Phase Forty-Four: Night Of The Living Dead
The closing of TWA left us with many... Big personalities to join our ranks. New blood, fresh meat. And as such, we all shall step up our game, be ready for what's to come, because if you thought that the end of the month was going to be the end of it and you'd have time to heal your wounds, let me tell you, you were wrong.
Taya is here. And she'll be handling the... Human resource part of this. If you want to stay alive, you know, remain unscathed, all that boring stuff, you might want to speak to her, though I don't promise much, she's not the soft type, really. And I'd like you to understand that the fact that she's helping, doesn't mean she's here to help YOU. She's here to help me make your time here... Interesting.
Having said that, welcome once more to Phoenix Championship Wrestling, the house of nightmares, demons, witches and the most outstanding and resilient athletes you'll ever meet.
UIC Pavilion
Sami Callihan vs Scott Yim (No DQ)
Havoc waited in the ring and whispered something at Sami when he reached him, and left the ring quickly after, giving the referee some inaudible instructions as well.
The match started as violent as it was expected, and Yim's second match in PCW was far harder than he'd expected it to be, and he barely had time to defend himself from Sami's expertise at handling chairs, kendo sticks, stapling guns and baseball bats.
Just as it all seemed lost, and Scott hadn't gotten a single hit in, Sami's bat directed to his recently repaired knee, someone ran down the ramp, a chair of his own in hand, swatting the bat away and helping a bloodied Scott up.
Jason Copeland had stepped into the fray, ready to rid the ring of Callihan if need be, but Sami just smiled back at them, turned to look at Jimmy and took the nod as a permission to go ahead and take both of them out.
Which he did, in grand form, but despite the beating they took, the way they worked together, the chemistry they had in the ring was enough to throw Sami off for a good while, but he still managed to take down the well-oiled machine down by pinning Yim, winning a second point, which got turned into a second And third when Havoc instructed the referee to hand him a second one.
Jack Sexsmith vs Eddie Kingston
Eddie Kingston entered the ring, riling up the crowd. He looked sure of himself, like this wasn't going to be a challenge at all. Once he was in the ring, looking prepared, The Divinyls came over the sound system.
For the first time in months, Jack Sexsmith appeared with a playful looking smile on his face. He unzipped his rainbow hoodie and pulled it open with the music, posing for everyone. He ran down the ramp, leaning over the barricade to kiss a fan here or there that was holding out a rainbow flag for him. Once in the ring he stripped out of his shirt and tossed it, then rubbed his crotch over second rope making a face and hopped into the ring, his ugg boots hitting the mat.
Kingston definitely had the size advantage over Sexsmith but neither looked willing to back down. The match was, in a word, Brutal. Jack managed to get in a move here and there but Eddie was using one power move after the next, hammering away at the Pansexual Phenomenon.
The War King slammed the other wrestler into the canvas with an Uranage Suplex. The British Wrestler already had so much taken out of him it didn't look like he would fight back but just before the two count passed, from his unfocused eyes, Jack saw Jimmy stand from his seat, looking more than threatening. He walked close to the ring, leaning in on the apron to talk to Jack, everything inaudible to everyone else.
In a sudden show of resilience, his shoulders came up off the mat. Eddie's fists pounded into it. The audience was behind Sexsmith, rooting him on to get back up, to rally.
Jack knew what he had to do and dodged The Last Of A Dying Breed coming right at him and hit a Pearl Neckbreaker on him. Eddie fought back but Jack was nimble enough to evade him once more, make it to the top rope and lept off of it, both feet coming down on the shoulders of Eddie Kingston, taking him down with the BDSM. He covered him for the One, Two, Three and rolled right off him. Jimmy nodded at him as he stood and he reached down to help Eddie back up and after a long hesitation, Eddie slapped it away and stormed out of the ring.
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Indigo's Preparation
The show had yet to begin, but the demonic woman was already anxious. She paced back and forth through the dark hall of PCW, awaiting the challenge she knew the Huntress would provide.
Her fist clenches and unclenches periodically as her eyes were locked on her moving feet, quietly whispering to herself an inaudible mantra. For a short while, she was alone and focused, but her train of thought was suddenly overtaken.
Shadows moved behind her in the hall and she was no longer isolated. A smile stretches from ear to ear as the figure approached her with slow, purposeful steps. Each one echoed throughout the hall, but Indigo remained stone-faced.
