PCW Live: The End
Those unable to catalog the past are doomed to repeat it
The scene opens up in a large wooden room, which appeared to be a study. There was a large roaring fireplace and two chairs. In the left chair sat Maxwell Jacob Friedman. He was dressed in a grey suit, white shirt and no tie, and his Burberry scarf around his neck. In the right chair, sat an older gentleman. He was wearing a black suit, white shirt and black tie. He was bald and was wearing glasses. He was holding a piece of paper in his hand and began to speak. "My name is Jeremiah Morgan, of Morgan & Morgan Lawfirm. My client, Mr. Friedman, has been advised not to speak on this matter so, though myself and my associates, he has released the following statement"
The camera zoomed in on the lawyer, as Jeremiah straightened his glasses and cleared his throat before reading the statement. "On December the 11th 2019 my client, Maxwell Jacob Friedman was involved in a professional wrestling contest for Phoenix Championship Wrestling against Tom Budgen, better known by the stage name of Aleister Black. After the conclusion of the contest, Mr. Black wielded a dagger and punctured Mr. Friedman numerous times in the arm and the thigh, resulting in a multi-day hospital stay and severe injuries that were almost life-threatening"
The camera cut to Maxwell who had his hands folded, nodding intently as Jeremiah continued. "When Mr. Friedman contacted co-owner of the promotion Kira Renée Hennigan, better known as Taya Valkyrie, Mr. Friedman was met with nothing but contempt and even laughter from Ms. Valkyrie. Thus, Mr. Friedman has filed a suit against Ms. Valkyrie, Mr. Black, and Phoenix Championship Wrestling LLC. Multiple accounts of attempted murder, defamation of character, unsafe working environments and a litany of other grievances... And as a licensed legal practitioner, frankly, Mr. Friedman has a hell of a case. Enough so that he could have this company shut down on a permanent basis, or better still, own the company altogether.” The lawyer sat down the paper and removed his spectacles, before speaking once more. "And now, against my advice, Mr. Friedman has asked for the opportunity to speak.”
He gestured to his side where Maxwell was sat, and the camera panned over to him. His fingers were clasped together, almost as if in prayer, and his nose rests on the top of his knuckles. After a few seconds, he sat up straight. "When your life flashes before your eyes... it's almost like a highlight reel in one hundred times speed. It just all flashes by. I saw it all... I saw my childhood, my adolescence, my early start in pro wrestling... I saw Aria, I saw our son Theodore. I saw everything... and it really puts it all in perspective"
Maxwell sat back and ran his hands down his face, wiping his face and shaking his head, wiping away a few tears. "When that madman, Aleister Black, plunged that cold steel into my flesh... it was a pain like I've never felt before... and I want to share that pain, with the thoughtless and heartless management of PCW..."
Maxwell crossed his leg and took a deep breath, looking straight into the camera. "I am prepared to properly file this lawsuit, and by the time all the kids are waking up for Christmas, whenever the members of the PCW Roster are sharing Christmas Morning with their families...their phones will ring, and they'll be informed that they are ALL out of work. Their 401Ks drained, their assets liquidated and everything they worked for is GONE.."
Maxwell was fuming at this point, scowling at the camera and pointing with intent at the lens with a fire in his eyes that rivalled the one in the fireplace
"I will take EVERYTHING from you Taya Valkyrie, your company, your money, the smile of that little twerp of Melissa Santos's that you've come to love so much... all of it, gone at the snap of my fingers..." He took a breath and composed himself, as his Lawyer tried to calm him. Maxwell straightened his scarf.
"Or... we can talk like rational business people, and come to a solution that benefits, well me. I want a few things. First of all, a gigantic raise to my already lucrative contract. I want permanent first-class accommodations to every single show. I want the office, of Taya Valkyrie as my own personal dressing room... and I want, what I'm going to call a 'Christmas Wish.'"
Max smiled with a twinkle in his eye, nodding his head as he continued.
“A wish... for a match of my choosing, anytime and place against anyone. Title match, stipulation, all of it, st the snap of my fingers... think of me as a, Holiday Thanos. Either way I snap my fingers... I win. I snap my fingers and get exactly what I want...or I snap my fingers and your company disintegrates into dust.."
