Vertigo E94

[FGA Office]

[FGA Office]

Agganis Arena
Boston, MA

Savannah Taylor vs. Ashley Sands

The Las Vegas Siren was looking to pick up her first win since the 10 Year Anniversary Show, where she picked up the upset over former stablemate, Izzy Anders. Ashley Sands was looking to pick up her first win of the current cycle, after unsuccessfully challenging Sparrow for the 15 Championship at the 10YA event.

Savannah Taylor got the advantage early after she opted out of a collar-and-elbow for an eye poke. The action was then brought into the corner, where Taylor lit up Sands with multiple knife edge chops. Sands was quick to reverse an irish whip and nearly caught Taylor with the Wind Kick (running big boot in the corner), but Taylor was able to drop and roll out of the way. Taylor wanted to take a breather on the outside, but Sands didn't let her rest for long. As soon as Taylor turned the face the ring, she got taken out with a moonsault off the top turnbuckle! Sands brought the action back inside for a two count.

Sands remained in control, bringing Taylor down with a side russian leg sweep for a two count. A snap suplex also got a two count. Taylor was then brought down with a reverse side russian leg sweep before Sands delivered the Wind Whisper (Rolling Senton) across the back for another two count. Sands then whipped Taylor into the ropes and threw out a spinning heel kick. But she did so too early, allowing Taylor to hang onto the ropes. When Sands sat up, the Las Vegas Siren ran over and flattened her with a bicycle knee to the face for a two count!

The Las Vegas Siren turned on the offense, bringing the action into the corner before lighting Sands up with multiple shoot kicks. After an irish whip sent Sands into the far corner, Taylor ran across the ring, hurled herself at Sands and caught her with a corner back elbow. Taylor then brought her out of the corner with a running backbreaker before attacking the back again with a Uranage for a two count. Taylor then switched her attack to the neck. First, with a snap Dragon Suplex. Then, with a cross-legged Fisherman neckbreaker across the knee. Then finally, with the Emerald Weapon (Corkscrew neckbreaker)! Taylor made the cover, but Sands got the shoulder up at two.

Taylor then began to choke Sands across the middle ropes before catching her across the back of the head with another running bicycle knee. Sands was then pulled back to her feet before Taylor lifted her up onto her shoulders. Taylor had her set up for A Cruel Angel’s Thesis (One handed Electric Chair Driver), but Sands countered with multiple punches across the top of the head before flipping back with spiking Taylor with a poison rana!

With both grapplers down, the ref started his count. Once the count reached seven, both grapplers were finally back to their feet. Taylor made the first move and threw out a running clothesline, but she whiffed with Sands ducked the strike. Taylor's momentum then carried her into the ropes. Sands turned around and caught her on the return with a standard hurricanrana for a two count. Taylor was then whipped into the corner before getting caught with the Wind Kick. Sands went for a Tornado DDT, but Taylor pushed her off mid turn. Taylor ran out of the corner to attack, only to get sent face-first to the mat with a front leg sweep. The Las Vegas Siren made it back up to a knee before Sands flattened her with a Shining Wizard for a two count. Taylor was then whipped into the ropes before getting knocked off her feet with a spinning heel kick for another two count. After Taylor got brought down Into Dust (Codebreaker), Sands went to the top for Sunset (Swanton Bomb)... only for Taylor to block by getting her knees up. Sands eventually made her back to her feet... only to get speared the moment she turned around. Taylor then lifted Sands back up onto her shoulders before finally bringing her down with A Cruel Angel's Thesis for the ONE, TWO, THREE!

Savannah Taylor O || A Cruel Angel's Thesis (13:54) || Ashley Sands X

• COMMERCIAL BREAK •

[FGA Office]

“Bad Dreams” by Phantogram welcomes the at home audience back to Vertigo. The people in live attendance quiet down in lieu of the Mindkiller stepping from behind the curtain. Tonight, she’s wearing a Macy Dover shirt along with some beat up black pants. The somewhat worn black ankle boots she steps down the ramp in gives indications of possible results tonight. She taps on her signature eyepatch as she gives the nearest fans a wry smirk. A promise of non-violence leaves her lips as she enters the ring. In the center of the ring, the customary contract signing set-up remains. None of the backstage staff decided to play mediator to the endeavor, leaving Izzy and Seth to their devices. Izzy teases taking up one of the microphones stationed there, guiding it around in a circle with her finger. She doesn’t do so, instead she seats herself down on the chair facing the entrance ramp.

Her attention does not remain there. It wanders down to the contract tucked inside of a lavish folder. She takes it into her grip and opens it, reading it with a playful air as she waits for the Greatest Mind in Professional Wrestling to make his way out. It’s not immediate, which doesn’t seem to bother Izzy. However, it brings on the time for the commentators at hand to speak up.

Kris Cruise:: Welcome back to Vertigo. As you can see, Izzy Anders is the first to make her appearance tonight for this special contract signing. Implemented by the higher-ups, the contract in her hands will bind the two to an agreement that anything that happens in the Chivalry is Dead match cannot be used against FGA as a whole. FGA is merely sanctioning the competition, if one can call it that, but they cannot be held accountable for the actions of the two participants. Anything that exceeds what we may deem as fit for combat will be tallied onto either competitor as a consequence.

Stephy Auger:: It’s a brilliant idea, really. Not to even note on Iser or Anders, but we know how these matches can go. In our illustrious history, Chivalry is Dead has always been the matches that reject the foundations our company was built upon. As such, the measures that the competitors have taken in those matches have been quietly fought in legal disputes. Wisely, the contract has been carefully tailored to adhere to whatever morbid ideas that Seth Iser or Isabella Anders may have. Without presenting my own opinion, I think it’s best for business. Let them pay for their own damages. I don’t want to take a blow to my paycheck because people can’t handle things properly anymore.

The beginning rumblings of Unsainted start to play. Not a warm welcome from the Boston fans at the sound of the music but as the lyrics begin to kick in Iser steps through the curtain. The man is dressed in a black suit, a normal look for him but the complimentary color is indigo which is a bit on the different side, and his step is a little on the ginger side favoring that left knee. As he cautiously pulls himself up onto the ropes, gritting teeth to hide the full extent of his wounds from the previous show, we finally see the pin he’s wearing on his suit and it’s of a skull. He uses the ropes for a moment to aid with moving a little faster on that bad wheel but that’s when Izzy finally makes eye contact with the veteran.

There’s a hint of stoicism from Iser as he just calmly pulls the other chair while studying the situation. No security, no mediator and just the contract, the table, and the chairs, and the microphones. And oddly enough he hasn’t reached for it yet as the music has reached its conclusion. Even with the limp…the metaphorical mask is on for the moment.

Kris Cruise:: I have a bad feeling about what might happen tonight. I don’t know if this is going to be the calm before the storm or the lightning show before the downpour.

Stephy Auger:: I’d normally say you’re overreacting but for once…we agree.

Kris Cruise:: That really doesn’t make me feel better.

The two do not grab onto the microphones even after the music dies down. Instead, Izzy swings in the chair side to side. When she halts, it is when she reaches over to take the microphone.

Izzy Anders:: If either participant injures a bystander, they will be held accountable to the full extent of the law…

The Mindkiller continues to read over the document with nary a glance sent in Iser’s direction. Seth’s just calmly letting Izzy read all of this out.

Izzy Anders:: When the document is signed, both participants waive any right they may have towards holding Frontier Grappling Arts accountable. Any injury, no matter how severe, will be covered by their own financial assembly. Frontier Grappling Arts will provide the space for the Chivalry is Dead match to happen and hold every right to cease the match if any or all participants infringe upon the conventions of the company.

As though she wasn’t reading anything serious, Izzy lets out a childish snicker.

Izzy Anders:: Get this.

She clears her throat.

Izzy Anders:: Any form of protest, aggression, or violence taken towards Frontier Grappling Arts, its administration, or its shareholders as a response to the events of the Chivalry is Dead match will be met with severe consequences, not limited to suppression, suspension, or contractual termination. I feel as if that’s a rule placed just for me. Asherman still doesn’t like me, y’know?

Izzy pauses once more, raising her visible eye to Iser, where her cat-like demeanor radiates the most. Seth’s eyes narrowed when Asherman’s name was dropped.

