EPISODE 1.1 –
TUESDAY, MAY 11, 2010
The first image we see of the
revitalized Progressive Wrestling Alliance is that of longtime PWA manager
Justin Schenck seated behind a desk in his office inside
Schenck: After four long years, I’d like to personally welcome each and
every one of you back to the Progressive Wrestling Alliance, and to our brand
new show, PWA: The Rebirth. And this truly is a rebirth in so many ways. This
company was left for dead in August 2006, and our audience was promised the
world by a man who never delivers on his promises during that last show. But,
after the failure of Jerry Georgatos’ short-lived Empire Wrestling Federation,
years went by before our network, the NOW Network, decided they wanted to tap
into the PWA audience that still very much existed.
And that’s where we come in. NOW purchased the rights to the PWA about three
years ago, but it was just last year that I, Justin Schenck, blew them away
with a proposal for a new show, and convinced
them to bring this company back on an interim basis. But enough of my history
lesson. You can read all about what went down behind the scenes on
PWATheRebirth.com. Let’s focus on the future. What we have in store for you is
a thrilling, action-packed 14-episode sample of why the PWA should be picked up
for a second season. And at the conclusion of these 14 three-hour thrill-rides,
we will be presenting PWA Everlasting Epic VI, live and exclusively on
pay-per-view.
You also might be asking yourselves why I, of all people, am delivering this
message to you. Well, it’s simple. The network decided my proposal for
reigniting the flame that was the PWA was so convincing that I was the only man
who could possibly take the reins and run the company. They needed someone they
could trust, someone with a deep, intricate knowledge of the performers and
inner workings of the organization. And obviously, as a successful manager in
this company, who is better suited for this job? I am a liaison that reports directly to upper
management, but with full control over day-to-day operations. Officially, my
title is director of creative development and operations. But you can just call
me the boss. And trust me; with Justin Schenck in charge of this program, you
are all in for a tremendous ride. So, to the jam-packed audience at
With that, “Live Again” by Ours blares over the speakers and the opening for
PWA: The Rebirth airs. At its conclusion, amazing display of pyro lights up
Madison Square Garden and we are taken inside the arena, where 20,000 screaming
fans welcome the PWA back to the city in which it all began, and in which it
all came to an end back in August of 2006. The camera then shifts to the
commentary table, and the voice of the PWA, Victor Troy.
Troy: Ladies and gentlemen, I never thought I’d get a chance to say this,
but welcome back to the PWA! I am, of course, Victor Troy, and get a load of
who is doing color commentary with me!
The camera cuts to the ring, and ring announcer Lee Palmer.
Palmer: Ladies and gentlemen, please give a warm, New York welcome to your
color commentator, he is
MSG then erupts into even more thunderous cheers as “F*ckin in the Bushes” by
Oasis thumps onto the speakers and PWA Hall of Famer and legend Jason Calysto
emerges from behind the curtain! Calysto, in street clothes, acknowledges his
fans as he heads to the ring, clearly touched by the massive ovation. He enters
the ring briefly, playing to the crowd, before exiting and joining
Calysto: Oh, without a doubt. You know, Vic, I took my vow to retire after
my match with Jaguar after Everlasting Epic V pretty seriously, more seriously
than some other people who I won’t name, but retired or not, there was no way
there could be a “rebirth” of the PWA, if you will, without the Iceman being
involved in some way. And I think sitting here at ringside calling the action
with you for the next 14 weeks is really going to be a lot of fun.
Troy: I’m hard pressed to disagree with you, Iceman! So, fans, it’s been a
long time, close to four years, since the PWA has run a show, and it’s been a
long road getting back to this point. I’m sure all of us truly believed that we
would never, ever be back out here again, but let me tell you something, it
feels damn good to be proven wrong!
Calysto: Absolutely.
Calysto: And not only that, Troy, but this will officially usher in
Vulture’s full-fledged return to the ring, after close to six years in
retirement.
Calysto: That’s right. The winner will meet the PWA Champion Jaguar, one of
three final champions coming out of Everlasting Epic V whose reign was restored
for our new season.
Calysto: But speaking of those champions, tell everyone what else we have in
store!
Troy: That’s right, Iceman. Tonight, Showtime Damon Savage will defend that
International Championship, and folks, that title defense begins right now!
Let’s send it over to Lee Palmer at ringside!
The bell sounds, and we are taken to Palmer inside the ring.
Palmer: Ladies and gentlemen, tonight’s opening contest is scheduled for one
fall, and it is for the PWA International Championship!
The fans cheer loudly, and the cheers only increase as “Footprints” by G-Unit
blares onto the speakers and the International Champion Showtime Damon Savage
appears on the stage. Showtime, now sporting long dreadlocks, engages in a bit
of shadowboxing as thunderous bursts of pyro appear behind him, before making
his way to the ring.
Palmer: Introducing first, from
Showtime soaks up the welcome from the
Moments later, “Da Repercussions” by 50 Cent hits, and the fans continue
cheering as a two-time former International Champion in his own right emerges.
Palmer: And his opponent, accompanied to the ring by Dee Licious, from
Staten Island, New York, weighing in at 251 pounds, MICHAEL… GRIEEEEECOOOOOO!
Looking determined, Grieco enjoys a burst of pyro and enjoys both the reaction
of his hometown
Calysto: A hell of a way to kick things off, Vic!
PWA INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP:
SHOWTIME DAMON SAVAGE (champion) VS. MICHAEL GRIECO (challenger)
Referee: Dan Martin
As both participants shed their
entrance attire and
Almost immediately, Showtime and Grieco
lock up in the center of the ring, the two men jockeying for the early edge in
this title bout. Grieco is the one who grabs it, using his superior strength to
shove Showtime to the mat violently to a loud ovation. Showtime simply smirks
before getting back to his feet and re-engaging. This time, however, Showtime
is able to tie Grieco in a side headlock.
Showtime cinches the headlock in tightly, but Grieco pounds him with several
blows to the midsection, attempting to break the hold. He finally succeeds as
he sends Savage against the ropes, and when Showtime bounces off the opposite
ropes, Grieco downs him with a hard powerslam!
Calysto: He is, Vic, but it’s way too early to be counting Showtime out.
Calysto: I know, I know. I’m just saying…
Grieco stalks over Showtime and nails him with several stiff boots to the
mid-section, followed by a hard elbow drop to the sternum. Grieco goes for the
cover… one, two, and Showtime kicks out.
Savage slowly begins reaching a
vertical base, and Grieco helps him to his feet, stinging him with hard
knife-edge chops to the chest as he rises. However, Showtime begins battling
back, hitting Grieco with hard chops of his own! Grieco then ups the ante,
hitting Savage with a closed-fist blow to the jaw, which staggers him. Seeing
this, Grieco bounces off the ropes, headed for Showtime, but Savage sees him
coming, leaps up, and flips Grieco over with a hurricanrana!
Calysto: That was definitely a small step outside his comfort zone, Vic!
With Grieco down, Showtime heads to the top rope, and the fans get to their
feet! Grieco gets up slowly, but when he rises, Showtime leaps off, and downs
him hard with a missile dropkick! The cheering of the crowd now only increases
as Showtime signals for It’s Showtime, his cobra clutch slam finisher!
Calysto: And Vic, if he is able to nail Grieco with It’s Showtime, this match
is history!
Showtime positions himself behind Grieco as the challenger stirs, and the
anticipation of the crowd grows. However, Dee Licious suddenly jumps onto the
apron and begins causing a commotion! Both the referee and Showtime notice her,
and both turn their attention towards her.
Calysto: It looks to me like she’s trying to create a diversion!
With Showtime sufficiently distracted, we can see Grieco reach into his
tights, pull out a pair of brass knuckles, and slip them onto his right hand!
He makes it to his feet, spins Showtime around, and drills the International
Champion in the jaw, brutally knocking him out with the knucks, while the
referee’s attention is still on
Calysto: And Vic, there is pretty much no way Showtime is kicking out of this!
A smug look on his face, Grieco looks at the helpless Showtime lying broken
on the mat. He gets down to a knee, before mockingly performing one-arm pushups
on Savage’s chest as the referee begins his count. One, two, three. Michael
Grieco has won the International Championship, and the fans respond with a
barrage of boos.
Calysto: Well Vic, sometimes, when you want to win bad enough, you will do
whatever is necessary to win. And tonight, we found out that Michael Grieco
wanted very badly to win that International Championship, and now, he has done
it.
