Phase Forty: The Tale of the Last Dance
UIC Pavilion
Jinny vs Matanza Cueto (No DQ)
Jinny didn't shy away from the considerably larger opponent, giving as good as she got, flying a few times almost off the rings and barely holding on to the ropes to avoid falling onto the apron, the match getting more and more violent as the minutes went by.
Just as he'd set up Jinny for a powerbomb, and had her over his shoulders, a hooded man ran into the ring, flinging himself from the third rope and pushing Cueto down with a dropkick, bringing Jinny down and helping her pin the monster down.
The referee counted, and the queen turned to look at the mysterious man, who grinned back at her, removing the hood he was wearing to reveal his mask, Pentagon Jr. had been the one to bring the monster down, and he wasn't done yet.
Once Jinny was standing again, he continued his attack on Matanza, it was hard enough that a team of referees and some of the staff members had to get inside the ring to separate them while Jinny smiled and laughed, clutching her two points in her hand and slowly retreating, leaving the chaos behind.
Jenny Blake vs Baron Corbin
The resident red riding hood's chase for her three points had led her to meet face to face with the big bad wolf, and though the odds weren't in her favour, she wasn't about to step away from a challenge. She flew across the air, she pushed through and escaped the most dangerous of holds over and over again, Corbin didn't know what to make of the little Dynamite blonde, but he waited. He waited patiently for her to come back closer to his grasp, and before she knew what was coming her way, a big boot to the face sent her reeling towards the corner, leaving her breathless and dizzy.
He stalked step by step closer to her, and she managed to get up on the third rope to land him with a flying clothesline, but he caught her and spun her around, placing her on his shoulders to pin her to the ground with a Samoan drop, just placing a hand over her and wiping his hands clean after the three count.
Just as he was getting away from the ring with his point in hand, the relentless Jenny tackled him to the floor, not willing to let this chance escape her again, still careful with her technique, and careful not to break the rules, but willing to go the distance to get back on track.
Charlie Morgan vs Orange Cassidy
After facing Fire Ant that first time around, Charlie was ready for anything the arthropod had in store for her. She expected nothing short of an impressive match, and she sat on the corner stretching and jumping to get ready.
Then Orange Cassidy came out. Slowly.
Charlie jumped down from the ring after a few minutes, pushing Orange towards the ring with her back, rushing him a bit more to get the match started. The problem was getting him off her back when they made it to the ropes.
With a swift but skilful turn, Charlie managed to piggyback the napping Cassidy into the ring under the bottom rope, taking a deep breath before motioning for the referee to start the match.
Orange woke up after Charlie stomped near him a couple of times, trying to get his legs and failing each time he rolled over to one side or the other.
The match went pretty much that way the entire time, with Orange's lackadaisical behaviour nearly driving Charlie up a wall, until she started to let loose and let go, moving along with her opponent, catching his cadence and slow rhythm until she was able to pin him down, getting her third point with a smile on her face, covering the sleeping Orange Cassidy with her own jersey before making her way backstage.
Joey Ryan vs Flash Morgan Webster
The same way Joey had assessed his chances against the former champion, Flash Morgan Webster now faced him in a non-championship match to put some fear into the Dong King. The four-point holder had been through hell and back to regain his contention opportunity and wasn't about to lose it all before having a taste of glory.
There was no trace of the pheromones in the air at all, but still Flash fought as if he had that superhuman strength, fighting the champion with all he had, until he felt a push that sent him towards the ropes.
He was disoriented and confused by being pushed so easily, by not being the immovable object he'd been during the spring months, but he didn't stop, thinking it might have been just a small falter on his side.
The match ended with a 630 splash from Flash, pinning the champion even if the title didn't change hands. He was confused, even as he got his fifth point, looking around and slowly figuring out that he hadn't had that superhuman strength for a while now.
Taeler Hendrix vs Isla Dawn (PCW Women's Championship Match)
Both witches met at the center of the ring, powers of nature going against one another without holding back. Isla's chance had been granted, but she wasn't going to squander it by giving it less than a hundred percent.
It was as hard-hitting as the audience expected from both competitors, with a dark swirling cloud on the screens of the arena, flashing thunder surrounding the wrestlers while they fought for the gold.
They exchanged holds and hard punches as soon as they started and it didn't stop at all throughout the match, but Hendrix regained the upper hand and put the young witch through hold after hold, breaking her down systematically until she had no other option but to tap out.
Allysin Kay vs Mike Quackenbush (PCW Championship Match)
Since June, Quackenbush and Allysin had had a constant battle, whether it was verbally, with physical attacks, interruptions, inaction and with contenders for hire. Allysin had withstood every test, against the cheating, against all the odds and all the challenges.
But the time had come to meet face to face, to end the talking and start acting.
Mike looked as spry and agile as he'd ever looked, contrasting with the powerhouse that was Allysin. She didn't focus on fancy holds or impressive high-flying feats. She attacked from the ground, head on and without hesitation.
Everything they did in the ring came from a place of anger, both trying to prove that their stance was the right one. The hero facing the villain, despite not really knowing whose side was which.
Nearing the end of the match, Mike jumped from the top turnbuckle onto a waiting AK, falling on her with an assai moonsault, but slamming his arm against the barricade as he was getting up. Against better judgement, he continued the match while favouring his right elbow, and Allysin got the advantage pretty quickly right after, focusing on the arm and easily escaping the attempted holds from Quackenbush.
Both exhausted and not knowing what to do to put down the other, Allysin finally ended the match and got her championship back by using a Quackendriver against the master of a thousand holds, keeping him down for the pin and calling over the medical staff before leaving with her championship on her shoulder.