All-Star Showdown VIII: Night 1

[FGA Office]

[FGA Office]

And now, Vertigo and Flashpoint present...

The scene shifts to an aerial view of the Staples Center. We then slowly fade inside the Staples Center, where gold pyro shoots off from the stage in various patterns. Cheers and applause come from the capacity crowd as we switch to a panning shot of the fans in the arena. Various signs supporting their favorites or trash talking the villains are shown. We finally head to the ringside area, where

Kris Cruise: Welcome, everyone, to STAPLES CENTER! Welcome to sunny LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA! Welcome, everyone, to ALL… STAR… SHOWDOWN… EIGHT!!!! Hello, everyone, I’m Kris Cruise and joining me as always is my colleague, Stephy Auger! Tonight, the Vertigo brand presents to you Night One of this very special two night event.!Live and on Pay Per View, All-Star Showdown is coming to you once again! This is the eight installment, Stephy. It might just turn out to be the best!

Stephy Auger: Oh it will be the best because tonight, Cruise, a new champion will be crowned and his name… is King!

Kris Cruise: We’ll get to that in just a moment. Up and down the card, we’ve got a solid night of action. But let’s take a look up towards the top. In the Pride Championship match, it will be Seth Iser, Wrestling’s Greatest Mind, defending his Pride Championship against a man that he knows very well, Tyler Storm!

Stephy Auger: Since the moment they walked through those doors here in FGA, they’ve been linked in some way, shape or from! Seth Iser, who is well on his way to proving himself as the greatest Pride Champion ever, will have the chance to deny Tyler Storm with the whole world watching. Tyler Storm lost his shot at the Pride Championship at this very event last year, you know. I’ve got a funny feeling that history will repeat itself once again.

Kris Cruise: Greatest Pride Champion ever? I’m sure the likes of Fujiko Mine, Tony Carmine and Chris Madison would have something to say about that. To your point on Tyler Storm, Tyler had to endure a very physical Bets of Five series against Brian Stryker just to get this title shot. I can tell you that Storm isn’t leaving this arena empty handed! But that’s not all! We’ve got another high profile match on the card as Johnny Karma goes one on one with a man that likes to call himself a good guy even though he’s anything but, Ricky Valero!

Stephy Auger: Ricky Valero is a good guy. He’s a great guy. He is The Franchise, Cruise and don’t you forget it! This all started when Johnny Karma, being as sensitive as he is, couldn’t take some friendly advice from a fellow vet. Karma cost Ricky and Evan Envi the Seattle Pro Tag Team Titles. The Good Guys would be holding those belts right now if it weren't for him. Tonight, Valero will get his revenge on Karma and will send him once step closer to the door.

Kris Cruise: Johnny Karma made it a point at the top of the year that if he was not a top champion here by the end of 2019, he’s leaving! He’s hanging it up! Ricky Valero would love for nothing more than to expedite Karma’s possible departure. But I’m sure Karma will have something to say about that here tonight. Speaking of The Good Guys, Evan Envi will find himself going toe to toe with Dom Harter inside the squared circle. How do you see things faring between the Chief and The Tenacious Little Bastard?

Stephy Auger: Dom Harter is laser focused. He’s been holding a grudge against Envi since the winter. Not only did Envi eliminate Harter from the Frontier Lions Cup - denying Harter of one of the few accolades here that he hasn’t won - but to make matters worse, he passed over giving Harter a shot in favor of Fujiko Mine. We saw how well that decision turned out for the Chief. Tonight, Harter is making it a point to pick up where he left off last time and put Envi down for the count.

Kris Cruise: It was an attack by Harter on the last Vertigo that left Envi with a broken nose. Envi’s been cleared to compete here tonight. But like you mentioned, Stephy. There’s an aggression to Harter that I haven’t seen before. He is bound and determined to get back what he feels is “his”. Finally, our main event. The 2018 Wrestler of the Year! The Apex Goddess herself, Fujiko Mine, defends her championship against the winner of the 2019 Gold Rush Rumble, Marlon Cure! Cure has skyrocketed up the ranks over the last year. But Cure is by no means a young buck.

Stephy Auger: He isn’t a new jack by any means. Cure is a battle hardened-vet that has been on his grind for years. This is what it’s been all for. For this very moment right here. 2018 Rey del Aire? Year End Awards? The Gold Rush Rumble? That was just the start. Tonight will be Cure’s crowning achievement. Tonight, Marlon Cure takes his place on the throne after he overthrows the Apex Goddess!

Kris Cruise: Cure has been hard at work, but so has Fujiko Mine! This is a Triple Crown winner we’re talking about here. A Grand Slam winner! She went through wars in there with many of FGA’s best, both past and present, to end up as World Champion. She’s not giving up the title that quickly. Not over her dead body! Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve got a solid night of action in store for you. But right now, we’re going to send it to the back real quick for some pre-recorded comments...

[FGA Office]

Previously Recorded…

Annie Zellor: And then when I’ve beaten Kazu…again…and if Piper defends her title, then, like, I can go right back to my quest to becoming the greatest ever Mid-Atlantic Legacy champion in FGA history!

Mary-Jane McCracken: But what if Peaches beats Piper, then what?

The pair are walking through the corridors of the Staples Center, with a cameraman in tow, ahead of the show later tonight. Neither are dressed ready for action though; Annie has her Blvck sweats on, along with one of her own ‘Back Where She Belongs’ t-shirts, while MJ can be seen wearing jean shorts and a black ‘Baywatch’ vest top. But both have coffees in their hands, and gear bags in the other as they’re accosted by Spencer Burke.

Spencer Burke: Annie, I was wondering if I could get a word with you befo–

But Annie holds up her hand to Spencer as she takes a sip from her coffee, cutting him off as she turns back to Mary-Jane.

Annie Zellor: If Peaches beats Piper, then she doesn’t get a rematch and I’ll still be ahead of her. So, yeah, win/win. Now, what were you gonna say, Spence?

Spencer Burke: Well tonight you’re going one-on-one with Kazu Hirano – a man you seem to have taken a dislike to since his arrival he–

Annie Zellor: Whoa, whoa, watch what you say, Spence. Ok, I haven’t just taken a dislike to Kaz–and definitely not for no reason like you were about to suggest!

Spencer Burke: I wasn’t–

Annie Zellor: No, see, Kaz waltzes in here and he picks up a couple of wins over Fenrys and that, uh, Trevor Philips guys and suddenly he gets all high and mighty. And now, like, he’s got a real ego on him–even after I pinned him two weeks ago in that tag match.

Mary-Jane McCracken: Such an ego.

MJ chimes in, prompting Annie to nod in agreement.

Annie Zellor: I know right. But tonight, Spence, he’s got a real challenge ahead of him. And Kaz thinks he’s ready for this. He thinks he’s gonna beat me and move on to something bigger and better like the Mid-Atlantic Legacy or Pride titles–but he’s wrong!

Spencer Burke: Well that brings me on to my question. Tonight sees Marlon Cure challenging for the FGA World Championship–

But he doesn’t get the chance to finish that sentence.

Annie Zellor: Why are you asking me about Marlon Cure?!

Spencer Burke: It’s jus–

Annie Zellor: Why?! ‘Cause he beat me four or five months ago?

Spencer Burke: Yes, an–

Annie Zellor: And now he’s challenging for the FGA World Championship on the same pay-per-view where I’m practically in the opening contest? And does that bother me?! Is that what you wanna know, Spence?

Her tone is growing angrier with each passing word, her speech getting faster and more high pitched as she goes until Annie is basically in the face of Spencer Burke. But the interviewer holds his ground, hoping that none of The New Murder are about to risk a suspension for attacking a staff member. He takes a deep breath in before speaking again.

Spencer Burke: Wel–

Annie Zellor: Does it look like that bothers me, Spence?!

He nods nervously.

Annie Zellor: OH SCREW YOU!

She yells, throwing her coffee down on the floor at Spencer’s feet! It practically explodes on impact, sending the warm liquid spraying everywhere and ensuring Spencer is going to need to change his pants before the show begins. Mary-Jane jumps back to try and evade the coffee, but still manages to get splashed as Annie continues ranting.

Annie Zellor: Just ‘cause he beat me, and stopped me from becoming a three-time FGA Mid-Atlantic Legacy champion…and just ’cause he eliminated me from the Gold Rush Rumble and stopped me from challenging for the FGA World Championship…and just ‘cause now he, like, has a chance to walk outta here with the title belt I’ve wanted for five years! It doesn’t mean that’s gonna happen again…come on, MJ.

On that note, Annie grabs her valet by the wrist and walks away in a hurry, leaving a coffee-stained Spencer Burke behind with maybe more information than he hoped for. He looks to the camera, dumbfounded by what just transpired, as the show cuts elsewhere.

[FGA Office]

Backstage in the locker room area we find the towering figure of Dante Difranco sitting on a folding chair. Wearing an all black suit he looks ominous and menacing in the middle of the room. Holding his hands in front of him, against his thighs; his head hanging low; his breathing slow and methodical. Behind him, his client, Zack “The Dragon” Gall shadows some punches and kicks. The sound his movements make against the air filling up the room is enough to keep time, one combination of punches and kicks, about half a minute. The motion continues for about two minutes, maybe three; Dante breathing, Gall getting ready for his match against Mark Bisley. Finally, Difranco gets his head up and looks directly to the camera.

Dante Difranco: The less hyped up match across both nights, might actually just be the best… and I don’t say that because my client, Zack Gall, is involved in said match; I’m not saying that because I have a horse in the race… I’m saying that because I mean it. While other matches across both nights of All Star Showdown VIII have esso; have the attention of the masses, have had a lot of build up tension and this is just a blow off… my clients match is just a teaser.

Difranco smirks as Gall continues his routine behind him.

Dante Difranco: A teaser of what my client can do inside that ring against a talent of the calibre of Mr. Bisley. Sure, he and I might not see eye to eye. He might think things that are… quite frankly… untrue. But even I have to admit that the man knows how to put up a fight… but so does Gall. You see, to me this match is not just a matter of if Mr. Bisley has what it takes to take down Gall and shut my mouth as he so desires… but also a matter of who has what it takes to elevate their game to the next level. I’m certain all of you watching at home are acquainted with Bisley’s accolades; and the only reason I’m bringing them up is because they show that Bisley knows what he’s doing… or at least… he thinks he knows.

Gall throws a spinning heel kick behind Difranco. The sole of his boot almost hit Difranco on the back of his head, but ultimately it didn’t… Difranco didn’t even flinch.

Dante Difranco: He thinks I’m dead weight for Gall… he thinks Gall doesn’t need me and that he should just… talk. I’m certain Bisley sees himself reflected in Gall. Gall is the mirror of what Bisley wants to be and that’s why he tries to provoke a reaction from my client and not from me. He wants my client to leave me behind; just as he did his partner. He might think that anyone who doesn’t do things on their own is just… not good enough. But that, while a tantalizing view on things… is just that… a point of view. Sure, I know Gall might be able to pick up a microphone and spew a few words full of vile and many would applaud him on twitter and see him as this messiah of charisma… but he and I know better. He provides the fight… I provide the bark… Tonight, Mr. Bisley will have to prove he has the bite behind the bark… and so far, his bite has left a lot to be desired.

Gall finishes up and stands behind Difranco who continues talking.

Dante Difranco: Then, why do I believe the first match in All Star Showdown VIII, might just so happen to be the best match? That’s a pretty good question. I guess, I have faith in Mr. Bisley. Faith in his ability to step his game up and provide, not only a show for the ages… but a fight for the moment. I have faith that his bark will be followed by a powerful bite and that my client will find himself in a precarious position… and then… just when everything seems bleak… just when Bisley might find himself on the verge of victory… He’ll find out why I’m so valuable as a piece of Gall’s game… and it’ll be at that moment when Bisley will look up towards the heavens and wish there was someone at his side, because the end…

Difranco stood up and put his left hand over Gall’s right shoulder as he spoke.

Dante Difranco: Rests on this man’s knee… Beware the D… B… K…

[FGA Office]

We cut to the backstage interview area where we find Jessie Pederson waiting for her cue, and when she’s given the nod by the cameraman she commences her planned interview segment

Jessie Pederson: Welcome back, everyone, where joining me at this time is the man who’ll be facing Zack Gall this evening: Mark Bisley.

With the introduction out of the way, the camera pans across to reveal Bisley standing in the interview area alongside Jessie, nodding amiably as she introduces him as he awaits the first question

Jessie Pederson: A few weeks ago you engaged in a war of words with Zack Gall and his manager Dante Difranco. With this in mind, what do you have to say about that?

Bisley nods once the question has been asked…but doesn’t respond, instead he looks to his right for someone who patently isn’t there and gestures in Jessie’s direction, remaining completely silent yet apparently nodding to points that nobody is making, which causes Jessie to wonder what’s going on

Jessie Pederson: O…kay, clearly I touched some kind of nerve there, but what about the match tonight? Are you feeling confident?

Once again Bisley appears to be listening…but then he gestures for somebody who still is not there to step in and field the question, while he takes out his phone to get in a quick game of Steppy Pants to pass the time as he’s clearly not doing anything important at this time

Jessie Pederson: …is this microphone working?

Without warning, Bisley springs to life

Mark Bisley: Oh, right, you were talking to me. Sorry, I thought I’d take a leaf out of Zack Gall’s book and have somebody speak for me, but then I remembered that I’m an adult and am perfectly capable of formulating sentences and don’t need to have somebody hold my hand because some big, bad person held a microphone in my direction.

Rolling his eyes, Bisley continues

Mark Bisley: Of course, no doubt his mouthpiece is trying to suggest his client “does his talking in the ring” or some such cliche, but that begs the question: if Dante can talk but not wrestle, while Zack Gall can wrestle but apparently has some kind of speech impediment, why not have the duo enter the Dynamic Duos this year? You never know, it might be entertaining to see Dante get tagged in and start talking his opponent’s ear off…for about four seconds, at which point he’s put down by a single offensive manoeuvre and that’s all she wrote.

Jessie Pederson: Don’t you think you’re taking Zack Gall lightly?

Mark Bisley: Lightly?

Bisley scoffs at the idea

Mark Bisley: Jessie, Jessie, Jessie…the whole problem is the fact that Zack Gall is taking me lightly, thinking I am beneath him to the point he can just have his cornerman speak for him as he’s doing more important things like…I don’t know, polishing his kickpads or something. He thinks that bringing up the Gold Rush Rumble means anything, even though as I made plain to him when his associate was running his mouth that I never saw him in the match as he’d long since been eliminated by somebody who didn’t even know or care that it was Zack Gall!!!! that he was tossing by the wayside, it was just a body that needed to be removed from the equation – so only a fool would think of comparing the situation of their feeble elimination to me having a significant percentage of the entire roster remove me from the match, because there’s a difference between being perceived as a threat and being perceived as a piece of trash that needs to be disposed of as soon as is beneficial. So if that’s what the two of them want to focus on, they need to focus on the fact nobody even remembers they were in the Gold Rush Rumble.