WINNER VIA PINFALL AT 9:01 AND NEW
INTERNATIONAL CHAMPION – MICHAEL GRIECO
-- COMMERCIAL
BREAK --
As we return from break, we see Vulture
in his dressing room, lacing his boots in advance of his fatal fourway match
later this evening. The two-time former PWA Champion’s hair has traces of gray
and he is wearing a three-day-old beard, but he appears focused and determined.
However, his expression changes once
the reigning PWA World Heavyweight Champion Jaguar walks into the picture.
Vulture stands up fully and the former PWA Tag Team Champions stare each other
down briefly, before both break into smiles. The two slap hands and embrace.
Jaguar: What’s goin on, brother?!
Vulture: Not
much, Jag! Great to see ya!
Jaguar: Yeah man. I gotta say, this feels like home again.
Vulture: It really does. I had sort of mixed emotions about coming back here,
but the second I stepped through that door tonight, it felt right.
Jaguar: And is there any better place to kick this thing off again than here at
MSG?
Vulture: You know there isn’t.
Jaguar: So how you doing? Haven’t seen ya since the wedding.
Vulture: That’s right. How’s married life been?
Jaguar: I don’t think I need to tell you anything about married life. Look at
us now, man. Just a coupled of married dudes. What happened to us?
The two laugh and
mockingly hold out their rings. Suddenly, a not-so-amused PWA Women’s Champion
Morgan Day emerges from her part of the dressing room she shares with husband
Vulture.
Morgan: What happened to you two is that
you both got extraordinarily lucky. Isn’t that right, oh husband of mine?
Vulture: (over the top) Oh, absolutely! You are seriously the most wonderful
thing that has ever happened to me, the light of my life, the most amazing…
Morgan: Ok, you can stop blowing smoke up my arse now. That will do. But, my
dear Jaguar, the same holds true for you.
Jaguar: Oh believe me, I know it. I’m just glad my woman didn’t give me TOO
much hell about coming on back here and performing for these people again. I
DID say I was retired.
Vulture: Yeah, and if there’s anything I hate, it’s these guys who go out there
and say they’re retired and then keep coming back.
Vulture and Jaguar laugh at the obvious
reference to Vulture’s comeback. Morgan does not.
Morgan: Yeah, well, maybe some people in
this room should have stayed retired. And I’m not referring to the man with the
title.
Jaguar: Uh oh! Looks like we’ve got ourselves a little marital dispute here. I
think I’m gonna head on out…
Morgan: You stay right there. In fact,
Jag, I want your opinion on something.
Jaguar: (to Vulture) Damn, you’re in trouble.
Vulture: (sigh) I know.
Morgan: So now Jaguar, if you recovered from an extensive neck injury that
required surgery, only to be told by doctors that continuing to wrestle put
your health at tremendous risk, you would listen to them, wouldn’t you?
Jaguar: I suppose so.
Morgan: And a few
years later, if you are put in position where, in a very specific scenario, you
NEEDED to go out and defend yourself and wrestle one last match, and you did it
successfully, would you be satisfied?
Jaguar: I suppose so. But it would depend.
Morgan: Ok. But
now suppose in the four years that follow you get married and have a child. And
then you get a call to return to work in SOME capacity. That means participate
in the show in ANY number of ways. Would you even THINK about risking it all to
get back into the bloody ring full time?!
Jaguar: Well…
Vulture: (getting annoyed) Allow me to interject here. Morgan, we’ve discussed
this numerous times. You HAVE to understand something. It’s one thing coming
out of retirement when you retired on your own terms. It’s another thing
entirely coming out of retirement when you were forced into it against your
will, due to an injury. I feel I am healthy enough to compete over a 14-week
period, and as my wife, I’d hoped you could understand that.
Morgan looks
quite displeased, and Jaguar is visibly growing more uncomfortable. He looks at
the imaginary watch on his wrist and feigns surprise.
Jaguar: Well would you look at the time?!
V, good luck out there tonight. I hope to see ya out there across from me next
week. Morgan, always a pleasure.
Jaguar then escapes the tension-filled dressing room as quickly as he can,
and Vulture and Morgan are left in the room alone.
Morgan: Listen, I understand why you
would WANT to. But I am worried. It’s not just the two of us you need to worry
about. We are a family now. There is an absolutely adorable baby boy sitting at
home who really would be quite perplexed to know his father is risking his
health for the sake of chasing one last run at glory.
Vulture: That’s not fair.
Morgan: I don’t think it’s fair that you’re competing.
Vulture: Listen, I’m never going to be able to do this without your blessing.
I’m going to have a hard enough time making this comeback if you’re firmly in
my corner. I don’t need us divided over this.
Morgan pauses, sighs, and gazes into her husband’s eyes.
Morgan: Fine. I
will support you. But you must promise me one thing.
Vulture: What’s that?
Morgan: If there is even one iota of a recurrence of your neck injury, you pull
out and retire for good.
Vulture pauses
briefly before answering.
Vulture: Deal.
Vulture and Morgan then briefly hug and kiss before there is a knock at
their door. Vulture sighs before walking over and opening it. Behind the door
stands a man and woman, both of whom appear to be quite young. The man is tall,
brown-haired, and brown-eyed, and the female is also tall, a brunette with
blonde highlights and brown eyes. Both are attractive, tan, and fit, and both
are dressed to compete, wearing coordinated outfits of black with white trim.
Vulture and Morgan do not seem impressed.
Vulture: And who are you supposed to be?
Man: I’m pretty star-struck at the moment, that’s who I am.
Vulture doesn’t even crack a smile. The man smiles and sticks out his hand.
Man: Chris. Chris Duval. And this here is
my sister Alexis. We’re starting up in the PWA tonight, and we’re both longtime
fans. We’ve been idolizing you for years.
Alexis: And you too, Morgan.
Morgan: How old are you two? Are you even old enough to be here?
Chris & Alexis (in unison): We’re 21.
Chris: We’re twins, actually. Fraternal, obviously.
Morgan: Fascinating.
Vulture: Ok, so now you’ve met us. Anything else?
Chris: Well, if it’s not too much trouble… we, uh…
Alexis: We were hoping you guys could critique our match. We have a mixed tag
team match coming up soon, and it would be a real thrill to get notes on our
performance out there from Vulture and Morgan Day.
Chris: But seriously, only if it’s not too much trouble. We really don’t want
to waste your time.
Vulture sighs and looks at Morgan. Her demeanor has clearly softened. She
widens her eyes and shrugs slightly at him. Vulture sighs again.
Vulture: Alright fine. Here’s what we’re
going to do. I can’t watch your match right now because I obviously have this
fatal fourway I need to prepare for. But we’re DVR’ing the show at home. We’ll
watch the match together during the week, and we’ll go over it with you next
week in the locker room. Does that sound alright?
The smiles on the faces of the Duvals are as wide as can be imagined.
Chris: Thank you guys SO much.
Alexis: You have no idea how much we appreciate this.
Chris: Ok, we’ll leave you alone now. Thanks again! See you next week… and good
luck tonight, Vulture!
The Duvals then leave, and Vulture sighs again once they are gone.
Vulture: Was that really necessary?
Morgan: Oh come on! I think it’s cute. Remember, we were in their shoes once
too. Seeking veteran mentors, it’s the way this business works.
Vulture: Yeah, I know. But why us?
Morgan (smiling): Well, that’s what you get for coming back!
***
The camera then cuts to backstage reporter Traci Reed, who is standing by
with an unfamiliar face, wearing purple shorts with black trim, yellow elbow
pads, and eccentric-looking purple and yellow sneakers. There is a clear look
of nervousness on his face.
Traci: Hi everyone! First, I have to say,
it feels SO good to be back here in the PWA tonight! But now, down to business.
With me is Evan Black, who will be making his PWA debut against Darrin Giles in
just mere moments. There are a number of new wrestlers debuting tonight, but
Evan, your back story is a bit different than the rest, no?
Black: I guess you could say that, Traci. Before I went to wrestling school to
train to become a professional wrestler, I went to law school. I finished it,
passed the bar, and practiced law in
Traci: Are you nervous?
Black: Of course I’m nervous! But I won’t let it consume me. I’m going to
channel that nervousness and go out and put on a show for these deserving fans,
and Darrin Giles, when this is all said and done, you will be staring up at the
lights, and my PWA career will be off and running.
With that, Black exits and begins heading towards the ring.
-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --
As we return from
break, “Control” by Earshot is blaring over the speakers to a set of boos, and
Darrin Giles is standing in the ring, stretching out and awaiting his
opposition. Giles is sporting a bit of a new look since we last saw him, with
blue and yellow thigh-length tights, along with long sideburns and a goatee.
