Autumn Annihilation

[FGA Office]

BEST 2 OUT OF 3 FALLS
FGA UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP
(c) Nina Stokes vs. Salem

"I'll get you my pretty... and your little dog too!"

The funky drum beat and riff of 'Phenomena' by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs fills the arena and the quirky yet energetic Salem appears at the entrance wearing a hooded dark purple cloak with silver trim, the hood pulled over her eyes. She carries a silver cane, the top a silver claw gripping a dark purple crystal that has a plasma globe effect. She's tapping her foot and bopping her head to the beat...

She raises both hands and motions for the fans to get hyped, swinging the cane, then bops her way toward the ring in time with the song, popping her shoulders up and down, swaying her arms around with a coy smile and wink to the audience.

She steps up the ring steps, throws her hood back, clutches the top rope and puts her feet on the bottom rope, gazing around and rocking up and down on the ropes...

She slides through the ropes, twirls off her cloak with a flourish and drops to a knee in the center of the ring, extending her arms out holding up the cane and playing to the crowd as the music fades. She takes the cloak and cane to the corner, ready for the match.

Melanie Sierra: Autumn Annihilation continues with the following contest! It is a Best 2 out of 3 Falls match for the FGA United States Championship! Introducing first, the challenger! From Laval, Quebec, Canada... "Something Like a Phenomena"... SALEM!!!

Geoff Penzer: Salem has gone toe to toe with the likes of Savannah Taylor and James Edwards over the United States Championship. Even though those encounters got heated, they were never as personal as this has been between The Phenomena and her former close friend, Nina Stokes. The anger and resentment had been building and building and building inside Stokes for the longest. At All-Star Showdown Eight and at Flashpoint last month, we saw that anger boil over and be unleashed upon Salem. This time, there is nothing that is going to hold Salem back from doing what she has to do to win back the US Championship for a record third time. No conflicted emotions. The Phenomena’s conscience is clear. She is going to go all out and leave it all in the ring here tonight.

The lights in the arena dim to a fairly darkened level. A couple of seconds pass before MUCC’s “Sei to Shi to Kimi” begins to play. The base of the entrance becomes fills up with heavy smoke. Nina Stokes makes her way out from the back a few seconds later. She emerges from the smoke after a moment or two. She gives a sly sneer to camera before she makes her way towards to the ring.

Her pace down to the ring deliberate and leisurely. The camera zooms in on the United States Championship that rests on her waist. She tosses a couple of glances towards the crowd, but for the most part, she keeps her eyes fixated on the square circle. Nina flexes her arms a bit as she reaches the end entryway. She cracks her neck and completely circles the ring one time. Afterwards, Nina cracks her knuckles and slides into the ring.

Melanie Sierra: Her opponent, from Miami, Florida! She is the reigning and defending FGA United States Champion! Ladies and gentlemen, this is "The Kodiak" NIIIINAAAAAA STOOOOOKESSSS!!!

Nina paces around for a moment. Then she removes her jacket and tosses it into the corner. Afterwards, Nina removes the championship belt from her waist and walks to the center of the ring. She hoists the United States Championship high into the air as a wick smirk forms. When she is done, she casually gives the belt to the referee. Nina pulls on the ropes and stretches before she lounges in the corner and waits for the start of the match.

Geoff Penzer: Nina Stokes was able to brutalize Salem during their initial encounter over the US Championship this past August, as well as during their No DQ Match last month. Despite the beating that she’s taken, The Phenomena is back for more. This time, in a Best 2 out of 3 Falls match. The Kodiak is more than happy to repeat her performance from that No DQ match and leave Salem laying at her feet. The deep personal issues between these two dates back years. Tonight, it all ends in that very ring.

As the bell rings, the two women slowly walk towards the center of the ring in an intense staredown. The crowd is eating it up, growing to a deafening level as the former friends jaw off at each other. Suddenly, Salem stumbles back as Nina fires off a hard right hand that connects. Regaining her footing, The Witch launches forward, looking to go for a lariat but Nina ducks underneath. Salem stops on her heels and spins around, only to get caught with a High Roundhouse kick by the champ. Salem falls to a knee, holding the side of her head. Nina pushes forward, lifting Salem back to her feet and viciously driving a knee to the midsection of Salem that lifts her off her feet. She delivers another, and then one more before backing Salem into the corner and unleashing on her with a palm strike flurry.

Geoff Penzer: The champion starting things off very aggressively here. It’s no secret that there is a lot of love lost between these two former best friends.

Salem stumbles from the corner and Nina stalks behind, roughly grabbing her by the hair and forcefully throwing her back into the corner. She drives a boot to the challenger’s stomach before launching into a barrage of boxing forearm strikes. Salem covers up as best she can to try and block the blows, but Nina breaks through the guard with a vicious forearm that leaves her former best friend slumped against the top turnbuckle. Nina backs away and throws her hands up drawing a chorus of boos from the crowd in attendance. She turns and focuses her attention back on Salem and charges forward. She bursts towards the corner and leaps into the air, looking to connect with running double knees. Salem gathers her senses, and rolls out of the way just in time. Seeing this, Nina is able to get her hands on and maneuvers just enough to catch herself on the middle rope. As soon as she drops to the mat, Salem slips behind her and rolls her up.

ONE!
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TWO!
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THR-- NO! Nina kicks out.

Geoff Penzer: Salem almost pulled a quick one right there! But The United States Champion with the kickout.

Nina quickly rolls to her feet and fires off a shoot kick to the side of Salem’s head before she can get back to hers. Nina rolls her over and goes for a pin, roughly pressing her forearm into the side of Salem’s face.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Salem kicks out at the count of two. She rolls to her knees and tries to crawl towards the ropes and create some distance between she and the United States Champion, but Nina is persistent; her eyes narrowed in on The Witch as she stalks behind. She grabs hold of Salem’s head and begins to lift her to her feet. Salem fires off a quick right hand that halts Nina in her tracks. She delivers another one, and then one more before Nina retorts with a vicious forearm strike that floors Salem and puts The Witch right back onto the mat. Nina plucks Salem from the mat and backs her into the ropes. She attempts to whip her into the ropes, but Salem reverses it, sending Nina flying into the ropes instead. As Nina rebounds off of the ropes, Salem drops to the mat and Nina hops over her. Salem pounces back up to her feet, and the crowd roars as she launches into the air looking to connect with a New Hampshire Handshake! Nina however, hooks her arms around the ropes and brings her momentum to a complete stop, much to the dismay of the crowd. She taps her head, letting Salem know that she outsmarted her on that one and then rushes forward, delivering a bicycle knee just as Salem lands. The impact sends Salem reeling backwards but Nina grabs a hold of her and looks to go for the Quietus Redux! However Salem slips her arm from Nina’s grasp and drives an elbow right back into the side of Nina’s head. She delivers another elbow and Nina relinquishes the hold. Salem looks to run towards the ropes but Nina grabs her by the wrist and yanks her back into a wrist clutch exploder suplex! She then goes for the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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TH-- NO!

Salem manages to kick out at count of two.

Geoff Penzer: Another kick out byThe Phenomena. It’s going to take a lot more than that to keep her down but she needs to get something going though or she might be in trouble. Nina Stokes has been all over her from the moment the bell rang!

Nina grabs hold of Salem’s arms and pulls her up slightly off of the mat, just to repeatedly drive her head back down into the mat with a series of curbstomps. The crowd boos as Nina simply sneers down at her former friend and yells that she still has to pay the price. Nina snatches Salem up from the mat and lets out a loud roar as she delivers a forearm strike that rocks the former champion. She then steadies her up and unleashes a hard chop across her chest that echoes throughout the arena. Salem finds some fight in her though and returns the shot with a hard chop of her own. Nina nips the assault in the bud by driving her knee into Salem’s midsection. She backs her into the ropes and whips her across the ring. Salem rebounds, and Nina bends over to deliver a back body drop. Salem rolls across her back and lands on her feet. Nina straightens up and turns around, only to get rocked by a roundhouse kick! Nina spins around and drops to a knee. Salem hits the ropes and returns, dropping the champ with a Somersault Cutter that sends the fans into a frenzy.

Geoff Penzer: Big move by Salem! She may have just found the window of opportunity that she needed!

Salem climbs to her feet and pulls Nina up to a standing position. She then sets her up and pulls her into a shin breaker and follows it up with a leg-hook Saito Suplex. She quickly hustles over to make the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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But No! Nina gets a shoulder up. Salem grabs her by the head and rolls her over onto her stomach. Instead of getting her into a standing position, she keeps her grounded, and delivers a barrage of repeated hard knee strikes.

Geoff Penzer: Salem taking advantage now. She looks to be turning up the intensity a bit here.

Salem continues with the knee strikes and then aggressively rolls Nina over and straddles her, raining a barrage of rights and lefts down on her as the crowd cheers her on.

Geoff Penzer: The Witch is looking like a woman possessed right now and the crowd is absolutely loving it.

Finally Salem gets to her feet and lifts Nina up to hers. She pushes Nina back into the corner and unleashes on her in a scene reminiscent of Flashpoint 40 as she nails a series of chest kicks.

*Pop*

Another one.

*Pop*

Another one.

*Pop*

DJ KHALEEEEDDD!

*Pop*

Another one!

Nina begins to stumble from the corner clutching her chest, but Salem pushes her back. She damn near takes her head off with a rolling elbow and then chains it with a one handed bulldog out of the corner causing the crowd to erupt.

Geoff Penzer: And my how the tables have turned! Nina Stokes was dominating early on, but now the tide has turned and Salem is smelling blood in the water!

Salem quickly climbs back to her feet and connects with a standing moonsault senton. She then leans back and hooks the leg.

ONE!
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TWO!
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THRE-- NO!

Nina manages to get a shoulder up once more. Salem slowly climbs to her feet, delivering a couple of boots to Nina’s head for good measure before making her way outside of the ring. She climbs onto the ropes and patiently waits for the champion to get to her feet.

Geoff Penzer: Salem up top here. It looks as if she’s ready to fly.

Nina gets up and shakes out the cobwebs. Once she turns around to look for Salem, Salem launches off of the top rope and connects with a big missle dropkick!

Geoff Penzer: Huge Missile Dropkick by Salem! She’s going for the cover!

Salem hooks the leg, and the crowd counts with the referee.

ONE!
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TWO!
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THREE!!!
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NO!!!!!!!

The crowd lets out a collective groan as the champion just manages to get a shoulder up in the nick of time.

Geoff Penzer: What a maneuver by Salem there as she was looking to score the first fall of the match. I thought she had it there, folks.

The Dark Crystal can only shake her head in disbelief as she climbs to her feet. She grabs Nina and pulls her to a standing base. She then throws up her devil horns which draws a huge pop from the crowd before delivering a boot to Nina’s midsection. The crowd really comes alive as they see Salem setting Nina up for the Hijack Kevorkian!

But the cheers quickly turn to boos, as Nina slips from Salem’s grasp and sneakily delivers A Slice of Grace throat punch. Salem staggers back, clutching at her throat and trying to catch her breath. Once she turns back around, Nina surges forward and blasts her with the Divine Night rolling elbow smash that lays Salem out.

Nina drops to a knee, taking a moment to recover from the onslaught that she just withstood. In obvious pain, she pushes back to her feet and motions for The Dark Crystal to get up. Once Salem climbs to a kneeling position, the Kodiak drives forward and connects with her version of the Boma Ye Knee Strike.

Geoff Penzer: Amidst the Shadow of Sorrows III. Nina got all of that one and she’s going for the cover.

The crowd erupts into a chorus of boos as Nina makes the cover and hooks the leg.

ONE!
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TWO!
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THREE!!!!!

Geoff Penzer: And Nina Stokes takes the first fall.

Nina Stokes - 1
Salem - 0

Nina sits up, a sinister look on her face as she glances down at the fallen body of her former best friend. She shakes her head and says “We’re not done.” She looks to continue her attack on Salem, but the referee steps in forcing her back as to give Salem some time to regroup for the next fall. Nina paces back and forth like a wild animal, counting down the seconds in her head until she’s given the green light to continue. Salem begins to stir and a sly smirk finds its way onto Nina’s face as she backs into the corner.

The crowd, almost sensing what Nina is thinking, grows louder, attempting to warn Salem as she comes to her senses. The bell sounds to start the next fall, and Nina shoots from the corner, just as Salem gets to a knee and tries to turn out her lights with another Amidst the Shadow of Sorrows…

But somehow, Salem manages to roll out of the way. She tries to get back to her feet, but stumbles back a bit. Nina turns on her heels, and charges at Salem again, but Salem sidesteps and uses Nina’s momentum to drive her into the turnbuckle chest first. Nina stumbles back and Salem spins her around. She lifts her into a Fireman’s carry and then drops her with an Ushigoroshi!

Geoff Penzer: Nina went for the kill but Salem sensed it coming and used Nina’s aggression against her.

Salem crawls to the ropes and slowly pulls herself up. She glances back and sees Nina gradually getting to her feet. Once she’s up, Salem rushes forward and delivers a dropkick to the knee, taking Nina’s base out from under her. Nina then springs to her feet and drives a boot right to the back of Nina’s head. She then steps forward and pulls Nina into a Leg Trap Camel Clutch!

Geoff Penzer: Salem has that leg trap camel clutch locked in tightly.

The ref drops down to see if Nina wants to submit, but she vehemently shakes her head. This only causes Salem to crank back even harder. The ref asks Nina once again if she wants to submit, but the US Champion yells for him to shut up as she tries her best to endure the pain of the hold.

Geoff Penzer: Nina certainly doesn’t seem to appreciate the ref doing his job much right about now.

Seeing that Nina has no intent of giving up, Salem, swings a clubbing forearm to the side of Nina’s head and then relinquishes the hold. She grabs Nina by the head and starts to pull her to a standing position, but Nina fires off a forearm shot to her stomach. She follows up with another and then another, leaving Salem doubled over. Nina rises to her feet and drives a knee upward into Salem’s midsection. She then sprints towards the ropes. Salem takes off right after her and as soon as Nina hits the ropes and rebounds to come back, Salem is right there to greet her with a knee to the gut. Salem pulls her in and looks to go for an exploder suplex, but Nina thwarts her efforts with an elbow shot to the skull. She gives another one for good measure causing Salem to relinquish her grasp on her and stumble back. Nina locks up her arms and smashes her in the face with a headbutt. Then Nina pushes forward connecting with an STO.

Geoff Penzer: The Champion now swinging the momentum back into her favor. Can she pick up the 2nd fall and put away Salem for good?

The champ then delivers a delayed knee drop and attempts a pin.

ONE!
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TWO!
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THRE--- NO! Salem gets a shoulder up. Nina looks at Salem and tells her she should just stay down. She forcefully pushes Salem back down to the mat and goes for another pin, once again pushing her forearm into Salem’s face.

