PCW Phase Fifteen: A Study in Scarlet

The crowd was amped up, standing as soon as the music filled the UIC Pavillion in Chicago. Many of them had signs at the ready and a large number of people were already chanting "PCW!" at the top of their voices.

Red and yellow lights tracked their way from the top of the ramp all the way to the ring. At the usual cue of the first chorus hitting, nothing changed except for the pattern of the of the lights on the ramp. As soon as the first chorus finished, though and the second verse began, a new suited man covered in tattoos with blondish hair ran into view.

He grinned widely enough for his white teeth to be seen from the stands and raced up the ramp, jumping through the middle ropes and rolling to the center of the ring. He bounced off the ropes once then came to the center again, turning quickly in a circle. The music dropped as he raised his mic.

"Expecting someone else?"

He raised his brows playfully and his voice raised up to get started.

Welcome back to Chicago, Phoenix Flock and welcome once again to PCW here at the UIC Pavillion for the first show of Season Four, A Study In Scarlet, I kid you not. My name is Griffin West, your brand-spankin' new host here at Phoenix Championship Wrestling! New season, new host! Let's hope that's not a trend. Alright! Enough of introductions. Let's get down to brass tacks. We're starting off the night hot with a singles match. Neither of them has a point to lose yet, but they both have a lot to prove, so I wanna hear you loud and proud. Let's bring'em out!

He rolled back out of the ring, banging the apron just once as he turned in a circle again and took a seat, deliberately crossing his legs as he joined the commentators, putting on one of their headsets against the wishes of those already seated, joining in with them though they didn't seem particularly enthusiastic about it.

Gemini vs Jinny

As "Haute Couture" started playing, the audience knew exactly what to do. While some stray fans cheered, the rest knew that Jinny was not a friend of theirs. She was there to be the best, to show people their place, she strutted her way around the ring, wearing her black mask and the add-on coattails to her belt, making the space front row her catwalk. Stepping into the ring with ease, and outstretching her arms for the world to see her in full grandeur.

"World is mine" played, and as the cutesy Japanese lyrics filled the air, the audience started to get a little carried away, much to their distaste, because as the rift played on, the tiny Gemini stepped out to the ramp, doing a short spin before walking down the ramp, blowing kisses but ignoring the few outstretched hands. She was helped up to the ring by a member of the ring crew, who set her gently on the apron so she could slide right in from under the bottom rope.

The bout went as well as expected from Gemini. Jinny approached the smaller woman and Gemini started screaming almost instantly, running towards the corner and telling the referee to get Jinny away from her. Jinny went to pry her away from the turnbuckle and as the referee counted to five, the Japanese kept screaming, until, in desperation, she bit one of Jinny's hands to try and get her away.

It all went downhill from that moment, the Havoc trainee grabbed Gemini by the hair, swung her effortlessly inside the ring over the top rope and relentlessly attacked her with knees to the back, stretches and holds. And she wouldn't let her surrender! (Which she was prompt and ready to do after just a few seconds of the hold being applied.)

Finally and despite Gemini's pleas, and the audible "no, no, no" screams, an Acid rainmaker turned her inside out and set her for the pin, after which she had to be carried backstage.

Matt Riddle vs Baron Corbin

As his theme song "I bring the darkness" hit, Corbin emerged from the backstage area, nodding his head and moving his body to the beat. And just before the chorus hit he stood in the center of the stage bowing his head swaying side to side with the beat. Once the chorus hit he stood tall spreading his arms as a barrage of mixed boos with cheers came from the crowd. 80% were boo's  20% were cheers. He made his way down the ramp with this intense stare in his eyes, coming around the ring, walking up the steel steps, and climbed in between the ropes.

Mad Icarus's Hang Cool Teddybear hit and the crowd knew exactly what to do. The chants of "bro" filled the arena even before Matt Riddle stepped through the curtain. Smiling, calm and collected, following the rhythm of his song on his way down, slapping hands and leaning in to reach the fans who weren't on the front row. He walked up to the ring and got inside, cleaning his bare feet on the apron before spinning his way inside, waiting on his corner.

The match was as hard hitting and strong as it would be expected from such big competitors. They didn't leave anything out as they stepped the MMA terminator took Corbin's Deep Six, and countered the Dream Crusher with a clothesline of his own. Finally, when both of them were exhausted and their chests were red from chopping each other, it was Riddle's Bro 2 sleep that gave him the victory.

Jamie Frost vs Santana Garrett

"I wanna jump" blasted through the speakers and Santana Garrett made her way down the ramp, touching hands with her fans in front row and those who stretched to touch her as well, once she got to the ring apron, she stood there for a second and flipped herself over the third rope to land inside the ring.

VTZ's Cold as Ice started playing and the slow notes guided the smirking Jamie Frost down the ramp. She nonchalantly touched hands with a few people, but for the most part, focused on getting to the ring and making a show of it, keeping cool as she stepped between the ropes.

From the moment the bell rung, Garrett didn't allow Frost to get in her dangerous forearms, wrapping her arms around the blonde's own body for a straight jacket suplex. She tried pinning her right then, but Frost wiggled her way out and rolled to her feet, adjusting her skirt with a very offended look on her face, she waved her finger in front of Santana's face, slapped her once, kicked her stomach and grabbed her arms for a rolling powerbomb, however, she got too distracted by the cheering of the audience to realize Garrett was back on her feet and coming after her.

The exchange was pretty even, but the newcomer kept getting enraptured by the audience's love and she couldn't roll away on time to escape the Shinning Star Press from Santana Garrett, though she was up just one second too late. 

 

All-Weight Championship: Rhea Ripley vs Frankie Valentine

The first few notes of “I Will Not Bow” hit and the crowd perked up, anxious to see the owner of the Breaking Benjamin tune as the titantron loads. The cheers quickly split to boos, albeit a few groups of fans, as Frankie Valentine’s name and face appear and she sauntered out of the curtain with her hands up, making a turn to show herself off and flexed, before walking down the ramp. She slid into the ring and up on the turnbuckle and flexed her arms again with a smirk on her face, hopping down to get ready for her opponent.

Rhea came out to a happier beat, bouncing and running down the ramp while touching hands, stopping a few seconds here and there before reaching the ring, climbing up on the apron and sliding between the ropes, climbing up on the turnbuckle to pump the already excited audience, the fans cheering even louder for the hyper Australian.

The height difference made the initial lockup very difficult to manage for the Viking Pixie, but Rhea took the advantage and ran the match with diligence, using her long legs to keep Frankie away from her and as grounded as possible. Every moment, the crowd was split, especially after Valentine's speech at the end of Season Three.

Despite giving several inches of height to the Australian, Frankie Valentine's strength gave her the victory, when she grabbed Ripley and put her through the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, her finishing Sunset flip, with both feet over her shoulders to keep her pinned to the mat, successfully defending her championship for the first time.

Though much more relaxed than in previous seasons, she waited for her opponent to stand up, and even offered her a hand, raising it along with her own, celebrating along with the cheers of the audience.

Griffin made his way back into the ring effortlessly, holding up his mic and looking over at the top of the ramp from the center of the ring.

Now that's what I call sportsmanship. Let's hear it one more time!

He roused the audience and the followed with cheers for the last two competitors.

That was the first successful defense of the all-weight title! Come back next week to see what we have for you next. Same time, same place. Hopefully same host. See you next time!

He grinned and waved as the lights faded and the theme music played out.