With a smirk crossing his face, Bisley raises a finger to indicate he hasn’t quite finished

Mark Bisley: However, what people might notice is that on a show with four titles are on the line, a show where there are high stakes matches between Evan Envi and Dom Harter or Ricky Valero and Johnny Karma, there is only one match that people will talk about tomorrow: my match, the one that didn’t get prominent placing on the card but grabbed the attention of everyone watching because they were witness to the top athlete in Frontier Grappling Arts doing what he does best – and he was doing at the expense of…of…

Bisley clicks his fingers a few times as he tries to remember his opponent’s name, causing Jessie to intervene

Jessie Pederson: Zack Gall?

Mark Bisley: That’s it, Zack Gall, the man who didn’t have a word to say to me when we were last face-to-face, but he won’t be needing Dante’s assistance to say the two words that will be the most important to him when it is time for the match to end: “I Submit” – because having your associate talk a good game on your behalf cannot and does not prepare you for being dismantled by a true expert, because that same associate is the one who’ll be agonising at ringside as he considers whether or not it is wise to throw in the towel for his client so that they may be able to fight another day without a slight limp in their step.

[FGA Office]

SINGLES MATCH
Zack Gall vs. Mark Bisley

The arena lights dim to almost pitch blackness, save for a couple of blue lights that pulse in sync with the intro to "Storms End" that is rising in pitch and intensity until the main hook burst forth and, at that very second, the ramp is bathed in blue light as Mark Bisley strides onto the ramp with his head bowed and an arm raised before he comes to a stop on the ramp and raises his head to survey the arena wearing one hell of a self-satisfied smirk upon his face

Keeping his arm raised as he makes his way down the ramp, Bisley walks at his own pace as he confidently walks to the ring at his own pace right up until he reaches the ringside area, and once he reaches the ringside area he lowers his arm and breaks into a short dash to give him the momentum to hop onto the ring apron where he crouches for a moment and taps the side of his head a couple of times to the song's beat before he rolls backwards into the ring and quickly gets back to his feet

J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for ONE fall! Introducing first, hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota! Weighing in at 201 pounds! He is “Smart” MAAAAARK BIIISSSSLEYYYYY!!!

Once he's got to his feet Bisley makes his way to the nearest corner and climbs the nearest turnbuckles where he stands with one foot on the top rope and his arms held out wide as he slowly tilts his head back for a few seconds until he turns his head and peers back into the ring and climbs down, removing the towel from around his shoulders the second his feet touch the canvas and casually tossing it in the referee's direction as he takes a few steps forward so he's standing in the centre of the ring where he drops to a knee and runs his hand on the canvas to say one thing: this is my ring.

The stage goes dark and a single spotlight appears as “Falling Behind” by Robert Spurling blasts through the audio system. After the first few chords have passed, out of the back comes Zack “The Dragon” Gall, who steps right in the middle of the spotlight, his left hand over his mouth and surveys the crowd. Not far behind from Gall his manager Dante Difranco steps into the scene as the lights come back on and Zack gets his left hand abruptly away from his mouth and roars, before walking towards the ring.

J.A. Aldridge: His opponent, being accompanied to the ring by Dante Difranco! Hailing from Newport, Wales! Weighing in at 190 pounds! He is ZACK “THE DRAGON” GAAAALLLLLL!!!

As the duo get close to the ring, Gall looks towards his manager who instructs him to get in the ring. Zack gets on the apron and grabbing the top rope he enters the ring. Difranco stays on the outside, as his client cracks his neck in the middle of the ring and gets to his knees extending his arms.

Kris Cruise: Alright, Stephy! We’re about to kick off Night 1 of All-Star Showdown VIII with a match between Zack Gall - a man who does all of his talking in the ring, against Mark Bisley - a man that’s never met a microphone that he didn’t love.

Stephy Auger: Idiots like Jessie Pederson seem to think that Mark Bisley is taking Zack Gall likely. But Mark is exactly right. It’s Zack Gall that’s taking him lightly. The nerve to dismiss Bisley and think that he’s beneath even addressing him. The nerve? The audacity? The… GALL of Zack Gall!

Kris Cruise: Between Gall and Bisley, it’s pretty clear to me which one is the more disrespectful of the two. Gall has no problem letting his fists and feet do all the talking inside the squared circle. Tonight, it’s Bisley that has to put up or shut up when that bell sounds, Stephy. Bisley talks a big game. But he won’t be able to talk his way out of this one. He’s going to have to outwrestle Gall if he wants to walk away with the win here in LA.

The bell sounds as as Gall and Bisley start things off with a lock up. Bisley is quick to gain the advantage with a side headlock. He quickly transitions into a hammerlock from behind. After Gall spins out and reverses into a hammerlock of his own, Bisley reaches down and yanks Gall’s left leg out from under him. Bisley quickly turns around and hooks the leg before attempting to turn Gall over into a single leg crab. But Gall uses his free leg to shove Bisley down to the mat. Both grapplers then scramble back to their feet. Gall ends up beating Bisley to a vertical base and and places him in a side headlock. He then returns the favor by transitioning into a hammerlock from behind. Bisley ends up countering with a spinning drop toe hold which brings Gall down to the mat. Bisley gets on top of Bisley’s back and rubs his hand on the mat right next to Gall’s face before applying a grounded waist lock. Gall slowly battles back to a vertical base. But Bisley brings him right back down with a waist lock takeover. The ref gets down and asks Gall if he wants to give up. The crowd boos Bisley when he tells the ref that he’s better off trying to get an answer out of Difranco! Gall refuses anyway before battling back to a vertical base. He reaches down, slowly pries Bisley’s arms from around his waist and reverses into an arm wrench. Bisley’s quick to roll over, leans back, kip up and reverse into an arm wrench of his own. He then yanks Gall over and catches him in another side headlock. Gall grabs a hold of Bisley’s wrist and slowly pushes his arms from around his head. The crowd cheers as Gall is trying to reverse into a top wrist lock. But Bisley overpowers him and quickly brings his arms down to re-apply the side headlock. This time, Gall breaks free by pushing Bisley off into the ropes. When Bisley returns, he knocks Gall to the mat with a shoulder block. The crowd “OOOH”s when Gall kips up and gets right in Bisley’s face. Bisley smirks before turning to hit the ropes. When he comes back, he runs over Gall with another shoulder block. But once again, Gall kips right up and gets in Bisley’s face.

Stephy Auger: See, I told you Gall was a disrespect little shi-

Gall rubs his wrists while Bisley looks him up and down. He then points towards the ropes, daring Gall to knock him down. Gall obliges by hitting the ropes. As soon as Gall hits the ropes, the crowd boos when Bisley catches him with an elbow smash.

Stephy Auger: Gall fell right into Bisley’s trap! We’re seeing the gap in experience on display here, Cruise!

Kris Cruise: I’ll admit that Gall should have figured something like that was coming. But he’s far from done here.

The boos continue while Bisley unloads on Gall with rapid fire elbow smashes. He then pulls Gall into the Iko Uwais (cravat with repeated knees to the head) before moving him into the corner. Bisley sizes his opponent up before delivering the Minnesota Buzzsaw (repeated shoot kicks to the chest in the corner)! He then takes Gall by the wirst before whipping him into the far ropes. Bisley runs across the ring to attack when Gall cuts him off with a running dropkick out of the corner! He then takes Bisley and whips him into the ropes. When Bisley returns, he ducks a running lariat before continuing to run the ropes. After Bisley comes back, Gall throws him across the ring with an overhead belly to belly suplex! Gall sees Bisley pulling himself up using the ropes. As Bisley turns around, Gall rushes over and connects with a running lariat, sending Bisley over the top rope and to the floor!

Kris Cruise: Bisley’s just been sent to the outside!

While Bisley picks himself up on the outside, Gall turns and hits the ropes. When he comes back, Gall goes for a dive to the outside. Bisley quickly turns and moves out of the way. He thinks he’s outsmarted Gall, so he points to the side of his head. Unbeknownst to him, Gall ended up slingshotting himself out onto the apron. As soon as Bisley turns around, the crowd cheers when Gall runs along the apron and knocks him down with a Penalty Kick!

Kris Cruise: OOF! Bisley just got caught right in the mush with that kick! We won’t be hearing him flapping his gums for a while, Stephy!

Gall steps back into the ring, marches across the ring and repeatedly bounces against the ropes.

Stephy Auger: What’s this fool setting up for now?

Bisley starts to stir on the outside after shaking out the cobwebs. He starts to turn over onto a knee, then gets back to his feet. As Bisley turns around, Gall rushes across the ring, flips over the top rope and knocks him down with a topé con hilo!

Kris Cruise: Gall hits the dive this time and wipes out Bisley on the floor! I think Bisley realizes he’s in for a fight now!

Gall rolls Bisley back inside before rolling back in for the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Bisley kicks out.

Gall takes Bisley and delivers a headbutt that sends him stumbling into the corner. Bisley tries to shake out the cobwebs. But he doesn’t recover in time as Gall squashes him with running double knees in the corner. Gall then pulls Bisley out of the corner and nails him with a hard knee to the midsection that drops him down to all fours. Gall then quickly hits the ropes before returning and flattening Bisley with a double foot stomp across the back. He drops down, pulls Bisley over and makes the cover.

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

Gall picks up Bisley and hooks his arms from behind before throwing him down with a bridging Dragon Suplex!

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

Bisley breaks free to get his shoulder up. Difranco can be seen on the outside applauding Gall before telling him to stay on Bisley.

Gall grabs Bisley from behind and goes for a Tiger Suplex when Bisley counters into a wheelbarrow victory roll.

ONE!
.
.
Bisley stands up, keeps a hold fo the leg, turns and delivers a a KneeDT (Foot DDT)! Difranco throws his arms up before slapping the apron and offering words of encouragement go Gall.

Stephy Auger: What a smart counter from “Smart” Mark!

Kris Cruise: It was smart of Bisley to go after the leg. Gall can’t use those educated feet if he can’t stand up.

As Gall turns over and holds his leg, Bisley heads towards the side of the ring, jumps onto the middle rope, flips back and delivers the Corazón de Zorro (lionsault to a face-down opponent's back)! The boos continue as he pulls Gall over and makes the cover.

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

Stephy Auger: First the leg, now the back. He’s trying to ground Gall.

Bisley slowly pulls Gall up from off the mat when Gall pulls him into his clutches for an Exploder Suplex! Bisley quickly blocks by hitting five elbows to the side of the head. He then turns and hits the ropes. When Bisley returns, he goes for a front dropkick to the knee when Gall leaps up and counters with a double foot stomp to the midsection!

Kris Cruise: OHHHH! Gall got him! Bisley went to take out the leg with a dropkick. But Gall knew it was coming! What a counter from The Dragon!

Stephy Auger: ...

Gall picks up Bisley before bringing him down with a bridging Tiger Suplex!

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

Gall pulls Bisley up, doubles him over with a knee to the midsection and applies an Octopus Hold. The ref gets down in front of Bisley and asks if he wants to give up. When Bisley refuses, Gall reaches up and manipulates the joints in his hand. The cheers continue while Bisley holds in pain.

Stephy Auger: What is this? He’s trying to break Bisley’s hands! This isn’t wrestling, Cruise!

Kris Cruise: It’s all legal!

Gall continues to bend and twist the hand while the ref asks Bisley if he wants to give up. Once again, Bisley refuses. So Gall lets go, turns Bisley towards him and throws him down with an Exploder Suplex! He makes the cover.

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

Kris Cruise: The Exploder gets a two count for The Dragon. Both men mentioned backstage that this match wasn’t the one with the most hype. But by the end of the night, it will be the one that people will be talking about.

Stephy Auger: Of course. These are two proud competitors, Cruise! They’ve got huge chips on their shoulders. There’s no bigger spotlight to prove yourself and show your skill in FGA than at All-Star Showdown!

Gall picks up Bisley and pulls him into a standing headscissors. He’s about to lift Bisley up for a cradle piledriver when Bisley counters with a standing single leg takedown. The crowd boos when he quickly follows up with another KneeDT! Bisley returns to his feet, lifts up the leg and executes a grounded dragon screw leg whip! Bisley lifts up Gall’s leg and delivers yet another dragon screw!

Kris Cruise: He’s trying to cripple Gall!

Stephy Auger: Please, Cruise, stop being so dramatic! It’S JuSt a wResTlInG mOvE, remember?

Bisley lifts up both legs before flipping over into a jackknife pin.

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

Gall bridges up, turns over, turns again, hooks Bisley’s arms from behind and tries to bring him down for a backslide pin! But Bisley’s rolls over Gall’s back, lands on his feet, doubles him over with a rolling solebutt to the midsection and brings him down with Blind Destiny (Canadian backbreaker rack dropped into a double knee gutbuster)! Bisley lifts up Gall’s legs before turning him over into the Canadian Maple Leaf!

Stephy Auger: Yes!

Kris Cruise: Bisley’s got him! He’s got Gall caught in the L'Étoile du Nord!

The official gets down and asks Gall if he wants to give up. When Gall refuses, Bisley pulls back on the leg. Gall can be seen with an anguished look on his face while he remains in the submission. The official once again asks Gall if he wants to give up. Bisley taunts Gall and Difranco by pointing to the outside and telling the official to ask Difranco for an answer. Difranco slaps the canvas out of frustration before pointing his finger at Bisley. Gall refuses. Bisley continues to taunt Gall by letting him know that his version of the single leg crab is better. Gall tries to block out the pain and Bisley’ taunts while trying to reach for the ropes. Unfortunately for him, he’s nowhere near them. He begins to reach down deep within himself and muster up the strength to get out of the hold. So he reaches out and slowly pulls himself forward. Gall reaches out before struggling to pull himself across the mat. The capacity crowd begins to rally behind Gall while he continues to scratch and claw his way across the canvas. Bisley keeps the hold locked on tight while he squats down even further. This slows Gall, but it doesn’t stop him. Gall grits hits teeth while he continues to fight his way towards the ropes. Difranco shakes his fists as he tries to will Gall to keep fighting. The crowd cheers when Gall reaches out and grabs the bottom rope. But Bisley’s in no rush to break the hold!

Kris Cruise: The official needs to break the hold now!

Stephy Auger: Why? He’s got ‘till five.

The official gets in Bisley’s face and gives him until five to break the hold.

Ref: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR! FIV-

Bisley reluctantly breaks the hold. The ref admonishes Bisley for cutting it close. Bisley goes over and slowly pulls up Gall until Gall quickly scoops him up and throws him down with a Michinoku Driver II!

Stephy Auger: What?

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Bisley kicks out.

Kris Cruise: Gall caught Bisley sleeping and it nearly cost him the match!

Gall picks up Bisley, pulls him into a front facelock and plants him with a Snap DDT! Gall keeps a hold of Bisley as he rolls through, pulls Bisley back to his feet and then plants him again with a jumping spike DDT! He makes the cover.

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

Kris Cruise: Gall’s fighting back! He’s picking up momentum!

Gall take Bisley, lifts him upside down and plants him with a cradle piledriver! He turns over into a cover.

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

Bisley gets his shoulder up.

Stephy Auger: Where’s Gall getting this from?

Gall gets back to his feet and goes after Bisley’s legs by trying to apply a cloverleaf.

Kris Cruise: Gall’s looking to give Bisley a taste of his own medicine! Do it, Zack!

