📺 live on FanDuel Sports Network Florida
📍 Wings Event Center 💫 Kalamazoo, MI
We got the standard “Invincible” open that ended with the Cavalcade of Champions. But when we hit the pyro, there were a few thousand more fans than usual again. As Steve welcomed us to Ruckus he noted they were coming live from the Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan due to the horrible weather in the Northeast. Carl Christensen checked in on color commentary and joked that QCW was on its 2026 Polar Vortex Tour before Steve hyped that tonight Pyotr Caviar and Malicía Fernandez of the Republic would face the International Players in a non-titles match and a special address from Commissioner Holmes would run later in the show. Tonight's action would begin with a man some call the fastest rising star in QCW…
1. Tre Boyd d. Drake Tremble at 7:10 Tremble came into this match falling down the ladder, as clearly getting excommunicated from the Chosen has dimmed his usual obnoxiousness while the ascendant Boyd has beaten former champions at the last two PPVs - his Cold As Hell win shook Nazir el-Fadal so much we haven't seen or heard from him since. The match was mostly one way traffic for Tre, though Drake did manage to get in a brief rally around the midway point. It didn't take long for the Gospel to hit a Spanish Fly to take control back and he eventually came off the top with Say Hallelujah to put another W on the board. Boyd hit the buckles and made A Very Familiar Gesture around his waist post match while the announcers wondered which titleholder he had his eyes set on.
Speaking of champions, we went backstage for an interview between Naomi Lee and the National champion Orion, who got a sustained pop from the Kalamazoo branch of Quality Controllers. Lee said that Orion had uncharacteristically asked for this time to speak so they clearly had something to get off their chest. Orion pulled out their voice app and “said” that silver spooned asshole Genesis King had been coming after them for weeks, running his mouth on social media and complaining about not being the National champion when he was the one who tried to take off their mask at Cold As Hell. That disrespect wouldn't stand as long as Orion was standing, so they’d give Genesis what he wants in a title rematch on next week's Pure Massacre supershow - BUT it was going to be no holds barred. If Genesis wanted to go after their mask, then Orion would go after his quote unquote manhood, his eight pack and anything else he had to offer. He’d awoken something in Orion he should've left sleeping - and Pure Massacre was going to live up to its name by the time Orion got done with him. The Cosmic Champion saluted Nao and walked off and we headed to the ring for tag team action…
2. Bonnie Agrippa and Nancy Crowley of Hysteria (w/Justine Danek) d. Hilary Highnote & Christine Kent at 4:32 Agrippa lost a bitterly contested singles match to long time rival “Night Sky” Diana Spare on last week's episode: here, she and long time lieutenant Crowley took out their frustrations on Christine and Hilary in a dominant win that ended with Agrippa piefacing Highnote during the pin after Hysteria’s signature unit hit their trademark spike brainbuster. Not content with the win, Hysteria took over the commentary table post match with them intimidating the announcers and Bonnie threatening Diana that just because she’d won the battle last week didn't mean that Hysteria wouldn't win the war. They did their usual temporary blackout bit after that; Ruckus followed by going to break.
We came back from commercials with Julius Duquesne III about to do a backstage interview with guests Ashok Banerjee and Jacques Krieger. JD3 gave Ashok props on his winning streak since coming back from injury. Banjerjee was quick to accurately blame Justine Danek for blinding him, then mentioned when he saw another member of Hysteria blind Justine’s tag partner he laughed so hard he was afraid he’d end up back on the injured list. Karma had taken care of Hysteria, and if it hadn't the Forbidden Book Club would. So as tempting as vengeance was, he was set on capturing the World Tag Team championships with Jacques having his back. The Republic might have them now, but he and Jacques were going to put in work to liberate the belts and take all the power Ig (de Catur) had away. Jules turned to Jacques to get his thoughts, but Krieger gave a short laugh and said “You heard the man” before walking off the set. Ashok gave JD3 a nod and followed suit; Duquesne III threw things back to the ring where “the Voice of QCW” Duck Eko made the ring introductions for our next match…
3. “The Purifier” Caleb Gray (w/the Chosen) d. Jonathan Livingston Clipper Esq. at 7:20 Newcomer Clipper's undefeated streak came to an end against the Chosen’s chosen one. Gray showed off his mean streak here, jumping JLCE before he could even get out of his unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt. Caleb dominated early and sent Jonathan to the floor, and after tossing him into the retaining barrier he gave Clipper a gourdbuster across the facade of the announce table. The Purifier seemed content to win the bout by countout, but Clipper managed to save the match at 8 and made a rally to put Gray on the back foot. Unfortunately, the rally was brought to a halt by a massive cyclone kick that had the Captain flopping like a fish out of international waters, and once Caleb landed Reap the Whirlwind it was all but over from there. A Repent sewed up the match for the former Duquesne Cup winner, and to add insult to injury after the match the End Times forced JLCE to his knees in front of Caleb, who demanded he beg forgiveness for daring to fight Gray. Officials and agents streamed past a conflicted looking Goody Gardner to break up the scene, but not before Caleb got in one last cheap shot kick to the face.
