Press Conference Thread for 09.14.19

[FGA Office]

DDT3 Press Conference
Venue: Convention Hall at the Landers Center
Location: Southaven, MS
Date: September 14, 2019 (in character)
Start Time: 12pm EST (in character)
Invitees:
Canadian Chainsaw Massacre, Best For Business, The Pretty Savage Elevator Life Squad, Team S.U.P.E.R.K.I.C.K., The Hellcat Spangled Death Squad, Super Mario Wrestling Bros, Big Coffin Hunters, The Red Scare, Baewatch.


Deadline: September 13th at 9pm EST

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The following is a press conference for the 2019 Dynamic Duos Tag Team Tournament. The names listed above are the wrestlers who have been invited to this press conference. For reporters, you are more than welcome to use Flashpoint's Amanda Johnson. Or you can use your home fed's interviewers if you would prefer. Or you can make up your own. Doesn't matter. IC, this press conference takes place on Saturday, September 14, 2019. All Opening Round/First Round matches will take place later that night.

[max]

Amanda Johnson: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome at this time….Dexter Jacobs and Becca Raze. The Big Coffin Hunters.



Amanda’s distaste for what she’s just announced is palpable, even through the thick veneer of professionalism required in the life of a wrestling interviewer. The mood in the room shifts similarly, the small handful of journalists and other tournament teams collected in the space all on edge as Jacobs and Raze make their presence felt. That all-too familiar scowl on Dex’s face as he surveys the room a quick moment, sneering in disgust as he and Raze share a momentary look before heading up to the stage. Neither of the pair take their seats, however, Dex pacing back and forth like a caged panther while Raze pauses to grab a bottle of water from in front of some of the other attendees, taking a long swig before she slams it unceremoniously back down on the table, sending a spray of water spattering across the surface. Dexter finally turns his attention to Amanda, cracking his neck before speaking up.



Dexter Jacobs: Y’all got questions, right? Start talkin’.



Dex shifts just enough to give a look out to the crowd in the room, eyeing them all as Johnson clears her throat, clearly gathering her composure after being unsettled moments ago.



Amanda Johnson: ...Fair enough. Mister Jacobs, after your unceremonious exit from FGA after losing the Tag Team Championships to Luke Jackson and Ricky Valero, most assumed it would be the very last time you stepped foot in a Frontier Grappling Arts ring. What brings you ba--



In a sudden movement, Dex rounds on Amanda, surging back toward the podium, the look in his eyes positively feral. Raze, for her part, shifts to the other side, almost languidly, flanking the interviewer as the Redneck Hulk looms over her.



Dexter Jacobs “Unceremonious?” That what y’all callin’ it? Is THAT the fuckin’ word for that horseshi--[/b]



That fury in Dex’s voice subsides almost as quickly as it came, that guttural tone fading as he practically swallows the tirade that was about to follow. The anger in those eyes is still clear, however, as he gives a glance to Raze, who shakes her head, clucking her tongue in disapproval before narrowing her eyes at Johnson in turn. Dex speaks back up, a much more measured approach...at least, as measured as the man could manage.



Dexter Jacobs: Y’know what? I think we done with questions. Real fuckin’ done. Hate for y’all t’ wind up...sayin’ somethin’ we both gonna regret, y’know? Ain’t that right, Beck?



Raze sneers, nodding.



Becca Raze: Damn shame.



Dexter Jacobs: Real damn shame. So why don’t y’all just..go sit your ass down over there, an’ let us handle this bull. G’wan. Get.



The last word comes as more of a snarl than anything else. Johnson, for her part, stands her ground, glaring at the pair before finally thinking better of the whole thing and moving off to the side, taking an open seat. Dex smirks to himself before turning his attention to the gathered grouping of competitors and reporters, giving the microphone on the podium a pair of hard taps before speaking.



Dexter Jacobs: Yeah. Ain’t no questions today. We gonna talk, an’ each an’ every last one of y’all gonna listen. See...Last time I was here, I left out on my back. I done dragged a lead fuckin’ anchor through this whole thing once before. Hauled that miserable no hope bitch Whiskey to the mountaintop. Beat every fuckin’ team this company hand on offer...An’ ain’t get nothin’ but disrespect for it. See, we weren’t what y’all wanted. Dex Jacobs wasn’t y’alls best laid plans, then, an’ that miserable bitch, well she just helped y’all along. She dragged my ass down, an’ made sure y’all got what y’all wanted. Left that ol’ boy, the ol’ me sittin’ in the middle of the ring, while a couple of pussies got to eat off my name. Y’all made sure I was good ‘n humiliated ‘fore I left the last time. An’ then y’all jus’..went on ‘bout y’alls business. Thick as fuckin’ thieves. Forgot all ‘bout it. Forgot all ‘bout that traitorous fuckin’ cooze, an’ fuckin’ forgot all ‘bout ol’ Dex Jacobs.



But I ain’t forget.



Dex sneers, shaking his head as Raze stands, her arms crossed, watching the crowd.



Dexter Jacobs: Nah. I ain’t forget. All y’all think I ain’t know, but I do. I remember every fuckin’ thing. I remember every second y’all disrespected me. I remember how y’all tried to sweep us under the rug, I remember how y’all tried y’all’s damnedest to get rid of us back then. I remember every fuckin’ second. An’ now? Bill done come due. Now...y’all gonna get what y’all deserve. See...I ain’t tied t’ no lead anchor now. I already paid that stupid bitch back in kind a hundred times over for everythin’ she ever done t’ me….An’ I ain’t EVER want t’ hear her fuckin’ name again. Y’all ain’t got a weak link to pick apart anymore. I ain’t comin’ t’ wrestle an’ try ‘n be a part of the team, I ain’t here tryin’ to prove I’m the best...Nah, y’all fucked that all up. I ain’t playin’ nice, an’ I ain’t playin’ fair. An’ I finally got somebody with me….Who sees things my way.



