CONVICTION XLIX

Episode XLIX Sunday February 21st, 2021 The Citadel in Toronto, Ontario

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The OATH signature played. Elegant, understated -- just lovely. The opening chords of “Wet Blanket” by Metz began playing throughout The Citadel in Toronto, Ontario. Fans were overjoyed and generally hyped to be in the audience for another OATH event. Cut to ringside with the voices of the show. Ben Petrie was relaxed, his feet kicked up on the announce table and he was slowly sipping a Witch’s Brew as Matt Mears did what he did best.

MEARS: Welcome wrestling fans to OATH Pro Wrestling Conviction, episode forty nine! We are one week away from travelling to Isla Desconocida for Last Resort. A literal bash on the beach!

PETRIE: Yeah I see what you did there Matty. But for real I am fuckin’ stoked to get out of the city for a week. Fun in the sun my man.

MEARS: It’ll be an incredible event that will be a nice change of pace for the fans and roster, headlined by the highly anticipated World Championship Match between challenger “War Queen” Leah Aguero and champion “The Chairman Of Chaos” Locke Helms of The Hell Realm.

PETRIE: It’s gonna be one hell of a show. Gregory and I are lookin’ forward to kickin’ back on the beach with some Belininis and some good food before Last Resort.

MEARS: It’ll be a nice reprieve from the winter weather here in Toronto but that is next week. Tonight we have a stacked show. In tag team action, Midnight Special will take on OATH’s resident Mean Girls, Social Elite.

PETRIE: Social Elite got a big victory last week and they are looking to pick up another en route to an opportunity at the OATH Tag Team Titles. Those titles are currently held by Sweet Treats who tonight will team up with Nicky Crawford to take on The Organization.

MEARS: The Organization has been doing their best to bully their way into title contention so far but if there is one thing we know for certain about Sweet Treats, it’s that they don’t like bullies.

PETRIE: Who does? Sure I’ll rip on people but The Organization takes it a little too far. What also is a little too far is our main event. Tonight El Diablo Blanco will attempt to defend his Tabula Rasa Championship for the fist time in a match of his own making...El’D’s House Of Fun.

MEARS: It’s a new concept for OATH. Trampolines will be placed on either side of the ring with rope swings hanging down above the squared circle. I do not really know what to expect from that contest but it will be interesting to say the very least.

PETRIE: Tonight I will also be live in the ring for another edition of my award winning talk show segment, The Mood Ring. My guest? Former Intrepid Champion Stephanie Matsuda who lost the title at Brutalism to that--

MEARS: Do not say it Bad Mood. You have been warned by management about insulting Allen Chaney’s weight and if you continue it will have dire consequences.

PETRIE: Like I said on Twitter -- I don’t give a fuck. Allen Chaney is a gelatinous piece of shit and I can’t wait for someone to put him in his place. Guy needs less trips to the fridge and more trips to the gym if he wants to really make it here in OATH.

MEARS: I really wish you would stop. Leave it alone. Let us get this show on the road! Our opening contest will see Johnny Draco and his new bad attitude take on the journeyman Brendon Phoenix. But before that I am told that our colleague Audrey Abrams has an interview piece with a special guest. Wrestling fans...let us begin!

A dark room that has one light source, a projection on a stark white wall. The projection features "highlights" from last week's Deathmatch between Jonathan Cage and Finale. The only clips that we are seeing are of the terrible things that "The Eternal" did to Finale.

The shot pulled out to show OATH Interviewer Audrey Abrams sitting next to Jonathan Cage himself.

ABRAMS: Cage. I would say thanks for doing this but let it be clear that this helps you more than it does me. This is a platform for you to tell the world how you are feeling after defeating Finale in a Deathmatch last week. So... how are you feeling?

CAGE: I feel accomplished. I’ve been at odds with Rory for many years. We’ve feuded all over the place and last week was vindication. It felt good to damn near cave in his skull.

ABRAMS: So what happens next? Finale is gone but your record is far from immaculate.

CAGE: I have my eyes set on the Tabula Rasa championship. I owe that pissant an ass whipping.

ABRAMS: Which pissant is that? Don’t be afraid to name names.

CAGE: That pissant called El Diablo Blanco. He took my only title in OATH away from me. Now it’s my time to return the favor.

ABRAMS: You aren’t really giving me much here Jonathan. I figured that you would have a lot to say but all of these answers are pretty stock. Unless you are going to make this worth my time and say something with some meaning I think we’re done here.

Cage eyeballed the interviewer, not caring for her tone. However there must have been something that appreciated her persistent inquisitiveness.

CAGE: I’ve been in this business a long time. I’ve seen it all. Yet, I still want to do so much more. I will get the Tabula Rasa championship. I will prove to the world that I’m still the fucking best in the game right now. I’m not some washed up veteran who’s trying to reclaim old glory. It’s still my time. Are you fucking satisfied?

ABRAMS: For now. But I’ll be watching. I get the feeling that there is something you aren’t telling me.

CAGE: I always have something close to the vest. You’ll know in due time.

With that, Cage stood up and composed himself. He nodded in Abrams’ direction and left the scene. The shot closed in on the interviewer, who was deep in contemplation.

SINGLES MATCH

Johnny Draco vs. Brendon Phoenix

The first match of the evening saw Johnny Draco sans Tiffany Lynn Page come to the ring. For the first time in his OATH career the cuing of “Kumbaya” by Hopsin got resounding jeers from the fans in Toronto. Draco did not care, he was netural as he entered the ring and started shadow boxing as a warm up.

The journeyman Brendon Phoenix was out next and he got a good response. Not so much because Toronto liked him but they were so collectively disgusted by what Draco had done to James Edwards one week ago. As soon as Phoenix entered the ring, Draco blasted him with a running clothesline.

MEARS: I can confirm that James Edwards has yet to arrive at The Citadel. So Johnny Draco doesn’t have to look over his shoulder. Not yet at least.

PETRIE: James Edwards has been so condesending to Draco. It’s been goin’ on fer fuckin’ months. Draco got sick of it and did what he had to do.

MEARS: I think that James was legitimately trying to help Johnny.

