CONVICTION XXVIII RESULTS

Episode XXVIII August 16th, 2020 The Citadel in Toronto, Ontario

The scene cut to the arena as a packed house was ready for tonight’s show. Just then, "The Real Man" by the Seat Belts began to play throughout the arena and was met with a mix of cheers and boos as the ONI symbol was displayed on the tron. Walking out with the OATH World Title on his shoulder, Reo Ojima stared out at the crowd with a cigar in his mouth and a cold six pack of Witches Brew from the Dead To Rights Brewing Company. Zeke Davis and Baz Jacobi stood on either side of him as the three men bumped fists with one another before making their way down to the ring. Shortcut, meanwhile, fell behind as he struggled to carry the Tag Team Titles.

Inside the ring, Reo unfolded a steel chair and placed it in the center of the ring as Zeke and Baz each picked a turnbuckle and lean up against it as they dark the beer that Reo brought down. Sitting in the chair, Reo sat back and takes a sip of the beer before addressing the OATH fans.

OJIMA: This is some good shit. If you ain’t drinking this Dead To Rights stuff you ain’t shit.

Reo took another sip before placing the can next to his feet so that he could take a puff from his cigar.

OJIMA: You know, it's hard being the face of a company at my age. You’d think the younger talent would be able to beat this old man but they lack the experience and the knowledge. You guys in the back can do your flippy crap or your hardcore shit, but if you don’t have the basics down you’ll never get anywhere in this industry. One of these days someone from the back will best me, but until then ONI will be the one carrying this company moving forward.

Reo paused as he took another drag from his cigar and let the smoke rise up above the ring.

OJIMA: Now when I won the title off of Holland, there were a lot of happy faces greeting me. Giving me a hand shake and offering me drinks. But one month later and I beat that piss baby Josie Wales and what do I get? A hero’s welcome for beating a shitty wrestler? No. I got a lot of dirty looks from the roster. What happened to the love? I didn’t change at all. Same old bastard that you all used to love. They think I’m some type of dirt bag. They think Zeke and Baz are pieces of shit. But we’re not. We’re the best goddamn thing going for OATH these days and we have the belts to prove it. So stop being jealous and do something about it if you have a problem with us. Or if you’re scared, go hide in the back and keep your mouths shut while we continue to dominate.

Reo took another break as he takes a sip from his beer.

OJIMA: Now Josie Wales! I hear you’re still bitching about that loss I gave you last week. That’s why you aren’t going to make it in this business, you waste of a roster spot. You lost and instead of giving me some type of congratulations and a handshake, you went and cried in a corner like the little girl that you are. So enjoy being a mediocre piece of crap and never enter the ring with me again. As for your friends that were cheering you on, how does it feel to cheer for such a loser? Come on FM Young and Minoru Tanahashi! You would have been cheering your girl and congratulating her if she had won the belt. But she lost and it’s dead silence on your end. You dumped her like trash and moved on. You two are fake pieces of crap and I can’t help but hope that Minoru gives Young some type of STD the next time they bump uglies.

Some of the crowd gave a boo for the last statement, but Reo doesn’t care as his attention went to the entrance ramp.

OJIMA: As for James Edwards, what’s more important, boy? Revenge? Or the OATH World Title? You going to spend all your energy and time on a nobody? Or are you going to use all that energy on me? Because you’re going to need to be at your best to beat me, we all saw what happened the last time we stepped in the ring. My hand was raised while your eyes were looking at the back of your skull. So choose wisely because what happens next will either make or break you in OATH.

Standing up, Reo told the belt to Shortcut who fell on his butt because of the weight of the belts that were in his hands. Zeke and Baz gave a chuckle as Reo handed Baz the microphone.

Baz took the microphone and tapped it on the side of his head for a moment, smirking while he twirled his lengthy beard. The audience showered the new champion with boos but he didn’t seem to mind. More than that, he seemed to revel in it.

JACOBI: You know The Champ is right. People don’t like us. I don’t really get it. Is it envy? Is it impotent rage? Is it lust? It’s really hard to fuckin’ figure out. The reasons aren’t clear. But what is clear is that me and Zekey Baby are the goddamn Tag Team Champions and we’re gonna rebuild this fuckin’ division.

Shortcut clambered to stand, holding all three championships. Baz paid him no mind, he had intentions to declare goddamnit.

JACOBI: There are a lot of silly bitches in this division and to be honest -- Zekey and I don’t care for them. Not one bit. So here’s what's gonna happen; we’re gonna come for yas. All of yas. You won’t know when, you won’t know how -- but we comin’. Scum & Villainy are the best team in this motherfucker and every other team here is gonna learn that truth the hard way. All you pigeons are gonna see some evil -- first hand.

While Rio and Baz both spoke, Zeke reclaimed his title belt from Shortcut and admired himself in the reflection, nodding along at the appropriate times in clear support of the other two men. When Baz paused, Zeke finally perked up and reached out to take the microphone from his tag partner's hand. Immediately the boos picked back up, reigning down upon ONI yet again.

DAVIS: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I would be pissed too if I had to sit out there and live a life knowing that I could never, and will never, measure up to the likes of ONI. It's not like Josie is the first one. We've been dealing with it long before the three of us recognized that our own ideals and desires lined up. Somewhere in the world the likes of Minoru Whogivesafuck is smiling think he's outwitted the whole wide world by repeating the same boring ass nonsense over and over again. He wants so badly to be better than the three of us but... well. We've got the gold. And what does he have? Nothing at all.

Shrugging, Zeke took a moment to breathe and further collect his thoughts before continuing on.

DAVIS: You can call us pigeons. You can call us pieces of shit. You can call us whatever you want. But one thing you're FORCED to call us, now, is champions. The top of the mountain in OATH. I told you all when I first came here that I was going to be a part of reshaping this company. Gone are the days of Declan Black and Finn Whelan, thank Christ. Erik Holland has been reduced to a blubbering mess that spends his day publicly filling his diaper. EVERY SINGLE WORD IVE SPOKEN FROM THE GET GO HAS BEEN THE GOD. DAMN. GOSPEL. Reo, Baz and myself? We've remade this company in an image worth staring at. Our own.

Arrogance dripped from every inch of him, culminating in the cockiest shit eating grin etching itself permanently into his expression.

DAVIS: Call us Scum. Call us Villains. There's not a damn person in this company who can stop us from getting what we want, when we want it, however we want to get it. Welcome to ONI Pro Wrestling. Your fathers demand your submission.

