PCW Live: Fiddler on the Ropes
Atwell with Mike Quackenbush
Mike takes his seat across from Hayley, removing a piece of lint he found on his suit. The CEO looked particularly uncomfortable. After last week’s events, it would only make sense for him to be distraught. Still, there was something else bothering him and he had to speak on it. “Thank you, sir...uh Quack...I mean—“
“Just call me Mike, Hayley. Unlike...her, I can be formal.”
“Right... About Taya, that’s what everyone wants to talk about right now. She crossed the line last week and violently attacked one of the talents on the roster, Jenny Blake. From what I’m told, Taya essentially...nearly broke her neck completely.”
“You heard correctly,” he responds with a sullen look. “The chair closes around Blake’s neck quickly and hard enough to fracture her spinal cord. It could have killed her. It should have killed her. The doctors were extremely concerned when we brought Jenny in and said it was a miracle that the attack didn’t finish the job. That said...” Mike paused to clear his throat and carefully think on his next words.
“Jenny was so hopeful on social media. She just knew that she would be able to return and defend the tag team titles alongside Arisa, but... I, nor the doctors, will let her compete under the current conditions. They will not be able to actively defend those championships within the next month. Moonstruck is coming and right now? The champions won’t be there if I allow Jenny time to heal with them, so... It really saddens me to say that I have to strip them of the belts immediately and figure something else out.”
Hayley looked on both in shock and slight disgust. “But they worked so hard and endured so much to be champions. They finally win after dealing with Taya and The Fourth Circle and now...”
“They have to give them back. I know. It isn’t ideal and it isn’t fair, but I would do this to anyone. Maybe that’s what Taya wanted. She had a game plan, a backup in case they actually won. She had betted on them losing, so she took matters into her own hands when she won. She took out Jenny and now Arisa can’t defend on her own. Leave it to her to have the...brilliance to cause more damage without even being present. Evil as she is, can’t say I hired an idiot.”
Hayley nodded and cleared her throat. “What is the plan then? What will happen to those titles?”
“I believe it is best to put together several teams and have a tag team tournament to crown new champions. Arisa herself can participate for a second run if she can find a new partner. Other teams will be announced in the tournament soon and the first round will take place next week.”
“Thank you for your time, Mike.”
Logan Square Auditorium
Austin Aries vs Oney Lorcan
Lorcan came out of the gates with a clothesline, but Austin quickly ducks under it shoved him into the ropes. Aries dropkicks the back and sends Oney to the apron. He looks to follow up with a baseball slide, but Lorcan sidesteps him and stomps on the torso before Austin drops to the floor. Lorcan races off the apron with a clothesline as his opponent stands and raises a finger in the air to get the crowd going. He has Aries up, but is shoved into the barricade. Austin whips him into the ring for the quick pin attempt. Oney kicks out at one.
Austin grabs Oney by the beard as he tries to pull him up, but Lorcan connects with an arm drag to counter. He races in for a shoulder block to knock Austin down. As he rebounds off the ropes, Aries trips up the legs. He then connects with a single-leg dropkick to the side of the face. Aries yanks up Oney and starts drilling the face with multiple forearms. He uppercuts the man into the corner and tries for the monkey flip. Oney uses his strength to stay grounded and powerbombs Aries into the turnbuckle. He turns the man around and looks for the half Nelson suplex, but Austin elbows the torso.
He reversed into a neckbreaker and both men are down. Austin slowly stands after a few moments and looks for the springboard moonsault. Oney rolls out of the way and quickly races in with a kick to the chest and face. Oney has him up and quickly drops Austin with the half Nelson suplex to get the three count. Oney celebrates his debut and first victory as Austin stares daggers into his back. The smaller man’s eyes suddenly glow a rage-filled red and he rushes in to knock Oney down from the turnbuckle. He beats down on the newcomer with stomps before slinging him into the corner shoulder first. Aries follows up with the discus forearm to stun Lorcan and quickly drops him with the brainbuster.
Lorcan came out of the gates with a clothesline, but Austin quickly ducks under it shoved him into the ropes. Aries dropkicks the back and sends Oney to the apron. He looks to follow up with a baseball slide, but Lorcan sidesteps him and stomps on the torso before Austin drops to the floor. Lorcan races off the apron with a clothesline as his opponent stands and raises a finger in the air to get the crowd going. He has Aries up, but is shoved into the barricade. Austin whips him into the ring for the quick pin attempt. Oney kicks out at one.
