Phase Sixty-One: Eight Days A Week
An Offer You Can't Refuse
Scarlett Bordeaux stands in the ring, a skintight, red dress hugging her curves as she brings the mic to ruby lips. She gives the audience a smile as she flips platinum blonde locks over her shoulders. “Last night I defeated Tessa Blanchard to win the sick-pack challenge and earn three points.” Bordeaux is heavily booed, but she continues as if she never heard them. “I’m quickly climbing the ladder in PCW all over again. If this stupid point system was gone again, I’d be holding championship gold right now, just like I did when I defeated Taeler Hendrix.” Scarlett starts to strut in the ring, reaching the ropes, and leaning against it as she winks a male fan in attendance. “Soon I’ll be back on top with a title around my waist...but it won’t be just any title. Think it’s time the PCW Championship got a little sexier, don’t you think?”
She doesn’t get to continue as Salina comes out with Low-Ki right beside her. She smooths a wrinkle from her skirt before fixing her blouse. She gives Scarlett a look before shaking her head. “Congratulations, Scarlett. You walk away with three points...handed to you on a silver platter. Zack must be real head over heels for you, but he’s weak-minded. Easily swayed by...a common street rat, if you asked me.” Salina makes her way down the ramp and enters the ring, Low-Ki staying on the apron. “You did win, though. There’s no changing that...and you have a lot of potential, so why don’t I make you an offer? Join me, become my client, and I will shape you into more than this,” she says as she waves her hand over Bordeaux. “You can become a woman of power, commanding respect and attention in ways you’ve yet to discover. You can be more, Scarlett if you follow in my footsteps.”
Bordeaux starts to laugh and shakes her head. “I’m more than happy being ‘just this’ and it’s been working out thus far. Didn’t you just lose a title match last week? Maybe you should be more like me—mesmerizing, confident, and carefree—then maybe you’d have a little fewer wrinkles across your forehead. You’d also be champion right now, but clearly you don’t know to captivate the right men,” she says looking over at Low-Ki. “Time for an upgrade, girl.”
Scarlett walks past Salina, expecting Low-Ki to move, but he remains. Salina grabs Bordeaux from behind and slams her down into the mat, throwing fist after fist. She drags Scarlett to her feet and tosses her into the ropes for a clothesline, but Scarlett’s counters into a hairpull of her own. Salina rolls out of the ring quickly, heels no longer on her feet. She grabs a heel and tosses it at Bordeaux as she shakes her head. “You’ll regret refusing my offer!” Scarlett laughs again and flips her hair back before blowing Salina a kiss.
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UIC Pavilion
Hania vs Vipress
Vipress has Hania trapped in the corner with vicious kicks to the abdomen. She slams the back of the head into the turnbuckle before slinging Hania across the ring. She follows up with a knee to the back of the head and goes for the pin. Hania kicks out at one. The demon chokes Hania on the mat before dragging the brunette up to her feet, slinging the smaller woman into the corner again. She goes for a dropkick but misses as Hania gets out of the way. The woman throws strike after strike wildly to the back as Vipress hunches over to protect herself.
Hania connects with a forearm and sends Vipress to the mat with a snap suplex. She springboards off the ropes for a moonsault, but Vipress brings up the knees. She kicks Hania into a sleeper hold, trying to tap out the wolf. She doesn’t relent as Hania starts to fade. In fact, she relishes in it. Hania manages to flip over into a pin, forcing Vipress to release the hold. She connects with a running bulldog and follows up with a dropkick to the face for the pin. Vipress kicks out at two. Hania stomps on the chest and goes for the springboard moonsault once more. She lands it and looks for another pin. Vipress still kicks out.
Hania starts to lose her patience and claws at the face, nails leaving small marks on the arm as Vipress covers her face. The demon manages to force Hania back and land a back elbow. She connects with a flapjack and follows up with a Cattle Mutilation submission. She doesn’t let up and Hania has nowhere to go as she struggles to break free. Vipress turns her head, teeth latching into the face. Hania howls while in the hold, but still refuses to tap out. Vipress pulls even harder on the arms and finally Hania gives in, awarding Vipress a point.
