Afterburn for Vertigo E87

[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+.

[Cordy]

Somewhere backstage in a decorated room, The NEW DNA of FGA and Undisputed Champion, Cordelia Stevenson, is seen talking animatedly to her younger cousin Amaya, who is stuffing her face with cake. Clearly The Champ has kept the festivities going throughout the night as there is an open bottle of champagne in her hand, and all three title belts are still draped over her body; The FGA World title and FGA International Championship each over a shoulder, and the Undisputed Championship around her waist. A trifecta that she refers to as the Holy Trinity. Amaya spies an approaching Spencer Burke, and gives a nod for Cordelia to turn his way. A bright smile forms on Cordelia’s face as she sees him.

Cordelia Stevenson: Spency!

The Undisputed Champion exclaims as she throws her hands in the air, sending some champagne sloshing out of the open bottle.

Cordelia Stevenson: I see you’ve come to join in on the festivities!

She holds up the bottle.

Cordelia Stevenson: Want a drink?

Spencer Burke holds up his hand and politely shakes his head.

Spencer Burke: Sorry, Cordelia. I’m still on the clock here.

He motions towards the microphone in his hand. Cordelia waves him off.

Cordelia Stevenson: All work and no play makes you uptight and stuffy like a Fujiko Mine!

She turns towards the camera.

Cordelia Stevenson: Bars.

She turns back to Spencer.

Cordelia Stevenson: At least have a piece of cake, maaaannnnn.

Spencer Burke: Well, alright. If you promise to give me a quick word.

Cordelia quickly shuffles away, grabbing a plate with a pre-cut piece of cake on it for the interviewer.

Spencer Burke: Thank you, Cordelia. You seem to still be in quite the festive mood despite all that has happened here tonight.

Cordelia takes a swig from her bottle.

Cordelia Stevenson: Why wouldn’t I be, Spencer? Do you see what it says on the wall?

She turns and points towards a banner hanging on the wall.

Cordelia Stevenson: This is my celebration of greatness. Me. The fact that FGA doesn’t want me to have it is enough of a reason for me to celebrate harder.

Spencer raises an eyebrow.

Spencer Burke: FGA doesn’t want you to have it?

Cordelia chuckles.

Cordelia Stevenson: Hell no they don’t! Why do you think they sent Fox News Mine out there to try and kill the damn vibe as she always does? Leonard T. Asherman doesn’t have the decency to show his wrinkled and saggy face, so he sends company dummy #2 in his place to pump out whatever garbage she thinks the fans want to hear. I know you love how I shut her down, right? Giving a whole garbage ass spiel about people earning something, just to be the hypocrite that we know her to be and ask for a shot at my title that she hasn’t earned!

Cordelia throws up her hands, sending champagne flying out again.

Cordelia Stevenson: TUH! The nerve of the wench. And I’m the entitled one?! Having the audacity to try and come out there and leech off of my moment. That’s all she is, you know? An opportunist and a leech.

Spencer clears his throat.

Spencer Burke: Well, Cordelia… I’m not sure if you’ve heard but that, ‘opportunist’ and ‘leech’ as you called her, has been given a chance to earn that shot that she asked for.

Cordelia’s eyes narrow a bit as she eyes Spencer suspiciously. She takes another sip from the bottle.

Cordelia Stevenson: What are you talking about Spency?!

Spencer Burke: Well, it came from the office of Leonard T. Asherman right before the main event, at the next Vertigo, Fujiko Mine will take on Nina Stokes; and the winner of that match will earn a chance to face you at Only the Strong Survive.

The breaking of the news causes Cordelia to grow silent. Her brows furrow a bit as she processes the information, her eyes lowering to the ground. After a moment of pondering it over, a slow smile begins to form as she raises her eyes back up to Spencer.

Cordelia Stevenson: Good.

Her response elicits a surprised glance from Spencer.

Spencer Burke: Good?

Cordelia nods.