However, the former protégé of new man-in-charge Justin Schenck appears to be
just as all-business as he was when we last saw him.
Moments later, “Hero” by Nas featuring Keri Hilson hits the speakers, and the
fans are reserved in their cheering as PWA newcomer Evan Black emerges from
behind the curtain and begins making his way to the ring. It is evident Black
has won some of the crowd over with his pre-match interview, and picked up
other fans along the way due to general dislike of Darrin Giles and due to his
being announced as hailing from nearby Westchester, New York, but it is also
apparent that Black still has a large segment of the audience to win over with
his work.
Calysto: That’s right, Vic. There’s nothing like getting to make your debut
right in your hometown, but he is going up against a fine athlete in Darrin
Giles. Evan Black will no doubt be looking to make a statement, to let these
fans know exactly who he is, but Giles is also looking to make a statement.
Giles is going to want the whole PWA to know that he is not going to be someone
else’s stepping stone, and he looks determined to not let that be the case
tonight.
Calysto: Yeah, and to put it in terms that maybe he can understand a little
better – Evan Black is used to being an attorney, but tonight, he is the one on
trial. These fans out there, they are the jury, they are the ones that will
ultimately decide whether Evan Black has any staying power. But of course,
that’s assuming Darrin Giles doesn’t serve as his executioner right here
tonight.
Troy: That was really poetic, Iceman.
Calysto: I know, wasn’t it?
DARRIN GILES VS. EVAN BLACK
Referee: Jose Soares
The bell sounds and Giles goes right at Black, pounding away on him with hard
lefts and rights. Black is dazed into the corner, and Giles whips him against
the ropes, nailing him with a hard, swift powerslam as he returns. With Black
down, Giles takes the opportunity to taunt the crowd, which responds with
jeers.
Calysto: I think he’d better pay more attention to his opponent, Vic.
Giles turns back to Black, and attempts to lift him up, but Black ties him up
in a small package! One, two, and Giles narrowly escapes. Stunned, Giles
springs back to his feet and nails the rising Black with a deadly clothesline,
nearly taking his head off! Giles covers… one, two, and Black kicks out!
It is clear Giles is now taking Black more seriously, stalking him with furious
stomps to the midsection. Giles bring Black to his feet and lifts him up
high, cracking him down with a thunderous backbreaker! With Black writhing on
the mat, Giles climbs up to the second rope, looking for an elbow drop.
However, as Giles falls towards him, Black lifts both of his feet up, which
collide with Giles’ jaw! Giles is staggered back, and Black pops up to his feet
to a nice ovation!
Black now takes Giles down with a hard dropkick, before downing him with
another swift dropkick as he gets to his feet! Black goes for a third, but this
time Giles moves out of the way. Black gets back to his feet quickly, and Giles
storms in with a clothesline, but Black ducks under it and, as soon as Giles
turns around, Black downs him with a hurricanrana, right into a pinning
combination! One, two, and Giles just barely gets a shoulder up!
Both men get to their feet, and Giles blocks a kick from Black, before nailing
him with a stiff kneelift. With Black hunched over, Giles bounces off the
opposite ropes and comes charging, but Black instead greets him with a running
enziguri! Giles goes down in a heap, and Black heads for the top rope!
Calysto: Vic, I think the kid is about to fly!
Black perches himself on the top rope and signals to the MSG crowd, which
responds with approval. Then, the PWA newcomer leaps forth, nailing the prone
Giles with a diving corkscrew body splash! Black connects with thunderous force
and hooks the leg! One, two, three!
Calysto: And what a debut it was!
The
WINNER VIA PINFALL AT 5:29 – EVAN BLACK
-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --
As we return from break, we see Greg
Tantalus sitting in a chair in front of a vacant desk. He appears to be aloof
and indifferent. Moments later, a cheerful Justin Schenck enters alongside a
young man in a silver wrestling singlet with navy blue trim. Schenck has a seat
behind the desk, as the young man stands beside him.
Schenck: Mr. Tantalus! So good to see
you. I take it you got my message.
Tantalus: Yeah. I heard you wanted to see me in your office. So now I’m here.
What the hell do you want?
Schenck: Well first off, I want you to appreciate the opportunity you have
here. I don’t exactly care for your attitude right now. I want you to remember
who was there to pick you up when you were down.
Tantalus: You gave me a job, and I’m grateful, but keep in mind that I never
wanted to be here. You called me up… what was it, almost a year ago? And the
answer you got then was no. And I’m not going to lie; my desire to be here
isn’t much greater now than it was then.
Schenck: But you’re certainly not in the same place in your life now, are you?
You cheated on your wife, she found out about it, she left you, and now you
have a big divorce pending. You don’t really have a ton of long-term security
if you just don’t work anymore, do you? And I’m sure you’re bummed that your
good buddy Mike Griffin is nowhere to be seen. He has no time for you anymore.
Really, no one does. And who can blame them? You got yourself into a fine mess,
but be thankful that I was still here with my offer to employ you when all this
broke.
Tantalus: Is it necessary to air my dirty laundry in front of this smiling
douche standing next to you, or the entire television audience for that matter?
Did we really need the TV cameras in here for this?
Schenck: Well Greg, you should know, the TV cameras are everywhere. They film
everyone and everything, and we air anything we think our audience might find
interesting. Our lives from 8 to 11 PM on Tuesday nights are an open book. And
I do think it’s important for everyone to understand the hardships you’re
enduring. As for the guy standing next to me, allow me to introduce you to
Chase Stone. And let me tell you, he is not someone to take lightly. He is
fresh off the
Tantalus: He still looks like a smiling douche to me.
The smile fades from Stone’s face and he lunges at Tantalus, but Schenck
holds him back.
Schenck: Not now, Chase. In time. In
time.
Tantalus (to Stone): What’s the matter, punk? Daddy won’t let you come out and
play?
Stone: Keep talking, Tantalus. You’re one of the most overrated guys in the
history of PWA. Don’t think I don’t know that. Compared to me, you’re a
nothing, low-rate jobber. And someday, when I’m ready, you’re going to find that
out firsthand.
Tantalus: Whatever. Listen Justin, is that all? As little desire as I have to
even be in the PWA right now, I have far less desire to be sitting here in this
office wasting time. So unless you have anything else important to say, I’m gonna
go sit in my dressing room and do nothing until it’s time to go home.
Schenck: Well
actually, now that you mention it, I DO have something else important to say.
You are NOT going to go back to your dressing room and loaf around, Tantalus.
Not on my watch. I brought you back here because the FANS want to see you
compete. And that’s exactly what they are going to see. You may not want to be
here, but you are not going to just sit here and collect a paycheck. So
tonight, you will go one-on-one… with Anthony Failla.
At this, Tantalus
chuckles.
Schenck: What’s so funny?
Tantalus: Anthony Failla? Really? Ok. I’ll have no problems going out there and
slapping around the underachieving oaf. It’ll be my pleasure.
Schenck and Stone look at each other
and smile.
Schenck (to Tantalus): Have you seen
Failla around here yet tonight?
Tantalus: No. Why?
Schenck (grinning wider): No reason. Good luck tonight.
Tantalus looks at Schenck suspiciously as he gets up and heads for the
door.
The camera then shifts back to
ringside, where “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga is playing over the speakers and Liz
Rush is standing in the ring, awaiting her opposition. The petite blonde
stretches out on the ring ropes, amid a largely indifferent reaction from the
crowd.
Troy: Alright folks, we’re back, and
we’re about ready to get going with our first women’s bout of the new season.
Calysto: We are, and we can see Liz Rush standing in that ring, getting ready
for her match.
Moments later, “Demons” by Russian metal band Aria blares onto the speakers
and an imposing figure steps out from behind the curtain. The woman appears to
be at least six feet tall, with a short blond haircut resembling that of
Brigitte Nielsen. She is dressed all in red as she deliberately stalks her way
to the ring. The fans, knowing nothing about the woman, have little reaction.
Troy: Alright, we’re now going to get our
first look at Zina. This is one of Justin Schenck’s more interesting talent
acquisitions, in that he actually spotted her while vacationing in
Calysto: That’s right, Vic. Apparently, Zina was working as a circus bear
trainer in her native Russia, and the night Schenck was in attendance, a bear
got a little unruly and uncooperative, and Zina was able to step in and keep
the bear under control. Schenck was apparently impressed with her strength and
poise and stuck around to have a conversation with her, and here we are. Zina
has signed a PWA contract, and we’ll see what she has to offer here against a
pro like Liz Rush.