Dex shifts, letting Becca shoulder her way up to the pulpit. She was the furthest thing from ladylike in any definition of the word. She belched and proceeded in a smoky lispy drawl like an idling chainsaw.



Becca Raze: That’s right. I see ‘em true. ‘Cause his way is my way too, ya savvy? We both found in each other a common thread of depravity that we done sewn up into a rope. This here tournament is the tree we’re gonna fish that rope over and string up as many o’ y’all as we can. Until there ain’t none left. We ain’t afraid to get dirty, no sir. I ain’t here to be pretty or cute or be some bright shining face on some fuckin’ t-shirt. Ain’t here to make nobody happy but myself and my partner here. It’s been a long ass roundabout trip for me. Some y’all might remember me from my own tag team exploits a while back, name of RuiNation back then. Had my own problem of tag partner I fell out with, then fell off the grid. Had to find something I felt was worth a damn to keep on going. Almost didn’t. Only so many grains in the ol’ hourglass. You ain’t gotta make a difference, just squeeze moments out the time ya got. A case o’ beer, a gun range, a weight bench, a bar fight. Made the pulse quicken to kick some ass. And speaking of, ain’t none of y’all kicking this man around no more. ‘Cause if he don’t kick back twice as hard on your sorry hide, I’ll be right there to mule punt your cock gobblin’ faces into the second row. I ain’t no anchor, but I am a pillar of stone just as strong as Dex standing tall for what we believe. Mostly we believe we ain’t got no time for y’all, that y’all ain’t shit. We like a good beer and a smoke and rearranging anatomies of useless corpses walking around here that ain’t realized that their time is up. It’s an ugly world… and what we do ain’t pretty. But that’s how we like it. The way I figure, it’s two versus the world. And I like them odds just fine. Just fine...



Becca leaned over the podium, gripping it in such a way you might believe she could splinter it into a thousand pieces without a second thought and then use a shard to pick her teeth clean. Her shoulders were massive and her arms were like tree trunks. Dex, for his part, paces for a moment, rubbing the scar tissue along his jaw, that permanent scowl still plastered along his face.



Becca Raze: Big Coffin Hunters. That’s what y’all know us as now. Regulators of a sort. Most don’t know when their time’s up. We take that guessing game right out. Y’all face us you better make right with whatever dumb shit y’all pray to at night. The task’s at hand. I ain’t too keen on unfinished business, so… destruction without a second of remorse. ‘Til it’s finished. I know it’s a dumbass question to ask, but… you ready to start, ya ol’ cuss?



Becca clapped Dex on the shoulder and looked at him, her eyes filled with evil and enjoyment.



Dexter Jacobs: Ain’t even ‘bout gettin’ started, Beck. Shit’s already finished. Ain’t ‘bout the tournament. Ain’t ‘bout them belts. Already been there, an’ done all that, with a lead fuckin’ anchor ‘round my neck. Y’all had ya chance with all that, an’ ya blew it. Y’all spit in my face...An’ now? Now what went ‘round once, is comin’ back ‘round again. Ain’t no catchphrases. No t-shirts. That big titty harlot an’ her little bird? They gonna learn, jus like the rest of y’all motherfuckers in this tournament are gonna learn. We ain’t come t’ play nice. We ain’t come t’ win. We came t’ drag y’all down here in the shit with us an’ make sure...there ain’t no fuckin’ survivors.



With that, Jacobs pounds the podium one time before wheeling around to leave, shoving back out of the conference the way he came, Raze casting one last glare over the crowd before following suit.

[Noelle Smith]

The Convention Hall of course at a soft buzzing level of volume with the people gathered inside, the press of course, and interviewers looking to get a few words from the wrestlers participating in the Dynamic Duos this year. Soft buzzing kicks up a notch to a potential dull roar as there’s a firm knock on the large wooden door that leads into the Hall. One of the interns moves and opens the door just a crack and then blinks with surprise, throwing the door open wide only to reveal, most curiously, a set of silver doors with lovely art deco framing, a panel to the left with two glowing buttons, UP and DOWN with the Down button lit up just a bit brighter.

At the top is another bit of art deco design with floor numbers and an indication that the top floor is a Penthouse Suite, and as the intern gapes in astonishment the light at the top moves from that ultimate location all the way down to the letter B. There’s a loud ding, the bell-like chime rolling out and the doors open, but before anyone can get a real peek inside out hustles two forms filled with energy, faces wreathed in smiles - Preeti Anand, and her fiancee Mila Sauvage easily recognized from the DD3 promotional materials. The pair make their way to the podium and it hides very well how Preeti reaches out and takes Mila’s hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. Preeti smiles brilliantly, and moves a little closer to the microphone.

Preeti Anand: Thank you for having us here today. For those of you who don’t know me, I will not be sarcastic and reply with the expected - you will. Today is a day of learning, rather, I feel. My name is Preeti Anand, I am from Jalandhar, India and while some of you may recognize me as the Quarterback of the Jacksonville Phoenix team in the LFL, and I’ve played a bit of women’s rugby too. But rest assured that I am also an accomplished wrestler. First with Glory Bound India, and then on to the Jumeirah Wrestling Club. What you should take away from this most is that I am far stronger than my size may make you believe.

Preeti wets her lips, and squeezes Mila’s hand once more.

Preeti Anand: This is my partner, a most precious person to me, Mila Sauvage. If you were to happen to be on the football field with us and try to sack me? She would destroy you, at best tackling you out of your shoes from the sick impact.

