Vertigo 104 (08.12.23)

[FGA Office]

[FGA Office]

Mohegan Sun Arena
Uncasville, CT

A bevy of distortion lines flood the screen. The entire picture is engulfed for nearly ten seconds. We are then introduced to a shot of Nina Stokes when things start to normalize. A black romper and sandals cover her body as she sits in a plush leather chair.

Nina Stokes: For years and years, I anticipated what this moment would feel like. I had a bit of insight. I’d periodically ask my loved ones what thoughts ran through their minds as they stood on the top of the mountain. And all of them had a very similar answer―

Nina Stokes: They told me that they enjoyed the ride. The journey was fantastic. But actually standing on that mountain and peering out? Actually holding that top championship? “It's a lonely existence.”

She pauses for a moment.

Nina Stokes: It was difficult for me to truly grasp what they were saying at the time. But now? Yes, I believe I understand.

Nina’s right hand extends off screen. It returns holding the Frontier Grappling Arts World Championship. Nina gently rests the belt on her lap before she turns her attention back towards the camera.

Nina Stokes: Throughout the course of my career, I’ve heard many people speak about sacrifices. It’s a cliche at this point, d**n near a trigger word. However, as I flew home that evening after a hellacious victory? That is exactly what I reflected on. Those sacrifices.

Her fingers wrap around the belt’s leather strap. Her eyes glance at its faceplate as she lifts it into the air.

Nina Stokes: I had the fans eating out the palm of my hand at one point in time. My music would elicit shouts and cheers. They held me down when I was going through tough times. However, those supporters were also the ones shackling me to the ground. My growth made them furious; my evolution marked me as an outcast. So, for the betterment of my body, mind and spirit, I cut them off.

She shakes her head.

Nina Stokes: Only the good man upstairs knows the accurate measure of time that I’ve spent in the gym. The time that I’ve locked myself away to analyze film and footage. The hours I could have been cultivating meaningful relationships, but instead, I was focused on fulfilling my lifelong dream.

Nina continues to peer at the championship.

Nina Stokes: Such a desolate existence indeed.

She suddenly snaps her fingers.

Nina Stokes: Nevertheless, I’d rather stand alone in victory than wallow in the mire with people who likely never gave a d**n about me in the first place. I do not regret any of my decisions. I do not regret any of those sacrifices. And if given the chance? I'd do them all over again.

Nina sets the championship belt down on her lap.

Nina Stokes: Respectfully speaking, I’d classify Lowri’s championship reign as pretty. She had all the publicity. She had all the perfect match ups. She had all the dream matches―

She shakes her head.

Nina Stokes: I prefer the muck and the grime. It suits me far better. And that’s what you can anticipate in this reign. Barbarism and brutality at its finest.

A moment or two passes as she sits there.

Nina Stokes: Now, I am aware of one person who has already earned an opportunity to challenge me. Therefore, I’d like to issue a statement. Sir? If you are truly the hero that you claim to be, then you won’t wait. You won’t wait until you thinkin I’m weak. You won’t wait until you think I’m vulnerable. No, no, no. You’ll face me head on. And you’ll get stomped out head on. Because no matter what delusional feelings reside in your heart, that shall be your fate.

Those distortion lines return. But this time, the picture never clears up. It fades out instead.

[FGA Office]

TAG TEAM MATCH
SMWB vs. Casey Calabasas & Aurora Rancho Cucamonga

Casey Calabasas and Aurora Rancho Cucamonga waste little time trying to make the most of their FGA debut. The match starts with the two newest members of the Cali Crew jumping the Super Mario Wrestling Bros as soon as they enter the ring. With Max Powers and Landon Knight separated in different corners, Calabasas and The Notorious A.R.C. punch, kick, and choke the fan favorites from opposite ends of the ring. After giving each other a knowing nod, they go for an irish whip. But no, the SMWB reverse, sending the Cali Crew crashing into each other to the delight of the crowd. Seconds later, Calabasas and A.R.C. are brought down with belly to back suplexes from the SMWB.

After Calabasas gets tossed to the outside, the Red n Green Machine double team A.R.C. After she finds herself on the receiving end of a Chain Chomp (Arm wrench into a short-arm forearm smash) from Powers, she gets sent for the ride before Knight catches her off the rebound with a Thwomp (Diving double knee drop to a standing opponent)! Knight then whips her into the corner where she gets caught with a Tail Attack (Flying Hip Attack to a cornered or oncoming opponent)! The cheers continue as Knight whips A.R.C. over towards Powers, who doubles her over with a boot to the midsection before bringing her with with the It's-A-Me-DT (Snap DDT)! Powers goes for the cover, but Calabasas dives over to break it up at two.

Knight fights off Calabasas with multiple forearm strikes until he gets whipped into the far ropes. When Calabasas returns, Knight brings him down with a 1-Up Uppercut (Pop-up European Uppercut)! After Powers catches A.R.C. in the corner with a Koopa Kick (Rolling Koppu Kick), the SMWB deliver the Dr. Mario Bomb (Powerbomb (Landon)/Diving Backcracker (Max) combination) before finishing things off with the Super Smash Melee (Rolling fireman's carry slam by Landon, followed by a 450 Splash by Max, followed by a springboard Phoenix Splash by Landon) for the ONE, TWO, THREE!

SMWB O || Super Smash Melee (4:37) || Casey Calabasas & Aurora Rancho Cucamonga X

The crowd cheers while the SMWB celebrate their victory in the ring. However, their celebration cuts short when everyone’s attention turns to the Video Tron.

The cameras cut to a newcomer to FGA, Archie Collins. His shoulders rise and fall, and his eyes tell a story of a man full of intensity. We hear another man’s voice as Archie stares into the camera.

“I’m not sure what we just witnessed, but it wasn’t for damn sure professional wrestling.”

The cameras zoom out and we see Archie’s tag team partner, Raymond Blackwood. Blackwood is dressed in a gray sweater with its sleeves and collar cut up and black shorts.

Raymond Blackwood: The men you are looking at right now are the physical embodiment of professional wrestling. You look at Archie Collins and Raymond Blackwood, you don’t see a knockoff video game duo out here to look like clowns. You look at me and Collins and you don’t see idiots who parade around in stupid costumes. No, you look at Archie Collins and Raymond Blackwood and you see what professional wrestling should be. Straight-laced. No BS. The exact OPPOSITE of whatever crap the Super Mario Wrestling Bros are trying to pull.

Blackwood is then cut off by Collins, who startles the crowd with his intensity.

Archie Collins: What we just watched was a bastard deformity of professional wrestling! Both teams have made a mockery of this sport… especially the Super Mario Wrestling Bros! They are the sole reason why professional wrestling will always be treated like some sort of freaking side show!

Raymond Blackwood: And that is why professional wrestling needs Archie Collins and Raymond Blackwood. That is why Hook & Grapple have signed with Frontier Grapple Arts! With teams like SMWB, you need someone to remind you how sport in its purest form should look like!

Archie Collins: We are here to get rid of teams like the SMWB because dammit, that just ain’t professional wrestling!

Raymond Blackwood: Let this be a warning to all the tag teams here in FGA. Hook & Grapple are here! Hook & Grapple have signed on the dotted line! Hook & Grapple are about to take over and remind the whole world just how pure this sport really is!

With that Archie lets out a guttural scream as the cameras cut elsewhere to continue the show.

/ -- BREAK -- /

[FGA Office]

Betsy Gallagher vs. Travis Levitt

The match starts out with Gallagher and Levitt trading European Uppercuts. The two continue to trade blows until Gallagher gains the upperhand. She then turns and heads towards the ropes. But unbeknownst to her, Levitt is right behind her. As soon as Gallagher hits the ropes, Levitt is right there to catch her with a running European Uppercut. He then turns to take off into the far ropes. But unbeknownst to him, Lady Gallagher is right behind him. As soon as Levitt hits the ropes, Gallagher connects with a lariat, knocking him over the top rope to the floor! Levitt climbs back up to the apron, but he gets sent back to the floor after Gallagher knocks him off the apron with another lariat.

