CO-MAIN EVENT
• Singles Match •
Johnny Karma vs. Brian Stryker
"Watch Me Burn" starts playing as Brian Stryker comes walking out from the back. He has his hood up as he keeps his hands in the pockets of his hoodie. Strolling down the ramp, Stryker looks at a few of his former fans as they boo him, smiling at them as he fakes them out with sudden move, laughing as they flinch. He climbs up the steps as he climbs over the ropes into the ring. He stands in the center of the ring as he unzips his hoodie and lets it fall off him as he stands there posing like a Greek statue. Once he finished basking in the "cheers" of his adoring public, Stryker kicks his hoodie out of the ring and leans sideways against the turnbuckle and waits.
J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for ONE fall! Introducing first, hailing from Maui, Hawaii! He is Your Savior of the masses, the Man you all came to see… Welcome to The Brian Stryker Experience!
Kris Cruise: Stephy, we’re about to get our featured contest underway as Johnny Karma is set to go one on one with this match, Brian Stryker.
Stephy Auger: What is Flashpoint’s loss is our gain. If you need further proof that Flashpoint is in fact the B show, all you have to do is look at the two competitors in this match. Johnny Karma was synonymous with the Undisputed Championship from September 2017 through April 2018. While he’s certainly no Evan Envi, Karma is in the upper echelon of competitors here in FGA. Then there’s Brian Stryker, a two-time 15 Champion. Stryker comes to Vertigo with one hell of a chip on his shoulder. I’m expecting big things from The Brian Stryker Experience here in 2019.
The arena lights flash in a myriad of different colours in time with John Bonham's quite remarkably epic drum intro that is filling the arena, and just as it reaches a crescendo Cherry Baum emerges at the top of the ramp, standing to one side to introduce the man they call Johnny Karma, to the Frontier
Wrestling Arts fanbase - at which point he walks out onto the ramp before coming to a halt and uses a couple of fingers to blow a kiss to the fans, pausing to hold his arm in the air for a couple of seconds to signal his arrival
As he and Cherry begin to walk down the ramp, Karma unfastens the cuffs of his ring jacket while also talking some last minute preparation with Cherry as they get ever closer to the ring
J.A. Aldridge: His opponent, hailing from Queens, New York! Weighing in at 233 pounds… JOHNNY KARMA!
As the pair reach ringside, Cherry quickly climbs onto the ring apron and sits on the middle rope to hold it open, as Karma climbs the ring steps and walks along the apron, turning to face the audience and slowly raising an arm before raising his index finger to let everyone know that he is #1, before he steps through the ropes into the ring.
Once inside the ring, Karma unzips his ring jacket before he climbs onto the nearest turnbuckle and holds his arms out wide to soak in the crowd's cheers
If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break
If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break
When The Levee Breaks I'll have no place to stay
Once he climbs down from the turnbuckles, Karma crosses the ring and climbs onto the opposite turnbuckle to salute the fans
Mean old levee taught me to weep and moan
Mean old levee taught me to weep and moan
It's got what it takes to make a mountain man leave his home
Oh well, oh well, oh well
Climbing down once again, Karma saunters towards the centre of the ring and once again uses a couple of fingers to blow a kiss to the crowd before raising his arm high above his head with those two fingers still extended, and he holds the pose for a few seconds.
Kris Cruise: Things have not gone Karma’s way in recent months. After being screwed out of the Undisputed Championship last April, he lost out on a chance to regain the title at All-Star Showdown Seven. He then lost to Chandler Scott this past October over the International Heavyweight Championship. Then, he was knocked out of the Frontier Lions Cup in the first round. Karma, who was in one of the main events of 2017’s Final Frontier, failed to make the pay per view in 2019. But this is 2019. This is a new start and a new brand for Karma. Will Karma be able to turn it around and get back to the top? It all starts here tonight against Brian Stryker.
