CONVICTION XVII RESULTS

Episode XVII May 24th, 2020 Toronto, Ontario

Following the Conviction signature, we arrived at a backstage office with an unfamiliar figure sitting with his hands clasped together on the desk in front of him. The nameplate on the desk read “OATH PRESIDENT OSCAR R. BARLOW”. BARLOW: Ladies and gentlemen welcome to OATH Pro Wrestling’s Conviction. You may not know who I am but my name is Oscar R. Barlow and I am the president of OATH Pro Wrestling. My family started this company in July of last year and up until now I have chosen to direct OATH from behind the scenes. Barlow cleared his throat. BARLOW: OATH has returned from hiatus and my family felt it necessary to put a face to the “powers that be”. I am that delightful face! It is my intention to make myself accessible to my roster and to offer a sense of leadership to our little wrestling cruise ship. All aboard! Hahaha. I kid. The President waited, perhaps feeling that he should pause for laughter after his “joke”. BARLOW: I will be at every show keeping a close eye on everything. Nothing is gonna get past me! To the roster – feel free to come kick it with me whenever you like! But don’t actually kick me. Haha. Another jest. He paused for laughter again. Probably didn’t need to. BARLOW: And to the fans, enjoy Episode Seventeen of OATH Conviction! It’s gonna be a fun one! Barlow presented an awkward smile and a thumbs up.

Singles Match Ben Macbeth vs. Reo Ojima

The first match of the night saw EMBLEM member “The Tomorrow Man” Ben Macbeth take on veteran brawler “The Stone Gargoyle” Reo Ojima. These two went head to head in the Trial By Fire Match at Where Eagles Dare and Macbeth was eliminated by Ojima following a brutal powerslam across the guard rail that nearly broke Macbeth’s back. PETRIE: Is this one a grudge match? MEARS: These two have had words for each other over the past week so I suppose it is a grudge match of sorts. PETRIE: Awesome. I hope they kick the shit out of each other. It came as no surprise that these two did not wait for the bell to ring to bring the violence. Macbeth rushed Ojima and hit him with a flurry of strikes. Ojima countered with a judo hip throw and followed that up with a knee to Macbeth’s face, which busted open the latter’s lip. Ojima then began toying with Macbeth and tried for a deadlift German Suplex but Macbeth was not having it. Macbeth backflipped, landed on his feet, and then took Ojima down with String Theory (Rolling German Suplex). Ojima took refuge on the outside of the ring but Macbeth shot to the outside like a bullet with a suicide dive. Both competitors were down, the back of Ojima’s head having struck the barricade so hard that it busted him open. MEARS: I could hear that from all the way over here Bad Mood! PETRIE: Yeah that was real gross. Loved it. Macbeth tried to capitalize but Ojima reversed a tornado DDT attempt into the Last Call (Running Powerslam) but instead of Macbeth landing on the barricade, Ojima tossed him into the audience area and Macbeth landed with a thud onto the concrete. Ojima was suffering the effects of the gash on the back of his head and he stumbled toward the ring just as the referee reached a sixteen count. Macbeth on the other hand was rocked by the powerslam and was unable to re-enter the ring before the referee reached a count of twenty. Winner: Reo Ojima (via count out) Unsatisfied with the count out victory, Ojima exited the ring and went after Macbeth. Just as Macbeth pulled himself up using the barricade, Ojima came flying over it and took Macbeth down with a shoulder tackle. Both men were bleeding as they brawled on the floor until Macbeth got back up to his feet. Macbeth put some distance between himself and Ojima in an attempt to recover but Ojima gave chase and they collided once again! The two exchanged strikes all the way through the side stage curtain and disappeared into the backstage area.

