Post by Eira on Mar 8, 2017 3:00:45 GMT -5
Thursday March 2nd, 2017
The camera pans out over the crowd, taking in the party atmosphere as the PCW Faithful clamor, latecomers threading through the throng to their seats, signs waving in the air. The techs focus on a few of the notable ones! A patch of raucous frat boys in t-shirts reading ‘Buck Brochamp - RIPPED AF’ hold up a banner reading: GIRL ON GIRL MATCH, LINGERIE MATCH NEXT!. A fun looking middle-aged couple sit together in Andy D. style white bucket hats, holding up a white sign together, a Union Jack in the center: CHEERS, ANDY! A … fan? Holds a lurid green sign in front of his face with rough, cracked-nailed hands, a wiry, bushy salt and pepper beard visible under the sign over a ratty plaid button-down: GRIMM IS A POTATO Now zooming in on two identical young women standing side by side, dressed in an eerie recreation of the twin girls from The Shining. Crude, childlike white stitching across the bibs of their blue pinafores spell out the name SEROMINE.
The camera cuts quick to ringside, a split-second frame of Ace and Jerry staring, transfixed in horror at the girls before they snap their attention to the camera facing them.
Jerry Andrews: WELCOME to Trauma, ladies and gentlemen!
Ace Anderson: We’ve got a great show ahead tonight, all leading up to the pay per view!
Jerry Andrews: That’s right, Mass Destruction 7 is just around the corner! Don’t forget the show is available for preorder -
Ace Anderson: But can be ordered day of the event, as well! I know I’M going to be watching.
Jerry Andrews: Wait, what? Aren’t you - but -
Ace Anderson: That’s the joke, Jerry. That’s the joke.
Match One
Tag Match
Hiroshi Yukio and Tyrone “Crazy Boy” Smith vs. High Tide and Warwyk
Referee: Tyrone Little Jr.
Tag Match
Hiroshi Yukio and Tyrone “Crazy Boy” Smith vs. High Tide and Warwyk
Referee: Tyrone Little Jr.
"The following tag team match is scheduled for one fall!"
The lights flicker and fade out as the pulsating beats of Dope Star Inc's "10000 Watts of Artificial Pleasure" pops on the PA system. Smoke fills the arena as a figure stands in the middle of it. All the sudden, Crazy Boy comes out of the smoke and pumps a fist in the air. He walks down the entryway and climbs the ropes of the ring. He bounces around the ropes a few times, pumps his fist in the air one last time and waits for his opponent to come.
“Introducing first: Tyrone “Crazy Boy” Smith!”
The crowd looks to the entrance way as "Rising Sun" roars out and they know who is coming out from backstage and they start cheering loudly almost drowning out the music.
Hiroshi Yukuo steps through the curtain his face lit up with a smile
He walks slowly down the ramp as the cheering intensifies as the PCW faithful don't hold back for the mountain man from Japan.
He waves to the crowd as he walks and when he sees a kid at ringside and holds up his sign and takes a selfie with him.
As he continues to walk down to the ring as the crowd grows louder and louder so even the announcers can't get a word in over the cheering.
He goes up the ring steps and steps over the top rope and into the ring After he does he does a purification ritual by throwing salt in the ring to cleanse it before the match.
The music fades out as Hiroshi stays in the ring waiting for his opponents.
“And his tag team partner: Hiroshi Yukio!”
“And their opponents…”
"You Are A Pirate!" by Alestorm begins to play. With very little lighting and effects that simulate lightning, High Tide (in a pirate outfit) walks down the ramp slightly crouched over, as if he was sitting. He holds a large pirate flag in one hand, and in the other he is imitating steering a ship. He does this until he gets to the ring where he motions dropping and anchor and proceeds to hop on to the turnbuckle and dive headfirst over the ropes, rolling into a standing position. Then he climbs the nearest turnbuckle and pulls out a spyglass, looking around at the audience. He mimics loading a cannon and as he motions firing it, he jumps off the turnbuckle into the ring (to imitate recoil) as fireworks shoot from all four turnbuckles.
“Introducing first: High Tide!”
Silence. The tin whistle begins to play a very captivating melody. Lights fade away.
Just as soon as the lights go completely out a wicked drum best begins to play, the lights pulse with the music. "Devil's Dance Floor" by Flogging Molly blasts over the pa system as a very high intensity young man comes sprinting from behind the curtains with the Ireland flag waving furiously above him!
Warwyk wastes no time talking shit to people in the crowd pointing at his flag yelling, "YOU AINT SHITE!"
He shakes their insults off and turns his attention back to the ring which he sprints too. Leaving the flag he leaps onto the ring apron and just as quick over the top ropes boxing the air. Warwyk climbs a turnbuckle holding his arms above his head yelling insults at the PCW faithful.
“And his tag team partner: Warwyk!”
The match starts off with Crazy Boy facing off against High Tide.
Jerry Andrews: The two PCW veterans kick this one off.
Ace Anderson: These teams are both a little unorthodox and unexpected, so it will be interesting to see how they both get along.
Jerry Andrews: I feel like the team that co-exists best will likely come out on top here.
Smith and Tide lock up. Crazy Boy goes for a knee strike, but Tide blocks it and returns fire himself. He then strikes Smith with an elbow to the side of his head. Tide then leaps up and connects with a spinning heel kick.
Jerry Andrews: Great stuff by High Tide in the early going.
Crazy Boy falls near his corner, so he reaches up and tags in his partner.
Ace Anderson: The big sumo hitting the ring now.
Tide wastes no time charges at Yukio and hitting him with a dropkick. Yukio is staggered, but he doesn’t fall. Tide attempts another dropkick, but Hiroshi catches him in mid-air and drops him with a swinging sideslam!
Jerry Andrews: What power and agility by Yukio!
Yukio pulls Tide up, but Tide surprises him with a jumping spin kick! Yukio is staggered. Tide hits him with a big diving spear that sends him crashing into his own corner. He immediately tags Crazy Boy back into the match.
Ace Anderson: I’m not sure if Crazy Boy and Yukio are working surprisingly well together or if they’ve just ended up in situations where it’s been convenient to tag in and out, but it’s working for them.
Tyrone Smith returns to the match. Tide rushes at him with a clothesline attempt, but Smith ducks it and returns fire with a right hand. He then grabs Tide and hits him with a Russian leg sweep. He then goes for a quick cover, but High Tide kicks out at two. Regardless, Warwyk is already on his way into the ring to break up the tag. Yukio sees this and cuts him off.
Jerry Andrews: All four competitors in the ring now!
Crazy Boy pulls High Tide up, but Tide catches him with a knee to the face followed by a snap suplex. The official is still trying to get Warwyk and Yukio out of the ring.
Smith gets whipped across the ring, jumping over Tide in the process. High Tide moves out of the way as Warwyk suddenly charges to attack Crazy Boy! Crazy Boy dodges and Warwyk slams into the turnbuckle! Smith gets strikes him with a pair of roundhouse kicks and Warwyk. Falls to the mat. Crazy Boy gets to the second rope and leaps over Warwyk, hitting High Tide with a flying crossbody!
Tide catches him and rolls through for a cover, but Smith kicks out at two.
Yukio returns to his spot on the apron as the official gets Warwyk out of the ring. Tide pulls Smith up, but Crazy Boy strikes him down and then quickly tags Hiroshi back into the match.
Jerry Andrews: The veteran Crazy Boy is finding a way to work with the atypical style of Hiroshi Yukio!
As Yukio enters the ring, High Tide Tide is right there with a big spin kick to knock Yukio into the corner.Tide mounts Hiroshi to score with punches, but Yukio fends it off and shoves High Tide down to the mat. Tide gets to his feet, but Yukio takes him down with a clothesline.
Ace Anderson: High Tide has been in this match for his team the entire time. He needs to tag out.
Jerry Andrews: It certainly looks like Yukio and Smith have better teamwork than Tide and Warwyk, at least for the time being.
Tide gets to his feet, but Yukio hits him with a big standing side kick. Hiroshi with the cover and High Tide with a kickout at two. Yukio pulls Tide up, and Tide immediately leaps up, hitting the sumo with a big jumping knee to the face. With Yukio staggered, Tide takes him down with a flying crossbody! He goes for a cover…. But Crazy Boy rushes into the ring to break it up! That brings Warwyk back into the ring.
Jerry Andrews: All four competitors in the ring once again!
Ace Anderson: The referee needs to get this match under control!
After several seconds of chaotic brawl, the official gets things in order and we’re left with Tide and Yukio once more. Yukio grabs Tide, but High Tide kicks him in the midsection and then leaps up, hitting Yukio with an axekick and dropping him to the mat. Tide now leaps over to his corner and he tags in Warwyk!
Ace Anderson: Warwyk finally officially in this match for his team!
Jerry Andrews: Tide has certainly withstood a lot here tonight… and he’s dished it out too!
Warwyk enters the match as Yukio gets to his feet. Yukio swings, but Warwyk hits a big right hand. He then drops him with a shortarm clothesline! Warwyk then turns his attention to Crazy Boy, knocking him off of the apron! Hiroshi takes advantage and drops Warwyk from behind with a double axehandle.
Ace Anderson: Warwyk looks like he got a little overzealous there, knocking Crazy Boy off the apron and he got attacked from behind.
Yukio now hits Warwyk with a Bombs Away! He goes for a cover, but Tide rushes into the ring to break it up. Suddenly Crazy Boy returns as well! Warwyk gets up and he charges at Crazy Boy, but Smith ducks and Warwyk in advertently hits High Tide with a big clothesline! In the confusion, Yukio grabs him, turns him around and connects with a Yokohama Driver!
1….
2….
3!!!
Winner: Hiroshi Yukio & Tyrone "Crazy Boy" Smith
Yukio and Smith exit the ring after a brief handshake for a team well played, Warwyk and Tide making their separate, less upbeat ways backstage.
Jerry Andrews: Excellent match, but crazy pairings!
Ace Anderson: The angry Irishman, the drunk pirate, the career psychopath, and the sumo wrestler. What’s weird about it?
Jerry Andrews: You’ve been working for this company too long.