Levitt takes some time to compose himself before climbing back up to the apron. Gallagher motions for another lariat, but Levitt hops down at the last second. Before Gallagher can back away, Levitt reaches inside the ring, yanks her down and pulls her to the outside. The Dragon unleashes barrage of European Uppercuts before bringing Gallagher down with a Snap Suplex on the floor. Levitt brings the action back inside and makes the cover, but Gallagher kicks out at two.

As the match continues, Levitt remains in control, hitting another Snap Suplex before a one-arm backbreaker for a two count. A swinging neckbreaker gets a two count. The Dragon then delivers an irish whip before catching Gallagher off the rebound with a tilt-a-whirl slam for another two count. Gallagher is then whipped back into the ropes. Levitt then tries to catch Gallagher off the rebound with a big boot, but Gallagher catches his foot, swings the leg away from him and counters with the Knightmaker (Elbow Smash to the back of the opponent's head), doubling him over. Gallagher then hits the far ropes and drops him to a knee with the Regal Knee (Running Knee Strike to opponent's head). She then grabs him by the back of the tights, pulls him back to his feet and knocks him down with the Queen's Lariat (Wristlock transitioned into a Short-Arm Lariat) for a two count.

Gallagher tries to bring Levitt down with a German Suplex, but The Dragon fights his way out of it with back elbows to the head. He then takes off and hits the ropes. Levitt returns off the ropes and slams on the brakes when Gallagher runs past him towards the ropes. When Levitt turns around, he gets knocked off his feet with a single leg dropkick. Gallagher makes the cover, but Levitt gets the shoulder up at 2.5.

Just as Gallagher calls for the Betsy Bomb, Summer Page makes her way down to the ring. “Spoiled” Summer once again gets on the apron and causes a scene. With the events of Grapple Kingdom V still on her mind, Gallagher runs over to knock Summer off the apron. But Summer hops down just in time. The moment Gallagher backs away and turns around, Levitt turns her inside out with the Resurrection Kick (Claymore Kick) for the three count.

Betsy Gallagher X || Resurrection Kick (7:54) || Travis Levitt O

[FGA Office]

We transition from the ring to backstage, where Jessie Pederson is standing by in front of the Vertigo backdrop.

Jessie Pederson: Ladies and gentlemen, joining me at this time... Chandler Scott.

The crowd roars with cheers at the mention of Chandler's name. Somehow, the cheers get even louder when Chandler walks into the frame. Chandler is seen wearing a bomber jacket with a metallic American flag emblazzed all over it. The jacket looks very similar to that of his tag team partner for tonight, except that the American Flag has replaced the Union Jack. Jessie can be seen giving the jacket a once-over before gesturing towards it.

Jessie Pederson: I see someone is trying to look the part tonight.

Chandler Scott: Well, I figured if I'm teaming up with Owen Gonsalves, I mind as well dress for the occasion.

Jessie Pederson: ...and we will get to that tag team match tonight. But first off, Chandler, I want to take you and the audience back to Grapple Kingdom V. It was your first match in years. The last time you faced John Carmichael, you said it yourself, you got embarrassed out there. But not only did he make short work of you, the man nearly ended your career. However, at Grapple Kingdom V, you were able to best him in a 3 Stages of Hell match. When the shoe was on the other foot and you had the chance to end him, you didn't take the shot. You failed to pull the trigger. I think what we all want to know is... why? Because as we clearly saw from All-Star Showdown X, he made it clear he wanted to erase you from FGA permanently.

Chandler nods

Chandler Scott: "Why". That was the big question coming out of Grapple Kingdom V, wasn't it? Why didn't I give John Carmichael a taste of his own medicine? Why, when I had the man lined up, did I not pull the trigger and end his career the same way he tried to end mine? Well, it's fairly simple. It's none of anyones business.

Pederson lets out a sigh as this was not the answer that she wanted. There's even a small pocket of boos that can be ehard from the crowd. Chandler puts his hand up in an attempt to calm them down.

Chandler Scott: I know, I know. I don't mean to be disrespectful to you and I don't mean to disrespect the people. The thing is, Jessie, is that I have my reasons. Maybe someday, I'll share those reasons with the world. But there's a reason that I didn't want to go down that road and I'll simply keep it to myself for now. Listen, I said in weeks leading up to that match that win, lose or draw, the issue between Carmichael and I was going to be settled. The two of us waged a war and at the end of the day, I was the last man standing. Barely standing, but standing nonetheless. As far as I'm concerned, I'm moving on to better things, like tonight.

Jessie nods along while the crowd cheers his response.

Jessie Pederson: Speaking of tonight, for the first time ever, you will be teaming up with Owen Gonsalves...

The crowd roars with cheers at the mention of Wristlock Sinatra.

Jessie Pederson: ...to take on the team of Ashley Sands and Ashley Marie Chase, Ashes to Ashes. Seeing the two of you teaming up is something that a lot of fans never thought they'd see. How do you see it?

Chandler Scott: Well, I feel the same way that the fans feel. Owen is someone that I have a great, great deal of respect for. Not just as a wrestler, but as a man. I admire the heck out of that guy, so to be able to share the ring with him tonight, it means a lot.

Chandler puts his hand over his heart as he lets out a warm smile.

Chandler Scott: Of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't talk about the opposition, because it's not like Owen and I are going to be out there by ourselves. It's funny, Jessie. The last time I won a match on live TV, it was February 2, 2019. It was the main event of Flashpoint. The person that stood across the ring from me then will be one of the two people standing across the ring tonight. That's you, Ashley Sands.

The crowd gives Sands a round of applause.

Chandler Scott: February 2019. Think of where I was at that time. Think of where FGA was at that time, Jessie. Hell, think of where the world was at time and everything that has unfolded since. That feels like a lifetime go.

Jessie nods in agreement.

Chandler Scott: Yet here we are, Ash, all these years later, standing across the ring from each other again. On that night, we wrestled under the spotlight of the main event. We don't have that luxury of wrestling last tonight. But when you're talking about sharing a ring with yours truly and Owen Gonsalves, you're talking about the main event. I don't give a damn where you place it on the card.

Chandler's statement is met with applause.

Chandler Scott: I talked about respect earlier, Jess. The respect that I have for Owen. Well, Ash, you are someone that I also have a great deal of respect for. You're the first ever Rey del Aire winner here in FGA. You've held the Tag Titles, which is something that I can't say I've done... for now.

Chandler says that last like with a smirk, which causes both the fans to cheer and for Jessie to raise her eyebrow.

Chandler Scott: More on that later.

Jessie mouths "oh really"?

Chandler Scott: You're an accomplished wrestler. Multiple title reigns. A Rumble win elsewhere. That's something that can never be discounted. So Ash, I have a great deal of respect for you. When it comes to your partner? Eh, not so much, and let me tell you why. When that BS bounty was put on my head in the lead up to the 2021 edition of the Gold Rush Rumble, AMC wasn't the only one that took an interested in collecting it. But she damn sure was the first one that was jumping up and down over it. I never forgot that. So tonight, you're getting exactly what's coming to you.