Austin Aries vs Spike Trivet
Austin Aries awaits his opponent in the ring, but Spike appears dressed down in a suit and Zara by his side. He gives Aries a wicked grin and looks to Zara, who holds up a mic to her lips. “After much discussion, Aries, we decided that Spike shouldn’t have to face you. He’s already beaten you. Therefore, we will take an early leave.”
Zara hands over the mic to Trivet and he walks up the steps and remains on the apron as Aries looks on with a smirk of his own. “This is nothing short of Taya attempting to leech ratings from me by ‘reigniting’ what we had, but truthfully? There’s nothing to reignite. I beat you and there’s nothing more to it. If she wants to see me compete, it needs to be against a competitor who will actually give me a challenge.”
Aries, eyes focused on Trivet, hardly notices Zara entering the ring off to the side. Spike smiles. “You can wrestle her, though,” he says as Zara attacks Austin from behind. She low blows Aries before calling for the bell to ring. The woman then sets him up for the European Clutch and pins the Austin for the win. Trivet enters the ring, celebrating with his girlfriend before lifting her up on his shoulder. She gives an elegant wave to the crowd, soaking in the boos that fill the arena.
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On A Leash
Baron and Mecha stand side by side in Taya’s office. The blonde was seated in her chair, bandaged around her waist and a sporting a dark ring around her eye. She was still feeling the effects of her match with Jenny. “The reason you boys are back here is that neither of you has made the impact I thought you would. I mean, Baron has the briefcase and has yet to even hint at using it. Opportunity after opportunity given and nothing happening, so I’m going to put that briefcase on the line next week against Bray Watt and Phil Jackal.”
Neither man refuses and instead growls at her, inching towards her desk. She does not look afraid. A smile forms as she pushes a button her desk. The door flies open and security has both men removed without so much as a finger being laid on the general manager. “Damn, mutts...”
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Zack Sabre Jr & Jimmy Havoc vs Flash Morgan Webster & Will Ospreay
Zack and Morgan go back and forth with the former champion catching Sabre with a mule kick. Sabre drops to the mat and Webster follow up with a baseball slide to send Zack out. He looks for a dive to the outside, but Jimmy stands in his way on the apron. Morgan forearms Havoc, but that only sends Jimmy into a blind rage as he takes Webster down. He scratches and claws, even biting, Morgan until Ospreay comes in for the rescue with a superkick to the face. Zack is back in and goes up high from the top rope with a flying clothesline to Will. Ospreay and Jimmy roll out of the ring as Sabre goes for the European Clutch.
Morgan fights his way out of it and sends Sabre into his corner. He charges with a spear into the abdomen and Zack slumps to the mat. Ospreay is up on the apron and takes himself in. Zack slow stands as Morgan kneels. Ospreay races forward and jumps using Webster’s back to connect with a body splash into the corner. He plants Zack with a packaged piledriver and goes for the pin. Sabre kicks out. He tries to reach Jimmy, but Will has him by the leg. Zack manages to flip over and send Will into the corner. He tags in Jimmy and Havoc doesn’t let up on Ospreay.
Jimmy sends the smaller man’s back into the corner before driving multiple knees into the body. He chops the chest and flips Will over onto the mat. Jimmy follows up with a running boot for the pin. Will kicks out and Jimmy lifts him up from the mat with a gut wrench powerbomb. He goes for another pin, but Will kicks out. Jimmy tries to follow up with an Acid Rainmaker, but Ospreay counter’s into a float over DDT. Havoc tags in Zack before Will makes it to Morgan.
Sabre lifts Will from the mat with a suplex before going for Jim Breaks Special submission. Morgan tries to break the hold, but Havoc takes him down with the Acid Rainmaker and Ospreay is forced to tap out. The two men celebrate as they got a win over former champions, but their celebration is cut short as Tessa Blanchard makes her way out onto the stage.
“Congrats, babe. You actually pulled off a victory without some bullshit tossed in there. No Scarlett out tonight, I see. What? Did she get bored of her plaything that fast?” The crowd issues a resounding “ooooh” across the arena as Tessa continues. “Least now there’s one less person standing between me and you. You and I—we’re far from done. You had the audacity to use Bordeaux to steal my victory from at SweeneyMania and you’re going to pay for it.”
