Phase Eighty-Two: Eclipse
Contract Signing
Taya Valkyrie & Mike Quackenbush
Taya Valkyrie & Mike Quackenbush
Mike already stood in the ring, awaiting for Valkyrie. As always, though, she was “fashionably” late. As time ticked on, the fans were also becoming antsy and riled up. It was only as boos and chants directed at her began, that Taya finally made her appearance. She came down the ramp with a smirk on her face, clearly enjoying the anger she caused by being late. “Sorry, everybody! Couldn’t reschedule my hair appointment. Totes worth it! My hair looks golden, as it always should.” They booed her even more as she entered the ring, but she simply rolled her eyes. “Whatever. You guys wouldn’t get it. Anyways, I’m here now and I can tell by the look on Mike’s face that he is just dying to get this over with...so go on. Sign the paper.”
Mike snatched up the pen, ready to sign, but the devilish look on her face made him stop short. He looked at her with suspicion before picking up the mic. “What are you so smug about?”
“Oooh nothing. Just sign the damn thing already! You’re wasting even more of everybody’s time. I have a massage to get to, you know?!” Mike continued to watch her with curiosity as another smile creeps onto her face. He snatched up the contract, flipping through its pages. Once his eyes fell on a certain line of words, his wide-eyed gaze locks with hers. She gives him another devious smile before giggling. “Something the matter?”
“You’re insane...” His hands tremble slightly as he holds the contract, gaze switching between her and the paper.
“Well...go on and read it. Don’t keep the audience in suspense!”
Mike stares at her for a long time before gulping as he reads the next few lines.
“'If Mike Quackenbush is defeated at Moonstruck, Taya Valkyrie will be appointed the new CEO of Phoenix Championship Wrestling. Mike Quackenbush will remain in Phoenix Championship Wrestling as Tya Valkyrie’s personal assistant...'” He rolls his eyes at that, but that isn’t what made him stop before.
“That’s not all of it, Mike. Finish it. Say it already.”
“'...as her personal assistant, Mike Quackenbush is obligated to relinquish his position as freelancer wrestler and promoter. Any other occupations that interfere with his duties as an assistant will be immediately terminated per Taya’s request. Failure to comply can involve penalties, including a fine and imprisonment...'”
The fans boo this announcement heavily as Taya simply laughs on the other side of the table. “You’re welcome to back out, Mike! You’ll just have to admit you’re a spineless, pathetic, and worthless piece of—“ He slams the contract on the table and immediately writes his name on the dotted line. Valkyrie raises a brow and tilts her head. Quackenbush stared back at her, anger just seconds away from exploding at any moment.
“No more running, Taya. I said I would do what’s right and your conditions won’t stop me. You better figure out a way to make me quit because otherwise? You’re going to be put through a Hell unlike any you’ve ever experienced before.”
UIC Pavilion
Taeler Hendrix vs Paige
Paige gets the thrust kick early on before connecting with an inverted Russian Legsweep. She rolls the redhead over for the pin, but Hendrix counters into a crucifix pin. Paige kicks out at two and tries for the side headlock. Taeler pushes her forward into the ropes, but the brunette rebounds with a shoulder block. She looks to follow up, but Taeler grabs the leg to trip her up. She snatches Paige by the hair towards the ropes to choke her until the count of four. Taeler steps out onto the apron and connects with a knee strike before smirking to the crowd.
She licks her palm, dragging the tip of her tongue to the tips of her fingers before crawling back into the ring. She mounts Paige, leaning in for a kiss, but eats a headbutt immediately. Both women stand and Hendrix is caught with a front headlock. She battles her way out and reverses into a neckbreaker. She crawls into the cover for a two count. Taeler slams her hand on the mat and grabs the wrist to drag Paige to the corner. She stomps the chest multiple times before looking to get a running, but Paige rolls out of the way.
Paige gets the uppercut and forces Taeler onto the top turnbuckle. She climbs up high and headbutts the redhead, trying to set up the RamPaige. Taeler battles back against her and slips out from under Paige to lift her on the shoulders for a reverse electric chair, dropping the face onto the corner. Hendrix rolls Paige up and nearly gets the victory. They both stand with Taeler getting the thrust to the neck. Gasping for air, Paige can’t stop the scorpion kick to the face. Paige drops to the mat and Taeler hooks the leg to get the three count.
