A video package airs, highlighting events that took place on last week’s show, focusing on Anthony Failla defeating Jaguar inside a steel cage to capture the PWA World Heavyweight Championship. As the package reaches its conclusion, “Live Again” by Ours pumps over the speakers and the opening credits for PWA: The Rebirth roll.

After this, we are taken inside the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri, where a brilliant pyrotechnics display ensues, and the fans cheer wildly as the camera cuts to our commentators, Victor Troy and Jason Calysto.

Troy: Hello everyone and welcome to PWA: The Rebirth! I’m Victor Troy, along here with the one and only Iceman Jason Calysto, and we’ve got a tremendous show here for you tonight!

Calysto: We sure do, Vic! Last week, we saw the beginning of perhaps a new era in the PWA, the era of Failla, but that era could prove to be really short-lived, as the championship is up for grabs this evening!

Troy: That’s right! It was announced during this past week that Failla would be making his first defense of this championship right here tonight, in a triple threat match! It’s going to be Failla vs. Solomon vs. Scythe in a three-way war that should be a battle for the ages!

Calysto: Now Vic, I can confirm that Solomon isn’t the least bit thrilled with this turn of events. He feels that the title shot should have been his and his alone after defeating Scythe last week, albeit in controversial fashion. Obviously, Justin Schenck didn’t see it that way, and we have our triple threat main event.

Troy: But that’s not all we’ve got for you tonight. As announced last week, we are going to see Morgan Day defend the PWA Women’s Championship against the deadly newcomer Zina!

Calysto: And after seeing Zina dispose of Keiko Ishida in the manner in which she did last week, I have to say, I fear for Morgan’s title tonight. Zina actually managed to put Keiko on the shelf for a few weeks as result of not only last week’s battle, but two subsequent matches on live events this past weekend, and that’s the kind of thing that really makes you sit up and take notice. I have a feeling we’re about to see a war; a war that I’m not sure Morgan Day can survive as champion.

Troy: Additionally, we’re going to see another newcomer take on their biggest challenge yet, as Evan Black collides with two-time former PWA World Heavyweight Champion GI Jew!

Calysto: Black’s apparent mentor Dex Wellington will be in his corner, but I’m just not sure if that’s going to be enough. GI Jew is apparently hell-bent on making Black’s stay in the PWA miserable, and I’m really not sure if Black has what it takes to overcome a talent the caliber of GI Jew, especially when he’s motivated.

Troy: We’re also going to see a most interesting tag team battle, pitting the team of Renegade and Paul Dawkins against the unit of Dan Crowley and Showtime Damon Savage. The winning duo will not only receive a shot at the PWA Tag Team Championship in one week’s time, but if that team should win the title next week, the competitor who scores the winning pinfall will be guaranteed a shot at the PWA World Heavyweight Championship before this season is out.

Calysto: And given the near obsession both Crowley and Showtime have with getting to the mountaintop for the first time, you KNOW this challenge means everything to them. They need to work together tonight to earn the chance to try to undercut each other next week, all while trying to win a match as partners. And the same will be true with Renegade and Dawkins should they prevail. This all should make for an interesting dynamic, and I’m certainly looking forward to it.

Troy: And with that, let’s send it down to Lee Palmer at ringside!

Palmer: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the creative director of the Progressive Wrestling Alliance, Justin Schenck!

The fans begin booing raucously as Schenck makes his way to the ring, without the usual smirk on his face. As he approaches the ring, Schenck grabs a microphone and enters. “You Screwed Greg” chants echo throughout the arena, which ultimately cause Schenck to smirk.

Schenck: Calm down, calm down. I WILL address the Greg Tantalus situation while I am out here, don’t you worry. I just have an announcement to make first. It’s a fairly major announcement, actually. First of all, I’m sure all of you know that on Saturday night, August 14, live from Jacksonville Municipal Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, the PWA returns to pay-per-view with the sixth installment of Everlasting Epic, and if you didn’t know that, you should be ashamed of yourself. Now, the big question many people should have on their minds is WHO exactly is going to challenge for the PWA World Heavyweight Championship on that special night? Well, that is exactly what I’m out here to announce. Next week, when we are live in Houston, Texas, we will be featuring a battle royal, for which every wrestler in the company is eligible. Once the ring has cleared down to 16 men, we will have reached our pool of contenders for the Everlasting Epic main event. All eliminated prior to this are out of the running. The battle royal will continue until two men remain, and the 14 eliminated directly prior to this will compete in seven qualifying matches over the June 22 and June 29 episodes of The Rebirth. The winners of these seven matches will all qualify for the bout that will determine the number one contender to the PWA Championship at Everlasting Epic. That bout will take place in Denver, Colorado on the July 6 episode of The Rebirth, four weeks from tonight. And on that night, we will see the return of the most grueling test of stamina and endurance that the PWA has to offer, the Seven Deadly Sins match!

The fans cheer wildly at the announcement.

Troy: Did you hear that?! Seven Deadly Sins, four weeks from tonight!

Calysto: Eight wrestlers, seven grueling falls, with seven different challenging stipulations, one elimination per fall until only one man remains. I’ve been through Seven Deadly Sins matches, and they are no treat, but I am REALLY looking forward to this one!

Schenck: Of course, the Seven Deadly Sins match features eight participants, and we have only covered seven of them. The last two surviving men in next week’s battle royal will be named co-winners. Then, two weeks from tonight, those two men will compete in a one-on-one match. The LOSER of that bout automatically qualifies for the final spot in the Seven Deadly Sins match on July 6. However, the WINNER of the match will earn himself a PWA Championship match against whoever the champion may be, the very same night as Seven Deadly Sins! So, four weeks from tonight, our Everlasting Epic main event will be set. The winner of that night’s championship bout will defend the gold against the winner of the Seven Deadly Sins match in Jacksonville! But, it all begins next week with the battle royal. So, to get everyone revved up, I have booked a 10-man elimination tag team bout for tonight, where eliminations can only be scored via throwing your opponent over the top rope, with both feet touching the floor! And that match… is next!

The fans cheer loudly.

Schenck: But, before we get to that, I do have some business to attend to. Last week, you saw Greg Tantalus confront me with rumors that I conspired to have him cheat on his wife and for her to find out about it, in the process destroying his marriage.

The St. Louis crowd boos.

Schenck: You have every right to boo. And I probably deserve it.  But at the same time, I am a businessman. I am responsible to make this company as much money as I possibly can. And with that in mind, I did what I had to do to get Greg Tantalus on board. I didn’t do anything illegal. I just provided him with an opportunity that he obviously could not pass up. The woman was just a friend of mine with a major crush on Greg Tantalus. I just arranged for her to meet him and express her interest. Greg made his own decision to act on it, and everything that happened after that is, clearly, his own fault.

But if you want to put it into terms that impact you, the audience… the bottom line is this. Greg Tantalus is one of the seminal performers of the PWA, and I simply did not feel that a Rebirth could be done without him. You might wonder why I had to go to such extreme lengths to bring Tantalus back to the PWA. You might be thinking to yourself that there surely must have been an easier way to do this. But you’re wrong. Greg Tantalus, satisfied and content with his simple family life, rejected my best and final proposal to return to the PWA this season, a proposal well beyond what he is worth, and all I could think about was the disappointed faces of all you fans when you learned that he would not be back. However, a Greg Tantalus without a happy marriage, a Greg Tantalus in need of money with divorce proceedings imminent… that is a Greg Tantalus that is willing to perform for you. So really, you can boo now if you disagree with my methods. But each and every time you cheer for Greg Tantalus this season, remember that it was Justin Schenck and his ruthless yet visionary business practices that brought him to you. And for that, you are ALL welcome.

The fans shower Schenck with boos until “Live to Win” by Paul Stanley explodes onto the speakers, and the crowd goes nuts for the arrival of Greg Tantalus!

Troy: Tantalus is here! And he doesn’t look happy!

Calysto: To be honest, Vic, I’m surprised Schenck is even staying in that ring to confront him.

A look of pure fury is etched on Tantalus’ face as he power walks his way to the ring, grabbing a microphone and meeting Schenck inside.

Tantalus: All week, I’ve been waiting for tonight, waiting for the opportunity to come out here and confront you. And now, with that stupid little story you told all these people, I just want to pop you in the mouth even more than I have all week.

Schenck: You touch me and I’ll have security pounce on you so fast, it’ll make your head spin!

Tantalus: You know, I told myself I wasn’t going to come out here and be emotional; that I was going to stay level-headed and let the story unfold. I did that. I heard what you had to say. Now, the decision I have to make is a fairly simple one. Do I hear you out some more, let you explain yourself further, and ultimately reach some kind of understanding? Or do I just kick your teeth down your throat and this job be damned?

The fans are cheering loudly, and Schenck is growing nervous.

Tantalus: As a matter of fact, I really SHOULD just kick your ass. What do I have to be afraid of? We know you’re not going to fire me after going through all this trouble just to bring me here. What possible incentive do I have NOT to beat the crap out of you right now? Huh, Justin? Tell me.

Schenck: (growing desperate) Listen, Greg… I was just looking out for your best interests here. I know that is hard for you to accept right now. Maybe even hard for you to understand. But you are a WRESTLER. Not only that, you are one of the best wrestlers the PWA has ever seen. For you to be sitting at home, neutered, pretending to be a family man… it’s asinine. It’s not who you are. You belong here. You don’t belong at home with a woman that doesn’t appreciate your career choice, who holds you back from competing. I set you free. All I did was give you the opportunity to do something, and you took that opportunity and ran with it. I don’t know how you can blame me for that, when it’s an issue with your own conscience. I didn’t break your home; I BROUGHT you home. And someday, we are going to look back at this, and you are going to thank me for where your life ultimately ended up, as opposed to where it was heading before I got myself involved.

Tantalus is clearly seething, but attempts to control himself.

