Vertigo E89

[FGA Office]

The scene rises up with a projector beginning to run in a dark room. The wall it projects onto shows a quick countdown, and when the countdown ends, it shows a younger version of Fujiko Mine, arms raised in victory. The FGA logo in the right hand corner catches attention for a moment, before it shows the referee handing Fujiko the Mid-Atlantic Legacy championship. There is very little sound coming out of the small speakers attached to the projector. The camera view switches away from the projector, to someone sitting in a chair, watching the footage. The steel blue eyes suggest that it is not the Apex Goddess watching this footage back, but someone else. The darkness of the room, and the occasional flickers of light make the person’s identity difficult to pin down without further evidence.

Back on the wall, the image is now Fujiko, desperation on her face as she is trapped hanging upside down in a ladder. Her arm is outstretched, far too short to reach the championship that Noelle Smith would take away from her.

Moments later, Noelle Smith has the Mid-Atlantic Legacy championship over her head, and Fujiko’s face tells the story of hurt. Her first championship in FGA, gone almost as quickly as it arrived.

The light is now bright enough to see the light coffee skin and visage of one Tj Jones, former two time PDW champion and Phoenix Wrestling Hall of Famer. He sits there in a blazer and dress pants, studying it intently. After a moment, the footage stops on a wide angle shot: A triumphant Noelle Smith and Fujiko, her arm still outstretched even as the match is over. Tj clears his throat, and then speaks.

Tj Jones: So, FGA officials asked me to come here to speak about Fujiko Mine, the one some consider to be my protege.

Tj chuckles, a hint of bitterness to that.

Tj Jones: I’ve been out of the game so long, I think calling her my protege is a bit silly. But I digress.

He focuses up on the wall.

Tj Jones: There was this wrestler at the dojo where I trained Fujiko. Very charismatic kid. Sergio Alacantra. His motto was ‘work smarter, not harder’. He was the one that convinced Fujiko to approach that battle royal the way she did. The one that gave Fujiko the idea that she ended up using to beat Dante Anglais. It worked for him. She thought it would work for her too.

The footage goes back to Fujiko, holding up the Mid-Atlantic Legacy championship for a few moments, to illustrate his point.

Tj Jones: She was right, initially. She was so proud of the fact that she won a singles championship that she didn’t focus on how she won it.

The footage shows Noelle Smith being interviewed afterwards, the Mid-Atlantic Legacy title now in her grasp.

Tj Jones: The fans could see it though. I remember thinking it wasn’t the play to make. But they saw that she was trying to endear herself to them, by being clever outside of the rules. Fujiko has always been clever.

He sucks at his teeth.

Tj Jones: But the backlash backstage was too much for her to bear. It really broke her down. It became an easy target. Being the one who trained her, I have never doubted once that Fujiko couldn’t wrestle. But it was easy for anyone to point to that and say she couldn’t. After all, they could point to places where she didn’t ‘earn’ the victory the way they felt she should.

He shrugs, looking down at his hands.

Tj Jones: So she changed it up. She began climbing the ladder the ‘right’ way, but keeping that clever nature. She switched it up, employing a style that showed that she could wrestle.

A close up of his face now, illuminated by the ambient light.

Tj Jones: Didn’t stop Tony Carmine and others disparaging her. Didn’t stop others from doubting her.

The camera view switches to show the wall again, this time Fujiko is using the ropes for leverage as she is being handed the FGA Pride title. She’s just defeated Johnny Karma at All-Star Showdown V. A quick glance back at Tj to show his smile. The view stays on a slow motion retelling of Fujiko’s celebration as Tj speaks.

Tj Jones: That was quite a moment. She finally did things ‘the right way’. She pinned Johnny Karma twice to win that title. She wanted to prove she’d be a fighting champion. She campaigned to defend it against anyone. FGA officials allowed her to take the title to SSWA, where she became one of the few to ever defend an FGA title outside of the company. She might be the only one to do so.

The projection shows Fujiko holding up the Pride title, with an SSWA banner in the background.

Tj Jones: That wasn’t enough. People tried to disparage her for that. They didn’t know what was going on in the background.

Quick cut to Tj’s face, where the smile has departed. Switch cut back the smile on Fujiko’s face. The color slowly drains from the scene.

Tj Jones: Fujiko’s told this story before, but no one really listened. To them, it was an excuse. But she was losing her mother. She was keeping that strong front up the entire time, but after she lost to Molly Reid, it was too much. To the detractors, she ‘ran’ away.

A pause. The projection quickly shows Molly Reid.

Molly Reid: Black mark? Please. I took the belt from Fujiko, who ran away from FGA in tears the next day. That’s not a champion.

Tj Jones: She took a lot of time to get her head back on straight. And when she did…

The hooded figure hops the guardrail, and jumps onto the apron. Quickly, It leaps onto the top rope, and jumps towards Molly Reid…

Stephy Auger: Molly’s under attack!

Molly ducks out of the ring, but the figure flips forward and lands in the center of the ring in a crouched pose, not landing anywhere close to where Molly was seconds before. Molly turns to face the ring, just as the figure slowly rises to their feet. The figure reaches up and unzips the hoodie slowly. The anticipation builds, and as the disguise comes off; The crowd becomes unglued, realizing who the person standing in the ring is.

Stephy Auger: It’s...oh no…

Kris Cruise: It’s Fujiko! Fujiko Mine is here!

True to his words, The hoodie is discarded and all the spotlights are focused on Fujiko, who grins widely as she stares at Molly Reid. Molly appears shocked as Fujiko poses in the middle of the ring.

The projection freezes on that grin of Fujiko’s. We get a shot from behind Tj, of him looking up at her face.

Tj Jones: But of course, that was downplayed. But Fujiko did what she’s come to be known to do...defy those odds. She took beatdowns, backhanded compliments, and her peers underestimating her at every turn.

The projector switches to Fujiko’s title defense against Tyler Storm, where Ken Griffey Jr. accompanies her down to the ring for her entrance, the entire crowd waving their arms in unison to her entrance.

Tj Jones: She’s always been creative, like I said.

Fujiko’s grin shines through in the footage.

Tj Jones: But even that was punished. Complaints about her ‘overshadowing’ her opponents were levied. People who had no business calling Fujiko’s, by this point, long standing reputation of honor were now trying to call it into question.

Another cut to show Tj’s disappointed expression. The projection switches to Fujiko quickly defeating Chris Madison, Tyler Storm, Seth Iser, and Ricky Valero in Pride Rules matches.

Tj Jones: Whether it’s Lady Luck, the Inescapable Goddess, FGA’s greatest survivor, or the Apex Goddess, Fujiko has always been doubted. She’s always been downplayed. She’s adapted, and found ways to push past any limits put on her. When people said she’d never be a champion, she found a way. When people said she couldn’t wrestle, she won the title that’s all about wrestling...twice. When people said she’d never be a top champion, she won it and held it for over four hundred days. The bottom line is that all of Fujiko’s detractors have always demanded that she fit what they want her to. They want her to fit into their designated box. They want her to be a wrestler, less loud, to continue to pay for what she did almost a decade ago. You know who hasn’t made those demands of her?

The projector, answering Tj’s question, shows various images of fans wearing Fujiko attire, or holding up signs referencing her. The last shot that the projector shows is the crowd at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, yelling at full throat as Fujiko, tears streaming down her face, raises the FGA World Championship for the very first time.

Tj Jones: Because they know, without a shadow of a doubt, that she does this for them. She fights for them. They have been there for her, and so she is there for them. They’ve loved her for who she is, just like a family.

A close-up on Fujiko’s elated face does a match cut to Fujiko’s last match as FGA champion, where she holds the title up over her head in the exact same manner she did the first time she held it. The image washes out a bit as the lights in the room Tj’s been in turn on. With a short nod, he heaves himself forward out of the chair and into a fully standing position.

Tj Jones: So I’d actually like to agree with Cordelia Stevenson.

He places a hand on the chair he has been sitting in.

Tj Jones: Fujiko is FGA’s Golden Girl. But not in the way Cordy thinks she is. Fujiko won the grand slam in FGA. She’s made her name in FGA. When FGA calls for her, she answers that call. She’s given her all for this company. Set records, became the only back-to-back wrestler of the year in FGA. She loves this company. She loves wrestling ...not in FGA, but for FGA. And it’s not because of some bullshit like FGA’s given her an unfair advantage, like Cordy is suggesting. Because anyone paying attention knows that Fujiko loved FGA long before it decided to love her back. Fujiko is FGA’s golden girl because she lives and breathes this company. Not for herself, but for those fans.

Tj lets his hand drift back to his side, and he separates himself from it.

Tj Jones: Do you know why the fans have supported her through everything? Fujiko Mine is the most completely human thing to ever happen to FGA, point-blank-period. And I’m biased, naturally. I trained her to wrestle. But what she’s become: that’s been all her. She pushes herself harder than anyone on the roster, and she’s not going to leave it all in the ring. If you ask me? She’s your next FGA Undisputed champion.

Tj gives his trademark smirk, the same one that Fujiko has adopted, and breaks eye contact with the camera. He moves out of the shot, and a muffled closing of the door signals a transition back to ringside.

[FGA Office]

The camera fades to Jessie Pederson, who is standing by in front of the green and black Vertigo backdrop.

Jessie Pederson: Jessie Pederson here and joining me at this time is none other than one of the participants in this year's Gold Rush Rumble, Chandler Scott.

The announcement of Chandler's name is met with a roar of cheers from the (limited) capacity crowd. Chandler steps into the shot and greets Jessie with a smile.

Chandler Scott: Jessie, Jessie, Jessie. After all this time, you still are a sight for sore eyes.

Jessie tries maintain a professional demeanor. But the compliment gets her to blush lightly.

Jessie Pederson: Thank you, Chandler!

Pause

Rewind

Jessie Pederson: Thank you, Chandler!

Pause

Rewind

Jessie Pederson: Thank you, Chandler!

Pause

Rewind

Jessie Pederson: Thank you…

Stop

Nothingness

Just a blank, silent screen

Voiceover: Now where have I heard that before?

We cut to see John Carmichael sat on his living room couch, elbows on his knees so he can prop his chin up on the back of his folded hands, and the looks on his face is somewhere between disgust and disappointment

John Carmichael: Somebody should have warned me that, when I was making mincemeat out of Olé Anderson, the reality of the situation was what I was doing was far less important than seeing this company’s sentient microphone stand gushing over the latest in a long line of returns from Chandler Scott, because as we all know what’s the real highlight of any show

The roll of Carmichael’s eyes threatens to send the earth’s rotation off its scale

John Carmichael: And that’s what the Chandler Scott Cycle involves: he decides that his ego hasn’t been massaged enough recently so he makes a call to the relevant people, the red carpet gets rolled out for him, and then he just walks straight past the line of people who have broken their backs trying to get a couple of broken fingers onto the next rung of the ladder where the velvet rope is opened and he’s allowed to walk right past everybody else without even having to click his fingers to get what he wants

To demonstrate, Carmichael clicks his fingers and at that point he’s greeted with…nothing. Absolutely nothing, just dead air in a room where he’s sat ad there isn’t a single message tone from his phone

John Carmichael: But don’t take my word for it, let’s hear it straight from the horse’s mouth

Chandler Scott: We've all been trying to come up with the next phase in our plan to make sure Cordy doesn't make it out of Only the Strong Survive as the Undisputed Champion…

John Carmichael: Oh gee, Chandler, I wonder what you plan might be?

In spite his comment dripping with so much sarcasm that it’s a potential danger to the people of Hillcrest to have that much moisture land in their neighbourhood in a short space of time, the look on Karma’s face makes it plain that he isn’t playing it for laughs

John Carmichael: And, of course, I speak from experience about the Chandler Scott Cycle, as I’ve been chewed up and spat out by it in the past, and all to the sound of people cheering the part-time egotist without realising that maybe there is something wrong with what they’re enabling. Or had that slipped your memories? After all, many years back I was on the ladder, barely getting my broken fingers on the rung above me as I was hauling myself away from the opening match of the night to my first ever shot at this company’s biggest title and it didn’t matter that I had countless people grabbing hold on my leg, I had pulled myself that little bit higher than the rest. And yet what did I see? A limousine drive past, the red carpet waiting at the front of the line, and the velvet rope opened when Chandler Scott deigned to step out and pass everyone else by, and by complete coincidence he would up walking out that night with the title while the people who had spent days, weeks, months, years pulling themselves up got left behind while the guy who had to do three weeks work tops got what he wanted

As he says the last part, Carmichael’s voice wavers just a little bit, making it abundantly clear that it still hurts that the first time he got to challenge for the title he not only didn’t win, but was laid out at ringside when the match reached its conclusion

John Carmichael: And that just. Keeps. Happening. Go ahead, rack those brains of yours, and ask yourself how many times you’ve seen Chandler Scott come in, get what he wants, then get the hell out as soon as he gets bored. You think this is the first time since what I just mentioned? Because it’s not, and that is the problem: you think that Chandler Scott is somebody who cares about this company because he shows up for a few months every couple of years, but he isn’t. He’s somebody who cares about Chandler Scott, which is why he only shows up for a few months every couple of years to get what he wants and then gets out of Dodge as soon as somebody has the sheer nerve to win the title off of him. That is the Chandler Scott Cycle

With a shake of the head, Carmichael continues

John Carmichael: And the cycle needs to end. Because remember what he said earlier?