ONE!
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TWO!
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THR--… No! Salem refuses to go quietly. This only seems to irritate Nina as the United States Champ rises to her feet and nails The Phenomena with a hard right hand that crumples her back down onto the mat. Nina makes her way over towards the ropes, and heads up top.

Geoff Penzer: Nina Stokes going up top. What does she have planned here?

Nina sizes Salem up and then leaps off, looking to connect with a double foot stomp, but Salem rolls out of the way. Nina lands on her feet but rolls through the impact. Salem quickly springs to her feet and surges forward, leaping into the air to deliver her signature high velocity leaping elbow. The crowd thunders as Salem soars through the air.

Geoff Penzer: Salem looking to connect with the New Hampshire Handshake!

Nina Stokes turns around, and reacts in the blink of an eye, somehow managing to avoid the maneuver and sidestepping it. She reaches up and grabs hold of Salem’s arm, snatching it behind her and the crowd lets out another collective gasp.

Geoff Penzer: Oh no! Wait a minute! Nina stepped out of the way, she’s looking to lock in Quietus Redux!

With Salem’s arm twisted behind her back, Nina is giving everything she’s got to lock in her patented Crossface Chicken Wing. Salem is fighting however, and not allowing Nina to lock it in. Salem begins to contort her body and is finally able to reverse the hold, pulling Nina into a Crossface Chickenwing of her own. The crowd grows louder as the two women struggle, Salem trying her hardest now to lock in the hold. Nina fights off the attempt and begins to twist her body to attempt a reversal, however Salem scouts the movement, and allows Nina to twist… right into the Boomstick (a ripcord jumping reverse STO.)

Geoff Penzer: Boomstick! Boomstick!!! What a counter by Salem.

Salem goes for the pin and hooks the leg. The crowd know to count as they yell along as the referee drops to make the count.

ONE!
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TWO!
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THREE!!!!!

Geoff Penzer: She got her! We’re all tied up at one apiece now!

Nina Stokes - 1
Salem - 1

A loud roar erupts from the crowd as Salem captures the fall. The energy of the crowd has clearly given her a second wind. She stands to her feet and makes her way to the corner as the referee checks in on Nina.

Geoff Penzer: This has been a fight ladies and gentlemen! Both of these women are laying it all on the line for that United States Championship. But we all know it’s deeper than that. These two, they were the closest of friends for years. And now they’re raging an absolute war on one another!

The ref backs away from Nina who is still sprawled out on the mat but trying to gather herself. In the corner, Salem throws up her Devil Horns and the crowd reciprocates the action as Salem leans back against the turnbuckle and motions for Nina to get up. The bell finally sounds to start the last fall and Salem starts motioning more frantically for Nina to get up.

Geoff Penzer: Salem looks poised and ready for the kill. The US Champion might be in a world of trouble here and she doesn’t even know it.

Nina unsteadily starts climbing to her feet, her back towards Salem. The crowd grows louder, watching as Salem waits patiently and Nina is none the wiser. Nina reaches out and grabs hold of the rope to steady herself a bit before finally turning around. Salem runs forward, leaping into the air and delivering a high velocity leaping elbow strike.

Geoff Penzer: New Hampshire Handshake!!!! The third time's the charm as Salem finally connects!!! This may be it! We may have a new champion here!

The impact of the hit sends Nina sprawling across the mat. The crowd is on their feet now as Salem dives on top of her to make the cover. The ref drops to make the count as the fans yell each count.

ONE!
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.

TWO!
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THREE!!!!!
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NO!

The referee stops his count right before the three and points to Nina’s foot which is draped over the ropes.

Geoff Penzer: Amazing ring awareness by Nina Stokes. She got her foot on the ropes just in the nick of time to save her United States Championship. Salem was literally a millisecond away from regaining that title and she knows it.

Salem runs her hands through her hair in frustration and lies back onto the mat for a second as Nina rolls out of the ring and falls to the outside. The ref makes his way over towards the ropes and starts a count on Nina.

One…

Two…

Three…

Four…

Five...

On the outside, Nina is finally coming to. She rolls over onto her knees and reaches up placing a hand on the ring apron to pull herself up. Salem hops out onto the apron, and as Nina finally pulls herself up, she runs around the apron and nails The Kodiak with a Penalty Kick!

She hops off the apron and grabs Nina by the head taking the fight to the outside, causing the referee to restart his count.

One…
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.


She walks her over to the guardrail, slamming her back first against it. She fires off a kick to Nina’s midsection, and follows it with another and then another causing Nina to drop to a knee.

Two..
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Salem backs up a bit and looks as if she is about to charge in, when all of a sudden Nina breaks from a sprinters stance and slams right into Salem, driving her back into the ring apron.

Three…
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.
.

Salem howls in pain as she drops to her knees. Nina falls to her knees as well, and simply shakes her head at Salem, letting the Witch know that she’s not done yet.

Four…
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.
.

Nina slams an elbow into the side of Salem’s head, and then another one and another one. She pushes to her feet and grabs Salem into a wrist lock, and then punishes her with repeated face kicks that draw a chorus of boos from the crowd.

Five...

Geoff Penzer: Nina Stokes absolutely brutal with those kicks.

She delivers one more kick that has Salem absolutely reeling before hopping up onto the apron. Nina takes a few steps back and then surges forward, looking to connect with a running jumping senton, but Salem dives out of the way causing Nina to crash to the outside.

Six…

Salem pulls herself up using the apron and rolls into the ring. Instead of staying in however, she gets the crowd on their feet once again as she launches herself to the outside with a slingshot plancha, crashing down onto Nina. Both women are down as the referee starts his count over once again. Salem gets to her feet and begins to pull Nina up to a standing base. Once to a knee however, Nina delivers a gut punch that keels Salem over. She then thrusts up, knocking the former United States Champion back with an uppercut. Salem staggers back as Nina rises to her feet. Nina stalks forward, picking up momentum as she grabs hold of Salem and drives her face first into the steel ring post. Salem hits with a loud thud and then bounces off, falling to the floor. Salem holds her head and slowly tries to fight through the pain and push herself up off of the ground. But Nina has other plans as she sees a window of opportunity. Once Salem is up to a kneeling position, Nina bursts forward and blasts her with Amidst the Shadow of Sorrows III. Nina simply stands there and looks at her downed opponent, and one can only wonder the thoughts that are going through her mind.

Geoff Penzer: That knee landed flush, and Salem may be out of it!

The Dark Crystal remains motionless as Nina heads back towards the ring and yells for the referee to hurry up and finish his count that has already reached…

Four…
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Five….
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Six….
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Seven….
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The crowd begins to cheer as Salem begins to stir. Nina smirks at them seemingly getting their hopes up and let’s them know that the Witch is done.

Geoff Penzer: Salem starting to show some signs of life now, but is it too late?
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Eight….
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Salem finally pushes up off of the ground and gets to her knees. She is wobbly and seems disoriented. The anxiousness of the crowd grows to an all time level as Salem seems to be really struggling to get a hold of her bearings.
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Nine….
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Nina raises her arms in the air, not at all worried about Salem making it back in. Suddenly the crowd roars as Salem somehow finds the strength to push forward. She gets up off of the floor and dives into the ring right before the referee can hit the ten count.

Geoff Penzer: She made it! She made it! This fight isn’t over yet and Nina is furious!

The United States Champion can’t believe that Salem made it in on time, and almost seems incensed that she decided not to stay down. Nina charges forward, drawing a chorus of boos as she immediately begins to nail the former United States Champion with a barrage of stomps. She lifts Salem up to her feet and batters her with some boxing forearm strikes and then delivers a hard right hand that leaves the former United States Champion staggered against the ropes.

Geoff Penzer: Nina Stokes is a woman possessed right now!

Nina backs off momentarily, but that’s only to create some space. She runs forward, looking to knock Salem right back out of the ring with a lariat, but Salem ducks and back body drops Nina over the ropes! Nina twists her body in midair and manages to land on the apron, only to get caught with a running dropkick from Salem that sends her flying off of the apron and headfirst into the edge of the announce table.

Geoff Penzer: Nina’s head just bounced right off the announce table, my God.

With Nina down on the outside, Salem takes a moment to gather herself. Finally she drops down to the mat and rolls back outside of the ring. Nina is on the ground writhing in pain and Salem picks her back up to a standing position. She delivers a high impact spinning backfist that damn near takes Nina’s head off and sends her sprawling onto the announce table. Salem looks at Nina laid out on the table and then glances at the ropes.

Geoff Penzer: Uh oh. What is The Phenomena thinking here?

The crowd however seems to already know whats on her mind. Salem glances back at Nina and then back at the ropes and a resounding “Yes” chant breaks out. Salem simply nods and makes her way towards the ropes.

Geoff Penzer: The Champ is in a world of trouble here because The Witch is looking to fly!

Salem scales the ropes, occasionally glancing back to make sure that Nina is still in place. Seeing that the champ hasn’t moved, Salem climbs up to the top ropes. Taking a moment to balance herself, she throws up her infamous Devil Horns to the crowd before launching backwards with a beautiful looking moonsault.
.
.

Right before impact however, Nina rolls out of the way causing Salem to crash right through the table.

Geoff Penzer: No! Salem just went crashing right through the announce table and I think she may be seriously injured.

The scene is one of total carnage. Nina Stokes lies motionless on the floor while Salem writhes in pain, clutching her knee in the middle of the debris. The referee begins to count.

One…
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Two…
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Three…
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Geoff Penzer: Salem is in serious pain, but Nina still seems to be out of it as well. Will either of these ladies be able to continue after the hell they’ve put themselves through?

Four…
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Five…


Nina Stokes is finally coming to her senses. She rolls over onto her stomach and looks over at the debris where Salem lies.
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Six…
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.

Geoff Penzer: The champion is finally showing some signs of life now.

Nina slowly pushes to her feet. She momentarily stares down at Salem who is still holding her knee before staggering towards the ring and rolling in.
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.

Seven…
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Salem starts pushing away pieces of the debris from around her. She grimaces with every move, in obvious pain as she tries to pull herself up. The fans are behind her 100%, cheering her on as she tries to pull herself up.
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Eight…
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Salem uses the barricade as a support to help her stand but she is unable to put and sort of pressure on the injured leg. She attempts to move towards the ring but her knee immediately gives out as she howls out in pain and crumples back down to the floor.
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Nine…
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Ten.

Geoff Penzer: Not like this. Salem has been counted out.

Nina Stokes - 2
Salem - 1

The referee calls for the bell and the crowd bursts into a chorus of boos as “Sei to Shi to Kimi” by MUCC hits the speakers

Melanie Sierra: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this fall and match, and STILL FGA United States Champion, NIIIIIIIINNNNNAAAAAAA STOKES!!!!!

The referee hands the US Championship to Nina and raises her hand as the fans continue to voice their displeasure. A medical team rushes out to attend to the former champion as she’s still clutching her knee in agony. Nina snatches her hand away from the referee and makes her way towards the steps to exit the ring. She slows her pace a bit as she walks around to where the medical team is working on Salem, and finally comes to a stop. Her eyes now falling upon her former friend. Nina however isn’t moved by Salem's cries or the scene in front of her. Stokes turns and walks away before coming to stop.  Stokes slowly turns and looks back at Salem. While The Phenomena is being attend by the medical staff, she slowly lifts her head up and looks over at Stokes. The two former friends share a long gaze before Stokes simply adjusts the title on her shoulder, turns away and continues her walk to the back amidst the booing crowd.

[FGA Office]

As the anticipation grows within the Spectrum Center the atmosphere is very different backstage, where Johnny Karma is standing in his locker room silently staring at his reflection in the mirror with an intense look of concentration upon his face

Yet he’s not the only person we see reflected in the mirror, as Cherry Baum is stood in the centre of the locker room and is looking over his shoulder, a peturned look upon her face

Cherry Baum: J-K?

There is no response from Karma, almost as if Cherry wasn’t even in the room

Cherry Baum: John?

Karma continues to not register Cherry as he continues to stare into his own eyes

Cherry Baum: JOHN???

At last his focus is broken, and for a split second Karma almost looks as if he doesn’t know where he is, having got so lost in his focus that it ultimately began to consume him. After taking a couple of seconds to compose himself, Karma turns around to face Cherry and turns his back to the mirror

Johnny Karma: Sorry, I was lost there for a second.

Rather than immediately respond, Cherry gives Karma a look that says she agrees – albeit her definition of “lost” is very different to the one Karma used

Johnny Karma: So…I guess tonight’s the night, huh? After months of being told I’d never win another championship and I’d be out the door because I was such a khamoole that I wagered my career on something that would never happen, here I am with one hand reaching for that title at last.

Karma lets out a deep, cleansing breath as he acknowledges that, no matter how flip he may have sounded when laying it out like that, he knows the enormity of the situation at hand

Johnny Karma: But tonight, tonight everything is back in my hands as everything I set out to do is laid out in front of me, and all I have to do is make sure I do what I know I can do and every last person who doubted me, mocked me or belittled me for the past few months will realise there was a reason I set myself this one challenge: because I knew I could do it.

A beat

More than a beat

In fact, an awkward silence, so awkward that Cherry has to step in

Cherry Baum: Are you okay?

Another beat

Johnny Karma: Not really, no.

Karma exhales loudly, so loudly it almost sounds like he’s deflating like a balloon with a tiny hole punctured into it, and he even looks the part for a moment as he crumples against the counter he was leaning on

Johnny Karma: Let’s be honest here, you and I can both see the difference: when I was coming into my match against Izzy Anders I was coming in hot, as I had a Gold Rush Rumble win and a stack of momentum pushing me forward. But tonight, there’s no denying it, there’s no momentum behind me as I couldn’t even win a battle royal to prove myself as the most deserving person for this match. Back then I had Heroes Never Die throw one obstacle after another in my path in a desperate bid to try and slow me down, this time I have Savannah Taylor talk about Cordy Stevenson like I’m not even there. That’s the sort of thing you tend to notice.

Karma shrugs, less because he doesn’t care and more in a “What can you do?” kind of way

Johnny Karma: I mean it’s not like I was expecting the smoothest, straightest road to achieving my goal when I made my pledge, but instead we have…what do we have? I get to the outskirts of my destination in the most anticlimactic way possible. I mean it’s where I wanted to be, but it just feels…

Unable to put his thoughts into words, Karma vaguely gesticulates around himself as if that somehow illustrates his point

Johnny Karma: But there’s one thing Savannah didn’t learn: you don’t kick me when I’m down, and you certainly don’t get your running buddy to kick me in the beytsim to win a tag match right before it’s time to put your belt on the line, because the list of people who thought they’d put me down in this company gets longer with every year – and that list looks identical to the list of people I’ve beat. So if she thought a cheap win the other week would be all it took to turn me back…well, I’ll happily add her to the list she’s avoided being on for far too long already.