The bell sounds as both grapplers circle the ring before locking up. Karma quickly gains the advantage by applying a side headlock. Stryker then reaches up, grabs Karma’s wrist and slowly pushes his arms up to try and escape the hold. But Karma is able to overpower Stryker and slaps the side headlock back on. The ref asks Stryker if he wants to give up. He quickly refuses. He then delivers a forearm to the ribs before trying to shove Karma off of him. But it’s to no avail. Stryker then moves Karma into the near ropes and then tries to get a running start before shoving him off into the far ropes. But again, it’s to no avail as Karma keeps the hold locked on tight. Stryker then grabs a hold of Karma and hoists him up for a belly to back suplex. But Karma is able to roll over his shoulder, land on his feet, spin Stryker towards him and throw him down to the mat with a side headlock takeover. Stryker quickly reverses into a headscissors. The ref asks Karma if he wants to give up. Karma responds by waving the referee off. He then slowly turns over onto his knees. After pressing down on Stryker’s thighs, Karma slips out of the hold. He quickly returns to his feet, lifts up Stryker’s right leg and goes for a figure four leglock. When Karma turns around, Stryker reaches up and pulls him down into a small package.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Karma shifts his weight over onto Stryker.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Stryker shifts his weight back over onto Karma…
ONE!
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TWO!
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Karma kicks out.
After both grapplers return to their feet, Karma catches him with a quick jab to the face. He then moves Stryker into the near ropes before shoving him off into the far ropes. When Stryker returns, Karma throws out a back elbow. But Stryker ducks before continuing to run the ropes. When Stryker returns, Karma sends him to the mat with a fireman’s carry takedown. He quickly slips on an armbar. The ref kneels down and asks Stryker if he wants to give up. But he refuses. Stryker slowly turns over before getting back to a vertical base. He reaches over with his free arm and moves Karma into the near ropes before shoving him off into the far ropes. When Karma returns, Stryker leapfrogs over him. Karma continues to run the ropes. When Karma comes back, Stryker turns and drops down into the prone position. Karma hops over him before continuing to run the ropes. When Karma comes back, the crowd boos when Stryker knocks him off his feet with a dropkick.
Kris Cruise: Karma just got caught right in the face with that dropkick from Stryker! Now Stryker’s going for the quick cover...
ONE!
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TWO!
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Karma kicks out.
Stryker picks up Karma, moves him into the corner and delivers three knife edge chops. He than takes Karma and sends him into the far corner with an irish whip. Stryker runs across the ring to follow up with an attack when Karma dumps and dumps him over the top rope and to the floor!
Kris Cruise: Stryker’s been tossed to the floor, Stephy! Could Karma be setting up something special for the fans in the front row?
While Stryker tries to pick himself up on the outside, Karma turns and runs into the far ropes. When he comes back, he goes for This is For The Front Row (baseball slide clothesline). But Stryker ducks. As soon as Karma lands on his feet, Stryker grabs him and throws him against the steel steps! The boos continue while Stryker puts the boots to Karma before rolling him back inside. Stryker then climbs up onto the apron before grabbing a hold of the top rope. He springboards over onto the top turnbuckle, flips through the air and goes for a Phoenix Splash… when Karma gets his knees up! The crowd cheers when Stryker crashes down hard across them.
Kris Cruise: Stryker tried to put this one away early. But the high risk backfired on him big time!
Stephy Auger: It’s okay! This match is far from over.
After bouncing off of Karma’s knees, Stryker rolls across the ring before curling up. Once Stryker picks himself back up, Karma runs up from behind, grabs Stryker, runs, jumps over the top rope and delivers Macho Karm!. While Stryker stumbles back, Karma climbs back up onto the apron, scales to the top turnbuckle, jumps off and knocks him down with a diving double axe handle smash! He makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Stryker gets his shoulder up.
Karma picks up Stryker and whips him into the ropes. When Stryker returns, the crowd cheers when Karma throws him down with a snap scoop powerslam! He hooks the leg…
ONE!
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TWO!
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Stryker gets his shoulder up.
Kris Cruise: Another nearfall for the former Undisputed Champion. Being on Vertigo gives Karma a brand new start. But if he wants to get to the top, there’s a lot of talented competitors in his way that he’s got to get through.
Stephy Auger: Yeah, Evan Envi!
Karma picks up Stryker and sends him back into the ropes. When Stryker returns, Karma knocks him down with a running high knee. Karma then sits up Stryker before heading into the ropes. When Karma returns, he delivers a rolling neck snap. The cheers continue as Karma follows up with a jumping knee drop. He makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Stryker gets his shoulder up.