Chandler Scott: We've all been trying to come up with the next phase in our plan to make sure Cordy doesn't make it out of Only the Strong Survive as the Undisputed Champion…

John Carmichael: Ask yourself: if Chandler is so confident in his charges, why has he made such a big song and dance out of being in the Gold Rush Rumble? I’ll tell you why: because he wants his charges to fail, because that opens up the door for him to be the conquering hero that he wants you to think he is, and you just keep on falling for it don't you? Just like you were gullible enough to fall for Izzy Anders’ claims that she was a better person and not some selfish, vindictive hur that would gladly step on your throats if it got her what she wanted. So tell me, do you still believe that your precious Izzy Anders is what you made her out to be, or have you realised that I was right all along and you were living a lie?

There’s a long gap of silence as Carmichael gives a stern look right down the camera lens, because he knows that he’s right and has the scars to prove it

John Carmichael: So when I sit here and tell you that Chandler Scott is using you to massage his own ego, and the fact is that you have been letting him do so for years, consider the fact that I may have a better understanding of what is going on than you do with your finger hovering over the “Dislike” button

Without a hint of irony, Carmichael shakes his finger

John Carmichael: And don’t you for a second think that I’m all talk just because Izzy Anders got one over me, because it’s not like she’s the only false idol of yours that I have focused on lately. Or have you already forgotten about Evan Envi?

A beat

John Carmichael: Actually, it wouldn’t surprise me if you had already forgotten about Evan Envi considering he’s not out here every single week basking in your misplaced adoration, although for those of you with long memories you might also remember why Evan Envi is not here on a weekly basis

Another beat

John Carmichael: It’s because I made sure that he wouldn’t be

Carmichael greets this fact with a simple shrug

John Carmichael: But let’s talk about this idea of Chandler Scott you have in your minds, one that not just the fans but everyone in this company from the higher-ups to the interns in the merch department are keep to enshrine deep within the deepest recesses of your minds so you are guaranteed to cheer when he decides it’s time to top up the pension once more. You and I and everyone else with a passing understanding of this company knows what he calls himself: The DNA of F…

Carmichael gives a sideways glance to the camera, letting them wonder if he’s going to say a G or a W…and then doesn’t say either

John Carmichael: …and that is what crystallises the idea that he’s some integral part of this company. He’s the DNA, after all, you sort of need that. But is he though? Because let’s look at this from another angle, namely what do you call something that comes barrelling in like a freight train that’s on fire, goes straight for the thing it wants and takes control of it, and remains in control until it is finally beaten at which point it swiftly leaves. That doesn’t sound like DNA to me, but you know what that does sound remarkably similar to? Those sound exactly like the properties of a virus, and that is what Chandler Scott is. An infection. A disease. Something which only causes harm to the system and needs to be flushed out, and this company is riddled with sickness every single time it’s Chandler Scott season as their immunity is non-existent

Taking a deep breath through the nose, Carmichael leans that little bit closer towards the camera

John Carmichael: Well maybe it’s time for that to change, because wouldn’t it be better for everybody in this company if Chandler Scott knocked on the door and asked for his biennial title shot he didn’t earn only to be told there’s a queue that he can stand at the back of? It’s a very simple change in the way of this company’s thinking, but nobody dares suggest it…until now. But there’s one way that’s guaranteed to get Chandler Scott takes his rightful place behind the people who have spent days, weeks, months, years trying to shake off the hands grabbing at their ankles when they attempt to pull themselves up the ladder, and that’s to send him there by force, and all that takes is his assumption he can take the Gold Rush Rumble by virtue of stepping into the ring being exposed as the arrogant posturing of a very small man with a very high opinion of himself. So look over your shoulder in the Rumble, Chandler, because at some point you will see my hand on your shoulder and you will realise it’s time for you to head to the back of the line, and when that happens we’ll see you flushed out of this company like the virus you are without having to endure the sickness you constantly infect it with.

[FGA Office]

SIX MAN TAG TEAM MATCH
Nina Stokes, Silk & Cyanide
vs.
Owen Gonsalves, Renegades of Funk

It’s not my fault your girlfriend likes me,
I do her hard like fucking warp speed,
Your Dad’s mad, it’s not my fucking fault,
That your Mom wants to fucking fuck me!

As the intro to “You Suck” by Pour Habit blasts throughout the arena, out from the back bursts Cassius Reed! Slowly rotating in his gold lined black ring robe Cassius soaks in the atmosphere for just a moment. Spinning to face the ring, he shadow boxes at the top of the ramp a short time more, before posing, spreading his arms wide, and sprinting down to the ring at full pace!

J.A. Aldridge: The following Six Man Tag Team contest is scheduled for one fall! Introducing team number one! First, fighting out of Funkytown, USA and tipping the scales tonight at 205 pounds! He is one half of the reigning FGA World Tag Team Champions… CASSIUS! REED!

Sliding in under the bottom rope, he quickly rolls onto his back before kipping up! Giving a quick smirk and raised eyebrow to the referee, he turns and leaps to the top of the nearest turnbuckle, before whipping off his ring robe with a flourish. He poses just a moment at the top of the turnbuckle, smug grin on his face, robe hanging from his hand, before dropping back to the mat, consigning his entrance gear to the outside whilst he finishes warming up for the match with more shadow boxing.

♫ Step into a world (Klaka klaka, klaka klaka!)
Where there's no one left (Buku, buku! Alla de massive!)
But the very best (Klaka, bo bo, BDP crew, bo bo bo bo!)
No MC can test [*cut and scratch of KRS saying "but one"*] ♫

The beat kicks in as "Step Into a World (Rapture’s Delight)" starts to knock through the speakers. Out through the curtain steps TJ Techniques, clad in his ring attire and hooded vest. TJ peeks out underneath the hood as he looks out to the right. He does the same to his left before flinging the hood back, smacking his chest twice and pointing down in front of him with his forefingers. TJ nods his head as he makes his way down the ramp with purpose.

J.A. Aldridge: His partner, hailing from Staten Island, New York! Weighing in at 188 pounds! He is one half of the reigning FGA World Tag Team Champions! He is “The Funky Technician” TJ TECHNIQUES!

TJ leaps to the apron before stepping into the squared circle. He makes a beeline towards the far corner and hops up to the middle ropes. TJ scans the crowd before slapping his chest twice and pointing down in front of him with his fingers. He hops down from the corner, walks across the ring and hops to the middle ropes and scans the corner. TJ slaps his chest twice before pointing down in front of him with his forefingers. He then hops down and takes off the hooded vest before tossing it to the outside. TJ tugs away at the top rope as he readies himself for the start of the match.

Stephy Auger: The least he could do was come out with Cassius Reed. But his ego is still too big. He clearly hasn’t humbled himself.

Kris Cruise: What on Earth are you even talking about? TJ Techniques was the one that constantly put his hand out for a handshake and showed respect to Cassius, even though Cassius disrespected him at every turn. It was actually Cassius who had to be convinced to do this team. But I will admit that to Cassius’ credit, he’s put his own ego to the side for the sake of this team. We all know how much Cassius hates tag teams. But thus far, him and TJ have made this work. They’ve yet to taste defeat in tag team competition and that’s a trend neither plan on ending tonight.

Stephy Auger: Well it’s not up to them, so too bad! Silk & Cyanide are going to stop them tonight, just like they’re going to stop them at Only the Strong Survive. Mark it down!

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'

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.

J.A. Aldridge: Their partner, hailing from Melbourne, Australia! Weighing in at 205 pounds! Being referred to tonight as “Funk Sinatra” OWEN GONSALVES!

'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 has a huge night ahead of him at only the Strong Survive. Not only is he competing in the Gold Rush Rumble, but earlier in the night, he’ll be challenging Night Stokes for the United States Championship. Has The Kodiak met her match in the form of Wristlock Sinatara?

Stephy Auger: Don’t make me laugh, Cruise. Look, Gonsalves is a nice little technical wrestler with a couple of cute moves. But he’s not seeing Nina Stokes on the ground and on the feet. If he wants to keep it standing, she’ll knock his lights out. If he wants to take it to the mat, she’ll tap him out. I hope all of these idiots have taken in this return of Gonsalves because this return is going to come to an abrupt end at Only the Strong Survive. Nina’s going to wipe the mat with him so bad that he’ll run right out of this company just like he did before. Gonsalves saw Seth Iser don that mask years ago, ran straight for the exit and never looked back. When he looks across the right and stares into the eyes of The Kodiak on pay per view, he’ll run for the exits again like the coward that he is. Then he can join that other coward Ace Watson on the sidelines. Now that I think about it, the only one with any balls in SHOOTCAMP was that stupid dog, Tuck.

Kris Cruise: Alright that’s enough, Stephy!

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, with Mariani looking towards the ring in disgust while Mason looks as if she's waiting for any excuse to start a fight

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 await them

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 looks down upon Her opponent 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

J.A. Aldridge: Their opponents! First, making their way to the ring at a total combined weight of 248 pounds! They are the team of Erin Mariani and Sara Mason… SILK & CYANIDE!

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 gestures towards the opponents, daring them to come a little closer to see what will happen, while Mariani 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.

Stephy Auger: You see that, Cruise? You’re looking at the uncrowned Tag Team Champions. Pendragon never beat them in a two on two tag and they were never given their rightful rematch. Instead, Pendragon iced the belts for three months before finally vacating them. I don’t hold that against Gareth. We all know it was Lowri’s idea.

Kris Cruise: It was a group deci-

Stephy Auger: It was Lowri’s idea and we all know it! I’m getting off track. Back to Silk & Cyanide! Sara Mason and Erin Mariani are tired of getting the screws put to them for months. Years, even! So they took matters into their own hands last week. At Only the Strong Survive, the fates of the Renegades of Funk lay in the hands of The Divine Duo.

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.

J.A. Aldridge: Their partner, hailing from Miami, Florida! She is the reigning FGA United States Champion… NINA STOKES!

Stephy Auger: You know, that US Title looks like garbage but Nina looks like a million bucks!

Kris Cruise: Yeah, well, the reason the US Title is in the condition that it’s in is because of Nina Stokes’ treatment of it. She’s spent the better part of two reigns dragging, tossing, dropping, kicking, throwing and chucking that title all around with reckless abandon. I can tell you one thing. If Owen wins that belt, it’ll be the first time in a long time that someone will carry it with the respect that it deserves!

Stephy Auger: Oh? Are you saying that Nina doesn’t carry that title like a champion should? Are you saying that she doesn’t respect the belt? I dare you to go over there and say that to her. Watch what happens to you, Cruise. You’ll get dropped quick, fast and in a hurry, just like Boston Crab Bette Midler over there.

Kris Cruise: His nickname is Wristlock Sinatara.

Stephy Auger: Oh who cares, Cruise? If I want to hear about wristlocks, I’ll go find Tapp Wrestling! Now that’s a man that knows how to apply a wristlock!

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. The referee goes to grab it until Nina quickly chucks it over her head, sending it sailing to the outside and crashing to the floor. Gonsalves just looks on with a shake of the head. Nina pulls on the ropes and stretches before she lounges in the corner and waits for the start of the match.

Stokes and Gonsalves elect to start things off for their respective sides.

Stephy Auger: Well, well, well. It looks like Owen doesn’t want to wait until the pay per view to get shown up!

Kris Cruise: I beg your pardon?

The United States Champion and her number one contender stare each other down from opposite corners. The crowd continues to buzz with anticipation before showing their support for the Wristlock Sinatra.

LET’S GO, OWEN!
*CLAP-CLAP, CLAP-CLAP-CLAP*

LET’S GO, OWEN!
*CLAP-CLAP, CLAP-CLAP-CLAP*

LET’S GO, OWEN!
*CLAP-CLAP, CLAP-CLAP-CLAP*

Kris Cruise: Listen to this crowd!

Stephy Auger: This doesn’t impress me, Cruise. These people are so starved to see live action, they’ll cheer ayone. You could put Kyle Ohio out here and they’d probably cheer him, too!

Gonsalves points across the ring at Stokes before pointing back out to the crowd. The Kodiak doesn’t look even remotely bothered by the chants. Stokes and Gonsalves motions to head out of their respective corners to lock up. That is, until Cassius Reed reaches over the top rope and tags himself in.