Zina settles in the ring and removes her long red overcoat to reveal a red
circus trainer outfit. She stares a hole through Liz in the ring as the bell
sounds to get this bout underway.
LIZ RUSH VS. ZINA
Referee: Tom Stevens
As soon as the bell rings, Zina storms right
at Liz, nearly taking her head off with a vicious clothesline! Liz hits the mat
in a heap, and Zina barely gives her a moment to breathe, lifting her off the
mat before hurling her into the corner.
Zina pounds away on Liz with furious shoulder blocks to the
midsection while Rush is cornered. Liz then staggers out of the corner, only
for Zina to grab her and heave her halfway across the room with a vicious
overhead belly-to-belly suplex! Liz crashes to the mat with authority, and Zina
begins stalking her prey.
As soon as Liz reaches a vertical base, Zina gets a running start
and absolutely obliterates her with a bicycle kick to the face! Liz crumbles to
the mat, barely clinging to consciousness. Zina smirks as she stands over her,
before letting out a guttural yell and lifting her back to her feet and
cinching in a ferocious bear hug! Zina squeezes the life out of Liz for seconds
with a deranged look in her eyes before the referee calls for the bell and
stops the match, due to Liz’s unresponsiveness. Zina doesn’t immediately break
the hold, but after a few seconds go by, she does, as “Demons” replays over the
speakers.
Calysto: Vic, I think we are looking at a new force to be reckoned with in that
division!
The fans boo as Zina stares down the referee, who is seeking to raise her
hand in victory. He ultimately gives up in this endeavor, and Zina begins her
walk back to the locker room. She says nothing as she heads back up the aisle
to her music, with Liz Rush lying motionless in the ring.
WINNER VIA SUBMISSION AT 1:57 – ZINA
-- COMMERCIAL
BREAK --
As we return from break, we see backstage
reporter Scott Cornelius standing by with Lauren Tantalus. The crowd cheers at
the sight of this image.
Cornelius: Coming off that dominant debut
victory for Zina, I’m here with three-time former PWA Women’s Champion Lauren
Tantalus, and Lauren, I’ve got to ask you, you spent a LOT of time on the
sidelines over the final two years of the PWA’s initial existence. Do you think
you are equipped to handle the rigors of this 14-week season, and do you think
you can get back to your winning ways from before that October 2004 injury that
cost you so much time?
Lauren: Scott, I can say with 100 percent certainty that I am completely healthy,
and ready to go. If you recall, I did wrestle a few matches during the last few
months of PWA’s initial run, but I am exponentially healthier now than I was
even then. I am back in the PWA now for one reason and one reason only, and
that is to reclaim my rightful place at the top of the women’s division. I am
fully focused on taking back the Women’s Championship, and Morgan Day, I have
great respect for you and all that you’ve accomplished, but I am coming for
your title.
As soon as she finishes her sentence, she notices that Keiko Ishida has
walked into view. The fans in the arena cheer as Keiko stares Lauren down
intensely.
Keiko: First of
all, Lauren, welcome back. But let me say this to you. This isn’t 2004 anymore.
The women’s division has gotten bigger and better without you around. You
reigned over a weak division. Since your injury, I dominated over the division
in a manner never seen before or since, until Morgan Day came along and gave me
real competition. You conveniently got hurt just before my reign of terror
began, and our paths have only crossed once: on the last night of this
company’s existence, and I pinned you. What makes you think you are a bigger
threat to the Women’s Champion than I am?
Lauren: Well, Keiko, you say this isn’t 2004 anymore. I agree. But it also
isn’t 2005 anymore. It’s 2010. So we can throw all of that out. We can throw
out my dominance in 2003 and 2004, your dominance in 2005 and 2006. None of it
matters. The only thing that matters is who is the best today, whether it’s me,
you, Morgan, this Zina chick, whoever. All that matters is right here, right
now.
At that, creative
director Justin Schenck casually walks into the picture.
Schenck: Ladies, I couldn’t agree more. I
couldn’t help but notice the beginning of your exchange on my television, so I
came over here to tell you that I was hit with a burst of inspiration. There
are only four living women that are three-time former PWA Women’s Champions,
which is the most anyone has ever won that title. Only three of those four
achieved that goal within the last six years. One is our current champion,
Morgan Day. The other two are you two ladies. So here’s what we’re going to do.
Next week, we’re going to have Lauren Tantalus one-on-one with Keiko Ishida.
And the winner of that match will, two weeks from tonight in
Lauren and Keiko both smile and nod approvingly as Schenck exits.
Calysto: Lauren says she’s 100 percent back; well she’d better be, or it’s
going to be a really long night for her next week in
-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --
Back from break,
“Live to Win” by Paul Stanley blasts onto the speakers, and the fans are
momentarily confused, until Greg Tantalus emerges from behind the curtain to a
burst of cheers. Tantalus wears a smirk on his face before raising his arms,
eliciting several flashes of pyro. He then walks down to the ring, wearing his
traditional wrestling garb, and aside from the ever-present smirk, looks
distant.
Calysto: Well Vic, this Paul Stanley song appeared in a video montage during
the “Make Love, Not Warcraft” episode of
Calysto: It’s entirely possible. And I’m not saying that any performer using a
theme like this is automatically making a joke. Just knowing Tantalus’
sensibilities, that’s the conclusion I’ve drawn. But I could be wrong.
Tantalus steps into the ring and stretches out on the ropes, looking aloof
as he awaits his competition. Then, moments later, “Better Think Again” by
Submersed hits, and the fans are greeted by a very different-looking Anthony
Failla than they remember.
For one, Failla, always a big man, has
added tremendous muscle definition, along with sporting an overall leaner look.
His arms and back are now covered in black tattoos, and he has traded in his
old wrestling attire for a simple pair of black trunks, with a gold biohazard
symbol on the back of them. Coupled with his buzzcut and full beard, Failla
walks to the ring methodically and expressionless, his eyes fixated on
Tantalus.
Calysto: I will say that he looks impressive, but Failla has a reputation for
being a serious underachiever. Even if Greg Tantalus isn’t fully focused, I’m
not sure Failla will be able to overcome him.
Tantalus looks back at Failla with a clear bit of concern on his face.
Failla’s expression is unreadable as he enters the ring and stands across from Tantalus,
prompting the bell to sound.
GREG TANTALUS VS. ANTHONY FAILLA
Referee: Matt Hansen
Tantalus goes to
take off his shirt, but as soon as he pulls it over his head, Failla charges and
spears him, out of nowhere! Tantalus goes down hard, and Failla moves in,
lifting him up, literally ripping the shirt off him.
With Tantalus prone, Failla lifts and
drops him down face-first onto the top turnbuckle. As Tantalus bounces back,
Failla charges off the opposite ropes and, as soon as Tantalus turns to face
him, Failla destroys him with a vicious running boot to the skull!
Calysto: I think he just took his head off, Vic!
Tantalus appears to be close to unconsciousness on the mat, and Failla
senses this is the time to move in for the kill. He lifts Tantalus up and
hoists him over his shoulders with his chest facing the ceiling. Then, Failla
drills him down brutally with a reverse
Calysto: Vic, he apparently calls that move the Weapon of Mass Destruction, and
Tantalus certainly appears to be destroyed.
Failla turns Tantalus over and covers
him effortlessly… one, two, three.
Calysto: You know, Vic, I think I need to second that sentiment of surprise
right here. This is a DOMINATING victory over a multi-time World Champion,
albeit a clearly distracted one. But nonetheless, this is a tremendously
impressive victory for Anthony Failla, who has just sent a message that he is
not the same Anthony Failla we might remember.
The fans boo loudly as “Better Think Again” replays and Failla,
expressionless, exits the ring. He allows himself a single sneer back at the
ring as he backpedals toward the curtain, with Tantalus still lying motionless
in the ring as we head to commercial.
WINNER VIA PINFALL AT 2:31 – ANTHONY FAILLA
-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --
As we return from break, we see Traci Reed standing in the ring with a microphone.
Traci: Ladies and gentlemen, please
welcome three-time former PWA Tag Team Champion… Speed Demon!
With that,
the fans begin cheering, and the unfamiliar strains of “Judas Rising” by Judas
Priest play over the speakers as Speed Demon makes his way from behind the
curtain. He looks different from the last time we saw him back at Everlasting
Epic V; he is wearing black jeans and sporting a full beard and a shorter
haircut. Of course, still present is the long scar above his left eye left by
the Army of the Damned some five years ago. He enters the ring with a serious
look on his face, and Traci holds the microphone for him. As the cheers die
down, Demon begins to speak.