But Bisley’s able to use his leg strength to shove Gall off of him and into the corner. While Bisley tries to pick himself up off the mat, the crowd cheers Gall as he hoists himself up onto the middle ropes. When Bisley gets back to his feet and turns around, Gall goes for a diving knee strike when Bisley counters with the Paul Krause (Bisley sidesteps a leaping opponent and catches them with a shinbreaker)! While Gall is down, Bisley hops out onto the apron through the ropes, scales to the top turnbuckle, jumps off and crashes down across Gall’s legs with the Sapienza (frog splash to the opponent's legs)! The boos continue as Bisley lifts up Gall’s legs, crosses them and turns him over into the Minnesota Cloverleaf (Texas Cloverleaf)!

Stephy Auger: AW YEAH! Now he’s really got nowhere to go!

The ref gets down and asks Gall if he wants to give up. Gall doesn’t answer. Instead, he continues to howl in pain. Difranco heads over and gets directly in Gall’s line of sight. He’s trying his best to encourage Gall to make to the ropes. The cheers of the capacity crowd grow louder as Gall feeds off of their energy. Bisley shakes his head while Gall continues to pull himself towards the ropes.

Kris Cruise: Keep fighting, Zack! Keep fighting!

Difranco continues to wave Gall towards the ropes. Gall is almost there. Gall reaches out… then gets dragged back to the center of the ring by Bisley.

Stephy Auger: Not so fast, buddy!

The crowd erupts with boos when Bisley puts his knee across Gall’s back and leans back. Gall howls in agony while Difranco is forced to watch at ringside. He looks to his left and sees Gall’s white towel in the corner. Bisley continues to keep the arch held, forcing Gall to be held awkwardly in the submission. Difranco paces back and forth as ringside he continues to hear the agonizing wails from his client. Difranco looks back over into the corner… before marching over and snatching up the towel. Difranco grips it in his hands before looking back into the ring. Gall reaches out for the ropes. But he’s nowhere near them. He tries to push himself off the mat. But Bisley keeps him held in place. Bisley pulls back even more as Gall lets out a guttural wail. Difranco runs his free hand down his face while he continues to watch his client being subjected to immense pain. It gets to a point that Difranco can no longer take it. The crowd gasps when he climbs up onto the apron and throws the towel into the ring. The official sees this and immediately calls for the bell!

The crowd boos when “Storms End” plays throughout the arena.

J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this bout… MARK BISLEY!

Bisley gets his arm raised while the crowd continues to boo. Difranco can be seen checking in on his client. Bisley makes his way to the ropes when he turns and sees Difranco tending to Gall. Bisley heads over, snatches the towel and tosses it over across Difranco’s head.

BOOOOOOOOO!

Difranco quickly rips the towel off his head and throws it across the ring. He narrows his eyes while he watches Bisley exit the ring and make his way up the aisle with his arms held high in victory.

[FGA Office]

Whereas the majority of the FGA roster would think it logical to be safely confined within the cold, impersonal, safe confines of the Staples Centre where they sit in expectation for the arbiter of fate to call their number so they can put their bodies through all manner of physical torment for the easily-pleased masses, we find Sara Mason sitting behind a crudely-constructed bonfire in the shadow of Mount Lee and she sits there, her eyes transfixed by the flames which crackle before her as their burning tendrils lick the air around them

While Mason is enjoying the spectacle, in the background Erin Mariani sits cross-legged on a nearby rock, watching on while she sips from the bottle of shiraz she brought along for this occasions, making sure she’s just out of range of the smoke so she doesn’t have to wipe flecks of ash from the folds of the velvet dress suit she’s wearing, and as she sips Mason addresses her partner without diverting her gaze from the flames

Sara Mason: Been here long?

Rather than answer immediately, Mariani takes another sip from the wine bottle before flicking her hair, as much to make sure that ash has not invaded her personal space as much as a force of habit

Erin Mariani: I have been here a reasonable amount of time.

With a sly smirk on her face, Mason turns around and gestures for the bottle, which Mariani tosses to her partner before Mason takes a long glug of its contents without as much as batting an eye, and once she’s taken her long glug she places the bottle down near her feet before pulling the shattered remains of what appears to be a G.I. Joe figure out of the tattered bag that’s also by her feet, which she looks at with a combination of pity and amusement

Sara Mason: I guess we won’t be needing this…

Without so much as a second’s thought, Mason drops it into the flames like it’s a worthless piece of garbage, which leads to some acrid black fumes billowing out from within the heart of the fire

Sara Mason: We already broke him, so there’s no need to pay him any mind.

Mason snickers, as Mariani realises she’s not getting the bottle back unless she grabs it herself, so she theatrically climbs off the rock and closes the distance, maintaining eye contact with Mason before grabbing the bottle and, having wiped the neck, takes another sip

Erin Mariani: With that one obstacle removed from the equation, we are one step closer to the match that we demanded yet we were told we would never get. Of course, we did have to endure that moment of petty rebellion from that final obstacle, but that’s all it will be, a brief moment of hope that we shall crush for as long as we find it entertaining to do so. She knows she cannot endure, or at least we hope that she knows this, otherwise…

Without needing to hear Mariani finish the sentence, Mason reaches towards her bag as if to pull out another sacrificial totem, but Mariani waves her hand to indicate there’s no need

Erin Mariani: One day it might occurs to her that what she wants is not important, not when it stands in the way of what we expect – and that she was a mere puppet who was thrown into the situation to try and deny us what is rightfully ours, so an example had to be made. That’s why her partner won’t be joining us this evening, because he’s an example…and a warning.

Mariani can’t help but smile a particularly cold smile as she says this, before taking another sip

Erin Mariani: The less that is between us and them the better, because how can we enjoy ourselves at their expense when a small, insignificant gnat keeps buzzing around us demanding our attention, hoping beyond hope we don’t swat it into oblivion but persisting anyway? She should be thankful that we removed any hope she had from this match, as her going alone will only make people pity her when she is broken into as many pieces as we see fit.

Sara Mason: Yet not as many pieces as…

Mason pulls out the severed head of a Barbie doll, which is wrapped in the threads of its torn out strands of hair, and after looking it in the eye with a menacing leer for a lot longer than is comfortable she pitches it face-first into the flames

Sara Mason: It’s time that cheerleader camp was closed permanently, and if that means we take one title back from her while putting her through so much of a beating it leads to her losing the other, than our point shall be proven and nobody will pay her a second’s of attention as we will make it clear there is no point sitting with that.

Chuckling to herself, Mason continues

Sara Mason: That’s the thing with those obsessed with winning popularity contests, they think popularity is a permanent thing, when all it takes is something newer and shinier to come along and then…

Mason mimes something going up in smoke

Sara Mason: …you’re not popular anymore, instead you’re begging for attention and hoping that you might actually receive it. It’s sad, yet at the same time it’s hilarious to watch those who thought they were the centre of the universe shrivel into a little ball of nobody cares. And that’s why we’re here.

Taking yet another sip, Mariani gives Mason a look that says “Well I was wondering..>” but she doesn’t say it

Sara Mason: How long has the lie been pumped into people that all it takes is a chance encounter in the right place with the right person and you’ll become a star overnight? It’s fiction, really it is, as we’re all fully aware that to get ahead you have to submit to some lecherous sack of hair and meat and keep your mouth shut afterwards if you want to work again because he wields the power and you’re there for his entertainment. Tinsel Town isn’t about success, it’s about ever-humiliating failures, from failing at the box office to failing as a human being while millions watch your failure as you stumble out of some dingy hole barely able to stand as the drink and drugs can’t take away the pain anymore. And that? That’s the good version.

Letting out a cackle, Mason gestures for the bottle once more and receives it, taking yet another slug before wiping down her face with the back of her hand

Sara Mason: Right here? It’s not the base of the symbol of all that’s great about the silver screen, it’s the place where Peg Entwistle hit the ground because she’d tasted one too many failures so climbed the “H” and jumped, which would be poetic if she wasn’t forgotten before she was even at the morgue, and what infamy she may have gained was washed away when things got visceral, be it Elizabeth Short’s name being a footnote to the Black Dahlia case or Sharon Tate and friends ending up far less famous than the Manson Family, if the failure doesn’t get you something darker will.

Taking yet another glug, this time causing her to violently shake her head after she’s finished, Mason passes the bottle back and looks to Mariani with an almost primal look, as if she’s been using this location and her speech to psyche herself up to do something particularly savage this evening – which Mariani wordlessly, almost instinctively, understands

Erin Mariani: And if the darkness doesn’t consume them immediately, we shall offer a helping hand.

Mariani takes a sip, before looking over Mason’s shoulder to see the acrid smoke that’s been spewing due to the bonfire’s recent diet of plastic is starting to dissipate at last, at which point she looks to the bucket of water that Mason left nearby

Erin Mariani: Will you do the honours?

With barely a shrug, Mason kicks the bucket over the bonfire to mute the flames, leading to an audible crackle from the embers as they try to find the last few morsels to feed what little flames remain

Sara Mason: Gladly.

[FGA Office]

The rafters of the arena bring forth a certain kind of quiet. Even a passing calm. It does feel like it’s more like the calm before the storm. It’s far from the chaotic atmosphere and nervous energy that populates the company in the biggest two night event of the year with the biggest possible paydays. And with that energy sitting there in the rafters by himself is Seth Iser, the FGA Pride Champion. And he hasn’t quite switched to his wrestling attire but he’s wearing the Pittsburgh Pirates T-Shirt with his last name on it and a pair of jeans with a chain connected along with the championship over his left shoulder.

Seth Iser: You know...it’s funny how things work out sometimes.

It’s a moment of reflection and there’s actually a smirk on his face that isn’t in his usual, arrogant tone but rather one of self reflection as he’s pondered certain things out. He brushes some of the hair from his face so we get a good look at his cold blue eyes and some of the scars that populate his face that tell his hard road.

Seth Iser: Tyler Storm and I have been attached at the damned hip the moment we both joined the company at about the same time. And from that very moment I’ve felt his pursuit on all fronts. When you’re someone of my statue, and that’s a rare thing in wrestling in terms of both my ability and longevity in the sport, you tend to get more of a sense for when someone is coming after you directly. And that comes in different forms too. But as to why I haven’t said anything on television? It’s simple: I value taking care of my family. Some of the people in the audience don’t get that and others abandon them but the ones I call my family...I’d die for them.

Seth calmly articulates his point further just by leaning forward and his face has some semblance of peace to it, a stark contrast to what he’s been known for.

Seth Iser: When are in a wonderful relationship and helping someone adjust from life in the ring to being more of a civilian, that takes a portion of my time. And Rebecca Saint’s been the best thing that’s come into my life the last couple of years from a personal standpoint. Being a father, as Tyler Storm also knows, that takes another portion of my time, especially in a privitol month before schooling starts. But when I do have the opportunity, I try to address things as I can. And represent the company, my title, and my loved ones to the best of my own ability. But those type of things...Tyler Storm shares that line of thinking with me. Again...attached.

Seth mutters that word with more of the cold precision he can come with rather than the peaceful presence he had moments prior.

Seth Iser: And that feeling was cemented when he has done his damnedest to pull out everything he had to try to match and then maybe even pull ahead of me. And he sees his best opportunity to pull ahead and detach things on his terms with the victory to avenge his defeat at this event a year ago.

With a shake of the head and a tilt of the head with a pained laugh Seth just mutters.

Seth Iser: But you see...I won’t let that happen. I can’t...let that happen because it would mean you’d still be attached to me in a different light with something else in common, the FGA Pride Championship. No...no no...I really can’t.

He’s still shaking his head, just darkly muttering to himself.

Seth Iser: I know all about people targeting me and attaching themselves to me. Owen did it for years until last year, the same event you had your greatest failure in your return, I was finally able to erase him from existence for good with a different kind of cunning and ruthlessness that he never wants to lace up a pair of boots again and actually thought of his family for once in his damned life. Funny how he only really does that when dealing with me…

Seth mutters that last line bitterly as he stands up.

Seth Iser: But as much as you want this victory for your kids and your own accomplishments as a wrestler, you’re not going to do it to me the same way. Oh no...it won’t happen. Not at all. And if you people think this comes from a place of hatred...it’d be another lie those sycophants we call wrestling fans’ want to partake in to slander me much like I’ve been slandered and disrespected for months even after I continue to prove my point!

A little more testy and a little more aggressive as his face is contorted into a hard frown.

Seth Iser: All of that work I’ve done though would be undone with another loss to you Tyler…and I can’t allow that.

Seth shakes his head but rather than the solemn look, it’s more firey, more accustomed to what he usually is. And the storm seems to be full of thunder and lightning as we speak.

Seth Iser: Two out of three falls as well as a rule where I kind of fight left handed to begin with but as Wrestling’s Greatest Mind, I’ve more than adapted to that. And you can bet your bottom dollar that I’m a better wrestler now than I was when you first saw me in the company. Even the elder statesmen can learn little subtle tricks to improve. And I guarantee you that you won’t beat me the same way because I'm taking away your best weapon tonight...and you have to fight left-handed with me. You have to wrestle a match in an uncomfortable manner for one of the first times in your life...because of what I have planned…

Seth then lightens his body language and taps the gold over his shoulder.

Seth Iser: and I wager this championship to free myself from the prison of these comparisons and prove once and for all that I am a superior wrestler than you.

With that concluding statement the champion then walks off to go start to get ready for his final preparations for the match.

[FGA Office]

SINGLES MATCH
Annie Zellor vs. Kazu Hirano

J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall.

”ONE FALL!”

The lights go down, plunging the Staples Center into darkness for a few seconds, until “Devil’s Bleeding Crown” by Volbeat begins playing throughout the arena. The fans in attendance immediately begin to boo as pink and purple spotlights flash on the entrance ramp, keeping in time with the music. Twenty seconds pass until, finally, Annie Zellor and Mary-Jane McCracken step out from behind the curtain.

The booing intensifies as Zellor stands with her back to the ring; her special edition leather jacket has lights up the sleeves and down the sides, along with the word "#ASS8" spelled out across the back. Suddenly, Annie spins on her heel to face the ring as, behind her, Mary-Jane keeps smirking as she carries the Seattle Pro tag team title on her shoulder. Annie keeps her bandana up over the lower half of her face to hide what is probably a scowl – given her earlier interactions with Spencer Burke – as she begins to slowly walk down the aisle.

J.A. Aldridge: Introducing first, making her way to the ring, hailing from Staten Island, New York. Weighing in at 125 pounds, and being accompanied by Mary-Jane … She is the “Tenacious Li’l Bitch” ANNIIIIEEEEEE ZELLLLLLOOOORRRR!!!

Some of the diehard Anniemaniacs in attendance reach out for a high five, but on this night Annie isn’t willing to oblige them. The pair make their way all around the ring, circling it once before Annie leaps up onto the apron in a kneeling position. Mary-Jane climbs up the ring steps, and enters through the middle ropes as Annie sits on it to hold it open, before she enters the ring herself and heads towards the corner. The lights return to normal as Zellor stands on the middle rope, looking out across the Los Angeles crowd.

