PCW Phase Three: Hard Country

The UIC arena was nearly packed. Very nearly every one of the over nine thousand seats were filled with eager fans. As soon as the lights started to lower, the cheers started to fill the huge arena. The ring, at the center of it all, was bathed in red and orange light steadily.

The fans were bringing in their last snacks and setting down to the edges of their seat. Some already had their signs ready as the cameras went live. The ring crew was active, making sure everything was ready and all at once, the first notes of The Phonix hit and the crowd exploded.

The lights rose, multicolors rising over the ramp. At one of the early breaks in the song, Louden Noxious ran out, all energy, in his suit, his hair high wild and spiked as usual. He stomped his foot in time with the music twice and the crowd exploded with cheers. He took that as his cue to run the rest of the way up to the ring, jumped up onto the apron and raised his arms once he'd entered through the second rope, mouthing the words to the song the entire time, egging the crowd into joining him. He raised up the mic to catch their voices too.

When the song dropped down many of the fans kept singing and he gave them a few moments, then brought the mic down to his mouth.

Goooood Evening, Chicago! Tonight Phoenix Championship Wrestling is going to be jam-packed with action, adventure and Drama!

Louden's voice broadcast loudly throughout the room.

Are you ready to get this party started? Because we have a real show for you tonight!

He looked through the crowd giving someone with a really well-done sign a huge thumbs up, then got back to business.

If you've been keeping up you'll know that tonight we have two out of four of our Semifinal matches and a couple surprises along the way too! We're going to start this off with Zack Sabre Junior versus Darby Allin, so let us hear it!

The audience complied, with a huge roar of cheers and Louden vacated the ring.

Zack Sabre Jr. vs Darby Allin

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

The lights were replaced with slow flickers of white light and a carpet of fog rolled out to greet the eerie figure of Darby Allin. Zack's behavior got slightly more erratic as the other man approached the ring at a slow pace, enjoying the looks of the fans, how the crowd didn't know what to make of him, how his presence seemed to affect Sabre at a very personal level. 

Allin wasn't even quite inside the ring when the other man slid towards him, greeting him with a strong penalty kick. The referee tried to stop them, get them inside the ring, but Zack jumped off between the ropes to catch Darby just as he was getting up. The people were on their feet as the technician pushed Allin towards the barricade and chopped him repeatedly. 

The demonic figure laughed, even as he was shoved unceremoniously against the ring post, and managed to duck when Zack was going to chop him again, wobbling away from the other man to get inside the ring, waiting close to a corner, grinning maniacally. Sabre joined him inside the ring after a moment, stretching his fingers to regain sensation in his hand. The bell finally rung, at the same time as Allin launched himself at Zack with a furious dropkick, giving him no time to recover before using his own technical ability to try and take out the British grappler. The action spilled out of the ring once more, and neither competitor made it inside the ring at the ten count, the match was called off and had to be deemed a No Contest, both wrestlers separated by force only after several other referees stepped in to pull them apart.

The crowd was absolutely wild, several of them standing up in front of their seats or sitting on the edge of them. There were loud chants and a few fans had some choice words they hurled at the competitors. It was clear from the reactions that almost everyone in the arena was fully invested in the encounter.

After the two brawling wrestlers were forced backstage. Louden poked his head back out, barely visible for a moment before he stepped out deeming the ramp safe after a moment and made it back up to the ring.

Well... that looks like something we haven't seen the end of, huh folks?

He shrugged and moved on.

So, how do you all feel about a four-way match?

It was obvious from the cheering that the majority was very into whatever match he was about to announce.

Then without further ado... get ready for four PCW newcomers Velvet Sky, Rosemary, Zahara and Gemini in a four-way match!

Women's Fatal-4-Way Elimination

The four women made their entrances individually, one as cheered as the other, except for the newcomer Gemini, who received a more-than-cold and very sparse ovation, she didn't seem happy about it, but she carried on with her cheery attitude after a moment of pouting.

The bell rang. Velvet Sky, Rosemary and Zahra went directly at each other as the small Japanese woman curled up in a corner, "scared" of the action taking place right there before her. The pace of the match was set, hard hitting, fast and with feats of athleticism galore. The three ring veterans easily one-upped each other while the smaller rookie was nowhere to be found.

Rosemary attempted a pin combination on Schreiber, who kicked out at two and remained on the canvas for a few seconds while the Demon Mother and Velvet Sky tried to tire one another to get the victory. Just as Zahra was about to stand up, Gemini rolled inside the ring, entering on her knees with a deadly forearm straight to the face of the recovering Zahra, who had probably forgotten all about their small opponent. Taking advantage of the surprise factor, Gemini managed to pin the goth and proceeded to roll out of the ring once again.

Velvet Sky and Rosemary turned their heads just as the elimination of Schreiber had been announced, confused at the strange result. But they had more pressing matters at hand. They'd done just as much damage to one another that either of them could take the victory in just one more move. And just as Sky was setting Rosemary up for the "in yo' face," Gemini climbed inside the ring once more, right behind the painted woman, seeing her bent forward as preparation for the blonde's move. Gemini took the chance, rolling Rosemary into a small package and getting a surprising second elimination.

Velvet was stunned. From right under her nose, a formidable opponent had been taken out by one she had completely disregarded. They stood face to face, strength and experience meeting the opportunistic skills of a rookie. The blonde threw a forearm at Gemini and it was swiftly met with... A cry for medics. The small competitor raised her hands with an audible wail, holding her face and leaning against the ropes to get away from the "violent maniac" as she was heard yelling at the referee. The doctors rushed into the ring and brought in a first aid kit to take a look at the alleged injury, while Velvet Sky was held back by the referee. 