It was very clear at this moment that Preeti is suppressing a giggle, it takes her just a moment to regain her composure.

Mila Sauvage: Hi! I’m Mila, but you can all call me… actually, no, stick to Mila. Um, I like mozzarella sticks and panda bears and unicorns that understand that horn on their head is meant to be used as a weapon to gore snitches. I also like football, but Preeti already mentioned that in a sufficiently threatening manner, so that’s good. Did she mention that I’m an MMA fighter? NO?! Oh my God you guys! I’m an MMA fighter! I’m good too, undefeated and with the GCC featherweight title! I can’t do those fancy hurricanawhatever things you guys do, but I can double leg a gorilla and elbow his face in! … sorry Preeti, was that too much?

Preeti just smiles and winks at Mila.

Preeti Anand: Now you know who we are, isn’t that lovely? We call our team The Pretty Savage Elevator Life Squad, and it has nothing to do with magic elevators, or our residing in one, or anything of the sort.

She smiles a wide, wide smile, her white teeth gleaming.

Preeti Anand: So we’re going to answer a few questions…

Preeti looks around the room, eyes lighting on all of the wrestlers currently there and perhaps noting the ones that may be running late. Flashpoint's Amanda Johnson steps up, armed with her trusty tablet likely filled with questions for all and sundry, a pinched expression on her face - and who can blame her for being sour after what just happened before Preeti and Mila arrived?

Amanda Johnson: Just a few quick questions, Ms. Anand…

Preeti Anand: Just Preeti is fine.

Amanda Johnson: ...Preeti. So are we right to assume that you two haven’t got the combined wrestling experience of a usual tag team?

Preeti Anand: Correct.

Amanda Johnson: Correct? That’s all you have to say?

Preeti Anand: Well no, of course not. But it is what you asked. It’s very much a matter of record that Mila is fairly new at wrestling and MMA, and yet she’s already won many accolades and she’s in fact the GCC Women’s Featherweight Champion. Look at her, she’s an accomplished athlete and cute. Myself, I was continually in title contention at JWC, on the very cusp of my first when the business was suspended. Strange case in fact.

Amanda Johnson: All well and good I guess. Do you have any thoughts about your opponents at Flashpoint, the team known as Best For Business?

Preeti Anand: Trenton Snow and Ian McKinnon… I hope I’ve pronounced that correctly I’d hate to be rude. Of course I have thoughts about this team, and we have studied what’s out there to find out about them. It’s not a lot, they’re not a team like SMWB or Canadian Chainsaw Massacre who have done this successfully for a very long time.

There’s a pause, as Amanda is staring at her and Mila, and Preeti shifts nervously for a second before recovering her usual poise.

Preeti Anand: We are quite thankful that we’re not facing say, The Pretty Committee who are neither good wrestlers or good people. So we have hopes that this Best For Business team will provide a good and entertaining match up.

Mila Sauvage: OH SNAP! Pretty Committee, she said you’re not good people!!! Ooooooh!

Mila overreacts dramatically, jumping up to her feet and waving her arms around in the air like a muppet. She quickly realizes that nobody else in the room thought the burn was too crazy, and sits down with a disappointed look on her face.

Mila Sauvage: You guys are too serious.

Amanda continues with her questioning.

Amanda Johnson: Can you two tell us who it is you’d like to face among the other teams? Depending of course on whether your team or theirs goes through?

The two turn to each other, Preeti’s hand over the microphone as they talk and then both nod, turning back to the interviewer.

Preeti Anand: That is a very excellent question, but we’re afraid our answer will sound like a cop out? The truth however is that we want to face all of these teams, as we’ve never gotten to before. Each presents its own unique set of problems to solve if we mean to defeat them. Some teams in this we’re not sure actually want to win so much as they want to make statements, hurt a few people, or something ghastly like that.

A pause, and she shakes her pretty head as Mila pats her shoulder.

Preeti Anand: They know who they are.

She sighs but then looks up with resolve in her eyes, that warrior spirit shining through whatever melancholy tried to grip her.

Preeti Anand: But no matter who is placed before us, we must… we will do our best. We desire to move on, to the next round and beyond. We are hungry for this, and as they say, the food is on the table.

Amanda Johnson: What about…

Mila Sauvage: Did someone mention food? I’m STARVING. I was promised there would be mozzarella sticks around here if I showed up.Let’s get some snacks.

Mila puts her arms around Preeti’s waist and carts her away from the podium as she laughs, waving at the assembled as Mila takes her around the side where the catering items are laid out.

[Anastasia Hayden]

The 2nd press conference for DDT3 is underway with big name team after big name team and all that jazz. There was a buzz as the reporters awaited the next team to take the spot up stage. Then that buzz starts to dampen a bit as no one is quite sure who goes next. After a brief couple seconds of silence, Anastasia Hayden of the Hellcat Spangled Death Squad clears her throat, and stands up with her tag team partner Lisa Seldon. Ana reluctantly leads with Lisa beside her as they reach the stage; unbelievably disinterested in fielding questions from anyone. An amazingly dreadful entrance. Ana looks around the room briefly and shrugs.

Anastasia Hayden: I seem to have left my box of props back home.

No stranger to the pressroom from her days back in NJFC, Ana motions for the reporters to start fighting for their attention. She lets out a sigh as her eyes scanned the room for a moment before randomly pointing out a reporter and the first question was asked. However before they can speak, Lisa cuts in.

Lisa Seldon: Before we get started this evening, I have a story I would like to share.

Lisa produces a scrap of paper from a back pocket and clears her throat.

