Episode LII Sunday June 11th, 2021 The Citadel in Toronto, Ontario
Before we can even get to the first match, the lights in the arena went black and stayed out for a good ten seconds until "Faith" by Ghost began playing. The gold lights started flashing to the beat of the song as smoke began rising from the ramp. As the first verse began, Matt Shields step[ed out and looked at the crowd. Shields pointed the kendo stick down at the ring as several large bursts of fire shot up on either side of him. He stalked down to the ring, carrying his kendo stick in his right hand, dragging it along the ramp behind him, while he had a balloon in his left hand. As he reached the bottom of the ramp, he let the balloon go, flying off into the rafters. He then went to the steps and slowly climbed them. He stopped as he got to the ring apron, went to the middle of the ropes, turned towards the crowd, and pointed the kendo stick out at them before he wiped his feet and stepped inside. He went to the middle of the ring, hit the mat with the kendo stick and all the lights went out for a few seconds as the lyrics repeated.
I am all eyes
I am all ears
I am the wall
And I’m watching you fall
Because faith is mine!
As the bridge hit, the lights all came back on with an almost blinding burst as Shields stood with his arms outstretched in the middle of the ring. He snatched a mic from a crew member, walked back to the middle of the ring, took off his title, and laid it in front of him, looking straight up the ramp as he brings the mic to his lips, smirking and chuckling a bit.
SHIELDS: Just come on back if you ever want to try again. I told you once, you son of a bitch I'm the best that's ever been.
He raises his kendo stick, points up the ramp, and then motions for anyone who wants to try him to come down.
SHIELDS: There is no one that can take this from me… but that’s now a curse instead of a blessing. See folks, something horrible has happened. Blanche… she’s dead.
Shields looks down at the belt and where once there was love and longing, now it just seems to be absolute disgust.
SHIELDS: It’s the only logical damn reason for her to continue to be quiet. I thought she was mad at me, but I have vanquished the usurpers and the sidekicks. I have given her blood and violence. I have made sacrifices in her name and given her a beautiful home. Yet still, I do not hear her sweet angelic voice. Like all the others, her soul is gone. This thing in front of me is now a husk, a hollow shell, and a horrid reminder of what I have lost. So I am begging anyone in the back, fight your way into the number one contender’s spot, meet me in this ring and give absolutely everything you have to take this thing from me. For all of you it likely still holds some time of value, but for me.
He stops, picks the belt up, looks down at it, and looks like he might start crying before he suddenly tosses it out of the ring. The belt lands with a thud on the mat and Shields starts pacing back and forth as he scratches his head.
SHIELDS: IT’S FUCKING WORTHLESS!
He screams and smashes his kendo stick on the ground, then moves to the ropes and peers down at the title.
SHIELDS: Someone, any god damn one, find a way to kill the unkillable and relieve me of this accursed object. Earn your chance to fight me, and then meet me in the pits of hell where that damn thing belongs.
Shields drops the mic, rolls out of the ring, stops at the title, and grabs the end of it, dragging it up the ramp with him.
LIVEWIRE CHAMPIONSHIP Jenna Sharpe vs Liz Karlson© CLOSING MOMENTS: Jenna Sharpe looked to be closing in on championship gold, having Liz Karlson exactly where she wanted her. But as she was looking to put the exclamation point in the match, "Mercury" by Ghostemane starts up through the speakers and the crowd instantly turns their attention to the stage, where the "Scum God" was making his presence known, staring daggers at Jenna, who calls out to him from inside the ring, taking her eye off the ball. Which allowed Liz to regather herself, pick Jenna up in an electric chair position and nail her with the Three Story Trip, for the 1, 2, 3! WINNER: Liz Karlson (Still Livewire Champion!) Switch makes his way down to the ring, passing Liz as she just continues her way up the ramp with her championship. As Switch gets to the ring he grabs a microphone and drops to his knees next to Jenna. He stares at her, almost tearing a hole with his gaze.
SWITCHBLXDE: I answer your challenge and beat you, yet they give YOU a title match and leave me off of the show?! Canada is Sharpe Country and OATH once again gives them everything they ever wanted! Like I said once and I’ll say over and over until I take my final breath… FUCK A SHARPE!
Switch’s tongue slithers from his mouth from behind his silver teeth.
SWITCHBLXDE: I’m not gonna’ stand around and wait for my opportunity anymore! They want to give Jenna everything on a silver platter? Fine. I’ll be there every step of the way to rip the opportunities away like I did tonight. As long as you still stand and breathe, I will be here to ruin your fuckin’ life until Kasey and the rest of OATH give me what I want!
Switch drops the microphone on top of Jenna before stretches his arms out to the side and flashing the silver toothed grin of Satan himself.
