Grapple Kingdom 4

[FGA Office]

[FGA Office]

Sitting on a folding chair backstage, which just so happens to be clogging up a busy section of hallway but that’s not important right now, yet he is uncharacteristically quiet as he sits there, taking his time to let the world pass him by, even going as far as to look at the clock on his smartphone for a moment to check how long that he’s not said a single vowel or consonant, let alone a single word

As he continues to sit there, to the point that the camera crew are clearly trying to let Bisley know that the camera is on and it would be nice if he, you know, said something, Bisley looks remarkably content – so content, in fact, that he eventually leans forward towards the camera and seems remarkably relaxed when he says…

Mark Bisley: Do you hear that?

A beat

Mark Bisley: Exactly, silence. Something which some might say has a shiny, metallic hue not dissimilar to a certain precious metal. It’s something which Depeche Mode say should be enjoyed. But, more important than anything else, silence is something that doesn’t appear to exist if you’re unfortunate enough to be within proximity of Logan Alexander.

Any hope of letting the irony hang in the air is dashed by Bisley continuing.

Mark Bisley: Having had many, many, many encounters with Logan Alexander over the years, more often than not when he was paired with somebody who was plainly carrying him to be anything other than a footnote, and one thing which I could not fail to notice was that if you dared speak ill of him or his more talented partner, you were guaranteed to have Logan Alexander reel off some long-winded spiel that failed to take into account that the audience, roster and ring crew all have places to go, or sometimes he would simply threaten to dive out of the ring onto those speaking ill of him yet never showing any intention to go through with this threat. And why does Logan Alexander insist on doing these things?

Once again we have another moment of silence, until Bisley feels it is time to answer his own question.

Mark Bisley: It is very simple: it’s because Logan Alexander is determined to have that last word, to the point it has become an unhealthy obsession with him, and I have to say it must be terribly wearing to be half of a tag team when your partner insists on both droning on for longer than is necessary or tolerable coupled with how they are determined to get the final word every single time they are handed a microphone. Luckily, I have never experienced such a situation, nor have I ever met anyone who has experienced this – with the obvious exception of Ashlyn De Luca, of course.

A beat, for no apparent reason, after all who can say otherwise?

Mark Bisley: This does, of course, beg a remarkably obvious question as to why Logan Alexander sought the services of a manager once he’d finished bouncing after being kicked to the kerb, considering what a manager tends to do is speak for their client. Seriously, how can Logan Alexander stand it to have to listen to somebody talk yet never having the opportunity to cut them off or threaten to hurl himself over the ropes onto them? It must be like Chinese water torture to him, and endless drip…drip…drip of somebody else being allowed to speak, while all he can do is stand there and let that vein on the side of his forehead grow ever-larger. Better get that checked out, Logan, at some point you’re going to have neck issues due to the weight of it pulling your head to one side.

Bisley looks at the camera with an expression of mock concern.

Mark Bisley: However, this got me thinking: is there any way to turn your obsession of getting the final word against you while also ticking the Legacy Championship off of my own personal bucket list? At first I thought I’d hit on the perfect idea with an I Quit match…however, the higher-ups of Frontier Wrestling Arts disagreed, citing how there’s already two matches on the Grapple Kingdom card which offer the promise of blood and guts so having a third match doing the same would be considered “overkill”, even after I explained that I have no interest in making Logan Alexander look like a tomato which has taken a one-way trip through the Large Hadron Collider, instead I am more interested in breaking him down until he has to admit that he cannot continue and he does get that precious last word – and, in doing so, hands me the victory and the title which I so richly deserve. So this was a setback, and for a while I ummed and ahhed about finding a stipulation that would play into what I had in mind.

Once again, almost as if he;s enjoying these gaps of dead air, Bisley pauses.

Mark Bisley: And then it occurred to me that I do not need to play Logan Alexander’s game, not least because Logan Alexander’s game is something most people tend to grow out of sometime when they’re in High School. Rather than play his game, instead he should play my game, a game which doesn’t require people participating in matches which Logan Alexander isn’t because Logan Alexander is the sort of coward who is looking for the path of least resistance to get his hands on yet another title he doesn’t deserve. A game which isn’t hanging on Logan Alexander getting the last word because that is all that matters to him as opposed to, oh I don’t know, being in any way entertaining. A game where he doesn’t bring up a team he was once in where it was as plain as day that he was the weak link while Ashlyn De Luca was racking up the chiropractor bills in trying to carry her deadweight partner across the line between one bell and the next. That is not a game which interest me, because that is a game which gets you forgotten, considered a speedbump in the path of somebody more deserving, more skilled, more interested in winning matches than flapping their gums until the opponent gets bored and stops responding because the checkout at their hotel is 8am the next morning and they’d like to actually use their bed at some point in time. That is your game, Logan Alexander, and not only am I not playing it I am also going to show you how ineffective that game is, just as I am going to demonstrate that my game is a game which you cannot win. And do you know what I want to hear from you once I prove myself to be superior and deserving of the Legacy Championship?

Yet again, Bisley pauses – but this time he raises a finger to indicate a point.

Mark Bisley: Exactly, silence, that is what I want to hear from you because as much as you want to run your mouth and get the last word, the fact that I beat you for the title which would clearly look much better on my shoulder than it ever will in your manager’s safe deposit box proves that both the Legacy Championship and the last word will be mine, all mine.

[FGA Office]

Blue Cross Arena. Backstage. Only minutes to go before the kick off of the evening’s event. We find the reigning Legacy champion, Logan Alexander sitting in a locker room, dressed to compete, with Theodore Harris standing close by, dressed in a light grey suit with dark red shirt on. He regards the camera quietly for a moment.

Theodore Harris: Well, here we are. Grapple Kingdom Four, the first big event of the new year for Frontier Grappling Arts and as it was hinted at a few weeks ago we’re here to deal with old issues that haven’t been put to rest just yet.

He lets out an over dramatic sigh.

Theodore Harris: Logan Alexander, the reigning and defending Legacy champion here tonight, to the displeasure of a vast number of you out there watching this unfold, has held up his end of things since All Star Showdown, back at the end of October. He has had one successful title defense and also picked up another victory in non title action. He’s doing what he needs to do to continue carrying this championship with distinction. He puts that belt on the line again here tonight against a man that will proclaim, both loudly and incessantly, that it is he who should be the one carrying this title at this very moment. That it is his right. That it, as he stated just over four months ago, should already be part of his existing legacy.

At that, Theodore offers an amused smirk.

Theodore Harris: Mark Bisley. Four months later and still with that chip on his shoulder. Still carrying the weight of all those dreams and ambitions that were so brutally crushed four months ago. And that is after having those dreams and ambitions brutally crushed a month prior to that. I assume the prevailing thought carrying him forward tonight is that the third time will be the charm for him. Of course, at All Star Showdown, he had believed that he couldn’t possibly come up short a second time in his pursuit of glory. That the first time was just a fluke, not a failure on his part. That loss to Sparrow in their title-for-title match was certainly not his fault. Mark Bisley doesn’t make mistakes. Mark Bisley doesn’t come up short. Mark Bisley is the best, so any result where he does not come out on top is a gross miscarriage of justice that he will demand be rectified as soon as possible. And…

Theodore suddenly pauses, looking momentarily confused, like a person that has lost their train of thought. He glances over towards Logan, who is holding out a notepad to him. Theodore’s expression brightens as he accepts the notepad and nods his thanks to Logan. He starts skimming the notepad.

Theodore Harris: Lets see… not a failure… come up short… miscarriage of justice…

He flips the page over, which is filled with handwriting.

Theodore Harris: … conspiracy of the highest order…

He then flips over a second page filled with writing. Then a third. And a fourth. And a fifth. Theodore looks up, glancing at the camera.

Theodore Harris: And… it just keeps going like this. On and on, so on and so forth, blah, blah blah. I like to talk but even I have a limit on how far I’m able to carry this gag.

He casually discards the notepad and we hear it hit the floor a moment later.

Theodore Harris: The point is that Mister Bisley has proven time and again that he is unable or unwilling to move beyond his mistakes. There always has to be some sort of an excuse to fall back on for him. Some reason to avoid taking any blame. Some reason to avoid acknowledging that the fault lies not within his stars, but within him. And I suppose that for some time it seemed to work for him. Go back two years to where Mister Bisley won the Fifteen championship for the first time. From that point on he came out on the wrong end of a lot of matches, but he usually had a bounce back performance when he got a rematch. He lost the title and won it back. He’d lose a non title match, then win the following title match that resulted. It went on for a solid year and a half. He wasn’t great, but he was always able to step up his game on the second go around. Then came his chance to get hold of a second title, where Sparrow got the better of him and ended his Fifteen title reign. He lost when it mattered that time… and then the excuses started.

He gives the camera a pained look.

Theodore Harris: Everybody knew that Mister Bisley was going to get his rematch for the Fifteen title though. But he really wanted another crack at the Legacy title too. That particular title match was being earmarked at the time for Logan though. So the three of them ended up together for both titles, Sparrow and Logan split the falls and the belts, and the guy who desperately wanted everything and thought he was owed it all, walked away with nothing for a second time. Now four months later and what has he gathered from his last outing? He figures he should get another shot because he didn’t get…

Theodore lifts his hands to make a finger quotes gesture to the camera.

Theodore Harris: … beaten…

And a second one here as well.

Theodore Harris: … at All Star Showdown. Well Mark, just to be clear, regardless of the semantics of the situation that unfolded that night, you lost. You may not have been pinned and you may not have submitted, but you still lost. That match gave you two separate opportunities to claim a championship, but you weren’t able to capitalize on either of them. That very plainly and simply boils down to a you problem. You weren’t good enough. You weren’t tough enough. You weren’t driven enough. When the deciding moments came, you weren’t there for either of them. You had been taken out of the equation entirely, Mark, and you weren’t able to get back into the fight when it mattered. But here you are again. A third opportunity to try and claim the Legacy title. A chance to hopefully lay to rest that ‘what if’ that’s been haunting you for four months. What if you’d actually been involved when the match came to a close instead of being a spectator? I’d said it many months back Mister Bisley, those sorts of questions are dangerous ones to dwell on. It might be easier to live with the uncertainty of not knowing and just move on from it. But you couldn’t do that because you’re so sure that you can win. You’ve beaten Logan before one on one, so of course you assume that you’ll do it again this time around. You got that win over him a couple of weeks before All Star Showdown and now you figure you can go two for two and get some gold back around your waist.

Theodore then holds up both hands, palms out towards the camera as though urging something or someone to stop.

Theodore Harris: Now, I do have to make a slight digression here before I get back to the main point. There was something that had been on my mind for the last couple of weeks since the rumours of Mister Bisley trying to get this title match were made public. It seemed rather curious that given what had happened that he would target Logan for the Legacy championship. Despite what Mister Bisley says and thinks, there was a pretty clean break between him, Logan and Sparrow at All Star Showdown. Mister Bisley had used his rematch for the Fifteen championship there, so he wasn’t entitled to anything afterwards. Logan wasn’t owed a second match with Sparrow for the Fifteen championship. Sparrow could have looked for a rematch against Logan for the Legacy title, but as he was Fifteen champion and had been Legacy champion for the better part of a year at that point, he didn’t see a need to pursue it. Considering that, leading into All Star Showdown, Mister Bisley was making it known that he was eyeing a run at the United States championship, presumably after getting the Fifteen title back and defending it four more times, I have to ask one question. Why now aim for the Legacy championship when he has bigger ambitions?

A pause, just to let that question hang in the air for everyone to dwell on for a few moments.

Theodore Harris: We talked about that for a while. Mister Bisley came off a Fifteen championship reign that lasted from December 2020 to October 2021 and three successful defenses. An impressive reign. I believe that there have been several former Fifteen and Legacy champions that have had comparable title reigns and that after their reigns ended they decided to move on to bigger things. Lots of them challenged for the United States or Pride championships in short order. Take Ace Voltage as an example. So why didn’t Mister Bisley try to do the same? He could have been facing Ace Voltage here tonight. Perhaps he could have made a case for himself to be facing Owen Gonsalves rather than Gareth Prichard Jr. Certainly he would say that his resume warrants either of those opportunities… should he really want it. And that comes to the point of the digression. Mister Bisley didn’t want those opportunities. He wanted this one against Logan. Because he thinks it’s easier.

He smirks at the camera once more.

Theodore Harris: Mark Bisley is here facing Logan tonight because he doesn’t think he’s able to beat an Ace Voltage or Owen Gonsalves. He’s always looking for the easy path to success. Kinda like that best of three falls match between the Chaotics and Smart Style for the World Tag Team titles a few years back, Mark. You were hoping to get an easy path to the titles, trying to talk Ashlyn into helping you and Majima to make the match three versus one… and rightly so, because you and Majima ended up losing that one. Then you blamed him for it.

He rolls his eyes at that.

Theodore Harris: Now you figure that you can pick up an easy win, add to your resume and bolster your reputation. I can guarantee that this will be anything but an easy outing for you Mark. We were never going to advocate for you to get this match, but then Logan was never going to back away from it either, because he wants this match. You beat him back in October and he’s been waiting for an opportunity to even the tally. It didn’t happen at All Star Showdown, even though he got one up on you indirectly there. So this time, it’ll be you and him, one on one again as it should be. No distractions. No other looming opponents to consider. Unlike you, he has taken the time to learn from his failures, so Logan is focused and ready. We don’t figure that this will be an easy match as we give you the credit and respect you deserve as a competitor. You might be a challenge, but you’re not one Logan cannot overcome. He has no intention of letting you leave with his title in your possession though, just like in the last tag match the two of you were in together, Logan has a score to settle with you and he intends to make good on it here.

Theodore smiles confidently at the camera.

Theodore Harris: There is no easy way through this one, Mister Bisley. As good as you’ve been, Logan has been better and he’s going to be once again here tonight. He’s ready for any challenge put before him because he doesn’t believe that anyone is beyond his ability to beat. You’re facing someone that does what you do but has been doing it longer and still can go at a high level every time out there, so bring your best out there Mark and we’ll see how you measure up. Even if you can’t learn from your own failures, I guarantee that you’ll learn one thing here tonight.

He glances towards Logan, who stands with the Legacy title around his waist.

Theodore Harris: To beware the Quiet One.

Logan and Theodore both point a finger gun towards the camera. Then the feed goes dark.

[FGA Office]

FGA LEGACY CHAMPIONSHIP
(c) Logan Alexander vs. Mark Bisley

J.A. Aldridge: The following contest, scheduled for one fall, is for the FGA LEGACY CHAMPIONSHIP!

The arena lights dim to almost pitch blackness, save for a couple of blue lights that pulse in sync with the intro to "Storms End" that is rising in pitch and intensity until the main hook burst forth and, at that very second, the ramp is bathed in blue light as Mark Bisley strides onto the ramp with his head bowed and an arm raised before he comes to a stop on the ramp and raises his head to survey the arena wearing one hell of a self-satisfied smirk upon his face.

Keeping his arm raised as he makes his way down the ramp, Bisley walks at his own pace as he confidently walks to the ring at his own pace right up until he reaches the ringside area, and once he reaches the ringside area he lowers his arm and breaks into a short dash to give him the momentum to hop onto the ring apron where he crouches for a moment and taps the side of his head a couple of times to the song's beat before he rolls backwards into the ring and quickly gets back to his feet.

J.A. Aldridge: Introducing first, the challenger! Hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota! Weighing in at 201 pounds! He is "Smart" MARK BISLEY!

Once he's got to his feet Bisley makes his way to the nearest corner and climbs the nearest turnbuckles where he stands with one foot on the top rope and his arms held out wide as he slowly tilts his head back for a few seconds until he turns his head and peers back into the ring and climbs down, removing the towel from around his shoulders the second his feet touch the canvas and casually tossing it in the referee's direction as he takes a few steps forward so he's standing in the centre of the ring where he drops to a knee and runs his hand on the canvas to say one thing: this is my ring.

Kris Cruise: Here we go, Stephy. We're about to get our first match of Grapple Kingdom 4 underway here tonight.

Stephy Auger: Our first championship match, too!

Kris Cruise: That's right. This feud between Bisley and Alexander goes back to their days when they were feuding over the Tag Titles as apart of Smart Style and The Chaotics. Bisley feels the Legacy Championship should be his. He'll have his shot here tonight.

Stephy Auger: There won't be any Sparrow this time around. It'll be just Bisley and Alexander doing battle in there.

Without any music or fanfare, Logan strides out from the entryway, dressed to compete and wearing his championship title around his waist, with Theodore Harris walking along beside and half a step behind him. Logan’s gaze focuses on his opponent standing in the ring while Theodore looks around the arena and at the assembled crowd as they walk down the entry ramp to the ringside area.

Logan leads the way over to the nearest set of ring steps, climbs up them to the ring apron and then into the ring. Theodore follows Logan up the stairs, stopping on the ring apron.

J.A. Aldridge: His opponent, being accompanied to the ring by Theodore Harris! Hailing from Toronto, Ontario, Canada and weighing in at 227 pounds! He is the reigning... defending... FGA Legacy Champion... LOGAN ALEXANDER!

Logan moves towards the middle of the ring, unfastens and removes his title belt, then hands it to the referee. He moves back into the corner, leaning back against the turnbuckles, draping his arms on the top rope on either side of him, while looking towards his opponent the entire time. Theodore steps over behind him and leans in close, talking softly to Logan, who merely nods slightly in response to whatever is being said.