Izzy Anders:: Any act done unto either participant is considered of their own volition. We both know what this means. It’s the fine text that says that we’re permitted to nearly kill one another if we saw fit. But I’m not reading you this for that line. No, we both know what we’re signing up for legally. It’s the addendum that I asked for that makes this worthwhile.

Turning the document to Iser and the camera resting near him, Izzy taps on a line near the end of the page.

Izzy Anders:: Any interference by any party, affiliated or not, will be met with legal repercussions that may correlate with the punishments assigned to Isabella Frieda Anders and Seth T. Iser.

Izzy lowers the page back down onto its pompous folder and gives Iser her full attention. As that part was read, it doesn’t seem to have surprised Iser in the slightest.

Izzy Anders:: The only rule that I cared to add onto is one to protect myself and you from the very thing that seems to plague me in this company as of late. I don’t want anyone coming to save you…or to save me. Or at least not anyone that isn’t trained to give medical aid. If you’re bleeding out or if my arm is hanging off by a thread somehow, I think the paramedics can put an end to the match. However, I just don’t want any steel chairs, contingency plans, or hidden agendas coming to intrude on what is absolutely paramount to the both of us.

She leans in on her balled up hands that serve as a stand. She gives Iser a malicious, yet playful grin.

Izzy Anders:: Just you and me in this horrible, violent world.

Taking the pen off the table, she uses her teeth to pull off the cap and spit it into the crowd. She signs her name elegantly on her proposed dotted line and turns it over to Iser.

Izzy Anders:: Right, Seth?

For the first time Iser finally reaches for the microphone, intent on possibly speaking as the papers are soon going to be sent to him.

Seth Iser: As it should be. Only someone with an actual death wish would want to intervene in this environment anyway. Besides…what we’d do to the person who’d interfere in what I’d requested to begin with…might be worse to what we end up doing to each other.

It’s Seth’s turn to review the contract as he starts mulling through the papers scanning it with his eyes. Unlike Izzy, it doesn’t seem like he’s reading anything out loud but he does read something Izzy had read out loud before glancing at his opponent.

Seth Iser: At this point…I doubt Asherman likes me either but it’s no skin off my nose at this point, but he hasn’t fired me…yet. I guess we’re ‘unmediatable’ according to him since we’re also out here to our own devices. They’re too afraid of us to do anything but leave us to our own devices. Hell, we’re unarmed right now. God forbid you decide to take that chair and crack me over the knee cap with it or I pull a spike out of my shoe.

As he’s musing on that thought the crowd seems eager for potential bloodshed but unlike Iser it doesn’t seem like he’s addressing them in the slightest. He pauses on one of the pages and blinks slightly.

Seth Iser: …This feels like a court without a judge. Damn cowards…

He mutters the cowards line low. A couple people in the audience do let out a snicker but judging by Iser’s tone he’s not joking as he leans back on the chair. He flips through a couple more pages and is approaching the end of this obnoxious folder before he just eyeballs the cat like Izzy.

Seth Iser: Usually wrestlers tell tales when they say neither person is going to be the same after they step into a certain environment but that isn’t such a tall tale here. We’re fundamentally not going to be the same physically or emotionally when we’re done unleashing a brand of violence that would’ve gotten this company canceled if it were held just fifteen years prior. But that’s where we’re at. What are parents willing to do…to survive?

He lets that line linger for a second before he continues articulating his point.

Seth Iser: No, beyond that. What are two parents willing to do to make sure their child…doesn’t endure what they did? Your old man died when you were young…your mom fell in love with the bottle after the fact. My old man fell in love with religion and my mother was just negligent before they both died when I was a teenager via a car accident. We both know what a broken home feels like…and hypothetically speaking what aren’t we willing to do to make sure our kids don’t endure what we had to.

A cold stare from Iser imminates as he’s saying all of this. Similar to the defiance he showed last week but none of the half smile he showed when Izzy was asking that question about why.

Seth Iser: But to make something of ourselves…we’ve done absolutely horrendous things to other people. Some of it was just learning to play the hands we were dealt. We aren’t born to have venom in our veins…we learned it. Had to…in order to survive our respective ordeals. But I ain’t Carmichael. I don’t delight in what has to be done. Not at this point in my life. And I learned from the Owen ideal about how empty revenge truly is.

He then leans back on that chair slightly as he reaches the last page and puts the contract down.

Seth Iser: This match…Isabella…is our price to pay not for salvation…I’m beyond that and whether you are or not, that’s a conclusion you have to make on your own, but to properly atone. Atonement via cruelty…a dark irony in our industry but that’s how it’s often been. But that’s where we’re at. And I doubt either of us will survive the experience.

Izzy stays quiet, in both voice and physicality. She doesn’t drop any semblance of her internal machinations. She opts to sign the contract.

Izzy Anders:: You’re not going to pull me into that train of thinking. What you value from this match and what I value are two vastly different things. The actions we will take in there are what we share, but the idea that this is revenge or anything sort of atonement on my end. Truth be told, this is just me breaking the cycle. To do that, I must do something unspeakably wrong.

Izzy pauses, staring at the camera.

Izzy Anders:: Your daughter watches this, right?

Another beat falls. Seth doesn’t verbally answer but his eyes shifting slightly give Izzy the answer she desires.

Izzy Anders:: I’m sorry for what I have to do to your father. I wanted to say this to you directly, so I hope you’re listening. Don’t watch this match. I’ve told my girl not to ever watch this match, and I implore you to do the same. You may be rooting against me, and I understand that, but you need to take solace in only one thing.

Izzy turns her head back to Seth.

Izzy Anders:: Your father will be coming home to you. I’m just not sure how.

The crowd dies down as the gravity of her words strikes them.

Izzy Anders:: It’s your turn to sign. I’m certain you’ve already signed it in your mind.

You can see Iser’s face contort slowly into a frown as he’s reaching for the pen now but his eyes are…surprisingly calm considering the weight of Izzy’s words before he just lets out a sigh.

Seth Iser: Tell me…have you ever thought about the end of the road and what that truly means?

The question hangs as there’s a gasp from the crowd. Seth just lets that question hang for a moment but he doesn’t let Izzy verbally answer yet.

Seth Iser: Did you ever think about when your kid might see you at the absolute end?

Second question from a rhetorical manner but Iser’s tone’s getting a little lower when he asks this second one. He even lets out a subtle cough, not fully over the shoe to the throat incident either.

Seth Iser: I never did until I got fully clean, Isabella. Now? That thought crosses my mind quite a bit. Even more so now as she’s reached the age where she’s trying to figure out what she wants to be in this world. That also isn’t helped when I come home to a woman who I found in my life a few years ago who genuinely says the words ‘I love you’ in that household. When I was young…I never had to worry about that thought. The thought of someone…mourning me when I was gone. But there is…and there should be a day where you have to say goodbye to your child in that manner…where you pass on. You’ve done everything you can in this life. And you have to make peace with the regretful actions you’ve caused along the way. Even if they’ve come back to haunt you in some form.

And then he just leans forward, that probing stare rather than an aggressive one as if he’s just gauging what she might be thinking, again ignoring the murmurs of the crowd. But his tone is just…calm.

Seth Iser: Memento Mori, Anders.

He recites that line not with his usual brand of intimidation but just a matter-of-fact sense of truth. But he still hasn’t signed on the dotted line where it says next to Izzy’s name. Izzy taps her finger against her cheek, a method to focus her thoughts. She doesn’t stare up from where she had settled her eyes, on the table close by.

Izzy Anders:: An old man I know used to tell me those words a lot.

She presses her tongue against the inside of her cheek.

Izzy Anders:: Remember one day, you will die. Really, I don’t like to dwell in that place. When my father passed, it happened—

She snaps her fingers.

Izzy Anders:: Just like that.

There’s an audible catch from the words. The audience looks back and forth to one another, unsure of where exactly they are now.

Izzy Anders:: When that happened, I understood the fragility of life, how fortunate I am that I can breathe this very second. But I also know that it’s finite. It vanishes in a heartbeat. So, the only thing that I can ever hope for is that I leave a life behind that can inspire my child. I can hope that while she mourns me, she realizes that I did all that I could. So she won’t ever be where I am now.