Another pause, another deep exhalation of breath, another realisation of the size of the task in front of him

Johnny Karma: It’ll be tough. I know this. There’s two opponents in the ring with me and each has their reasons to fight tooth and nail to come out of this match the winner, just as I do, and for the two of them this match carries just as much significance as it does for me. Let’s be honest here, it’s probably going to be hell to get through this match. But there’s a reason I’m here, and more important there’s a reason I was willing to stake my career on the possibility of being here: because I don’t want to do things the easy way, because I want to feel like I’ve earned it. It’s been hard going, there’s no denying that, as I’ve come close far more often than I’ve got to where I needed to be, I’ve had one faction after another think the only way to gain legitimacy is to beat me down like some kind of dog, I’ve had my grandfather’s death mocked by someone who is more fitting the description of a dog…

The momentary pause and slight wavering in Karma’s voice indicates he will never, ever let that one go

Johnny Karma: …but at the end of it I am here, right now, because I knew the only way to get here and be able to look at myself in the mirror is if I bet it all. And that’s what tonight is, proving not only to myself but those few who still doubt me that I knew what it would take to get myself back to where I am on the cusp of right now, because sacrifice is what I have done for so long it comes naturally to me. And that is why Savannah Taylor is going to wish she paid more attention when she had the chance.

As the assertiveness returns to his voice, Karma nods to Cherry to show that he means what he's saying, and having done that he turns to once again look into the mirror - and this time, as he looks at his reflection, he looks at a space over his right shoulder for a moment and nods to himself to say one thing: he can do this

[FGA Office]

Darkness

In spite of the silence the atmosphere is tense as something lurks in the unknown, out of sight but certainly not out of mind

Without warning the silence and the darkness are shattered by a match being struck, flooding the space with a warm light, revealing Erin Mariani as she touches the head of the match to the wick of a nearby candle, allowing a moment for the flame to gestate upon the wick before she extinguishes the match with a flick of her wrist

Erin Mariani: Pride.

Mariani chuckles darkly to herself as she leaves the word to hang in the air

Erin Mariani: “They” tell us that pride cometh before a fall, but that could not be further from the truth. Pride shows itself at the split second where the fall has already begun, where everyone can see what is about to happen with one exception: the doomed soul who does not realise that they are already falling. They will try and tell themselves that everything is fine, but those thoughts will soon be purged from their mind when they accept their time on this earth will be occupied with having to accept they are plunging towards inevitability.

A wicked smirk crosses Mariani’s lips

Erin Mariani: For one such example, look at our opponents for this evening. They believe themselves to be superior. They believe themselves to be untouchable. They have led themselves to believe all manner of half-truths because they fail to understand that the lie these half-truths are built upon will slowly consume any scrap of truth in what they have led themselves to believe.

Without warning the flame of a second match bursts into existence, revealing Sara Mason standing next to Mariani, and rather than ignite a candle in a ceremonial manner instead she touches the match to the candle’s wick and then shakes the life out of the match’s flame before tossing the match aside

Sara Mason: What’s more, the two of them have been our personal playthings all along. All we had to do was…

Mason clicks her fingers

Erin Mariani: …and they were only too willing to drop to their knees and ask what they could do for us.

A wicked look flashes across Mariani’s face

Sara Mason: Do they really not understand? We saw them acting as if they were royalty as they were safely tucked away outside our reach, but rather than allow them to feel warm and safe we did what should have been done long ago: we reached out and grabbed hold of them, keeping them in the palm of our hands as we told them it was time they were put in their place.

Erin Mariani: And yet we almost feel pity for them. Not for what we have put them through, as we have not even begun to put them through their re-education, but because of their foolish pride. They just cannot bring themselves to admit that there is nothing beneath their feet but the void into which they will be cast, and go to great lengths to deny their impending eradication. Sadly for them, they felt the need to express this not with empty words as they lied to themselves, but they tried to drag the two of us down with them, believing their best course of action available was to try and cost us.

Mariani falls deathly silent, her eyes piercing through the half-light with a look of steel and venom, rage icily coursing through her entire body as she hisses the next few words

Erin Mariani: This will cost them utterly.

The look upon Mariani’s face does not change, even after she has spoken

Sara Mason: I’m sure that, somewhere else in this building, we’re hearing about how we’ll be defeated, how Neal Durden will throw himself out of the ring upon us, or how they are the true pedigree of this company.

Instead of issuing a denial, Mason simply shakes her head – causing her hair to shake dangerously close to the flames, but she doesn’t appear to care

Sara Mason: That’s just their pride lying to them, because what will actually happen is that Durden will throw himself upon our mercy in the hope that he is spared for his transgressions. He will try, but he will find that the hold we have upon him and Lowri Moss in order to manipulate them into getting what we want is nothing compared to how tightly we hold onto grudges, and the pair of them have been very, very foolish in this regard.

Mason snickers to herself

Sara Mason: From the outset we wanted a willing foil to allow us to show our superiority, and all we needed was somebody prideful enough to believe their own press and foolish enough to lead along, because all we needed to do was apply the right amount of pressure at the right juncture and they would soon fall in line with what we wanted, yet too blind to consider they were willingly submitting to our whims. And this is where we are at: two lost souls thinking they are in a match that will showcase how they are the very best, yet in reality they have been thrown to the wolves – and those wolves have been starved for too long.

Erin Mariani: When the time comes, the bell will not signify that a match has begun. Far from it, the bell will signify that it is time to end the charade of our opponents, because there comes a time where we must acknowledge it is time to put away such childish things, so we shall cut the puppets’ strings and let them experience the fall for themselves as we will do what we always do: we shall watch as their forms twist and bend in the wind until they finally disappear from our sight, knowing full well that there will come a point in what remains of their existence that they have to put away their pride and accept that they are falling. And when they finally accept that…

With her eyes still firmly fixed upon the camera, Mariani simply picks up the candle and holds it towards the camera for a couple of seconds as a knowing look crosses her face, at which point she simply blows out the flame and lets herself be swallowed up by the darkness

A second later, Mason places her thumb and middle finger to her tongue and firmly places them against her candle’s flame, pinching out the flame without a second’s thought and showing no sign of being in any way inconvenienced by her flesh touching the flames as we are once again plunged into the darkness

[FGA Office]

Geoff Penzer: Some spooky stuff there, folks. Ominous words, as always, from Silk & Cyanide! This matchup is nearly twelve months in the making. Why wait any longer? Let’s send it back over to Melanie Sierra for the ring introductions. Mel...

CHAMPIONS VS. CHAMPIONS
(c) Silk & Cyanide vs. (c) Pendragon

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, as Mariani slowly runs her fingertip down the face of her title belt as Mason drops to a crouch to raise the title she's been dragging along the entranceway so it's next to her face, as the two look towards the ring with a combination of amusement and malice

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 think they stand a chance at taking their titles away from them

Melanie Sierra: The following contest, scheduled for one fall, is a CHAMPIONS VERSUS CHAMPIONS MATCH! Introducing first, making their way to the ring at a total combined weight of 248 pounds! They are the reigning FGA United States Tag Team Champions! Sara Mason… Erin Mariani… SILK & CYANIDE!

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 holds her title belt over Her opponents' heads 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 with her belt clenched in her hands

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 glares towards towards the opponents with her title belt slung over her shoulder, daring them to come a little closer to see what will happen, while Mariani places her belt on her partner's free shoulder and 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

Geoff Penzer: Silk & Cyanide will be looking to snuff out the team of Pendragon here tonight. This match goes beyond either set of tag championships. This goes beyond brand supremacy. This is personal between these two. Erin Mariani and Sara Mason would love for nothing more than to humble, humiliate and annihilate Pendragon here at Autumn Annihilation.

The lights flicker as "Take A Chance" by CFO$ begins to play over the PA system, and out through the curtains walks Neal Durden, followed closely by Lowri Moss, each of them with their titles wrapped around their waists. The Welsh duo stand side by side on the stage for a moment, surveying the crowd, before they make their way towards the ring, with Neal leading the way.

Melanie Sierra: Their opponents! Making their way to the ring at a total combined weight of 320 pounds! They are the reigning FGA World Tag Team Champions! Lowri Moss… Neal Durden… PENDRAGON!

After climbing the steps and entering the ring, Lowri heads for one of the corners, climbs to the second rope, and takes the title from around her waist and holds it aloft as she looks out at the cheering fans, while Neal simply stands in the middle of the ring with his pinky finger up and a smirk on his face.

Geoff Penzer: Pendragon feel th-HERE WE GO!

Silk & Cyanide quick rush across the ring and attack Pendragon at the opening bell! The capacity crowd continue to boo Sara Mason and Erin Mariani after they get the jump on Pendragon.

Geoff Penzer: Silk & Cyanide wasted little time going right after Pendragon! They are going to work on the World Tag champions after catching them off guard! BUT HERE COME PENDRAGON!

Suddenly, the boos turn to cheers when Lowri Moss and Neal Durden start to fight back. Pendragon proceed to knock Silk & Cyanide back towards the center of the ring. The cheers grow even louder as both teams stand toe to toe trading punches in the middle of the ring.

Geoff Penzer: The fists are flying here in the Spectrum Center and this crowd is loving every second of it!

The two tag champions continue to trade blows until Mason tackles Moss down to the mat with a double leg takedown. Mason unleashes a flurry of right hands on Moss before Moss rolls over on top of her. Moss then mounts herself on top of Mason before raining down wild rights and lefts to the face. Moss continues to connect with the punches until Mason reaches up and rakes her across the eyes! She then rolls back over on top of Moss, grabs two handfuls of hair and repeatedly rams the back of her head against the canvas! Across the ring, Durden and Mariani continue to trade strikes. Mariani throws out another punch when Durden blocks and counters with a punch of his own. Mariani gets blocked once again before Durden counters with another punch. Durden fires off three more uncontested punches before throwing out a rolling elbow. No! Mariani cuts him off with a kick to the gut that doubles him over. She then knocks him upright with a knee lift before dropping him down to his right knee after dropkicking his left. Durden remains down on one knee until Mariani hits the ropes, returns and flattens him with a running hip attack!

Mariani takes Durden, runs over into the corner and slams him face-first into the top turnbuckle. She then turns Durden around before wrapping his arms around the top ropes. From there, Mariani is meet with boos from the crowd when she delivers multiple slaps across the face. Across the ring, Mason places Moss in a headlock, rakes her face across the top rope and then slams her face-first into the top turnbuckle. Mason turns Moss around before doubling her over with a cross chop to the throat. She then cups Moss’ chin with her hand, lifts her head back up and then nails Moss with another cross chop to the throat. This time, Moss drops down to all fours. Mason then crouches down and smiles at Moss while the World Tag Champ is still favoring her throat. As Moss slowly rises back to her feet, the smile on Mason’s face slowly fades. She then stands back up before unleashing a series of palm strikes to the chest. Mason follows up with a back elbow to the face before delivering a headbutt for good measure. In the opposite corner, Mariani sends Durden slumping down in the corner with mudhole stomps. She then follows up with a foot choke while pulling down on the top rope. The crowd continues to boo Mariani while the official gives her until the count of five to break the choke.

Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR…

Mariani let’s go… then quickly reapplies the foot choke!

Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR… FI-

Mariani intentionally breaks the choke as late as possible.

Geoff Penzer: Pendragon started to fight back. But Silk & Cyanide have swarmed the World Tag Team Champs and have cut off any potential comeback.

The referee is quick to admonish Mariani for the late break. But Mariani pays him no mind. She then reaches down, pulls Durden back to his feet and calls over to Mason. Mason looks back at her tag team partner and gives her a nod. On cue, Silk & Cyanide take Pendragon and whip them out of opposite corners. The crowd gasps when Pendragon are about to collide in the center of the ring. Moss then hurdles over a ducking Durden! Moss continues to run forward and blasts Mariani with a running corner big boot while Durden charges across the ring and catches Mason with a running arched big boot of his own! Durden and Moss look over and point at each other before running back across the ring. The cheers continue when Durden hit Mariani with a running arched big boot while Mason gets caught with a running corner big boot from Moss! Moss then turns and hits the far ropes while Mason slumps down in the corner. Moss picks up speed as she runs back across the ring before hitting Mason with a running facewash! Across the ring, Durden pulls Mariani out of the corner before going for an Irish whip. Mariani reverses, sending Durden into the ropes. When he comes back, he counters a kitchen sink by flipping over Mariani’s knee and executing a schoolboy into a powerbomb! Moss grabs Mason by the hair and pulls her out of the corner before pushing her off into the ropes. Pendragon catch Mason off the rebound with a double hip toss. Mason gets back to her feet. But she’s quickly knocked back down with a double dropkick. A second double dropkick connects, knocking Mason through the ropes and to the floor. As Mason slowly picks herself up on the floor, Durden turns and hits the far ropes. The crowd erupts with cheers when Durden picks up speed as he runs across the ring before flipping over the top rope and knocking Mason don with a topé con hilo!

Geoff Penzer: Durden takes it to the air before connecting with a huge dive to the outside! Listen to this crowd!

Back inside, Moss approaches Mariani while she’s down on all fours. Before Mariani can get back up, Moss cracks her across the back of the head with a Switchblade Kick, knocking her down. Moss drops down, pulls Mariani over and makes the cover.

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

Moss takes Mariani and whips her into the ropes. She then catches Mariani off the rebound with an STO before heading over and tagging Durden back in. Durden slingshots himself into the ring before hitting the far ropes. When Durden returns, he lets Moss throw him down with a hip toss, which causes him to land across Mariani with a front slip senton! The cheers continue as he turns over into a lateral press.

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

Geoff Penzer: Another nearfall for Pendragon. Moss and Durden would love to win this match for Flashpoint. They would love to win this match to position themselves as the team to be selected by The Hellcat Spangled Death Squad. But they want to win this to right the wrongs of what happened last year. Pendragon still feel the sting of getting robbed of the US Tag Titles by Silk & Cyanide at last year's Final Frontier. I said it earlier tonight and you heard it straight from Pendragon themselves. They've waited nearly twelve months for this opportunity. After Mason & Mariani screwed Moss over in that Battle Royal back in September, it just gives Pendragon even more incentive to get even and put them in their place here tonight.

Durden heads over and tags Moss back in. Pendragon take Mariani, whip her into the far ropes and then bring her down with a double back body drop. As Mariani tries to pick herself back up, Moss runs into the far ropes. When she comes back, Durden launches her into Mariani with an assisted dropkick, knocking Mariani through the ropes and to the floor! The capacity crowd cheers even louder for Pendragon after they circle the ring and hype them up.