Lisa Seldon: I used to be afraid of spiders. One time while driving between towns for a Union show, a spider started to crawl down the inside of the windscreen. In turn I panicked and nearly swerved our car into a ditch. Ana was very calm throughout, holding out her hand until the spider stepped onto it.

Ana looks very confused. You'd think this was the first time she'd heard this story.

Lisa Seldon: She told me there that there was nothing to be afraid of. The spider is like all of us, just trying to survive. She made me hold out my hand as the spider stepped out onto it. She said that all life was precious and fleeting. Then she closed my hand around it, crushing the spider to death.

She balls up the scrap of paper, thinking it to be symbolic.

Lisa Seldon: Ana taught me true power that day. What it's like to feel life in the palm of your hand and then take it all away. I'm no longer afraid of spiders. I'm no longer afraid of anything. She has carried me beyond such feeble limitations and that is why we will win. Any questions?

Lisa tears the sheet in half and dropped it on the floor. Ana looks furious. The reporter claims to be from Wrestling Is Still Cool magazine, which only makes Ana angrier.

Richie Purcell: This summer marked the start of year two for your pairing as the Hellcats and since then, we’ve seen you two compete in a variety of tournaments all over, walking away with trophies and belts, so heading into DDT3, how confident are you two with your experience as a team?

A well thought out question. Ana still doesn’t really care, but fields the answer first anyways.

Anastasia Hayden: Very.

Well. That went about as expected. Lisa jabs her elbow into Ana’s side in hopes of drawing out a bit more of a response.

Anastasia Hayden: Very confident. It’s not like we’re some bright-eyed duo oblivious to the world. Before we were the Hellcats, we were champions. In Lisa’s case, world champion. Multiple times. But who’s counting, right? After I came into Hellcats, that trend didn’t just stop. As singles competitors, we’re in a league of our own that very few in this tournament could handle. As a tag team? We’re just as great.

Ana offers up a nonchalant shrug to the reporters; knowing full well they’ve both got the accolades to back up her claims.

Anastasia Hayden: We’ve dominated singles competition and then decided we wanted to become the best stable in professional wrestling. Guess what? We did that. Then Lisa and I wanted to be the best tag team in professional wrestling and we’re in the process of doing exactly that.

Lisa Seldon: Beyond that, I'm just excited for another opportunity to tag together. I care a lot about tag wrestling. It's how I got my start and it's what I always come back to. A lot of companies have struggled to hold together a decent tag division and I get that. Being a tag champion isn't seen as glamorous as going out and doing it on your own. We want to change that.

Lisa pauses for a brief second as Ana nods; assuming she’s listening to her partner and not just trapped into an abyss of contempt.

Lisa Seldon: I've already spoken to a few people who said they formed teams just because they'd seen what we've done together and that genuinely warms my heart. And I look forward to one day crushing that desire out of them.

Satisfied with the answer, presumably, the reporter sits down and the next wave of hands shoot up with everyone talking over each other to establish dominance or something like that. This time it’s Lisa’s turn as she points out some poor sap claiming to be from Fight Sports Words Monthly.

Boniface Leon: Looking ahead, are there any teams in this tournament that you’re excited to face?

Anastasia Hayden: Absolutely not. I’m sure there are some great teams in here, but I don’t care about them. The only team I’m concerned with is our team because we control our fate in this. It won’t be the Canadian Chainsaw Massacre or The League of Extraordinary GentleGrapplers or whoever that will take us out. The only team capable of taking us out...is...well, ourselves. And I’m not here to half-ass things. I guarantee you that we will be the hardest working team in DDT3.

Lisa Seldon: In all honesty I don't even know who half of them are, but I look forward to finding out. That's part of the fun of these things. You get to interact with all these new teams and find new people to get angry about online. Chainsaw called us twats the other day and now I want to eat her eyes out of her skull. Over a decade into my career and that's what I still get up for.

The two pause for a moment. Ana looks back at the rest of the field present today and then back at the reporters.

Anastasia Hayden: We’re what these teams think they are. We’ve got some of the best wrestlers in the world in our corner because they recognize the work we’re doing. The Hellcats are the answer to tag team wrestling. So are there any teams I’m excited to face? No. But there should be some teams here today that should be excited to face us because maybe...just maybe they can learn to be great like us. And if any team has a problem with that, we’re more than happy to show up on their turf and prove it to them because I know for a fact they’d never step up to us.

Two reporters in overcoats and wide brimmed hats, doing very little to hide their skull like faces, stand up. Lisa singles them out.

SKULL REPORTER #1: Smash?

SKULL REPORTER #2: Bash?

Lisa nods enthusiastically, very taken with the question.

Lisa Seldon: I think that's a question beyond basic human comprehension and also I worry we've not engrained ourselves enough to this corner of the wrestling world for them to get onboard with our mobile circus.

Both Skull Reporters nod and take their seats. Ana is losing the plot. Zoned out of it. Probably in another world where her social cues are better, but she eventually snaps out of it and carries on in a completely different direction from where Lisa finished.

Anastasia Hayden: No one here is going to offer anything new to you. It’s the same message coming from a different voice. You’ve got your underdogs, your perceived favorites, your veterans, your rookies, your old pairings, and your new pairings...they’re all fake. Their legend? Fake. Their legacies? Fake. Maybe once upon a time ago, they had some credibility to their names, but now? They’re just that. Names. And there’s never been a name I’ve cared to worry about because they all fade away eventually and the only thing we’ll have to remember those names by will be the rusted pieces of hardware with ‘Hellcat Spangled Death Squad’ etched into them.

Quite a roundabout way of saying that HSDS are going to win the whole thing, but being subtle has never been one of Ana’s strong suits.