Seth’s eyes narrow ever so slightly as he just nods his head at this.

Seth Iser: Then we want the same thing.

A fragile smile does find itself on Iser’s face for a fleeting second as he’s considering his next words.

Seth Iser: I still remember my reminder for how fragile life was. It should’ve happened in the car crash that killed my parents…but it was my own fight with death itself when I was getting clean. If detox went a little differently…we’re not having this conversation right now. Hell, probably should’ve killed me…I know I was on that thin razor’s edge. My kid would’ve been an orphan at such a young age. Then…I greatly feared leaving before it was time.

He sighs lowly, his voice not wavering as the crowd are just listening to the two.

Seth Iser: I survived that. But at this point now? It’s still a sobering thought but one that I can’t be intimidated by anymore because I’ve done what I can for the kid. Now…it’s up to me if she ever decides to get into this industry fully to make sure there’s no stones left unturned and every issue…is settled as best it can.

Seth then moves his eyes from Izzy to the contract space he’s yet to sign briefly before signing his name on his space in the dotted line at long last. It looks more like a doctor’s handwriting, the total opposite of the elegant signature Izzy put forward.

Seth Iser: There’s no turning back now.

There’s a mixed reaction from the crowd not in terms of cheers or boos but between looks of some people who are bloodthirsty and those who are far more concerned with the ramifications of what this might bring. And it’s Iser who is getting to his feet. Not in a hostile way considering he’s got his free arm down and hand open.

Seth Iser: People have tried in this industry…for twenty years to take me out in one form or another. You might be the one who could do that. Twenty years…and then done for me. Even knowing that…I signed. But now you have to ask yourself a couple more things. We’re passed the damn game point…and you know I’m fighting for my life and all that’ll entail. Hell, this isn’t even just trying to maim each other. We’re fighting the people we once were…to try to become the people we want to be for our loved one. What’s it going to take out of you? That’s the real question…

There’s just that eerie calmness in Iser’s voice when he asks that hypothetical but he’s not quite done.

Seth Iser: And can you really afford to pay the price either way? Win or lose? We already know what losing would entail…but there’s a price for winning as well. Can you truly afford to pay either of those? Can your mind handle what you have to do without…losing control of the demon within?

Again he just pauses as he probes with that question…a hardened frown etched on his face.

Seth Iser: I can’t speak on whether you have those answers for yourself or not. But…I already have that answer for me.

And with that Seth turns on his heel and breaks eye contact and takes a step away from the table but he has one last thing to say. His face just has a frown as he lowers his head ever so slightly.

Seth Iser: I’ll see you for Chivalry is Dead, Isabella.

And with that he just puts the microphone down and makes his way out of the ring…his hands down not expecting an ambush but not even keeping eye contact. There is that stunned silence from the audience yet again rather than boos or cheers. Last before, the camera lingers on Izzy and her reaction. She merely allows Iser to leave before she looks at the contract one last, long time before Vertigo heads to commercial break.

• COMMERCIAL BREAK •

[FGA Office]

Antoinette vs. Betsy Gallagher

Antoinette was looking to turn around her fortunes as she's lost her last two matches after winning her first two. For Betsy Gallagher, she was looking to bounce back after a recent loss to Cassius Reed. Things started off respectfully as they exchanged a handshake. Gallagher and Antoinette kept things clean as they started to trade holds. Antoinette eventually gained the advantage over her stronger opponent with a hammerlock. Seconds later, Gallagher reversed with a spinning drop toe hold. Lady Gallagher tried to transition into the Scorpion Cross Lock, but Ant was able to slither her way towards the ropes.

Both grapplers began to circle the ring as they plotted their next attack. They then ran towards each other. Gallagher went for a lariat, but Ant was able to duck and hit the ropes. Antoinette picked up speed as she went for a running big boot off the return. But Gallagher was able to catch the foot, swing the leg away from her and catch Ant with the Knightmaker (Elbow Smash to the back of the opponent's head) for a two count.

Gallagher brought the action into the corner and caught Antoinette with multiple European Uppercuts. After an irish whip into the far corner, Gallagher ran over for an attack. Antoinette was able to block with a back elbow to the face before bringing Gallagher down with a Tornado DDT for a two count. Antoinette then went to the top and knocked Gallagher down with a diving crossbody, only for Gallagher to roll through it and pull Ant up as she returned to a vertical base. Gallagher then hoisted Antoinette in the air before throwing her down with a pop-up powerbomb for anther two count. Lady Gallagher then set Ant up for a running powerslam, only for Ant to slip down at the last second and push Gallagher into the corner. Gallagher then stumbled away from the corner before Ant came off the top and knocked her down with a missile dropkick for another two count.

As the match continued, Antoinette tried to bring Gallagher down with the Sugar Rush (russian leg sweep). Gallagher was able to fight her way out of it and take control of Ant's back. Gallagher went for Queen's Lariat (Wristlock transitioned into a Short-Arm Lariat), but Antoinette ducked and hit the ropes. When she returned, she connected with the running big boot. Gallagher was knocked back and nearly fell through the ropes. But she was able to swing back in and turn Antoinette inside out with a rebound lariat for two! Gallagher looked to end things with the Betsy Bomb (Sitout Double Underhook Powerbomb), but Antoinette countered with a hurricanrana. A pair of dropkicks knocked Gallagher down to the mat before a spin kick rocked her. After a running bulldog brought Gallagher down, Antoinette went to the top before finishing things off with the Rave-A-Round (Corkscrew Moonsault) for the ONE, TWO, THREE!

Antoinette O || Rave-A-Round (9:46) || Betsy Gallagher X

[FGA Office]

Once more we return to Silk & Cyanide’s inner sanctum, their own personal dressing room where the atmosphere is thick with the scent of candle wax and fine wine, and within its darkened confines the two members are behaving very differently as Erin Mariani is taking her ease while draped over her chaise longue as a trail of cinnamon-scented vapour spirals into the ether from her vaping pen, while Sara Mason is perched at the end of the chaise longue, with one of her knees pulled up to her chest while the foot to her other leg is planted firmly on the floor and she appears to be channelling a large amount of nervous energy

And yet that nervous energy is immediately expressed with a sarcastic little wave to the camera, a wave where if the lack of effort put into it doesn’t prove that it isn’t genuine the Kubrick Stare that Mason is giving as she does so sure gives the game away…

Sara Mason: Ashley…hi, have we met? No, I’m asking a serious question, have we actually met? I have to ask this simple question because, based on how you’ve been acting in the past few weeks, I’m reasonably sure that we haven’t

A beat, which is just long enough for the quizzical look on Mason’s face to morph into a probing glower

Sara Mason: Alternatively, is it fair for me to assume that in that pretty little airhead of yours you’ve convinced yourself that I have to be somebody else, because for the past few weeks everything that you and your partner have done indicates that either you don’t know who you’re dealing with, or that you’ve spent an awfully long amount of time convincing yourselves who we aren’t just so you can feel emboldened enough to insert yourselves into something which does not involve you

At this point Mason’s glower seems capable of setting half of the dressing room alight

Sara Mason: Let’s start at the start and talk about how the two of you decided that the best course of action that you could take when we had our first match after winning the titles we’d had snatched away from us for far, far too long was to cost us the match, to embarrass us, and for what? To add a momentary speedbump to our schedules? How very heroic, relying on other people to wear us down while you sit back and hope that you get a slightly easier time of it…

The amount of sarcasm dripping from Mason’s words is either enough to quell the potential fires caused by the inferno her gaze is likely to cause, or potentially pour a lot of oil onto the flames

Sara Mason: And then you make such a big song and dance about how you and your partner are going to be at ringside for that speedbump you added to our schedule, and for what reason? You weren’t in the match, nobody you know or care about was in the match, so was your plan to snicker at ringside like the heroes that the two of you are because we’re having to feed two pieces of meat into the grinder a second time?

From the other end of the chaise longue, the sound of a velvet-coated shard of ice chimes in

Erin Mariani: Except that never came to pass, did it?

Flinging her hand in Mariani’s gesture as if to say “See?”, Mason cocks her head slightly as she looks down the camera lens as the glower starts to twist into a self-satisfied smirk

Sara Mason: And you know why you didn’t get to point and laugh at us for having to put a little more effort into turning a couple of victims into hamburger? Because you weren’t medically cleared to be in the arena for our match due to the pair of you having…shall we say “a little accident”?