PETRIE: Wrong. He was keeping him close because he was scared that Johnny was gonna be the guy to take the Tabula Rasa Title from him. And that backfired because it did end up costin’ him the strap.

Phoenix did his best to cover up but Draco bullied him into a corner and used his boxing experience to hit a series of massive body blows. Draco led Phoenix out of the corner and hit him with a CRUSHING knee to the midsection. Phoenix’s eyes went wide and you could see him gasping for breath.

The journeyman tried to rally back with a high roundhouse but his ribs were clearly buggered up. Draco easily countered with kick to Phoenix’s midsection and then took him up and right back down with a brainbuster! Draco, dead eyed, rolled over into a cover hooking Phoenix’s leg. 1..2!

MEARS: This is a very different Johnny Draco we are seeing here. His is vicious. He is cold.

PETRIE: It is February in Toronto.

MEARS: You know what I mean Bad Mood.

Draco wasn’t discouraged by the kickout, he just went back to work. Draco peeled Phoenix off the mat but Phoenix surprised him with a knife edged chop, then an elbow smash, followed with an enziguiri! Draco was caught completely offguard and was sent reeling into a corner!

Phoenix rushed Draco and caught him with a leaping knee to the chin in the corner and then brought him to the center of the ring with a bulldog. That got a pop from The Citadel! Phoenix called out to them and went to take off for the ropes but Draco dripped him up and then threw his body onto a face down Phoenix and applied a bulldog choke!

MEARS: This is a new one from Johnny Draco.

PETRIE: And it’s effective.

Phoneix was able to crawl to the ropes but he was clearly having trouble breathing. Draco stomped on the back of Phoenix’s head and then hauled him off the mat. Draco set Phoenix up for a powerbomb but Phoenix slipped from his grasp and dropped him with a leaping roundhouse kick. Phoenix took off for the ropes and came back with the Phoenix-sault (Springboard Moonsault)! Phoenix hooked the leg and made the cover. 1..2..!

Draco kicked out and The Citadel was quite bummed about it. Phoenix measured Draco and went for Ashes To Ashes (Diving Neckbreaker) but Draco took him out of the air with F.U.B.A.R.(Superman Punch)! Phoenix dropped to the mat in a heap. Draco locked Phoenix in the Lights Out Lock (Crippler Crossface). Phoenix tried to fight it but Draco had him dead to rights in the middle of the ring. Phoenix tapped out.

CRYBABY: Here is your winner, Johnny Draco!

“Kumbaya” by Hopsin kicked up again and Draco had his hand raised. Apparently not satisfied, Draco dropped down and locked the Lights Out Lock (Crippler Crossface) back in! The timekeeper rang the bell like a madman but Draco kept the hold locked in. The referee tried to break Draco’s grip but it wasn’t happening until Draco wanted it to. Draco released the hold and slipped out of the ring. The fans booed the absolute shit out of him.

The scene opened up in one of the corridors in the back. Nicky Crawford was seen sitting on a production road case, looking rather sullen. One could probably assume he's still a bit shaken from his sister's injury. His head was down and he seemed to be muttering to himself.

NICKY: I shouldn't have let her go out there. This is my fault.

VOICE: You shouldn't beat yourself up about it. That can't be good for you.

Nicky looked up to see his tag partners for the night in the OATH Tag Team Champions, The Sweet Treats, Kallie Reznik and Alex Andrews. Alex placed a hand on his shoulder.

ALEX: I understand what you're going through. But you can't do this to yourself. It's just going to lead you down a dark path mentally.

Nicky looked up at her with sad eyes.

NICKY: How can I not blame myself? I'm the oldest and I've always looked out for her. She wasn't a hundred percent and shouldn't have been out there.

KALLIE: Maybe, but she's not a child either. As much as it pains to say, we doubt you could have stopped her. She's a bit headstrong that way.

Nicky shook his head, obviously still not convinced.

ALEX: I'm not saying it's going to be easy. But she will make a comeback. And when she comes back, she's going to kick some major ass. Besides, she gave you the go ahead to continue as a singles, right?

NICKY: Yeah..

KALLIE: Listen, we've said it before, but if you guys need anything, don't be afraid to ask.

ALEX: If it's within our power, we'll try to help.

Nicky nods and looked ahead of him, sort of staring at the wall.

ALEX: But we need to focus on The Organization. If we don't, I'm afraid they'll run right over us. Fagoo and Doc are one solid tag team. Big bruiser types. All three of us will have to bare that in mind.

They all nodded at that.

KALLIE: These guys are a cohesive unit, that'll be tough to beat. But you know what we are? We are underdogs. We are used to fighting from underneath and finding ways to win. We can do this. We can.

Nicky managed to smile and nods.

NICKY: And I know we have them beat when it comes to speed. We just have to make sure we are smart and strike fast but strike hard.

ALEX: That's the spirit!

They all shared a bit of a smile together.

ALEX: You know what else we have that they don't?

Alex patted herself on the chest and did the same to Nicky and Kallie.

ALEX: Heart. We want this win and we want it bad. They can't say that. They'll be big and bad and rough, but we can take a beating and bounce back. It won't be easy, but I have faith. I know how deep we are willing to dig. People see us and think we are undersized , clueless and naive. But we are not.

KALLIE: We know what we're stepping into. We know what we've signed up for and know how to handle ourselves. We know what we've got to work with and we use that to our advantage. We didn't take the easy road to get to these tag team titles.

Alex nudged Nicky slightly with her shoulder.

ALEX: We got your back, Nicky. Know that. And you have ours. Now let's go out there and show them we ain't nothing to mess with.

Kallie and Nicky looked at Alex quizzically for a moment and shook their heads as they followed her lead as they headed on out down the hall.

TAG TEAM MATCH Midnight Special vs. Social Elite

Tag team action was on deck next as Harvey Carbine and Josh Cherry of Midnight Special took on OATH’s Mean Girls, Angel Kash and Summer Page of The Social Elite. Carbine and Cherry came out to a decent ovation but the mood quickly changed when “Money” by Cardi B hit and then entire Social Elite posse came out.

PETRIE: I do not get the hatred for The Social Elite. There is nothing fake about about this gang. They do exactly what they say they’re gonna do. Yer all just jealous!