We go to a special video message from The Black Lion himself, Minoru Tanahashi. Tanahashi sits in a large stone hot tub, a waterfall behind him, splashing around his shoulders as he relaxes with a double peach Strong Zero in his hand. He takes a sip, swallows, and then there’s an exaggerated sigh of contentment.
TANAHASHI: Hello ladies and gentlemen, especially the ladies, and especially one in particular.
He winks and takes another sip of his drink.
TANAHASHI: Now I know what at least half of you are saying right now as you watch this on your couch. Why isn’t this guy training? Why isn’t he preparing for his number one contender’s match? Isn’t he concerned about Stephanie Matsuda? Well allow me to answer those questions and the one that the rest of you are asking, where did he get those delightful pink swim trunks? I did my training earlier. An hour and a half of cardio, thirty minutes on the treadmill then today was arms and abs so I did a cycle of twenty five reps each, thirty minutes on the bike, another arms and abs cycle, fifteen on the elliptical, another arms and abs cycle, fifteen minutes on the stair climber, and then my final arms and abs cycle. Then I did two hours of film study on Miss Matsuda, an hour of ring drills, took a nice shower, had a great dinner, a nice little twenty minute stop on the hydro massage bed, and now I am here relaxing in my own personal little grotto. As for the trunks, my wonderful girlfriend got them for me. I’m not recording this just to brag about my workout regimen, or my twenty thousand dollar hydro massage bed, or my smoking hot girlfriend. In fact I really just want to talk to Stephanie Matsuda right now, so please indulge me.
Minoru takes another sip of his drink, finishing it off. He stands, showing off the fairly short pink swim trunks, crushes the can, and tosses it. The can hits the rim of a small built in trash bin, bounces, and then drops in.
TANAHASHI: Oh yea, that’s a three pointer.
He sits back down and stretches his arms out.
TANAHASHI: Stephanie Matsuda, two time Intrepid champion, one time Tabula Rasa, and tag team champion. One of a fairly small group of people that have won multiple titles in OATH. A group that I myself am part of having won the tag team titles as well as being the first Livewire champion. That’s not the only thing we have in common though. No no, we are both well travelled wrestlers. We both spent extensive time in Japan wrestling and training. We both know what it is like to be stabbed in the back by our tag team partner. We both think Allen Chaney is a taint munching asshat. We both want to take the Intrepid title off of him, and that is where the issue arises between us. Personally, I have no problems with you and I can’t see why you would have any with me. Here is the thing though, I don’t know if you can beat Chaney again. I know that technically Chaney had his lone successful title defense against me, but he didn’t beat me. He merely survived the match. On the other hand, he has beaten you twice for that title, so forgive me if I think I’m a bit more equipped to take that title from him. Yea I know you beat him to take it back, and then you lost it right back to him. So, nothing personal at all Stephanie, but come Conviction, I have to beat you. Between the two of us, well I have the better chance of making sure OATH will have a new Intrepid champion that they can actually be proud of. Now if you will excuse me, I see my lady coming this way so both the camera and these trunks are coming off.
Minoru smirks as he stands up, reaches forward and everything goes black.
SKELETON KEY #1 CONTENDERSHIP MATCH J.T.M vs Ollie Linkoln CLOSING MOMENTS: J.T.M. was looking on track to steal himself the victory, but as he went for BLACKOUT (Curb Stomp), Ollie was able to counter it, moving out of the way just in time, J.T.M. looked inraged, and charged at Ollie, who countered with All Aboard at the Gravy Station (A kick combo starting with a pair of kicks to the opponents calves, a savate kick to the gut, a rolling front somersault kick to the face), Ollie kips up and gets himself prepared, J.T.M. gets to his knees and Ollie connects with Gravy Train (Buzzsaw Roundhouse kick to head of kneeling opponent) to secure the 1, 2, 3! WINNER: Ollie Linkoln
INTREPID CHAMPIONSHIP #1 CONTENDERSHIP MATCH
Minoru Tanahashi vs Stephanie Matsuda
CLOSING MOMENTS: In a fast and fierce back and forth matchup, both competitors looked like a million bucks, Matsuda and Tanahashi are trading forearm shots, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, Matsuda starts getting more in than Tanahashi, hitting him with a discus forearm which rocks Minoru, Stephanie shoots off the ropes but is caught on the rebound with Kabukicho Nights (Discus Lariat)! Tanahashi isn't done, though. He picks her up and connects with the Black Lion Bomb (Tiger Driver 98) to secure himself the 1, 2, 3!
WINNER: Minoru Tanahashi
TABULA RASA #1 CONTENDERSHIP MATCH
Cassidy Kane vs Azumi Goto
CLOSING MOMENTS: Azumi was in control for most of this matchup, using her experience in the ring to her advantage, needing a big win after a tough loss at Back 2 Business, Cassidy wasn't going down without a fight though, as she kept kicking out of big move after big move, eventually, Azumi was able to connect with the Last Surprise (Slingblade) followed up quickly by Path of Heaven (Top Rope Moonsault Press) to get the 1, 2, 3!
