Phase Seventy-Seven: The Bad Beginning
Your initial opinion on just about anything may change over time
This time, there was no underground lair to House the Fourth Circle. The group stands in what appears to be right behind PCW. Graffiti painted a part of the walls and Corvus only added to it as he used his own blood to cake his fingertips, drawing symbols and other images. Vipress stood next to him with a grin, both tag titles on her shoulders as her partner entertained himself. Pavor and his own minions stood off to one side, their gaze directed to the woods as Kelly took the lead for now. “It came as no surprise that we withstood PCW’s greatest heroes. They were all bound by weak bonds and it was foolish of them to think they would last.” She laughs as she pets her championship around her waist.
“But if you think that the war is over, you couldn’t be more wrong. All we did was accomplish the first phase. There is so much more chaos to be had and PCW will house it.” Vipress stood beside her with a knowing smile and nods as she takes over for Kelly. “The minute the heroes crumbled at our feet, the dissension began. Fighting amongst yourselves, bickering about trivial matters, completely unaware that there are more battles to come. As you see...we are still lacking some gold and we plan to take it.” She pauses and looks at her own titles. “While we maintain a stronghold over what is already ours.” The witch closes her eyes for a bit and smiles as her stablemates wait silently. “I’ve noticed that Rocket Stars are chomping at the bit to get to these and Taeler hasn’t forgotten her sister, but I must encourage all three of you to let it go. The consequences are far too great and I’m afraid none of you will survive in the long run, if you continue to chase what is clearly out of your reach.”
Corvus comes up to her side, taking one of his titles to draw his blood into the intricate designs. Pavor finally took center stage, his ashen face stoic and unchanging as he spoke. “Tyler, Tyler Breeze—you just barely escaped with your life last week, but I must crush any hopes and dreams you have about your continued survival. What you have, what you carry in such an undignified and disgusting manner, I want it. I will have it. There is nothing you can do to stop it.” There was nothing more for him to say and he simply evaporated into shadows. Spike and the doll were no longer present, as well. The rest of the faction stared into the camera with malicious intent gleaming in their eyes before the recording finally ended.
UIC Pavilion
Atwell with MJF
As the previous segment ended, the camera went to the backstage to show Maxwell Jacob Friedman standing with Hayley in the interviewing area. She began to speak into the mic while looking at Maxwell with a smile.
"Ladies and gentlemen, my guest—MJF. This past week you defeated Mitchell Knight in what many would call an upset, how do yo-"
Before she could even finish her sentence he took the microphone from her and looked at the camera, putting his hand on her shoulder. A smirk formed as he looked Hayley up and down before nodding off in another direction.
"Run along tramp, Daddy's gotta work. Ladies and Gentlemen, just in case you are deaf, dumb, blind, stupid or as this little number to my right is representing, a whore...my name is Maxwell Jacob Friedman and I am THE fastest rising star in the history of professional wrestling and—“
As he said "and" he turned to Hayley and continued with "what are you still doing here you dumb bimbo? Get lost." While looking completely appalled, she stomped off the set while MJF continued alone. He cleared his throat and fixed the scarf of his suit.
"Now I'm pretty sure what the walking pair of tits was going to say is that me beating Mitchell was an upset. Newsflash, I was the favourite to win that match. After almost an entire year, the management here at PCW have finally seen that they have an absolute Goldmine on their hands and decided to give me the opportunity I so richly deserved.”
Maxwell was dressed in a dark blue suit, white shirt, no tie, and his usual scarf hanging around his shoulders. He fixed it once more, nodding in approval at his own attire and flashed a million-dollar smile into the lens.
"I earned a whopping six points off one match and shot up the rankings... and I'll keep going until I've got enough stupid points to challenge a champion and take their belt. What am I gonna do next? I'm gonna be the fuckin face of this place. Duh. Because I'm better than you in the audience, better than your little favorites, and better than the whole goddamn company and you know it.”
With that he tossed the mic over his shoulder and walked out, the mic crashing to the floor with a loud static bang as the scene ended.
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Brian Pillman Jr. vs Fire Ant
Pillman misses the early clothesline and is rolled up for a two count. Ant quickly sweeps the legs as he stands and rolls his back over said legs for another count. Brian can barely get upright before Fire Ant tries La Magistral to get yet another two count. Ant farts into the corner, staring down Brian as the man finds his bearings. Ant wasn’t going to make this easy for him and he liked that. A smirk came over his face as he beckons Ant from the corner.
