Kris Cruise: Quick programming note! We have a dream match in our main event of the next edition of Vertigo! This has just come to us over the break from the desk of Leonard T. Asherman. Cordy Stevenson denied Fujiko Mine of a dream match against her for the Undisputed Championship. But she won’t be able to deny this one. On the next edition of Vertigo, Fujiko will go one on one with Nina Stokes. The winner will challenge for the Undisputed Championship at Only the Strong Survive.
Stephy Auger: What does this mean for Nina Stokes and the US Championship?
Kris Cruise: It looks like she’ll be defending her US Championship regardless of the outcome of the main event on our next show. As I said, the winner will challenge for the Undisputed Championship. The loser will be placed in the Gold Rush Rumble. We’ve already had three big names announce themselves for the Rumble tonight. Adding Fujiko or Stokes to the Rumble will make that list of names even more impressive. Speaking of Stokes, let’s send it to the ring for tonight’s main event. Can Owen Gonsalves or Mark Storm beat the time of 10:59 that was just set by Ace Voltage?
MAIN EVENT
BEAT THE CLOCK CHALLENGE
Owen Gonsalves vs. Mark Storm
“Short Change Hero” by The Heavy begins to play through the speakers and the lights in the arena simultaneously dim down. Smoke begins to rise from the top of the stage and appearing on the screen above are the following words;
A massive pop ensues as emerging from the back is Your Hero and Mine, Mark Storm; who keeps himself composed as he stands at the top of the entrance ramp. He can't help but allow his sadistic signature smirk to appear upon his lips as he closes his eyes and spreads his arms out wide, soaking in the energy that the audience are giving him as they applaud and cheer.
J.A. Aldridge: The following contest, scheduled for one fall, is your main event of the evening and is apart of the Beat The Clock Challenge! Introducing first, hailing from New York, Brooklyn.. weighing in a two hundred and twenty five pounds - Your Hero, and Mine.. MARRKKKK STORMMMMMM!
He begins his walk down the entrance ramp, swaggering his way down.
This ain't no place for no hero.
This ain't no place for no better man.
This ain't no place for no hero
To call "home."
At this point, Storm is by the edge of the ring; allowing a smile to embed on his face before he jumps onto the apron and holds onto the ropes, using them to help himself up onto the turnbuckle. He's grinning from ear to ear, soaking in the rest of the cheers coming from the audience, shaking his head sideways as he lowers it, before jumping into the ring. He heads over to his designated corner and hoisting himself up onto the second ropes, a smirk upon his lips as he holds his arms up; his theme song slowly diminishing.
Kris Cruise: Mark Storm is looking to start his latest stint in FGA off on the right foot. He’s got a chance to challenge Nina Stokes for the US Championship at Only the Strong Survive. He just has to beat Owen Gonsalves is under 11 minutes. Can it be done?
Stephy Auger: It’s Owen Gonsalves. Of course it can be done!
The hard bass of Run The Jewels’ “Blockbuster Night Part I” causes the floor to vibrate as the crowd instantly come to their feet, knowing fully well who is about to make his entrance. All eyes are on the curtain as they wait for his arrival. A white bright light flashes at every beat, and the fans in attendance are slamming anything they can to the beat.
'Bunches and bunches
Punches is thrown until you’re frontless
Oodles and oodles
Bang bullets at suckers' noodles
Last album? Voodoo!
Proved that we was fuckin' brutal
I’m talking crazy, half past the clock is cuckoo'
J.A. Aldridge: His opponent, hailing from Melbourne, Australia! Weighing in at 205 pounds! He is "Indestructible" OWEN GONSALVES!
As soon as the incomparable Killer Mike kicks into his verse, the white flashing light stops and Owen Gonsalves bursts through the curtain with a pace that matches the rhythm of the track. He storms his way to the top of the entranceway and pauses to soak in the electric energy from the crowd, with a smirk on his face as he rolls his wrists while subtly mouthing the words to the song. Once El-P's verse begins, Wristlock Sinatra immediately begins to walk down towards the ring as he has his hands outstretched, his eyes staying focused on the ring he’s about to go to work in.