Demon: Well, first of all, let me
tell you all how happy I am to see all of you again. It’s been a long journey
getting back to the PWA, but I am here now, and it feels like home. But, there
are a few things that need to be addressed. Traci, you introduced me to the
world as Speed Demon, and it will be the final time anyone does so. Speed Demon
is dead. He died on August 12, 2006. The night Bishop Cross was buried
alive, the Army of the Damned was finally laid to rest, and the night that Dana
Chapman was avenged, that was the last night that Speed Demon was needed.
Today, I stand before you a new man. I stand before you as Dan Crowley.
The fans
cheer briefly, before turning their attention back to
The
Calysto: Let’s see how well he can back it up, Vic!
Crowley: For too long, I got caught up in personal feuds, distractions
from the ultimate goal. I will NOT let this happen again. Nothing and no one will
distract me from this goal. There will be no gimmicks, there will be no
excuses. There is only a promise that someday soon, Dan Crowley WILL be the PWA
Champion, and there isn’t a person in the back that can stop me!
As the fans continue cheering, “The Final Countdown” by the London Symphony
Orchestra hits, and the fans are confused as a man with shoulder-length blonde
hair emerges from behind the curtain and begins making his way to the ring. He
wears a smug smile on his face as he heads down the aisle, and pauses to hit on
attractive women in the crowd as he heads to the squared circle.
Calysto: Who IS this guy, Vic?
Calysto: Hey, I’m new at this. I’m sure he’ll tell us all about himself anyway.
Magellan
enters the ring and bumps past
Magellan: Traci, right? God, you’re beautiful.
Traci blushes and giggles.
Magellan: What are you doing after the show? I’m Matthew Magellan, I’m new
around here. I thought maybe you could show me the ropes a little, you know,
impart some wisdom as to who to stay away from…
Magellan is forcibly interrupted by a shove from
Magellan: Wait a minute, what’s your name again? Oh that’s right. You’re not
Speed Demon, you’re Dan Crowley. You know what, though? No matter what name you
want to go by, you’re still an overrated nobody.
Magellan: Like I was just saying to Traci, I am Matthew Magellan. You can call
me Magellan because I am a conquistador, and little hotties like Traci over
here, they are the new lands I seek to conquer. And you know what? I can come
out and say that, and STILL clean up.
Magellan: If you want to know about my wrestling ability, we can settle this in
the ring, right here next week.
Magellan: Typical. You’re just afraid I’m gonna come out next week and make my
name at your expense. It’s a legitimate fear.
Suddenly,
The fans
cheer at this, and Magellan nods his head approvingly as he turns back to
Traci.
Traci: So there you have it! Next week, it’s Dan Crowley taking on the debuting
Matthew Magellan!
Magellan
pushes past
-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --
We return in the
backstage area, where Scott Cornelius is standing by with the new International
Champion Michael Grieco and his manager Dee Licious, who are in the midst of a
champagne celebration.
Cornelius: Mr. Grieco! Mr. Grieco! May I
have a word?
Grieco: What do you want, Cornelius?
Cornelius: I just wanted to ask you about your International Championship
victory tonight.
Grieco: Impressive, wasn’t it?
Cornelius: At times, yes, but it was readily apparent that you cheated to
obtain the advantage. You nailed Showtime with those brass knuckles to
effectively steal the title from him. What do you have to say about this?
Grieco: You really have a death wish, don’t you, Cornelius?
Cornelius: I’m just doing my job.
Grieco: Listen, do you know what an incredible opportunity it is to have a
chance at the International title the first night that we’re all back in the PWA?
My PWA career ended in 2006 with a bit of a whimper. I wasn’t going to accept
anything less than returning in 2010 with a roar. Tonight, I was willing to do
ANYTHING necessary to leave here with the International title, and now that I
have it, I will do anything to keep it. So you’d better get used to this,
because Michael Grieco is here to stay, and if anyone gets in my way, I’m gonna
run them the hell over.
***
The camera shifts back to ringside, where “All or Nothin” by Tom Petty
& the Heartbreakers is playing over the speakers and Kris Anthony and Jade
are in the ring, awaiting their competition.
Moments later, “No More Sorrow” by
Troy: Alright, this next bout should be
interesting. We have two newcomers here, fraternal twins, in Chris and Alexis
Duval, and they will be in mixed tag team action against the unit of Kris
Anthony and Jade.
Calysto: And obviously these two have already started trying to advance their
careers a little bit, seeking the advice and counsel of Vulture and Morgan Day.
I obviously know Vulture extremely well, and I’ve gotten to know Morgan pretty
well too over the past few years, so I can tell you from experience they picked
two extremely knowledgeable people to have mentor them. But I’m just not sure
Vulture, specifically, is going to want anything to do with this now that he’s
back actively competing. I guess we’ll see what these kids have to offer right
now though.
MIXED TAG TEAM MATCH:
THE DUVAL TWINS
VS. KRIS ANTHONY & JADE
Referee: Jose Soares
Chris Duval and
Kris Anthony start for their respective teams as the bell sounds to get this
contest underway. Anthony moves in on Chris, looking to take him down, but
Chris sidesteps him. He tries to shoot in on Duval again, but Chris sees it
coming and grabs Anthony’s head, planting him face first into the mat. Duval
then spins around him, interlocking his arms around his waist, before pulling
him up and downing him with a hard release German suplex!
The fans cheer, and Chris responds by
tagging his sister Alexis into the match. This forces Anthony to tag out to
Jade, as per the rules of the mix tag team bout.
Jade and Alexis lock up, and Jade gets
the initial advantage, tying Alexis in a side headlock. However, Alexis is able
to reverse that advantage with a discrete pull of the hair. This gives Alexis
the leverage to shove Jade against the ropes and break the hold. Jade hits the
opposite ropes, and Alexis downs her with a quick hurricanrana as she returns!
Alexis then quickly scales the ropes like cat, before leaping off with a beautiful
missile dropkick that nails Jade hard!
Calysto: I think the fans are getting into these kids, Vic!
Alexis goes for the cover, but Jade is
able to kick out at two. Alexis then attempts to lift Jade up, but the first
PWA Women’s Champion has the wherewithal to shove the newcomer off and flee to
the corner, where she tags in Kris Anthony.
Anthony rushes into the ring and
charges right at Chris Duval in the corner, looking to knock him off the apron,
but Duval sidesteps him and downs him with a right hand to the jaw! Alexis then
tags her brother in, who enters the ring and lifts Anthony up with a delayed
vertical suplex, holding him in the air for several seconds before dropping him
down hard! Then, Chris peels Anthony off the mat, underhooks his head in
reverse suplex position, before lifting him straight up, almost as if to
perform Vulture’s move, the Crimson Sunset, but he then drops his own legs out
and crashes Anthony down on his back, with a thunderous Curtain Call!
Calysto: Vic, I’m told he calls that move
the Duval Driver, and this match should be history!
Chris goes for the cover, as Alexis rushes back into the ring to prevent
Jade from breaking up the pin… one, two, three!
Calysto: Indeed. And if they succeed in getting Vulture and Morgan Day to
mentor them, they could become a force to be reckoned with around here. They
certainly have the talent.
The fans cheer as “No More Sorrow” replays over the speakers and Chris and
Alexis Duval celebrate their mixed tag team victory. The twins appear to be
enthused as they briefly celebrate before exiting the ring, leaving their
defeated foes behind as we head to commercial.
WINNERS VIA PINFALL AT 5:07 – THE DUVAL TWINS
-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --
Back from break,
we are taken backstage, where Scott Cornelius is standing by with Dexter P.
Wellington, who is sporting a bit of a new look since we last saw him, with a
shorter, more closely-cropped hairdo, and a sweater tied around his neck.
Cornelius: Alright, I’m here with
two-time former PWA International Champion Dexter P. Wellington, who has
requested the opportunity to make some sort of announcement. First off, Mr.
Wellington, I have to ask – the last time we saw you, it was with your butler
Winston, and with Liz Rush, who you had successfully lured away from Paul
Dawkins. Tonight, in addition to your new look, you are also alone. So, what
have you been up to since we last you, and what is it that you would like to
say tonight?
Cornelius nearly drops the microphone in shock after this statement.
Cornelius: Come again?
Wellington: I know this may be difficult to understand, but I am here tonight
to announce that I am taking up a new side career as a philanthropist here in
the PWA. I want to use my wealth to make a difference. And this goes beyond
donating to charities; I do plenty of that. What I wish to do this season here
in the PWA is use not only the wealth, but the knowledge that I have
accumulated to make a positive difference in the lives of others. I am quite
excited about this proposition and I…
Suddenly,
Cox: Are you serious? Was I really
hearing clearly?