Geoff Penzer: Pendragon have the city of Charlotte in the palms of their hands!

Mariani can be seen stirring on the outside. While she slowly tries to get back up, Moss heads into the corner before scaling the turnbuckles. Moss stays crouched on the top turnbuckle while she waits for Mariani to get in position. Once Mariani is back to a vertical base, the crowd erupts with cheers when Moss stands up, flips off and knocks her down with a moonsault to the outside!!!

Geoff Penzer: Moss with a huge moonsault that takes out Mariani! Look at the hang time she got before taking out Mariani!

Moss takes Mariani and rolls her back inside before sliding back in. She makes the cover

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

Moss takes Mariani, moves her into the corner and nails her with repeated shoot kicks to the chest before following up with a European Uppercut! She then reaches over and tags Durden back in. Durden slingshots into the ring before lighting up Mariani’s chest with knife edge chops! He reaches over and tags Moss back in. Moss hops back in through the ropes and hits Mariani with alternating rapid-fire knife edge chops and forearms to the chest! She then brings Mariani from out of the corner and goes for an irish whip. Mariani reverses, sending Moss into the ropes. When Moss hits the ropes, the crowd boos when Mason jumps up from the floor and hits her with a double axe handle across the back. Moss staggers a couple of steps forward before turning around. She runs over towards the ropes and throws out a kick at Mason. But Mason wisely backs away and taunts Moss. Before Moss can turn her attention back to Mariani, Moss gets brought down to the mat with an inverted side headlock takedown. Mariani quickly follows up with a front chancery with knees to the head. Mariani pulls Moss back to her feet, pulls her over into the Silk & Cyanide corner and allows Mason to tag herself in! The crowd boos as Mason climbs to the top turnbuckle, jumps off and comes down with a back rake to Moss. Mariani then lets go Moss before stepping back towards the center of the ring. After she drops down to a knee, Mason takes Moss and delivers the Vow (one-handed bulldog by Mason over Mariani’s knee)! She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Moss kicks out.

Geoff Penzer: Silk & Cyanide find themselves back in control after that cheap shot from the outside by Mason.

Mason heads over and tags Mariani back in. Silk & Cyanide then take Moss, delivers a double arm wringer before knocking her down to the mat with a stereo palm thrusts to the chest! Moss is then pulled up to a seated position before Silk & Cyanide hit the ropes. When they return, they flatten Moss with stereo front dropkicks to the face! The boos continue as Mariani makes the cover.

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

Mariani picks up Moss before applying a two-handed choke. The crowd erupts with boos while Mariani moves Moss across the ring before choking her against the ropes. The official is quick to step in and give her until the count of five to break the choke.

Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR…

Mariani breaks the choke. As she steps away from Moss, Mason runs along the apron, swings over and locks Moss in a rope-hung crucifix! Mariani makes her way back over to Moss and rakes away at her chest before delivering repeated slaps across the face. Once Mason breaks the crucifix, she walks back over to her corner. Back inside, Mariani pulls Moss off the ropes before shooting her off into the far ropes. When Moss comes back, Mariani sends her flipping down to the mat with a kitchen sink. Moss immediately curls up while she guards her midsection. Mariani then quickly rushes over, drops down and makes the cover.

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

Mariani pulls up Moss, hooks one arm from behind and then drives her down with a half nelson facebuster! While Moss struggles to push herself up off the mat, Mariani gets down in front of her. She stays just out of arm’s reach and starts to beckon Moss with her fingers. Moss then gets back to her feet and rushes Mariani. But Mariani cuts her off with multiple knee strikes to the midsection. She then takes hold of Moss, pulls her into the Silk & Cyanide corner and tags Mason back in. Silk & Cyanide then take Moss and bring her down with the Descent (double suplex lift into a sitout gourdbuster from Mariani)! Mariani heads out to the apron while Mason pulls Moss over and makes the cover.

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

Geoff Penzer: Another nearfall for Mariani. Say what you want about Silk & Cyanide, but they are an effective tag team. They know their way around that ring. They have effective tandem maneuvers and even though I don't like it, their ability to cheat and manipulate is rivaled by very few.

Mason takes Moss, rushes across the ring and delivers the Lorelei (with an opponent in a headlock, Mason dives out of the ring and snaps their neck across the ropes)! Mason gets back to her feet, reaches back inside and drapes Moss throat-first across the bottom rope. She then rolls back inside before choking Moss across the bottom rope by standing across her back. The crowd erupts with boos while Mason tries to choke the life out of Moss.

Geoff Penzer: Come on, ref, you got to get in there and stop that...

Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR… FI-

Mason steps off of Moss and backs away from her. While the referee reprimands Mason, Mariani runs over towards Moss and delivers The Morrigan (with an opponent’s throat draped on the bottom rope, Mariani runs along the ring apron and hits a running stomp to the back of the head)! Mason then side steps the official, rushes back over to Moss, drags her away from the ropes and then drops down before pushing her over to make the cover.

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

Moss gets her shoulder up.

Mason sits up Moss, takes a hold of her arm and reaches it out towards the Pendragon corner. The crowd erupts with boos at the taunting from Mason. Durden just looks over at Mason with narrowed eyes. Mason then shoves Moss down to the mat before slinking over towards him. She stares at Durden with a wide-eyed glare before rushing back over and flattening Moss with a sliding clothesline! Mason makes the cover.

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

Mason makes the cover again.

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

The crowd rains boos down on Mason when she repeatedly drives the point of her elbow across Moss’ face before pressing her forearm down hard across Moss’ jaw for the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Moss kicks out.

Geoff Penzer: Mason with the aggressive pin there. But Moss is still able to avoid the three count.

Mason takes Moss and positions her so that her head is facing Durden. The crowd boos when Mason applies the Implied Consent (camel clutch with fish hooks)! Mason stares at Durden with a wide-eyed glare while she tries to rip Moss’ mouth apart! The official is quick to give Mason until the count of five to break the illegal hold.

Ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR…

Mason lets go and shoves Moss down face-first to the mat. Mason continues to keep her eyes locked on Durden as she drags Moss into position. She then steps out to the apron before climbing the turnbuckle.

Geoff Penzer: Mason's going up top. This isn't good for Lowri...

Mason reaches the top before jumping off for a flying elbow drop across the back. She misses! The crowd explodes with cheers when Moss rolls out of the way, causing Mason to crash hard on the canvas!

Geoff Penzer: Nobody was home! Mason missed! Now Mason is down and she isn't quick to get back up! Lowri needs to get over to that corner and tag Neal back in! Neal's ready for it! But can she make it to the Pendragon corner!? She's been taking a beating these past couple of minutes. She might be worn down.

Moss remains on her back while Mason clutches her arm. The official goes over and checks on both grapplers before starting his count.

ONE!




TWO!





THREE!

Moss stirs on the mat before slowly turning over into the prone position.





FOUR!






FIVE!





Mason rolls over towards the side of the ring. She then uses her good arm to pull herself across the mat and over towards the Silk & Cyanide corner.




SIX!






SEVEN!






Moss continues to pull herself towards the Pendragon corner. Durden desperately reaches out for the tag. But Moss isn’t quite there yet.






EIGHT!

Mason reaches up and tags Mariani back in! The crowd boos when Mariani gets in, runs over and steps off Moss’ back to catch Durden with Lilith’s Kiss (bicycle knee strike), knocking Durden off the apron and to the floor!

Geoff Penzer: Neal got CLOBBERED with that bicycle knee! Durden's been taken out of the equation! Can Moss fend off Silk & Cyanide!?

Mariani drags Moss back towards the center of the ring before heading towards the ropes. Mariani rebounds back and goes for a handspring moonsault. But she misses! Moss again rolls out of the way, causing Mariani to catch nothing but canvas! Moss turns over into the prone position before pushing herself up on all fours. Both grapplers slowly get back to a vertical base. Moss hits Mariani with a shoot kick. Mariani goes to respond when Moss cuts her off with another shoot kick. Another shoot kick connects before Moss follows up with a Scorpion Kick! She then takes Mariani and whips her into the ropes. When Mariani returns, she sees Moss setting up for a back body drop. So stops and places her in a front facelock to set up Subjugation (Implant DDT)! Mariani starts to lift Moss up when Moss kicks her legs, forcing Mariani to lower her back down. She then grabs a hold of Mariani’s arm, spins out of the hold and yanks Mariani over into a bicycle knee strike that snaps her head back! A glassy-eyed Mariani drops down to a knee before Moss takes a few steps back, rushes forward and flattens her with a Shining Wizard! She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
NO! The crowd sighs and boos when Mariani gets her shoulder up.

Geoff Penzer: Aw man, i thought Lowri could have gotten the three there!

Moss motions to head over for the tag. But she sees Durden trying to pull himself up using the edge of the apron. So she heads back over to Mariani, pulls her up and whips her into the corner. Moss rushes in for an attack when Mariani counters with a hard back elbow to the face. While Moss staggers back, Mariani hoists herself up onto the middle ropes and goes for a flying clothesline… only to get countered with a spinning heel kick! Moss brings Mariani back to her feet, kicks her in the midsection and brings her down with a sitout jawbreaker. While Mariani is once again down on one knee, Moss gets back to her feet, runs over and goes for another Shining Wizard. This time, Mariani ducks the knee! Mariani sticks her head back up thinking that the coast is clear. But Moss runs back over from behind and clocks her across the back of the head with the Surprise Package (High impact swinging back elbow to the back of a kneeling opponent's head)!!! Moss pushes Mariani over and makes the cover.

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

The crowd boos when Mason runs over and breaks up the pin with a running seated senton across the back!

Geoff Penzer: Mason with the timely counter!

Mason yanks up Moss by the hair, runs and chucks her over the top rope. After landing on the apron, Moss starts to pull herself up using the ropes as Mason hits the far ropes. Mason picks up speed as she runs back across the ring for an attack. At the last moment, Moss low bridges the top rope, sending Mason tumbling over the top rope and tumbling to the floor! Moss looks down at Mason with a smirk. She then turns her attention back to Mariani and gets caught with a hard shoulder thrust through the ropes. Mariani snatches Moss into a front facelock, pulls her back in through the ropes, lifts her up and plants her with the Subjugation! The crowd gasps, then boos when Mariani pushes her over for the cover.

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Geoff Penzer: This is it right here...

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

The crowd cheers when Durden flies into the camera shot with a topé atomico, breaking the pin! The crowd responds with applause for the save.

Geoff Penzer: Durden just leaped into the ring to break up the pin!

Durden heads back out to the apron before slapping the top turnbuckle. Back in the ring, Mariani turns back to Moss. She takes a couple of fingers and places them under Moss’ chin. Mariani tilts Moss’ head upwards so that she’s looking right at her. She then turns and hits the far ropes. Mariani comes back and throws out a running elbow tackle. But she whiffs when Moss rolls under the elbow, leaps over and tags Durden back in!

"YEEEESSSSSS!!!"

Geoff Penzer: Durden's in! Durden's back in!

The crowd explodes with cheers when Durden springboards to the top turnbuckle, leaps off and knocking Mariani down with a diving knee strike! He makes the cover.

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

Durden takes Mariani and goes for an Olympic Slam when she slips down from behind. After bringing Durden down from behind with an inverted side headlock takedown, she hits the ropes, comes back and throws out a running hip attack. But she once again whiffs when Durden drops to his back, causing Mariani to tumble across the ring. Mariani rolls back to her feet and runs back over to Durden. But Durden quickly ducks and lifts her up across his shoulders for an Airplane Spin! The crowd chants with each rotation.

“ONE!”

“TWO!”

“THREE!”

“FOUR!”

“FIVE!”

“SIX!”

“SEVEN!”

“EIGHT!”

“NINE!”

“TEN!”

Mariani is lowered back down before Durden takes control of her back. He then send spittle flying out of her mouth when he catches her right underneath the chin with a ripcord knee strike! Mariani slowly leans back before collapsing to the canvas. Durden turns away from Mariani and follows up with a standing corkscrew moonsault! The crowd cheers and applauds Durden while the ref rushes over to make the count.

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

The crowd boos when Mariani gets her shoulder up.

Geoff Penzer: How was that not a three count right there?

Durden pulls up Mariani before heading towards the ropes. He goes for a handspring back elbow when Mason reaches underneath the bottom rope, grabs his wrists and yanks him down to the mat!

Geoff Penzer: That She Devil has done it again!

The boos continue when Mason grabs Durden, drapes him throat-first across the bottom rope and chokes him while pulling down across the back of his neck with both hands! Mason continues to choke Durden until Mariani steps out onto the apron. She runs along the apron and goes for The Morrigan. But Durden’s able to slip out of the way. Mariani quickly climbs back up to the apron. But Durden is there to knock her off with a punch to the face! Mason climbs up onto the apron, only to get knocked off with a punch to the face. While Silk & Cyanide slowly get back up off the floor, Durden turns and hits the far ropes. Durden picks up speed as he runs across the ring before hurling himself over the top rope and taking Mason & Mariani out with a somersault plancha!

Geoff Penzer: Neal hurls himself through the air before taking down both members of Silk & Cyanide!!!

Moss is seen making her way along the apron before climbing the turnbuckles.

Geoff Penzer: What's Moss going for here...

Moss stays crouched on the top turnbuckle while Durden pull Silk & Cyanide back to their feet. He then holds them by the hair while Moss slowly stands up on the top turnbuckle. Durden then moves out of the way when Moss leaps off, knocking Silk & Cyanide down with a diving crossbody to the outside! The crowd cheers and applaud Moss after the huge dive to the floor.

Geoff Penzer: Now it's Moss that takes out Silk & Cyanide with a dive to the outside! Pendragon have got the crowd solidly behind them! They've got the momentum! Can they pull this off!? Can they put Silk & Cyanide away here in Charlotte!?

Moss and Durden roll Mariani back in. Moss climbs up to the apron, runs back over to the Pendragon corner and gets tagged back in. Moss climbs the turnbuckles once again as Durden picks up Mariani. He throws her down with a scoop slam sitout piledriver while Moss sits down on the top turnbuckle. Durden then runs into the corner, runs up the turnbuckle, hops onto Moss’ shoulders and then flips back with a hurricanrana, sending Moss flipping off the top turnbuckle into a somersault leg drop across Mariani! Moss then pulls Mariani back to her feet. After she hooks Mariani’s arms from behind, the crowd cheers when Pendragon bring her down with That Move (Superkick / Tiger Suplex combination)! The ref gets in place for the count.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
THREE!

The crowd erupts with cheers when "Take A Chance" blasts throughout the arena.

Melanie Sierra: Here are your winners, PENDRAGON!

