PCW Phase Thirteen: Absent Friends

The lights went low over the UIC Pavillion in Chicago. The crowd was pumped up already, some already cheering or holding up signs when the music hit. The first notes of The Phoenix by Fall Out Boy began playing and red and orange lights started spreading over the crowd. At the first notes of the chorus, Louden Noxious slid into view at the top of the ramp with his arms outspread, his signature mic clutched in one hand.

He ran up the ramp to the ring, pulled himself up into it and stomped the ring once in excitement.

Hello, Chicago! Welcome back to the UIC Pavillion! I know we only left for a day but I hope you didn't miss us too much. Anyway! If you were somehow out of the loop, we had a Pay Per View this past Saturday and you're going to see some new people wearing gold, so get ready for another thrill ride of a night here with PCW and Absent Friends!

He raised the mic one more time and rolled out of the ring to head over to the commentary table.

 

Baron Corbin vs Tessa Blanchard

As his theme song "I bring the darkness" hit, Corbin emerged from the backstage area, nodding his head and moving his body to the beat. And just before the chorus hit he stood in the center of the stage bowing his head swaying side to side with the beat. Once the chorus hit he stood tall spreading his arms as a barrage of mixed boos with cheers came from the crowd. 80% were boo's  20% were cheers. He made his way down the ramp with this intense stare in his eyes, coming around the ring, walking up the steel steps, and climbed in between the ropes.

Tessa's music hit, and she was out there and being greeted by mixed reactions from the audience. She turned, her hair flipped, she winked and she walked with her arms at her sides, owner of her actions and the floor she walked on. Even as she got up on the apron, she seemed unfazed by her dangerous opponent. 

Corbin and Tessa went through the whole match giving as hard as they received. Corbin tried pulling his punches at first, especially seeing the height difference, but the third generation wrestler didn't give him the chance to explore his more gentlemanly side as she tossed him against the turnbuckle to forearm him repeatedly, getting a powerbomb for her troubles.

Tessa continued her new habit of pulling more and more impressive moves, the crowd just couldn't get enough of it and nearly exploded in cheers whenever she hit one of her innovative moves. However, none of the flash and pizazz was enough to put Corbin down, who took her out fairly quickly with the End of Days.

Zack Sabre Jr. vs Jinny

Zack walked briskly to the ring, a strange aura surrounding him, keeping him far from his usually happy demeanor. The red, blue and white lights bounced back from his dark jacket, reflecting on it even as he stood in the middle of the ring, stretching and looking straight at the ramp, seemingly oblivious to the cheers and chants of the excited audience.

As "Haute Couture" started playing, the audience knew exactly what to do. While some stray fans cheered, the rest knew that Jinny was not a friend of theirs. She was there to be the best, to show people their place, she strutted her way around the ring, wearing her black mask and the add-on coattails to her belt, making the space front row her catwalk. Stepping into the ring with ease, and outstretching her arms for the world to see her in full grandeur.

Zack didn't seem too happy with Jinny since their last encounter during Pigs In Space and how she'd tried to use the Acid Rainmaker on him, but the couture queen seemed undeterred by his anger. Zack took control of the match as the bell rang and started off with a Jim Breaks armbar, elevating Jinny's wrist and applying as much pressure as possible, but his competitor slammed her foot down over his, stomping his focus to release her arm from the hold.

Jinny followed up with a roaring elbow and a few words that only Zack could hear while she slammed her forearm against his face several times after the discus smash. She put Zack in the suicide silence, and held it there long enough that the referee had to check on Zack to make sure he was still awake and breathing after she wouldn't relinquish the hold. Just as his arm had dropped twice, he held it up and slowly, but surely, escaped out of Jinny's dangerous sleeper, furious at the technique he knew she was using. He'd seen those moves before and didn't want anything to do with any of it. 

The match continued and their exchange only got more violent. Zack put Jinny in the Hurrah! Another Year, Surely This One Will Be Better Than The Last; The Inexorable March of Progress Will Lead Us All to Happiness (which took some time for the commentating team to finish saying) and Jinny negotiated a turn into the Go Home Driver, to which Zabre didn't take very kindly. 

In quick succession, Zack escaped the attack he knew so well and put Jinny, one after the other, through the young boy killer, the Sabre driver and finally the European Clutch, pinning the couture queen clean for the three count.

He remained there next to her after the victory had been announced, holding his head and wondering if anything he'd done had been fair, he'd exorcized his demons through a fierce competitor, who was just coming out of the haze right then. He stood up and offered his hand for her to take, but Jinny slapped it away and remained sitting a little longer to recover, staying even when Zack had left.

Hania vs Madison Eagles (Women's Championship Match)

Hania came in with her usual seductive cadence, walking down the ramp calmly, making her way inside the ring through the third rope, using it to propel herself up and landing on her knees, howling right before removing her wolf-like cloak, setting it on her corner while she waited for her opponent to appear.

The opening of Prelude 12/21 hit the speakers, surrounding the arena, as Madison Eagles arrived through the curtain. A smug and arrogant smile on her face that didn't do anything to get the fans on her side anymore. Madison just gave a few members of the crowd the middle finger and crotch chopped a few others while she made her way down the ramp before sliding into the ring. 

Madison barely let the bell ring before jumping on Hania, using everything she knew to take her competitor's legs out of the game. She knew that her kicks were powerful, and she tried to stop her from the very beginning from using them against her.

Hania did start to favor her left leg after a very tightly applied hold, but she didn't stay far behind and started using the same technical moves her opponent was using, one by one, they reversed everything the other had to offer. The chikara special was quickly reversed by Hania, every hold one knew, the other one did too, but it was finally the Hania-lation that helped the champion retain, and after circling each other for a moment, the competitors, as beaten as they were, shook hands as a sign of respect.

Jeff Cobb vs Buddy Murphy (World Championship Match)

Korn's Coming Undone started playing, and Jeff Cobb's shadow spread through the ramp like a terrifying monster, even if his attitude opposed how imposing his figure was, the audience still gave way for him. Quiet at the start and getting progressively louder as he approached the ring, the lights increasing in intensity as he moved by them. He removed his shirt once inside the ring, climbing the turnbuckle with ease and dropping to the middle of the ring.

A Bass Renaissance filled the air to announce the arrival of Buddy Murphy in a very ominous way. The 5'11" Australian came down the ramp, flanked by Mick Moretti, the leader of the Rapscallion's Rebellion, who accompanied him to the ring and let him do his entrance, stopping at Murphy's corner only when he was face to face with his opponent.

Buddy Murphy fought valiantly from the start of the match, but Cobb's strength managed to turn it in his favor. It seemed like a very familiar territory for Murphy, but his compatriots weren't there this time around, just the leader of the Rebellion, who didn't interfere in their bout, standing to the side while Murphy wrestled on his own.

He tried for the Lights out, but didn't have enough leverage to pick up the much larger Cobb from the ground, and instead got turned around for the Athetic-Plex. Their test of strength went on for the remaining of the show time, but after catching Murphy as he was about to execute Murphy's Law, Jeff took the Australian for a Tour of the islands, pinning him successfully to retain his championship.

At the end of the show, Louden pulled himself back into the ring and straightened his suit.

And that's all she wrote, folks! I hope you enjoyed tonight and just a word to the wise, but you should all get your tickets for next week's show, now. It's the last show of the season, so join us again here with PCW for Phase Fourteen: A Stronger Loving World, next week same time, same place to see it live!

The lights went down on him and the music played one more time.