/ -- BREAK -- /

[FGA Office]

HENNY vs. Patrick Jones

Jones starts things off strong, outwrestling HENNY with a pair of hip tosses, arm drags, and dropkicks. After HENNY gets sent for the ride, Jones catches him with a back body drop. Once he’s back to a vertical base, HENNY quickly finds himself on the receiving end of a third dropkick. This one knocking him through the ropes to the floor. Just as Jones is prepared to hit a suicide dive to the outside, he slams on the brakes when Ashley Maldano stands right in between him and HENNY. Jones is forced to back up while HENNY takes his sweet time walking around ringside. Jones has had enough, so he runs towards the nearest corner, scales to the top, leaps off and goes for a diving double axe handle smash. But the high risk doesn’t pay off as HENNY baits him into an attack. After HENNY catches Jones with a punch to the midsection on the way down, he rams the Kentucky native back-first against the edge of the ring before driving him face-first to the floor with a one-handed bulldog. Hennifer Lopez adds insult to injury by mounting Jones’ back before grabbing him by the head with both hands and rubbing his face against the floor.

Once HENNY brings the match back inside, he continues to pour on the offense in the corner with stinging knife edge chops. Jones is quick to grab the Canadian, chuck him into the corner and return the favor with chops on his own. But Jones’ comeback is cut short by a poke to the eyes. After a jumping kick to the knee drops Jones down to a knee, HENNY proceeds to choke him across the middle rope. After HENNY barely breaks the choke before the ref’s five count, HENNY innocently puts his arms up and backs away. While HENNY gets scolded by the official, Maldano chokes Jones behind the ref’s back by grabbing him by the neck with both hands and pulling down across the middle rope. HENNY continues to control the match with a snapmare followed by a dropkick to the back of the head for a two count. A snap suplex gets another two count. After Jones gets sent for the ride and gets caught with a back elbow of the rebound, HENNY delivers quickfire elbow drops before following up with a jumping elbow drop. He makes the lazy cover, which allows Jones to kick out at two.

As the match continues, HENNY returns the favor with a back body drop of his own before flattening Jones with a sliding forearm smash. He then tries for a Lionsault, but Jones gets his knees up on the way down. Jones starts to fight back, knocking HENNY down with a pair of clotheslines. He goes for another back body drop off the irish whip, but HENNY hurdles over him and hits the far ropes. When HENNY returns, Jones drops him with a flying forearm smash. He then doubles HENNY over with a spinning back kick to the midsection before knocking him upright with a kick to the face. Jones throws out a kick to the midsection, but HENNY catches the foot in time. HENNY Heartache begins to taunt Jones until an enzuigiri turns him inside out for a count of two. Jones then brings HENNY down with a scoop slam before coming down off the top with a flying elbow drop. Once HENNY returns to a vertical base, Jones goes for Zoned Out (superkick), but HENNY ducks. Jones turns around and nearly gets caught with Shot Through the Heart (Superkick). At the last second, Jones catches his foot, swing the leg away from him, takes control of HENNY’s back and goes for a belly to back suplex. HENNY then rolls over his shoulder, lands on his feet, turns and hits the far ropes. When HENNY returns, he turns Jones inside out with If U Seek HENNY (Busaiku Knee Kick)! After dropping Jones on his head with the Malmö Driver ‘91 (Double Underhook Brainbuster), he blows Jones a kiss before putting him away with Heartache’s Kiss (Kamigoye) for the ONE, TWO, THREE!

HENNY O || Heartache’s Kiss (8:36) || Patrick Jones X

[FGA Office]

“Spoiled” Summer Page is walking through the Mohegan Sun Arena with her bodyguard Enigma. Summer starts an Instagram Live as she walks through the backstage area.

“Spoiled” Summer Page: I assume I have made my intentions very clear. I want what everyone else wants and to be on the top of the FGA mountain. I mean, I am not trying to be a bitch about it, I am just being honest. But it seems like my words are falling on deaf ears. Which is why I had to let my actions do my talking. I said from the very beginning that I have my eyes on the FGA 15 Championship. Currently a championship that is without a home and that is unacceptable.

Summer looks over at Enigma as he nods in agreement.

“Spoiled” Summer Page: And that is why I checked out the Breakout Battle Royal back at Grapple Kingdom V up close and personal. To be honest, there were a whole lot of well established FGA stars in that battle royal. So to call it a “Breakout Battle Royal” is kind of misleading, especially knowing that I am the next breakout star here in FGA. That is exactly why one of those participants in that battle royal had to be made an example of and Besty Gallagher drew the short end of the stick. So you go and try to redeem yourself in the eyes of the audience and FGA management, Betsy, because I am going to put an end to Lena Galante’s FGA dreams before she has a chance to get going around here. Not because I dislike her because honestly, I don’t know her that well. Seeing that I only know her from what I see on social media, I came to FGA not to make any friends. I came here to enjoy the spoils of my hard work. Which I will get when I win some FGA gold.

/ -- BREAK -- /

[FGA Office]

Lena Galante vs. Summer Page

"Spoiled" Summer Page looks to continue her winning ways while Lena "Spice" Galanate looks to get the W in her very first FGA match. Galante starts off strong, outwrestling Page and proving herself to be the faster of the two. Page is eventually brought back down with a snapmare before Galante connects with a sharp kick to the spine. She measures up Page before another sharp kick to the spine follows. She then pulls Page back to her feet with a cravate, delivers multiple knees to the face and follows up with a cravate suplex for a count of two.

Galante continues to look strong, catching Page with chops and forearms in the corner. She then sets up for an irish whip, only for Page to reverse. Page then runs across the ring to attack, but Galante turns her around with a boot to the face. After Page staggers away from the corner and turns around, Galante goes for a tilt-a-whirl DDT. Page pushes Galante off mid-whirl and goes to counter with a Chick Kick, but Galante swats it away and drops Page with a roundhouse kick of her own for a two count. After successfully whipping Page into the corner with her second attempt, Spice follows up with a running forearm smash. She then turns Page around and goes for a German Suplex out of the corner, but Page hangs onto the top ropes for dear life. While the ref is telling Galante to let go of Page, "Spoiled" Summer catches Galante while she's momentarily distracted with a back elbow to the face. After slamming Galante face-first into the top turnbuckle over and over, she brings Galante out of the corner with a running bulldog for a two count.

Page remains in control, doubling Galante over off the rebound with a knee to the midsection before bringing her down with a swinging neckbreaker for a two count. Galante gets sent for the ride again. Page hits her with a boot to the midsection off the return, stuns her with a knee smash to the face and follows up with a high knee to the face for another two count. She then taunts the crowd while military pressing Galante over her head before slamming her down. Page goes to follow up with a jumping knee, but nobody's home after Galante rolls out of the way.

Galante starts to fight back, knocking Page down with a pair of running forearms before she tackles Page down with a Lou Thesz Press. Mounted forearms follow before a lateral press gets another two count. Page is then once again sent for the ride. When she returns, Spice brings her down with a running STO for another two count. Galante then goes for a yakuza kick, but Page catches her foot, swings the leg away and counters with Spoiled Rotten (Backstabber). She then goes to finish Galante off with the Epitome of Perfection (Best Moonsault Ever), but Galante rolls out of the way in time! Galante scales to the top, crouches down and waits for Page to get in position for Spice Rack (Diving Double Knee Facebreaker), but Page rolls to the outside! Page looks to retreat and take the countout loss, but out from the back comes Betsy Gallagher! Page immediately cowers behind her bodyguard, Enigma. But while Page is busy taunting Gallagher from behind Enigma, Galante spins her around and drops her with another roundhouse kick. Enigma motions to attack Galante, but Gallagher is able to help out her fellow Brit and fend off the big man. After Galante brings the action back inside, she hits Page with multiple forearms, dazes her with the Black Star Line (Scorpion Kick), doubles her over with a rolling back kick to the midsection before bringing Page down with the Brixton Blowout (Kairopractor) for the ONE, TWO, THREE!