The small competitor races out and ducks under the big boot, but he eats a thrust kick to the gut. Pillman quickly has Ant up for the powerbomb, but the competitor counters with a Frankensteiner into the ropes. Ant climbs on the apron and looks for the dropkick to the face. He climbs the turnbuckle and leaps off with the double footstomp. Ant hooks the leg, but Brian kicks out at two. Ant tries to lock in the Rings of Saturn, but Brian gets his foot on the ropes. Ant looks to capitalize as Pillman slides out the ring. He springboards off for a senton, but he’s caught! Brian slams the back onto the apron and rolls him in.
Ant slowly stands and eats a big boot to the chest for a two count. He rolls into the ropes and tries to send Brian over as he ducks the clothesline. Pillman remains on the apron and drops the neck down onto it. Ant stumbles back and Brian races in for a clothesline that flips Fire Ant inside out. He hooks the leg for another close count. Pillman looks to end it, yanking Ant up by the mask for an uppercut. He sends Ant into the corner, but misses the clothesline as Fire Ant slips through the ropes. He shoulder blocks Pillman and leaps in with the sunset flip powerbomb, but Brian kicks out at two. Ant looks to capitalize by rebounding off the ropes, but Brian counters and drops him with the Dire Promise neckbreaker to put Ant away. Brian secures his sixth point.
Seth Rollins vs Mark Andrews vs Austin Aries
Seth takes our Andrews with a swift kick to the gut, following up with an enzuigiri. He turns his attention to Austin and the two lock up. Aries gets the wristlock and flips Rollins onto his back before twisting the wrist even more. Seth kips up, breaking the hold before trying another enzuigiri. Aries ducks and grabs the legs for a Boston Crab submission. Rollins tries to drag himself to the ropes, but Andrews is up to his feet and rebounds for the double knees to Aries for the pin. Austin kicks out at one. Mark has him up by the arm and whips him into Seth, who takes the smaller man down with spinning mule kick. Austin rolls out the ring and Andrews has his eyes on Seth.
They circle the ring before locking up. Rollins gets behind Mark and looks for the back suplex, but Mark lands on his feet. Mark gets the superkick and tries to follow up with a tornado DDT from the ropes. Aries pulls it back and Andrews slips, allowing Seth to drop him with the Guillotine drop. Austin slides back in and kicks Seth in the face before he can stand. He hooks the leg for a one count. He yanks Seth up and sends him into the corner for a running forearm into the jaw. Seth stumbles out of the corner and Austin springboards out of the corner for the crossbody. He lands it, but Seth rolls through and transitions into the standing suplex. He drops Austin on his back for the two count.
Andrews is back in this and looks for the hurricarana as Seth stands, sending him into the ropes. Rollins slowly stands as Mark leaps onto the apron and races forward with a boot. Rollins stumbles back and eats jumping neckbreaker from behind by Austin. Aries looks for the pin, but Mark springboards with the double footstomp to break it up. He tries to capitalize on Austin with the springboard stunner. Before he can pin, Seth comes up from behind and sends the shoulder into the corner. He quickly follows up with the curbstomp from Aries to take the pin and earn himself two points.
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Atwell with Taeler Hendrix
Hayley sat with a lovely smile as the cameras start to roll. She cleared her throat and proceeded as she always has for the past year in PCW. “Let’s get our interview started. My guest at this time is none other than the former Heart of PCW Champion. I am here with Taeler Hendrix.” She turns to the redhead with an inquisitive expression, ready to tackle the hard questions early on. “Now, Taeler you suffered a tough loss at the last PCW pay-per-view, what are your plans from here? Where is the Goddess Incarnate aiming for in this company?”
Taeler rolls her eyes at the question some. Clearly feeling this question was not worth her time, but neither was the interviewer. She was more than frustrated, livid really, at the fact she’s being lowered to an interview when there’s business she’s yet to finish.
“My plans? Well, darling, a woman can’t reveal all her secrets, now can she? Let’s just they involve revenge. I want my title back, and I will have it. Priscilla Kelly was somebody I once called sister and stole from me. Not just the championship, but...” Hendrix paused. Her eyes became somewhat glassy as she thought back to Kelly and sucked in a heavy breath. The smile returned to her lips, but there was an obvious change in her demeanor. “Well...Kelly stole a lot from me. Things she can’t just give back and erase all of this. Now she is more of a sacrifice for me to rise to power once more.”
Hayley nods and continues with another anticipated question. “And what about the alliance? We saw that the team didn’t work quite as well as you all hoped. Does this mark the end of the alliance?”
Taeler shoots a glare at the interviewer sitting across from her. Her emerald eyes practically daggers in the heart of the other woman. Hayley became a little uncomfortable, shifting her position in the chair while clearing her throat. Hendrix straightened up in her chair, a frown slowly settling into her face. “The alliance is not worth my time. They proved I have nothing to gain by joining them. Do not, however, take this as a g sympathy for the circle of the sullen. Merely if you want something done right around here, apparently a woman must do it herself.”