MEARS: Just because they are honest about their dirty tactics doesn’t mean that the fans need to accept it.

Tiffany Lynn Page led her girls to the ring while the Social Media Manager for the the socialites Mercedes White livestreamed the whole thing. The fans hated all of this and were definitely having flashbacks to what happened last week between the girls, Johnny Draco and James Edwards.

The Social Elite took their sweet ass time getting into the ring where Carbine was pacing around like a caged animal. Mercedes White attempted to livestream an interview with Angel and Summer which prompted some less than kind comments from Josh Cherry on the apron. Tiffany screeched at Cherry to shut up and Cherry responded by mock vomiting.

PETRIE: Josh Cherry is a filthy little pig. Fucker needs to keep his mind on the match and leave Tiffany alone.

The seemingly endless pageantry from The Social Elite finally stopped and Mercedes exited the ring. The bell rang and Carbine attempted to rush Angel but she stuck her body through the ropes and screamed that she was not ready. Tiffany got up on the apron and admominshed the referee, telling him that he needed to back Carbine up.

MEARS: Why our officials continue to allow this nonsense to happen is beyond me.

PETRIE: Tiffany is the advocate. She’s advocating!

“The Party Crasher” Josh Cherry had finally had enough and dropped off the apron. He ran around the ring and yanked Summer off the apron. She was shocked and tried to respond with a slap to his face but Cherry caught her wrist and snapped her fingers! Summer let out a horrible SCREAM! We heard the fingers snap and Angel tried to exit the ring to get involved but Carbine pulled her back through the ropes and took her over with a belly to back suplex.

Angel tried to scramble to the ropes but Carbine took her leg and tagged in Cherry, who was back up on the apron. Following the tag, Carbine took Angel over with a hip toss and Cherry came crashing down on her with a springboard moonsault! Midnight Special gathered Angel up and hit her with their verson of a Hart Attack! Cherry made the cover as Carbine exited the ring. 1..2..! Summer Page quickly entered the ring and grabbed Cherry’s hair and dragged him off of Summer.

MEARS: Well that simply isn’t allowed.

PETRIE: And yet it happened.

Carbine looked irate on the apron and briefly considered entering the ring but Summer backed off to her corner. Angel crawled toward the Social Elite side of the ring and made the tag to Summer. Cherry gave chase but Summer kicked him in the knee and the Mean Girls planted Cherry on the crown of his head with Silver Spoon (Spike Double DDT)! Summer covered and Angel mocked Carbine. 1..2..! Cherry was able to kick out and once again Tiffany was up on the apron.

Cherry got to his feet while Summer, Angel, and Tiffany all argued with the referee. “That was a three count!” Tiffany screeched. The referee just shook his head and unbeknownst to the Social Elite, Cherry nearly made a tag. Summer caught him at the last second with a chop block and then jumped on his back to apply In Your Dreams (Sleeper)! Cherry started to fade and Mercedes now was up on the apron to livestream Cherry’s slow descent into slumber.

MEARS: Get her off of the apron! This is a circus!

PETRIE: Circuses are entertaining. I’m entertained.

MEARS: We want real competition. Not this nonsense.

Mercedes, in her haste to get up on the apron, didn’t notice that she was on the same side as Carbine. Carbine pulled pushed the rope forward with all of his might and released it. It snapped back like a rubber band and Mercedes was flung to the floor, her phone slipped from her hand and bounced along the floor.

Cherry was on shaking legs with Summer having the sleeper locked in. Out of desperation, Cherry threw his body back into the Midnight Special corner and slammed Summer against the turnbuckles. Carbine made the blind tag, slipped into the ring and sent Summer into the ropes with an Irish whip. On her return Carbine lifted her up with a flapjack and brought her down into a single knee facebuster from Cherry! Carbine covered. 1..2..! The referee was tripped up from the outside by Tiffany!

MEARS: I really do hope that Mr. Straker is watching and that he does something about this behaviour pattern of Social Elite. When Mercedes and Tiffany can’t be a factor, like the Cage Match against The Crawfords, then it is a fair fight.

PETRIE: He clearly hasn’t had a fuckin’ issue with it yet.

The Party Crasher intervened and shoved Tiffany off the apron. Cherry got in the referee’s face and demanded that he throw Mercedes and Tiffany out. The referee told Cherry not to tell him how to do his job and the two continued arguing. Carbine called to his partner to stop arguing but Cherry was fired up and not willing to back down. Unable to cool down his partner, Carbine turned his attention back to the task at hand.

PETRIE: Cherry needs to stay in his lane.

MEARS: He is fed up! Like a lot of us are!

Carbine had Summer set up for the Shock & Awe (Wild Bomb) but Summer took him over with a head scissors right into some pepperspray to the eyes from Tiffany on the apron! The referee was still arguing with Cherry, he didn’t see it! Summer made the tag to Angel as Tiffany dropped out of view. Social Elite hit Big Apple (Angel hits a codebreaker then Summer hits a Blockbuster) on Carbine. Angel covered as Mercedes held Cherry’s leg and prevented him from breaking up the pin. 1..2..3!

CRYBABY: Here are your winners, Angel Kash & Summer Page, The Social Elite!

“Money” by Cardi B kicked up and all four members of The Social Elite celebrated in the ring. Cherry continued to cuss out the referee as Carbine rolled on the mat, rubbing his eyes in agony. The Mean Girls laughed at both members of Midnight Special and when Cherry went to engage them they all fled, laughing like a gaggle of high school girls.

Back from commercial break and not only had “The Burning Heart” James Edwards arrived at The Citadel but he was out in front of the Toronto fans. He paced back and forth in the ring. He stopped momentarily and snarled into the camera.

EDWARDS: Y’all wanna know my future?

He laughed out of frustration and pulled at his hair.

EDWARDS: Any person capable of thinkin’ on their own is gonna guess what’s coming next. Next week the roster is going down to the tropics for a little sun and surf. There ain’t gonna be any of that for you and me, Johnny.

He gritted his teeth because saying the name caused a buzzsaw of anger to split his common sense in two.

