogs of War tee's, with Richardson's hands behind his back and Storm with his hands clasped together. He smirks that smirk we're used to seeing and you can tell that he's oozing with confidence going into tonight's match. Whilst Richardson remains nonchalant and calm, not really showing any more emotion than he has been showing in the previous weeks, leading up to the match. It's become expected of him. He just stands there and looks into the space beyond the camera, like an expressionless statue. But there's also something intimidating about the way he looks. He's focused, you can tell that much.

Mark Storm: They'll call us the villains. They'll call us the bad guys. They'll call us assholes. But it doesn't matter what they call us. We know what we are.

He spreads his arms out wide before looking at Liam, who nods his head with acceptance.

Mark Storm: And that's all that matters. In our story, we're the ones who are going to save this place. We're the ones that are going to save this brand and then after that, we're going to save this company. Oh it's no secret that people are growing tiresome... they're growing tiresome because they're seeing the same old faces up in those pay-per-view posters, they're growing tired of the same old fuckeries that Hadley Herrera's pulling off. In our story, we're the heroes here to restore honor back into this brand... and it's not going to be by sitting around and watching things happen, watching other people take the places that we deserve. It's going to be by action. By pushing those who stand in our way and barking from the rooftops that we are the ones who should be on the billboards of every pay per view. That we are the ones that should be seen as the symbol of this brand! And if you don't like it... then you're just gonna have to suck it up. From Your Hero... and MINE!

He allows a grin to take over his face and as he does so, the scene gradually fades to black.

[FGA Office]

★★★ TRIPLE THREAT TAG TEAM MATCH ★★★
Polychromatic Lion Attack Squad vs. Dogs of War vs. Terrence Tillman & Robbie Black

As the beginning horn sound that starts “Forever” blasts through the arena, Terrence Tillman runs out to the stage. Running back and forth shouting and waving his arms in the air motioning for the fans to get on their feet. He stops in the center and stretches his arms out to either side shouting “It’s Time” at the top of his lungs. Tillman starts his march to the ring with a smile on his face, slapping hands of the kids in the audience letting out an occasional “Wooo!” or “Yeah baby!”

Melanie Sierra: The following Triple Threat Tag Team Match is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, representing team number one! From Orlando, Florida! Weighing in at 230 pounds! He is “Terrific” TERRENCE TILLMAN!!!

"Take Your Place" by The Underachievers plays through the speakers and emerging from the back is Robbie Black, who nods his head as the fans rise from their seats and applaud him.

Melanie Sierra: And his partner, from Detroit, Michigan! Weighing in at 236 pounds! He is “The Bullet” ROBBIE BLACK!!!

"The Bullet" stands on the top of the entrance ramp and he shoots his imaginary gun towards the ring before swaggering his way down, high-fives to a few of the audience members before he slams the apron with his fists and climbs the ring steps, hoisting himself up onto the second rope on the outside of the ring.

Geoff Penzer: Former LDFC alumni Terrence Tillman and Robbie Black have joined forces in recent weeks in their fight against the Dogs of War. Both men have tons of upside. They both have been successful in their own right. Especially Tillman, who is a two-time former 15 Champion. But do they have the chemistry to beat a team like the Dogs of War or the 2017 FGA Tag Team of the Year in the Polychromatic Lion Attack Squad?

Playing through the arena is Arsonist Lullabye by Hozier and the lights in the arena dim. Emerging from the back is Liam Richardson who stands at the top of the entrance ramp, his face vacant from any emotion. He looks up at the heavens, allowing jeers to echo through the arena.

THE KINGDOM'S ASSASSIN!

Appearing on the screen behind him are the following words which only encourage more boo's to echo through the arena but Liam doesn't care. He isn't even acknowledging the fans as he walks down the entrance ramp, his hands by his side and his eyes fixated on the four sided ring. He stops, chewing his gum and looking at the fans nearby, turning his head away from them and continuing his circle around the ring.

Melanie Sierra: And their opponents! Introducing first, representing the Dogs of War! From Westminster, England! Weighing in at 180 pounds! He is “The Assassin” LIAM RICHARDSON THE THIRD!!!

"Short Change Hero" by The Heavy begins to play through the speakers and the lights in the arena simultaneously dim down. Smoke begins to rise from the top of the stage and appearing on the screen above are the following words;

YOUR HERO, AND MINE

Boo's echo through the arena as Mark Storm emerges from the mist of smoke, chewing gum calmly as he takes off his shades and stares down at the ring. He can't help but allow his sadistic signature smirk to appear upon his lips as he closes his eyes and spreads his arms out wide, soaking in the jeers of the audience.


Melanie Sierra: And his partner, representing the Dogs of War! From new York, Brooklyn! Weighing in at 225 pounds! He is “Your Hero and Mine,” MARK STORM!!!

He begins his walk down the entrance ramp, with a leather coat completing his attire as he comes down the entrance ramp.

This ain't no place for no hero.  
This ain't no place for no better man.  
This ain't no place for no hero  
To call "home."

At this point, Storm is by the edge of the ring; allowing a smile to embed on his face before he jumps onto the apron and holds onto the ropes, using them to help himself up onto the turnbuckle. He's grinning from ear to ear, soaking in the rest of the boo's coming from the audience, shaking his head sideways as he lowers it, before jumping into the ring.

Taking off his leather coat, he hands it to the ring announcer before walking over to his designated corner and hoisting himself up onto the second ropes, a smirk upon his lips as he holds his arms up; his theme song slowly diminishing.

Geoff Penzer: Mark Storm sees himself and his fellow Dogs of War as the heroes, not the villains. In his mind, they’re here to save this brand and this company. But Storm and I have very different interpretations on what a “hero” is because in my mind, and in the mind of our fans, Storm and his ilk have done nothing heroic whatsoever. If anything, they’ve acted like cowards in their attacks over the past month.

...Spoken...
"May I remind you again, this is a dream, and in dreams, you can do anything you darn please!"

When the first bass drum thumps, Dan pulls the curtain back and walks out from behind the curtain with his tag team partner Peaches hanging onto his arm. They pose for the fans, giving head nods to as many of their supporters as they can before they begin heading towards the ring as a spotlight stays on them

Melanie Sierra: And their opponents, making their way to the ring at a total combined weight of 332 pounds! They are the team of Dan Herrera and Peaches, the POLYCHROMATIC LION ATTACK SQUAD!!!

There's no turning back tonight.
Kiss me one last time[

As Dan and Peaches make their way to the ring Dan slaps hands with the fans on one side of the entrance-way while Peaches walks down the other side slapping hands with the fans there. At the bottom of the entrance way, Peaches leans in and gives Dan a peck on the cheek as the pair climb into the ring. Peaches immediately climbs up onto the nearest turnbuckle and poses with her fists raised into the air while, on the opposite side of the ring, Dan poses in a similar manner on the other turnbuckle. The music dies down as the Polychromatic Lion Attack Squad members climb down, ready to start the match.

Geoff Penzer: Peaches and Dan Herrera are ready to get back into the World Tag Team Title mix. But before they do that, they have business to attend here tonight with the Dogs of War. The Polychromatic Lion Attack Squad defeated many teams on en route to becoming FGA’s Tag Team of the Year last year. Can they defeat these two teams before getting back in the title hunt?