“BOOOOOOOOOOO!”

Kris Cruise: Oh come on!

Stephy Auger: Would you look at that? First, Cassius saves TJ’s flailing FGA career by being gracious enough to tag with him. Here, Cassius clearly sees that Gonsalves is outmatched. So he tags himself to save Gonsalves from getting embarrassed. You really have to appreciate how selfless The Funky Dragon is!

Kris Cruise: ...

Reed steps into the ring before shooing Gonsalves out of his way. Gonsalves is trying to explain to Reed that he wants to lock up with Stokes. But the Funky Dragon doesn’t want to hear any of it and simply puts his hand in Gonsalves’s face.

Stephy Auger: That’s right, Cassius. Talk to the hand, Owen!

Gonsalves just shakes his head before stepping back out to the apron. He turns to Techniques and motions over towards Reed. Techniques shrugs his shoulders and lets Gonsalves know that that’s just how Reed is sometimes. Back in the ring, the two Renati Brand athletes circle the ring before locking up. Reed gains the advantage with a side headlock. He then performs a standing switch as he transitions into a hammerlock from behind. Stokes wastes little time spinning and reversing into a hammerlock of her own. Reed then leans forward before spinning out and reversing into another hammerlock. The Funky Dragon remains in control until The Kodiak catches him with a back elbow to the face with her free arm. She then reaches back and puts Reed in a side headlock before getting pushed off into the ropes. When Stokes returns, Reed knocks her down with a shoulder block. He then turns and hits the ropes. As Reed returns, Stokes turns over into the prone position. Instead of hopping over her to continue running the ropes, Reed stops and counters with a leg drop across the back of the neck. He then pulls Stokes over and makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
Stokes kicks out.

Stephy Auger: Not even a two count!

Reed takes Stokes, moves her into the corner and hits a European Uppercut. The Funky Dragon connects with another European Uppercut. He then goes to work on the US Champ with rights and lefts to the body before socking her with a left hook. Stokes is then whipped into the far corner. Reed runs across the ring to attack, but Stokes catches him with a back elbow to the face. She then switches spots with Reed in the corner before unleashing a palm strike flurry. Reed gets doubled over with a rolling solebutt before a snapmare brings him out of the corner. Stokes nails him with a hard kick to the back that echoes throughout the arena. After a shoot kick to the face flattens Reed on the mat, Stokes backs up into the ropes, comes back and hits him with a delayed knee drop. She turns over into the lateral press.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Reed kicks out.

Stokes takes Reed and whips him into the ropes. Reed comes off the ropes before Stokes knocks him off his feet with a running shoot kick. The Kodiak heads into another set of ropes, comes back and delivers a jumping senton. The boos continue as Stokes gets back to her feet and squashes Reed with a second jumping senton. Stokes returns to a vertical base and stares right over at Gonsalves. She keeps eye contact with her challenger before leaping into the air and crashing down hard across Reed with a third jumping senton. She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Reed gets the shoulder up.

Stephy Auger: That’s right! You’re looking at your future, Owen!

Stokes returns to her feet before kicking Reed across the ring. The crowd boos as Stokes continues to kick Reed over towards his corner before backing up.

Stephy Auger: Nina’s had enough of Cassius Reed, so she’s offering him up to see which one of his partners are brave enough to test The Kodiak.

Reed reaches his arm up for the tag. Gonsalves then reaches down and accepts the tag.

Kris Cruise: Here we go!

Stephy Auger: Watch yourself, Owen. If you try and take liberties with Nina, you might not even make it to Only the Strong Survive!

Gonsalves keeps his eyes locked on Stokes as he slowly enters through the ropes.

Stokes and Gonsalves proceed to circle the ring until Sara Mason reaches over the tags herself in.

“BOOOOOOOOOO!”

Kris Cruise: Oh come on! We all wanted to see it!

Stephy Auger: Yeah! We all wanted to see Nina knee Owen’s head right off his shoulders!

Kris Cruise: ...

The boos continue as Mason steps in through the ropes. Stokes and Mason stare each other down until the ref goes over and motions for Stokes to exit out to the apron. The Kodiak reluctantly leaves for the apron. Back in the ring, Gonsalves and Mason lock up. After jockeying for position, Mason gains the advantage with a side headlock. Gonsalves then reaches up, latches onto her right wrist and slowly pulls her arm from around his neck. The crowd cheers when Gonsalves reverses into an arm wrench. Gonsalves delivers a second arm wrench, then a third. After a fourth arm wrench, Mason quickly reaches over and reverses into an arm wrench of her arm. The boos continue as Mason hits Gonsalves with repeated clubbing strikes across the shoulder before trying to yank the arm from out of its socket. Gonsalves is asked if he wants to give up. After refusing, he rolls forward, bridges back, spins over onto his knees, flips over with a headstand, spins in place, reverses into a hammerlock, spins Mason towards him and finishes up by bringing her down with a side headlock takedown. Gonsalves is met with cheers from the crowd as he keeps the headlock applied.

Kris Cruise: Just like that, Owen regains control of this match.

Stephy Auger: Not bad. It’s nothing that like of Tapp Wrestling, Laura Perelli and others can’t do. Far more impressively, might I add! But not too shabby.

The ref gets down and asks Mason if she wants to give up. When she refuses, Gonsalves keeps his left arm wrapped under Mason’s neck while reaching over with his right arm. After grabbing Mason’s right wrist, Gonsalves takes the arm and slowly bends it at 90 degrees. He then releases the grounded side headlock to control Mason’s arm with both hands. After placing Mason’s palm down on the mat, he quickly leaps up and delivers a pointed elbow stomp!


Stephy Auger: AH!

Kris Cruise: That’ll hurt!

Gonsalves drops back down as Mason turns away from him to guard her arm. He reaches around her back and wrestles the right arm away from him. He then presses his knee across Mason’s back to put her down into a prone position. She’s then asked if she wants to give up after being placed in a grounded hammerlock. When Mason refuses, Gonsalves delivers a handstand into a falling knee drop to the arm. Gonsalves continues to apply pressure as he tries to push her wrist up towards her neck. Mason is asked again if she wants to give up. When Mason refuses, Gonsalves keeps the arm held in the hammerlock position before delivering quick alternating knee drops to the arm. He then pulls Mason back over into the supine position. After bending the right arm at 90 degrees and pressing her palm down against the mat, Gonsalves looks right at Stokes as he leaps back to his feet before delivering a hard shoot kick to the elbow.

Kris Cruise: Good Lord! Did you heard that!?

Stokes continues to stare Gonsalves down. Gonsalves reaches down, pulls Mason back up and wrenches the arm three times before delivering an armbreaker across his shoulder. While Mason staggers over and collapse against the ropes, Gonsalves heads over and tags in TJ Techniques.

Stephy Auger: Great! Here comes Hip Hop Harry!

Kris Cruise: Stop it, Stephy.

Gonsalves takes Mason and whips her into the far ropes. Gonsalves brings her down off the return with a drop toe hold and keeps his legs locked around her while Techniques comes off another set of ropes with a Flashing Elbow to the back. Gonsalves lets go and heads out to the apron while Techniques makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Mason kicks out.

Techniques takes Mason and whips her into the ropes. When she returns, Techniques targets her right arm with an arm drag. Mason returns to her feet before getting thrown back down with another arm drag. Techniques then turns over to a knee and applies an armbar. The ref asks Mason again if she wants to give up. Mason refuses before battling back to a vertical base. She then uses her free arm to move Techniques into the near ropes before pushing him off into the far ropes. The crowd boos when Erin Mariani knees Techniques in the back as he hits the ropes.

Kris Cruise: Oh come on!
Techniques arches his back before turning around and knocking Mariani off the apron with a Shotei!

Stephy Auger: Hey!

Techniques takes a swipe at Stokes, but Stokes ducks before knocking him back with a forearm strike. Techniques stumbles back until Mason brings him down from behind with a running one-handed bulldog. She then reaches up and tags Stokes back in. The Kodiak gets in and swarms Techniques with multiple stomps across the back. She then yanks Techniques up off the mat before pushing him into the corner. From there, Stokes lights him up with multiple shoot kicks across the chest before a boxing forearm strikes send him slumping down in the corner.

Stephy Auger: See? That’s what he gets for trying to take a swipe at The Kodiak! She never even did anything to him!

Stokes proceeds to step back towards the center of the ring. When she stops, she doesn’t turn all the way around. But she peeks over her shoulder to make sure that Gonsalves is watching. The Kodiak then charges forward before squashing Techniques with running double knees in the corner! Mason gets tagged back in. Mason sets up shop in the center of the ring before using her left arm to nail Techniques with the Blood & Black Lace (high speed running back elbow to an opponent sat in the corner)! Mariani is then tagged back in. Mason heads back over towards the center of the ring as Mariani gets in. Mason then runs over towards Mariani, who hip tosses her partner. Mason uses the momentum to squash Techniques with a cannonball senton! Mariani then runs over and bashes Techniques with a running knee strike to the head before applying a foot choke!

Ref: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR! FI-

Mariani reluctantly breaks the choke before tagging Mason back in. She reaches down, grabs Techniques by the wrist and pulls him back to his feet. Mariani leads him out of the corner before delivering a short-arm clothesline. She keeps hold of the arm and rolls Techniques over so the momentum pulls them to a seated position, allowing Mason to flatten him with a sliding clothesline! The boos continue as she makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Techniques gets the shoulder up.

Mariani gets tagged back in. Silk & Cyanide then deliver a double arm wrench before a stereo palm thrusts knock Techniques down. Mason reaches down and grabs a hold of Techniques’ legs before Silk & Cyanide deliver Bad Things (Mason wishbones the opponents legs as Mariani hits a double stomp to the opponent's "midsection")! The boos continue as Mariani makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Techniques gets the shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: Another two count for Silk & Cyanide. TJ Techniques is really getting worked over here.

Stephy Auger: You sound shocked. The only reason the Renegades of Funk even have those titles is because they were lucky enough to enter last in the Tag Team Gauntlet. On a level playing field, Silk & Cyanide outclass them. That’s no disrespect to Cassius, of course. It’s just that his partner drags him down.

Mason gets tagged back in. After she climbs up to the top rope, Silk & Cyanide deliver The Pleasure Principle (Mariani holds the opponent in a front facelock as Mason comes off the top rope to rake the opponent's back) to Techniques! TJ drops down to a knee before Mariani hits the ropes, comes back and knocks him down from behind with a running elbow tackle! The boos continue as Mason motions for a motion splash, only to opt instead of a back kick to the head. She then turns around, kicks Techniques over onto his back and makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Reed dives over and makes the save!

Kris Cruise: Reed with the timely save!

Stephy Auger: That’s right! Did you see the energy in which he made the save!? He nearly dove all the way from the opposite side of the ring! What a partner! Too bad TJ doesn’t deserve him!

Mason turns Techniques over before pulling him into the Implied Consent (camel clutch with a double fishhook)! The crowd boos Mason while the ref gives her to the count of five to release the illegal hold.

Ref: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!

Mason releases the hold before flattening Techniques with a jumping seated senton across the back. She then heads over and tags Stokes back in. The Kodiak reaches over and pulls Techniques back to his feet before taking control of his back. She then runs forward and smashes him into the turnbuckles before throwing out the Chaos Theory (Front Turnbuckle Smash into Back Roll German Suplex)! NO! Techniques rotates, land on his feet, turns towards his corner, rolls forward, leaps over and tags Reed back in!

Kris Cruise: Cassius is in!

Stephy Auger: Here we go!

The Funky Dragon runs over and knocks Stokes down with a Spanish Archer (Bionic Elbow)! Stokes returns to her feet before getting knocked back down with another Spanish Archer! Reed throws out a third, but Stokes ducks. Reed turns around and gets doubled over with a rolling solebutt. Stokes then knocks him upright with a rising knee to the chin before dropping him with the Divine Night (Rolling Elbow)! The boos continue as she makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Reed gets the shoulder up.

Stokes picks up Reed before slowly lifting him up across her shoulders. She’s about to hit a fireman’s carry gutbuster when Reed catches her with an elbow to the side of the head. Another elbow connects. Reed lets off a flurry of elbows to the side of the head before slipping down from behind and hitting an inverted facelock backbreaker.

Instead of going for the pin, The Funky Dragon runs over and knocks Mariani off the apron with a Spanish Archer. The cheers continue when Mason gets knocked to the floor with a Spanish Archer of her troubles.

Kris Cruise: There you go, Cassius!

Reed turns and hits the far ropes. The Funky Dragon picks up speed as he runs back across the ring before bringing Mariani down with a somersault huracanrana to the outside!

NO!