(The scene switches backstage to show Kyle Shane, in skinny jeans and a t-shirt for Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild *on sale now, kids!*, comes walking towards a locker room. He has his travel bag with him, and the Underground championship belt is in his free hand, and as he enters the locker room, he stops short. Sitting there, innocuous and yet completely unexpected, is a gift basket. Much like the one, a few weeks ago, that started his whole beef with Olivia Xavier. He looks around the locker room. He edges towards the basket, anxiously, because this could be any number of things, from an early Easter gift from the ladies at the corporate office front desk, to some kind of dirty trick. Could be a bomb, but no, he seems to mentally shake that image out of his head and disregard. He's dropped everything he's carrying and he edges closer and closer to the basket, like someone who is trying to grab the tail of a coiled snake. Finally, he reaches out and snaps up a card that was attached to the cellophane of the gift basket. He flips it open, and starts reading.)
Kyle Shane: "...Dear Kyle, since you have been so accommodating since my debut, I have been thinking of what I could get you in return. I mean, let's be honest, what can you possibly get to show your appreciation for an utter CREEP that tries to hit on you nonstop. And what can you get for the type of person you are, that tries stealing everything and wants things handed to him. You stole the credit card to buy me the first gift basket, and you tried to steal a victory from me. So my thought was, I need to give you a gift you can never get rid of, that will remind you there are some things you can't steal..."
(Kyle's obviously getting more than a little irritated by Olivia calling him a creep for him asking her out, and for throwing his behavior in his face, but he looks up from the card.)
Kyle Shane: Now what in the hell.
(He pulls the ribbon and unwraps the cellophane on the big, wicker basket. But instead of candy, or anything else, there's a folder full of papers among the fake grass in there. He pulls the folder open, and he pulls out an X-Ray of a broken arm. Leafing through the folder, he pulls out another picture, this one a glossy, professional sports photography shot of Kyle in the ring on last Trauma as Olivia Xavier had him in an arm bar, in mid motion of him tapping out. Kyle, sorely unamused now, pooches his lower lip out and glowers. Suddenly, another slip of paper comes out of the folder, and falls to the floor. Kyle, fuming now, picks it up and reads from it.)
Kyle Shane: "Here are a few things for you to remember me by, thief. I want you to hold on to them because they're going to be all you have left after next time we face, and I take your Underground Championship. TTFN... Creep"... MOTHERFUCKER!!!
(Angrily, Kyle Shane kicks the basket off the bench, sending it sailing across the room into a locker. Kyle snatches his belt up, and holds it close to his chest, as if for security purposes. Then he looks over at the fallen basket, sitting there forlornly on it's side with it's guts, fake grass and weaving spilling out. Also in the basket were jelly beans, which have spilled all over the floor.)
Kyle Shane: ...Oh, shit, there was candy.
(He picks up a jelly bean and tastes it, then immediately spits it back out.)
Kyle Shane: UGH, FUCKING LICORICE! Damn this woman, she is ice cold. Alright, Olivia, you're going too far now. But I've received your message, loud and clear... and now you're gonna get my rebuttal.
(Kyle, grumbling angrily, gives the basket one final kick, spilling jelly beans everywhere, as he exits the locker room, dumping Olivia's folder full of 'reminders' in a trash bin as he does. The scene switches back to ringside.)
Ace Anderson: So… that happened.
Jerry Andrews: Yes, yes it did - but the next match is ABOUT to happen!
Ace Anderson: Olivia Xavier vs Kelli Starr. THIS is going to be interesting.
Jerry Andrews: You know, I almost feel bad for Eira.
Ace Anderson: The hell does she have to do with this?
Jerry Andrews: Her match is gonna be a lot harder with her opponent already angry!
Ace Anderson: Oh. Good point. Well - on with the show!
Match Two
Singles Match
Olivia Xavier vs. Kelli Starr
Referee: Nigel Gale
Singles Match
Olivia Xavier vs. Kelli Starr
Referee: Nigel Gale
Sasha Greene: The following is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, she weighs in at 157 lbs... OLIVIA XAVIER!!
As the overhead lights slowly begin to dim, the blended synth and violin opening of 'Quicksilver' by The Cruxshadows hits the sound system. Amidst the pulsating beat, the deep and resonant voice of Rogue himself makes itself known, intoning over the music as the arena goes dark. The full-blown blackout is timed with when he finishes and the song itself briefly goes silent.
I should be ashamed for what you've done to me.
It's only happened because I let it be...but no more.
It's only happened because I let it be...but no more.
As the instrumental bridge picks back up after that pause, green and white sparks tumbling down from the ceiling to form a veritable curtain of illumination-- and before it stands Olivia Xavier herself, visible only as a silhouette due to the falling pyros behind her. Even without a clear sight of her, the crowd can be heard cheering for her, albeit not as loudly as they would more established fan favorites. Her shoulders square and her hands at her sides, she remains as still as can be until the sparks taper off to nothing and the chorus picks up with a vengeance.
I'm taking back my love, taking back my pride,
taking back my dreams... and my life.
This is the ground I will defend.
A rage of angels bears the end.
taking back my dreams... and my life.
This is the ground I will defend.
A rage of angels bears the end.
White and green lights flash along both sides of the ramp as the overhead lights come back up to partial illumination to augment the two colors. Spurred into motion by the sound of the vocals kicking in, Olivia's fists thrust themselves into the air for a moment before she's making her way down the ramp. The fans aren't completely ignored, a hand slapped here or there-- but when she reaches the bottom of the ramp, she pauses, her head turning in either direction to take in the crowd.
I'm taking back my hope, taking back my goals,
taking back my memories... and my soul.
This brand is forged to my crusade.
Quicksilver, the future belongs to the brave.
taking back my memories... and my soul.
This brand is forged to my crusade.
Quicksilver, the future belongs to the brave.
Once she's seen as much as she wants to see, Olivia suddenly surges forward with a burst of speed in order to smoothly slide into the ring on her stomach. Quickly climbing to her feet, a few strides carry her over to her corner of the ring. She climbs onto the second set of ropes, she once again surveys the crowd before she's hopping down and going through a few basic stretches, her music fading as she waits for the match to begin.
Jerry Andrews: What an ovation for Olivia Xavier, the crowd is certainly taking to this impressive young newcomer.
Ace Anderson: You've got to figure she wants to keep the momentum rolling tonight after her making the King of the Underground Kyle Shane, tap out last week.
Sasha Greene: And her opponent, weighing in at 180 lbs... "DOLLFACE" KELLI STARR!!
”(Hard Dance) Hero (Monstercat Release)" by Pegboard Nerds (feat. Elizaveta) comes shimmering out of the PCW loudspeakers as rainbow spotlights flicker over the entryway.
“Hero hero...
Hero hero...
Hero hero...
I wanna be a hero, hero...”
Hero hero...
Hero hero...
I wanna be a hero, hero...”
The bass kicks in and the multicolored spotlights snap to the top of the ramp, neon pink pyros sparking off as Dollface appears! Dancing and bouncing she makes her way to the ring, posing for selfies with fans, giving high fives, having herself a rave party on her way! She reaches ringside and hops up onto the apron, wiping her boots before stepping between the ropes and playing it up for the crowd while she waits for the match to start.
Jerry Andrews: This is a test between these two fan favorites, on really different paths, to try and gain some momentum going in to their bigger tests at the pay-per-view.
Ace Anderson: I want to say there's a bit of respect between Kelli and Olivia, but they've only had the briefest of glances exchanged between them so far, so I can't tell what that means yet. Maybe they kiss?
(Olivia extends her hand to Kelli, who warily takes it. Olivia and Kelli lock eyes for a good, long moment. But then, Olivia pulls Kelli in for a forearm shot to the face. Olivia lays into Kelli with several more forearm shots and backs her to the ropes. She whips Kelli off, and goes to run off the rope herself. Kelli drops down to her stomach and Olivia runs over top of her and to the opposite side of the ring and when Olivia bounces off the ropes back towards a laying Kelli, Kelli uses her feet to launch Olivia into the air. Kelli kips up to her feet as Olivia lands hard, and rolls onto her side, and Kelli whips Olivia into the corner, then runs in and stands on the turnbuckles over Olivia and motions to the crowd, then flips back and tosses Olivia into the middle of the ring with a monkey flip.)
Jerry Andrews: Dollface is such a... manic ball of energy, she lives off getting fired up.
(Olivia gets to her feet, and Kelli takes her down with a flying forearm smash, then Kelli unloads another one as Olivia gets up. Olivia stumbles to her feet, but Kelli takes her down with a spinning heel kick. Olivia pulls herself to a knee, wiping at her nose, and looking up at Kelli. A look of what could be approval crosses Olivia's face.)
Ace Anderson: Olivia came here to compete and it looks like she's satisfied with the level of energy Kelli is bringing to the table.
Jerry Andrews: Maybe it's better compared to Kyle Shane last week.
(Kelli comes towards Olivia and lifts her back to her feet, but Olivia sweeps her legs. Kelli hits the mat and grimaces in pain, holding her nose, and Olivia quickly makes it worse by giving her a leg drop to the back of the head and driving her face into the mat again. Olivia then quickly locks in a bridging Indian deathlock. Olivia arches her back to pull farther back under Kelli's chin with her arms, and Kelli lets out a choked scream of pain. Referee Nigel Gale asks Kelli to give up, but Kelli shakes her head no. Kelli begins trying to elbow Olivia loose. Olivia releases the hold and then she grabs both of Kelli's arms. She pulls Kelli upwards but she is also standing on her long hair. Kelli screams at this modified and illegal move. Nigel Gale tells Olivia to let go or she'll get herself disqualified. Olivia steps off Kelli's hair but holds on to her arms, and then rolls forward performing a flipping senton across the sternum of Kelli. Olivia then lifts Kelli up and, still holding both arms, locks her hands together and gives Kelli a double underhook suplex, holding on to one arm and floating it over into a crucifix armbar on Kelli after she's finished.)
Jerry Andrews: Both Kelli and Olivia bring such innovative and unorthodox moves to the table, it's easy to see why they've both been so successful over the last few weeks.
(Kelli struggles in the crucifix armbar and starts to pull herself up. She pushes forward with her legs, making it so Olivia is stacked up in a pinning predicament in a callback from the match with Kyle Shane. Before Nigel Gale can even start counting, Olivia breaks the hold, not getting fooled by that again. Olivia gets back up, taking hold of Kelli, but Kelli sweeps her legs from under her and then flips over for a jackknife cover. Olivia immediately powers out. She gets up, and Kelli rolls over her shoulder and down her back, grabbing her tights as she does and pulling Olivia over into a schoolgirl pin. Olivia again pushes her way out before Nigel Gale can reposition himself. Olivia, frustrated, gets back up, and goes to lift Kelli up, but Kelli rolls her into a standing La Magistral cradle pin. Nigel Gale counts...)