Cordelia Stevenson: Absolutely. It doesn’t surprise me that Leonard acted so quickly to try and get his manufactured Golden Girl a shot at my title. It’s quite funny actually, because with every action they take, they’re only giving more and more credence to everything I’ve said thus far, but Nina Stokes? She deserves it, and I am glad that she’s being given an opportunity to shine. It’s just a damn shame that the only reason she’s getting it is because I had the balls to stand up and call the company out on their systemic… deficiencies. The girl has been too good for too damn long and the company would have just continued to string her along. That’s what this is all about for me, Spencer. The deserving actually getting their just due. This is a step in the right direction. Now if Fujiko defeats Nina? Which I don’t think she will? Then she’d have earned the ass beating that she’ll surely receive. There are levels to this, Spencer. Fujiko has reached a high one indeed but she’s still nowhere near mine.

Spencer Burke: Some might say that you declined her challenge earlier out of fear.

Cordelia frowns her face up and gives Spencer that ‘Are you stupid or are you dumb’ look.

Cordelia Stevenson: Declined the challenge out of…

She shakes her head, not even able to finish the statement.

Cordelia Stevenson: Please don’t say anything dumb like that again, Spencer. You’re one of the few people around here that I still have an ounce of respect for. Stupid comments make me take my cake back. 

Spencer looks down at the cake and pulls the plate closer to his body protectively.

Cordelia Stevenson: Nobody fears Fujiko Mine. Like, at all. It damn near took her a decade to blossom into something more than a laughing stock in this business. Her persistence should be admired though, I tell you that much.

Cordelia gives an arrogant smirk as she adjusts the titles on her shoulders.

Cordelia Stevenson: But at the end of the day, I already know what it is with her. She’s nothing more than a pawn in FGA’s agenda, the same way that Chandler Scott is.

Spencer wants to pry further, but the mentioning of that name causes him to smile.

Spencer Burke: It’s funny that you mention that name.

Cordelia shrugs.

Cordelia Stevenson: I already know you would have sooner than later.

Spencer Burke: The return of Chandler Scott. He seemed to have some choice words for you tonight.

Cordy laughs.

Cordelia Stevenson: Of course he did. I’d have some choice words too for anyone that beat me with my own move and left me damn near dead in the middle of the ring. That boy still showing signs of a concussion or something. He couldn’t even tell you the right music that was playing after our match. Mixing up Pop Smoke with Nipsey Hussle? Yeah, he was out of it. But ooooohhhh, he was big mad big mad, did you see him?!

Her laughter gets quite hysterical.

Spencer Burke: Surely he has every right to be upset with you after what you did to him in what was supposed to be his final match.

The Champ shakes her head as she takes another swig.

Cordelia Stevenson: His ‘retirement’ match. Right. Chandler Scott never had any intentions of retiring, so I’m not surprised at all to see him here tonight. I see through all of the smoke and mirrors, believe me. He simply used all of that as a ploy. FGA just wanted to use him as a distraction for me heading into my unification match with Iser, the same way that they tried to use him in 2017 as I headed into the Unification match with Zero. You don’t find it strange how he always magically appears whenever there is something big going on with Cordelia Stevenson? Come on Spencer, you can’t be that damn blind, it’s feeling like 2017 all over again; where FGA interjects Chandler into my business to try and steal my thunder.

She pointedly jabs her finger as she speaks, growing more animated with each passing second.

Cordelia Stevenson: Isn’t it funny how the ending result was damn near the same? He was left lying unconscious in the middle of the ring with hurt feelings and a bruised ego. And now he’s mad at me, for what? Don’t be mad at me because you chose to be dumb. Where they do that at?

She takes a deep breath and sighs.

Cordelia Stevenson: Honestly, he should have just stayed gone. He should have just stayed the martyr that I made him. Pride has been the downfall of many men and his will only lead him to ruin. He’s trying to bark up the wrong tree and nothing good awaits him. I promise you.

She turns towards the camera and winks.

Cordelia Stevenson: Veritas.

Spencer sighs.

Spencer Burke: Cordelia, you certainly aren’t making many friends these days.

She throws her hands in the air once more.

Cordelia Stevenson: How does the saying go? It’s a lonely road for those of us who choose to be remarkable.

She shrugs.

Cordelia Stevenson: That’s why I will forever be in a league of my own.

Spencer nods.

Spencer Burke: Cordelia, thank you for your time.

[bbbaseball96]

The camera fades into the backstage area. We see Ace angrily walk out of a locker room, assuming he just finished watching the main event. Ace sees the cameras and stops walking.