EDWARDS: Your future is my future, and I promise you one thing, it ain’t gonna be pretty. You and me are gonna fight, and this time it ain’t about respect; this time it’s damn personal. I’m gonna hurt you, Johnny, and I’m gonna do it in a match where the weak, like you, can barely survive. I’m going to take you a part, piece by piece...in a Bloodsport Match!

He started to pace again, turning his attention to the entrance ramp.

EDWARDS: So we’re gonna play this game, Johnny? The one where I yell like an idiot until you come out here and give me an answer. Hell no, I’m coming back there to get one out of you.

He spiked the microphone and hopped down from the ring apron. He winced in pain, the anger causing him to forget jumping on a bum knee is a terrible idea. Still, with a killer’s scowl on his face, he began the march up the ramp only to stop when “Kumbuya” by Hopsin filled the air. Edwards stared dead ahead, steeling himself to the encounter to come. With each passing beat the rage in his heart grew, his first chance at revenge was almost at---Draco laid him out from behind with a chop block to the bad knee!

MEARS: Johnny Draco just came through the crowd and took Edwards down!

PETRIE: I didn’t know that the kid was that clever! Smart move!

Edwards tried to scramble to his feet but Draco kicked out his knee again. Edwards caught himself on the ring barrier but Draco CRACKED him in the jaw with Face Of Fear Kick (Sweet Chin Music)! Edwards dropped in a heap. Draco was not gleeful, he wasn’t smiling. The fans let him have it.

BOOOOOOOOOO!

He didn’t care. Draco had done what he came out here to do and he backed up the ramp, careful to keep his eyes on Edwards. This issue between them that had been unravelling for months would end. The bright and sunny weather would be the only pleasant thing next week when they finished this in a Bloodsport Match.

In the production area Executive Director Price Bridges was signing some forms for a member of the production crew when Harvey Carbine and Josh Cherry both burst through the curtain. Members of FORCE Security moved to intervene but Bridges gestured for them to stand down.

BRIDGES: Can I help you gentlemen?

CARBINE: We wanna talk to Straker. Fuck is he?

BRIDGES: Mr. Straker is only available via a scheduled appointment. You do not have one. Is there something I can help you with?

CHERRY: Yeah. We want the fucking Social Elite. How are you gonna let that shit stand? It was four on two out there!

BRIDGES: Perhaps in the future you should have Mr. Macbeth at your side. You were meant to be regulated to appearing on Livewire per your contract but Mr. Straker felt that you deserved an opportunity to prove yourselves. You have failed to do that. Perhaps keeping you on Livewire for the foreseeable future is the best course of action.

CARBINE: Not the fuckin’ point Bridges and you know it. We ain’t gonna complain about the loss but we are gonna get some goddamn payback. These fuckin monkeys…

Carbine waved his hand dismissively at the members of FORCE Security.

CARBINE: ...don’t know how to do their fuckin’ jobs. Clearly. So give us another crack at those plastic tarts and put us on equal footing.

BRIDGES: Well Mr. Carbine, security really only gets involved under the direction of myself or the referees. Unfortunately, our direction came slightly too late.

CHERRY: Then fix it.

BRIDGES: I do not appreciate being ordered to do anything Mr. Cherry but you are in luck. You will have an opportunity to face Social Elite again next week at Last Resort.

CARBINE: Yeah? That’s it?

BRIDGES: No there is more to it but I am not at liberty to divulge the specifics. There are a few more pieces that need to be put into place before that happens. Just pack your bags and prepare to enjoy the beauty of Isla Desconocida.

Cherry seemed like he had more to say but Carbine stopped him and nodded his head toward the curtain. They would have to wait to find out exactly what management had in mind for them at Last Resort.

TRIOS MATCH

Sweet Treats & Nicky Crawford vs. The Organization

It was time for a trios match up next. "Little Sickness" by Disturbed & Of Monsters and Men cued up and The Organization came to the ring led by their manager Newman. Roddy Zalez refused to let fans touch him, Doc Knockem just did his usual badass stomp to the ring, and Fagoo desperately wanted the fans to cheer for them but no dice. The trio entered the ring and awaited their opponents.

MEARS: The Organization has been a force since coming to OATH earlier this year. They are a tight knit unit that has never lost a trios match.

PETRIE: Yeah and then you have this chucked together team of Sweet Treats and Nicky. Do the girls not know that Nicky kind of sucks?

MEARS: He and Erika won a great cage match at Brutalism.

PETRIE: And then lost a match for the Tag Team Titles so what’s your point?

Nicky Crawford was out first to a moderately positive reaction as "D(r)own" by Ghostemane. It was clear that Nicky was fighting himself as he made his way to the ring, blaming himself for his sister Erika’s injury a few weeks ago. Sweet Treats were out next as “Hypa Hypa” by Eskimo Cowboy played. The Tag Team Champions made their way to the ring to a massive ovation, it was clear that The Citadel was Candy Land here tonight. Once in the ring, both Kallie Reznik and Alex Andrews tossed Nicky a fist bump. He was a little less enthusiastic but was on the same page as them.

The referee called for the bell and it was Nicky Crawford facing off with Doc Knockem to start. Fagoo pleaded with Knockem to let him start but The Hard Hitter acted like he couldn’t hear him. Nicky had been in the ring with Knockem before and he was cautious at first. Knockem invited Nicky to take a free shot and the Ghostboy took him up on said offer. Nicky rushed Knockem but got absolutely destroyed with a clothesline.

PETRIE: He really is gonna be a Ghostboy after Knockem gets through with ‘em.

Knockem hammered on Nicky and there was a show of great concern from both members of Sweet Treats. Knockem almost smiled but stopped himself. He peeled Nicky off of the mat but Nicky caught him with a series of quick kicks to either knee! Nicky then grabbed Knockem in a ¾ face lock and went for the Go Getta (Acid Drop) but Knockem held him up in the air and launched him over the top rope to the floor.

MEARS: Good Lord! Nicky landed with a sickening thud.

The Hard Hitter turned to Sweet Treats and simply said, “Next.” Newman laughed maniacally at ringside and Alex Andrews decided to enter the ring. She cautiously approached Knockem and when the big man went for a clothesline, Alex slipped behind him and took him down with a chop block! Lady Limitless fired herself toward the ropes and came back with a basement dropkick to Knockem’s face. Alex covered but Knockem powered out immediately.