The sun was setting on the arena as we saw EMBLEM representatives Midnight Special walking toward the back door dressed in their street clothes with their gear bags in tow. New OATH Correspondent Vince Valerie caught up with them. VALERIE: Josh Cherry, Harvey Carbine — tonight you take on the brutal duo of Clan Black, Jack O’Brien and Derrick Warburton. How are you feeling going into this match? CHERRY: We’re fucking pissed. That’s how we’re feeling. Those two pigeons attacked me at Where Eagles Dare and cost me my shot at entering the Trial By Fire last. So tonight I’m gonna shove O’Brien’s head up Warburton’s ass. Carbine put a hand on Cherry’s shoulder. CARBINE: Easy boy. We got work to put in tonight and you can’t be lettin’ yerself get all emotional. Let’s just go in there and do our work. Carbine gestured for them to carry on into the arena but Valerie slipped into their path. VALERIE: One more thing gentlemen! The OATH Tag Team Titles have been vacated. Do you have any comments about potentially getting an opportunity to finally claim them? Cherry went to speak, still fired up but Carbine stopped him. CARBINE: Listen Vince, Midnight Special was in the first ever OATH Tag Team Title match and we came up short. That’s been eatin’ a hole in us for some time so if you don’t think that we’re gonna be inquirin’ about the state of those straps with Barlow…well…then you don’t know these boys. CHERRY: That’s right. The World Title may be out of my grasp for now but after we leave Clan Black dick up in the dirt tonight, best believe we’re coming for the gold. We want the gold. Sucka. CARBINE: Quote it. The tandem walked out of frame and Valerie just stared off into the distance like a goon.

Tag Team Match Clan Black vs. Midnight Special

The bell rang and Josh Cherry was eager to start the match but his partner Harvey Carbine convinced him otherwise. Carbine and Jack O’Brien met in the center of the ring and in an instant they were throwing hands back and forth. Carbine got the upperhand after reversing an Irish whip and then followed that up with an impressive overhead belly to belly suplex.

MEARS: Harvey Carbine’s technical prowess on display, using O’Brien’s momentum against him.

PETRIE: I mean it wasn’t overly technical.

O’Brien was able to make the tag to his partner Derrick Warburton. Warburton charged at Carbine but Carbine ducked under a lariat attempt, hit the ropes and came back with a axe bomber type clothesline. Warburton stayed on his feet and responded with an Earth shaking uranage.

PETRIE: Oh damn! Rocked!

The veteran Carbine was seeing stars after that last move as his partner Cherry paced on the apron, desperately wanting to get into this contest. Warburton mocked Cherry and then tossed Carbine into the Clan Black corner. Warburton laid into Carbine with some giant body shots before tagging in O’Brien.

Once in the ring O’Brien got Carbine up in an electric chair position. Warburton climbed to the top rope and it appeared as if the duo was going for a doomsday device but as Warburton came off the top rope Carbine tossed his body backward and drove O’Brien skull first into the mat with a poison rana.

MEARS: Carbine needs to make the tag here after that impressive counter.

PETRIE: I doubt that Cherry is going to fare much better. They beat the piss out of him at Where Eagles Dare.

MEARS: The circumstances are much different here tonight.

Both members of Clan Black were on the mat and Carbine made for his corner. Just before he could reach Cherry to make the tag, Warburton blasted him with a clothesline to the back of the head. Cherry, furious that Warburton was allowed in the ring despite not being the legal man, tried to enter the ring himself but was thwarted by the referee.

As the referee dealt with Cherry, Warburton dragged Carbine back to the Clan Black corner and with O’Brien he planted Carbine with a double clothesline that shook the ring. O’Brien covered and the referee turned to make the count.

1..

2..

..!

Cherry entered the ring with a springboard and came crashing down on the back of O’Brien’s head with a diving elbow drop. Warburton immediately sent Cherry sailing over the top rope to the floor with a thud before being forced to get back on the apron.

PETRIE: See? That little punk is no match for these monsters.

MEARS: We could be nearing the end now. Perhaps Midnight Special bit off more than they could chew here in Toronto.

O’Brien brought Carbine over to the Clan Black corner and tagged Warburton back in. The duo tried for another double team where O’Brien popped Carbine up into a Samoan drop by Warburton but Carbine caught Warburton with a tornado ddt! O’Brien charged at Carbine but Carbine sent him through the ropes, shoulder first, into the ring post.

