AfterBurn for Vertigo E59

[FGA Office]

Catch up with your favorite FGA grapplers on AfterBurn! Get their thoughts on the latest, their opponents, and other backstage happenings right here, only on AxxessNet!

[The Mason]

Unaired Scene from Vertigo Episode 59

???: He wants to compete in what?!

The voice opens the scene before we even fade in from a black screen, but boos ring throughout the PPG Paints Arena as those in attendance immediately associate the voice with Ricky Valero. They’re proven right, the boos only growing louder as we open up on the face of Ricky Valero, who looks to be completely astonished at what he has just heard. We continue to pan out, revealing Evan Envi pacing back and forth with his arms crossed.

Evan Envi: A Lumberjack match. A friggin’ human wall made out of jerks. Of course. Like— of COURSE that’s what he wants!

Ricky Valero: Why didn’t you tell me sooner?! We could have fought this thing from the inside! Who the hell is he to the Board?!

Evan Envi: I didn’t wanna stress you about it before your match. And it’s pointless. He has something on somebody at the top of the food chain. He has to. The match is made. If I don’t agree to it I’m probably like, in violation of my contract or something. I dunno. Macdonald usually handled the stupid stuff like that. Auughh...

Envi rubs at his temples for a moment while Valero shakes his head, seething behind him, seated on a folding chair in the room, a towel around his neck, mopping up the sweat from the match he’d competed in earlier.

Ricky Valero: So this is it? The chain of command crumbles in this place and now the next business move is to screw the Good Guys any way possible, huh? It’s ridiculous! That has to violate some sort of safety guideline, having that many imbeciles surrounding the ring! Who the hell signed off on it?

Envi leans against the far wall of the locker-room, running his hands down his face, shaking his head as he looks up at the lights.

Evan Envi: They’re trying to break us, Richard.

He lowers his hands and looks down toward Ricky, suddenly remembering something, evident as his eyebrows arch.

Evan Envi: You know what Joe in catering was saying before I came in here?

Ricky Valero: What?

Evan Envi: He said that Natalie was chatting with Fujiko. We’ve been ringing her phone all this time and he saw her—

Ricky Valero: Behind enemy lines.

Evan Envi: No! No… that’s not fair. We have to be understanding of the situation. I mean… we did ask Natalie, on the spot, to basically turn her back on her friends, you know, and that— that wasn’t very Good of us, right? So we owe her the benefit of a doubt. She’s Good people.

Ricky narrows his eyes, but nods slowly. As if on cue, the dressing room door is pushed open and Natalie McKinley walks in— immediately slowing her pace as she sees Ricky and Envi’s eyes snap in her direction, though neither Grappler says anything. She frowns at the pair of them, sensing that something is up.

Natalie McKinley: What?

Ricky Valero opens his mouth to respond but the FGA World Champion speaks up first.

Evan Envi: Nothing.

Ricky Valero: You and Fuji have a good chat?

Envi blinks, looking silently toward Ricky, and then back to Nat McKinley. Envi clearly looks as though he’s had a long day, and does not bother hiding the look in his gaze as he turns back toward Nat.

Natalie McKinley: How d--

A clearly irritated Natalie glances between Evan and Ricky, before letting out a sigh.

Natalie McKinley: You know what? Never mind. It went about as well as could be expected... not that it's any of your business.

She tilts her head slightly to one side, staring at Ricky, who raises a water bottle to his lips, leaning back in the chair.

Natalie McKinley: Do you have a problem with me talking to Fujiko, Ricky?

Ricky looks at her over the top of his water bottle and shakes his head calmly, capping it before responding nonchalantly.

Ricky Valero: Nope.

A small shrug.

Ricky Valero: It doesn’t have any bearing on what’s gonna happen to her. Does it?

The final words come out, almost directed solely at Natalie. Evan Envi runs his hands through his hair in frustration in the background, watching as his two stablemates stare at each other in silence. A thick tension hangs in the air until Envi groans aloud.

Evan Envi: Guys…

Envi moves between the two, raising his hands as if not sure which one to restrain before calmly resting a single hand on both their shoulders, looking from one to the other with a hopeful expression.

Evan Envi: We’re gonna get past this-- this Fujiko problem and we’re gonna look back on it and laaaugh and talk about how silly these little moments were. We’re gonna accept these as the growing pains that they are and we’re gonna be stronger as a team because of it. We’re gonna be better as Good Guys for having gone through this.

He removes his hand from Ricky’s shoulder and turns his full attention to McKinley.

Evan Envi: I need to make sure I have your full support going into Capital Combat. I need-- I need you to be focused and I need you to be ready for whatever shenanigans Jimmy Page is gonna cook up in that Lumberjack match. Can I count on you for that?

Envi looks toward Ricky too, turning his gaze back and forth between the two of them.

Evan Envi: Both of you?

There is a nod of the head from Natalie, who speaks before Valero has the chance to.

Natalie McKinley: Me, sure. I don’t know if Ricky will be able to though…

This inspires an “OOOHH…” from the crowd and a perked brow from the World Champion, who looks at Ricky expectantly. Ricky rubs his chin a bit, laughing bitterly before giving Natalie a wink.

