Afterburn for Vertigo E70

[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 Frontier+.

[sasso]

We catch handheld cellphone video footage of the Mid-Atlantic Champion Piper Lennon walking through downtown Colorado Springs, a tote bag carrying her belongings including the belt slung around her left shoulder, trademark Polaroid dangling around her neck and a burrito in her free hand that's not carrying the phone.

Piper Lennon: Hey Peachy, sup?

She opens, flashing a toothy smile before taking a bite of her food.

Piper Lennon: Hope you like the prethent I leff foh you.

After swallowing, her speech is a little easier to make out.

Piper Lennon: See, I thought about our little run-in a while back and it got pretty obvious what was going on-- You were flirting!

A giggle.

Piper Lennon: Not with me of course, let's not make this weird here, you were flirting with my new shiny boo. Could just practically feel the heat coming off your stinky swamp-person loins. Soooo, being the people person I am, I paid a little visit and I had my boo send notification-- steel to skull style-- that your advances have been noticed and we're ready to dance.

She lets a beat skip.

Piper Lennon: Plus y'know, if you're gonna try to commit to this kind of relationship the dead weight had to get cast aside, so that was kind of a two gifts in one type of deal.

After a shrug of the shoulders, she perks back up.

Piper Lennon: Anyhoo, I didn't really stick around to catch the rest of the show since I mean ... I wasn't on it so it sounded pretty boring. But I really, really, hope you liked it! I've got a burrito to finish, but let me know what you thought-- toodles!

[Susan Kent]

As team Kent is leaving Jessie comes running over.

Jessie: Great win tonight for you and Delikado.

Susan: Thanks.

Jessie: And I don't know if you're aware, but it was announced during your match that a All-Star Showdown VIII, there will be a triple threat match tag match for the United States tag team titles, Fujiko/Izzy, Silk/cyanide and you guys.

Kendra: And who announced this.

Jessie: Kris Cruise

Kendra: well if an announcer said it it must be true right, we won't believe that until Jenevieve Geroux tells us herself in person, now if you will excuse us, we have better places to be.

[Deleted]

Dom Harter:And just like that…

His voice booms throughout the backstage area as four of the New Murder, Dom Harter, Annie Zellor, Mary-Jane McCracken, and Fenrys, are all stanidng together; the Seattle Pro tag team titles on the shoulders of the champions as they stand in the center of the group, with MJ off to Annie’s left, and Fenrys on Dom’s right. Three of them appear to be all smiles - with the exception of Fenrys, who still has his back up about something or other. He won’t say what though.

Dom Harter: ...without any help whatsoever...the Tenacious Wrecking Crew prove once again why we’re the greatest! An emphatic victory over, not only a former FGA World Champion. But also a former FGA World Tag Team Champion!

Fenrys perks up, glancing at Dom with a quizzical look on his...masked face. But Dom just shrugs as he looks over his shoulder.

Dom Harter: I know, I’d almost forgotten about that too. But with FrontierCon coming up and my trivia title to retain, I’ve been brushing up on my history. History, like the first time ever that these Seattle Pro tag team titles have been defended here in FGA, and what better way to achieve such a moment than to pin Ricky Valero in the middle of that ring?

Annie Zellor: Maybe pinning Evan…

She chimes in, prompting Dom to do a double take.

Annie Zellor: I’m just saying!

Dom Harter: All in due time. You see, I know what some of you watching this are thinking. You wanna know if this evens up the score between me and Evan. If this victory over him somehow makes up for him robbing me of a World title shot back at the start of the year. And to you I say…

Fenrys: N—

The masked man tries to answer the question, only to get cut off again.

Dom Harter: ...why weren’t you listening earlier in the evening?! No, this doesn’t make us even, Evan. We’re far from even! You stole from me, Evan Envi. You screwed me over, and one way or another I’m taking my pound of flesh from you. But tonight? This wasn’t it…

His mood worsens at the constant mention of Evan’s name - even if he is saying it himself! As Harter turns away from the camera, his hands on his hips in frustration, Annie steps forward so that she’s front and center. She shifts the belt from one shoulder to the other, almost as if she’s wanting to draw attention to her one remaining title...damn Lucie Callaway and Brytain Rollins. But Annie smirks to herself, trying to look on the bright side of Kazu Hirano winning yet another match here in FGA as she readies herself to speak.

Annie Zellor: Evan’s gonna get what he deserves sooner or later. ‘Cause, lets face it, what he did back at Final Frontier was just plain evil! And what he did after?

She shakes her head in disappointment.

Annie Zellor: Shame on you, Evan. And you know who else should be asdhamed of themselves?

Mary-Jane McCracken: Trevor Philips!