Mason yanks Mariani out of the way, causing Reed to crash on the outside!

Kris Cruise: Cassius just took a hard fall to the outside!

Stephy Auger: GAH!

Techniques rolls himself back into the ring. He then runs across the ring, flips over the top rope and knocks Mason down with a Fosbury Flop!

Kris Cruise: What a maneuver from The Funky Technician!

Back in the ring, Stokes slowly rises back to her feet. When she turns around, the crowd buzzes with anticipation as Gonsalves dramatically steps in through the ropes.

“YES!”
“YES!”
“YES!”
“YES!”

Stokes and Gonsalves continue to stare each other down from across the ring.

Kris Cruise: Business is about to pick up, Stephy!

Stephy Auger: I can’t wait for this! Get him, Nina!

Stokes and Gonsalves run over towards each other!

NO!

The crowd erupts with boos as Mariani yanks Gonsalves down from behind, drags him to the outside and whips him hard into the guardrail!
Stephy Auger: There you go!

Mariani turns and does a double take as Techniques runs down the near ringside area, leaps between the turnbuckles and plants her with a Torpedo DDT!

Stephy Auger: What the hell!?

“THAT WAS AWESOME!”
*CLAP-CLAP, CLAP-CLAP-CLAP*

“THAT WAS AWESOME!”
*CLAP-CLAP, CLAP-CLAP-CLAP*

Back inside, Stokes turns around and sees Reed climbing the turnbuckles. As soon as The Funky Dragon reaches the top, The Kodiak dives over into the corner and pushes his legs out from under him.

“BOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

Reed sits writhing in pain after being crotched on the top turnbuckle.

Kris Cruise: Cassius is in a bad spot here!

Stephy Auger: You think!?


Stokes climbs up to the middle ropes. The crowd gasps when she lifts Reed up onto her shoulders. She then jumps off before bringing him down with an avalanche fireman’s carry gutbuster! After Reed rolls over and slowly gets up to a knee, The Kodiak darts over and nearly knocks his head off with Amidst the Shadow of Sorrows III (Boma Ye Knee Strike)!

ONE!
.
Techniques rolls back in!
.
TWO!
.
Techniques runs over and dives!
.
THREE!

Techniques dive falls short!

The crowd erupts with boos as “Sei to Shi to Kimi” blares throughout the arena.

J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the winners of this bout… NINA STOKES, SARA MASON and ERIN MARIANI!

The boos continue as Stokes gets her arm raised in victory.

Kris Cruise: Nina Stokes picks up the win for her team!

Stephy Auger: It doesn’t surprise me to see Nina win! It doesn’t surprise me to see Silk & Cyanide standing on the victorious side! It also doesn’t surprise me that TJ Techniques left Cassius Reed out to dry! Cassius nearly dove halfway across the ring to make the save! When it was time to return the favor, TJ took his sweet time! How much more ungrateful can you get!?

Kris Cruise: That isn’t even remotely what happened!

Stephy Auger: It is what happened and if the Renegades of Funk lose at Only the Strong Survive, which they will, it will be all TJ’s fault! Did you hear the names that were just announced as the winners? Only the Strong Survive will just be a repeat because Nina, Erin and Sara will be walking out with all the gold on pay per view!

• COMMERCIAL BREAK •

[FGA Office]

"I said I feel invincible..."

The lights dim down and take on a purplish hue as a light smoky mist fills the entrance way. The haunting opening to Pop Smoke’s “Invincible” (The New DNA mix) begins playing.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah..."

As the beat drops, the shapely silhouette of Cordelia Stevenson forms in the midst of the smoke. After a few seconds the Undisputed Champion emerges, greeted by a chorus of boos, although there are a bit more cheers mixed in this time around, due to her close Philadelphia ties. She stops atop the ramp, glancing out at the small capacity crowd and smacks the FGA World Championship that rests on her shoulder. She then smacks the International Heavyweight Championship that rests on her other shoulder, before placing both hands on the Undisputed Championship around her waist. Her head lolls back as she yells out the word “Invincible”. The Champ casually saunters towards the ring, an arrogant smirk plastered on her face as she strolls up the steps. Her entrance into the ring is slow and enticing as she dips through the ropes. With the beat knocking, she playfully bounces across the ring to the music to grab a microphone. As the music dies down, the fans' reaction is even more audible. Cordelia frowns her face up at the response.

Cordelia Stevenson: Yeah, Philly has always rocked with Cordelia Stevenson, so I already know yall are some damn plants that FGA paid to do this. They ain’t slick at all. I’ve done far too much for this damn city for true Philly heads to be acting like that. Just say yall are from DelCo and go.

Naturally that statement doesn’t sit well with those in attendance. Cordelia laughs.

Cordelia Stevenson: Keep it up. This is fun for me to be honest. I can’t get mad at you because quite frankly you just don’t know any better. That’s the reason why someone like Chandler Scott…

The crowd gives a monstrous pop at the mention of the Hall of Famer.

Cordelia Stevenson: Yeah, exactly… that’s the reason why Chandler Scott can give you his ass to kiss and treat you like shit for a good 95% of his career, and you hail him a hero. I feel sorry for you all actually, and I pray that you get better, because this has to be some sort of mental illness.

The chorus of boos grows, as does Cordelia’s smile.

Cordelia Stevenson: Stay mad. Just know that it won’t get any better for you. And Leonard T. Asherman, just know that it won’t get any better for you either. You’re a desperate man and it’s clear that you’re going all in with the worst of hands. For going on damn near two years now, I have been the absolute best in this company. That’s not an opinion. That’s not a debatable statement. It’s a stone cold fact. I’m not even talking about anything I did prior to my return; none of the accomplishments that made me a part of this company’s inaugural Hall of Fame class. From the moment the announcement came out that Cordelia Stevenson would be returning to the ring, the entire world was put on notice. People wondered whether or not I would still have it… that same hunger that made me a winner of the Frontier Lion’s Cup; that same hunger that led me to victory in the Gold Rush Rumble; that same hunger that eventually made me the Undisputed Champion — and from the moment I stepped back into the ring, I provided them with an answer.

Cordelia inhales deeply, taking a moment to run a hand over the International Heavyweight Championship that rests on her shoulder. She then glances at the FGA World Championship that rests around on the opposite shoulder. Her gaze falls to the Undisputed Championship around her waist, and the mere sight of it causes her to smile. She raises the microphone and utters one simple word.

Cordelia Stevenson: Yes.

She runs a hand through her hair as she gazes out at the crowd.

Cordelia Stevenson: I’ve been nothing short of stellar. My success never bred complacency. The time away only reignited the flame. I didn’t come back because I felt I had something to prove. I came back because my love for this business was born anew and I knew that there was still so much that I had to offer. Only a fool would have assumed that my best days were behind me. My past, my entire legacy in this company was but a building block, a stepping stone to what you are witnessing now. Dominance…

Cordelia spins around, her finger pointed out at the audience.

Cordelia Stevenson: Dominance the likes this company has never seen. What I’m doing? What I’ve done since I made my return? It’s unprecedented. No one has had a run like this. Ever. I’ve had no equal, and despite what this company wants you to believe, I still have... no...equal. I’ve given you nothing but excellence time and time again. No matter who was placed in my path, I removed them with relative ease and continued along on my journey to greatness and At Only The Strong Survives? That journey continues. But this isn’t just about me. No, it’s never been just about me. It’s always been about what I could do to make this place better… what I could do to make those around me, my peers… better.

Cordelia vehemently shakes her head.

Cordelia Stevenson: But you people don’t want better. You don’t want those willing to go against the grain. You only want those that will continue to dance and sing along to your little tune; the Fujiko Mines and the Lowri Mosses of the world. That person isn’t me. Not anymore. I’ve liberated myself from the burdens of your opinions and thank God, because you people are truly idiots.

The boos rain down after that statement, which only causes her to shake her head in disgust.

Cordelia Stevenson: And it’s going to be my absolute pleasure to send you all home disappointed at Only The Strong Survives. Because if you’re dumb enough to put your faith in Fujiko Mine against me then yeah, clearly you don’t deserve to be happy. And that’s not to take anything from Fox News at all; she’s a Hall of Famer. She’s earned her stripes and if nothing else, the girl is persistent as all hell. And that’s quite alright with me, because I will persistently beat her ass until she gets it through her thick skull that there are levels to this. Fujiko doesn’t seem to understand that and honestly…

She points out at the crowd.

Cordelia Stevenson: I blame you people. You’re the ones that inflated her ego; gave her a big head and made her think that she’s better than what she is. I blame this company, because they’re filling her head with nonsense and she’s too stupid to see that they’re leading her straight to the slaughterhouse. Well Only The Strong Survives will be her reality check. The truth is her star began to fade the moment I decided to come out of retirement. The company likes her though. They’ve tried their hardest to keep her in the spotlight. She’s easy to control and she has no mind or opinion of her own. She’s the personal puppet of the company and the people. She’s willing to do whatever and say whatever to stay in their… and your good graces.

She motions with her hands.

Cordelia Stevenson: They don’t have to worry about her, because she’s safe. They know that she doesn’t have the heart to rock the boat if necessary. She’s definitely a part of that Go along Get along Gang that Kwame Brown always speaks about. She can talk about all of her main events that the company put her in, but there is absolutely no denying who the true star has been since I returned. When people mention this company, they mention my name. When people speak about this company, they’re speaking about the matches that I’ve put on, my incredible run as champion or how I’m constantly putting someone in their place and serving up the tea. And when that attention is given to me, what do I do with it? Share it with my peers. I’m the reason that this company grows. I’m the New DNA of FGA. Fujiko even said it herself… she’s never been the heart and soul of a company, and the truth is, she never will be because she’s incapable of thinking about anything besides herself. I can tell that she feels that becoming the Undisputed Champion will bring her one step closer to being ‘that person’... it won’t. But I’m not even going to allow her the chance to feel that disappointment in finding out. I am on a mission; a mission to make this company better and bring it towards progress. Can Fujiko say the same? No. All she wants is one more thing to brag about.

"Baddest do, what the baddest do (hey)"
"The baddest do (hey), we the baddest, ooh"
"Baddest do, what the baddest do (hey)"
"The baddest do (hey), we the baddest"

The heavy electronic beat of "The Baddest" kicks in, and the crowd bursts into cheers, knowing who is about to arrive. The thumping beat quickly spreads through the arena, and the crowd gets into the spectacle of audio. The lights in the arena dim, with pink and purple spotlights swirling around the arena.


"Coming at you live, real, real wild
Here to light it up, set the world on fire
Gonna break rules and hearts in twos
'Cause that's what the baddest do"

The secondary lights in the arena bump to the beat, mixing between light & dark.

Stephy Auger: Aww great, here comes Fujiko herself! Haven’t we seen and heard enough of Fujiko for one lifetime?

Never going back, nah, not that
Diamonds on drip 'cause I came to make a splash
Gonna break rules and hearts in twos
'Cause that's what the baddest do (yeah, uh)

As the rap begins, The lights near the entrance ramp go black, and a figure stands there in the darkness. As the beat drops again, The lights all focus on the figure, almost washing them out. After a moment, the lights drop back to a ‘non blinding’ level and Fujiko stands there, The Apex Goddess holds her hands up, pressing the backs of their hands against their forehead in a “crown gesture”.

"I'm doing damage, went just how I planned it
I do what I want when I say (when I say, when I say)
모두 날 따라 해, 난 끝내주잖아
To live on the edge of insane"

Over her ring attire is a shirt that has her "Apex Goddess" logo on it. She twirls a microphone in her hands as she pauses, then begins to walk down to the ring with a purpose.

“FU-JI-KO!”
*CLAP*
“FU-JI-KO!”
*CLAP*
“FU-JI-KO!”
*CLAP*
“FU-JI-KO!”

Fujiko smiles out at the crowd before hopping up on the apron, and she then steps between the ropes.

She turns to face Cordelia, and develops a look of pure disgust. After a moment of her music dying out, she raises the microphone up.

Fujiko Mine: Man, I swear I’ve heard you go on and on with this “I’m not on your level, I blame the fans for gassing up Fujiko, she doesn’t stand a chance, blah blah blah blah blah.

The crowd cheers loudly as Fujiko rolls her eyes at Cordy.

Fujiko Mine: Sorry for the Fujiko overload everyone, but Cordelia talks a lot. So let’s lay this all down for ya, Cordelia. You didn’t ‘call it’ when I posted for Fujiko Friday. I said that it was ‘for the people that remember what it was.’ Which because your windshield is only as far as how it concerns you, you naturally never could acknowledge that. You were one of the people who turned up their nose at it when I started it, because it wasn’t a focus on you, but on everyone.

She shrugs.

