Match Five
Singles Match
Icemann Invitational Quarter-Finals Match
Murdoc v. ‘Mr. Showtime’ Michael Wryght (Int. ©)
Referee: Eric Russo
'The following is an Icemann Invitational Quarter-Finals Match!"
“Gold on the Ceiling" by
The Black Keys begins to blare over the P.A. system and the arena darkens. A single spotlight begins to shine on the entrance way illumination none other than “Mr. Showtime” Michael Wryght. As the beat of the song kicks in, Showtime seems to pay little attention to it as he makes his way to the ring. No pomp, no circumstance ... just that same conflicted looking man sliding into the ring in order to do what some would argue he does best:: put on a show.
Waiting in the ring, he looks all business as ...
The crowd’s noise lapses into a wave of hushed murmurs as
Audiomachine’s “Xerxes” kicks in over the PCW loudspeakers. The steady thump of the bass fills the arena like a heartbeat. And it's on one of these thumps that the lights go out, plunging the crowd into total darkness with a complete blackout as the music continues it’s relentless march. A blackout that can only mean ONE thing...
BOOM!!
...the final pulse of bass explodes and the lights flash back on to find Murdoc standing in the ring! Turning to his immediate left, he goes to one of the far corners to remove his entrance robe and begins stretching out in anticipation for the start of the match ... keeping an eagle eye on his opponent.
The two don’t even wait for the bell, Murdoc dashing to the center of the ring to meet Showtime. Surprising speed for the big man as he and Showtime begin trading shots. Showtime knows his best bet is to beat Murdoc on his OWN terms instead of standing there and slugging it out with what could be considered the best pure power striker in PCW history.
Showtime catching Murdoc with some quick shots to the kidneys, he’s managing to stay out of Murdoc’s reach so far. One slip up and Showtime may very well be picking his teeth up off of the canvas. Murdoc’s taken aback by the furious strikes and is looking to create JUST enough distance to still be in range and ruin Showtime’s plan. But Showtime shows NO signs of letting up and manages to back the behemoth into a nearby corner
Several unanswered shots from Showtime prompts a sudden rage-fueled burst of speed as Murdoc grabs Showtime literally by the head and turns to force him back into the turnbuckles. Now it’s Murdoc’s turn. The frenzied body shots are enough to be heard echoing with a dull thud in the front row. He’s looking to take the breath right out of Showtime ... stalling any momentum he may THINK he’s getting. The referee interjecting himself at 5, Murdoc takes exactly two steps back before drilling Wryght with a nasty looking back elbow that catches him right under the jaw. A little close to the throat, but the ref can only warn at this point.
Showtime drops to his knees at the attack, clutching his throat. Murdoc pounces on the wounded Showtime and ... OOOH! Is met with a crippling chop block from the front. Murdoc’s knee looking as though it may have hyper-extended, he drops to the mat in obvious pain and begins to back off. Limping as he hobbles to his feet, he gingerly makes his way back from the slowly recovering Showtime. No doubt about it, Showtime hit the money with that surprise attack. Showtime shaking the last of the cobwebs out, he rushes Murdoc and forces him with great velocity into the opposite corner.
Murdoc pressed chest first against the turnbuckles, Showtime drives a shoulder into the small of the back once ... twice ... three ... FOUR TIMES. The ref going to stop Showtime, he finds that Wryght has stopped himself for all of two seconds before dropping down and throwing elbow strikes to the back of Murdoc’s wounded left knee. The ref finally having enough, it’s getting a bit sketchy and he forces Showtime away. Murdoc literally lets his body weight fall through the middle and top ropes, down to the canvas and to the outside.
Creating distance. Smart. Clever.
Fleeting.
Showtime is off in a flash, literally hurling himself through the ropes at Murdoc. Murdoc turns at the last moment to catch a face full of Showtime elbow. Luckily for Murdoc, his mask takes the brunt of the impact from Showtime ... leaving him only to absorb the impact from the floor thanks to Wryght’s momentum. Showtime pushing himself up from the ringside floor, he grabs a handful of Murdoc’s long stringy hair and begins to drag him towards the ring. Rolling him in, Showtime quickly rolls on top of Murdoc for a pinfall attempt.
1!
2!
... NO!