Max leaned forward and grinned like The Grinch. "Merry Christmas.” With that, the scene faded to black.
Logan Square Auditorium
Wrestler vs Wrestler
Tyler has Moxley in the headlock early on and goes for the tornado DDT, but Jon catches him in midair and drops the man on his back. Breeze rolls into the ropes and Moxley grabs the leg, only to be kicked in the face as the former champion hangs onto the ropes. Jon goes back at it, this time being kicked in the leg and tripped up into the ropes. Tyler gets into the apron and connects with a superkick to the face that sends him back in for a pin.
Jon kicks out at two and Tyler has him in the seated headlock submission. Moxley tries to fight out of it, refusing to tap out. Tyler makes him lean over into his side, adding more pressure to the man’s neck, but Moxley does manage to stand eventually. He elbows Tyler in the abdomen multiple times before taking him down with a clothesline. Jon rebounds off the ropes for a leg drop and looks for the pin. Breeze kicks out at two.
Moxley has Tyler up, looking for a suplex, but Tyler wiggles until Moxley has to drop him back down to his feet. Breeze shoved him and gets the step-up enziguri to stun his opponent. The former champion races to the ropes and springboards with a crossbody. Moxley catches him, though, looking for a powerslam for the win. One...two...t—Tyler kicks out. Jon yanks him up by the hair and tosses him into the corner. He looks for the clothesline, but Breeze hops up onto the back and connects with the sunset slip powerbomb.
Breeze slowly stands using the ropes and tries for a corner maneuver. Moxley was able to get up fast enough to knock his leg out. Breeze sits on the top backwards and Jon looks for the crucifix powerbomb from the top. Breeze doesn’t allow it, reversing into a frankensteiner before quickly getting the Beauty Shot as Jon stands for the three count. Despite his loss two weeks ago, Tyler is already on his way back to the top. He celebrates in the corner, but it doesn’t last long.
Pavor kicks the back of his leg, forcing his face into the turnbuckle. He then drops Breeze with a German suplex before proceeding to mount and beat down on Breeze with a fury never seen from him before. Tyler tries to fight back, but Nox was beyond reason and was not letting the man up until finally grabbing the hair and yanking him up. Pavor gets Tyler on his shoulder vertically and drops with the Acrophobia crucifix powerbomb.
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There is a kind of crying I hope you have not experienced...
Vipress had Corvus cradled in her arms as his frame twitched and convulsed. The veins just under his skin glowed a crimson color. It went deeper into his eyes, filling the whites as whatever she had given him before was given again, refreshing the powers it possessed. As the tag champion’s skin burned, the mixture putting him through absolute agony, as always does, Vipress’s raised a brow in curiosity. They were no longer alone.
“Now isn’t this a surprise? I don’t recall anyone giving you an invite.” She hadn’t turned around, but the individual knew very well that she was talking to them. They came out of the shadows and she finally did turn her head. “Austin Aries...shouldn’t you be on vacation?”
“What do you give him? How do you make him stronger?”
“Oooh, is that what you want? And...you think I’ll just let you have at it, huh?” He shook his head and tried to take a step closer, but she immediately has a hand up. Just a tiny spark came from them, but it was enough for Aries to get the message and stay back.
“No. It comes at a price, right? Whatever it takes, I’ll do whatever just to have even the slightest—“
“Anything?” He nodded and gulped as she gave him a heinous grin. “Well...how could I refuse? Luckily for you, I do need something—or someone, rather—and you’d be better for retrieving them. I will supply you with something similar to this. If I were to give you his, you’d surely die. He can barely stand it himself. Once I do that, I’ll have my assignment for you. Run away or fail to complete it and I’ll not only take my magic back, but I’ll kill you in the process.”
Austin stood quietly, thinking it over. What he was really asking right now is to sell his soul for just a taste of power and victory. He shuddered at the thought of it, but what else could he do? He was at his wit's end. “Do we have a deal, Mr. Aries?”
“...we have a deal.”