Austin grabs Oney by the beard as he tries to pull him up, but Lorcan connects with an arm drag to counter. He races in for a shoulder block to knock Austin down. As he rebounds off the ropes, Aries trips up the legs. He then connects with a single-leg dropkick to the side of the face. Aries yanks up Oney and starts drilling the face with multiple forearms. He uppercuts the man into the corner and tries for the monkey flip. Oney uses his strength to stay grounded and powerbombs Aries into the turnbuckle. He turns the man around and looks for the half Nelson suplex, but Austin elbows the torso.
He reversed into a neckbreaker and both men are down. Austin slowly stands after a few moments and looks for the springboard moonsault. Oney rolls out of the way and quickly races in with a kick to the chest and face. Oney has him up and quickly drops Austin with the half Nelson suplex to get the three count. Oney celebrates his debut and first victory as Austin stares daggers into his back. The smaller man’s eyes suddenly glow a rage-filled red and he rushes in to knock Oney down from the turnbuckle. He beats down on the newcomer with stomps before slinging him into the corner shoulder first. Aries follows up with the discus forearm to stun Lorcan and quickly drops him with the brainbuster.
Frankie Valentine (with Natalya) vs Zara Sabre (with Spike Trivet)
Zara and Frankie lock up with Frankie getting the armlock. Zara reverses into a side headlock, but can’t takedown the veteran. She tries to wear her down to the mat, but Frankie lifts her up for a side suplex to the mat. Zara rolls into the ropes and Frankie rushes in. Zara trips her up on the ropes and gets on the apron for a legdrop to the back of the neck. Frankie is forced back into the ring for a one count. Natalya cheers on Frankie from the outside while Spike simply watches with silent intensity. Zara has Frankie up, looking for a suplex, but Frankie forearms her back. She follows up with a kick to the shoulder to stun Zara and quickly gets the corkscrew hurricarana.
Frankie rushes in with a front dropkick to send Zara into the corner. As Frankie keeps control, Spike gets on the apron and distracts her in the corner. Natalya quickly rounds the ring and tries to yank him down, but he kicks her back. Zara escapes from under Frankie and superkicks the face to leave her stunned on the second ropes. She lifts Frankie off the second ropes with a powerbomb to the mat for the pin. One...two...—Frankie keeps out. Natalya wasn’t done with Trivet on the outside and pulls him down. The two exchange blows on the outside with Trivet shoving Natalya into the barricade. He follows up with a big boot to knock her down to the floor.
Zara has the side headlock again and uses the corner for a bulldog into the turnbuckle. Frankie is stunned as Zara climbs the top. She instinctively knocks the leg out from under Zara to buy herself some time. She looks to climb and meet Zara at the top. Spike slams his hands on the apron and suddenly gets rowdy on the outside and grabs a chair, threatening to use it. As the referee tries to calm him down, Zara thumbs the eye and sends Frankie tumbling down with a belly-to-belly suplex. She crawls into the cover and hooks both legs. One...two....three! Zara got the victory over the former champion. She squeals and exits the ring to join Spike. She hesitated to embrace him, but he welcomed her with opened arms as she did what she needed tonight to make him proud.
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Jeopardy
Kay stands in the ring with a mic in hand as “Gangsta's Paradise” continues to play. Despite the seriousness of Brian’s challenge last week, the two-toned competitor was entertaining the crowd with a little movement of her shoulders and hips as the song plays. Only when it fades does the woman straighten up...slightly. The grin she had never left her lips as she brought the mic up to speak. “Last week, Brian issued a Last Man Standing challenge to yours truly. When? Where? He didn’t say. He just wants to get his ass whooped and the good Lord knows I can oblige on the spot, if I felt like it.” She pauses momentarily to chuckle to herself. “He threw that challenge out like that was supposed to mean something to me. As if my entire career isn’t caked in hardcore matches and life-threatening moments. I’ve been busted open so many times and typically still end up on top, but ooooh. Last Man Standing—that’s what will bring down the AK-47.”
She shrugged her shoulders as her smile only widened. “Can’t say the little shit isn’t putting forth effort, but he chose a match that lies more in my favor than his. Tweeties flew from the nest thinking he was ready to fly, but he sailing a little too up high in pursuit of an unwarranted ego. Maybe I should pop that ass right on out the sky and bring you back down to the reality of the situation: you ain’t on my level and you never have been. You’ve beaten nobodies and half-assed competitors who never even tasted a lick of gold or a meaningful victory, but you wanna pat yourself on the back for measly ass points?”