Kris Cruise: After Bisley came up short to win both the 15 and the Legacy Championships at All-Star Showdown X, both Alexander and Theodore Harris feel that Bisley doesn't deserve this opportunity. However, this is the match that Alexander wants.

Stephy Auger: That's right. Alexander is looking to even the score with Bisley one on one after Bisley got the pin on him on Vertigo last October. More important, Cruise, he wants to deny Bisley of another title. He did it years ago with the World Tag Team Titles. He did it at All-Star Showdown X with the Legacy Title. Now, he wants to do it again tonight and send Bisley to the back of the line.

Kris Cruise: Both of these men are technically sound. This should be a good one.

Theodore then steps back and descends the stairs back to the ringside mats. Logan keeps his gaze on his opponent waiting for the bell to ring.

The bell sounds as Alexander and Bisley start things off with a snug lock up. Both champion and challenger jockey for position until Alexander muscles Bisley across the ring and presses him against the ropes. Alexander remains in control until Bisley turns to his right and presses Alexander up against the ropes. After a bit of a struggle, Alexander turns to his right and presses Bisley back against the ropes. The two continue to roll against the ropes until Bisley presses Alexander up against the turnbuckles.

Ref: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!

Once both grapplers break it up, Bisley nails Alexander with a forearm strike. Alexander answers back with a palm thrust. Bisley nails Alexander with another forearm strike. Alexander answers back with another palm thrust. Bisley then nails Alexander with two forearm strikes. Alexander answers back with two palm thrusts. Bisley then nails Alexander with three forearm strikes. Alexander answers back with three palm thrusts. Bisley then feints a forearm strike before doubling Alexander over with a rolling solebutt to the midsection. He then places Alexander in a cravat, pulls him out of the corner and delivers the Iko Uwais (cravat with repeated knees to the head) before bringing him down with Greetings from the Twin Cities (hangman's neckbreaker over the knee)! He makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
Alexander kicks out.

Kris Cruise: Bisley got the better of that exchange.

Stephy Auger: He did. They were traded blows back and forth until Alexander fells for the feint. That left him wide open and Bisley took advantage from there.

Bisley takes Alexander and sends him for the ride. When Alexander returns, he gets doubled over with a knee to the midsection before getting brought down with a snap suplex. Bisley turns over into a lateral press.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
Alexander kicks out.

Bisley picks up Alexander, brings him down with a snapmare and follows up with a dropkick to the back of the head before making another cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Alexander kicks out.

Kris Cruise: Another nearfall for the challenger. Bisley has come out strong in this one.

Stephy Auger: The man's got a point to prove and a legacy he wants to secure.

Alexander gets sent for the ride again. When the champion returns, Bisley doubles him over with another rolling solebutt. After hooking both of Alexander's arms, Bisley delivers the Bisley Special (double underhook suplex floated into front guillotine choke)!

Kris Cruise: Bisley with our first submission of the contest.

Stephy Auger: Is Alexander going to tap?

Bisley cinches down on the hold. The ref asks Alexander if he wants to give up. The champ refuses. Harris can be seen on the outside slapping the apron and imploring Alexander to keep fighting. Bisley remains undeterred as he tries to get Alexander to submit. When Alexander refuses to quit, Bisley lets go before quickly transitioning into a cross armbar!

Kris Cruise: Bisley's got him in another submission.

Stephy Auger: Bisley did say he initially wanted an "I Quit" match. What better way to become Legacy Champion than by hearing Alexander give up.

Alexander is quick to clasp his hands together to prevent Bisley from hyperextending the arm. He then turns to his left and pins Bisley with a modified schoolboy.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Bisley kicks out.

Kris Cruise: Smart reversal there by the crafty veteran.

Once both grapplers are back to their feet, Bisley throws out a step-up enzugiri. The challenger whiffs when Alexander ducks the strike. With Bisley down in the prone position, Alexander rolls him up with a Japanese Leg Roll Clutch!

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Bisley kicks out.

Kris Cruise: Alexander nearly got him.

Once both grapplers are back to their feet, Bisley throws out another rolling solebutt. This time, Alexander catches the foot and counters wit a standing Ankle Lock.

Stephy Auger: Now it's Bisley that's on the wrong end of a submission!

Bisley howls out in pain while Alexander cranks away on the ankle. Bisley is then asked if he wants to give up. Bisley refuses before executing a forward roll to try and break the hold. But Alexander keeps hold of the ankle as he rolls through it. He then drops down and grapevines the leg while keeping the Ankle Lock applied! Bisley starts to yell out when Alexander twists the ankle. The challenger is asked again if he wants to give up. When Bisley refuses, Alexander applies more toque to the ankle and twists.

Kris Cruise: Alexander's really got it locked in now!

Stephy Auger: Yeah, and he's grapevined the leg. That's going to make it incredibly tough for Bisley to escape.

Harris can be seen on the outside encouraging Alexander to stay on him. Bisley lays writhing in agony while trapped in the Ankle Lock. The ref asks him again if he wants to give up. To the excitement of Harris, Bisley starts to raise his hand off the mat.

Kris Cruise: Bisley might tap here!

Bisley's hand hovers in the air. The crowd waits with bated breath for him to tap. But it never comes because Bisley refuses. The challenger slowly starts to drag himself across the canvas. Alexander continues to twist the ankle as much as he can in an attempt to slow Bisley down or get the submission. Neither end up happening as Bisley makes it to the bottom rope.

Ref: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!

Alexander reluctantly breaks the hold. Now free, Bisley slips out to the apron and holds his ankle.

Kris Cruise: Bisley made it to the ropes, but how much damage has been caused to that ankle?

Unbeknownst to Bisley, Alexander has set up shop on the far side of the ring. As Bisley picks himself up on the apron and faces the ring, Alexander runs over and leaps through the ropes, delivering a spear that sends them both landing hard on the floor!

Kris Cruise: Good Lord, what a spear!

Stephy Auger: Yeah, but it looks like Alexander may have hit his head on the floor when he landed!

With both grapplers down, the ref starts his count.

ONE!




TWO!




THREE!




FOUR!

Bisley continues to lay splayed out on the floor while Alexander lays on top of him.

FIVE!




SIX!

Bisley is the first to move. He nudges Alexander off of him before turning over to all fours.




SEVEN!

Bisley crawls over towards the ring.




EIGHT!

Bisley reaches up and uses the edge of the apron to pull himself up.






NINE!

Bisley motions to slip back in, then stops, quickly grabs Alexander and throws him back in under the bottom rope.





TE-NO!

Bisley dives back in under the bottom rope at the last possible second.

Kris Cruise: Bisley would have gotten the win there if Alexander couldn't make it back inside. But he wouldn't have gotten the title.

Bisley takes Alexander and moves him into the corner. He unleashes a flurry of a rapid fire forearm smashes. He then takes Alexander and whips him hard into the far corner. Alexander staggers out of the corner before getting brought down with a bridging Northern Lights Suplex.

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

Alexander gets sent for the ride. When he returns off the rebound, Bisley brings him down with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker! Alexander slowly turns over into the prone position before Bisley hits the ropes, flips back and connects with the Corazón de Zorro (lionsault to a face-down opponent's back)! He pushes Alexander over and makes the cover.

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

Bisley pulls Alexander back to his feet and goes for Blind Destiny (Canadian backbreaker rack dropped into double knee gutbuster), but Alexander slips down from behind, reaches back and pulls Bisley down with a hangman's neckbreaker.

Bisley turns over to a knee. He tries to get back to his feet, but Alexander brings him back down with another neckbreaker. This time, of the swinging variety. Alexander then pulls Bisley back to his feet before pulling him into a standing front facelock. He's got Bisley set up for the Chaotic Shockwave (Implant DDT), but Bisley counters by running forward and ramming Alexander back-first into the corner. After Alexander is whipped into the far corner, Bisley runs across the ring to attack. Alexander turns him around with a boot to the face before going for a running bulldog out of the corner. Bisley counters by pushing him off into the ropes. When Alexander returns, he knocks Bisley off his feet with a reverse bulldog! He makes the cover.

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

Bisley reverses an irish whip, sending Alexander into the ropes. Bisley goes for a leapfrog off the rebound, but Alexander catches him in mid air and counters with a spinebuster! He rolls across Bisley and hooks the near leg.

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

Alexander picks up Bisley before taking control of his back. Before Bisley can be thrown down, he counters with multiple back elbows to the face. Once he's free, he takes off into the ropes. Bisley returns off the rebound before getting thrown down with the Chaotic Impact (STO)! He then pulls Bisley back to his feet before bringing him down with the Chaotic Repeater (multiple rolling German Suplexes)! After the fifth German, Alexander rolls over and pulls Bisley back to his feet. Instead of going for a sixth German, Alexander turns Bisley towards him before planting him with the Chaotic Shockwave (Implant DDT)! He makes the cover.

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

Alexander pulls Bisley back to his feet and places him in a three quarter facelock. He motions for the Stryke Force (Ace Crusher), but Bisley pushes him off into the ropes. Alexander returns off the rebound before getting dropped down to a knee after a superkick to the leg. Bisley knocks Alexander down with a superkick to the head before heading to the top. Seconds later, Bisley lands across Alexander with the Sapienza (frog splash to the opponent's legs)! He then takes control of Alexander's legs before turning him over into the Minnesota Cloverleaf (Texas cloverleaf with a knee to the opponent's back)! The ref gets down and asks Alexander if he wants to give up. Alexander can be seen yelling out in pain. Harris heads over and tells Alexander to keep fighting. The ref asks Alexander again if he wants to give up. Alexander refuses. Bisley keeps the hold applied. Alexander reaches out for the ropes, but he's nowhere near them. He then tries to pull himself forward, but he can't. Alexander is trapped with nowhere to go. The ref continues to ask him if he wants to give up. Alexander still won't give in. He then slowly reaches back before grabbing a hold of Bisley's leg. Alexander pulls the leg until Bisley eventually topples over. Alexander then stands up before reversing into the Perfect Chaos Theory (Sharpshooter)! Bisley yells out in pain as Alexander fights for a submission. The ref asks him if he wants to give up. When Bisley refuses, Alexander leans forward to apply more pressure to the hold. Bisley lays writhing in pain while he's trapped in the submission. He tries to pull himself forward, but Alexander keeps him held in place. Bisley's asked again if he wants to give up. As soon as Bisley turns down the chance to quit, Alexander transitions into the Abridged Chaos Theory (STF)! Bisley howls in pain while Alexander pulls back hard on the hold. He then repeatedly yanks back as he tries to force a submission. Bisley's asked again if he wants to give up. Bisley raises his hand off the mat. The hand hovers in the air... but he wags his finger and refuses. Bisley continues to reach out. He tried to fight through the pain. He tries to hang on... but he eventually taps out.

J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this bout... aaaaand STIIILLLL FGA Legacy Champion, LOGAN ALEXANDER!

The boos continue as Alexander gets his arm raised in victory.

[FGA Office]

Once again we return to Silk & Cyanide’s inner sanctum, their candlelit locker room rich with the scent of opulence and excess, where the wine flows like their opponent’s blood, and inside the inner sanctum we find Erin Mariani is once again her usual louche self as she sits cross-legged on her chaise longue with a generously poured tumbler of fine scotch in her hand – yet Sara Mason is anything but louche, instead she is pacing back and forth behind the chaise longue.

Sara Mason: Loathe as I am to act as if I’m some sort of veteran passing on knowledge to the younger generation, which is done in the most patronising manner possible to try and keep people in their place, one thing that the two of us have certainly noticed is that people in this company are not happy with what they have. And that’s understandable, nobody should settle for what they’re given and accept that’s their lot, but that’s not the issue. The issue, which tonight’s entertainment so thanklessly demonstrate to all and sundry, is that when they’re unhappy with their lot their response is to try and drag somebody else down to their level of failure and general disinterest, because they think that if they can’t raise themselves from the pitifully low level where they reside, the best course of action is to try and pull as many people down with them.

Erin Mariani: Pathetic. It is truly pathetic that some people feel the need to try and inflict their lives of failure on those who they so desperately wish to emulate, yet have no hope of doing so.

Sara Mason: Make no mistake, Ashes, you attempts to drag us down to your level of misery have not gone unnoticed. They did not go unnoticed when you decided the best course of action would be to try and embarrass us while adding an additional match to our schedules while you got to sit at home, they did not go unnoticed when you told anyone who would listen that you’d be at ringside for that match which you decided we needed to go through while you were sitting at home like the heroes you think you are, and they certainly didn’t go unnoticed when you failed to go through with that threat because we left the pair of you broken, bruised and suddenly feeling a lot less smug before you ever had the chance. Twice, when you consider that I took the time to put one of you down the other day just so you’d get a sneak preview of what’s coming.

Erin Mariani: It’s hilarious, it genuinely is, to see two people going out of their way to gain our attention knowing that if they cross us they may well get what they want, yet it never seemed to occur to them that they were simply learning how far they could push their luck before the inevitable consequences came back to eat them alive. Did they honestly believe that they could act in whichever way that they wished and we would allow it without a hint of retaliation? Or was their plan to poke the bear until they got a taste of what was to come, thinking that if they could recover in time they would know what our biggest shots were and what their ability to withstand them would need to be? Because if you wanted to have us test the limits for how much pain you can take, there was no need for you to insert yourself into our business – you could have simply asked…

A particularly devilish look crosses Mariani’s face, but not devilish because she looks like she’s irritated or angered with what Ashes 2 Ashes have done – rather because it seems she likes the idea of having them willingly subject themselves to her whims…

Erin Mariani: More than anything else, this is why an example needs to be made of the two of you, because after you put so much time into trying to get under our skin it is only fitting that we put a lot of time and effort into leaving our mark on your skin, so that every single time you look in a mirror you have a timely reminder that there are certain mistakes which have particularly grave consequences, mistakes which could have been avoided if you simply used better judgment.

Sara Mason: But where’s the fun in using better judgment, huh? Oh sure, there must have been that teeny tiny voice in the back of your collective mind suggesting that maybe you shouldn’t get on our bad side in the hope that it gets you a title match you did nothing to earn, but you can ignore that voice and everything will work out great…

A beat

Sara Mason: …except it didn’t work out great, did it? Oh sure, for a couple of weeks you got to tell yourselves you were getting under our skins, when the reality was you just gave us a reason to educate you about your mistakes. And, funnily enough, you’ve been a little quiet about that ever since, haven’t you? And all it took was a little nudge of reality that told you that children shouldn’t play with matches if they want to avoid getting burned.

The mention of fire causes the tiniest smirk to cross Mason’s face

Sara Mason: But this does beg a particularly interesting question of the pair of you: just how much do you want these titles? These titles which my partner & I were denied through one form of trickery or another for far too long and have finally gotten hold of, how badly do you want them? Because if you’re looking them as just an accessory, a prop, or something to hold bragging rights over other people then I applaud your naiveté in the pair of you thinking the best course of action was to step up to the two of us, because not only have you given us a reason to destroy you for the sheer nerve that the two of you have demonstrated in coming for what does not belong to you, but if you honestly treat these titles as an afterthought and you only want them to compliment your ring gear or whatever else you think they’d look “cute” when paired up with then you have given me…us and additional reason to make your evening a living hell you wish you could escape from but can’t, as you willingly walked into the spider’s parlour and thought you could tiptoe out with something you have no right to not to prove something, but because your jealousy is making you do some very, very stupid things

Erin Mariani: Which is the most beautiful thing, when somebody mistakes their own stupidity for a misplaced sense of bravery and willingly seal their own fate to the point that it is a kindness when the coupe de grace falls upon their head – the only kindness they will receive, because everything up until that point will have them wishing, begging, pleading for the coupe de grace that will give them the mercy that they do not deserve but will end the ordeal not for them, but for us. Because this is what we intend to do, make the two of you suffer for your transgressions until it becomes inconvenient for us to drag it out any longer, and that is when we will end the two of you and leave with the titles we so richly deserve in our hands, and you will be swept out of the ring because there will not be enough left to walk away under your own power. And maybe then, when you have been physically, mentally and psychologically broken down will you realise that was always going to happen to you from the very second you decided that you wanted to interfere with our business, and any hopes or dreams you had of anything else happening was pure delusion on your part which we have no interest in indulging

Sara Mason: And that's why the closest you’re getting to these titles will be when we are handed our titles after defeating you, with your blood on our hands. Best hope for your sake I’m not talking literally…

[FGA Office]

FGA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
(c) Silk & Cyanide vs. Ashes to Ashes

J.A. Aldridge: The following contest, scheduled for one fall, is for the FGA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP!

The opening guitar riff of "Warrior" by Skarlett Riot begins to play over the sound system seconds before the Hybrid Champion Ashley Sands walks out onto the stage. Pointing out to the fans all over the arena, Sands walks down to the ring. Once she gets down to ringside, and gets on the apron before climbing the turnbuckle from the outside. She nimbly climbs the turnbuckle from the outside to perch atop the top rope as she sits on her knees. With her name being announced, Ashley holds both of her arms up as she lays back on the turnbuckle post behind her. Flashing from cameras going off all around her, Sands rolls forwards to flip down into the ring and land on her feet.

"I Bring the Darkness (End of Days)" by Jim Johnston featuring Tommy Vext begins to play as the aisle way fills up with smoke. AMC rises up from the smoke in full face paint and is trying not to cough from all the smoke.

”Who do you think you are?
You’ve now gone much to far!”

AMC steps through the smoke and looks around at the crowd she then slowly walks toward the ring basically strutting with a smirk as she fist bumps some of the fans

”I bring the darkness!
I am the thunder!
I come from HELL
And I’ll pull you under!”