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Sooner or later, everyone's story has an unfortunate event or two
Brian Pillman Jr. was in catering for this week’s programming, but that certainly didn’t mean he wouldn’t see any action. Not when he called out a few names last week, but unfortunately for him, the wrong one answered the call. She came up behind him and slapped a heavy hand onto his shoulder, nearly causing him to choke to death on his water. The man grimaced as the slap left a stingy pain and turned his head. Allysin gave him what he assumed was a smile, but somehow she looked pretty pissed at the same time.
“Pillman Jr, right? Couldn’t help but hear my name come out of your mouth last week, but I didn’t quite catch all of it. Care to repeat it? You know, while I’m actually here to listen.”Brian smirked and chuckled to himself.
“Listen, Allysin. All I did was went out there and told the truth. I have been on a hot streak lately and it’s because I’m better than everyone on the roster. I could be challenging for a belt right now, but instead? I’m looking to build some points before doing just that. I want PCW to know that when I win a title, it won’t just be because of points, but be—“
Kay had heard enough and wasted no time in connecting a right hook to the jaw. It was enough to rock Pillman and nearly knock him completely off balance. “Thought you were going to go on and on and on and on...and on. Instead of pussyfooting around what I said and giving it to me straight, you’d rather give me a monologue of bullshit as to why you called me out, so I’ll sum it up for you. You got some kind of chip on your shoulder and a stick up your ass that needs a little tug to come right on out. I’ll gladly help you with that, Junior. All you had to do was send a tweet my way, but I’m here and we settle it right now..” Pillman balled his fist up and stared Kay directly in the eye. She was ready for a fight right then and there, dressed for what he could only assume would turn into a massacre if she wanted it, too. He had no problem obliging and without hesitation, he struck her back with a sickening forearm. That’s all it took.
The two of them went at it in seconds, knocking over the catering table and crashing into other roster members as they came by. What should’ve been an all-out brawl was stopped, however, as security tore them apart. Kay had busted his lip and a bruise was already starting to show on her face from the punch. She smirked and shoved the guards off, but didn’t make a move towards him. Rather she gave him the pinky and wiggled it slightly. “You and me—next week.”
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Arisa Hoshiki vs Corvus
Corvus has Arisa in a front headlock early on, trying to lift Hoshiki off the mat. The small woman remains grounded, elbowing the abdomen before driving a forearm into the face. She rebounds off the ropes for a clothesline, but Corvus counters, scooping the woman up and using her momentum to drop her back across the knee. He hooks the leg for a quick one count and transitions into an armbar, driving his knee into the back. Arisa refuses to tap out, but struggles to escape. Only as Corvus yanks her up by the hair can she kick him back. The woman connects with a dropkick and follows up with a Shining Wizard for the pin. One...two—he kicks out.
Hoshiki looks to go up high, but he manages to get up fast enough to knock her down on the turnbuckle. Corvus has her in the tree of woe and looks for the dropkick, but Arisa sits up in time and he crashes into the corner. She gets up high and takes him down with the double foot stomp. He rolls out onto the apron to avoid the pin. Arisa gets on the apron and times it just right for a double foot stomp to the back. Corvus drops to the floor as Arisa gets some cheers from the crowd. She looks to send him back in and is shoved into the corner of the apron. Corvus goes for a punch, but she ducks and connects with the Brazilian Kick before sending him in.
Before she can completely get in the ring, Taya comes racing out and yanks her down. Arisa’s face drops into the apron and the referee calls off the match. Taya yanks up Arisa and sends her into the barricade before connecting with a running knee. Hoshiki lies still on the floor as Valkyrie has a huge grin on her face. She wasn’t through, though. She had Arisa up and wasted no time dropping her with the Road to Valhalla on the floor. Arisa doesn’t move and the fans are letting Taya have it at ringside. Their tune changes as Jenny comes rushing out to save her partner. Taya scurries into the ring and rolls out on the other side, Jenny hot on heels until Valkyrie kicks the leg out from under her on the apron.
Taya slams her face repeatedly into the apron again and again before dragging her to the floor and into the steel steps. Taya boots the face, sending the back of the head into the steps. The blonde then requests a mic, smiling all the while. “I was more than willing to let you be, Jenny. It’s already been decided that I’m better than and became what you could only dream of by this point, but then you had the cojones to make demands and call me out over your failures. And hearing it come from you, of all people? That really bugged me.” The fans had no problem booing the general manager, but her focus was solely on Blake as the woman starts to stir. “It’s not my fault you can’t catch a break. I’ve given you chance after chance and the both of you keep screwing up, but you wanna call me out?” Valkyrie starts to laugh. “Let this be an example for everyone in the back. Do your damn jobs with a smile and all will be well in PCW.”