Cox: Yeah, there is. You know something,
Cox: That’s exactly what I’m calling you.
Wellington: You know, Cox, I get it. I know you and I have never really seen
eye to eye. And I understand the skepticism. But believe me, I have turned over
a new leaf. The Dexter P. Wellington that stands before you right now is not
the same man you used to know and hate. And really, who are you to judge me?
What are you even still doing here? Didn’t you retire about five times already?
Cox: I’m back here because I can still go, because I still belong. I know that
in my heart, and I’d be more than happy to prove it to you in the ring next
week, if you’ve got the guts to face me, one-on-one, by yourself, without any
of your cronies.
Kerry Cox smirks and nods at
***
We now find ourselves in the office of
creative director Justin Schenck, where it is a packed house. We see Dynamite
Dean Nash and Damien Fields talking with each other, along with Paul Epton,
John Wolfe, The Omega Steve Beovich, The Human Highlight Jon Dulberg, Renegade,
and Paul Dawkins. With the noise level in the room high, Schenck enters with
Chase Stone, conversing. They then stop talking as Justin reaches his desk and
begins speaking.
Schenck: Alright, everybody quiet down! You’re
probably wondering why I called you all in here, and really, the answer is
simple. The eight of you have something in common, and it’s that you are all
multi-time PWA Tag Team Champions. Furthermore, each set of you, be it Nash and
Fields, Epton and Wolfe, Renegade and Dawkins, or Beovich and Dulberg, have
held the titles together at least twice. So, what I am here to tell you all is
I have decided to reunite those four aforementioned teams and, right here next
week, we will have ourselves a good, old-fashioned four corners elimination
match, and the surviving team will be crowned the new Tag Team Champions.
There is a lot of buzzing in the room, before John Wolfe breaks the
silence.
Wolfe: So basically what you’re saying is
that these four teams here, we’re all forced to reunite?
Epton looks at Wolfe quizzically.
Wolfe: Not that
I’m necessarily complaining, mind you. Epton and I make a great team, and I
love teaming with him. But it’s not exactly what I had in mind. I thought I was
going to return to the PWA to defend the Progressive Championship that I won
during our final show. But I was told to leave the belt at home and just show
up. And now I’m hearing rumors the title has been discontinued?
Schenck: That isn’t rumor; that is fact. We have, in fact, decided to do away
with the Progressive Championship, and my apologies if that is upsetting to
you. But, John, understand that this is a new era in the PWA. There is a reason
this is called The Rebirth. And I am interested in seeing a rebirth of the four
tag teams that I have assembled in this room. Nash and Fields, Epton and Wolfe,
Renegade and Dawkins, Beovich and Dulberg. You four teams represent the most
decorated units on the active roster today, and in my view, it should be you
four teams battling to decide the new Tag Team Champions. But if any of you
don’t want to reform your teams for a shot at the gold, speak up now and I’ll
be glad to remove you from the bout. So let’s go around the room. And we’ll
start with you. Epton and Wolfe. In or out?
Epton: Well, I’M in. John?
Wolfe: (after a brief pause) No, no. Of course I’m in. I’m in. Let’s do it.
Schenck: Excellent. Nash and Fields.
Fields: In.
Nash: No
hesitation, in.
Schenck: Great. Dulberg and Beovich.
Dulberg: I’m in.
Beovich: Definitely in.
Schenck: Ok. Last ones. And an interesting team at that. Renegade and Dawkins.
You guys didn’t exactly finish off on the best of terms in 2006, did you?
Dawkins: No, we didn’t, and I didn’t really sign on to go back into this tag
team, but even I can’t deny that we were one hell of a unit when we worked
together. Renegade and I cleared the air personally long ago, but when it comes
to teaming … I’m down for another go at this if you are, dawg.
Renegade: Hey, I’ve got no problem starting our third reign as Tag Team champs
next week. Just do me one favor.
Dawkins: What’s that?
Renegade: Can we come up with a damn theme song for ourselves by next week?
Dawkins: (laughs) You got it.
Schenck: Alright, so it’s settled! We’ll see you all in the ring next week,
with the Tag Team gold on the line!
There is
continued excited buzzing in the room as people begin to gather their things
and leave.
Troy: Alright folks, we’re about to take
one last commercial break, and we’ll be right back with our uninterrupted main
event, which is just moments away! It’s Vulture, Solomon, Scythe, and GI Jew in
a fatal fourway match to name a number one contender to the PWA World
Heavyweight Championship, and it’s next!
Calysto: I can’t wait!
-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --
As we return from break, “My Avenue” by
Lil Boosie explodes onto the speakers, and the fans are initially confused
until Jaguar emerges from behind the curtain, prompting a wave of cheers to
sweep through the Madison Square Garden audience, welcoming the PWA World
Heavyweight Champion back inside the arena in which he won the gold for the
fifth time back at Everlasting Epic V. The champ throws his arms in the air,
eliciting a burst of pyro, and the cheers continue to rise as Jaguar heads
toward the ring, proudly wearing the PWA Championship belt.
Calysto: It sure
is well deserved, Vic. I know a thing or two about this guy, and let me tell
you, he is every bit as good as he is presented. One of the toughest opponents
I’ve ever faced, and a man I have great respect for.
After briefly
entering the ring and playing to the capacity crowd, Jaguar exits the ring and
makes his way to the commentary table. Jaguar shakes hands with Victor Troy,
and next approaches Jason Calysto, who stands and greets him with a wide smile.
The two shake hands and embrace with smiles on their faces.
Jaguar: What’s goin on, brother?
Calysto: A lot
less than you, I guess! Got this safer gig out here, I’m pretty excited about
it. But you, no retirement for you huh? And what’s with the new tune?
Jaguar: Hey,
gotta keep it fresh, right? It’s been a long time. New song for a new start.
And you know I HAD to come out and defend this thing, Iceman. After the war we
had over this, right here in this building the last time we were here almost
four years ago, I had to do this belt justice and defend it the way it deserves
to be defended.
Calysto: Oh, I don’t blame you. I’m sure I’d be doing the same thing had I come
away with the win.
Troy: Alright gentlemen, let’s talk about this match we’ve got in store. Four
former PWA Champions, one man will go on to challenge for the title next week
at the
Calysto: Well, it’s really hard for me to bet against Vulture. We’ve had a ton
of wars in that ring, and he’s another of my absolute toughest opponents of all
time. And really, I’ve had my wars with Scythe and GI Jew as well, Scythe even
at an Everlasting Epic, so I’ve seen what he can do on the big stage. But I
just don’t see a way that Solomon doesn’t come up with this win. He has the
massive power advantage over everyone else in that ring, and his speed and
agility is just unprecedented for a man his size. I know he can lose this match
tonight without even being pinned, but I just don’t see anyone getting a big
enough opening to pin someone else without Solomon being involved. I’m going to
predict a Solomon win, and one hell of a title bout right here next week.
Jaguar: Well, to be honest,
The bell sounds
three times, and the camera shifts focus to Palmer inside the ring.
Palmer: Ladies
and gentlemen, it is now time for our main event!
With that, “With
You” by
Scythe plays to the crowd as he makes
his way to the ring, and the
Calysto: Looks like your boy is showing
you up a little.
Jaguar (smiling): Let him have his moment. If he wins this match, he’s gonna
have to back that gesture up next week, and to be honest, I don’t think he can.
Scythe places himself in a corner and stretches out on the ring ropes,
awaiting his competition. Then, “Hear Me” by Darkseed explodes throughout the
arena, and two high blasts of pyro emerge from the stage as Solomon appears
from behind the curtain to an array of cheers equal to Scythe’s.
Calysto: Take a nice, long look, Jag! This could be your future!
Jaguar: Joy.
Despite the
overwhelmingly positive reaction, Solomon is stoic as he stalks down the aisle,
his icy blue eyes locked on the Modern-Day Samurai. Solomon climbs onto the
ring apron and steps over the ring ropes, entering the ring. Scythe and Solomon
stand toe to toe in the center of the ring, the seven-foot Alaskan Monster
making his 6’5” counterpart look small by comparison.
Calysto: Well Vic, don’t forget, these guys had a hellacious falls count
anywhere Iron Man match in this very building more than five years ago, where
Solomon won his first world title. Now, tonight, they are standing in each
other’s way of getting another shot at that gold next week.
