Afterburn for Vertigo E75

[FGA Office]

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

[Nicholas King]

The camera shows Nicholas King walking backstage from his encounter with Patrick Jones. He stops for a moment as he turns to look at the camera.


Nicholas King: How dare you...HOW FUCKING DARE YOU OWENS!!! You didn't have the guts to come out and face me like a man not once but TWICE!! Now you send one of your pals to do your dirty work. scoffs It looks like I was right all along about you Owens, your nothing more than a coward and now your friend is gonna pay the price for your cowardice.


He paces back and forth for a bit as he runs his fingers through his hair.

Nicholas King: You thought it was smart cutting my Mic off didn't you Jones. You thought it was funny to humiliate me in front of my subjects. Well i'm going to make you regret ever stepping up for your friend. Since your so eager to stand in my way Jones, i'll give you what you want, i'll give you what I offered Owens...a match against the Greatest Wrestler in the modern era. However, it's going to be on MY terms, not yours.

Your going to regret disrespecting me the way that you did. When i'm done with you, Owens will have nobody to blame but himself for what i do to you. He had a chance to grow a pair of balls and face me like a man but instead he lets his friends fight his own battles.


King heads off to his locker room to get his things as the camera fades to black.

[Mister Harris]

Earlier tonight…

Backstage, a door to the security office swings open. A member of FGA security exits the office and holds the door open as a gentleman of African descent, dressed in a light grey suit and dress shoes, with hair cut close to his head, steps out after him.

???: Thank you all for your hospitality here tonight. Feel free to pass that onto your colleagues. Hopefully at the next show we won’t need to have a repeat performance.

Reaching down, this gentleman adjusts his suit jacket before he steps past the guard and starts to walk away.

???: I certainly didn’t come to this show to spend it backstage detained by security for the duration.

He reaches up and massages his forehead for several moments… until a voice calls out from the distance.

???: Excuse me sir.

He stops, lowering his hand and turns to look for the source of the call. In short order, he finds himself confronted by Amanda Johnson, with microphone and cameraperson in tow.

Amanda Johnson: Could I have a moment of your time?

He regards her suspiciously for a few moments.

???: I suppose you could ma’am. What do you want?

The question is delivered in a tone conveying curiosity as he seems confused as to why she’d be looking to speak with him.

Amanda Johnson: I had been informed earlier that there was an… incident backstage with an unauthorized individual in the arena. Based on the description, I assume that it might be you. If so, I’ll like an opportunity to speak with you. Get your side of things and perhaps ask you some other questions as well. At least, if you’d be willing to sir.

The stranger regards Amanda quietly. The silence stretches out between them, growing more awkward. Finally the stranger lets out a breath.

???: Sure. Why not? May as well take this opportunity to air out this situation before it gets out otherwise. Perhaps in a less flattering context.

Amanda smiles slightly to him, hoping to set him at ease or just glad to be the first one there to get details.

Amanda Johnson: Thank you sir. You’re not someone I am familiar with, so might I get your name?

???: Theodore. Theodore Harris. Talent relations. Would you like a card?

He smoothly flicks a card out, seemingly from his sleeve and into his hand, which he extends towards her.

Amanda Johnson: Oh… um… no thank you.

With a dismissive shrug, he lowers his outstretched hand and tucks the card away.

Theodore Harris: And you are?

Amanda Johnson: I’m Amanda Johnson.

After a few moments of consideration, he snaps his fingers and then points to her.

Theodore Harris: You were an interviewer on Flashpoint if I recall correctly.

Amanda Johnson: Yes, that I was.

He nods to her.

Theodore Harris: A pleasure to meet you.

She smiles again and nods back in acknowledgement.

Amanda Johnson: And you as well. So, you said that you are with talent relations. With FGA?

He shakes his head slightly.

Theodore Harris: No. Not with FGA. I represent a client who has been in negotiations with Frontier Grappling Arts for several months at this point.

Amanda Johnson: May I inquire as to who it is you are representing?

Theodore Harris: You may.