Fujiko Mine: And you’ve been trying to convince everyone that you are going to be the one to break me. That you are the one to end the ‘fairy-tale’, that you’re going to prove that you’re not on my level. But the reason that you need to repeat it is because you really need to convince yourself. Because I’ve been believing it myself regardless of who in the back does. This is why I’ve been saying you’re a broken record. Because whether you like it or you don’t, you sound like every other person who has doubted me. And I can point to them and tell them that they’re wrong.

The crowd cheers her words.

Fujiko Mine: And these fans know the score. They know I’m not as selfish as you claim, setting records with Make-a-wish, donating my earnings from the Frontier Lions Cup to charity, and more. But again, none of that matters to you, because you got the same narrative. I’m not good enough, even as I’ve done things you couldn’t. I don’t belong here, even though I’m the only wrestler to win back to back wrestler of the year awards. And remind me, how many of those have you won? And how many of those did I win while you were on the roster?

The crowd ‘Oohs’ cooly. Fujiko can’t hide a sheepish grin.

Fujiko Mine: If going on and on and on about my past, my accomplishments, and my ego if that helps you sleep at night, Cordy. I know you’re holding those championships extra tight these days, even as you disparage me. And I know it’s not because you actually believe the things you’re saying. It’s because you need to distract.

Fujiko’s face falls into more serious territory. She is in a full front facing stance at the champion.

Fujiko Mine: You talk about my star ‘fading’ once you got out of retirement. I think your star faded once you realized you, the ‘great’ Cordy Stevenson, couldn’t beat Lowri Moss without cheating. And I think that’s why you feel the need to just go on and on, not just in front of these fans, but on social media. And people who know nothing about what you’re even talking about will hit that like button...but they can’t fight this battle for you. They can’t be in the ring at Only The Strong Survive. Your words ultimately mean nothing when that bell rings...and when it does, that’s when you learn. That’s when you realize that you could stand in the middle of Times square from now until our match and tell everyone that I’m not in your league. But when the match starts, you don’t know if you can prove that. And you don’t know if you can get the job done.

She shakes her head at Cordy.

Fujiko Mine: And I can say that with full confidence, because if you believed you could, you’d just do it. You’d drop this facade about me being fake and not being on your level and all that. You’d just prove you could beat me. So keep trying to play the great distractor. Like I said, I’m focused on winning the Undisputed title. Because getting you to hear “AND NEW UNDISPUTED CHAMPION” in little under a week is going to be louder than anything else I could possibly say.

Fujiko’s satisfied smirk sweeps across her face as she stands there, little distance between herself and Cordy. Cordelia scrunches up her face and takes a step back.

Cordelia Stevenson: I swear… you have the most selective memory, and the things your mind conjures up are ridiculous. Just like how you somehow remembered Lowri pinning me in that tag match when it was clearly Gareth. Or how even now, you say I turned my nose up at Fujiko Friday when I was one of the few people that got it popping and celebrated it. That, and Shots for Fujiko. Me, Naomi, Sher… but of course you don’t remember that. Of course you don’t remember the times that I actually supported you, how convenient is it for you to completely wipe that all away from your memory. But you know what, that was a long time ago. 2013 was a lifetime ago. You are on the older side, so I won’t hold it against you that your memory isn’t what it used to be. I’d highly recommend getting that checked if I were you. This business is brutal, and you’re clearly showing signs of some long term damage, but…

She quotes with her hands and mocks Fujiko’s voice.

Cordelia Stevenson: these fans know the real, right?

Cordelia laughs.

Cordelia Stevenson: Everything you do is for attention, I swear. The donations, the Make-A-Wish stuff? Why do you always feel the need to publicize it if it comes from the heart? That’s corny to me. If you’re really about the good deeds then you don’t need the attention from it. I’ve donated plenty. My lethal lottery tournament money? All of it was donated. I could go on and on. I’ve given ample amounts of time and have numerous charities, and I don’t need to gloat on it. The world doesn’t need to know that, because it’s not something I do for the public eye. You’re an attention fiend Fuji and it’s ok to admit it. This is exactly what I’m talking about. But believe me, this isn’t the attention that you want. Because my focus is on you. My focus is on retaining this title and my focus is on continuing what I’ve been doing for the past two years… and that is showing that when it comes to this ring? Quite simply my dear, there is no one better. Not you. Not Chandler. Damn sure now Lowri. Not anyone. Because if there was? Well then, you wouldn’t even be here chasing me. I’d have been the one chasing you. My star is fading? Did you not just see what I was able to do against the man that beat you TWICE? I know you don’t pay attention to much besides yourself, but I am the Undisputed Champion for a reason chica. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter. You can bring up Lowri until you’re blue in the face. I can bring up Seth and we can continue to do this song and dance. What matters is what you’re stepping into the ring against at Only The Strong Survives… and you’re not making it out alive.

Fujiko puts up a hand.

Fujiko Mine: Dare you to find where I announced the charity donation. Dare you to find where I’ve talked about Make-A-Wish recently. Because you say that, but also for it to matter to you, it has to be on social media. That’s why I said if it wasn’t in your purview, it didn’t matter. I could publish every private convo I’ve had with friends for you and it still wouldn’t be enough. Because like I said, this isn’t about ‘exposing me’. It’s about your need to to pull the focus away from the match. You’re the egotist, but you need something to bash so you accuse me of it. But I’ll hold your focus, and I’ll happily drop it once I beat you for that title, so you can “Get Familiar” with being a former Undisputed Champion again. I saw what you did to Seth. I also saw the ‘great’ Cordy Stevenson that claims “Lowri isn’t on her level” had to cheat to beat her. I saw the woman who got the honor of Chandler’s last match choose to spit in his face. And I have no doubt in my mind you will try to cheat to beat me too.

Fujiko shakes her head.

Fujiko Mine: Izzy Anders said earlier tonight that this was going to be a generation defining match. I even said when I came out to challenge you that some would call it a dream match. And I know that there are tons of people who believe that...and you aren’t one of them. That’s fine, believe what you wanna believe, but I know that in less than a week, I cannot wait. CAN. NOT. WAIT. to hear what you have to say to the first microphone shoved in your face when you’re looking at them without gold in your hands. You may not tell them the truth that’s sitting in your heart, Cordelia. But your face will tell the story. The story of the woman who threw away the respect because she could not handle someone else getting shine. And the story of how she lost everything because of it.

Cordelia lets out a sigh.

Cordelia Stevenson: Fujiko… my entire career has been about helping others shine. Are you kidding me? I couldn’t handle someone else getting shine? Are we somehow forgetting Cindy Parker? She’s in the damn FGA Hall of Fame… because of me. She found out I was getting enshrined and threw a fit, and low and behold FGA buckled and inducted her as a thank you for saying… thank you for bringing Cordy, and that’s something I’ve told her. It’s something we’ve spoken about. I stayed in a tag team… for years when everyone pushed me to go solo. But I can’t handle someone else getting shine? I’m convinced you just say anything. You really don’t give a damn about whether it makes sense or not, anything to fit your narrative. You’re not the only one that can’t wait chica. I can’t wait to put this all to bed once and for all. All the talk, all the questions… all the back and forth. At Only The Strong Survives, I get to knock that goofy ass grin off your face once and for all.

Fujiko grins widely.

Fujiko Mine: There it is. Not because of Sex Sells. Because of you. And that may have been you before... But that Cordelia is gone. Chandler and Lowri know. She’s long gone. The difference between me and you now is so obvious it hurts. Another thing Izzy said earlier tonight is that I helped her get into the hall of fame. No I didn’t. We did it together. Izzy Anders could have gotten there without me. I just happened to be the one she chose. To you, Cindy Parker needed you. She got there because of you, so you say. I see you, Cordy! Real recognize real, right? Well, these fans know real…

The crowd cheers loudly.

Fujiko Mine: And we don’t recognize you no more…

More ‘oohs’ from the crowd, with some chants for Fujiko smattered in-between.

Cordelia grits her teeth together.

Cordelia Stevenson: You do realize that there was no Sex Sells in FGA right? We had all of one tag match together against The Black Hand and that was it. So, again… you and your revisionist history can go and sit the hell down somewhere. Cindy didn’t have a Hall of Fame career here, that is why they made a whole different wing for her. Pay attention Fuji! This is why you can never be the heart and soul of a company, you know nothing about it! But I’ll tell you what. Maybe you can’t be broken. That’s fine. I’ll be just as happy beating you and sending you on one of your year long soul searching journeys. Anything to not see your face around here anymore.

Cordelia steps up now, her eyes narrowing as she gets into Fujiko’s face. A murmur goes up amongst the crowd as the tension is clearly rising. Fujiko's smirk grows on her face, and she moves the mic in her hands in her mouth at an angle.

Fujiko Mine: I’m gonna say this real slow so that you can hear someone else for a change. I know it’s hard, because you’re just used to hearing yourself. You said that Cindy got into the hall of fame because of you, not because the two of you were in a legendary tag team. And by saying you had a match in FGA, that means there was Sex Sells in FGA. But don’t let that get in your way.
The smile fades, and her eyes narrow as she stares at the champ.

Fujiko Mine: “Year long soul searching journeys”. Now who has revisionist history. You wanna make a move? I’ve been dying for you to do it. Take your best shot, because I guarantee you it won’t be enough.

She flips the microphone away, standing her ground. Though the microphone is gone, reading her lips makes it clear she’s encouraging Cordy to make a move.

Cordelia studies Fujiko for a moment. The crowd is thundering as the Apex Goddess stands her ground. Cordelia looks around as the crowd roars, encouraging the confrontation. Finally she turns her gaze back to Fujiko… and laughs.

Cordelia Stevenson: Fuji, Fuji, Fuji… you’re clearly delusional chica. You know that? Believe me, when I take my best shot… you won’t be getting up.

Cordelia looks as if she’s going to say something else, but then decides against it. She blows a kiss at Fujiko and then drops the microphone. She spins on her heels and takes a step forward as if she’s leaving the ring… when all of a sudden she drives a boot straight to Fujiko’s midsection. The crowd boos as Cordy pulls Fujiko into position for The Allure.

The crowd cheers loudly when Fujiko powers forward, pushing Cordelia backward and separating the two. Cordy steps forward but Fujiko is already in midair. She launches upward with The Bliss, and flashes go off in the crowd. Her foot is inches from Cordelia’s face, but Cordy is able to get her head out of the way in time; She scrambles from striking distance, grabbing her championships and exiting the ring. Fujiko begins tracking Cordelia the second she lands to see where Cordelia has gone to, before she finds her outside of the ring. Cordelia backpedals, her eyes locked on Fujiko. A sinister smile is on her face as she shakes her head no at the former FGA World Champion.

Kris Cruise: Cordelia tried to catch Fujiko unaware, but she almost got a dose of The Bliss for her trouble!

Stephy Auger: Typical Fujiko trying to gain the upper hand! Cordy is right, she hasn’t changed at all!

Fujiko backs towards the center of the ring, allowing Cordelia plenty of grace to re-enter the ring. Cordelia hesitates, briefly considering heading back towards the ring. She takes a step forward before stopping in her tracks. The crowd boos as she opts not to run back into the ring. Cordy blows another kiss and then backpedals up the ramp, her eyes never leaving the Apex Goddess. “The Baddest” rings out to the arena as Fujiko bends her left elbow and lifts up her wrist, then taps it with her right index finger, before doing her crown pose.

Stephy Auger: Cordy isn’t going to give into Fuji-water’s little tantrums! She’s gonna wait until Only The Strong Survive!

Kris Cruise: These two have had a ton to say about each other, but the time for talking is almost over! Fujiko Mine! Cordy Stevenson! The FGA Undisputed Championship! Their next major challenge looms over their head with the Gold Rush Rumble! This match is absolutely a must see! Speaking of the Rumble, in a few short minutes we’re going to be treated to another absolutely must see match! Izzy Anders and Chandler Scott go to war! Winner is number thirty, loser is the first entrant! Coming up next!

• COMMERCIAL BREAK •

[FGA Office]

MAIN EVENT
Chandler Scott vs. Izzy Anders
(Winner receives #30 in the Rumble, loser receives #1)

The hypnotic opening of “Bad Dreams” by Phantogram picks up throughout the arena and the lights fade into a cascade of fuschia and crimson.

♫ Bad dreams never affect me
I'm not afraid of the concrete
Bad dreams never affect me
I'm not afraid of the concrete ♫

As the colors play, the beats becomes harsher and invites Izzy Anders onto the stage. She dances around to the beat of the music until she makes to the center point of the stage. Scanning the arena with that Cheshire grin of hers, Izzy takes her time walking down the ramp. When she does, she does it with an egotistical saunter, knowing that she has the audience wrapped around her finger.