Karma picks up Stryker before bringing him back down with the Bum Trip (shoulder neckbreaker). He then heads into the corner and climbs up onto the middle ropes. The crowd cheers as Karma jumps off for a diving fist drop. But the cheers quickly switch to boos when Stryker gets his foot up and catches Karma across the face on the way down. Stryker gets back to his feet and puts the boots to Karma. After picking Karma back up, Stryker takes control of his wrist before knocking him into the ropes with the First Stryke (arm twist/hook kick combo). Stryker then turns and runs into the ropes. When he comes back, he connects with a clothesline, sending Karma over the top rope and to the floor! While Karma tries to pick himself up on the outside, Stryker turns and runs back into the far ropes. When Stryker returns, the crowd boos when he knocks Karma down with a high angle body press to the outside! Stryker mounts himself on top of Karma before raining down right hands to the face. He then picks up Karma before slamming him face-first onto the apron and pushing him back inside. Stryker then rolls himself back in, picks up Karma and slams him face-first into the top turnbuckle. He then turns Karma around before choking him with both hands. The crowd boos Stryker while the ref gives him until the count of five to break the choke.
Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR…
Stryker reluctantly lets go. He then takes Karma and sends him into the far corner. Stryker runs across the ring, connects with a corner elbow and follows up with a CCS Enzuigiri! While Karma is dazed, Stryker turns him around before lifting him up and sitting him down across the top turnbuckle. Stryker then climbs up onto the middle ropes and goes for a Spider Suplex. But Karma counters with multiple back elbows to the face. The crowd cheers when the last elbow knocks Stryker off the ropes and sends him down to the canvas. Karma tries to climb down from the top turnbuckle. But Stryker runs back over and connects with a dropkick, sending Karma tumbling to the floor! Stryker then begins to scale the turnbuckles. Once he reaches the top, the crowd boos when he flips off and knocks Karma down with a corkscrew moonsault to the outside!
Kris Cruise: The high risk didn’t blow up in his face this time! Stryker flips through the air and takes out Karma on the outside!
Stephy Auger: Stryker just wiped him out!
Stryker picks up Karma and rolls him back into the ring. He then slides back in before making the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Karma gets his foot on the bottom rope.
Stryker gras Karma, drags him towards the center of the ring and makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Karma gets his shoulder up.
Stryker picks up Karma, hooks his leg and then brings him down with Stryke 2 (leg-hook Saito Suplex)! The boos continue as Stryker runs into the ropes. When he returns, he hits Karma with a running Shooting Star Splash! He hooks the leg.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Karma gets his shoulder up.
Kris Cruise: Stryker’s made it clear that he wants the Pride Championship. But so does Tyler Storm. We even saw Izzy Answers get into it verbally with Seth Iser earlier tonight.
Stephy Auger: Everyone wants a shot at the Pride Championship and why shouldn’t they? The belt is being held by Wrestling’s Greatest Mind. They know what getting in the ring with them will do for their careers.
Kris Cruise: Well when it comes to Izzy, she just wants another shot at the title she was cheated out of.
Stephy Auger: Well does she want to become Pride Champion again or does she want to keep pretending to be Fujiko’s friend and going after the Tag Titles? Make up your mind, lady.
Kris Cruise: I’m pretty sure Izzy is capable of multitasking. I’m surprised, I thought you were an Izzy fan.
Stephy Auger: I am. I just hate that she would lower herself to teaming with Fuji Water. Was Savannah Taylor not available? She couldn’t get in contact with Yun Goeun?
Stryker brings Karma back to his feet and hits him with two forearm strikes. He then takes Karma by the arms before bringing him down with the Overdose (straight jacket shiranui)! While Karma is down on the mat, Stryker steps out onto the apron before climbing the turnbuckles. Once Stryker reaches the top, he leaps off for a diving leg drop. The crowd cheers when Karma rolls out of the way, causing Stryker to crash and burn on the mat.
Kris Cruise: Stryker got greedy after he connected with his last high risk attempt. This time, he gets nothing!
Stephy Auger: get up, Stryker! Don’t let him back into this match!
Stryker continues to howl in pain while he holds his right leg. Karma slowly turns over on all fours before getting back to a vertical base. Once Stryker picks himself back up and turns him around, Karma scoops him up from the side before delivering a backbreaker. Instead of letting Stryker hit the mat, Karma pulls him up off his knee, heads towards the side of the ring and tosses him through the ropes and to the floor! When Stryker starts to pull himself up using the edge of the apron, Karma turns and heads into the far ropes. When he comes back, the crowd cheers when he flattens Stryker with This Is For The Front Row! Karma pulls up Stryker before rolling him back inside. He then rolls back in, picks up Stryker and whips him into the ropes. When Stryker returns, the crowd cheers when Karma knocks him down with Gimme Shelter (pop-up lariat)! He makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Stryker gets his shoulder up.