The match begins with Mark Storm, Peaches and Robbie Black starting things off while Dan Herrera, Liam Richardson III and Terrence Tillman remain in their respective corners. Storm, Peaches and Black proceed to circle the ring until Storm turns, runs over and nails Tillman with a forearm strike to the jaw that drops him down to the apron. After getting dropped, Tillman picks himself back up, gets in the ring and tries to go after Storm. But the ref ends up holding him back. While the ref’s back is turned, Richardson runs over and drops Black from behind with a running clothesline from behind. The boos continue as Storm and Richardson proceed to put the boots to Black. However, the boos turn to cheers when Peaches storms over, spins Richardson around and blasts him with multiple punches to the face. She then goes for an irish whip. But Richardson is quick to reverse, sending her into the ropes. When Peaches returns, Richardson grabs her by the back of the neck, runs and throws her over top rope. Instead of crashing to the floor, Peaches grabs onto the top rope and lands safely on the apron. Richardson sees this, so he runs over to knock her off the apron. Peaches is able to duck the attack by keeping a hold of the top rope and dropping down to the apron. The crowd cheers as Richardson tumbles over the top rope and falls hard to the floor. As soon as Peaches pulls herself back up on the apron, Storm rushes over and nails her in the face with a running big boot. The cheers turn back to boos as Peaches falls off the apron and lands on the floor.

Storm heads back over, pulls up Black and sends him into the corner with an irish whip. Storm runs over to attack. But he’s cut off by a back elbow to the face. Black then tosses him into the corner before unleashing rapid knife-edge chops. He then takes Storm and sends him into the opposite corner with an irish whip. Black runs across the ring and nails Storm with a running forearm strike. He then takes Storm, delivers an irish whip, follows him back across the ring into the previous corner and nails him with another running forearm strike. After pulling Storm from out of the corner, Black turns and runs into the far ropes. When he comes back, he flattens Storm with a discus elbow strike. The cheers continue as Black drops down and makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Storm gets his shoulder up.

Geoff Penzer: “The Bullet” has gotten the better of Storm thus far!

Black picks up Storm and whips him into the ropes. When Storm returns, Black sets up for a back body drop. But Storm is able to counter with a kick to the chest. While Black stands up and guards his chest, Storm turns and runs back into the ropes. When he comes back, he throws out a lariat. But Black ducks. When Storm turns around, he gets caught with a pelé kick. While Storm is dazed, Black gets back to his feet before heading into the ropes. When Black returns, Storm leapfrogs over him. Black continues to run the ropes. When he comes back, Storm drops down into a prone position to try and trip him up. But Black hops over him before continuing to run the ropes. When Black comes back, Storm connects with a running dropkick. The dropkick knocks Black back a few steps before he slips through the ropes and falls to the floor.  While Black picks himself up on the outside, Storm turns and runs into the far ropes. When he comes back, Peaches slides back in and cuts him off with a running butt bump. She then runs back over towards the ropes, leaps through them and knocks Black down with a suicide dive! The cheers continues as Peaches picks up Black and rolls him back inside before sliding back in to make the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Black kicks out.

Peaches rushes over and makes the pin on Storm…

ONE!
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TWO!
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Storm kicks out.

Geoff Penzer: Two nearfalls in a row for Peaches!

Peaches gets up, turns and tags Herrera in. Once Herrera gets in, PLAS take Storm and whip him into the far ropes. When Storm returns, PLAS deliver a drop toe hold, elbow drop combination. After stomping Storm out of the ring, PLAS rush over, pick up Black and whip him into the ropes. When Black returns, PLAS deliver a flapjack/uppercut combination. While Peaches heads out onto the apron, Herrera makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Black kicks out.

Geoff Penzer: The Polychromatic Lion Attack Squad showed why they were arguably the best tag team in all of FGA right there with those series of tandem moves...

Herrera picks up Black, pulls him over into the PLAS corner and tags Peaches back in. Once Peaches steps back in through the ropes, PLAS take Black and send him into the far ropes. When Black returns, PLAS bring him down from a catching hip toss. While Herrera heads back out onto the apron, Peaches makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Storm drags Peaches off of Black before delivering a jumping stomp to the back.

Your Hero and Mine heads over and tags in Richardson. Once Richardson gets in, Storm takes Peaches and whips her into the ropes. When Peaches returns, Storm hoists her into the air with a Pop-Up. As Peaches comes down, Richardson doubles her over with a spinning back kick to the midsection before planting her with a snap DDT. He turns over and makes the cover.

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

Black picks up Richardson and sends him into the corner with an irish whip. The Bullet runs over to attack. But Richardson cuts him off with a European Uppercut. After tossing Black into the corner, Richardson nails him with a flurry of clotheslines until he slows down from exhaustion. Once Richardson gets his second wind, he turns his back to Black in the corner before nailing him with alternating back elbows. Once he sees Peaches returning to a vertical base, “The Assassin” runs from out of the corner and and turns Peaches inside out with a lariat. He drops down and makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Peaches gets her shoulder up.

Geoff Penzer: Richardson got all of that one! But Peaches was able to get her shoulder up.

Richardson pulls up Peaches and scoops her up across his shoulders after an irish whip. Richardson then heads towards the corner before delivering a rolling fireman’s carry slam. After popping back up to his feet, Richardson goes to follow up with a springboard moonsault off the second rope. But on the way down, Peaches gets her knees up. The crowd cheers when Richardson lands across the knees. Peaches picks up Richardson and whips him into the corner. She then runs over, hops on top of Richardson and sends him flying out of the corner with a monkey flip. After returning to her feet, she turns, runs back into the other corner, hops on top of Black and sends him flying out of the corner with another monkey flip. Peaches steps out onto the apron and slaps the top turnbuckle before climbing up to the top turnbuckle. Once Richardson and Black return to their feet, Peaches leaps off for a diving crossbody block. Black moves out of the way, causing Richardson to get knocked down with the crossbody block! While he rolls back to his feet, dives over and tags in Triple T, Peaches hooks the leg.

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

Geoff Penzer: Timely save from Triple T!

Tillman picks up Peaches and goes for an irish whip. But Peaches reverses, sending Tillman into the ropes. When Tillman returns, Peaches leapfrogs over him. Once Peaches lands on her feet and turns around, Tillman doubles her over with a boot to the midsection before knocking her down with the Terrific Kick (scissors kick). The cheers continue as he drops down, pulls over Peaches and makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Peaches kicks out.

Tillman picks up Peaches and whips her into the ropes. When she comes back, Tillman goes for a back body drop. But Peaches is able to slip down from behind. She then hops onto Tillman’s shoulders from behind. But before she can flip back and deliver the reverse hurricanrana, Tillman pushes her up off of his shoulders. Once Peaches lands in front of Tillman and turns around, she gets knocked down with the Chin Checka (savata kick)! The cheers continue as he drops down and makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Peaches gets her shoulder up.

Geoff Penzer: Another nearfall for Triple T! Peaches keeps getting her shoulder up. But if she keeps taking that kind of punishment, she won’t last for much longer.