There are several moments of silence as Amanda waits to see if he’ll elaborate further. When he doesn’t, she tries again.

Amanda Johnson: Who are you representing?

Theodore Harris: I am not at liberty to reveal that at this time. My client would prefer if their privacy was maintained at this juncture. This has been a rather time consuming process for them. One that should have been sorted out at least a month ago.

She tilts her head slightly to one side.

Amanda Johnson: Complications?

Theodore Harris: As it turns out, yes. It seems that there were some sort of problems within FGA during December that set back a lot of operations with the company. It also scuttled my client’s entire negotiation process up to that point.

Curious to know more, Amanda quickly follows up.

Amanda Johnson: How so?

Theodore Harris: I had been negotiating a contract on behalf of my client, along with their lawyers, to join the active FGA roster of competitors. After considering the offers of the two brands and some further deliberations, I had been prepared to sign my client to the Flashpoint brand. You can likely deduce what the problem with that was.

Amanda Johnson: The Flashpoint brand became inactive and all roster members were transferred to the Vertigo brand.

He nods to her.

Theodore Harris: Exactly. Unfortunately, the contract prepared at that point had been negotiated exclusively with the Flashpoint general manager at the time. Many of the details had to be worked out point by point with her. Since the contract had not been signed at the time of Flashpoint becoming defunct, we had to go back to the initial Vertigo contract offered and restart the process of negotiation once again with a different general manager, who had different sensibilities, objectives and preferences. As such, my client’s likely debut appearance in FGA, which had been penciled in for the first Flashpoint broadcast of the new year, had been pushed back until the details are resolved in satisfactory fashion for all parties involved.

Amanda Johnson: I see. That does sound like an unfortunate series of events for your client, especially if they are eager to begin competing.

He nods to her again.

Theodore Harris: Certainly. But in essence, no time has been lost as there was a delay in production for FGA events as they worked out issues internally. Of course, it would appear that some of those internal issues have caused me troubles here tonight, which brings us back to the topic you initially wanted to discuss.

Amanda appears puzzled as she replies.

Amanda Johnson: How so?

From one pocket of his suit, Theodore withdraws and then displays his FGA pass to her.

Theodore Harris: This. I was assigned one of these before Flashpoint became inactive. I wanted to be able to go to the shows and have access to the backstage area and see what it was like before my client arrived. I was told that even after the end of Flashpoint that this pass would still be good even for access to Vertigo shows. Turns out that that isn’t the case. While I was initially let into the building, eventually a security team came to collect me and inform me that my pass was invalid and that I would have to leave the premises.

A slight frown and shake of the head are all he uses to emphasize that, but it does appear to bother him more than he conveys.

Theodore Harris: I was not pleased by that, so I challenged them on it and wanted to take the matter up with someone above their pay grade who actually made decisions.

Amanda’s eyes widened in response to that. Theodore waves her off before she can say anything.

Theodore Harris: No, I didn’t actually say that in those words even though it crossed my mind then. Since I was trying to be reasonable, rather than eject me from the building, they instead escorted me to the security office. I got to cool my heels there for over an hour before one of the general manager’s assistants finally got around to addressing the situation. Then I had to wait for the bureaucratic system to grind out the straightforward response of issuing a temporary pass for the night while a new FGA pass is processed for me. Once that was sorted out I was allowed to go on my way, just before we met. I’ve only missed out on around three quarters of the show.

Theodore offers Amanda an aggrieved look.

Theodore Harris: Not really the best way to start out is it?

She shakes her head.

Amanda Johnson: No, it certainly doesn’t sound like it.

He sighs softly.

Theodore Harris: Well, I had been hoping to determine the lay of the land this week. Give my client some useful information going forward ahead of any debut. I suppose I should see what I can salvage from this outing.

He tucks his hands into his pockets then nods to Amanda.

Theodore Harris: Anyway, it was a pleasure Amanda. A bright spot in an otherwise wasted evening. Perhaps I’ll see you at the next show.