Cherry was back up on the apron at this point and Carbine crawled toward him. Warburton was up and he was nearly able to grab Carbine’s leg but Carbine made the tag! Cherry entered the match with a springboard and nailed Warburton with a missile dropkick that sent him through the ropes to the outside.

MEARS: Warburton is down! Warburton is out of the equation!

O’Brien was favouring his shoulder and didn’t seem to be aware that Carbine made the tag. Both members of Midnight Special measured O’Brien and then struck him down with Minutes to Midnight (Slingblade [Cherry] / Backside Spear [Carbine]). Carbine then targeted Warburton on the outside with a baseball slide as Cherry covered O’Brien.

1..

2..

..3!

Winners: Midnight Special (Harvey Carbine and Josh Cherry)

The bell rang and Cherry got in O’Brien’s face, screaming a slew of obscenities. Carbine let him go for a few minutes before collecting him to have their hands raised in victory.

The scene was quiet backstage with production team members and road crew milling about. One producer was getting himself a tasty little coffee from a nearby table when he is practically run over by two men flying into the scene, brawling!

MEARS: Ben Macbeth and Reo Ojima are still fighting!

Macbeth caught Ojima with a spinning kick to the mid-section and then went to smash his head into the coffee station but Ojima blocked it, picked up the coffee urn and hurled it at Macbeth! Luckily, The Tomorrow Man ducked and the urn smashed against the wall, sending hot coffee every which way. Now one gets any!

Ojima charged Macbeth with a shoulder tackle and drove him hard into the concrete wall. Ojima kept Macbeth pinned against the wall, hitting his kidneys with rights and lefts. From the left of the screen, the recently victorious tandem of Midnight Special walked into frame. Josh Cherry went to help his EMBLEM associate but Harvey Carbine stopped him.

MACBETH: I’m fine!

Macbeth hit Ojima with a double sledge to the back, breaking Ojima’s hold. Ojima pulled back and went to punch Macbeth but Macbeth moved and Ojima punched the wall. Ojima then staggered away, holding his hand in agony. Macbeth gave chase and they both left the scene.

Singles Match Finn Whelan vs. Zeke Davis

This next one was interesting. Both of these competitors were in the Trial By Fire match last week but Whelan was able to make it to the final four and Davis…not so much. The two made their entrances and Davis wasted no time trying to get under Whelan’s skin. Davis mocked Whelan by asking “Where’s the belt?” while ignoring the fact that he didn’t possess it either. MEARS: You don’t have the title either kid. PETRIE: Yeah but Whelan came so close and blew it. MEARS: He got farther than Davis! PETRIE: That’s why it’s funny. Keep up Mears. The two locked up and Davis immediately slipped out and slapped Whelan in the back of the head. Whelan went to grab Davis but the latter slipped his torso through the ropes and yelled at the referee to back Whelan off. When the referee obliged, turning his back to Davis, Davis reached over the referee’s shoulder and poked him in the eye. Davis shoved the referee aside and took Whelan over with a school boy in an attempt at a quick victory. When Whelan kicked out before the referee could even make a one count, Davis slipped out of the ring. The referee started counting Davis out but Davis just paced around ringside. At a count of eighteen, Davis hopped up onto the apron and flashed a shit eating grin. MEARS: Oh this kid is infuriating. PETRIE: Yeah it’s pretty great right? “The Freak” took his time entering the ring and Whelan elected to give him all the space that he needed. When Whelan went after him again, Davis tried to slip through the ropes one more time but Whelan yanked him back into the ring and drove a knee into his midsection. With Davis winded, Whelan hoisted him up and took him over with a quick suplex. Whelan floated over into a cover that saw him grind his forearm into Davis’ face. 1.. 2.! PETRIE: Unsportsmanlike! Upon kicking out, Davis complained to the referee about Whelan’s treatment of his face. Davis’ protests fell on deaf ears and Whelan hit Davis with a basement dropkick to the face. Whelan then sent Davis into the ropes but Davis reversed it. When Whelan came back, Davis applied an abdominal stretch but Whelan quickly reversed it into a hip toss. Not wanting to give Davis any room to fuck around, Whelan pounced on him and applied The Underdog (Kimura Lock). Davis knew that he was in trouble and he scrambled to get his feet on the bottom ropes. He succeeded and then pulled his whole body toward the ropes, clutching them for dear life. MEARS: What are this kid’s credentials? He has yet to show me that he is even a trained professional wrestler! PETRIE: Uh look at his tactics. He knows what he’s doing. Whelan approached Davis and tried to stand him up and that was just the opportunity that Davis needed to catch Whelan with a low blow that went undetected by the referee. Somehow. Davis planted Whelan with a DDT and covered. He reached out his legs to put them on the ropes for leverage but could not reach. 1.. 2.! “The Virulence” kicked out and both men were back to their feet. Davis kicked Whelan in the mid-section and went for Jokes On You (Canadian Destroyer) but Whelan countered with a back drop over the top rope. Whelan pulled Davis through the ropes and went for a draping DDT but Davis countered it into a matchbook pin cover that saw him get his feet on the ropes for leverage! The referee didn’t see it and counted. MEARS: Pay attention referee! His feet are on the ropes! PETRIE: Doesn’t look that way to me! 1.. 2.. ..3! Winner: Zeke Davis Whelan kicked out right after the three count but it was too little too late. Davis was only able to enjoy having his hand raised for one moment before Whelan went after him. Davis fell through the ropes in an attempt to escape and landed on his feet. Davis celebrated on the ramp as Whelan told the ref that his feet were on the ropes. The referee indicated that he didn’t see that. Whelan then turned to watch Davis walk up the ramp with a look of complete disbelief on both of their faces.