'Look at these kiddies, Mike
I'm a rat-a-tat 'em for living
I deal in dirty work
Do the deed and then dash
Ditch 'em'
Having made his way to the bottom of the ramp, Owen starts shadow striking to the camera at the bottom of the ramp before feigning a rolling elbow in the camera's direction as El-P says 'ditch 'em' to which the camera reacts accordingly. He paces around the ring, keeping his energy high before plodding up the steps, wiping his feet as soon as he steps on the apron. He moves down the apron and faces the crowd, mouthing a few words to a few of the fans in the front row before he enters the ring. He immediately goes to a corner and begins to warm up and stretch as he awaits the start of the match.
Kris Cruise: Owen Gonsalves made his return to an FGA ring at Past vs Present this past April in a loss to his good friend Tyler Storm. Gonsalves his looking to shake off that tough loss here in this one. The man knows the pressure that he’s under. He knows the caliber of opponent standing across the ring from him. Can he do it? Can he beat Mark Storm and can he do it in less than 10 minutes and 59 seconds. Let’s start the clock, Stephy.
Gonsalves and Storm stare at each other from across the ring. The two continue to wait impatiently for the bell as they remain in their respective corners. The ref turns to Storm and asks if he’s ready. Storm responds with a nod. The official then turns to Gonsalves and asks him if he’s ready. Gonsalves nods. The ref then calls for the bell. The bell sounds as Gonsalves and Storm dart out of their respective corners. Gonsalves is the first to strike as he knocks Storm down with a running shoulder block. He drops down and makes a cover.
ONE!
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Storm kicks out.
Gonsalves pops back to his feet and hits another set of ropes. When he returns, Storm knocks him down with a standing shoulder block. He drops down into a lateral press.
ONE!
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.
Gonsalves grabs Storm from underneath and bridges out of the pin before wrapping Storm up in an Oklahoma Roll.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Storm kicks out.
Once both grapplers get back to their feet, Storm delivers a standing double leg takedown before flipping over into a jackknife pin.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Gonsalves bridges up, turns hooks both of Storm’s arms from behind and brings him down with a backslide pin.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Storm slips out, grabs Gonsalves’ arm and wraps him up in a magistral cradle.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Gonsalves kicks out.
Both grapplers reach a stalemate when they return to their feet. The quick flurry of pins is met with cheers and applause from the crowd.
Kris Cruise: Gonsalves and Storm know what’s at stake. Neither man has wasted zero time since the bell rang.
Stephy Auger: They’re really going after it, Cruise. You can tell that these two are just dying to get their ass kicked by Nina Stokes, because that’s what’s going to happen at the end of all this!
Kris Cruise: ...
Gonsalves and Storm circle the ring before locking up. Gonsalves gains the advantage with a side headlock before performing a standing switch and transitioning into a hammerlock from behind. It doesn’t take long for Storm to spin out and reverse into a hammerlock of his own. Gonsalves remains trapped in the hold until he reaches back with his free arm, grabs Storm by the back of the neck and brings him down with a jumping snapmare. Storm gets back to his feet, turns around and gets knocked back with a running shoulder block. Storm stumbles into the ropes, bounces back and gets thrown down with a bridging Northern Lights Suplex.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Storm gets the shoulder up.
Gonsalves keeps his arm around Storm. So he floats over, pulls Storm back to his feet and throws him down with a bridging Fisherman Suplex.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Storm gets the shoulder up.
Kris Cruise: Gonsalves didn’t give up on the pin there.
Stephy Auger: But he did give up on his FGA dreams all those years ago. Wasn’t it Seth Iser who ran him out of this company? I’m pretty sure that it was.
Kris Cruise: Just stop it.