Triple T takes Peaches and whips her into the corner. After rushing over to attack, Tillman gets knocked back by a back elbow to the face. Tillman runs back into the corner. This time, Peaches knocks him back with a boot to the face. While Tillman is dazed, Peaches heads out onto the apron. She begins to climb the turnbuckles until Tillman runs over and blasts her with a discus elbow strike, knocking her down to the floor. After Tillman steps away from the corner and turns around, Richardson lifts him up and brings him down with a flapjack. The boos continue as Richardson is quick to transition into an ankle lock. The ref gets down and asks Tillman if he wants to give up. Triple T responds by groaning in pain. Tillman grits his teeth while the ref asks him if he wants to give up. When Triple T refuses, Richardson begins cranking away on the ankle lock. Triple T groans while Richardson applies more and more pressure to the hold. The ref continues to ask Tillman if he wants to give up. Tillman continues to refuse. While The T-Unit rallies behind Tillman, he places his palms down on the mat and slowly pushes himself up. He then rolls forward sending, Richardson face-first into the top turnbuckle. As Richardson stumbles back and then turns around, Tillman delivers the Top-Tier-Takedown (leaping reverse STO)! The cheers continue as he turns over and makes the cover.

Geoff Penzer: This could be it right here!

ONE!
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TWO!
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TH-NO!

Herrera (who was tagged in by Peaches moments before the pin) dives over and breaks it up.

Geoff Penzer: Herrera with the save!

Herrera picks up Triple T, delivers an irish whip, follows him into the corner and connects with a spinning heel kick. The cheers continue as Herrera climbs up onto the apron, grabs Tillman and plants him with a Tornado DDT. He makes the cover.

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

Richardson picks up Herrera and hoists him up onto his shoulders for a rolling fireman’s carry slam. But before Richardson can hit the move, Herrera nails him with repeated elbows to the side of the head. After slipping down from behind, Herrera shoves Richardson into the ropes. When Richardson returns, Herrera brings him down with a Samoan Drop. Herrera reaches back and hooks the near leg for the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Richardson turns over and reverses with a grounded crucifix pin.

ONE!
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TWO!
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TH-NO!

Herrera slips out.

After both grapples return to their feet, Herrera rushes over and throws out a discus elbow strike. But Richardson ducks, lifts Herrera up across his shoulders and delivers a running rolling fireman’s carry slam. Richardson pops back up to his feet before connecting with a springboard moonsault off the second rope. He hooks the leg for the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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T-NO!

Herrera gets his shoulder up.

Geoff Penzer: Oh! So close...

Richardson pulls up Herrera and whips him into the Dogs of War corner. While Storm holds him in place, Richardson rushes over and nails him with a running forearm strike before tagging Storm back in. The boos continue as Storm gets in, he pulls Herrera from out of the corner and goes for a powerbomb. As soon as Herrera if lifted up onto his shoulders, he nails Storm with punches to the head. But Storm is able to fight through the punches, lift Herrera up and throw him down with an elevated sitout powerbomb! The ref slides over to make the count.

Geoff Penzer: Storm with a sitout powerbomb! That could be enough!

ONE!
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TWO!
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THR-NO!

Tillman runs over and connects with a dropkick to the back of the head, breaking up the pin.

Geoff Penzer: Triple T makes the save! What a contest we are seeing right here between these three.

Tillman picks up Storm and goes for an irish whip. But Storm reverses, sending him into the corner. Storm rushes over to attack. But Tillman knocks him back with a back elbow to the face before bringing him down with the DDTripleT (springboard moonsault into a sitout inverted DDT)! After dragging Storm into position, Tillman goes for the Terry-sault (double jump moonsault). But Storm rolls out of the way, causing Tillman to crash onto the canvas. As Tillman gets up on one knee, Storm runs over and blasts him with a running bicycle knee to the face! He makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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.
THR-NO!

Herrera dives over and breaks up the pin.

Herrera picks up Storm and whips him into the ropes. When Storm returns, Herrera leans forward, lifts him up onto his shoulders and throws him down with the Wit’s End (double leg slam)! Tillman runs over and throws out a discus elbow strike. But Herrera ducks. When Tillman turn around, Herrera flattens him with a discus elbow strike of his own! Black steps back in and rushes over to attack. But Herrera grabs him and throws him down with a belly to belly suplex! After Herrera returns to his feet, he gets knocked down to all fours from behind by Richardson. The boos continue as Richardson puts the boots to Herrera. But the boos turn to cheers when Peaches turns around and nails him with repeated punches to the face. She then takes Richardson and whips him into the ropes. When Richardson returns, she doubles him over with a kick to the midsection. After a high knee lift stands Richardson upright, PLAS drop him with a chopblock/spinning heel kick combination! The crowd cheers as PLAS stand tall in the ring. But the cheers turn to boos as Qiang Chen storms down to the ring.

Geoff Penzer: The Polychromatic Lion Attack Squad have just cleared the ri-WAIT JUST A SECOND! That’s Qiang Chen! What in the world!? What is he doing out here!/

After Chen gets on the apron and gains the ref’s attention, PLAS run over and connect with a double dropkick, knocking Chen off the apron and to the floor! Back inside, PLAS turn around to see Triple T Black rushing towards them. But PLAS is able to send him over the top rope and to the floor with a double back body drop, which knocks Chen back down! They then pick up Black and whip him into the ropes. When Black returns, PLAS knocks him down with a flapjack/uppercut combination. They then they take Storm and whip him into the corner. Herrera rushes across the ring and follows up with a lariat. After Herrera takes a few steps away from Storm and drops down to all fours, Peaches runs across the ring and delivers the Up & At Em (Poetry in Motion)! While Richardson gets up and grabs the ref, Herrera pulls Storm away from the corner while Peaches steps out onto the apron. Herrera turns away from the corner and lifts Storm up onto his shoulders for a powerbomb while Peaches scales to the top turnbuckle. She’s about to dive off to deliver a flying neckbreaker/powerbomb combination when she notices Chen back up on his feet on the floor. Peaches turns to look at Storm then down to Chen, then back over to Storm. Peaches continues to look back and forth before committing to a diving crossbody to the outside of Chen!

Geoff Penzer: Peaches takes off…

But Chen catches her in mid air! “The Golden Bull” then turns Peaches upside down before planting her with the Jīnsè suì (Tombstone Piledriver) on the floor.

Geoff Penzer: NO! OH NO! TOMBSTONE RIGHT ON THE FLOOR!

Back inside, Storm hits Herrera on the top of the head with repeated punches before executing a hurricanrana. Once both grapplers return to their feet, Storm takes Herrera and whips him into the ropes. When Herrera returns, Storm brings him down with a tilt-a-whirl Tombstone Piledriver! The boos continue as he pulls Herrera up off the mat, lifts him up across his shoulder and nails him with Dystopia (Go To Sleep)! Herrera crumbles to the mat before Storm drops down and makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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.
THREE!

The crowd boos as “Short Change Hero” hits the speakers.

Melanie Sierra: Here are your winners, the DOGS OF WAR!!!

Storm and Richardson roll to the outside. Chen raises their arms in the air while the crowd continues to boo.

Geoff Penzer: The Polychromatic Lion Attack Squad were moments away from winning this match until Chen interfered for a second time! And they call themselves “heroes”!? I don’t think so!