Anatasia Hayden: What we offer isn’t a tale of friendship, a tale of redemption, offering someone new or what have you...we’re not here for friends, we’re not here to earn respect or to have someone pat us on the back. We’re here to win and win only. And if we can’t win? I’m going to make it hell for whatever team knocks us off, but...like I said…

Ana looks back at the field once more and comes back with a shit-eating grin this time around.

Anastasia Hayden: I’m very confident.

Lisa Seldon: She's also a very eloquent speaker and I agree with her entirely. There are a lot of teams who have turned up to this competition to test themselves. We're not one of them. We're a proven commodity. Tournament tested, title decorated, with the best wrestlers in the world all call us their favourite team. Hell the number one wrestler in 4CW buys his pants with our logo on them. We have gone around the wrestling world and taken the respect we deserve. We are where every team in this tournament wants to be, and we are going nowhere.

With their time up, the Hellcats do their little pose because that’s what a good team does for unity. Also to help sell 8x10s later on. They walk off stage and take their place back amongst the sea of other teams after having made some new friends surely. And as they're leaving you can just pick up a few harsh whispers between them.

Anastasia Hayden: Why do you keep doing shit like that?

Lisa Seldon: Just funny, innit.

Lisa looks quite pleased with herself.

[b4b]

The scene opens in the Convention Hall at the Landers Center. The room is buzzing with reporters ready to ask their questions. Already on stage is Trenton Snow and Ian McKinnon, collectively known as Best 4 Business. Trenton is wearing a pristine white suit. Ian sporting a grey double breasted suit. Both men dressing as professional as humanly possible. Trenton points to FGA interviewer Amanda Johnson to kick off the Q&A.



Amanda Johnson: “Ian, Trenton, welcome back to Dynamic Duos.”



Snow: “We are glad to be here, right Ian?”



Ian offers a shrug.



McKinnon: “I guess.”



Amanda Johnson: “Trenton, you already touched on Twitter why you and Ian decided to make a return to the tournament, can you elaborate further?



Trenton nods.



Snow: “I am not the type of guy who allows a loss to get to him. Professional wrestling is a business when you break it down. There is a sport aspect to it, no one in this tournament would go out there, risk their bodies, their minds, their souls for absolute free. Anyone who sells you that ideal is a liar. I wanted to use this tournament to drum up some interest, possibly get a bigger paycheck from other promotions, something special happened, me and Ian kept winning matches. I’m not shocked, I am a former GCW Global Champion, I am a freaking wrestling prodigy for chrissakes. I was sitting on my couch for an entire year before that, look how far Ian and myself advanced... and there is a problem right there. Making it to the finals wasn’t good enough, winning would have meant a whole lot more, but no... Fujiko Mine ruined everything.



Trenton rolls his eyes.



Snow: “Best 4 Business was a footnote in the career of Fujiko, I am not comfortable with that. I wished Fujiko and Izzy would have made their return to Dynamic Duos. Oh well, they are too damn business, looks like me and Ian will need to finish the job we started.”



Ian nods in agreeance.



McKinnon: “Why can’t the alleged bad guys get our version of redemption? The odd couple won last time. For a brotherhood like Trenton and I, we were embarrassed. We get it, Izzy and Fujiko are big deals in FGA lore. Don’t take my words out of context, you media types are good for that. Fujiko is viewed as a hero, here is a little secret about me, I don’t like heroes. We’re human, not gods, allowing her to win last year fed into her hero narrative. Hopefully, by the time this tournament is over, we stop the next alleged hero from having a good day. There will be no happy ending this time, count on it.”





(Reporter #1 Off Camera): “What have you two been doing to prepare for this?





McKinnon: “I am a trainer at the Glenn Braddock Wrestling School. Been staying active, keeping in shape. No ring rust this go around.”



Snow: “What a lot of people underestimate me is how hard I work. I expect there to be a few raised eyebrows. I do have a reputation for being lazy. I believe in hard work as much as the next guy. Working hard in a smart way. That is what the youth of today don’t understand, they think killing yourself will take you to the heights of legends. Could not be any further from the truth. In business, working smart pays off. In wrestling, the same applies. You can’t win a Global Championship by half assing. I have been keeping myself fine tuned for an entire year, what happened in the finals of the tournament will not happen again.



(Reporter #1 Off Camera):“So you are the favorites?”



Trenton raises his eyebrow, signally he can’t believe someone would ask him that question.



Snow: One hundred percent!





McKinnon: “Ever read The Hero's Journey by Joseph Campbell?”



(Reporter #1 Off Camera): “Can’t say that I have.”



Ian runs his hands through his thick black hair.



McKinnon: “Villains have their own journey too. Sometimes, it does end in defeat, win some, lose some. There is great power (and marketability) being the villain who actually does crush the hopes and dreams of the hero standing on the other side. Crush the hope of the hero, strip hope away from all the fans out there living vicariously through that person. That speaks to the great weakness of the world, this desperate need to attach themselves to role models. People are capable of letting you down. They will disappoint you. Superman is a concept that died a long time ago. To any potential Superman or woman in this tournament, Best for Business is your kryptonite. Tell your fans we are paving our road to victory on the broken hopes and dreams of you.”



(Reporter #2 Off Camera):“Strong statement.”



Snow: “We are not here to make friends. Best 4 Business are the villains the business deserves, not because we think we are the bad guys. Our cold, callous, truthful way of processing the business paints us in that light. The fabs paying a ticket are using us to escape their uneventful lives. They are spending money out of there pocket to help pay our salaries. They project their insecurities onto us, why not use them? Don’t they use? Story as old as time. No one wants to hear it is all about the money. Imagine what Best for Business can accomplish when it becomes personal. Dynamic Duos for us this year is personal. I stand by my statement, this tournament goes through us.