Lena Galante O || Brixton Blowout (7:56) || Summer Page X

[FGA Office]

We cut to a secluded backstage area where the new FGA Legacy Champion Piper Lennon is resting on a shipping crate, kicking her feet up.

Piper Lennon: Hey, Megatron! Drop it! .. droooppp it … good girl.

A pan over reveals her toddler was trying to grab at the title belt which is rested on a milk crate, which is serving as a makeshift dais to display it.

Piper Lennon: You can touch that when you earn one yourself hon, c’mon.

She gestures for her child to join her, and after getting ignored for a bit sighs, stands up and heads over to pick her up.

Piper Lennon: Shhh, shhhh. Listen, yeah us having a show this week kinda was a kick in the proverbial balls; really snuck up on me out of nowhere.

Leave it to yourself to decide whether she’s lying about that, and just wanted to performatively bring her child to the show as a prop, or whether she was lying about wanting to be a more dedicated Champion this time around & legitimately couldn’t keep track of the promotion’s schedule.

Piper Lennon: Feeling pretty great about myself right about now, and why wouldn’t I be? I put a lot of hard work in to get my baby, ol’ Legacy Lennon back & really showed how much I’ve grown. Back in the day I might have made up some story about how I was trying to help Antoinette unlock her true self or some nonsense, but I can be real here. I … earmuffs Megatron–

Her toddler covers her ears.

Piper Lennon: – girlbossed the shit out of this whole deal and showed the importance of doing what it takes to get what you want. Nobody’s going to do anything for you, but you can find some rubes to help use to get it done.

A short nod.

Piper Lennon: I mean, was it a little complex and all? Yeah, but I mean, end of the day triple threat match with a couple of people that are– no offense– but kinda dumb, was a pretty great scenario to help make sure I could get the job done. Did I have to go ahead & fake friend Ant to create this whole scenario? Yeah, did I have to bait Mara into beating the crap out of me backstage so I could learn their trigger points & I could see how Ant thinks on her feet heading into our match? Yeah, and I mean that just shows what a great champ I’m gonna be if you ask me. It like … it takes a lot of hard work & thought to put yourself in the best situation to succeed.

It’s pretty clear at this point that she’s forgotten to tell her kid she can uncover her ears.

Piper Lennon: And did I have to beat Ant up after I’d gotten what I wanted? I mean, yeah I do, because this isn’t about me. My success is helping set up my kid’s college fund if she wants to go ahead & do that. And I had to show Megatron that in life, there’s gonna be people that take advantage of you if you let them. Because I’m not being selfish and doing things for myself for my own sake, I’m doing it to show my kid & the next generation that they can take whatever they want. Because nothing’s more important to me th–

She glances down.

Piper Lennon: – oh right, earmuffs off! Off! Cool, cool, nothing’s more important to me than making sure I do what it takes to empower the next generation to be more empowered than all the lame olds are. Which, if you want proof … I can show the lessons I’m passing on.

Piper squats down, setting Megatron on the ground and pats her on the head before ambling over to retrieve her title belt.

Piper Lennon: Alright, MT, time to girlboss it baby! What do we do to the bad lady?

She points and the camera pans over to a cardboard cutout of a beaming Antoinette Sands.

Megatron: Kitty!

The champ lets out a light sigh.

Piper Lennon: No, no, focus honey; look at … look over there, what do we do?

That bit of encouragement seems to work.

Megatron: Smash da ant!

Piper claps her hands.

Piper Lennon: That’s right! Go get her!

Megatron toddles over towards the cutout and weakly flails her arms towards it. Piper winces as the tiny human being is not able to destroy the large piece of cardboard.

Piper Lennon: Alright, we’ll have to work on that; I’ll go stomp out Gwen and maybe those pointers will help. Now, uh is there security around here or something? If there’s a romper room here for kids they can take Megatron to that’d be great.

/ -- BREAK -- /

[FGA Office]

Piper Lennon vs. Gwen Margolis

Lennon and Margolis look to start things off with a collar-and-elbow, but Lennon is quick to resort to a cheap shot with a cross chop to the throat. The new Legacy Champion stays on the tag team specialist, isolating her in the corner with a rake to the eyes and a foot choke. After catching Margolis with alternating knife edge chops and jabs, Lennon whips her into the far corner. Piper rushes across the ring to attack, but Margolis knocks her back with a back elbow to the face. Lennon shakes off the blow and rushes back in, only to get knocked back again. This time, with a boot to the face that turns her around. Lennon staggers out of the corner, turns around and gets caught with a wheelbarrow facebuster for a two count.

Margolis continues to control the action, catching the champion off the rebound with a basement dropkick before smashing her with a running forearm for another two count. Lennon gets rocked with a pair of European Uppercuts before a spinning back kick doubles her over. A snap suplex follows before Margolis hits a split leg drop for another two count. Margolis bring the action back into the corner, slamming Lennon face-first into the corner while the crowd counts along. She then turns Piper around, climbs up to the middle ropes and starts raining down right hands. Before Margolis can hit 10 punches in a row, Lennon slips out from underneath, turns and yanks Margolis down. Margolis smacks her face against the top turnbuckle on the way down before Piper brings her down with a sitout jawbreaker for a two count.

The champion remains in control, catching Margolis off an irish whip rebound with a running double axe handle to the jaw, turning her inside out. The champion makes the cover, but Margolis kicks out at two. Lennon goes for another lateral press but again, she only gets a count of two. Piper then places Margolis in a rear chinlock before transitioning into a fish hook. After getting warned by the official, Lennon lets go… and follows up with a spinning boot scrape across the face. The champion continues her cheap shots, doubling Margolis over with a throat thrust before tossing her through the ropes to the apron. She goes to bring Margolis back inside with a vertical suplex, but Margolis slips down and counters with a bridging German Suplex for a two count.

Margolis mounts her comeback, whipping Lennon into the corner and connecting with a running European Uppercut. Lennon slowly slumps down in the corner before getting crushed with a cannonball senton for a two count. Margolis tries for another German Suplex, but Lennon runs towards the side of the ring, wraps her arms around the top rope and yanks back, sending Margolis flying off her and to the mat. After Margolis rolls back to her feet, Lennon runs over to attack with another double axe handle, but she gets countered with a superkick for another two count. Margolis then sets up for a Samoan Drop until Lennon rakes her across the eyes. Margolis staggers forward, shakes off the attack, turns around and gets caught with a running front dropkick that sends her flying into the corner. The champion then takes Margolis, delivers an irish whip, follows her across the ring and connects with a leaping corner bionic elbow. Lennon follows up with a Hotshot across the top rope. Margolis begins to stumble back until Lennon rolls over and brings her down with a jumping neckbreaker slam. Piper then plants Margolis on her head with the Snapshot ‘98 (Lifting high angle double-underhook DDT) for the ONE, TWO, THREE!

Piper Lennon O || Snapshot 98’ (7:22) || Gwen Margolis X

/ -- BREAK -- /

[FGA Office]

TAG TEAM MATCH
Owen Gonsalves & Chandler Scott vs. Ashes to Ashes

Scott immediately rushes across the ring and drops AMC with a running elbow smash! He quickly snatches AMC up, runs into the corner and slams her face-first into the top turnbuckle. After turning AMC around and lighting her up with alternating knife edge chops and jabs, AMC starts to fight back with a forearm flurry. AMC continues to knock Scott back with forearms before she turns and hits the ropes. When AMC returns, Scott sends her flipping down to the mat with a kitchen sink. He quickly flattens her with a Sliding D for a two count.

Scott continues to control the match by placing AMC in a neck crank. When AMC refuses to quit, Scott transitions into a Figure Four Neck Lock. Scott keeps the hold applied before raining down pointed elbows across the head. When AMC still won’t give up, Scott rolls over before ramming AMC face-first into the mat with repeated pushup facebusters. He then brings the action into his side’s corner before tagging in Gonsalves.

