Platinum Championship Wrestling holds its biggest show of the year, Sacred Ground: Chapter 2, on Sept. 24. With at least seven crucial matches on the card (three of which will take place inside a steel cage), Sacred Ground could prove to be one of the biggest professional wrestling spectacles of the year. One reason for that is a match pitting current National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Champion “Scrap Iron” Adam Pearce against one of PCW’s most promising up-and-comers “Do Or Die” Chip Day.

Pearce, who defended the NWA Championship at last year’s Sacred Ground against then-PCW Champion Shane Marx, became a four-time NWA Champion when he regained the belt on July 31. He has since retained the title against the likes of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling‘s Gunner, and continues to be one of wrestling’s top talents.

For Day, this match is arguably the biggest one of his career thus far. And that’s saying a lot considering that he put up an impressive fight against PCW Champion Grotesque two months ago before almost living up to his “Do Or Die” moniker when Grotesque attacked him with chainsaw. Day then proved his worth in a much more technical three-way bout against two of Ring of Honor‘s best, Kyle O’Reilly and ROH Champion Davey Richards. More recently, Day has continued to establish his winning ways against opponents as diverse as the veteran Terry Lawler and the more flamboyantly fast-paced Najasism.

“I think I’ve only gotten better since that title match with Grotesque,” says Day. ” And that match I had with Kyle O’Reilly and Davey Richards at the Academy Theatre did nothing but help prepare me for what was in store. Both of them are world class competitors and to be in there with them was an honor. I think it helped prove to not just PCW fans or fans of the Georgia scene, or even of the Southern indie scene, but to the world that Chip Day can step in there with the best competitors the world has to offer and stand toe to toe.”

Though he has proven to be a fighting champion, Pearce is still not certain that Day is worthy of a shot at one of wrestling’s most prestigious titles. And apparently neither is the NWA.

“The NWA hasn’t even authorized me to defend the championship against Chip Day because frankly nobody knows who Chip Day is,” concurs Pearce. “I would never say these things, but the Board of Directors for the NWA said to me, ‘Chip Day is just some ham-and-egger off the street that really doesn’t deserve a shot at the oldest and most prestigious championship in wrestling.’ I took a little bit of umbrage in that because being the giving champion that I am, though I am somewhat unfamiliar with him I told him six weeks ago that if he could maintain a winning record over the last 30 days and come into Sacred Ground proving himself to me, I would defend the championship against him. So I’m waiting to hear from Chip Day to see if he’s lived up to his end of the bargain.”

Pearce’s message was delivered to Day via video at a recent PCW show. But while Pearce and the NWA may be unfamiliar with Day, Day not only saw Pearce’s match at Sacred Ground last year, but was also in the corner of Jimmy Rave when Pearce regained the NWA title more recently.

“The one thing I’ve learned is that Adam hits really hard,” says Day. “But I’ve been known to hit pretty hard myself. I kick really hard, is what I’m told. Adam can hit me as hard as he wants, but even if he knocks me down he’s not going to keep me from getting up. That’s what ‘Do Or Die’ comes from. I go out there to leave it all in the ring.

“I do or I die in that ring and Adam can give me all the lariats he wants, he can piledrive me as he’s been known to do sometimes, he can bring foreign objects into it or whatever he wants to do. But there’s nothing that’s going to stop me from pulling myself back up and looking him in the eye and telling him he cannot break me. He’s going to do whatever he needs to do to hold onto that belt, but there’s nothing that’s going to stop me from reaching what I feel is my destiny.”

While Day feels that he has proven himself worthy of a shot at the NWA Championship, it seems that Pearce is going wait until Sacred Ground to reveal whether or not the title will be on the line. After issuing another video message to Day earlier this week, Pearce seems to feel that Day has yet to meet his previous demands.

“I feel sorry for Chip Day,” says Pearce. “Here’s somebody who’s trying to prove himself, which is what Sacred Ground is all about. Last year my opponent, who I won’t even name, came unprepared for someone of the skill level of myself and now Chip Day finds himself unceremoniously on the other side of the ring facing an even greater challenge. I’m in the best shape of my life and looking to make an example. Unfortunately for Chip Day that example will be made with him.

“In the last six weeks I haven’t heard a peep out of Chip Day except for a couple of tweets. But I don’t have to tell you what tweets will get you. Tweets will get you nothing. I want to see some evidence, I want to see him man to man, eye to eye, nose to nose, toe to toe, look me in the face, tell me, show me, prove to me that he’s a winner. That’s the only way he’s going to get a shot at the gold. I have no problem putting the championship on the line against somebody who deserves it. I’m just not sure that man is Chip Day.”

Day replied with a video message of his own today. But only time will tell who will be the better man and who leaves Sacred Ground with the NWA title.

Sacred Ground: Chapter 2. $5-$12. 8 p.m. Sept. 24. Sharon Baptist Church, 536 North Ola Road, McDonough, Ga. 770-957-5072, www.platinumchampionshipwrestling.com.