(Reporter Off Camera #2): The Pretty Savage Elevator Life Squad will disagree with that.



Snow: Who?



Ian leans over to whisper into Trenton Snow’s ear.



Snow: “Ask yourselves, do you want two women who play lingerie football winning Dynamic Duos? You shouldn’t. No one respects female athletes more than I do, my wife, the hottest woman on the planet, a woman the world needs more of, hashtag NeedMoreKayla by the way; don’t mind the cheap plug. My wife is a dynamic woman, sexy, powerful, a former model, a legit model I might add. A former World Champion, trend setter, she is my inspiration. For me to diminish women would be silly, however, I will diminish women who promote themselves as personal thots. Anyone who gets on a LFL field is a THOT. Any woman who goes out there playing football in what they should be wearing behind closed doors to their boyfriends (or girlfriends if that is your thing) is not advancing women's liberation. You are only lowering yourselves. Want to model in lingerie? Fine. Playing football in them for a bunch of horny men who are only there to fapp? Can you imagine the public relations disaster and public embarrassment DDT would suffer if those two somehow beat me and Ian? For the betterment of the DDT, Best 4 Business will live up to our name. We will do what is best for the tournament by putting down a potential black mark.



(Reporter #2 Off Camera): “Some would argue your comments crossed the line.”



Trenton scoffs.



Snow: “I told the truth, the whole truth and nothing but. We don’t subscribe to the PC culture that is trying to silence free speech. If whats there name have an issue with what we said, they are free to try and shut us up. Spoiler alert, not happening.”



Trenton and Ian first bump.



McKinnon: “Can you believe there are women out there who look up to them? Tonight we put a dent in their faith. The Pretty Savage Elevator Life Squad are not role models. Their life choices prove that. They aren’t heroes. But they are heros in someone elses eyes, that is all the motivation I need to kill the hopes and dreams of their fanbase.



Trenton stands up. So does Ian.



Snow: This interview is over. We’re done here.



Best For Business walk off stage before anymore questions are asked as the scene fades to black.

[Savannah Taylor]

The Convention Hall was fairly silent as the reporters gathered before the podium, scribbling in their notepads and clicking away at their various electronic devices, taking notes about the teams that have already said their pieces and those who are still to come. Indeed, the annual Dynamic Duos tournament is a highly anticipated event and draws teams from all across the wrestling spectrum. There was a loud knocking sound coming from the other side of the closed doors, loud enough to cause the press to pick their heads up and glance towards the door. The knocking continued, in a pattern that oddly resembled the main theme to the movie “The Terminator.” A Hall employee, who is looking rather bored to be stuck being at this event, begrudgingly gets up and throws open both doors. He is immediately met with a pair of boots right to his face, causing him to fly back in dramatic fashion and crumple into a heap on the floor. Laughing is heard as stepping into the Hall were the brother team of Max and Kyle Greenback, more commonly known as Team S.U.P.E.R.K.I.C.K. Both brothers are wearing sneakers, jeans and black t shirts with #GoodGuys in gold on the front. They walk through the crowd of reporters and jump up onto the stage, despite the fact that a very practical set of stars were literally right in front of them. Standing up at the podium, the brothers look around at the sea of faces staring back at them.



Max Greenback:: Yeah, sorry we broke your intern over there…..NOT!



Kyle Greenback: Any and all hospital bills can be sent immediately to one Chris Strike.



Max Greenback:: Dude, really? Coach?



Kyle waves his hand dismissively.



Kyle Greenback: Relaaax. He’s cool with it.



Max shrugs as Flashpoint ace reporter Amanda Johnson stands up and clears her throat.



Amanda Johnson: Max and Kyle, welcome to the Dynamic Duos tournament. Before we get into your opponents….



A loud groan can be heard from Kyle, who is elbowed in the ribs by Max.



Kyle Greenback: OW!



Max Greenback:: Shut up and let her talk!



Amanda shakes her head slightly as she continues.



Amanda Johnson: As I was saying, before we get into your opponents, why don’t you tell those of us who aren’t as familiar with you guys a little bit about yourselves? Where did you grow up? Where were you trained? That sort of thing.



Max Greenback:: Sure thing, Manders. See, my brother and I are from the rough streets of Salt Lake City, Utah.



Kyle Greenback: UTAAAHHHH!



Max Greenback:: We started goofing around in the backyard on trampolines and stuff, and that eventually led us to the Sanctuary Wrestling Academy. Up until recently, we were tearing it up over in Pro Wrestling RAIDEN. So….here we are.



Kyle isn’t paying attention, which is par for the course, as he seems to be scanning the crowd looking for someone.



Kyle Greenback: Someone’s missing here.



Amanda Johnson: No, I am fairly certain that all the press is here who is supposed to be here.



Kyle Greenback: Oh yeah? Then tell me….where is Big Dave?



Amanda Johnson: Who?



Kyle steps back in horror.



Kyle Greenback: Excuuuuuuuuse me? Dave Scriven, word renowned wrestling journalist! The inventor of the famed star scale. HIM!



Max lowers his head, partly at Amanda’s ignorance, and partly at his brother. Let’’s face it, it’s mainly for his brother.



Max Greenback:: He’s back in Japan. Some guy named Patrick is taking the reins.



Kyle Greenback: Well, send him back to the Krusty Krab then.



He folds his arms across his chest and rolls his eyes. Amanda looks at Kyle, then at Max and shakes her head.



Amanda Johnson: Well, why don’t we talk about your opponents later this evening. You’re set to face a pair that you have ben in some interesting Twitter spats with, Max Powers and Landon Knight, the Super Mario Wrestling Bros.



Max Greenback:: Manders, it’s real simple. We don’t like them and for SOME reason, they don’t like us.