Wristlock Sinatra keeps AMC in their corner with repeated European Uppercuts. He quickly tags back out to Scott, who gives AMC multiple European Uppercuts of his own. Gonsalves quickly gets tagged back in, delivering multiple arm wrenches and follows up with a double knee armbreaker. Gonsalves follows up with a hammerlock suplex for a two count. A hammerlock scoop slam gets another count count. He then snapmares AMC over and bends her fingers back before wrestling her arm down to the mat. Gonsalves positions the arm at a 90 degrees before delivering a pointed elbow stomp.

Gonsalves heads across the ring to follow up with an attack, but AMC fights him off with multiple kicks to the midsection. She then takes Gonsalves with her good arm and tries for a running bulldog, but Gonsalves shoves her off into the ropes. When AMC returns, she slides through Gonsalves’ legs, scrambles towards the Ashes to Ashes corner and tags in Ashley Sands. Sands and Gonsalves start to trade chops until Gonsalves grabs her arm and tries to wrestle her down to the mat with the Crossface Oblivion Wing (Arm Trap Crossface). Sands is able to keep Gonsalves from flattening her on the mat before rolling forward, leaning back and catching him with an upkick. Sands starts to turn things around for Ashes to Ashes when Sands delivers a running rana that sends Gonsalves through the ropes to the apron. Gonsalves gets to his feet in time and knocks a charging Sands back with a forearm to the face. But as soon as he turns towards AMC, she doubles him over with a boot to the midsection before bringing him off the apron to the floor with the Name Dropper (Pedigree)! Chase then pulls Gonsalves back to his feet and holds him in place before Sands flips off the top turnbuckle and knocks him down with a moonsault!

After Sands brings the action back inside and gets a two count on the lateral press, AMC gets tagged back in. Ashes to Ashes then catch Gonsalves off an irish whip rebound with a pair of double clotheslines. Scott runs in to help, but he gets thrown down with a double back body drop before a running double clothesline sends him over the top rope to the floor. Back inside, Gonsalves gets whipped into the corner. AMC runs in and connects with a clothesline. Multiple corner chest kicks follow before she steps to the side, allowing Sands to nearly knock his head off with the Wind Kick (running big boot in the corner). AMC then brings Gonsalves down out of the corner with a running bulldog before Sands follows up with the Wind Whisper (rolling senton). AMC makes the cover, but Gonsalves gets the shoulder up at two. AMC then brings the action back into the corner and follows up with more chest kicks. She then hoists Gonsalves up to a seated position on the top turnbuckle before bringing him down with the Gucci Drop (Backpack Stunner) for another two count.

The tag gets made out to Sands. Seconds later, Gonsalves gets brought down with a double vertical suplex for a two count. After they throw Gonsalves down with a double gourdbuster, Gonsalves gets up on his knee before a double dropkick knocks him down to the mat. Sands makes the cover, but again, Gonsalves gets the shoulder up in time. Sands then takes Gonsalves and whips him back into the corner. She goes for another Wind Kick, but Gonsalves catches the foot in time before shoving her down to the mat. Sands rolls right back to her feet and charges back into the corner. This time, Gonsalves knocks her back with a European Uppercut, hoiss himself onto the middle ropes and drives her down with a Draco Meteor (Meteora)!

AMC runs back into the ring and goes to cut Gonsalves off with a clothesline, but he ducks, hits the far ropes, returns and brings AMC down with a Sling Blade! He then sends Sands flying back into the corner with a Shotgun Dropkick. After dragging himself across the ring, Gonsalves tags out to Scott. As soon as Scott gets in the ring, Sands dives over and tags out to AMC. AMC is able to knock Scott down with It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's A Chase (High crossbody block), but Scott rolls through it, returns to his feet, hoists AMC up across his shoulders and brings her down with a fireman’s carry neckbreaker for a two count. Scott sets up for a German Suplex, but AMC counters with a back elbow to the face before knocking him back with a Pelé Kick. She then takes off into the ropes. When AMC returns, Scott turns her inside out with a Pinpoint Dropkick (high-angle dropkick to the face). He then pulls AMC back to her feet by the back of the tights before bringing her down with a ripcord Sling Blade for the ONE, TWO TH-NO! Sands dives over and breaks up the pin.

Gonsalves gets back in the ring and fights off Sands while Scott keeps up the attack on AMC. Scott takes AMC, delivers an irish whip, follows her across the ring and connects with a running European Uppercut. After AMC gets whipped into the far corner, Scott rushes across the ring and connects with a flying corner elbow smash while Gonsalves brings Sands down with Paroxysm (Snap Dragon Suplex). With both members of Ashes to Ashes seated on the top turnbuckles in opposite corners, Gonsalves brings Sands down with Australia Street (Top Turnbuckle Hung Cutter) while Scott drops AMC with the Mass Spike (Top Rope-hung Cutter)! Gonsalves then takes Sands and plants her with the Angel Duster (Double Underhook Piledriver) while Scott places AMC in the Chandler Clutch (Cobra Clutch + Triangle Choke Combination)! AMC tries to fight it off, but she ultimately taps out.

Chandler Scott & Owen Gonsalves O || Chandler Clutch (11:51) || Ashes to Ashes X

Scott and Gonsalves continue to celebrate their win as veteran reporter Spencer Burke makes his way into the ring. Burke heads towards the center of the ring with mic and hand before calling over the victors.

Spencer Burke: Once again, your winners, Owen Gonsalves and Chandler Scott!

The crowd cheers and applauds both Scott and Gonsalves.

Spencer Burke: You know, for a pair of men who have never teamed up before, you two were like a well-oiled machine out there.

Chandler Scott: That’s exactly right, Spencer. You hit the nail right on the head. Ashes to Ashes, they have the tag team experience. They have championship experience as a team. So they had that over us. But when you take two of the best technical wrestlers to ever grace an FGA ring and you put them together, magic happens. When you take two of the pound for pound best wrestlers to ever grace this sport, greatness happens. In our first ever time teaming up, we took on and took down a team that just last year held the World Tag Team Championship. Just think what would happen if we got a couple of more reps under our belts.

The crowd likes the sound of that.

Chandler Scott: Once upon a time, Spencer, someone said about me that… “he’s one of the best I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing live and wrestling. He’s been a great mentor and better friend, and when it’s all said and done, he may just be the best to have ever done it”.

The crowd applauds the quote.

Chandler Scott: You know who said that about me? That fine gentleman right over there.

The crowd cheers as Chandler points over to Owen.

Chandler Scott: Owen, you’re probably the closest thing that I’ve got left to an actual friend in this business. I know we haven’t been that close in recent years because of the obvious. But I wanted to let you know that I never forgot those words and that they still mean something to me to this day.

The crowd applauds.

Chandler Scott: It was an honor and a privilege sharing this ring with you in this capacity. I know we’ve been in Gold Rush Rumbles, but we’ve never shared the ring like this. Not like tonight. I might be getting a little ahead of myself… but I don’t think that what all these fans saw here tonight should be a one time thing.

The crowd gets excited.

Chandler Scott: You and me teaming up, the possibilities are endless. The two of us could rule this place. We could take the tag team scene here in FGA to an even higher level. But let’s put selfish needs to the side. Think about what we could do if we took some of these young guys… the ones that lost their way, the ones that don’t know how to quite put it all together, the ones that just need that big break… what if we took them under our wings and gave them the tools to be the best that they could be. It wouldn’t be about them being subordinates or us leading them. It’s about setting the next generation on the right path and leaving this business in even better hands.

The crowd applauds.