From there, we went TOTHEBACK~!, where Commissioner Holmes announced the Pure Massacre main event for next week - a trios match where all 3 members of the Republic would go up against the team of World champion Jupiter Jones and the recently reunited Savage Justice. He thanked us for watching and Ruckus went to break shortly after that.
4. The Undaunted d. w @ s t 3 l a n d e r s at 6:03 This was the first match for the Undaunted as full time members of the QCW roster, and they acquitted themselves well in a showcase against the resident marauders. The old adage of speed kills told the story as Tim McMurray and Dave Mullin ran circles around their bigger opponents; a handspring tornado DDT from the “Unforgettable” Dave set up their finisher (a Doomsday Device variant with a Meteora instead of a clothesline) Shamrock Air and a pin by “the Only Hope” Tim to get the former two time Catch Hell Wrestling League tag team champions the easy W.
As the Undaunted headed to the back, Carl Christensen (former champion, you may have heard about it…several times…weekly) hit the ring for an interview with another set of bright lights in QCW’s tag team division and brought out Forbidden Book Club: Luz Cruz and Shelley LaVey!
Cruz & LaVey hit the ring to cheers from the crowd and “FBC” chants, which they stoked after they hit the turnbuckles. Once the interview began, Carl put over their winning against Hysteria at Cold As Hell before wondering what was next up for Luz and Shelley. Luz said that just because they'd won a battle against Hysteria, they knew to keep their heads on swivels. Cruz again apologized to the crowd for bringing them in two springs ago and said that was why she wasn't going to stop until she had driven them back out of QCW. Shelley said that Carl asked what was next for them, and if they were going to keep things real? They didn't know, because the next step was out of their hands. To the surprise of almost everyone, Shelley asked “Night Sky* Diana Spare to come down to the ring. It took a few beats for “you should see me in a crown” to hit the PA and bring Spare out to a rapturous reception from the Quality Controllers.
Spare hit the ring in what could be charitably described as shit kicker chic, eyebrow up at being called out. LaVey said that she knew better than anybody that Diana has been a lone wolf for a hot minute even when she’d helped them out the past few weeks. Shelley began uncharacteristically stumbling over her words, so Luz grabbed the mic and said that they wanted Diana to lead the Forbidden Book Club. The crowd popped while Diana stared incredulously at Luz as her head tilted to 10 and 4. Cruz asked for Diana to hear her out - she knew how Hysteria worked better than anybody, and she knew that whether she wanted to admit it or not that Hysteria wouldn't stop coming after them, that one side or the other would have to get wiped out before a real end could come. It was Shelley's idea to reform the Club, and now they had Hysteria on their heels without a counter spell. If Diana helped them out as their leader, they could stomp Hysteria out once and for all. So what did she say?