AMC walk up the steps, taking a moment to wipe her feet on the apron before getting into the ring. AMC then drops to her knees in the middle of the ring and stretches out her arms and looks out toward the crowd.

J.A. Aldridge: Introducing first, weighing in at a total combined weight of 244 pounds! They are the team of Ashley Sands and Ashley Marie Chase... ASHES TO ASHES!

Kris Cruise: Ashes to Ashes are finally getting their two on two shot at the tag titles. There's no gauntlet this time. There's no triple threat. It's only going to be Ashes to Ashes and Silk & Cyanide in there.

Stephy Auger: Let's be honest with ourselves here, Cruise. Ashes to Ashes have done nothing to deserve a shot at those titles. All they've done is interfere and stick their noses in The Divine Duo's business time and time again.

Kris Cruise: Well let's see here, Stephy. The Renegades of Funk are no more. Silk & Cyanide just successfully defended the titles against the Illuminati PROJEKT. Therefore, that makes Ashes to Ashes next in line. Or would they rather stand around for months on end and not defend their gold like they did when they were the United States Tag Champions?

The sounds of a woman's laugh that drips heavy with contempt echoes through the arena as the arena's lights dim, and as the lights dip into pitch darkness the laughter bleeds into the intro of "Your Addiction" and the arena light bloom once more as Erin Mariani and Sara Mason slink their way onto the entrance ramp with Mariani carrying Her belt across her shoulder while Mason drags hers behind her, and once they reach the top of the ramp Mariani runs a fingertip across the face of Her title belt while Mason drops into a crouch and picks up the belt she;s been dragging along behind her and the two fix their eyes on the creatures in the ring who think they have the right to take these belts away from them

Hey come in
And let me get under your skin, your skin
You started something you can't win, can't win
I am your church these are your sins, your sins
Now don't you wish you could take 'em back cause

Once the pair reach ringside they split off in two directions, with Mason walking one way and thoughtlessly chucking her belt into the ring while Mariani takes Her time walking around the ring, occasionally glancing at the opponents to remind Herself which one is which but always makes sure Her glance returns to the belt which is upon Her shoulder

You've been bitten
And now you made me your addiction
Just tell me when you've had enough
Was your decision
And now you made me your addiction
Just tell me when you've had enough

Having decides to stop toying with their prey for a moment, Mariani climbs the nearest turnbuckle and stands there and holds Her title belt above the heads of Her opponents, on the opposite side of the ring, Mason dives under the bottom rope and slides into the ring, rising to a knee as she grabs her belt off the canvas as she sizes up this evening's entertainment while Mariani grabs the top ropes and vaults into the ring where she lands on Her feet yet somehow never breaks Her line of sight on the opponents

J.A. Aldridge: Their opponent, making their way to the ring at a total combined weight of 248 pounds! They are the reigning... defending... FGA World Tag Team Champions! They are the team of Erin Mariani and Sara Mason... SILK & CYANIDE!

But first
Tell me you like the way it hurts, it hurts
Started a fire but you got burned, got burned
I am your god I am your curse, your curse
Don't you wish you could fade to black cause

Having made their way into the ring, Mariani and Mason decide which corner they're having for the match and Mariani takes a few steps back towards it while Mason crawls backwards, both of them maintaining eye contact the entire time just to make sure the opposition don't get too comfortable, and as they reach the corner Mariani pulls Herself onto the top rope while Mason drops to a crouch

You've been bitten
And now you made me your addiction
Just tell me when you've had enough
Was your decision
And now you made me your addiction
Just tell me when you've had enough

As they wait for the bell to ring, Mason holds her belt in one hand while using her other to goad her opponents to come a little closer just so they can find our what will happen, while Mariani holds Her belt on her shoulder and aims an icy stare at the unfortunate souls who have been duped into being Her opponents to suggest that tonight won't be their night...

The bell sounds as both teams meet up in the center of the ring and start trading punches!

Kris Cruise: These two teams aren't wasting any time going right after each other!

Stephy Auger: There's no love lost here!

The crowd is at a fever pitch while Ashes to Ashes & Silk & Cyanide continue to trade blows. The fists continue to fly back and forth until Ashes to Ashes gain the upper hand. The cheers grow louder as Ashley Sands and Ashley Marie Chase knock Erin Mariani and Sara Mason back with each punch. As a dazed Silk & Cyanide are near the ropes, Ashes to Ashes turn and take off into the far ropes. They pick up speed as they run back across the ring. Before they can strike, Silk & Cyanide go to chuck them over the top rope with a hip toss! Instead, Ashes to Ashes bounce off the top rope and bring the tag champs down with rebound arm drags. Mariani and Mason return to a vertical base before Sands and AMC rush over and hit a running hurricanrana, sending them both down and rolling to the outside.

Kris Cruise: Silk & Cyanide have just been sent to the floor!

AMC and Sands run across the ring and scale adjacent corners. Once Mason & Mariani are back to a vertical base, the crowd explodes with cheers when Ashes to Ashes flip off and knock them down with moonsaults!

Kris Cruise: Sands and Chase have laid out the champions!

Stephy Auger: This is NOT the way this match was supposed to go!

Sands takes Mason and slams her face-first onto the apron before pushing her back in under the bottom rope. Once Sands rolls back in, she takes Mason, brings her into the corner and slams her face-first into the top turnbuckle. She then turns Mason around and rocks her with four right hands before whipping her into the far corner. Sands points over at Mason before running across the ring and throwing out a Wind Kick (running big boot in the corner)! She connects! The cheers continue as Mason gets whipped back into the previous corner before getting caught with another Wind Kick! Mason crumbles to the mat while Sands steps out to the apron.

Kris Cruise: Sands is looking to take flight! She wants to end this one right now!

Sands scales the turnbuckles with purpose. She gets to the top and motions for Sunset (Swanton Bomb)! Before she can finish Mason off, Mariani leaps up to the air and shoves her off, sending her crashing hard on the floor!

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Kris Cruise: Oh come on!

Stephy Auger: What did you want her to do, let Sands hit her partner with her finisher?

Mariani turns to her left on the apron and gets caught with a running pump knee from AMC! She then doubles Mariani over before lifting her up and powerbombing her off the apron to the floor!

Kris Cruise: What a powerbomb from AMC!

Stephy Auger: She wanted to powerbomb Mariani through the floor!

AMC shouts down at Mariani until Mason runs up from behind and knocks her off the apron with Aphrodite’s Sweet Dream (heel kick to the back of an opponent's head)!

Mason heads to the outside, marches down ringside and motions for J.A. Aldridge to get up out of his chair. The ring announcer readily gives up his seat.

Kris Cruise: This better go better for Mason than the last time she tried to use a chair...

Mason snatches up the chair before walking back down ringside and putting the chair in place. She then backs up towards the timekeeper's table. Once Sands picks herself up off the floor, Mason runs back down ringside before knocking her down with the Cornix (chair-assisted flying clothesline)! The boos continue as Sands gets rolled back inside. Mason then rolls back in for the cover.

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

Sands gets brought to her feet before getting doubled up with the Lyssa (side kick to an opponent's midsection)! Mason goes to bring Sands over into the Silk & Cyanide corner, but Mariani is still feeling the effects of that powerbomb off the apron. So Mason decides to go it alone for the time being with a one-handed bulldog. She pushes Sands over and makes the cover.

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

Sands gets brought back to her feet. After a cross chop to the throat doubles her over, Mason brings her down with a snapmare before coming off the ropes and flattening her with a sliding clothesline. She makes the cover.

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

Mason takes Sands, brings her over towards the side of the ring and chokes her down across the middle rope. The crowd boos Mason while the ref gives her to the count of five to break the choke.

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

Mason breaks the choke and takes off into the far ropes. She picks up speed on her way back across the ring before hitting the Crystal Plumage (cross body block to the back of an opponent draped over the middle rope)! Mason makes the cover.

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

Mason makes the cover again.

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

Mason makes yet another cover. This time, she hooks the leg.

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

Mason swings over on top of Sands, grabs her hair with both hands and proceeds to repeatedly rams the back of her head against the canvas. The boos continue as she heads back over towards the side of the ring before choking Sands across the middle rope again.

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

Mason lets go and takes off into the far ropes. She runs back across the ring and hurls herself at Sands for another Crystal Plumage! She misses! The crowd cheers when Sands drops down to the mat, causing Mason to bounce off the middle rope.

Kris Cruise: Mason went to the well one too many times.

Mason rolls over towards the center of the ring. She remains curled up before turning over to a knee. Once she's back to her feet, she sees Sands picking herself back up. Mason looks over her shoulder and sees AMC pulling herself up to the apron. Sands goes to the left to try and go around Mason to make the tag, but Mason cuts her off. When Sands goes to her right, Mason cuts her off again. Sands then says screw it and runs right at Mason. The tag champ prepares for a strike. Instead, Sands goes to slide through Mason's legs. She nearly makes it, but Mason reaches down in time and grabs her by the hair.

Stephy Auger: Nuh uh uh...

Mason slowly pulls Sands back to her feet before Sands swats her hands off her and knocks her down with a dropkick. She then rolls forward, dives over and tags in AMC!

Kris Cruise: Chase is in!

AMC scales the turnbuckles. Mason gets back to her feet, turns around and gets brought down with It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's A Chase (High crossbody block)!

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

AMC takes Mason and whips her into the ropes. Mason returns off the rebound before getting knocked off her feet with a standing dropkick. AMC runs over and knocks Mason back down with a clothesline. Mason is then brought back down with a swinging neckbreaker before AMC makes the cover.

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

AMC goes for an irish whip, but Mason reverses. When AMC hits the ropes, Mariani jumps up and elbows her in the back! AMC staggers away from the ropes before Mason brings her 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 continue as Mason reaches back in, drags AMC into position and brings her down with the Diabolik (swinging neckbreaker to an opponent hanging off the apron to the arena floor)!

Stephy Auger: Did you hear the impact from that move?

Kris Cruise: It wasn't exactly a soft landing.

AMC gets rolled back inside. Mason then slides back in for the cover.

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

Mariani gets tagged in. The boos continue as Silk & Cyanide bring AMC down with Descent (double suplex dropped into sitout gourdbuster from Mariani)! Mason steps back out to the apron and gets the tagged. Mariani then positions AMC on the mat before Silk & Cyanide deliver F.W.Y. (Mariani slingshots the opponent into the ropes as Mason hits a slingshot crossbody to drive them onto Mariani's knees)! Mason makes the cover.

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

Mariani gets the tag. The crowd boos as Silk & Cyanide bring AMC down with Heaven Bound (inverted atomic drop by Mason into double knee backbreaker by Mariani)! She makes the cover.

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

Kris Cruise: Another nearfall for the champs. They're working like a well-oiled machine in there.

Stephy Auger: Look, you can hate them all you want, but you can't deny that they're not a great team.

Mason gets the tag. After Mariani doubles AMC over with a knee to the midsection, Silk & Cyanide bring her down with Paradiso (Mason takes the opponent down with a sunset flip, then flips them up into a running kneelift from Mariani)! Mason makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
T-NO!

The crowd cheers as Sands dives over and breaks up the pin.

Kris Cruise: Sands with the timely save.

Sands steps back out to the apron while Mason heads back over and makes the tag to Mariani.

Silk & Cyanide set up AMC for The Pleasure Principle (Mariani holds the opponent in a front facelock as Mason comes off the top rope to rake the opponent's back). Before Mason can come off the top, AMC takes Mariani, pivots and runs forward, ramming Mariani back-first into the corner. This also causes Mason to slip and end up crotched on the top turnbuckle.

Kris Cruise: That plan just blew up right in their faces, Stephy!

The cheers continue as AMC unleashes a series of repeated chest kicks to Mariani. After hoisting Mariani up onto the middle ropes, AMC brings her out of the corner with the Gucci Drop (Backpack Stunner)! AMC gets back to her feet, dives over and tags Sands back in.

Sands slingshots into the ring, rushes over and hits Mariani with the Wind Whisper (rolling senton) before immediately getting back to her feet, running over and knocking Mason off the top turnbuckle with the Wind Kick!

Kris Cruise: There goes Mason!

Sands runs back over and hits Mariani with another Wind Whisper before turning over for the cover.

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

Mariani reverses an irish whip, sending Sands into the ropes. When Sands returns, Mariani goes for a back body drop. Sands ends up slipping down from behind before countering with a reverse side russian legsweep. Mariani is then picked up before getting whipped into the corner. Sands runs across the ring and sends her crumbling out of the corner with a spinning heel kick. The cheers continue as Sands gets up on the middle ropes before planting Mariani with a Tornado DDT! Instead of going for the cover, Sands picks up Mariani before lifting her up onto her shoulders.

Kris Cruise: What's Sands doing?

Stephy Auger: I don't know, but I don't like it.

Sands backs up towards the Ashes to Ashes corner while AMC scales the turnbuckles.

Kris Cruise: Whatever this is, it could be the end of Silk & Cyanide's run as tag champs if it gets pulled off.

The crowd explodes with cheers as AMC leaps off and drives Mariani down with a bulldog! Mariani slowly rolls over onto her back while Sands steps out to the apron. She climbs to the top, flips off and hits the Sunset! NO! Mariani got her knees up in time!

AMC turns around and does a double take when she sees that Sands is down. She then runs over to attack Mariani, but Mariani counters by taking AMC and throwing her over the top rope. AMC lands safely on the apron, but Mason is able to quickly yank her down to the floor. The crowd boos as Mason smacks her face on the apron on the way down. Back inside, Sands turns over onto a knee before getting obliterated with Lilith's Kiss (bicycle knee strike)! Mariani makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
THREE!

Kris Cruise: Silk & Cyanide retrain!

The crowd erupts with boos as "Your Addiction" blares throughout the arena.

J.A. Aldridge: The winners of this bout... aaaaaaand STILLLLLL FGA World Tag Team Champions, SILK & CYANIDE!

Kris Cruise: Silk & Cyanide have retained yet again as they defeat Ashes to Ashes!

Stephy Auger: The win was never in doubt, Cruise.

Kris Cruise: I don't know what match you were watching, Cruise, but the match looked to be very much in doubt. If Mariani didn't get her knees up there at the end, we would have new champs right now.

Silk & Cyanide raise each other's arms in victory... before putting the boots to Sands. The crowd boos the champions while the bell repeatedly sounds.

Kris Cruise: What the hell, Stephy! They won the match! There's no need for this.

Stephy Auger: Oh, but there is! It's time for Ashes to Ashes to be taught a lesson.

Kris Cruise: There's no lesson to be taught. Silk & Cyanide retained.

Stephy Auger: Oh yes there is. Ashes to Ashes stuck their nose in business that it didn't belong. If you think Silk & Cyanide were satisfied with just a win here, then you were sadly mistaken.

Mason rolls back into the ring with a steel chair and swings it down hard across Sands' torso. The bell sounds. She then turns to AMC and jabs her in the midsection with the chair. AMC remains doubled over until she gets knocked down to her knees after a chairshot across the back. The bell sounds again. Mason grips the chair as hard as hard as possible before getting clobbered across the face with the chair. The bell repeatedly sounds.

*THWACK!*

Stephy Auger: Back back back back back... GONE! A home run for Sara Mason!

Kris Cruise: This isn't funny, Stephy!

Mariani takes the chair from Mason before Mason heads to the outside. Mariani grips both sides of the chair and repeatedly drives the top of it into Sands' ribs. The bell repeatedly sounds again. The boos continue as Sands is pulled up off the mat before getting planted with the Subjugation (Implant DDT) on the chair! The ref's had enough of this and heads to the outside and relay a message to Aldridge.

J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the referee has reversed his decision! Your winners of this contest as a result of a disqualification... ASHES TO ASHES!

Kris Cruise: He can, too! Silk & Cyanide already won the damn match! They should have left well enough alone! They'll retain their titles because they can't change hands via disqualification, but they will officially go down as losers tonight as a result of their post-match antics

Stephy Auger: What? What!? WHAT!? He can't do that!

On the outside, Mason goes after the official, but the ref is smart enough to hp the guardrail and get the heck out of dodge. She then marches back over, looks underneath the ring and pulls out a table. Back inside the ring, Sands gets planted with a second Subjugation on the chair. Back on the outside, Mason is seen dousing the table with a liquid before reaching into her boot and pulling out a zippo lighter. The crowd gasps when she lights the table on fire.

Kris Cruise: Oh no...

Mason makes her way up the steps before entering back in through the ropes. Mariani and Mason stare at each other other... then turn to the table on the outside... before slowly turning over towards AMC.

Kris Cruise: Chase has to get out of there!

Stephy Auger: I think it's a little too late for that.

Silk & Cyanide rush over and yank AMC back to her feet. They each hook an arm before rushing over towards the side of the ring. The crowd erupts with boos as Silk & Cyanide chuck AMC over the top rope with a double hip toss, sending her through the flaming table on the outside!

Kris Cruise: WHAT THE HELL IS THE MATTER WITH YOU TWO!? DO YOU HAVE NO CONSCIENCE!? DAMMIT!

Stephy Auger: Ashes to Ashes knew the risks! They were playing with fire by getting involved with Silk & Cyanide! Now, one of them just got burned!

The ref tends to AMC while she lays motionless amongst the brief. The crowd continues to rain boos down upon Silk & Cyanide as they make their exit with the tag Titles in their possession...