The cheers continue as Pendragon get their arms raised in victory.

Geoff Penzer: Pendragon have done it! Lowri Moss and Neal Durden avenge last year's loss to Silk & Cyanide with a win here tonight! Silk & Cyanide will be able to walk out of Autumn Annihilation still the US Tag Team Champions. But they're unable to walk out with a victory. That honor belongs to these two! Are Pendragon on a collision course with The Hellcat Spangled Death Squad? Or will the DDT3 winners choose to go after Mason & Mariani. The ball is in their court.

Moss and Durden embrace with a hug before holding each other's arms in the air. The FGA World Tag Team Champs make their way into opposite corners, climbs to the middle ropes and hold up their respective titles.

[FGA Office]

As our cameras return to ringside, we immediately cut to Geoff Penzer seated behind commentary-- commendable for his professionalism as he ignores the rowdy, lively fans in attendance, doing their best to get their faces on-screen beyond the barricade behind him.

Geoff Penzer: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to Autumn Annihilation, and again-- if you’re just joining us, you’ve spent an exorbitant amount of money for a.. very small percentage of the action we’ve had to offer here tonight. But in any event, a little earlier in the evening, Ashlyn De Luca actually purchased a front row ticket from one of our fans here in attendance in the Spectrum Center… and right now, we’ve got Amanda Johnson on her way to the floor to get a word.

We cut to interviewer Amanda Johnson, who is indeed making her way down the ramp. She steps down onto the floor, approaching the barricade where Ashlyn De Luca is seated, slurping away at some sort of Slushie knockoff, now sporting a Pendragon t-shirt.

Amanda Johnson: Excuse me.

De Luca pretends not to hear the interviewer, instead keeping her gaze on the ring, feigning anticipation for whatever the evening promises next.

Amanda Johnson: Ashlyn. Excuse me.

Ashlyn’s eyes widen. She looks around at the amused fans surrounding her before looking toward Amanda, blinking repeatedly.

Ashlyn De Luca: Holy smokes, right? Even when I’m off the clock, out here trying to enjoy wrestling as a fan, you find a way to stick a microphone in my face, don’t you? You are absolutely relentless.

Amanda Johnson: I just wanna know what you’re up to.

Ashlyn groans, leaning back in her chair.

Ashlyn De Luca: Now you’re just being blatantly offensive. I…

De Luca trails off, eyes drifting toward the entanceway as Kayden Jade Jones makes her way down the ramp, earning a pop from the Charlotte crowd. Though Jones wears the smallest hint of a smirk on her face, her tone is nothing but serious as she gently pushes Johnson’s microphone away, speaking to De Luca in a voice that the nearby cameras can barely pick up.

Geoff Penzer: Ladies and gentlemen, it looks like General Manager, Kayden Jade Jones is getting involved at this point. It’s Jones’ responsibility to protect the integrity of our main event and I understand her position-- right now, she feels that it’s being threatened by Ashlyn’s presence. Ashlyn’s reasons for being in that seat tonight are disingenuous. She’s had eyes on this main event for weeks, even before we made it tonight. So much hangs in the balance.

Jones and De Luca continue to speak to each other, though the conversation seems to grow increasingly more aggressive. Jones shakes her head, seeming to ask Ashlyn politely, yet sternly, to follow her up the ramp. De Luca’s response is loud and clear.

Ashlyn De Luca: If you wanna have security come and remove a paying customer, feel free. If you think the arena wants to set that kind of precedent-- ask them. I’m just here to watch a show.

Amanda Johnson looks between the General Manager and the Grappler with curiosity. Anticipation. Jones rubs at her eyes for moment, laughing bitterly under her breath. She says something to De Luca, albeit quietly, before turning, making her way up the ramp again.

Geoff Penzer: Jones is headed to the back-- and it looks like De Luca gets to keep her seat, right there in the front row! I don’t know if tonight’s Three Way Dance participants are aware of it, but if they are, I can’t imagine they’re too thrilled about it.

De Luca’s gaze follows Kayden until the GM makes her way all the way up the ramp and to the back… before they drift toward the interviewer again. De Luca raises her palms, signifying innocence.

Ashlyn De Luca: Eyes only. Promise.

Johnson nods a bit, though her look indicates that she’s less than trusting. Amanda turns, making her way back up the ramp in the same direction that the General Manager departed. De Luca remains reclined in her seat, shooting a wink into the camera as it lingers on her before turning her attention back toward the ring, waiting patiently along with the rest of the fans in attendance.

[FGA Office]

MAIN EVENT
THREE WAY DANCE
FGA INTERNATIONAL HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
(c) Savannah Taylor vs. Johnny Karma vs. Cordy Stevenson

Melanie Sierra: The following contest is your main event of the evening! It is a Three Way Dance for the FGA International Heavyweight Championship! Here are the rules. The match will start with all three participants. An elimination will occur when one of the three participants has been pinned or submits. The remaining two participants will continue until a fall has been decided via pinfall, submission, disqualification or countout! Introducing the first challenger…

The lights dim down and take on a purplish hue as a light smoky mist fills the entranceway. The soulful opening to Nipsey Hussle’s “Been Down” begins playing as Swizz Beats offering the tracks opening monologue.

Never sell out
Sometimes you gotta talk that talk to em, Nipsey
Sometimes they can't handle it though...
But we don't care...

Yeah
This a moment, This special...

As the beat drops, the crowd gives a loud pop as Cordelia Stevenson emerges from the mist with a bounce in her step and dancing to the music. She comes to a stop atop the walkway, glancing around and taking in the reception. She rolls her neck around before bowing her head and letting her hair fall in front of her face. A few seconds go by before she snaps her head up, whipping her hair back from in front of her face.

Melanie Sierra: From Freeport, Long Island! This is… CORDY STEVENSON!

She continues on down the ramp, working from side to side, slapping the hands of the fans along the way. Before she reaches the ring, she stops and pulls off her face mask, giving it to a lucky fan before hopping onto the apron and entering the ring. She immediately heads towards the turnbuckles, climbing up and raising a fist. After drawing cheers from the crowd, she hops down and heads to the other side of the ring, to repeat the process. Finally she hops down and saunters over to the corner as the music fades out.

Geoff Penzer: Cordy Stevenson shocked the world when she came out of a nearly two year retirement to return to her FGA stomping grounds. Cordy is back to get to the top of FGA. Her time on top was cut short due to being screwed out of the championship with the help of the current International Heavyweight Championship. She was then also put out of action with an injury shortly thereafter, also thanks in part to Savannah Taylor. This match tonight is as much about getting back to being a top title holder in FGA as it is about getting even with the Las Vegas Siren.

The arena lights flash in a myriad of different colours in time with John Bonham's quite remarkably epic drum intro that is filling the arena, and just as it reaches a crescendo Cherry Baum emerges at the top of the ramp, standing to one side to introduce the man they call Johnny Karma, to the Frontier Wrestling Arts fanbase - at which point he walks out onto the ramp before coming to a halt and uses a couple of fingers to blow a kiss to the fans, pausing to hold his arm in the air for a couple of seconds to signal his arrival

As he and Cherry begin to walk down the ramp, Karma unfastens the cuffs of his ring jacket while also talking some last minute preparation with Cherry as they get ever closer to the ring

Melanie Sierra: The next challenger, from Queens, New York! Weighing in at 233 pounds… JOHNNY KARMA!

As the pair reach ringside, Cherry quickly climbs onto the ring apron and sits on the middle rope to hold it open, as Karma climbs the ring steps and walks along the apron, turning to face the audience and slowly raising an arm before raising his index finger to let everyone know that he is #1, before he steps through the ropes into the ring.

Once inside the ring, Karma unzips his ring jacket before he climbs onto the nearest turnbuckle and holds his arms out wide to soak in the crowd's cheers

If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break
If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break
When The Levee Breaks I'll have no place to stay

Once he climbs down from the turnbuckles, Karma crosses the ring and climbs onto the opposite turnbuckle to salute the fans

Mean old levee taught me to weep and moan
Mean old levee taught me to weep and moan
It's got what it takes to make a mountain man leave his home
Oh well, oh well, oh well

Climbing down once again, Karma saunters towards the centre of the ring and once again uses a couple of fingers to blow a kiss to the crowd before raising his arm high above his head with those two fingers still extended, and he holds the pose for a few seconds.

Geoff Penzer: In sports, the adage "win or go home" gets used a lot. But for Johnny Karma, that is literally the decision he is faced with. Johnny Karma put this challenge on himself at the top of the year. He will either become a top champion here in FGA by the end of 2019 or he will call it quits. Time is quickly running out for the Karmic Lion. He admittedly hasn't been himself as of late. He doesn't have months upon months of momentum behind him. But he's got the people behind him! He's got Cherry Baum behind him! Johnny Karma has to remember who he is. He took the best that The New Kings threw at him and survived. He took the best that Heroes Never Die,The New Murder and The Good Guys threw at him and is still here. He's still standing. Johnny Karma can do this. I believe he can do it. Cherry believes it. The people believe it. I think even Cordy and Savannah can acknowledge that Karma can do it. The one person that Karma needs to convince more than anyone... is himself.

There was silence; the lights began to fade away slowly. A soft instrumental echoes out across the audience. It starts slowly, a beautiful sound that contrasts the heaviness of the world. Like feathers, it glides among the waiting audience. The lighting fixtures produce a gentle spotlight upon the stage, offset by the occasional flash here and there. As the song continues, a woman’s words begin to come through. Her voice is tender, not raising upon a whisper.

Deceived by my eyes and all I was told I should see
Opinions not mine, the person they taught me to be
One night in the dark, a vision of someone I knew
And in the darkness I saw, a voice say, I'm you.

On the stage, a feminine figure appears. Her head lowered to everything. People cannot make out who it is. As she stands there, the flashes briefly illuminate her figure. It only gives small clues on who stands at the gate. She stands in the spotlight, her shadow cast large and proudly among the stage.

Inside me a light was turned on…

The instrumental picks up again. An electric guitar now joins the progressively exciting instrumentals of before. The singer’s voice suddenly intensifies.

Then I was alive!

In the light, it is revealed that it was Savannah Taylor. She stands at the gate, a robe of obsidian and ivory hues. The hood of it shadows her eyes, but the intensity of the final EXODUS World Champion remains clear as day. She starts off down the ramp, with a serious aura radiating from her body.

Melanie Sierra: Their opponent, making their way to the ring from Las Vegas, Nevada! She is the reigning and defending FGA International Heavyweight Champion! She is the “Las Vegas Siren” SAVANNAH TAYLOR!

If you close your eyes your life,
A naked truth revealed
Dreams you never lived,
And scars never healed

Savannah makes her way up the ring steps. She looks out towards the audience for a moment before entering the ring. From there, she heads for a turnbuckle. She stands there, taking in everything. She then lifts her up on top of it. She peers out in nothing, then takes off the hood with a flashy flourish. Her blonde locks fly up in the air. They descend, shaping her face as they famously do.

In the darkness, light will take you to the other side
You'll find me waiting there you'll see, if you just close your eyes

While she stands in her corner, she closes her eyes and takes a heavy breath. When her bright eyes open, Taylor is completely composed. There is nothing more than the heat of battle awaiting her. She takes off her robe, giving it to a stagehand. Taking the championship belt from around her waist, she hands it to the referee. She then stretches her wrists before devoting her mind to the war upon the horizon.

Geoff Penzer: Savannah Taylor ascended to the top tier of FGA in 2019 with a shocking victory over Jimmy Page for the FGA International Heavyweight Championship. She then further cemented her status at All-Star Showdown Eight by defeating Page again and put him out of action indefinitely. Tonight, she faces two faces from her past. Cordy Stevenson and Johnny Karma are two people that she's had a hand in attacking and screwing out of multiple championships. Is tonight the night that Taylor gets what's coming to her? Or will the Las Vegas Siren once again prove all the doubters wrong and leave Charlotte with the gold that she walked in with!? We're about to find out!

The capacity crowd buzzes with anticipation after the start of the opening bell. Close up shots of Taylor, Stevenson and Karma are shown of them exiting their respective corners. All three grapplers keep their head on a swivel as they look back and forth between their opponents. Before a punch is thrown, the red hot crowd shows their support for both Stevenson and Karma.

"LET’S GO, CORDY!"
"LET’S GO, KARMA!"

"LET’S GO, CORDY!"
"LET’S GO, KARMA!"

"LET’S GO, CORDY!"
"LET’S GO, KARMA!"

Stevenson looks over towards Taylor and smirks after cupping her hand to her ear.

"TAYLOR SUCKS!"

"TAYLOR SUCKS!"

"TAYLOR SUCKS!"

"TAYLOR SUCKS!"

Geoff Penzer: Not big fans of the Las Vegas Siren, I take it.

Taylor fakes a laugh before rolling her eyes. All three grapplers start to circle the ring until Taylor takes a powder to the outside. The crowd erupts with boos as Taylor motions for Stevenson and Karma to go at it.

"BOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Geoff Penzer: What the heck is this!? Get in there, Savannah!

The referee heads over and motions for Taylor to get back inside. The Las Vegas Siren scoffs at the official. She crosses her arms and tells the official that he can’t DQ her! The referee pleads with her to get back in the ring. But the champion stands her ground and refuses.

Geoff Penzer: I cannot believe what I'm seeing from Savannah Taylor here. No wait, yes I can!

Stevenson makes her way over towards the ropes and peers down at Taylor. Saint Sexy narrows her eyes before shaking her head with disgust. Taylor mocks concern by placing a hand over her heart.

Geoff Penzer: Cordy Stevenson was just staring a hole right through Savannah Taylor.

Stevenson makes her way over towards Karma and locks up. After jockeying for position, Stevenson places Karma in a side headlock. The hold doesn’t stay on for long as Karma shoves her off into the ropes. When Stevenson comes back, he knocks her down with a standing shoulder block. Karma then runs into another set of ropes while Stevenson gets back to her feet. When Karma comes back, he knocks Stevenson down with a running shoulder block. Karma then heads into a third set of ropes while Stevenson picks herself back up. When Karma comes back, Stevenson leapfrogs over him. Karma continues to run the ropes. Stevenson leapfrogs over again. She then tries to catch Karma off the rebound with a hip toss. But Karma blocks, doubles her over with a punch to the midsection and then brings her down with the Bum Trip (shoulder neckbreaker)! The cheers continue as he makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Stevenson kicks out.

Geoff Penzer: Quick nearfall for Karma. Savannah Taylor had no incentive to break up that count. This is elimination rules. She's more than happy to stay on the outside and let Cordy and Karma beat each other up.