Gonsalves pulls Storm back to his feet and delivers an arm wrench. A second arm wrench follows. After a third arm wrench, Storm rolls forward, leans back, kips up and reverses into an arm wrench of his own. Gonsalves then rolls forward, turns over to his knees, flips over with a headstand, spins in place and transitions into another hammerlock from behind. He then spins Storm towards him before catching him in a standing front facelock. Storm then grabs a hold of Storm and slowly moves him across the ring. When Gonsalves gets pressed against the ropes, the ref goes over and starts a five count.
Ref: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!
As soon as Gonsalves breaks the hold, Storm takes him by the arm and shoots him for the ride. Gonsalves comes off the ropes and ducks a lariat before continuing to run the ropes. Gonsalves comes back and ducks a discus forearm before continuing to run the ropes. When Gonsalves returns, he executes a tilt-a-whirl into a Guillotine Choke!
Kris Cruise: What a maneuver into the submission by Owen Gonsalves.
Stephy Auger: I supposed he isn’t called the Technical Spectacle for nothing.
The ref goes over and asks Storm if he wants to give up. After refusing, he takes Gonsalves and counters into a bridging Northern Lights Suplex. The ref drops down to make the cover. But he stops when Storm bridges over, pulls Gonsalves back up and throws him back down with another bridging Northern Lights Suplex! The ref drops back down to start the count. Once again, he stops when Storm bridges over, pulls Gonsalves back up and brings him down with another bridging Northern Lights Suplex!
ONE!
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TWO!
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Gonsalves gets the shoulder up.
Kris Cruise: Nice trio of Northern Lights Suplexes there, but it only gets a two count. Patrick Jones set the time to beat in our opening contest. That time held up until Marlon Cure was able to beat it. Marlon Cure then had the best time until Gareth Prichard Jr beat it.
Stephy Auger: Hmm. That’s another thing that Gareth has taken from Marlon.
Kris Cruise: Now it’s Ace Voltage that stands with the best time. We’re just about approaching the five minute mark here.
Storm pulls up Gonsalves, takes control of his back and delivers a German Suplex. He rolls over, pulls Gonsalves back to his feet and brings him down with a second German. Storm goes to bring Gonsalves down with a third German when Gonsalves reverses into a wheelbarrow victory roll.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Gonsalves takes Storm’s legs, turns him over into the prone position and stands above the back of his knees. After wrapping Storms legs around his, he reaches down and slaps Storm on the sides. He then takes control of Storm’s wrists before starting to rock back and forth. The crowd cheers when Gonsalves rolls back into a surfboard stretch. Storm can be heard yelling in pain as Gonsalves holds him up in the air.
The ref asks Storm if he wants to give up. When he refuses, Gonsalves pulls back slightly on the arms. Storm continues to writhe in pain as his shoulder blades compress. The ref continues to check in with Storm and ask him if he wants to give up. Once again, Storm refuses. So Gonsalves pushes Storm out of the air, sending him back down to the mat. Gonsalves stays right on him as he muscles him over into the prone position. He then kneels down across Storm’s back before rolling over into a Bow and Arrow Hold. Storm yells out in pain as Gonsalves continues to bend him across his knees. The ref asks him if he wants to give up. Storm refuses.
Kris Cruise: Owen is fighting for that submission. But to Storm’s credit, he’s hanging on.
Storm remains trapped in the submission. After turning down another chance to quit, Storm reaches up and grabs Gonsalves’ right arm. He then slowly starts to pull the arm from around his head before rolling off the knees and dropping down into a lateral press.
ONE!
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Gonsalves kicks out.
Gonsalves reverses an irish whip, sending Storm into the ropes. When Storm returns, he delivers a tilt-a-whirl into an Octopus Hold!
Kris Cruise: Now it’s Gonsalves that’s locked in a submission!
Stephy Auger: Turnabout is fair play, Cruise.
Gonsalves groans while being trapped in the hold. The ref asks him if he wants to give up. Gonsalves refuses. So Storm applies more pressure by arching his back and pulling back on the arm.
Kris Cruise: Gonsalves is getting worked over here. But if there’s anyone that can withstand a submission or find a way out of it, it’s Wristlock Sinatara himself.