Spare looked at them both with a borderline sneer before going “Nah, I'm good” and started to leave before Shelley put a hand on her shoulder. Spare wheeled around and shoved Shelley down, causing Luz to step in between them. What came out of Diana's mouth next was less a promo than an extended snarl directed at Shelley even if she was pointing at Luz the whole time. She asked Shelley why she would bring back such a cursed name, why it was that despite the least experience of them it all she was the only one to actually see it was all about Bonnie Agrippa and her ego trip, that she had tried to show her then tag partner the error of her ways and what it’d gotten her was a beatdown from Bonnie and her little lapdog Nancy – and despite the conflict in Shelley's eyes, she’d helped stomp her out right alongside them. By the time Shelley had woken the hell up, Diana was gone…and Spare fixed her glare on Luz, saying that was right around when Luz was bringing them back in, planning on using Bonnie and the rest of Hysteria to become the top of the women's division. But, of course, the moment Diana whipped her ass last Golden Rule, Hysteria did what they were always going to do which is what Bonnie always said. Year after year after [there's a swear]ing year of Bonnie's ego parade, and now the snake that let them in the door and one of the backstabbers that had made her a lone wolf to begin with wanted her to lead the Forbidden Book Club?! They were lucky she didn't lead them to the ICU!
Luz looked sad but nodded, but as Spare turned around she saw something that stopped her in her tracks - Shelley on her knees, crying, apologizing, pleading with Diana that this moment of weakness was what she deserved for not having the courage to do what was right before - but Diana had to help them make things right, that they needed Diana's leadership to make Hysteria pay. Diana hissed at Shelley to get off her knees and then said it loud enough to be heard in Youngstown Spare then yanked Shelley up by the hair and said the last place you could win a war from was on your knees. She didn't want Shelley's tears or apologies, or Luz’s for that matter. What she wanted was simple and twofold: changed, improved behavior and the ability to stand where she’d helped put Hysteria in the grave and take a long, steaming piss all over it! The crowd popped but Diana spoke over them, telling Luz that this time last year they were trying to destroy each other but for nearly a year they’d been throwing hands against Hysteria even when she was…maybe, perhaps too stubborn or, maybe say proud to accept anybody's help. If they wanted her in the Club, hell, so far as she was concerned her name is still on the lease.
But she wasn't coming to lead. Let Hysteria have Bonnie's power trip; this Club fights as equals that split everything down the middle three ways. Shelley let out a snort laugh that got Diana glaring at her. When Spare asked what Shelley was laughing at, LaVey said nothing with a mischievous grin. Diana did a double take at Shelley before saying she appreciated them coming to her - but if she was honest with herself she knew she’d be back in the Club with Shelley…because nothing Forbidden could die. Billie Eilish hit the PA as Luz and Shelley enveloped Diana in a hug that Spare didn't seem to enjoy that much. But, hey, she's back in what's now a three woman Forbidden Book Club and Kalamazoo (and Steve!) loved to see it. They exchanged a triangle of fist bumps and left the ring.
As they headed up the ramp, “The Passenger” brought out Keo Tevi for the semi main. Keo gave some applause for FBC as they passed each other, with Luz and Shelley showing respect while Diana had returned to her RBF. Keo vaulted into the ring and took the applause in from the crowd while posing on the ropes.
5. “Cambodian Cool” Keo Tevi d. “Shieldmaiden” Val Curry (w/Bettie Rokker) at 6:47 Showcase win for the smaller Tevi, who used a hit and run attack to take Curry down in sections before getting the win with her Psychedelic Shock (Rolling Thunder shotei). As Tevi celebrated their victory on their way to the back, a cut to backstage showed “Sinister” Sarah Fowler scowling as she watched it on a monitor backstage before she ripped it out of the wall and smashed it repeatedly against the floor. No more hatewatching for Fowler, but more Ruckus to come after a few final ads.
Back from the break, we got a military recruitment styled vignette that put over the All Starr Stable with S. Mark himself doing the voiceover. He mentioned that he was looking for the sort of talent that would compliment the roster of international superstars and former and soon to be champions again, and mentioned even lowering his fee to 10% for the right person or people given that it was tax season. There was plenty of Quality wrestling…but only the best of the best could become all Starr’s.
Before the main event, Steve hyped up next week's Pure Massacre supershow with limited commercial interruptions and an extra half hour of runtime. He put over the two biggest matches on the show coming from Chicago: the Orion/Genesis King rematch for the National championship with no holds barred was one. The other was going to be high quality trios action when the legendary Jupiter Jones would team up with Savage Justice to face off against all three members of the Republic.
