Phase Fifty-Five: The Last Crusade
Corvus, Harlow and Vipress
Corvus and Vipress are discussing tonight’s plans before Harlow makes an entrance, face completely shrouded by a piece of black cloth. She removes it to reveal a rather furious expression. Vipress and Corvus take a step back, unsure of what to do or say.
“Did I ever give orders against Morgan Webster?”
Corvus opens his mouth to speak, but she immediately slaps him hard. His face reddens almost immediately, just a bit of blood forming at the corner of his lip. He remains quiet. “That’s right. You don’t get to speak in my presence. Your primary goal is that child. You are wasting your time, and mine, on that waste of space. He is NOT the target.”
Vipress remains quiet for a long time as Corvus looks down at his feet.
“We wanted to bring you a gift. The Future P—“ She’s slapped down even harder the Corvus and forced to the floor. Corvus doesn’t move an inch in fear of another strike.
“Did I give permission to speak?” Harlow drives a boot into Vipress’s back and kicks her against the wall.
“Damn, idiots. Both of you know nothing! That’s why you follow me. I should snap your necks right now because you are easily replaceable." Corvus looks up in anguish and shock as Harlow dismisses them entirely.
“Your Target is Indigo. Another mistake will cost you your lives.”
Logan Square Auditorium
Phil Jackal vs Frankie Valentine
Frankie takes down Jackal with ease given she’s much stronger than the high-flyer. He struggles in a bear hug maneuver, trying to elbow his way out. Frankie eventually releases him, but not before catching him with a overhead Belly-to-Belly suplex. Jackal uses the ropes to stand and Frankie whips him to the other side. Jackal catches her with a DDT counter, getting the one count. He connects with a standing senton, looking for another pin. The man tries to keep the stronger woman down with several kicks before going for a dropkick that sends her under the ropes.
Frankie slowly rises to her feet and Phil goes for the dropkick again. She sidesteps and jumps down before dragging Jackal to the outside on the floor. She follows up with a snap suplex into the steel steps before tossing him into the ring for a two count. She uses her power to wear him down, trying to get him to tap again with a headlock. Jackal fights out of it hip tosses her over onto the mat. Just as she rises, he lands a superkick for the three count.
Rhea Ripley vs Zara Sabre vs Candice LeRae
Candice and Zara take Rhea down together with a double suplex before Zara turns on LeRae. She tosses her into the ropes, looking for a rope hung DDT. Candice has nowhere to go and is planted for a one count. Sabre forces LeRae to her feet and whips her into the ropes and Candice rebounds for a crossbody. She pins Zara, but the woman kicks out. Ripley is back in, taking out Zara with a big boot before she can completely stand.
The ring was now suited for the battle of the blondes and Rhea took it to Candice with immense power. The woman headbutt LeRae and sends her into the ropes before popping the smaller women with a sickening chop to the chest. LeRae drops in the corner and Rhea doesn’t hesitate to connect with a dropkick. She pins Candice, but Sabre breaks the pin. She attempts to take Ripley down with a knee to the gut, but Rhea doesn’t stay down for long. Ripley elbows her back hard before Candice dropkick Ripley in the back. Rhea bumps into Zara, knocking her down.
Candice follows up with a running bulldog to Rhea. She works on Zara with multiple armdrags before sending her into the ropes. Zara counters with a roll-up, but Candice kicks out. She forearms Zara and sets her up for the Ballsplex for the winning pin. Two points are awarded to Candice. Unfortunately, she has no time to celebrate as Indi Hartwell is on stage clapping with a roll of her eyes, clearly unimpressed.
Priscilla Kelly (With Taeler Hendrix) vs Joey Ryan
Taeler remains on the outside as Priscilla takes on Joey Ryan. Despite his injury earlier this year, Joey was on fire as he took Kelly down at every turn. The woman was free of her child’s constant emo-induced, soap opera, thrill ride, yet she was still somewhat off her game. Indigo is her daughter after all. Can’t just disown her. Ryan took advantage and nearly pinned Priscilla twice. The tide changed only when Hendrix got involved, swiping at Joey from ringside, almost getting herself ejected from the match. It was enough for Kelly to take control.
She wore him down, occasionally striking at the still hurt shoulder blade. Priscilla did not go easy on him, eventually locking in the Octupus Hold that saw Joey tap out due to his previous injury. Priscilla earns her first point.