[FGA Office]

The scene switches to a different part of the arena, this time the section of the hallway that leads to the gorilla position. Slow footsteps can be heard almost echoing on the hard surface as the figure of Savannah Taylor is shown making her way down the hall. Dressed in her ring attire which is shown peeking out from underneath her entrance robe, she rubs her hands together slowly.

Savannah Taylor: For the past few weeks, everywhere I’ve gone, everyone always has had the same question on their minds. Why did I attack John Carmichael with a chair? Why did I attack someone from behind? As much as I would like to say the answer is a simple, straightforward “Because” answer, it’s a little more complex than that. You see, John Carmichael and I have what you would call history in this company. Not to the extent that I have with others here, but a history nonetheless. While many people may question what I did and call it reckless, I like to think of it as getting reacquainted with an “old friend.”

She does the air quotes for an added effect.

Savannah Taylor: John, Johnny, John Boy. I know you of all people want an answer for my actions. What I did when I knocked you to the ground with the steel chair was to prove a point. Not to me, but to you. I know all about your new reformed self, your new attitude, so to speak. I know you’ve gotten yourself quite the edge and many consider you to be a more dangerous version of the person who has been around here virtually since the beginning.

The Las Vegas native can be seen smirking as she shook her head.

Savannah Taylor: So you’ve gone and gotten rid of some dead weight and gotten yourself a fancy new name. It still doesn’t do much to cover up the fact that at your core, you are no better than those you swear to eliminate from the face of the Earth. It still doesn’t do much to eliminate the fact that you are STILL the same person you’ve always been, just with a shiny coat of paint. It also doesn’t do anything to hide the fact that despite your best efforts in mere minutes, I’m going to be the one person whom you can’t get rid of and whom you can’t kill. You want to know what happened to the last person who tried to do what you are hoping to do to me tonight? You want to know what happened to the last person who let me get so far under their skin that they lost all sense of reality? He’s hopefully lying face down in a ditch somewhere. So no, Carmichael. I’m not listening to what people are saying and being scared of you.You want to know why?

She pauses for a second.

Savannah Taylor: Because I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that inside of that ring, you can’t freaking touch me. I know that when it comes to straight up, good old fashioned WRESTLING….you aren’t close to being in my league. There are only two people who I would consider to be on my wrestling level, technically three, but I’m not going to give Cordy that satisfaction of a compliment. One of those people is Owen Gonsalves, and the other isn’t around right now. So tell me, Johnny, why should I even be intimidated by you? I will wait until you can give me a legit and worthwhile answer. Until then, allow me to go out there and show everyone why A- I’m not as intimidated by you as they want me to be and B- Why I’m becoming the definition of eff around and find out.

With that, Savannah flips the hood of her robe over her head as she walks towards the gorilla position and the scene switches to the ringside area.

[FGA Office]

We cut back to the Blue Cross Arena to see the bowl is filled with an excited, energetic crowd focused entirely on the ring – but their excitement and energy isn’t creating a wall of cheers, instead it is creating a wall of boos, all of which are aimed towards the man currently standing in one corner of the ring, checking his nails for any sign of an unsightly hangnail prior to his match this evening, and certainly not paying mind to the wall of boos heading in his direction

John Carmichael

John Carmichael who, when not taking the opportunity to check whether or not it’s worth taking a nail file to his index finger, also has a microphone in his hand and fully intends to use it whether the crowd want him to or not, and as the crowd pauses for a fraction of a second to catch their collective breath that is when he immediately jumps in to say what is on his mind

John Carmichael: A few months ago, I had a match against Chandler Scott, and match where you can’t say that I defeated him and, frankly, not even a match where it could be said that I destroyed him: instead what you can say is that, in the centre of this very ring, I carried out an exorcism on behalf of this company as I purged a negative presence that was sucking the life out of each and every person attached to this company, a presence which many before me had talked of removing yet never managed to get the job done. And yet…

At first it appears that Carmichael is going to continue, but those last two words give him pause

John Carmichael: “And yet…”

The fact that he’s mulling over those two words indicate that something else is on his mind

John Carmichael: Okay, those two words, that’s the issue right there: you would think that ridding this company of Chandler Scott by simply brutalising him in a manner than nobody even considered doing before would have been headline news. You would think that doing just that to put a stamp on my spot in this company’s Hall of Fame would have been headline news. There are a lot of things you would think, “And yet…”

Passing the mic between his hands for a moment, the look on Carmichael’s face says it all, and the uptick in vitriol as he begins to speak further underlines it

John Carmichael: What I did for this company was prove, once and for all, that for as much as they want to tell themselves otherwise they don’t need to roll out the red carpet for Chandler Scott every time he feels like dusting off his boots and his jockstrap for yet another go-round, because I just slapped him around like he was some wet behind the ears rookie talking a big game but woefully unprepared for the realities of stepping up to somebody well above their abilities. Yet what do I get for it? A quick tweet mentioning that I’m in the Hall of Fame and a steel chair wrapped around my head, that’s what I got

Once again, Carmichael pauses

John Carmichael: On the one hand I get it, because not only has Savannah Taylor made the mistake of tying so much of her career to the hologram of Chandler Scott but tied her entire life to him, so it’s no surprise that she thought that she was helping not only herself but also this company by trying to shut me up. Again, in some weird way, I get it – but I have to say that I am very disappointed in you, because for the first time in what feels like the history of this company every single person in the office, in the locker room and in the crowd had been handed an opportunity to move on from Chandler Scott and think for themselves, but then you grabbed that chair because you wanted the status quo to remain in place even though I’d cut the status quo down and you’re trying to preserve the memory of something which isn’t there anymore

Pulling the microphone close to his face, Carmichael looks into the camera as he intones his next thought nugget

John Carmichael: And there’s the problem, Savannah: you went out of your way to try and shut me up so you could say your piece, because just like the chimps at typewriters in the office you desperately want to cling to this idea which I thoroughly dismantled after saying that I was going to dismantle it, and that means that now it is time for you to receive a lesson in re-education at my hand. A lesson you could have avoided if you just listened, but of course you weren’t going to because you maneuvered yourself into a position where you couldn’t listen because you have spent so long on the rollercoaster and have so much invested in being on that rollercoaster that you think that’s it’s normal to spend your every waking moment on it, but it isn’t normal Savannah – it’s just a ride, it always was, but you have spent so long on it that you want to silence anyone telling you that it’s just as easy to get off that ride as it is to get on it

Taking a deep breath, Carmichael continues

John Carmichael: And yet…and there’s that phrase again, “And yet”, and yet you refuse to get off the ride and attack me for opening the eyes of those who needed them opened, and I know you said you had your reasons but the fact is that the reason you picked up that chair was one party petty vindictiveness and two parts fear. Fear that I showed you just what a mistake you had made tying your life to Chandler Scott, fear that with the most sacred of sacred cows slaughtered that your life would spin out of control not because of everything that you did but entirely because I kicked the supporting pillars out from under that rollercoaster you insist on spending your life riding, fear that what you thought was a comfortable nest had a snake barging in with a hungry look in its eyes, fear that everything you thought you knew had been proven to be based on a delicately-arranged bed of lies which is now collapsing beneath you and you have no idea what to do. And that’s what brought us to where we are now: fear

A beat

John Carmichael: It’s almost funny, the same Savannah Taylor who was so dutiful when Izzy Anders told her to make my life hell and have me hating setting foot in the locker room for months on end, is now afraid not because I sicced a group of my friends on her, but because I did what I said I was going to do and that threw her entire life off kilter. It’s not fun when the boot is on the other foot, is it Savannah?

Carmichael makes sure to let that little jab hang in the air just long enough before he continues

John Carmichael: But you know what is funny, Savannah? Just how unoriginal you are when it comes to trying to silence people. Let’s start with the obvious one: you attacking me with a chair to shut me up. Now I wonder, where did you get that idea from? Could it possibly be me taking out your bestest friend in the whole wide world Izzy Anders because I was sick of her hypocrisy? It makes sense, you saw Izzy taken out and kept that idea in the back of your mind just in case it might come in useful, but you missed the point: I wasn’t taking out your beste chaver to shut her up, I was taking her out with a chair because I wanted the mask to slip, and it did, and it says it all that you have no problem with that at all. Oh no, you encourage that, after all that’s the Izzy you know and love – even though that is the Izzy Anders which I am not alone in saying that I despise, no matter how hard that she tried to hide it knowing full well the easily-led audience will happily be led by the nose

Weirdly, a smile cracks on Carmichael’s face

John Carmichael: And I have to say it’s so very, very neat how you’re part of a venn diagram Savannah, on one side you have Chandler Scott and on the other Izzy Anders, the two people who represent everything which is wrong with how this company thinks and you’re joined at the hip to both of them and seem to be proud of it, so proud that you think that trying to cave my head in with a steel chair because you don’t like what I’m saying is normal. Well it isn’t normal, Savannah, it’s so far from normal that it lives in a world where “normal” doesn’t exist, and tonight you learn what your new normal is: accepting your mistakes, accepting that you have spent so much of not just your career but your life allying yourself to the worst that humanity can offer and failing to see the sea of red flags, accepting that while you might not like me telling you this that does not justify you throwing a tantrum and trying to split my head open. And when that happens, you had better accept the result, because when your household goes 0-2 against me it’s time that you acknowledge that there’s a reason for that and not try and look in any other direction so you can keep lying to yourselves, because there comes a time in everybody’s life where they need to wake up and smell the granola, and you’re just the next person I’m helping realise this fact. And when you do realise it, what are you going to do? Are you going to pretend it never happened, or are you going to realise that you were just another link in the chain carrying people up and down on that rollercoaster they cannot bring themselves to admit is just a ride, because they’re afraid to admit what’s right in front of them?

A beat

John Carmichael: The answer, you’re going to have to learn that yourself – but the question, that gets asked tonight whether you want to hear it or not

Kris Cruise: Those were some biting words there by John Carmichael.

Stephy Auger: Well, the truth does hurt, Cruise.

Kris Cruise: I don't hear much truth from Carmichael. I hear a lot of hurt feelings and jealousy, though.

Stephy Auger: Then I suggest you clean your ears because that man was saying nothing but facts.

John Carmichael vs. Savannah Taylor

There was silence; the lights began to fade away slowly. A soft instrumental echoes out across the audience. It starts slowly, a beautiful sound that contrasts the heaviness of the world. Like feathers, it glides among the waiting audience. The lighting fixtures produce a gentle spotlight upon the stage, offset by the occasional flash here and there. As the song continues, a woman’s words begin to come through. Her voice is tender, not raising upon a whisper.

Deceived by my eyes and all I was told I should see
Opinions not mine, the person they taught me to be
One night in the dark, a vision of someone I knew
And in the darkness I saw, a voice say, I'm you.

On the stage, a feminine figure appears. Her head lowered to everything. People cannot make out who it is. As she stands there, the flashes briefly illuminate her figure. It only gives small clues on who stands at the gate. She stands in the spotlight, her shadow cast large and proudly among the stage.

Inside me a light was turned on…

The instrumental picks up again. An electric guitar now joins the progressively exciting instrumentals of before. The singer’s voice suddenly intensifies.

Then I was alive!

In the light, it is revealed that it was Savannah Taylor. She stands at the gate, a robe of obsidian and ivory hues. The hood of it shadows her eyes, but the intensity of The Las Vegas Siren remains clear as day. She starts off down the ramp, with a serious aura radiating from her body.

J.A. Aldridge: The following contest is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, hailing from Las Vegas, Nevada! Weighing in at 120 pounds! She is "The Las Vegas Siren"... SAVANNAH TAYLOR!

Carmichael immediately rolls to the outside and tries to take Taylor's head off with a lariat, but he whiffs when Taylor ducks the strike. When Carmichael turns around, Taylor tackles him down with a spear!

Kris Cruise: Carmichael tried to get the jump on Taylor, but his plan blew up in his face!

Taylor mounts herself on top of Carmichael and rains down a flurry of rights hands. Taylor continues her assault until Carmichael throws her off of him. Once both grapplers are back to their feet, Taylor runs over and brings Carmichael back down with a Sling Blade!

Kris Cruise: The Las Vegas Siren brings Carmichael back down.

Stephy Auger: Taylor is taking the fight to him.

Kris Cruise: This is a woman who took the International Championship off Jimmy Page, then proceeded to beat him in both a First Blood and a Chivalry is Dead Match. I haven't agreed with a lot of her actions over the years. But I'll give her this. She doesn't back down from anyone and she made that point clear a couple weeks back when she nearly took Carmichael's head off with the steel chair.

The Las Vegas Siren slides in underneath the bottom rope before marching across the ring. She repeatedly bounces up against the far ropes while she waits impatiently for Carmichael to get into position. Once Carmichael gets back to his feet, Taylor runs across the ring, leaps through the ropes and knocks him back down with a suicide dive!

Kris Cruise: Taylor got the most out of that dive to the outside!

Taylor climbs up to the apron. Once Carmichael returns to a vertical base, Taylor knocks him back down with an Asai Moonsault!

Stephy Auger: There she goes again!

Carmichael turns over on all fours and starts to crawls over towards the ring steps. After he's used the steps to pull himself back up, Taylor runs up from behind before hitting a leapfrog one handed bulldog onto the steps!

Kris Cruise: Carmichael just got driven face-first into those unforgiving steps!

Stephy Auger: He needs to think of something quick, Cruise. This is going all wrong for him.

Taylor takes Carmichael and rolls him back inside. Once she slides back in, the bell finally sounds. Taylor then scales to the top turnbuckle, flips off and connects with the Ultimecia (Phoenix Splash)! She hooks the leg.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
T-NO!

The crowd boos when Carmichael gets the shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: That should have been a three count.

Stephy Auger: I'm shocked it wasn't!

Taylor takes Carmichael and slams him face-first into the top turnbuckle. After turning him around and firing off a flurry of right hands, Carmichael gets whipped into the far corner. The Las Vegas Siren runs across the ring, hurls herself at Carmichael and hits a corner back elbow. NO! Carmichael steps out of the corner and catches her in mid air.

Kris Cruise: Uh oh...

Stephy Auger: This isn't good for Savannah...

The crowd boos when Carmichael throws Taylor into the corner with a Half Nelson Suplex!

Kris Cruise: What a suplex from Carmichael!

Taylor gets yanked back to her feet before getting thrown out of the corner with a second Half Nelson Suplex! Taylor bounces off the back of her neck before flopping down into the prone position.

Stephy Auger: He's putting a little something extra behind these suplexes, Cruise.

Carmichael heads over, grabs Taylor by the hair and peels her off the mat before bringing her down with the Tahara (full nelson across the knee)!

Kris Cruise: He tried to break her back with that one, Stephy.

Carmichael grabs Taylor and drags her across the ring. He then places her down across the middle rope before choking her.

Ref: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!

Carmichael breaks the choke, only to choke her again by climbing up onto her back and pulling up on the top rope!

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

Carmichael drops down off Taylor and takes off into the far ropes. The Backbone of FGA picks up speed as he runs back across the ring before bashing Taylor with the 718 (with an opponent lying on the ropes, Carmichael runs in and swings a knee through the ropes to knee them in the head)!

Stephy Auger: Taylor caught all of that knee.

Carmichael drops down and rolls to the outside. After reaching back in and pulling Taylor's upper body out onto the apron, he sizes her up before connecting with I Am Wrestling (Mr Wrestling II knee lift)! The boos continue as he follows up with rapid fire knee lifts! He then climbs up to the apron before stepping back towards the ring post. Carmichael sizes Taylor up before running forward and connecting with a jumping knee drop across the back of the head!

Kris Cruise: He's trying to take her head off.

Stephy Auger: This is a man that's been out for blood against everyone that's wronged him. Izzy. Envi. Chandler. You saw what he did against all three of them. Hell, Envi and Chandler are on the shelf because of him. Did you think Savannah would walk out of here unscathed?

Carmichael gets back to his feet and pulls Taylor further out across the apron before bringing her down with a modified Khartbreyk (apron hung swinging neckbreaker )!

Kris Cruise: Carmichael just took a page out of Sara Mason's book.

Stephy Auger: I'm sure she won't mind.

Taylor gets chucked back in through the ropes. Carmichael slips back in through the ropes before whipping Taylor into the corner. The boos continue as Carmichael runs over and hits Taylor with Punch Drunk (running European uppercut in the corner followed by a running knee strike to the downed opponent). After Taylor gets thrown out f the corner with a double underhook suplex, Carmichael yanks up Taylor and sends her for the ride. Taylor returns off the rebound before getting thrown down with Salt of the Earth (tilt-a-whirl over the shoulder powerslam)! NO! Taylor counters with a tilt-a-whirl DDT!

Kris Cruise: What a counter from Taylor!

Stephy Auger: Carmichael thought he had the match firmly in his control, but Taylor was able to catch him with that DDT. But can she take advantage of the situation?

Carmichael stirs on the mat before returning to his feet. When he turns around, Taylor nails him with a running big boot to the face. Carmichael remains dazed as Taylor hits the ropes, comes back and connects with another running big boot. After the third big boot connects, Taylor doubles him over with a boot to the midsection before bringing him down with the Siren's Song (Scissored DDT)! She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
THR-NO!

The crowd gasps when Carmichael gets the shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: What!?

Stephy Auger: Carmichael got the shoulder up!? He got the shoulder up!

Kris Cruise: That is Savannah's patented DDT! She's put away countless grapplers away over the years with that move. yet Carmichael got the shoulder up!