The ref asks Gonsalves again if he wants to give up. When Gonsalves refuses, Storm delivers multiple elbow strikes to the ribs. He then arches his back again as he pulls back on the arm. Gonsalves yells out in pain before slowly dropping down to a knee.
Kris Cruise: Uh oh!
Stephy Auger: This doesn’t look good for your boy!
Kris Cruise: He’s not my boy.
Stephy Auger: Ah, you can’t stand Owen, either! Welcome to the club!
Kris Cruise: You know that’s not what I meant, Stephy!
Stephy Auger: Suuure, I believe you!
Storm can feel a submission coming. The ref asks Gonsalves again if he wants to give up. Gonsalves refuses by shaking his head. So Storm lets go of the hold. He then quickly wraps his arms around Gonsalves’s waist before throwing him down with a deadlift gutwrench sitout powerbomb!
ONE!
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TWO!
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T-NO!
The crowd cheers when Gonsalves gets the shoulder up.
Storm picks up Gonsalves, lifts him up and throws him down with a Falcon Arrow!
ONE!
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TWO!
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Gonsalves gets the shoulder up.
Kris Cruise: Another nearfall for Mark Storm.
Stephy Auger: Owen Gonzalez just won’t stay down, huh?
Kris Cruise: ...
Storm takes Gonsalves and whips him hard into the corner. After crashing sternum-first into the top turnbuckle, Gonsalves stumbles back as Storm runs past him into the ropes. Storm comes off the ropes, swings around and throws him down with a Sling Blade! He makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Gonsalves gets the shoulder up.
Storm takes Gonsalves and brings him down with a snapmare before hitting the ropes. When he returns, he flattens Gonsalves with a basement dropkick to the face. He makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Gonsalves gets the shoulder up.
Storm takes Gonsalves and whips him into the ropes. When Gonsalves returns, he gets brought down with a flapjack before Storm turns over and transitions into an ankle lock.
Kris Cruise: Storm’s going for another submission!
Stephy Auger: Does he think he can get a win with this? Or is he just trying to prove a point by getting a win over a submission specialist? I hope it’s not the latter. Storm’s should be smarter than that.
Storm gets to his feet and starts cranking away on the ankle. Gonsalves yells out in pain as Storm continues to work over the ankle. He’s then asked if he wants to give up. Gonsalves refuses before pushing himself up on his hands. He then rolls forward, breaking the hold as Storm is sent crashing into the corner. When Storm turns around, Gonsalves rushes over to attack. Storm counters by turning him around with a boot to the face. As Gonsalves slowly staggers away from the corner, Storm hops out to the apron through the ropes, springboards to the top, leaps off and connects with a missile dropkick to the back of the head! Gonsalves staggers forward before falling through the ropes to the floor!
Kris Cruise: Gonsalves has just been dropped to the outside. They’ve got just under five minutes left, Stephy!
Stephy Auger: Ace Voltage is somewhere sitting pretty right now.
Gonsalves turns over to his side and tries to shake out the cobwebs. He then slowly makes his way back to his feet. When Gonsalves turns around, his eyes widen as Storm flips off and knocks him down with an over the corner slingshot into a springboard moonsault! The move is met with cheers and applause from the crowd.
Kris Cruise: The high risk pays off!
Stephy Auger: get him back in there, Mark!
Storm takes Gonsalves and rolls him back inside. He then rolls back in and makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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THR-NO!
Gonsalves gets the shoulder up.
Storm sits up on his knees and holds up three fingers at the official. But the ref holds his ground and lets him know that it was only a two count. Storm continues to argue with the official until Gonsalves quickly turns on the mat, reaches up and locks him in a Grapevine Kimura Lock!
Kris Cruise: Equivalent Exchange !
Stephy Auger: Storm took his eye off the ball! Now look at him!
Storm screams out in pain as Gonsalves continues to try and crank the arm. The ref asks Storm if he wants to give up. Storm screams before reaching back with his right leg and getting his foot on the bottom rope.
Ref: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!
Gonsalves breaks the hold.