Jimmy steps forward towards the ropes and Blanchard laughs. “Oh, don’t you worry, Jimmy. You’re just as much to blame, so you’re going to get the same beatdown that I’m going to give Zack. Thing is, Jimmy, it won’t be by me.” Havoc cocks his head to one side as Sabre looks on in confusion, as well.
“Yeah, you wanna go out and recruit whoever to take me on? That’s fine. I have friends, too, and it’s going to be us against you two next week.”
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Atwell with Natalya & Frankie
Frankie and Natalya stand on both sides of Hayley as she holds a microphone in hand. “Ladies and gentlemen, the new tag team champions! Guys, how does it feel to hold gold?”
“It’s been a long time since I last had a championship, but it still feels like my first here in PCW. Before Natalya, I didn’t think I would ever touch another title in this company. She’s really been a great mentor and friend to me. I’m learning so much from her and she’s the foundation of this team.”
“You’re just as important as I am. While I do have the experience, you bring the energy and something new that I’ve not had the opportunity to learn while I was training. You are the reason I’m holding my first piece of gold in PCW and I couldn’t thank you enough!”
The two women hug each other as Hayley continues. “It’s very clear you two have formed a bond, but you now have a target on your back.”
“And we’re more than ready to take on any challengers,” Natalya says. “We fought hard to become champions, but we’ll fight even harder to stay champions. Bring on anyone and we will take them down.”
Frankie nods in agreement and the two women bump fists before walking out of view to celebrate their win.
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Killer Kross vs Fire Ant
Kross wastes no time in taking care of Fire Ant. No amount of tricks and aerial assaults could keep him down for long. Ant didn’t stand a chance and was planted with the Doomsday Saito Suplex for the victory. He demands a microphone before grabbing a hold of Ant by the mask. “Last week was not me declaring an opportunity for gold nor was it anything personal with either man in that match. My interruption was a sign of things to come for :everyone: on this roster.” He shakes Ant’s head by the mask, attempting to rip it apart. “PCW is filled with men and women like this insect—weak, pathetic, and insignificant in comparison to me and my vision.”
Kross proceeds to tear at this mask, exposing a portion of Ant’s cheekbones and some of his hair. “I’m not out for gold, but for blood. I want the mat to be stained red with the insides of my ‘competition.’ I wanna splatter each and everyone one of them against the surface, so that it is clear, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that—“
He has no time to finish as Tyler Breeze smashes a steel chair against his back. He swings again and again until Kross is down to his knees. The champion rams the end of the chair into the face to know him down before slamming it down on top of him multiple times. Killer Kross is down and dazed, allowing Breeze to wedge the chair around the neck. He looks to stomp down, but instinct helps Kross grab the foot and swipe it from under Tyler. He manages to get the chair off and stand, looking to use it against the champion, but Breeze connects with a superkick to the chair that connects with Kross’a face. He rolls out of the ring and away from Breeze as he grabs the chair and holds it up high.
“Payback is a bitch, Kross.”
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A Whole New World
Sami paces back and forth silently in the hallway, almost entirely in darkness. The only thing to light his path is the lantern Bray held as he stood just a few feet away, watching his creation adjust. Callihan’s stops suddenly, a disturbance in the atmosphere made him cock his head to his right and stare down the hall. A voice called out to him. It was familiar, but he couldn’t place it. “Sami?”
She came into view. Melissa Santos. She laid eyes on him and smiled, rushing towards him. “Sami! Where have you been? It’s been days, you aren’t answering my cal—“
“STOP!” Bray commanded and she instantly froze. His voice boomed throughout the hall and caused a ripple of fear. She looked to Bray, but he was mostly cloaked in shadows, the lantern held low to his side.
“Who are you?” She called out.
“Leave, sweet girl. Leave before it’s too late.”
Melissa looked to Sami and his eyes were wide, not with recognition, but an intensity that made her step back. “Sami?” In his mind, over and over again, he pictured lifting her by the neck and squeezing until it snapped. Step by step, he approached her. Step by step, she widened the gap between him. “What did you do to him?” She looked to Wyatt once more and he started to laugh.
“Run.” Melissa took one last look at Sami and ran down the hall. Callihan didn’t move just yet. “....chase,” Bray said and Sami zipped after her.