Murdoc is out at two with enough velocity to propel Wryght over the referee. Showtime landing on the mat, he quickly presses the attack and goes back to work on the injured Murdoc. Going for Murdoc’s hair again, Murdoc is ready and lets fly a HUGE right hand! Temporary Oblivion?! Was that a Temporary Oblivion for Showtime? No ... no, Murdoc laying down means less momentum to put behind the punch . More of a desperation stop-gap, in order to give himself a few extra seconds to recover.
As Murdoc slowly makes his way to his feet, Showtime is kneeling a few paces away ... dazed from the still-potent shot. The bigger problem for Showtime is now Murdoc is back to a vertical base.
AND he’s pissed off.
Going after Showtime, it’s obvious his knee and back are giving him troubles ... but at this point, he’s simply choosing to ignore it. How long he can maintain will be the REAL question. Snatching Showtime up, he whips Showtime across the ring and goes for a clothesline. Showtime manages to duck underneath it and rebound off the ropes. Murdoc is ready a little TOO early, telegraphing a back drop. Showtime leaps up and over, looking to go for a sunset flip. The move rolls through and Murdoc is on his back.
However, Showtime continues by standing up and hooking the legs.
Crossing the legs around his own, Showtime begins to turn. Will Murdoc be put in the blinding agony of the Spotlight?! Showtime struggles, fighting valiantly with the girth of Murdoc’s tree-trunk legs and after a long battle, manages to get Murdoc flipped! HE’S GOT IT LOCKED IN! Murdoc in a great deal of pain, he begins lifting his body off the mat, increasing the pressure but giving him a little more room to maneuver. The referee is right there to check, but true to form ... Murdoc will NOT QUIT. Say what you will, Murdoc has NEVER been submitted in his entire career. God knows he’s not about to start now. He’d rather pass out (he’s done it before) before giving up.
Murdoc begins to drag his 6‘7“ frame across the ring. Showtime is stalling but he cannot keep the giant from reaching the ropes. Wrenching in as the referee counts, he lets go at four and a half and watches as Murdoc pulls himself closer to the ropes in order to avoid any more attacks. Showtime, however, is not letting this happen and grabs Murdoc ... dragging him to the center of the ring. A SHOCK! Murdoc grabs Showtime and wraps his legs around Wryght’s waist, hooking the head and neck ... completing a guillotine choke.
Wrenching the hold, Murdoc adds more insult as he uses his free arm to club at Showtime’s back. Like a giant meat tenderizer. Showtime is in deep trouble but, thinking quickly, has the presence of mind to use his legs to literally flip OVER Murdoc. Now he’s on his back with Murdoc on top, not a great position. However, his ultimate goal is reached and Showtime is able to catch the ropes with a foot.
As Murdoc release the hold, the two men look MUCH worse for the wear as they size each other up yet again. Both men holding the ropes for support, it’s Showtime who spurs out of the gate and attacks Murdoc. Murdoc, however, is ready and hoists a charging Showtime into the air and lets him drop stomach first across the top rope. Showtime left out to dry, Murdoc uses his reserves of energy and steps out onto the canvas. Starting at the corner, he dashes and goes for a big boot. Showtime backs off the ropes and Murdoc finds himself caught knee-first on the top rope. Showtime diving at the ropes, he grabs the ankle and holds on tight as he drops to the mat.
The knee wrenched sickly, Murdoc roars in pain as the slingshot sends him back first to the canvas.
Showtime standing back up, he drags Murdoc to his feet and hooks the head and arm ... stepping onto the bottom rope to reach down and hook the leg. Is he going for an outside-in Fisherman’s Suplex?! He hoists the big man up and the momentum of the placement of the feet is enough to throw Showtime off-balance, He can’t hold his grip as Murdoc breaks free at the last moment, landing on his feet to the side. The sudden off-guard and --
BOOM!
Oblivion.
That vicious double-axe handle. Showtime crumples to the mat in a heap, Murdoc shortly behind him. Moving Showtime away from the ropes, he drapes himself over the fallen Michael Wryght as the referee dives in to make the count.
1!
2!
...
3!