Taylor takes Carmichael, delivers an irish whip, follows him across the ring and connects with a corner back elbow. After Carmichael gets whipped into the far corner, Taylor runs across the ring to attack until a boot to the face turns her around. Carmichael hoists himself up onto the middle ropes and goes for Kiss the Dirt (diving bulldog), but Taylor counters with a pelé kick!

The Las Vegas Siren steps out to the apron before climbing the turnbuckles. When Carmichael returns to a vertical base, Taylor flips off and brings him down with the Ruby Weapon (Dragonrana)!

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
THR-NO!

Carmichael kicks out.

Taylor pulls Carmichael back up and hammers away with multiple forearms before catching him with a spinning backfist. Carmichael gets caught with a second spinning backfist. After Taylor catches him with the third, Carmichael drops down to a knee. Taylor turns and hits the ropes and comes back before knocking him down with a running bicycle knee! The Las Vegas Siren drags Carmichael into position before heading into the corner. She scales to the top, flips off and goes for a second Ultimecia! Carmichael rolls out of the way! But Taylor's able to land on her feet before her momentum sends her rolling forward. Taylor rolls back to her feet, turns and runs over to attack before getting thrown down with Life's a Bitch (pop-up sitdown powerbomb)!

Kris Cruise: Big powerbomb from Carmichael! He's got her in position for the pin! No!

Carmichael picks up Taylor and lifts her up across his shoulders before throwing her down hard with Spite (fireman's carry into backbreaker)! The boos continue as Carmichael throws her down with Spite for a second time, then a third! Taylor is slowly peeled up off the mat before Carmichael takes off into the ropes. When he returns, he knocks Taylor down with a clothesline to the back of the head. Carmichael grabs a hold of Taylor and pulls her into a front facelock.

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Stephy Auger: You know what he's setting up for here!

Kris Cruise: Sadly...

Carmichael looks out to the booing crowd before planting Taylor with the Bloodline (swinging lifting single underhook DDT, aka swinging DNA Driver)! He makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
THREE!

The crowd erupts with boos as "When The Music's Over" blares throughout the arena.

J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this bout... JOHN CARMICHAEL!

The boos continue as Carmichael puts the boots to Taylor.

Kris Cruise: Alright, Carmichael!

Stephy Auger: No, he wants his pound of flesh!

Carmichael mounts down on top of Taylor and fires off multiple right hands to the face.

Kris Cruise: I said ALRIGHT, Carmichael!

Stephy Auger: As if your pleas could stop him.

Carmichael pulls Taylor back to her feet before pulling her into a front facelock. He motions for a second Bloodline when "Animal Ghosts" blasts over the PA.

Kris Cruise: What the hell!?

Stephy Auger: No. NO! It can't be!

Kris Cruise: That's... that's CHANDLER SCOTT's theme!

Once their attention has been captured, the crowd turns to the entryway to prepare for the man that's about to walk out. Carmichael's eyes widen. Taylor drops to her knees when Carmichael lets go. A groggy Taylor smirks when she sees Carmichael put his hands on his head in shock. The camera cuts to various fans in the arena. They're all about to lose it once they see Chandler walk through the curtain for the first time in months.

Kris Cruise: John Carmichael thought he had seen the last of Chandler Scott! He thought he put him on the shelf for good!

Carmichael starts to shake his head in disbelief.







... before turning to the crowd wagging his finger at them.

Kris Cruise: OH GODDAMN IT!

Stephy Auger: AH HA HA!

When the music comes to an abrupt end, Carmichael turns and crouches down so that he and Taylor are now eye level. The realization that it was all a ruse finally sinks in. Carmichael shakes his head before telling Taylor, "no one is going to save you now." The crowd erupts with boos when Carmichael pops to his feet, runs over and flattens Taylor with a running boot to the face!

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Stephy Auger: HA HA HA! YOU ALL BOUGHT IT HOOK, LINE AND SINKER!

Carmichael heads into the corner and starts frantically untying the top turnbuckle pad before ripping it off, exposing the steel turnbuckle underneath.

Kris Cruise: ...

Stephy Auger: What's wrong, Cruise? Cat got your tongue?

Carmichael heads over, yanks Taylor up and scoops her across his shoulder before dropping her face-first across the exposed turnbuckle with the snake eyes. He then takes Taylor and sits her down on the top turnbuckle so that she's facing away from the ring. Carmichael climbs up to the middle ropes, lifts Taylor up and delivers the Bitter Taste of Failure (belly to back superplex dropped onto the top turnbuckle)! The crowd gasps when Taylor bounces off the top turnbuckle, bounces off the apron and hits the floor.

Kris Cruise: Dammit, John, enough's enough! ENOUGH'S ENOUGH!

Stephy Auger: Where you screaming enough's enough when Carmichael was getting screwed over by the likes of the New Kings, The New Murder and The Good Guys!

Kris Cruise: Yes, and you were the one that was cheering all of them on!

Stephy Auger: ... I don't recall...

Kris Cruise: OF COURSE NOT!

Carmichael rolls to the outside before pulling off the top half of the ring steps.

Kris Cruise: He's still not done!

Stephy Auger: Did you see what he did to Envi and Chandler? Of course h'es not done!

Carmichael drags the bottom half of the steep steps into position before turning to Taylor. He then pulls Taylor up onto the steps and lifts her upside down. The crowd crowd erupts with boos when Carmichael plants her with the 27 Club (jumping tombstone)!

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

[FGA Office]

Mark Storm: For a brief period, I didn't know if I'd come back. 

Standing in front of an FGA logo backdrop is Your Hero and Mine, Mark Storm, dressed in his signature purple suit and tie.

Mark Storm: My body, my mind, my soul, my spirit... everything, was just, deflated. It's been a crazy few months, I hope you've all been well. 

Storm softens his mood, smiling a little.

Mark Storm: I had to take some time away and get to know myself again. This life you know, it isn't long. We're here for a blip and before you know it, poof, it's gone. I've spent enough days reminiscing on what might've been or what could've been, those days of wishful thinking are over. I'm stepping back into the four sided ring, for the pure love of what I do, and doing it for as long as I can. This right here, this is about legacy. Leaving a mark for when it's all said and done. A former FGA Fifteen Champion... that can't be the only thing they say about Your Hero and Mine... 

He allows his signature smirk to take over his face.

Mark Storm: But some things are inevitable, like Your Hero and Mine, setting the stage and making a return. I'm out to prove that I'm still one of the best at what I do, and I'm ready to ascend up the ladder to do so. Whoever you've got, throw them at me and I'll gobble them up, I promise you. There's a yearning I have for this... this violence, and it's something that I've had since I was a little kid, I'll be honest with you. Inflicting pain, damage, and punishment to my opponents... it's the violence, that consumes me, I can get lost in it sometimes... it's what takes me to another level, and here at Frontier Grappling Arts, that's exactly what you need to thrive. 

Storm pauses, clearing his throat. 

Mark Storm: This weekend, I'll make my return in the Royal Albert Hall at Royal Battle against Julia Braddock, the hometown hero in London, England. Unfortunately for the Kensington Knockout, I'm ruining the homecoming party. The newest signing to the FGA roster, I'm honoured to be your first opponent. You should take great pleasure in being my first of many victims. The stage is set and whilst you have the hometown advantage, that won't be enough to stop me... 

Storm approaches the camera, clasping his hands together. 

Mark Storm: From Your Hero, and Mine. 

The scene gradually cuts to black.

[FGA Office]

FGA 15 CHAMPIONSHIP
© Sparrow vs Macy Dover

J.A. Aldridge: The following contest, scheduled for one fall, is for the FGA 15 CHAMPIONSHIP!

Kris Cruise: This has been a wild night already, Stephy, and we're not even five matches into the show. We've had two championship matches thus far. Both champions have retained. Will that trend continue here?

Anyway we up in this motherfucker,
Security fucking with me, telling us to stop standing on the god damn couches
Now motherfucker, you could get hurt

Turn Down for What!

"Turn Down For What" by Upon a Burning Body & Ice T begins to blare over the PA system as Ice T yells over the pumping guitars. Out onto the ramp walks Macy Dover stopping to look around the arena for a second at the top of the ramp. She hears the boos as she waves the fans off ignoring their reaction. She clenches her hands by her side, still listening to the boos as she shakes her head. She then begins walking down the ramp.

J.A. Aldridge: Introducing first, the challenger! Hailing from National City, California! Weighing in at 135 pounds! She is "The Bulldover" MACY DOVER!

A few younger fans reach out their hands hoping she'll reach out and give them a high five, but she ignores them as she makes her way to the ring. She then walks over to the stairs walking up them before swinging around the turnbuckle.

Kris Cruise: Macy Dover is back for one thing and one thing only and that's the 15 Championship.

Stephy Auger: She's the reason that the 15 Championship is even a thing. She brought that championship to FGA from 3GW and the OG is going to take it back here tonight!

On the apron she wipes her feet before dropping into the ring between the top and middle rope. She walks over to the referee to have him check her before going to her corner and waiting for the match to start.

“Oh give the drummer some, yeah yeah! (Yah!)
Oh give the drummer some, yeah yeah! (Uh!)
Oh give the drummer some, yeah yeah! (Rah!)
Oh give the drummer some, yeah yeah! (Drop it.)"

From the entrance to the ring, Sparrow appears through the curtain flanked by manager Caroline Dallins. On her shoulder rests his championship. The West Indian Whirlwind begins high-fiving fans on his way down the ramp, all the while Caroline stresses important points to her client. He gets to the outside of the ring as “Gold Watch” continues playing before he jumps and lands on the apron. Caroline simply takes the stairs.

A second jump sees The West Indian Whirlwind clear the ring ropes before throwing his hat into the audience. With a nod from his manager, Sparrow then takes off for the farthest side of the ring. He springs onto the second rope, executing a backflip and lands on his feet in the middle of the squared circle. He does a sliding motion on his heel before turning and striking a Rock Lee pose to the cheers of the crowd. Meanwhile, Caroline lifts Sparrow’s championship overhead behind him.

J.A. Aldridge: His opponent, being accompanied to the ring by Caroline Dallins! Weighing in at 205 pounds! He is the reigning... defending... FGA 15 Champion! He is "The West Indian Whirlwind"... SPARROW!

“Got my, gold watch and my, gold chain,
With my, fancy car and my diamond ring!
With my fancy broad and she foreign!
So its, no words and its, no slang, and I'm no trick and I'm no lame.
Its just so slick that she's so game, and its...
Yea, yea she love it over here. Its just yea, yea she love it over here!”

Sparrow leans up against his corner, talking a few seconds with his manager before looking out to the crowd. Caroline finishes going over some last minute points she has to make and he nods, agreeing...For the most part. After some discourse, she heads out of the ring but not before handing the title over to the ref.

Kris Cruise: The West Indian Whirlwind has pretty much made it known that he's eyeing the United States Championship. It's just a matter of will he be facing Owen Gonsalves or Gareth Prichard Jr.

Stephy Auger: Excuse me, but don't ever disrespect Macy Dover like that. You're assuming that Sparrow winning this match is a forgone conclusion.

The bell sounds as Sparrow and Dover start things off with a lock up. Sparrow gains the advantage with a side headlock until Dover grabs him and goes for a belly to back suplex. Sparrow ends up rolling over her shoulder, landing on his feet and catching Dover when she turns around with the Leaf Hurricane (Counter Scorpion Kick followed by a Pele Kick)! Dover remains dazed as Sparrow returns to his feet with a kip up before taking off into the far ropes. The 15 Champion runs across the ring to attack before Dover side steps, grabs him by the back of the neck and chucks him over the top rope. Sparrow is able to land safely on the apron before catching Dover through the ropes with a shoulder thrust. Dover remains doubled over as Sparrow slingshots back into the ring, rolls across Dover's back and takes off into the far ropes. Sparrow runs back across the ring before executing a running hurricanrana, which sends Dover through the ropes to the floor.

Sparrow backs up towards the middle of the ring and waits for Dover to get into position. When Dover gets back to her feet, Sparrow runs into the corner and goes for a triangle crossbody to the outside! The crowd gasps when Dover catches him in mid air and counters by ramming him back-first into the ring post.

Kris Cruise: What a counter from The Bulldover!

Stephy Auger: She caught him like he was nothing!

The crowd boos when Dover steps back before ramming Sparrow back-first into the ring post again. She then throws him down with a scoop slam on the floor. The Bulldover reaches down, picks up Sparrow and military presses him above her head before chucking him back in through the ropes. Dover slides back in, pulls Sparrow back to his feet and executes a double leg pickup before ramming him back-first into the corner again. Dover backs away from the corner before running back in and doubled him over with a battering ram. The boos continue as Sparrow gets let out of the corner by the arm before getting turned inside out with a short-arm clothesline. She makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Sparrow kicks out.

Sparrow gets sent for the ride. When Sparrow returns, Dover throws him down with a big back body drop. Sparrow catches a ton of hang time before landing hard across his back. The boos continue as Dover delivers a knee drop. The Bulldover returns to a vertical base and hits a second knee drop. She then delivers a third before making the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Sparrow kicks out.

Kris Cruise: Dover has really turned this match around after the high risk didn't pay off for the champion.

Dover takes Sparrow and whips him hard into the corner. The 15 Champion staggers out of the corner until Dover doubles him over with a boot to the midsection. She then lifts him up for a vertical suplex before holding him in place.

Kris Cruise: Dover's looking for a delayed vertical suplex here.

The crowd murmurs as Dover holds Sparrow up in the air for 10 seconds.

Stephy Auger: Look at the strength, Cruise. She could do this all day.

The 20 second mark passes and Dover continues to keep Sparrow held in the air.

Kris Cruise: You might be right!

Dover's able to keep Sparrow help up for 30 seconds before finally falling back and completing the vertical suplex. She turns over into a lateral press.

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

Dover picks up Sparrow before scoops him up across her shoulder. She then rushes across the ring for a running powerslam, but Sparrow's able to slip down from behind and push her into the corner. Dover stumbles back until Sparrow takes control of her back. Before he can throw Dover down with a German Suplex, she counters with a hard back elbow to the face. Dover then takes off into the ropes. The challenger returns off the rebound and goes for a running big boot, but Sparrow's able to catch her foot in time and counters with a step over spinning heel kick, knocking her down. He makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Dover kicks out.

Kris Cruise: Nice counter by Sparrow, but he only gets the shoulder up. Sparrow's been able to defeat Logan Alexander, Ashley Sands and Sloan Talbot. Can he add Macy Dover to that list here tonight?

Sparrow takes Dover and sends her for the ride. The West Indian Whirlwind sets up for a back body drop off the rebound, but Dover stops and goes to counter with a powerbomb. After getting lifted up onto Dover's shoulders, Sparrow counters with multiple punches across the top of the head. He then flips back for a hurricanrana, but Dover counters, leaving Sparrow hanging upside down. She then lifts him back up onto her shoulders for another powerbomb attempt. Sparrow counters again. This time, with hammer fists across the top of the head. The crowd cheers when he flips back and counters with a hurricanrana. Dover returns to her feet before getting returned to the mat with a leg lariat. A second leg lariat knocks her back down again. Dover gets back to her feet before a step-up enzuigiri sends her flipping down to the mat. The Bulldover turns over and gets caught with a Switchblade Kick before getting knocked down with Love TKO (Shining axe kick on an opponent crouched)!

Kris Cruise: Dover got caught with those educated feet. Sparrow makes the cover.

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

Sparrow takes Dover, moves her into the corner and delivers corner chest kicks before whipping her into the far corner. The 15 Champion runs across the ring, jumps on top of Dover and throws her out of the corner with a monkey flip. He then steps out to the apron before springboarding to a crouched position on the top turnbuckle.

Kris Cruise: Sparrow's looking for something off the top here.

Stephy Auger: He didn't learn his lesson from last time, I see.

Once Dover gets back, Sparrow stands up, leaps off for a high crossbody and gets countered with a spinning heel kick!

Kris Cruise: The high risk didn't pay off again for the champion!

Stephy Auger: When will he learn?

Dover makes the cover.

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

Sparrow gets sent for the ride. When Sparrow returns, Dover flattens him with a running bicycle kick to the face. She makes the cover.

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

Sparrow gets whipped into the corner. Dover runs across the ring to attack until a back elbow knocks her back. Dover shakes off the blow before running back in. A second back elbow knocks her back. Dover back in for a third charge, only to get turned around with a boot to the face. Sparrow quickly takes advantage with a German Suplex into the turnbuckles.

Kris Cruise: Sparrow took another page out of Caroline Dallins' book with that move there.

Sparrow steps out to the apron before scaling to the ropes. Once he reaches the top, he leaps off for the The Notorious K.I.C.K. II (Top Rope Double Foot Stomp)! He misses! Dover rolls out of the way just in time! Sparrow lands on his feet before his momentum sends him rolling forward. The champion rolls back to his feet, turns around and gets turned inside out with the Dover Drop (Busaiku Knee)!

Stephy Auger: We've got a new champion!

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
THRE-NO!

Sparrow is met with cheers and applause when he gets the shoulder up.

Kris Cruise: Sparrow got the shoulder up just in time! He was this close to losing his 15 Championship!

Dover pulls Sparrow back to his feet and wrenches the arm before bringing him down with Mace to the Face (Inverted Stomp Facebreaker)! NO! Sparrow blocks, turns Dover over into the prone position and counters with an Inverted Sharpshooter! The crowd cheers when they see Dover trapped in the submission.

"TAP!"
"TAP!"
"TAP!"
"TAP!"