Tantalus: Look, I’m not here to make excuses for what I did. I will be the first to admit that I messed up. But you had NO RIGHT to meddle in my personal life. My answer to you was no. It should have been the end. But no. You couldn’t accept the fact that I wasn’t going to be around, so you figured out a way to get me to stay. Well done. But did you really think I wasn’t going to find out about this?

Schenck: To be honest with you, Greg, I didn’t really care. What are you going to do now? Your financial state is not immaculate, and even if you thought you could afford to quit, the contract I had you sign for this season is iron-clad. And on top of that, I cover my tracks. After your little outburst last week, I took the liberty of putting your soon-to-be ex-wife in touch with a good friend of mine, who just happens to be a high-powered divorce attorney. I can call off the dogs, but you need to get in line, Tantalus. Just accept the fact that you are bound to the PWA, and to me, for as long as we both have a use for you.

Tantalus smiles at Schenck briefly, before tackling him violently to the mat! The fans cheer wildly as Tantalus grabs Schenck’s throat and begins strangling him! Quickly, the security team blasts down to ringside and pries Tantalus off of Schenck, roughing Tantalus up in the process.

Chase Stone now flies down to the ring and begins pummeling the prone Tantalus, stomping away on him viciously. Stone even lifts Tantalus up and holds him back, so that Schenck can smack him across the face hard! Schenck smiles and grabs his microphone.

Schenck: Security, get this piece of crap out of my building! You’re an ingrate, Tantalus, you know that?! You wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for me! I’ll figure out what to do with you next week! NO ONE puts their hands on me like that and gets away with it!

Tantalus is escorted away, and the fans shower Schenck and Chase Stone with jeers. Schenck regains his composure.

Schenck: Just forget about that, people, ok? We have a great show for you tonight, and a great 10-man elimination tag with battle royal rules coming up next. Enjoy it!

The fans continue their booing as “Reason to Hate Me” replays and Schenck and Stone exit in tandem and we take a break.

Troy: I really can’t believe what I’ve just seen, Iceman!

Calysto: I’ll tell you what, Vic, I respect a lot of the things Schenck has done since taking this position, but this is one of those things you just don’t do. You don’t screw with a man’s personal life for something like this. I can say pretty safely that we have not heard the last out of Greg Tantalus regarding this situation, and I really would not want to be Justin Schenck right now.

Troy: In any event, we DO have a great show for you tonight, and we’re going to kick off our wrestling action right after this!

-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --

Back from break, “More Human Than Human” by White Zombie is blaring over the speakers, and the PWA Tag Team Champions Synergy -- all three members -- are in the ring, conversing with “The Conquistador” Matthew Magellan and Farley, who are their partners for the evening. The Omega Steve Beovich, The Human Highlight Jon Dulberg, and The MVP Don Capriglione all stand in the ring, awaiting their opposition, until “War Machine” by KISS hits, and the St. Louis crowd lets out a strong cheer for the Hardcore Icon Kerry Cox, who makes way to the ring with his four tag team partners -- the tag teams of Paul Epton and John Wolfe, and Dynamite Dean Nash and Damien Fields. The five enter the ring and stand across from their competition as the bell sounds.

Troy: Alright, very interesting match on tap right now! Five-on-five elimination tag team bout, contested under battle royal rules!

Calysto: We’re going to see now just how unpredictable a battle royal can be, and how just about ANYTHING is capable of happening next week. Tonight, we have the added bonus of the team element being thrown into the mix, so let’s get to it!

10-MAN ELIMINATION TAG TEAM MATCH:
BATTLE ROYAL RULES:
KERRY COX, PAUL EPTON, JOHN WOLFE, DYNAMITE DEAN NASH, & DAMIEN FIELDS VS. PWA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS SYNERGY, MATTHEW MAGELLAN, & FARLEY
Referee: Jose Soares
Outside Referee: Dan Martin
The fans cheer loudly as the 10 men immediately go at it, slugging it out with a fury! Cox goes right after Magellan, while Epton and Wolfe find themselves battling Synergy members Beovich and Dulberg. Nash and Fields have Capriglione cornered and double-teamed, and Farley is standing alone in the ring. Farley looks around at the battle ensuing around him, and responds by reaching into the pocket of his sweatpants and pulling out a candy bar, which he proceeds to eat in the middle of the ring!

Calysto: Are you serious?! This Farley character is standing there eating a snack in the middle of a match!

Troy: I’d have to think that is not a recipe for success!

Suddenly, Dean Nash catches wind of this and walks over to Farley, grabbing him and hurling him out of the ring to a nice pop! Magellan looks over, befuddled, and Cox takes advantage of the momentary distraction to grab Magellan and clothesline him over the top and out! The fans cheer loudly, and Magellan pounds the mat in frustration on the outside! Magellan screams at Farley, who is still eating his candy bar, all the way to the locker room!

Troy: It looks like Farley’s presence has been more of a detriment than a benefit to Magellan!

Calysto: Well, that’s at least true tonight! But now, we have the three members of Synergy in there with all five members of Kerry Cox’s team! For once, the numbers game is against Synergy!

Cox takes Dulberg on solo, while Epton and Wolfe double-team Capriglione, and Nash and Fields double up on Beovich. Nash is able to hold back The Omega, and Fields charges, looking to bull over the Synergy member. However, Beovich moves out of the way at the last second, and Fields inadvertently eliminates his partner Nash! Then, amidst the confusion, Beovich tosses Nash out as well!

Troy: And now we’re back to three-on-three!

Calysto: Talk about dropping the ball! Way to go, Nash and Fields!

John Wolfe rushes over and clotheslines Beovich to the mat, stomping away on him thunderously. Cox has the advantage over Dulberg, stinging him with chops to the chest in one of the corners. Epton and Capriglione are keeping the pace quick on their side of the ring, with Epton holding a slight advantage. Things continue in this manner until Capriglione nails Epton with a hurricanrana, the force of which sends Epton charging towards his partner Wolfe! Epton crashes into Wolfe, causing the large Englishman to turn around and take his attention off The Omega for just a split second. This momentary distraction allows Beovich to dump Wolfe over the top and to the floor, and for Capriglione to charge Epton and clothesline him out as well! Wolfe is livid on the outside!

Troy: I don’t believe it! Synergy has just eliminated Epton and Wolfe, and they now have turned a five-on-three deficit into a three-on-one advantage!

Calysto: It’s going to take a lot for Kerry Cox to survive this one!

All three members of Synergy surround Cox now, who does what he can to stand his ground. Cox goes right for Capriglione, downing him with a hard right, before Beovich and Dulberg club him in the back. Cox goes down to one knee as all three Synergy members stomp him into oblivion. He gets back to his feet and they whip him against the ropes. However, when he returns, Cox ducks under a double clothesline, hits the opposite ropes, and charges, downing both Dulberg and Beovich with a flying double clothesline! Capriglione then moves in on Cox and lifts him up, trying to toss him into the ropes, but Cox reverses, boots the MVP in the stomach, and floors him with the Coxsucker DDT! The crowd cheers loudly, but the cheers are short-lived, as Dulberg and Beovich get back to their feet, grab Cox from behind, and hurl him over the top rope and to the outside!

Troy: That’s it! Synergy has won this thing!

Calysto: This just goes to show you the power of working in tandem, even in a match like a battle royal, where it’s every man for himself. If Synergy works together as a cohesive unit next week the way they did tonight, all three members of the group could very well find themselves in Seven Deadly Sins qualifying matches!

The fans boo as “More Human Than Human” replays over the speakers and Beovich, Dulberg, and Capriglione celebrate their victory in the ring. Cox gets to his feet on the outside and glares at the Tag Team Champions, shaking his head as he walks to the back and we take a commercial break.

WINNERS AT 8:23 – SYNERGY

-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --

Back from break, we see Tag Team Champions Synergy celebrating in the backstage area. However, the celebration is stopped short when Paul Dawkins and Renegade walk over and confront them. There is tension in the air as Beovich, Dulberg, and Capriglione exchange glares with the two men who could potentially be their next challengers.

Renegade: Nice win out there, but don’t get too comfortable.

Dawkins: Later tonight, we’re taking down Crowley and Showtime, and next week, we’re taking our titles back. And that’s a guarantee.

Beovich: Really? A guarantee? I think you’re forgetting the major advantage that we have next week.

Renegade: That there’s three of you, and you don’t have to announce which two of you are competing until the last minute?

Dulberg: Aside from that.

Beovich: Yeah. The advantage I’m talking about is that whether it’s you two, or it’s Crowley and Showtime, whoever we face will basically be competing against each other for a shot at the PWA title. Not us. Our only loyalties are to each other and to retaining the tag team titles. So, good luck out there. But it’s not going to matter anyway, because we are not losing the titles next week.

Dawkins: You can say whatever you want, but we know you’re afraid to face us. And you should be. Because no matter what, we WILL take the Tag Team Championship from you. That is a promise.

Capriglione: Whatever. Somehow, I don’t even think you’ll get past tonight. But if you do, I promise YOU: you WILL lose next week.

***

Synergy then walks off, as the camera cuts to another part of the backstage area, where Jaguar, in street clothes, is talking to PWA head of security, Jamal. However, Jaguar’s conversation is interrupted by the International Champion Michael Grieco and Dee Licious. Jaguar does not look pleased to see them.

Jaguar: Excuse me a minute, Jamal.

Jamal: Take your time. I’ll catch up with you later.

Jaguar turns his attention to Grieco and Dee.

Jaguar: What could you possibly want?

Grieco: I just wanted to congratulate you on a job well done last week. You really proved to the world that you are just an overrated piece of garbage, and I just can’t help but notice that only one of us is wearing gold right now.

Jaguar: (losing his cool) Do you really think this is wise, coming out here and getting in my face the week after I lose the world title? Do you?

