AfterBurn for Above & Beyond VII

[FGA Office]

Catch up with your favorite FGA grapplers on Afterburn! Get their thoughts on the latest, their opponents, and other backstage happenings right here, only on Frontier+.

[Seth Iser]

Above and Beyond has gone off the air fully but staying in a darkened locker room by himself is the former Pride Champion. His eyes seem almost empty, his complexion is pale and it looks like he took a huge shot to his ego, not to mention the physical war as his neck has ice over it. He doesn’t react to the camera, it’s almost as if he doesn’t see him. It seems as if he’s sat there for a while, not even changing out of his ring attire. Though Spencer Burke walking in for an interview doesn’t seem like the best time.

Spencer Burke: Seth, do you have a moment?

The often talkative Seth in these situations doesn’t even react as he’s just staring blankly at the wall as if he’s processing everything that happened this evening. He finally lowers his head for a moment and buries his hands over his face and you just hear an elongated sigh.

Seth Iser: Fine. I’m not going to waste any words.

There’s some weakness in his voice as he lets that out but he’s not even standing or even making eye contact. He is, to his credit, trying to compose himself as best he can, not even lashing out at this loss or anything. It’s almost as if he’s still in some shock.

Spencer Burke: It could be a match of the year contender but the result didn’t go your way as Tyler Storm scored on his third opportunity and defeated you to relinquish the Pride Championship from your grasp.

That doesn’t even stir a huge reaction from Seth even if Spencer is known to needle people from time to time about things like that to the villainous wrestlers. Instead, Seth just takes a moment to fully compose himself and while he can’t hide how disgusted he is with himself, his eyes at least return to life a little bit.

Seth Iser: He won, I lost. The match of the year contender line is not what I aimed to go for because I don’t get paid for that. I get paid to win, win championships, and get the perks to go along with it. That didn’t happen. And I’m the one with the silver medal. Second place sucks and anyone who doesn’t tell your kids that other wise is a fool. Though I guess that makes most of the people in the crowd that kind of fool...

A pregnant pause from the former champion as he mulls over his words.

Seth Iser: My chance for history gone. He got it. His hand was raised. And now all that pressure that comes with living up to what I did falls squarely on him. So since this is going out to everyone...I’m not going to tweet about it first. It means way more to represent the company and the title that was just fought over if you have a camera in front of you and say it like this. So Tyler, I don’t want to say this but part of being a truth teller is saying it even if you really don’t want to.

He gestures for the camera to come a little closer with his finger and the expression looks of a scarred warrior who was just outlasted and at his limit for the night but still trying to fight just a little longer to do something else.

Seth Iser: I concede. Right now, you’re the man.

There is a touch of bitterness in his voice because he didn’t want to do that but he did.

Seth Iser: But now...everything I went through the last year? Every bullet that someone wants to launch in the chamber...they’re going for you. And it’s going to be a long grind wrestling two out of three falls for every defense in some form or fashion. I did it as well as anybody in the world and there won’t be anyone who will tell me otherwise. Now you have to continue what I did for the championship you fought so hard to claim. Not for yourself, not for me, not even the fans or our respective families, but for professional wrestling itself.

Spencer Burke: Does everyone include you?

Seth Iser: No.

He shakes his head calmly and Spencer looks at him with a bit of shock etched on his face.

Seth Iser: Not for a while, anyway. He earned his right to the fruits of labor. And as I just stated. I concede. It’ll be interesting to see what he does to try to surpass what I did with it.

Spencer Burke: So...what will be next?

Seth Iser: Eventually the World Title...that’s the end goal obviously…

He states that as if it were a fact for almost everyone in the sport and finally he brings himself to start taking off the brace on his left knee and he’s gritting his teeth since his upper body is killing him.

Seth Iser: But before I get there, there are people I do want to fight and see where they stand compared to me. And while it sounds like I’m dancing around the issue on who they are...it shouldn’t be too difficult to figure out what their names are. But as sick as I feel right now...as disgusted as I had to do what I needed to in order to understand I still have several years left in my career even if it meant doing what I’m doing right now and conceding that someone else was better...I still have a lot left to accomplish in the sport.

And finally he’s able to stand on his own two feet, albeit a little wobbly and off balanced from the pain shooting everywhere just to put his foot on the bench and begin untying his boot.