The referee: One... Kickout.
(Kelli and Olivia get to their feet and Kelli begins giving Olivia some stinging kicks to the leg and hamstring. Olivia staggers on one leg, as Kelli gives her another harsh kick to the side of the knee. Kelli follows up with a short roundhouse to the midsection. Olivia swings for a clothesline but Kelli ducks, and Olivia turns right into a step-up enziguri. Olivia flops to the mat. Kelli then gives a few knee strikes to the side of Olivia's temple, following it up by floating over into a bridging arm triangle chokehold. Olivia's eyes widen in shock at being put in this unexpected predicament. Kelli tightens the hold. Nigel Gale asks Olivia if she gives up and Olivia refuses. Kelli pulls back on the hold. Olivia reaches out for the ropes, but they aren't in reach. Olivia pulls herself closer, and finally is able to grab the bottom rope, forcing a break. Kelli gets up, and lifts Olivia up. Kelli lifts Olivia up onto the ropes and drapes her throat across the second rope. Kelli then jumps up, using Olivia's back as a springboard to fly over the ropes and as she comes down, she pulls Olivia's head down, hanging her up across the second rope. Olivia falls back into the ring, contorting around, holding her throat, and Kelli gets back onto the apron. Kelli uses the ropes to slingshot herself in and nail a 360 flipping leg drop across the throat of Olivia.)
Jerry Andrews: Kelli may take Olivia out here!
(Kelli pins Olivia...)
The referee: One...
Tw... Kickout.
(Olivia reaches for the ropes to pull herself up but Kelli lifts her up. She begins giving Olivia a few crossface forearm shots and she tries to lock in a standing camel clutch submission. Olivia runs backward and squashes Kelli into the corner. Olivia gives Kelli a few elbow shots as she does so. Nigel Gale gets in between them, or tries to, telling them to get out of the corner. Kelli pushes her way past Nigel Gale, but receives a poke to the eyes from Olivia, who pushes her back into the corner and follows it up with a running shoulder block into the midsection. Olivia gives Kelli another two shoulder thrusts, then steps back to the middle of the ring and meets Kelli with a flying forearm in the corner that sandwiches Kelli. Kelli teeters for a second limply, and then flump, drops right face first. Olivia lifts Kelli up and walks her over to the corner, bouncing her head off the top rope. Kelli holds her face. Olivia climbs onto the apron and pulls Kelli over, applying a modifed tarantula submission by locking her legs under the ropes and then pulling back on her head with a neck-lock. Kelli's neck and back and wrenched painfully across the ropes. Nigel Gale starts a disqualification count for this illegal hold.)
Ace Anderson: Olivia beter be careful, it's a slippery slope she's going down.
Jerry Andrews: After last Trauma, Olivia may be determined she needs this win, a draw or stalemate just won't do.
(Olivia breaks the hold as soon as the DQ count begins, but the damage may have been done. Kelli stumbles out of the ropes. Olivia then climbs back in the ring, and springs on the second rope, coming off with a springboard headscissors to take Kelli down. She then lifts Kelli up and applies an octopus stretch. Kelli tries to reach for the ropes with her free arm as Olivia's leg pushes down on her head. Kelli shouts in pain. Nigel Gale once again asks Kelli if she submits, but Kelli refuses. Olivia frees Kelli, but gives her a knee strike to the temple. Kelli falls down to her stomach. Olivia applies a single leg Boston crab, but Kelli rolls through and rolls Olivia over into a small package type of pin.)
The referee: One...
Two... Kickout.
Jerry Andrews: I think everyone, possibly even Olivia, has underestimated the reserves of willpower inside this young woman.
(Xavier lifts Kelli up and hooks her in a facelock as if she's going to go for a shiruanui, but Kelli frees her head, grips Olivia's arm and pulls the other one around her throat for a straightjacket. Then, she drops back with a lungblower, dropping Olivia across her knees. To follow this up, she turns Olivia over, keeping both of Olivia's arms wrapped around her throat with the straightjacket, as she sits on Olivia's back and pulls her wrists backwards in a modified camel clutch stranglehold. Nigel Gale checks to see if Olivia will submit, but Olivia refuses. Kelli keeps the hold applied. Olivia screams she won't give up. Finally, Kelli untangles Olivia's arms from around her throat but keeps holding on to her hands, as she applies a boot to the back of her head and shoves down, planting Olivia's face into the mat with force. Kelli goes for a cover.)
The referee: One...
Two... Kickout.
Ace Anderson: There's the Kelli we know and love, if she encounters a problem, she'll stomp it.
Jerry Andrews: But Olivia has proven her resilience just as much, it may take more than that to put her away.
Ace Anderson: Kyle Shane backstage with "The Collar Pull" watching this.
(Kelli looks down at Olivia in disbelief. She shakes her head, and lifts Olivia up and whips her into the corner. Kelli comes charging in, looking for a big corner splash. However, Olivia moves out of the way and Kelli hits the turnbuckle chest first. She turns around, holding her chest in pain. When Kelli turns, she is gripped around the head by Olivia, who drops down and gives her a double knee facebuster. Olivia lifts Kelli up, hooking her in a front facelock, then giving her the combination shoulder neckbreaker floatover into a DDT that is the '68 Comeback special.)
Jerry Andrews: Olivia with the Fall from Grace!
(Olivia then goes over to the legs of Starr and wraps her up in a reverse figure four/Nagata Lock, which she's dubbed Tripped On Dreams. Kelli screams in pain, and her low tolerance for submissions nearly comes into play as she flings her arms around. However, Kelli is able to hold on, and nearly pulls herself over to the bottom rope to make the rope break. Olivia sees this happening, however, and alleviates the pressure on the hold to pull Kelli by the legs into the center of the ring, and going back to the legs to put the Tripped on Dreams back on hopefully in the mindset of stopping those stomps. But, Kelli is wily and as soon as Olivia goes back to work on the legs, Kelli reaches up and pulls Olivia down into an inside cradle.)
The referee: One...
Two...
Th- Kickout!
(Olivia is mortified at nearly being caught napping, and as soon as she breaks free she dives in and gives Kelli an axehandle to the back of the head. Olivia then pins Kelli in return.)
The referee: One...
Two...
Thre- kickout!
(Olivia motions for Kelli to get up, and she backs up, going for a head kick, but Kelli ducks right under Olivia's leg and sprints forward. Olivia turns around, and Kelli catches her with a standing headscissors before driving Olivia face first into the mat with a spike reverse face driver.)
Jerry Andrews: And there's the Cherry On Top!
Ace Anderson: I feel almost ashamed for adding the pun, but this has got to taste sweet for Kelli.
(Kelli screams something to the crowd as she lifts Olivia, double underhooks the arms, and flips her over into a pyramid driver pin to follow up.)
The referee and the crowd: One...
Two...
Thre - Kickout!
Jerry Andrews: Both of these women have put their strongest efforts out there, and we're no closer to finding a winner.
Ace Anderson: If they weren't currently beating each other to crap, they would find a lot of common ground, I think.
(Kelli runs off the ropes and takes Olivia down with a bulldog as she begins to get up. Then, she paces over to the turnbuckle and climbs to the top, facing the crowd, then she looks back at Olivia and blows her a kiss before flying off with a double axehandle right to the forehead of the rising Xavier!)
Jerry Andrews: And Kelli Starr goes up top with the Sugar High!
(Kelli, not finished dishing out yet, lifts Olivia up, whips her into the corner, and runs in behind her. She climbs up onto the turnbuckle behind Olivia, sticks her knees behind Olivia's neck and back and pushes off the ropes, "riding" Olivia down to the mat with her knees in the back and driving her down with a calf-branding facebuster. Kelli goes for a cover.)
The referee and the crowd: One...
Two...
Three - Kickout!
(Kelli looks stunned. She lets out a raucous party girl shriek and she looks at Nigel, asking "Are you kidding me?!" Nigel assures her that Olivia got the shoulder up. Kelli looks over at Olivia, who is shaking the cobwebs out. The crowd is split 50/50, chanting "Let's go Kelli/Let's go Liv", as Kelli Starr lifts Olivia up, lacing some knee lifts to the face, and Kelli whips Olivia in to the turnbuckles. Olivia hits hard and stumbles out, holding her lower back, and Kelli runs in, going for a stinger splash, but Olivia ducks out of the way. Kelli smacks the turnbuckle mouth first, and stumbles back, comically pinwheeling around in a daze. Olivia then meets her with a Pele kick right to the temple. Kelli falls to one knee, shaking her head as if the lights are dimmed. Olivia then runs to the ropes and comes off, then meets Kelli in the center of the ring with a shining wizard. Kelli flops back, stunned. Olivia takes a moment, trying to catch her breath. Both women are down in the middle of the ring, barely able to stand after the toll this match has taken.)
Ace Anderson: If only Kyle Shane had fought Olivia Xavier this hard in their Underground title match, he wouldn't have so much explaining to do.
Jerry Andrews: This has become a war of attrition, a testament of pure will to win, whoever can pull this off will have bragging rights of coming through a real fight.
(Nigel Gale is checking on both ladies, but as of yet they're both not ready. Olivia is trying to will herself to get up and Kelli is staring straight up as if dazed. Nigel begins a ten count for them to answer. 1... 2... 3... 4... Olivia starts shaking the cobwebs out... 5... Kelli starts rolling onto her side... 6... Olivia starts pushing herself up onto her knees... 7... Kelli also starts getting to her feet... 8... both ladies get up. Olivia fires a hard forearm shiver to the face of Kelli that makes her back off a step. Kelli comes forward and meets Olivia with a forearm shot of her own that makes Olivia take a step back. Liv retaliates with a right forearm, backing Kelli down, then Kelli fires back with one more, back and forth they go, with the crowd giving a "YES!" chant with each successive hit. After an exchange of five shots to the face apiece, Kelli begins firing up, and she begins bringing that high energy as she starts laying in to Olivia with a series of forearms, punches and slaps to the face. She backs Olivia into the ropes, until Olivia doesn't resist anymore, and then Kelli whips Olivia off to the ropes and as she comes back, meets her with a jumping Sling blade neckbreaker. Kelli shouts out to the crowd, and as Olivia gets to her feet, pulling herself up on the ropes she turns and Kelli DECKS her with a brutal spinning backfist.)
Jerry Andrews: CANDYGRAM!
Ace Anderson: Come on, some people would say that's Olivia's money maker, it'll be no good if she needs her jaw wired shut!
Jerry Andrews: Who would actually say that?