She smiles and nods in return.

Amanda Johnson: Perhaps. I look forward to our next meeting. Take care in the meantime.

Theodore Harris: I’ll try.

With that, the two part ways and the scene fades to black.

[The Mason]

Our cameras open in the backstage area where a hurried Ashlyn De Luca makes her way from an unlabeled dressing room. It’s evident by the noise thundering through the walls of the arena that the show isn’t entirely finished yet.

??:: Ashlyn! Wait.

Ashlyn throws a look over her shoulder-- and audibly groans before increasing her pace, though it’s only seconds before the figure of Amanda Johnson bursts into frame. She moves sideways, half-walking, half-jogging to keep up with De Luca.

Amanda Johnson: Ashlyn--

Ashlyn De Luca: Must we do this right now?

Amanda Johnson: Why not? Why are you moving so fast? Can-- can we slow down?

Ashlyn groans loudly and stops, casting a look behind her shoulder, scanning the hallways with her eyes before giving Amanda an expectant look.

Ashlyn De Luca: God. Fine. What do you need?

Briefly, Johnson looks over her shoulder in the direction De Luca had just glanced.

Amanda Johnson: I came to ask you about what transpired between you and Cordy Stevenson out there earlier tonight. I wanted to ask what was running through your mind when you pulled an innocent fan between yourself and the International Heavyweight Champion in the middle of a fight that you started.

Ashlyn looks at Amanda, mouth open just slightly for a moment as she contemplates-- but after a moment she chuckles to herself under her breath, shaking her head.

Ashlyn De Luca: What was going through my mind was the realization that Cordy thinks I’m safe.

Amanda Johnson: “Safe”? She had literally just finished praising everything you’ve accomplished and everything you’re capable of--

Johnson cuts herself off, noting how De Luca looks visibly impatient, motioning as if telling the interviewer to hurry up. With a small sigh, Amanda shrugs her shoulders.

Amanda Johnson: Go ahead.

Ashlyn De Luca: That wasn’t for me. She was out there making sure everybody knew exactly how good I was for her own sake. For her own stock. Don’t you see it?

Amanda Johnson: I’m sure you’ll explain.

De Luca gives Amanda a bitter half-smirk, silently noting the remark, but she continues regardless.

Ashlyn De Luca: Two things could be going on here. My personal preference is that she’s just out there making sure she hypes De Lucz up the best she can to cover her own ass when I go and take the title from her at Grapple Kingdom. If you can’t save yourself from the inevitable, then at least go down with dignity, right?

Amanda Johnson: ...right.

Ashlyn De Luca: And then, obviously, there’s the possibility that she truly… honestly believes she’s gonna beat me. And in that case, I mean-- yeah, yeah it still benefits her-- her legacy to build me up as this huge threat that she overcame. Turns me into a footnote in the long run, but turns her into a goddamn conqueror. It trivializes my story and what I did to get to this p—

Amanda Johnson: Ashlyn.

Ashlyn De Luca: What?!

Amanda sighs and raises a hand.

Amanda Johnson: Slow down. Take a breath.

De Luca bites her lip, laughing bitterly under her breath, but the interviewer continues before the number one contender can retort.

Amanda Johnson: I ask you this completely objectively. Logically, why shouldn’t Cordy believe she has the ability to defeat you? You believe you can beat her and the two of you have never competed in a one-on-one match, here or anywhere, so why should the champion feel any differently?

Ashlyn glares at Amanda. She doesn’t move. Doesn’t respond. Johnson clears her throat.

Amanda Johnson: Okay. Different question. Do you think your actions tonight proved that you’re the next International Heavyweight Champion?

For moments, an inexplicable rage has been building behind De Luca’s eyes. Finally, she takes a step toward Amanda. The interviewer flinches, stepping back into the wall.