“Anything else you can tell us about what’s next for Taeler Hendrix?”
She got up, seemingly to walk away but instead she just stood there. Shooting a look at the interviewer, clearly displeased with the whole situation. Hayley felt stuck. If she tried to leave, it would be unprofessional, but Taeler appeared more threatening than she was two seconds ago and the interviewer was not looking for a fight. That said, Hayley kept her eyes on the redhead and prepared for whatever came next. “You want to know what’s next? I will tell you what’s next! I will not stand another moment, and let myself be disrespected by this ‘fourth circle.’ I will not let my garden become scorched earth for them to frolic and play in!”
The redhead turned from Hayley, only to toss the chair she sat in across the room. Hayley didn’t move, but she kept her eyes locked on Taeler. The next thing to go flying would be dodged, if necessary. “I am your Goddess Incarnate! They should be building statues in my honor and kissing the very ground that I walk on! This Fourth Circle is beneath me in every aspect and it is beyond me that they have...that they :stole: almost every piece of gold, every bit of power, in this company... After I make an example of Priscilla Kelly, the minute my power is restored to its greatest height, no longer will I reside in the background. I have had enough of being stepped on or walked over!”
Hendrix’s body was starting to shake at this point, hands trembling as she struggled to control the steadily rising anger that had rooted itself in her very being. This was unlike her. She always had control of these things. Be it internal or external, Taeler always knew what came next and stayed miles ahead of her opponents, but this? This was different. Priscilla wasn’t just any opponent and the Fourth Circle were no longer just a random faction of the lowest lifeforms in PCW. They’re a threat, but she couldn’t bring herself to say so. “So now I speak directly to you, sister dearest. Years ago you ended up with powers because some idiots used you as a sacrifice. You were mere cattle, used as a pawn for someone else’s game. Well, now you are about to be mine, darling. You may have outsmarted me twice now, but things are much different at this very moment.”
“As I speak, PCW is undergoing yet another pivotal transformation. Each second that passes, there is this growing force that looms over this company and I know it is your doing. That same force, however, has only burrowed itself deep and pulled from me a side that you will regret ever creating. I will make an example out of you, sister dearest, and make you bow down to the superior deity. All it will take...” Taeler settles her gaze on the interviewer and smiles. She walks directly over to Hayley, and presses a kiss to her lips. Hayley instinctively shoved her away, but it was too late. The minute their lips touched, the softness of Hendrix’s lips turned to a poisonous grip. As she had done Ivelisse, Taeler inflicted Hayley with a toxin just under fatal. A green hue invaded her veins and made Hayley’s eyes roll to the back of her head. She twitched in her seat, fingers curling into a pained fist before going limp. “...is this. All Hail to the Goddess Incarnate!”
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Ivelisse Vélez (With Salina De La Renta) vs Rhea Ripley
Salina tries to interfere early on, but Ripley makes her pay with a big boot off the apron. Velez tries to catch her with a roundhouse off the distraction, but Rhea catches the leg. She switches into an ankle lock before quickly typing up the legs for an elevated cloverleaf submission. Ivelisse doesn’t tap and Rhea starts to swing the redhead back and forth before throwing her down.
Salina pulls Ivelisse from the ring to recuperate and Rhea slides out to pursue them. Velez and slides back into the ring, distracting the referee with her “injury” as Salina kicks the steel steps into Rhea. She sends Ripley back in and Ivelisse looks to finish her off with the Vertigo Kick for the pin. One...two...thr—Rhea just barely kicks out. Velez slams her fists on the mat and sends Rhea today the outside.
She tries to boot her down on the apron, but Ripley catches the foot and shoves Velez back into the ringpost. She drops to the floor and Rhea tries to capitalize, but Salina causes the DQ as she attacks Rhea from behind. She leaps on the back to choke her while Ivelisse retrieves a kendo stick and slams it against the abdomen multiple times. Salina hops down and kicks the back of the leg to force Rhea down before Velez finishes her off with a swing to the temple.
The two women celebrate as Ripley crumples to the mat, the referee keeping them apart as he checks on Rhea. Ivelisse demands a mic and smirks. “You should’ve just stayed in the hospital where I sent you, perra. You weren’t missed, not even a little bit. It’s a little too late for revenge, but keep trying me and see if you won’t get your ass beat in front of this entire company. I’ve been on the back burner for too long and I’m sick of these other tricks and assholes coming up while I’m still down here. It’s my time to rise up and if I gotta break you down again to do it, I will. Stay out of my way, Rhea.”