Melissa could hear his heavy footsteps closing in behind her. She looked behind. He was gaining on her. His eyes were so wide, so full of murderous desires. She screamed, yelling for help. What happened to him? What happened to her Sami? She turned a corner and almost collided with Taya.
“Woah, what the he—?! Melissa? Why are you here? You don’t even work here.” The woman’s eyes were bugged out and she was panting so heavily that she couldn’t answer the blonde. Valkyrie rolled her eyes and pushed past Melissa, limping back towards the hall.
“Wait! Taya, do—“
“Don’t what?” She asked, turning the corner and walking down the hall with no issue. Santos followed her, genuinely shocked that Sami was gone.
“What happened to Sami?! He was just chasing me and acting like a psycho!”
“He wasn’t a psycho when you met him?”
“That’s not what I mean. He’s...different.”
“Welcome to PCW, Melissa, where everything is different.”
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Jenny Blake vs Rosemary
Rosemary backs Blake into the corner, choking the former champion until the referee forces her back. She drags Jenny out before slamming her face back into the turnbuckle. Rosemary climbs up high, forcing her legs around Blake’s neck to choke her again before kicking her in the back. Jenny drops down and Rosemary flies off for a crossbody as Blake stands for the pin. Jenny kicks out at two. Blake tries to fight back as Rosemary grabs the leg and kicks her back. She charges for multiple clotheslines to take Rosemary down. She follows up with a huracarrana that sends the Demon Assassin into the ropes.
Blake goes for a shoulder block through the ropes, but Rosemary catches her with a knee to the chest. She drops the head onto the apron before rolling Jenny in for the pin. Blake kicks out at two. Rosemary lifts her up, shoving her into the ropes for a hip toss, but Blake counters into a roll-up and puns Rosemary. The fans cheer for her as the shocker luchadora celebrates, but Rosemary doesn’t take too kindly to the loss and mists Blake in the middle of the ring. As she leaves, Taya appears.
The Surprise
“Remember how I said you were going to pay for everything that you’ve done thus far? Remember how I made it clear this was far from over? Since people love watching you compete, I thought ‘why not give you several matches!?’ So tonight, this singles match will now be a gauntlet match.”
Taya sends out Mickie James next. The two women battle hard, looking for that victory, but Jenny lands the Canadian Destroyer to move on. Taya smirks and sends out Trivet next with Zara by his side. He uses every dirty trick in the book to take advantage. Even Zara gets involved and Taya allows it, but Blake manages to use Zara as a weapon, shoving the girl into her partner before rolling Spike up for the three-count. Out next came Mecha Wolf. He gave her a greater challenge, even biting into the arm as Jenny misses a clothesline. He sends her chest first into the turnbuckle and plants her with a German suplex into the bridge. He gets a two count and continues to beat down on Jenny. Still, she managed to fight back, sending him out of the ring with a clothesline. Blake goes for a suicide dive, taking him down on the outside. She’s weak, but that doesn’t stop her from approaching Taya.
The blonde smiles and closes the gap between. “Please, hit me,” she says into the mic. “I’d love to fire you permanently, Jenny. Do it. You know you want to.”
Instead, Mecha gets the jump on Blake and sends her into the ring post. He rolls her in for the victory, but she still kicks out. Wolf looks to choke her out with a sleeper hold, but she rolls through with a pin. He releases her but is caught with a superkick before a Canadian Destroyer sends him on his way. Alexa Bliss has her turn next and she almost takes out Jenny with the Twisted Bliss, but Blake rolls out of the way and spears her down for the victory. Still, Taya sent out another competitor.
“One last challenger.” She seemed especially excited for this one and stepped aside to make way for Priscilla Kelly.
Kelly wasted no time tearing into Blake. She was far more vicious than we’ve ever seen her before. She bends Blake’s body into an octopus hold, slamming the fists down into the torso before scratching the abdomen without hesitation. Blake refused to tap, but marks were still left on her body. She was weak and Priscilla knew it, but it only made her work even slower to pin Blake. She made the agony last, even taunting and chasing the woman around the ring as she tried to crawl away.
Taya watched as Kelly eventually ends it with the Dragon Sleeperhold. Blake lies passed out on the mat as Kelly receives three points for her victory. Valkyrie smirked again and made her way up the ramp just as Kelly made a mark in Jenny’s chest, leaving her initials on the skin.