“When I came around? I did away with that crap. No more strings of wins would give you a shot at the champion. Now you actually had to prove your worth in a real test of grit and skill. No sorry ass roll-ups we’re gonna be food enough to get in the ring with me as champion, but you got what? Six—seven points from multi-men matches with the Peanut Gallery?” She started to laugh a little and shook her head in disapproval. “And now you begging for matches like a damn dog because you know I’m a real challenge. You know that all those past victories mean nothing because you never beaten anyone of merit...and it’s that need, that desperation, that strong desire to finally cement yourself as more than just another half-assed competitor with their name on a points list that’s brought me to my final answer—no. Go cry about it in my mentions.”
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Neutron dance
Kelly paces back and forth with a sling in her arm. She was pissed, furious, at the events of last week. First she was attacked by her own aunt and then her mother had the audacity to use her as an example. She couldn’t decide who she wanted to break more, but indigo wanted them both. She had to get them both. “Last week was bullshit. It never fails that I get caught up in some stupid war between my mom and her enemies. I never expected Taeler to be one of them, but that’s neither here nor there. They could’ve had their stupid war and just...left those kids out of it. None of them deserves this.”
She paused and swallowed spit. “None of them deserve the same fate as me. Constantly stuck in a battle for my life because the adults around me don’t know how to let go! This time, though? I plan on fighting back against everyone who wronged me. First, I want Taeler. I want to dispose of her and get her out of the way. Then I want Priscilla. We’ve battled before, but I was far weaker and naive than I am now. Now I know where I stand in this ‘family’ and I plan to take a stand. I’m not picking anyone’s side because I’m now on my own side. And I’m going to win this war, finish it once and for all.”
“Is that what you’re going to do?” Hania says as she comes into view of the camera. “You can’t even move your arm and you expect us to believe you’re going to fight two psychotic morons with a superiority complex?” She started to laugh and Indigo stared her down. “What the hell do you even want? Why do you keep helping me?” “Because I never really got revenge for the whole...setting me on fire thing. Your mom played a hand in my death...sooo it’s only fair that I get a piece or two.”
“This has nothing to do with you! If you wanna fight for old time’s sake, fine. This right now, though, is something different.”
“You have me mistaken. I am not asking for permission. I will be including myself and I will gladly rip the skin and meat from your mother’s throat. You can have whatever is left, assuming you can even compete next week.” Hania turns to leave, but stops suddenly.
“If you get in my way...try to deny me my vengeance? Indigo, I will hurt you. The last time we met, you hung me from a ladder. I’ve not forgotten, but I’ve forgiven solely because that was the name of the match. If not me, then I would’ve done it to you. That said, though? I will gladly put myself back into that mindset and ravaged your carcass like lunch meat.”
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Will Ospreay vs Vincent Marceglia
Will Ospreay waited in the ring for his opponent to show, an eerie air surrounding the arena for the debut of the Horror King. Vincent joined him slowly down the ramp, making his way without haste. He had a look in his eye where you could tell he didn't care if he won or lost, he was there to make an impression and leave a permanent mark, both on his opponent and on the audience.
The match was mostly dominated by Ospreay, flying around the ring and tossing Marceglia left and right with ease, but the Horror King didn't seem phased by the displays, just rolling with the punches and chuckling once in a while, muttering to himself in the corners while the high flyer jumped up and down around him.
Finally, the Stormbreaker took Vincent out, but despite being pinned under Will, the laughter just got louder and louder until Will moved away from him, taking careful steps to the edge of the ring and left the arena, leaving the madman at the center of the ring, laughing like he'd just had the most hilarious revelation during the match.
And maybe he had.
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Over There
Arisa slams her hands against the door to Quackenbush’s office. She doesn’t even wait to be let in, storming through the door with a calm fury on her face. The small Joshi had her fists balled, arms shaking with such an intense rage. “I know why I had to be stripped... Jenny just won’t make it in time. I know that and still... It’s not fair! Something should’ve been done about Taya a long time ago!”
“I know. I let Taya run wild for too long, thinking she would eventually set aside her own selfish needs, but... Arisa, I’m sorry. My hands are tied. I cannot allow you to defend on your own.”
Hoshiki takes a deep breath, trying to keep calm in front of her boss. “Firing her isn’t enough. My friend is in the hospital, my titles are gone, and she’s just out there relishing in knowing what she’s done. That’s not enough... Give me Taya.”
“Pardon? I don—“ Quackenbush starts, stumbling over his words in shock, but she cuts him off.
“Give. Me. Valkyrie. I don’t care that she’s fired. I know Taya won’t refuse a challenge. Bring her here or I will drag her here for a fight.”
Mike started at the small woman a long time, the fire in her eyes never disappearing. She was determined to get revenge and Mike couldn’t blame her at all. “You do know she’s far more unhinged than before, right? I’ve seen her do things that a woman shouldn’t. She’s not...normal.”
“It doesn’t matter. Give me Valkyrie.”