Grieco: You talk like I’m supposed to be afraid of you or something. I’m not. If we hadn’t been separated last week, I would have dropped you right there.

Jaguar then grabs Grieco by the shirt and tosses him up against the wall!

Jaguar: I talk like you’re supposed to be afraid of me? That’s because you SHOULD. As far as last week goes… I don’t see anything separating us tonight. Look Grieco, I’m in a bad mood. A REAL bad mood. Not only did I lose the PWA title last week, but I lost it to Anthony Failla. I take that personally. So if you want to come out here and get in my face, you’d better be prepared to back it up. You want to drop me right here? Well, I’ve got my gear in my dressing room. Let’s do this in the ring.

The security guard Jamal then walks over.

Jamal: Everything alright over here?

Jaguar: Oh it’s fine. I was just leaving.

Jaguar then lets go of Grieco and stares down Dee, who looks anxious to interject herself into the situation, but ultimately opts not to get involved. Jaguar walks off, and Grieco looks on after him with rage in his eyes.

***

The camera then shifts to another area backstage, where Evan Black is taping his wrists, preparing to head to the ring for his battle with GI Jew. Just as he finishes, Dexter P. Wellington walks over and joins him.

Black: Hey.

Wellington: Hi Evan. So, are you ready?

Black: As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.

Wellington: Just remember everything we went over. Remember your training. You can beat this guy. I KNOW you can. The most important thing is to believe in yourself, and good things will happen.

Black: Thanks. Hey listen, you want to come out there with me tonight?

Wellington: You want me to?

Black: You just never know what GI Jew might have up his sleeve, you know? I’d feel more comfortable if I had some backup.

Wellington: Then I’m there.

Black and Wellington then shake hands, before a production assistant runs up to them.

Production Assistant: Ok, Black, you’re on in five.

He then walks off.

Wellington: Looks like it’s time.

Black widens his eyes and smirks before psyching himself up, Wellington egging him on, as we head to commercial.

Troy: It’s Evan Black against GI Jew, and it’s next!

-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --

Back from break, “Hero” by Nas blasts onto the speakers, and Evan Black makes his way to the ring to a sizeable ovation! Dexter Wellington follows not far behind, and the look on Black’s face is one of nervous excitement. Black enters the ring and stretches out on the ropes, awaiting his competition.

Troy: Folks, before we get started with this next match, I just wanted to pass down word I just received from the officials in the back. The match is signed, sealed, and delivered. Later tonight, Jaguar is going to go one-on-one with the International Champion Michael Grieco, in a non-title bout!

Calysto: That should be tremendous! But this match we’re about to see has the potential to be tremendous as well!

He isn’t made to wait long, as “Opium of the People” by Slipknot hits the speakers, and GI Jew emerges, riding his Chopper down the aisle. He parks it at ringside and enters the ring, never taking his eyes off Evan Black. Finally, Jew takes his place in the center of the ring, and the bell sounds.

Troy: What a tremendous opportunity for Evan Black right here!

Calysto: An opportunity to get his teeth kicked down his throat, more like it! But it’s true, if he can somehow find a way to upset GI Jew, it will be a monumental win for him. Even hanging with a guy like GI Jew should elevate Black. But we’ll see if he’s capable of that. Black has never had a test like this before. It’s gut-check time.

GI JEW VS. EVAN BLACK
Referee: Tom Stevens
As soon as the bell rings, Jew charges violently at Black, looking for an immediate Gore, but Black is able to sidestep out of the way! Angered, Jew charges in on him again, but this time Black downs him with a drop toehold! Jew gets back to a knee, trying to lift himself up, but Black bounces off the opposite ropes, and nails him in the jaw with a dropkick! Wellington pumps his fist on the outside, and the fans cheer loudly, cheering on the newcomer!

Troy: What a fast start for Evan Black!

Calysto: He needs to keep the pressure on here if he’s gonna have a chance to take this thing!

Black goes for a cover, but Jew powers out at one, trying to prove a point. Evan is undaunted, however, so when Jew gets to his feet, he lunges at him with a running clothesline. But, Jew ducks under it and nails the unsuspecting Black with a brutal clothesline to the back of the neck, flooring him!

Jew then lifts Black off the mat and hurls him across the ring, prompting the crowd to let loose with a burst of jeers. GI Jew stalks in after him and proceeds to pepper the rookie with vicious stomps to the chest and midsection. Black is slow to his feet, but when he does rise, Jew whips him against the ropes and catches him as he returns, drilling him down to the mat with a vicious sidewalk slam! Jew covers… one, two, and Black gets a shoulder up.

GI Jew now locks in a side headlock, wrenching it in tightly, as the St. Louis crowd tries to rally Evan Black back to his feet. However, just as Black is about to reach a vertical base, Jew willingly relinquishes the hold and whips Black violently into the corner, where Black crashes chest-first against the turnbuckle pads. Black stumbles backwards, right into Jew’s arms, who launches him with a vicious release German suplex! The fans boo loudly as Jew taunts them.

Before long, Jew pries Black up off the mat and hurls him over the top rope, down to the arena floor. Jew then follows him to the outside, where he immediately picks him up and hurls him into the ringpost, eliciting a loud clang as Black’s bone hits the steel.

Dex Wellington walks over, screaming at Jew to take the match back inside the ring. However, Jew responds the only way he knows how: by running at Wellington and Goring him straight into oblivion! Wellington hits the ground with a sickening thud, and Jew then quickly rolls into the ring and back outside of it to break the referee’s count, giving him more time to abuse Black on the outside.

Troy: GI Jew is in firm control of this match.

Calysto: He is, but you really wish he would take this back inside. Quit toying with the guy, Jew. Finish him off if you can. This is just not necessary.

Jew then lifts up Black and hurls him right over the announce table, sending him crashing into Victor Troy and Jason Calysto! Troy is barely grazed by Black’s head and shoulders, but Calysto is nailed in the mouth by Black’s boot and knocked off his chair!  Jew smiles when he sees the damage, and walks right over Calysto and yanks Black up to his feet. However, Calysto springs up and begins screaming at GI Jew!

Calysto: You wanna watch it?! Stop toying with the kid and just finish the damn match already! You could have hurt somebody just now!

Jew smirks at Calysto, before his gaze turns serious.

Jew: You’d better shut your mouth, has-been, before I shut it for you!

Jew turns his back on Calysto and rolls Evan Black into the ring. Calysto, furious, makes a move towards the squared circle, but Victor Troy holds him back.

Back in the ring, Jew enters and begins slapping the back of Black’s head continuously as he tries valiantly to reach a vertical base. On the outside of the ring, Wellington is finally beginning to stir, having been knocked out by the Gore.

Jew now backs up, allowing Black, in the corner, to pull himself up. Jew gets into position, looking for the Gore. As soon as Black gets to his feet, Jew furiously charges forward… only for Black to dive out of the way at the last moment! Jew crashes into the turnbuckles hard and, amidst the confusion, Black rolls him up in a small package! One, two, three!

Troy: My God! My God! I don’t believe it! Evan Black! Evan Black has just pinned GI Jew! What a monumental upset!

Calysto: Yes! Serves the piece of crap right! Way to go, Black!

Calysto stands up from his chair and applauds the effort of Evan Black, who immediately rolls out of the ring, grabs Wellington, and darts up the aisle and out of sight as quickly as he can, “Hero” serenading the St. Louis crowd. Predictably, Jew springs to his feet in a furious rage, looking to take it out on Black, only to see that he and Wellington are already practically out of sight. Instead, he turns to the commentary table, and sees Calysto standing, applauding, and smiling. Furious, Jew exits the ring.

Troy: Iceman, you might want to sit down. I think he’s coming over here.

Calysto: Let him come.

Calysto drops his headset, just as Jew reaches him.

Calysto: You got a problem, pal?!

Jew shoves Calysto, and the Iceman shoves back, and a brawl ensues to the delight of the St. Louis crowd! Troy frantically waves to the back, seeking help at the ringside area, and before long, a wave of PWA officials descends on the scene. Neither Jew nor Calysto appear to have gotten any good shots in, but the officials make sure that neither does. Both men continue lunging at each other amidst the cheering crowd as we fade to commercial.

WINNER VIA PINFALL AT 8:27 – EVAN BLACK

-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --

We return from break at ringside, where Victor Troy is sitting with a very agitated Jason Calysto.

Troy: Alright folks, we’re back here on PWA: The Rebirth, and we just saw an incredible upset, as Evan Black found a way to defeat GI Jew, which was clearly the biggest win of Black’s young career, and congratulations are in order. However, after the match, there was a confrontation between GI Jew and my broadcast partner Jason Calysto, who has something to say.

Calysto: I do, Vic, and I don’t want to make a big deal of it. I understand. I wrestled for 20 years. Things happen in the heat of the moment. So, GI Jew, I’m going to let this go. But I’m going to say this once, and only once. This needs to be the end of it, right here. I don’t want you getting in my face, I don’t want to hear you run your mouth about me. Hell, I don’t even want you thinking about me. Because this is your one and only opportunity. Don’t push me. That’s all I’m going to say.

Troy: Alright, there you have it. Folks, I’m being told that Scott Cornelius is backstage with the PWA World Heavyweight Champion, Anthony Failla. Let’s head back there.

***

We now shift to the interview area backstage, where Scott Cornelius is indeed with Anthony Failla.

Cornelius: Thanks, Victor. Anthony Failla, later tonight, you will make your first televised defense of the PWA Championship since triumphing over Jaguar last week, and it will be an incredible challenge. You defend that title against not one, but TWO formidable opponents, both former world champions, in the Modern-Day Samurai Scythe, and the Alaskan Monster Solomon. What are you going to do to ensure you leave here with the PWA title intact?

Failla turns slowly to Cornelius, looking at him coldly.