Karma picks up Stevenson, moves her into the corner and delivers a series of knife edge chops that echo throughout the arena. He then takes Stevenson and goes for an irish whip when she reverses, sending Karma into the far corner. Stevenson charges across the ring to attack when Karma knocks her down with the Kodak Moment (rope-assisted dropkick)! Taylor can be seen on the outside giving Stevenson a mocking round of applause. Back in the ring, Karma pulls Cordy back up before whipping her across the ring into the corner. The crowd cheers when he rushes over and connects with an NYC Uppercut (running European Uppercut)! Karma delivers another irish whip, follows Cordy across the ring and connects with another NYC Uppercut! Karma pulls her out of the corner, tosses her to the mat with a fireman’s carry and follows up with a rolling neck snap. While Cordy is down, Karma circles her. He then delivers a stomp to the right shin, right thigh, right wrist and right shoulder. Karma turns and delivers a stomp to the left bicep and left forearm before delivering three stomps to the left knee. He then lifts up her left leg before going for a figure four leg lock. After Karma turns around on the knee, the crowd cheers when Stevenson reaches up and counters by pulling him down into a small package.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Karma kicks out.

Geoff Penzer: Karma kicked out! But Cordy nearly caught him.

Once both grapplers are back to their feet, Stevenson takes Karma and goes for an irish whip. Karma quickly reverses, sending Stevenson into the ropes. Karma goes for a back body drop when Stevenson slips down from behind. She then grabs Karma, runs and tosses him through the ropes and to the apron. Karma starts to pick herself off the apron when Stevenson runs towards the ropes, rebounds back and connects with The Beautiful Nightmare (Disaster Kick), knocking Karma off the apron and to the floor.

Geoff Penzer: Cordy caught Karma flush right across the face with that rebound roundhouse kick. Let's see if Cordy will look to deliver something to the outside...

The crowd boos when Taylor makes her way over to Karma and crouches down next to him. The Las Vegas Siren continue to taunt Karma as he tries to shake out the cobwebs.

Geoff Penzer: Oh come the heck on, Savannah! You didn't want to mix it up with those two. But you'll gladly get in Karma's face and taunt him! You're the International Heavyweight Champion! Act like you've got some class!

When Taylor stands back up and faces the ring, the crowd explodes with cheers when Stevenson flips off the top rope and knocks Taylor down with a suicide skytwister plancha!

"YES!"

"YES!"

"YES!"

"YES!"

Geoff Penzer: Taylor's taunting came back to bite her in the backside!

The crowd continues to applaud Cordy’s acrobatics. Ashlyn De Luca, however, remains unimpressed as she unenthusiastically spins her finger in the air. Stevenson mounts herself on top of Taylor before raining down a flurry of right hands to the face!

Geoff Penzer: Cordy's teeing off on Taylor! She's waited years to do this!

Stevenson yanks up Taylor by the hair before rolling her back inside. She then slides back in before picking up Taylor, marching across the ring and slamming her face-first into the top turnbuckle. The crowd cheers and counts along.

“ONE!”

“TWO!”

“THREE!”

“FOUR!”

“FIVE!”

“SIX!”

“SEVEN!”

“EIGHT!”

“NINE!”

“TEN!”

Stevenson turns Taylor around, climbs up onto the top turnbuckle and rains down punches to the face while the crowd counts along.

“ONE!”

“TWO!”

“THREE!”

“FOUR!”

“FIVE!”

“SI-”

Geoff Penzer: Uh oh...

Taylor grabs Stevenson, takes a couple of steps forward and falls back, dropping Stevenson face-first across the top turnbuckle! The crowd boos as Stevenson stumbles away from the corner before dropping down to a seated position. Taylor pulls Stevenson back to her feet before whipping her into the far ropes. When Stevenson comes back, Taylor knocks her down with a yakuza kick before immediately following up with a standing moonsault! She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Stevenson kicks out.

Geoff Penzer: Nice combo there by Taylor, but she only gets a two count.

Taylor pulls up Stevenson, reaches back and grabs her from behind. The crowd erupts with boos when Taylor mocks Cordy by gyrating her hips. She then brings Cordy down with her own move, the Deadly Seduction (standing neckbreaker)!

Geoff Penzer: Taylor's rubbing it in by using Cordy's own moves against her! She makes the cover...

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Stevenson kicks out.

Taylor makes another cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Stevenson kicks out.

Taylor with another lateral press.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Stevenson kicks out.

Taylor quickly swings over and mounts herself on top of Stevenson before returning the favor with a flurry of right hands.!The boos continue as she grabs Stevenson by the hair with both hands before repeatedly ramming the back of her head against the canvas! Taylor slowly pulls Stevenson up by the hair before flinging her across the ring! The Las Vegas Siren marches over, yanks Stevenson back up, runs and flings her across the ring again! Stevenson tumbles across the mat before hitting the bottom rope. Taylor makes her way back over to Stevenson, yanks her up by the hair, spins around and then flings her through the ropes and to the floor. While Stevenson stirs on the outside, Taylor steps out to the apron and waves her arms up and down. She once again mocks Cordy by scanning the crowd before yelling, “LET’S GET IT!”

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Taylor is met with a chorus of boos from the Charlotte crowd. The International Heavyweight Champion cups her hands to her right ear before turning and cupping her hand to her left ear. Taylor smirks before her attention shifts down to Stevenson. As Cordy starts to pick herself up off the mat, Taylor turns and faces away from her. She then quickly checks over her shoulder before knocking Stevenson down with an Asai Moonsault!

Geoff Penzer: Picture perfect Asai Moonsault from the champion!

Taylor rolls back inside. The crowd continues to boo while she poses with her arms in the air. Suddenly, the boos turn to cheers when Karma runs up from behind, grabs a hold of Taylor, leaps over the top rope and delivers Macho Karma (hair-pull hangman across the top rope)! While Taylor stumbles back, Karma climbs back up to the apron, climbs to the top rope, jumps off and knocks her down with a diving double ax handle! He makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Taylor kicks out.

Geoff Penzer: Taylor's arrogance nearly got her eliminated!

Karma picks up Taylor and whips her into the ropes. He then scoops up Taylor from the side before delivering a backbreaker. Instead of letting Taylor hit the mat, Karma lifts her up from off his knee, heads over towards the side of the ring and throws her through the ropes and to the floor! Taylor starts to pick herself up on the floor as Karma turns and hits the far ropes. Karma picks up speed as he runs back across the ring before flattening Taylor with This Is For The Front Row (baseball slide clothesline)!

Geoff Penzer: This capacity crowd is solidly behind Karma after that clothesline nearly took Taylor's head off. it looks like Karma's going back for more...

Karma gets back to his feet. Instead of rolling Taylor back inside, he rolls back in before hitting the far ropes. Karma charges back across the ring before sliding to the outside… and knocking Stevenson down with This Is For The Front Row to cheers from the crowd!

Karma looks around at the cheering crowd before his attention turns to De Luca, who is giving him a disingenuous two thumbs up. Karma narrows his eyes at De Luca before rolling Cordy back inside. After sliding back in, Karma sends Stevenson for the ride. When she returns, Karma knocks her down with a running high knee to the face! He then bounces against the near ropes, comes back and follows up with a jumping knee drop! Karma drags Cordy into position before hoisting himself up onto the middle ropes. Karma sizes Cordy up before cocking his fist. He then jumps off for a diving fist drop… and gets countered when Stevenson lifts her up foot. Cordy catches Karma of the way down with a boot to the face, causing Karma to stagger a couple of steps forward before dropping down to a knee. Karma holds his jaw while Cordy gets back up and hits the ropes. When she returns, she knocks Karma down with The Friendzone (flying hip attack to a kneeling opponent)! The cheers continue as she makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Karma kicks out.

Stevenson takes Karma, moves him into the corner and nails him with four shoot kicks to the midsection before doubling him over with a spinning back kick. The crowd cheers when Stevenson pulls Karma out of the corner before pulling him into a front facelock to set up The Allure (Twist of Fate)! Stevenson goes to hit her old finisher when Karma slips out from behind and shoves Stevenson into the far ropes. When Stevenson comes back, Karma goes for Gimme Shelter (pop-up lariat). But Stevenson’s able to counter with a headscissors takedown! Cordy then hits the far ropes, comes back and brings Karma back down with a step-up Tijieras! Cordy lands on her feet before waving her arms up and down to get the crowd hyped up. With the crowd solidly behind her, Stevenson heads back towards the ropes. She bounces back and goes for a handspring back elbow when Karma counters with a dropkick to the back in mid-air! Karma pulls Stevenson back up before whipping her into the corner. After Stevenson crashes sternum-first into the top turnbuckle, she stumbles back over towards Karma. Karma quickly takes control of her back before planting her with Instant Karma (hammerlock spun into a DDT)! The cheers continue as he makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Stevenson kicks out.

Karma picks up Stevenson, turns and tosses her through the ropes and to the apron. He then reaches through the ropes, grabs Stevenson, drags her across the middle rope and then brings her down with Sweet Emotion (rope-hung bulldog)! Karma pushes Stevenson over and makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Stevenson gets her shoulder up.

Geoff Penzer: Another nearfall for Karma. Each of these three grapplers have had their moments in the early portion of this match. But right now, it's the Karmic Lion that is in full control! He's two falls away from becoming a top champion again! He just needs to stick with it. He needs to stay on Cordy, stay on Savannah and for the love of God, ignore that pest Ashlyn De Luca!

Karma pulls Stevenson back up and doubles her over with three knee strikes to the midsection before placing her in an abdominal stretch. Karma twists to the side, flexing Cordy’s back and stretching her abdomen. Cordy continues to groan while she remains trapped in the hold. The referee gets down and asks Stevenson if she wants to give up. But the Hall of Famer refuses. Karma keeps the hold applied while Taylor rolls back in behind him.

Geoff Penzer: What out, Johnny!

Karma does a double take when he sees Taylor walk around him. But she puts her hands up defensively. She then drops down and gets right in Cordy’s face.

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

The crowd erupts with boos when Taylor starts to taunt Stevenson. The Las Vegas Siren continues to taunt Stevenson before delivering a slap to the taste. Taylor adds more insult to injury by slapping Cordy again… and again… and again! De Luca's obnoxious laughing cuts through the boos.

Geoff Penzer: Alright, Savannah! You've had your fun!

Taylor continues to taunt Stevenson until Karma breaks the hold and pushes Stevenson down to the mat!

Geoff Penzer: Woah! What is this!?

De Luca is shown leaping up from her seat. She holds her arms out to her sides and yells at Karma for breaking the hold. Karma pays De Luca no mind and keeps his eyes focused on the Champion. But Taylor raises the same question. She asks what the hell Karma’s doing. Karma mouths off to Taylor, letting her know that he’s not going to hold Cordy back while Taylor berates her. Taylor scoffs at the idea and turns away from Karma. She then quickly cheap shots Karma with a back elbow strike to the face! While Karma is dazed, Taylor turns and heads into the ropes. When she comes back, the crowd cheers when Karma nearly kicks her head off with Check Your Chiclets (superkick)! Taylor collapses to the mat before slowly rolling out to the floor. Back in the ring, Karma heads over, pulls Cordy back up, grabs her from the side and brings her down with a russian leg sweep. The cheers continue while Karma steps out to the apron. Cherry can be seen on the outside pointing to go up top. Her attention quickly turns to the heckling De Luca at ringside. Cherry approaches De Luca. The former two-time World Tag Team Champion is quick to get back down in her seat and hold up her ticket. While Cherry shakes her head at De Luca, Karma is seen climbing up the ropes. Karma gets one foot on the top turnbuckle as Stevenson scrambles back to her feet. She darts into the corner, runs up the turnbuckle, hops on Karma’s shoulders and brings him down with an avalanche hurricanrana to an explosion of cheers!

Geoff Penzer: Karma goes down! He was looking for something up top. Perhaps that patented flying elbow of his. But Cordy was there to cut him off and bringing him crashing down to the canvas.

Both grapplers are slowly to get up. Stevenson gets to her feet first and heads towards the ropes. She rebounds back and goes for another Beautiful Nightmare. But she whiffs on the kick after Karma ducks. He quickly takes control of her back on the way down before rolling her out in front of him. The crowd gasps and cheers when Karma throws out Hard Times (wristlock transitioned into a Bionic Elbow)!!! But Stevenson ducks the blow and counters with a Floatover DDT! The cheers grow louder when Stevenson returns to her feet with a kip up! Karma remains down on the mat as Stevenson steps out to the apron. She looks over and narrows her eyes at the jeering De Luca before turning her attention back to the match. Saint Sexy heads over into the corner before scaling the turnbuckles.

Geoff Penzer: Cordy's going up top! Are we about to see The Beauty School Dropout!?

The fans stand up as Stevenson climbs up to the top turnbuckle. She then measures the distances between herself and Karma. Cordy’s about to leap off for the Beauty School Dropout (Shooting Star Legdrop) when Taylor leaps up onto the apron. The crowd gasps when Taylor gives Stevenson a hard shove, sending her flipping off the top turnbuckle before landing on the floor with a hard thud!!!

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Geoff Penzer: DAMMIT! CORDY STEVENSON JUST CRASHED HARD TO THE FLOOR AFTER BEING SHOVED OFF THE TOP TURNBUCKLE! She's been knocked out of action before with a concussion! She's been knocked out before with ankle injuries! I don't know what body part hit first, but she hit the floor and she hit it HARD! I'm sure the fans all the way up in the cheap seats heard it!

Taylor looks down at Stevenson and smirks before turning her attention back to Karma. The Las Vegas Siren then goes to pick up where Stevenson left off by scaling the turnbuckles. Taylor gets to the top, leaps off and goes for a Frog Splash. The crowd cheers when Karma counters.

Geoff Penzer: KARMA GOT HIS KNEES UP!

Taylor bounces off of Karma’s knees before rolling across the ring. The International Heavyweight Champion guards her midsection before trying to pulling herself up using the ropes. Once Taylor is back to her feet, she steps back away from the ropes until Karma takes control of her back. The crowd cheers when Karma throws out Hard Times! But he misses once again when Taylor ducks and hits the ropes. The Las Vegas Siren returns and goes to tackle him down with a Lou Thesz Press when Karma counters with a snap scoop powerslam pin!

ONE!
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TWO!
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Taylor gets her shoulder up.

Karma takes Taylor and whips her into the ropes. When she comes back, Karma lifts her up, turns and throws her down with a spinebuster! The cheers continue as he rolls across Taylor and hooks the near leg.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Taylor gets her shoulder up.

Karma takes Taylor and whips her back into the far ropes. He then catches her off the rebound with a running high knee that knocks her off her feet! Karma reaches down, pulls Taylor back up and then throws her down with a hammerlock scoop slam! Taylor gets throws back down with a second hammerlock scoop slam! The cheers continue when Karma pulls Taylor back up, doubles her over with a boot to the midsection and then throws her down with Dynamite Karma (hammerlock suplex)! He makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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T-NO!