Davis handed the microphone over to Reo who finished the can of beer and tossed it out to the crowd as he finished up the segment.

OJIMA: As always, we are ONI and we are eternal.

Tossing the microphone to the ground, the three men bumped fists before making their way out of the ring and to the back.

HANDICAP MATCH Scribbles & El Caliente Loco vs. Matt Shields

The first match of the evening was kind of a grudge match, I guess. Last week Matt Shields faced El Caliente Loco after attacking him outside the arena a few weeks before that. Shields brutalized Loco in their match but then Scribbles came to the ring and tried to get some revenge of his own on Shields. That didn’t exactly go to plan but Shields wanted this match so here we are.

Loco charged Shields right off the hop but Shields dropped Loco with one straight right hand. Scribbles tried his luck but he too was dropped with a straight right hand. Shields snarled and picked Loco up, dropping him with a swinging neckbreaker. Shields then quickly did the same thing to Loco.

MEARS: Why Scribbles and Loco agreed to this contest is beyond me…

PETRIE: They want to make a name off of Shields.

MEARS: Shields has been making his name in OATH breaking men like them. He has defeated both of them, easily, in separate singles contests. Why should tonight be any different?

PETRIE: It won’t be.

Shields grabbed Loco’s wrist and then started dropping some stomps onto his chest. Shields then did the same to Scribbles. It looked like Shields was going to go for a tequila sunrise, pandering to the crowd, but then he decided to flip off the crowd, get Scribbles up and drop him with yet another swinging neckbreaker.

MEARS: I appreciate the heart of Scribbles and Loco but they really stand no chance. This loss will haunt them.

PETRIE: It won’t haunt Shields. I don’t think any ghoulie would dare haunt him.

Loco tried to come at Shields again but again he was dropped with a straight right hand. Shields then pointed at each man doing a little eeeny meeny minie... fuck you and he landed on Loco. Shields smirked and picked up Scribbles, dropping him quickly with Hellhound's Bite (Gory Neckbreaker).

MEARS: Just get on with it Matt. Enough of this.

Shields then turned to Loco and applied Whispers of Azathoth (Arm Trapped Facelock) for the quickie submission victory. Both of the enhancement talents were laid out, Shields destroyed both of them easily.

Winner: Matt Shields

Shields didn’t wait to get his hand raised or even for his music to kick in before he left the ring, went up the ramp and left. He seemingly had better things to do with his time than stand in the ring celebrating a win that was academic.

Earlier in the day, Stephanie Matsuda and her cousin Leah Aguero - aka The Inevitable were spending some quality time before their upcoming matches. There was a feeling of unspoken tension between the two as the lingering silence spoke volumes. Stephanie sighed as stretched and cracked her knuckles. She took a look at the gorgeous Canadian scenery and shook her head.

MATSUDA: I was so close, Leah. I owned that match and somewhere it all went downhill. Maybe I was too much of a threat.

AGUERO: It’s crazy to think where we stand here today. Do you know what we were doing a year ago? We were starting our tear through the tag team division here in OATH. We decimated the makeshift duo of Casey Holliday and Chastity Vice. We were one month away from being crowned the first-ever tag team champions. Today, we’ve been going our separate ways of sorts. You got your shot tonight at the Tabula Rasa Championship. Tonight, I’m in a number one contenders match for the Intrepid Title. It’s crazy the routes we take; the paths that lie before us.

MATSUDA: True. Not to mention that you and I have been killing it elsewhere too. Your sis Q is in my company JET making waves. It’s like our whole family tree is putting the world on notice. But it is crazy how a year can change people. I was so close to facing Reo Ojima...so freaking close! But I’ll use this clean slate to change my career for the better. I know damn well that you’re going to tear shit up, as will I, cuz.

AGUERO: For me, it ain’t even about the titles anymore. This isn’t anything against you, Cuz, but the truth of the matter is they don’t want to see us holding any straps around these parts. We held those tag team straps because we didn’t take shit from anyone. We saw what we wanted and we went out and took it. Somewhere along the way, we went soft; both of us. We expected things to just get handed to us because of what we’ve already done here in OATH. Boy did we get soft. No more, though. You’re getting your shot at the Tabula Rasa Title tonight because you started to tap back into that fire already. You proved yourself in the Event Horizon Series and now they are trying to appease you. Me? I didn’t prove shit. I pretended to be a hardass when I was nowhere in the vicinity of that. You? You found your footing. They don’t expect you to take that Tabula Rasa Title tonight but you’ve got that drive to stick it to the man. You tell them to go fuck themselves and take what you want.

Last week, I found a part of me that I long forgot about. It was something I was missing. That match last week with Holland woke that part of me back up. You do you, Cuz. You go after that strap tonight. As for me? I got myself a number one contenders match against FM Young. I get a chance to avenge that loss I have to her. The difference this time around is I don’t give a shit if I win this match. You think I care about going on to become the Intrepid Champion? I mean, if I do then cool and all but that ain’t in the mindset I got anymore. Last week in my war with Holland showed I want pain. I want blood. I want to dish it out but I also want to take it. FM Young very well beat me yet again tonight but it’s not going to be without me taking a little bit of a reward from her. I want to see her bruise. I want to see her bleed. I want to break that fucking nose of hers just to watch her eyes well up and tears drip down her face. Fuck being a champion. I just want to feel something again. Last week I said enough was enough. This week I’m continuing that trend. I win this match, move on and win the Intrepid Title then fuck it. I don’t care. As long as I spill a little blood along the way that’s all I care about anymore. We want something then we’re going to start taking it BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.

MATSUDA: By any means, cuz. I ended up as a double world champion because I got tired of people looking at me as less than a threat. No shade to Jenna Sharpe, but she’s going to be in for a rude awakening when she finds herself going head to head with the “Iconic” incarnation of my War Queen persona. If I have to start over and build my ladder to the top by being Tabula Rasa Champion, then so be it. Maybe one day we can go back to the tag scene, but until then we’ll do what we can on our own paths and GET. SHIT. DONE. Because either one way or another, it’s only INEVITABLE that the rest of the locker room will know and understand what it means to fear us.

Stephanie placed a sympathetic hand on her cousin’s shoulder before walking away, leaving Leah sitting alone to stare at the scenery with a look of determination on her face.

Ahead of his main event clash with Locke Helms, James Edwards sat hunched in front of his locker, his tire iron clasped firmly with both hands.