Ace Anderson: I dunno - people would. I’m sure.
Jerry Andrews: …
Ace Anderson: LOOK I DON’T WRITE THE JOKES.
(Kelli drops breathlessly over Olivia for a cover.)
The referee and the crowd: ONE...
TWO...
THRE - NO!
Olivia got her foot on the bottom rope!
Jerry Andrews: Amazing! You would have thought the Candygram turned out the lights on Olivia Xavier, but she had the wherewithal to get to the bottom rope.
(Kelli explodes, shrieking at the top of her lungs, in total disbelief. She gets to her feet and yells at Nigel for a moment, telling him that had to be three. Nigel explains his case. Kelli blows him off and goes back to Olivia. Kelli lifts Liv up and gives her a body slam onto the mat for positioning, and then looks back to the ropes, looking to finish up strong. Kelli goes to the ropes and springboards up, looking for a diving double knee drop, but Olivia rolls out of the way just in time and Kelli lands knees first, quite painfully. Olivia then drills Kelli from a kneeling position with a short somersault cutter, smashing her right into the mat. Olivia then goes back to the legs of Kelli while she's laid out and immediately locks on a shin grapevine with an Achilles tendon hold, aka the Hollywood and Vine, or her variation of the move.)
Jerry Andrews: Olivia had Kelli scouted, and now she's got her in the Road to Hell!
Ace Anderson: This girl's got more submissions than Kelli has beads, where did she learn that?!
Jerry Andrews: Kelli is screaming in pain, how long can she last in this?!
(Kelli can only hesitate for another few moments before she taps out to the painful submission. The ref immediately calls for the bell.)
Ding Ding Ding
Winner: Olivia Xavier via Submission
(Olivia has relinquished the hold, and as she stands up, chest heaving from the effort of the match, she looks down at Kelli Starr. Kelli is massaging her knee and looking disappointed. The referee holds Olivia Xavier's hand up.)
Jerry Andrews: Both of these ladies proved something in a big way tonight.
Ace Anderson: You have to be very impressed with Olivia, she's proven she can hang with our toughest champions to date.
(Olivia extends a hand to help Kelli up, and Kelli looks at it warily for a second, but then Kelli stands up next to Olivia and the two nod at each other in understanding. Olivia raises Kelli's hand in respect for a moment.)
Jerry Andrews: Tremendous show of sportsmanship here.
Ace Anderson: It looks like a good deal of respect was earned on both sides.
The camera follows the women backstage, Olivia breaking off at the women’s locker room while Kelli continues on to the candy station at the catering table. Wild, curly pink hair taking up the view, voices can be heard from up ahead.
“I think she did pretty good, personally.”
“Oh, I’m not saying she didn’t. She did a decent job and was clearly trying her best. It’s not her fault the match went to the better man - well, person.”
“But you didn’t win.”
“Yeah but you know, I don't mind letting her have the draw. I still have the title, and I want her to feel she's doing well!”
Two figures can be seen over Kelli’s shoulder now, talking shop by the catering table. Skipping up and grabbing a fistful of skittles out of a massive bowl, she pops a few into her mouth. Turning, she gives a coy little wave to the two conversants - Kyle Shane and the PCW President Michael “Mr. Showtime” Wryght. Kyle looks well puffed-up with himself in a jovial sort of way, while Showtime has a deadpan look of “can you just not” masking any hint of human expression.
“Who’re you talkinga bout?”
His eyes lighting up, Shane gives Kelli a quick up-and-down before stepping forward, thinking to toss a quick glance over his shoulder at his boss.
“Sorry, man, but hey it was great to catch up with you. Maybe we can get a drink sometime?”
Showtime flashes his lethal politician’s smile, turning on his heel and making a hasty retreat, Kelli shrugging as he goes.
“Nice guy, Mr. Wryght.” Kyle throws his thumb over his shoulder at the retreating Showtime, Kelli staring at him curiously.
“Well? Who were you talking about? Weren’t you in another fed before? How did Showtime know?”
“SHOWTIME? Does he let you call him that? You’ve been here THIS long and you didn’t know he’s PRESIDENT?”
Kelli stares at him blankly. “He - dude. BRO. I’ve kicked his ass and had my ass kicked by him. I’m not calling him Mr anything, let alone President. I don’t think he gives a fuck, either. He does the job, we try not to make it any harder for him than we already do, and that’s that.”
Shrugging his shoulders, Kyle backpedals. “Oh, well, of course I mean you have tenure here, so -”
“Stop changing the subject. Who were you talking about?” Kelli’s gaze sharpens, her smile as sweet as ever.
“Olivia, of course, we DID just have that match. You saw it, right? Man, the way I -”
“Got your ass kicked?”
Kyle stares at her, mouth open as she stands there with an innocently curious look on her face, nothing in her tone or body language to hint at the taunt in her eyes.
“But - but I WON. Kelli, I’m still the CHAMPION.”
“Dude, it was a DRAW. That’s not a win. It’s not a loss, either. It’s like falling asleep while masturbating, it embarrassing but since it’s just you it doesn’t matter anyway.”
He stares some more, mouth open a little wider than before. Kelli extends a hand, resting it gently along his jaw with a touch like butterfly wings.
“It’s okay, Kyle. I understand. It’s… hard… for a man like to admit you just couldn’t perform.” Patting his cheek she breezes past, the cameras passing a consternated Kyle Shane to follow Kelli as she skips along the corridor - and runs square into a suited chest! Arms clasp around her biceps to hold her at arms length, Wryght’s face coming into focus.
“Oh my GOD, Kelli. THANK you. I owe you one!” The desperate sincerity in his voice gives them both pause, they stare at each other for a moment before breaking into laughter, the network transitioning the feed into commercial.
The show reopens to inside the ring, where stands a short, tubby, redneck-looking white man. The man is wearing a pair of American flag printed workout pants, white sneakers, a black PCW-logo tank top, and a backwards dark-green cap of South Carolina's very own Greenville Drive baseball team. The dark blond goatee-sporting man brings a microphone to his lips, and after a quick scan of the crowd, speaks up.
“A-standin' 6 feet, 4 inches ayn' weighing 270 pounds av pure American muscle...Bawn in thuh greatest kuntry in thuh whowl entaahyr wawld- thuh United States av America...Ever'body please gittup on yo feet and welcome SAM!”
Red, white, and blue lights stream throughout the arena. Hundreds of fans instinctively stand and singalong as the unmistakable opening chords of Iced Earth's instrumental version of The Star-Spangled Banner begins firing off through the sound system and filling the venue with a sense of American patriotism.
PCW Faithful: O say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming.
At the top of the entrance ramp a large, muscular man wearing a red, white, and blue mask, boots, and wrestling tights, and holding an American flag in his hand, steps from behind the curtain and walks to the center stage.
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
The man, who can only be assumed to be SAM, marches his way to the ring, waving the flag proudly and slapping the hands of a few fans as he does so.
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there
Once ringside SAM climbs the ring steps and steps through the middle and bottom rope. Now in the ring, SAM continues to wave the flag as we reach the end of The Star-Spangled Banner.
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Following the completion of the anthem, fireworks burst around the two men in the ring and even more of the fans, if they hadn't already been standing, rise to their feet and cheer and applaud.
Ace Anderson: Feel that energy, Jerry?!
Jerry Andrews: Indeed I can.
SAM and the man in the ring carefully exchange flag for microphone and then SAM speaks.
”What an ovation. What an ovation. I knew...if I came out here tonight...that this is the kind of ovation I would get. *looking at his companion in the ring* Can you believe that, Dixon? Incredible. These fans, these fans get it.”
Spattered clapping can be heard, but the crowd is more focused on what this new competitor is saying.
”FIRST *SAM emphasizes by slamming his hand down*...let me introduce you to one of Greenville's very own- Dixon!”
The tubby redneck steps forward, enthusiastically and clumsily tips his ball cap, and then waves it out to the crowd before being motioned to step back by SAM.
”This guy...Get back here....Dixon and I use to be just like you. Well, Dixon was a lot like you, I actually worked for a living.”
The fans instantly, perhaps even instinctively, boo.
”Oh settle down. I'm just joking with you all a little bit. I know you have to have jobs in order to afford coming out here to enjoy the show. What I AM saying, what I am really saying, is that Dixon is from right here in Greenville, and me being a man of the people, thought that it would be a nice gesture to bring one of you to join with me on my quest to- MAKE PCW GREAT AGAIN.”
Small mixture of claps and boos.
”I was just like you. A fan. Someone who liked to sit back and watch the show. Then, one day, it struck me that I didn't need to just sit at home and watch what use to be a great show. Instead of watching a failing television show, I made a decision to get up and do something about it. I am here to MAKE PCW GREAT AGAIN. I am here for you, Americans just like Dixon, who want to watch a quality role model, represent a quality company, and represent the quality of American liberties and justices.
And so, it is MY great honor to announce to you fine people here today that I have OFFICIALLY signed on to compete in THE Icemann. Invitational. Tournament. And I, Samuel Alexander Marshall, promise you, and believe me when I say this to you, that I am the ONLY ONE, believe me, that can make this promise, that with you, MY PCW Faithful and Dixon in my corner, we will MAKE PCW GREAT AGAIN!.”
SAM drops the microphone and as he does more red, white, and blue fireworks go off. The Star-Spangled Banner by Iced Earth begins to play again and Dixon hands SAM his American flag, which SAM resumes waving. While not as loud as earlier, there is still a loud contingent of the PCW Faithful singing along with the anthem as SAM makes his exit from the ring and ringside area.
Match Three
Underground Championship Match
Singles Match
Eira vs. Kyle Shane
Referee: Joseph Buckland
Underground Championship Match
Singles Match
Eira vs. Kyle Shane
Referee: Joseph Buckland
The arena lights fade to near blackness, purple lights swirling over the crowd as fog rolls out from the stage. An eerie, wistful melody weaves its way through the assembled as a lone figure takes shape in the center of the stage, still obscured in the shadowy mist. At 0:12 of Rammstein’s "Wo Bist Du", heavy industrial bass explodes out of the PCW loudspeakers as purple sparks and violet pyros fire off along the stage, lights snapping to ful to reveal Eira!
"Ich liebe dich, ich liebe dich nicht
Ich liebe dich nicht mehr, ich liebe dich nicht mehr,"
Ich liebe dich nicht mehr, ich liebe dich nicht mehr,"
Till Lindemann’s trademark growling resonance accompanies her down the ramp, her purposeful stride in perfect time to the percussive beat. The aggressive yet oddly hopeful chords storm across the PCW Faithful, Eira interacting with the crowd freely as she goes. Approaching ringside, she takes off at a full sprint, silver and black streaking towards the ring!