PETRIE: Gonna take a lot more to keep that big bastard down.

MEARS: No doubt about that. Doc Knockem is a tough bull.

Alex found herself in her corner so she tagged in Kallie. The Wolfcub entered the ring and together with Alex blasted Knockem with Double Elysium bicycle kicks! Knockem was sent through the ropes to the outside. Roddy Zalez had hopped down off of the apron and was stomping away on Nicky Crawford as Newman cheered him on.

Sweet Treats saw that Knockem was stomping on Nicky with Zalez and immediately launched themselves through the ropes with a double tope suicida that wiped Zalez and Knockem out. Kallie and Alex then slipped back into the ring where Fagoo was waiting. Fagoo smoked Alex with an enziguiri and immediately transitioned into a t-bone suplex to Kallie! Fagoo stood and tried to hype up the crowd but they weren’t having any of it.

MEARS: Fagoo needs to stop with this routine. The crowd doesn’t like him in the least.

PETRIE: He’ll change their minds. One day.

Doc Knockem entered the ring and brushed past his partner. Knockem kicked Alex hard in the ribs and then peeled Kallie off of the mat. Knockem lifted Kallie up and dropped her across his knee with a sidewalk backbreaker. Knockem held Kallie bent over his knee as Fagoo came off of the top rope with a diving knee drop -- Dark Path Awaiting! Knockem moved out of the way and allowed Fagoo to make the cover. 1..2..! Nicky slid into the ring and just barely broke up the fall.

Roddy Zalez saw his opportunity and he hit Nicky with a springboard head scissors takedown! Zalez kipped up and took a bow. Fagoo and Knockem took turns mauling Alex in the corner as Kallie started to get up to her feet. Seeing that her partner was in trouble, Kallie took off across the ring and nailed Knockem in the back of the head with an Elysium bicycle kick! Knockem was down and Fagoo tried to engage Kallie only to get put on the mat with a head scissors takedown! Kallie called to Alex and they hit a leg drop/senton combination onto Knockem! Kallie went to cover but Knockem wasn’t the legal man!

PETRIE: That is a massive miscalculation from Reznik.

MEARS: To be fair it can get a bit confusing.

PETRIE: Not if you’re paying attention!

Sweet Treats dumped the big man Knockem over the top rope to the floor and turned their attention back to Fagoo. Zalez rushed them out of nowhere but Sweet Treats double lowbridged the top rope and Zalez flew over the top rope to the floor. Fagoo was all alone and soon fell victim to the Broken Wings backstabber that propelled Fagoo right into the Threads Of The Moira second rope corkscrew stunner from Kallie! Skittle Scramble! Seeing Nicky on the apron, Kallie tagged him in and he climbed to the top rope. Nicky leaped off the top rope with Witchblade (Frog Splash) onto Fagoo and made the cover. 1..2..3!

CRYBABY: Here are your winners, Nicky Crawford & the OATH Pro Wrestling Tag Team Champions Sweet Treats!

Happy! Excited! That was the general feeling from Sweet Treats and the fans in The Citadel. Nicky still seemed to be having trouble believing that he had gotten the pin. After collecting their titles, Alex and Kallie helped Nicky up and raised his hand. They made sure to keep The Organization in their sights as the trio regrouped on the ramp with Newman. Newman called out to them, saying that this wasn’t over.

The ring was dressed with bright coloured fabrics draped over the ropes. The canvas has been covered by a musty looking shag carpet and several bean bag chairs were scattered here and there. In the center of the ring stood OATH's primary color commentator, "Bad Mood" Ben Petrie.

PETRIE: Alright you heathens, it is time for another incredible edition of the Mood Ring with me "Bad Mood" Ben Petrie. I'm not gonna waste any fuckin' time because I don't get paid extra to do this so allow me to introduce my guest. She is a former OATH Tag Team, Tabula Rasa, and Intrepid Champion. She's been here from the get go and we call her The Day One Pledge. Please welcome to the Mood Ring, Stephanie "Cloud" Matsuda!

The camera pulled out to show that Cloud had been standing in the corner, likely told to stay out of Petrie’s shot. Given that she isn’t one for attacking OATH staff, even those as dickish as Bad Mood, she obliged him to his lone spotlight. She walked into frame, somewhat smirking.

MATSUDA: Thank you for having me. I like this straight to the point style that you have.

PETRIE: You might not like it once we're done. Let's get to the meat, you lost the Intrepid Championship a few weeks ago at Brutalism and you've been quiet about how it went down. Why did you lose? Why do you think that you couldn't put the new champion away?

Petrie was clearly avoiding saying Allen Chaney's name. Matsuda sighed as she closed her eyes and leaned back.

MATSUDA: I could give the excuse that he was the better man and that I'm losing my touch and "I'll get 'em be next time" but I came here to be real so let's get real. The reality is: I'm doing too much. There's no secret about my open contract here at OATH, despite being paid as well as your exclusives. I sign the same deal everywhere I go for around the same amount more or less. I don't come cheap, but I certainly bring eyes to the product, more eyes than the likes of Chaney. Now a part of me would love to be an OATH exclusive. I love this place. But I was burned by my last exclusive employer and for legal reasons I can't disclose the details, so I made a promise to myself. No matter what, I'll do everything in my power to be the best. Not just in one company, but in the business as a whole. Everyone talks about being the best in the world, but there's a few of us out here attempting to make that an actuality, you dig?

PETRIE: I get that. Regardless of not being exclusive to OATH, you are one of the faces of the company. You have been here since the beginning and the fans love you. You've also been put through the ringer over the last year. Yer problems with yer cousin, stunted rises to the top, -- all kinds of shit. But what happens now? What will you do to resume your rise? The fans clearly want to see it.

MATSUDA: Well there's only one thing left to do: go after the OATH World Championship. I've been through a lot, and it shows. I've been the Day One Pledge for a reason; I was one of the first to step up, one of the first to return and in-between I was your first Tag Team Champion alongside Leah. And now, The Queen of Fighters will become your first OATH Grand Slam Champion. As much as I wanted to be the one to dethrone Reo from his legendary run, I'll settle for anyone at this point.