‘The Best Valet In The Biz’ pipes up, and Annie nods her head in agreement.

Annie Zellor: Yup. Like, seriously Trevor, was I asking too much of you? All I needed you to do was beat Kazu Hirano. Who can’t do that?!

Fenrys glances over with his mouth agape because, you know, he lost to Kazu Hirano! But Annie doesn’t pay attention to that fact, or even to Fenrys’s reaction at all. At the back, Dom can be seen stifling his laughter before he turns back to the camera, recomposing himself; a scowl plastered on his face as Annie continues.

Annie Zellor: Seriously. If I’ve gotta do it myself then, maybe, I suppose I could take some time outta my schedule to put that gladhanding little suck up in his place. And when I do, you can goo goo g’joob your butt right to the back of the line, Kazu! ‘Cause you’re not jumping ahead of me to no title shots!

She shifts the belt again, this time back to the other shoulder. It takes a moment for her to speak again - maybe Annie said too much, or revealed her own insecurities after that rumble performance...after that loss to Marlon Cure a few months ago...the loss of her Chicago Way title over in Millennium. Her back is still healing from falling through that flaming table. But it’s not as bad as the hell she went through in Underground; her Bloodlust title being ripped from her grasp by Brytain and the interference of Project Venom, right when it looked like Annie was set to retain the title. Maybe she can cling to that victory over the now Mid-Atlantic Legacy champion...

Annie Zellor: ...Is that what you want, Kazu? A real challenge? ‘Cause if you want it, I’m right here, come and get it!

Dom Harter: But for now, we remain the Seattle Pro Tag Team Champions. Triumphant in the face of adversity tonight. And soon - very soon - we’ll be back in our rightful places atop this mountain. And Evan, Kazu, you’re going to learn that lesson the hard way, fellas…

Fenrys: Ye—

He starts, but stops himself as Fenrys notices the rest of his team mates already walking away. So he follows along, but not before stomping his foot in frustration as the scene ends.

[Smart Style]

Earlier this evening...

Once the previous match has wrapped up the action cuts backstage where we find Jessie Pederson standing in the interview area eagerly awaiting for her cue, and stood next to her is Mark Bisley giving her a look that implies he’s growing the tiniest bit impatient with having to wait for somebody to give Jessie her cue so he can speak...and yet the second Jessie is told she’s good to go his expression changes to one of someone doing a passable impression of somebody interested in what somebody else has to say

Jessie Pederson: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Broadmoor World Arena, and joining me at this time is Mark Bisley.

Bisley gives a nod, acknowledging that Jessie is talking...and the fact she’s going to have to actually ask a question at some point so he may as well let her get it out of the way

Jessie Pederson: Mark, as some people have noted, you were hoping to do great things in the Gold Rush Rumble and yet those didn’t come to pass.

For the briefest of moments Bisley’s expression changes to one of somebody considering walking out of the interview - or, more likely, ordering Jessie out of the interview so he can demonstrate what professionalism looks like

Jessie Pederson: So the question on everybody’s lips is what are your plans going forward, considering the next available opportunity to challenge for the FGA World Championship is in Marlon Cure’s hands?

Mark Bisley: That was a question, Jessie. A good one?

Rather than actually state his opinion, Bisley hesitates while waving his hand in an indecisive manner

Mark Bisley: ...but an answer, of course, is necessary as otherwise the people watching this at home will think that Frontier Grappling Arts has momentarily turned into a Samuel Beckett play. So to answer the question, Jessie, my plans remain unchanged: it is a matter of time before my ascent is mere inevitability, so while Marlon Cure can have his moment in the sun in the immediate future he will soon learn that it does not take long before the sun will set on his ever-so-brief moment in the spotlight, but that is perfectly acceptable as the sun needs to set before a glorious new dawn arrives.

With a remarkably condescending look, Bisley switches his attention from Jessie to those watching at home

Mark Bisley: I’m talking about myself, for those of you in the peanut gallery living in that PG-13 fantasy of Johnny Karma being that underdog you hope will finally get the girl - or, in his case, the title belt he so desperately craves but is getting further away from with each passing week.

Returning his attention to Jessie, Bisley decides he alone is more than enough participants for this conversation

Mark Bisley: You see, Jessie, just because only one person can win the Gold Rush Rumble that doesn’t automatically reset everybody’s position in the queue to zero, as the pecking order is exactly the same apart from the person who jumped the queue to stand at the top of it all because they were able to let the force of gravity do the hard part for them. So it is not like there is a couple of dozen people at the back of the line, there is a line of people squabbling amongst each other while I’m looking to step past each and every one of them, and that’s where Tyler Storm fits into the equation.