The sound of thunder rumbled on a backdrop of a remote field. Rain made an audible sound as it fell to the Earth below. Laughter is heard as footsteps came toward the camera location. A familiar voice boomed from behind the camera. ???: Oh Ben, did you honestly think that we forgot about you, did you? The man said as he stepped in front of the camera. He wore a top hat and had a moustache. This was the man now known as Ryan Terror. TERROR: It seems that the time away has not stifled the stench of unworthiness coming from you and EMBLEM. So this…is going to end one way or another. Terror said as the shapely form of Adrestia Nyx came into focus. TERROR: The absence has brought a change to our family. Miguel is off doing his own thing so with that it’s time for a cleansing. Terror stated and smirked as the final member of the group, the mammoth beast known as Monstruo hulked into view. TERROR: So EMBLEM, the entity you once knew as the Enigma Protocol is now dead and gone. What you’re seeing in front of you is a more streamline team. Gone are the days of using pure brawn to handle problems. We handle things with our minds and if we have to get violent, we have the big guy watching our backs. So boys, welcome to a new awakening of psychological violence. Welcome to the Hell Realm. Terror said as he laughed manically. Lightning struck and lit up the sky behind the three as they turned and walked away.

Singles Match Leah Aguero w/ Stephanie Matsuda vs. Nixie Caine

The next match saw former OATH Tag Team Champion Leah Aguero come to the ring with her tag team partner Stephanie Matsuda. The Inevitable looked closer than ever as Nixie Caine came out to the ring. Caine demanded that Matsuda be removed from ringside but the referee didn’t seem to give a fuck.

MEARS: It is nice to see The Inevitable back together here in OATH.

PETRIE: I wonder if they are still as nasty as they were toward the end of their initial OATH run. Right off the bell Caine charged and took Aguero down with a Lou Thesz press. Caine got a couple of good shots in before Aguero bucked her off and sent her through the ropes out onto the apron. Aguero looked to grab Caine but Caine caught her with a high kick.

Caine got into the ring but was met with a particularly nast big boot from Aguero. Following a snap German suplex, Aguero climbed to the top rope. It seemed as if Aguero was about to hit a moonsault but Caine darted forward and shoved Aguero off the top rope to the floor.

Caine slipped out of the ring and couldn’t resist hitting Matsuda with a cheap shot. Matsuda dropped and Caine just stood and laughed at her. Not the best move because Aguero proceeded to sandwich Caine’s head between the ring post and her super kick.