Winner: Murdoc
The crowd is on their feet, Showtime kicking out just after the three is counted. Murdoc rolls off of Showtime and slides back into the turnbuckles, resting against the pads. Showtime brought the A-game, but Murdoc was able to take advantage of the ONE mistake Showtime made: under-estimating the weight differential thanks to his use of the bottom rope as a fulcrum to heft the big man back into the ring. A valiant attempt, but Murdoc is able to sneak away with a WELL-deserved victory.
He doesn’t even go to help Showtime up, nor attack the fallen foe. He simply begins the long walk back to the locker room ... and the semi-finals of the Icemann Invitational.
****
We’re not backstage ... helll, we’re not even at the Pure Class arena anymore!
We’re at the home offices of Pure Class Entertainment Group, sometime earlier in the week. Timestamp claims a week ago. We’re outside where Patrick Gregory Brooks, Isabella Alexis along with several suits and superstars including Whitey Ford, Ace Anderson and Kelli Starr stand in front of the building. A huge crowd has gathered as we listen in on a press conference already in progress ... PCW correspondent Kai Walters at the podium.
‘Along with that very exciting news, we have ONE last thing to offer to the media. This year’s Living a Legacy 6 will be held at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center right here in our home territory! We’ll be helping pump a little extra revenue out as well as giving the fans a chance to see PCW on the road! You‘ll be able to catch all your favorite stars and some new ones right here in your backyard!’The crowd explodes, several fans in attendance behind the media frenzy.
‘I think that’s about everything we have time for this evening. Much planning to be done in order to be ready for the extravaganza of the summer! Bring your friends and find out why PCW is THE place to be!’ The crowd cheers as all the bigwigs and their assorted assistants and hangers on follow the superstars and El Presidente back into the building. I wonder what the OTHER announcements were?
No matter.
We have a rogue cameraman filming all the backstage goings-on for possibly a DVD to be released in the near future. Keeping an eye on the President, the camera catches up to him just as he comes face to face with the man of the hour ... at least in his own mind ...
‘Ah. You’re here; good. I was beginning to think you weren’t going to show up. You were scheduled at noon, you know. Punctuality is big around here, you’d do well to learn that and quick.’ The man smiles and shakes the President’s hand.
‘What can I say? Fashionably late is the ONLY way to be. At least I -keep- my commitments.’ Brooks nods and begins to escort the gentleman towards a nearby elevator.
‘Well now that you’re here, we’ll be heading up to my office where you’ll be signing all the paperwork and documentation that says you are OFFICIALLY a member of the Pure Class roster. You won’t be starting at the pay-per-view. It’s simply too last minute to arrange anything. HOWEVER, I do want you at the show. Get a feel for everything.’ The man smiles and follows behind closely, keeping an eye on the plethora of security scattered about.
‘That’s probably for the best. Gotta crawl before you walk, am I right?’ Brooks nods and holds the door open as the pair enter the elevator ... the camera managing to MISS the face of the gentleman behind a few office drones. We can tell it’s at least a male.
‘Don’t kiss my butt here. You’re not THAT good.’
<... We’ll just SEE about that, el jefe. We’ll just see ... >
****
Match Six
Singles Match
Icemann Invitational Quarter-Finals Match
‘Dollface’ Kelli Starr v. Rick Majors
Referee: Joseph Buckland
'The following is an Iceman Invitational Quarter-Finals Match!'
As the rapid harpsichord music of
Emilie Autumn’s “Syringe” sounds over the PCW loudspeakers, all the arena lights go out save for delicately strobing green lights at the stage area. Increasing in tempo with the music, they light up a single female figure standing at the top of the ramp. With the heavy pulse of the bass kicking in, multicolored lights begin to flicker and strobe in a rainbow of chaos as Dollface makes her energetic way to the ring. She slips under the bottom rope into the ring as the frenetic rave-like lighting continues, dancing in the ring as she waits for her opponent ...
... the winner of the Last Chance Battle Royal, Rick Majors!
The lights go out. Suddenly the sound of guitars pierce through the silence. A spotlight shines on the entrance. The crowd starts to murmur. As the guitars get louder, Rick Majors appears in the entrance way, the spotlight directly on him and no one else. Majors pauses in the entrance way for a moment.
Majors looks down briefly. He then shakes his head, breathes deeply and stares out at the crowd.