EDWARDS: I assume something that y'all been wondering is why am I so obsessed with him? Why am I banking so much of my focus on going after him? Why did I lay in wait to jump him last? Why do I want to hurt him so badly? Why am I obsessed with taking his head off, especially when I've got a world title match in a little under a month?

His eyes never left the tire iron as he spoke.

EDWARDS: I know I'm taking a big risk taking my eyes off a dangerous man in the world champion. Hell, I might as well be inviting ONI to jump my ass tonight, but sometimes you got to do what feels right in your soul. This whole thing with the bastard should've ended when I kicked his head off and took that belt. Then by the luck of the draw, we faced each other again, and the son of a bitch beat me because he cheated.

He tightened his grip on the tire iron, turning his knuckles white.

EDWARDS: I can't live with that because I gave him the worst of me, and I was ready to put that behind me, but he has to pull some shit to live in my head again; he has to bring out the side of me that makes me hang my head out of shame. He turns me into this obsessive and overly violent piece of shit. A man who doesn't give a shit about tomorrow, and that's a guy I can't afford to be ahead of Event Horizon. That's why I've got to take his head off again tonight. It's the only way I'm going to get any peace, and the only way I can put all my attention on Ojima. I've got to put the bastard down tonight. If I don't, then I ain't got a chance in hell of being world champion.

He stared at the tire iron intently and knew it was his instrument of salvation.

TAG TEAM MATCH Cosa Nostra vs. Scum & Villainy

The next contest barely was one as the team of Silvio Aprile and Tony Satriale -- Cosa Nostra, looked to get a victory over the newly crowned OATH Tag Team Champions, Zeke Davis and Baz Jacobi -- Scum & Villainy.

Both teams were in the ring with S&V’s manager Shortcut lingering at ringside, in possession of both Tag Team title belts that were clearly too heavy for him. Davis started the match off against Aprile and immediately threw the referee in between them.

MEARS: When will Davis learn how to actually wrestle?

PETRIE: Cheating is part of wrestling.

MEARS: Unfortunately for some people that is true.

The ref had his back to Davis and Davis reached over his shoulder to poke Aprile in the eye. Davis then dropped Aprile with a chop block and when Aprile was down on all fours Davis hit him with a basement dropkick to the side of the head.

Maintaining wrist control, “The Freak” dragged Aprile over to the S&V corner and tagged in Jacobi. Davis applied an arm wrench and then Jacobi climbed to the top rope. Jacobi looked like he was gonna go for a double axe handle to Aprile’s shoulder but instead, Jacobi just dropped off of the turnbuckle and slapped Aprile in the face.

PETRIE: Haha! I love these guys. ONI really is eternal.

MEARS: Eternally disgraceful.

PETRIE: Oh please!

Jacobi kept Aprile down with some stomps to the head and then he walked over to Satriale on the apron. Jacobi presented him with an Italian hand gesture and that was enough to set Satriale off. Satriale tried to enter the ring but the referee stopped him. With the referee distracted Davis entered the ring and started trying to gouge Aprie’s eyes out!

Satriale got back on the apron but directed the referee to look at what was happening across the ring. When the referee turned to look, Davis was already back on the apron. Aprile started to stand but Jacobi was there to meet him with Last Caress (Switch Roundhouse Kick)! Aprile dropped and Jacobi covered but Aprile kicked out at two.

MEARS: Cosa Nostra has been looking for that big victory and they have yet to find it in their OATH careers.

PETRIE: Have they ever won?

MEARS: Perhaps they have elsewhere...

Jacobi tagged in Davis and then lifted Aprile up for a back suplex. Davis climbed to the top rope and while Jacobi held Aprile up in position, Davis came off the top rope with a seated senton as Jacobi fell backward, driving Aprile into the mat. Davis went to cover but Satriale came in the ring and put a boot to Davis’ head.

Things had broken down at this point and Jacobi launched himself with a running cross body to take Satriale over the top rope to the outside. The referee was concerned with Davis and Aprile so he didn’t see Shortcut lob one of the Tag Team Titles to Jacobi. Jacobi then smashed Satriale in the face with the title, dropped it, and re-entered the ring.

MEARS: Completely unnecessary!

PETRIE: But effective!

In the ring, Aprile started to stand but Davis and Jacobi stood on either side of him. As soon as Aprile was up both Davis and Jacobi hit him with spinning roundhouse kicks to either side of the head, which they call Salt & Vinegar. Aprile crumbled to the mat and Davis covered for the three count.

Winners: Scum & Villainy

"The Downfall of Us All" by A Day To Remember cued up and Shortcut entered the ring to present his charges with their Tag Team Titles. Davis and Jacobi each took a title belt and raised it high in the air as The Citadel booed them mercilessly.

Inside Pillar & Post, the Sharpe family was gathered around a table with plenty of Labatt Blue and Molson bottles scattered across it. Their erstwhile manager, Bert Cocaine, was carrying an absurdly large Canadian flag on a pole over his shoulder, occasionally waving it around inside the bar. Jenna Sharpe, the Tabula Rasa Champion, had her title belt around her waist and was flanked by her cousins Mikey and Switch, the CWA Tag Team Champions.

JENNA: You know, when I first started here in OATH, I wasn’t expecting my cousins and Bert to join me. I’m used to doing my own thing, forging my own path. But I have to say, it feels really good to be surrounded by family.

Stephanie Matsuda knows a little bit about that - her cousin Leah is here with her, after all, and they recently faced off against one another at Rapture. Since then, both of them were in the Event Horizon series, and Stephanie made it all the way to the finals - unfortunately for her, she didn’t walk away with the win, but she’s been talking a lot about how this match is a clean slate for her.

I want Stephanie to know that my Tabula Rasa Championship is not a consolation prize. It’s not something you settle for - that’s why I chose the stipulation that I did. In a Broadway match, you have to put on a Tony Award-winning performance. You have to be willing to dig to the depths of your soul and do whatever it takes to get the win. And walking out of this match still the Tabula Rasa Champion? I think that cements my reputation as one to watch for in OATH.

Switchblxde put his arm on Jennas shoulder as he leans into her with a silver toothed grin.

SWITCHBLXDE: And what a reputation Jenna has already gained in the halls of OATH. Y’all think this is a game? This is Sharpe Country! Jennas got gold, we’ve got gold, and we’re comin’ for those OATH Tag straps! The fools carryin’ the gold don’t even know they wrestle in CANADA! Sharpe Country fool! You see, we walked into OATH cuz it rests in our backyard and we did exactly what we knew we would do. It’s only a matter of time before we meet the Champs in the ring.