They’re still booing her. More than usual. More than they did even during the Gold Rush Rumble. And as Annie Zellor pulls down the bandana, she’s smirking; basking in the hatred of the fans, Annie poses with her arms out to either side as, inside the ring, Mary-Jane applauds her friend. Annie slips off the leather jacket, handing it off to Mary-Jane before she exits the ring. The music fading out as Annie remains in the ring, awaiting the arrival of her opponent.

A rock band with a full god damn orchestra is set up in the entryway – a collective known as SUPERNOVA. How the fuck does a pro wrestling newcomer put an entrance like this together? He went out into the world, became a regular in a few places, and made a lot of friends. These are the Watarimono's musician pals from all over – an interchanging group that is never the same for more than one gig, yet synced as if their individual destinies were meant for this performance of “I Am The Walrus.”

J.A. Aldridge: Introducing her opponent, hailing from Koenji, Tokyo, Japan! Weighing in at 176 pounds… KAZUUUUUU HIIIIIRAAAAANOOOOOO!!!

They strike a perfect balance between the psychedelic LSD-inspired original by The Beatles and the powerful cocaine-fueled Oasis cover – a life-changing experience for everyone fortunate enough to have them make fuck to their ears. Kazu Hirano is not a technically good singer by any means, but there's a lot of energy and he never fails to nail the chorus.

HIRANO: “I AM THE EGG MAN!”

CROWD: Throwing their arms in the air when Hirano points the mic at them. “WOO!”

HIRANO: “THEY ARE THE EGG MEN!”

CROWD: Throwing their arms in the air when Hirano points the mic at them. “WOO!”

HIRANO: “I AM THE WALRUS! GOO GOO G'JOOB!”

It takes minutes for Hirano to get in the ring. He teases his entrance on the apron before turning back around to entertain the fans more. Hirano does this even past all the singing parts and well into the extended soul-awakening instrumental. Fans cheer when he finally does enter.

Stephy Auger: Gee, took him long enough!

Kris Cruise: Come on, Stephy! He’s just having some fun with the crowd!

Stephy Auger: See? See? This is exactly what Annie was talking about earlier. Hirano walks out here thinking that he owns the place just because he picked up a pair of wins. He think he can keep the likes of Annie Zellor waiting all night while him and his sorry excuse for a band sing off key and play out of tune!

Kris Cruise: As usual, you couldn’t be more off base. If anyone walks around here like they own the place, it’s Annie Zellor and her man Dom Harter, who think that they’re both owed title shots!

Stephy Auger: Don’t you worry, Cruise. They’re both going to show why they deserve to be not just in championship contention, but number ONE contenders here tonight! Now watch as Bad Bad Annie Z shows Haku...

Kris Cruise: Kazu...

Stephy Auger: WHATEVER… watch as Zellor shows him how it’s done on pay per view!

As soon as the bell sounds, Zellor and Hirano rush towards the center of the ring. Gasps are heard from the crowd when they each throw out a running dropkick at the same time! Both Zellor and Hirano get back to their feet before throwing out simultaneous dropkicks a second time. Once again, they both whiff on the kicks. When Zellor and Hirano gets back to their feet, they each motion for another dropkick. But Zellor stays with her feet on the mat and sidesteps, allowing her to swat down Hirano out of the air. The Wanderer gets back to his feet, only to get brought back down with a headscissors takeover. Zellor makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
Hirano kicks out.

Zellor takes Hirano and goes for an irish whip. Hirano is quick to reverse, sending Zellor into the ropes. When she returns, she slides through Hirano’s legs. When Hirano turns around, Zellor sends him flipping down to the mat with a step-up enzuigiri. While Hirano tries to get back to his feet, Zellor turns and hits the ropes. When she returns, she goes for a leapfrog into a one-handed bulldog. But Hirano’s able to slip out of the way. After Zellor lands in front of him, Hirano takes control of her back to deliver a German Suplex. Zellor counters by running towards the side of the ring and hooking her arms around the top rope. She goes to yank back on the ropes and send Hirano flying off her back. But Hirano’s able to bring her down with a back roll into a prawn hold!

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Zellor kicks out.

Kris Cruise: Kazu nearly caught her!

Stephy Auger: Nope!

Both grapplers scramble back to their feet. Zellor goes to strike first with a lop dropkick. But Hirano’s able to hurdle over her. Zellor gets back to her feet. But she doesn’t stay standing for long as Hirano brings her down with a front dropkick to the leg. With Zellor down on on all fours, Hirano wraps her up in la magistral.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Zellor kicks out.

Kris Cruise: Kazu nearly caught her again! Next time, Zellor may not be so lucky.

Stephy Auger: You wish!

Zellor and Hirano scramble back to their feet. Zellor is the first to strike with shoot kicks to the left and rights legs. After a side kick to the midsection, Zellor goes to follow up with a bicycle knee strike to the head when Hirano swats down the knee before dropping her with a Polish Hammer! He makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Zellor kicks out.

Kris Cruise: Zellor caught Maxwell’s Silver Hammer right in the face. But she kicks out at two.

Hirano moves Zellor into the corner. After a knife edge chop is delivered, Zellor is whipped into the far corner. Hirano claps his hands and stomps his foot to get the crowd worked up. When the capacity crowd takes their cue from Hirano and does the same, he rushes across the ring to follow up with an attack. But Zellor is there to counter with a boot to the face.

Stephy Auger: That’s what he gets for showboating! Just do your move, to show off for these idiots!

Zellor moves Hirano into the corner and delivers a knife edge chop of her own. She then takes Hirano and whips him into the far corner. Zellor runs over, hops onto Hirano and monkey flips him out of the corner. The crowd cheers when Hirano lands seamlessly on his feet before hitting the ropes. When Hirano returns, the crowd boos when Zellor brings him down with a Slingblade! She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Hirano kicks out.

Kris Cruise: The action has been fast and furious in this one, Stephy!

Stephy Auger: I’m surprised Kazu can keep up with Bad Bad Annie Z!

Zellor takes Hirano and whips him into the ropes. After Hirano returns, the crowd cheers when he returns the favor and brings Zellor down with a Slingblade of his own. Zellor is left folded up on the mat. Hirano then jumps over and lands across Zellor’s legs for the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Zellor kicks out.

Kris Cruise: Interesting pin there by Kazu for a two count.

Hirano takes Zellor by the wrist and throws out a short-arm lariat. Zellor just barely ducks the lariat before heading into the ropes. When she returns, she goes for a wheelbarrow bulldog. The crowd cheers when Hirano keeps her head in the air before rushing across the ring and launching Zellor over the top rope and to the floor! Hirano begins to circle the ring while clapping his hands. The crowd joins before he stops to look to the outside. When he sees McCracken help Zellor pick herself up, Hirano turns and hits the far ropes. When he returns, Zellor rolls back in and tries to cut him off with the Sparkle Princess Special (540 Kick)! Hirano ducks by rolling underneath the kick. When he rolls back to his feet, he continues into the ropes. When Hirano returns, Zellor leaps up for a hurricanrana, only to have it countered into a Running Liger Bomb! The ref slides into place for the count.

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

Kris Cruise: Zellor got caught with that Running Liger Bomb. Yes, she got the shoulder up at two. But even you have to admit that took something out of her.

Stephy Auger: No, I don’t.

Hirano picks up Zellor and hooks both arms before hoisting her up for a Tiger Bomb. When Zellor is lifted up onto Hirano’s shoulders, she counters with multiple punches to the top of the head. The boos continue when she slips down in front of Hirano before bringing him down with a facebreaker DDT! Hirano tries to get back to his feet while Zellor hits the ropes. When she returns, she brings him down with a wheelbarrow bulldog! Zellor pushes him over and makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Hirano kicks out.

Zellor takes Hirano and whips him into the corner. Bad Bad Annie Z charges in, connects with a discus clothesline and goes to follow up with a running bulldog when Hirano shoves her off into the ropes. When she returns, she knocks Hirano down with a running dropkick! Hirano is pulled back up before getting whipped into the corner. The Tenacious Lil Bitch charges in before squashing him with corner double knees! After Hirano slumps down in the corner, Zellor turns and makes her way into the far corner while flexing her bicep. The boos continue to rain down on Zellor as she charges back across the ring and bashes Hirano with the Sparklebutt (running butt bump to seated opponent in the corner)! The crowd really lets Hirano have it when she turns away from Hirano and pretends to kick dirt at him.

Kris Cruise: Classless as always.

Stephy Auger: Wait until Annie watches this back and hears all the crap you’ve been talking about her!

Kris Cruise: Good! It’ll be the first time she’s heard the truth in ages!

Stephy Auger: ...

Zellor grabs Hirano by the hair, pulls him towards the center of the ring and then brings him down with the Shade Thrown II (Moss Covered Three Handled Family Credenza)!

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

Zellor pulls Hirano back to his feet before going to town with shoot kicks to the right and left legs. She then delivers a side kick to the midsection before sending Hirano crumbling to the mat with a bicycle knee strike! While Hirano is sprawled out on the mat, Zellor makes her way over towards his head. She then shouts out “Meccha Sugoi”! Instead of repeating the chant back, the crowd responds with…

BOOOOOOOO!

Kris Cruise: Zellor’s looking to steal a page out of Kazu’s book!

Stephy Auger: No, she’s about to make it a thousand times better! Watch!

Zellor smirks before hitting the ropes. She bounces back, hops over Hirano and continues to run the ropes. When she returns, Hirano kips back to his feet before throwing Zellor down with a spinebuster!

Stephy Auger: Gah!

Hirano then yells out “Meccha Sugoi”! The crowd responds with..

MECCHA SUGOI!

… before Hirano hits the ropes. The Wanderer comes back, hops over Zellor and continues to run the ropes. When he returns, he delivers the Meccha Sugoi Hiji (People’s Elbow)! Hirano reaches down, grabs Zellor by the hand and pulls her back to her feet. He then takes control of Zellor back before going for I Want To Hold Your Hand (ripcord lariat)! Zellor ducks the lariat, takes control of Hirano’s back and throws out a discus ripcord elbow. Hirano ducks the blow before bringing Zellor down with an Inverted DDT! After Zellor is dragged into position, Hirano steps out on the apron. He plays the air guitar for a bit before marching along the apron. Members of the crowd begin to stand up while Hirano climbs the turnbuckles. Once Hirano gets to the top, he measures the distance between himself and Zellor. The crowd cheers as he flips off for a diving somersault leg drop… then sighs when he crashes to the mat!

Kris Cruise: Zellor rolled out of the way!

Hirano howls in pain while holding the back of his leg. He slowly turns onto into the prone position while Zellor pushes herself up on all fours. As soon as Hirano gets back to his feet, Zellor sends him tumbling to the mat with a low dropkick. She then takes Hirano by the hair, pulls him back to his feet and then purposely kicks Hirano’s leg out from under him. The crowd really starts to let Zellor have it while she circles Hirano and pretends to walk with a limp.

BOOOOOO!

While Hirano struggles to pick himself up off the mat, Zellor runs into the ropes. She bounces off the ropes, runs past Hirano and heads into the far ropes. After Hirano returns, she a tilt-a-whirls around Hirano and transitions into the Octopus Stretch!

Stephy Auger: Glitter Stretch! Zellor’s got it locked in nice and tight!

Zellor yells at Hirano to tap while he howls in pain. The official asks Hirano if he wants to quit. Hirano shakes his head ‘no’. So Zellor starts to pull back on the arm even further. McCracken can be seen on the outside also yelling at Kazu to tap.

Kris Cruise: Kazu is trying to hang on! But how long can he last in the Glitter Stretch!?

Zellor continues to keep the submission applied while the crowd starts to rally behind Hirano. However, the wind is taken out of their sails when the leg that Zellor attacked buckles. A collective gasp is heard when Hirano drops down to a knee.

Stephy Auger: AW YEAH! It’s all over but the crying, Cruise!

Kris Cruise: Kazu’s in a bad way here, I must admit.

Zellor smiles from ear to ear while she fights like hell for the submission. Hirano continues to moan and grown while he’s trapped with nowhere to go. The referee gives him another opportunity to quit. But Hirano won’t give it. The capacity crowd starts to clap their hands and stomp their feet in unison. Suddenly, Hirano starts to feed off the energy of the crowd. He lets out a yell as he slowly pushes himself off the mat and gets back to a vertical base.

Stephy Auger: W-what? WHAT!?

Zellor begins to shake her head in disbelief as Hirano slowly waddles towards the side of the ring. Zellor then releases the hold, slips down from behind, jumps into the air and drives him down with a leapfrog into a one-handed bulldog! The boos continue as she pushes Hirano over and makes the cover.

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

Zellor is quick to get to her feet and slingshot out onto the apron before climbing the turnbuckles.

Stephy Auger: Zellor’s wasting no time!

Zellor gets to the top, leaps off and connects with a diving elbow drop! She makes the cover.

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

The crowd cheers when Hirano gets his shoulder up.

Zellor quickly gets to her feet and hops out onto the apron through the ropes. She then springboards to the top turnbuckle, jumps off...and drops another diving elbow drop onto Hirano’s chest! Zellor makes the cover.

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

The crowd cheers when Hirano gets his shoulder up.

Zellor gets to her feet and steps back out onto the apron before climbing the ropes.

Kris Cruise: Zellor is bound and determined to put Kazu down!

Stephy Auger: She isn’t getting frustrated by him getting his shoulder up! She’s staying on him! Go Annie!

After making it to the top, Zellor goes for a third diving elbow drop… and misses! The crowd erupts with cheers when Zellor crashes on the mat!

Kris Cruise: Hirano rolled out of the way!

Stephy Auger: ...

The cheers grow louder when Hirano takes control of Zellor’s back and applies It’ Won’t Be Long (Rings of Saturn)!

Stephy Auger: NO!

Zellor cries out in pain while Hirano cinches in the hold. The official gets down and asks Zellor if she wants to give up. But she shakes her head ‘no’. Hirano continues to keep the hold applied while the crowd taunts Zellor.

TAP!
TAP!
TAP!
TAP!

The official continues to check on Zellor until Mary Jane McCracken climbs up onto the apron and gains his attention.

Kris Cruise: Oh what the hell now?

Stephy Auger: What? She’s just checking on Annie!

Kris Cruise: She can check on her from the damn floor, Stephy!

McCracken points behind the official. But the official isn’t interested in having any type of conversation with McCracken. He wants her down off the apron and he wants her down now! After Hirano pulls back on the hold, the crowd erupts with cheers when Zellor feverishly nods her head.

Kris Cruise: Annie’s given up! She’s submitted!

Stephy Auger: Shhh, keep your voice down!

Kris Cruise: ANNIE’S GIVEN UP! SHE’S SUBMITTED!

Hirano breaks the hold, jumps into the air and plays the air guitar. But his guitar playing stops once he realizes the bell hasn’t been rung and his totally awesome theme isn’t pumping through the speakers. He turns around and is bummed when he seems McCracken arguing with the official.

Kris Cruise: That damn McCracken continues to distract the official.

Stephy Auger: I mean, have you seen Mary Jane? I’d be lost in a trance, too!

Kris Cruise: Oh stop it, Stephy!

The referee has had enough and makes a throwing motion with his arm. The crowd erupts with cheers and applause at the sight of McCracken getting thrown out of the match!!!

Stephy Auger: Noooo! He can’t do that!