[FGA Office]

Sitting on his own inside a United Center dressing room that doesn't seem bigger than the usual dressing rooms he uses yet somehow feels large and empty, Johnny Karma takes a moment tweak the webcam balancing precariously on the top of his laptop lid to make sure he isn't aiming the camera either directly up his nose or has it perfectly centred upon his chin

Satisfied that he's got the shot lined up, Karma hits the call button and is soon greeted by a familiar-sounded Brooklyn accent coming through the laptop’s speakers

Cherry Baum: Hey J-K, what's up?

Johnny Karma: Just making sure you’re okay before…well, you know.

Cherry Baum: Okay...

There's a slight tone in Cherry's voice that says she knows something's up, although she bites her tongue...for now

Johnny Karma: So how are you feeling?

Cherry Baum: Still feeling a little sore, but I’m getting there little by little.  What about you, how are you handling things?

Johnny Karma: I…I don’t know.

While we cannot see Cherry at the other end of the conversation, we can almost hear her smack her lips together as she prepares to drop a potential truth bomb on Karma – although she still relents

Johnny Karma: I mean, I think I’ve got the measure of Evan and all, but that’s assuming it stays one-on-one and his various “friends” don’t put in an appearance during the match to help him out.  Because it wouldn’t be a match if I didn’t face someone with more backup than the world’s largest USB stick, would it?

Karma attempts a wry laugh but it looks a little forced – and, more than anything else, it sounds like Cherry isn’t buying it

Cherry Baum: John, listen to me.

The second he hears the shift in Cherry’s tone, Karma drops the façade of being amused and pays attention to what she’s about to say

Cherry Baum: You’re not ready for this match.

Karma opens his mouth, preparing to respond…but not a single sound comes out of his mouth, leaving him sat there open-mouthed with a correcting finger wavering as it points into the air

Cherry Baum: If you were ready for this match you’d have shown you can stay in control no matter what happens around you, but you haven’t.  You’ve spent the past couple of shows lashing out at anyone who’s on first-name terms with Envi and it’s been ugly to watch.

Johnny Karma: …ugly?

Cherry Baum: Don’t get me wrong, if I got my hands on NEON anytime soon I’d tear every last hair out of her scalp, but it’s not just NEON you’ve been attacking.  That brawl you had with Envi at the last show wasn’t you, and as for that match you had with Ashlyn…what the hell was that?  You looked like you were trying to end her career out there.

Johnny Karma: Hey, I tried to make good on that one after the fact, although it was a bit difficult with everyone else crowding in at the same time.

Cherry Baum: That’s the thing, you shouldn’t have had to in the first place.  If you weren’t so focused on hurting somebody that situation would never have happened, and that’s what Envi’s counting on.  He’s in your head, Johnny, and I shouldn’t have to tell you this now – you should have figured it out for yourself.

This time Karma doesn’t open his mouth nor raise any appendages in protest.  Instead he places his hands together, pressing his two index fingers into his lips as he furrows his brow, and he’s silent for a moment as he processes what Cherry’s just told him – stuff he hadn’t figured out for himself – as he tries to come up with a response

Cherry Baum: John, are you okay?  You’ve gone quiet.

Johnny Karma: I’m here, I’m just…thinking.

The silence returns for a little longer, as Karma continues to process what he’s just heard – until he finally realises that there isn’t actually an answer he can give

Johnny Karma: So what do you think I should do?

A faint sigh can be heard through the speakers as Cherry tries to put everything together

Cherry Baum: You need to think about what that title’s doing to you.  You worked so hard to get there, but the moment you did you stopped acting and started reacting, be it acting cute around The New Murder and now going off the deep end with Envi & Pals.  I know there’s pressure on you because you’re expected to prove yourself as champion, but you’re not proving yourself – you’ve been acting how you think you should act as champion and it’s weighing you down, and that’s why you’re lashing out now.

With a slight grimace, Karma respectfully disagrees

Johnny Karma: It’s not just that…

Rubbing his brow between his thumb and forefinger, Karma thinks very carefull about what he’s going to say next

Johnny Karma: Seeing what happened to you a few weeks ago, being unable to stop it from happening and having to watch it go down…honestly, while getting beat down by A, B and C sucks, at the end of the day I’m fair game.  But seeing someone go after you and not even being able to claim that it was an accident…

Karma pauses for a split second, taking a sharp intake of breath before he continues

Johnny Karma: I’m not letting that slide, not for a second.  Sometimes you have to make sure everyone can see the line you’re drawing, and this is one of them.

Cherry is silent for a few seconds, understanding where Karma’s coming from – although not happy about it

Cherry Baum: The thing is that, even when you were drawing that line in the sand, you let Envi get into your head and he’s going to poke the bear as often as he can to get you off your game.  You know he’s been trying to show he’s the guy who can lead the company, so you flying off the handle’s given him the ammunition no matter how principled you think you were being.

Karma exhales through his nose, clearly realising he’s painted himself into a corner recently and he’s running out of ways to get out of the situation

Johnny Karma: So what do you think I need to do?

Cherry Baum: You need to be you again.  You need to show everyone that the ring’s yours and put Envi in his place, not by subjecting him to a gangland-style beatdown, but leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind that no matter how good he is on the night you’re always going to be that little bit better.   That’s how you made your way up the ranks and that’s how you won the title, and more than anything else that’s how you’re going to keep hold of it.

As Karma digests those words, he hears a knock at his locker room door, which creaks open as a stagehand peeks around the door

Stagehand: Is there anything you need right now?

Karma looks around the locker room and sees plenty of towels and bottles of water, although there remains a gaping hole that can’t be filled by a last-minute video chat no matter how much he wishes it could

Johnny Karma: No, I’m good…I guess.

Stagehand: Alright, if there’s anything you need, just holler.

As the stagehand ducks back into the corridor, closing the door behind him, Karma looks back towards the screen of his laptop and decides it’s probably time to get his last minute preparations underway
Johnny Karma: I guess I should get ready, then.

Cherry Baum: Alright, I’ll talk to you after the match.  Good luck out there, I’ll be watching.

For the first time since we first looked in on him, Karma cracks a smile that seems genuine

Johnny Karma: Thanks.  Hope you’re cleared to travel again soon.

Waving towards the camera and somehow managing not to feel self-conscious about how goofy it looks, Karma seems to relax just a little as he hears the disconnect sound come through his speakers – and once he does he finds himself once again looking around his locker room, and when he does he lets out a quiet sigh as everything that’s been said finally helps him focus on the task that awaits him with a clear head.

[FGA Office]

Noelle Smith: It never changes.

There's a low roar of reaction from the FGA fans, a few sharp whistles even as Noelle Smith steps into view, a large FGA banner behind her as she puts her hands on her hips, her pink and gold ring gear sparkling under the lights. Her head shakes, even as her lovely eyes narrow.

Noelle Smith: The fans? Bless all of you, they've always stuck by me. They believe in me. They believe in my heart, my passion and my skills. People like our current United States Champion Savannah Taylor? They don't care about the fans and I don't think it's because they don't want to, but because the fans don't like them. And yes, they love to trot out that old saw that the fans are fickle but you know what? That's sour grapes. The fans could have at any point of my career abandoned me. When I got hurt and had to take time off. When my sister played her little switcheroo. When I beat people they didn't necessarily want me to beat. No matter what, though... the fans have always stuck by me.