Karma picks up Stryker and goes for an irish whip. But Stryker reverses, sending him into the corner. Stryker rushes in to attack when Karma knocks him down with the Kodak Moment (rope-assisted corner dropkick)! Karma then climbs up onto the middle ropes, jumps off and nails Stryker with a diving fist drop! He then pulls Stryker back up before sending him into the ropes. When Stryker returns, Karma lifts him up, turns and throws him down with a spinebuster! Instead of making the cover, Karma circles Stryker while delivering a Garvin Stomp to each limp. Karma stomps before delivering several stomps to the left arm. He then pulls Stryker back up, hoos the arm and throws him back down with Dynamite Karma (hammerlock suplex).
Kris Cruise: Karma’s feeling it now, Stephy! Stryker could be moments away from experiencing some Hard Times...
ONE!
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TWO!
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Stryker gets his right arm up.
Karma picks up Stryker before sending him back into the ropes. When Stryker returns, he sees Karma setting up for a back body drop. So he stops and counters with a kick to the face. Once Karma is knocked upright, Stryker knocks him down with a knee with a step-up enzuigiri. The boos continue as Stryker heads back into the ropes. When he returns, he hits Karma with a spiking hurricanrana. While Karma is sprawled out on the mat, Stryker heads back out onto the apron before starting to climb the turnbuckles. As soon as Stryker gets one foot on the top turnbuckle, the crowd explodes with cheers after Karma runs over, runs up the ropes, grabs Stryker and throws him down with an arm drag off the top turnbuckle! Karma pulls up Stryker and hits him with three left jabs. Karma immediately throws out a right hook to complete Sugar Ray Karma. The crowd gasps, then boos when Stryker ducks and counters with the Insomniac’s Dream (Crossface Chickenwing Suplex)! While Karma is down, Stryker steps back out onto the apron. He then walks along the apron before climbing to the top turnbuckle. He crouches down as he waits impatiently for Karma to get back once. As Karma begins to get back to his feet, Stryker slowly rises to a standing position. He then leaps off before knocking Karma down with a missile dropkick to the back of the head! The boos continue as Stryker picks up Karma and whips him into the ropes. When Karma returns, Stryker throws him down hard with One in a Lifetime (pop-up spinebuster)! He makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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THREE!
The crowd erupts with boos when “Watch Me Burn” blares throughout the arena.
J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this bout… BRIAN STRYKER!
The boos continue as Stryker gets his arm raised in victory. Stryker slips to the outside before heading up the ramp with his arms raised.
Kris Cruise: Brian Stryker pulls off the upset here tonight and defeats Johnny Karma! What a statement by Stryker here in early 2019!
Stephy Auger: Brian Stryker just let everyone know that he isn’t messing around here in 2019! He isn’t playing games. He’s playing for keeps and he’s here to get what he feels is his and that’s that Pride Championship.
Once the match is finished Karma doesn’t leave the ring, however, instead he spends a few seconds sitting on the mat where he wipes the sweat off his face with an almost blank look on his face, a look that doesn't change until the crowd rally him with a round of applause
Kris Cruise: A hard fought contest between two of Vertigo’s newest stars there, Stephy.
Stephy Auger: That draft brought some new blood over here, and the future is looking bright.
Kris Cruise: But now it looks like Johnny Karma has something to say.
Snapping out of it, Karma looks over towards J.A. Aldridge and gestures for a microphone, and once he receives it he gets to his feet and takes a few deep breaths as he prepares to speak
Johnny Karma: I don’t think I need to remind anyone of this, but it needs to be said: this time last year I was walking down that ramp with the world title on my shoulder and not only did I have the entire roster looking at me as
the guy to beat, I had two General Managers battling each other to sign me to their brands.
Pausing for a moment, all while Cherry looks on from outside the ring wondering what’s going through his head, Karma shakes his head before he continues
Johnny Karma: Yet come the end of the year, not only had I lost that title, but I failed to make a dent in the Frontier Lion’s Cup and I couldn’t even get a match in my hometown at
Final Frontier. It was like I went from being on top of the world to falling off it in less than a year, and that got me thinking. You see I remember the last time there wasn’t room for me at
Final Frontier well, and I’m sure plenty of other people remember it to. Back then I said I needed to change something, and that’s exactly what I did when I decided that I was done with the win-at-all-costs mentality that might give success in the short term but in the long-term makes you little more than shlaym. And you know what? No matter what so many people have told me, it
worked. But now it isn't something comparatively small I need to change, now I need to do something big.