Kris Cruise: He can, he’s the referee!

McCracken can’t believe it. But it doesn’t matter. The official had made his decision and it’s final. McCracken jumps down to the floor and slaps the apron out of frustration. She begins to pout while she stamps her feet all the way to the back.

Kris Cruise: McCracken is out of here!

Stephy Auger: What a miscarriage of justice!

Back inside, the crowd erupts with boos when Zellor nails Hirano with a low blow from behind! The ref quickly takes notice of the boos and turns around to see Hirano doubled over in pain. He immediately rushes over and questions Zellor. But Zellor puts on an innocent face. She puts her hands behind her back while rubbing the point of her foot on the mat. A quick camera shot reveals Zellor with her index & middle fingers crossed! When the ref turns back to check on Hirano, Zellor sticks her tongue out at him!

Kris Cruise: What a little devil she is!

Zellor rushes forward and connects with a jumping knee strike to Hirano, knocking him down across the middle rope. The crowd boos Zellor when she mocks Hirano by circling the ring and clapping her hands over her head. She then zeroes in on Hirano before throwing up the devil horns.

Stephy Auger: #GRRFACE!

Zellor turns and runs into the far ropes. When she comes back, she picks up speed before swinging through the middle & top rope to hit the Rough ‘n’ Tumble (Tiger Feint Kick)!

Kris Cruise: NO!

The crowd gasps, then cheers when Hirano ducks and catches Zellor across his shoulders. Zellor panics when Hirano gets to his feet and heads back towards the center of the ring.

Kris Cruise:

Stephy Auger: No, no, no! Put her down!

The cheers grow louder when Hirano goes for the Magical Mystery Tour #1 (Airplane Spin into a Death Valley Driver)! Before Hirano can hit the DVD portion of the move, Zellor reaches over in desperation and rakes his eyes! The crowd boos when Zellor slips down from behind and shoves Hirano down across another middle rope. She then turns and hits the ropes. When Zellor comes back, she runs forward, swings through the ropes and knocks Hirano down with the Rough ‘n’ Tumble! The boos continue as she makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
THREE!

The crowd erupts with boos when “Devil’s Bleeding Crown” blares throughout the arena.

J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this bout, ANNIE ZELLOR!

The boos continue as Zellor gives the audience the #Grrface before heading to the outside to celebrate her win up the ramp.

[FGA Office]

Jessie Pederson: Please welcome my guest at this time, Susan Kent! Tonight is a big night for you here in your adopted city. You're involved in the Triple Threat United States Tag Team Title match. But I have to ask what is the status of Delikado?

Susan Kent: Honestly, I don't know if Delikado is going to be able to compete after the attack at Vertigo. But I'm wondering how Erin Mariani is feeling after I planted her on her head?

Jessie Pederson: People were surprised by this increased intensity you showed at the last Vertigo.

Susan Kent: Sometimes you just reach your boiling point, Jessie. People like Stephy Auger, continue to run their mouth about me. It's not my fault she's a mediocre commentator and constant pressure from people saying I don't belong in Frontier Grappling Arts, and having to see people like Izzy Anders, Sara Mason, Erin Mariani, get handed opportunities they didn't earn. Unlike them, I've had to fight, claw and scratch for every opportunity and never once complained. And whether Delikado is out there with me tonight, I going to show everyone, including Ms. Geroux that I'm for real. Tonight, I'm walking out to the ring as the underdog and I'm going to give every ounce of blood and sweat I have. After tonight, my star will shine brighter than everyone here tonight just watch and see.

[FGA Office]

UNITED STATES TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
The Joker & The Thief vs. Delikado & Susan Kent vs. Silk & Cyanide

The arena lights dim as the sound of a woman's laugh heavy with contempt echoes through the arena, which soon segues into the bassline of "She's Gone Away" signals the arrival of Erin Mariani and Sara Mason as the duo slink onto the entrance ramp and pause for a moment, with Mariani looking towards the ring in disgust while Mason looks as if she's waiting for any excuse to start a fight

You dig in places till your fingers bleed
Spread the infection, where you spill your seed

The pair turn their heads towards one another and share a conspiratorial look before they slowly turn their attention back towards the ring and without a moment's hesitation the pair begin to walk towards the ring, keeping in step with one another and maintaining focus on what they have planned for the sorry individuals that await them

I can't remember what she came here for
I can't remember much of anything anymore

Once the duo reach ringside Mariani climbs the ring steps and climbs the ropes so she's perched with one foot upon the top turnbuckle as she literally looks down upon Her opponent while, at the same time, Mason dives under the bottom rope and slides into the ring and quickly rises to a knee and looks directly towards their entertainment for this evening

J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the following is a Triple Threat Tag Team Match! It is scheduled for ONE fall under Scramble Rules and it is for the FGA UNITED STATES TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP! Introducing the challengers! First, weighing in this evening at a total combined weight of 248 pounds! They are the team of Erin Mariani and Sara Mason… SILK & CYYYYYYAAAANIIIIIIDE!!!

She's gone, she's gone, she's gone away
She's gone, she's gone, she's gone away

Having staked their place in the ring, Mariani vaults over the ropes and twists in mid-air so she lands on Her feet in the corner while looking directly towards the opponent while Mason slowly crawls back towards the same corner while maintaining a stare in the opponent's direction the entire time before she reaches to her sides to pull herself into a crouching position

Away...
Away...

As the duo await the opening bell Mason gestures towards the opponents, daring them to come a little closer to see what will happen, while Mariani wears a bemused smirk upon Her face knowing full well what the duo have in mind for the poor souls standing across the ring from them.

Kris Cruise: Silk & Cyanide got the rematch that they wanted. Of course, also being involved in this match are Susan Kent and Delikado. Or should I say, were Susan Kent and Delikado until Silk & Cyanide put Delikado out of commission!

Stephy Auger: Yeah, they took care of that pest Delikado. I’m sure people like you and these idiots in the stands are wondering why GM Jenevieve Geroux didn’t punish Silk & Cyanide by removing them from this match. But she knew deep down inside that she couldn’t! Removing them from this match, after Delikado was ruled out, would have left Susan Kent two on one against The Joker and The Thief! As much as I’m sure people would have loved to have seen Kent get teed off on by Fujiko Mine and Izzy Anders, she knew that it would be unfair. She had to leave Erin Mariani and Sara Mason in this match for the competitive balance.

Kris Cruise: But thanks to Mason & Mariani, Kent is at a disadvantage. She’s got no partner.

Stephy Auger: Hey, Susan Kent had plenty of time to find a partner. Worse case scenario, she could have had that hanger on Dana Wheeler fill in.

Susan Kent appears on the stage followed by her trainer and mentor Dana Wheeler. Susan uses her hand to wave to the crowd. She walks to the ring shaking hands with the fans. She climbs the ropes from the outside and waves to the fans again, then climbs down into her corner where Dana gives her last minute instructions as she waits for her opponents.

J.A. Aldridge: Their opponents! First, from Wichita, Kansas… SUUUUUSAN KENT!

Stephy Auger: If Susan Kent thinks she’s walking out of this match a champion, then she is about to be in for a rude awakening, let me tell you.

Kris Cruise: Well I for one think it’s commendable that Susan is going to fight for Delikado’s honor here tonight.

Stephy Auger: You say it’s commendable. You want to know what I call it?

Kris Cruise: What?

Stephy Auger: Stupid.

Kris Cruise: ...

"THE CHAMP IS HERE!"

Drum beat.

"THE CHAMP IS HERE!"

Drum beat.

"THE CHAMP IS HERE!"

The intro of Jadakiss's "The Champ is Here" plays as a precursor to Izzy Anders' arrival, but before the final drum beat, Izzy’s derisive laugh overpowers it, cutting into it with static. As it fades, “Bad Dreams” by Phantogram starts to play. The arena gets covered in a gradient of fuschia and crimson.

♫ Bad dreams never affect me
I'm not afraid of the concrete
Bad dreams never affect me
I'm not afraid of the concrete ♫

Izzy steps onto the stage out of a jet of smoke, standing with the championship slung over her chest. She starts down the ramp with a confident smirk, rocking the belt. When she stops in the middle of the ring, she slowly draws the championship away from herself. Raising it slowly, Izzy proclaims her status to the whole audience and anyone who might be watching.

J.A. Aldridge: Fighting out of Holland, Michigan by way of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada! She is one half of the reigning… defending… United States Tag Team Champions! She is “The Mindkiller” IZZYYYYY AAAAAANDERSSSSSS!!!

♫ To changing me
(And I believe this happened once before)
To changing me
(And I predict the world will be all gone)
To changing me
(And I can see the same things that you see)
To changing me
(‘Cause I predict the world) ♫

She steps to the ring apron, jumping onto it. She spins on it for a moment before stopping in the center. Izzy takes the championship into her teeth, blasting her coat off with a dramatic flair--her arms are outstretched. She leans back on the ropes as her theme strikes up and the lights dawn on her. When she lowers, she hits the top turnbuckle.

The eyepatch begins to get peeled off, followed by a playful wink. She replaces the championship with the eyepatch to raise the championship high again. Izzy then leans back and begins to fall down to the apron. She sticks the landing gracefully and she descends down to the mat. With a somewhat seductive air, she scoots back to the center of the ring. Izzy then releases the eyepatch from her teeth and rises to her feet.

Kris Cruise: With Fujiko Mine having to defend her FGA World Championship against Marlon Cure in the main event, Izzy Anders might find herself having to pull the majority of the load for her team here tonight.

Stephy Auger: No, I don’t think Fujiko would force Izzy to do that. If she were smart she would. But Fujiko’s got a chip on her shoulder. She’s fixated on wanting to prove herself to all the “haters”. If anything, she’ll take the majority of the workload to prove a point, knowing full well that she should be conserving energy for Marlon Cure in the main event.

Kris Cruise: As a mentioned before, Fujiko will be defending the World Title against Marlon Cure. But don’t think that she’s treating this match as an afterthought. Those titles mean the world to Fujiko. They mean the world to Izzy. Those titles helped them both become Grand Slam champions. Given the history between Fujiko and Izzy, those championships are a testament to how far they’ve come. From bitter rivals to Dynamic Duos winners to now US Tag Champs. Izzy’s still has singles aspirations. Fujiko’s obviously got the World Championship. Both those titles are near and dear to them. If Mason, Mariani, Kent and anyone else want those belts? Then they’re gonna have a hell of a fight on their hands because The Mindkiller and the Apex Goddess are going to fight like hell to keep them!

"Can You Feel It?"

"Can You Feel It?"

"Can You Feel It?"

The beat of "Can you feel it?" kicks in, and the crowd bursts into cheers, knowing who is about to arrive. The funky beat quickly spreads through the arena, and the crowd begins stomping and clapping along as the song begins. The lights in the arena dim, with pink and gold spotlights swirling around the arena.


"If you look around
The whole world is coming together now...baby..."

"Can You Feel It?"

"Can You Feel It?"

"Can You Feel It?!"

The crowd is getting heavily into the song, and as the Jacksons sing the title of the song, the lights in the arena bump brighter and brighter.


Feel it in the air, the wind is taking it everywhere...

"Can You Feel It?"

"Can You Feel It?"

"Can You Feel It?!"

On the third one, A spotlight and the camera focuses in on the emerging figure of Fujiko Mine, who stands at one of the crowd entrances. Behind her, the imposing XENA has the US Tag Team championship over her shoulder. Fujiko, with the FGA World championship over her shoulder, keeps her movements a bit reserved, but it is clear she is enjoying the music as the crowd is. She begins to make her way down the steps, dancing and bobbing down the steps until she reaches the arena floor.

J.A. Aldridge: Her partner, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin! She is one half of the reigning… defending… Unites States Tag Team Champions, as well as the reigning FGA World Champion! She is the “Apex Goddess” FUUUUUUUJIKOOOOOO MINE!!!

After maneuvering through a cleared aisle in the crowd, Fujiko reaches the ringside area, and follows it up with a graceful spring over the guardrail. She quickly runs up the steps, then hops onto the top turnbuckle. Xena clears the guardrail behind her, and a single spotlight converges on the woman known as the Apex Goddess. She hooks herself up on top, and as the title of the song comes around, she throws her left hand up, thrusting the FGA World championship high into the air.

"Now, tell me..."

"Can You Feel It?"

"Can You Feel It?"

"Can You Feel It?!"

Each time, blue and yellow streamers are thrown over her posing form. She takes any lingering streamers off her person, and then she comes down off the turnbuckle. Xena slides the United States Tag Team championship into the ring, and Fujiko carefully advances on it, before picking it up and hoisting it and the FGA world titles over her head. The crowd cheers, and as they do, she circles the ring. The song times out so that when she stops in the center, a spotlight converges on her in the center. The crowd sings out the lyrics along with The Jacksons this time...

"Can You Feel It?"

"Can You Feel It?"

"Can You Feel It?!"

Fujiko grins widely, taking in the adoration from the crowd. She then leans into the nearest corner before the match begins.

The bell outs as Mariani rushes across the ring to take Fujiko down with a running elbow tackle. But Fujiko’s is quick enough to duck the blow. When Mariani turns around, she gets caught with a handstand calf kick to the face.

Kris Cruise: Mariani tried to take out Fujiko! But the Apex Goddess was well prepared!

Fujiko then takes Mariani and whips her into the corner. She then rushes into the corner to attack when Mariani cuts her off with a back elbow to the face. Mariani turns to face the turnbuckles and then goes for the Morning Spider Despair (headscissors driver into the turnbuckles). Before Fujiko can be driven into the turnbuckles, she reaches up, grabs a hold of Mariani’s legs and pushes them up off of her. Mariani hangs onto the ropes as the rest of her body goes over the top rope. The momentum Mariani lands on her feet on the apron, Fujiko throws out a triangle enzuigiri. The Apex Goddess whiffs on the blow after Mariani ducks in time. Fujiko scrambles back to her feet, turns to Mariani and gets doubled over with a shoulder thrust through the ropes. The crowd gasps when Mariani goes for a vertical suplex to the outside. She’s got Fujiko up. But Fujiko’s able to slip down from behind and land on her feet on the floor. She then quickly yanks Mariani’s feet off the apron. After Mariani smacks face-first against the edge of the apron on the way down, Fujiko rolls back into the ring. Members of the crowd immediately jump to their feet as they see the Apex Goddess take off into the far ropes. When Fujiko returns, Mariani slides back in and throws out another running elbow tackle. Once again, Mariani whiffs after Fujiko ducks in time. She then counters with a handspring rebound enzuigiri, knocking Mariani down! Fujiko returns to her feet, turns away from Mariani and throws out a standing moonsault. After Mariani rolls out of the way, Fujiko lands on her feet before quickly flipping back to hit a standing moonsault on her second attempt! This time, Mariani gets her knees up. But instead of crashing down on the knees, Fujiko purposely overshoots her mat, land besides Mariani, grabs her by the legs and then rolls her back. Once Mariani rolls over onto her knees, Fujiko spikes her with a headscissors facebuster before following up with a standing moonsault! The crowd applauds the athleticism of Fujiko while she makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Mariani kicks out.

Kris Cruise: Fujiko was just too fast and too agile for Mariani there.