The capacity crowd wants to see the Bulldover tap out. The ref asks her if she wants to give up. Dover refuses. She then reaches out and starts to pull herself forward across the mat. Sparrow looks to put a stop to that. So he breaks the Inverted Sharpshooter and transitions into the Bass Reeves Special (Chickenwing Camel Clutch)! Dover yells out in pain while Sparrow cinches down on the hold. Sparrow continues to fight for the submission. Dallins can be seen on the outside watching intently for Sparrow or Dover's next move. The ref asks Dover if she wants to give up. She refuses again. This time, Sparrow looks to put her away for good. So he lets go of the Bass Reeves Special and transitions into the Bass Reeves Deluxe (Scorpion Crosslock)! Dover continues to howl out in pain while Sparrow pulls back. The ref asks her if she wants to give up. Dover shakes her head. The ref asks her if she's sure. Dover shakes her head. The Bulldover continues to shake her head... before succumbing to the pain and nodding! The ref calls for the bell.

Kris Cruise: Sparrow retains!

The crowd explodes with cheers as "Gold Watch" blasts over the PA.

J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this bout... aaaaaaaand STILLLLL FGA 15 Champion, SPARROW!

The cheers continue as the ref hands Sparrow the 15 Championship before raising his arm in victory.

Kris Cruise: That's now four successful championship defenses for Sparrow. He was able to get to four successful defenses when he was Legacy Champion. This time around, he has the chance to cash in that 15 Championship for a shot at the United States Championship. From everything we've heard, it sounds like that's what he intends to do.

Stephy Auger:

[FGA Office]

We are now backstage in a very isolated room. There is only a mirror behind the man sitting in a chair as he’s alone with his thoughts. The attire isn’t the norm for him, it’s based in the ghoulish gray of his mask of old but we do see the man’s face quite clearly. The hair has grown back a little more as it’s actually covering his face a touch as is his beard that’s showing more of the natural gray his hair used to have. The elder statesman of professional wrestling just has a cold look down.

Seth Iser: We are…who we are.

Low rasp as he again rubs his throat from where he was stabbed by that shoe. He’s leaning back coldly on that chair as we get a better look at his face, stern as ever.

Seth Iser: That’s what is often drilled into our head by so many forces. This is the person you are. This is in your nature…you can’t ever escape…the person you used to be. Nobody will ever…forgive or absolve you of the sins you’ve committed in your past. And in my old age, there is some truth in that.

The veteran’s cadence is still calm as he’s going through this but he reaches back behind him to pull something people who know his career are very familiar with…the ghoulish gray mask. The last time he appeared in that, he spooked Owen Gonsalves with it.

Seth Iser: The fact of the matter is…no matter what we do, those types of things will always be held against us. It’s something that really dawned on me the last couple of years with all the things that have happened to me. Some of it is deserved… But some of it is quite cruel…because it tries to censor an equal truth that seems…antithetical of what was just stated.

The base in his voice is kicking in as he’s got more of an actual glare going toward the camera.

Seth Iser: People change in time…and time changes people.

Again he lingers on that as he glances at the mask briefly, palming it in his big right hand for a moment before glancing at the mirror real quick, the sternness reflecting back on him.

Seth Iser: Izzy isn’t the same person who tore into my shoulder at Two Falls of Honor just a couple years ago. Nor am I the same person from that even if I still remember every blow. I know I’m in her head too…but the feeling is mutual. I’d even wager…when we look in the mirror…you can still see the scars and reflection of what we’ve done to one another…and to others.

Finally the man turns back to face all of us, not blinking in the slightest as the brawler from Morgantown, West Virginia again rubs his throat ever so slightly, narrowing his eyes and taking a slight breath.

Seth Iser: But on one of those sleepless nights Rebecca noticed and we had a long talk at home. She was also worried…scared even about what might happen tonight. I don’t blame her for that…if a human being doesn’t find some resemblance of fear for what I’m about to step into…then I’d actually question your grasp on humanity itself. But on that night we talked…talked until the sun came up. A lot of times I can reassure her…this wasn’t one of those times. I could see it in her eyes. I could hear it in her tone…

He just slouches his head down, a little bit of shame creeping onto his face as he admits this defeat.

Seth Iser: But I remember the last couple of times I’ve been pushed in a similar situation…I looked in the mirror. Yes, I might see the person who is tormenting me there…but I’d also see this.

He shows the grey mask in full view.

Seth Iser: The ultimate reminder…of who I used to be. A monster…a destroyer…hell, a ruiner of lives in some instances. It was always a part of me…something I’ve worked damn hard to repress. And Izzy, I’m here to tell you…when I looked in the mirror…guess what I saw. I saw you…

He then pauses before again looking at his mask as his face tightens up into a frown.

Seth Iser: But…for the first time, not even for a fleeting second, I didn’t see this.

He calmly nods his head as he puts the mask down after that revelation. There is a bite to that last sentence.

Seth Iser: That’s when it fully dawned on me what this is going to be for us. This…is going to be one of the most brutal evenings of our lives. Not career…lives. And as someone who is speaking from the point of view that they’ve seen death’s door…hell, even seen the reaper calling for me for a second. This…isn’t someone dying Izzy. This is just accepting the fact…that part of both of us is dead.

He keeps a low tone though his voice does grow a little weaker when he said that last word. He still doesn’t blink but he nods his head.

Seth Iser: Growing old brings gifts but there’s always a price for wisdom. Price for everything, truth be told…but the skeleton of what I’ve done and who I used to be…died. But a man stands in his place…and in a lot of ways a man is always far worse than the monster who was created. People are the only things in recorded history…who kill for fun. We’re the only creature on earth…who can get off on absolute cruelty. And we’re the only creature on earth…who teach those behaviors to others and then reinforce it over the years.

He then lowers his head back down for a moment and even claps his hands almost as if it’s a brief prayer just for a second but he’s not looking up. Instead, just another stern nod of the head.

Seth Iser: And as much as that monster is dead Izzy…as much as both of us want to shield our loved ones from the cruelties of this earth. And as much as we want to forever change…and just be forgiven for our sins…there’s always a small part of our nature that can’t help it either. We’re…villains. Deceitful…spiteful…and always aiming to do whatever we have to do to move on and advance with our own lives, everyone else be damned!

There’s a slight echo in the room when Iser actually lets out a yell for that, straining his vocal chords as he again rubs to soothe his ailing throat from that shoe attack.

Seth Iser: And we’d do anything to survive…even if it means having to grieve parts of who we used to be. Neither of us…are going to come out of this the same. I’d even wager…something from both of us may also die during the match. What that is…nobody would know. It might be my career…it might be something from your end. But…I’ve already accepted that something’s just not coming back. The dead…don’t come back to life. We are indeed mortal. In the end…we will all die…

He finally stands in the mirror and again glances at the mirror with a cold and steely expression as he’s finding his courage.

Seth Iser: They don’t see it but I do. I see your reflection here, Izzy. That shadow that brings anxiety and brings fear into my loved one’s eyes knowing what could come. The time bomb…that could detonate and end me for good. But…I don’t fear the end. I more fear…what could come out of this. Not out of me…the Apocalypse is truly dead in me despite my own villainous nature, but out of you. You looked to the light…didn’t find your answer.

The gaze returns toward the camera as he’s spilling out this…unnerving thought. Even still, the old man continues on.

Seth Iser: And I don’t know if you found that answer after our contract signing either. I’m open to…in that respect even a part of me is hoping I’m wrong, but I almost wonder if your light died in a different way. The person who was in control of the Mindkiller…died. Or if the Mindkiller herself died…and something worse takes its place. That thought alone…should make everyone shiver in terror. And a part of me would…but another part of me…would almost be proud of creating yet another monster from…my influence. It makes that villainous part of me…shiver in mirth. It’s that…old fight within myself that I spoke about earlier. The fight…almost everyone in some form has to deal with it at some point in their lives. Especially as priorities change…people go in and out of their lives. Hell…even through the death of someone they love…that can change that switch as well…

He then sighs toward the camera before nodding his head.

Seth Iser: But I’ve never run from who I am. I am the living legend who has redefined an entire style of our sport…the man who for better or worse brought a whole new level of devious play in our industry. A spiteful and genius fighter…who has been to the top here and in four other places. And one of the last connections…of how professional wrestling used to be. And a man who has…just always found a way to latch onto your few weaknesses and turn that door. That…on top of yourself…is who you are fighting. If nothing else…know one thing.

He brushes the hair out of his face so we get a better view of what’s going on and he’s still yet to blink.

Seth Iser: Memento…Mori, Isabella Frieda Anders.

Those last words ring out…as the former World Champion then walks off, his message sent.

[FGA Office]

GRUDGE MATCH
TJ Techniques vs. Cassius Reed

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 contest is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, fighting out of Funkytown, USA, and tipping the scales tonight at 205 pounds… 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.

Kris Cruise: Things are going to get personal in this one.

Stephy Auger: Personal? There's nothing personal here. At least not on Cassius Reed's part. Cassius made a business decision, Cruise. When he realized that TJ Techniques would never change his ways and would always be a hindrance, he made the business decision to cut him off. It's TJ Techniques that has decided to take things personally. He's let his emotions get the best of him and that's lead him to making several errors. He's willingly forgone any championship opportunities, or matches period, until he's gotten Cassius in the ring. The man hasn't wrestled a match in FGA in months. Meanwhile, Cassius is the one that's heading into this match with all the momentum. TJ is the one that's swearing like a madman while Cassius hasn't given him much of a second thought since he cut bait back at All-Star Showdown. That's how little Cassius thinks of him! Cassius is the one with the advantage because he's clearly in TJ's head. Not only that, Cruise, but those wild emotions of TJ's will lead him to fighting this match out of anger. Anger will lead to him making mistakes and those mistakes will cost him in the end.

♫ 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. The music slows all the way down before coming to a stop. This leave the crowd in a state of confusion. They're even more confused when the arena lights shut off.

Kris Cruise: What in the world?

Stephy Auger: I'm sure the paying customers on pay per view will love the fact that someone forgot to pay the light bill.

Kris Cruise: Stop it, Stephy.

The crowd murmurs as they're unsure what has happened. Seconds later, the "Kill Bill Siren" blares throughout the arena as the house lights pulsate. Once the siren ends, the arena becomes engulfed in darkness as "The Truth" by Beanie Sigel pumps through the speakers. The lights in the arena come back on at the start of the first verse. Standing at the entrance way is TJ Techniques. Dressed in a black leather jacket, black t-shirt, black leather gloves, black cargo pants, black leather boots and Dead Presidents facepaint.

Kris Cruise: This looks to be a new look for TJ Techniques, Stephy! He looks like he's dressed for war!

Stephy Auger: No, he looks like a clown.

Techniques continues to stare daggers at Reed before making his way down the ramp.

J.A. Aldridge: His opponent, hailing from Staten Island, New York! Weighing in at 188 pounds! He is "The Funky Technician"... TJ TECHNIQUES!

Fans reach over the guardrail to pat TJ on the back. But he pays them no mind as he keeps his sight solely on Reed. Techniques doesn't take his eyes off the Funky Dragon while he circles the ring. He finally runs up the steps, takes off the leather jacket and shirt and enters the ring.

The bell sounds as Techniques heads over and immediately gets in Reed's face.

Kris Cruise: There's no love lost here.

Techniques continues to stare Reed down... until Reed knocks the taste out of his mouth with a Pimp Slap.

"OOOOOOOOOOH!"

Kris Cruise: Oh boy...

Stephy Auger: Good! Slap him again, Cassius!

Techniques continues to stare blankly out at the crowd. When he turns his attention back to Reed, the Funky Dragon wallops him with a traditional slap across the face.

"OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH!"

Reed doubles Techniques with a boot to the midsection before grabbing him, running into the corner and slamming him face-first into the top turnbuckle. The boos continue as Reed turns Techniques towards him before unleashing a ballistic combination of rights and lefts to the body. The boos turn right back to cheers when the Funky Technician grabs Reed, tosses him into the corner and unleashes alternating right hooks and overhead chops. Techniques switches to a flurry of right hands that send Reed slumping down in the corner. From there, Techniques continues his assault with mudhole stomps before applying a foot choke.

Ref: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!

Techniques breaks the choke before taking off into the far corner. He bounces off the turnbuckles, runs back across the ring and connects with a hesitation dropkick to the face. Techniques takes Reed and drags him back to his feet before sending him for the ride. Reed returns off the rebound before getting turned inside out with a Rolling Thunder Clothesline!

Kris Cruise: TJ nearly took Cassius' head off with that clothesline! He makes the cover.

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

Techniques makes the cover again.

ONE!
.
.
TWO
.
.
Reed kicks out.

Techniques quickly mounts himself on top of Reed and rains down right hands to the face. He then grabs a hold of Reed's hair with both hands before ramming the back of his head against the canvas.

Kris Cruise: TJ has been waiting months for this!

Techniques yanks Reed back to his feet and whips him into the corner. He then runs across the ring, jumps into the air and squashes Reed with a spinning corner splash. Techniques delivers another irish whip, follows Reed across the ring and sends him slumping down in the corner with a rolling Koppu Kick!

Kris Cruise: That kick caught Reed right across the face.

Reed tries to shake out the cobwebs. When Reed recovers, it's too late as Techniques comes off the far ropes and catches him across the face with the Buck 50 (running face wash in the corner)! The Funky Technician runs back across the ring, comes back and nails Reed with another Buck 50! Techniques looks out to the chanting crowd.

"ONE MORE TIME!"
"ONE MORE TIME!"
"ONE MORE TIME!"

Techniques takes off into the far ropes, picks up speed off the rebound and knocks Reed through the ropes to the floor with a third Buck 50!

Techniques drops and rolls to the floor before pacing back and forth around the ringside area. He then stops and slowly turns to his left to see a hurt Reed picking himself up off the floor. Techniques wastes little time as he runs towards the ring post, leaps through the ropes and plants Reed with a Torpedo DDT on the floor!

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

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

Techniques picks up Reed and whips him down ringside. After Reed crashes back-first into the guardrail, Techniques charges down the ringside area. Before he can strike, Reed counters with a back body drop of the guardrail, sending Techniques soaring into the crowd!

Kris Cruise: Oh no!

Stephy Auger: What did I tell you, Cruise? I told you he was going to get reckless and look what happened. Look at him now.

The Funky Dragon climbs over the guardrail and goes after Techniques with repeated stomps. He then mounts himself on top of Techniques and rains down MMA punches to the head. He yanks Techniques up and returns the favor by whipping him hard into the guardrail. Reed goes over, picks up Techniques and throws him down across the top of the guardrail with a front suplex before bringing him down off the guardrail with a vertical suplex to the floor.

Kris Cruise: The ref's got to bring the action back inside.

Stephy Auger: No. TJ wanted to bring the action to the floor. I say let Cassius make him pay for his mistakes.

The boos continue as Reed picks up Techniques and drops him with a belly to back suplex on the floor. The Funky Dragon then places Techniques in a front facelock before using the guardrail to plant him with a springboard Tornado DDT!

Kris Cruise: There's no padding out there. TJ is getting dropped over and over on that cold, unforgiving concrete floor.

Techniques remains curled up on the floor while Reed climbs over the guardrail. The ref tends to Techniques while Reed heads all the way down to the other end of the ringside area.

Kris Cruise: What's he setting up for here?

Reed sets up shop at the far end of the ringside area. He can be seen waiting impatiently for Techniques to get into position. Once he sees the ref helping Techniques up, he takes off down the ringside area. Techniques sees Reed running, so he nudges the ref out of the way before running towards the guardrail! Both grapplers springboard onto the top of the guardrail before Techniques takes Reed and brings him down with a Spanish Fly on the floor!

"HOLY SHIT!"
"HOLY SHIT!"
"HOLY SHIT!"
"HOLY SHIT!"

Kris Cruise: What a maneuver by TJ Techniques! Spanish Fly off the guardrail to the floor!

Stephy Auger: Dammit, Cassius, get up!

Techniques takes Reed and chucks him over the guardrail and back to the ringside area. Techniques and the official follow suit before Reed gets rolled back inside. Techniques slides in, picks up Reed, delivers an irish whip, follows him into the corner and cracks him across the face with a step-up Solebutt Kick! The cheers continue as Techniques delivers another irish whip, follows Reed back across the ring and catches him with another step-up Solebutt Kick! Reed gets hoisted up to a seated position on the top rope before Techniques steps back towards the center of the ring. The crowd cheers as he runs back into the corner, leaps up to the top ropes with one fell swoop before bringing him down with an avalanche hurricanrana!

Kris Cruise: Unreal athleticism from The Funky Technician! There's very few that can fly higher.

Techniques rolls out to the apron before using the ropes to pull himself up. He grips the top rope with both hands while he waits impatiently for Reed to get in position. Once Reed finally gets back to his feet and turns around, Techniques knocks him down with a springboard flying forearm! NO! Reed rolls out of the way! Techniques lands on the mat before rolling forward. The Funky Technician gets back to his feet, turns around and knocks down a charging Reed with the Shaolin Sidekick (Harlem Sidekick)! Techniques picks up Reed and nails him with a right and left palm strike across the face, followed by forearm strike, followed by a shoot kick to the leg, followed by a spinning back fist, followed by a discus lariat that turns Reed inside out!

Kris Cruise: Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em!

Techniques drags Reed into position before scaling the turnbuckles. Once he makes it to the top, the crowd cheers when he looks back and flips off Reed before flipping off and landing across him with Don’t Sweat The Technique (Corkscrew Somersault Guillotine Leg Drop)! He makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
THREE!

The crowd cheers as "The Truth" plays over the PA>

J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this bout... TJ TECHNIQUES!