???: Hello? Hey, is this thing on? I know this interview is GRIPPING but I figured it’d be a good time to bump the ratings a bit.

This interruption had come courtesy of the screen in the arena, now displaying OATH Intrepid Champion, “The Comedian” Allen Chaney as he finished setting up the camera on the tripod. He backed away to sit down on a comfy chair dressed in jeans, an Andy Kaufman shirt, and an OATH hoodie. He also had on Jordan’s. They’re pretty sick.

CHANEY: Hey Benny! Wow, you’ve got a nice condo. I swung by to try and be the bigger man and talk shit out with you but… well I feel a bit silly because OF COURSE you’re at the arena doing the show! And you’re doing a great job man, doing the best with what you’ve been given to try and pull a compelling interview out of...Suuuuuuh..Sssssstephanie! I remembered.

Allen looked around Ben Petrie’s residence, standing up from the chair and picking up the front-facing camera and walking with it so all we see is his face.

CHANEY: But don’t worry about me, Ben. With you not being home, Gregory has been an accommodating host.

Allen set the camera back down and backs away again so we get the full view of the room he’s in. Gregory aws restrained to a chair in the kitchen and seemed out of it. The kitchen was a mess and Gregory was covered in food.

A smash cut back to the arena and Bad Mood looked deeply concerned. Matsuda maintained a neutral expression but her eyes were fixed on the tron.

CHANEY: Since you aren’t here, I’ve really been trying to stress to him how rude it is to mock someone’s weight so that message can get back to you. Again, it doesn’t really bother me but I’m all about ratings and it’s no good for you to make any of our overweight fans feel unwelcome.

Allen grabbed a handful of pie and smacks Gregory across the face with it hard.

CHANEY: All you had to do was apologize, Ben. But because you didn’t... well I have to stand up to this bullying. I have to set an example so toxic behavior like this doesn’t continue. I hate that it has to be this way but…

Allen opened the refrigerator in the kitchen and grabbed Gregory by the collar, bringing him over to the fridge and placing his head in the open refrigerator.

CHANEY: Let’s have some fun with it, huh? One of the oldest jokes in the book...is your refrigerator running?

Allen slammed the refrigerator door shut hard on Gregory’s head and then lets him and the chair drop to the floor with a thud.

CHANEY: Then you’d better go catch it!

Allen picked up the camera once more and left us with one last thing before turning it off.

CHANEY: Setup. Punchline.

Stephanie has a horrified expression on her face as the whole attack unfolded before her eyes. She glanced at a panicked Ben who didn't know what to do with himself as tears fell down his face. Matsuda got up from her seat and walked toward the camera. There’s a hint of smouldering rage in her eyes.

MATSUDA: Aight, I think I can make time for a detour. Ben, on your behalf, I’m going to kick Allen’s sorry ass, while taking back the Intrepid Championship. Some jokes go too far and Chaney needs to know and understand that he’s not as funny as he thinks he is.

Stephanie offers a sympathetic hand on Ben’s shoulder before storming off stage. Bad Mood fell to his knees, a complete wreck. The Citadel was in a state of stunned silence and the production team had the tact to cut.

Ryan Terror sat on a chair inside of his locker room. A towel hung over his head as he looked on the floor. He breathed heavily and rubbed his hands together. He looked up and the anger filled his eyes.

TERROR: I am an OATH original.

A beat.

TERROR: I was on the very first Conviction. I have made my mark and yet, I haven’t been taken seriously as a threat to any championship. I took part in the match to determine the very first Tabula Rasa Champion and came up short. Since then, I’ve been denied a chance to compete for that championship. That is until now...

Another beat.

TERROR: El Diablo Blanco. Why in the hell do you pander to the sheeple? The people do not care about you. You are just some idiot that prostitutes himself for laughs and cheers. What have they done for you? Nothing. Yet you come out and do the same old routine. Then you spit out your catchphrase and everyone jumps for fucking joy. This is a false sense of security, El D. The masses will chew you up and spit you out when they finally tire of your bullshit.

Ryan smiled underneath the towel.

TERROR: That’s where I come in as an agent of chaos. I’m going to show you that morons always fall short no matter what the stipulation. I will beat you and I will take the Tabula Rasa championship.

Ryan lowered his head once again and focused on his match later in the evening.

The fans are waiting for the main event on the card when suddenly the dark and sinister sounds of Enigma TNG’s “Heavy Grind” keyed up and the OATH World Champion Locke Helms came walking out to the ring, Astaroth on his heels and when the two got to the ring, the “Chairman of Chaos” was tossed a mic. He gestured for his music to be cut as he handed the title over to his sidekick while the crowds let him know exactly how they felt about him.

LOCKE: Now with just over a week left before I put my newly won title on the line for the very first time against her, I want to take some time out and ask for my opponent for Last Resort, Leah Aguero, to please come out here so that she and I can have a face to face for the first time in our careers.

Locke motioned at himself and Astaroth.

LOCKE: As you can see Leah, it is just myself and Astaroth, the Realm’s standard bearer, so you need not to worry about being jumped because if I had wanted to do that already then you’d already be in the trainer’s room. I just want you to come out here, join me in this very ring, and we can talk.

Before long “Killing In the Name” by Rage Against The Machine played throughout The Citadel as both Locke and Astaroth turned their attention to the entryway. The song continued to play but no one emerged from the entrance. After a few more moments, Locke chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. He turned to Astaroth but out of the corner of his eye Locke caught Leah Aguero standing behind them. Breathing heavily, Leah didn’t say a word. Instead, she just stood there, staring directly at Locke Helms through her mask and hoodie, which was pulled up over her head. Fists clenched and ready to pounce, Leah never took her eyes off the OATH World Champion. Astaroth put an arm across the champ, asking him to stay back.

LOCKE: You know, something has to be said about you as you do keep people on their toes… but for a “War Queen” you certainly do love to dress the part of a pauper don’t you, Leah? But as you can see here, I’m not out here to pick a fight with you, no you and I can do that in another week can’t we?

Locke then tilted his head a little bit to the left.