Failla: What am I going to do to ensure the title stays with me? That’s simple, Scott. I’m going to win. And I’m going to win any way that I have to. If there must be bloodshed tonight, there will be bloodshed. If I have to end the careers of both Scythe and Solomon to leave here with the title, I will. Last week, I proved the world wrong when I shut Jaguar up and took the championship away from him. I do NOT intend to give it up this quickly. Scythe, Solomon, you’re going to have to kill me to take this belt from me. And I’d love to see you try.

With that, Failla walks off.

***

We then cut to another portion of the backstage area, where Dan Crowley and Showtime Damon Savage are preparing for their tag team bout with Renegade and Paul Dawkins later tonight.  

Crowley: You ready for this?

Showtime: C’mon, man. You don’t need to ask me that. My NAME is SHOWTIME. How would I not be ready for this? I know what’s at stake here just as well as you do. We win tonight, we got a shot at the tag belts next week. And if we win that match, whoever scores the winning pin is guaranteed a title shot before the season is out. Obviously, tonight is a huge night for us, but I am ready. I just hope you are too.

Crowley: Believe me, I couldn’t be more ready. To be two wins away from a guaranteed championship match, it’s exciting.

Showtime: Look, assuming we win tonight – which is no guarantee, we’re facing a great team – it’s gonna be ME who wins us the tag belts and gets the world title shot next week, NOT you. So you’d better not get too excited about it. Just enjoy the tag title.

Crowley: (chuckling) You can go on thinking that if you want, but if we make it there next week, there’s no way I DON’T score the pin.

Showtime: I guess we’re gonna have to agree to disagree for now.

Crowley: Yeah. But at least there’s the battle royal next week. So even if things go wrong here, there will be another shot to get a world title match starting next week.

Showtime: Oh, I’m winning that, too.

Crowley: (unimpressed) Really.

Showtime: No doubt about it.

Crowley: Well that’s interesting, because I plan on winning it, too. And if by some fluke I don’t win it, I’m going into the Seven Deadly Sins match, and I’m taking the Everlasting Epic title shot. I was in the first Seven Deadly Sins match, and I won it. I see no reason why I can’t win it again.

Showtime: Well, if Showtime’s in it, Showtime’s gonna win it.

There is tension as Crowley and Showtime glare at each other.

Crowley: Well look, I think all we can say is that, if things work out for us, we’ll be facing off as opponents quite frequently down the stretch here. But for tonight, at least, we are partners, with the same exact goal in mind. So let’s take care of business and make this tag title match next week a reality.

Crowley extends his hand, and Showtime shakes it.

Showtime: Now you’re talking.

We then cut to commercial.

-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --

As we return, “Zerospace” by Kidneythieves is blaring over the speakers, and Jade is standing in the ring. Moments later, “No More Sorrow” by Linkin Park hits, and the fans give a lukewarm reaction to Alexis Duval, who is accompanied to the ring by her twin brother Chris, who is wearing street clothes.

Troy: I think the fans are a bit confused how to react here.

Calysto: I think you’re right, Vic. The fans had been taking to the Duvals, I think largely because of their affiliation with Vulture and Morgan Day. Now that the affiliation appears to be over, I’m not sure the fans really know what to think of them.

Troy: Also, don’t forget Chris cryptically saying after Vulture kicked them out of his dressing room last week that “things would be different” this week. What could he have meant by that?

Calysto: Who knows, but perhaps we’ll find out here. Aside from that, this is a serious challenge for Alexis in her first televised singles match. Jade is the longest-tenured member of the PWA women’s division, and can still go.

Troy: And if Matthew Magellan had his way, she’d be going right back to his hotel room.

Calysto: Yeah, well that kid can keep dreaming.

Alexis enters the ring and stands across from Jade as the bell sounds.

JADE VS. ALEXIS DUVAL
Referee: Matt Hansen
As soon as this match officially begins, Alexis charges at Jade and spears her to the mat violently! Alexis moves in and attacks her with vicious stomps, before Jade is able to pull herself back to a vertical base. Alexis moves back in, but Jade begins stinging her with chops!  Jade then whips Alexis off the ropes and nails her with a back body drop! The fans cheer, but then Matthew Magellan emerges from behind the curtain, alongside Farley. Magellan is carrying a dozen roses, and begins walking them down the aisle.

Jade is livid, shouting at Magellan to go away. In the interim, Alexis gets to a vertical base, spins Jade around, and crushes her with a Fisherman Buster! Alexis rolls Jade over and covers… one, two, three.

Troy: That was quick!

Calysto: I don’t think Magellan is going to endear himself to Jade at all after that. He basically just cost her this match.

Troy: And two weeks ago, he said that he would win Jade over within three weeks. Looks like it’s do or die for that proclamation next week.

Magellan cringes after the three-count is registered, and warns Farley that they should get out of there. The two exit quickly as “No More Sorrow” blares over the speakers, and Jade rolls out of the ring, slowly coming to. When she does, she darts back to the backstage area in fury.
WINNER VIA PINFALL AT 2:08 – ALEXIS DUVAL

***

Back in the ring, however, Chris Duval has joined his sister in the ring, and has a microphone in hand.

Chris: Last week was the culmination of four weeks of my sister and I trying to establish a relationship with Vulture, and to a lesser extent, with his blushing bride, Morgan Day. Last week, I went to Justin Schenck and I begged and pleaded with him to give myself and Vulture a shot at the Tag Team Championship, hoping that winning the belts with Vulture would bring us together, and create an impenetrable bond. Well, things didn’t go as planned, and by the end of the night, we found ourselves essentially banished from their company. And really, we should have known that is how it was going to end all along. We were warned. And we should have listened.

Alexis now has a microphone of her own.

Alexis: Vulture, there was a reason why we were so committed to establishing a relationship with you, and it wasn’t because we consider you a hero. Don’t flatter yourself. Really, it just comes down to genetics.

Chris: That’s right, Vulture. If you haven’t already figured it out, the reason we have been so consumed with having a relationship with you… is because we’re… you’re children.

Troy: What?! Oh my God!

Calysto: Ho-ly…

Looks of shock appear on the faces of most everyone in the Scottrade Center, as Chris continues speaking.

Chris: It’s true. And it’s good to finally say that out loud around here. We’ve been taking great pains to make sure we hid that from everyone, but the time has come for the truth to come out. Vulture is our father, but in name only. Truth is, we only met the man four weeks ago. We came here to the PWA with the hope of developing a relationship with him, but…

The fans now begin cheering as Vulture begins making his way from the back! Vulture can be seen heading down the aisle before the sound tech can even cue VAST’s “Falling From The Sky,” which begins playing as he starts down the aisle. Morgan Day rushes out after him, trying to calm him down and take him backstage, but Vulture gesticulates to her that she is the one who should return to the back. Finally, Morgan relents and exits, and Vulture heads to the ring. He grabs a microphone on his way there and steps inside, seeming not at all pleased.

Vulture: You know, this is really pathetic. You two are SO obsessed with being in our company and having myself and Morgan look after you and shepherd you to greatness that you are now going to come out here and make false claims to try to suck me in? Well it’s not gonna work.

Alexis: (angry) You really just don’t get it, do you?! We’re not making this up! The only reason we wanted to be close to you is because we wanted a shot at having a relationship with you under no pretenses. We knew you’d shower on the false niceness if we were up front about who we are, and we weren’t interested in that. We wanted to see if you’d accept us without that knowledge, and after last week, we realized that you wouldn’t.

Chris: And really, we should have known better. We were warned. I see you’re still skeptical, so I guess we’ll prove it now. And yes, we do have proof. We’re billed from Phoenix, Arizona, because that’s where we grew up and still live today. But you met our mother, Kayla Thompson, in Los Angeles in 1988. You were working a west coast tour at the time, just getting yourself established in the business. Our mother was at the show, and then met you at a bar afterwards. The next morning, you disappeared and she never heard from you again. She met someone else pretty shortly thereafter, David Duval, a great man, 10 times better than you, and until we were about 14, we believed he was our biological father. Around that time, we got hooked on PWA, and that’s when our mother finally told us the truth.
 
Alexis: Once we knew, we were both consumed by the desire to make it in the PWA. We felt it was our birthright. We started training shortly after that, and have been working our asses off for years to make it here. We’ve had some help in the last few years, but we finally made it here, to the level of being your peers.

Chris: And if you’re still skeptical, here’s a little proof.

Chris reaches into his pocket and pulls out a piece of paper, handing it to Vulture.

Chris: Those are DNA test results. I had it arranged after our pre-season physicals last month for these tests to be run, for a fee of course. Anything is possible with the right people behind you. If you still don’t believe it, we’d be glad to submit to another DNA test.

Vulture is now coming to the realization that the Duvals are telling the truth. His initial anger has faded into shock, confusion, heartbreak, and shame.

Vulture: Guys, I… I didn’t know. I never knew.

He pauses, trying to take in the gravity of the situation.

Vulture: And I’m so sorry that I was never a part of your lives. You know, I was so elated to finally become a father last year, but if I had known that, all this time, I…

Chris: Save it. We’re not interested in helping you get over your guilt. You had your opportunity with us, and you blew it. We know who Vulture really is. We were warned.

Vulture: What are you talking about? You keep saying you were warned, that you should have listened. Listened to who?

Chris: Vulture, we didn’t make it to the PWA without any help from anyone. In fact, we’ve been training with one person in particular for about the last three years. Someone who knows you REAL well. He warned us that our desire to have a relationship with you would fail. He told us we should skip the pleasantries and get right down to business. But we didn’t listen. We wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt. But now? Now, it’s over.

With that, Vulture is blindsided by a big, burly man, who clobbers him down to the mat, and begins stomping away on him. Before long, both Duvals have joined in and the fans are showering the trio with boos, especially once they realize who the mystery man is.

Troy: My God! Do you know who that is?!