Seth Iser: Might not have as much time as others to get there...but I think I’ve proven my point enough that I’m still improving even at my age rather than declining. It’s the School of Tradition to never stop learning about overcoming your disadvantages and learning from your defeats. Hell, this pain, this sick feeling...I’m going to remember it for a long time. It’s just one more thing for me to overcome when I finally do get that proper chance to write that Magnum Opus. Finally prove that I’m the man...just right now...it ain’t that time to wield the pen. Tyler took that away from me tonight.

Spencer looks as if he wants to ask yet another question but before he does, Seth just grabs hold of his wrist after he was halfway done untying his boot and just gives him a stern glare before letting it go in a similar swift, sudden motion. He jolts up holding his wrist but it isn't as if he's in pain, just more shocked from the quick motion.

Seth Iser: I know you have more questions...but I’m only going to say this nicely once: I fulfilled your obligation; get the hell out of here. I want to be alone right now.

While he isn’t yelling or screaming, there’s some actual menace to those words that he didn’t have earlier. Spencer might want to protest but he knows he got enough and both he and the camera man leave while Seth goes back to untying his boot to start to clean himself off.

[The Mason]

The scene opens up in the backstage area of the American Airlines Arena, focusing on the outside of the door of a dressing room labeled GOOD GUYS. The camera pans out until interviewer Spencer Burke appears in the frame, slowly approaching the door. He rubs his jaw for a moment, sighing softly before he raises his hand to knock.

Nothing.

Seconds pass and Spencer shoots a look back at the camera operator, shrugging his shoulders. He opens his mouth, prepared to turn and leave, but the door’s pulled open, revealing a tired-looking, bloodshot-eyed Ricky Valero. Burke perks a brow in surprise.

Spencer Burke: Oh-- Ricky.

Burke looks at Valero for a few moments, trying to get a read of the expression on his face before continuing.

Spencer Burke: Wasn’t sure if you were here or not. Literally, no one here saw you all night.

Silence. Ricky stares back. Spencer shrugs slightly.

Spencer Burke: Just wanted to…

Ricky Valero: To what? Don’t say you were here to see how I was doing, because we know that’s BS.

Ricky shakes his head a bit, arms folded, drawing in a long, deep breath. For moments, the Good Guy’s eyes are closed, even as he speaks.

Ricky Valero: You came to ask about Evan. And I know, all eyes are on me to have answers about this thing. I’ve had Annie asking me on Twitter-- I’ve had fans asking me outside of the arena… outside of the hospital as if that’s goddamn appropriate. I’ve even had my fiancee asking me about it and I don’t… have all the answers yet. I should. But I don’t. What I know is that while I was on a high, RIGHTFULLY, after putting in a main event level performance against that fraud Kazu, somebody was taking advantage of my best friend. They tried to massacre my boy.

He speaks, slower. For emphasis.

Ricky Valero: You get that, Spence? They didn’t just try to hurt him. They wanted it to look like a m…

Ricky wipes at his eyes with his knuckles, groaning softly for a moment.

Ricky Valero: In that moment, I wanted to blame somebody.

Spencer Burke: Well, let’s get into that, because the last time I saw you, you said you had an idea of who could’ve done it. You stormed back into the arena and never looked back. I went in after you a few moments later but I never found you. Neither did our cameras. So I guess what I should ask is… who, exactly, were you looking for?

Ricky scoffs. He looks down, shaking his head slightly.

Ricky Valero: Kazu Hirano.

He exhales, looking off into the distance, giving the camera another unintentional look at his beat-red eyes before turning to Burke once more.

Ricky Valero: But it was obvious pretty quickly that it wasn’t him. Kazu doesn’t have the backbone to commit to something like that. The cowardice made sense but it didn’t fit for Kazu to go ahead and do something so final. That didn’t remind me of the Kazu Hirano I destroyed a couple of weeks ago. No. So I had to go back to the drawing board.

Valero rubs at his eyes for a moment, trying to hide his exhaustion.

Spencer Burke: Well. What if I were to tell you that after you left, the driver of the cab provided us with a little bit more information?

Valero freezes. Slowly, he lowers his hands, angling his head toward Burke.

Ricky Valero: ...what?

Spencer Burke: After you left, the driver told us a ltitle bit more. Might be useful; might not be. I just thought you might b--

Spencer yelps as Valero pushes him against the wall, placing a single hand on his throat.

Ricky Valero: Get to the point.

Spencer Burke: Okay-- okay!

And with that, Burke speaks, hoping that somebody-- anybody watching from the production truck at this hour-- will hear him.