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Shooting the Moon
Austin pushed through the stone doors that led straight to the summoning quarters. As he made his way in, the atmosphere slowly changed. The candles that lit up the room, their flames flickered and swayed in the presence of a sudden breeze. Aries stepper closer and closer to the summoning circle, stopping just on the outside as a few candles flickered out. Shadows danced along the walls, his own at the head of them all.
“You requested my presence, Vipress. Stop hiding in the shadows and actually confront me like a woman...or have you lost all will since losing your most prized possession?” He was met with silence for a moment, but as another candle faded, the sound of heels start to click against the stone floor. Vipress came forth from one of the corners of the room, materializing from the shadows with a deep frown fixed on her face. “Choose your next words carefully, mutt, or I’ll string you up by the testicles...assuming they’re still there.” She gives him a smile, one forced and false.
“What do you want, witch? Demon? Harlot? Whatever you call yourself these days.”
“I’m giving you a second chance, offering you a path to forgiveness. Your actions last week were disgusting. Treating Corvus like that when you know the consequence. It’s almost like you want to feel pain. Is that a kink, Aries?” He laughs at her presumption and shakes his head.
“Corvus should be challenged. It’s not my fault he couldn’t stand against me. Maybe you’re slipping as a mentor.”
Vipress let a gust of air blow from her nose with a huff, but she maintained her composure. In fact, she gave him another grin. “Maybe you’re right.” She stepped back towards the corner and disappeared into the shadows. Austin raised a brow, turning to leave, but Corvus suddenly speared him down into the circle. The two men wrestled on the stone floor as Vipress reappeared on the other side. Her lips moved with great speed as she chanted in Latin, the circle glowing with a golden light. Aries felt his body being pulled towards Corvus and the man felt his move to Aries. Vipress finished the incantation and grinned. “Or maybe he just needs a new body.”
Corvus’s soul was stripped from his body, the spectre now shifting to Aries. Vipress watched as Aries’s own soul was being torn from his chest, struggling to fight back. A look of glee and excitement was clear as day as Corvus nearly pulled Aries from his body. Yet, something was wrong. Suddenly Vipress felt the room shake. She stood to her feet, frantically searching for the cause. Then Corvus's soul wailed with pain before it was pushed back into his body. The light shifted to a burst of energy and all three were forced back across the room. As the dust started to settle, Vipress frantically looked for Corvus. “Corvus? CORVUS?! ANSWER ME!” Moments passed before she heard his groan across the room. She ran to his side, slowly turning his body over. The man trembles as blood covers a side of his neck, trailing down his torso, his shirt torn down the side. “It was too much for you... I’m so sorry...” she mumbles as she starts to chant once more.
Corvus’s wounds start to heal, but not enough to keep him alive. Vipress stood, searching for the elixir. Aries slowly stood to his feet, limping towards them. Vipress immediately puts a barrier between them before hurriedly pouring the liquid down Corvus throat. She covered his mouth, knowing he’d instinctively try to spit it up. As always, his skin burns and his body twitches on the ground. Austin strikes the barrier again and again, but he could not break through. As Corvus starts to heal, Vipress turns her attention to Austin. “You bastard ram. I will kill you and have your blood. I promise you that.” She snapped her fingers and Austin was forced out of the room, teleported to a random closet backstage.
“So close,” he murmurs.
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Tyler Breeze vs Shane Strickland
The two men lock up and Shane gets the wrist lock before flipping Tyler over with the snapmare. He follows up with a leg drop to the arm before looking for the armbar. Breeze quickly gets his foot to the ropes and slips out onto the apron to recuperate. Shane races in for the boot, but Tyler sidesteps before connecting with an enzuigiri to the face. Breeze quickly climbs the turnbuckle and connects with a dropkick to hook the leg. Shane kicks out at one.
Tyler has him up and looks for an elevated arm drag from the ropes, but Shane kicks the ropes and Tyler drops down to the mat. Shane rolls him over for the springboard mainsail to cover him. Tyler kicks out at two. Shane has him up and whips him into the corner, but eats a boot to the face as he goes for the clothesline. Tyler follows up with bulldog from the second turnbuckle. He rebounds off the ropes for a shining wizard and covers for a two count.