Calysto: How could I not, Troy?! That’s Jackie Baccaro! Vulture’s former protégé turned bitter rival is here in the PWA, and he has apparently turned Vulture’s long lost children against him! This is absolutely shocking!

Baccaro and the Duvals continue to do a number on Vulture, until Morgan Day rushes to the ring! Morgan spears Alexis to the mat, before popping up and laying stiff forearm shots on Baccaro, who she has always hated!

However, Chris grabs her by the hair and yanks her down to the mat, before Baccaro smiles and lifts her up by the throat, screaming in her face.

Baccaro: Now, you’re gonna have to watch!

Baccaro shoves her down, and both Duvals hold her back, as Baccaro lifts Vulture up and downs him with a vicious blow to the jaw!

Calysto: C’mon! Is somebody gonna do something about this?! Where is everybody?!

Baccaro then lifts Vulture up in position for the Baccaro Bomb, and crashes him down with the move with authority! However, he is not done. Baccaro goes to lift Vulture again, and Chris rises, releasing his grip on Morgan, leaving the restraining to Alexis.

Calysto: This is ridiculous! Vic, I’m going in there!

Troy: Are you crazy?! Iceman, you’re retired. You almost got into a brawl with GI Jew earlier, you can’t just jump into a toxic situation like this! You think you could really still take out two guys after not mixing it up for four years? This is a terrible, heinous situation, and I know Vulture’s your friend, but your place is right here now, calling the action, not being a part of it.

Calysto: Well then someone from the back, get your ass out here and do something!

Baccaro holds Vulture back for Chris to spit in his face! Baccaro then exits the ring as Chris shouts at the fallen Vulture, kicking him several more times. Baccaro re-enters the ring with a chair, and Chris switches places with Alexis, allowing her to get her slaps in on her biological father as well. Then, Baccaro restrains Morgan, allowing Chris and Alexis each the chance to clobber Vulture in the skull with the steel chair!

Finally, Morgan is released, and she rushes over to shield her husband. Meanwhile, Baccaro raises the arms of both Duval Twins as “Things Done Changed” by Notorious BIG blares onto the speakers, and the fans boo vociferously.

Troy: This has been an absolutely horrifying sight, folks!

Calysto: I’m speechless. I just don’t know what to say. Vulture needs some help out there, and fast. And when he does recover, it looks like he has a MAJOR problem on his hands.

-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --

Back from break, we see Vulture being loaded into an ambulance, with Morgan Day at his side, near tears. Jaguar walks over.

Jaguar: Morgan! I’m so sorry, I wasn’t watching what was going on, I had no idea. Is he gonna be ok?

Morgan: I can’t even speak right now, Jaguar. I don’t even know what to say. This is so much to process. I think he’s going to be ok, but there’s concern about this chair shots he took. I just don’t know.

Jaguar: I feel terrible that I didn’t come out and do anything.

Morgan: Just pray that he’s ok.

Jaguar: You hang in there, ok?

Jaguar hugs Morgan and walks off. She tries to contain her sobbing as a production assistant walks over.

Production Assistant: There you are.

Morgan: What the hell do you want?

Production Assistant: Morgan, I know this is a tough time for you, but you and Zina are on in five.

Morgan: Are you kidding?! Right now?! I really have to defend my belt right now? Can’t it be postponed? I’d like to ride to the hospital with my husband.

Production Assistant: I’m sorry. Unfortunately, no. You’re match is up next, and the title is on the line. I’m sorry. Good luck.

The production assistant walks off, and Morgan tries to compose herself.

***

The camera then shifts to another portion of the backstage area, where Justin Schenck is with Jackie Baccaro and the Duvals, who are gathering their belongings and preparing to leave the building.

Schenck: Great to have you back, Jackie.

Baccaro: Glad to be here, Justin. It was pretty tough keeping my signing a secret this whole season so far. But these kids needed a chance to see things for themselves, and Vulture couldn’t know I was involved.

Schenck: Well, I love the drama of it all! And Duvals, nice job out there. I love that you’re all going after it. Anyway, you’d better take off, but I’ll see you guys back here next week. Chris, Jackie, you guys in particular have a battle royal to try to win.

Baccaro: You know it. See you next week.

The trio then walks off, and we take another commercial break.

-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --

When we return, “Demons” by Aria blares onto the speakers, and Zina begins making her way to the ring, a look of strong determination on her face. She powers her way to the ring and enters, looking both focused and anxious.

Moments later, “Dead Promises” by The Rasmus hits, and the fans begin cheering loudly for the PWA Women’s Champion Morgan Day, who emerges from behind the curtain, clearly shaken by the events that have just taken place.

Calysto: Vic, I feel absolutely horrible for Morgan. I know her mind is anywhere but here right now.

Troy: I can’t even imagine what’s going through her head right now. Nevertheless, she needs to find a way to focus, and fast, or this may not end well for her here against Zina.

Calysto: And let’s not forget, Vic, the title IS on the line.

Morgan enters the ring and hands the title belt to referee Dan Martin, who holds it high for all to see. We then turn our attention to ring announcer Lee Palmer.

Palmer: Ladies and gentlemen, this next contest, scheduled for one fall, is for the PWA Women’s Championship!

Introducing first, the challenger, from Moscow, Russia, weighing in at 200 pounds… ZIIIII-NAAAAAAA!

And her opponent, from Newcastle, England, weighing in at 140 pounds, she is the PWA Women’s Champion… MORRRRRRR-GANNNNNN DAYYYYYYYYYY!

PWA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP:
MORGAN DAY (champion) VS. ZINA (challenger)

Referee: Dan Martin
As soon as the bell sounds, Zina charges right at Morgan and downs her with a thunderous clothesline. She then moves in on her and pounds her with furious stomps. Morgan is immediately struggling to reach a vertical base, and Zina is right there to further complicate her efforts, heaving her into the corner and punishing her with repeated shoulder blocks to the midsection. Finally, when Zina gives Morgan a moment to breathe, she grabs her and lifts her with a long, delayed vertical suplex, before finally crashing her down onto the mat! The fans boo loudly, and Zina ignores them, continuing her assault.

Calysto: This is exactly what Morgan did NOT need, Vic. Zina’s whole M.O. here so far has been starting fast and not giving the opposition any time to recover. It stands to reason that Morgan would be slow out of the box tonight, given everything that’s just been thrown on her plate, but this is not a good situation for the champion.

Troy: No, it isn’t, and she needs to recover and take control of this bout as soon as possible before it’s too late.

Zina keeps the pressure on the champion, lifting up Morgan’s left leg and repeatedly peppering her with stiff kicks to the back of her knee. Zina then grabs Morgan and lifts her up by her legs, and drives her down, face-first, pancaking her onto the mat! Zina covers… one, two, and Morgan gets the shoulder up.

Morgan slowly gets back to her feet, and when she does, Zina is ready, hitting her with a series of Mongolian chops, before whipping her against the ropes, and crushing her with a violent tilt-a-whirl backbreaker as he returns! Zina covers again… one, two, and Morgan just gets the shoulder up again!

Zina lifts Morgan and whips her against the ropes again, dropping her head down, looking for a back body drop. However, Morgan sees this coming, and instead nails Zina with a swinging neckbreaker as she returns! The fans in the arena cheer wildly as Morgan stops Zina’s momentum!

Calysto: This is her chance, Vic! Morgan needs to apply the pressure right now and she might have a shot in this thing!

Morgan intends to do exactly that, beating Zina to her feet, and peppering her with a series of furious muay thai punches and kicks, before flooring Zina with a thunderous roundhouse kick! Morgan covers… and Zina hurls her off at one!

Morgan appears stunned at the quickness of Zina’s recovery, and is stunned even further when Zina pops to her feet, ducks under another Morgan Day roundhouse kick, and instead viciously chokeslams Morgan to the mat! This time, Zina doesn’t even attempt a pin, instead sizing the champion up and getting into position. As Morgan slowly gets to her feet, Zina rushes at her and nearly takes her head off with a furious bicycle kick! Zina covers… one, two, three!

Troy: My God! I don’t believe it! Morgan Day has just lost the Women’s Championship to Zina!

Calysto: Well Vic, this is a damn shame for Morgan Day, considering everything that just happened with her husband. But the icing on the cake here is that Morgan Day was asked to somehow put all that aside, and go out there and defend the title against a wrecking machine. Morgan obviously wasn’t mentally prepared, and who can blame her? But take nothing away from that wrecking machine. We mark this down as yet another dominating victory for Zina, our new PWA Women’s Champion.

Troy: An unbelievable turn of events here tonight in St. Louis indeed, but we do have a new Women’s Champion here in the PWA, and it is that woman standing in the ring, Zina.

The fans are initially stunned as “Demons” replays over the speakers and Zina is handed the Women’s Championship belt, but soon break into a round of jeers. Zina is visibly pumped by her victory, and Morgan remains virtually motionless on the mat. Zina stands at the base of the stage, letting out a thunderous roar as she holds the belt high, and we focus on this image as we cut to commercial.
WINNER VIA PINFALL AT 7:35 AND NEW PWA WOMEN’S CHAMPION – ZINA

-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --

As we return, we see PWA creative director Justin Schenck and newcomer Chase Stone with the new PWA Women’s Champion Zina. Justin’s grin is a mile wide as he speaks to her.

Schenck: Really Zina, I have to say, that was exceptional. I can’t say enough about the job that you’ve done since arriving here in the PWA. You are the Women’s Champion now, and I expect to see a long, dominant reign. But for now, I just want to congratulate you on a job well done.

Zina: Thank you, Mr. Schenck. I will defend title against all comers.

Just then, Lauren Tantalus walks into view.

Lauren: Against all comers, eh? I’ll remember that, Zina. You may be the champion now, and you may look pretty impressive out there, but at some point, our paths are going to cross, and when they do, I’m going to be a four-time Women’s Champion.

Zina glares at Lauren as Schenck smiles widely and nudges Stone.