["You drink the wise blood
You're gonna hear about it
You'll be taken down brick by brick by brick
Burn the orphanage
You're gonna pay for it
They will purify block by block by block"]
Majors stands at the top of the ramp, looking out around the arena.
["'Demons
Come on
You've got a vision
You're on a mission
Demons
Live on
And when I die, hang me high"]Majors then slowly walks down to the ring, as the spotlight follows him.
Majors climbs the ring steps and pauses. He turns towards the crowd, standing on the ring apron.
["They're gonna bury you
They're gonna finish
They're gonna stand em up six by six by six
You pull the hood back
I wanna know
Which way will the heavenly go?
Taken down, taken down, taken down"]He enters the ring, still only lit by the spotlight. He then stands in the center of the ring, looking out towards the crowd. He slowly starts to circle the ring, stretching and loosening up his body.
["Demons
Live on
And when I die, hang me high
And you will answer to no one else but me"]The lights in the arena then come back on as Majors circles the ring, awaiting the start of the match. Kelli looks less than enthused at the long-winded entrance. All the blah blah before the brou-ha-ha. She’s ready to go!
Majors watching Starr getting pumped up in her corner, the crowd is egging her on. She’s getting fired up, getting the crowd involved with her adrenaline boost. Majors stares calmly at the candy-coated ball of energy, stretching with the aid of the ropes in preparation. Starr dashes across the ring and Majors is ready ... but Dollface stops a few paces away from Majors, smiling wide and winking before diving at the veteran’s legs. Majors swiftly hopping off to the side, Dollface is back to readiness ... eyeballing Majors like a lioness stalking her prey.
Starr sliding back to her feet, she watches cautiously. Tilting her head to the side, sizing up the Last Chance battle royal winner. Majors fought hard to get here; it won’t be easy pickins’ for Kelli. She’ll definitely have to work for the win here tonight. The two beginning to circle up, Kelli offers a hand, to which Majors replies with his own side high-five thing. Little bit of sportsmanship between the two. It’s refreshing.
The two lock up and jockey for position. Kelli manages to slip behind with a hammerlock ... keeping the larger Majors at bay. Whatever the hell at bay means. Majors reaching back, he grabs Kelli behind the head and pops off a beautiful snapmare that leaves Kelli seated in front of him. No sooner has she hit the mat does Majors land a vicious basement dropkick between the shoulder blades. Pulling Kelli back first to the mat, he lands an elbow drop flush to the chest. Kelli left sputtering for breath, he picks her up quickly in order to keep the momentum rolling.
Kelli grabbing Majors by the head, she lands a headbutt that leaves both of them staggered ... but Majors got the worst of it. Staggering back, Kelli dives forward ... straight through Majors’ legs and coming up from behind him. Hooking his ankles, Kelli drops him face first to the mat and follows up with a double-knee drop to the lower back. Not content with the single attack, she follows up with a back mount and begins firing off cross forearm shots. The swift strikes leaves Majors in a WORLD of hurt.
The quick guerilla style striking doing well so far for Starr, she looks to press the attack and begins to heft Majors to his feet. A flurry of strikes back Majors against the ropes, low kicks to the legs and midsection. Majors retaliates with his own attacks, cracking off several leg kicks and rib shots that back Kelli away from him and the ropes. Pushing back, Majors bounces off the ropes and lands a short clothesline. Seeing Starr beginning to stir already, he rebounds off the other side of the ropes and dashes towards Kelli.
Dropping down to the mat, Kelli lands prone on the mat and lets Majors whiff overhead. A third bounce off the ropes and Kelli is up, hopping up and wrapping her legs around Majors’ neck and rolling through with a picture-perfect hurricanrana that sends Majors off into the corner. Kelli rushing Majors, she hops onto the middle set of ropes and begins raining shots onto Rick Majors exposed head. He tries to cover up, but Kelli will not be denied and manages to break through the defenses ... several unchecked shots bouncing off of Majors’ face and head.
Hopping down once she’s convinced Majors is weakened sufficiently, Kelli grabs one of his arms and twists ... leaning back and going for a back roundhouse kick. Majors lowering his head, he takes advantage of the surprise miss and hoists Kelli up into powerbomb position. Turning slightly, he falls forward and drops Kelli back first into the turnbuckles. The ropes shaking with the impact, Majors slides back enough to grab one of Kelli’s ankles and pulls her to the center of the ring for a quick pinfall.