Spencer Burke: Can we get the footage rolling please? Someone? Please?

The camera shifts slightly, to a different angle, pointed into the open door of the Good Guys dressing room. There, we see a wall-mounted monitor that typically displays a live feed. Instead, it cuts to the same image that the live audience watching on the Tron would’ve seen during the live show-- footage that picks up from the previous episode of Vertigo, moments after Ricky Valero had stormed off into the arena. Ricky releases Spencer and slowly walks into the room as the pre-recorded scene overtakes the screen.

The scene opens up on a shot of shattered glass, scattered across the asphalt. Some of the shards are soaked in blood-- specifically, that of “the Chief” Evan Envi.

The camera pans over to the taxi that was visible earlier in the night. Its hazard lights are still flashing and the driver stands beside the broken rear window, arms crossed, shaking his head slightly as he’s questioned by the head of the arena’s security.

Security: So there’s nothing you can tell me other than… noises? There’s nothing that would be helpful from your dashcam?

Driver: No, dude. Nobody ever got in front of the car. And I didn’t see anybody. I mean-- I was like, pretty sure I was about to die in here. I was busy trying to tuck myself under my own seat.

Security: Sure, of course. It’s just, you understand how serious the situation is…

Spencer Burke: Excuse me. If I could-- a quick question?

The head of security shrugs his shoulders as Spencer takes a step toward the driver.

Spencer Burke: If you don’t mind me asking, at least, clearly whoever called you here planned on leaving before the show was over. Was it Evan that actually reached out to you?

The driver shakes his head for a moment, reaching into his pocket to retrieve his phone.

Driver: I don’t remember. But I can tell you in like… ten seconds here…

??: Wow. What a mess.

The driver looks up… as Nando Fresno: Alien Hunter walks into the frame. He kicks some of the glass away and laughs under his breath, looking around at the small crowd.

Nando Fresno: Looks like someone had a bad night.

The other half of the Saturnian Connection, Jillian Clay, enters the frame a moment later, smiling softly as she waves toward the driver of the cab. Nando pulls open the back door of the cab, peering inside with a raised brow.

Nando Fresno: Guess we should call an Uber.

The head of security narrows his gaze at Nando. Spencer looks ready to launch into another list of questions-- but the scene cuts before he gets the chance.

We cut back to real time where Valero turns away from the monitor, glaring at Burke.

Ricky Valero: Why’d you stop it?

Spencer Burke: There’s no more footage after that. But they didn’t have anything interesting to tell us anyway. They apparently didn’t see-- wh--

Valero grabs his bag off the floor in one hand and his keys in the other, marching out of the locker room without hesitation.

Spencer Burke: Where are you going?

Ricky Valero: Charlotte.

Burke stands where Ricky left him, in the entranceway of the dressing room as Valero marches out of frame. The scene cuts.

[bbbaseball96]

Backstage area of the American Airlines Arena

A few minutes after Ace Voltage’s match at Above and Beyond

The camera shows us Spencer Burke standing in the backstage area of the arena with newly crowned Mid-Atlantic Legacy champion, Ace Voltage.

Spencer Burke: Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce my guest at this time, the NEW Mid-Atlantic Legacy champion, Ace Voltage. Allow me to be one of first to congratulate you Ace.

Ace, with his newly won championship around his waist, is seen in his ring gear standing next to Spencer.

Ace Voltage: Spence, instead of a congratulations, tell me thank you. I did what I said I was going to do and I defeated the “mighty” Piper Lennon. Do I have your attention now Piper? Enjoy the polaroid.

Ace chuckles to himself.

Spencer: Well it was a hard fought fight between the both of you. It seemed as if Piper had the upper hand most of the match…

Ace interrupts.

Ace: I’m going to stop you right there Spence before you say something stupid. It doesn’t matter what happened in the match before the final 3 count. All that matters is that I am the rightful owner of this beautiful championship that is around my waist. The most beautiful championship in the world!

Like I’ve been saying, Ace Voltage is the ratings booster that this company needed. Becoming champion is just what this company needed. I will be the face of FGA and should be marketed as that. Once the ratings spike up, I expect a raise. As champion, I will do something Piper Lennon could not. Bring some much needed prestige to this title. I am the Main Event and now I should be treated as such.

Spencer: So this is your first championship win in five or six years Ace. You’ve worked hard for this redemption, how does it feel to finally grab this important win?