Taylor gets her left shoulder up.

Geoff Penzer: How close was that, folks?

Karma picks up Taylor, heads into the corner and slams her face-first into the top turnbuckle. He then sits her up on the top turnbuckle so that she’s facing away from the ring. Karma climbs up to the middle ropes and is about to position Taylor for a top rope hammerlock back suplex. But Taylor is able two wrestle her arm free from Karma. She then catches him with a back elbow to the face using her left arm. She catches Karma with two more back elbows to the face before reaching back and placing him in a three quarter facelock. The crowd gasps when Taylor kicks off the ring post, flips back and brings Karma down with an avalanche shiranui!

Geoff Penzer: WELCOME TO SIN CITY! THIS COULD BE IT RIGHT HERE!

ONE!
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TWO!
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T-NO!

The crowd cheer, then applaud when Karma gets his shoulder up.

Geoff Penzer: Karma got that shoulder up in time. This night is huge for him. he's got so much riding on the line. You'll have to run him over to beat him!

As Taylor slowly pulls Karma off the mat he starts to fight back with rights and lefts to the midsection. Karma continues to fire off punches until Taylor pulls him in a front facelock and plants him with a Snap DDT! Karma then starts to push himself up off the canvas. So Taylor hits the ropes. The Las Vegas Siren bounces off the ropes, jumps up and drives Karma back down into the mat with a Curb Stomp! She then reaches down, grabs Karma and slowly pulls him up off the mat. Taylor makes sure she’s right in Cherry’s direct line of sight before driving Karma face-first into the mat with Blonde Ambition (forward russian legsweep)! She then pulls Karma over and makes the cover while she looks right at Cherry.

ONE!
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TWO!
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TH-NO!

The crowd cheers when Karma gets his shoulder up. Taylor looks over at the ref and argues the count. But he stands his ground and holds two fingers up at her. She then slowly looks to outside the ring. Cherry is seen slapping the apron while De Luca is seen in the distance getting up from her seat and holding up two fingers in exaggerated fashion. Taylor narrows her eyes before turning back to Karma. She pulls her challenger up off the mat and socks him with a right hand. Another punch connects. After a third punch lands the mark, Taylor turns and hits the far ropes. She comes back and goes to knock Karma off his feet with a yakuza kick. But he’s able to reach up and catch her foot in time. When Karma swings Taylor’s leg away from him, she uses the momentum to spin around and catch him with the Ultimecia (spinning backist)! The crowd boos when a second Ultimecia connects! After a third Ultimecia knocks Karma down to a knee, Taylor turns and hits the ropes. When she comes back, the crowd cheers when Stevenson runs across the ring, leaps over Karma and connects with a front dropkick, knocking Taylor through the ropes and to the apron! Taylor starts to pull herself up as Stevenson runs towards the corner. The crowd cheers when Cordy plants Taylor with a Triangle DDT! After Taylor falls to the floor, Stevenson climbs back up onto the apron before scaling the turnbuckles. She stays crouched down on the top turnbuckle until Karma gets in position. When Karma gets back to his feet, Stevenson stands up, flips off and goes for Get Familiar (The O-Face)! NO! Karma blocks her on the way down, pulls her back up and slips on a crossface chickenwing!

Geoff Penzer: DEEP KARMA! HE'S GOT DEEP KARMA LOCKED IN!

The crowd cheers as Karma tries to get it all the way locked in. Stevenson is fighting with all her might to block the move from being fully cinched in. But Karma is able to overpower her, lock his hands together and then pull her down to the mat with bodyscissors.

Geoff Penzer: KARMA'S GOT CORDY DOWN! THERE'S NOWHERE FOR CORDY TO GO!

The official gets down and asks Stevenson if she wants to give up.

"PLEASE DON’T TAP!"

"PLEASE DON’T TAP!"

"PLEASE DON’T TAP!"

"PLEASE DON’T TAP!"

Karma’s got the hold fully locked in! He’s got Stevenson right where he wants her! Stevenson lays writhing in pain while trapped in the submission. The referee continues to question her over whether she wants to give up or not. But Stevenson refuses to give up. She reaches up with her free arm and tries to pull Karma’s arm from around her neck. But it’s to no avail. Stevenson tries her best to hang on. But the the longer keeps the hold on, the harder it is for her to block out the pain. Karma keeps Deep Karma locked on until Taylor flies into the frame and crashes down across both of them with a Frog Splash! The crowd boos as she pushes Stevenson off of Karma before making the cover on Karma.

ONE!
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TWO!
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T-NO!

The crowd cheers when Karma gets his shoulder up.

Taylor then goes over and covers Stevenson.

ONE!
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TWO!
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T-NO!

The crowd cheers when Stevenson gets her shoulder up.

Geoff Penzer: Taylor couldn't get the pin on either of her challengers! Unbelievable!

Taylor repeatedly slaps the mat out of frustration. She then looks out and sees De Luca getting up from her seat to give her a mocking round of applause. De Luca then holds her thumb and index finger about a half an inch away from each other to let her know that she was “this close.” Taylor’s had enough of De Luca. The crowd then cheers Taylor when she gets up and starts to march across the ring. De Luca is seen in the crowd feigning horror.

Geoff Penzer: Taylor's about to give De Luca a long overdue whooping!

Taylor steps out onto the apron. She’s about to go after De Luca when the official holds her back. But Taylor is able to pull her arm free from the official. She looks down and narrows her eyes at De Luca while De Luca taunts her by mouthing for her to bring it. The Las Vegas Siren continues to stare daggers at her before mouthing something at the former Chaotic.

Geoff Penzer: OOOOH! I don't know if the cameras caught that. But I sure did!

Taylor goes to step back into the ring. She then turns back to De Luca, who once again mocks Taylor by motioning for her to run along. When Taylor fully steps back into the crowd the crowd cheers when Karma clocks her with Check Your Chiclets, knocking her through the ropes and to the floor!


Geoff Penzer: OOOOOOOH! That distraction from De Luca caused Taylor to get ROCKED with the superkick!

De Luca immediately leaps up from her seat and holds her jaw. She then mouths to the camera, “now that one’s gonna leave a mark!” De Luca sits back in her seat while Taylor remains sprawled out on the floor. Back in the ring, Karma turns and sees Stevenson pushing herself up to a knee. Once Stevenson gets back to her feet and turns around, Karma rushes over and knocks her down with an NYC Uppercut. A second NYC Uppercut returns her to the mat. He then takes Stevenson and whips her into the ropes. Stevenson comes back and sees Karma setting up for a back body drop. So she stops, knocks him up right and throws out a kick to the face and throws out a Rolling Elbow. Stevenson whiffs on the strike when Karma ducks. Stevenson turns round and nearly gets her head knocked off with Check Your Chiclets! But Stevenson catches his foot, swings his leg away from her and counters with a leaping reverse bulldog! While Karma is down, Stevenson walks across the ring before stepping out to the apron. Cordy then climbs the turnbuckles until Karma scrambles back to his feet, runs into the corner, runs up the turnbuckle, grabs her and throws her down with a top rope arm drag! Stevenson starts to pick herself back up as Karma runs over, grabs her by the arm, leaps over the top rope and brings her down with Macho Karma! Stevenson stumbles back while Karma climbs back up to the apron. He scales to the top turnbuckle, leaps off and goes for a diving double axe handle when Stevenson knocks him down with The Foot Fetish (jumping back kick) in mid-air! She makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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T-NO!

The crowd cheers and applauds Karma gets his shoulder up.

Geoff Penzer: Cordy was THIS close.

Stevenson takes Karma and whips him into the corner. She runs across the ring to attack when Karma ducks and dumps her over the top rope. After Stevenson lands safely on the apron, Karma doubles her over with a shoulder thrust through the ropes. He goes to bring her back inside with a vertical suplex when Stevenson slips down from behind. She quickly goes for another leaping reverse bulldog. But Karma blocks by hanging onto the ropes, causing Stevenson to slip off of him and smack the back of her head on the mat! Stevenson clutches the back of her head as she slowly rolls away from the ropes. Karma then steps out to the apron before climbing back up to the top turnbuckle. When Stevenson gets back to her feet, Karma leaps off and knocks her down with a diving double axe handle across the back of the head! He pulls her over and makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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T-NO!

The crowd cheers when Stevenson gets her shoulder up.

Karma takes Stevenson, whips her into the ropes, catches her off the rebound and throws her down with a spinebuster! Stevenson smacks the back of her head hard against the mat on the way down. He then makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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TH-NO!

The crowd cheers when Stevenson gets her shoulder up.

Karma slowly pulls Stevenson up until Stevenson swats his hands off of her and doubles him over with a spinning back kick to the midsection. Stevenson then heads towards the ropes, rebounds back and goes for another Beautiful Nightmare when Karma dropkicks her out of the air! Once both grapplers are back to their feet, Karma rattles off three left jabs before dropping her with a right hook!

Geoff Penzer: Sugar Ray Karma!

Stevenson gets back to her feet, only to get knocked back down with another right hook! Karma then takes Stevenson and whips her into the ropes. When she returns, Karma hoists her up before knocking her down with Gimme Shelter! Karma then drags her into position before stepping out to the apron. The crowd is solidly behind Karma while he scales the turnbuckles! He reaches the top and points both index fingers in the air! Karma then leaps off and soars through the air before crashing down across Stevenson with From The Stars Above (flying elbow drop)! He makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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THR-NO!

The crowd sighs, then cheers when Stevenson gets her shoulder up! Karma looks over at the ref in disbelief. But the official stands his ground and holds up two fingers at him. He then looks over to Cherry for confirmation. Cherry reluctantly nods her head. She then quickly slaps the apron and motions for Karma to stay after it. He’s this close! Karma nods his head in approval. He then slowly pulls Stevenson up off the mat before taking control of her back. The crowd cheers when he goes for Hard Times. Again, he whiffs when Stevenson ducks the blow. Karma turns around and nearly gets caught with a roundhouse kick. But Karma swats the kick away and counters with Check Your Chiclets! Stevenson remains dazed on her feet. So Karma shifts to his side, then steps forward and knocks Cordy off her feet with Check Your Chiclets! The crowd buzzes with anticipation as Karma grabs Stevenson and pulls her into a standing headscissors! The crowd explodes with cheers when he plants her with Dazed, Confused and All Messed Up (jumping pieldriver)!!! Karma turns over and makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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THREE!



Geoff Penzer: NO!

Taylor yanks Karma off of Stevenson, runs towards the corner and throws him shoulder-first into the ring post!

*THUD!*

Taylor quickly pulls Karma down with a schoolboy!

ONE!
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Taylor gets her feet on the middle ropes!!!
.
TWO!
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THREE!



Geoff Penzer: NOOOOO!

The crowd sits in stunned silence after Karma’s been pinned. Cherry puts her hands on her head in disbelief while De Luca leaps up from her seat. De Luca draws the ire of nearby fans while she claps in their faces over Karma being eliminated.

Geoff Penzer: Dammit! DAMMIT!

Back in the ring, Karma turns over onto a knee and clutches his shoulder. He shakes his head ‘no’ at the official. The official can’t even look Karma in the eyes and instead, lowers his head. He looks out to the crowd and sees them starting to boo. He looks over to Cherry, who is still in disbelief. Karma’s attention then turns to Melanie Sierra as she makes it official.

Melanie Sierra: Ladies and gentlemen, Johnny Karma…

Karma looks over towards Melanie and pleads with her. He shakes his head ‘no’ over and over. Sierra can be seen mouthing “sorry, Johnny” to Karma before raising the mic back up.

Melanie Sierra: … has been eliminated…

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Karma turns over and looks at Taylor who, crouches down next to him. She tilts her head to the side before waving bye to him. The Las Vegas Siren laughs before brushing past him to make her way into the corner. On the outside, a distraught Cherry makes her way around ringside until De Luca catches her attention. De Luca continues to mock Cherry until she walks over and slaps the slushie out of her hands, spilling it all over De Luca. De Luca looks down at her stained Pendragon shirt before shoving Cherry! The crowd boos when Cherry falls to the floor! She gets back to her feet and goes over De Luca. But she gets held back by Karma. He lets her know that De Luca isn’t worth it. De Luca taunts the two of them by pointing to the back.

[FGA Office]

A somber Karma begins to make his way around ringside. While Karma makes his way up the aisle, the fans stand up and applaud him. But Karma is so lost in his thoughts that he pays them no mind. Back in the ring, Taylor eagerly awaits for the bell. Once she’s given the okay, the bell sounds as she rushes out of the corner before making the cover on Stevenson!

ONE!
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TWO!
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T-NO!

The crowd cheers when Stevenson gets her shoulder up.

Geoff Penzer: Savannah Taylor nearly stole another pin here tonight!

Taylor steps back towards the far ropes. When Stevenson starts to pick herself back up, Taylor runs over, leaps up and drives her back down with a Curb Stomp! The boos continue as she makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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TH-NO!

The crowd cheers when Stevenson gets her shoulder up.

Taylor picks up Stevenson and whips her into the ropes. When she returns, Taylor knocks her down with a running hip attack! The Las Vegas Siren starts to circle Stevenson while she stirs on the mat. As Cordy slowly turns over onto a knee, Taylor runs over and flattens her with a Shining Wizard! The boos continue as she makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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TH-NO!

The crowd cheers when Stevenson gets her shoulder up.

Taylor takes Stevenson, delivers an irish whip, follows her across the ring and connects with a yakuza kick! She sends Stevenson back into the corner with another irish whip before following up with yet another yakuza kick! Taylor goes for a running bulldog out of the corner when Stevenson pushes her off towards the ropes. Taylor then uses the momentum to give Stevenson a taste of her own medicine by knocking her down with the Beautiful Nightmare! The crowd erupts with boos as she makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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TH-NO!

The crowd cheers when Stevenson gets her shoulder up.

Geoff Penzer: Cordy refuses to stay down!

Taylor picks up Stevenson and positions her for a brainbuster when Stevenson quickly counters into a small package!

ONE!
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TWO!
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T-NO!

The crowd sighs when Taylor kicks out.

Geoff Penzer: Cordy almost caught her with the inside cradle!