Ace Voltage: One second. One god damn second! Unbelievable! I should’ve been on top tonight. It was supposed to be MY night! Not that idiot Gonsalves!

Ace slaps his hands on a nearby container.

Ace Voltage: You know what they say, mate. Timing is everything. And tonight it was. Yes, I didn’t win the beat the clock challenge but I still come out a winner tonight. Ya know why? Because I beat Tyler Storm.

Ace has a sly smirk on his face.

Ace Voltage: I beat him in the middle of the ring. That 450 splash? Perfection. No chance he was kicking out. And now that I beat him? I deserve a rematch for his championship. Hell, I deserved a rematch even if I lost to him! I never gave up. I never tapped out. I didn’t lose to him, the referee made me lose. It was out of my control.

Ace now hops up and sits on the empty container behind him.

Ace Voltage: So now we’ll see the true colors of Tyler Storm. Is he really the fighting champion that he claims to be? Or is he a coward? Because a true fighting champion would give me another shot because it is deserved.

Ace looks down and chuckles to himself.

Ace Voltage: Ya know a lot of people in FGA will laugh at this. They don’t take me seriously half the time. They don’t think I’ve earned the spot that I am in.

Ace starts mocking people with a change in his voice.

Ace Voltage: Oh Ace lost to Tyler already, why should he get another shot? Oh Ace claims that he is the best when he’s obviously not. Why doesn’t he go to the back of the line?

Ace becomes more serious now.

Ace Voltage: Do you know why I am in the spot I am in? Because I’ve earned it. Since I’ve signed here I have been a main event talent. I have sold tons of merchandise, sold plenty of tickets and have helped FGA’s ratings skyrocket. People WANT to see me. I am the attraction people pay for. I am the BEST Mid-Atlantic Legacy champion of all time! And that is something nobody can EVER take away from me. So no, I am not going to the back of the line. I deserve my rematch against Tyler Storm. I’ve earned it. That's why I am the Main Event.

Ace hops off the container and lowers his voice to almost a whisper.

Ace Voltage: But for now, we wait. We wait to see if Tyler is man enough to give me my rematch. We wait to see what kind of champion, Tyler Storm really is.

Ace starts walking off and the camera fades.

[Chandler Scott]

We find ourselves traversing through the halls of the backstage area inside the Ryan Center. Intrepid report Spencer Burke is a couple of paces ahead of the cameraman. The veteran journalist looks over his left shoulder to address the viewers of this exclusive Afterburn footage.

Spencer Burke: This is Spencer Burke here again live in the aftermath of this newsworthy edition of Vertigo. I'm trying to find some more of the guys to get a word from and...

Burke goes to round a corner. But he soon comes to a complete stop before backing up. He's looking someone up and down before giving them a wry smirk. Spencer takes a few steps back to give the person space. Around the corner steps none other than...

Spencer Burke: ...Chandler Scott

Chandler enters the frame and puts his arm around the reporter.

Chandler Scott: Spencer Burke!

Chandler gives him a pat on the shoulder before pulling his arm around him.

Spencer Burke: I'm surprised you're still here.

Chandler furrows his brow.

Chandler Scott: Well why would that be? There's a ton of talent in this company. We saw a plethora of great matches tonight. Some of FGA's best went out there and fought tooth and nail to get themselves a shot at Nina Stokes and her United States Championship. Credit to Patrick Jones for setting the pace and congrats to Owen Gonsalves for winning the Beat the Clock Challenge. Besides, myself, Lowri Moss and Seth Iser won't be the only ones in the Gold Rush Rumble, you know. So I figured it would be in my best interest to keep my eyes on what will very likely be my future opponents inside the Rumble. But more on that later. This right here?

Chandler moves his pointer finger between him and Burke.

Chandler Scott: It's been a while, hasn't it?

The reporter nods in agreement.

Spencer Burke: It's been a long time.

Chandler Scott: Too long, as a matter of fact. How's everything? Are you good? Are you staying well hydrated? Are you double vaxxed yet?

Spencer Burke: Everything is good on my end, Chandler. Judging by what we heard from you tonight, you're doing a lot better than you were at the conclusion of FGA Past vs Present.