PETRIE: Yep. Just as nasty.

Aguero slid Caine back into the ring and while Caine was gathering her faculties, on all fours, Aguero charged and sent Caine’s consciousness back in time with The Endgame (Running Punt). Aguero covered as Matsuda looked on with a grin.

1..

2..

..3!

Winner: Leah Aguero

The camera cut in on a small bar… No more than a small numbers in the audience. Up on stage, was FM Young, holding a purple and black six-string guitar, and leaned into a microphone. Her long black was wild over her shoulders and in her face. As she sang, her voice was a deep and melodic bluesy rasp, with that mixed Mediterranean accent of hers rolling the R’s just a bit too hard and deepening the consonants.

YOUNG: And there’s a cage that lies in your head. Makes its way across your bed and now your mouth can’t say. All the things that made your stomach turn today. Hold your horses…I’m too old… to read face expressions that mean nothing. Dip your sadness in this bowl. Till you feel minor changes in your body.

The guitar switched the minor notes, its jangly tune playing out, as the big woman hummed into the ending chorus. Then she stopped and stood up straight, throwing her hair back and laughing with the clapping wooing of the crowd. She gave a wave and the shot scene changed as she walked off the stage.

The big woman, her olive skin shown sweaty in the low light of the backstage plucked her guitar strings again, the instrument rumbled its way in grainy tones through the cords of the song again, starting in B Minor, rising up, then grating low. FM Young’s deep throaty voice hummed along the chorus lines one more time before the One Woman Army turned her dark honey coloured eyes to the camera.

YOUNG: I love this song, and really. I do mean that damn lyric about being too goddamn old. I’m too old, probably to this again, definitely too old to want some of these welps chewing at my ankles. I also really don’t want to deal with anyone else’s bullshit. Like I don’t need some jumped up daddy wannabe telling me about trajectory. Some pair of spooky ooky crazy kooks trying to tell me exactly what they’re gonna break. Been there. Done that. Had lots broken. I’m still here. More accurately, I’m back. I use to be the woman who put a company on her shoulders and trust me…There were times when I bitched incredibly hard about that.

Someone in a leather jacket with spikey hair and a grin came into frame, handed FM a beer and walked out. FM slowly took a sip of the beer, giving a soft sigh, looking contemplative.

YOUNG: I flamed out, trying to do everything for everyone, being everyone’s hero and villain. I was an egotistical vicious arrogant ass who was absolutely terrified of failing because I didn’t think I could claw my way back after I did. At the end, shit collapsed, it didn’t matter and I hit the ground. I hit the ground hard, and stuck in those ashes was a woman who absolutely wanted nothing to do with this shit anymore. Then, things did as they do time went on. In those ashes, was a ticking, a stirring, a coiled mechanical urge. That every real fighter knows.

Another slow sip and FM flexed her arm muscles slowly, teeth grit for a moment behind red lips.

YOUNG: I was working out, and rehabbing and slowly, surely. I needed to get back into a ring. I needed to fight again, like an inch under my skin. I HAD to do this again. So, here I am, at the very bottom of Oath Pro, because that’s what life does right? There’s ALWAYS another mountain to climb, always another achievement to make. I’m not really after achievements anymore. I tried, saw where it got me. I’m after moments. I need to fight. I WANT good matches. So, much like a proverbial phoenix. Here I am to do it all over again, it doesn’t really who I am, or where I’ve been Oath Pro. I’ve taken the pledge. Now I want a fight. I’ll put this company on my back too, if only because I want good matches. I’ve never been afraid of work, the new woman may lack the ego and temper…But she’s steel. Cold, hardened, steel. A refined edge that needs only to be of use.

FM finished the beer, stood up, heft her guitar up to her shoulder and grinned, a decidedly bright and cheery grin at the camera.

YOUNG: Oh, and Titaness, Holland. I wouldn’t say I know that you are, but I hope you’ve taken notice. I hope you’re both watching this…Don’t worry. I may not be as ferocious as I once was, but I’m every bit as fierce, and every bit as keen. My arm’s good as new, and I’m not exhausted, burnt out, and terrified of becoming irrelevant. I’ve learned I make my own name, for better or worse. I’m not asking to jump any lines, I’m sure we’ll all be this song and dance again soon. Looking forward to it, with both of you.