Breeze looks to end it with the Beauty Shot, but Strickland sidesteps in time and connects with a knee to the face. He quickly hooks the arm and leg for a single-leg suplex, bridging into a pin. Tyler kicks out at two, but Shane is on the move again as he rebounds off the ropes. He looks for a kick to the chest, but Tyler ducks and grabs the leg for the calf crusher. Shane starts to panic as Tyler squeezes down on the leg and twists the foot, but eventually grabs the ropes.
As they both stand, Breeze kicks the leg out from under Shane and stomps the ankle before twisting it up in the ropes. He drags Strickland to the centre of the ring and Shane rolls him up. One...two...t—Tyler reverses the pin and grabs the tights. One...two...three! Breeze steals the victory and rolls out of the ring to celebrate as some of the fans start to boo him for his underhanded tactics.
Melissa Santos vs Alexa Bliss
Both women go at it with fists flying, but Bliss gets the forearm that rocks Melissa completely. She looks for the DDT, but Santos manages to strike the abdomen until she’s backed off. Alexa ducks a clothesline by rolling under it and turns to connect with a dropkick to the chest. Alexa hooks the leg for a one count. Melissa tries to shake off the attack, her mind battling with Moonstruck‘s match. The distraction costs her as Alexa gets the wrist lock and leaps through the ropes to yank her neck into it. Santos gasps for air as she drops to the mat and Alexa has her arms in the air with a grin.
Bliss slides back into the ring and has her up by the hair before whipping Santos into the corner. Melissa quickly steps up and flips over Alexa before getting the enzuigiri. Bliss backs into the corner and Santos races in with a clothesline and shoves Alexa out with a snapmare. Melissa climbs the second turnbuckle and leaps off with a crossbody. She hooks the leg, but Alexa kicks out at two. Santos and Bliss stand at the same time and go for a double clothesline to knock each other down. The referee starts the count, both women trying to regain their footing.
Bliss stands first using the ropes and stumps towards Santos. She yanks her up by the hair and grabs the throat before trying to slam her back down, but Melissa quickly kicks the gut. She climbs on the back and connects with a sunset flip powerbomb for the pin. One...two...t—Alexa kicks out. She rolls out of the ring to recuperate, but Melissa doesn’t let her breathe as she steps out on the apron to look for the senton. She takes out Bliss and looks to send her in, but MJF makes his way out with a mic.
“Bravo, Melissa! You’re doing amazing right now. Keep it up! I hope you have this same energy at Moonstruck because you’re going to need it against me.” Bliss uses the distraction as Melissa is fuming. She shoves the brunette into the steel steps and tosses her in before climbing the turnbuckle. Alexa quickly leaps off with the Twisted Bliss to put away Santos for the victory. MJF claps for Santos with a devilish grin. “If I’m not mistaken, your loss means you lose a point...meaning you can’t go to Moonstruck, can you? At least...not for the Future Phoenix Championship. Awww, that’s too bad, Santos!”
MJF starts to laugh as he makes his way back up the ramp, but Sami Callihan comes storming out and immediately spears MJF to the floor. Santos looks I’m in shock as the two men start to brawl on the ramp, eventually tumbling down to the floor. Maxwell races inside of the ring yo escape Sami. The champion is right after him and Maxwell immediately grabs Melissa to throw in Callihan’s direction. Sami catches her in his arms, allowing MJF to escape into the crowd. They both share a glance before Sami shoves her aside, looking after MJF with a look of rage on his face. He yanks up the mic and tightens his jaws, trying to control his temper.
“Don’t think this is over, Melissa. You’re just fortunate that something else is bugging me more right now. When I’m through kicking MJF’s ass and stomping him into the dirt...you and I can settle the score.”
“There is no score to settle!” She screeches as she snatches the mic. “You’re alive again. You’re back...you’re back with me and all you want to do is fight solely because you threw your life away in the first place. I love you, you idiot! But if it takes kicking your ass to make you see that, then fine. After Moonstruck, if you make it back, it’s you against me. I’ll show you, I’ll show MJF, I’ll show this entire company that I’m not as weak as I look. In fact, I’ve never felt stronger in my entire life. I’m not afraid anymore, I’m no longer hesitant. I will gladly dive headfirst into war with you and end this once and for all...if it means you’ll be on my side again.”