Noelle taps her foot, and shakes her head again.

Noelle Smith: I've worked very, very hard in my career to live up to their expectations of me. I have done everything the right way, even when I could have done so much more. Even when Tony attacked me, and I got even... I pulled up short. I stopped. I didn't go and do what a lot of people would have done. I stayed true.

She sighs, tossing her head and making her spiral curls bounce.

Noelle Smith: It never changes though. I beat Evan Envi and look where he is. I beat Ricky Valero, and look where he is. So I want you to ask yourself something Savannah Taylor. What happens to you, when I beat you? Are you going to rocket up the roster and face people like Johnny Karma or Chandler Scott or are you going to run off into the sunset and lick your wounds until you're ready for some revenge? Because it's time, Savannah. The levee is going to break, because I can't keep doing things the way I have been. I'm tired, Taylor. I'm tired of mean spirited snotty people like you and NEON holding gold that you can't possibly understand how much, how sick to the back teeth I am of seeing things like this happen because I'm done getting stepped on. I'm done, Savannah... and that's not good for you. It's really not good for anyone.

Noelle squares her shoulders.

Noelle Smith: So I'm going to apologize to the fans, to all you people that have supported me over the years here in FGA. I can't be that same Noelle you love, not anymore. I have things I have to do, and I'm someone that's figured out how to pull off miracles. It starts tonight.

[FGA Office]

Switching to another part of the arena, the cameras spot ace Flashpoint interviewer Amanda Johnson standing in front of the Grapple Kingdom 2 poster, her microphone in her hand. She clears her throat and begins to speak.

Amanda Johnson: Ladies and gentlemen, my guest at this time, the reigning United States champion….Savannah Taylor.

The camera shifts to Amanda’s right where the figure of the United States champion comes into view. Dressed in her black and white entrance robe with her hair hanging down over her shoulders, she has the title belt slung over her left shoulder as she walks into frame net to Amanda.

Amanda Johnson: Savannah, you are minutes away from your very first defense of the United States championship against someone who made an immediate claim to a title shot in Noelle Smith.

Savannah rolls her eyes slightly.

Savannah Taylor: You mean the ultimate glutton for punishment.

Amanda Johnson: Pardon?

Savannah Taylor: You heard me. Anyone with eyes can see that by making her case for this match, Noelle Smith has bitten off more than she is capable of chewing. She knows that she is outmatched in every aspect of this matchup, yet here she is, plodding along as if she stands a chance.

Amanda Johnson: She did bring up the point of in the tournament finals, she never submitted. Are you worried that she may prove to be too tough to put down?

Savannah Taylor: Worried? Me? Amanda, the only thing I’m worried about right now is how quickly I can get the hell out of this city with all my belongings in my possession. If you are implying that I am at all worried that Noelle is going to pull off some Second City Miracle, get your head checked. I am well aware of the fact that Noelle passed out and was found unable to continue the match. If anything, that referee deserves a raise for doing an excellent job in doing the right thing for all parties involved. You see Amanda, there is one question that you haven’t asked.

Amanda Johnson: What is that?

Savannah Taylor: Which Noelle Smith is going to show up tonight? Are we going to get the, and I hate using this word for obvious reasons, tenacious spitfire who shows momentary flashes of near brilliance? The one who pulls on the heartstrings of the audience and makes people want to slay the bad guys? The one who has come SO CLOSE on so many occasions to tasting gold only to have it snatched away from her? Or are we going to get the Noelle that we see on Twitter, flashing what her mother and the Lord gave her for the attention of the uncrowned Prince of North Korea? Are we going to get the Noelle who is seemingly too distracted by all of the glitter in her life that she has lost sight of what is in front of her? I’ll tell you which one I want to show up. I want the former to show up. I want the Noelle Smith that everyone took seriously once upon a time. That way WHEN I win, I will have beaten you at your best.

She turns her head from Amanda and looks at the camera.

Savannah Taylor: By the way, what you said about if I am able to pin you or make you submit, that you would publicly admit that I was the better woman? You bet your ass I am holding you to that.

With that, Savannah turns from Amanda and heads towards the gorilla position as the scene cuts out to ringside.

[FGA Office]

★★★ UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP ★★★
© Savannah Taylor vs. Noelle Smith

“Lose My Breath” by Destiny's Child starts to play over the PA, and the lights dim as Noelle steps from behind the curtain, a wide smile on her face as she waves to the fans before doing a few provocative dance moves as the lyrics cue up.

Can you keep up?
Baby boy, make me lose my breath
Bring the noise, make me lose my breath
Hit me hard, make me lose my (hah hah)
Can you keep up?
Baby boy, make me lose my breath
Bring the noise, make me lose my breath
Hit me hard, make me lose my breath (hah hah)

Melanie Sierra: The following contest is scheduled for one fall and it is for the FGA UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP! Introducing first, the challenger! Hailing from Orlando, Florida… NOELLLLLLE SMIIITHHH!!!

She does an athletic somersault forward to take her half down the ramp and then rushes the ring, using her hands to push her up onto the apron as she slides under the bottom rope and pops up, giggling and blowing kisses to the fans, winking at the referee and waving to the ring announcers cheerily.

Geoff Penzer: Noelle Smith is the first in line to challenge Savannah Taylor for the United States Championship. It’s been nearly three years since Smith last held gold here in FGA. Since then, she’s come up short in her championship opportunities. You heard her just moments ago. She can’t keep doing things the way she’s been doing. She’s tired of seeing people like Taylor and Neon hold gold. Will we see a new & improved Noelle Smith here tonight. If we do, the question also remains if it’ll be good enough to defeat the Las Vegas Siren.

There was silence; the lights began to fade away slowly. A soft instrumental echoes out across the audience. It starts slowly, a beautiful sound that contrasts the heaviness of the world. Like feathers, it glides among the waiting audience. The lighting fixtures produce a gentle spotlight upon the stage, offset by the occasional flash here and there. As the song continues, a woman’s words begin to come through. Her voice is tender, not raising upon a whisper.

Deceived by my eyes and all I was told I should see
Opinions not mine, the person they taught me to be
One night in the dark, a vision of someone I knew
And in the darkness I saw, a voice say, I'm you.

On the stage, a feminine figure appears. Her head lowered to everything. People cannot make out who it is. As she stands there, the flashes briefly illuminate her figure. It only gives small clues on who stands at the gate. She stands in the spotlight, her shadow cast large and proudly among the stage.

Inside me a light was turned on…

The instrumental picks up again. An electric guitar now joins the progressively exciting instrumentals of before. The singer’s voice suddenly intensifies.

Then I was alive!

In the light, it is revealed that it was Savannah Taylor. She stands at the gate, a robe of obsidian and ivory hues. The hood of it shadows her eyes, but the intensity of the final EXODUS World Champion remains clear as day. She starts off down the ramp, with a serious aura radiating from her body.

Melanie Sierra: And her opponent, hailing from Las Vegas, Nevada! She is the reigning and defending United States Champion… the “Las Vegas Siren” SAAAAVANNAAAAAH TAAAAYYYYYLOORRRRRR!!!