Fujiko picks up Mariani and whips her into the ropes. When Mariani returns, she sees Fujiko setting up for a back body drop. So she counters with a knee lift. After Fujiko’s knocked upright, Mariani turns and runs back into the ropes. When Mariani comes back, Fujiko knocks her down with a dropsault, lands on her feet and quickly follows up with a standing Shooting Star Press! The ref slides into place for the count.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Mariani kicks out.

Fujiko picks up Mariani, wrenches her arm, drags her over into the corner and tags in Izzy Anders.

Kris Cruise: Here comes The Mindkiller!

Stephy Auger: Great...

The crowd cheers as The Mindkiller steps in through the ropes and latches onto the arm. Mariani winces after being on the receiving end of an arm wrench. Another arm wrench from The Mindkiller causes Mariani to howl out in pain. Anders delivers a clubbing strike across the arm before attempting to yank it from out of its socket. Anders slowly performs another arm wrench before Mariani drops to a knee after another hard yank on the arm. The official reaches down and asks Mariani if she wants to give up. She refuses. Mariani gets back to a vertical base, only to end up back down on a knee after Anders tries to rip the arm from out of its socket. The ref is right there to ask Mariani if she wants to give up. Mariani refuses. After hooking her left arm around Mariani’s arm, Anders adds insult to injury by taking her right hand and paint brushing the back of Mariani’s head. Mariani scowls as she battles back to a vertical base. She then takes her free hand and moves Anders back across the ring and against the ropes. The official is quick to rush over and give both grapplers until a count of five to break it up.

Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR…

Mariani moves her free hand away from Anders. The Mindkiller then slowly lets go and puts her arms out. The crowd boos when Mason swings over and locks Anders in a crucifix in the ropes! Mariani starts to taunt Anders before raking her across the chest. She then begins to deliver repeated slaps of her own across the face. On the apron, Mason eventually lets go after being admonished by the official. Mason heads back into her corner while places Anders in a front facelock. She delivers multiple knee lifts before pulling Anders into the Silk & Cyanide corner. The crowd boos when Mason tags herself in and delivers repeated double ax handle smashes across the back. Mariani then finally lets go before heading out to the apron. Mason takes Anders by the hair before sending her stumbling back across the ring with a headbutt. Mason approaches from behind and turns Anders around when Anders piefaces her. Mason responds with a cross chop to the throat that doubles Anders over. Mason cups her hand underneath Anders’ chin and slowly lifts her head up… before The Mindkiller spits right in her face!

Stephy Auger: Ew! I see Anders learned those disgusting habits from that slob Fujiko!

Kris Cruise: Stop it, Stephy!

The crowd cheers as Mason turns and slowly walks out of the corner. A closeup shows Mason with a smile on her face...

Stephy Auger: ...huh? I know Silk & Cyanide are into some kinky stuff outside the ring. But I didn’t know that-

Kris Cruise: Stephy!

… but the smile slowly morphs into a scowl. Mason turns and charges into the corner, only to get knocked back with a boot to the face. Mason rushes back in to attack. This time, Anders cuts her off with a European Uppercut. She then tosses Mason into the corner before sending her slumping down with MUDA MUDA MUDA (machine gun punches)! The Mindkiller steps back towards the center of the ring. She points over at Mariani before rushing into the corner and squashing Mason with a low corner crossbody!

Kris Cruise: The Mindkiller just stole a play out of their playbook!

Stephy Auger: Here I was thinking Fujiko was the “thief” in The Joker & The Thief!

Anders drags Mason from out of the corner before making the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Mason kicks out.

Anders slowly pulls up Mason by the ears before doubling her over with a knee to the midsection. Mason’s then brought down with a snapmare. Anders points to a random fan in the crowd before heading into the ropes. When she returns, she throws out A Gift For You (Penalty Kick)! Anders whiffs on the kick after Mason rolls out of the way. The Mindkiller turns around before getting brought down to the mat with a step-up hurricanrana. Mason then rushes over and throws out a sliding clothesline. But she misses when Anders rolls out of the way. The Mindkiller then throws out the HEAD BOOT (shining yakuza kick). But Mason’s able to lean back out of the way just in time. After both grapplers scramble back to a vertical base, Anders scoops Mariani up across her shoulders. Before a fireman’s carry neckbreaker can be delivered, Mason slips down from behind. She then spins Anders towards her and brings her down with a jumping front facelock into a double knee chestbreaker. No! Anders blocks the hold of the way down. She then stands up with her arm hooked around one of Mason’s legs. The Mindkiller drags Mason around in a circle before executing a grounded dragon screw leg whip!

Kris Cruise: Oh! Mason’s knee!

Mason rolls across the ring before clutching her leg. She struggles to get back to a vertical base. But she doesn’t stay standing for long as Anders rushes over and brings her down with a rolling kneebar! The crowd cheers while Anders pulls back on the long. Mason grits her teeth as she tries to fight through the pain. The ref ask Mason if she wants to give up. Mason refuses. Anders continues to keep the hold applied… until Susan Kent flies off the ropes and delivers a diving leg drop!

Kris Cruise: Susan Kent just made her presence known for the first time in this match!

Kent picks up Anders, runs and tosses her through the ropes and onto the apron. She then stomps The Mindkiller off the apron and to the floor.

Kris Cruise: I’m not shocked to see Kent go after Anders! She’s had some strong words for The Mindkiller in recent months.

Stephy Auger:

Kent turns around to go after Mason. But Mason’s rolled over to her corner and tagged Mariani back in. Mariani goes to step through the ropes when Kent darts over and hits a dropkick, knocking Mariani to the floor. Kent rushes over and socks Mason with a hard left hook, dropping Mason to a seated position on the apron.

Kris Cruise: Kent’s hitting everything that moves.

Mariani begins to pick herself up off the floor while Kent turns and runs into the far ropes. When she returns, she runs back across the ring, twists over the top rope and knocks Mariani down with a corkscrew plancha!

Kris Cruise: The high risk pays off for Kent! She continues to be on a roll, Stephy!

Stephy Auger: I’m sure it won’t last for much longer.

Kent pulls up Mariani and rolls her back inside. She quickly rolls back in for the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
Mason reaches in through the ropes and delivers a stomp to the back, breaking the pin.

Kent steps out to the apron and nails Mason with repeatedly clubbing strikes. After doubling Mason over with a knee to the midsection, Kent pulls her into a front facelock. Kent jumps up, turns, falls back and plants Mason with a Tornado DDT off the apron and to the floor!

Kris Cruise: Kent’s unleashing all of her anger and aggression out on Silk & Cyanide after what they did to Delikado!

Stephy Auger: Now that I think about it, was what they did really that bad? I mean, the guy was pretty much in a wheelchair anyway, right? Can you really cripple a cripple?

Kris Cruise: Come on, Stephy!

Kent rolls herself back inside, where she gets caught with a running elbow tackle! Mariani pulls Kent back up before whipping her into the far ropes. When Kent returns, she counters a kitchen sink by flipping over the knee into a school boy.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
Mariani kicks out.

Both grapplers scramble to their feet. Kent is the first to strike with a European Uppercut. She then catches Mariani with a second European Uppercut. Then a third! She then positions Mariani for a belly to belly suplex. Before Kent can throw her down, Mariani counters with a bell clap to the ears! She then turns and hits the far ropes. When Mariani returns, she throws out another running elbow tackle. But she whiffs after Kent ducks out of the way. When Mariani turns around, she gets turned away from Kent after getting rocked with a hard left hook before Kent brings her down with an inverted headlock backbreaker. Kent returns to her feet before heading towards the ropes. She jumps onto the middle ropes and flips back for a Lionsault. The crowd boos when Mariani gets her knees up. Mariani gets to her feet, heads towards the ropes, bounces off and throws out a handspring moonsault. The boos turn to cheers when Kent gets her knees up. Kent gets back to her feet and hits the ropes. When she returns, she throws out a Rolling Thunder senton. The cheers turn back to boos when Mariani gets her knees up. Mariani then brings Kent back down with a double knee backbreaker before making the cover.

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

Kris Cruise: A series of counters ended up with Mariani getting the upper hand for a two count...

Mariani heads over and tags Mason back in. Once Mason gets in, Silk & Cyanide deliver The Pleasure Principle (front facelock from Mariani as Mason comes off the top rope with a back rake)! The boos continue as Silk & Cyanide lift Kent up before bringing her down with Descent (double suplex lift dropped into a sitout gourdbuster from Mariani)! Mariani rolls to the outside while Mason rolls her over for the cover.

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

Mason heads over and tags Mariani back in. Once Mariani gets in, Silk & Cyanide deliver a double arm wrench into stereo palm strikes to the chest. Mariani then hits a short-arm clothesline. She keeps a hold of the wrist as she rolls over. Mariani pulls Kent into a seated position before Mason flattens her with a sliding clothesline! Mariani makes the cover.

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

Kris Cruise: Silk & Cyanide are really starting to put it together.

Stephy Auger: They’re a well-oiled machine, Cruise! They should still be US Tag Champs right now! But they will rectify that injustice here tonight.

Mariani makes the tag back out to Mason. Silk & Cyanide then take Kent and whip her into the far ropes. When Kent returns, the crowd boos when Silk & Cyanide launch Kent over the top rope with a double hip toss the floor!!!

OOOOOHHHH!!!

Kris Cruise: Did you hear the impact from that fall!?

Stephy Auger: Yeah, but I sure would love to hear it again!

Mariani rolls to the outside before pulling Kent back to her feet. She holds Kent in place before getting out of the way when Mason launches herself to the outside and connects with a slingshot crossbody! Fujiko is seen stepping back in through the ropes.


Stephy Auger: What is this showoff about to do...


The Apex Goddess runs across the ring, flips over the top rope and takes out both Mariani and Mason with a one leg springboard somersault plancha off the middle rope!!!!

FU-JI-KO!
FU-JI-KO!!
FU-JI-KO!!!

[/i][/center]

Kris Cruise: The FGA World Champion took it to the air before taking out Mariani and Mason!

Fujiko takes Mariani and whips her down into the guardrail before taking Mason and rolling her back inside. Fujiko leaps onto the apron before delivering a topé atomico! She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Mason gets her foot on the bottom rope.

Kris Cruise: Solid ring awareness from Mason.

Stephy Auger: Kris Cruise complementing a member of Silk & Cyanide? I’m shocked.

Fujiko takes Mason and goes for an irish whip. Mason is quick to reverse and sends Fujiko towards the ropes. Instead of running the ropes, the Apex Goddess counters with a handspring rebound Ace Crusher! She turns Mason over and makes the cover.

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

Kris Cruise: Fujiko caught Mason with that rebound Ace Crusher out of nowhere for a two count.

Fujiko pulls Mason back to her feet. After hitting her with four right hands to the face, she goes for a kick to the midsection. As soon as Mason catches her foot, Fujiko throws out an enzuigiri. Fujiko whiffs on the kick after Mason ducks the blow. But she’s able to land on her foot before quickly following up with an inverted enzuigiri that knocks Mason down! She makes the cover.

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

Fujiko takes Mason and whips her into the corner. The Apex Goddess rushes across the ring to attack when Mason hops through the middle ropes. She leans back to connect with a pendulum overhead kick. But Fujiko’s there to catch her feet. She then pushes the legs down, causes Mason to stand upright. Fujiko then hooks Mason from behind before bringing her down with an inverted DDT! The cheers continue as she drags Mason away from the corner before making the cover.

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

Fujiko picks up Mason and delivers a spinning back kick to the midsection. Mason doubles over before dropping down on all fours. The Apex Goddess then stand up on Mason’s back. She scans the crowd, goes for a standing moonsault and gets countered after Mason rolls over onto her back and gets the knees up! The crowd boos when Fujiko bounces off the knees. Fujiko can be seen guarding her midsection while Mason holds her knee. Right after Fujiko picks herself up off the mat, Mason brings her down with the Aenigma (Mason rolls up the opponent into a kneeling position with a schoolboy, where she grabs their head and slams it into the mat)! She then pulls Fujiko back to her feet before bringing her down with the Falling Idol (hangman's neckbreaker to a kneeling opponent)! The boos continue as she makes the cover.

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

Mason limps over and tags Mariani back in. Mariani gets in, takes Fujiko and tosses her out onto the apron before dragging her across the ropes. Members of the crowd then start to stand when they see Mason climbing the turnbuckles. Boos from the crowd follow when Silk & Cyanide deliver The Infernal Council (rope-hung DDT from Mariani/top rope splash across the back from Mason)! Mariani pushes Fujiko over and makes the cover.

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

Kris Cruise: How did Fujiko get her shoulder up after that?

Mariani picks up Fujiko, heads over into the Silk & Cyanide corner and slams her face-first into the top turnbuckle. Once the tag has been made to Mason, Silk & Cyanide pummel Fujiko down in the corner with repeatedly clubbing strikes. Mason then steps back towards the center of the ring before charging forward. The boos continue when Mariani hip toss Mason into Fujiko, squashing the Apex Goddess with a cannonball senton! Mason drags Fujiko out of the corner and makes the cover.

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

Mason picks up Fujiko, brings her into the corner and tags Mariani back in. Once Mariani makes her way to the center of the ring and gets down on one knee, Mason takes Fujiko and goes for the Vow (one-handed bulldog by Mason across Mariani’s knee). At the last second, Fujiko shoves Mason off of her and into Mariani. The crowd cheers when Silk & Cyanide collide! Mariani falls to the mat while Mason tumbles to the canvas.

Kris Cruise: Fujiko had that move well scouted! Both Mason and Mariani are down! Can Fujiko tag out!?

Fujiko picks herself up off the mat while Silk & Cyanide get back to a vertical base. Mariani and Mason realize that they standing in the way of Fujiko making the tag out to Anders. But that doesn’t stop the Apex Goddess from rushing forward.

Stephy Auger: She’s crazy!

Silk & Cyanide rush forward to stop Fujiko. They go to deliver a double clothesline. But Fujiko rolls underneath it, leaps over and tags Anders back in.

Kris Cruise: IZZY’S BACK IN!

The Mindkiller gets in and immediately ducks another double clothesline attempt. When Mason and Mariani turns around, Anders throws out a step-up enzuigiri to Mariani. Mariani ducks the blow. But this causes Mason to get hit with the kick! Mariani then turns to check on Mason. Before Mariani can turn around, The Mindkiller takes control of her back and knocks her down with the Black Song (hammerlock lariat)! Anders turns back towards Mason, runs over and flattens her with the HEAD BOOT!

Anders heads over, takes Mariani and whips her into the corner. She then heads over, picks up Mason and lifts her up across her shoulders.

Kris Cruise: Here we go!

The Mindkiller rushes across the ring before launching Mason into Mariani with a lawn dart in the corner! After Mason bounces off of Mariani and hits the mat, Anders takes Mariani and whips her into the far corner. She then rushes across the ring and knocks Mariani’s head back with a running European Uppercut! Anders takes Mariani by the hair and pulls her out of the corner before lifting her up and planting her with the Aniplex (cutthroat brainbuster)! She turns over and makes the cover.

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

Kris Cruise: Kent with the save!

Anders slaps the canvas before slowly rising to her feet and getting in Kent’s face.