Lucky for Mason, she doesn’t even try to suppress the wicked little snicker she has at the expense of Ashleys Chase & Sullivan

Sara Mason: That’s the difference between the two of us and the pair of you: we didn’t advertise to the world what we were planning, we just let you feel comfortable enough to think you could carry on acting as if you’re still the two dumb blonde mean girl wannabes at high school who think it’s fine to hide out of reach when making fun, and that’s when we did something you convinced yourselves we would never do: act

At this point Mason’s voice is starting to sound extremely scratchy, like there’s nothing in her lungs but cobwebs and smoke

Sara Mason: So how did it feel for you to realise just how helpless you are when you’re on your own? Because when you were in that situation, the one that the two of us had been waiting for because we knew we needed to put you in your box before you started becoming particularly irritating, either you knew what was coming or you’d lied to yourself so much it was a genuine surprise. But you know what was particularly hilarious? No, not how we roughed you up beyond repair and made it look easy, but that moment where you thought that your partner might actually save you – only for her to get torn apart in seconds

Erin Mariani: Oh, the sense of crushing disappointment when her hopes got shattered, and all she had left to look forward to was seeing her partner get destroyed just as badly as she was…

Sara Mason: And that leads us to where we are right now, where I’m sitting here reminding the pair of you what happens when you play with fire: what happens is your parents are going to have to tear up the application form for that beauty pageant, because you look horribly disfigured. But that’s the thing…

Pausing for just a second, Mason reaches into the boot she has pulled up on the chaise longue in front of her to pull out a Zippo lighter

Sara Mason: If you respect fire, if you know your limits, it can be quite a cathartic tool, something that can reduce anything to unrecognisable ash. But in the wrong hands…?

Mason flicks the lighter, causing nothing but a spark

Sara Mason: In the wrong hands the fire may not burn. In the wrong hands…

Mason flicks the flighter again, lighting a flame which is quickly snuffed out by the force of how she flicked the lighter

Sara Mason: …it may only burn for a second, only to fizzle out. In the wrong hands…

Mason flicks the lighter a third time, and this time the flame burns brightly as she looks into it, almost mesmerised

Sara Mason: …in the wrong hands you might get burned, causing not just the immediate pain of the flames on your skin but the longterm pain of scarring, disfigurement, being shunned by people who you thought were your friends who now reveal their shallowness because they can’t bear to look at you, let alone be seen with somebody that people now only feel pity for. And that’s what you and your partner will be, not after the beating we subjected you to at the last show, not after I get to test how well your face can withstand a barrage of punches tonight, but when you finally get rewarded for your cowardice with the title match that you feel entitled to, because then you will learn that for all your little games there comes a time where you have to be something more than a pair of gossiping teenagers who think it’s “cool” to point and laugh at those you think are “different”, especially when those you think maligning have enough of you and decide to show you that pointing and laughing aren’t much of a defence against having the ever-loving crap beaten out of you while your friends can only watch, yet don’t lift a finger to help

Flicking the Zippo shut, Mason smirks directly down the camera lens

Sara Mason: And that’s the position the pair of you will find yourselves in, not only on the last show, not only tonight, but every single time you think that the best use of your time and effort is to mess with us. And you know the worst part for you? You’ll never learn that there’s a reason I ask if we’ve ever met, because if you removed yourself from your bubble for just a minute you’d know just how much I’m going to enjoy burning your world down to embers not because I want to hold onto the titles we so richly deserve, but because I like ruining the lives of people like you because I know that a little adversity is all it takes to make you feel lonely, afraid and worthless. And with that…

Once again Mason waves to the camera, but instead of an almost sarcastic wave greeting somebody, instead it’s the sort of wave a prison guard would give to somebody feebly claiming their innocence as they’re being dragged towards their date with the gallows

• COMMERCIAL BREAK •

[FGA Office]

A single cameraperson walks down the hallway in one of the many areas of the Agganis Arena. After a sharp turn to the left, the camera points at a black door contrasting to a white wall with a single black laquer plaque next to it, reading very simply ‘Conference Room’. The cameraperson reaches for the door handle and tilts before opening the door. Within the conference room, Caroline Dallins is sitting at one end of the long table, dressed in a black suit, with tie and dress shirt to match. Her fingers drum on a brown briefcase, the contents of which are unknown. The camera keeps focused on her as she speaks up very carefully.

Caroline Dallins: You know, it’s funny. The contents of this briefcase could go to so many good purposes. The things that this could be put towards. Some real, actual...Good.

Caroline tapped those trim, glossy nails on one of the locks.

Caroline Dallins: You know what? On second thought this is the worthwhile thing I could put it towards. I promise ‘lackey’ is the farthest thing from my mind when it comes to you. This is me merely offering incentive...Incentive of something that you were...Well, probably going to do anyway. To the pain really.

At the other end of the table sits Nina Stokes. Her eyes peer down at the case before they rest on Caroline.

Nina Stokes: If the content of that briefcase is mere money, then you should put it towards something good. Your cash does very little for me. Donate it to a Miami charity and call it that.

She waves her hand.

Nina Stokes: Now, you may proceed with your pitch. But know this. If you waste my time, I will get up and leave immediately. But most importantly, I will remember.

Caroline’s eyebrows briefly rise and fall. Her fingernails gently drum along the case before she flicks the two latches open. She turns the briefcase around and opens it for Nina’s purview.

What’s inside the briefcase? The camera can’t see so viewers at home remain out of the loop. Caroline closes it after she believes Nina’s gotten a good enough look.

Caroline Dallins: Just in case it interests you more than seeing it go off to charity. Quite the bauble, am I right? Anyway, here's my pitch. When not if you have the eventual match with my client…You know, Baby Bird? I would like you to…Treat it like a teaching moment.

Caroline turns to the camera as if to say ‘you thought I would spend money on Gwen?’ before looking back at Nina. Meanwhile, Nina closes her eyes.

Nina Stokes: As I said before, donate it to a Miami charity by the end of the next business day.

A moment or two passes before her eyes flicker back open.

Nina Stokes: A teaching moment, you say?

She lets out a small laugh. Caroline pulls the briefcase out of sight now that all payment is off the table so to speak.

Nina Stokes: You want me to brutalize your client? Is that it?

Caroline Dallins: He told me that he wants me to advise. Guide. Manage. That is what he wants so that is what I am doing. I heard it in your own words, Nina. Your path of destruction, your wild run of tragedy for others should be met with raptrous applause. What do you get? Condescension. Jeers. So...Why not make an...Example of one of the next stars down the pipeline.

Caroline leaned back in her chair, taking a much different tact with Nina than she might with others. Perhaps she just doesn’t want to raise Stokes’ ire.

Caroline Dallins: I won’t pretend this is all for your benefit. Why would I? All I am saying is that you could feel free to make my baby brother an...

She waves her hand as if trying to find the words.

Caroline Dallins: Example to those sitting where you belong. A prophecy of what is to come for any between Nina Stokes and what’s desired. I need him to understand, Nina. I need him to grasp the gulf between him and someone like yourself. Whenever it is you may face...Perhaps sooner than later if the front office humors me. For full transparency, you are one of two people I have come to. The other...Well, she doesn’t work here but getting the God of Anger to make a housecall takes some time.

The mention of that nickname results in a slight smile.

Nina Stokes: You want this lesson to be a family affair I see.

Nina leans back in her seat.

Nina Stokes: The road to great success is paved with unfathomable pain. Your cause is…noble…in a twisted sort of sense. But are you truly certain that this is what you desire?

Caroline looks as if she doesn’t understand the question.

Caroline Dallins: Uh. Yes? I want him to learn. Why wouldn’t I want this?

Nina Stokes: A raging fire cannot be fully contained, despite one’s best efforts.

She shrugs. Caroline mouths, ‘but I’m not trying to control you’, possibly missing the meaning of Nina’s words.

Nina Stokes: One always calls a Kaiser or a LeCavalier when they want to get something handled. Hmm.

She says, mostly speaking to herself.