If you close your eyes your life,
A naked truth revealed
Dreams you never lived,
And scars never healed

Savannah makes her way up the ring steps. She looks out towards the audience for a moment before entering the ring. From there, she heads for a turnbuckle. She stands there, taking in everything. She then lifts her up on top of it. She peers out in nothing, then takes off the hood with a flashy flourish. Her blonde locks fly up in the air. They descend, shaping her face as they famously do.

In the darkness, light will take you to the other side
You'll find me waiting there you'll see, if you just close your eyes

While she stands in her corner, she closes her eyes and takes a heavy breath. When her bright eyes open, Taylor is completely composed. There is nothing more than the heat of battle awaiting her. She takes off her robe, giving it to a stagehand. Taking the championship belt from around her waist, she hands it to the referee. She then stretches her wrists before devoting her mind to the war upon the horizon.

Geoff Penzer: Savannah Taylor became the first United States Champion in company history over a month ago. People have knocked Taylor over the years. They’ve tried to take away her accomplishments and accolades. But to her credit, by being the first champion, that is something that will go down in the history books. It can never be taken away. Also, for all the talk about Taylor needing help, and I was admittedly one of those people, there wasn’t any outside interference on Taylor’s behalf. She beat who was in front of her. So good for her. We heard her just moments ago say that she wants Smith at her best so that she doesn’t want to hear any excuses. Will Taylor come to regret that decision?

The bell sounds as Taylor circle the ring before locking up. After jockeying for position, Taylor places Smith in a side headlock before being shoved off into the ropes. When Taylor returns, the crowd boos when she knocks Smith down with a running shoulder block. She then turns and runs into a another set of ropes. Smith returns to her feet. But Taylor quickly returns her to the mat with another running shoulder block. Taylor looks down and smirks at Smith before turning to run into another set of ropes. After Smith returns to her feet, she leapfrogs over Taylor. The Las Vegas Siren continues to run the ropes. When she comes back, Smith leapfrogs over her again. Taylor continues to run the ropes. When she comes back, Smith knocks her down with a dropkick. Taylor returns to her feet and gets returned to the mat with another dropkick. Once the Las Vegas Siren returns to a vertical base, Smith throws out a third dropkick and connects. She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Taylor kicks out.

Smith brings Taylor back to her feet and wrenches the arm. The Champion winces in discomfort when the challenger applies more pressure to the arm. The ref checks in and asks Taylor if she wants to give up. But she refuses. She then rolls forward, leans back, kips up and reverses into an arm wrench of her own. The crowd boos as Taylor tries to yank the arm from out of its socket. She then delivers a clubbing strike across the arm before delivering another arm wrench. Smith tries to reach over to reverse, but Taylor brings her down to a knee after yanking on the arm. As soon as Smith gets back to a vertical base, Taylor brings her back down to a knee with another yank to the arm. The ref kneels down and asks Smith if she wants to give up. But the challenger refuses. She then rolls forward, leans back, kips up, cartwheels over, swats Taylor’s hands off her and knocks her down with another dropkick. As both grapplers return to their feet, Smith grabs her and goes for an irish whip. But Taylor reverses, sending her into the ropes. With Smith returns, Taylor knocks her down with a back elbow before quickly following up with a standing moonsault! She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Smith kicks out.

Geoff Penzer: Things are pretty even between these two thus far...

Taylor pulls up Smith, moves her into the corner and delivers a blistering knife edge chop. Taylor then fires off another knife edge chop… and another. The crowd boos when she begins to playfully slap Smith across the face. But the boos quickly turn to cheers when Smith grabs Taylor, tosses her into the corner and fires back with a flurry of chops of her own. She then places Taylor in a Muay Thai Clinch and rocks her with a knee to the face, sending the champion slumping down in the corner. Smith then turns and runs into the far ropes. When she comes back, she leaps into the air before connecting with a hesitation dropkick. The cheers continue as she drags Taylor from out of the corner and makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Taylor kicks out.

Geoff Penzer: Taylor’s arrogance came back to bite her there.

Smith picks up Taylor, brings her down with a snapmare takeover and follows up with a stiff kick to the back. She then nails Taylor with another stiff kick to the back. Taylor arches her back as she wails in pain. Smith sizes up the champion before hitting her with a third stiff kick to the lower back. The thud from the kick can be heard throughout the United Center. She then runs forward into the ropes. When Smith returns, she flattens Taylor with a running front dropkick to the face. She makes the cover.

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

Smith takes Taylor and whips her into the ropes. She throws out yet another dropkick. But this time, she does so too early, allowing Taylor to hang onto the ropes and watch her fall to the mat. As Smith picks herself up off the apron, Taylor runs over, knocking her down with a running back elbow and tries to immediately follow up with another standing moonsault. Smith rolls out of the way. But Taylor’s able to land on her feet. When Smith sits up, Taylor nails her with a front dropkick to the side of the head! The boos continue as she makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Smith kicks out.

Geoff Penzer: Taylor’s proving to be just a step faster in this contest.

Taylor picks up Smith and goes to lift her up for a brainbuster. But Smith is quick to flutter kick her legs, forcing Taylor to lower her back down. The champion goes for another brainbuster attempt. This time, Smith blocks by wrapping one of her legs around Taylor’s. The champion tries to muscle her up for a third brainbuster attempt. This time, Smith blocks by dropping down to a knee. So Taylor quickly lets go before knocking Smith down with a Shining Wizard! The boos continue as she makes the cover.

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

Taylor picks up Smith and goes for an irish whip. But Smith reverses, sending Taylor into the ropes. Instead of coming back, Taylor hangs onto the ropes. So Smith rushes over to attack. But she gets doubled over with a knee to the midsection. After tossing Smith out onto the apron, Taylor steps to the outside and grabs a hold of Smith. After placing Smith in a front facelock, the crowd boos when Taylor brings her down to the floor with The Gamble (corkscrew neckbreaker) off the apron! Smith immediately clutches the back of the neck while Taylor kneels over her with a satisfied smirk. The champion gets back to her feet and rolls back inside while Smith remains on the floor.  

Geoff Penzer: Smith just took a corkscrew neckbreaker off the apron and down to the floor! She could be badly hurt!

The Las Vegas Siren stands next to the ref while he continues to count her out.

FOUR!






FIVE!






SIX!






SEVEN!

The crowd cheers as Smith turns over on a knee and begins to get back to a vertical base. Taylor sees this, so she rushes over and tries to stop Smith from getting back into the ring with a baseball slide. But Smith steps out of the way, sending Taylor to the outside and resetting the count. After Taylor lands on her feet, Smith knocks her down with a roundhouse kick! The cheers continue as she picks up Taylor and rolls her back inside. Smith then slides in to make the cover.

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

Smith picks up Taylor and whips her into the corner. She then rushes across the ring to follow up with an attack. But Taylor knocks her back with a back elbow to the face. As Taylor hoists herself up onto the middle ropes, Smith runs back over and connects with another dropkick. The crowd cheers as Taylor flips over the top rope and crashes down to the floor!

Geoff Penzer: Did you hear the impact from that fall!?

The United States Champion howls in pain while she remains on the floor. The ref begins to start his count.

ONE!






TWO!