The memory from that night causes him to wince with discomfort.

Chandler Scott: Well, I haven't caught a knee to the privates, yet.

Spencer just shakes his head at the remark.

Spencer Burke: Fair enough. I don't know if you're aware or not, but I just spoke with our new Undisputed Champion Cordelia Stevenson a few minutes ago.

The mention of Cordy's name causes Chandler to raise an inquisitive eyebrow.

Chandler Scott: Oh?

Chandler proceeds to let out a smile while he looks off into the distance with his hands over his heart.

Chandler Scott: I'm sure she had nothing but glowing praise for me.

Spencer responds bluntly.

Spencer Burke: Far from it.

Chandler chuckles while he turns his attention back to the reporter.

Chandler Scott: Aw, what a shame.

Spencer Burke: ...Well?

Chandler looks around him before looking back at Spencer.

Chandler Scott: "Well" what?

Spencer Burke: Do you want to know what she said?

Chandler lets out a sigh. He knows Spencer's game. Burke is far from a dirt sheet reporter. But he's a reporter nonetheless. He's got a job do it and part of that job is getting views and clicks.

Chandler Scott: Spencer, you're the one that brought her up. Just say whatever you need to say so you and the crew can get your soundbites out of me. Okay?

Spencer Burke: Well, according to our Undisputed Champion, your retirement was all a ploy.

Chandler raises his eyebrows. He's clearly taken aback by this news.

Chandler Scott: Was it now? Boy, I can't wait to hear the rest of this.

Chandler crosses his arms before continuing to listen to every word that Spencer's about to utter.

Spencer Burke: Again, this is all according to Ms. Stevenson, but you never had any intentions of retiring. You were simply being used as a way to distract her from her huge Unification Match with Seth Iser. Just like, according to her, you were used as a was to distract her from her Unification Match with Zero McHannon a number of years back. In her eyes, it's strange how you magically appear whenever something big is happening with her. In her eyes, this is looking like 2017 all over again.

Chandler Scott: 2017 all over again, huh? Well for her sake, this better not be 2017 all over again. Because, correct me if I'm wrong, she became Undisputed Champion the first time... then got her ass beat by Izzy Anders for the Title in April... then got knocked out of the company by Savannah Taylor in May... then came back in the fall to lost to me in what was going to be her final match. Did I... did I remember all the right?

Spencer is seen trying to replay all the major events back in his mind.

Spencer Burke: From what I recall, yes, those events did occur. I wouldn't say she got her you-know-what beat in that contest against Izzy. But yes, those events are correct.

Relieved, Chandler takes the back of his right hand and wipes it across his forehead.

Chandler Scott: Phew, well isn't that a relief? You know, I was worried there for a bit. Word going around town is that my memory isn't the greatest anymore.

Spencer just shakes his head.

Chandler Scott: As far as allusions to a collusion against Cordy is concerned, well...

Spencer waits to Chandler.

Spencer Burke: Go on..

Chandler Scott: If you want me to be honest... she's right.

Spencer nods.

Spencer Burke: I see... ww-wait, what? She's right?!

Chandler Scott: One thousand percent.

Chandler answers the question nonchalantly. Spencer does a double take after hearing what he just heard.

Spencer Burke: I'm not sure you heard what I just said. Care to elaborate?

Spencer turns to the cameraman and motions for him to get closer. This is about to be the scoop of all scoops!

Chandler Scott: No, Spencer, I heard you loud and clear. She's absolutely right. I was being used as a ploy. I'm just a cog in the wheel, man. This whole thing has been nothing but a grand scheme. People like myself, Fujiko, Leonard T. Asherman, Lowri and others are all apart of a secret cabal to make sure that she ultimately fails.

Chandler stops himself to turn and address the camera.

Chandler Scott: Well, not so secret anymore! Sorry guys.

Chandler turns back to Burke.

Chandler Scott: Anyways, where was I? Ah yes, we all get together on Friday nights and draw up schematics on how to sabotage Cordy The Persecuted. Even Kris Cruise and Stephy Auger are in on it! But we tell Stephy to suck up to Cordy on commentary. You know, to try and keep her off the scent. But that pesky Cordy, I tell ya! She got us. She got us good! Nancy Drew over there figured it all out! We were all this close, Spencer -- and I'm talking this close -- to making sure she didn't walk out with both titles at A New Odyssey.