Nina Stokes: I shall not hold back when I face Sparrow. He will feel my power. He will feel my rage. And he will understand why people speak about me the way that they do. But I will not break his spirit.

There is the most flagrant disappointment across Caroline’s face. She could not even begin to hide it if she tried. Caroline forces herself to smile, not quite hiding the disdain in her eyes.

Caroline Dallins: Well, alright then. He will feel something I guess. I will donate this briefcase to some charity in Miami. If we’re done here, I’ll um…Leave you to match prep. I need to look more into Macy Dover.

With that, Nina gets up to leave. But as she approached the door, she halts and snaps her fingers.

Nina Stokes: Miss Dallins? I have no doubt that you are an amazon business woman. You get things done; I can see that. Though, I wish you would have done a bit more research about me. Had you done so, you would have known that you didn’t need to go through all this pomp and circumstance. The prospect of fighting Sparrow would have been enough alone.

She snaps her fingers one last time.

Nina Stokes: But the city of Miami thanks you. And I’ll be looking for that invoice on Monday.

With that, Nina exits the conference room.

[FGA Office]

Ashley Marie Chase vs. Sara Mason

AMC wasted no time going right after Sara Mason. As soon as the bell sounded, AMC ran over and clocked her with a running pump knee to the face! The momentum from the strike sent Mason stumbling back before collapsing against the ropes. Mason tried to shake out the cobwebs. By the time she shook off the strike, it was too late! AMC ran to the far ropes, came back and connected with a clothesline that sent them both falling over the top rope to the floor!

On the outside, AMC whipped Mason into anything and everything in her way. Against the side of the ring, the announce table, the ring steps, the ring post and finally, the guardrail! From there, AMC went to town with repeated chest kicks. She then sized up Mason before connecting with the Kick of Doom (superkick), sending Mason flipping over the guardrail and into the crowd. AMC wasn't done! She then reached over the guardrail before suplexing Mason back to ringside. AMC still wasn't done! She then took Mariani and slammed her face-first onto the steel steps 10 times before finally pushing her back into the ring. AMC then climbed up to the apron before scaling the turnbuckles. Once Mason finally got up from all fours, AMC jumped off and drove her down with a top rope bulldog for a two count.

AMC continued to go to town on Mason, slamming her face-first onto the top turnbuckle 10 times. Mason then then turned around before AMC climbed up to the middle ropes. From there, AMC reigned down 10 straight punches. NO! After the fifth punch, Mason slipped out from underneath and yanked AMC down, causing her to smack her face against the top turnbuckle on the way down. Mason then tried to bring AMC out of the corner with a one-handed bulldog, but AMC shoved her off into the ropes. AMC then went to catch Mason off the return with a roundhouse kick to the face. But Mason caught her leg, swung it away from her and countered with the Aenigma (Mason rolls up the opponent into a kneeling position with a schoolboy, where she grabs their head and slams it into the mat) before following up with the Falling Idol (hangman's neckbreaker to a kneeling opponent)! Mason made the cover, but AMC got the shoulder up at two.

Mason continued to control the match by bringing AMC down with the Lorelei (with the opponent in a headlock, Mason dives out of the ring to snap their neck on the ropes)! The boos continued as Mason brought AMC down to the outside with the Diabolik (swinging neckbreaker to an opponent hanging off the apron to the arena floor)! Mason motioned for a moonsault splash, only to hit AMC with a back kick to the head.

Mason brought the match back inside and applied the Implied Consent (camel clutch with a double fishhook). She reluctantly broke the hold just before the ref's count reached five. After flattening AMC with a jumping seated senton across the back, Mason went to the ringside and ordered J.A. Aldridge out of his chair. Once Mason brought the chair into the ring, she set up shop in the corner. When AMC finally got back to her feet, Mason ran out of the corner and went for the Cornix (chair-assisted flying clothesline), only for AMC to catch her across the shoulders and counter with a Samoan Drop. AMC then lifted Mason up before powerbombing Mason through the chair for the ONE, TWO, T-NO! Mason got the shoulder up!

AMC planted Mason with a cradle piledriver for a two count! A small package driver got a two count! AMC then went for the Name Dropper (Pedigree), but Mason countered with a standing double leg takedown before catapulting her in the corner! AMC stumbled back and turned around into a cross chop to the throat. Mason then followed up with the Le Dernier Tournant (Paige Turner) for the ONE, TWO, THREE!

Ashley Marie Chase X || Le Dernier Tournant (13:28) || Sara Mason O

Post-match, Erin Mariani wasted little time rushing the ring! Silk & Cyanide put the boots to AMC while the crowd showered them with boos. Then they had AMC set up for the Haute Tension (double team inverted crucifix powerbomb), but Ashley Sands rushed the ring with a steel chair and chased them off.

• COMMERCIAL BREAK •

[FGA Office]

Fujiko Mine vs. Patrick Jones

The two fan favorites started out with a bit of chain wrestling. Patrick Jones was able to eventually gain the advantage after a trio of arm wrenches. Fujiko then rolled forward, leaned back, kipped up and reversed into an arm wrench of her own. Jones then rolled forward, bridged, turned over onto his knees and knocked Fujiko off her feet with a back leg trip before making the cover. Fujiko was able to bridge out from under the lateral press before taking off into the ropes. When she returned, she stepped through a hip toss attempt by Jones and went for one of her own. Jones quickly blocked before bringing Fujiko down with a trio of arm drags. After a pair of dropkicks knocked Fujiko to the mat, Jones caught with Apex Goddess with a combo of low and middle kicks before a step-up enzuigiri sent her flipping down to the mat. He made the cover, but Fujiko kicked out at two.

Jones then hit an irish whip before following Fujiko across the ring. Fujiko avoided crashing into the corner by running up the turnbuckles and backflipping over Jones. She then hit the far ropes before connecting with a running hurricanrana, sending Jones through the ropes to the floor. Fujiko motioned for a dive to the outside, only to kick off the ropes, twirl through the air and land in a superhero pose. As soon as Jones climbed up to the apron, Fujiko ran over and knocked him off with a handstand calf kick. The Apex Goddess then made her way out to the apron before bringing Jones down with an Asai Moonsault! She then brought the match back inside and made the cover, but Jones got the shoulder up at two.

As the match continued, Fujiko hit Jones with a rope-assisted gamengiri before whipping him into the far corner. She then ran across the ring and connected with a corner dropkick. Fujiko went to follow up with a Tornado DDT, but Jones pushed her off mid turn. Fujiko ran back over to attack, but Jones countered with an overhead belly to belly suplex into the turnbuckles. Jones dragged her out of the corner and got a two count. A double underhook suplex got a two count. A belly to belly suplex got another two count. Jones then went for a belly to back suplex, only for Fujiko to roll over his shoulder and land on her feet. Fujiko then spun Jones around and doubled him over with a spinning back kick to the midsection. Jones was then knocked down to all fours with a jumping double foot stomp before being flattened by a standing Shooting Star Press for a two count.

Fujiko went for an irish whip, but Jones reversed. When Fujiko returned, she turned him inside out with the 4-Play (running single leg dropkick)! Jones was then pulled up to his knees before Fujiko rocked him with the Yount's 3000th Hit (Double wristlock knee to face)! After Jones fell back down to the mat, Fujiko pulled him up from behind and unleashed the N Loop (ripcord alternating backfists and forearms) before dropping him with The Bliss (backflip flash kick) for the ONE, TWO, THREE!

Fujiko Mine O || The Bliss (10:35) || Patrick Jones X

• COMMERCIAL BREAK •

[FGA Office]

Cordelia Stevenson: My 2021 was undeniable.

The ‘New DNA of FGA’ and former Undisputed Champion, Cordelia Stevenson stands in a corridor somewhere in the backstage area. She is leaned up against the wall with her arms folded across her chest. She pushes off the wall, standing to her full 5’9 height.

Cordelia Stevenson: What the world witnessed, was probably the greatest single year run of anyone in this entire business. Make absolutely no mistake about it, when it comes to this business, there was absolutely no one better. Not …a single… soul.

Her words are spoken with added emphasis and an assured confidence. She nonchalantly shrugs her shoulders.