"Ich suche dich hinter dem Licht
Wo bist du,"
Wo bist du,"
Eira flips forward, catching herself with her hands to launch herself in a handspring somersault, landing with balletic precision on the apron! Wiping her feet, she steps between the ropes and begins to stretch out with preternatural flexibility, waiting for the match to start.
The opening notes of "In The Morning And Amazing" by Circa Survive begins to play. The big screen shows shots of Kyle’s matches. Kyle Shane steps slowly out onto the stage. The Assassins hood to his longcoat is pulled low over his face. The distinctive voice of Anthony Green hits the bridge:
"And how could anyone
You are in my dreams
Half human, half machine
You with someone else that I have felt and seen
I cannot rest, or my consciousness contest
Looking right through the lens
From winter brings the spring again"
Kyle tilts his head back and holds his arms out, taking in the reception of the crowd. For the PCW faithful that are just getting to know him, there is a modest show of respect, but the truly dedicated that have followed his career stir mightily. Some on the sides of the aisles even make a fanning bow motion as Kyle walks by. 1/2 the way down the aisle, Kyle pivots, holding his arms up to either side of him. He climbs onto the apron. Kyle balances on the ropes for a moment, points to himself and smirks, holding his arms out, and then he hops down, takes off his longcoat and stretches a few times to get ready.
Ace Anderson: I really wonder how this is going to work out.
Jerry Andrews: Well I’d say either of them could have it. Eira’s much more of a known quantity, but she’s had a rough start on her return. Shane, on the other hand, has had great success in his relatively short time here thus far.
Ace Anderson: Of course, of course, only that’s not what I meant. We’ve seen how Kyle Shane has clashed with Olivia Xavier, I can only wonder how it will go for him here.
Jerry Andrews: Yeah, so? It’s not like Eira and Xavier are bee-eff-effs, so she really has no incentive to give Kyle extra trouble. The women have no relation to each other, unless you know something I don’t know…?
Ace Anderson: I know how Eira usually responds to human interaction in general, let alone with a new talent that’s already proven a bit oblivious with the ladies...
Jerry Andrews: ...Oh, this is gonna be GOOD.
Ace Anderson: *under his breath* Or very, very bad.
The match gets underway, with both competitors heading to the center of the ring to circle each other, each with a hand extended to play at a lockup. Neither of them are biting at first, but Shane surprised Eira by grabbing her wrist with a quickness and attempting a hammerlock. Eira rolls through however, grabbing his hand and reversing the hold, adjusting to put a palm on his elbow for added pressure. Not letting the hold linger, knowing just how quick Kyle Shane can be, she whips him into the ropes. Shane bounces back and attempts a clothesline but it's ducked deftly. Shane rebounds, but is caught by a charging Eira who hits a hurricanrana! Rolling with the momentum, Shane hits his feet quickly and the ropes once again, this time catching his opponent unprepared with a flying forearm! Shane moves into position, having planned his next move three moves ago, and attempts a standing moonsault. Eira gets her knees up...but Shane lands on his feet, transitioning into a jacknife pin!
1...
Eira uses a show of strength to roll through the move only after a one count, and delivers a stiff kick to the chest of her opponent! This time it's her turn to try a standing moonsault, only for Shane to roll out of the way...regardless, she lands on her feet as well! Both competitors have the same idea and attempt a dropkick, resulting in a stalemate as they both get to one knee, taking the defensive. The crowd gives a smattering of applause for the athleticism shown by both wrestlers, and the two of them circle once more.
Another lockup attempt is thwarted, this time by Eira who delivers a hard boot to the stomach. She follows up with a swinging neckbreaker, and floats over for the pin.
1...
Shane kicks out barely after one, but Eira gives him to reprieve, once again hitting the ropes and delivering a nasty dropkick to the face! Another pin attempt.
1...
Another kickout by The Game Changer, and he's pulled quickly to his feet by Eira. Convinced her key to victory is to be quicker than Kyle Shane, she whips him into the ropes once more, only for Shane to springboard into them, his back bouncing off the ropes, and connecting with a loud reverse elbow on the return! Instead of going for a cover, Shane taunts the crowd, holding his arms out in a premature victory. He regains concentration and starts laying into Eira with boots to the back and back of the head, whittling away at her stamina while he devises a new gameplan. Dragging her to her feet, Shane connects with a snap suplex that he transitions into a chinlock, driving his knee into the spine of his opponent. Eira grits her teeth in pain, but fights back to her feet after a moment and breaks the hold with a flurry of elbows to the midsection. Once Shane lets go of her head, Eira takes a step forward, and attempts an enziguri...the kick flying through think air as Kyle ducks, wrapping his hands around her waist and hoisting her backwards with a German Suplex! This time he goes for the cover.
1...2...
Eira kicks out, but not so close as to think the match may have been over.
Jerry Andrews: Looks like some definite competition so far!
Ace Anderson: They’re definitely keeping it all business.
Favoring her shoulders and the back of her neck, she attemps to get to her feet but is met with another barrage of kicks and stomps that keeps her grounded. Shane takes a step back to gauge Eira's rise to her feet, and at the right moment charges with a Skyward Sword! Eira dodges out of the way, leaving a staggered Game Changer to stop himself clumsily against the ropes. Enziguri attempt, and Eira doesn't miss this time, connecting with the temple of her opponent as he turns, but sending him crashing over the ropes and out of the ring as well! Shane lands in a heap, but is quick to try and regain his footing, confident that he can keep his momentum. Those thoughts are shattered, though, as Eira vaults over the top rope, landing on the second, and connecting with a picture perfect Asai moonsault!
The referee chastises both competitors for being out of the ring, so Eira obliges him and rolls Shane back under the bottom rope. Leaping up onto the apron with signature agility, she vaults over the ropes with a slingshot legdrop!
1...2...
Kickout by Kyle Shane, surprised to be taken off guard by the high flying offense. Eira is on a tear, and begins to lay into Shane with more stiff kicks to the chest. The Game Changer is resilient, showing a lot of heart by still getting to his knees. As he attempts to stand, however, Eira grabs the back of his head and plants him with a knee right to the face, followed by a hurricanrana which drives Shane's head into the mat! Cover attempt.
1...
2...
A near fall for Eira, with Shane looking more dazed then ever. Sensing blood, she locks on the Purgatory submission move! Shane is grimacing in pain, trying to shake the cobwebs from his head while ignoring the searing pain in his back. With both arms locked under his chin, Shane keeps yelling 'NO' at the referee when he asks him if he wants to tap. In her haste, Eira let her ring awareness go by the wayside, and doesn't notice Shane inching his feet towards the ropes until it's too late. Rope break, and the referee forces her to relinquish the hold.
Eira smells blood, and rolls her opponent onto his back. Springboarding off the second rope onto the nearest top turnbuckle, she readies herself and leaps off the turnbuckle to connect with the Fall of the Morning! Only...there's no one home. Shane rolls smartly out of the way, and Eira lands awkwardly, appearing to tweak a knee. Favoring her previous injury for just a moment too long, she turns and is met by Kyle Shane, charging out of desperation, who lays her out nearly out gold with Emblem Heartless! He goes for a cover, as quick as he can.
1...
2...
And a near fall for Shane this time, who pounds his fist into the mat and argues with the referee for a second before pulling Eira to her feet and bullying her into the ropes. Kyle lays into her with knife edge chops, the crowd WOOing along with each strike. Eira surpries Shane by blocking his last attempt, and she reverses positions with him, reaching into her reserves to return the favor with chops of her own! Kyle doesn't eat nearly as many as she did, and shoves her away...and now we have a slobberknocker! Both fighters refuse to give ground in a battle of pride, striking out with punches and kicks. Shane eventually gets the upper hand, punching her back into the corner and continuing to punch away until the referee finally invokes the break. Shane shouts at him to leave him alone, and should have kept his eye on the prize...because he's taken down by a vicious spear! Eira is too dazed to make a cover though, and both wrestlers are down.
Eira is to her feet first, and the look of determination on her face spells something ugly for Kyle Shane. She waits patiently, grimly, for her quarry to reach his feet, only to drop him back to the mat with a shining wizard! She pulls him up by his hair and pushes him towards the turnbuckle, only to turn him around and hoist him onto the top one, straddling the turnbuckle. It appears she's going for the Wreath of Barbs! The fans are on their feet as Eira gains her footing, and prepares to leap...
...only to lose her balance when ”Quicksilver” by The Cruxshadows electros out of the speakers and Olivia Xaviers entrance video starts to play! Eira leaps down from the turnbuckle, furious, jaw clenched as she glares murder from the ring, leaning over the top rope towards the entranceway. The music continues to play, but nobody comes out onto the stage. The music abruptly stops, confusing Eira, but she turns back to the task at hand.
That task, being a flying Kyle Shane, who connects with a stiff missile dropkick! Eira lands in a heap, and a still groggy Game Changer lifts her up to her feet to connect with Pieces of Eden! Eira is unconcious, but Shane still looks to be shooken up after nearly taking the loss for a moment, and escaping due to the distraction by Xaviers entrance music. A sly grin comes over his face, and he takes his time getting back to his feet, dragging his unconscious foe back to her feet and connecting with a second, resounding Pieces of Eden.
1...
2...
3!
Winner: Kyle Shane via Pinfall
"In The Morning And Amazing" by Circa Survive begins to play over the loudspeakers as Kyle Shane collects his Underground Championship belt and swaggers from the ring, med techs already at the side of the stirring form of Eira. The assist her in sitting upright, her glassy gaze passing over the scene before her in brief confusion.
Jerry Andrews: What a match!
Ace Anderson: I know there’s no rules in an Underground match, but -
Jerry Andrews: It is what it is. Besides, it’s not like Kyle got mouthy or handsy, right?
Lucidity returns to her all at once, eyes widening and her gaze snaps to the ramp where Kyle is still schmoozing with fans. Rising slowly to her feet, her face frozen in the eerie calm you see when someone is mentally checking off an “untraceable homicide” shopping list.
Ace Anderson: Y’know… somehow I don’t think that’s gonna help him, Jerry.