1!
2-NO!
Kelli kicks out at one and a half, not nearly out of this contest yet. Majors pulls Kelli to her feet, not even bothering to dispute the pinfall escape. A flurry of elbow strikes and Majors has Kelli rocked, staggering at being unloaded on. Majors rushes in to land a flying knee lift, but Kelli steps to the side ... managing to hook the knee and hold on tight as she spirals to the mat ... a beautiful dragon screw leg whip. Majors forced to the mat with the momentum of the move, he’s clutching at his knee as Kelli nips back to her feet. The crowd is ALL over this match, both seemingly evenly matched this evening.
Kelli knowing that Majors isn’t nearly out enough to score a victory, she grabs Majors and balls up her fist ... it looks like she’s going for the Candygram! As Majors is forced to stand fully upright, she lets fly with that deadly spinning backfist but Majors is one step ahead and ducks! The velocity spinning Kelli in a full 360 degrees, Majors desperately forces Kelli back with a shove! Kelli staggering back to the corner, she nimbly bounds onto the ropes ... scaling to the top rope! She has Majors in her sights just as he bounds towards the corner!
Running up the ropes, he catches her completely off-guard and hooks her arms behind her ... and falls back! Her head tucked tightly under his arm, Majors surprises the entire world ... but Kelli most importantly ... with a top rope Major Impact DDT! Kelli landing head first on the mat with a sick thud, Majors quickly covers Kelli for a pinfall attempt!
1!
2!
...
...
... 3!
Winner: Rick Majors
Kelli’s repeat dreams dashed with the sudden Major Impact DDT, the crowd is slightly stunned at the out-of-nowhere ending. Kelli flattened by the finishing move, Majors is crawling towards the ropes .. .realizing just how close he was to possibly being put away TWICE. Once with a Candygram, once with the Sugar High. A photo finish if ever there were one.
As Majors stands to make his way wearily towards the back, Kelli finally begins to stir and pulls herself to her feet with the support of the ropes. So far, each quarterfinals match has been decided on the wings of Fate and a split-second decision, it just goes to show just how BAD each of these superstars want to advance towards the ultimate prize in the business. As Kelli accepts the adulation of the crowd for her strong showing this evening, a new energy seems to be in the air ... several superstars taking their rightful place on the fast track to the main event! Tonight’s Trauma is brought to you by ...
****
****
Match Seven
Singles Match
‘THE Asshole’ Whitey Ford (World ©) v. Grimm
Referee: Charles Lim
The southern style guitars play over the PA system as strobelights and the PCWtron flash white light to the beat of
Bobaflex’s “Bad Man” as we come back from our sponsors’ message. When the music picks up a bit, Ford slowly walks out onto the stage, arms stretched out wide to embrace whatever reaction the crowd gives him; he's not there for their amusement, anyways. Whitey doesn't take his eyes off his opponent as he continues his slow route to the ring, arms still out by his sides. He climbs up the steel steps and vaults over the top rope, waiting in his corner patiently until he can go to work.
When you’re dreaming, you feel alive.At that,
Ministry’s “Dream Song” stomps out of the speakers and marches through the aisles. The drums, the bells, the choir, the chanting – all work to herald the arrival of Grimm. He steps out to a single blue-white spotlight, stops to bask in the light and shadows, and scans the crowd. The Lord of Misrule closes his eyes and sighs before making the long walk to the ring, ignoring the fans along the way. The spotlight follows. A malevolent, distorted voice works its way up through the layers of the song.
This has always been. They tried to pull me in but I was already there.Phinehas climbs up onto the apron and slides in between the ropes. Hopping up onto a turnbuckle, he casts his gaze out over the crowd with his arms at his side, eyes shifting to take in the sea of faces spread out before him. Grimm then drops down. And waits. Staring straight ahead of him at the World Champion. Wondering whether or not Whitey is going to pull out some sort of trickery. He’s been a pretty slippery sort as of late.
DING DING DING!
The bell rings and we’re underway.