Now that Bisley is able to talk about his match, rather than the political manoeuvrings and game-playing that so many others are intent on using to get ahead, he seems so much more happier to discuss his element

Mark Bisley: The thing with Tyler Storm is he’s walking into our match wanting to impress, to give a good impression of himself, because while he does have a body of work elsewhere he has yet to establish himself in Frontier Grappling Arts and is looking to do that at the earliest opportunity, because while he may be the Tyler Champion of the World after his victory over Tyler Kingsley he now needs to show he can build on that win. On the other side of the ring, I’ll be looking to show that for all the experience that he has and the momentum that he has built up, I am simply that little bit better than Tyler Storm and I shall defeat him, reminding everybody of my quality while also having them ask how long it will be before they have to reward that quality with an opportunity to prove I can deliver when it counts.

Bisley is momentarily distracted by something out of shot, side-eying it for half a second before he continues

Mark Bisley: This is the difference between myself and Tyler Storm: he is looking to prove he belongs, and if he makes a good showing this evening he will, but I am looking to once again prove that I…

Once more Bisley looks off to the side

Mark Bisley: If you will excuse me for a moment.

With no warning whatsoever, Bisley walks out of shot in the direction of whatever it is he is looking at that is out of shot...and a second or two later Bisley walks back into shot and looks at the cameraman like he’s not particularly good at his job

Mark Bisley: Excuse me, Mr Cameraman, but maybe it would be a good idea for you to follow where I am going with this.

After using his index finger to beckon the cameraman to follow him, Bisley walks down the hallway - and once we see where he is going we see Zack Gall and Dante Difranco standing in the hallway just a few feet away from where he was giving his interview, and Bisley is looking at them like they’re a pair of unruly kids sitting on his lawn

Mark Bisley: Excuse me, gentlemen, but could you not stand within my line of sight when I am giving an interview? Not only is it distracting, but as you have an entire backstage area to stand around in without being distracting the two of you are coming across as remarkably selfish.

The towering manager looks down at Bisley and then at his client, who’s wearing a tracksuit. They both let out a chuckle and mockingly make a gesture of moving “away”. Only after giving them his $0.02 does Bisley actually recognise who the two of them are.

Mark Bisley: However, if you are going to stand there, I do hope that you were paying attention to what I was saying about how important it is to demonstrate your quality when it matters.

Dante Difranco: We heard you, alright. Not that it matters that…

Difranco was quickly interrupted by Bisley who interjected himself by putting his right hand up and quickly doing a “zip it” motion before he speaks

Mark Bisley: Sorry, I should have made this more clear: I was talking to the person who offers something to this roster, not the dead…

Pausing mid-sentence, Bisley looks over to Difranco and points at him.

Mark Bisley: ...weight.

Gall motions as to confront Bisley, but Difranco simply puts his hand across his client’s chest stopping him from getting physical, at least for now. A smirk appears on the usually stoic manager and he speaks, softly but with a stern tone in his voice.

Dante Difranco: Strong words on your part, Mr. Bisley. I respect your palle, because you have to have them in order to say that to my face and to Gall’s face. Yet, while I admire your guts, I believe you’re foolish to think I’m just dead weight for Gall; for as you see, unlike your former partner, I don’t actually interject myself in Gall’s affairs, only when necessary. Still, you might believe what you want to believe, Mr. Bisley.

Mark Bisley: That’s strange, because I could’ve sworn I heard you interjecting yourself in Mr. Gall’s affairs just now.

Bisley looks over to Gall, with a “Seriously?” look on his face, before talking to Gall as if Difranco isn’t even there

Mark Bisley: Here’s the thing, Zack Gall, I know a thing or two about trying to rise up the ranks, and more importantly I know what it's like to try and rise only to find your momentum being sapped by an anchor preventing you from reaching the heights you know you can reach all by yourself as you don’t have to constantly worry about what somebody else wants or, more likely than not, how that other person will mess up your plans by doing something that costs you the match.

Clearing his throat, Bisley once again attempts to pull rank

Mark Bisley: None of which excuses the pair of you from distracting me, by the way. Is that right, Jessie Pedersen?

The camera turns to reveal Jessie pedersen standing a few feet away, caught by surprise that Bisley actually remembered she was there

Mark Bisley: So...where were we?

Difranco lets out a sigh, before giving Bisley a smirk.

Dante Difranco: I believe, you were telling the world how great you are and how high have you climbed. Yet, all I’ve seen from you so far is the fact that you let a lot of people jump over you. For all you’re saying, you don’t have something tangible to actually back your words. Without Majima, how relevant have you been?

Difranco gets a bit in Bisley’s face, looking down a bit to the wrestler as he continues talking.