“...next week. I will find her and you’ll face her next week.”
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Contract Signing
Scarlett Bordeaux & Spike Trivet
The lights dimmed and Mike Quackenbush was standing in the ring, the only source of light over him, the table and the three chairs, two on each side of it, Scarlett Bordeaux and Spike Trivet already sitting down.
"Welcome, everyone. I hope you have enjoyed the show so far. And I do apologise you've had to see me everywhere today. But I promise this is the last time for tonight."
He moved towards the third chair in front of them, touching Scarlett's shoulder on his way there.
"I'm hoping to have an uneventful signing, with hopefully an unstained, unwrinkled contract... Miss Bordeaux. And let's remember this is a match between two people, not a full team against the champion."
The challenger shivered, eye twitching. He didn't look all there, despite being dressed as elegantly as ever, and the fact that Mike reminded him of all the people behind him, had made him even more uncomfortable.
Already being seated in her chair, Bordeaux wore the championship she'd busted her ass to earn across her shoulder. There was no way she'd place it on the table and have the worm get any ideas.
The finely manicured hands of the champion occupied themselves. One, holding onto her championship and the other picked up the microphone laid next to her pen, on her side.
"I make no promises, Quack. It all depends on just how much this good-for-nothing three-point-two pisses me off."
Bordeaux's eyes had glanced over towards her challenger and being the observant woman she was, it didn't take long for her to notice his.. unusual demeanour. This only made Scarlett's icy pink painted lips curl into a smirk.
"What's the matter, Spike? Are you afraid that now you're face to face with me, and none of your fellow bitches are around? Are you scared that your master left the mutt to defend himself?" A chuckle came from her before she'd lean in closer to the face of the man she'd grown to despise.
"Let's face it, everyone in this arena tonight can see exactly what I see. A pathetic, useless, idiotic troll that's finally realized he's gotten in too deep. You may as well be trembling in your.. salvation army boots."
"Now, let's see if you've got enough balls to actually put pen to paper." Moving the hand that had been holding the championship, Bordeaux grabbed the pen on her side of the table and leaned forward to attempt signing her name on the line provided.
Before she could sign anything, Spike slapped the pen (and only the pen) from her hand, eyes staring straight into hers, glowing with a red gleam that he didn't know he had.
"You would think Salvatore Ferragamo comes from the Salvation army. That's where your boyfriend says he gets your Gucci bags. Don't sign yet."
His voice, even without the microphone, sounded eerily amplified, expression unchanging.
"Mike, we're having this makeover match. But I don't want her to have a second to breathe. I want her collared. Tied to me so I can fix her horrible manly face without her running away."
He turned back to the contract and scribbled over the stipulation, adding "collar match-first blood" with impossibly perfect calligraphy.
"Scarlett, it's your choice if you want to accept this stipulation... You are the champion after all."
Mike pulled a new pen from his pocket, handing it to Bordeaux.
The entire time, Bordeaux's face remained unchanged. A stone-cold glare that could kill, had it been granted the chance. The entire vibe had become rather eery, however, there was no hesitation when Scarlett took the pen from Mike's hand and signed her name where she had attempted to just moments prior.
Slowly, Bordeaux pushed her chair back to stand. That same manicured hand gripping the microphone once more. "Your words don't hurt me, Spike. I'm not like the other bitches your master sent you after. I'm a whole other breed. After I make you bleed? You'll be calling me daddy."
In a flash, Bordeaux struck Spike in the head from across the table. She made a point to hand the contract, signed and sealed directly to Quack before he'd flee the scene. The champion laid the boots into her challenger, which happened to be stiletto so the pain was that much more. Not even bothering to clear the table off, Scarlett grabbed the hair of Spike, dragging him to his feet.
As the man groggily stood via her help, Bordeaux grabbed his chin so that he looked her dead in the eyes. She opened her mouth, seemingly to speak, but no! She spat directly in Spike's face before tucking his head between her thighs and launching into a Canadian destroyer through the table!
The crowd gasped and cheered, Bordeaux grabbing both her title and the nearest microphone before smirking. "My HUSBAND taught me that, bitch." She'd then fling the microphone onto the pile of debris from the table and Spike's body, sliding out of the ring and celebrating her moment of glory.