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A good, long session of weeping can often make you feel better...
Black stumbled and caught himself on the wall. Lightheaded and weak, it was a miracle he could stay upright. A thin sheet of sweat covered his face and neck, hands clammy as he used it to steady himself on the wall. The only thing that kept him upright was the distant voice that slithered between his ears.
Kill them all. Kill them all. Bathe in their blood. Feast on their flesh. Burn—
His gaze fell on the woman just yards away. He ducked behind a corner just as she turned her head. Indigo raised a brow and looked around. She could’ve sworn she felt someone else present. She made her way down the hall and peaked around the corner, but she saw nothing.
Kill her. KILL HER.
Black touched his jacket, the inner pocket cradling a knife within. He clutched the weapon’s imprint, fighting hard against the steadily amplifying sound resonating in his head. He watched her slowly back away and hurry off. Black let out a deep breath, pain growing in his chest. He dropped to his knees, his body racked with agony. The man withered on the floor, twisted his body in ways that were almost inhuman. Low groans of pain echoed off the walls, but no one heard him and no one came to his aid.
Indigo stopped around another corner, checking over her shoulder again. She knows someone else was present, but she couldn’t see who. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up as she was around that corner. The presence felt so strong, so malevolent. She knew the longer she stayed, the closer death came. Indigo hurried off further from that area, clinging to her life as it neared it’s end.
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Arisa Hoshiki (With Jenny Blake) vs Marty Scurll (With Kyle O'Reilly)
Arisa and Marty lock up with Hoshiki easily getting the wristlock. She kicks the chest and follows up with an elevated arm drag from the ropes. Marty flies across the ring and can hardly stand before Arisa swipes the feet with a leg sweep. She pins him, but he immediately kicks out. Hoshiki looks for a roundhouse, but Scurll sucks out of the ring to regroup with Kyle. Arisa is held back by the referee as Marty slowly climbs the apron and eases in through the ropes. Hostility tries to make a grab for him, but the referee keeps her back as he’s in the ropes.
Marty jabs the eye and drops her with a spinebuster for a two count. Hoshiki rolls to the ropes and Blake tries to check on her before Marty drags Arisa back in. He has her up from behind and drops her with a slam on her belly. He transitions to the headlock, keeping her grounded. Hoshiki refuses to tap out, trying to escape. Marty hooks the arms and switches to the Calf Mutilation submission. Arisa is stuck in the center of the ring with Blake cheering her on. She gets the crowd to stomp, amping Arisa up. She stirs and starts to get to her feet, but Marty releases the hold and clubs her back until she’s back on the mat. He grabs the legs and drags her to the corner, yanking her to the apron.
Marty rotates her before connects with a running boot. Jenny looks on as Marty mocks the Joshi competitor. He climbs the apron and looks to get the leg drop, but she rolls over in time. Scurll howls in pain as Hoshiki tries to collect herself. He rolls back in and slowly stands, Arisa driving quick jabs to the face before connecting with a back kick to the gut. She looks to capitalize by running the ropes, but Kyle pulls them down to send her tumbling out. Jenny wastes no time taking him on with a step-up enzuigiri. She takes care of him as Hoshiki is on her feet.
She slowly climbs the apron and Marty races in with a knee. Arisa sidesteps him and gets the kick to the head. She can’t enter as Kyle shoves Blake into Hoshiki’s legs. The woman is distracted long enough for Marty to pull her in and drop her with a DDT for the pin. One...two...t—Arisa kicks out. Scurll yanks her up by the hair and sends her into the corner for a big boot. She ducks out the way and drives a Brazilian Kick to the cranium. Marty stumbles back into the corner and Arisa connects with a dropkick to the chest.
She pulls him out for the pin. One...two...thre—Marty gets his foot on the ropes. Meanwhile, Kyle and Jenny were laying it into each other and O’Reilly rakes the eyes to blind her. He lifts Jenny up and drops her back onto the apron. Jenny rolls to the floor in agony as Scurll rolls onto the apron. Hoshiki looks to capitalize with a neckbreaker on the apron, but Kyle has her foot. She kicks him off her, but Marty reverses and drops her on the apron with a packaged piledriver. Marty rolls her in and hooks the leg to put Arisa away to secure a point.
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Even if your circumstances have not changed one bit
Tyler stands within the center of the ring with a look of utter disgust as his abdomen was bandaged and title rests on his shoulder. “I’ll cut to the chase because I’m not in the mood to entertain. Quite frankly, I’m pretty damn pissed at the uselessness of my team last week. I put my faith in people that I don’t even like, who don’t come even halfway to my level of expertise, and they fail me. They completely dropped the ball and I had to pay for it.” The crowd starts to boo him, but he doesn’t pause for a second to soak in.