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Happiness is an acquired taste
Scarlett stands in the ring with her championship secured around her petite waist, donning one of her own pieces of merchandise cropped off and a pair of expertly tattered jean short-shorts. It was as much of a casual attire as the fans had seen from the woman, but understandable as she was expecting some sort of fight. The blonde curled her ruby lips into a devilish smirk while the fans clapped and cheered her on. She had a mic gripped within her manicured fingers, plenty on her mind, and ready to say it all. She taps the plate of her belt and shakes her head, blonde curls bouncing on her shoulders. “Last week, Pavor had the audacity to interrupt my celebration party. It seems he still has some hurt feelings about losing at Beyond Tomorrow, to yours truly, but his failures aren’t solely on me. Of course, I am the best that PCW has to offer, naturally, but most of his loss comes back down to one major thing: his own incompetence and lack of skill.”
She rolls her eyes as a section of the crowd starts to cheer and chant for Pavor. “He’s been relying on theatrics and hench-bitches for so long that he forgot that it takes actual work to be a champion in this business. It was public knowledge, the only person who had even a slight chance of being champion at this very moment, besides myself, was Tyler. Out of all the people I’ve faced, he’s the only one that’s put in the work, that’s showcased skill, and been a fighter since day one. Ew, too much, too much. You're welcome, Prince. Anyways, it shouldn't come as a surprise to him that he couldn’t get the job done. After all, his entire career in PCW has been an absolute embarrassment. No gold, no noteworthy feuds, no awards—it’s almost like he doesn’t even he work here. I’ve been here for only two years and have dominated competition, have two title reigns since arriving. Yes, don’t forget I was Heart of PCW Champion, as well. Almost as soon as I stepped foot in the door. The champions have downgraded since, but I can’t be in two divisions at once, sadly. I’d gladly teach Priscilla a thing or two about being a 10/10 champion, or woman, really because we all know she could use it..but that’s neither here nor there.”
“I’m out here tonight, allowing Pavor to grow some balls. Forget the glitching monitors, forget attacking my butler—get your ass out here and tell me to face that you want it kicked by The Smokeshow. Be a m—“ She was cut off as the titantron plays again. She laughs to herself, clearly annoyed by yet another projection of the man she wants. However, it wasn’t Pavor who appeared.
“Close, but no cigar, love. Pavor didn’t call you out. He’s got a problem of his own to take care of right now. It’s me who wants a piece of Scarlett Bordeaux and I wholeheartedly plan on ripping you to pieces by Moonstruck.” Spike Trivet grins as the doll version of himself and Zara lingers in the background. Scarlett glares at the screen, clutching the mic with much more strength than before, her arm visibly shaking with an intense rage.
“The flunky wants a fight? I'm sorry, now that’s amusing. Here I thought you were only good for being a welcome home mat for the Fourth Circle, but maybe you do have a mind of your own. Shocking. Now why is it that you can’t seem to say this to my face? You’re hiding behind a screen when you could be making these idle threats here in the ring.” He laughs and shakes his head.
“You don’t deserve to stand in front of me until our match at Moonstruck. You got lucky, outwitted Pavor, but not outwrestle. Tyler was a hindrance to his plans and he will be taken care of, but you? He told me that I could handle you. He has no apprehensions about you.” Spike starts to laugh on the screen, eyes starting to glow a bright red. “I’ll be seeing you at Moonstruck, but I’ll be sending you a few...gifts until then. Happy holidays... Slag.”
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Heart of Phoenix Championship
Wrestler vs Wrestler
Wrestler vs Wrestler
Rather than a match taking place, Priscilla came down the ramp with her title clutched in her hand and a mic in the other. She grinned, devilish in appearance and likely with even more sinister intentions on her mind. “You were all looking forward to me defending against a rising star, a sensational athlete that has shocked the world with his quick ascent in this business. Thing is, I don’t feel he’s earned a shot. He’s got the points, but not the dedication and certainly not the skills needed to face me for my championship, so I took care of him...” She starts to giggle as a video of The Fourth Circle beating down on Austin earlier tonight starts to play. The man was badly hurt, the torment continuing until he was knocked unconscious.