Stephy Auger: I think Izzy’s about had enough of Kent…

Kent begins to mouth off at Anders before…

*WHACK*

Anders sends spittle flying out of Kent’s mouth when she gets nailed with a Stockton Slap!

Kent turns back to Anders and…

*WHACK!*

Anders doubles Kent over with a Stockton Slap across the ear.

Kent goes to stand back up when

*WHACK!*

Kent drops down to a knee after getting another Stockton Slap to the ear. Kent groans while she covers her ear. She pulls her hand out away her ear. A closeup shot reveals a trickle of blood escaping the ear.

Kris Cruise: Uh oh...

When Kent looks back up to Anders…

*CRACK*

Anders blasts her with an Axe Kick across the top of the head, sending Kent crumbling to the mat! She drops down and makes the cover.

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

Kent gets her shoulder up.

Anders quickly latches onto the arm that Kent just got off the mat and pulls her back to her feet. The Mindkiller wrenches the arm before bringing Kent down with a double knee armbreaker. Anders rushes over, pulls Kent back to her feet by her hair and then brings her down with another double knee armbreaker! Anders takes control of Kent’s arm once more before bringing her down with a single arm DDT! Kent clutches the arm as she slowly rolls away from a stalking Anders. When Kent rolls out onto the apron for safety, Anders uses the sole of her boot to nudge Kent on the back of her head and knock her to the floor. As soon as Anders steps out onto the apron, Dana Wheeler rushes over and hooks her arms around Anders’ leg.

Kris Cruise: Woah woah woah!

Stephy Auger:

Anders is able to shake Wheeler off of her. She then hops down to the mat, doubles Wheeler over with a boot to the midsection and then whips her hard against the guardrail! The Mindkiller sends Wheeler’s head snapping back as she knocks her down with a hard European Uppercut.

Kris Cruise: I’m sure Anders has been waiting to do that for a while now!

When Anders turns around, Kent doubles her over with a boot to the midsection before bringing her down with a sitout facebuster on the floor!

Stephy Auger: Wheeler bought Kent just enough time to recover and she made the most of it. Shocking, I know.

Kent picks up Anders and rolls her back inside. She then rolls back in and waves up Anders with her good arm. Once Anders gets back to her feet and turns around, Kent brings her down with a Codebreaker. Anders remains sprawled on the apron while Kent steps out to the apron. She then scales the turnbuckles. As soon as Kent reaches the top, she leaps off for the Photo-Op (Frog Splash) and gets countered when Anders gets her knees up!

Kent slowly picks herself back up. When she turns around, The Mindkiller unloads on her with Dirty Dancin (kick flurry)!

Kris Cruise: Kent is caught in a barrage of kicks!

Anders continues to unload on Kent with rights and lefts to the body.

Stephy Auger: Izzy’s still going!

The fans in attendance stand up to cheer and applaud Anders as she continues to go to town on Kent.

Kris Cruise: The Mindkiller is teeing off on Kent in front of this capacity crowd! My Lord!

Anders finally slows down. When she stops, a hurt Kent leans forward before dropping down to a knee. Anders continues to lean forward until she gains her second wind. She quickly pulls Kent into a front facelock and plants her with a DDT! Without letting go, Anders rolls over, pulls Kent back to her feet and plants her with a second DDT! The Mindkiller pulls Kent up before planting her with a third DDT!

Kris Cruise: Three Enemigos!

Anders pulls Kent into a seated position before pointing to a random fan. She then runs into the ropes. When Anders returns, she flattens Kent with A Gift For You! The cheers continue as Anders pulls up Kent, lifts her up and plants her with the Shotgun Party II (Ki Krusher)!

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

The crowd boos when Mariani leaps over and breaks up the pin.

Stephy Auger: What a save!

Mariani grabs a hold of Anders’ wrists and pulls her over onto her knees. The crowd gasps when Mariani throws out Minerva (double wristlock knee strike). Instead of getting caught in the face with the move, Anders intentionally moves her shoulder into the way to get struck with the move! While Anders is still down on her knees, Mariani takes several steps back. She then rushes forward to throw out Lilith’s Kiss (bicycle knee strike)! The crowd erupts with cheers when Fujiko swoops in out of nowhere to cut Mariani off with the 4-Play (running single leg dropkick)!

Kris Cruise: Fujiko with a timely save! The Joker & The Thief might have been seconds away from losing their US Tag Titles!

The Apex Goddess pulls up Mariani, lifts her up and brings her down with the MIDA Multi-Tool (Lumbar Check)! Mason then turns Fujiko around, but she gets caught with an elbow strike to the face. Fujiko then hits her with a roundhouse kick before knocking her back with a handstand calf kick. She then turns and hits the ropes. When Fujiko comes back, she executes a running hurricanrana, sending Mason through the ropes and to the floor! Back in the ring, Mariani takes Fujiko, runs and chucks her over the top rope and to the floor! Mariani then rushes over and throws out another Lilith’s Kiss at Anders. But The Mindkiller is able to slip out of the way. She quickly takes control of Mariani’s back and goes for the Black Song. But Mariani ducks the clothesline. When Anders turns around, Mariani doubles her over with a boot before bringing her down with an arm trap swinging neckbreaker. She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
Kent breaks up the pin with a Rolling Thunder senton!

Kris Cruise: Another save by Kent!

Stephy Auger: What a pest she is...

Kent pushes Mariani off of Anders before heading back to the outside. After climbing the turnbuckles, Kent leaps off and connects with a flying body splash! NO! Anders gets her knees up. After Kent bounces off of Anders’ knees, Anders turns over to pick herself up off the mat. Out of nowhere comes Mariani, who quickly grapes a hold of Anders, turns and tosses her shoulder-first into the ring post! The Mindkiller slips through the ropes while Mariani rushes across the ring. Mariani swoops in with a front facelock on Kent, lifts her up and plants her with the Subjugation (Implant DDT)! She makes the cover!

ONE!
.
Fujiko rolls back inside
.
TWO!
.
She goes to make the save, but Mason reaches in and wraps her arms around Fujiko’s ankle.
.
THREE!

"She's Gone Away" blares throughout the arena.

J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the winners of this bout… aaaaand NEEEEEEEEWWWWW United States Tag Team Champions, SILK & CYANIDE!

The crowd erupts with boos when Mariani and Mason get handed the United States Tag Team Championship belts. Silk & Cyanide retreating to the floor and raise their tag titles in the air.

[FGA Office]

Backstage, and one half of the Polychromatic Lion Attack Squad and number one contender to the FGA Mid-Atlantic Legacy title, Peaches, is sitting on a bench inside her locker room. Ready dressed in her ring attire, complete with the flannel shirt and Raleigh Renegades trucker cap, Peaches has her head bowed and her hands wrapped around the back of her neck as she starts speaking.

Peaches: This is it…

She states in a whisper before raising her head to look at the camera, her hands falling down to her lap as she continues.

Peaches: An’ I could sit here an’ talk about this bein’ my first shot at a singles title in…eight months…my first shot at an FGA singles title in God knows how long…

It’s because her focus has been on tag team wrestling, honest!

Peaches: But we both know this was never about the belt, Piper. Takin’ that title from you is just gonna be the icin’ on the cake. An’ I reckon I might could just do that…

A wan smile spreads across Peaches’s face, before she bows her head again.

Peaches: But this match? All of this between us? It’s about so much more than that Mid-Atlantic Legacy title, Piper. I know it, you know it, an’ each an’ every fan here in the Staples Center knows it too. It’s just…when you went an’ talked shit about me all those weeks ago…I never thought we’d end up here. I never thought you’d do what you did…to Dan.

She sighs, deep and heavy at the memories of seeing those damn Polaroid pictures of Dan laid out on the ground. Of watching him being loaded into that ambulance. Of being in the hospital with him.

Peaches: So right now, I’m fixin’ to do somethin’ I never expected I’d do, an’ that’s whoop your ass, Piper! An’ take that title from you, so you can get some semblance of what what I’m feelin’ right now. ‘Cause lemme tell you somethin’…what happened two weeks…when I speared you through that taco truck? That ain’t gonna compare to what I got planned for you tonight, Piper. You wanna go after me? Fine. You wanna parade ‘round with that Polaroid camera bein’ an annoyin’ li’l gnat? Fine. But you went too damn far! You went an’ attacked my husband…an’ for that you’ve gotta pay..

There’s a momentary pause as Peaches finishes speaking. She bows her head once again, trying to center herself ahead of what could be her biggest match of the year so far, when suddenly…

Unknown Man: You’re going to do great out there…

Peaches: What the–

The former FGA World Tag Team Champion does a double take after hearing the voice from the doorway, but sure enough her husband is standing in the door way of the locker room.

Peaches: You made it!

Peaches leaps up from her seat and bounds across the room to where Dan Herrera, still in his neck brace, is standing. She hugs him around the torso, resting her head on his shoulder, as Dan gingerly wraps his arms around her shoulders. It’s the first time he’s been seen on FGA television since the attack at the hands of Piper Lennon a few weeks ago, and apparently an unexpected one!

Dan Herrera: I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.

And on that note the show cuts elsewhere, leaving the Polychromatic Lion Attack Squad members in a loving embrace.

[FGA Office]

The Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion Piper Lennon is sat cross-legged in a far off secluded corner of the arena, on the floor with the belt casually resting by her feet. Her face is bearing a contemplative expression, although it's questionable whether she's actually deep in thought or just deep up her own ass.

Piper Lennon: Promises are always kind of funny to me, not gonna lie. Maybe it's because I'm a curious person, always looking to learn new things, open to discovering more about the universe and the world around us. But like, when Peachykins makes a promise to the fans that there's going to be more of the same heading my way at this little showdown thing, it makes me raise an eyebrow.

And on cue she quirks a brow.

Piper Lennon: Because honestly, who's to say that what happened last show wasn't exactly what I wanted to? I'm not trying to go all evil supervillain master plan on you, but I mean if you look at my history you'll see I've invited the likes of uh, what's her face ... Aria to take me to pound town. Not saying that I was baiting her in there, but to not at least consider the possibility that I was trying to discover something or make some greater point? To just take such a simplistic view that she obviously has an advantage says a lot about her simplistic viewpoint and way of only seeing the world from one lens.

She raps her camera lightly with her index finger.

Piper Lennon: It's what she did with the canned blah blah blah about me disrespecting the lineage or prestige or whatever of my shiny here.

Piper eyes the title belt.

Piper Lennon: Like there's some set code of conduct and rules that someone holding one of these has to abide by. Maybe I did understate things a bit when I said it was just a piece of metal and leather I wanted because it's shiny, but unlike her I'm willing to admit I make mistakes and can be wrong. Because I think after some soul searching and whatnot, a title is really a platform for you to show who you are and what you're about. So if you ask me? I'm treating this object with more respect than anyone who just wears it around their waist, doesn't use it as a coaster because someone else tells them they're not supposed to, all that jazz.

A light shrug.

Piper Lennon: I'm taking full advantage of the platform to express myself from how I see it, that's super respectful. Again, it's all about perspective and point of view. It's kind of a shame really that ol' swamp curtains had to reinforce stereotypes that were out there about people from the South being closed minded. I didn't want to really buy into them myself without more research, because I'm actually open minded and not a bigot, but from where I'm sitting the picture that's been taken here doesn't lie. A picture of someone who has tunnel vision, and not to be crass, but is a bit selfish wanting to have their cake and to eat it too. Dipping their toes into the water of my division, then acting all butt hurt and offended when I do her a favor and temporarily clearing out the piece that's standing in the way of her being free to show what she's all about on her own here.

She lets a beat skip and cocks her head.

Piper Lennon: You'd think if she feels so strongly about herself that she thinks she can put it in stone that she not only deserves to be on, but can stand out in something that by name is supposed to be a showdown of the best of the best-- All Stars if you will, that she'd be a little grateful to get a chance to show it. Maybe she didn't really want it, maybe she's staying focused on her delusions because if she peels them away she knows that people might find what she's all about to be ugly, I don't know. What I do know?

Piper slowly pushes herself up to her feet, a grin beginning to creep across her face.

Piper Lennon: Is that I'm going to do what I can to take a really good Snapshot for the world of what she's all about tonight.

[FGA Office]

Kris Cruise: I can’t even believe that Piper Lennon can sit there and say all of that with a straight face!

Stephy Auger: What, the truth?

Kris Cruise: Truth!? There wasn’t a truthful thing that came out of her mouth just now!

Stephy Auger: I think you’re blowing this all out of proportion. People like you, Peaches and, I hate to even include him in this, but people like Marlon Cure want to make Piper seem like she’s some sort of crazy woman. If you ask me, she’s one of the more well-adjusted members of either roster.

Kris Cruise: Well adjusted? C’mon Stephy. We all know that Lennon is far from being right in the head. We all saw that when she showed up here two years ago and brutally assaulted AMIRA - the former Skylar Cloud - and put her out of commission for good. She’s been on her own twisted journey of “life experiences” ever sense. You don’t attack someone’s loved one simply because they disagree with how you carry yourself. You don’t then add insult to injury by taking pictures of the person after your attack and taunt them with it. But that’s exactly what Piper Lennon has done! Tonight, she’s going to have to answer for all that she’s done to the Herrera family. Let’s send it to the ring…

FGA MID-ATLANTIC LEGACY CHAMPIONSHIP
(c) Piper Lennon vs. Peaches

The arena lights dim as the instrumental version of Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street" begins to play. A few moments pass before Piper Lennon ambles out from behind the curtain, pausing at the top of the ramp to survey her surroundings. Much like in the vein of wrestling legend James Betterman, her championship belt hangs from her pants like a penis. She zigs and zags, taking her time as she makes her way down the ramp, taking everything in but not paying the fans any particular mind. After circling halfway around the ring, she removes her jacket and camera, leaving them at the timekeeper's area.

J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for ONE fall and is for the FGA MID-ATLANTIC LEGACY CHAMPION! Introducing first, hailing from La Jolla, California! She is the reigning… defending… FGA Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion, PIPERRRRR LENNON!

Piper takes the championship belt, holding it in her mouth by the leather for a moment before tossing it over with the rest of her stuff. She stops in front of the announce desk, leaning back against it and staring up at the ceiling. Only then does she pick the pace up, lurching forward and sliding under the bottom rope into the ring, then popping up to her feet. She takes her corner, slouching back and drumming her fingers as she waits for the match to begin.

The crowd fall silent in anticipation, until finally "Shit Shots Count" by The Drive By Truckers starts to blare out over the speakers here in the Staples Center! The fans in attendance begin to cheer as Peaches steps out from behind the curtain, lacking some of her usual enthusiasm. Standing at the top of the aisle, Peaches looks out across the crowd – most of them on their feet, cheering her on – as she removes her trucker cap, and throws it to one lucky fan.

J.A. Aldridge: And her opponent, hailing from Fayetteville, Georgia, weighing in at 132 pounds ... PEACHES!

Peaches starts to walk down the aisle, moving slowly and purposefully as she removes her flannel shirt ready for action, again throwing that into the crowd. That look of steely determination etched on her face as she refuses to take her eyes off the Mid-Atlantic Legacy champion in the ring, even as Peaches moves up the steel steps and onto the apron.