The cheers continue as Techniques gets his arm raised in victory.

Kris Cruise: TJ Techniques got his long-awaited revenge on Cassius Reed here tonight. I know that had to feel good.

Stephy Auger: This wasn't supposed to happen like this. Cassius was supposed to wipe the mat with him.

Kris Cruise: I'm not going to say that one man carried the other when they were apart of the Renegades of Funk. But I will say that right here tonight, TJ Techniques was the better man. I cannot wait to see what's next for The Funky Technician.

[FGA Office]

A black and white scene begins to form as the picture comes to life. The gentle hum of a central air conditioning unit is heard as the camera focuses on a tall locker. The locker’s door is a bit battered and riddled with older dings and nicks. A jacket is tossed into the locker as the door slowly swings open. The camera pans over to reveal Nina Stokes. She closes the locker after storing some of her items. Afterwards, she takes a seat on a nearby bench. She plops her Nike gym bag beside her before she begins speaking.

Nina Stokes: A lot of people find it odd that I refer to you as a member of my family, Fujiko. They can never seem to wrap their minds around why I’d let someone like you into my inner circle. They say these things because they do not know the true nature of our bond.

Nina unzips the bag.

Nina Stokes: I’ve watched your career unfold over the years. You’ve transformed from a mere champion to one of the best people to ever grace a ring, you’ve garnered a lot of love. However, love is always accompanied by hate.

Nina pulls out a pair of ASICS Aggressor 4s.

Nina Stokes: I’ve seen people disrespect you. I’ve watched people insult you. I’ve witnessed people spit in your face. That is enough to make most people break―

There’s a pause.

Nina Stokes: But you never did.

She slowly shakes her head.

Nina Stokes: Did you bend at times? Certainly. Did you let out some anger? Of course; that’s only natural. But through it all, you’ve stayed true to yourself and what you believe. That is why I consider you to be a part of my family. I admire that quality of yours. And perhaps deep down, I wish I could have done the same throughout my own career.

Nina Stokes: But that path wasn’t an option for me, Fujiko.

Another pause.

Nina Stokes: I fought the “Good Fight” for as long as I possibly could. I tried to turn the other cheek when our peers threw dirt on my name. I tried to be the larger person when all these companies used my name and then attempted to toss me to the side. I fought the “Good Fight!” But at the end of the road, I realized I wasn’t fighting for myself any longer. I was trying to fulfill an image of what other people expected me to be. And in that regard, I wasn’t being to try to myself.

She nods her head.

Nina Stokes: You can understand, right?

Nina nods her head once again as continues to dig into her bags.

Nina Stokes: I’ve hurt a lot of people during my stint here in Frontier Grappling Arts. And I’d be lying to you if I said that I didn’t enjoy it. But Fujiko? I want you to know that I won’t take much pleasure in hurting you tonight. However, it is something that I must do. And I pray that you show me enough respect to let that Fighting Spirit shine brightly.

She pulls out her wrestling attire.

Nina Stokes: Your ability to not break is what’s going to make tonight truly marvelous.

The camera lingers on Nina for a second or two before it fades out.

[FGA Office]

FGA UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP
(c) Owen Gonsalves vs. Gareth Prichard Jr

J.A. Aldridge: The following contest, scheduled for one fall, is for the FGA UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP!

After the protocols have been done, the arena goes dark once more and the first two drum beats of “Revolt” by WildFire signal the arrival of Gareth Prichard Jr.

J.A. Aldridge: Introducing first, the challenger! Hailing from Cardiff, Wales! Weighing in at 180 pounds... GARETH PRICHARD JR!

Kris Cruise: Alright, Stephy. Our next championship match is about to get underway. We've seen three title matches thus far and every champion has retained. Does that streak continue here tonight?

Stephy Auger: Absolutely not! Gareth Prichard Jr is in Owen Gonsalves' head, whether Owen wants to admit it or not. He's going into this match with momentum as he just beat Owen in a tag team match with a partner that, quite frankly, Gareth never even cared for. If you ask me, this is Gareth's match to lose.

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 unzips the jacket revealing his U.S. Championship around his waist.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: His opponent, hailing from Melbourne, Australia! Weighing in at 205 pounds! He is the reigning... defending... FGA United States Champion... 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 as he raises his U.S. Championship high above his head before he enters the ring. He paces around the ring with the championship before he places under the bottom turnbuckle in a corner while he warms up and stretches, awaiting the start of the match.

Kris Cruise: Owen Gonsalves has been on an incredible run. He's defended that United States Championship six times, Stephy. No singles grappler here in FGA has ever successfully defended a title more than him. If he gets to lucky number seven tonight, he'll join elite company.

Stephy Auger: That's right. Only two people have ever successfully defended a title more than seven times and that was the World Tag Team Titles. Do you know who was half of that team, Cruise?

Kris Cruise: Of course I do. It's the man standing right across the ring from Owen tonight.

Stephy Auger: Do I think Gareth cares much about that record anymore? Not really. But do I think he'd like to stick it to Owen and deny him another record while taking his title in the process? You bet.

Kris Cruise: Seth Iser believes that this is the one match tonight that will live up to the word "grapple." We'll see is Wrestling's Greatest Mind is right.

Stephy Auger: It's Seth. Of course he's right.

Gonsalves and Prichard start things off with a lock up. Prichard is eventually able to gain the advantage by taking control of Gonsalves' left arm with an overhook. He then delivers an arm wrench. After a second arm wrench is delivered, Gonsalves rolls forward, bridges back, spins over onto his knees and knocks Prichard down with a back leg trip before making the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
Prichard bridges out from underneath the lateral press, swings over onto Gonsalves's back and tries to roll over into a rear naked choke. Gonsalves counters by continuing to roll over towards the side of the ring and grabbing the bottom rope.

Ref: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!

Prichard gets off of Gonsalves and backs up.

Stephy Auger: Gonsalves nearly got caught there. That's one.

After Gonsalves picks himself up off the mat, both grapplers circle the ring before going for a lock up. Prichard is quick to hit a drop step go behind and takes control of Gonsalves' back with a rear waist lock. He then spins Gonsalves towards him before throwing him down with a fireman's carry takeover and goes to transition into a cross armbar. Gonsalves is quick to clasp both hands together, but Prichard is even quicker to yank back and break his grip. Prichard fights for the submission with the cross armbar, but Gonsalves is able to shift himself towards the side of the ring and kick his left foot underneath the bottom rope.

Ref: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!

Prichard breaks the hold.

Stephy Auger: Owen nearly got caught again. That's two.

Gonsalves uses the ropes to pull himself up before circling the ring. Both grapplers motion for a lock up until Prichard gets brought to the mat with a standing double leg takedown. Gonsalves then steps on Prichard's right ankle before lifting up the left leg and twisting the left ankle.

Kris Cruise: Owen has returned the favor with a submission of his own. This time, there's no way to escape to the ropes as Owen's got control of both legs.

The crowd cheers while Prichard yells out. The ref asks him if he wants to give up. Prichard refuses before Gonsalves applies more pressure by twisting the ankle even further. Gonsalves continues to keep the hold applied. When Prichard turns down another opportunity to give up, Gonsalves turns and transitions into a Stretch Muffler! Gonsalves uses his arms to force Prichard's shin and thigh down, which applies pressure to the knee. Prichard continues to yell out after finding himself trapped in another submission. The ref gets down and asks him f he wants to give up. When Prichard refuses, Gonsalves keeps the Stretch Muffler applied while delivering a stomp to the back of the head. The cheers continue when Prichard gets caught with another stomp to the head. Gonsalves then delivers three consecutive stomps!

Stephy Auger: What the hell, ref?

Kris Cruise: Owen's not doing anything illegal. Don't get made because your guy is on the wrong end of a submission.

Prichard tries to hang on. After he turns down another chance to give up, he starts to pull himself towards the ropes. But Gonsalves is quick to cut that off by transitioning into an STF! The crowd cheers when they see Gonsalves successfully apply another hold.

Kris Cruise: Owen said, "not so fast!"

Stephy Auger: C'mon, Gareth. He's not better on the mat than you. Don't let him show you up!

Prichard howls out in pain as Gonsalves pulls back, stretching his back, neck and knee. The ref asks him if he wants to give up. When Prichard refuses, Gonsalves yanks back on the hold. Prichard is asked again if he wants to give up. Prichard refuses. So Gonsalves lets go and delivers multiple forearm strikes across the back of the neck before reapplying the facelock portion of the STF.

Kris Cruise: Owen's not giving up on that submission just yet.

The ref asks Prichard again if he wants to give up. Prichard refuses before pulling himself across the canvas. Gonsalves tried to keep him held in place, but Prichard slowly drags himself across the mat. When Prichard gets close to the ropes, Gonsalves pulls back even further. He then reaches out... and grabs the bottom rope.

Stephy Auger: He made it! Quick, ref, get Owen off of him!

Kris Cruise: He has until five.

Ref: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!

Gonsalves picks up Prichard and catches him with a shoot kick to the chest before whipping him into the far ropes. Prichard returns off the rebound before Gonsalves tries for a hip toss. Prichard steps through it and go for a hip toss of his own. Gonsalves blocks the hip toss and counters with a knee to the midsection. He then tries to bring Prichard down with a side headlock takeover, but Prichard blocks and counters with an Octopus Stretch.

Stephy Auger: Owen got caught!

Kris Cruise: Yes, and he won't easily be able to make it to the ropes this time.

The crowd boos when they see Gonsalves trapped in the hold. The U.S. Champion gets asked if he wants to give up. When Gonsalves refuses, Prichard pulls back on the arm.

Kris Cruise: I can't remember the last time I saw Owen submit.

Stephy Auger: Well, you won't have to wait for long to see it happen again.

Gonsalves continue to writhe in pain while trapped in the hold. After he turns down another chance to quit, Prichard nails him with repeated 12-to-6 forearms to the ribs. He then gives Gonsalves left hammer fists to the ribs. Prichard continues to fight for the submission, but Gonsalves won't quit. So Prichard balls his left hand into a fist and grinds his knuckle against Gonsalves' ribs. the champ cries out in pain.

Kris Cruise: I'm sure that feels just as uncomfortable as it looks, Stephy.

After Gonsalves turns down another chance to give up, Prichard releases the Octopus Hold before throwing him down with an Olympic Slam! He makes the cover.

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

Prichard takes Gonsalves and pulls him over into the prone position. From there, Prichard delivers alternating knee strikes to the ribs before rolling Gonsalves over into a Bow & Arrow Hold.

Kris Cruise: Owen's been caught in another hold.

Stephy Auger: Gareth isn't just wearing Owen down, he's outwrestling him, too.

Kris Cruise: I think that last point is debatable.

Prichard pulls down hard with both hands while pushing up with his knees to bend Gonsalves' back. Gonsalves continues to yell out in pain. The officials asks him if he wants to give up. Gonsalves refuses, so Prichard tries to apply even more pressure to the hold. The capacity crowd continues to support Gonsalves while he's trapped in another submission. After he turns down another chance to quit, Gonsalves reaches up and pulls Prichard's arm from around his head. He the rolls off of Prichard's knees and lands in a lateral press.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Prichard kicks out.

Prichard reverses an irish whip, sending Gonsalves into the ropes. When Gonsalves returns, Prichard brings him down with a Sling Blade! He makes the cover.

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

Prichard picks up Gonsalves, lifts him up and plants him with a Cradle DDT! He makes the cover.

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

Prichard takes Gonsalves, hooks both arms from behind and brings him down with a bridging Tiger Suplex!

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Gonsalves kicks out.

Kris Cruise: Yet another nearfall for the challenger.

Stephy Auger: Gareth nearly had him, too.

Prichard peels Gonsalves off the mat before taking control of his back. After Gonsalves gets caught with a ripcord into a jumping knee strike, Gonsalves drops to a knee before getting flattening with a Shining Wizard! He makes the cover.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
T-NO!

The crowd cheers when Gonsalves gets the shoulder up.

Prichard pulls Gonsalves back to his feet and catches him with a pair of forearms before taking off into the ropes. He comes back and goes for a running arched big boot, but Gonsalves catches his feet. He then swings the leg away from him, but Prichard uses the momentum to strike Gonsalves with a spinning backfist! The crowd boos when Gonsalves gets caught with another spinning backfist. He then turns and takes off into the ropes. Prichard returns off the rebound and comes to a stop when Gonsalves runs past him towards the ropes. When Prichard turns around, Gonsalves returns the favor with a Sling Blade of his own!

Kris Cruise: Owen's got his opening. Can he get back into this match?

Prichard gets back to his feet before getting knocked back with a shoot kick to the chest. Gonsalves knocks Prichard back with another shoot kick to the chest. After another shoot kick knocks Prichard into the corner, Gonsalves unleashes a flurry of shoot kicks before following up with a flurry of European Uppercuts. He then takes Prichard and whips him hard into the corner. Prichard staggers out of the corner until Gonsalves runs across the ring and connects with a Shotgun Dropkick, which sends Prichard flying backwards into the turnbuckles. Prichard slumps down to a seated position before Gonsalves walks over, drops down to a knee and bashes Prichard with repeated forearm strikes across the face.

Kris Cruise: Did you hear the thud from those strikes!? Gareth probably doesn't even know where he is right now.

Gonsalves pulls Prichard back to his feet and sits him down on the top turnbuckle before spiking him with Australia Street (Top Turnbuckle Hung Cutter)!

Kris Cruise: Right on the head!

Gonsalves grabs Prichard and pulls him into a standing headscissors. After hooking Prichard's arms, Gonsalves plants him with the Angel Duster (Double Underhook Piledriver)! NO! Prichard breaks free of the underhooks, counters with a standing double leg and flips over into a jackknife pin.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Gonsalves bridges up, turns, turns again and hooks Prichard's arms from behind before bringing him down with a backslide pin.

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
.
.
Prichard kicks out.

Before Gonsalves can get back up, Prichard quickly swings his legs over and traps Gonsalves in a Triangle Choke!

Kris Cruise: Oh no.

Stephy Auger: Tudor Rose! Gareth caught Owen in the Tudor Rose! He never even suspected it from that position!

Gonsalves remains on a knee while trapped in the submission. He tries to stand up, but Prichard keeps him held in place. The U.S. Champion desperately tries to escape, but Prichard cinches down on the hold. The crowd starts to grow uneasy.

Kris Cruise: This doesn't look good for Owen. He can't seem to escape!

Stephy Auger: Yeah, and he won't be able to, either! Gareth's got that hold locked in nice and tight. Owen's either going to tap out or get choked out!

The crowd gasps when Gonsalves falls over to his side! Prichard pulls down on the hold! He fights like hell to either submit Gonsalves for choke him out! The ref asks Gonsalves over and over if he wants to give up! But Gonsalves won't give in! The crowd boos when Prichard starts to nail Gonsalves with repeated 12-to-6 elbows across the head before cinching back down on the Tudor Rose!

Kris Cruise: Owen's in a bad way here! He's got to improve his positioning! He's got to try and escape!

Stephy Auger: He can't!

Prichard keeps the hold tightly applied! Gonsalves is asked if he wants to give up. He doesn't answer! The ref asks Gonsalves again if he wants to give up. Gonsalves doesn't give him an answer as he remains motionless on the mat! Once the ref determines that Gonsalves is out of it, he calls for the bell!

Kris Cruise: ...

Stephy Auger: NEW CHAMP! WE'VE GOT A NEW CHAMP!

"Revolt" hits the speakers as the crowd sits in stunned silence.

J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this bout... aaaaaaaand NEEEEWWWWWW FGA United States Champion, GARETH PRICHARD JR!

The crowd continues to be stunned at the result of the match. Boos slowly begin to form once the realization of the result sets in. Prichard gets his arm raised by the official in victory after being handed the U.S. Championship.

Kris Cruise: I don't believe it.

Stephy Auger: Well you better believe it! Gareth Prichard Jr is the next United States Champion! He just beat Owen Gonsalves at his own game and choked him out!

Applause, applause...

Gareth Prichard’s celebration was cut short as the familiar voice interrupted the music and from the back came walking Sparrow, flanked by Caroline Dallins. Sparrow was already changed out of his ring gear as fans were used to seeing him in, instead wearing a brightly colored shirt, dreads pulled back in a bun. He walked backwards as the camera follows him out from the curtain, holding his phone out and getting ‘one for the ‘gram’. Gareth seemed unsurprised as to what Sparrow was doing out here, not really a secret that the White Hat of FGA was calling his shot as soon as Gareth won. Caroline is about to nudge Sparrow, but he already has his cell put away, mic in hand.

For anyone who watched FGA Past v.s. Present, this may seem...A little bit familiar.

Sparrow: Be cool brethren, be cool. I’m just out here to congratulate you. A victory, a big victory for the King of Failure. WHAT A MATCH. Everywhere you go, it’s a learning experience for others. They could write several textbooks on how good you are. No disrespect to you, you’re great Gareth...Just not the kind of great I aspire to be.

Caroline mouths ‘that sounded kinda petty’ but Sparrow doesn’t pay her any mind.

Sparrow: Y’know I just...I could just never forget Gareth, you mocking the idea...The idea that I could have anything that looked like a semblance of MOTY, even MOTN with Chris Madison. A joke. It was... A joke. It kept hanging over m’head, into a stickin’ place. Here’s this guy. This world-traveled, well-known, renowned big name. Living legend. Telling me I’m much too prideful to do anything but wrestle Madison’s game. Proving you right, standing right there, ain’t? There’s no way I could give Madison a real fight. A challenge at best I guess...Of sorts. It was a joke to you. I kept thinking ‘am I a joke to you’? I mean I wasn’t even this company’s first pick for him the way you tell it. I got my match with Chris Madison, this glorious opportunity that made me think I was worth something to someone...Just because you didn’t feel like it.