Stephy Auger: He’s certainly been brought crashing back to Earth, Cruise. Maybe losing to Logan Alexander in the first round of the Frontier Lions Cup was too much for him…
Kris Cruise: I’m not sure what Karma means, but here comes Cherry Baum to get some answers from him.
Karma takes a moment to mull over what he’s going to say, which causes Cherry to enter the ring with a mic of her own
Cherry Baum: J-K, what are you doing?
Lowering the mic, Karma has a few words with Cherry to assure her that he knows what he’s doing, although she doesn’t look 100% convinced as Karma begins to speak once more
Johnny Karma: Because of this I have made a decision: if I’m not champion by the time
Final Frontier wraps up, I won’t be walking out here on the first show of 2020 because I’m done.
An audible gasp echoes throughout the FedEx Forum as the crowd can’t believe what they just heard, and neither can the commentators as they appear to be dumbstruck by Karma’s proclamation
Johnny Karma: If I have to tell myself to walk away if I can’t become champion once again then that’s not just what I have to do, it’s what I
need to do because it's better to leave everything I have in the ring to prove I still have it than it is to go through the motions and find myself watching
Final Frontier once again without being part of the show.
Kris Cruise: Done?! Johnny Karma laying down an ultimatum for himself here tonight!
Stephy Auger: Maybe that loss hit him harder than I even thought!
I THINK YOU’VE GOT A LOW SELF OPINION MAN
I SEE YOU STANDING ALL BY YOURSELF
Kris Cruise: Oh great...
The FedEx Forum erupts into a chorus of boos as Dom Harter makes a second unwanted appearance tonight. Not that you’d know it from his reaction; Harter throws his arms out to his side as if he’s basking in their glow, but the crowd keep booing. A few fans even recoiling as Harter tries give them a high five - except for the rattiest looking of the ring rats, who seems drawn to the Tenacious Little Bastard.
In the ring, however, Johnny and Cherry don’t look impressed by the arrival of the Grand Slam winner. Karma’s leaning on the top rope, staring out down the aisle at Harter, who stops at the top of the ramp. That trademark crooked grin on his face as he adjusts his leather jacket, making sure the ‘Harters Angels’ t-shirt is clearly visible underneath.
Stephy Auger: Just when you thought this moment couldn’t get any better, Cruise, here comes Dom Harter!
Kris Cruise: You’re really reading the minds of all the fans, Stephy. He’s just here to rub it in, I’m sure. Take some measure of joy from Johnny Karma’s announcement.
The crowd finally quietens down as Dom raises the microphone to his mouth.
Dom Harter: Did I hear that right? I hope I didn’t, but I mean it sure sounded like the
great Johnny Karma was trying to weasel his way out of FGA…
The Tennessee fans boo again, but Karma remains calm and impassive in the ring, not rising to the bait despite Cherry’s protests.
Dom Harter: It sounded to me like the
modern legend, Johnny Karma can’t accept that his career has experienced a dip. And now he wants out. He wants to tuck tail and run. But, for some reason, he also wants to fade away instead of burn out. He wants to toil in misery for a year, and suffer through this
plague for another year…
Again, the crowd boo, but Dom’s ready for them as he starts to walk down the aisle.
Dom Harter: Don’t blame me, that’s what Izzy called you!
But that just earns him a “Shut Up Dom” chant. Cherry seems to like the chant, but not as much as Dom himself; the crooked grin grows wider as he moves towards the ring, his eyes locked on Johnny Karma as the two former world champions meet face to face for the first time in over a year.
Kris Cruise: The fans letting Dom know what they think right now. But what does he expect when he’s out here pouring salt in the wound?
Stephy Auger: Your first mistake is thinking he cares what they think, Cruise. But he’s spitting truths here, and neither Johnny Karma nor the fans appreciate that.
Dom Harter: I don’t blame you, Johnny. I’d be ashamed of not making it into the Frontier Lions Cup as well. Hell, I’d be ashamed if I didn’t make it out of the quarter finals! But, personally, I never let such a thing get me down. I never let such a thing defeat me, Johnny...and neither should you!
By this time Dom has reached the bottom of the aisle and has climbed up the steel steps, pausing his speech only to step through the ropes. The crowd pop in excitement at the sight of Johnny Karma and Dom Harter in the same ring again, the two former world champions standing toe-to-toe in the center of the ring. Harter still with that crooked grin on his face, while Johnny Karma remains calm.