LOCKE: However the only question on my mind right now is which Leah am I talking to right now? The one who has glory on her mind… or the other one who is obsessed with breaking me because I proved her precious mentor wrong and took his arm?

Locke was almost face to face with Leah as he continued to antagonize her. Leah quickly reached out and snatched the microphone from Locke's hand. She then drew back her hoodie.

AGUERO: Let me tell you something you little shit. You have no clue who you're talking to. For weeks you've gone on and on about what you did to some never was like Agustin Gates. Now, your latest "claim to fame" is breaking Reo Ojima's arm? Congratulations. You took the arm of a man that's already up there in age. You took the arm of a man that held that title you carry around longer than anyone else who matters, a man whose body was already starting to break down on him after each and every defense he had. You can't seem to shut up about it but the truth is you got a win. That's all it was; a win. You didn't overcome some insurmountable odds. You won a match against an aging man that had already proved more in the last year than you've done in your entire life.

Locke let out a little smile towards Leah. He folded his arms wanting to hear more.

AGUERO: You're right. Reo was my mentor. After I thought I lost myself, he took me in and taught me not to hide from my true self. He taught me to unlock the true War Queen. He taught me to get downright savage. Now that's exactly what's going to happen next week when you and I go toe to toe. Things are going to get downright ugly. This boot. This boot right here. I can't wait to put it straight to that dome of yours and leave you lying cross eyed on the mat. I'm going to hurt you, Locke. I'm going to leave you lying in a pool of your own blood and then… when I see fit… I'll grant you mercy and take the OATH World Title off your waist. You see unlike your little Hell Realm, ONI wasn't just a faction. ONI is what you carry in your heart. It's a way of life and it's that way of life that's going to leave you regretting every decision you've ever made.

Leah took a step closer towards Locke. Fists clenched, Leah looked like she was ready to take a swing. Before she could take that swing though, The lights in the arena went black and stayed out for a good ten seconds until "Faith" by Ghost began playing.

MEARS: We have been wondering when this man would come in to play and we do not have to wonder any longer! The Keeper Of The Skeleton Key is here!

The gold lights started flashing to the beat of the song as smoke began rising up from the ramp. As the first verse began, Matt Shields stepped out and looked at the crowd. He stood at the top of the ramp, staring down at the champion and the challenger. He then slowly unzipped the mouth section of his protective mask and there was a hint of a smirk beneath it as he raised up The Skeleton Key. He waved it around a bit, then brought a mic up to his lips.

SHIELDS: The title match at Last Resort… it’s a triple threat now. I will defeat both of you in one night. I will make everything right, and I will RESCUE BLANCHE!

He tossed the mic down and stared down the ramp inside the ring, but his gaze was not at Locke Helms or Leah Aguero. He stared directly at the title, muttering something to himself that we couldn’t hear as he continued to hold The Skeleton Key high in the air.

As Shields looked at the title, Locke’s face took on that dark look that he had in the days leading up to his title match against Reo. He hoisted the OATH World Title up into the air as Asatroth handed him another mic before looking over at Leah and then at Shields.

LOCKE: I don’t know who Blanche is nor do I care. I welcome you to come at me with your best attempt of your… violence. But at Last Resort, the Landlord of Silent Hill is in the house and the rent is fucking DUE!

• MAIN EVENT •

OATH TABULA RASA CHAMPIONSHIP

EL D’S HOUSE OF FUN MATCH

Ryan Terror vs. El Diablo Blanco ©

The challenger was out first to the tune of “Unstained” by Slipknot. Terror came to the ring, the picture of focus. Sporting a Hell Realm t-shirt, Terror entered the ring and looked around at the added elements. Trampolines on either side of the ring and a half dozen climbing ropes hanging above him. The titan from Toledo looked disgusted and that seemed to make the fans very happy.

MEARS: Ryan Terror has been with OATH since the beginning. He was on the first episode of Conviction. Now as we are on the precipice of our fiftieth episode he could win his first singles championship. But standing in his way is the hugely popular champion, El Diablo Blanco.

OATH Tabula Rasa Champion El Diablo Blanco made his way to the ring next to a chorus of thunderous applause and Ryan Terror looked like he was about to throw up. El D didn’t notice, he was too busy engaging every single fan that lined the ramp. It took a while and Terror was clearly getting impatient.

MEARS: Clearly I will be calling this main event on my own as Ben Petrie has been called away with a family emergency but I am here to call the action and I will give it my all for you great fans here in Toronto and all around the world.

The champion entered the ring and handed off the title. El D had look around at his vision realized. He was overjoyed! El D finally turned his attention to Ryan Terror and gestured to the set up. “Isn’t this great?” he asked Terror as the referee called for the bell. Terror made the DeNiro face and nodded, approaching El D in the middle of the ring. “It’s something. It really is.” Terror told the champion before smashing him in the face with a cheap shot.

MEARS: He knows all of the tricks does Ryan Terror. He has made a conscious decision to not have any of his Hell Realm cohorts out here tonight. He wants to do this on his own.

El D was rocked. He stumbled sideways and caught himself on the top rope. Terror threw himself at the champion and hammered on him with a variety of shots. Terror pulled El D to the middle of the ring and set him up for a DDT but El D swung out of it and applied a sleeper hold! Terror fought it the whole way and El D couldn’t get it locked in right away.

MEARS: This is an odd strategy for El Diablo Blanco. He is not a technical master by any stretch but perhaps a basic hold like a sleeper will be easy enough for him to apply. Lest we forget that he did win the Tabula Rasa Championship with a submission -- a cross legged tombstone stretch.

The champion’s sleeper was sloppily applied so Terror was able to slip out of it. He dropped to his back and picked El D’s leg, then leaped into the air and came down with a double stomp onto the champion’s midsection. It was at this time that “The Eternal” Jonathan Cage made his way through the crowd and took a seat beside Matt Mears at the commentary table.

MEARS: Uh, to what do we owe the pleasure of your presence Johnathan?

CAGE: You are all alone out here Matt. I figured that you could use some company.

MEARS: You aren’t here to scout whomever wins this contest?

CAGE: Let’s just call the match Matt, let’s not get distracted alright?