He tapped the microphone against his side, staring down at the ground. He’s mouthing something to himself and his manager looks...Perplexed would be the best description.

Sparrow: So I grinded. One opponent after the next, victory after victory after victory...And look where it led me back. No, no... look who it led me back to. I ain’t about to wait until I see Best Striker or Match of The Year or Feud Of The Year with my name attached neither yes. So many in this company were heralded as the future, and some of ‘em stood up, but very few kept up. Not me. I want it all. Every championship. Every award. Every. Single. Accolade. No time like THE PRESENT, right? You won’t see me pop up in Mainstream, or sneak up on you in Millennium, Gareth...The future will be here, waiting for you.

Sparrow gently places the microphone on the ground and begins walking backward with Caroline in tow; leaving Gareth to bask in another victory with a glance back at the curtain.

[FGA Office]

Fujiko Mine vs. Nina Stokes

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.

J.A. Aldridge: The following contest is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, hailing from Miami, Florida! Weighing in at 140 pounds! She is "The Kodiak" NINA STOKES!

Her pace down to the ring deliberate and leisurely. 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.

Kris Cruise: "The Kodiak" has been on a tear since her arrival in FGA just a little over three years ago. Year's later, she stands here with a pair of United States Championships to her name, numerous awards and the status of one of the most feared names in all of FGA.

Stephy Auger: That is right. She's definitely the best striker and she's got the hardware to prove it. Stokes is ready for that next step, Cruise. It's time to test herself against the upper echelon of this company. Whether I like it or not, Fujiko qualifies as the top of the top.

Kris Cruise: There is definitely love here between these two. Fujiko is one of the few that Stokes actually holds near and dear. But the love she has for the Apex Goddess won't stop her for doing what needs to be done. She plans to put a hurting on Fujiko here tonight. Can the Apex Goddess survive what may very well be a mauling from "The Kodiak"?

Stephy Auger: In a word, no.

Nina paces around for a moment. Then she removes her jacket and tosses it into the corner. Nina pulls on the ropes and stretches before she lounges in the corner and waits for the start of the match.

"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.

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. Behind her, the imposing XENA enters, her arms folded. The music drops for a second, and then the beat kicks back in as she is announced.

J.A. Aldridge: Her opponent, hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin! Weighing in at 152 pounds! She is the "Apex Goddess"... FUJIKO MINE!

"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"

Fujiko saunters down the ramp. Fujiko reaches the ringside area, and follows it up with a jump onto the apron. She turns around and looks out at the crowd for a moment. She then jumps up onto the top turnbuckle, repeating her crown pose.

Kris Cruise: The "Apex Goddess" is ready to return to the top of FGA. She's willing to do whatever she has to do to get that and includes going through her good friend, Nina Stokes.

Stephy Auger: Sometimes you find yourself standing across the ring from those that you love. In those instances, you have to put your feelings to the side and do what needs to be done. Stokes has made it abundantly clear that's what she intends to do. Can Fujiko do the same?

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 (its crazy)

She jumps down off the turnbuckle and vibes as the bridge comes in.

"Sorry for the bad news, sorry I'm so bad
Only took a minute for me to get what you had
Sorry for the bad news, know it makes you sad
I'll be here for a minute, baby
You should pack your bags"

Fujiko grins widely, then pulls the shirt off over her head and tosses it into the crowd. She then leans into the nearest corner before the match begins.

The bell sounds as Fujiko and Stokes make their way towards the center of the ring. Both ask if each other already. After exchanging a nod, they shake hands.

Kris Cruise: Good show of sportsmanship there from both parties.

Stephy Auger: Stokes should've dropped her with that Rolling Elbow, but I understand why she didn't.

Fujiko and Stokes back up before circling the ring. They then size each other up before inching forward and locking up. After jockeying for position, Fujiko gains the advantage with a side headlock. Stokes is quick to push her off into the ropes. When Fujiko returns, Stokes knocks her down with a standing shoulder block. The Kodiak turns and takes off into the ropes. When Stokes comes back, Fujiko returns to her feet with a kip up before leapfrogging over Stokes. Stokes continues to run the ropes. When she returns, Stokes runs her over with a running shoulder block, knocking Fujiko over into the prone position. Stokes then turns and takes off into another set of ropes. When Stokes comes back, Fujiko rolls forward and leapfrogs over her opponent. Stokes continues to run the ropes. When Stokes comes back, Fujiko faces away from Stokes before leapfrogging over her. Stokes continues to run the ropes. Stokes returns off the rebound before getting knocked down with a dropsault. A dropkick returns Stokes to the mat. Fujiko then hits the far ropes, comes back and hits a running hurricanrana, sending Stokes through the ropes and to the floor.

Kris Cruise: Stokes has been sent to the outside with a rana. Is the Apex Goddess about to show why she co-won Best High Flyer in 2021 and take it to the air?

The Apex Goddess waves her arms up and down to get the crowd hyped up. Once she sees Stokes starting to pick herself up on the outside, she takes off into the far ropes. Fujiko picks up speed as she runs back across the ring. She motions for a dive to the outside, but ends up kicking off the ropes, twirling through the air and landing in a superhero pose.

Stephy Auger: Show off!

Stokes nods at Fujiko before climbing up to the apron. Fujiko gets up and steps back as Stokes steps back in through the ropes. Both grapplers circle the ring before locking up. After jockeying for position, Fujiko starts to move Stokes across the ring. At the last second, Stokes pivots and presses Fujiko up against the turnbuckles. The ref is quick to give them both to the count of five to break it up.

Ref: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!

Once a clean break is made, Stokes quickly grabs Fujiko, delivers an irish whip and follows her across the ring. Instead of crashing into the turnbuckles, Fujiko runs up to the top turnbuckle and backflips over Stokes before taking off into the far ropes. Fujiko returns off the rebound before getting turned inside out with a running leg lariat.

Kris Cruise: What a lariat from Nina Stokes!

Stephy Auger: Nina knows Fujiko better than most and saw that coming a mile away!

ONE!
.
.
TWO!
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Fujiko kicks out.

Stokes picks up Fujiko, wrenches the arm and delivers a hook kick that knocks her backwards into the ropes. The Kodiak approaches Fujiko and nails her with a forearm smash. Stokes connects with a second forearm. After a third finds its mark, Stokes unleashes a flurry of shoot kicks to the chest. Fujiko gets doubled over with a rolling solebutt before a rising knee to the chest knocks her upright. Stokes throws out a high roundhouse, but Fujiko ducks and counters with a belly to back tosses, sending Stokes rolling over her shoulder and the top rope before falling to the floor.

Kris Cruise: Stokes minds have gotten hurt on that fall.

Fujiko takes off into the far ropes. She runs back across the ring, leaps through the ropes and knocks Stokes against the guardrail with a topé suicida! The cheers continue as Fujiko slides back in before taking off into the far ropes. The Apex Goddess runs back across the ring, hurls herself through the ropes and knocks Stokes down with a second topé suicida! Fujiko picks herself up off the mat before holding up her index finger.

Kris Cruise: Fujiko is calling for one more dive!

Stephy Auger: She's not holding anything back, is she?

Kris Cruise: You sound surprised.

Once Fujiko hears the approval from the crowd, she slides back inside before taking off into the far ropes. Fujiko picks up speed as she runs back across the ring. The crowd cheers when Fujiko dives through the ropes and connects with a third topé suicide that knocks Stokes over the guardrail and into the crowd!

Kris Cruise: Fujiko put something extra behind that last dive!

Fujiko picks herself up before climbing up to the apron. She steps back inside, then steps back out to the apron to restart the count. Fujiko turns and sees Stokes starting to pick herself up. So she grabs the top rope before delivering a huge Asai Moonsault! Fujiko soars through the air before knocking Stokes down!

Stephy Auger: No way!

Kris Cruise: Fujiko with one hell off a moonsault into the crowd! The distance! The hangtime! The Apex Goddess had it all on that one! Incredible!

Fujiko takes Stokes and dumps her over the guardrail and back to ringside. She then slingshots herself over the guardrail before taking Stokes and rolling her back inside. Fujiko finally rolls back in before making the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Stokes gets the shoulder up.

Fujiko takes Stokes, moves her into the corner and returns the favor with multiple shoot kicks of her own. She then delivers an irish whip, follows Stokes across the ring and sends her crumbling out of the corner with a corner dropkick. Fujiko makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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Stokes gets the shoulder up.

Fujiko takes Stokes and slams her face-first into the top turnbuckle. She then turns Stokes upside down and places her in the Tree of Woe.

Kris Cruise: This isn't where Stokes wants to be.

Fujiko steps out to the apron before scaling the turnbuckles. Stokes tries to sit up to free herself, but Fujiko is quick to knock her down out of the Tree of Woe with a diving double foot stomp!

Kris Cruise: What a stomp from Fujiko Mine!

Stephy Auger: Did you see how Nina just landed?

Stokes remains folded up on the mat until Fujiko heads back over and brings her down with a deadlift bridging German Suplex!

ONE!
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TWO!
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Stokes gets the shoulder up.

Fujiko takes Stokes and brings her into the corner. She goes for a springboard Tornado DDT off the ropes, but Stokes pushes her of mid turn. Fujiko lands on her feet before running back over to attack. Stokes dumps her over the top rope, but Fujiko lands safely on the apron. She then goes to catch Stokes with a shoulder thrust through the ropes, but Stokes sidesteps and counters with a bicycle knee.

*CRACK!*

Fujiko drops to a seated position on the mat. She tries to shake off the blow, but Stokes gives her little time to recover. The Kodiak steps out to the apron behind Fujiko and connects with multiple soccer kicks to the lower back. She then pulls Fujiko back to her feet from behind behind taking control of her back.

Kris Cruise: This isn't good.

Stephy Auger: For Nina, it is!

Stokes goes for a German Suplex, but Fujiko quickly wraps her left arm around the top rope to block. She then tries for another German, but Fujiko blocks a second time. Fujiko then uses her right arm to catch Stokes with a back elbow to the face. A second back elbow connects. After a third back elbow breaks the hold, Fujiko turns around and catches Stokes with a rope-assisted gamengiri. A second rope-assisted gamengiri connects. The Apex Goddess takes a couple of steps back before running forward and planting Stokes with a Rolling DDT on the apron!

Kris Cruise: Good God, what a DDT! Did you hear that sickening thud from Stokes getting planted head-first onto the mat!

The cheers continue as Stokes gets rolled back inside. Fujiko slips back inside, peels Stokes off the mat from behind and delivers the Feedback Loop (Standing behind the opponent, Fujiko holds the wrist of her opponent, then rolls them out (ripcord style) then she continually pulls them into alternating forearms and backfists (a la a violence party). She then judo throws them, and locks in a rear naked choke)! NO! Fujiko connects on all the strikes and throws Stokes down to the mat. But as she goes to lock in the RNC, Stokes rolls backwards and ends in a North/South position before turning Fujiko into the prone position and transitioning into the Hangman's Clutch II!

Kris Cruise: Stokes reversed!?

Stephy Auger: Nina's never out of the fight!

Fujiko yells out in pain while Stokes pulls back on the old. The ref asks Fujiko if she wants to give up. When she refuses, Stokes repeatedly yanks back on the hold. Fujiko howls out in pain while Stokes continues to violently yank back. Fujiko's hand hovers over the mat. The crowd grows uneasy as Fujiko is in danger. Gasps are hard when Fujiko goes to slap her hand down on the mat. The ref waits for bated breath for the tap out. But it doesn't come. The crowd cheers when Fujiko wags her finger at the ref. She refuses to give up.

Kris Cruise: Fujiko isn't ready to throw in the towel just yet.

Stephy Auger: She should have! It would save her form what's about to come...

Stokes continues to try and keep Fujiko held in place. But she's unable to. Fujiko reaches out with her free arm and pull herself to the side. Fujiko reaches out and pulls herself across the mat again. The crowd continues to rally behind Fujiko as she scratches and claws her way closer and closer towards the side of the ring. The Apex Goddess reaches out... and grabs the bottom rope, forcing the rope break!

Ref: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!

Stokes rolls across Fujiko's back, grabs the ankle and drags her away from the ropes. She then applies a waistlock before yanking Fujiko off to a standing position. Fujiko blocks another German attempt with a back elbow to the face. A second back elbow connects. Fujiko pulls her right arm across the body before throwing out a hard back elbow. This time, Stokes ducks and counters with a snap Saito Suplex! Stokes makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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T-NO!

Fujiko is met with cheers and applause when she gets the shoulder up.

Fujiko gets yanked back up before getting dropped with a Wrist Clutch Exploder Suplex! The boos continue as Stokes makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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TH-NO!

Fujiko is met with cheers and applause when she gets the shoulder up.

Stokes pulls Fujiko back up before hitting a quick drop step go behind to take control of the back. She then rams Fujiko into the corner before throwing her down with Chaos Theory (Front Turnbuckle Smash into Back Roll German Suplex)!

ONE!
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TWO!
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THR-NO!

Fujiko turns over after getting the shoulder up, but Stokes keeps the rear waistlock applied.

Stokes pulls Fujiko back to her feet before throwing her down with the Bloody Rose( Bridging Dragon Suplex)!

ONE!
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TWO!
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THRE-NO!

The crowd gasps, then cheers Fujiko kicks out!

Stokes pulls Fujiko back to her feet. She then hooks one of Fujiko's arms from behind before throwing her down with a Half Nelson Suplex. After the momentum sends Fujiko rolling over onto her knees, Stokes returns to her feet and takes off into the ropes. The crowd erupts with boos when The Kodiak returns off the rebound and nearly knocks Fujiko's head off with Amidst the Shadow of Sorrows III (Boma Ye Knee Strike)! Stokes nudges her over onto her back for the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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THREE!

Kris Cruise: NO!

The crowd gasps, then erupts with cheers when Fujiko fires the shoulder up at 2.99!

Stephy Auger: How in the hell did she get up from that!?

Kris Cruise: I don't think anyone has survived that knee from Stokes. Maybe one, but that's about it. I thought that would have surely but the Apex Goddess away.

Stokes grabs Fujiko by the hair and slowly peels her up off the mat. After hooking both of Fujiko's arms, Stokes bashes her with arm-trapped headbutts. She then lets go of the arms before bashing Fujiko with an elbow smash. A groggy Fujiko gets clobbered with a second elbow smash. The Kodiak cocks her arm back and knocks out Fujiko with the Divine Night (Rolling Elbow)! NO! Fujiko counters with a roundhouse kickT Fujiko turns and his the ropes. the Apex Goddess returns off the rebound before turning Stokes inside out with the 4-Play (running single leg dropkick)! Fujiko makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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TH-NO!

The sighs when Stokes gets the shoulder up.

Fujiko sets up for an irish whip before Stokes reverses. Fujiko uses the momentum to bounce back and bring Stokes down with a handspring rebound Ace Crusher! The cheers continue as Fujiko peels Stokes off the mat before taking control of her back. The Kodiak gets rocked with the N Loop (ripcord into alternating short-arm forearms and backfists) before bringing her down with Eriana's Vow (Lumbar Check)! She then pulls Stokes back to her feet before planting her with the Cadence Breaker (Ruby Cutter DDT)! She makes the cover.

ONE!
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TWO!
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THREE!

NO!

The crowd sighs when Stokes fires her shoulder up off the mat at 2.99!

Kris Cruise: What!? How was that not three! Fujiko put Chandler Scott away with that move at All-Star Showdown X, but Stokes was able to survive it here! She's really going to have to pull out everything to put down The Kodiak!

Fujiko grabs a hold of the arm that Stokes fired up off the mat and pulls her over onto her knees. The crowd cheers as Fujiko nails her with Sealed With a Kick (Ground arm pulled roundhouse kick)! Fujiko keeps hold of the wrist before nailing Stokes with a second S.W.A.K.! After Stokes gets hit with a third, Fujiko reaches down and grabs a hold of the other wrist. Fujiko then sizes Stokes up before bashing her with Yount's 3000th Hit (Double wristlock knee to face)!

NO!

Stokes quickly leaps to her feet, yanks Fujiko over to her and counters with a second Wrist Clutch Exploder Suplex! The boos continue as Fujiko gets pulled back up before getting dropped on the back of her head with a third Wrist Clutch Exploder Suplex! Stokes reaches down, grabs Fujiko by the hair and slowly peels her off the mat before quickly bringing her down with Death Reborn (Backdrop Driver)!

ONE!
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TWO!
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THREE!

Stephy Auger: She did it!

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

J.A. Aldridge: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this bout... NINA STOKES!

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

Kris Cruise: Nina Stokes has just defeated Fujiko Mine in one hell of a battle.

Stephy Auger: These two friends gave each other they're all. No punches were pulled. Nothing was held back. Both had to dig deep into their arsenal. Stokes even had to pull out Death Reborn. I don't think we've seen that move once throughout Nina's entire tenure here in FGA.

Kris Cruise: Like you said, they both pushed each other. When Amidst the Shadow of Sorrows III wasn't enough to put the Apex Goddess away, The Kodiak had to go with the last resort. She had to go with the nuclear option to put Fujiko away and she did just that. Tremendous effort from both grapplers tonight and a hell of a win for Nina Stokes.