But we wouldn't have to wait until next week to see an instrument of Jupiter vs. the Republic - he was leading his proteges against the World Tag Team champions in non-titles action in tonight's main event.
6. Pyotr Caviar & Malicía Fernandez (w/the Republic) d. The International Players (w/Collipark) in a non-titles match at 8:03 On commentary, Steve put over the idea that a win here would get the former World Tag Team champions a titles shot at their old belts now held by the Republic. Lucius Patton and Benjamin Valentino fought like it early on and took it to their larger opponents by employing quick tags and just as quick offense. The Players even had some tricks up their sleeve, taking down Malicía a little bit after the halfway point when they dropped the former National champion with a double flapjack. When Pyotr tried to come in to make a save, the Players took him down with a double drop toe hold that sent him right into the crotch of Fernandez while the crowd tittered and laughed. Steve had maybe the most awkward ten seconds of his broadcast career while the champs rolled out of the ring.
Replays of the double team offense were met with silence by Steve and giddy laughter from Carl. As we faded back into live action, we saw Ig standing on the steel steps berating his charges. He suddenlu slapped the massive Caviar in the face before even more disgustingly slapping Malicía in the jaw, complaining that they were looking like champs instead of champs and that if they wanted to continue having champagne and lobster every night they’d better get in the ring and wipe the Players off the map.
Pyotr and Malicía alternated between looking at each other incredulously and giving some glares to their benefactor while Omar Littlefield stood behind Ig - but then they got back in the ring and beat on the Players like they were a set of bongos for the final third of the match. Both Patton and Valentino ate pop up European uppercuts from a scarily reinvigorated Caviar and the rout was on from there; de Catur's charges ragdolled the Players around the ring repeatedly before laying them both out with double chokeslams to win the main event.
But wait, there's more - after Caviar pinned Valentino, the champions got their belts back while the rest of Collipark went to check on Lucius & Benjamin. Ig gave Omar a head tilt and pointed towards the ring. The massive Detroiter went into the ring and made a beeline for the unaware Jupiter Jones, laying him out from behind before punching away on the man who'd taken the World title off of him in Cambodia. Science Fiction Double Feature went from checking on the Players to trying to save their mentor from the land monster called Omar. Unfortunately for the former World Tag Team champions, combined they weighed slightly less than Littlefield, and he didn't take long to swat them out of the air like flies. The Ig endorsed beating continued…but then “Unscripted Violence” hit the PA…and it got quickly replaced by “All My Life”.
Razorblade began coming down the stairs armed with a barbed wire wrapped baseball bat while Justice Davis parted the Qualitron with a snow shovel in his hands as he came running down the ramp. Savage Justice was about to be served when de Catur sprung the trap - half of Republic Enforcement extended their batons and ran up the ramp to beat JD down before he could even swing the shovel. The other half did similarly as they surrounded and pummelled Razorblade on the floor before he could save Jones like he did at Cold As Hell. Steve was in the middle of excoriating Ig when Omar lifted the top of the announce table off and threw it into the steel steps where it splintered. Carl told Steve “We need to get the hell out of here” and they did, looking on from around the tenth row stunned as Pyotr and Malicía pulled the Players to the floor. Quality Force Security began streaming from the back, but either Omar or a member of Republic Enforcement took each one of them out.
With Savage Justice, Savage Justice and Science Fiction Double Feature laid out next to QFS, it cleared the runway for Caviar and Fernandez to get off one more dastardly deed on the evening. After Ig repeatedly screamed for them to do it, Caviar and Fernandez exchanged a nod before they each sent one of the Players through the announce table with another sky high chokeslam. Ig hit the ring applauding and cackling as he oversaw the destruction of anyone foolish enough to step to the Republic on this evening. It was a scene of destruction unlike any in Ruckus’ history, and with Steve and Carl having justifiably fled for higher ground all you could hear was the crowd’s boos and bleeped out curses. At the feet of the Republic lay half a dozen QFS guards, Savage Justice, Science Fiction Double Feature and the World champion - the International Players were down and unmoving in the wreckage of what used to be the announce table.
On the QCW calendar, Pure Massacre wasn't for another week. But as Ruckus faded to black it was evident that Ig de Catur and his cronies were done waiting to massacre their enemies.
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