Cordelia Stevenson: But that isn’t anything new now is it? That seems to be a recurring theme when it comes to me. You can look back at every year I’ve been in this business, and that statement could very well be a blanket for any of them. All I’ve ever done is show the fuck out, only now—

Cordelia takes a step forward, adamantly shaking her head as she points an accusatory finger at the camera.

Cordelia Stevenson: – you idiots can’t deny it any longer, no matter how hard you try. I didn’t allow you to. I made it hard to ignore and only emphasized just how stupid it sounded, when people like Fujiko Mine dared to have the gall to tell me that I needed to…

Cordelia frowns her face as if she’s gotten the taste of something foul.

Cordelia Stevenson: work harder… when truth be told my worst years in this business lap their best by far and it’s not even close. It was your disrespect that gave birth to such idiocy. It was your blatant negligence that made ignorant things like that ok to be said on these airwaves. And it is the combination of both that will lead to the massacre that you’re going to see here tonight.

Cordelia scoffs.

Cordelia Stevenson: Carnelia Stephenson; a mockery bred out of spite. A variant tolerated out of your lack of respect for me. Tonight, her blood will be spilled and the stains will be left on your hands. Her demise? Forever resting on the forefront of your conscience. The same way you people made it alright for her to exist is the same way you better justify her demise. All I ask is that you keep… the same… energy.

The corners of her mouth pull into something resembling a smile, one damn near sinister in nature. She runs her tongue across her lips and shakes her head.

Cordelia Stevenson: You people have absolutely no one to blame but yourselves. How funny is it that the same monster you claim to hate is the very one that you created. You set me on this course. You forced me to walk this path. And I plan on leaving nothing but destruction in my wake. Tonight, Carnelia. And then…

Cordelia cuts herself short, inhaling sharply. The name she utters emerges as a soft whisper.

Cordelia Stevenson: Lowri.

She cracks her knuckles as she takes another step towards the camera.

Cordelia Stevenson: All dreams eventually come to an end chica. And your rude awakening is closer than you think.

She blows a kiss at the camera.

Cordelia Stevenson: Get familiar.

With that said, the former Undisputed Champion walks out of the shot as the scene fades away.

[FGA Office]

Cordelia Stevenson vs. Carnelia Stephenson

Cordy ran across the ring and nearly took Carnelia's head off with a running bicycle kick to stat things off! She then yanked up Carnelia, ran across the ring and chucked her over the top rope. The crowd gasped when Carnelia face planted on the outside! The ref went to the outside to check on her, but Cordy was quick to nudge him out of the way. After she put the boots to Carnelia, Cordy yanked her up and dropped her throat-first across the top of the guardrail not once, but twice, but three times with the snake eyes! Cordy's assault continued as she partially stomped Carnelia underneath the guardrail. She then leaned back, catapulting Carnelia throat-first against the bottom of the guardrail!

The ref pleaded for Cordy to stop. But his pleas fell on deaf ears. She then snatched Carnelia up before chucking her head-first against the steel steps. She then kicked off the top half of the steel steps before planting Carnelia with a kneeling Snap DDT on the bottom half! Once the action is finally brought back into the ring, Cordy held up a dazed Carnelia before bringing her down with The Real Is Back (Springboard Cutter) for the ONE, TWO, THREE!

Cordelia Stevenson O || The Real is Back (4:03) || Carnelia Stephenson X

Post-match, Stevenson added insult to injury by putting her foot down across Carnelia's throat while mocking the crowd with Lowri Moss' "ILY" hand gesture.

• COMMERCIAL BREAK •

[FGA Office]

Vertigo returns from the commercial break to the sight of Amanda Johnson standing somewhere backstage, microphone in hand.

Amanda Johnson: Ladies and gentlemen, joining me at this time… she is the FGA Undisputed Champion… Lowri Moss!

The camera pans out, and the audience responds with a loud cheer, as the fan favorite comes into view. Ahead of her involvement in the night’s main event, Lowri is already dressed in her ring attire, and she has the Undisputed title draped over her right shoulder.

Amanda Johnson: Lowri, thank you for your time.

Lowri gives a smile and a nod to Amanda.

Lowri Moss: No problem, Amanda.

Amanda Johnson: Later on tonight, in the main event, you’re going to be facing Seth Iser in a non-title match, in what will actually be the second time in just four days that the two of you have been opponents, as you–

Cordelia Stevenson: Don’t sugar-coat it, Amanda. Go ahead and say exactly what we’re all thinking.

Just at that moment, the former Undisputed Champion, Cordelia Stevenson, walks into the picture, her eyes never leaving Lowri’s.

Cordelia Stevenson: Later on tonight, she’ll be losing to Seth Iser for the second time in just four days. We all know that Seth has her number, I just hope that he leaves something behind for me.

A coy smile forms on the face of the former champ.

Cordelia Stevenson: Would be a damn shame if you didn’t make it to Grapple Kingdom.

There is a momentary silence before Lowri replies, still with her smile on her face.

Lowri Moss: Congratulations on your Wrestler of the Year award, Cordelia. Definitely well-deserved.

Cordelia scoffs.

Cordelia Stevenson: I know. As it was all of the other years that I was robbed.

Cordelia pauses briefly, waiting for Lowri to retort but notices that she is met with silence.

Cordelia Stevenson: That’s all you have to say?

Lowri responds with a shrug of her shoulders.

Lowri Moss: You’re the one who told me that I should say less and not ramble on.

Cordy smirks and gives Lowri a mocking round of applause.

Cordelia Stevenson: Ha. Well maybe there’s hope for you yet, chica. I’m glad the lessons I’m teaching are starting to get through. But there’s still one thing you need to learn…

A curious Lowri raises an eyebrow.

Lowri Moss: And what might that be?

She tilts her head to one side.

Lowri Moss: Or am I going to have to wait until Grapple Kingdom to find out?

Again there is a lingering moment of silence between the two. Cordelia looks intently into Lowri’s eyes, studying her. Finally Cordelia raises her finger and rests it on her cheek.

Cordelia Stevenson: You know what they say… experience happens to be the best teacher.

Her answer is rather cryptic, but there’s an unsettling amount of confidence that it is said with. Cordelia blows a kiss at Lowri and pats her on the shoulder.

Cordelia Stevenson: You’ll learn in due time.

Cordelia flashes a big bright smile and pats Lowri on the back, before brushing past her and walking away; after watching Cordy depart the scene, Lowri turns back to Amanda.

Lowri Moss: She’s right, Amanda: experience is the best teacher. That’s why what happened to me against Seth this past Wednesday isn’t going to happen again here tonight.

She then takes her leave, to finish getting ready for the main event, and the camera cuts back to ringside.

[FGA Office]

Nina Stokes vs. Gwen Margolis

Stokes started things off by trying to cut off the ring. Eventually, Margolis found herself trapped in the corner. The Kodiak tried to pounce on Margolis, but she was able to slip out of the way at the last second. Margolis took advantage of the opening and caught Stokes with multiple knife edge chops. But the chops had little effect of The Kodiak. She then tossed Margolis into the corner before sending her slumping down with boxing forearms. Margolis was then pulled back up and gets assaulted with a palm strike flurry before getting doubled over with A Slice of Grace (Throat Punch)! Stokes then hits a suplex out of the corner for a two count.

As the match continued, Margolis was whipped into the ropes before getting caught off the rebound with a running roundhouse. Stokes followed up with a jumping senton for another two count. Margolis was then on the recipient of another irish whip. This time, into the corner. The Kodiak charged in for an attack, only to get turned around with a boot to the face. Margolis then took advantage of the opening and followed up with a German Suplex into the turnbuckles. With Stokes seated in the corner, Margolis ran over and squashed her with a cannonball senton for a two count. Margolis followed up with a snap suplex for another two count. She then whipped Stokes into the ropes before lifting her up across her shoulder off the rebound. She had Stokes set up for a Samoan Drop but repeated elbows to the side of the head stopped that. She then slipped down from behind and dropped Margolis with the Requiem Aeternam (Inverted Implant DDT) for another two count.