“While there is no title match, I do have a surprise that’s going to be even better than what was planned for tonight.” She clears her throat and looks to the stage with a grin. Austin Aries appears along with Vipress and Corvus, dragging out an unfamiliar woman to the PCW crowd, but it wouldn’t be long before Kelly revealed her identity. “Tefé, my lovely niece, welcome to Phoenix Championship Wrestling.” The woman tried her best to fight them off, but Corvus bites down hard on her arm. She screeches in pain and he simply knees her in the gut to render her immobile before she’s tossed into the ring. “Enjoying the tour so far?”
Priscilla laughs into the mic as Vipress enters the ring with a smirk. She takes the mic and sighs happily. “We thought it was time to meet one of Priscilla’s nieces and really get a feel for what they can do. I mean, their mother seems to think they’re quite powerful, but all we’ve seen so far is a child who is ignorant in how to utilize her abilities to the fullest. Similar to her mother, she lacks finesse and grace. We thought we could help her hone those abilities.” Vipress kicks Tefé in the abdomen and steps on the back of her head. “Show us what you can do, little girl.” Aries simply looks on, not a part of the group, but simply upholding his end of the bargain. He slips away into the crowd, having played his part and soon will relish the reward that’ll come with it.
The three teammates proceed to attack Tefé while she’s down, which called Taeler to spring to action. She rushes into the fire without hesitation, instantly overpowered by the three. That doesn’t stop her from trying and even gaining the advantage briefly, but the numbers game soon has her down next to her daughter. Corvus drags Tefé to her feet, looking to send a message to Hendrix. However, Heart2Hart came running out to even the odds. The former champions had plenty of beef with Eyes of Demise and gladly took part in attempting to dispose of them from PCW. Despite evening the playing field, the circle were able to keep the advantage.
While Frankie and Natalya fought valiantly, Zara Sabre made her appearance, using a chair to take down the team. Even as she struck them with the steel, she was clearly in distress, internally struggling with aiding the faction. Priscilla was free to force Hendrix to her knees and watch as Tefé was entangled in the octopus hold, shrieking in pain with no way of escaping. Rage filled Hendrix’s eyes, but she was powerless to stop Kelly and watches as her daughter fades before being struck unconscious from behind.
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I cherished, you perished, the world's been nightmarished
The white room gave him a headache. The fluorescent lights bounce off the walls and ceiling, blinding him. He held the sides of his face with tatted hands, veins throbbing under the skin as he balled them into fists. The woman across from cleared her throat. Black peered up, allowing his curtain of rage to subside long enough to recall that she was even there. Her brunette locks were tightly wound in a bun and dark eyes peered back him over rectangular glasses.
“What is the date?” She asks, pen ready to write.
“April...4th, 2019.” She raised a brow and wrote something down.
“Who are you?”
“My name is Tom Budgen.”
“Where are you from?”
“Ohio. I'm from Ohio...”
She paused and looked at him with concern.
“Today is December 25th...Christmas. You’re from Holland.”
Aleister looked around the room, his thoughts running wild. His headache intensified and he shut his eyes tight as the voice roared in his head. “She knows. Kill her. Kill the bitch, cut out her liver, slash her heart!”
“Aleister?” He snapped out of his thoughts and examined the woman carefully.
“You look like...her.”
“Excuse m—“
Aleister leapt over the table between them with ease, raging as he knocked her over in her chair. She tried to scream, but the hands around her throat cut it short. Black squeezes and squeezed, taking pleasure in watching her face turn a shade of blue. She choked, weakly swinging at his arms and trying to kick her legs. Security burst into the room, taking him down.
“I WILL GET OUT OF HERE! I WILL BE REBORN AND TAKE VENGEANCE ON HER!”
A needle was shoved into his upper arm and he drifted off in seconds, eyes rolling to the back of his head as the therapist was escorted out of the room. He was cuffed and dragged back out of the room, needing further observation.