Kyle Greenback: Freaking rubes….



Max Greenback:: It doesn’t matter what fancy tricks they like to throw out and it doesn't matter who they have shared the ring with. Come bell time later tonight, we’re going to be the only team that matters in their bizzaro world.



Kyle Greenback: Have you ever met a pair of unfortunate rubes in all of your life? They act like this is all one big video game and have the NERVE to call us Team Soy Bois.



He shakes his head.



Kyle Greenback: Well I will have them know that, thanks to the power of Google, I know what that term means and they should be ASHAMED of themselves. My brother and I will be more than happy to kick some sense into those Mario nerds and remind them that their princess is in another castle.



With that, the brothers do the mic drop pose as they hop off of the stage and head towards the exit as the scene shifts back to the media pool.

[starling]

As the press muttered amongst themselves, there was a particular question mark around one team in particular. It wasn’t because they were completely unexpected, though this was their first time teaming together, just more surrounding the whole situation about them. Anastasia Starling and Katya Djurdjevic were known friends, and a rumoured teaming up had been documented by the dirt sheets in the build up to FGA’s Dynamic Duos in light of the pair speaking openly about training together, with many surprise teams entering the fold as in previous years. But there were three factors the press were very much interested in with regards to this team, and as they were alerted that Starling, who had not been since in public since August the 30th by almost anyone, was about to take to the stage, the anticipation had only grown.

But Starling did not appear, even when called out by the staff. There were hushed murmurs, especially given Ana’s recent disappearance from the public light, combined with some of the more recent comments made by Katya referencing that they “needed to meet up” caused a number of whispers to be shared between the reporters. One stood up though, mesmerized by the sight of a raven flapping its wings around the conference hall. As they watched on, it landed right next to the podium, climbing up upon it, letting out a shrill alarm call as it perched itself next to the microphone.

Anastasia Starling (Voice): May I ask what you were expecting.

Perplexed, a reporter stood, looking at the raven sat there by the microphone and shrugged their shoulders.

Irish Wrestling News: Miss Lasiewicz, you have not been seen anywhere, whether at shows or in public since your match with Sarah Sorlie at Underground’s marquee event, ...And Justice For All 3. At that particular event, if I may be blunt, you let a much wilder side out of you, one that has seldom been seen from you. Could you elaborate a little more about your mindset during that match?

Anastasia Starling (Voice): You tell me. Do you really think there was a mindset in the latter stages? I presume that was what you were referring to. After my opponent attacked me with a chair, when the fans I have long, long, long fought for began chanting against me, without me even taking a single action against them, saying a bad word against them, mouthing off at them or insulting them in any way?

The bird flapped its wings, letting out a low, gurgling croak.

Anastasia Starling (Voice): Monster… that is what they chanted. Maybe they were not trying to insult me, as it was very clear they were booing the barely woman that had been trying to drag my name through the mud for the past twelve months, doing so in order to get their name in the press, in the headlines, on the television screens and in magazines. You know… I had a feeling this would happen. Not the crowd… always put my faith in those that believed in them. Always. Always. Always. But rare may it be that seventy thousand or so would not be those that believed, would not be the ones who cheered… But instead taunted and mocked and wanted ruin. I just wanted to put smiles on faces… But they wanted something else. Something different… I wanted something different… And that is what they got.

Press 1: You and Katya are one of the newer teams that has entered this tournament, with no proven track record between you. What do you think your chances could be, especially given that many more decorated teams have entered this year, with cemented chemistry?

Anastasia Starling (Voice):Do you not know? Do you not know that this has been a long time coming? Do you not know that we have been training, learning, finding each other? Have you not seen that we have been preparing, studying, teaching? We have spent a great amount of time together, figuring out how we think, watching each other train, fight, live. We have taken all possible preparations and we enter as one. And the name, the name, that name is something more than a slice of Cold War propaganda. It’s a name… a name… Heh, a name that should say exactly what it says on the tin.

As the Irish press member sat down, a familiar figure stood, the beautiful Lark Robinson, one of the well known reporters who worked for the Underground, who was very well versed in interviewing Starling, but even she seemed a little concerned, speaking to a black winged bird on a stand.

Lark Robinson: Last year, you entered the Rel del Aire tournament last year, losing in the first round to a man you had recently dethroned as champion in Phoenix Wrestling, Cassius Reed. There were many controversial comments made by Reed in his exit of Phoenix Wrestling after you defeated him for their Rebirth World Championship, and it came as a surprise that you both entered that tournament. In light of what happened during that match, you yourself made many negative comments about your treatment backstage during the event, so many are surprised you have entered DDT3 this year. Would you like to go into detail on this?

Anastasia Starling (Voice): Once upon a time… once what people thought and said and dreamed and dared and did meant so much. So, so much. I stand by my comments in light to certain members of the Frontier Grappling Arts crew. How they smiled, laughed, pointed and commented both before and after my match with Cassius Reed. While those I was in direct contact with, management itself, were kind and generous during negotiations, there were many of the backstage crew that were not… Not that it matters. Seems Reed himself takes a much harsher standpoint towards all sources and figures and names who make the show go on in this day and age. Maybe they realize I was right, maybe they never really paid attention, when the same thing he did in Phoenix, the almost exact same thing is now happening in FGA. But that was then and now is now and everything I did back last year is different to what will occur over the next coming days.

The bird opened its mouth, that same phrase coming out once again.

Anastasia Starling (Voice): I just wanted to put smiles on faces...

Lark paused as she got this answer, pointing a pen towards her as she asked yet another question.