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Atwell with MJF
The scene opened up interviewer Hayley standing and facing the camera with a big smile. "Please welcome my guest, the Number One Contender for the Future Phoenix Championship, Maxwell Jacob Friedman.” Moments later, Maxwell entered the scene dressed in a dark red suit, white shirt and no tie with his scarf hanging off his shoulders. Hayley went to speak but Max placed his hand upon the mic and pushed it down, and shook his head
"You know the rules... get lost skank.”
He then snatched the microphone from her as she walked out of the shot and Maxwell turned to the camera. "Ladies and Gentlemen, just in case you are deaf, dumb, blind, stupid or... in the case of that animal I just kicked out and Melissa Santos, a whore... my name is Maxwell Jacob Friedman and I am the fastest rising star in the history of PCW... and at the upcoming Pay Per View I am cashing in the Maxwell Jacob Friedman Guarantee for a Title shot against Sami Callihan. I know he and Aleister have been having a little existential crisis and I know just how hard that can be... so I tell you what Sami, I'll be glad to take that Future of Phoenix Championship off your shoulder so you can focus a little more on that gutter slut"
Maxwell laughed and shook his head, feigning being upset and imitated fans "and everyone goes "Oh no, shes a mother Max you cant say that shes..." she's a dime store shelf, one in a million run of the mill piece of filth who you're both letting cloud your judgment to the point where you LITERALLY don't know who you are.” Maxwell laughed a little and then looked into the camera. “That's where I come in... rich... successful... beautiful woman on my arm... I've got everything that a guy could ever want.... so Samuel, you and I are gonna meet and I'm going to take everything you've ever cared about.. I'm going to fuck you over and take your Championship, and after that? Melissa Santos? Maybe me and Aria will fuck you too.” He winked into the camera and tossed it and mouthed "mic drop" before walking out of the scene and it faded to black
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Scarlett Bordeaux vs Zara Sabre (With Spike Trivet & Doll)
Scarlett comes out the gate hot with a spear to take down Zara. The two women throw fist after fist, Sabre able to get the upper hand with a thumb to the eye. The referee gives her a warning as she grabs the hair to sling Scarlett into the corner. Zara chops the chest before looking for the monkey flip. Bordeaux manages to counter with a sort of powerbomb into corner as she held the smaller woman in midair. She tries to follow up with a clothesline, but Zara gets the boot up to knock her back. She then connects with a dropkick from the second turnbuckle to hook the leg. One...t—Scarlett kicks out.
Trivet looks on with a smug expression as Zara turns Bordeaux over to grab the arms and yank her up. She puts the boot to the back, stretching the blonde’s arms before slamming the woman down to the mat. Zara then drags Scarlett to the ropes, shoving the neck into the bottom before standing on her. The referee starts to count and connects with a stomp at four before backing off. Zara tries to go after her again, forcing the referee to act. While he’s distracted, Doll Spike connects with a big boot to the face to daze Bordeaux. Zara tries to follow up by yanking Scarlett to her feet, looking for an inverted DDT. Bordeaux quickly reversed and forearms her multiple times before landing an enzuigiri to create some room to breathe.
Zara starts to stand, getting her feet first, but she misses the roundhouse kick and Scarlett gets behind her with jumping neckbreaker. Bordeaux stomps her boot on the mat and the crowd starts to clap along as she slowly stands. Zara gets to her feet and Scarlett takes her down with multiple clotheslines. Sabre backs into the corner and the champion races in with a splash. As her opponent stumbles out, Scarlett kicks the back of the leg to force her down before getting the double knees to the back of the head for the pin. One...two...t—Zara kicks out. Bordeaux sits her up and rebounds off the ropes for a dropkick to the face. Zara rolls to the apron to create some space.
As Scarlett tries to capitalize, the woman trips her up and forces her neck down on the ropes. Zara then drags Bordeaux halfway off the apron and connects with a running knee strike to the chest. Scarlett slumps to the outside and Zara yanks her up to her feet, slinging the champion’s face into the ring post. Spike looks on with glee as Zara slowly picks Bordeaux apart, completely ignoring the count. As the referee reaches ten, Zara retrieves a steel chair from ringside. She wastes no time putting it to use, but Scarlett had it scouted and kicks the chair back with a big boot. She forced Zara back with another boot to the chest, but the numbers game comes into play as Spike and the Doll ambush her from behind.