Solomon and Scythe shake hands tentatively, out of respect, but Solomon
quickly heads to an opposite corner as they await the remainder of their
competition. They don’t have to wait long, as “Opium of the People” by Slipknot
pounds its way over the sound system, and the fans begin booing loudly as the
man known as GI Jew rolls onto the stage on his Chopper, revs the engine, and
begins riding to the ring.
Jaguar: And believe me, I know that first-hand. He says he’s the baddest Hebe
this side of Tel-Aviv, and he’s not lying. Dude is one of the baddest men on
the planet, period.
Calysto: You know, Jag, I get what you’re saying, but I’ve never been a big
believer in the GI Jew hype. I mean, I know he’s a two-time PWA champ and all,
but he was no Iceman.
Jaguar: Big talkin’ for a retired dude!
Calysto
(laughing): That’s my job now! Much safer over here!
GI Jew parks his
Chopper at the base of the ring, exits it, and heads into the ring. He
immediately gets right in Scythe’s face, and the two begin jawing, before
Solomon comes over and shoves Jew, which leads to the “Real American Hebrew”
getting right back at the Alaskan Monster!
Jaguar: There is beef all around in that ring. Scythe and GI Jew feuded
straight up through our last show in 2006, Solomon and Jew have a LONG history
together, and we’ve already talked about Scythe and Solomon. This is gonna get
HEATED!
Calysto: And we haven’t even gotten to our fourth participant!
With that, the opening strains of VAST’s “Falling From The Sky” thump over
the speakers, and the roof comes off
Calysto: I’ve gotta say, Vic, seeing Vulture out here competing again is really
a special thing, and for him to be able to compete here at Madison Square
Garden tonight, just like when he beat Jackie Baccaro at Everlasting Epic V,
has got to be a real thrill. Especially considering what’s at stake!
Jaguar: Oh believe me, I know Vulture would like nothing better than to win
this match tonight and clinch a world title bout right here at MSG. And if the
old man can pull it out here tonight, well then y’all are in for a hell of a
show next week in
Vulture takes a few steps forward on the stage and throws his arms in the
air, eliciting a huge burst of fiery pyro, which shoots up and creates a wall
of flames, which the two-time PWA World Heavyweight Champion emerges through,
signifying the Phoenix-like rebirth of his career.
No one in the ring takes their eyes off
Vulture as he slowly makes his way to the ring. All three men keep their eyes
fixated on him as he enters the ring and heads to the corner, throwing his arms
up as another blast of pyro shoots from the ringposts, forming V’s. With that,
Vulture jumps down, tosses his sunglasses and white warmup vest out of the
ring, and the four men each prepare themselves in their corners. As the music
stops and the cheering dies down, Lee Palmer again begins to speak.
Palmer: The following contest is a fatal
fourway match, scheduled for one fall, in which the winner will challenge
Jaguar for the PWA World Heavyweight Championship next week on PWA: The Rebirth!
In this match, there will be no count-outs, but individual participants can be
disqualified, which would eliminate them from the bout. Still, the first man to
score a pinfall or submission decision will be named the winner.
Introducing first, from
The fans cheer loudly, and Scythe bounces up and down in place, remaining
focused.
Palmer: Next, from Barrow,
The fans continue their robust cheering, and Solomon doesn’t react, staring
ahead at his opposition.
Palmer: Next, from
Now, the crowd’s reaction shifts to overwhelming jeers, as Jew shouts at
the fans before turning back to his opponents.
Palmer: And
finally, from Manhattan, New York, weighing in at 242 pounds, VULLLLLLLTURE!
The fans now
explode with cheers and Vulture raises one arm in the air in acknowledgement.
With that, the four men begin to draw towards one another as the bell sounds to
get this match started.
Calysto: This should be something!
FATAL FOURWAY MATCH:
SCYTHE VS. SOLOMON VS. GI JEW VS. VULTURE
Referee: Tom Stevens
All four men begin looking around the
ring, sizing up the competition, and none of them seem overeager to make the
first move. Finally, Jew is the first to strike, clubbing longtime rival Scythe
with a blow to the jaw, which sets about a domino effect. Solomon and Vulture
join in on the fighting, and the fans express their pleasure!
Soon enough, the fighting breaks down
into two sets: Scythe and Jew exchanging fists, and Vulture attempting to flee
the Alaskan Monster, not allowing himself to be pummeled by his much larger
opponent.
However, to Vulture’s dismay, Solomon
soon grabs a hold of him and pounds him with a furious left-right combo that
staggers the PWA icon. With Vulture stunned, Solomon bounces off the ropes and
tattoos him with a monstrous clothesline! Solomon then peels Vulture up off the
mat and lifts him high over his head before heaving him into Scythe and Jew,
who are locked up and brawling! The force of Vulture colliding with them like a
bowling ball breaks up their brawl, and sends Jew and Vulture tumbling out of
the ring, and Scythe to the mat. Scythe then gets to his feet to meet a
smirking Solomon in the center of the squared-circle.
Calysto: They made history the last time they locked up in this building; let’s
see if they can do it again!
Scythe uses his
speed to hit Solomon with a knife-edge chop, and then scamper out of the way
before the monster can grab a hold of him. Finally, Scythe gets a clear enough
opening to blast Solomon with a right hand, and he uses that opening to grab
the Alaskan’s arm and whip him into the turnbuckle. With Solomon momentarily
dazed in the corner, Scythe runs at him with a head of steam, but Solomon lifts
his right boot just in time for the Modern-Day Samurai’s face to crack against
it. Scythe falls to the mat in a heap, and Solomon begins scaling the
turnbuckles, headed for the top rope!
Jaguar: You have GOT to be kidding me!
Calysto: I don’t think I’ve ever seen this man do this before!
Solomon reaches his perch, only for GI Jew to get to his feet and shoves him
off, sending the Alaskan Monster spilling all the way to the arena floor!
Jaguar: I’m surprised, Troy. Normally Solomon is as cold and calculating as
they come, but he made a mistake there, and it cost him.
Calysto: That’s how badly these guys want a shot at you, Jag. Solomon saw an
opening to maybe put this match away early, so he took a shot, but it
backfired. Sometimes to win matches like these, you have to leave your comfort
zone.
Jew enters the ring and immediately begins slugging it out with Scythe.
Meanwhile, on the arena floor, Vulture is stirring, and finally making his way
back to his feet.
In the ring, Jew grabs Scythe in a side
headlock and cinches it in tightly. Scythe, however, backs Jew against the
ropes, breaking the hold as he shoots Jew off to the opposite ropes. Scythe
puts his head down, looking to flip him over with a back body drop, but he
telegraphs it, lowering his head too early, giving Jew ample time to counter.
Jew leaps over Scythe, bounces off the opposite ropes, and as Scythe turns
around, Jew absolutely destroys him, tackling him to the ground with a vicious Gore!
Jew wastes no time, going for the immediate cover. The referee counts… one,
two, and Vulture hits the ring out of nowhere and breaks up the pin! Scythe
rolls himself out of the ring, and Jew and Vulture begin shouting at each other
in the middle of the ring.
Calysto: Guys,
this is Vulture’s first time in the ring with GI Jew since Jew basically got
the ball rolling on Vulture’s retirement at Animosity 2004, dropping him on his
head with the Magnum Driver and ending Vulture’s final reign as the PWA
Champion.
Jaguar: Believe me, Jay, I remember that well, and I also know damn well how
long Vulture has waited for this moment.
Before long,
Vulture and Jew are rapidly and violently exchanging fists, and the crowd is
coming unglued! Jew ultimately establishes the fisticuffs advantage, hitting
Vulture with several consecutive right hands, before staggering him enough to
whip him against the ropes. Jew then hits off the opposite ropes, looking for
an immediate Gore, but Vulture counters it, leaping up and crushing Jew with a
knee to the jaw that knocks him out cold! The fans rise from their seats as
Vulture wastes not a second going for the cover! One, two, and now it’s Solomon
who makes the surprise save, recovering from his spill just in the knick of
time to prevent Vulture from winning this match.
Solomon and Vulture lock up, and Solomon establishes the immediate advantage,
grabbing Vulture and pounding him with repeated shoulder blocks. Solomon then
whips Vulture into the corner and charges in after him, pounding him with a
savage big splash. Vulture stumbles forward, but Solomon grabs him by the
throat and hurls him right back into the corner, before nailing him with
repeated lefts and rights to the ribs, causing Vulture to scream out in pain
with every blow. Then, Scythe gets to his feet and charges at Solomon, hitting
him with a big splash to the back that also sends Solomon crashing into Vulture
in the corner!