♫ To changing me
(And I believe this happened once before)
To changing me
(And I predict the world will be all gone)
To changing me
(And I can see the same things that you see)
To changing me
(‘Cause I predict the world) ♫

J.A. Aldridge: The following contest, scheduled for one fall, is your main event of the evening! Introducing first, fighting out of Holland, Michigan by way of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada! She is “The Mindkiller” IZZY ANDERS!

Izzy climbs the ring apron, turning her back to the ring to stare at the audience. She shifts down the ropes until she reaches the turnbuckle, ascending it with a delicate air. From there, she reaches methodically for her eyepatch, removing it with flair. She lowers it into her mouth, giving it a playful bite and giving the hard cam a wink. Izzy then scales down the turnbuckle into the ring, taking her coat off. A stagehand receives it in the only way Izzy does, a dramatic fling meant to blanket them in the immense coat. The Mindkiller then takes a seat a little off center of the ring, at the very tip of her corner. She sits there with her legs crossed, staring out to the audience as her song dies out.

Kris Cruise: This will be Izzy Anders’ first match since defeating John Carmichael at last year’s All-Star Showdown IX. Of course, she was scheduled to compete against Cordy Stevenson several weeks back, only for the champion to refuse to wrestle.

Stephy Auger: If I was constantly disrespected, I wouldn’t want to show up to this ungrateful company, either.

Kris Cruise: Nevertheless, tonight, Izzy has a huge opportunity in front of her. It’s the chance to enter at Number 30 in the Gold Rush Rumble. She just has to go through a man she’s never faced one on one, Chandler Scott.

Stephy Auger: We saw what Izzy did with the Number 30 spot last year and that was eliminate herself like an idiot. If anything, she should be forced to enter at Number 1 just for that!

Kris Cruise: Izzy definitely let her emotions get the better of her there. But now that The Mindkiller has put those issues with Carmichael to bed, she’s got her eyes back on that top spot in FGA. This time, without an entourage.

Stephy Auger: Yeah, good luck with that! She only won Dynamic Duos because she rode Fujiko’s coattails! She only won the Undisputed Championship because Savannah Taylor was there to guide the way. Izzy, back on her own? I don’t like her chances.

Kris Cruise: It’s funny. You didn’t mention all of this earlier when Izzy was right out here next to you.

Stephy Auger: ...

The lights dim as the sound of a guitar plays throughout the arena. Multi-colored lasers soon begin to shoot out from the stage. Once their attention has been captured, the crowd turns to the entryway to prepare for the man that's about to walk out. At the 25 second mark, “Animal Ghosts” bursts through the speakers. Chandler Scott steps through the curtain with outstretched arms to a loud ovation from the crowd.

J.A. Aldridge: Her opponent, hailing from Westport, Massachusetts! Weighing in at 225 pounds… CHANDLER SCOTT!

Chandler heads down the ramp with purpose. Once he's reached the aisle of the aisle, he rolls himself into the ring just as the lights come back on. Chandler times his ascension onto the middle ropes with the beginning of the chorus. The crowd sings along with the chorus while Chandler poses with outstretched arms. When the chorus ends, Chandler hops off the middle ropes, turns and lands on his feet. He begins tugging on the top rope as he awaits the opening bell.

Kris Cruise: Chandler Scott announced his return to FGA after being screwed over by Cordy Stevenson at FGA Past vs Present. Tonight, he officially returns to action against Izzy Anders. The stakes are high for these two Hall of Famers. But for Chandler? It is absolutely paramount that he wins here tonight.

Stephy Auger: That’s right. Cordy already put the bounty on his head. Anyone, and I mean anyone, that eliminates him in the Rumble is automatically getting a shot at her title. You don’t even have to win! Just eliminate Chandler! If he doesn’t beat Izzy tonight, then he’s a dead man walking in the Rumble!

The bell sounds as Scott and Anders make their way towards the center of the ring. The crowd buzzes with anticipation as both grapplers stare each other down.

The two exchange some words before their attention turns to the chanting crowd.

“LET’S GO, CHANDLER!”
LET’S GO, IZZY!

“LET’S GO, CHANDLER!”
“LET’S GO, IZZY!”

“LET’S GO, CHANDLER!”
“LET’S GO, IZZY!”

The Mindkiller raises an eyebrow when she hears a slight change in the chants.

“LET’S GO, CHANDLER!”
“LET’S GO, IZZY!”

“LET’S GO, CHANDLER!”
“LET’S GO, IZZY!”

“LET’S GO, CHANDLER!”
“LET’S GO, IZZY!”

Kris Cruise: This crowd is actually cheering for Izzy over Chandler!

Stephy Auger: I never thought I’d see the day.

Scott then places his index finger behind his ear and bends the ear forward.

“LET’S GO, CHANDLER!”
“LET’S GO, IZZY!”

“LET’S GO, CHANDLER!”
“LET’S GO, IZZY!”

“LET’S GO, CHANDLER!”

“LET’S GO, IZZY!”

Kris Cruise: Just like that, they’ve switched their support.

Stephy Auger: See? These fans are fickle.

Scott and Anders share a smirk before stepping back and circling the ring. The two Hall of Famers size each other up before pressing forward. A snug collar-and-elbow follows. After jockeying for position, Scott shoves Anders down to the mat. The Mindkiller quickly scrambles back to her feet. But she gets caught in a side headlock. Scott tries to clamp down on the hold. But before he can, Anders pushes him off into the ropes. The crowd cheers when Scott comes off the return and knocks Anders down with a running shoulder block. Scott stares down at Anders before reaching down and extending his left hand. Anders reaches up to grab the hand until Scott walks off, leaving Anders high and dry. There’s a couple of laughs from the crowd while Scott circles the ring with a smirk. Anders continues to eye Scott from a seated position on the mat through narrowed eyes.

Kris Cruise: Mind games are starting to get played already, Stephy.

Stephy Auger: I’ve only seen one man survive mind games with the Mindkiller and that was Seth Iser. But that wasn’t without casualties. Poor Vincent Moretti...

Anders picks herself back up before marching over towards Scott. The two engage in another collar-and-eblow. After jockeying for position, Scott gains the advantage by placing Anders in another side headlock. He then performs a standing switch before transitioning into a hammerlock. Scott keeps the hammerlock applied until he spins Anders towards him. Scott takes control of the arm again and delivers an arm wrench. After another arm wrench is delivered, Scott places her in a top wristlock. Scott keeps the top wristlock applied until Anders spins out and reverses into a hammerlock. He yells out in pain as Anders pushes his hand up towards his neck. The Mindkiller quickly lets go of the hold before pushing Scott from behind. Scott staggers forward before falling into the ropes. He slowly looks back and sees Anders smirking at him.

Kris Cruise: Who is going to get under whose skin first?

Scott nods before coming off the ropes. He circles Anders before slowly inching in. The Mindkiller readies herself for another lockup. At the last second, Scott pulls back. He then raises his right arm in the air to call for a test of strength. Anders obliges and raises her left hand in the air. She’s about to lock hands with Scott until he pulls down his right hand and raises his left. Anders then goes to lock hands with Scott again until he pulls down the left hand and raises the right back up. The Mindkiller motions to raise her left hand before quickly using the right to send spittle flying out of Scott’s mouth with a Stockton Slap!

Kris Cruise: Hello!

Stephy Auger: She just knocked the taste right out of his mouth! Good! That’s what he gets!

When Scott turns back to Anders, she doubles him over with a boot to the midsection before delivering an arm wrench. Scott reaches over to try and reverse. But he gets cut off with another arm wrench. Anders executes a third arm wrench before trying to yank the arm from out of its socket. Scott continues to double over in pain. The moment he stands back up, he drops to a knee after Anders yanks on his arm again. Scott goes to stand back up before getting dropped to a knee after another yank of the arm. The ref ask Scott if he wnats to give up. When Scott refuses, Anders hooks her left arm around Scott’s before using her right hand to paintbrush the back of his head with slaps. She then lets go before pushing him down to the mat.

Kris Cruise: Izzy’s doing her damndest to get him off his game.

Stephy Auger: I think it’s working.

Scott turns over to a seated position while Anders casually leans against the ropes and motions for him to bring it. He then quickly gets back to his feet. Scott runs over to attack before Anders side steps and drop toe holds him across the middle ropes. The cheers continue as Anders hits the far ropes, comes back across the ring, leaps over the top rope, lands on the floor instead of Scott and knocks him down with another Stockton Slap!

Kris Cruise: Oh, another slap heard round the world from Izzy Anders!

Stephy Auger: I wonder what hurts worse right now, his face or his ego?

Scott rolls over towards the center of the ring. Once Anders slithers back inside, the two grapplers circle the ring before locking up. They jockey for position until Scott starts to move Anders towards the corner. At the last second, Anders pivots and presses Scott up against the turnbuckles. The ref is quick to start a five count.

Ref: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!

Both grapplers make a slow break. Scott keeps his hands up while Anders slowly lets her hands off him. As soon as Scott puts his hands down, Anders feints a right hand before giving Scott a pair of condescending taps to the side of the face.

Kris Cruise: I’m sure he won’t appreciate that.

The Mindkiller steps back towards the center of the ring. Scott slowly makes his way out of the corner before circling the ring. He slowly inches over towards Anders. The Mindkiller is then cut off by surprise when Scott bullrushes her and presses her against the ropes. The ref is quick to start another five count.

Ref: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!

Both grapplers make a slow break. Once Anders puts her hands down, Scott feints a right hand before giving Anders a pair of condescending pats on the head. He then steps back towards the center of the ring. The two once again lock up. This time, Anders gains the advantage with a side headlock. Scott goes to push her off, but Anders hangs on tightly to the side headlock. Scott then catches her with a forearm to the ribs before trying to push her off. Again, Anders stays locked on him. Scott then takes Anders and moves her into the near ropes. He gets a running start before trying to shove her off into the far ropes. The Mindkiller stuffs the escape attempt by dropping to a knee while keeping the side headlock applied. The ref gets down and asks Scott if he wants to give up. When Scott refuses, Anders smacks him across the top of the head to add insult. Scott starts to battle back to his feet. But Anders is quick to bring him down with a side headlock takeover. Scott remains on his back until he reverses with a bridge & roll counter into a pin.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Anders rolls back over. The Mindkiller cinches down on the hold until Scott grabs her and reverses into another bridge & roll counter.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Anders rolls back over.

The Mindkiller slowly pulls Scott back to his feet while still maintaining the side headlock. Scott finally escapes by shoving her off into the ropes. Anders comes back off the ropes before Scott executes a leapfrog. Anders continue to run the ropes. When she returns, Scott brings her down with a drop toe hold. He rolls across Anders’ back and goes for a grounded side headlock, but Anders slips out and reverses into a grounded hammerlock.

Kris Cruise: Nice reversal there from Anders.

Stephy Auger: That arm of his is one huge target. She would be a fool not to continue to go after it.

The ref gets down and asks Scott if he wants to give up. He refuses. So she turns him over to his back before going for a top shoulder lock. The Mindkiller fights for control of the shoulder while Scott tries to fight her off. When Anders commits to trying to pin his shoulder to the mat, he slides his near leg underneath her. He then spins to his right, sending Anders over. The cheers continues as Scott hops around the back of Anders and applies a rear waistlock. The official continues to check on in Anders as she battles back to a vertical base. After catching Scott with two back elbows to the face, Anders performs a standing switch and transitions into another hammerlock before knocking Scott down with the Black Song (hammerlock lariat)! She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Scott kicks out.

Anders pushes Scott back into the prone position before applying another hammerlock. She then reaches over and slowly wrestles away control of the far arm. Once she gets back to her feet, she falls back hard to the mat with a loud thud as she delivers an arm snap! The crowd gasps as Scott immediately cradles the arm while rolling away from Anders.

Kris Cruise: Did you hear that!?

Stephy Auger: I did! Did she break his arm!? Now he’ll really need to win this to come in at Number 30!

The Mindkiller stalks Scott as she pulls himself up in the corner. Anders moves in for an attack when Scott stops her with a boot to the midsection. Anders stands back up before getting doubled over with another boot to the midsection. Scott connects with another kic-NO! The Mindkiller reaches down in time. She catches Scott’s right foot and wags her finger at him before throwing him down with a dragon screw leg whip!

Scott rolls towards the center of the ring and hugs his right leg with his right arm. Anders slowly makes her way out of the corner as she continues to stalk Scott. The Mindkiller proceeds to circle him before giving him light toe kicks to the side of the head. She then reaches down and slowly pulls him back to her feet. The crowd gasps when Scott quickly lifts up Anders’ leg and returns the favor with a dragon screw leg whip of his own!

Kris Cruise: Scott just gave Izzy a taste of her own medicine there.