Stokes went for a German Suplex of her own, but Margolis countered with a wheelbarrow victory roll into a kneebar! Margolis fought for the submission, but Stokes was able to get to the ropes in time. Stokes was caught on the way back to her feet with a pair of forearms before she reversed an irish whip. When Margolis returned, she brought Stokes down with a wheelbarrow facebuster before executing a japanese leg roll clutch for a two count. Margolis then tried for another German Suplex, but Stokes blocked, countered with three back elbows to the face, performed a standing switch and countered with the Chaos Theory (Front Turnbuckle Smash into Back Roll German Suplex) for a two count. After being pulled up off the mat, Margolis tried to fight off Stokes with multiple forearm strikes. The Kodiak was then able to duck the last strike before throwing Margolis down with a snap Saito Suplex. Margolis was then thrown down with a half nelson suplex. Stokes threw her down with a second half nelson suplex. The Kodiak then nearly dumped Margolis on her head with a cobra clutch suplex. After Margolis was kicked over onto her back, Stokes latched onto both wrists. She then held Margolis' arms up before raining down rapid stomps to the face and chest. Stokes switched her target to the arm and delivered stomp after stomp to the shoulder. Once Margolis was pulled back to a vertical base, Stokes placed her in the Quietus Redux (Crossface-Chickenwing)! Margolis was left with no choice but to tap.

Nina Stokes O || Quietus Redux (10:44) || Gwen Margolis X

• COMMERCIAL BREAK •

[FGA Office]

Izzy Anders vs. Monty Margolis

Izzy and Monty started things off with a snug collar-and-elbow. The two jockeyed around the ring until The Mindkiller finally got the advantage by bringing the action into the corner. Once both grapplers broke free on the five count, Anders was the first to strike with multiple European Uppercuts. An irish whip sent Margolis into the far corner before Anders ran across the ring and followed up with a running European Uppercut. After Margolis was snapmared out of the corner, Anders went for A Gift for You (Izzy points to a random fan, before charging a downed foe and connecting with a Penalty Kick)! Before Anders could strike, Margolis rolled to the outside to take a breather. When he turned around, Anders jumped off the apron and planted him with a diving Tornado DDT on the floor! She then sat Margolis up and lapped the ringside area before flattening him with A Gift For You! Margolis was rolled back inside. But Anders didn't join him back in just yet. She took his arm and threw it down across the edge of the apron twice before delivering a dragon screw arm whip.

From there, Anders slithered back inside before finding herself perched on the middle ropes. Once Margolis got back to his feet, she went for another diving Tornado DDT. This time, Margolis countered with a dropkick for a two count. Anders quickly reversed an irish whip attempt before setting up for a back body drop off the return. Margolis saw it coming a mile away, so he stopped and knocked Anders upright with a kick to the face. After a leaping elbow rocked Anders, Margolis hit the ropes. When he returned, he stopped once he saw Anders run past him towards the same set of ropes. Margolis then turned around and got dropped with a diving corkscrew European Uppercut for a two count.

As the match continued, Margolis was sent staggering across the ring after being on the receiving end of an arm wrench into a double knee armbreaker. Margolis collapsed against the ropes while Anders approached. He tried to throw out a kick to stop her, but Anders caught his foot in time. He then tried to hang onto the ropes, but Anders dragged him away. Before Margolis was brought down with a dragon screw knee leg whip, he countered with an enzugiri. The Mindkiller then dropped to a knee before a corkscrew back kick knocked her down for a two count.

Margolis continued to mount his comeback by sending Anders into the ropes. The Mindkiller returned after the irish whip and got caught with a superkick. Anders remained on her feet until Margolis caught her with another leaping elbow strike. Anders was then brought down with an arm-trap backstabber before getting brought into the corner. Margolis brought her to the top and tried for Wheel in the Sky (Avalanche frankensteiner)! But Anders hung onto the ropes, sending Margolis landing hard on the mat. The Mindkiller then slipped down to the canvas and brought Margolis back across the ring with a Running Liger Bomb for a two count.

After a push kick knocked Margolis into the corner, he was caught with a trio of European Uppercuts before getting slumped down with MUDA, MUDA, MUDA! (Machine Gun Punches to Cornered Opponent)! The Mindkiller then took Margolis and sent him out of the corner with a biel throw before knocking him down with the HEAD BOOT! (Shining Yakuza Kick)! Anders went to plant him with a brainbuster, but Margolis countered with a knee on the way up. He went to follow up with a roundhouse kick, but Anders swatted it away, caught him with Dirty Dancin’ (Kick Flurry) and followed up with the Shotgun Party II (Fisherman Driver) for the ONE, TWO, THREE!

Izzy Anders O || Shotgun Party II (12:08) || Monty Margolis X

• COMMERCIAL BREAK •

[FGA Office]

The scene fades into an empty room. There is a single light that flickers. Underneath the light is a steel chair, set for someone to sit in. With nobody there, we hear a familiar voice.

Voice: You know, we all have our demons. Sometimes we have to step out of the spotlight. Whether we want to doesn’t matter, because sometimes it is a necessity.

The light stops flickering and stays on, brightening the room a bit.

Voice: And what happens when we face our demons? We will cower away and let them eat us? Or will we find the strength to fight them and come out victorious? That is only a question you can answer.

We finally see Ace Voltage come into the frame and sit down in the chair with his Pride Championship around his waist.

Ace Voltage: It’s true I haven’t been around when I was most needed. When the people needed a champion these last few weeks, I failed them. But fear no more. Ace Voltage is back and better than ever. Fresh off of two FGA awards, the Pride champion is here to fight. Here to fight the worthy challengers. Here to fight for FGA. And tonight, here to fight for the UK.

Ace smiles as he finishes his last sentence.

Ace Voltage: Tonight I have a tag team match. We know I am not the best when it comes to teams, but if I am to have a partner, I am glad it is someone from the UK. The King of Failure he is called, Gareth Prichard Jr., hailing from Wales. Two of the UK’s best exports form an imposing team. Owen Gonsalves I am no stranger to. Brian Stryker, a worth competitor. I’ve never lied to you and I won’t start now. This tag match won’t be easy, but confidence is no issue with good ole’ Ace Voltage.

Ace pats the Pride championship.

Ace Voltage: I am a champ, THE champ, in FGA for a reason. Not many people can say they have pinned Ace Voltage. Own and Brian won’t be able to say that after tonight. I hope I can trust you Gareth because with or without you, I am walking out of Boston victorious.

Ace gets up from the chair and grabs a chain that is connected to the light above him.

Ace Voltage: That my friends is not a prediction. It is a guarantee. See you soon boys.

Ace stands there with a smirk as he pulls the chain and the light goes out.

[FGA Office]

Owen Gonsalves & Brian Stryker vs. Ace Voltage & Gareth Prichard Jr

The bell sounded as the Pride and U.S. Champions elected to start things off for their respective teams. Voltage was ready to lock up. Gonsalves, not so much. At least not with Voltage. The crowd cheered when he pointed directly behind Voltage and towards Prichard. Voltage turned around and saw Prichard pretend to be flattered that Gonsalves wanted him in the ring.

Voltage thumbed behind him towards Prichard. Gonsalves nodded. Voltage then looked over at Prichard and saw his partner nod in approval. The crowd cheered when Voltage headed over and tagged out.

Prichard stepped in through the ropes and circled the ring. Both grapplers stopped to size each other up before locking up. NO! Prichard stopped again, backed away from Gonsalves and tagged Voltage back in! Prichard shooed away Gonsalves before stepping back out to the apron. Voltage and Gonsalves proceeded to circle the ring before locking. After jockeying for position, Gonsalves started to move Voltage back across the ring. At the last second, Voltage pivoted and pressed Gonsalves up against the turnbuckles. Once the ref's count approached five, both grapplers made a clean break. The reigning Pride Champion quickly took advantage of the opening and raked Gonsalves across the eyes. He then started to light up Gonsalves' chest with multiple knife edge chops. The crowd cheered when Gonsalves took Voltage, tossed him into the corner and returned the favor with multiple chops of his own. He then delivered an irish whip into the far corner before running across the ring. The cheers quickly turned back to boos when Gonsalves got stopped with a boot to the face. Voltage pushed him into the corner before following up with another series of knife edge chops. He then brought Gonsalves from out of the corner and whipped him into the far ropes. Voltage threw out a lariat off the rebound, but Gonsalves ducked and floated over into Ashley’s Rose (Double Wrist Clutch Octopus Hold)!