Calysto: He has some momentum now; let’s see if he can take advantage!
As Solomon
staggers forward, Scythe takes him down with a deep, Ricky Steamboat-esque
armdrag, turning his body completely into it. When Solomon gets to his feet,
Scythe does it again, and the fans cheer louder. However, when Solomon rises a
third time, Scythe is greeted by a mammoth boot to the jaw, which flattens him!
With that, Solomon signals for his finisher, the Deep Freeze, and the fans
begin to rise all over
Calysto: Here we go!
Solomon lifts Scythe up, with Scythe’s left arm and leg draped over the
monster’s massive shoulders, preparing to heave the Samurai’s legs over
Solomon’s head and send his body crashing to the mat with devastating impact.
However, as GI Jew begins to rise, Scythe sticks his thumb in Solomon’s eye,
causing him to loosen his grip! Solomon can’t see what’s happening as Scythe
slides off his shoulders to safety, and Jew charges at him, blasting him with a
thunderous Gore that sends both wrestlers tumbling out of the ring!
Calysto: Vic, I think Jew took the worst of that spill!
Jaguar: You’re right, Jay, he hit that mat hard on the outside! I think he
might have hit his head!
However, back in the ring, Vulture climbs to his feet and he and Scythe
approach the center of the ring, prompting the fans to cheer wildly!
Jaguar: That’s right,
Vulture and Scythe waste little time locking up in the center of the ring,
and Scythe wins the show of strength at first, shoving Vulture backwards,
almost to the ropes. Vulture smirks, and engages Scythe again, but this time
takes the advantage himself, shoving Scythe down to the mat! The fans cheer,
but Scythe pops right back up and nails Vulture with a furious knife-edge chop!
Vulture, however, follows suit, and nails Scythe with a chop of his own!
The two men exchange chops ferociously
until Scythe establishes the advantage, whipping Vulture against the ropes, and
downing him with a high back body drop as he returns! Vulture gets to his feet,
and Scythe downs him again with an armdrag! Scythe now grabs Vulture as he gets
up again, whips him against the ropes, bounces off the opposite ropes himself,
and flattens him with a high-impact diving clothesline! The decibel level in
the arena begins to rise again as the Modern-Day Samurai makes his way to the
top rope!
Calysto: Could he be going for that Diving Blade moonsault to finish this off?!
Jaguar: It sure looks that way!
However, when Scythe gets there, he realizes Vulture is stirring. He
instead leaps off the top, looking for a diving shoulder tackle, but Vulture
sees it coming and meets the flying Scythe with a dropkick that downs him hard!
Vulture goes for an immediate cover… one, two, and Scythe kicks out!
Vulture pulls Scythe up off the mat and whips him hard into the turnbuckle,
so hard that Scythe hits it chest-first. Vulture then lifts Scythe up and
perches him on the top rope, facing the audience, and scales the ropes behind
him. When Vulture takes his seat behind Scythe on the top rope, everyone knows
what’s coming next.
Calysto: A Vulture trademark if there ever was one!
Vulture locks his legs around the top rope and his hands around Scythe’s
waist, before heaving him off the top rope, back into the ring, with a release German
suplex. Scythe hits the mat hard and rolls onto his back, as Vulture, now
hanging upside down from the top rope, pulls himself back up, and hops onto the
top rope, turning himself around into a perched position, facing the ring. He
then outstretches his arms, and the fans go wild!
Calysto: He sure is, Vic! Vulture is signaling for the Fallen Angel frog
splash, the move he used to defeat Jackie Baccaro at Everlasting Epic V, and a
move he’s used to defeat countless other opponents over his career. If he hits
it, this could be it!
Vulture leaps off the top rope, headed
for Scythe, tucking his legs and arms into his body in mid-air, before extending
them outward for the Fallen Angel frog splash. However, just before impact,
Scythe rolls out of the way, and Vulture crashes onto the mat violently!
Jaguar: And look, Scythe is up!
Scythe springs to
his feet as Vulture reaches his, clutching his chest. However, Vulture stumbles
right into Scythe, who grabs him by the throat with both hands, lifts him into
the air, and drives him down violently, completing the Flying Dragon! Scythe
hooks the leg and covers for the pin… one, two, thr-NO! Vulture kicks out!
Calysto: Well, it looks like he’s going in for the kill now!
Scythe now heads
back to the top rope, and the fans cheer him on wildly! As Scythe reaches his
perch and again signals for the Diving Blade moonsault, he doesn’t see Solomon
creep back into the ring and get to his feet. Solomon charges at him as Scythe
backflips off the top rope, extending himself to land on Vulture… but Solomon
catches him in mid-air and heaves him back onto his shoulders for the Deep
Freeze! Scythe tries furiously to free himself, but this time it is not to be –
the Alaskan Monster destroys the Modern-Day Samurai with a vicious Deep Freeze
that reverberates throughout the World’s Most Famous Arena!
Calysto: He’s going for the cover! This could be it!
Solomon goes for the cover, hooking the leg tightly… one, two, th-and
Vulture breaks up the pin!
Jaguar: Apparently not!
Solomon and Vulture each get to their feet and begin exchanging fists,
until Solomon nails him with a furious knee to the gut, followed up by a big
boot to the jaw! Solomon then lifts Vulture off the mat and hoists him up for
the Deep Freeze! However, Vulture slips out, bounces against the ropes, and, as
Solomon turns around, drills him in the jaw with a running, jumping knee!
The Alaskan
Monster doesn’t go down, but stumbles. Meanwhile, GI Jew storms back into the
ring, and Solomon turns right into another furious Gore! Solomon is crushed
with furious impact, so hard that he rolls all the way to the outside of the
ring! Meanwhile, a barely-conscious Scythe has now rolled out of the ring and
to the arena floor himself, leaving GI Jew and Vulture all alone in the ring!
Vulture is down on one knee, and Jew stalks him, looking for another Gore.
However, as he gets started running, Vulture unexpectedly springs up and catches
Jew, driving him down with authority with the Chill Factor spinebuster! Vulture
covers… one, two, thr-NO! Jew kicks out!
Calysto: I really thought he had him there, guys!
Jaguar: Looks like GI Jew has a bit of fight left!
Now, with the
audience frenzied, Vulture signals again for the Fallen Angel, and begins
heading to the top rope! However, once Vulture reaches his perch, it becomes
apparent that GI Jew is about to reach his feet. So, Vulture aborts mission and
changes course, diving off with a crossbody attack… only to be caught in
mid-air by GI Jew, and tossed onto his shoulder, in position for Jew’s brutal,
neck-crunching finisher, the Magnum Driver!
Calysto: And this is déjà vu all over again, as Yogi would say! This is the
same sequence of events that led to Jew’s title victory over Vulture at
Animosity 2004, and that really cost Vulture years of his career!
Jaguar: Right down to the crossbody, the catch, everything – looks like history
is about to repeat itself!
Jew keeps Vulture hoisted over his shoulder while he runs his thumb across
his throat, and shouts out “this time, you’re gonna stay retired!” However,
just as Jew prepares to drive Vulture’s neck down into the mat, Vulture slips
out and shoves Jew hard into the turnbuckles chest first! Jew then stumbles
backwards, right into a waiting Vulture, who takes his left arm and hooks it
around Jew’s throat, bending him backwards, before running his own thumb across
his throat, lifting Jew in the air, upside down, and driving him down
head-first into the mat with ferocious impact!
Calysto: I think
this is gonna be it!
The fans are
coming unglued as Vulture covers… one, two three!
Jaguar: Well I’ll
be DAMNED! He did it!
Calysto: Looks
like we have one hell of a main event on our hands again next week!
Jaguar: I’ll let him have his moment now, and he’s my boy and all, but next
week, you better believe it’s on. This title is not going ANYWHERE next week,
and that’s a promise.
The rabid New
York crowd cheers riotously as “Falling From The Sky” again blares over the
speakers, and Vulture soaks in the adulation of his hometown crowd, and more
importantly, enjoys the vindication of knowing he can still perform his craft
at a high enough level to be considered one of the world’s elite.
Vulture then shifts his focus to the
announce table, and looks directly at Jaguar. The two longtime friends stare
each other down, and Jaguar stands up, placing the title belt over his shoulder
before pointing to it and shaking his head, as if to say that Vulture will not
get his hands on it next week. Vulture’s lips can be read saying “we’ll see” in
the ring as his music continues to boom throughout
WINNER VIA PINFALL AT 34:17 – VULTURE
-- END SHOW --