FM saluted the camera with the bottle, before binning it as she walked back out onto the stage. Just before the camera shut off, the scratch rhythms of the growly electric guitar wind back, the bar crowd cheering.

Singles Match Josie Wales vs. Samantha Hamilton

A rivalry renewed was the story of this one as “The Outlaw” took on “The Titaness”. Following the bell the two competitors came face to face and talked some shit. Should be expected as these two have circled each other their entire OATH careers. Wales struck first with a right hand and went for another which Hamilton blocked and turned into an Irish whip. On Wales’ return Hamilton dropped to her stomach but Wales jumped and came down on Hamilton’s back with a double foot stomp. MEARS: That will crack a rib! PETRIE: We can only hope! “The Outlaw” kept Hamilton grounded with some stiff stomps to the back. Wales then went for a running senton but Hamilton rolled out of the way. Wales tried to keep the momentum on her side with a bicycle kick but Hamilton blocked it and tried to pull Wales into Exiled To Tartarus (Sleeper Hold) in an attempt to slow Wales down. Wales slipped out of the sleeper hold before Hamilton could get it properly applied. Wales drove a series of quick forearm shots into Hamilton’s lower back and then went for a German suplex but Hamilton hooked her leg around Wales’ to keep herself planted. MEARS: It is not often that we see Hamilton this consistently on the defensive but Wales has really taken the fight to The Titaness. PETRIE: That’s because Josie Wales is sick of being in the background. She has been so consistent her entire OATH career and she deserves more! MEARS: She has the opportunity to earn more here tonight. Hamilton spun around Wales and went for a German suplex over her own but the pain in her back wouldn’t let it happen. Wales broke Hamilton’s hold, picked Hamilton’s leg to put her on her back on the mat and then Wales applied a gator roll. “The Titaness” is rolled all over the ring and disoriented enough for Wales to get her up and take her over with a hammerlock suplex. Hamilton is on another planet (based on the look in her eyes) as Wales dove into a cover. 1.. 2.. ..! MEARS: You can feel the desperation from Josie Wales tonight. She really wants to win this match. She really wants to prove that she can take down Hamilton. Hamilton kicked out but was in agony, favouring her lower back. Wales saw this and being the respectful and kind competitor that she is…she began literally kicking the shit out of Hamilton. Wales had Hamilton’s back targeted and as Hamilton tried to put some space between herself and “The Outlaw”, Wales took hold of Hamilton’s left leg and applied a single leg boston crab. “The Titaness” had nowhere to go as Wales wrenched back with all of her might. In a weird moment, the referee actually advised Hamilton to give up. Hamilton just screamed no but it was pretty clear that her back was right fucked up. MEARS: The referee is showing a lot of concern for Samantha Hamilton here. She could have a very serious injury, Bad Mood. PETRIE: Back injuries are no joke and they can come out of nowhere. She should probably just retire right now. Best for everyone. Hamilton reached for the ropes but Wales had the move expertly applied. “The Titaness” used her impressive strength to start crawling toward the ropes and Wales knew that she wouldn’t have the hold locked in for much longer. Wales opted to break her own hold, just so she could stomp the shit out of Hamilton’s back some more! Wales then called out for the end and looked to apply Spirit of St. Louis (Havana Dreams) but as Wales reached down for Hamilton, Hamilton used her last bit of strength to pull Wales into the Fall Of Man (Hell’s Gate)! MEARS: Out of nowhere! Can Hamilton use this deadly new hold to put Wales away. PETRIE: If she doesn’t do it here then she isn’t likely to win this match. “The Outlaw” was trapped, with Hamilton’s body between her and the ropes. Wales had nowhere to go and Hamilton was screaming, probably because this hold was killing her too! Wales knew that if she could get out of this hold then she had a good chance of winning but there was no way to do that. Wales was forced to submit. Winner: Samantha Hamilton The referee checked on Hamilton and raised her hand but “The Titaness” is down and her back is really messed up. Perhaps this is something that will affect her for the next few weeks! Only time will tell!