Grimm moves towards the center of the ring, Whitey meets him there. Whitey smirking all the while, he even seems to SAUNTER towards the Lord of Misrule. Such boldness. Whitey looks around at the crowd with haughtiness; perhaps he should keep his head in the game and his eyes on Grimm. Turning his attention back to The Hangtown Horror, Whitey raises a hand in mid-air ...
... is he actually asking for a test of strength?
Yes, yes he is.
Grimm considering the proposal carefully, he looks up ... and immediately grabs hold of Whitey’s hand. Gripping it tightly, the two jockey for a grip as their free hands begin the slow process of linking up. Finally, the hands are hooked and the struggle begins! Both men looking to impose their will on the other, the tide turns first towards Whitey Ford. The initiator of the test of strength, Whitey manages to force Grimm down to a knee ... nodding his head and proclaiming his dominance at the top of his lungs for the whole world to hear.
After a few painful seconds, Grimm begins to battle back ... moving back to a standing position and coming face-to-face with Whitey. Staring Whitey down, Grimm immediately turns over Whitey’s knuckles and begins to force Whitey down. Whitey, ever the cunning strategist, refuses to let the momentum push him down too far and throws a boot to the midsection. Breaking the hold, Whitey wades in with another kick to the gut followed by a stiff right hand.
Grimm is on the defensive as Whitey leads with fists and feet flying. Grimm pushed back to the ropes, Whitey is taking control of the ship and leading Grimm where he wants him. The force of Whitey’s strikes are mighty, even Grimm must take notice. Ha. Mighty Whitey. The most vicious of shots are reserved once Grimm is back in the corner, Grimm, however, weathers the blows with a stalwart defense and rolls away. Whitey now back first against the ropes, he’s taken to school as Grimm unloads on The Asshole. Back and forth, the two are STILL fighting for uncontested dominance as they circle half the ring along the ropes until ...
Whitey thinks better of it and falls through the ropes to the outside ... pointing at his skull as if to say ‘I’m not THAT thick in the skull’. Grimm waiting patiently, he is simply unconcerned with following Whitey out to the floor. Whitey will do what he will and he’ll come back willingly for Grimm’s proposed ass whipping. No sense in chasing him ... yet.
As Whitey slides back into the ring near a corner post, Grimm is on the attack and Whitey ducks between the ropes to force the referee to get Grimm away. However, let it be known that Whitey is as crafty as they come and gives Grimm a thumb to the eye for his expenditure. Grimm momentarily blinded, Whitey pounces! Rushing Grimm, he hooks the head and drops him with a running bulldog. The crowd boos heavily at Whitey’s cheap tactics. Boo all you want, no one can argue its’ effectiveness.
As Whitey goes for a quick cover, he doesn’t even get a one count as Grimm is quick to kick out. Whitey manhandling Grimm to his feet, Grimm explodes out with a quick barrage of punches and kicks that stun the World Champion . Forcing Whitey back to the ropes, he whips him across the ring and catches him with a running shoulder block.
Whitey hits the mat and Grimm races towards the opposite ropes. Whitey drops to the mat again and Grimm steps fluidly over the man, hitting the ropes for a THIRD time. This time, Whitey is up and over ... and that’s when it happens.
As Whitey lands on the canvas, it’s obvious to everyone in attendance and everyone at home that something is DEFINITELY wrong. Whitey collapses to the mat, clutching at his knee and rolling on the mat in agony. Grimm stops as he reaches the ropes, hooking his arm at the last second. He watches as the referee dives in to check on Whitey. Whitey is yelling at the referee to ‘fuck off’ but the referee isn’t going anywhere. He’s keeping his eye on Grimm to make sure no sneak attacks are to be had.
The dreaded X symbol is given and medical techs rush to the ring to check on Whitey Ford. The doctor conversing with the referee, relating his professional opinion ... the referee moves to the ring announcer and rather adamantly states that he has no choice but to call the match off. Whitey is livid through his pain, arguing at volume with the referee with the decision he’s about to make but Charles has no other alternative but to award the match to Grimm as Whitey is unable to continue.
Winner: Grimm via referee stoppage
Medical personnel surround Whitey Ford on the mat. He’s trying to get up to continue but it just isn’t happening. We go to a quick and last commercial break as Whitey Ford is looked over.