Switch stopped leaning on Jenna as he looks over at Mikey with a grin.

SWITCHBLXDE: We’ve got chump change at Conviction in the form of the Hell Realm. Call me stupid, but I ain’t shaking in my boots like I should be. The curly mustached freak and his blonde bimbo sex slave don’t frighten me at all. They wanna’ try to play mind games and torment us through manipulation, but that shit don’t work. I’ve fried too many brain cells for you to shake me. Punks jump up to get beat down. Don’t play with me fool. Mikey, tell ‘em what’s good.

Mike just chuckled with a cigar in his mouth. He took a long puff before pulling holding the cigar in his hand, blowing the smoke into the air.

MICHAEL: I remember when my old man and Ray were a tag team. They had kind of a prototype of the Blade Runner, but it was a DDT, not a Canadian Destroyer. See that's what we do best in the Sharpe family. Every generation gets better cause we learn from the past and only improve it. And when your aunts and uncles are former world champions, when your Grandfather pioneers Canadian wrestling, and you go and improve on that? You become a bad mother fucker nobody is ready for. Hell Realm wanna step up? Scum and Villainy wanna step up? We'll just do em' like we've done everyone else and put em' right up to the fuckin' chopping block. Ya'll ain't ready."

COCAINE: WELCOME TO BERT COCAINE’S POWER HOUR!

Bert shouted out as himself and the three Sharpe's lifted their drinks and made contact for a cheers. They all began discussing, going through ring strategies as the shot fades out.

OATH TABULA RASA CHAMPIONSHIP 15-MINUTE BROADWAY MATCH Stephanie Matsuda vs. Jenna Sharpe ©

The timer appeared on the tron as we were set for tonight’s only official title match as former OATH Tag Team Champion, “War Queen” Stephanie Matsuda looked to win her first singles title in OATH by defeating upstart Tabula Rasa Champion, “The Canadian Wildcat” Jenna Sharpe in a 15-Minute Broadway Match. The referee presented the title to both competitors and then called for the bell, the timer began counting down.

The two circled each other and immediately started testing one another. Jenna went to shoot in but Matsuda was a little faster, using her lucharesu ability to evade a double leg take down. Jenna was not deterred and she shot in again but again Matsuda jumped out of the way. The third time Jenna shot in she faked it, waited for Matsuda to dart and then hit her with a leg scissors into a rolling kneebar!

MEARS: This is an interesting match up as an OATH stalwart in Stephanie Matsuda looks to win her first singles title in the company against a rookie sensation.

PETRIE: These Sharpes have walked into OATH and had great success but they haven’t TRULY been tested. No against someone the calibre of Stephanie Matsuda.

Matsuda knew that she couldn’t let Jenna have this hold locked in for any length of time or she would be in trouble for the remainder of the contest. Matsuda was able to fight out and up to her feet and when Jenna shot in on her again Matsuda took her down with an arm drag and then surprised the champion with a springboard dropkick.

Jenna was sent through the ropes to the outside. Jenna took a moment to compose herself as Bert Cocaine cheered her on from the front row. Jenna glanced up at the clock to see that she had less than thirteen minutes left. Matsuda sat on the middle rope and gestured for Jenna to get into the ring, holding it open for her.

PETRIE: Haha I love it! Get in there rook!

MEARS: Matsuda came very close to winning the Event Horizon Series but a loss here tonight would really drop her down the rankings. She should focus more on this contest.

PETRIE: She is! She’s playing mind games.

Once back in the ring Jenna evaded a kick from Matsuda and then caught her in a sleeper hold. Jenna jumped up onto Matsuda’s back and tried to get her hooks in but Matsuda dropped her head and flipped Jenna hard onto her back on the mat. Matsuda then went for a springboard moonsault but Jenna moved. Matsuda landed on her feet and then took a bow.

Jenna rushed Matsuda again at the eleven minute mark but Matsuda was again faster and she leaped up looking for a hurricanranna. Jenna, being slightly stronger, held Matsuda upside down when the latter tried to take her over. Jenna then expertly turned the situation into a Boston crab and Matsuda was in deep, deep trouble.

MEARS: The Sharpe Family technical prowess is on display right now.

PETRIE: That Boston crab is locked in tight but Matsuda will find a way out. She’s a veteran.

“War Queen” was able to drag herself toward the ropes and she reached out for the bottom one. The referee called for the break and Jenna obliged but she dragged Matsuda back to the center of the ring and took her back. Jenna then started hitting Matsuda with some vicious crossface shots as Cocaine cheered from the front row. The people sitting around him were not fond of him.

Matsuda grabbed the bottom rope again and Jenna was forced off of her opponent. Matsuda got herself up and Jenna rushed in but Matsuda hit her in the midsection and then drilled her into the mat head first with Special Delivery (Package Piledriver) which earned a gasp from a collection of fans in The Citadel. Matsuda covered but Jenna kicked out at two.

MEARS: Matsuda has put many people away with that move. Jenna could be seeing tiny birds flying around her head right now.

PETRIE: One of her tiny birds is sitting in the front row. A shit bird.

With nine minutes left the score was at 0-0. Matsuda looked to get Jenna up off the mat, hoping that the piledriver had rung her bell but apparently that wasn’t the case because as Matsuda went for Jenna’s arm, Jenna grabbed Matsuda’s wrist and brought her down to the mat in a Fujiwara armbar! Sharpe was in perfect position with Matsuda screaming out in agony.

Matsuda glanced up at the clock while screaming in pain and saw the timer. Neither of them had scored a decision and they were nearly halfway through the contest. Matsuda was able to get her foot on the bottom rope and Jenna was forced to break yet another hold.

MEARS: At some point in this contest a rope break is not going to save Matsuda.

PETRIE: Yeah but she’s gonna break Jenna so who gives a shit.

“War Queen” got up to her feet and Jenna rushed in on her but Matsuda caught her with a high roundhouse kick to the head. Jenna was staggered so Matsuda rushed in but Jenna hoisted her up and planted her into the mat with a Michinoku driver! Matsuda was drilled into the canvas and Jenna covered but only got a two count.