Spencer couldn't roll his eyes any harder if he could.

Spencer Burke: It's good to see that you're taking these allegations seriously, Chandler.

Chandler Scott: Serious allegations are taken seriously. But BS, Spencer? BS gets brushed off to the side like the joke that it is. Now look, I'm not going to sit here and act like my history with that woman has always been the greatest. I'm sure her and I would both admit that the history between the two of us has been rocky. I'm not going to act like I didn't instigate things between us way back when. But I would like to think that at some point, after the wars inside that ring were settled, there was a friendship there. Who knows, maybe I was wrong. Maybe I assumed something was there that was never there in the first place. Fair enough. But one thing that I know for a fact is that there was respect there. At the end of it all, on the Anniversary Show in 2017, there was respect there. That respect wasn't returned at Past vs Present. That's the bottom line. She can claim that what she did that night was never personal. She can say it was never anything against me, she just used me as a way to get back at the system. But we both know the truth here. If she's still hurt by what happened four years ago? Then she should have just said that from the start. But you know what?

Chandler goes to continue, but he stops him. Instead, he throws his arms up in the air.

Chandler Scott: ...Whatever.

Spencer wants to pry further, but instead, he shifts his next topic to the future.

Spencer Burke: So what happens now?

Chandler Scott: What happens now? This is what happens. I'm back. I want that top spot. I want that FGA Undisputed Championship. But titles? Titles aren't handed to you. Me and everyone else in this company can say that we want that Undisputed Championship until we're blue in the face. Guess what? If you want it? You have to go out there and earn it. So to earn a shot at facing Cordy or Nina or Fujiko or whoever, I've got to go through the Gold Rush Rumble. 30 grapplers. One match. It's going to be every man for himself fighting for the right to challenge the Undisputed Champion, whoever that may be, at All Star Showdown X. I can't think of a better challenger than yours truly.

Chandler shrugs his shoulders.

Chandler Scott: But I might be biased.

Spencer Burke: "Might be biased"?

Chandler Scott: Just a little bit.

Chandler says with a wink and a smirk.

Spencer Burke: Thank you for your time, Chandler.

Chandler Scott: It's been a pleasure as always.

[nealdurden]

The hunt is usually more entertaining than the kill.

A joyful Gareth Prichard Jr. appears on the screen looking directly towards the camera. His white shirt was wet with sweat and the top 4 buttons opened revealing his chest. He honestly looks like shit; yet he had a wide smile on his face. This amount of joy shouldn’t be there when his time got beaten and he didn’t get the chance to face Nina for the US belt… but it was there and he continued talking.

See, change happens when you subvert the perspective of things. Many of you would see tonight as a failure because I don’t get the title shot. But I would argue tonight was a victory. You see, I could’ve ended the match at any given point. Count how many submissions I locked in; how many times the referee got in there to save AMC… that’s where the thrill is for me. Looking at their eyes, knowing full well that one little twist and they could be on the shelf for months if not years. That brief moment of knowing they’re helpless… is more satisfying than the actual kill and that’s what many here fail to understand.

Gareth exhales, it feels more like he’s getting a second wind than him just doing it for the sake of drama. He walks towards the wall and places his right arm above his head touching the wall and breathes heavily, but comes back around with a light chuckle as he continues.

I don’t look for victories… moral or otherwise… I don’t care about getting my hand raised at the end of the night or getting the opportunities I’m owed. No… that’s for the mediocre whose only purpose is to fill their cabinet because they have no other thing to gloat about. They’re like those pesky Yankees fans… they have failed for almost twelve years now and all you hear them say is “we got 28”... sure, you pat yourself on the back and make yourself feel bigger than you actually are… but the failure made the target on your back bigger because now everyone else BELIEVES they can. That’s the thrill of the hunt. I know everyone else in this locker room now understands most of what I’ve been saying. And since I now got your attention… I will clip the wings of the one who denied me time… and time… and time again.

Gareth grabs the camera and puts it really close to his face.

Enjoy your return while it lasts…