THREE!






FOUR!

Smith steps out onto the apron and begins waving Taylor up. Once the champion returns to her feet and turns around, Smith runs along the apron, leaps off and brings her down with a flying hurricanrana! The cheers continue as she picks up Taylor, slams her face-first onto the apron and rolls her back inside. After rolling back in, she makes the cover.

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

Smith picks up Taylor, moves her into the corner and follows up with a series of shoot kicks to the chest. She then rocks Tayor with an uppercut elbow before sending her into the opposite corner with an irish whip. Smith charges across the ring and connects with a spinning heel kick in the corner. After Taylor crumbles from out of the corner, she drops down and makes the cover.

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

The crowd boos when Taylor gets her foot on the bottom rope.

Geoff Penzer: Good ring awareness there from the Las Vegas Siren!

Smith brings Taylor back to her feet and nails her with a forearm smash. Taylor answers back with a forearm smash of her own. Smith then delivers another forearm smash. Taylor responds back with a forearm smash of her own. Smith then fires off four forearm smashes, nails Taylor in the leg with a Muay Thai low kick before knocking her down with a Muay Thai high kick to the head! The cheers continue as Smith steps out onto the apron and begins to wave up the champion. After Taylor turns over on all fours and gets back to her feet, Smith goes for a springboard crossbody block. But Taylor counters with a dropkick in mid air! The crowd boos when Smith is knocked out of the air and drops to the mat. Taylor heads back cover, pulls up Smith and goes for a bulldog. But Smith shoves her off into the ropes. When Taylor returns, she tackles Smith down with a Lou Thesz Press. The boos continue as Taylor mounts herself on top of Smith and hammers down with right hands to the face. She then grabs Smith by the hair with both hands and repeatedly rams the back of her head against the canvas! She then pulls Smith off the canvas by the hair, runs and flings her across the ring. After spinning through the air, Smith crashes hard on the canvas! Smith then slowly turns over on all fours. As she tries to get back to her feet, Taylor rushes over and blasts her with a yakuza kick to the side of the head! The crowd boos as Smith staggers across the ring before slipping through the ropes and landing on the aporn. The champion then heads over to the ropes before stepping out onto the apron. She reaches down, grabs Smith by the hair and slowly brings her back to her feet. After doubling Smith over with a hard knee to the midsection, Taylor places her in a front facelock before planting her with a DDT on the apron!

Geoff Penzer: GOOD GOD, did you hear the thud!? Did you hear it!?

The crowd boos as Smith bounces off the apron before falling to the floor.

With Smith seemingly out, Taylor quickly grabs her and rolls her back inside. She then slides back in and makes the cover.

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

The crowd cheers when Smith gets her foot on the bottom rope.

Taylor gets back to her feet, drags Smith away from the ropes and makes the cover.

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

Smith gets her shoulder up.

Geoff Penzer: Smith’s not out of it! She’s got some fight left in her!

As Taylor begins pulling Smith up from off the mat, Smith begins to nail her with punches to the midsection. But the comeback is cut short when Taylor knocks her down with the Ultimecia (spinning backfist). The boos continue as she drops down and makes the cover.

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

Smith gets her shoulder up

Taylor brings Smith back to her feet, lifts her up from behind and delivers an atomic drop before driving her down face-first onto the canvas with Blonde Ambition (forward russian legsweep)! The boos continue as she pulls Smith over and makes the cover.

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

Smith gets her shoulder up.

As Taylor pulls up Smith, Smith swats her hand from off of her and throws out a forearm smash. Taylor responds with a forearm smash of her own. Smith then nails Taylor with another forearm smash. Taylor comes back with a forearm smash of her own. Smith then fires off four forearm smashes. She then goes to follow up with a step-up enzuigiri. But Taylor ducks. As Smith tries to get back to her feet, Taylor is quick to drive her down into the mat with a curb stomp! The boos continue as Taylor pushes Smith over and makes the cover.

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

The crowd cheers when Smith gets her shoulder up.

Geoff Penzer: She got her shoulder up! Noelle Smith got her shoulder up!

Taylor pulls up Smith and throws her down with a scoop slam. She then heads over and hooks one of Smith’s legs around her neck. The crowd boos as Taylor is trying to turn her over into the Heartless Angel (Stretch Muffler).

Geoff Penzer: Smith is fighting it! Smith is fighting it with all her might!

Taylor eventually turns Smith over and applies the submission! The crowd lets out a defeated sigh as they remember what happened to Smith and Ashlyn De Luca after being placed in this hold. The ref gets down and asks Smith if she wants to give up. But Smith refuses. So Taylor reaches over and locks her hands together to apply more pressure to the knee. Taylor screams at her to tap while Smith groans in pain. The ref asks Smith if she wants to give up. But Smith continues to refuse. So Taylor reaches down, grabs Smith by the wrist and stands up. The crowd erupts with boos while Smith howls in pain. The ref asks Smith does she want to give up. For a second, a sliver of doubt crosses her face before refusing. She then slowly reaches up, slips down Taylor’s back and pulls her down into a modified schoolboy trip. After Taylor rolls out of it, Smith nails Taylor with a rolling kick to the face! She makes the cover.

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

Smith picks up Taylor and goes for an irish whip. But Taylor reverses, sending her into the ropes. When Smith returns, Taylor throws out the Ultimecia. But Smith ducks and heads into the ropes. When Smith turns around, Smith knocks her down with a flying forearm smash. She makes the cover.

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

Taylor gets her shoulder up.

Smith picks up Taylor and goes for an irish whip. But Taylor reverses, sending her into the corner. Whe Taylor runs over to attack, Smith turns her around with a boot to the face. While Taylor staggers away from the corner, Smith steps out onto the apron before knocking her down with a springboard flying knee strike to the back of the head! The cheers continue as Smith pushes her over and makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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TH-NO!

Taylor gets her shoulder up.

Smith picks up Taylor and places her in a front facelock. The crowd cheers upon seeing Taylor set up for Swing, Set, Match (swinging neckbreaker). But before Smith can put her away, Taylor grabs her, runs forward and rams her back-first into the corner. After a series of shoulder thrusts to the midsection, Taylor takes Smith, turns her around and lifts her up onto the middle ropes. She then steps out onto the apron, climbs up the ropes, places Smith in a three quarter facelock, flips back and brings Smith down with Welcome to Sin City (avalanche shiranui)!

Geoff Penzer: That should be enough right there...

The boos continue as she makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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THR-NO!

Smith gets her shoulder up.

Geoff Penzer: IT’S NOT! IT’S NOT! Smith gets her shoulder up!

Taylor then pulls up Smith and lifts her up for a brainbuster. But Smith is able to slip down from behind. She then shoves Taylor into the ropes. When Taylor returns, she flattens Smith with a yakuza kick. She then pulls up Smith, lifts her up and plants her with a brainbuster! After dragging Smith into position, Taylor steps out onto the apron, scales to the top turnbuckle, leaps off and crashes down across her with a Frog Splash! Taylor hooks the leg…

ONE!
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TWO!
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THRE-NO!

The crowd gasps, then cheers when Smith gets her shoulder up.

Geoff Penzer: IT’S NOT OVER! Smith gets her shoulder up again! Can you believe the fight that Noelle Smith is exhibiting!?