Chandler Scott: Listen the people, Owen. They want it. The viewers at home want it. Spencer Burke wants it. Kris Cruise wants it. That idiot over there sitting next to him wants it. The cameraman wants it. I want it. But the question is… do you want it. Do you want to be my partner, Owen?

The crowd cheers at the thought, it's clear that Owen is a little caught off guard by the comment.

Owen Gonsalves: That's a… that's quite the thought, I can't lie. Chandler Scott and Owen Gonsalves teaming up to run the tag division for a little while could be interesting.

The cheers build.

Owen Gonsalves: In an alternate timeline, it could be great. Hell, maybe down the road, when we both have nothing else to prove, maybe, just maybe we can do what we both do best and prove ourselves yet again in another division here in FGA.

Owen pats Chandler on the back.

Owen Gonsalves: Chandler, it's a great thought, and I think we can definitely come back to it… one day. I've got Violent Style at the moment in Japan, I'm teaming with one of the all-time greats in Bryan Williams and training with the future of this industry, Weston Lovejoy, Trey Bouchet, and Brogan Levandrier. I've got my tag team fix covered at the moment I think.

There's a mixed reaction as Owen runs down his explanation.

Owen Gonsalves: But if we're being honest with ourselves, Chandler, I'm not comfortable playing second fiddle to a partner who doesn't know what he's got. Bryan and I have fought countless times and Bryan knows what I'm capable of in spades, and when conversations come around of who's the best and whos got next, BW never fails to mention my name. But I don't think you'd do the same, Chandler.

Thee’s a pause for confusion.

Owen Gonsalves: It's been a little while since I've got to hold a microphone in this ring and I've never got to hold a microphone in this ring with you, so let's go ahead and catch up in front of these fine folks, huh?

There's an air of annoyance on Owen's face but he's composed.

Owen Gonsalves: I wanna take you back to when FGA visited your home state of Massachusetts recently. I believe we were in Lowell that night and you'd come out and cut an emotional little promo talking about how hard the past two years have been and in that promo, you had the entire room on the edge of their seats as you announced that you're back!

The crowd applauds once again in recognition of the moment.

Owen Gonsalves: And that part? That was great, Chandler. As a friend and someone I look up to, that was a special moment for you and you deserved it. You deserved the emotion and the passion from those fans that night and you deserved to have the opportunity to have the world's attention… and what'd you do with that spotlight? You uplifted. You listed a lot of great talent, Chandler.

Owen nods along.

Owen Gonsalves: You mentioned TJ and Ant, Sid St. Hughes, STRONGHOLD, Emery Layton, BLC… You ran down some top names in the industry and I got a lot of respect for you for doing that. But after everything I've managed to do in FGA since you've been gone, you never did mention my name.

A scattering of boos. Chandler gives him a puzzled look.

Owen Gonsalves: But that's okay, that's okay, Chandler because at first I thought you left me off that list because we had wrestled in a small Arena in the Japanese countryside but then I remembered that we went to a thirty minute time limit draw. You went on to become a World Champion in Japan as you do.

Owen shrugs

Owen Gonsalves: And then I thought maybe you left me off that list because you forgot. Because you forgot that you weren't able to beat me on your way to that World Championship and maybe, just maybe you had forgot about what I could do… but then I realised that I'm not even the same guy I was back then. I've won some championships in Japan since then, I've won some awards since then. And that's when I realised the truth, Chandler…

A pause as the tension in the room rises.

Owen Gonsalves: You left me off that list because you truly don't know what I'm capable of. After breaking the record for most defenses of a singles championship in FGA, after holding the United States Championship for a full calendar year, after beating name after name after name, including our current World Champion, after becoming the honest to God, best United States Champion in that title’s short history… I was left without an award last year and that left a sour taste in my mouth. I thought maybe FGA had forgotten or maybe… like you, they just truly don't know.

A few more boos again. Owen looks around, and nods slowly.

Owen Gonsalves: I get it, this isn't what anyone was expecting… but I promise this will all be worth your while, fans, because Chandler… I don't want to team with you, because that proves nothing of either of us. I've got a better idea.

There’s a growing interest amongst the crowd. What does Owen have in mind? What could possibly be better than the two of them teaming up?

Owen Gonsalves: Chandler, I want to fight you.

The crowd explodes with cheers. The camera pans out to reveal the capacity crowd going wild.

Owen Gonsalves: Chandler, it's high time I reminded those that have forgotten, and those that simply don't know that I am the absolute best this company has. I've spent far too long distracted with arrogant pricks lately and I think FGA could do with a reminder. But I don't think one fight solves it… I don't think two solves it, I think a series might solve it. You wanna wrestle the best in the industry? Fight me, Chandler. Earn your way back into this company, earn your way back into the end of year lists, earn that best technical wrestler mantle you still think you have and do it… against me. Chandler Scott versus Owen Gonsalves feels like a match fitting of a playoff, it feels Championship worthy and while neither of us are champions right now, that doesn't mean we can't make it feel like a championship series. So, Chandler, if you're truly about facing the best… I'll see you, at Game 7.

With that, Owen drops to mic to chants off…

“HOLY SHIT!”

“HOLY SHIT!”

“HOLY SHIT!”

“HOLY SHIT!”

Spencer Burke: Owen Gonsalves has just challenged you to a Best of 7, Chandler, how do you respond?

“YES!”

“YES!”

“YES!”

“YES!”

Chandler looks around and anxiously rubs the back of his neck.

Chandler Scott: Best of 7, huh? Well, I have to be honest, that wasn’t exactly the answer that I was expecting to get it. I mean, you’ve teamed with the likes of Ace Watson, so teaming with me should’ve been a no-brainer. Apparently not…

Chandler looks off to the side and rolls his eyes. The fans are a bit nervous as the tension is slowly creeping back up.

Chandler Scott: Owen, I want… I want to unpack a couple of things you just said there. First and foremost, I never forgot about you. I never forgot that you’re the Technical Spectacle. I never forgot that you’re a ring tactician. I never forgot that you are one of the greatest goddamn wrestlers in this sport. I’m not saying this to kiss your ass. I’m saying this because it’s true.

The crowd applauds.

Chandler Scott: …and you are right. You’re not the same guy that you were back then. A lot of things have changed for the both of us.

Chandler points to his face.

Chandler Scott: But I never forgot about you, Owen. The reason that I mentioned some of those names and not you is because I wanted to see how I measured up against the talented youth of today. When it came to mentioning Emery, I wanted to see how I could measure up against one of the best to ever do. Me omitting you from that list? It wasn’t a slight. It wasn’t disrespect. So I don’t know why you’re taking it as such. I mean hell, if it makes you feel any better… if I had a ballot last year, I would’ve thrown a vote or two your way. Would it have changed anything?

Chandler shrugs

Chandler Scott: …but it’s the thought that counts.

The crowd continues to grow uneasy.

Chandler Scott: Another thing I want to unpack. What was that cute little dig? Something to the effect of… “earn that Best Technical Wrestler mantle you still think you have”? Hmm…

Chandler looks off to the crowd and just shakes his head

Chandler Scott: You know, Owen… given all my time away, it’s probably fair to say that I’m probably not the Best Technical Wrestler in FGA anymore. Maybe I’m not a better technical wrestler than you. Who knows. But if we listen to your peers and if we listen to the people, clearly they think that Ace Voltage is.

"OOOOOOOOHHHHHH!"

Chandler Scott: I... did not want to do this. I really didn’t. I thought we would come out here, have a successful match, I’d make you my pitch and if you said yes, great and if didn’t, oh well. But you couldn’t just leave it off at a simple no, now could you? You had to bring hostility into it by lumping me in with everyone else that FoRgOt about Owen Gonsalves.

Chandler continues to state Owen down.