Jenna dealt some more damage with some hammering elbows to Matsuda’s head and then got her up. Jenna sent Matsuda across the ring toward the ropes but Matsuda vaulted over the top rope and landed on the apron. Jenna rushed her but Matsuda hit her with a high kick from the apron. Matsuda then shot into the ring and blasted Jenna with Final Heaven (Springboard Forearm Smash)! Jenna was down and Matsuda covered but only got a two count.

MEARS: I can not believe that we haven’t seen a single fall yet!

Matsuda was starting to get frustrated at not being able to put the rookie away so she attempted to shoot Jenna into the corner, however, Jenna was able to turn on the spot and send Matsuda into the corner! Jenna followed that up with a running back elbow that dropped Matsuda to her butt. Jenna took a few paces back and then charged in with a basement dropkick to Matsuda’s face.

“War Queen” was dazed sitting in the corner and Jenna was feeling the momentum. With fewer than five minutes remaining Jenna knew that she had to earn a decision and quickly. Jenna hoisted Matsuda up to the top rope but Matsuda knee’d her in the face. Matsuda then dropped down and cracked Jenna in the face with Yahtzee! (Superkick)! Jenna crumbled to the mat and Matsuda covered but only got a two count.

MEARS: You have got to be kidding!

PETRIE: They are gonna go the full Broadway without a fall. I can feel it.

MEARS: That is very possible!

Trying out a submission of her own, Matsuda took hold of Jenna’s wrist and then applied Blasian Sunrise (Tequila Sunrise)! Matsuda was trying to break Jenna in two but the submission specialist was quick to roll through and get up to her feet.

Matsuda couldn’t believe that Jenna got out of the hold and Jenna charged at her but Matsuda sent her into the ropes, hit the opposing ropes and then took Jenna down with an impressive Last Surprise (Sling Blade) that floored Jenna. Matsuda covered and many fans thought it was academic from here. The referee made the count but Jenna kicked out.

MEARS: What will it take? Matsuda is throwing everything she has at Jenna!

PETRIE: Not everything...not yet.

MEARS: Figure of speech.

PETRIE: Not yet.

Everyone in the arena was in disbelief. How did Jenna kick out of that? Matsuda was pissed off now as she reached down to grab Jenna but Jenna picked her leg and applied a calf crusher! The hold was locked in for a few moments but yet again Matsuda was able to get to the ropes. With less than a minute left and the score at 0-0, it was crunch time.

The referee forced the break but Jenna was in position. Jenna measured Matsuda and charged at her looking for Look Sharpe! (Flying Triangle Choke) but Matsuda held her up and slammed her into the mat! Matsuda then flipped over and had Jenna in a pinning predicament! The referee counted and Matsuda got a three count.

MEARS: What a counter!

Time: 00:11

Matsuda: 1

Sharpe: 0

There were ten seconds left and Jenna couldn’t believe that she got pinned! She took Matsuda down and looked for another calf crusher. Matsuda was locked in the hold facing the tron and the timer. The seconds counted down and all Matsuda had to do was survive. 5...4...3...2...1! The timer buzzed and the referee called for the bell.

Winner: New OATH Tabula Rasa Champion, Stephanie Matsuda

"Rainy Days" by Boogie feat. Eminem cued up and Matsuda was handed the championship. Jenna pounded her fists on the mat as Matsuda stood in the center of the ring, celebrating. Jenna stood and stared Matsuda in the eyes, letting her know that this was not over.

The camera cut to a view of darkness when suddenly there was a flash of light as a match is struck and then applied to a candle which illuminated not only Locke Helms, but Astaroth as well, now clad in his new Hell Realm themed black and white attire, clutching the OATH Intrepid Championship as he stood off to the right of the "Chairman of Chaos".

HELMS: Over the course of the past week or so since I reclaimed the Intrepid Championship, I have been called a thief by the former champion in James Edwards. A man who feels so sullied by his loss that he decrees that on this night I shall lose my head from my shoulders as way of freeing himself from my lies.

Locke let out a deep sigh before looking up at Asatroth who simply shook his head before Locke looked once more at the camera.

HELMS: James, once again I must point out here that the only one lying is you. You continue to believe that you are the good and noble hero of this place and yet, every word that you speak is as hollow as your soul.

In the weeks and months leading up to our match in which you took my title, you did things that you were happy with...you tried to take me out at each and every single venue and you can’t deny that you smiled with each attempt.

But then when you won the title, you became arrogant and oh so vain. You thought that since you had won the title, nobody would care about how deeply you reached into a darker place because now that you were champion and you had beaten the super villain that was Locke Helms, all was forgiven and all would bow down in the light of your greatness.

Locke let out another sigh before slightly tilting his head to the right, his right eye being covered by the flickering flame of the candle as a faint chuckle could be heard from Asatroth.

HELMS: When I lost the title, I did not throw a tantrum nor drown my sorrows. I simply took a step back and looked over what I had done wrong...but I sought out a man wiser than I and he…HE helped to point out to me where I went wrong in our title match, Little Jimmy;

I showed compassion...I showed RESPECT.

You repaid that respect by throwing it back in my face and taking my title yes...that much is true, but when it came time for us to meet again for that title...my TITLE...your title...you showed hypocrisy by claiming that you had tried to change me because I’d grown too comfortable as champion.

Little Jimmy, you are talking to a man who joined this company to destroy Agustin Gates...you’re talking to a man who for weeks and months has done nothing but told the truth when I say that I know that I’m a damned soul and I enjoy each and every single minute of it.

BEFORE I took your title, you were too busy declaring that you had proven that you were better than me and thus I couldn’t beat you and then AFTER I took that title back from you, you screamed and cried that I cheated and that I needed to give the title back to you because I was a criminal…

Locke’s jaw then tightened as he sat back up straight, staring dead ahead at the camera.

HELMS: James, I’m the one who ended the career of Agustin Gates and his family here in OATH Pro Wrestling without a single emotion….I felt a tremor of regret when I took Declan Black out of this company last week here on Conviction.

But where it comes to you. You, a man who would rather send our modern sport back to the silliness of the nineteen eighties with your buffoonish beliefs in that only a hero needs to be a champion, will step into the ring with me and James...Little Jimmy...you will understand that maybe teasing the serpent wasn’t the wisest choice in moves because I have no regrets.

Tonight James Edwards….

Locke then slowly stood up, picking up the candle and bringing it up to his face which now looked somewhat demonic in the bright flickering light of the flame.

HELMS: ...tonight, you fall….