WINNER: Azumi Goto
TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS #1 CONTENDERSHIP MATCH
The Dominion vs The Social Elite
CLOSING MOMENTS: The Dominion were in control for most of this match, using the size and weight difference to their advantage, but The Social Elite always has a trick up their sleeves. Just when it looked as if The Dominion was going to secure the win, Tiffany Lynn Page gets herself involved, distracting the referees long enough for Angel Kash to get a pair of brass knuckles in her hands, spinning Gabriel around and hitting him in the jaw, which drops him to his knees, Alex sees this and goes over to try and stop Angel, but Summer Page got there first and sprayed actual fucking mace in the eyes of Pierce. Gabriel doesn't go down after the first shot, so Angel lines it up and nails him a second time with the brass knuckles, knocking him out cold. Pierce is still struggling to see, which the Social Elite use to their advantage, hitting him with the Big Apple (Angel hits a codebreaker then Summer hits a Blockbuster), to get the 1, 2, 3, and another shot at the Tag Team Championships!
WINNERS: The Social Elite
NON-TITLE MATCH
Allen Chaney vs Kai D. Oh
CLOSING MOMENTS: As the two big men traded stiff shots and brutal slams, Allen saw victory fading from him, which he just couldn't have. Kai was able to hit Allen with the Kaifu (Spinebuster), and was looking to finish the deal with the Tatsumaki (Batista Bomb), but Chaney was able to escape the grasp of the 'Dragon God'... AND KICK HIM SQUARE IN THE DICK! The referee instantly calls for the bell.
WINNER: Kai D. Oh (by disqualification).
Allen wasn't done, however. As he was able to muster up the strength and hit Kai with The Punchline (Omega Driver)! He continued to put the boots to Kai, until "Roll up" by The Struts started playing throughout the arena, with the crowd losing their minds, as Minoru Tanahashi, who not long ago was just crowned the #1 contender to the Intrepid Championship, sprints down to the ring, Chaney is prepared and goes to swing at Tanahashi with the title, but Minoru ducks it, kicking Allen in the stomach and looks to hit him with the Black Tiger Bomb, but Chaney manages to escape and rolls out of the ring, leaving the Intrepid title in the ring, Minoru looks down and picks the belt up, raising it high above his head as the crowd cheers! Chaney screams at Minoru from the outside, Minoru just calls back out to him, saying "We'll settle this soon, REAL soon!"
• MAIN EVENT •
OATH SKELETON KEY
SINGLES MATCH
FM Young vs AJ Jenkynx ©
CLOSING MOMENTS: In what was a bloody brilliant back and forth contest, AJ Jenkynx was within reach of keeping his Skeleton Key, looking to put FM Young down, the "Fallen Saint" had her in his sights, looking to connect with the CHIDORI (Superman Punch), but Young was able to sidestep! She quickly is able to counter the CHIDORI with the Heart of a Phoenix (Lumbar Check)! Young hooks the legs and secures the 1, 2, 3... AND the Skeleton Key! WINNER: FM Young After the match, as Young is getting her arm raised, she goes over to AJ and extends the hand to him, saying "You put up a good fight, AJ...". AJ looks at her hand... and rolls out of the ring under the bottom rope. Young tries to call out to AJ, who just ignores her all the way back up the ramp. As he reaches the top of the ramp, he looks back at her in the ring... BEFORE BEING TAKEN OUT FROM BEHIND BY A KENDO STICK SHOT ACROSS THE SIDE OF THE HEAD! The crowd gasp as the OATH World Champion, Matt Shields, stands over AJ and smiles, looking down to the ring where FM Young is still standing, frozen in shock, before picking AJ up and planting him with the Greetings From Crystal Lake (Air Raid Crash), with a sickening thud as him and AJ crash back onto the flooring on the stage. FM Young runs up the ramp and Shields retreats, AJ is rolling around on the ground in serious pain as the EMTs come out... and the screen fades to black.
Results: • Liz Karlson def. Jenna Sharpe, STILL Livewire Champion.
• Ollie Linkoln def. J.T.M., Sew #1 contender for the Skeleton Key • Minoru Tanahashi def. Stephanie Matsuda, New #1 Contender for the Intrepid Championship • Azumi Goto def. Cassidy Kane, New #1 Contender for the Tabula Rasa Championship
• The Social Elite def. The Dominion, New #1 Contenders for the Tag Team Championships
• Kai D. Oh def. Allen Chaney by disqualification.
• FM Young def. AJ Jenkynx, New Skeleton Key holder.