Get caught up on the latest news and rumors around FGA in this latest update!
The debut episode of Battleground, which aired January 4 on Spike, garnered a .2 rating. FGA Officials are pleased with the number. However, word has it that Spike officials were not pleased with the program. While they didn't expect FGA to break a 1.0 rating, there were some concerns over the uncensored language. As was reported last week, Madman Szalinski was fined by the network for his use of profrane language. FGA Heavyweight Champion Chris Q was also fined an undisclosed amount for his use of language in the opening segment. Spike officials are also displeased over the fact that FGA didn't promote Bellator at any point during the broadcast.
Two matches were immediately made following the conclusion of Battleground. In the main event for International Incident, Chris Q will be defending his FGA Heavyweight Championship against Dom Harter. This will be the third meeting between the two. Each man currently has a win over the other. Both of their previous meetings were also over the FGA Heavyweight Championship. In another title match, Jimmy Page will not be defending his Pride Championship against #1 Contender Willow Swaine at International Incident. Swaine won a Triple Threat #1 Contenders match between her, Jack Reynolds and Riley Owens. Many scoffed at her "Unstoppable Force" nickname upon her arrival. But since her debut, she has proved just that. Can Swaine take her momentum, as well as her undefeated streak, into International Incident and knock off Jimmy Page? We'll find out in a little over one month.
In other title news, the Super Mario Wrestling Bros have been named the #1 Contenders to the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship. The duo of Max Powers and Landon Knight will take on The Murder at International Incident. The Murder was instrumental in the creating of FGA's tag team scene. Since July 2013, FGA has cultivated one of the strongest tag team divisions in all of wrestling. It's been The Murder that has been at the forefront, though. Be it with Malcolm Drake & Dom Harter or Drake & Bob Pooler, The Murder have proven to be a tough out in this stacked division. With victories over The Shoot Kings, The Usual Suspects and The Church of Beyond, as well as a controversial victory in the Ultimate Endurance Match, the only team that has yet to test them are the SMWB. Can this team of self-admitted "losers" snatch the Tag Titles from the talons of The Murder? We'll find out at International Incident.
In yet another piece of title news, we can now confirm that FGA will indeed be adding a third singles championship. During the years of 2011-2012, we saw grapplers only compete over the FGA Heavyweight Championship. But that all changed in 2013 when FGA added the Pride Championship last February, followed by the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship in July. The named of this third singles championship is being kept under wraps. But expect a big announcement to be made this Saturday on Batteground 1.2
The following is random backstage chatter. Is their truth in these rumors? Or is this simply someone stirring the pot? Interpret it however you wish:
- Chris Bond shocked the wrestling world when he announced his retirement at Battleground 1.1. Kevin Hardaway, who refereed his First Blood Match against Dom Harter, pleaded with Bond not to hang up the boots just yet. Instead, he wants Bond's final match to be against him. Bond told Hardaway that he'd consider it. Word going around is that Bond is still 50/50 on the offer.
- Word around the backstage area is that Jack Reynolds is highly upset over his loss to Willow Swaine in that Triple Threat Match. The "Technical Messiah" had been riding high by going undefeated since his FGA debut. But that streak came to a close when he met Swaine. But instead of taking issue with Swaine, word has it that Reynolds actually blames Riley Owens for the loss. These two are no strangers to each other. In their FGA debuts, both men were on opposite sides in a Six Man Tag. Then at Final Frontier, they took part in a 4-Way Fray. That match was supposed to determine the #1 Contendership for the Pride Championship. But after both men scored a pinfall (on Jaxie Wyatt & Rowan Grae respectively), they were placed into the Triple Threat Match with Swaine. Could a one on one match be in store for these two men down the road?
- FGA's resident bully, "The God Among Men" Alistair Mangold is looking to pick a fight with another young buck here in FGA. After destroying poor Nate Adams at Final Frontier, who goes Mangold have his sights set on?
- After being unceremoniously thrown out by The Church of Beyond, what does the future hold for Jason Richards? Richards turned his back on the fans, only to be turned on by the leader of the Church, Johnny Blayze. Where does The Strong Style Wolf go from here?
- Chaz Holiday, the one time manager of former FGA grappler Rowan Grae, has been itching to get back into the ring. Are we on the verge of seeing Holiday's in-ring debut?
- With the loss of Tiffany Lawrence Michaels, the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Titles and another loss to the SMWB, The Usual Suspects are said to be determined to get back to the top of the tag team mountain. But could another tag team be standing in their way towards a title match?
- Cyncity created quite a buzz for herself after the vignette that aired during Battleground 1.1. What does one half of the former PDW Tag Team Champions have in store for FGA? She'll certainly be tested at Battleground 1.2 when she takes on the highly competitive Jaxie Wyatt in her FGA debut.
- In a shocking twist, it was learned late last week that Jared James will be making his return to FGA. Jared was the first grappler to sign an FGA contract way back in November 2011. After a lengthy absence, this FGA original returns not to claim a championship. Instead he wants to regain the trust of the FGA faithful. Jared's quest could very well start this Saturday at Battleground 1.2