“If this is your attempt at intimidation,” she says as she starts to turn. “You’ll have to do b—“
No one was there. Alone again.
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Hania vs Indigo Kelly
After watching the beating her boyfriend took, Indigo's mind wasn't in the game, but she also wasn't going to hold back against Hania, who had to resort to the ropes more than once to call the referee's attention and have the demonic child pulled away from her.
As hard as everything was, Hania had her eyes on the prize, and Indigo didn't, too focused on the man who'd sent Callihan after her significant other, and too focused on how to get back at them to realise Hania was ready for the Hania-lation, which hit Indigo hard and fast, knocking her out in the process and giving the Huntress her third point victory.
Fire Ant vs Pavor Nox
Pavor entered first this time. Protege Moi played but this time he didn't have the full-on dramatics he usually did. The lights flickered directly above the Curator of Fear as he walked with his doll keeping up beside him, his joints moving at strange angles. jumped up onto the apron and spread his arms out to either side of him and bent back stretching. The lights went out totally for a second and when they blinked back to life he was standing on the opposite turnbuckle. He shucked off his feathered coat, tossing it to someone on ring crew.
Fire Ant entered, the lights flaring with red and yellow when he did. He was full of the energy granted to him only by his fury for the man in the ring. The faced off directly. Just before the bell rang Pavor said something to him quietly that caused the Ant to instantly hit him with an enzuigiri. Pavor went down but got back up laughing a moment later.
The two of them went back and forth in a bitter, acrobatic and violent match. There was impact after impact and Fire was getting the advantage. He had the audience behind him, chanting and clapping with enthusiasm. He flew with a stunning high cross body. At the last second Pavor rolled out of the impact zone the slid on top of him, yanking the more seasoned wrestler into a muta lock, hid body bridged with the Ant facing the titantron.
Static lit the screen then it came to life, pictures flashing over it, every Ant that had fallen, unable to be saved by The Hot Property. Every few images, Charlie Morgan either smiling and laughing or on the ground defeated splashed.
Fire screamed, refusing to give in. He fought bitterly to keep himself from tapping but after far too long of the move being applied, he slammed his hand into the mat repeatedly, admitting defeat. Pavor laughed loud and empty. He pulled himself to his feet and instead of just leaving the ring, picked the Ant up high and slammed him down with Acrophobia before sliding casually out of the ring.
Griffin was halfway back to the ring, trying to give them space but Pavor dashed at him and the announcer tossed the mic upward. The fear monger caught it wit ease, not minding the feedback on it.
"All of you... every One of you has something to fear. Spiders, snakes, a lonely death or..." He indicated Fire Ant. "Losing and letting down those around you. And if you THINK you don't have something to fear, I will make you fear ME."
He gave a toothy white grin, the black makeup smeared down his face. "You can face your fears, but I won't let you beat them." He shoved the mic into Griffin's chest and as he pointed to him and Jimmy at the time keeper's table. "That goes for the two of you too."
He gave what looked like a wink, the retreived his doll from near the barricade, leading him back out, not revealing in his win.
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Carson Butler Plays Hide & Seek
[The pre-recorded tape begins to play on the big screen above the audience. Fans crane their necks and turn their heads in order to see a mysterious figure appear between the static of the recording. Bits and pieces of a suit can be seen, his hands clasped together in front of him, while his smile was cut into segments as the recording continues. As he speaks, his voice seems to jump around, increasing in volume and changing in tone]
Ladies, gentlemen, and degenerates. my name is Carson Butler. The landscape of Phoenix Championship Wrestling has gone through an undeniable shift. As operations continue, the PCW you once knew is slowly becoming a figment of the past.
Right now...we are experiencing the dawn of a new age in this company and my presence will be a symbol of that change. My purpose, my goal, is to claim the soul of one lucky man, woman, or...something else, and propel them to unimaginable heights.
Someone with talent, determination, and most importantly: Lack of empathy and mercy across the board. My guidance and their abilities will be the catalyst that completes PCW’s transformation.
So, I hope you all are listening, because the search has begun.
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Flash Morgan Webster vs Joey Ryan (All-Weight Championship Rematch)
Former All-Weight Champion, Joey Ryan, makes his way to the scene with a lollipop between his lips. The sleazy athlete makes his way to the ring, giving his lollipop away to a lucky fan before entering the ring. He grabs baby oil from his trunks and begins applying the substance to his hairy torso as his opponent made an appearance.