Dante Difranco: My client has been an active wrestler for less time than you’ve been. He’s excused not to have a cabinet full of accolades; hell, you even drew number 30 at the Gold Rush Rumble and lasted less than my client did in his first try at the match. When it matters, Bisley, you have no direction… and direction, is what I provide my client… and if you have a shadow of a doubt of what I’m saying, why don’t you and my client get in the ring and you, with your own two hands, prove… me… wrong.

At first Bisley appears to have been listening to what Difranco said...but then he clears his throat and looks to Gall, only to look back to Gall

Mark Bisley: Okay then, if the organ grinder has decided to take the night off and let the monkey do all the work, let me point out one important difference in the scenarios you are discussing which you quite conveniently forgot to mention, which I am sure was just a coincidence: I had every person who was in the ring at the time band together to ensure I was removed from the equation, while your mute friend Mr Gall was eliminated without a second’s thought from the person who happened to remove him from the equation, and if I recall correctly he was eliminated almost by accident as if he had been standing not two feet away from where he was he would have remained in the match. In other words, I was identified as a threat - while the person who eliminated your silent partner likely did not even identify him at all before, during or after his elimination. But other than those minor differences, that was a solid take on what happened in the match.

Bisley gives Difranco a golf clap for his efforts

Dante Difranco: My friend, as I said, you couldn’t finish the job. I just suggest you shut me up by accepting a match with my client. Other than that… go end your ego trip with Mrs. Pederson, maybe she’ll buy what you’re saying.

Mark Bisley: Oh please, your “client” didn’t even reach the interview stage, so it's not as if you’re in any position to say who could or could not…

Jessie Pederson: Pardon me for interrupting, Dante, but did you just lay out a challenge?

Difranco smiles at the interviewer and then uttered a simple word.

Dante Difranco: Yes!

He stared at Bisley before talking once more.

Dante Difranco: The ball is in your court, Mr. Bisley… shut me up, if you can.

After that, Difranco tapped his client’s shoulder and walked away, leaving Bisley and Pederson on the frame, with Bisley remaining silent for a moment as Jessie patiently looks in his direction as she awaits a response and/or anything that will end the chunk of dead air happening right now, that is until Bisley turns his head in her direction

Mark Bisley: Sorry about that, Ms. Pedersen, I thought somebody would be standing next to me talking on my behalf without letting me get a word in edgeways while issuing challenges on my behalf. But since that isn't the case, I guess I had best clarify: yes, I am happy to silence Zack Gall...but that doesn't seem to be much of an issue, given his manager has already done just that, does it?

With a weary shake of the head, no doubt inspired by his somehow having a conversation with everyone other than the person he was challenged to fight, Bisley walks past Jessie without saying another word

[Deleted]

Peaches: I shouldn’t be doin’ this right now…

She manages to say between her rapid breaths as Peaches, staring into the front camera of her cell phone, is sitting on a bench in front of a hedgerow. The bags under her eyes indicate a lack of sleep, as does the unkempt hair.

Peaches: But here I am. An’ why? Why am I out here talkin’ to y’all on my cell phone when I should be in there—

Peaches gestures over her shoulder, presumably to the hospital behind her.

Peaches: —sittin’ with my husband. An’ makin’ sure he’s good an’ in the clear. Well...it’s ‘cause I just got a notification. Piper Lennon has uploaded a video...Piper Lennon has commented on what happened at Vertigo last night…

Her lips are pressed tightly together, her nose scrunched up as that video plays over and over again in Peaches’s mind. Between eating that damn burrito and the grossly mischaracterized statements about what had previously occurred between the two of them.

Peaches: An’ I ain’t need to know that. Not now—not then! Not when my husband was with the doctors, makin’ sure he ain’t injured too badly after that act of cowardice...you li’l chickenshit, Piper. An’ you’re gonna tell us that you did that—that you attacked my husband!—‘cause you thought I wanted the FGA Mid-Atlantic Legacy title?

Her voice is a blend of anger and incredulity as she speaks, trying not to raise her voice in case she draws attention to herself. But she’s shaking. Visibly shaking as she recalls the words Piper used in that video promo…

Peaches: ...you called Dan deadweight?! An’ I ain’t even care ‘bout the swamp loins thing. I ain’t even care that you talked with your mouth full like some kinda pig! Nah, they ain’t even register, Piper…but the fact you tried to injure Dan. That you attacked my husband ‘cause you wanted to send some kinda message to me...that crossed the line! An’ I swear, Piper—I SWEAR—the next time I see you there’s gonna be hell to pay…

The recording finishes abruptly, leaving the lasting image of a scowling Peaches on screen...