A few seconds went by, and the referee turned around just in time to see Gemini grab the first aid box and take a swing at Velvet Sky, who avoided it without any effort, but the damage had been done and the black-haired woman was disqualified in what was possibly the strangest outcome to a match. Velvet's hand was raised, and all the while, Gemini laid on the floor, throwing a full-on tantrum, crying, kicking and screaming "it's not fair!" before being accompanied out of the ring by a referee, still sobbing and with trembling shoulders.

The large titantron and the screens over the ring lit up to allow the audience to watch the backstage area, where Robbie Sallis was sitting down, watching the match that had just happened, amused at the scene. Warren came in, pushing the silent striker with one hand to get his attention.

So you want a match, do you? So I'm brainless, am I? 

He pushed him after every question, each time harder than the last.

You want to do this, KID? Then we're doing this, KID. I'm going to hit you so hard I'm going to get a scream out of you. You, me, inside that ring, together, against one another, fighting, in a match, one against the other, figh-... I already said that... IT'S YOU AND ME, KID. You and me. Me and you... Both... Going at it. In a... Ring... Be ready. 

The blonde pointed menacingly at the taller man, talking the whole time until he went out of view.

Robbie watched him with a very confused face, looking left and right to see if anyone else had seen the strange scene, shrugged it off and turned his attention back to the camera.

The crowd was divided through the four-way match, seeming not even seeming to be able to agree on who to support until it was down to the final two competitors. There was a loud general boo for the smaller wrestler as her tantrum went on including a loud collective change of "You Deserve It!"

During the segment, Louden watched from his seat, just giving occasional looks at the audience that seemed to say "Can you believe this guy?" He pulled himself back into the ring.

Let's keep this energy high, Phoenix Fans. We're just halfway through. So let's hear it for the first of our two semifinal matches: Mr. Athletic Jeff Cobb versus The Modern Maharaja, Jinder Mahal!

He leaned over the ropes, holding out the mic in the direction of the front row to magnify their cheers before he slid back out to perch on the edge of the commentator's table, seeming to be listening in to their discussion, nodding along.

World Championship Tournament: Semi-Finals. (Match One)

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

The lights in the arena went completely out, and a design of elegant patterns filled the ramp floor as the tall figure of Jinder Mahal made his way to the ring with confidence and poise. His mere presence demanded respect, and the audience obliged, the Maharaja was taller than the Olympian, but the size differential didn't make one seem any less powerful than the other.

Cobb's strength was a factor from the start, moving the bigger man as if he were weightless, finding resistance only after The New American Dream had become accustomed to the type of attack he was going to be in the receiving end to.

The match continued, strong and at a medium speed pace, both opponents relying on their technical abilities to overcome the other. The pace changed with a comeback from Cobb, who took Mahal by surprise by going to the turnbuckle and flinging himself at him like a cruiserweight would, from there on, it was Jeff's match, the other man had little time to recover from the sudden speed things had taken and was dragged for a Tour of the Islands from which he kicked out a second too late. 

The victory was graciously taken, and the man in the singlet tried to shake the Maharaja's hand, but he didn't take it, leaving the ring while shaking his head, disappointed in the outcome.

It seemed like the crowd's reactions weren't quieting one little bit. The support for both Jeff and Jinder was overwhelming so the reaction was strong with the outcome. Once both wrestlers were out of the ring, Louden entered again.

This is it, Chicago, the following contest is our main event of the evening and is a semifinal contest for the PCW Women's Championship. This is Shaul Guerrero versus Taeler Hendrix!

Women's Championship Tournament: Semi-Finals. (Match One)

Shaul Guerrero's confidence exuded through her every step as she walked with down the ramp, her hips moving with her, her charisma and flair coming into the ring with her. She waited for her opponent while stretching and walking around to get a good feel for the ring where she was willing to leave victorious.

Taeler's moves and seductive pace left the crowd speechless, hypnotised almost by the way she seemed to control her body, even as she slid up on the apron and threw her head back, letting her red locks touch the canvas before standing up and getting inside to face her opponent.

Shaul's intention was to avoid Hendrix's deadly kiss, and the fact that she was keeping distance for most of the match showed so, dropkicks, frog splashes, and a lot less of the lockups and holds were being used to try and keep the Plant Queen at bay. The gruelling encounter went on for almost half an hour, and both competitors were exhausted by the time they were reaching the end. 

Guerrero got her finisher in, ready and set to go, but Taeler wiggled her way out and kicked her to stun her long enough to prepare for The Kiss of Death. Their lips met like a presage of the doom to come. She grabbed her by the waist, flipped her and piledrove her into the canvas, hooking her leg to secure a pin. She sat there for a few minutes after the bell had rung, her victory was announced through the speakers and the referee raised Hendrix's hand, after which, she made her way to a standing position and observed her opponent.

Shaul had put on a brave fight, and while Taeler wasn't one for compliments, she did blow a kiss at her before leaving the ring, walking up the ramp and smirking. Just one more step away from obtaining the gold.

Well, there you have it, Flockers!

Everyone in the audience was still screaming and cheering for the two women who had just exited.

Let's hear it one more time!

He held up the mic to loud cheers of "PCW!" filling the arena.

Thank you, thank you! Just a reminder everybody, next week we'll have the last of our PCW Championship semi-final matches, Mandy Leon vs. Rhea Ripley and Aleister Black vs. Minoru Suzuki, and more surprises! I'll see you all again on January 17th for "Phase Four: Native Ground". This is Louden Noxious signing off.

Goooodnight Chicago!

The lights went dark on Louden's raised mic to the final applause of the patrons.