Phase Fifty-Six: How Deep Is Your Love
UIC Pavilion
CM Punk vs Rhea Ripley
Punk was caught off guard by the sheer power of Ripley as she practically tore through him. He’s shoved to the mat and rolls out onto the apron. Rhea stays on him, pulling him over the ropes into the ring before driving a hard kick into the back for a one count. She refuses to let up and continues to wear down on him by stomping him into the mat. Ripley forces Punk to his feet and tosses him into the corner, going for a clothesline, but he ducks out of the way to deliver a roundhouse.
Rhea is dazed and CM Punk charges with a running knee before following up with a bulldog out of the corner. He tries to lock in the Anaconda Vice, but Rhea rolls him over for a pin. He kicks out and she connects with a hard forearm before going for the Riptide. Punk gets behind her at the last moment and goes for a sleeper hold. Rhea backs up into the corner until he releases her. Punk remains on the turnbuckle and drives a hard kick into the of the head. Ripley shivers forward and he takes her down with a crossbody into the pin. Rhea kicks out, but Punk sets her up quickly for the GTS and finally gets the victory and another point.
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From the Ashes
The camera fades in on a familiar clearing in the woods. The salt circle and burnt out black candles still remain where they were left the week before. In the midst of the circle sat a lone figure Indian-style and hunched over. A low growling sound emitting from it.
We see the figure looking at their hands then straight ahead where a tree stump stood burning. Looking all around as if lost but instantly recognizing their surroundings while trying to process exactly what is going on with them.
Long flowing yet unruly raven locks being pulled almost if they’re being driven insane. The growling growing louder with each passing second. Another look at their hands show longer nails but sharper nearly claw-like in nature. Then suddenly a forlorn howl rips through the night as the figure turned.
Eyes flashing white, then black then red...
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Flash Morgan Webster vs Austin Aries
Aries takes control early on, shoving Morgan into the corner with a back elbow. He climbs the second turnbuckle and throws strike after strike until ten punches had been delivered. He leaps down and goes for a running clothesline. Webster drops to the mat and Austin goes for the pin, getting a one count. The champion isn’t easy pickings, however, dodging another clothesline and countering into a backstabber. Aries kicks out of the pinning attempt and Webster goes up high. Austin quickly knocks the leg out from under him and hooks the arm for a top-rope suplex, rolling into a brainbuster. Instead of going for a full pin, he arrogantly covers Flash with one arm and the man barely kicks out before three.
Aries forced him to his feet, whipping him into the ropes, but Morgan counters with a tilt-a-whirl arm drag. He drives a knee into the gut as Austin backs into the ropes before whipping him into the opposing side. He leapfrogs over Austin before dropping down as Austin rebounds. He then races to the ropes after Austin, allowing the man to run ahead of him and catch Austin off guard with a jumping knee. Aries is down and Morgan goes up high for the 450, but Corvus and Vipress emerge from the crowd. Vipress shoves Flash from the top as Corvus drags the referee from the ring.
Corvus forced the referee over the barricade into the crowd before helping Vipress beat down on Flash. Aries rolls out of the ring to avoid any collisions with the crazed attackers. Vipress forces Flash to his knees and Corvus kneels down with a wicked smile on his face. “We have decided that you will put your gold on the line, Morgan. Vipress will happily give me her sole point..making it possible for me to beat you. Next week... The Modfather will take his last breath and lose the only thing precious to him.” Corvus grabs Flash by the face, squeezing with such a deathly grip that Morgan started to wail in pain. Ospreay races out from the back with a steel chair, chasing them off before damage was severely done. Corvus points to the championship and smiles as Vipress pulls him away into the shadows, melting into the crowd without a trace left to follow.
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Kyle O'Reilly Interview
Kyle shoves through backstage crew as he makes his way to the back. Hayley isn’t scheduled to speak with anyone else, but O’Reilly forces his way to her and snatches her mic from her. “Get the hell outta here...NOW!” Hayley scrambles from view and O’Reilly smirks. “Time and time again, I’m the show stealer, the best man of the match, but I can never solidify the win. How many times do I have to put on a show and be the star while still being at the bottom? I’m done. From this point forward, Kyle O’Reilly is—“
“Sweetie, it's unbecoming to throw such tantrums,” Taeler says as she approaches Kyle with Jay next to her. She smiles as she looks him up and down. “Delicious...he’s perfect, beloved.”
“Taeler believes you have what it takes to make a change in PCW,” Lethal says. “I don’t quite see it myself, but I’m willing to give people chances and saving grace. You help me, Kyle, and I can end this losing streak of yours.” Hendrix gives O’Reilly a wink.