The fans still cheering as Peaches finally steps in through the middle ropes and into the ring, where she makes a beeline for Piper Lennon, so that the two wrestlers are standing toe-to-toe.

Lennon is taken by surprise when Peaches drops her with a forearm strike.

Kris Cruise: Peaches is going right after Lennon!

DING! DING!! DING!!!

The champion picks herself up before getting knocked back down with another forearm strike. Peaches reaches down, pulls up Lennon, runs into the corner and slams her face-first into the top turnbuckle. The challenger turns Lennon around before doubling her over with multiple toe kicks to the midsection. Peaches then takes Lennon by the wrist and shoots her into the far corner with an irish whip. The crowd cheers after Peaches runs across the ring, hops on top of Lennon and throws her out of the corner with a monkey flip. The crowd cheers when Lennon rotates in the air and lands face-down on the mat!

Kris Cruise: Did you see how Piper just landed!?

Lennon tries to pick herself up while Peaches runs past her and into the ropes. When Peaches returns, she knocks Lennon down across the middle rope with a dropkick to the back. Peaches then heads back into the far ropes. She bounces of the ropes, runs back across the ring, jumps up and lands across Lennon’s back with a leapfrog body guillotine! Peaches reaches down, pulls up Lennon by the air, doubles her over with another toe kick and then brings her down with a sitout facebuster.

Kris Cruise: Peaches drives Lennon down face-first to the mat.

Peaches yanks up Lennon by the hair before whipping her into the ropes. She then catches Lennon off the ropes before throwing her down hard with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker! Peaches pulls Lennon back to her feet, scoops her up and delivers a rib breaker before launching her across the ring with a fallaway slam! Lennon bounces off the mat before her momentum sends her rolling across the ring and out to the apron. The champion can be seen wincing while she gingerly touches her side. Members of the crowd begin to stand up when they see Peaches slowly drop down into a three-point stance. The capacity crowd murmurs amongst themselves while Lennon slowly reaches up and starts to pull herself up using the ropes. Peaches narrows her eyes before taking off across the ring. The crowd cheers when Peaches goes to take a page out of Dan Herrera’s book and goes for a spear off the apron through the ropes…

YEEEEA-OHHHHH!

-- but Lennon counters by grabbing the middle rope and yanking it up, hitting Peaches back in the face and knocking her down to the mat.

BOOOOO!

Lennon drops down to the floor. She reaches in, grabs Peaches by the hair with both hands, drags her upper body body out onto the apron and nails her with repeated clubbing strikes across the face and chest. She then stands back before driving an elbow down across the face. Another elbow strikes Peaches across the face. Lennon then drops down to a knee and applies a rear chinlock. Instead of pulling back with the back of Peaches’ neck against her knee, Lennon pulls down with the back of Peaches’ neck against the edge of the apron! The crowd continues to boo the champion heavily while the ref gives her until the count of five to break the hold.

Ref: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR! FI-

Lennon reluctantly lets go. She then pulls Peaches even further out onto the apron. The Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion climbs onto the apron before stepping back towards the ring post. She then moves forward, leaping into the air and knocking Peaches off the apron with a jumping double stomp! The crowd gasps when Peaches lands in a folded up position on the floor!

Stephy Auger: I’m sure that’s not the first time Peaches has found herself in that position.

Kris Cruise: Stephy, what the hell is the matter with you?

Lennon picks up Peaches before delivering a side russian leg sweep against the guardrail. While Peaches is seated against the guardrail, Lennon takes her by the arm before delivering a soccer kick flurry to the chest. She then pulls Peaches back to her feet before climbing over the guardrail.

Kris Cruise: What’s Lennon doing here? The ring is that way.


The official pleads with Lennon to bring the match back into the ring. The champion responds by delivering a jumping neckbreaker slam across the top of the guardrail! There’s a collective gasps when Peaches crumbles to the floor.

Stephy Auger: Oof!

Kris Cruise: Lennon is trying to cripple Peaches!

Stephy Auger: No, she’s wants to bring them closer together. Now they can have matching neckbraces!

Kris Cruise: ...

The referee immediately drops down and checks on Peaches, who remains motionless on the floor. The murmurs of the crowd are then replaced with boos after Lennon climbs over the guardrail and rolls back inside. She then tells the ref to count Peaches out.

Kris Cruise: Look at Lennon! This… THIS...is our Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion.

Stephy Auger: I know, isn’t it great?

Kris Cruise: ...

Lennon continues to stand with her hands on her hips while the referee tends to Peaches. Since the official won’t start to count Peaches out, Lennon drops and rolls back to the outside.

The Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion heads over towards the corner and grabs her Polaroid camera. She slowly makes her way over, crouches down next to Peaches and the official and snaps a picture of them.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Kris Cruise: The nerve of Piper Lennon! Peaches is down. She might be seriously here. Yet here’s Piper wanting to snap some damn pictures!

Lennon places the Polaroid back on the canvas in the corner. After heading back over to Peaches, Lennon pulls her up before whipping her down ringside and into the guardrail. There’s a loud *CLANG!* when Peaches’ back crashes into the metal guardrail. Peaches continues to lay against the rail while Lennon holds her arms out in front of her. The champion uses her thumbs and index fingers to frame a shot of Peaches while the crowd continues to boo. She then charges down ringside. Lennon goes for a leaping bionic elbow… and misses when Peaches catches her in mid air, runs forward and rams Lennon back-first into the ring post! The crowd cheers when Lennon goes down!

Stephy Auger: WHAT!?

Kris Cruise: Peaches dug dig to pull off that counter! But how much does she have left in her!

Stephy Auger: This match should be long over! The official should have just counted her out when Piper demanded him to do his job!

Peaches collapses against the apron before falling back down to the floor.

Kris Cruise:

Stephy Auger: Look at her! She’s down! She’s got nothing left in the tank!

The referee heads back to the outside and briefly checks on Lennon before turning to attend to Peaches once more.

Stephy Auger: Hey! HEY! The champ is over there, buddy! She’s got priority!

Peaches is seen clutching the side of her neck while Lennon continues to favor her back. The champion then gets up to a knee before returning to a vertical base. She heads over, nudges the official out of the way, grabs Peaches by the hair and purposely jerks jerks her neck to the left.

BOOOOO!

The crowd lets Lennon have it when she purposely jerks Peaches’ neck to the right.

BOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Lennon pulls Peaches up by the hair before rolling her back inside. After Lennon climbs up onto the apron, the official gets on the apron next to her and lets her have it.

Stephy Auger: Maybe if he did his job and counted Peaches out, he would have spared her this extra punishment she’s about to receive.

Lennon continues to argue with the official while he admonishes her. He continues to go off on Lennon until his eyes widen. He then jumps out of the way. As soon as Lennon turns her attention back to the ring, the crowd erupts with cheers when Peaches spears Lennon off the apron and to the floor!!!

Kris Cruise: OH!

Stephy Auger: The referee distracted Lennon!

Kris Cruise: WHAT!?

Stephy Auger: He distracted Lennon long enough to buy Peaches some time! Her and that ref are in cahoots!

Kris Cruise: Give me a break!

Lennon remains sprawled out on the mat while Peaches clutches the back of her neck with both hands. The official heads back down and checks on Lennon before checking on Peaches. The challenger continues to favor her neck. Soon, she begins to feed off the positive energy of the crowd. The capacity crowd here in Los Angeles begin to applaud Peaches as she slowly turns over onto a knee. She’s met with even more cheers when she finally picks herself back up off the floor. Peaches continues to favor her neck as she slowly reaches down and pulls Lennon back up. Lennon gets slammed face-first onto the apron before getting pushed back inside. Peaches slowly rolls herself back in. She then takes Lennon, brings her away from the ropes and delivers an inverted facelock backbreaker. While Lennon is still down, Peaches heads into the corner and climbs up onto the middle ropes. After Lennon picks herself back up, Peaches brings her right back down with a diving neckbreaker! The cheers continue as she makes the cover.

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

Lennon gets her shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: Peaches gave Lennon a neckbreaker of her own! But it only got a two count.

Peaches takes Lennon and slowly pulls her off the mat until Lennon cheap shots her with a throat thrust. The boos continue when Lennon brings her down with a sitout jawbreaker! She makes the cover.

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

Peaches gets her shoulder up.

Lennon makes the cover again.

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

Peaches gets her shoulder up.

Lennon takes Peaches and whips her into the corner. The champion runs across the ring and bashes Peaches with a leaping corner bionic elbow. She then turns Peaches around before sitting her down on the top turnbuckle. Lennon climbs up onto the middle rope, takes control of Peaches back and goes or a belly to back superplex. The boos quickly turn to cheers when Peaches reverses, turns around and lands down across Lennon on the way down in a lateral press!!!

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

There’s a collective sigh when Lennon gets her shoulder up. Peaches takes the champion, pulls her up, grabs her from the side and then brings her down with a moonsault side slam! The cheers continue as she makes the cover.

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

There’s another collective sigh when Lennon gets her shoulder up. Instead of getting distracted and disappointed by Lennon beating the three count, Peaches quickly gets back to her feet and heads out to the apron. Members of the crowd stand up as she begins to ascend the turnbuckles.

Kris Cruise: Peaches is going to put this one away! We might be seconds away from a new champion!

Peaches remains crouched on the top turnbuckle while Lennon turns over onto a knee. The champion then gets back to a vertical base. As soon as Lennon turns around, the crowd cheers as Peaches leaps off for a diving crossbody block!

-- but Lennon catches her in mid air, stumbles back across the ring an then purposely drops her neck-first across the top rope with a flapjack!

BOOOOOOO!

Peaches clutches the side of her neck with both hands. But that doesn’t stop Lennon. The champion moves Peaches’ hands from out of the way before putting the boots to the neck!

color=magenta]Stephy Auger:[/color] Get her, Piper! Get her!

Lennon pulls Peaches up off the mat before hitting a gamengiri to the side of the neck. Peaches staggers across the ring before dropping down to a knee. Peaches is able to pick herself back up. But Lennon is right there to knock her down from behind with a running double ax handle to the back of the neck! Lennon slowly pulls Peaches back up before running into the far corner. The champion bounces off the turnbuckles, runs back across the ring and delivers a front dropkick to the back, sending Peaches flying into the corner! Lennon returns to feet before returning to the far corner. She bounces off the the turnbuckles, comes back, picks up speed, jumps up and delivers a leaping corner bionic elbow across the back of the neck! Lennon takes Peaches by the hair, pulls her back to the center of the ring and delivers a Heart Punch. The crowd erupts with boos when Lennon follows up with the Snapshot (cravate knee facebreaker)! She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
THREE!

NO!

The crowd gasps, then cheers when Peaches gets her shoulder up in time!

Kris Cruise: Peaches got her shoulder up!

Stephy Auger: W-what? WHAT?

Undeterred, Lennon grabs Peaches by the hair and yanks her back to her feet. She then jumps up before bringing Peaches back down with another Snapshot! Lennon makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
THREE!

The crowd boos when “Baker Street (Instrumental)” hits the speakers. Lennon gets handed her championship by the official.

J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this bout... aaaaaaand STIIIIIILLLLLL Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion, PIPER LENNON!

The boos continue while Lennon takes the Mid-Atlantic Legacy Champion and slings it across her shoulder. Lennon looks back at Peaches before rolling out of the ring…

[FGA Office]

Sitting alone in his locker room, Johnny Karma stares at some insignificant spot on the opposite wall in much the same way a dog stares at something entering its territory, maintaining a singular focus that is one part curiosity and seventeen parts preparing to leap into action and clamp its jaws around the interloper’s jugular in order to make it back off

As he continues to stare, Karma slaps the palm of his hand against the bench he’s sat on a couple of times due to some unspoken irritation that has got him to the point where he needs to physically do something to try and release some pent-up aggression…and as he does this, Cherry Baum peeks around the locker room door

Cherry Baum: Bad time?

Rather than answer directly, Karma gestures in the vague direction of the bench to offer her a place to sit, and not without a little trepidation she accepts the offer

Cherry Baum: Listen, J-K, I was just talking with Fuji and…

Johnny Karma: And…?

The bluntness in Karma’s tone stuns Cherry for a moment, as she was not expecting him to put up a wall, and she needs to take a moment to regain her composure

Cherry Baum: And, J-K, she told me what you were saying about Ricky Valero at the last show. About how you spoke about looking to put a beating on him, to hurt him just because you can, the sort of thing that you’ve always…

Johnny Karma: Do you think he doesn’t deserve it?

Cherry Baum: I…

Johnny Karma: Let me tell you one thing about the Ricky Valeros of the world: you try to ignore them, you try to not let them get to you, but that only makes them try harder. They poke, they push, they provoke, all to get a rise out of you because they get off on it, because they’re miserable human beings, so if I’ve got to push back I am going to push back hard, so hard they lose their footing and land right on their ass.

Cherry Baum: J-K, this isn’t…

Johnny Karma: It’s just like what I had to put up with when I was going up against the guy whose coattails he’s been riding his whole career. Nothing’s off limits for them, so you know what? They get to feel what it’s like when I decide that nothing’s off limits for me – but it’s not trying to get a rise out of them like some pathetic Twitter troll, it’s knocking some decency into them one punch at a time – and if they want to keep pushing and poking, I’m going to hit him harder still, because it’s time the likes of Ricky Valero knew what it felt like to be a victim for a change, rather than trying to make everyone else’s life miserable. So why not see how happy he feels counting his teeth when I’m done, see if he can crack an insincere smile when I’ve cracked his front…

Cherry Baum: JOHN…

Having raised her voice in anger, Cherry is silent for a moment as she looks at Karma, failing to recognise the man sitting in front of her

Cherry Baum: This. Is. Not. You. Do you get it? You’re not the guy who sits down writing some manifesto for hurting your opponents, you leave that to the guys you beat because you’re better than that crap.

Johnny Karma: And what’s that gotten me lately? A long line of people trying to get in my way and stop me achieving the one thing I told myself I needed to do, all because they think it’s some kind of big joke. So why don’t I give those same people a reason to stay out of my way and focus on what I need to do?

Cherry Baum: Because…

Cherry pauses for a fraction of a second, letting out a frustrated breath as she resists the urge to shake some sense into him

Cherry Baum: Because is that even what you want to do?

There’s a complete silence on Karma’s point when Cherry answers the question, but rather than look contemplative of what Cherry asked as if he realises that he’s taking the fastest route off the reservation, instead Karma once again glares in the direction of that insignificant spot on the opposite wall

Cherry Baum: John?

Turning his head in Cherry’s direction, Karma just about allows the glare to vanish from his brows – but it’s a close-run thing

Johnny Karma: What I need to do is shut Ricky Valero up, and I need to make sure he gets the hell off my back. When that happens, then I’m back on the path the likes of him and Dom Harter have been looking to drag me off for the past few months. Now if you’ll excuse me…

Karma gestures in the direction of the door with one hand while holding up his bag with the other, telling Cherry that he’d like a little time on his own to get ready for his match – however, she is reluctant to leave, instead looking at Karma wondering what the hell is wrong with him and trying to appeal to his sense of not being the guy he’s sounded like lately

Sadly, for Cherry, her efforts are all for naught and she ends up leaving the locker room confused about who she’s actually been talking to.