Ashlyn De Luca: I’m so sick of the way you talk to me. Why don’t you just interview me the same way you interview every other goon you encounter backstage? Like-- what I did tonight was to show Cordelia that she doesn’t have a clue what I’m gonna do next. I don’t care if you, or the “fans”, or the champ believe I’m taking that title at Grapple Kingdom, but I am. And I’m not gonna stick around so she can corner me and get her hands on me and let go of all that rage. I want it to eat at her. I want her to be freaking blinded by anger by the time we get to Vancouver. I--

Though our microphones can’t clearly pick it up, someone shouts from down the corridor. Both De Luca and Johnson swivel their heads toward the voice.

Ashlyn De Luca: Ah, look at that. You’re a jinx, Amanda.

De Luca places both hands on Amanda’s shoulders and turns her away to face Cordy, keeping the interviewer directly in front of herself as she backs down the hall.

Amanda Johnson: Hey--!

Cordelia stalks down the hallway towards them, damn near looking like Mr. X from Resident Evil 2.

Cordelia Stevenson: ASHY!!!! Why are you running?! I JUST WANNA BE FRIENDS!

Cordelia slows her pace up now, approaching Ashlyn and Amanda cautiously with her hands up.

Ashlyn De Luca: Look, you can be mad all you want, but we’re not doing this tonight. I’ve got one hair tie left and I’m not wasting it on you.

Cordy nods, almost as if she understands completely.

Cordelia Stevenson: It ain’t even gotta be like that, chica. Come here. I just want to talk to you right quick. Amanda, tell her I just want to talk to her!

Cordelia’s tone is friendly and a small smile forms as she inches forward. Ashlyn’s eyes widen a bit and she frowns, almost urging Amanda forward. The annoyed interviewer glances at Ashlyn over her shoulder.

Amanda Johnson: ...she just wants to talk to y—?

Ashlyn De Luca: Oh, don’t be so gullible. Look at her. Look at that unhinged look in her eyes!

Ashlyn points a finger at Cordy, turning her nose up at the champion.

Ashlyn De Luca: Anything you have to say to De Lucz, you can say it from right there.

Cordelia slinks forward slyly.

Cordelia Stevenson: Say it from where? “There” is a very subjective term, don’t ya think? What is here, what is there?

Cordelia rambles on all the while closing the distance, and motions for Ashlyn to come to her.

Cordelia Stevenson: Just come here, chica.

Ashlyn De Luca: Okay. Okay. Fine.

Ashlyn raises her hands, taking a step back from Amanda. Exhaling in relief, Amanda turns to Ashlyn.

Amanda Johnson: Thank--

Cordy reaches past Amanda, for her number one contender, but simultaneously with one arm, Ashlyn shoves Amanda back. Amanda gasps, losing her balance, slipping almost out of her shoe as she falls into the arms of Cordelia Stevenson-- who barely catches Amanda before she tumbles down to the concrete. Cordy shakes her head and growls.

Cordelia Stevenson: Really! Again with this!

Ashlyn jogs backwards with a wink, adjusting the bag on her shoulder again before half-skipping, half-jogging down the hall with a whistle, shoving her way through the double doors and into the parking garage while Amanda Johnson finally regains her footing. Cordy simply looks at Amanda and helps her back to her feet.

Cordelia Stevenson: You ok?

Amanda brushes herself off and then nods as Cordelia looks down the corridor in the direction that Ashlyn jogged off too.

Cordelia Stevenson: She can’t run forever. I’ll catch her sooner than later.

She then turns her attention back to Amanda.

Cordelia Stevenson: Maaannn, you should have grabbed her!

Amanda’s eyes widen.

Amanda Johnson: Hey! I was caught in between a rock and a hard place here!

Cordelia folds her arms across her chest.

Cordelia Stevenson: Uh huh. I see you out here helping the enemy. And here I was thinking we were cool!

Amanda goes to respond but the smile on Cordelia’s face stops her.

Cordelia Stevenson: Gotcha.

Amanda lets out a sigh as Cordelia laughs, although her eyes constantly glance down the corridor in hopes of catching a glimpse of De Lucz. Realizing that she’s truly gone, Cordelia sighs and turns around, heading back towards the locker room area.