Locke then blew out the candle, sending the room back into the pitch of inky darkness from where Locke’s voice could be heard.

HELMS: And the Abyss shall welcome you home.

We were live in the parking lot of the arena where Erik Holland stood, looking up at one of the giant semi trucks that brought the ring and all the light riggings to the building. He stood with his arms spread out, almost frozen in rapture and a weird kind of worship as this was the very same type of truck that Leah Aguero leapt off of to crush him last Conviction.

HOLLAND: This is my crucible, OATH.

He chuckled to himself as he turned around, smearing a huge hand across his head.

HOLLAND: It is here that I was awakened to a deeper meaning of my existence. It was here that the violence Leah Aguero and myself wreaked on each other allowed me to pass this gateway that I had unwittingly been stuck in front of, PINNED behind iron bars. And now that I have been made to see the light and truth of that violence, I can only conclude--

Erik Holland was suddenly cut off when a kendo stick was driven across the back of his head as Matt Shields came flying out of the shadows. Holland stumbled forward and Shields laid in another shot, this time across the back. Shields drove the kendo stick into the side of Holland almost splintering the thing before he used it to hit Holland with a chop block that brang the big man down to a knee. Shields started laughing and pointed the kendo stick at Holland.

SHIELDS: DIE MOTHERFUCKER DIE MOTHERFUCKER DIE!

Shields gripped the kendo stick with both hands, reared back and looked for that killing blow, but Holland caught the weapon, stood, and hit Shields with a stiff straight right, knocking the Knightmare King back. Holland started laying in rights and lefts, peppering Shields with hard shots to the head and body until Shields reached out and raked the eyes. Shields drove a knee into the midsection of Holland, then followed with a hard chop and a European uppercut that barely moved the big man.

Shields started alternating between rights and chops, just laying into The Haunted, but the big man just seemed to absorb the shots. Holland fired back with a chop of his own and Shields was quick to grab a headlock and drove his fist into Holland’s skull, finally getting the big man a bit rocked. Holland shoved Shields off the headlock and then charged with a big boot to the face. Holland took a few seconds to catch his breath as he looked down at Shields.

HOLLLAND: You don’t want this with me.

Holland snarled then pulls Shields up to his feet and brought him onto his shoulders, setting up for the Toxic Avenger. Holland decided to get a little momentum and started running, but Shields managed to gouge Holland’s right eye with his thumb, slipped off behind the big man, and delivered a hard kick right through the uprights, and by that I mean the legs of Holland. Holland dropped down as he took one straight to the beans and the frank.

SHIELDS: Small fucking target, but it looks like my aim was true. At least your girl won’t have to fake it through all eighty two mediocre seconds.

Shields laughed, then smacked Holland in the back of the head, walked off, and came back holding a chain. He slammed the chain on the ground and Holland started laughing. He turned to Shields with a smile on his face. Shields wrapped the chain around his arm and charged at Holland, but before the two maniacs could meet, twenty security members rushed in and separated the deranged brawlers from each other. A dozen of them held Holland back as the other eight dragged Shields off while he stared daggers at Holland.

SHIELDS: Event Horizon II Holland, me and you gigantic fucking bastard. I’m gonna break your god damn arm.

Shields was pulled back by security as he yelled out the threat before being shoved away, leaving Holland sneering and snarling while being held back from causing more carnage, his eyes never leaving Shields, even after he was pushed down another hall and out of view.

CWA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP TAG TEAM MATCH The Hell Realm vs. The Runaways ©

The next match saw former OATH Tag Team Champions, Ryan Terror and Adrestia Nyx, The Hell Realm take on The Runaways, Michael Sharpe and Switchblxde for the CWA Tag Team Championships. While not an officially sanctioned OATH championship, The Runaways demanded that they put them on the line in every tag team match that they competed in. OATH President Tommy Straker saw no harm in this, so he allowed it to happen.

The Hell Realm came to the ring with MONSTRUO by their side but The Runaways had their manager Bert Cocaine with them. Nyx started the match against Rocco and the referee called for the bell. Rocco went right for Nyx but she backed into her own corner. When Rocco tried to get her to come at him, Nyx tagged in Terror. Together they advanced on him but Switchblxde was in there too to even the odds.

MEARS: I can not say that I am surprised that this one is going to break down early.

PETRIE: Both of these teams like to fight dirty. It was inevitable. Not THAT Inevitable. You know what I am saying.

MEARS: That was intentional.

PETRIE: Naw...

The four competitors started hitting each other with shots but Switchblxde and Terror took center stage absolutely mauling at one another. Their brawl spilled to the outside and left the two legal competitors to go at it. Nyx just slapped Rocco in the face but Rocco just ate it and smiled. Rocco came back with a double leg takedown into a chin lock.

Nyx fought up to her feet from the chin lock and then pushed Rocco back into The Runaways corner but Switchblxde was up on the apron where he cracked Nyx with a hard shot. Switchblxde made the tag and slipped into the ring where he and Rocco planted Nyx with a wheelbarrow cutter! Nyx was down and Switchblxde covered but Nyx was able to kick out at two.

MEARS: Some excellent tag team chemistry from The Runaways. They may not be the true tag team champions but they wrestle like they are.

PETRIE: Hell Realm have ACTUALLY held the OATH Tag Team Titles. They aren’t gonna let some train yard team like these idiots beat them.

MEARS: What does that even mean?

PETRIE: You know.

“The Alpha Bitch” got up to her feet and made for her corner but Switchblxde grabbed her by the hair. Infuriated, Nyx spun around and hit Switchblxde with Knuckles, Bitch (Multiple slaps and chops followed by a spinning back fist)! Switch slipped through the ropes to the outside at the feet of MONSTRUO.

Nyx exited the ring to go after Switch and Terror was with her. Rocco dropped off the apron to meet them but Terror cracked him with Out of the Shadows (Superkick). Nyx and Terror then got Switch up and quickly hit him with The Protocol (Dudley Death Drop) on the outside! Terror got Switch up and rolled him into the ring.

MEARS: That could be the gamechanger right there!

PETRIE: Hopefully!

MEARS: You really need to learn to be impartial.

PETRIE: But I’m not! Why lie?

Terror was back up on the apron to accept the tag from Nyx. Terror dropped into a cover on Switch but he kicked out at two. Terror kept him grounded by grinding his elbow into Switch’s eye. The referee put a stop to that and Switch was able to crawl to the middle of the ring. Terror advanced on him but Switch hit him with a mule kick to the gut.