Kyle's victory celebration is cut short as 'Quicksilver' hits the sound system, the crowd's cheers (with an undercurrent of boos from the fans of the reigning Underground Champion) rising up in response. The cheers outweigh the boos when Olivia Xavier walks out to the top of the ramp, a microphone in hand and a smirk playing at the corners of her lips. Eira’s expression doesn’t change - it’s clear she doesn’t know which of the two were responsible for the distraction!
Jerry Andrews: Kyle does not look happy to see the woman that pushed him to his limit at Trauma 206!
Ace Anderson: Don't forget that she's also the woman that heartlessly shot him down after he was thoughtful enough to buy her a gift--
Jerry Andrews: With a stolen credit card. He's also pointedly ignored her every time she's turned him down.
Ace Anderson: Persistence is what pays off!
Olivia's entrance music dies down, though it is replaced by a melody of a different sort--namely? The redhead's chuckle, touchably soft and maddeningly cutting all at once being picked up by the mic. After a shake of her head, she properly puts that microphone to use.
"Ah, so that's the trick to being treated like a human being instead of as a piece of ass... have a scary husband that can throw you around like a lawn dart. Though maybe you landing on the concrete headfirst would help knock some sense into you--but I doubt it I mean, you're the one strutting around like you're untouchable--like you didn't tap like the bitch boy you are in the middle of the ring last Trauma."
Whatever Kyle's shouting in reply can't be clearly picked up, though whatever it is Liv picks up from it doesn't seem to impress her. It's a wonder she doesn't roll her eyes right out of their sockets, as a matter of fact.
'Yes yes, I know-- you pinned me while you were tapping out, and the refs couldn't decide who to award the win to. Funny how it takes me insulting you for you to actually own up to what happened, huh? It's almost like the only time reality gets through is when your poor widdle ego is wounded. Guess it's a good thing, then, that I'm telling you this now while there's still a chance for an inconvenient truth to get through all the bullshit to hit home. You might wish that you were finished with me in that ring, but unfortunately for you... you're not."
Jerry Andrews: Wait, does that mean--
The redhead leans forward just a bit, making sure she's meeting the current Underground Champion's gaze.
"At Mass Destruction, I'm getting the rematch I deserve... and there is nothing you can do to get out of it!"
The crowd roars universally at the sound of that, Kyle's eyes going wide as Olivia smirks at him--though as it turns out, she's not done.
"Oh, and one more thing--you know, while I have the chance for you to actually fucking pay attention to what I'm saying instead of just staring at my bust and fantasizing about things I'd never be willing to do to you."
Ace Anderson: Ouch!
"When you tap out to me again, you won't have any way of twisting the truth around to salvage your masculine ego. Though really... can you say you truly have any left?"
'Quicksilver' plays as Liv drops the mic, Eira leaving the ring and giving her a nod on her way by - with Kyle Shane left to seethe in the ring as the show flips to commercial.
Match Four
Triple Threat Match
Andy D vs. Nathan Saniti vs. Whitey Ford
Referee: Eric Russo
Triple Threat Match
Andy D vs. Nathan Saniti vs. Whitey Ford
Referee: Eric Russo
The arena lights go down as the start of ”Damn Nation” by Lower Than Atlantis starts up. As the first verse kicks in, a couple of spotlights start to scan over random sections of the crowd as the letters AD are emblazed on the big screen, with various video highlights of Andy's career visible only within the letters themselves.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
You can lead your lambs to slaughter if its what the shepherd thinks
You can lead your lambs to slaughter if its what the shepherd thinks
As the chorus starts up on the song, an explosion of Pyro's go off and the arena lights all come back up to reveal Andy standing in the center of the ring. He stands there for a moment, soaking up the reactions of the crowd before he removes his bucket hat and places it on the steel pole part of the turnbuckle, ready for the match.
The southern style guitars of Bobaflex’s ”Bad Man” play over the PA system as strobelights and the PCWtron flash white light to the beat of the bass drum. When the music picks up a bit, Ford slowly walks out onto the stage, arms stretched out wide to embrace the hate rained down upon him. Taking great amusement at the crowds disposition, Whitey trades words and insults with the more vocal fans before rolling under the bottom rope.
The introductory chimes of "Monster," by Imagine Dragons beckon the entrance of PCW resident Madcap Magician as lime green fog coats the runway from the ring to the entrance. Flanked by Rasputin, Naomi, and Neville, the otherwise normal (for him) looking Nathan Saniti leads the group out from the back, Nathan taking point. He and Neville wave their arms with a flourish, calling to the fog to rise and engulf the lot.
The lights slowly fade as it thickens as it envelops the Harvesters, suddenly dissipating just as rapidly as it appeared, revealing that the group has vanished! A thunderous bolt of lightning strikes the center of the ring with a blinding flash. And another. After a third bolt hits, the lights go out completely for a second. A column of spotlighted smoke begins to build at the center of the ring, snaking its’ way skyward. Lime green and purple spotlights dance around the smoke as the lights fade on and the smog evaporates, revealing the Harvesters in the center of the ring!
Russo steps forward to give his introductory remarks, emphasizing “NO WEAPONS!” loudly enough the static mic picks it up. Satisfied the men understood him as well as they had any intent to, he steps through the ropes to ringside and signals for the bell.
DING DING DING!
The opening bell rings and the three men circle each other, looking for an opening. Whitey Ford is aware but casual, his taunting manner in no way buried beneath his new “not a rule breaker” persona. Nathan Saniti appears to have a genteel sort of morbid amusement at the whole thing, grinning a little and waiting for someone to make a mistake. Andy D. is bouncy and ready to go, jumping into action in a blur of motion! He goes flying between Saniti and Ford, darting between the startled men to bounce the ropes, rebounding and locking his arms to take both Nathan and Whitey down with a double clothesline!
Ace Anderson: GET IT, BOY!
Jerry Andrews: Andy D. RIGHT out of the gate with the action!
Andy D. rolls to his feet as N. Saniti and Ford are quick to do the same - Ford taking a massive swing at Andy but the more agile competitor manages to duck underneath him and start throwing short forearm blows to Ford’s face! Instinct reminding Andy he was in close quarters with a hardened veteran of at least a couple dozen bar fights, he whips Ford across the ring, scurrying to the side as Nathan looks to take advantage with a big clothesline of his own for Ford! Ford is too fast though, ducking his head and rolling underneath the shot. He blasts into the opposite side ropes and comes back at Nathan with an arm outstretched for his OWN clothesline - but stops short at the last second to shuffle-step a nasty snap kick into Nathan’s chest! Nathan goes tumbling through the ropes, Whitey looking to follow when suddenly Andy D. jumps him! Hooking his feet under under Ford’s arms, Andy rolls him through for an optimistic early pin!
… - NO!
Not even at the ONE count Ford blasts out by way of sheer brute force, Andy yowling in pain at the sudden break!
Ace Anderson: Impressive!
Jerry Andrews: Doesn’t matter - they forgot about someone!
Indeed, while Ford is picking Andy D. up by the hair, Nathan Saniti reaches arms that look freakishly long for a startled blink of an eye and grabs Ford’s ankles - snapping him face-first to the mat! Andy D. rolls to the far side of the ring and mounts a turnbuckle while Nathan slips in, Ford stomping to his feet only to have his head grabbed and shaken violently!
Jerry Andrews: Shaken Baby Syndrome!
Ace Anderson: Wait!
Andy D. launches himself off the turnbuckle into a high angle dropkick, taking him off Ford like a freight train! Ford staggers away while the other two talents finish their crash-and-burn, Andy D. up first, pulling Nathan to his feet and locking in an armbar, slinging him into the ropes! Nathan hits and bounces back in total control of the rebound, dropping a shoulder to charge Andy D. across the ring into the corner with a big shoulder block - then dances back!
Ace Anderson: Did he really need to add the flourish with the scarf though?
Jerry Andrew: Ah, these creative types. You know how it is.
When Andy comes out of the corner towards Nathan, the Mad Magician lunges and yanks Andy D. forward and into a tight embrace, flipping him down to the mat in a brisk snap suplex! Saniti hooks a leg of the still-struggling Andy, the orange-haired fellow shouting for the ref to make the count. And quickly, if you PLEASE?
...1!
…… - kickout!
Jerry Andrews: Andy D.’s not out of the game yet!
Ace Anderson: Which is to say, there’s still a game. Triple threat match, and all.
Ford has his feet firmly under him again, running at the duo who separate even more hastily, Nathan rolling away quicker. Whitey jumps on top of Andy D. and starts raining punches down but Andy D. squirms backward as fast as he can! He gets his back into the corner and starts climbing to his feet only for Ford to come charging in after him! Andy D. pops up like a startled meerkat, grabbing his opponent by the shoulders and falling backward, using the momentum to throw him facefirst into the turnbuckle! As Ford stumbles back holding his nose, Andy D. hops up to his feet and dashes across the ring to clothesline him over the top to the floor! He spots an opening and runs the ropes again, springing off the second rope in the corner and front flipping out to the floor to drop Whitey Ford! Andy D. makes a cover, Ford fighting through the cobwebs as Russo moves in to count it.
...1!
……..2!
- No! Ford throws his shoulder up just after two, Andy D. backing up for some breathing room before Ford makes it back up.
Ace Anderson: What a great match!
Jerry Andrews: These are three CHAMPIONS, Ace. Whether they’re reigning now or not is absolutely irrelevant. These are three of the VERY TOP COMPETITORS Pure Class Wrestling has ever seen.
Ace Anderson: Not a word of argument with that, Jerry. Not a single word.
Nathan moves in on the attack, grabbing Andy D. again and laying in a series of stiff-armed chops!
Ace Anderson: Don’t do it.
Jerry Andrews: Ace?
Ace Anderson: Jerry, we talked about this.
Jerry Andrews: Do you have some gravy, Ace?
Ace Anderson: With all the professionalism available at my disposal, I ask you to please refrain from -
Jerry Andrews: COZ CHOPS ARE BEIN’ SERVED!
Ace Anderson: *silently pinching bridge of nose while clenching eyes shut*
Andy recovers enough from the sudden attack to shove back at Nathan, knocking him stumbling! Nathan starts to lurch forward to pursue but then halts and steps politely back with a “after you” gesture, Whitey Ford charging by and into Andy D.! Ford takes him down with a ring-shaking crash, yanking himself free of the human wreckage and crawling away with pained motions, Andy D. lost in dreamland.
Jerry Andrews: Did you just see what I just saw?
Ace Anderson: Yes. At least I think I did.
Jerry Andrews: Are they - are they working together?
Ace Anderson: I doubt it. I’m certain that while most humans are 70% water, Nathan Saniti is 70% vaudeville.