Lark Robinson: Ana, your own mother, Lady Magdalena, entered this tournament a few years ago, pairing with your ex-wife, Sophie El. They reached the final of the tournament that particular year, back in 2016, narrowly losing out to the team of Dan Herrera and Cordy Stevenson. What makes you think you can go one better and win the entire thing?

Anastasia Starling (Voice): What makes you think the answer given will not be the same answer that everyone gives. My Mama… my mother, she showed me many ways within this business to better and further myself. I was in the crowd on those nights, watching what she did… what Sophie did, and I saw how close they got to achieving their goal within the tournament. And I saw those little lapses they had that let Stevenson and Herrera, who were determined and on form, take the victory. The difference between us? Would you like to know? With that team, of my mother and my former wife? They were trying to prove something to each other, to create a bond between each other, it was all about them and them alone. Not their opponents, not those that they had defeated in the run up, not who they longed to face for the championship gold. It was about them, and it may have been selfish, but this is not the mindframe that we ourselves have. Once you open your eyes and look past the little white lies, you will see something.

Another gentleman from the crowd now stood, old and well versed.

Older Press: The pair of you are facing two of the most brutal names in the tournament, with a team name that many are finding quite threat--

Anastasia Starling (Voice): Becca… proven as a force in Twin City Wrestling while once upon a time she prefered to pin herself as a force with the fairer sex. And Dexter… a voice that once was something else that now simply wants to hurt. He wants to cause pain, anger, fury. Together they have the same mentality. Winning doesn’t matter to them, only inflicting pain. Why they would enter a tournament, a format purpose made to those to become winners… Quite beyond anyone, really. But this is why they are here. With a different mentality to their times in HELL, to their times in 2CW. They are not here to win. They just want to hurt and what happens when they stand across from someone who has felt every hurt, every bit of pain, every bit of sorrow? What happens to those who claim water runs off their back, that no comment or insult or jibe could ever, ever, ever affect them? Just emptiness. Simply that. Because… you couldn’t hurt more. You couldn’t give more or take more or be more… They are knocking on the door of an empty room, to a path with no end… And the answers they seek and want and crave for are not at the end of this hallway. Just a little red scare, and an aim to actually win… Is that what YOU want? Fo wins? You want me to say I will win, we will win. We want that. Do you want that? Or do you just want to call me a monster, be a monster, for us to be monsters?

The bird flapped again.

Anastasia Starling (Voice): I just wanted to put smiles on faces...

Older Press: What do you feel this shows the rest of the playing field when you can’t actually be bothered to show up to the press conference yourself? I know you are answering your questions by telephone, but this isn’t exactly inspiring. May I ask what message this sends to your many fans out there when you don’t even show up to this event, something which is rare for you given your history.

The bird then flew away, flapping its wings at speed as it vanished.

Anastasia Starling (Voice): ...

The call had seemingly ended, everyone looking about themselves...

Anastasia Starling: I just wanted to put smiles on faces…

The reporter fell down as the lights flicked on and off, a figure stood behind them. Wearing a cloak that looked like blackened feathers, with pants so midnight black, motifs of ravens and swans upon them. And on its face? A mask representing a death raven, crowned with a jewelled tiara, green and blue its colours, and the feathers on the cloak had accents of crimson and ruby. In a flicker, the figure was gone once again, leaving the gathered press to wonder what the hell had happened to the Little Songbird that could.

[Djurdjevic]

Earlier…

The entire Convention Hall worked with a calm buzz of activity. This is the highest of highs in the tag team wrestling game. Dynamic Duos was FGA’s showpiece occasion for the tag division and Southaven was an orchestra of anticipation. For the coming week promised performances that could attract universal admiration… and even potentially those rare few that serve as monuments to the sport we love and watch and which become milestones in the folklore. It was a pleasingly difficult test for all involved.

A sensible man might regard this as prestigious enough, but of course, Frontier Grappling Arts goes much further. Powerhouses had appeared one after the other, congregating in the Convention Hall for the press conference and it was a formidable sight.

One of the first to receive questions was Katya Djurdjevic. While the reporters were burning with questions for all the amassed talent under this one roof, they were like flies to honey for Katya Djurdjevic.

After all, Anastasia Starling wasn’t even in attendance. Rumour has it they haven’t even met in some time.

As the much loved interviewer of Empire Pro Wrestling, Katya had many friends amongst the gathered reporters. They remembered the Russian's winning smile that warmed cold nights, the easy manner.

Along with the ever popular Starling prodigy, the duo had always been harmonious competitors, free of the mordant temper of some of their counterparts; low spirits did not suit them.

On the platform behind the table, the Valor Pro star didn’t so much as glance at them – she seemed distracted, her mind lost in another place. Katya Djurdjevic was a statue carved in honour of anxiety. She pressed her fingers together, bridging them in front of her face, her elbows resting on the table. It wasn’t until the reporter called her name twice that she regarded him. Then she moved herself, rolling her shoulders as if to throw off the cloak of lethargy.

They danced around the elephant in the room with expected questions, before one reporter asked the elephant in the room

“We’ve noticed there seems to have been a… breakdown in communications between you and Anastasia Starling. This is your first outing as a tag team and she isn’t actually here. Some go as far as to say she’s not in the right state of mind for competition. Keeping in mind you have some very stellar opposition in The Big Coffin Hunters… Stopping them here is a crucial task, and it won'’t be easy. Do you really understand what you' signed up for?

Katya explained her confidence in Anastasia wasn’t idle assumption; no one flew through the air quite like Anastasia Starling. Having spent weeks preparing for the tournament during their jaunts to Brazil and Florida, she has every belief in their combined strengths. “Make no mistake, Ana will be fully focused on the tournament once it’s underway.”

Her tone gave away her hope. But beyond that, Katya answered all other questions briefly and professionally.