Outside the arena the streets were bustling with people and nightlife. We focussed on a hot dog stand where a young couple were dressing their individual street meat. They appeared to be having a lovely time, playfully adding toppings to each other’s wieners. PETRIE: Okay now I’m hungry. Playtime stopped when once again Ben Macbeth and Reo Ojima burst onto the scene brawling. Ojima shot Macbeth into the hot dog stand where Macbeth’s momentum took down the young couple. Macbeth attempted to apologize but Ojima was on him! Ojima hit Macbeth with a shot to the mid-section and then introduced Macbeth’s face to a steel newspaper box! It was quite the scene because both men were still bleeding from their match at the top of the show but they did not seem to care! MEARS: What is wrong with these two? Have they been fighting the entire show? “The Stone Gargoyle” measured Macbeth and charged at him but Macbeth sidestepped Ojima’s attack and sent him face first into a sign pole! Macbeth went to advance on Ojima when two police cars rolled up, cherries and sirens going. PETRIE: The fuzz! Cheese it boys! Four police officers got out of their respective vehicles and instructed Macbeth to put his hands in the air. They did the same with Ojima. Both competitors were cuffed and put into respective cop cars, talking trash until the back doors closed. The young couple tossed their hot dogs at the cop cars, their night ruined.

The OATH President Oscar R. Barlow graced us with his presence once again, from the confines of his backstage office. Sitting on his desk were the OATH Tag Team Championship titles. Barlow looked very excited, in a pure and childlike way. BARLOW: What a show we have seen so far! Golly guys I sure love wrestling! Barlow flashed a big dumb grin. BARLOW: So I’ve heard what people have said and I agree that we have a flourishing tag team division and we need to crown some champions. So next week we will see The Hell Realm, The Inevitable, and Midnight Special square off in a Triangle Ladder Match for the Tag Team Titles. He slapped both Tag Team titles, clearly getting more excited with every passing second. BARLOW: But wait…there’s more! We need to determine the next challenger for Erik Holland’s OATH World Championship. I was looking at the rankings and I decided that after the conclusion of Conviction tonight, the top ranked singles competitors will compete in a 4-Way Dance next week! The winner will face Erik Holland at Conviction XX on June 14th! The President looked very pleased with himself. BARLOW: That’s all for now guys! Enjoy the main event! Wrestling!

OATH INTREPID CHAMPIONSHIP Bloodsport Match James Edwards vs. Locke Helms ©

Alright so the rules of this one are pretty straight forward. You can only win by submission or knockout (referee stoppage). These two had been going at it for months before OATH’s hiatus and this match was originally scheduled to happen in January but…well…it didn’t. The two did get a piece of each other at Where Eagles Dare.

Outside the ring Edwards and Helms were nowhere to be found. The camera searched for them and found them up in the 100 level seats. The two were brawling back and forth above a tunnel entrance. Edwards went for a forearm smash but Helms blocked it and both men fell from atop the tunnel entrance and landed with a thud onto concrete. EMTs were immediately on the scene but the referee determined that neither man could continue. Where Eagles Dare – May 17th, 2020