“You can throw a tantrum while your asses are still seated, hanging onto every word I say. The truth is that if it were just me against one of them? The results would’ve been different. I should’ve been defending my championship instead of playing Kumbaya with a bunch of Little Rascal rejects! My time was wasted in that War Games match and I—“
Breeze was abruptly cut off by nine other than Scarlett Bordeaux. The Smokeshow made her way down the ramp, blowing kisses to the audience as she sauntered to the ring with a devious grin. Breeze couldn’t help, but laugh as she entered the ring and raised a brow. “What noise did you come to spout this time, Bordeaux?” “Noise? As if you aren’t crying and complaining about being champion. These are the things you sign up for when you get gold around your waists, but it seems the pressure is starting to get to you, Tyler.”
“Were you not throwing a fit because you beat what’s her face a week before? Now, I’m no therapist, but that sounds like projection to me, Uggo. I suggest you zip your lip and take a seat before you get your feelings hurt in front of all your basement-dwelling fans.”
“That’s real cute coming from a five. We can go on all day about how fur is so outdated and your gear looks like it came from the thrift shop, but there’s more pressing matters to attend to. You can’t afford a decent seamstress, but what you can do is put that title on the line against yours truly because I officially have all ten points. You can make the excuse that your team failed you last week, but there will be none made when I beat you at Beyond Tomorrow.”
Tyler raised a brow again and took a step towards her. “Didn’t we already have this dance at Black Rain? If I recall correctly, you choked when it mattered most, and now you’re standing here as if things are any different. You’ve beaten the lowest of the low to get to this point and think that you’ve got a chance against Prince Pretty when you can’t even twist your wig on right. Bordeaux...you’re a joke.”
Tyler attempted to walk away, but as he reached the ropes, she continued on with a sudden fire in her tone. “You’re right, I did choke at Black Rain, but if I recall? You were just moments away from taking a bigger L than when you invested in press-on studs from Walmart’s crafting section. Now you’re scared I’ll succeed this time and you should be because while you were crumbling at the hands of the Fourth Circle, I’ve been on top of my game. The Smokeshow has risen right under your store-bought nose and now you’re running for the hills because you know your reign is about to end.”
Bordeaux approaches him as he steps out onto the apron. “But it doesn’t matter if you accept the match or not because so long as I have ten points, Beyond Tomorrow already has its main event set in stone.” She blew him a kiss and Breeze glared back at her just before the lights flickered. The titantron begins to static as a voice struggles to be heard on the other side. The figure was made of shadows, hard to recognize, but his voice became clear as day. It was so obvious as to who spoke to them both.
“You bicker like children fighting over a toy, but neither of you really understand what it is you should be fighting for in this company. In a world like ours, in the endless nightmare that is PCW, your main goal should always be to obtain and maintain a source of power. Because in world like this, you either adapt to survive and conquer, or shrivel and be conquered. The two of you will waste away, fade into the shadows, while it is I who will conquer and take what belongs to the Fourth Circle.”
Pavor’s voice silenced the audience and even had Scarlett and Tyler’s attention. They traded glances as Pavor continued, his frame still out of focus as the screen statics. “Let me invite the both of you to a side of PCW you’ve yet to see. Let me take you on the journey deep down the rabbit hole, where the exit is far from reach, and only death will be your sweet release from this madness.” Just then, the lights were back on and Doll Spike with his human counterpart drags Tyler from the apron and pulls Bordeaux from the ring. Breeze is slammed into the barricade as Scarlett seems to gain control over Spike. She races in for an attack, but he sweeps her up off her feet for spinebuster to the floor.
Trivet appeared much more muscular in appearance. A red glow emerges from his veins as they travel his face, neck, and down his torso to the rest of him. It looked less human than before, but the doll couldn’t have looked more human. It was just as thing and handsome as Trivet had been before. They were like polar opposites now, but they moved just the same. Both stomping down on the latest targets of their master. On his whim, they band together to set up a table. Doll Spike sends Tyler in before dragging Scarlett by her hair. He drops her on the table as Trivet sets Tyler up high on the turnbuckle. He lifts the blonde and tosses him down onto the table with a front suplex, sending both competitors through the wood.
It shattered to pieces, their bodies surely broken from the fall. The two attackers looked down with a mischievous smirk, their eyes glowing with evil intent. They reflected the same evil as Pavor and it was his laugh Scarlett and Tyler could hear from their lips as they stared down with monstrous glee.