Chandler Scott: It’s very clear that you’re walking around with a boulder-sized chip on your shoulder. It’s very clear that you feeling resentment right about now. It’s also very clear that you still feel a certain way about how things happened in Japan because this isn’t the first time, the second time or even the third time you’ve brought up the fact that I never beat you. But that Draw works both ways, buddy, because you never beat me, either. So I’ll tell you what… if you want to earn that Best Technical Wrestler award… if you want to earn your way back into the end of year lists…

Chandler smirks as he sends Owen’s words right back at him. Both men make their way right up to each other. Owen and Chandler stand face to face. Neither man is backing down. The capacity crowd is red hot for this

Chandler Scott: … then I’ll see you in the Playoffs.

"YES!"
"YES!"
"YES!"
"YES!"

There’s a roar of excitement over Chandler agreeing to the series.

Chandler Scott: Owen-Chandler, Best of 7. Get ready, Owen. Tip-off starts next Vertigo.

Chandler flings the mic to the side while he and Owen continue to stare each other down.

/ -- BREAK -- /

[FGA Office]

The scene opens with Your Hero, and Mine, standing in front of a Vertigo logo'd backdrop. He's all bandaged up yet still has his signature smirk over his lips. He licks them, looking up at the camera with a glimmer in his eye. 

Mark Storm: I've been thinking about the past a lot recently, and how all things are meant to be no matter how wrong they seem in the moment.

Storm pauses, clenching his fist as he looks down at the floor. 

Mark Storm: The stars align the way they do and it can lead us to circumstances we might've found unimaginable, unfathomable, unrealistic, but it happens. And then before you know it, you're stood out in the spotlight and it's your turn to embark on greatness.

Mark Storm: Greatness has followed me my whole career but it has alluded me here in Frontier Grappling Arts. I've danced on the path of greatness, danced with some of the greatest wrestlers in the world but I haven't been able to breakthrough that barrier, until Grapple Kingdom, where I finally, broke out, as the breakout battle royale victor. 

Mark Storm: To tell the truth, I've been thinking about the opportunities that have crumbled before me. The ones that I've let slip through my fingertips for someone else to grasp, those are the ones that hurt and stay with you. I had my Fifteen minutes of fame in the past and I couldn't uphold it, challenged for the United States title but couldn't capitalize, and have fumbled the bag, time after time, after time. But yet, I'm still here.

He chuckles lightly, licking his lips as he does. 

Mark Storm: Everything happens for a reason. Through all the hardships and heartache I've had to endure all these years, it's led me up to this moment, right here, where I have an opportunity to take myself to the mountaintop and I ain't looking anywhere else! Believe me when I say this is everything I know, and everything I've wanted, and I'm not going to squander this opportunity, no. I'm taking it and I'm making it clear, right here, right now, that I'm after for the FGA World Championship! I'm looking right at you, Nina Stokes. 

Storm looks directly into the lens, nodding his head as his eyes flare up.

Mark Storm: But tonight... tonight, my focus is on Savannah Taylor, an adversary of mine, for what seems to be a lifetime now and she's gotten the best of me a few times, a few times too recent. The first ever United States Champion. A former International Heavyweight Champion and Pride Champion, she's almost done it all. No matter what you think of her, she's managed to climb her way to the mountaintop and cement her legacy here. The Las Vegas Siren is still as relevant as she was then. The difference is, Your Hero, and Mine has had a resurgence and I don't plan on stopping, anytime soon. You've had your time on the mountaintop and now it's my time, it's my moment! That isn't just a message to you, that's a message to everybody else in the back. I've played the side note. Done my dues as the villain but now, now is the time for the era of the hero, and I ain't talking about no conventional hero, no, I know I've done a lot of bad things and I've painted myself as the reckoning, and the truth is, I still am. I'm the reckoning of professional wrestling and the sooner you get to grips with that fact, the sooner you'll know, that it's inevitable, that my time at the mountaintop is upon us. 

Storm's signature smirk plasters over his lips once more.

Mark Storm: The journey continues and Savannah Taylor, you're part of that journey. An immovable obstacle, one of the best technical wrestlers in this company. But tonight, the Las Vegas Siren isn't gonna get her way, no. I've made it a habit to persist, to overcome everything that's thrown in my direction and you, Savannah, you're someone I need to beat if I wanna get to where I wanna be. Tonight, that's exactly what I'll do, from Your Hero, and Mine. 

The scene gradually fades out.

[FGA Office]

Mark Storm vs. Savannah Taylor

Your Hero and Mine starts off hot, catching the Las Vegas Siren with a pair of running shoulder blocks before a quick snap suplex gets a two count. Storm tries for an irish whip, but he’s quickly reversed. When Storm returns off the rebound, Taylor goes for a hip toss. But Storm steps through it, counters with a hip toss of his own and follows up with a sliding dropkick for another two count.

Storm brings the action into the corner, where he lights up Taylor with repeated knife edge chops. The Las Vegas Siren tries to fight her way out of the corner with a flurry of forearm smashes. Storm is able to shake off the blows, fire back with forearms of his own that knock Taylor back into the corner and follow up with repeated clotheslines to the point of exhaustion. Storm then tries for another irish whip. Once again, he gets reversed. Taylor is quick to follow him across the ring before catching him with a corner dropkick for a two count. Taylor then sends him back into the corner with another irish whip before connecting with a corner back elbow. Taylor blasts him with a spinning backfist before bringing him out of the corner with a neckbreaker for another two count.

As the match continues, Storm finds himself on the receiving end of multiple shoot kicks before a Sling Blade brings him down. After a missile dropkick sends him stumbling through the ropes to the floor, Taylor knocks him back down with a Triangle Moonsault to the outside. The Las Vegas Siren brings the action back inside and looks to finish him off with the Ruby Weapon (Dragonrana), but Storm blocks it, leaving Taylor hanging upside down. Storm pulls Taylor fully up onto his shoulders before countering with an elevated powerbomb for a two count. Storm then goes for a deadlift gutwrench stout powerbomb, but Taylor counters with a hurricanrana for a two count.

Both grapplers start to trade strikes until Storm turns Taylor inside out with the Impending Storm. He then tosses Taylor through the ropes to the apron, pulls her into position across the middle rope and plants her with a rope-hung DDT. Taylor starts to use the middle rope to pull herself back up until Storm runs across the ring and cracks her with a bicycle knee for a two count. Storm then scales to the top turnbuckle, leaps off and connects with a shotgun dropkick before returning to his feet with a kip up. After dropping Taylor with the One For All (pair of bicycle knee strikes), he takes a page out of Nina Stokes’ book and delivers a double wristlock before raining down repeated stomps to the chest, face and head. Your Hero and Mine then pulls Taylor back to her feet before bringing her down with the Heroes End (One-handed electric chair driver) for the ONE, TWO, THREE!

Mark Storm O || Heroes End (8:43) || Savannah Taylor X

/ -- BREAK -- /

[FGA Office]

MAIN EVENT
SIX PERSON TAG TEAM MATCH
Def Before Dishonor & Antoinette vs. Strike 2 Kill & Mitsuo Shimada

Both trios exchange handshakes before Antoinette and Shimada start things off for their respective squads. Ant starts off strong as she gets the better of Shimada with arm drags, spin kicks and dropkicks. After an irish whip sends Shimada into the corner, Antoinette runs over, hops on top of him and throws him out of the corner with a monkey flip. She then comes out of the corner and sends Shimada flipping back down to the mat with an Ant-zuigiri (step-up enzuigiri) for a two count!