Taylor pulls up Smith by the hair and brings her into the corner. After sitting her down on the top turnbuckle, Taylor climbs up to the middle ropes, grabs Smith and tries to lift her up for a brainbuster! But Smith blocks the move. Taylor then tries to muscle her up for another brainbuster attempt. This time, Smith knees her in the head on the way up. After slipping back down onto the top turnbuckle, Smith begins nailing Taylor with clubbing strikes and elbows to the back of the neck. She then stands up on the top turnbuckle, Smith climbs on top of Taylor’s shoulders and flips back, bringing her down with a reverse hurricanrana to an explosion of cheers!

Geoff Penzer: Smith’s pulling out all the stops here at Grapple Kingdom 2!

Smith crawls over, turns Taylor over and makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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TH-NO!

Taylor gets her shoulder up.

Smith pulls up Taylor by the hair and nails her with a forearm smash. After stumbling back, Taylor comes back and connects with a forearm smash of her own. Smith then blasts Taylor with another forearm smash. After stumbling back, Taylor comes back and nails Taylor with a forearm smash of her own. Smith motions to strike when Taylor cuts her off with another forearm smash. The crowd boos when Taylor reaches over and grabs the back of Smith’s head with her left arm while using the right to deliver a flurry of forearm smashes to the face. The last strike drops Smith down to a knee. Taylor then turns and runs into the ropes. When she comes back, Smith pops up to her feet, leaps into the air and drives her down with a jumping double foot stomp! She then picks Taylor back up, places her in a front facelock and brings her down with Swing, Set, Match to an explosion of cheers! She makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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THR-NO!

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

Geoff Penzer: HOW WAS THAT NOT THREE!? HOW!?

Smith picks up Taylor and whips her into the corner. She then runs across the ring, leaps into the air and connects with a hesitation dropkick. While Taylor is dazed, Smith steps up onto the middle ropes, place sher in an inverted facelock and brings her down with the Beauty Mark (diving somersault inverted facelock jawbreaker)!

Geoff Penzer: THERE IT IS! We’ve got a new champion!

ONE!
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TWO!
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THRE-NO!

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

Geoff Penzer: Taylor got her shoulder up!? Taylor got her shoulder up!! She got it up!!

As Smith slowly pulls Taylor up from off the mat, Taylor swats Smith’s hands off of her before connecting with a roundhouse kick that knocks her down. While Smith is sprawled out on the mat, Taylor steps out onto the apron, climbs up to the top turnbuckle and crouches down. Once Smith finally comes to, she begins to shake out the cobwebs as she turns over on all fours. After Smith returns to her feet and faces the corner, Taylor flips off and goes for Dancing Mad (diving somersault hurricanrana). But after Taylor lands on Smith’s shoulders and flips back, Smith blocks the move, leaving Taylor hanging upside down. Smith then groans as she hoists Taylor back up and reverses into a fallaway powerbomb! After both grapplers slowly returns to a vertical base, Smith delivers a Muay Thai lower kick to the leg! Followed by a Muay Thai high kick to the head! Followed by a spinning back kick! While Taylor is doubled over, Smith connects with a bicycle knee strike to the chin! After Taylor drops down to a knee, the crowd expldoes with cheers when Smith cracks her across the top of the head with the Moroccan Sunset (Muay Thai axe kick)! Taylor crumbles to the mat before Smith makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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.
THREE!

The crowd explodes with cheers as “Lose My Breath” blasts over the PA.

Melanie Sierra: Here is your winner and now, the NEEEEEWWWWWWW FGA United States Champion, NOELLE SMITH!!!

The cheers continue as Smith gets her arm raised in victory.

Geoff Penzer: The drought is over! The drought is over! Smith is finally a champion again! Noelle Smith is the new United States Champion! What a match we just saw!

After getting handed the US Champion, Smith drops to her knees before hugging the championship.

[FGA Office]

Standing by in front of the Grappling Kingdom 2 backdrop is Flashpoint interview Amanda Johsnon.

Amanda Johnson: Ladies and gentlemen, joining me at this time is the DNA of FGA, the FGAce himself, Chandler Scott.

A roar of cheers and catcalls can be heard from the Chicago crowd when Chandler Scott steps into the frame. The DNA of FGA is all business here tonight as he's ready to field question from Amanda Johnson.

Amanda Johnson: Chandler, we both know how big this night is. We all know that you're chomping at the bit to get your hands on Sunshine Scandalous Tony Carmine. Can you give all of us some last minute thoughts as you head into this Grudge Match? How are you feeling?

Chandler rubs his chin.

Chandler Scott: How am I feeling? Anxious. I feeling anxious, Amanda. But not due to nerves. Not due to this feeling of...

Chandler gesticulates with his hands as he tries to find the right word.

Chandler Scott: ... uncertainty. I'm anxious to get the BS over with, once and for all. You see, this thing between myself and Tony Carmine? It ends tonight! It finally ends here tonight... in Chicago.

The crowd pops at the mention of their hometown.

Chandler Scott: This isn't going to be your technical showcase. This isn't going to rank high on Dave Scriven's Best of 2018 List. This isn't even going to be a wrestling match. You see, I proved two and a half years ago that I was a better wrestler than Tony Carmine. And I put an exclamation point on it, too. Tonight? Tonight's about beating the Holy hell out of Tony Carmine. Tonight is about ripping Tony Carmine apart. Tonight is about getting through his thick skull that he should have just well enough alone. You see, his confidant, his co-conspirator Ricky Valero? That son of a bitch tucked his tail and ran, literally, every time I stepped to his face and dared him to do something. When Noelle Smith got her payback from Final Frontier a few weeks ago and beat him in the ring? What did he do? He looked for the nearest exit with the quickness. Tony, you should have took notes from your boy and hit the bricks. Instead, you've chosen to mock me. Instead, you've chosen to stick around and attack me. Now some would say that you should be applauded for sticking around and being willing to fight like a man. Some would say that you're showing signs of courage by sticking around and facing whatever's coming to you. HA!

Chandler shakes his head at the notion of Tony being brave.

Chandler Scott: Courage? Courage? There's not a courageous bone in your body, boy! What you have been exhibiting for the past two months is that dangerous combination of arrogance and ignorance. Arrogance and ignorance is what has gotten you into this mess in the first place. Arrogance and ignorance is what has caused you to back yourself up into a corner that there is no way out out. Arrogance and ignorance is what will get you your ass kicked here tonight!

Another roar of cheers from the Chicago crowd.

Chandler Scott: And when all the dust settles and when all the smoke has cleared, every head will bow and every tongue will confess that...

Chandler... Reigns... Supreme

Anther roar of cheers comes from the crowd after they complete his catchphrase. Chandler turns back to Amanda and gives her a nod before turning and walking off...

[FGA Office]

In 1849, California Gold Rush era....



Treasure seekers the world over streamed to California looking for a quick fortune!


Just over 150 years later, Frontier Grappling Arts will witness the event again!


This time, in Orlando, Florida! 30 FGA grapplers will meet up in the ring for one night only!


It's a shot at glory!


It's a shot at gold!


There can only be one!



Saturday, April 28, 2018.

Who will be the last grappler standing?