MEARS: This is one of the most violent feuds that we have ever seen here in OATH and hopefully it ends here tonight. The competitors made their respective entrances and the referee took hold of the Intrepid Championship from champion Locke Helms. Edwards and Helms stared across the ring at one another and the hatred was palpable. The two met in the centre of the ring and Edwards went for a strike but Helms slipped behind him and immediately dropped Edwards with Witching Hour (Full Nelson Leg Sweep into a Bridging Arm Triangle Choke)! Unfortunately for Helms, Edwards was very close to the ropes and was able to get his feet on the bottom ropes. PETRIE: Ha! Helms nearly had him right off the bat. MEARS: The Witching Hour is the most feared submission move in this company. No one has ever been able to escape from it! Luckily Helms was near the ropes there or else it could have been lights out on his title aspirations. Despite the hold being broken, Edwards was rocked from the full nelson leg sweep and Helms stayed on top of him. After a series of knees to the back of Edwards’ head, Helms got the challenger up and smashed his head off the top turnbuckle several times. Edwards staggered out of the corner and walked right into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Helms kept Edwards draped over his knee and pushed down on his chin, doing serious damage to Edwards’ back. MEARS: Locke Helms is a force, Bad Mood. I do not always agree with his tactics but he has one of the best records in the company. PETRIE: He is a future World Champion, without question. Hell he’s practically a shoe in to the 4-Way Dance next week! With Edwards still draped over his knee, Helms started driving elbows into Edwards’ chest. Literally aiming for the heart. Satisfied with the damage inflicted, Helms shoved Edwards off and left him on the mat. Helms then paraded around the ring, pleased with his dominance thus far. Not wanting to waste too much time, Helms charged in and hit Edwards with a sliding elbow drop but Edwards slipped out of the way, rallied, and hit Helms with a running knee to the side of the head. Helms got back to his feet but was staggered. Edwards came at Helms and nailed him with Double Take (Jumping Switch Kick). MEARS: Edwards has come alive in this contest! PETRIE: Better late than never I guess. Helms was down and the referee checked on him to determine if he could continue. Edwards seemingly knew that it wasn’t enough to put the champion away so he moved the referee to the side and went to continue his assault but Helms grabbed Edwards’ waist band and sent him through the ropes to the outside. It seemed that Helms figured that he had some time to recover but that was not the case. Edwards grabbed Helms’ boot and pulled him out of the ring to the outside. Edwards went to shoot Helms into the ring steps but Helms reversed it and Edwards collided with the ring steps shoulder first. Helms then charged in and nailed Edwards with a knee to the side of the head, sending Edwards’ head into the ring steps. MEARS: That is some damage that Edwards could not afford to take. Helms is breaking Edwards down body part by body part! Helms got Edwards back into the ring and then quickly applied Death Proof (Presses both knees onto a facedown opponent’s arm before applying a fish hook). After running into the steps, Edwards’ arm was pretty messed up. Helms wrenched back on the fish hook but Edwards reversed it into a roll up for sorts. Helms rolled backwards out of it but Edwards popped up and nailed the Double Tap (A pair of spinning back fists). The referee checked on Helms again but Helms was not finished. Edwards kept the pressure on, getting Helms up and then put him right back down with Half Cut (Half-Nelson Suplex). Helms was shown on his back looking up at the lights, his eyes glazed over. The referee checked on him again but Helms got to his feet, barely. MEARS: Ending this contest is at the referee’s discretion. If Helms takes anymore big shots the referee may have no choice but to end this thing. Edwards approached Helms and grabbed him by the chin. Edwards could be seen saying “This ends now.” before going for Violent Genesis (Ripcord Spinning Back Fist). As Edwards went for the ripcord, Helms switched behind him and went for Witching Hour (Full Nelson Leg Sweep into a Bridging Arm Triangle Choke) again!

It seemed that Edwards had it scouted this time and was able to stop the bridging arm triangle choke, Edwards blocked it, switched out of it and as both men got back to their feet Edwards cracked Helms with Violent Revelation (Bicycle high knee to the chin of a standing opponent). Helms dropped to a knee and he was seeing stars.

MEARS: Good Lord!

Edwards measured the champion and with his last gasp, Helms told him to “bring it”. Edwards put some space between himself and Helms and then hit him with the Violent Gospel (Running PK Kick) to the head. Helms was wiped out and the referee called for the bell.

Winner: New OATH Intrepid Champion, James Edwards

“My Name Is Human” cued up and Edwards was handed the Intrepid Championship. After nearly six months of waiting, Edwards finally held the championship high as Conviction XVII went off the air.

Results: Reo Ojima def. Ben Macbeth (via count out) Midnight Special def. Clan Black Zeke Davis def. Finn Whelan Leah Aguero def. Nixie Caine Samantha Hamilton def. Josie Wales James Edwards def. Locke Helms; New OATH Intrepid Champion