Schenck: That’s a big money match right there!

Lauren now flashes a scornful look at Schenck.

Lauren: I don’t believe I was talking to you, and I don’t think I need to tell you why I’ve had it with you. But in case you really are that dense, what you did to my brother was despicable, and it just shows what a lowlife dirtbag you really are.

Stone: (to Schenck) Some people just don’t understand.

Schenck and Zina nod in agreement.

Lauren: (to Stone) Hey, big mouth, are you ever gonna wrestle, or are you gonna just talk people to death every week?

Stone: (smiling) Actually, now that you mention it, I think this is as good a time as ever to announce that I will be making my official PWA debut next week in the battle royal. And I intend to win it.

Schenck: (proudly) I know you will, Chase.

Lauren: (annoyed) Whatever. I’m bored with this. Justin, Chase, you two can go to hell, and Zina, don’t get comfortable. I’m coming for that title.

Lauren then walks off angrily. Zina tries to follow, but Schenck stops her. He calls after Lauren instead.

Schenck: Watch your mouth, Lauren! Don’t forget, I have no problem firing YOU!

***

The camera then cuts to ringside, where “Footprints” by G-Unit blares over the speakers, and the fans begin cheering loudly as Showtime Damon Savage makes his way down the aisle! Showtime slaps hands with numerous members of the St. Louis crowd before entering the ring and stretching out on the ropes.

Moments later, “Judas Rising” by Judas Priest thumps onto the speakers, and the cheers keep on rolling in for Dan Crowley! Crowley is greeted by a huge blast of pyro before making his way to the ring. Upon entering, Crowley and Showtime shake hands and begin pumping each other up, realizing all that is at stake tonight.

Then, “You Don’t Know” by Eminem and 50 Cent hits, and the St. Louis crowd shows they have not yet had enough of cheering, as Paul Dawkins and Renegade are greeted by a very warm reception! Dawkins and Renegade wear looks of extreme determination as they enter the ring, keeping their eyes locked on their opposition as they settle themselves in the ring, and the bell sounds to kick off this contest.

Troy: What an important bout this is here tonight! The winners move on to next week, where they will meet the PWA Tag Team Champions Synergy for the gold, with the added bonus that, should they capture the titles, the person who scores the winning fall will be guaranteed a PWA World Championship match before this season is out!

Calysto: Dan Crowley and Showtime have both certainly made their intentions to contend for the world title known this season, but let’s not overlook Dawkins and Renegade. Both are capable, multi-time former International Champions, and either could give Anthony Failla, Solomon, Scythe, or whoever happens to be carrying the world title a serious run for his money, in my opinion.

Troy: And by the same token, let’s also not overlook the three-man team of Synergy, the reigning Tag Team Champions. Whoever wins this match still has to get past them next week to make this a reality, which is easier said than done.

Calysto: Absolutely.

PAUL DAWKINS & RENEGADE VS. DAN CROWLEY & SHOWTIME DAMON SAVAGE
Referee: Jose Soares
Showtime elects to start the match off with Renegade, and they immediately lock up in the center of the ring. Showtime shoves Renegade off, right into the ropes, and when Renegade returns, he immediately downs Savage with a running enziguri! Renegade goes for the early cover… one, two, and Savage pops his shoulder up!

Troy: This match was almost over in a hurry!

Calysto: How shocking would THAT have been?!

The camera shows a stunned Crowley breathing a sigh of relief on the ring apron, before taking us back to the action, where Showtime is now back on his feet. Renegade works over Savage, alternating between chops and kicks to the chest and midsection, backing him into a corner. Renegade then grabs him and whips him into the opposite corner, only for Showtime to stick his boot out just before Renegade makes impact, kicking him in the jaw! Renegade staggers forward, and Showtime charges, downing him with a hard bulldog! Seeing the opening, Showtime reaches out and tags in Dan Crowley!

Crowley comes in to a nice ovation from the crowd, and Renegade begins trying to crawl himself over to his corner. However, Crowley grabs his leg and begins working it over, pounding Renegade’s right leg with repeated stomps and elbows, before reaching down and attempting to hyperextend his ankle.

Calysto: Great strategy by Crowley right here. Renegade’s greatest weapon is that right leg, more specifically that right foot. If he can take that away from him, it’s going to be a long night for Renegade and Dawkins.

Renegade slowly reaches the ropes, forcing the hold to be broken, but the damage has been done. Renegade hobbles up to his feet, and Crowley immediately kicks his leg out from under him, sending him crashing back down to the mat. Crowley then tags Showtime in, and the two begin doing a number on his legs together. Crowley works his right leg and Showtime works his left, as they put Renegade in a double leg grapevine!  This works for several moments, until Paul Dawkins rushes into the ring and kicks Crowley in the shoulder, breaking up the hold!

Crowley now springs up and begins brawling with Dawkins, which referee Soares tries to break up, while Showtime ignores them, continuing to pound on Renegade. Once order is restored in the ring, Showtime has Renegade prone in the corner, stinging him with hard lefts and rights to the midsection, Renegade wincing in tremendous pain with each passing one. Renegade staggers forward, and Showtime lets loose with a knockout left-handed blow, but Renegade is able to duck it! Then, out of desperation, Renegade nails Showtime with a shining wizard, and begins crawling to his corner!

Troy: Renegade desperately needs to make a tag here!

Calysto: He really does! Showtime and Crowley have been exhibiting exceptional teamwork, systematically taking Renegade apart, and if he can’t get that tag soon, I don’t see how he can hang on much longer.

Renegade crawls towards Dawkins, while Showtime tries to shake off the cobwebs. Finally, he reaches out and tags in Crowley, who charges into the ring, just in time to see Renegade reach out and tag Dawkins into the fray!

Crowley swings a punch at Dawkins, but Dawkins blocks it and floors him with a big right hand! Showtime now heads back into the ring, but Dawkins sees him coming and charges, clotheslining him over the top rope and out to the arena floor! Dawkins is now fired up as he grabs Crowley and whips him into the corner, before charging in himself and clobbering him with a Stinger Splash! As Crowley stumbles forward, Dawkins bounces off the ropes and leaps up, looking for the Scud Missile rocker dropper, and he hits it! The cover… one, two, and Crowley gets the shoulder up!

However, at this point, Dawkins pops back up, and signals for the Mother of All Bombs, his version of the Razor’s Edge! Dawkins goes to lift Crowley for the move, but Crowley is able to back body drop his way out of it! Dawkins and Crowley are now both down, along with Renegade and Showtime, when Synergy member Don “The MVP” Capriglione rushes down the aisle!

Troy: What the hell is he doing out here?!

Jose Soares cuts Capriglione off as soon as he enters, but the distraction allows the other two Synergy members, The Omega Steve Beovich and The Human Highlight Jon Dulberg, to enter the ring from the crowd! They immediately nail Dawkins with Total Elimination, with Beovich sweeping out Dawkins’ legs while Dulberg goes up top with a spinning savate kick to the face! Then, they turn to Renegade and prepare to do the same to him, until Crowley and Showtime go after the champions! Crowley and Showtime rid the ring of Beovich and Dulberg, before turning their attention to Capriglione, blindsiding him and hurling him out of the ring as well!

Calysto: It looks like order has been restored to this bout!

The fans are cheering loudly, and Showtime and Crowley are pumped. Showtime and Renegade re-exit the ring, and Crowley goes to lift Dawkins off the mat. However, Dawkins reaches up and pulls Crowley into a small package! One, two, and Crowley just barely escapes!

Crowley pops right up, and Dawkins grabs him, whipping him into his corner, before charging and nailing him with another Stinger Splash! As Crowley stumbles forward, Dawkins tags Renegade back into the match, who immediately climbs to the top rope! It takes Renegade longer than usual to get up there, but when he does, he jumps off, looking for a double sledge. However, Crowley turns around and greets Renegade with a muay thai kick to the jaw, knocking him out of the sky!

Crowley pulls Renegade to the center of the ring and covers, as Showtime enters the ring and charges at Dawkins, cutting him off to make sure he can’t break up the pin! One, two, three!

Troy: And that’s it! Dan Crowley and Showtime Damon Savage have won this thing!

Calysto: What a win! Synergy tried to come out here and make a mockery of this match, but Crowley and Showtime made sure that didn’t happen, and then got the win! And Vic, don’t forget, them working over Renegade’s legs and ankle earlier in the bout slowed him down just enough when he went to the top to allow Crowley the chance to recover. A well-deserved win for two men with a dream.

Troy: And they’re now one step closer to living that dream! Next week, it’s Synergy defending the tag team gold against Crowley and Showtime, and if they can win those belts, whoever scores the pin will be guaranteed a title shot!

Calysto: And when you add that to the battle royal next week, that makes TWO shots next week for each of these men to move closer to the world title!

The fans cheer loudly as “Judas Rising” replays over the speakers, and Crowley and Showtime slap hands and hug in the ring. They exit the ring and head to the back together, both pumped about the win, but also wary of each other, knowing full well that, if they should succeed next week, only one of them will earn the world title shot they both covet. Meanwhile, in the ring, Dawkins stands over Renegade, helping him to his feet, as they both stew in disappointment over a failed opportunity to gain another shot at their Synergy rivals.
WINNERS VIA PINFALL AT 12:47 – DAN CROWLEY & SHOWTIME DAMON SAVAGE

-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --

As we return, “Da Repercussions” by 50 Cent hits, and the fans begin booing loudly as the International Champion Michael Grieco begins making his way to the ring, alongside Dee Licious. Grieco wears a stern expression on his face as he enters the ring, tearing his shirt off and handing his belt to Dee, who in turn hands it over to the timekeeper. There is no showboating from the International Champion today as he stretches out on the ropes and awaits his opponent.