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Shooting the Breeze
Tyler Breeze makes an extravagant entrance to the ring as the fans boo him, but this time he brought along a remote that controlled the audio equipment. Cheers drowned out the real audience and Breeze made his way to the ring with a grin on his face. Once in his chair, he brought the mic to his lips before shutting the applause off. “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another Shooting with the Breeze. Your host, the most handsome, most talented, and most important star in PCW, and its next champion—me!” He turns on the applause again with a grin. “Tonight, my guest is none other than the meanest, bitchiest, ill-mannered, bratty—“
Allyson’s entrance cut him off and Tyler noticeably gulped as she made her way to the ring with a neutral expression. The fans cheered her on, but she completely ignored them as she stepped into the ring. She loomed over Tyler and motioned for him to move. “Get up.”
“But this is my customized c—“
“I didn’t make a request. Get. Up.” And he did, sitting in what should’ve been her chair. She snatches up the mic and rolls her eyes, a pinky sticking up momentarily before her icy stare locks onto Tyler.
“Allysin, you know why you’re out here. We’re all dying to know when you are going to lock up with Baron Cor—Sami Callihan.” Breeze clears his throat and smiles.
“You must think you’re really clever, Tyler. Dragging me onto your show for some viewership boost, then you’re gonna question me about Sami until he comes out here and makes a fuss. Reeeaaal smart.”
Allysin smirks, but not a hint of joy was in it. She gets her feet and approaches Tyler with slow, deliberate steps.
“Before she comes rushing out here like your everyday clown to put on a circus act, Taya needs to know that I’m done talking and I’m through with the bullshit. Until I get my street fight, I’m throwing hands on sight everytime Sami is in my presence. We will tear this entire building down, destroy PCW from the inside out until we finally settle this. And anyone caught in the crossfire..”
She leans close enough for Breeze to have to lean back away from and smiles.
“... Will just be another casualty.”
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CM Punk vs Fire Ant
The two men circle the ring before looking for the collar-and-elbow tie-up. Fire Any catches Punk guard with a series of technical manoeuvres that eventually has the Straightedge competitor trapped in a side headlock. He uses the ropes to try to push Ant off, but the smaller man hangs on. Punk lifts Fire Ant up high and drops him down for a back suplex.
He changes the tide of the match and easily takes control with multiple strikes to keep Ant dazed. He goes for the GTS early, but Fire Ant counters into a DDT for a one count. The crowd is split for both men, but they become more vocal as Ant goes up high. CM Punk sees it coming and catches him quickly with a belly-to-belly suplex from the top. He drapes the arm over for a two count. Both men battle hard for the victory, but it’s Punk with the GTS for a second time to pick up the win and another point.
Shaul Guerrero vs Scarlett Bordeaux (With Vicky Haskins)
The match was uneven from the jump with Vicky constantly interfering. Guerrero held her own against both women, but the pressure was starting to get to her and it showed in the ring. Scarlett was about to take her out with an Alabama Slam until Shaul counters with a Code Red for the pin. Bordeaux kicks out and misses a running soccer kick. Shaul swipes the leg out from under her and Scarlett’s face is planted into the mat. Vicky cringes as the woman kicks out at two.
Guerrero looks to set up the Three Amigos, but Bordeaux remains grounded and suplexes Shaul instead. Both women scramble to their feet for an intense lockup with Scarlett grabbing the hair. She tosses Guerrero into the ropes and Vicky yanks her out as Scarlett sways her hips and blows a kiss to distract the referee. Vicky and Guerrero fight on the outside and Haskins eventually grabs the belt. She looks to attack Shaul, but the woman dodged the attack before falling over on purpose, holding her face and screaming in agony.
The referee sees Vicky standing over Shaul with the belt and immediately calls the match in her favor. Haskins loses it as Shaul winks and races out of the arena with six points being awarded to her. She stands at seven, now eligible for one of two championships.
Kyle O'Reilly
Kyle O’Reilly stands in the ring with a furious expression. He paces back and forth with a deep frown and huffs.
“Taya has the audacity to leave me out of the live event last week. The FIRST event and I’m left off?! The week before she was kissing my ass with that cute poster and now I’m just tossed to the side? I don’t think so. If this about Dolph, then let’s get something straight—I attacked him because he is a dog, a mutt. He doesn’t belong in the ring with elite competition. I will never face him again. Ever. I demand respect and competition.”
“Then respect and competition you will get,” Taya says as she steps out o the ramp. “Maybe just competition,” she says with a smirk. “You have a week to prepare for Sami Callihan.”
Tessa Blanchard vs Paige
Tessa is coming fresh off a victory from the live event and is looking to continue that streak against Paige. The Brit takes the fight Blanchard, headbutting the woman early on. Tessa is backed into a corner, dazed, and Paige connects with multiple knees to the gut before charging with a knee strike. She hooks the leg for a one count.