After both grapplers scramble back to a vertical base, Stevenson tries to catch Taylor with a roundhouse kick. Taylor blocks the kick, doubles her over with a boot to the midsection and follows up with The Gamble (corkscrew neckbreaker)! The crowd boos as Taylor keeps hold of Stevenson, rolls over, pulls her back up and delivers another another Gamble! Taylor then pulls Stevenson back to her feet before pulling her into a front facelock. The Las Vegas Siren cups her ear to the crowd before bringing Stevenson down with The Allure! While Stevenson is down on the mat, Taylor exits out to the apron before climbing the turnbuckles. She reaches the top, jumps off and crashes down across Stevenson with a Frog Splash! Instead of making the cover, Taylor gets off of Stevenson and steps back out to the apron. Taylor climbs to the top turnbuckle, jumps off and lands on top of Stevenson with another Frog Splash! The ref drops down to make the count. But he stops when Taylor gets off of Stevenson again! The crowd erupts with boos when Stevenson steps back out to the apron before scaling the turnbuckles! The Las Vegas Siren makes her way back up to the top turnbuckle, dives off and crashes down across Cordy with a third Frog Splash! She hooks the leg for the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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THRE-NO!

The crowd gasps, then cheers when Stevenson gets her shoulder up.

Geoff Penzer: Cordy got the shoulder up! There's still fight left in Saint Sexy! But how much does she have left in her!?

Taylor confronts the official and claps her hands three times right in his face. She then turns her attention Stevenson. The Las Vegas Siren pulls Cordy back to her feet and lifts her up for a brainbuster when Cordy slips down from behind and counters with a leaping reverse bulldog!

Geoff Penzer: Cordy brings Taylor down! She's got her down! But she can't quite make the cover!

While both grapplers are down, the ref starts his count.

ONE!




TWO!





THREE!





FOUR!





FIVE!






SIX!

Once both grapplers are back to their feet, Taylor nails Stevenson with a forearm strike. Stevenson fires back away a forearm strike of her own. Taylor nails Stevenson with another forearm strike! Stevenson comes right back with a forearm of her own! Taylor then blasts Stevenson with another forearm strike!

"BOO!"

Stevenson responds with a forearm strike of her own!

"YES!"

Taylor blasts Stevenson with another forearm strike!

"BOO!"

Stevenson comes right back with a forearm of her own!

"YES!"

Taylor nails Stevenson with two forearm strikes!

"BOO!"

Stevenson answers back with two forearm strikes of her own!

"YES!"

Taylor fires off three forearm strikes.

"BOO!"

Stevenson goes to answer when Taylor cuts her off with three more forearm strikes!

"BOO!"

Taylor fires off four forearm strikes before blasting Stevenson with the Ultimecia!

"BOO!"

While Stevenson is dazed, Taylor turns and hits the ropes. When she returns, Stevenson brings her down with The Love Connection (Frankensteiner, followed by a Shining Wizard)! The cheers continue as she makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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TH-NO!

Geoff Penzer: Taylor got the shoulder up!

Stevenson pulls Taylor up and fires off three forearm strikes! She then heads towards the ropes, rebounds back and knocks Taylor down with a handspring back elbow! Cordy then rushes over and knocks Taylor back down with a leaping calf kick! A second calf kick returns Taylor to the mat. Cordy pulls Taylor back up, doubles her over with a kick to the midsection, places her in a front facelock and then turns. Cheers and catcalls come from the crowd as Cordy gyrates her hips before pulling Taylor down with the Deadly Seduction! She makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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TH-NO!

Taylor gets her shoulder up.

Stevenson slowly pulls Taylor back up until Taylor reaches up and rakes her across the eyes. The crowd boos as Stevenson gets whipped into the corner. Taylor rushes in to attack when Stevenson knocks her back with a boot to the face! Stevenson then hoists herself up onto the middle ropes, leaps off and plants Taylor with a diving DDT! The cheers continue as she pushes Taylor over before making the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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THR-NO!

The crowd sighs, then boos when Taylor gets her shoulder up.

Geoff Penzer: I thought that diving DDT would have been enough to put Taylor away. But the Las Vegas Siren continues to hang in this contest! We are now down to two. Savannah Taylor and Cordy Stevenson. One of these two will walk out of Charlotte the International Heavyweight Champion!

Stevenson pulls Taylor back up her feet. After firing off four forearm strikes, she doubles Taylor over with a spinning back kick before knocking her off her feet with a legsweep. Stevenson then hits the ropes, comes back and delivers a rolling senton! Cordy rolls back to her feet. She immediately goes for a standing moonsault double knee drop when Taylor rolls out of the way, causing Stevenson to land on her knees! Taylor gets back to her feet and wallops Stevenson with a roundhouse kick before locking her in a double leg Muta Lock!

Geoff Penzer: The Ace of Space!

The crowd erupts with boos upon seeing Stevenson trapped in the submission. The referee gets down and asks Stevenson if she wants to give up. But Cordy refuses. So Taylor begins pulling back on the neck. Cordy howls in pain while Stevenson keeps her tied up. The official continues to check in with her and gives her the opportunity to quit. Cordy declines and continues to hang on. Taylor repeatedly screams at Stevenson to tap. But Stevenson won’t give her the satisfaction of giving up. The ref starts to ask Stevenson if she wants to give up when Cordy cuts him off by screaming, “NO!” The crowd starts to rally behind Stevenson as she slowly pulls herself forward. Stevenson reaches out and slowly pulls herself forward again. Taylor again starts to pull back on the hold. Cordy cries out in pain. But she won’t tap. Instead, she reaches forward before slowly pulling herself back across the ring. The capacity crowd continues to rally behind Stevenson while she scratches and claws her way across the ring. Stevenson continues to pull herself forward before reaching out… and grabbing the bottom rope! The crowd cheers and applauds Cordy’s efforts.

Geoff Penzer: Cordy made it to the ropes! Talk about fight and determination! I didn't think she would get out of the Ace of Spades!

The official gives Taylor until the count of five to break the hold.

ref: ONE… TWO… THREE… FOUR… FIV-

Taylor reluctantly lets go. The official admonishes Taylor for pushing her luck by breaking the hold late. The International Heavyweight Champion ignores Stevenson and puts the boots to Cordy. The crowd boos while Taylor continues to stomp away on Stevenson. Taylor then drops down to her knees and begins delivering clubbing strikes across Stevenson’s back. She then takes Cordy by the hair with both hands and repeatedly rams her face-first into the mat. After tossing Stevenson out onto the apron, Taylor steps out through the ropes. She then slowly pulls Stevenson back to her feet before pulling her into a front facelock. She then falls back and plants Stevenson on the apron with a Snap DDT! The boos continue as Taylor pulls Stevenson up off the floor before rolling her back inside. She then slides back in and makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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TH-NO!

The crowd gasps, then cheers when Stevenson gets her foot on the bottom rope. A frustrated Taylor slaps the canvas.

Geoff Penzer: Cordy still had the wherewithal to get her foot on the bottom rope in time.

Taylor pulls up Stevenson, lifts her up and then plants her with a brainbuster! The boos continue as she turns over and makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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THR-NO!

The crowd cheers when Stevenson gets her shoulder up.

Taylor slowly pulls Stevenson up by the hair. After nailing her with a forearm strike, she turns and runs into the ropes. Taylor returns and she sees Stevenson running past her towards the ropes. When Taylor stops and turns around, the crowd explodes with cheers when Stevenson bounces back and brings her down with The Real is Back (Oscutter)!

Geoff Penzer: TAYLOR'S DOWN! TAYLOR'S DOWN! CORDY CAUGHT HER WITH "THE REAL IS BACK!"

Taylor lays motionless in the prone position. Stevenson starts to turn over before pushing Taylor onto her back. She makes the cover.

ONE!
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.
TWO!
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THREE!




Geoff Penzer: NO!

The crowd sighs when Taylor gets her shoulder up.

Geoff Penzer: Savannah Taylor is still in this match! Cordy can't believe it. The capacity crowd can't believe it! But the Las Vegas Siren is still in this one! The champion isn't going down without a fight!

Stevenson picks up Taylor and nails her with a forearm strike. The crowd cheers when she nails Taylor with three more forearm strikes. Cordy then goes for a Rolling Elbow when Taylor cuts her off with the Ultimecia! She then quick doubles Stevenson over with a boot to the midsection before planting her with the Siren’s Song (Scissored DDT)!

Geoff Penzer: OH NO!

The crowd sits in stunned silence while Stevenson lays motionless in the prone position. An exhausted Taylor smirks before nudging Stevenson over onto her back. She makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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THRE-NO!

The crowd gasps, then cheers and applauds Stevenson when she gets her shoulder up. Taylor places her hands on her head in disbelief. She then falls back and covers her face with her hands.

Geoff Penzer: Cordy... Cordy got her shoulder up? She got her shoulder up!

A frustrated Taylor kicks her heel against the mat before getting back to her feet. The Las Vegas Siren then heads out to the apron before scaling the turnbuckles. She remains perched on the top turnbuckle as she waits for Stevenson to get in position. Down on the canvas, Stevenson turns over on all fours. She then slowly picks herself back up. When Stevenson turns around, Taylor stands up, flips off and brings Stevenson down with Dancing Mad (diving somersault huracanrana)! The ref slides into place for the count.

ONE!
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TWO!
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THRE-NO!

The crowd cheers and applauds Cordy when she gets her shoulder up. Taylor begins tugging at her hair.

Geoff Penzer: CORDY GOT HER SHOULDER UP AGAIN!? SAVANNAH IS IN DISBELIEF! SO AM I!

The Las Vegas Siren feverishly shakes her head ‘no.’ She then rolls to the outside before marching down ringside. The crowd erupts with boos after she snatches up her International Heavyweight Championship belt.

Geoff Penzer: Woah, woah, woah! Ref, you can't let her use that!

The referee steps through the ropes and warns Taylor not to bring the title into the ring. Taylor obliges. In fact, she walks ring past the official as she makes her way around ringside. The crowd erutps with boos when she turns and walks backwards up the aisle.

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Geoff Penzer: No! NO! Not like this!

Taylor continues to back away from the ring until she suddenly hears cheers coming from the crowd. The Las Vegas Siren slowly turns and sets her gaze upon the entrance way. She can see a figure coming towards her. Emerging for the shadows...









...is Jimmy Page!

Geoff Penzer: ...Dear God...

Taylor’s eyes widen with shock. Her jaw drops as Page slowly steps towards her.

"YES!"

"YES!"

"YES!"

"YES!"

Taylor slowly shakes her head ‘no.’ The Las Vegas Siren slowly backs away from Page while Page marches forward… with a railroad spike in hand!

Geoff Penzer: Jimmy Page is here! We haven't seen him in nearly four months!

Taylor continues to back up all the way to ringside. Just then, Stevenson reaches over the top rope, snatches Taylor by the hair and yanks her back up to the apron! The crowd cheers when Taylor is brought back inside with a vertical suplex! Taylor slowly tuns over and gets back to her feet as Stevenson heads towards the ropes. When Taylor turns to the side of the ring, Stevenson soars through the air before catching her across the face with the Beautiful Nightmare! The crowd cheers as Taylor crumbles to the mat! Stevenson then exits out to the apron. She does a double take upon seeing Page in the aisle. But Page is paying Cordy no mind. He’s got his eyes locked solely on Taylor. Stevenson quickly gets her head back in the game and refocuses. The crowd start to stand up as Stevenson scales the turnbuckles. Once Taylor gets back to her feet and turns around, Stevenson stands up, leaps off and brings her down with Get Familiar!!! Taylor bounces up off the mat before falling on her back!!! Cordy crawls over and makes the cover.

ONE!
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.
TWO!
.
.
THREE!

Melanie Sierra: Here is your winner aaaaaaaand NEEEEEEEWWWWWWWW FGA International Heavyweight Champion, CORDY STEVENSON!

The crowd explodes with cheers as “Been Down” blasts through the arena.

Geoff Penzer: Cordy's done it!

The official heads to the outside and retrieves the International Heavyweight Championship belt before sliding back into the ring. He heads over and helps Stevenson back to her feet before raising her arms in the air in victory.

Geoff Penzer: Cordy Stevenson has done it! What a comeback for Saint Sexy! She outlasts both Johnny Karma and Savannah Taylor to become the new International Heavyweight Champion!

The referee hands the championship over to Cordy. Cordy graciously accepts the championship. She holds the title belt in her arms. Saint Sexy drops to her knees as a mix of emotions overwhelm her. She then looks out at the adoring crowd, who are giving her a standing ovation. Stevenson drops her head and wipes the tears from her eyes before returning to her feet. Cordy slowly makes her way into the corner before climbing up to the middle ropes. Stevenson looks around at the capacity crowd before thrusting the IHC belt in front of her. The cheers continue when Stevenson hops down, heads into the opposite corner, climbs up to the middle ropes and thrusts the championship in front of her. Cordy is met with a strong chorus of cheers when she enters the third corner, makes her way up to the middle ropes and thrusts the championship in front of her. Stevenson climbs down before making her way over into the last corner. Stevenson climbs up to the middle ropes before scanning the crowd once more. Autumn Annihilation fades out with Stevenson slowly raising the International Heavyweight Championship above her head...

[FGA Office]

FRONTIER+ EXCLUSIVE!

“Been Down” continues to pump throughout the arena while Stevenson climbs down from the ropes. An exhausted Stevenson drops down to the mat before rolling to the outside. Saint Sexy does her best to circle the ringside and high five every fan that she can. Once she circles the ring, she sees Page still standing in the middle of the aisle. He hasn’t moved a muscle. He hasn't acknowledged Cordy or the crowd. He continues to keep his eyes locked on the downed Taylor. Stevenson looks him up and down before carefully making her way past him and up the aisle. “Been Down” fades out once Stevenson has made her way to the back. The cameras cut back to Taylor, who is finally starting to stir on the canvas. As she turns over on all fours to shake out the cobwebs, Page narrows his eyes and sneers as the Las Vegas Siren as he approaches the ring.

Page stomps up each step before stepping up onto the middle ropes. He keeps his eyes locked on Taylor as he slowly steps in through the ropes. The crowd buzzes with anticipation as Page slowly raises the railroad spike! A closeup shows Page gripping the railroad spike as tight as possible. Across the ring, Taylor is seen crawling over towards the corner. She continues to try and shake out the cobwebs as she slowly pulls herself up in the corner. As she slowly turns around, Page charges across the ring. The crowd gasps when he leaps into the air and swing the railroad spike violently at Taylor’s face!!! At the last second, Taylor drops and slips to the outside, causing Page to stab the turnbuckle! Taylor staggers around ringside. Once she gets her footing, she turns back towards Page and backs away from him. The Las Vegas Siren continues to back up on the ramp while Page slowly makes his way over towards the ropes. The camera focuses in on the railroad spike sticking in the top turnbuckle in the distance before refocusing in on Page. The “King of the F’n World” burns with rage as he eyes Taylor making her exit up the ramp and to the back.

Page looks out to the cheering crowd. But Page doesn’t play up to the cheers. Instead, he drops to his back before slowly making his way up the aisle...