“Think about it, darling. We are offering you a place in our...faction if you will. We look out for you and you will look out for us.”
She holds her hand out to him. “What do you say?” Kyle starts to laugh before shaking his head.
“Forget it.”
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Will Ospreay vs Kyle O'Reilly vs Corvus vs Phil Jackal
All three men are within the ring, ready to go, but out comes Phil Jackal with a mic in hand. “Taya can try to remove me, but you can’t substitute greatness. Whether she authorizes it or not, this match is officially a four-way now.”
He races into the ring and immediately takes down Ospreay. The ring explodes into a brawl with all four men throwing hands. Corvus drops O’Reilly with a DDT before shoving him out of the ring. His focus settles on Ospreay, who has sent Phil out of the ring. The two remaining men collide and lock up. Corvus headbutts Ospreay before connecting with fisherman buster suplex. Will kicks out of the bridged pin and rolls into the ropes.
Corvus chokes him on the ropes before delivering a chop to the chest. Kyle is back in it and drags Will from the outside. He tosses Ospreay into the barricade before trying to take on Corvus. O’Reilly switches from hold to hold, catching Corvus off guard and nearly getting the submission with the leglock before Jackal connects with a running knee to break it up. Jackal forces Corvus to his feet and tosses him into the corner before driving multiple kicks into the chest. He tries to follow up with a running clothesline, but Corvus explodes out of the corner with a spear.
Jackal drops to the mat and Corvus looks for the pin, but Ospreay connects with a frog splash to both men from the ropes. Corvus rolls out of the ring and Ospreay sets Jackal up for the Stormbreaker for the pinning victory. Jackal is distraught, pissed even, and lets Will know by attacking the man from behind. He sends Ospreay to the outside and demands a mic. “Win or lose, I’m the best high-flyer PCW has on the roster. Taya can do what she likes to stop me, but 2019 is going to be my year. I guarantee that.”
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Tessa Blanchard & Indi Hartwell vs Zack Sabre Jr. & Jimmy Havoc
The well-established team of Tessa and Indi came entered the ring with the confidence of a tag team that knew exactly what to expect from each other. As soon as the powerhouse team of Zack Sabre Jr and Jimmy Havoc entered the women were on them relentlessly.
Tessa was gunning hard for Jimmy Havoc hitting him with a Slingshot Bulldog as soon as the bell rung. She went hard and fast for the King of Goths. Just barely he was able to get to his corner and tag Zack into the ring. When the Submission Master slid into the ring to action he was on full offence. Tessa held her own for a while but had to rush for the corner, getting a solid tag for Indi to enter. Indi and Zack squared off with each other. The two of them put on a stellar performance and he nearly got her to tap but when she got to the corner and Tessa tagged back in, Jimmy motioned for Zack to tag him in and he complied.
The two fought bitterly, brutal with their moves. By the end of it, both of them were exhausted and Jimmy was bleeding. He held her down with a boot on her neck and was about to take the pin but glanced at his corner with a wicked smiled and left her there at the center, taking his time walking over to tag in his partner. Zack entered, hesitating for only a moment before tangling her into an impossible hold of his creation. She did everything she could to twist and turn out of it but she finally gave in and was forced to tap out. On the outside, Indi looked crestfallen and Jimmy looked pleased.
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Shaul Guerrero Interview
“Ladies and gentlemen, my guest at this time: Shaul Guerrero!” Hayley gives off a nice smile as Guerrero makes her way onto the screen, but she was far from happy. “Last week, Scarlett and Vicky made it clear—“
“The only thing they made clear is that on their own, they can’t compete with me. Bordeaux thinks it’s all about looks in PCW, but she got a wake-up call when she faced me. I’ve beaten them both and I know I can beat Scarlett again...anytime, anywhere.”
“Hold your horses there, kid,” Tyler says as he steps into view. “With my title opportunity still hanging in the air, you might not even face Scarlett. Just a thought. Don’t get too comfortable, uggo.”
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Frankie Valentine & Natalya vs Pavor Nox & Spike Trivet
Frankie and Natalya entered the ring first, the two of them moving together in sync with each other for the most part. They were working the crowd right from the start and didn't look surprised when the lights went out. The clicking and clacking of porcelain were heard, two glimmering silver eyes seen in front in the barely flickering light. When visibility returned, Pavor was standing on a turnbuckle with his arms outstretched, feathered cloak billowing and Spike was lounging in an elegant chair being carried by the six well-crafted dolls.