Blanchard uses the ropes to stand and Paige charges again. Tessa pulls the ropes down and Paige flies over, but remains on the apron. She tries to fight back, but Tessa grabs the hair and yanks her down to the apron. She drags Paige inside and goes for the pin to get a one count. Blanchard throws fist after fist, but Paige fights her way back into this match with a thrust kick to the gut.
The two women go back and forth, Paige eventually hitting the Paige Turner for a close three count. She goes for the PTO finisher, but Blanchard kicks her off in time. She hooks the arm and head for the buzzsaw DDT and gains the victory.
Jenny Blake vs Jimmy Havoc
Jenny is faced with her former boss and he looked hungry for a sweet snack to bite into. Unfortunately for her, she was the only treat in sight. Jimmy linger for her throat, but Blake uses her speed to outmanoeuvre him for a drop toehold into the ropes. She gets on the apron and charges with a single leg dropkick before hooking the leg with no count. He kicks out incredibly fast and is on her again, going on instinct. Blake tries to use her technical training to keep him at bay, but eventually, he overpowers her.
Havoc takes Jenny down with a corner suplex and the woman is stuck as he delivers a running knee to the face. She is dragged to the middle of the ring for a pin but kicks out at one. Jimmy continues to take control, slamming her face into the corner before delivering a chop to Blake’s chest. Havoc whips her into the opposite corner and it collides with her chest. Jenny chokes, gasping for air as Havoc drags her to the ropes to choke her yet again. The match continues with Jenny on the defensive until Jimmy slips up with a delayed discus clothesline. Blake counters into a neckbreaker and takes the fight to him. She catches him with a huracarrana into the pin, catching him with a surprising three count.
The fans applaud her as she celebrates her victory. Taya makes her way out with a hard to read expression. She looked neither pleased nor displeased. The blonde steps into the ring and finally smiles. The two shake hands.
“I guess I underestimated you, Jenny. You’ve really grown up, huh? But it only gets harder from here on out. Your next opponent for your championship?”
Taya points to the stage and steps back as the stage is set aglow with lights as the arena goes dark. There’s an obnoxious drumroll, but nothing ever happens. Only when the lights are on does it all make sense when Valkyrie sets up the champion for Road to Valhalla.
“Tu próximo contrincante, perra... ¡Soy yo!”
Corvus and Vipress with ???
The two snuck out to what appeared to be a graveyard. Vipress had the camera, watching Corvus through it as he keeps his face covered with his mask. He carried two shovels on his shoulders, the metal clanking together as they walked. They step carefully amongst the tombs, dry leaves cracking under their boots as they eye each one before stopping. The name was easily readable and they knew they found the one. Vipress sets the camera on the grass and the pair begin to dig. It wasn’t long before Vipress hits a hard surface. The two start to dig with their hands, pulling and clawing at the dirt like animals until the coffin was revealed. Corvus remains in the hole as Vipress climbs out to keep watch. He forces the box open with the shovel and reaches inside. The wind slowly picked up, sounding almost like a whisper. He grabbed the single urn inside and climbed out with it.
“Is that what’s left of her?”
Vipress asks. He nods.
“Are we sure about this? She could kill us...” He mumbles.
“She made a mistake tonight. She made many more before... All her transgressions against us with little reward and she will pay for it,” Vipress says. “But I need you to stick with me. I can’t do this alone...”
“I know...” He nods to reassure her and they leave hand-in-hand.
Vipress scattered the salt until the symbol was made. Corvus watched her carefully as she prepared the spell, a boom clutched tightly into his hand. They could not return to Harlow’s dungeon to perform this ritual. They ventured far until an army of trees were discovered. They explored the depths of the woods until finding a clearing. There, Vipress prepared everything from what she gathered in Harlow’s lair. She dumped the ashes into the center before looking to Corvus. He handed over the book and she knew exactly what page to turn to.
“Gather the remains of the fallen one, lie them upon the symbol. Light the candles...” Corvus began placing black candles at the corners of the symbol, lighting each one with a lighter.
“Give the blood of the enemy, chant the incantation...” Vipress pulls a knife from her cloak as she places the book down. She looks to Corvus, but his mask made his face unreadable. He held out his arm and she hastily sliced open the skin. The blood drips with ease and Corvus hovers his arm over the ashes. Vipress begins the chant as Corvus steps back. The leaves rustled with a sudden intensity as the wind picked up, voices can be heard all around them, chanting. The ground shook slightly as shadows sweep through the dirt and grass. The ashes begin to fuse, materialize into something else...
Vipress finally finished and backed away, bumping into the camera they had set up. The view was skewed, showing only the ground. The sound was enough, however, as Vipress gasped. Silence followed in seconds. All seemed calm and still. A howl ripped through the air.