Grudge Match: First Blood
Tyler Breeze vs Pavor Nox
Tyler Breeze vs Pavor Nox
The two men circle the ring before locking up. Breeze tries to gain control with the headlock, but Nox shoves his back into the corner. Tyler brings down fist after fist to the back before kneeing the gut. Tyler forces Pavor into the corner and retaliates with multiple forearms to the face. He looks to race in with a jumping knee and it connects with a thud. Nox stiffens in the corner and Breeze sets him up high on the turnbuckle. He looks to make the climb, but Pavor suddenly widens is his eyes, a crazed expression twisting his features as he slips out under the legs. Pavor quickly yanks the legs and Tyler’s face smacks against the turnbuckle. Pavor gets behind Breeze and drops the head onto the mat with a Nelson suplex. Pavor rolls out the ring and finds a chair to slide into the ring. He wedges it into the corner before yanking the former champion off the mat.
Tyler springs to life with a punch to the gut. He whips Nox into the chair corner, but the man is smart enough to get the boot up in time. Tyler races in behind him and Pavor lifts him up over the ropes. Breeze lands on his feet and shoulder blocks the gut. Tyler races forward with a handful of hair and slams the face into the chair. Pavor is stunned and Tyler springboards with a dropkick to the chest. Nox is down and Breeze crawls out the ring to retrieve another weapon. He pulls out a shortened ladder and sets it up between the barricade and ring. He searches for chairs to place on top of it before getting on the apron. Nox races in with a dropkick that sends Breeze to the floor. He slips out of the ring and retrieves a lead pipe. Pavor wastes no time swinging it down against the left leg, trying to cut off most of Tyler’s offense. He strikes the leg repeatedly before grabbing him by the hair. He aims for the face and slams the end into the face, but Breeze grabs the pipe at the last moment.
He shoves the other end back into the throat and windpipe. As Nox chokes, Tyler hobbles to his feet before grabbing Pavor by the arm to whip him straight into the ladder. Pavor’s face should’ve crushed his face, but it’s still intact as Nox cradles it in his hands in agony. Tyler limps towards Nox and has him up before uppercutting him. Nox leans against the ladder, knocking one of the chairs off. He strikes back with a chop to the chest and both go back and forth until Nox gets the kick to the gut. He slams Tyler’s face into the ladder before slinging him into the apron. Breeze drops to the floor in pain as Nox savors the moment. He licks his lips from corner to corner, a devilish grin spreading across the face. Pavor kneels next to Breeze. “I can’t wait to taste your blood. Time to crack you open, Prince Pretty!” Nox knees him in the face. He sends Breeze onto the apron and climbs up himself. He stomps the heel onto the back, leaving a welp as he dragged it along the area. Pavor yanks him up from behind by the hair and stomps the boot to the back of the head, face slamming into the apron.
Nox looks to want to finish this match. He pulls his opponent up to his feet and tries to lift him up on the shoulders, but Tyler wiggles out of the hold and shoves Pavor forward into the ringpost. Nox leans on the post, feet barely hanging on the apron. Breeze limps towards him and climbs the ropes before connecting with a springboard Frankensteiner. Pavor flies off and lands harshly on the chairs and ladders. He goes still and the referee has to check for blood. Shockingly none could be found. Tyler climbs to the top of the corner and steadies himself before leaping off with a double foot stomp to the back. The ladder bends, but doesn’t fall. Nox slips off the ladder and to the floor, still not bleeding. Tyler uses the ladder to launch himself onto Nox with a clothesline. Both men are down as the referee checks on them.
Breeze is back to his feet, yanking Pavor up. Looks to send Pavor into the ring, but Nox yanks him back into a forearm. Pavor quickly has breeze up and drops the face onto the barricade. He sends Tyler into the ring and looks for the big boot with the heel. The spiked-heel just barely misses, but enough of the boot strikes to knock him down. Pavor yanks the chair out of the corner and wedges the head between the folds. Nox rebounds off the ropes with a dropkick to the chair, cutting off his windpipe. Breeze rolls on the floor in agony as he struggles to breathe. Nox has him up and whips him into the corner before connecting with a clothesline. He forces Tyler onto the top corner backwards. He looks for the Acrophobia and just as he tries to toss Breeze, the former champion counters into a Frankensteiner from the top turnbuckle. Nox lands straight on his head, his skin finally giving way to a stream of blood on his forehead.
Tyler celebrates his victory as best as he can, arm raised in the air before trying to exit the ring. Despite the bleeding, Nox was not down. He lunged at Tyler and spears him through the ropes. He tries to choke the blonde on the floor, but Breeze headbutts him off. As Pavor pulled a small blade from his pocket, slashing at the air as he ran towards Tyler with a hellish roar, Breeze quickly got the boot up for the superkick. Just as it connects, Nox stabs near the ankle before dropping to the floor. Security separates them and quickly tries to stop Tyler’s wound from bleeding as Pavor hurriedly exits through the crowd to avoid capture. Breeze is helped backstage as the show comes to an end.