With Andy D. still prone, Nathan jumps onto the rising Ford, whipping him over in a snap suplex, flipping him into his back! Knees on Ford’s arms, Nathan grabs his head and slams it into the canvas, stopping at Russo’s shouted warning and hooking a leg for a pin!
...1!
…….2!
…………Not yet!
Ace Anderson: Ford just BARELY got a shoulder off the mat there! Just barely!
Jerry Andrews: I dunno, Ace, even if he did I’d say Nathan has his number -
No sooner does he say that than the Mad Magician makes a serious tactical error and tries to throw a big punch down at his opponent! Suddenly though, Ford shoots his legs up in the air and wraps them around his head and shoulder! Completely atypical to his arsenal, and therefore COMPLETELY unexpected, Ford has N.Saniti locked in a stranglehold, Nathan trapped in the triangle choke, at first trying to stack the move and then dropping his center of gravity to try and posture his head up to escape the hold! Nathan struggles, his face turning an odd shade of puce, his hand slapping the mat just before his eyelids begin to flutter!
Winner: Whitey “The Asshole” Ford via Submission
”Bad Man” by Bobaflex plays out over the speakers as Ford winces his way to his feet, fist in the air in the briefest of victory poses before heading backstage, Nathan assisted by the Harvesters to do the same.
Ace Anderson: Great triple threat match here tonight.
Jerry Andrews: That it was, Ace. Whitey Ford has another win, but Nathan very nearly had him! While Andy D. nearly had HIM!
Ace Anderson: It’s the damndest thing though, Jerry…
Jerry Andrews: What’s that, Ace?
Ace Anderson: Ford didn’t cheat again.
Main Event
Singles Match
Grimm vs. “The Fabulous One” Dan Fierce
Referee: Ed Lane
Singles Match
Grimm vs. “The Fabulous One” Dan Fierce
Referee: Ed Lane
Jerry Andrews: It's finally time for the main event!
Ace Anderson: Yes. It. Is. And what a main event! The Lord of Misrule, the Hangtown Horror, the Elder Dillinger, the...
Jerry Andrews: They get the point.
Ace Anderson: ...The five time PCW World Champion Phinehas Grimm facing off against the current champ, "The Fabulous One" Dan Fierce.
Jerry Andrews: They'll be squaring off at Mass Destruction for the title, but tonight, the gold is NOT one the line!
Ace Anderson: These two have been going at each other all month long, ever since Grimm won the right to be number one contender. If this rivalry gets much more brutal, they may very well need to station cops around the ring.
Lights dim and the PCW-Tron goes black. With the sound of a sharp nib scratching across a ragged sheet of parchment, a sepia-toned cursive scrawls grimm across the screen. The name flickers, wavering in and out of focus with the occasional tracking glitch as if projected from an old forgotten film canister uncovered on the bottom shelf in the cellar. Sparse percussion resonates throughout the arena and is soon joined by a droning, distorted bass line. At that, A Perfect Circle’s ”Counting Bodies Like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drums” stomps out of the speakers and marches through the aisles. The drums, the distortion, the voices – all work to herald the arrival of the Hangtown Horror.
Don’t fret, precious, I’m here. Step away from the window.
He walks 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 takes a deep breath before making the long walk down the ramp, deadset on the ring and ignoring the fans along the way. The spotlight follows. The words work their way up through the layers of the song.
Go back to sleep.
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.
Ace Anderson: Grimm looks like he's dead serious about tonight's match.
Jerry Andrews: Wait... You can tell the difference than how he normally looks?
Ace Anderson: Good point.
The synthesized guitar thrumming of Adam Lambert's "Shady" pulse over the speakers. The entire arena is split into six colored sections of
Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
and Purple
Each section switches colors in order with each pulse of the music. As the lyrics kick in, a group of a half dozen glistening, muscle-bound men of all shapes and colors, dressed in black leather pants, and fuchsia boots dance out from the back, looking like a PCW version of Magic Mike.
Baby, I’m on the hunt
Baby, I got my target on you
Trouble, that’s what I want
And I’m gonna do
Just what I have to
Get your ass down to the front
Go on and roll it out, I dare you
Sorry I’m kinda drunk
But did you just say your game was brand new
Baby, I got my target on you
Trouble, that’s what I want
And I’m gonna do
Just what I have to
Get your ass down to the front
Go on and roll it out, I dare you
Sorry I’m kinda drunk
But did you just say your game was brand new
They prance and stroll their way down to the ramp, circling the ring, and then, one by one, stopping to line the catwalk from the back to the ring in a staggered pattern. They continue to dance and gyrate in place as the song continues.
No, I ain’t broken, but I need a fix
That satisfaction when I, I get my kicks
I’m up all night, I’m outta sight
Don’t turn on the light
'Cause I’m feeling so shady lately
Come on and take me underground
Deep under the street
Come on and take me, take me down
Where freaks like us can meet
That satisfaction when I, I get my kicks
I’m up all night, I’m outta sight
Don’t turn on the light
'Cause I’m feeling so shady lately
Come on and take me underground
Deep under the street
Come on and take me, take me down
Where freaks like us can meet
Confetti cannons at each corner of the ring and in front of the entrance explode into life. Out comes Dan Fierce! The audience gets to their feet, cheering wildly as he saunters down the ramp.!
Turn it up, turn it up, turn it up
Turn it way up, don’t stop the beat
Turn it way up, don’t stop the beat
Dan Fierce makes his way down to the ring, keeping rhythm to the music whilst taking time to appreciate the fans, and of course, the buff dancers parading him to the ring.
Come on and turn me, turn me out
'Cause I’m feeling so shady lately
'Cause I’m feeling so shady lately
Dan smiles broadly at the appreciative audience, blowing kisses and generally returning their love. Dan finally enters the ring, getting the crowd behind him on all sides.
I throw more shade than a cloudy day
The brakes don’t work, I’m just a runaway train
Somebody come and help me out,
All I wanna be is free
I was tryin’ to get down, now I can’t get out
I’m shady lately
The brakes don’t work, I’m just a runaway train
Somebody come and help me out,
All I wanna be is free
I was tryin’ to get down, now I can’t get out
I’m shady lately
He strikes one final pose, holding his hand high, the other on his hip in the center of the ring as the confetti cannons fire one more time, showering the ring with glitter and colorful paper.
[font color="ff00ff"]Shady lately!
[/font]Grimm grimmaces grimmly as Dan Fierce gets bitchy across the ring, pointing an accusatory finger at him and uttering a few words that can't be aired on a live mic during prime time. Lane uses the time to check Fierce for foreign objects at Grimm's request, disarming Dan of a couple of baggies of glitter that were tucked away in rather personal spaces. Fierce gives the contraband up unwillingly.
Grimm wastes no time in charging at the World Champion, the ref barely getting out of the way of an incoming flying forearm aimed directly at Fierce's noggin. Lane calls for the bell in a flurry as Grimm unloads on the champ. Fists land, driving the Fabulous One to the corner with his arms blocking as many shots as he can. Then the footwork begins. Grimm stomps and kicks a complete hoedown into Fierce's body.
Just as it looks like the World Champion is wilting to the onslaught, a sudden burst of energy drives Dan to fight his way out of the receiving end of the attack. Fierce's fists fly freely, matched only by the occasional kick that now guides his opponent across the ring to the opposite corner. Dan gropes Grimm's chest, but there's little to no playful tones as he delivers knife-edge chops that bring forth a chorus of "WOO"s from the audience.
He Irish whips Grimm, but it gets reversed, sending Fierce herd into the turnbuckles. He doesn't have time to react as the Hangtown Horror charges in with a running back elbow that rattles the champ. Grimm drives the point home with a bell clap, an rather nasty headbutt, and followed by several shoulders driven deep into Fierce's midsection. Dan all but face plants as he collapses out of the corner.
Grimm snatches both legs, lifting Fierce up off of the mat and back down with ring shaking authority.
Ace Anderson: Foddershock!
Jerry Andrews: He's going for an early pin!
Lane only gets a strong two count before Fierce lifts his shoulder. Grimm snarls his displeasure at the ref, picking up his opponent using a handful of hair. Grimm chides the zebra a bit more, but that was all the distraction Fierce needed to get a good boot to the Lord of Misrule's belly. Fierce bounces off of the ropes, smacking Grimm with a knee lift. The Fabulous One locks Dillinger in a headlock and inverts him in a nice delayed suplex, making sure to let the blood rush to his foe's head for a bit.
Fierce pulls in, locking in a sleeper hold on the mat. Lane check for a choke, but okays the hold as Fierce applies pressure. The zebra asks Grimm if he wants to give up, but he is met with no answer, so he begins to check the arms. The first one falls like a wet noodle to Grimm's side. So does the second one. Lane Lifts the arm up the third time, but it stays in place in spite of Fierce attempting to crank down on the maneuver.
Grimm's arms reach back, locking behind Fierce as he bursts upward and then back down with a face buster that ends the hold. Grimm is slow to get his footing. Fierce holds his jaw, checking for bleeding as he stands. Once both men are upright, Fierce comes flying in with a drop kick that careens Grimm to the corner. As Grimm melts to the mat, Fierce gets a running start, nailing the PCW legend with a Bronco Buster.
Dan shoves a few good stomps into Grimm's chest cavity before performing a standing drop kick. He stands Grimm up on spaghetti legs, leaping into the air.
Jerry Andrews: Glitter Bo-
Ace Anderson: NO! Grimm held onto the ropes. Fierce just landed hard on the back of his head and neck!
Fierce clutches his rattled head whilst Grimm recovers, stalking around his quarry with a menacing smile. He drops to his knees, blatantly choking the champ in from of the disapproving referee. He releases the hold at the four count, only to apply it twice more. He yanks Fierce to his feet, dropping him back to one knee with a Dead Reckoning headbutt. He whips Fierce across the ring, turning the Fabulous One inside out with a running lariat.
Fierce favors his neck again, but has little time to recover as Grimm gathers him from the mat. He pulls Fierce up halfway, only to send him crashing back to the mat with a snap DDT. Another upward yank and a shove bounce Fierce off of the ropes, catching him with a spinebuster slam that seems to shift the whole ring. Grimm drapes his opponent over his shoulders like a mink stole, hitting a Samoan drop.
Grimm clamps a claw down on the injured neck of the World Champ, causing him to yelp in agony. Dan clutches at Grimm, but the wily backwoodsman stays out of reach as he continues the pain. Fierce uses some flexibility to attempt kicks at his nemesis' head, but none connect. Dan finally decides to worm his body toward a ring rope. After a few more torturous minutes, he finally gets a toe on the bottom rope.