As the match continues, Antoinette sets up for a running bulldog before Shimada counters with a push off into the ropes. When Ant returns, she brings Shimada back down with a running hurricanrana. She then drops Shimada with a pair of leg lariats before going for a diving clothesline. Shimada drops to his back in the nick of time, which causes Antoinette to crash and burn! The Heroes for Hire member brings Antoinette down with a belly to belly suplex before landing on top of her with a somersault senton for a two count. A fireman’s carry gutbuster gets another two count. He then brings Antoinette down with a rolling fireman’s carry into a moonsault off the second rope for another two count.

Once Liam Richardson gets tagged in, he immediately makes the tag out to Miles Watson. Strike 2 Kill go to work on Antoinette, hitting the former Legacy Champion with a double hip toss followed by a double back handspring into a double dropkick to the face. Watson follows up with an assisted standing Shooting Star Press with help from Richardson for another two count. Richardson gets tagged back in before he whips Antoinette into the corner. After Ant gets crushed with an assisted dropkick from Strike 2 Kill, Richardson drags her out of the corner. Antoinette quickly finds herself on the receiving end of an inverted atomic drop from Richardson, followed by a running dropkick to the knees by Watson, followed by an inverted STF by Richardson, culminating with a running drop kick to the face of the opponent by Watson for another two count! Richardson then tries for a rolling fireman’s carry of his own, but Antoinette elbows her way out of the hold, slips down from behind and counters with the Sugar Crash (Backstabber)!

Antoinette crawls over and tags out to TJ Techniques, who immediately comes in like a house of fire. The Funky Technician races across the ring and hits a running hurricanrana of his own, which sends Richardson through the ropes to the floor. He then catches Watson with a rolling solebutt to the midsection, doubling him over. After placing Watson in a front facelock, he starts to glide backwards across the ring. Before he can fall back and plant Watson to complete the Moonwalk DDT, he sees Shimada rushing over to attack. So he pushes Watson off to the side before countering Shimada with a Spanish Fly. The Pride Champion then runs across the ring, slingshots out to the apron and knocks Richardson back down with an apron pump kick. TJ turns and sees Watson coming, so he low bridges the top rope, sending Watson tumbling to the outside. He then sits down on the middle rope and holds up the top rope, which allows Antoinette to run across the ring, leap through the ropes and knock both members of Strike 2 Kill down with a suicide crossbody!

NO!

Richardson and Watson are able to catch Antoinette in mid air. Before they can do anything, though, Sparrow runs across the ring, hurl himself over the top rope and knocks all three of them down with Air Sparrow (Fosbury Flop)!

Back inside, TJ slingshots back into the ring, runs over to attack Shimada, and ends up getting caught in a fireman’s carry. Shimada then heads towards the nearest corner and brings him down with a rolling fireman’s carry. Shimada then goes for a double jump moonsault off the top, but TJ returns to his feet with a kip up and pushes Shimada’s legs out from under him. Shimada remains crouched on the top rope until Sparrow rolls back into the ring, heads towards the corner, leaps up to a seated position behind Shimada and throws him down with the Izuna Drop (Spider Suplex)!!!

TJ pulls a folded up Shimada back to his feet and keeps him doubled over before knocking him down with a Scissors Kick. The Funky Technician returns to his feet with a Spinaroonie before Richardson turns him inside out with a rolling lariat for a two count.

After Watson gets tagged back in, S2K hit the double champion with Strikezone (Running arched big boot (Richardson) / Enzuigiri (Watson) combination to a cornered opponent) in the corner. They then pull Techniques away from the corner and into position before dropping him with springboard dropkick by Richardson into a Reverse STO from Watson for a two count. Once Richardson gets tagged back in, S2K look to finish TJ off with The End of Days (Chasing the Dragon). But TJ knees Richardson in the head on the way up, rolls underneath a roundhouse attempt from Watson, dives over and tags Sparrow in!

The West Indian Whirlwind immediately makes his way to the top before knocking Watson down with a diving crossbody! The United States Champion returns to his feet and catches Richardson with the Leaf Hurricane (Counter Scorpion Kick followed by a Pele Kick) before dropping a charging Shimada with a jumping sidekick. After Shimada gets whipped into the corner, Sparrow runs in to attack until a boot to the face turns him around. Shimada then catches Antoinette with a back elbow to the face before he slingshots out to the apron and hits TJ with a belly to belly suplex off the apron to the floor! Back inside, Sparrow tries to shake off the blow before Richardson brings him down with a Tiger Suplex for a two count. He then sets up for a German Suplex until Sparrow counters with a back elbow, performs a standing switch and goes for a German Suplex of his own. NO! Richardson counters with a back elbow, performs a standing switch and counters with a German on the second attempt.

NO!

Sparrow catches Richardson with three back elbows to the face, performs a standing switch and throws him into the turnbuckles with a German Suplex! With Richardson down, Sparrow starts to crawls toward his corner. TJ is still down on the floor feeling the effects of the belly to belly off the apron. But Antoinette is there calling for the tag. With the crowd solidly behind him, the two-time double champion continues to scratch and claw his way towards the corner. He dives over to make the tag… but Antoinette isn’t there!

Instead, Antoinette is seen down on the floor. Her attention is no longer on the match and is now on her former friend, Piper Lennon. The reigning Legacy Champion taunts Antoinette as she cradles the Legacy Championship in her arms. Ant’s seen enough of this, so she charges down the aisle before spearing Lennon to the floor! She mounts on top of Lennon before raining down rights and lefts to the champion. Lennon does her best to cover up, but Antoinette’s wild punches are able to pierce through her defense. Lennon finds herself yanked up by the hair before getting chucked over the guardrail into the crowd. Sparrow can be seen trying to wave Antoinette back in the ring. But at this point, Antoinette is laser focused on Lennon. Ant then climbs over the guardrail before punching Lennon throughout the crowd.

Back in the ring, Sparrow watches the scene with Antoinette and Lennon unfold before he gets brought down with a Saito Suplex from Watson. Watson then brings Sparrow back to his feet and prepares to strike… until Silk & Cyanide rush the ring, attacking both men and causing the ref to throw the match out!

Def Before Dishonor & Antoinette - || NO CONTEST (13:40) || Strike 2 Kill & Mitsuo Shimada -

Shimada tries to make the save, but The Divine Duo chuck him over the top rope to the floor with a double hip toss. Richardson tries to fight the former champions off with strikes, but he eventually falls to the numbers game and gets brought down with the Canto V (Mariani goozles the opponent before Mason hits a spinning leg sweep, allowing Mariani to drive the opponent to the mat). Mason & Mariani turn their attention back to the United States Champion. After stomping the hell out of Sparrow, they set him up for Haute Tension (double team inverted crucifix powerbomb). Just before Sparrow gets driven down to the floor, Mark Storm races down to the ring with a steel chair in hand and clears the ring, chasing them off. Storm keeps his eyes locked on Silk & Cyanide while he kneels down next to Sparrow. TJ Techniques finally rolls back inside and crawls over towards his partner. TJ and Storm can be seen motioning for Silk & Cyanide to get back into the ring. Mason & Mariani motion towards the ring… before heading over towards the timekeeper’s table and stealing the Wold Tag Team Titles before making a getaway through the crowd.

The camera follows Mariani & Mason through the crowd. The farmer tag champion run by Antoinette, who is still knocking Lennon through the crowd with punches. That is, until she gets blindsided with a pump kick from former Legacy Champion, Mara Jade Miller!

The Murder Theytriarch mounts Antoinette from the side and punishes her with grounded knee strikes before hammering away with repeated forearm smashes from the top. They then pull Antoinette back to her feet before throwing her down hard onto the unforgiving concrete floor with a front powerslam! Miller stands tall over Antoinette… until they turn and snatch Lennon by the throat. Miller goes to lift Lennon up for a chokeslam, but she catches them with a back elbow to the side of the head. Miller shakes off the blow while Lennon makes her way towards the concourse…

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