Ricky Valero: You don’t need to worry about me. Worry about how you’re going to console your BFF.

He turns his attention to the Chief while Nat gives Ricky an unimpressed look.

Ricky Valero: And I’ll still be out there to be the best possible Lumberjack for my BEST friend, staring into the face of evil for the second time in one night… with the FGA Pride Championship strapped tight around my hot little waist, no less.

He turns to Natalie as he says those last few words, giving her a broad smile, but being met with a soft eye roll. Envi nods to the two of them, flashing a double thumbs-up.

Evan Envi: Alright! Good. Good. I’ve got a lot of faith in the team right now.

He smiles to both of them and picks up the FGA World Title, throwing it over his shoulder before exiting the room. Natalie looks at Ricky for a few seconds in silence before returning his forced smile, only for a brief second, and it falls just as quickly. She turns, walking out of the room as well, leaving Valero by himself, watching Natalie leave with an indistinguishable expression as we fade away.

[David]

Shortly after Vertigo has gone off the air, Jessie Pederson is seen stood somewhere backstage at the PPG Paints Arena with one half of Pendragon, Lowri Moss. Dressed in a pair of jeans and a replica Wales rugby union jersey, Lowri has a smile on her face, seemingly in a much more positive mood than she was two weeks ago when she and Neal Durden were interviewed by Spencer Burke - and with good reason.

Jessie Pederson: I’m here with one half of the United States Tag Team Champions, Lowri Moss, and obviously, Lowri, neither you or your partner, Neal Durden, were in action tonight, so how did it feel for the two of you to just be spectators for a change?

Lowri Moss: Yeah, it’s actually the first time since last October that I’ve had the night off.

Lowri lets out a sigh. She then continues her response to Jessie’s question.

Lowri Moss: I was a bit disappointed not to be able to perform for the fans tonight, but I appreciate that there’s a limit to how much can be fitted into one show, and the matches in the Dynamic Duos Tournament only served to complicate that. However, although I wasn’t scheduled to compete, there was never any chance of me not being here, and so Neal and I have simply been enjoying the show as interested observers. Plus we did get to spend some time interacting with the fans by hanging out at the merch table, posing for selfies and signing autographs.

Jessie Pederson: Alright, well, I’ve got a few questions that I want to ask you, but before I go any further, I suppose I ought to congratulate you on winning the World Cup last weekend.

Upon hearing that, Lowri’s smile immediately broadens.

Lowri Moss: Thanks, Jessie! I took great pride in getting to represent Wales in the tournament, and I was…

There is then a momentary pause, while she searches for a suitable adjective.

Lowri Moss: ...completely overjoyed, to win the World Cup for my country. It was a night that I’ll never forget, and the trophy now has pride of place on my mantelpiece.

Jessie Pederson: Okay, so, turning our attention back to tonight, no sooner had the show started than a video of Dom Harter and Annie Zellor aired, who of course remain in possession of the United States tag team title belts that belong to you and Neal Durden. Can I get a reaction from you to what they had to say?

Lowri Moss: I can understand you wanting to ask me about that, Jessie - in fact, I expected you to ask me about it. However, that’s not really something that I want to talk about at the moment, as I’ve been in such a good mood for the past week or so, and I don’t want to let those two spoil it. I don’t want to dodge the question completely though - you deserve some sort of an answer - so I’ll just say this.

Lowri stops to take a breath, before continuing.

Lowri Moss: As much as I dislike the two of them, there’s no denying what they have each achieved in the tag team division here in FGA. However, over three years have now passed since either of them has been a tag champion in FGA... but a few months ago, while Dom was still licking his wounds, after what happened at A New Odyssey, and while Annie wasn’t even part of the roster, after walking out on FGA last year, Neal and I were busy winning the United States Tag Team Championship Tournament, to become the inaugural champions. And although we may not currently be in possession of the belts, we are the US Tag Team Champions, whether those two like it or not, and until someone actually beats us for the belts, we’re going to remain the champions.

Lowri pats her waist, anticipating having her half of the United States tag team titles wrapped around that part of her body again before too long.

Lowri Moss: I can’t say I’m at all surprised that Dom didn’t keep his promise though.

Another sigh follows, but she is then quick to add an additional comment.

Lowri Moss: They’re both so full of shit.

Ignoring that last remark from Lowri, Jessie asks her a further question.

Jessie Pederson: May I ask, what is this promise that was referred to by Dom, and now you?

A wry smile crosses Lowri’s face, as she begins to tell the story behind the aforementioned promise.

Lowri Moss: Pretending to be one half of the United States Tag Team Champions isn’t the only fraudulent act that Dom has committed where I’m concerned: around a year ago, he started to claim that he has Welsh heritage. He doesn’t though, of course - it’s just another way for him to try to antagonise me.

She puts her hands on her hips.