Lane calls for the hold to be broken, but Grimm remains latched until the count of four to maximize the damage. Fierce clambers to his feet, swinging wildly at the air. Grimm rebound from the ropes.
Jerry Andrews! Lament Configuration!
Ace Anderson: Grimm's locking in the Winding Stair! This could be it!
Fierce argues with the ref that he isn't ready to give up, but the Hangtown Horror cinches down harder. Fierce raises a hand as if to tap out, but reaches out for the ropes once again. Desperation begins to settle in as Fierce can't quite get to the safety of the ropes. He leverages his feet under him to relieve some of the pressure. One more surge with his powerful legs, and he finally gets a grip on the ropes for the break.
The zebra orders the Lord of Misrule to let go, which he does reluctantly. Mostly. He keeps control over the champ's head, locking him in for a suplex. He tries to lift, but Fierce blocks it. Once. Twice. On the third attempt, the Fabulous One reverses it. Now both men are down and being counted out. Lane gets to five and both men begin to stir. On seven, they begin crawling towards each other, smacking their foes with fatigued punches as they stand. By nine, they are both standing and trading blows with increasing ferocity. Grimm swings a big haymaker right that Fierce catches, turning it into a crucifix slam.
The dazed Dillinger laments on the mat as Fierce tries to gain a bit of energy from the crowd's cheers. The Fabulous One waits for his nemesis to rise before leaping into the air and connecting with a Glitter Bomb! He tries for a pin, but the ref is only able to get in a long two count before Grimm raises a shoulder. Dan slaps the mat in frustration. He scrambles to his feet as Grimm sits up. Fierce hits a low drop kick, and then a flipping leg drop across the throat. He goes for another cover, but only gets a two count once more.
Fierce delivers several nerve chops to Grimm's shoulder before transitioning into a Rainbow Clutch. Grimm yowls in torment, wriggling this way and that. Finally, he's able to leverage enough slack to get his own grip on the ropes. Fierce screams in rage as he's force to relinquish the hold. He bolts to his feet, smashing a hard boot into Grimm's shoulder in spite. The Hangtown Horror staggers to his feet nursing his near-dead arm.
Both men get the same idea, running the ropes, and meeting in the middle with a double clothesline. Once again, both men are down. Lane begins the count.
1!
2!
3!
4!
Both men show some slight signs of life.
5!
6!
Fierce rolls over to all fours as Grimm shakily rises to a seated position.
7!
Fierce gets all the way up on wobbly legs. He hastens over to kick Grimm on the back of the head, but they have very little steam left in them. Dan rebounds from the ropes, dropping a knee on the back of Grimm's head before collecting him from the mat and leading him to the corner. He starts to set up for a Makeover, but the cunning countryman scampers out of the corner. Fierce turns, ducking just in time to avoid a hamfisted right cross. A kick to the gut and a twist of bodies...
Jerry Andrews: MAKEOVER!
Ace Anderson: There it is! He got the three count! Holy cow, what a match!
Your winner: "The Fabulous One" Dan Fierce!
Fierce barely has time to have his hand raised after a grueling match before Grimm is back to his feet behind the World Champion. The crowd screams a warning, but it's too late. Grimm kicks Fierce in the gut, doubling him over. He puts Dan in a headlock and leads him to a corner for added leverage.
Jerry Andrews: The Harvest! Grimm just hit Fierce with the Harvest!
Grimm spits on his opponent as he exits the ring. Fierce springs to his feet, grabbing a fistful of ginger beard over the top rope and drags Grimm back into the ring. The two begin trading fists back and forth. Lane tries to insert himself to gain some semblance of order, but both men shove him head over heels across the ring. He motions for more security as Grimm and Fierce continue trying to dismantle each other. Refs and black shirted bouncers alike stream out from back, invading the ring to pry the competitors apart with varying degrees of temporary success.
"Gold of the Ceiling," by the Black Keys brings the riot down to a controlled (slightly) ruckus as "Mr. Showtime" Michael Wryght pops out from back to a flurry of fanfare. Ace Anderson stands at full attention, complete with a military-style salute. He motions for Jerry to join him. Jerry stands, but doesn't salute.
Ace Anderson: Come on! Show our President some love.
Jerry Andrews: He's #notmyPCWpresident.
Wryght holds up a hand to calm the crowd as he pulls out a mic.
”I can tell that there's bad blood brewing between you and Grim, Dan Fierce. You two have fought each other and ripped each other apart all month long, and all it's achieved is making you two hate each other. You're both acting like... Well... Like animals.”
The crowd roars in agreement.
”I mean, if you two keep it up, we may have to put you in confinement.”
Now both Fierce and Grimm are paying close attention to what Wryght is saying.
In fact, I'd say that's a very good idea. I'm going to sign an Executive Order for Mass Destruction. The main event for the pay-per-view will not only be for the World Title, it will be held in a steel cage!
The peanut gallery shakes the rafters with cheers.
”I think the Faithful like that idea. I'll make it happen.”
Wryght begins to leave but immediately turns back around to speak again.
”Oh. By the way... Since you two want to put each other in the hospital so badly, the only way to win is to escape. No DQ. No count-out. No pinfalls. No submissions. Just get out of the cage. With both feet. See you both at Mass Destruction.”
The crowd eats it up. Fierce dismounts the ring, still talking smack at Grimm, who simply makes a gesture around his waist. Dan Fierce points to his belt mouthing the words, "You want this? You gotta get through THIS bitch, and that will never happen!"
Jerry Andrews: This is INCREDIBLE! This could be the match of the YEAR!
Ace Anderson: The ring will be naught but a canvas painted in glitter and blood.
Jerry Andrews: Bit poetic but I can’t argue. Well, that’s it for tonight, folks - and remember, there’s still time to pre-order Mass Destruction VII, happening LIVE and only on Pay Per View!
Ace Anderson: It should be an incredible night, and I’ve even heard that -
Ace is cut off as the lights inside of the arena begin to flicker in and out like that of a potential power outage. Within seconds blinding white light flashes and then plunges the faithful into darkness. A sudden candlelight spotlight shines below the stage. Three children who look no older than between seven to ten years old have appeared. All three are dressed in white. Two girls are shown swinging a jump rope as their male counterpart does the jumping. In unison, the three recite this famous bedtime prayer for all to hear:
”Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray Salvation my soul to keep
If I should die before I wake
I pray Seromine my soul to take.”
I pray Salvation my soul to keep
If I should die before I wake
I pray Seromine my soul to take.”
Murmurs begin in the crowd as the children giggle and run off into the darkness, thus the end of the spotlight. What’s different is there is no playing of Seromine’s entrance music. No signs of his followers being present. What there is however, is static hiss coming from the tron. An image suddenly appears. It’s a dissolve, only going in reverse so that it returns to a whole scene. That becomes a grainy, partially lit display of what looks like a shuddered slaughterhouse. Stop motion edits of previous activity builds to a roaring crescendo of Salvation hanging where animals once had: On the meat hooks. Their bodies gently sway. Their heads are lowered. Their bodies motionless. Their trademark candles are held in a tight death grip down by their waists.
After another jarring edit, Seromine’s head springs up without any warning. His Owl mask taking a more pronounced creepy appearance due to the production filter, making things feel like a Grindhouse horror movie. Slowly with a free hand, he pulls it off his face. His eyes are practically soulless. His smile etched with a sinister sneer. After another quick edit, a mock body of Rick Majors appears on the hook where Seromine had been. It’s hanging upside down with a slit throat and blood dripping onto the leftovers of the floor. The cult preacher studies this for a few seconds, his followers still where they were prior. Once he turns his focus forward, his grey death stare emits like light from a projector.
“Oh my faithful. I couldn’t let you go home without saying hello to everyone. Without wishing you safe travels. Without telling you to say your prayers, so that I may answer them...”
His words are punctuated in a chilling, emotionless whisper. The followers slowly revive in the background.
“And without sending a reminder to two people. Richard Majors is such a poster child for failure, that the booking committee spared him from your sight this week. I assume they’ll spare him pay-per-view embarrassment also. His career has become more damaged, his life more wrecked, than the car his former love drove the night she was hit by a drunk driver.
And then there’s Kelli Starr. According to rumor she wants MY International Title! No problem, Dollface. But I know you’re scared of me. Just remember, I offered you hope! I offered you a road to SALVATION! You shunned me, child. God has called on me to slay the devil’s harlot. And I shall. Just be sure to pay for Richard’s ticket to the show. After all, he may not have enough money to get in should he decide to go on a diet of painkillers and vodka. Just. Like. Before.”
Seromine wiggles an index finger in disapproval. The others mimic their leaders motion.
“But I WANT him there, sober and free of any suicide attempts, so that he can witness YOUR failure with absolute clarity. You took HIS opportunity to be a champion. Just like Dan Fierce did. And for what, Richard? FOR WHAT, SINNER?!”
His voice bristles with anger. The sounds of ‘sinner” hiss from the followers, their activity beginning to become more noticable.
“Daniel didn’t win the Deadly Rumble. YOU DID! Keliska wasn’t the sole survivor at Trauma 200. YOU WERE! But losing is what you know, because I’ve put you there twice! And out of this, you find yourself in the same plight divorce had you. What was her name again…?
KELLI!!”
The production switches from the slaughterhouse to an empty funeral home. The followers circle around an open, wooden coffin. Everything is still in black and white, but without the grain. Seromine stands facing the pews, his arms held high to the heavens, almost as if he praising a higher power. Or asking for forgiveness.
“My lesson tonight comes from the book of first Peter, Chapter Five, Verse Eight. It says: Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
Seromine lowers his arms and faces the group. He motions for them to open the coffin lid. Inside rests a mock of Kelli Starr. Wounds from what could have been nails are apparent. An unused candle has been placed in her grasp, laying near the heart. Seromine removes his hat and lowers his head, as he pays his respects. The lone flash of color from this whole event comes from her bright pink hair. The next words Seromine speaks come with a somber tone.
“You bested me the first time, so I expect I’ll have my hands full again. But that’s ok. Sometimes you have to lose one to win the war. And war is what I’m bringing with me to Mass Destruction, Kelli. I intend to not only walk away with my title, but a measure of payback as well. We’ll see you soon. Just remember one thing…”
The end to all of this comes in the form of closing the coffin and a threat of “We’re going to get you.”
-CLICK-