Moments later, “My Avenue” by Lil Boosie explodes onto the speakers, and the St. Louis faithful comes unglued for Jaguar! The five-time former PWA Champion emerges from behind the curtain and throws his arms in the air, eliciting a huge blasts of fiery pyro, before he throws his shades to the ground, whips off his leather jacket, and begins power-walking to the ring, never taking his eyes off Grieco. Jaguar then rolls into the ring, and Grieco immediately begins stomping him before he can get to his feet, prompting the bell to sound!

NON-TITLE MATCH:
 JAGUAR VS. PWA INTERNATIONAL CHAMPION MICHAEL GRIECO
Referee: Matt Hansen
Grieco tries to keep Jaguar grounded with a furious array of stomps, but Jaguar is able to, before long, get to a vertical base and begin pounding the International Champion with repeated rights and lefts! Grieco is stunned, and Jaguar uses that advantage to whip Grieco off the ropes and nail him with a huge back body drop as he returns! He then charges in on Grieco as he rises and clotheslines him over the top rope and down to the arena floor to a thunderous ovation!

Troy: Jaguar is on fire!

Calysto: Grieco picked the wrong night to challenge Jaguar, Vic! No one knows more than I do how much being the PWA Champion means to Jaguar, and coming after Jaguar a week after he loses that title is probably not a MENSA-level decision. Especially considering that we’re a little over nine weeks away from Everlasting Epic, which is in Jaguar’s hometown, and you KNOW he wants more than anything to main event that show.

Jaguar goes to the outside, looking to keep the pressure mounted on Grieco, but Dee Licious stands over her charge, begging Jaguar off. Jaguar grabs Dee and lifts her up high, gingerly placing her down on the other side of him and out of harm’s way. However, when he does this, Grieco clobbers him from behind, causing Jaguar to fall on top of Dee!

Troy: I can’t believe that! Grieco just knocked Jaguar onto Dee, with absolutely no regard for his manager!

Calysto: Vic, Grieco is consumed with beating Jaguar right now. I think he couldn’t care less about whatever collateral damage it might cause.

Grieco grabs Jaguar and rolls him back into the ring, peppering him with stomps. As Jaguar slowly gets to his feet, Grieco whips him against the ropes and flattens him with a huge powerslam! Grieco covers… one, two, and Jaguar just gets the shoulder up!

Grieco then lifts Jaguar off the mat and whips him into the corner, charging in and nailing him with a hard clothesline! As Jaguar staggers forward, Grieco boots him in the gut and hits him with a hard snap suplex! Grieco floats over for a cover… one, two, and Jaguar gets the shoulder up again!

The International Champion lifts Jaguar up once more, only to down him with an impressive standing dropkick. Grieco now gets on his knees and flexes for the St. Louis crowd, kissing his right bicep, before breaking into a set of one-armed pushups.

Calysto: This is a huge mistake, Vic. Grieco was doing such a good job early in this match, but this is a tremendous error in judgment right here. Against a guy like Jaguar, you need to keep the pressure mounted the ENTIRE match. You CANNOT give him an opportunity to recover like this. Grieco is in control now, but that could change in a heartbeat, especially with him flexing and doing pushups like a jackass.

Once Grieco finishes his pushups, he signals to the crowd that it is time to end the match. He then grabs the slowly rising Jaguar in powerbomb position, looking to begin his triple powerbomb sequence. However, Jaguar sweeps Grieco’s legs out from under him and floats over him in a jackknife cover! One, two, three!

Troy: What?!

Calysto: What’d I tell you, Vic! Don’t EVER let up in there against Jaguar! Grieco just found that out the hard way!

The fans begin cheering thunderously as Jaguar is announced the winner and “My Avenue” replays over the speakers! Grieco exits the ring in a huff, angrily grabbing his belt back from the timekeeper.

As Jaguar celebrates in the ring, Grieco re-enters, unbeknownst to him, and clobbers Jaguar in the back of the skull with the International belt! The music immediately stops, and Grieco begins stomping Jaguar into oblivion. Dee now re-enters the ring, and gets a few shots in on Jaguar as well. The fans are now showering Grieco and Dee with jeers as Grieco stands over the fallen Jaguar, holding his belt high.

Troy: What a despicable act by Michael Grieco!

Calysto: I think all that Michael Grieco has ensured just now is that Jaguar is not finished with him by a long shot.

Troy: I think you’re right. Folks, we’re just moments away from our triple threat main event for the PWA World Heavyweight Championship! But before we get to that, let’s take you backstage, where Traci Reed is with the challengers!
WINNER VIA PINFALL AT 7:43 – JAGUAR

***

We now shift to the backstage interview area, where backstage reporter Traci Reed is indeed with the Modern-Day Samurai Scythe and the Alaskan Monster Solomon.

Traci: Thanks guys. Scythe, Solomon, in just a few minutes, the two of you will challenge the new PWA Champion Anthony Failla in a triple threat match, with that title on the line. How are you two going to compete with a champion who, so far this season, has been an unstoppable monster?

Solomon: Whoa, whoa, whoa. If anyone knows about being an unstoppable monster around here, it’s me. For the first 18 months of my PWA career, I ruled this company undefeated. And since the day my undefeated streak was ended, I’ve only been pinned twice more. Of course, I don’t have to be pinned tonight for the title to not come home with me, but that would mean me being taken out of action long enough for a pin to take place. And to be honest, I just don’t plan on that happening. Anthony Failla, you have been impressive thus far this season. But it’s been just four weeks. You want to prove something to me? Prove it tonight.

Scythe: Well, all due respect, big man, I don’t think Failla necessarily cares about proving anything to you. By the same token, he doesn’t care about proving anything to me.

Solomon: What does he need to prove to you? He pinned you three weeks ago.

Scythe: (getting annoyed) Can I finish? You had your turn, let me have mine. As I was saying, Failla, I know you have nothing to prove to either of us. You are the champion. We are the challengers. But I have something to prove to you. As Solomon just alluded to, you pinned me three weeks ago. Tonight, you will NOT pin me again. So if you’re going to leave here champion tonight, you’d better plan on being the fourth person to pin Solomon.

Solomon laughs.

Solomon: Don’t be ridiculous, Scythe. That just isn’t happening. Not by Failla, and certainly not by you.

Scythe: Is that a fact?

Solomon: Oh, it is.

Scythe: You talk a big game, Solomon. Maybe you can hit me with another cheap shot to try to win tonight. Because you obviously can’t pin me straight up. You proved that last week.

Solomon: Why don’t we see what I can’t do out in that ring?

Scythe: Great idea.

Scythe and Solomon now stare each other down ardently.

Traci: The triple threat match for the PWA Championship is coming up next!

-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --

As we return, “With You” by Linkin Park hits, and the St. Louis faithful explodes for the Modern-Day Samurai Scythe, who emerges from behind the curtain through a wall of smoke, pumped up and ready for his title opportunity! Scythe feeds off the energy of the crowd as he makes his way to the ring and prepares for battle.

As he settles in the ring, a cold blast of blue pyro bursts from the stage as “Hear Me” by Darkseed hits, and the Alaskan Monster Solomon emerges, garnering a reaction only slightly less boisterous as that of Scythe! The fans cheer Solomon on as he slowly stalks his way to the ring, finally stepping over the top rope to enter it alongside Scythe. The two speak to each other inaudibly as we await the arrival of the champion.

We are not made to wait long, as “Better Think Again” by Submersed lurks onto the speakers, and the fans begin booing loudly as the new PWA World Heavyweight Champion Anthony Failla makes his entrance. Failla sneers at the fans as he slowly stalks his way to the ring, staying focused on the task at hand. Before long, Failla reaches the ring and steps inside, holding the title belt high right in the faces of his two challengers, who are none too appreciative. Failla finally hands the belt to referee Tom Stevens and removes his shirt, as the three men go to their corners for the ring introductions.

Troy: This should be one hell of a battle, Iceman!

Calysto: Absolutely, Vic, and I am pumped. There have still been questions about whether not Anthony Failla is legitimate, even after his title win. I don’t know who is asking those questions, but I’ve heard the sentiment going around. A win here tonight should silence those critics, permanently, and place Failla at the head of the class. But to me, he has the belt, so he’s already there. The question is, will he still have it at the end of the night?

Troy: A valid question, Iceman. Scythe and Solomon are both accomplished former world champions, and will present quite the immediate challenge to Failla’s reign. Let’s send it down to Lee Palmer at ringside!

Palmer: Ladies and gentlemen, this next contest, scheduled for one fall, is a triple threat match, and it is for the PWA World Heavyweight Championship!

Introducing first, he is one of the challengers, from Simi Valley, California, weighing in at 262 pounds… SCYYYYYYYYYTHE!

Next, the other challenger, from Barrow, Alaska, weighing in at 335 pounds, he is the Alaskan Monster… SOLLLLLLL-O-MONNNNNNNN!

And, from Chicago, Illinois, weighing in at 281 pounds, he is the reigning PWA World Heavyweight Champion… ANTHONYYYYYYYYY FAIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAA!

PWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP:
TRIPLE THREAT MATCH:
ANTHONY FAILLA (champion) VS. SOLOMON (challenger) VS. SCYTHE (challenger)
Referee: Tom Stevens

The bell sounds, officially kicking off this championship bout, and Failla, Solomon, and Scythe all stare each other down. They move towards each other gradually, with none of them making any sudden moves immediately. However, that goes out the window when Scythe turns to Solomon and charges him, spearing him to the mat violently! The fans are cheering thunderously as Scythe pounds away on the Alaskan Monster, only for Failla to grab the Modern-Day Samurai by the hair and pry him off.

Failla then violently hurls Scythe into the corner and begins pummeling him with vicious rights and lefts to the ribs. However, Solomon walks over and shoves Failla out of the way, so that he can have the opportunity to sting Scythe with thunderous knife-edge chops! After several of these, Scythe regains his composure and grabs Solomon, reversing places with him before stinging him with repeated knife-edge chops of his own! The fans are cheering Scythe on ardently, before Failla comes up from behind and chop blocks him! Scythe’s leg buckles and he crumbles to the mat in pain. Failla and Solomon then join forces, stomping away on the Modern-Day Samurai.