Switch tagged in Rocco and together The Runaways hit Terror with a double dropkick. The Sharpes then got Terror up, they both flipped off Nyx, and then they dropped Terror with a double brainbuster! Rocco covered but Nyx was in the ring to break up the fall.

MEARS: I have a feeling that this match will break down yet again…

PETRIE: Probably. That’s when Hell Realm will win. They thrive on chaos.

Rocco was reeling from the kick to the back of his head and Terror was able to get back up. Rocco soon advanced on him but Terror blasted him with an Out of the Shadows (Superkick)! Terror then hit Switch with one aswell that knocked Switch off the apron. Cocaine went to help Switch but MONSTRUO advanced on him and Cocaine decided to keep his distance.

In the ring Terror tagged in Nyx and they quickly hit Rocco with Full Metal Jacket (Out of the Shadows [Terror]/Running Knee Strike [Nyx])! Rocco was down and Nyx made the cover but Cocaine had the referee distracted by standing on the apron. This caused MONSTRUO to advance on Cocaine but the latter quickly dropped and ran away.

MEARS: This may be a contest of whose manager can cheat better.

PETRIE: MONSTRUO is a manager?

MEARS: Of sorts...I suppose.

Through the commotion Rocco was able to tag in Switch and Nyx found herself the victim of a double standing spanish fly. The Runaways were quick to set Nyx up and hit her with he Blade Runner (Doomsday Canadian Destroyer)! Switch covered and when Terror tried to make the save Rocco caught him in a sloppy front chancery. Terror scrambled to try and push them both into the pinning predicament but it was too late. The referee counted the three.

Winners: Still CWA Tag Team Champions, The Runaways

“Liquid Swords" by GZA cued up and the Sharpes quickly slipped out of the ring, titles in hand. The duo regrouped with Cocaine on the outside as MONSTRUO hulked toward them but they were already up the ramp by the time he got to the bottom. Terror and Nyx scowled at The Sharpes as they posed with their CWA Tag Team Titles on the ramp.

MEARS: Oh no! Look who is here!

PETRIE: Yes! This is what they promised!

The celebration did not last long because The Runaways and Cocaine were set upon by Scum & Villainy and Shortcut! Shortcut appeared to use a taser on Cocaine as Davis and Jacobi each blasted Switchbxde and Rocco in the back of their respective heads with the OATH Tag Team Titles! The Runaways and Cocaine were laid out on the ramp as S&V stood over them, holding the OATH Tag Team Titles up high.

“Here we are again.”

Our scene was set backstage in The Citadel, somewhere deep in the arena, where boxes and crates were stored. The camera was moving along with FM Young as she walked down the hallway, almost pacing. The camera caught the door she kept passing and it clearly read “Medical Staff”. FM stopped outside of the door, looked down at her feet and took as deep of a breath that her body allowed her. She knocked and stepped inside as the OATH medical professional, Dr. Reynolds, was standing by, looking through papers. The older gentlemen gave FM a big smile as he put his arms up in excitement.

DR. REYNOLDS: Ah, yes, FM. Do come in. I was just actually sorting through your paperwork from the hospital. They were kind enough to send everything over. I’ve been asked to just make sure you’re medically fit to compete tonight.

YOUNG: I understand.

Reynolds motioned for her to take a seat on the table as he pulled up her cuff to take her blood pressure. He had her hold out her arm, started to get her all set up and let the machine start to take the readings.

DR. REYNOLDS: I remember when we used to have to sit here with a watch, count all your heartbeats. Now, I hook you up to this machine and it does everything automatically for a few minutes, it gives us a better reading.

FM looked around the room and tried not to focus on the pressure being applied to her arm, trying to keep her heart rate low. Reynolds pulled out what were clearly x-rays and puts them on the wall and turned on a light behind it. He looked them over and pointed to them, looking at FM.

DR. REYNOLDS: As you can see here you’re healing quite nicely. Much better than I anticipated, to be honest.

He walked over and checked the machine, taking off the cuff. He let out a thoughtful hum as he asked FM to put her arms up. He removed the bandage around her ribs and stomach to show some bruising.

DR. REYNOLDS: The bruising shows me that you may have some swelling in your kidneys or spleen but…-

He pushed on the areas, feeling around.

DR. REYNOLDS: That doesn’t seem to be too serious at this point. I, of course, recommend finding some time off to heal. Even if it’s just a week or two at this point, as long as you don’t get injured more before then. We all think we’re invincible when we’re young but the human body needs to heal after serious bumps.

FM grimaced once or twice as he pushed on her ribs and kidney area. He moved away and started filling out a few pieces of paper.

DR. REYNOLDS: Go ahead and jump down and lift that medicine ball up.

She did so with ease, moving it around and twisting, bending, and squatting as the doctor showed her what to do. FM took a deep breath and he made a few notes.

DR. REYNOLDS: I’d say you’re good to go tonight, Miss Young. But please, do find that time. Doctor’s orders!

YOUNG: Thanks, doc.

Young left the room and practically started to pump her fists after getting the all-clear. She looked into the camera with a smile.

YOUNG: Leah, I’m cleared. Not that I ever had a doubt but you know how it goes. OATH has to cover their asses but now you should watch yours. I may not have won the Event Horizon Series and I can sit here and dwell on it or I can fix the tape on my ribs and move on. I beat you a few weeks ago to kick off the Event Horizon Series and, now, tonight I’m going to beat you to become the #1 contender to the Intrepid Championship. Tonight, I go through you, again, and start to fight my way back up the ladder. Tonight, I show you the heart of a phoenix. After that it’s one, two, three.

FM smiled as she made a fist and walked away from the camera.

#1 CONTENDERSHIP: INTREPID TITLE SINGLES MATCH Leah Aguero vs. FM Young

The competitors in our next contest were no strangers to each other. “The Amazon” FM Young defeated “War Queen” Leah Aguero in the first match of the Event Horizon A Block and now they would fight to determine who would face the Intrepid Champion at Event Horizon II.

Young made her entrance first and as “Helix” played throughout The Citadel she was cheered by many of the OATH faithful. That chorus of cheers quickly turned to boos because Aguero jumped Young on the ramp with a steel chair! Aguero smashed Young in the back with the chair and then drove it hard into her injured midsection. Young let out in pain and Aguero seemed quite pleased with herself.

MEARS: Leah said that she was her for mayhem and destruction. Here it is. Can not say that I approve.