Flash Morgan came out with the title over his shoulder. He made his way down to the ring with confidence as Joey stood in the opposite corner. Morgan climbs the steps and enters the ring with a grin before removing his shades.
The bell rings and the two lock up. Flash gets behind Ryan immediately attempts a stretch the body in a submission, but Ryan escapes midway and takes him down with a neck-breaker. The fans are on Joey’s side as he takes control of the match, taking Morgan down again and again before he finally pulled out a second sucker from his trunks.
He attempts to shove the treat down Morgan’s throat as he lies on the mat. Flash counters and catches him into an armbar. Joey reaches the ropes, but the lollipop proved to be a fatal distraction as Morgan takes him down with a reverse huracarrana. He crawls over into a pin, but Joey kicks out two. Ryan wanted the title back and was willing to go the distance. Flash made him pay for it. Morgan headbutts Ryan down to the mat before going up high for the 450 Splash into a three-count pin.
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Jenny Blake's Revelation
[Jenny tucks a golden lock of hair behind her ear as she is slightly turned away from the camera. Despite her hard-fought victory in arguably the most violent match in PCW history, she seemed hesitant. Her demeanour was timid, as if unsure of what to say, but finally, those doe eyes settled onto the scream]
My journey in Phoenix Championship Wrestling has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. Ups and downs around every corner. Just when I seem to be close to the ultimate prize, the coaster drops down and I’m back at the bottom, only for me to rise once again. Eventually, though, something has to give. I can’t keep going on this path of success and failures. I have to...
[The woman trails off and hangs her head as if in shame. Her victory seems almost unimportant to her. She breathes in deeply, raising her head as she exhales. Her eyes were more focused and hard. She was determined to see herself through to her greatest victory yet]
I have been fighting since day one to reach the top of the mountain. I do :everything: right and still I fall. No, I’m not turning to the dark side. I’m not giving up...but my match against Jinny proved that something.
I’m not weak nor soft. I won’t stray from an honourable path, but I will go the distance, do whatever it takes to be victorious, to gather all the points necessary to challenge Allysin Kay for the PCW Championship.
She’s big, she’s scary, and she’s good. I’m good, too.
All my training in the art of Lucha Libre has brought me this far, but I can go further. I’m no longer holding back.
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Taeler Hendrix vs Shaul Guerrero (Women's Championship Match)
Shaul came rushing out to a swarm of applause from the crowd. The third-generation competitor put a hand to her chest before kissing it and raising it high in the air, asking her father to watch over this match. She makes her way down the ramp and slides under the ropes into the ring. The fans cheer loud for her once more before the arena begins to darken.
The fans fall silent as every crack of light was cloaked in thick vines. A familiar scent began to fill the area and everyone knew that Taeler Hendrix was coming. She slowly makes her way out, long cloak trailing behind her, and blows a kiss to the fans. The women’s championship gleams around her waist as she sways down to the ring and climbs the steps. Taeler slowly enters the ring, winking at Guerrero before dropping down to the mat and raising the title up high. “Hail Hendrix!”
Guerrero seemed slightly unsettled, but she had been down this path with Taeler before. She knew she had to stay one step ahead of her. The pheromones were starting to get to her by the time the bell rang. The two women locked up, Hendrix easily slammed her down with a hair pull. Shaul shook her head, dazed by the attack and the scent.
Taeler was extremely confident the whole way through, toying with the girl as she tried hard to fight off the toxins in the air. Just as Hendrix was starting to get bored, she attempted to set her up for a piledriver, but instinct kicked in and Shaul elbowed her way out halfway through the process and rolled Taeler up. Hendrix kicked out and tossed the woman into the corner. Shaul crashes with the ring post and topples out of the ring before Taeler starts to beat her down on the outside until the ten-count was made.
Hendrix smiled and kissed Shaul upon her forehead as the vines pulled away from the light finally. “Hail Hendrix or drop dead.” The redhead began to laugh and looked to continue making an example of Shaul, but suddenly Candice LeRae came sprinting down the ramp to a round of cheers and applause. Taeler met her head on, but LeRae proved to be a force to reckon with and forced the redhead to retreat.