Dom Harter: So it’s a good thing I’m here to offer you an alternative. Because you need help. You need
my help, Johnny. You see, I’ve got a reputation around these parts - around the world, really! I’ve got a reputation of being a
STAAAAAARRRRRmaker...I’ve elevated people to levels they previously thought unattainable. I’ve trained champions and future legends. Even my
cumbuckets have experienced more success than half the wrestlers around today can even dream of having. Because I have what it takes to make it into the FGA Hall of Fame, and I achieved that by never giving up, Johnny.
Karma doesn’t appreciate the finger prodding his chest though, and swats Dom’s hand away. Harter just smirks though.
Dom Harter: You see, Johnny, recently - because of drafts and wanting to f*ck over Malcolm Drake - we in The New Murder have found ourselves having some
vacancies. And we’ve found ourselves needing a replacement for one of our stars. Someone who was on the brink of making history. And that, my dear boy, is where you come in!
Stephy Auger: Is he saying what I think he’s saying?
Dom Harter: You see, earlier tonight Annie took that first step towards becoming the first ever three-time FGA Mid-Atlantic Legacy champion! Chris Bond was one step away from becoming a three-time FGA Pride champion - just like you - before he unfortunately retired. As for me? Well, I’m a former two-time FGA World champion already. So join us, Johnny…
Dom turns his head in the direction of Cherry Baum, scanning her up and down before he winks.
Dom Harter: ...you can come too, Cherry. And together we’ll have a stranglehold over Vertigo. The three of us can take all three titles for ourselves, and together, there’ll be nothing anybody can do to stop us!
Dom extends his hand out to Johnny Karma, and the crowd immediately begin to boo again.
Kris Cruise: Oh come on, does Dom Harter really think that Johnny Karma would join The New Murder?
Stephy Auger: Of course he would, Cruise! Karma has to know a good thing when he sees it. He can’t look a gift horse in the mouth. This is his way out of that black hole. Plus, he was like them once upon a time.
Kris Cruise: That was a lifetime ago. Johnny Karma is a man of integrity now, a man of honor.
Stephy Auger: You might as well be describing Dom, to be honest.
At first Karma looks at Harter in much the same way that somebody would look at somebody who had just eaten a baby seal alive in front of them, but then he takes pause as he considers what Harter said.
Johnny Karma: You know, Dom, you made some
interesting points in your spiel. After all, what would F
WA be without Dom Harter and the various combinations that made up The Murder? So as you put it like that…
Karma makes to shake Harter’s hand, with Harter leaning in to accept - right up until Karma pulls his hand away and looks at Harter like he’s an idiot
Johnny Karma: ...my answer is a firm
NO.
Karma swaps the mic into the hand he offered Harter to make it even more obvious he has no intention of shaking his hand. The grin disappears from Dom’s face as he glares at Karma from beneath a furrowed brow.
Johnny Karma: Are you some kind of bolvan? Anyone with a basic grasp of the English language who was paying attention to what I said would have picked up on what I was saying, yet somehow you heard that as me volunteering to play second fiddle to you, a proposition I’m sure Annie will be
thrilled to hear as you break it to her you were planning on giving her a demotion.
Karma looks like he's finished, but then he remembers another detail Harter overlooked
Johnny Karma: Also, in case it slipped your mind, the last time it was just the two of us standing in front of each other in the ring not only did I walk down the ramp with the title over my shoulder - I walked right back up there with the title over my shoulder when the match was done while you were still in the ring trying to come to your senses, almost as if you’d taken the point of my elbow to the top of your skull a moment or two earlier. Funny how that slipped your mind, huh?
There’s a cheer from the crowd as Karma reminds them all of his reign as the Undisputed World Champion, but Dom doesn’t look amused. His fingers wrapped around the microphone as he raises it back to his lips.
Dom Harter: Remembering what’s convenient to you, huh?
Think Johnny! Think hard. Try and remember all the details about what happened back then. Like...the match three months later, when The New Murder beat you and your friends in an eight man tag match. Like what happened to the people who opposed The New Murder…
Harter takes a step forward, his mood souring further as Karma remains defiant in the face of adversity.
Dom Harter: ...because we remember. And we’ll remember those who stand against us as we rise to power once more.
With that, Harter starts to back away, not taking his eyes off Karma until it’s time to step out through the ropes. “When The Levee Breaks” starts up again as Johnny and Cherry stand tall in the center of the ring, while Dom strides purposefully back up the aisle and passes through the curtain without a second glance at the ring.
• Commercial Break •