Lowri Moss: At first, Dom claimed that he was half Wesh on his father’s side, before that later changed to him supposedly being half Welsh on his mother’s side. However, earlier this year, he attempted to take the sham a step further, when he declared that he wanted to represent Wales in the WCS World Cup. Now, I would like to think that the World Crown Syndicate wouldn’t have allowed him to get away with that deception, but I wasn’t going to take any chances, and so I put my name forward to represent Wales instead, to stop him from making a mockery of my country.

Lowri glances off to one side for a second or two, before looking back to Jessie, and continuing.

Lowri Moss: You see, Jessie, if it wasn’t for Dom, I might not have even been a participant in the World Cup, let alone have gone on to win it.

Thinking about the role that her biggest foe unwittingly played in her recent success causes Lowri’s smile to widen into a grin.

Lowri Moss: Anyway, after I was named as the Welsh representative - on my birthday, of all days - Dom said that Wales deserved better. I told him that I would win the World Cup, and he promised that if I did, he would admit that he was wrong; I kept my word, but like I said, I’m not surprised that he didn’t keep his.

She gives a shake of her head.

Lowri Moss: I’ve also told Dom that Neal and I will get our belts back from him and Annie, and believe me, I’m going to keep my word on that one as well, it’s just a matter of time.

Lowri then takes her hands off her hips, as Jessie moves the conversation onto a different topic.

Jessie Pederson: Another subject I wanted to discuss with you is the Mid-Atlantic Legacy Championship. I interviewed you ahead of your defense last month against Marlon Cure, and this is the first chance I’ve had to speak to you since that match, so I wanted to ask how you feel about the end of you reign as champion.

Lowri Moss: There you go, Jessie: bringing down my mood.

The reply from Lowri is said in jest, but Jessie does not realise that, and she gets a little flustered.

Jessie Pederson: Sorry, Lowri. I...

Lowri interrupts Jessie, reassuring the reporter.

Lowri Moss: It’s okay, Jessie. Either you or Spencer were bound to ask me about it eventually.

She then lets out a sigh once more, with her smile now having faded. She has come to terms with no longer being the Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion, for the most part, but there is clearly still some lingering disappointment.

Lowri Moss: I stand by what I said to you prior to the match four weeks ago, Jessie. I was the Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion for five and a half months, but - for a variety of reasons - I was only able to have one successful defence, and that’s something that I’m far from satisfied about; I wanted to have a noteworthy reign, like the ones that Izzy and Sadie had before me, but... I failed.

She lowers her gaze, looking down at the floor.

Jessie Pederson: As the former champion, you are of course entitled to a return match for the championship; do you plan to exercise that right?

Lowri looks back up at Jessie, responding with a shake of her head.

Lowri Moss: Not any time soon, if at all. There’s a part of me that wants to regain the title, so that I can then make my second reign everything that I wanted my first reign to be, but… I’ve been in FGA for eighteen months, and I’ve spent the vast majority of that time competing for the Mid-Atlantic Legacy Championship, either as a challenger or as the champion, but now… I think it’s time for me to move on. Besides, the US tag titles are what my focus needs to be on now.

Jessie nods in understanding.

Jessie Pederson: Okay, there’s one more thing that I would like to ask you about. As you’ve already alluded to, tonight’s show included the final four matches in the opening round of the Dynamic Duos Tournament, and there’s the possibility that whoever wins the tournament could go on to challenge you and Neal for the United States tag team titles.

Before Jessie can get to her question, Lowri interjects.

Lowri Moss: Provided we’re still the champions by then - which we fully intend to be.

Jessie Pederson: Right. But rather than asking which of the eight remaining teams you think is going to win the tournament, I wanted to know, which of those teams would you most like to face off with?

Lowri takes a moment to consider her response.

Lowri Moss: I guess I could just sit on the fence and say that I would be happy to take on any of the teams that are left in the tournament… and that’s true, I would, but if I had to pick one of them, then I think it would have to be Fujiko and Izzy. I mean, I admire both of them, for different reasons, and I think me and Neal versus Fujiko and Izzy could be… it could be something special.

Her smile becomes more apparent, as she contemplates the prospect of that particular matchup.

Lowri Moss: Alright, Jessie, I think I probably ought to go and see where Neal has gotten to - unless you’ve got any more questions for me...

Jessie Pederson: No, that’s it for now. Thanks for your time, Lowri.

Lowri Moss: You’re welcome.

Lowri then smiles at Jessie before wandering off, and the scene cuts away.

[Susan Kent]

The roving camera backstage at the PPG Paints picks up a conversation between Dana and Kendra.

Kendra: It that doesn't prove that Susan deserves a title match against Marlon Cure than whoever is running this show is a complete idiot.

Dana: Susan took everything that Piper and Marlon threw at her, it was wasn't for that dunce Bryan Law, they would have won the match.

Kendra: Yeah, I really don't know where Frontier Grappling Arts finds these people.

Dana: I agree with you on that, but hey they do need people for Susan to beat, and maybe when she's the champion on Vertigo maybe Bryan, Marlon and Piper maybe Susan can them a title match out of the goodness of her heart.

Kendra: Where is Susan by the way, she was here a minute ago.