They let it down a little more harshly than needed then moved away carelessly to surround the ring, unmoving. While the match started well with Frankie and Pavor. His normal inhuman strength seemed to be missing and she took him off his game. Only minutes in Frankie nearly had a pin but Spike interrupted and shoved her off his teammate but berated him for nearly losing to them so soon. The ref tried to intervene but Natalya and Frankie took the opportunity with a stunning tag move, they took out the still legal man, Pavor who was taken by surprise a second time as he was still arguing with his own partner. Natalya and Frankie celebrated to the cheers of the audience and the dolls pulled apart Spike and Pavor who were nearly coming to blows with one another.
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Jenny Blake & Taya Valkyrie Contract Signing
Jenny is alone at the table with the contract in the middle. She sits comfortably in the chair provided as she impatiently waits for Taya. The general manager eventually makes her way out to the ring with a smile on her face. The signature headband tied around her hair, jeans, Perros tee—almost as if she were back in Mexico again. Just like old times. Valkyrie took her time, but once she was seated, she put her fur boots on the table with a smirk.
“So glad you could join me, Jennifer. How’s the seat? Hope it’s comfortable enough because after the ass-kicking I gave you, you could use some cushion.”
“You will never change, will you?” Jenny asks before shaking her head. “It’s always about what you want instead of honouring Lucha Libre.”
“I honour Lucha Libre every day by reminding the world that I’m one of the best to ever do it. I honour it every day by reminding the world that the best took me under his wing. This isn’t about respecting the art, but about respecting you as a luchadora, and honestly? I don’t.”
“I’ve worked just as hard as you to earn my spot in this business. You hate me because I stopped being like you. I realized I don’t have to be like Los Perros to respect the art form that I was made from. I do what I do for the people who love wrestling just as much as I do and you should, too.”
“I do what I do for me. It’s my passion and my work that got me here. Not these idiotas in the crowd. You wanna fight for them? Be my guest, but that’s not going to make you any better of a luchadora, especially in comparison to me.”
“We’ll see about that...” Blake signed the contract and Valkyrie did the same. “I’ll see you next week,” she says before attempting to leave the ring.
“Didn’t anyone ever tell you to read the fine print?” Blake stops and turns her head slowly. “If you lose against me, Jenny...you’re gone and you don’t get to come back. Ever.”
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Sami Callihan vs Allysin Kay (Street Fight)
The bell rang, but neither moved towards each other. Instead, they both dove out of the ring to search for a weapon. Sami retrieved a sledgehammer while Allysin found a metal bat. It wasn’t long before both slid into the ring, stalking one another until Allysin made the first swing. It narrowly misses the head and Callihan strikes her hip with the hammer. It’s possibly something cracked because she fell over instantly, pain shooting down her leg. Allysin could barely dodge another swing at her leg before slowly standing. She limped, but that didn’t stop her from dodging yet another swing and taking Sami down. The pain was evident in her body language, but fist after fist was thrown without hesitation. Callihan manages to escape, grabbing her by the hair before slinging her across the ring. She doesn’t move and he looks to force her to her feet, creating an opportunity to shove him back and connect with a bicycle kick.
They go back and forth now, showing off their skill with Callihan eventually catching her with a side suplex. He tries to finish her off, setting up a powerbomb. Kay uses her strength to lift him up and over into the corner upside down. The woman grabs him by the bristled locks of his head and drags him to the outside. The woman then searches, particularly near the commentary table. Griffin moves out of the way, not sure what she’s up to. Kay retrieves a machete from under the table and approaches Callihan again. She sticks the pointed end into his face gently, purposely scathing him with a minor scratch before moving over to his arm. Only then did she push the blade past the skin. Sami squirms under the weapon, blood slowly weeping from his arm. She raises the machete up high, striking down in an attempt to literally kill him, but he kicks her back just in time. They both get to their feet and Sami charges for a spear and sends her through the barricade. The same manoeuvre ended her the last time, but even as Callihan dragged her back into the ring for the pin, there was still a sign of life in her. She kicks out of his pin attempt.
Sami stomps down on the injured hip again and again. Tears welled up in her eyes as he locks in the Stretch Muffler. Kay can’t crawl to the ropes, trapped in the middle of the ring. She doesn’t tap, but instead, she reaches behind as best as she can, putting a thumb in his eye, almost attempting to gouge it out. He’s forced to let her go, but he’s back on her immediately. Callihan tries to force her into the corner, but she elbows him back. Without thinking, she sets him up for his very own Cradle Killer and lands it for the three count victory. She needed the ropes to stand, but she raised her pinky up high as Callihan remains stunned on the mat. Allysin approaches him and waits for what seemed like forever before extending her pinky to him. He reluctantly hooks his pinky to hers before flipping her off. She returns the favour and leaves him lying there in the middle of the ring.