Kris Cruise: Mark Storm has no idea how lucky he is! If that move was put on just a couple more inches away from the ropes, I think this match is over.
Stephy Auger: Agreed.
Gonsalves takes Storm, pulls him back to his feet and nails him with a shoot kick to the arm. He targets the arm and connects with another shoot kick. A third shoot kick to the arm finds its mark before he moves Storm into the corner. From there, Gonsalves goes to work with multiple shoot kicks to the chest. After rocking Storm with a European Uppercut, Gonsalves whips him into the far corner. NO! Storm reverses and sends Gonsalves across the ring. Storm rushes over to attack when Gonsalves knocks him back with a back elbow to the face before knocking him down with the Sky Uppercut (springboard corkscrew European Uppercut)! He makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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Storm gets the shoulder up.
Gonsalves takes Storm and pulls him back into the corner. He climbs up to the middle ropes and goes to plant Storm with a Tornado DDT. But Storm pushes him off mid turn. Gonsalves lands on his feet and rushes back over to attack when Storm cuts him off with a bicycle knee underneath the chin! Gonsalves drops down to a knee while Storm takes off into the far ropes. Storm builds up speed as he runs back across the ring before flattening Gonsalves with a bicycle knee to the side of the head! He makes the cover.
Kris Cruise: One minute left!
Stephy Auger: Oh baby!
ONE!
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TWO!
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Gonsalves gets the shoulder up.
Storm picks up Gonsalves and scoops him up across his shoulder. He tries to slip Gonsalves down into position to hit a Tombstone, but Gonsalves counters by kicking his legs. After slipping down from behind, Gonsalves turns Storm towards him and throws out a shoot kick to the head. Storm catches the kick and counters with a Cradle Capture Suplex! Storm then reaches down and latches onto Gonsalves’s wrist.
Kris Cruise: Uh oh! You know what’s coming next!
Stephy Auger: One of the lucky fans in the eight row are about to get themselves a souvenir. Storm’s about to knock Gonsalves’ head right off!
Storm looks around at the crowd before slowly pulling Gonsalves back to his feet. He rears his free arm back before turning Gonsalves inside out with Storm Strike (short-arm lariat)! NO! Gonsalves ducks and quickly counters with a Snap Dragon Suplex!
Kris Cruise: Paroxysm!
Gonsalves takes Storm, moves him into the corner and sits him down on the top turnbuckle. After placing Storm in a three quarter facelock, Gonsalves takes a couple of steps forward before spiking him with Australia Street (top turnbuckle hung cutter)! The cheers continue as Storm is dragged over towards the center of the ring before being pulled up into a standing headscissors. Gonsalves hooks both arms, lifts him up and plants him with the Angel Duster (Double Underhook Piledriver)! He makes the cover.
ONE!
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TWO!
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THREE!
The crowd explodes with cheers as "Blockbuster Night Part I" blasts over the PA.
Kris Cruise: He’s done it! He’s done! He’s done it!
Stephy Auger: Want to say it one more time?
Kris Cruise: He’s done it!
J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, here is your winner with a time on 10 minutes and 58 seconds… OWEN GONSALVES!
The cheers continue as Gonsalves gets his arm raised in victory.
Kris Cruise: Owen Gonsalves has done it! Gonsalves has set the best time in this Beat The Clock Challenge!
Stephy Auger: First Ace loses to Tyler Storm at A New Odyssey. HE NEVER TAPPED, might I add! Now, he loses the Beat The Clock Challenge thanks to Tyler’ BFF. Ace has to be livid right now!
Kris Cruise: With one second to spare, Owen Gonsalves defeats Mark Storm! He’ll now challenge Nina Stokes for the United States Championship at Only the Strong Survive! What a night of action we just witnessed. Patrick Jones, Marlon Cure, Gareth Prichard Jr and Ace Voltage were so close! But in the end, it’s Owen Gonsalves that has earned the right to challenge for the US Title. Congratulations, Owen! For Stephy Auger, this is Kris Cruise! We will see you next time, right here, on Vertigo! Goodnight, everyone!