Troy: Scythe is in some trouble here!

Calysto: Well you never want to be the guy in a triple threat match who’s being double-teamed by his opponents, but that’s where Scythe finds himself. He’s going to need to find a way to fight out of it, because the longer Failla and Solomon are working together, the greater the likelihood that one of them is going to emerge from here the winner.

Failla pries Solomon off the mat and grabs him by the arms, holding him back, and leaving him wide open for a smiling Solomon, who stings him with several knife-edge chops to the chest before crashing him with a hard knee-lift to the midsection. Failla then shoves Scythe into Solomon, who clasps him in a hard bearhug. Solomon wrenches the hold in tightly, but Failla positions himself behind the Alaskan Monster, and chop-blocks him, clipping his leg out from under him, and causing Scythe to come crashing down on top of him in a pinning position! However, before referee Tom Stevens can even reach a one-count, Failla kicks him off.

Scythe rolls onto his side and covers up, looking to regroup, as Failla now turns his attention to Solomon. Failla continues working on Solomon’s leg, looking to take his power moves away from him, attacking him with repeated stomps to the knee and shin. However, Solomon refuses to stay down long, getting himself back to his feet, and shoving Failla away. Predictably, Failla moves in on him again, but Solomon explodes out of nowhere and downs him with a hard clothesline!

Troy: What impact!

Solomon is slow to his feet, but he makes it, and then shakes out his right leg, working through the pain. He then drops two consecutive elbows on the champion, before yanking him back to his feet. Solomon whips Failla against the ropes, but as soon as he bounces off them, Scythe springs up and downs Failla with a flying tackle, hooking the leg and turning it into a pinning combination! The referee counts… one, two, and Solomon goes to drop the elbow on Scythe to break up the pin, but the Samurai breaks up his own pin, causing Solomon to land the hard elbow on Failla!

Solomon quickly gets back up, only for Scythe to down him with a hard, deep armdrag! But as soon as Solomon gets back up again, he blocks another Scythe armdrag, before grabbing him and powerslamming him to the mat with authority! Solomon then lifts Scythe up and torpedoes him violently into the corner. Once there, Solomon charges in after him, only for Scythe to move out of the way at the last moment! Solomon crashes chest-first into the corner and staggers backwards, right into Scythe’s two hands around his throat! The Modern-Day Samurai then, in an impressive feat of strength, lifts Solomon up and crashes him down hard with the Flying Dragon, right into a pinning combination! One, two, and Failla kicks Scythe in the back of the neck, breaking up the pin!

Troy: Scythe just came within a split second of becoming champion!

Calysto:  I’m still not sure Solomon wouldn’t have kicked out of that, Vic. The guy DOES only have three pinfall losses. Let’s give him more credit than that!

Troy: In any event, Scythe was in control, but the momentum has now shifted back to the champion!

Scythe is slow to his feet, and Failla keeps the pressure mounted, kicking and punching him as he rises. Finally, once Scythe is on his feet, he begins peppering Failla with knife-edge chops, before whipping him against the ropes. When Failla returns, Scythe attempts a leapfrog, but the champion catches him and heaves him onto his shoulders. Then, Failla drops Scythe face-first onto the top turnbuckle and hits the opposite ropes, before drilling him with a furious boot to the face upon his return!

Troy: What authority! Failla has just drilled Scythe in the jaw, and the Modern-Day Samurai is down!

Calysto: And Failla is signaling for it! The Weapon of Mass Destruction! If he hits this, the title isn’t going anywhere!

Failla lifts Scythe up, looking for the Weapon of Mass Destruction, but Solomon pops back to his feet, and catches his two opponents off guard, shoving them both over the top rope and down to the arena floor, crashing down hard!

Solomon follows his opponents to the outside, and immediately approaches Scythe, stomping him repeatedly while he lays face-down on the arena floor. He then lifts the Modern-Day Samurai up over his shoulders, before propelling him shoulder-first into the ring post! Scythe hits the floor in pain, clutching his right shoulder. Solomon intends to inflict even more damage upon him, but Failla is up and after him. The two begin slugging it out, exchanging rights on the outside, before Failla obtains the advantage. With Solomon dazed, Failla charges at him, but Solomon sidesteps him and grabs his arm, using his momentum to propel the champion rapidly into the steel steps! Failla crashes against then hard, shoulder-first, and goes down to a knee. However, he doesn’t stay down as long as he should, springing back up, only for Solomon to charge at him and nearly take his head off with a violent boot to the face when he rises!

Troy: My God! You could hear that impact!

Calysto: Failla has just gone down in a heap, and Solomon is in firm control of this match! Take a look at the carnage! Failla is down, Scythe is down, and Solomon is standing tall!

Solomon sees Scythe stirring, pulling himself to his feet, and he smirks. He rolls Scythe into the ring and follows him inside. Once in, the Alaskan Monster yanks Scythe to a vertical base and violently whips him into the corner, sending Scythe’s back crashing hard into the buckles! Solomon then charges at him with a full head of steam, cracking him with a hard clothesline as he arrives!

Scythe staggers out of the corner, on wobbly legs, and Solomon is right there to grab him and lift him up in gorilla press position, impressively bench-pressing the 262-pound former PWA Champion twice before dropping him backwards, letting him smash chest-first onto the mat with such authority that he bounces slightly upward! Rather than attempt a pin, Solomon glances outside the ring at Failla for several moments, before walking back to Scythe and standing over him, taunting.

Calysto: Did you see that, Vic? Solomon just looked outside and realized that the champion Failla has barely moved, which I’m guessing is leading him to believe that he has more time to toy around with Scythe before Failla becomes an issue again. He’d better not toy around with him that long, though. If he has an opportunity to put him away and win this title, he’d better do it immediately.

Troy: Agreed. You don’t toy with a guy like Scythe. But it feels like this issue between Scythe and Solomon is starting to become personal. You have to figure Solomon is looking to embarrass Scythe here.

Calysto: Maybe so, but embarrass him by pinning him promptly and leaving here the champion. That’s the best way of going about it.

Finally, as Scythe begins to stir, Solomon aggressively helps him to a vertical base and whips him against the ropes. When Scythe returns, Solomon grabs him and begins attempting a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. However, mid-spin, Scythe is able to change the trajectory of his momentum and slip out over Solomon’s shoulder! The Alaskan Monster is surprised, even more so when he turns around and walks right into an enziguri! Scythe covers… one, two, and Solomon kicks out!

Troy: So close!

Calysto: What a turn of events! Scythe has a chance now if he can keep the pressure mounted!

Solomon gets up and Scythe immediately downs him with a hard, deep armdrag, one that appears to do just as much, if not more, damage to Scythe as it does to Solomon, since it puts tremendous pressure on Scythe’s injured shoulder! When Solomon gets back up, Scythe hits him with a much weaker armdrag, using his left arm, which has little impact on the Alaskan Monster. However, when Solomon gets up again, Scythe runs at him and immediately drills him with an out-of-nowhere codebreaker, driving his knees directly into Solomon’s jaw!

Rather than go for a cover, Scythe opts to climb up to the top rope, perhaps looking for his Diving Blade finishing maneuver. However, once he reaches the top, he notices Solomon stirring and calls an audible. When the Alaskan Monster reaches a vertical base, Scythe dives off with a cross body attack, getting tremendous height… only to be caught by Solomon!

Troy: Oh no!

Calysto: This is bad news for Scythe, Vic! Real bad! We might be mere moments away from Solomon’s third reign as PWA Champion!

Failla is still down on the outside as Solomon signals to the crowd for the Deep Freeze. A large contingent of the St. Louis crowd cheers heartily as the Alaskan Monster heaves Scythe onto his shoulders. Then, as Solomon prepares to destroy him with the maneuver, Scythe miraculously slips out, lands on his feet, and clotheslines a stunned Solomon over the top rope and down to the floor!

The fans are cheering loudly as Solomon angrily hops back onto the apron, but as soon as he does so, Scythe darts towards the turnbuckles, springboards off the second buckle, and dropkicks Solomon right off the apron and down hard onto the arena floor! However, as soon as Scythe gets to his feet and turns around, he is greeted with a thunderous boot to the jaw by a running Anthony Failla, who re-entered the ring amidst the confusion!

With Scythe bordering on unconsciousness, Failla peels him off the mat and lifts him for the Weapon of Mass Destruction, crashing him down onto the mat with authority! Failla turns him over and covers… one, two, three.

Troy: And that’s gonna do it! Anthony Failla retains the PWA Championship!

Calysto: What a hard-fought battle, Vic! Failla had to dig deep for that win, but he got it. He just continues to impress, as incredible as that is to say. I think at this point we can stop selling the guy short. He is a bona fide monster, Vic. He is the world champion, and I think he’s going to stay that way for quite some time.

Troy: I think both Scythe and Solomon were capable of winning this match at various intervals, but for one reason or another, they weren’t able to get it done. Nonetheless, Anthony Failla will leave St. Louis tonight with the PWA title still intact, but what is going to happen next week when we start down the path to Everlasting Epic?!

Calysto: We have a mammoth battle royal coming up next week in Houston, and I really can’t wait to see what happens!

As the commentators sign off, “Better Think Again” continues to blare over the speakers, and Anthony Failla celebrates his victory in front of a disapproving crowd. The champion, however, couldn’t care less, and he holds his belt high for all to see. Meanwhile, on the outside, Solomon glares angrily into the ring at both Failla and the fallen Scythe as we fade to black.

WINNER VIA PINFALL AT 21:11 AND STILL PWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION – ANTHONY FAILLA

-- END SHOW --