Anders grabs her knee before trying to get back up. As soon as she gets back to her feet, Scott nails him with a kick to the back of the leg. Anders yells out when Scott hits her with another kick to the leg. He then take a couple of steps back, pushes forward and sends her flipping backwards down to the mat with another kick to the back of the leg. Scott reaches down, pulls Anders back up and whips her into the ropes. Anders rebounds off the ropes before tumbling down to the mat after a basement dropkick to the knee.

Kris Cruise: Scott’s gone after the leg

Stephy Auger: I guess it’s only fair after she went after his arm. Hopefully, they both cripple each other. That’ll make things much easier for the other 28 in the Rumble, no matter where these two fall in the match.

Scott heads over, pulls Anders back to her feet and whips her into the corner. He rushes over to attack until Anders counters with a back elbow to the face. She then tosses Scott into the corner, catches him with a European Uppercut and throws him out of the corner with a dragon screw leg whip. Anders heads over, lifts up Scott’s right leg and delivers a grounded dragon screw leg whip. Scott yells out in pain as he rolls himself over towards the ropes. The Mindkiller reaches over, drags Scott and tries to drag him back towards the center of the ring. But he wisely wraps his left leg around the bottom rope, which forces a rope break.

Ref: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!

Anders reluctantly lets go. She then takes a couple of steps back before Scott slips to the outside. She then pushes forward and heads towards the ropes. Scott then quickly reaches back in, yanks Anders down to the mat and drags her lower body to the outside. The crowd cheers when he delivers a dragon screw leg whip against the apron! Anders yells out in pain as she rolls back over towards the center of the ring.

Kris Cruise: These two have been trading dragon screws back and forth.

Stephy Auger: You know, I was only joking when I said that I hoped they cripple each other. But these two are really going for it! This is great!

Kris Cruise: ...

Scott rolls himself back inside. He limps over towards Anders before grabbing a hold of her. He pulls Anders up off the mat until she catches him with a headbutt to the midsection. Scott remains doubled over until Anders cups his chin with her hand, stands him back up and nails him with a European Uppercut. Scott returns the favor with a European Uppercut of his own. Anders connects with another European Uppercut before Scott fires back with another uppercut of his own. The Mindkiller nails him with a third European Uppercut until the DNA of FGA answers right back with another European Uppercut. Scott then cuts her off with an elbow smash. The cheers grow louder when he catches Anders with another elbow smash. Yet another elbow smash connects until Anders stops him with a stomp to the right knee. She then positions herself next to Scott before bringing him down with a rolling kneebar! Scott yells out in pain as Anders slaps on the kneebar tight!

Kris Cruise: Chandler’s trapped!

Stephy Auger: Yes, Izzy, yes! Snap his leg!

The ref asks Scott if he wants to give up. He refuses by shaking his head. He tries to pull his right leg out. But it’s to no avail. Scott then tries to change the leverage point. So he uses his left foot to push Anders’ left leg up towards her chest. Scott pushes up right behind Anders’ knee for the most leverage while turning his leg with his toes towards the ceiling to disrupt leverage even more. Scott is then met with applause when he pulls his leg free and rolls away from Anders to escape.

Kris Cruise: Chandler escapes the hold!

Stephy Auger: Can he get any more lucky?

Scott tries to pick himself off the mat while Anders marches back over towards him. The crowd cheers when Scott quickly lifts Anders up across his shoulders. Before he can bring her down with a fireman’s carry neckbreaker, Anders counters with a back elbow to the face. Scott is then hit with another back elbow. The Mindkiller starts firing off rapid elbows to the side of the head before slipping down from behind. She then spins Scott over towards her before dropping him with a step-up enzuigiri! The cheers continue as she pushes him over to his back and makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Scott gets his right shoulder up.

Anders picks up Scott and pulls him into a front facelock. After placing his arm across the back of her neck, she lifts him up for a suplex! Scott then slips down from behind. He quickly spins Anders towards him and throws out a right jab. Anders ducks. Scott then throws out a knife edge chop. Anders ducks again. Scott then throws out a quick right jab/right hook combo. Again, Anders ducks. The crowd cheers when she quickly counters with Dirty Dancin (Kick Flurry)! The Mindkiller continues to unleash the kick flurry until Scott catches a leg and throws her down with another dragon screw.

Kris Cruise: Chandler went right back to the leg.

Scott gets to his feet, lifts up Anders’ left leg and delivers a grounded dragon screw. He then pulls Anders back to her feet before whipping her into the corner. Scott runs over to attack until another European Uppercut knocks him back. Anders hoists herself up to the middle ropes before knocking him down with a diving corkscrew European Uppercut! NO! Scott catches her in mid air and counters with a Cradle Backbraker across his left knee. He makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Anders gets the shoulder up.

Scott pulls Anders back up, grabs onto her wrist and delivers an irish whip-followed kitchen sink against the ropes. He keeps a hold of Anders’ wrist as he sends her for the ride into the far ropes before nailing her with another irish whip-followed kitchen sink. Scott then scoops Anders up from the side before bringing her down with a running backbreaker across the left knee. He makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Anders gets the shoulder up.

Scott pulls her back up before bringing her back down with a vertical suplex.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Anders gets the shoulder up.

Scott picks up Anders, scoops her up from the side and delivers a pendulum backbreaker across the left knee. He makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Anders gets the shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: Another two count. Chandler’s taken control of this match now over the past minute or so.

Stephy Auger: He might have control for now. But this isn’t over. Not by a long shot.

Scott takes Anders and pulls her into a front facelock. He teases hooking her near arm to set up the DNA Driver (Bloody Sunday). Instead, he brings her down with a swinging neckbreaker. He then drags Anders over towards the corner before hoisting himself up onto the middle ropes. The crowd cheers when he flips off and crushes Anders with a somersault senton! NO! The crowd cheers when Anders counters by getting her knees up in time. Scott bounces off the knees before rolling over onto his own knees. Scott continues to arch his back in pain until Anders gets in front of him and pulls him down into a Triangle Choke!

Kris Cruise: Izzy’s caught him in another submission!

The crowd buzzes with anticipation as Anders fights for the tap out. The ref asks Scott if he wants to give up. He does’t answer. The ref asks him again if he wants to give up. Still no response. The ref asks him a third time. There’s gasps amongst the cheers when the fans see Scott raise his arm in the air.

Stephy Auger: He’s about to give up, Cruise!

Scott motions to tap out on Anders’ thigh, only to refuse by wagging his finger at the official. He then grabs a hold of Anders’ leg and pushes up. He counters the hold by pinning her shoulders to the mat with a stacked pin!

ONE!
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TWO!
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Anders lets go of the hold.

Both grapplers scramble back to their feet. The Mindkiller strikes first with another stomp to the right knee. She then goes to lift Scott up onto her shoulders with a fireman’s carry. But Scott leaves her doubled over with an elbow across the back of the head. He then tries for another vertical suplex. Anders slips down from behind. She then quickly hooks both of Scott’s arms for a snap Tiger Suplex. Scott then forcefully swings his arms down, breaking Anders’ grip. He quickly catches her with a back elbow to the face, performs a standing switch and throws Anders down with a belly to back! He turns over and makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Anders gets her foot on the bottom rope.

Kris Cruise: Good ring awareness there from The Mindkiller.

Scott takes Anders and whips her hard into the corner. The Mindkiller staggers out of the corner until Scott grabs her. He sets up for an Exploder Suplex when she counters with a back elbow to the side of the head. Another elbow connects. Anders then fires off multiple elbows until Scott lets go. She then throws out a Stockton Slap. Scott ducks and counters with a right jab. Anders takes another swipe at Scott. This time, with a right hook. Again, he ducks. This time, he counters with a knife edge chop, followed by a right jab. Anders gets countered with another chop followed by a right jab. The crowd cheers as Scott fires off alternating chops and jabs until he doubles her over with an elbow smash. Scott then pulls her into a standing headscissors, lifts her up and plants her with a spinning piledriver! He makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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T-NO!

Anders gst the shoulder up.

Scott takes Anders, grabs her by the wrist and delivers another irish whip-followed kitchen sink against the ropes. He then pulls Anders off the ropes, lifts her up across his shoulders and brings her down with a fireman’s carry neckbreaker. Anders remains in a seated position on the mat as Scott hits the near ropes, comes back and brings her down with a rolling neck snap. He makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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T-NO!

Anders gets the shoulder up.

Scott pulls Anders back to her feet. After bending her left leg at 90 degrees, Scott lifts her up, delivers a shin breaker and follows up with a standing dragon screw. He then lifts up the left leg before delivering another grounded dragon screw. Scott returns to his feet, takes the left leg and delivers a rolling neck snap! Anders clutches her left leg until Scott takes control of the leg and turns her onto into a single leg crab.

Kris Cruise: Chandler’s got her in the half crab!

Stephy Auger: You know he’d love to make Izzy tap out right here!


The crowd cheers while Anders yells out in pain. The ref gets down and asks Anders if she wants to give up. When Anders refuses, Scott pulls back on the leg.

Kris Cruise: Chandler’s applying more pressure on the leg. He’s worked over that leg multiple times earlier in the match to set this up. Can Izzy Anders withstand the pain and make it to the ropes? Can she find a way to reverse this hold?

Stephy Auger: In short, NO!

Scott keeps the hold applied with hopes of getting the submission. The official continues to check in with Anders and asks her if she wants to give up. Again, Anders refuses. So Scott pulls back on the leg again. Anders tries to reverse. But it’s to no avail. Scott can be heard yelling at Anders to tap. Anders quickly yells back, “NO!” The ref asks Anders again if she wants to give up. She yells, “NO!” right in his face. So Scott leans back, applying even more pressure to the leg. Anders has a look on anguish on her face.

Kris Cruise: How much more can she take!? How much more pain can Izzy Anders tolerate!?

Anders is trying her best to hand on. She tries to push through the pain. Suddenly, she’s given some words of encouragement from the crowd.

“PLEASE DON’T TAP!”
“PLEASE DON’T TAP!”
“PLEASE DON’T TAP!”

The Mindkiller starts to feed off the energy of the crowd. She slowly reaches out with one arm before dragging herself forward. Anders reaches out with the other arm before dragging herself forward. Scott shakes his head in disbelief as Anders claws her way towards the side of the ring. Anders continues her escape to the ropes until Scott smoothly transitions out of the single leg crab into an STF, stopping her dead in her tracks! The transition is met with applause from the crowd.

Stephy Auger: Now it’s over, Cruise!

Scott keeps Anders held in place while pulling back on her head. Anders groans while the ref asks her if she wants to give up. She’s asked again if she wants to quit. Anders refuses. She tries to pull Scott’s hands from around her face, but it’s to no avail. Scott then starts tugging back on the hold to increase the pressure.

Kris Cruise: Chandler’s got that STF tightly applied. He’s essentially got all his weight on Izzy’s back, which makes it even harder for her to claw her way to the ropes.

The Mindkiller is asked again if she wants to quit. She defiantly refuses. The buzz of anticipation increases as Anders once again slowly reaches out and drags herself forward. Scott sees Anders getting closer and closer to the ropes. So he holds on as tight as he can. He’s able to slow her down, but not stop her. Anders continues to scratch and claw her way towards the far ropes. She then reaches out… and grabs the bottom rope! Anders’ determination is met with cheers and applause from the crowd. Scott is then give to the count of five to break the hold.

Kris Cruise: She got it! Izzy got the ropes!

Stephy Auger: Dammit!

Ref: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!

Scott breaks the hold and rolls off her. He then takes Anders, heads over into the corner and slams her face-first into the top turnbuckle. He turns Anders around, hits her with a European Uppercut and sits her down on the top turnbuckle. Scott climbs up to the middle ropes. He motions for a superplex. But he stops himself and decides to climb up to the top ropes.

Kris Cruise: Chandler’s going to the very top! What does he have in mind here?

Members of the crowd stand up as Scott pulls Anders up to the top turnbuckle. The crowd gasps, then cheers when Scott hoists her up and sends her crashing down with a thunderous thud with a superplex!

Kris Cruise: What a suplex off the top from Chandler Scott!It might just be all but over for The Mindkiller after that move!

Stephy Auger: Number 1 here she comes!

Both grapplers remain on their backs. Four seconds pass until Scott slowly turns over to a knee. He then gets back to his feet, heads over towards Anders’ legs and lifts them up. The crowd buzzes with anticipation as he steps through the legs and crosses them around his. He leans forward and motions to turn Anders over into the Scott Lock (Scorpion Death Lock)! The crowd cheers when Anders counters with a Stockton Slap off her back across his ear, forcing him to let go and drop to all fours.

Kris Cruise: Izzy really saved herself there!

Scott can be seen clutching his ear while on the mat. Once both grapplers slowly make their way back to their feet, The Mindkiller catches Scott with a European Uppercut. Another European Uppercut connects. Scott is then knocked back with a third European Uppercut. Anders then moves him into the near ropes before shooting him for the ride. Scott rebounds off the ropes and comes back before Anders lifts him up and finally brings him down with a fireman’s carry neckbreaker! The cheers continue as she makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Scott gets his shoulder up.