Ace takes the title off his waist and holds it in his hands. He takes a second to look at it.

Ace: I have not been a champion in about six years Spence. This title win is amazing and I am totally going to Disney World! Is that what people still say?

Ace holds up the title to the camera and flashes a big smile.

Ace: Now that Piper is back into obscurity, she can go off and take pictures with her little camera. Now it’s all about me. While my road to redemption is not complete, this is a good start. I am proud to hold this title and I do not plan on losing it any time soon. If Piper wants to try and beat me again down the road, which we know she won’t, feel free. If Big Bad Annie Zellor wants to try and win this again? Try it but you won’t like the outcome. Marlon Cure, Mark Storm? It does not matter who tries to pry this title out of my hands because the outcome will be the same, Spence. Me leaving the match with this glorious title still around my waist. Maybe now I will get the respect I finally deserve.

Spencer: Well Ace you sure have earned a ton of respect tonight from everyone here in FGA. I think with this win, you have definitely gotten the attention of everyone here in FGA and our great fans as well.

Ace: Damn right Spence. Years from now you will hear the name Ace Voltage and know that he was the greatest Mid-Atlantic Legacy champion in this company. This title will not be leaving me for a while and I hope everyone in the back knows that. Nobody is on the same level as me. Still here, still undefeated and now your reigning champion. Time to celebrate, Spence.

Ace pats Spencer on the back and walks down the hall out of view from the camera as the scene fades to black.

[Jaelynn]

At the conclusion of FGA’s Above & Beyond VII, the American Airlines arena begins to empty. Backstage, The New Murder members, Annie Zellor and Jaelynn Ramsey are seen exiting their locker room with their luggage, meeting up with Dom Harter and Mary-Jane McCracken near the exit. The tag team champion hopefuls are changed into their normal streetwear, ready for whatever may come about in the Miami nightlife. Jaelynn, who rarely shows enthusiasm is apparently in a great mood as she flashes a smile at the approaching camera. She looks over to her stablemates.

Jaelynn Ramsey: And that’s another step forward for The New Murder. We have proven and will continue to prove that we are a tag team to take note of. Ashley and Antoinette were simply not “it” tonight and we exposed them for what they were. The novelty of AAA has met its point of expiration, ladies.

A sarcastic scoff escapes Ramsey, as she mimics the smell of something putrid.

Annie Zellor: And all that talk-- Ashley wanting to swing for the fences, and take my head off, and all that! Swing and a miss!

Annie feigns swinging a bat, before she clutches at her elbow, wincing in pain as she does so. The downside of missing a suicide elbow.

Annie Zellor: Just like your friend Angie…

The jibe is in reference to the second night of the Lilith Morgan Memorial Cup, in which Annie defeated Angie Vaughn in the semi finals, before falling to Lowri Moss in the finals. But the pain of that loss seems to have been replaced with elation tonight.

Annie Zellor: ‘Cause you two just couldn’t get the job done tonight. And whether we ‘slithered’ away with the victory or whatever Kris Cruise wants to say instead of admitting that we were the better team-- yeah, that sounds like Kris Cruise, doesn’t it? We won tonight. We were the better team. And AAA? They ain’t gonna stop us from moving up to bigger and better things.

Ramsey nods in agreement.

Jaelynn Ramsey: Resiliency was also key in this match. While some may doubt their opponent as soon as a mishap occurs, I didn’t lose sight of our main goal for the night which was to win...by any means necessary.

She says this, winking at Annie.

Annie Zellor: And now...we’re gonna turn our sights to Silk & Cyanide, and those United States tag titles they’ve got around their waists. ‘Cause soon enough those belts are gonna be right where they belong…

Mary-Jane McCracken: With The New Murder!

MJ pipes up for her part, and that even brings a smile to the face of Dom Harter as he stands at the back. His speech earlier in the night has still gone unanswered by the General Manager, but he made his point. He got it off his chest and made his intentions known, but the thought of those tag titles in the possession of the New Murder? Nice.

Annie Zellor: Aww yeah!

Annie, Jaelynn, and MJ all high five each other enthusiastically before standing together with their arms around each other’s shoulders.

Annie Zellor: So Pendragon, when you’re done with Sara & Erin, warn ‘em about what’s gonna happen next. ‘Cause me and Jae are coming for them!

Jaelynn Ramsey: Never say a word of caution was not provided. Consider this a courtesy from The New Murder.

With that, the trio all throw up the devil horns as the scene fades to black.