The ref asked Voltage to give up. Voltage refused by shaking his head. Gonsalves didn't give up and continued to fight for the submission. When Voltage refused again, Gonsalves released the submission before throwing Voltage down with the Paroxysm (Snap Dragon Suplex)! The momentum sent Voltage rolling over onto his knees before Gonsalves flattened him with the Draco Meteor (Meteora)! He then pulled Voltage into a standing headscissors and positioned him before the Angel Duster (Double Underhook Piledriver)! As soon as Gonsalves hooked the arms, Prichard ran in and knocked him down with a clothesline across the throat! Prichard stood tall over Gonsalves until Stryker grabbed him from behind, turned and chucked him through the ropes to the floor. Once Prichard got back to his feet, Stryker went for a springboard Shooting Star Plancha. All looked well for Stryker... until Prichard nonchalantly walked out of the way, causing Stryker to splat on the floor! Prichard then turned his attention to some jeering fans in the front row. When his attention was turned back towards the ring, Gonsalves hurled himself over the top rope and took him out of with a topé con hilo over the ring post!

Gonsalves jumped back up to the apron before scaling the turnbuckles. Just as he was about to reach the top, Voltage ran over and bodyslammed him down to the mat. Voltage then stepped out to the apron, made it to the top and went for a diving elbow drop… only for Gonsalves to shift his body and catch him on the way down in a cross armbar! Gonsalves fought like hell for the submission, but Voltage wouldn't quit. He eventually made it back to his feet before slamming Gonsalves down to break the hold.

With Voltage now in control, he whipped Gonsalves into the corner. The Pride Champion connected with a running clothesline and went for a bulldog out of the corner. Gonsalves countered by pushing him off into the ropes, where Prichard made the blind tag. Gonsalves went for a back body drop off the rebound, but Voltage slipped down from behind and pushed him over towards Prichard, who brought him down with a Sling Blade. Instead of going for the cover, Prichard pulled Gonsalves over into the prone position before applying a Fujiwara Armbar! Prichard continued to pull back on the arm as he tried to secure the submission. But Gonsalves wouldn't give up. Instead, Gonsalves fought through the pain as he used his free arm to try and pull himself closer and closer towards the side of the ring. At this point, Gonsalves was just out of arm's reach of the bottom rope. Gonsalves went to go reach for the rope, but Prichard was quick to transition from the Fujiwara Armbar into a Bow & Arrow Hold. Prichard continued to fight for the submission. He wanted Gonsalves to tap. He wanted to hear Gonsalves say he gave up. Once again, the Technical Spectacle denied him. Gonsalves was able to grab a hold of Prichard's arm and pull it from around his neck before rolling out of the Bow & Arrow and into a lateral press. The pin attempt only got a two count as Prichard bridged out from underneath before quickly spinning across Gonsalves' back and placing him in a D'Arce Choke! Prichard cinched down on the hold. But due to Gonsalves' position, he was able to swing his leg over and get his foot on the rope. The ref called for the rope break, but Prichard pushed his luck by not letting go until the ref's count reached five.

As the match continued, Prichard taunted Stryker by straddling Gonsalves' arm and holding it out towards him. Prichard followed up with a jumping seated senton across the arm before bending and twisting Gonsalves' wrist. Gonsalves was then brought down with a hammerlock suplex for a two count. Prichard then went for an Olympic Slam, but Gonsalves slipped down from behind. Gonsalves then went to counter with an inverted headlock takedown, but Prichard rolled over his shoulder, landed on his feet and took control of his back. Prichard went to counter with a ripcord jumping knee strike, but Gonsalves countered with a dragon screw! He then rolled forward, dove over and finally tagged Stryker in!

The crowd exploded with cheers as Stryker struck everything that moved. First, Prichard got knocked down with a springboard missile dropkick. Voltage then ran in to attack, but he got dropped to a knee with a basement dropkick before getting planted with a spiking hurricanrana. Prichard took control of Stryker and whipped him into the corner. He then ran in to attack, but Stryker was able to counter with a Tarantula. Once the hold was released, Stryker brought him down with a diving crossbody for a two count. A rolling neckbreaker got another two count. Prichard then slipped down from behind from a vertical suplex attempt and went for another Olympic Slam. But once again, he was unsuccessful as Stryker slipped down from behind and countered with Insomniac's Dream (Crossface Chickenwing Suplex) for another two count.

Stryker remained in control even after Prichard reversed an irish whip. Stryker's momentum sent him over towards Voltage before sending the Pride Champ through the ropes and to the floor with a running hurricanrana. After Prichard got knocked down with a dropkick, Stryker headed into the corner and brought Voltage down on the outside with Flight of the Valkyries (Springboard Crossbody preceded by a top rope rope walk)! When Stryker hopped back onto the apron, he ducked an attack from Prichard and knocked him back with a shoulder thrust through the ropes. He then ran over towards the ring post before knocking Prichard down with a springboard moonsault for the ONE, TWO, TH-NO! Prichard got the shoulder up.

After Prichard was sent into the corner with an irish whip, Stryker ran across the ring, connected with a corner elbow and followed up with a CCS Enzuigiri before throwing Prichard down off the top turnbuckle with a Spider Suplex! Stryker had Prichard splayed out on the mat. Just as Stryker was about to finish the match off, Voltage jumped onto the apron and shoved Stryker off, sending him flipping down to the mat!

Both Voltage and Gonsalves eagerly awaited tags as their partners struggled to pull themselves across the mat. The crowd booed when Prichard was the first to make it to his team's corner. Voltage then ran across the ring, dove over and tried to prevent Stryker from tagging out. But Stryker was able to leap over and make the tag. The crowd came unglued as Wristlock Sinatra came in and knocked Voltage down with a Shotgun Dropkick. After bringing the action into the corner, he lit up Voltage's chest with multiple shoot kicks. After Voltage was rocked with a trio of European Uppercuts, Gonsalves planted him with a Tornado DDT for a two count. A sling blade off an irish whip rebound got another two count. Gonsalves followed up with a bridging German Suplex into a bridging Northern Lights Suplex into a bridging Fisherman Suplex for another two count! Voltage was then brought down with a Michinoku Driver for yet another two count.!The Pride Champion then reversed an irish whip attempt. When Gonsalves returned, he executed a tilt-a-whirl Guillotine Choke!Tthe U.S. Champ kept the hold in place until he saw Prichard run over for another clothesline. This time, Gonsalves released the hold, pushed Voltage to the side and brought Prichard down with the Crossface Oblivion Wing (Arm Trap Crossface)! Gonsalves kept the hold applied until Voltage put the boots to him. He was then brought down with a Reverse DDT for a two count. Gonsalves wound up on the receiving end of Back Suplex for another two count. Voltage then went for three rolling German Suplexes. After the second German, Gonsalves blocked the third, caught him with a back elbow to the face and performed a standing switch before bringing him down with the Paroxysm! Gonsalves then dragged himself across the ring and dove over to tag out to Stryker, but Stryker jumped off the apron!

But that was from Gonsalves' POV. In reality, Prichard yanked Stryker off the apron to the floor. Gonsalves was then quickly peeled off the mat by Voltage before getting thrown down with three rolling Germans. Voltage followed up with a Cradle DDT before coming off the top with High Voltage (450 Splash) for the ONE, TWO, THREE!

Owen Gonsalves & Brian Stryker X || High Voltage (34:04) || Ace Voltage & Gareth Prichard Jr O

Post-match, both Voltage and Prichard put the boots to Gonsalves. But it wasn't Stryker that eventually made the save. It was Julian Tijerina! As soon as The Venomous Virtuoso slid into the ring, both Prichard and Voltage cleared out!

Tijerina tried to help Gonsalves back to his feet, but he was quickly tackled down from behind by Stryker! Tijerina turtled up while Stryker swing wild rights and lefts across the back of the head.!Gonsalves eventually got back to his feet and pulled Stryker off of him. Stryker tried to go after Tijerina again, but Tijerina was wise to roll out to safety. Stryker continued to try and go after Gonsalves, but Gonsalves held him back. Stryker eventually broke free of Gonsalves and pushed him back. With tensions high between Gonsalves and Stryker, Prichard was quick to chime in from the outside and remind Gonsalves that Stryker couldn't be trusted.

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