Anders lifts up Scott before kicking him right in the lower back. While he arches his back, Anders points out to a random fan before limping into the ropes. The Mindkiller comes back and throws out A Gift for You (Izzy points to a random fan, before charging a downed foe and connecting with a Penalty Kick)! NO! Scott blocks by wrapping his arms around her right leg. Scott get back to his feet. Anders continues to hop up and down on her bad leg before catching Scott with another Stockton Slap. Scott doesn’t let go. Anders rears her arm back before sending a mist of sweat flying off his face after another Stockton Slap. Again, he doesn’t leg go! Scott turns back to Anders and asks for it again. The Mindkiller feints a Stockton Slap before catching him with an enzuigiri, sending him flipping down to the mat!

Kris Cruise: What a kick from Anders!

Stephy Auger: I'm surprised his head didn’t land right on the table!

Anders clutches her left leg while Scott tries to shake out the cobwebs. Once both grapplers are back to their feet, Anders strikes first with a toe kick, doubling him over. She then cracks him across the back fo the head with an Axe kick, knocks him upright with a toe kick to the face and then rocks him with a roundhouse kick. The Mindkiller doubles him back over with a stomp to the right knee before pulling him into a standing headscissors. The crowd buzzes with anticipation as she points across the ring.

Stephy Auger: No, absolutely not! There’s no way she’s going to get him up for this!

Anders wraps her around around Scott’s midsection and goes to hoist him up for a running Liger Bomb. Scott counters with a standing double leg takedown before flipping over into a jackknife pin.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Anders bridges up, turns, turns again, hooks his arms from behind and muscles him down with a backslide pin.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Scott slips out. Both grappelrs scramble back to their feet. Anders once again strikes first by grabbing his left arm and bringing him down with a double knee armbreaker! The cheers continue as Anders hits the ropes, returns and delivers a jumping knee drop across the left arm. She makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Scott gets his right shoulder up.

Anders pulls Scott back up, holds the left arm out with left left hand before delivering multiple elbows across the arm with her right. She then places Scott in a hammerlock, runs forward and throws him shoulder-first into the turnbuckles. The cheers continue as The Mindkiller turns Scott around before sending him slumping down in the corner with MUDA MUDA MUDA (machinegun punches)! After pummeling Scott down into the corner, Anders grabs him by the head with both hands, pulls him back up send sends him slumping down again with MUDA MUDA MUDA! Scott’s head snaps to each side after each punch across the face! Anders reaches down, pulls Scott back to his feet and snaps his head back with another European Uppercut. She then sits him up top on the top turnbuckle before returning the favor from earlier. The crowd cheers as Scott flies off the top turnbuckle after getting a dragon screw from Anders!

Scott’s momentum sends him rolling over towards the center of the ring. He continues to hold his right leg. After slowly getting up to his left knee, Anders charges out of the corner before nearly knocking his head off with the HEAD BOOT (Shining Yakuza Kick)! She makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO
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THR-NO!

The crowd cheers when Scott gets the shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: OH! So close!

Stephy Auger: C’mon, Izzy! Put him away!

Anders picks up Scott and positions his left arm across his throat before lifting him up and planting him with the Aniplex (cutthroat brianbuster)! The cheers continue as she makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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THRE-NO!

The crowd gasps, then cheers when Scott gets the shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: How much closer can you get!?

Stephy Auger: You sure that wasn’t three?

Kris Cruise: Yes!

The Mindkiller takes Scott and slowly pulls him back to his feet. She then catches him with a Stockton Slap before unloading on him with Dirty Dancin! After Scott gets doubled over, she pulls him into a front facelock before planting him with Three Enemigos (three Rolling DDTs)! Anders keeps a hold of Scott, rolls over and pulls him back to his feet. It looks like she’s about to hit a fourth consecutive DDT. Instead, she quickly spins out and pulls him down into a Fujiwara Armbar on the left arm!

Stephy Auger: Amputator!

Scott yells out in pain while Anders pulls back on the arm. He’s asked if he wants to give up. Scott refuses. So Anders yanks back on the arm.

Kris Cruise: Scott is in immense pain right now! Anders has spent all night working over that left arm of his. Can Chandler Scott hang on!? Can he make it to the ropes!? Can he reverse the hold!?

Stephy Auger: No, no and NO!

Scott continues to kick his legs as he lays trapped in the submission. He can be seen biting down on the knuckles of his free hand. He’s asked again if he wants to give up. Scott refuses. So Anders pulls back even more, further stretch the forearm, bicep and pectoral muscles! Scott reaches out for the ropes, but he’s nowhere near them.

Stephy Auger: He’s trapped, Cruise! He mind as well give up now instead of walking into the Rumble with a broken arm!

The Mindkiller starts to repeatedly yank back on the arm, which causes Scott to cry out in agony. The crowd buzzes with anticipation as they see Scott’s right arm lift up off the canvas. He goes to slam it down, then stops himself. He covers his head with his free arm as the pain is starting to become too much. Anders applies even more pressure by taking Scott’s hand and bending it backwards, causing him to yowl out in pain.

Kris Cruise: Anders with some joint manipulation that would even make Owen Gonsalves and Laura Perelli proud!

Stephy Auger: You’re exactly right. Hell, they’re probably cheering her on right now and yelling at their TV for her to snap his arm in two! Anything to make their chances of eliminating him in the Rumble easier!

Scott if asked once more if he wants to give up. The crowd buzzes with anticipation as his right hand is lifted off the mat again. He goes to slam it down, then stops himself. The ref waits with bated breath as the hand hovers the canvas. Scott then gives the ref an answer. NO! The crowd cheers as he reaches out with his free arm and slowly drags himself to the side. Scott groans as he reaches out and slowly drags himself across the canvas again. The Mindkiller puts a stop to this escape by repeatedly yanking back on the arm.

Kris Cruise: Anders is fighting like hell for the submission! She wants him to tap! She needs this win! She needs this win over him! She wants to be Number 30 and gives herself the greatest chance to main event All-Star Showdown X!

Stephy Auger: Just tap, Chandler! Don’t be stubborn! Don’t let your pride be your downfall! Just give up already!

Scott again covers his head with his free arm when the pain becomes nearly unbearable. He’s asked once more if he wants to give up. He refuses. The crowd continues to buzz with anticipation as he slowly scratches and claws his way towards the side of the ring. Scott reaches out, but he’s not quite there. He then goes to pull himself closer to the ropes. But Anders puts a stop to that by pushing more of her weight on him by bridging back.

Kris Cruise: Anders isn’t making this easy for him in the slightest! She’s doing everything she can to make sure he doesn’t get to those ropes!

Stephy Auger: Just give up you idiot! Tap! TAP, TAP, TAP, TAP, TAP!

The ref asks Scott again if he wants to quit. He refuses. He then starts to kick his right leg over towards the ropes. Eventually, Scott is able to judge get his toe on the bottom rope, forcing a rope break.

Kris Cruise: Chandler made it! He got to the ropes!

Stephy Auger: That lucky son of a...


Ref: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!

Anders breaks the hold. The crowd gasps as The Mindkiller quickly grabs Scott’s left arm and drags him back over towards the center of the ring!

Kris Cruise: Izzy’s going to go for it again!

Stephy Auger: GOOD!


Before she can reapply the Aumputator, Scott breaks free and yanks her down to the mat with a double leg. From a kneeling position, he steps through Anders’ legs. He’s about to stand up and turn her into the Scott Lock when Anders uses whatever leg strength she has left to shove him down to the mat. Once both grapplers are back to their feet, Anders doubles him over with a boot to the midsection. She then whips him into the ropes. When Scott returns, the crowd cheers when he knocks Anders down with a diving spinning lariat! NO! Anders drops to the mat, which causes the ref to get accidentally caught with the strike!

Stephy Auger: He just took out the referee! This man is unhinged!

Kris Cruise: Anders did the right thing and ducked out of the way! It was an accident!

Scott goes over and tends to the ref. As soon as he turns around…

Kris Cruise: CAPETOWN SUNSET!

The crowd explodes with cheers when Anders knocks him down with a 540 kick!

Stephy Auger: HES OUT’S LIKE A LIGHT! PIN HIM!

Kris Cruise: She can’t make the pin! She used that bad leg to knock him down!

Stephy Auger: Dammit!

Scott lays sprawled out on the mat while Anders lays in the prone position. Anders continues to favor her bad leg. Seconds pass before she pushes herself up to all fours. She then crawls over and tries to revive the ref. After returning to a vertical base, she goes over and slowly pulls Scott back to his feet. She goes for an irish whip. Scott reverses, sending her into the ropes. When Anders returns, the crowd cheers when he turns herself inside out with the Pinpoint Dropkick (High-angle dropkick to the face)!

Kris Cruise: What a dropkick from Chandler Scott! Arguably no one does it better!

Stephy Auger: GAH!

Scott takes Anders and whips her into the corner. He then rushes into the corner before catching her with a running European Uppercut! Scott delivers another irish whip, follows Anders into the far corner and connects with a flying corner forearm smash! The cheers continue as he sits Anders up on the top turnbuckle, applies a three quarter facelock and takes a couple of steps away from the corner before dropping her with a top rope-hung cutter!

Kris Cruise: Mass Spike!

Stephy Auger: Anders! Anders! Get the hell up!

Scott takes Anders and pulls her into a front facelock.

Kris Cruise: You know what comes next, Stephy!

Stephy Auger: No! NO, NO, NO, NO, NO...

The camera cuts in close to Scott as he hooks Anders near arm. He’s about to plant Anders with the DNA Driver when an arm swings up and nails him between the legs!

“BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

The crowd erutps with boos as Cordelia Stevenson pulls her arm back.

Kris Cruise: What the hell!? CORDY STEVENSON!?!?

Stephy Auger: YES! YES, YES, YES, YES, YES!

The FGA Undisputed Champion taunts Scott as he doubles over before crumbling to the mat.

Kris Cruise: That damn Cordy Stevenson just low blowed Chandler Scott again!

Stephy Auger: Hey Cruise, you think she got all of that one!? HA HA HA!

Kris Cruise: This isn’t funny, Stephy!

Stephy Auger: You sure, because me and Cordelia are laughing our heads off!

“CORDY SUCKS!”
“CORDY SUCKS!”
“CORDY SUCKS!”
“CORDY SUCKS!”

Stevenson cackles as she makes her exit from the ring. Scott slowly turns over and sees that Stevenson was the culprit. Despite being in pain, he slowly drags himself over towards the ropes while Stevenson continues to taunt him. She backs away as she gives him the come hither gesture. Scott goes to crawl through the middle and bottom ropes to go after Stevenson until he’s blindsided with a diving dropkick from Anders!

Kris Cruise: Anders just came out of nowhere with that dropkick!

The Mindkiller returns to her feet. She looks over at Stevenson, who defensively puts her hands up and starts backing up quickly on the ramp. Anders motions to roll back inside. She stops herself before rolling back to the outside.

Stephy Auger: Why did Izzy stop? Just pin him!

Anders looks at where Scott’s positioned before looking down at the floor. Once she looks back at Scott, her eyes widen.

Kris Cruise: … oh… OH! OH NO!

The crowd gasps when Anders places Scott in a three quarter facelock and drags him into position on the apron before planting him with the Mass Spike to the floor!

Stephy Auger: YES! Izzy’s been waiting years for that, Cruise! It was too good to pass up!

Anders wraps her arms around Scott’s limp body and slowly pulls him back to his feet before leaning him against the edge of the apron. The Mindkiller pushes him back inside before rolling herself back in. She makes the cover. The ref slowly looks over and sees Anders making the pin. So he starts his count.

ONE!
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TWO!
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.
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.
.
.
THREE!

The crowd explodes with cheers as “Bad Dreams” blasts over the PA.

J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this bout… IZZY ANDERS!

The cheers continue as Anders turns over to a seated position and raises her arm in the air.

Kris Cruise: Izzy Anders pins Chandler Scott! Izzy Anders has now earned the Number 30 spot in the Rumble! Thanks to that damn Cordy Stevenson, Chandler will now be forced to enter at Number 1! He’ll literally have to go through 29 other grapplers if he wants to win!

Stephy Auger: He knew the risk! I can’t wait to see his reaction when he finally wakes up! He’s now been beaten with his own move in his last two matches? It must suck to be him, right? Of course it does! He’s now Number 1 in the Rumble and anyone that throws him out will get an Undisputed Title match. They don’t even have to win the Rumble!

Kris Cruise: For Stephy Auger, this is Kris Cruise signing off! We’ll see you next week at Only the Strong Survive! Goodnight, everyone!