The Doll holds her down while Spike retrieves the chair, striking the woman in the abdomen. Bordeaux slinks to the floor and Spike brings the steel down onto the back multiple times. As Scarlett struggles to stand again, Trivet puts a boot to the back of her to force her down. He aims the chair, letting only a small smirk graced his lips before striking it down against the face. Scarlett’s body goes stiff before slumping still. The Doll retrieves the championship, allowing Spike to take it and raise it up high, potentially showcasing a spoiler to Moonstruck.
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Northern Lights
What should’ve been a face-to-face confrontation turned brutal before it even started as cameras were fixed on Allysin and Brian backstage in another brawl. Pillman tried to bulldoze her down, but she knees him in the gut before slamming a heavy fist to the back. Kay slings him into a metal cart carrying chairs. Some of the chairs tumble to the floor and Kay wastes no time slamming one against back multiple times. She then snatches Pillman up by the hair and shoves his back into the wall. Kay looks to boot him in the chest, but he ducks and manages to lift her up this time before slamming her back to the floor.
Brian throws punch after punch, but Allysin wasn’t backing down either. Security came to break it up, but they were difficult to separate. Even as they were pulled apart, Brian broke free to tackle her back down to the floor. He shoves off security before dragging her across the floor by her hair and yanking her up. Pillman slings her face first into one of the fuse boxes. Sparks fly and Kay is blinded, allowing Brian to grab a metal pipe nearby and sling it across the back. Kay grits her teeth as another shot is fired off her back.
He goes for a third hit, but she grabs the pipe and jabs it into his abdomen before booting him in the chest. Security finally grabs onto them again, trying to drag them both away from each other. This time they were successful, but Pillman made sure to get his last shot in, spitting in her direction in one final act of disrespect.
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Heart of Phoenix Championship Match
Wrestler vs Wrestler
Wrestler vs Wrestler
Arisa immediately gets the forearm before dropping Kelly with a German suplex into the bridged pin. Priscilla kicks out at one, but Aries is on her quickly with a running dropkick to the side. The champion rolls out onto the with the challenger grabbing the hair from behind. Kelly drops down to force the neck onto the ropes. As Hoshiki chokes, the champion drags her out from under the ropes and drops her to the floor with a rough pull. She stomps down on Arisa before snatching her up to sling into the barricade. Kelly laughs as Arisa struggles to stand and kicks the abdomen before rolling back into the ring.
She lets the referee do the counting, but Arisa crawls back to the ring by seven. Priscilla is on her yet again with multiple stomps, dragging Arisa to her feet for a suplex to the mat. Kelly hooks the leg for a two count. She sits Arisa up and looks for a running boot, but Hoshiki ducks and grabs the leg to trip Priscilla up. The challenger quickly follows up with the calf crusher, squeezing the leg. Kelly starts to panic, dragging herself towards the rope. As this goes on, Vipress makes her appearance. She makes her way down the ramp, looking on with interest. Kelly grabs the ropes and pulls herself outside of the ring to create distance.
Hoshiki goes after her and connects with a running knee to the chest. She drags Priscilla back onto the apron and tries to roll her in, but eats a sudden kick to the face. Kelly tries to capitalize by leaping off with the crossbody, but Hoshiki catches her and manages to drop the back across the knee. The referee has reached a count of six by now and Arisa shoves Kelly bank into the ring. The referee checks on the champion, allowing Vipress to boot Arisa to the floor. Fans start to boo heavily as she shoves Hoshiki back into the ring. Kelly gets to her feet, confused as to why Arisa was down.
Vipress gives her a smile and Kelly shakes her head. “I don’t need your help! You think I forgot how you treated me weeks ago?” As she questions Vipress, Arisa rolls her up with a two count. Kelly misses the clothesline and Hoshiki gets the Brazilian kick. She looks to pin Priscilla for the title, but Vipress drags the champion from the ring. The referee calls off the match for the interference, but Vipress wasn’t done. “I said I don’t nee—“ Vipress slings Kelly into the ringpost. Arisa races out of the ring to chase her off, pissed that her match was interrupted. The fans start to chant for Hoshiki to get a second chance, then Mike comes walking out with a mic in hand.
“Don’t you guys worry. Arisa will get that second chance and to make sure nobody from the Fourth Circle interferes? That cage I ordered will be put to use. This time it won’t be for you and Taeler, Kelly. It’s going to be for the championship against Arisa, so I hope you’re prepared and ready to do whatever it takes to retain next week.”