The Tabula Rasa Champion was back up to his feet but Terror rushed him. El D was quicker to the punch -- literally. He SOCKED Terror right in the mouth and then ran him down with a running back elbow. The fans popped big for that and then popped louder when El D climbed to the top rope. He may have been Feelin’ Froggy but Terror rushed him again and shoved him off the top rope to the outside! El D landed on the trampoline and just bounced up and down. Terror turned to see El D waving at him while he bounced.

CAGE: This is what we get for a champion. A fucking man child in Zubaz pants and a two dollar mask. How can you get behind this idiot Mears?

MEARS: I think that El D is exactly what OATH needs. There are a great deal of competitors in this company who use whatever advantage that they can. El D does not do that. He has honor.

CAGE: You are part of the problem Mears.

El D got some momentum with a few bounces and threw his body into the ring where he caught Terror with another back elbow. The champion quickly covered the challenger. 1..2! Terror still had a great deal of fight left. El D let Terror stand and when he did El D was there to pick him up and attempted to plant him with a spinebuster but Terror kicked his legs out, pushed off the ropes, and planted El D with a tornado ddt! Terror covered now! 1..2! El D was able to kick out.

MEARS: We have yet to see these climbing ropes come into play but El D used that trampoline to prevent any injury.

CAGE: Of course Blanco wanted a safety net. Those years as a backyarder have fucked him up and now he is scared to get into a real fight.

MEARS: Are we talking about the same person? El D competed in a 200 Light Tube Deathmatch less than a month ago.

CAGE: I doubt that he wanted that match.

MEARS: It was his idea!

The Leader Of The Hell Realm hammered the champion on the back of the neck with some forearms to punish him some before he got him up to his feet. Terror smashed El D in the face a few more times and then sent him across the ring with an Irish whip. El D bounced off of the ropes and came back where Terror hit him with a back drop over the top rope! Terror may have forgotten about the trampoline at ringside as El D did a full front flip and landed safely on the trampoline. El D took hold of one of the climbing ropes, climbed up a little, pushed off the ring ropes and swung out toward the audience!

MEARS: Look at the champion!

CAGE: This is fucking ridiculous and you know it Mears!

MEARS: Incoming!

Terror turned around to see El D swinging toward him at a high rate of speed! Terror didn’t know what to do and that let El D come crashing down on him with a crossbody! Terror was crunched into the mat and after taking a second to recover, El D floated into another pinfall attempt. 1..2..! Ryan Terror just barely kicked out and the crowd was firmly behind El D!

MEARS: The champion has all of the momentum right now.

CAGE: I trained Ryan Terror. He is not out of this match. Not yet.

Seeing as how that rope swing crossbody was pretty effective, El D decided to try it again. He moved through the ropes and started climbing again. After getting sufficient momentum, El D swung back into the ring toward the standing challenger and went for another crossbody but Terror unleashed an Out Of The Shadows superkick that caught El D right in the chin and took him out of the air. El D landed with a THUD and Terror scrambled to make a cover. 1..2..!

With that last kick out the audience in The Citadel started cheering. Terror acted as if he was hearing 10,000 nails on as many chalkboards. He started pounding the mat in frustration and he took it out on El D. Terror started relentlessly pounding on El D. He peeled the champion off of the mat and sat him on the top rope. Terror had El D sitting sideways and then went out onto the apron. He climbed up the turnbuckle and quickly brought El D off of the top rope with a superplex onto the trampoline! El D bounced about ten feet in the air off the side of the trampoline and landed with a loud smack on the floor!

Terror had the Tabula Rasa Championship in his sights and then he saw Jonathan Cage sitting at the announce table. Terror smirked and gathered El D off of the floor and slid him into the ring. Terror wasted no time climbing up the ring steps but once he was on the apron he noticed that someone was coming down the ramp toward the ring.

MEARS: It looks like we have yet another special guest! The OATH Livewire Champion Kasey Kash is here!

CAGE: Not for long.

Cage took off his headset and quickly rounded the ring. He had to walk across the trampoline and didn’t look happy about it. Cage dropped off of it right in front of Kasey Kash, who had the Livewire Title over his shoulder. Cage told him to fuck off and Terror echoed the sentiment from the ring. Terror went to engage El D but got planted with a spinebuster! El D quickly set Terror up and hit him with The Backyard Elbow! El D covered. 1..2..! Terror just barely got his shoulder up.

MEARS: I do not think that Kasey is out here to screw Terror out of the title. You have to believe that Kasey would love to take another championship from El D.

Outside the ring Cage was right in Kash’s face but Kash held his hands up, saying that he was just here to scout the match. Cage told him to fuck off again and Kash acted like he was going to listen. Kash took a step back but then levelled Cage with the Livewire Championship! Cage was floored and we turned our attention back to the ring...or rather one of the trampolines. El D was bouncing with everything he had and once he gained enough height, El D launched himself into the ring with Feelin’ Froggy from fifteen feet high! El D came crashing down on Terror and covered him. 1..2..3!

CRYBABY: Here is your winner and STILL OATH Pro Wrestling Tabula Rasa Champion, El Diablo Blanco!

“The Fox {What Does The Fox Say?)” cued up and El Diablo Blanco was handed the Tabula Rasa Championship. The Citadel rejoiced and cheered El D’s name. He was so preoccupied with acknowledging his fans that he didn’t see Kasey Kash slip into the ring with the Livewire Championship -- the title that he defeated El D for back in January! Kash smashed El D in the back of the head and the champion collapsed on the mat.

MEARS: Kasey Kash just had to come out here and play spoiler. For defending the Livewire Championship a record five times he has earned himself a Tabula Rasa Championship match. It looks like he wants to cash that in.

The Resident Asshole reached down and grabbed the Tabula Rasa Championship. With a title in each hand, Kash raised them high and made it clear that he was coming for El D and had designs on becoming the first double champion in OATH history as Conviction 49 came to an end.

---

Results: • Johnny Draco def. Brendon Phoenix • Social Elite def. Midnight Special

• Nicky Crawford & Sweet Treats def. The Organization

• El Diablo Blanco def. Ryan Terror; Still Tabula Rasa Champion