PETRIE: I don’t think she gives a shit. She is different now. Ever since Young and her went to war in the Event Horizon Series.

MEARS: That match ended with neither of them being able to stand.

“The Amazon” tried to put some space between herself and Aguero but Aguero ran up and smashed the steel chair into Young’s back a second time. Then a third! Young dropped, face down on the ramp as Aguero stood over her smiling. Aguero then set the chair up and sat on it for a moment.

“War Queen” watched as Young gasped for breath for a moment, her hands folded in front of her. Aguero decided that she wasn’t satisfied, that the mayhem she had a hunger for had not been satiated. Aguero got Young up to her feet and then went for a suplex but instead dropped Young on the standing chair stomach first. Young let out in pain and Aguero just smiled.

MEARS: I think it is fair to say that this contest will not go forward.

Aguero got in the ring and sat, crossed legged. Young gasped for air on the ramp and the referee scolded Aguero, the match hadn’t even started! Aguero didn’t seem to give a shit, she just sat staring at Young. “The Amazon” slowly got to her feet, favouring her midsection as she turned to face Aguero in the ring.

The former Tabula Rasa Champion made her way to ringside and then walked up the steps to enter the ring. The referee checked on her and Young simply said “Start the match.” The referee shrugged and called for the bell. As soon as he did Aguero popped up, charged and drove a knee into Young’s midsection.

MEARS: I can not believe Young is going to go through with this. She was barely medically cleared to compete in the first place!

PETRIE: Looks like her ticket to Event Horizon II is as good as gone.

MEARS: We will see.

As Young was once again gasping for air, Aguero slipped behind her, applied a waist lock and took Young over with a German suplex. Young landed with a thud but Aguero gave her no time to rest. Aguero dropped some stiff boots to Young’s midsection, got her up, and then planted her with a brutal sitout powerbomb! Aguero covered but Young kicked out just before the three count.

“War Queen” scurried around Young’s prone body and quickly applied a rear naked choke. Young could barely breathe and Aguero wanted to stop it all together. The hold was locked in for a good fifteen seconds before Young was able to get her hand on the bottom rope. The referee called for the break but Aguero held it on for the duration of the four count, not letting the referee get to five.

PETRIE: That wasn’t cheating! She had until five!

MEARS: Not the most honorable thing but you are correct.

Aguero was not deterred. She stood up and tried to drag Young to the middle of the ring but Young kicked her in the hand to break her grip. Young got up to a knee and then up to her feet but Aguero met her with a forearm shiver to the face. This must have woke Young up because she responded with the Man-Machine Interface (Discus Clothesline) to give her some room to breathe.

Young couldn’t go for the pin right away, her body was too damaged. Aguero started to stand and the resolute Young knew that she had to hit another big move to have any chance of winning this contest. Young hit a clubbing blow to the back of Aguero’s neck and then set her up forSuperchick (The Shiranui) but before Young could execute it Aguero pulled her back into another rear naked choke.

MEARS: Leah is utilizing that choke. Young can not last for long in a hold like that with the injuries that she has suffered.

This was trouble. Young was nowhere near the ropes and she was fading fast. Showing true fighting spirit or perhaps the heart of a phoenix, Young used her legendary strength to roll onto her stomach and then up to her knee. Aguero looked spooked but held the hold in tight. Young got up to a complete vertical base and then threw herself backward, sandwiching Aguero between herself and the mat.

Both competitors were down but it was Young that started to stir first. Aguero was the one gasping for air now as the wind was taken out of her. Young got up but Aguero scrambled to her feet and went for a big boot but Young caught her foot at the last second and pulled her into a capture suplex!

PETRIE: How the FUCK is Young still going, let alone winning!

MEARS: You and I both know that momentum can shift quickly.

Young slipped through the ropes onto the apron, not on purpose, but because she was having trouble breathing. Aguero was not in as bad of shape, she got up rather quickly. Aguero approached Young on the apron and went for a strike but Young applied a front chancery and lifted Aguero over the ropes from the ring and down to the floor with a suplex! Aguero landed with a thud and the wind was knocked out of her yet again.

On the outside Young was on Aguero and she attempted to lift the War Queen up for a gut buster but Aguero shoved her hard into the guardrail. Aguero then scrambled, slipped into the ring, hit the opposing ropes and then came back to the outside with a huge suicide dive that drove Young hard into the barricade again. Aguero then quickly sent Young back inside the ring.

MEARS: FM fought valiantly but she is too banged up. Leah’s plan seems to have worked.

Aguero got up on the apron and then hit an impressive springboard moonsault landing hard onto Young. Aguero hooked her leg and the referee counted but somehow Young was able to kick out! Aguero quickly mounted Young and went for some punches but Young came back to life, flipped Aguero around and applied a rear naked choke of her own! Aguero was trapped in the middle of the ring and Young’s power was too much. Aguero had to tap out.

Winner: #1 Contender to the Intrepid Title, FM Young

Aguero and Young shared a look as Young’s music played. This wasn’t their first war together and it would not be their last. The picture of Young having her arm raised was shown on a backstage monitor. The shot pulled out to show OATH Intrepid Champion Locke Helms watching the contest with Astaroth at his side. Helms scoffed, before walking off.

May O'Neil was seated backstage with Josie Wales, for a sit-down interview about her title loss against Reo Ojima.

O'NEIL: We're here tonight with Josie Wales. Last week you had a title match against the current OATH World Champion, Reo Ojima. You came up short, but, can you tell us more about the fight?

WALES: I had him... I had him beat time and time again, and should've won. It was right there, and it just slipped through my fingers again...

She said, with a far more depressed tone than usual. This loss was different, as it crushed her emotionally and mentally.

WALES: I know I had him dead to rights, and I made a tiny mistake, and it fucked me over. It's been playing through my head all week, haunting me...

She said, obviously distraught from it, as May changed the subject.

O'NEIL: Many of us want to know, where do you go from here?

WALES: I don't know... I honestly don't. Ever since I was a little girl, I knew it was what I wanted to do in life, even if that misogynistic father of mine forbid it. I had life in the lap of luxury at an early age, but, I turned it away for this sport...

She said, keeping her family history vague, not needing to air dirty laundry in public, though it certainly wasn't pretty.

WALES: As many times as I failed here... maybe he was right. Maybe this isn't my place in the world... I've gotta go.

Josie said, abruptly tearing off the mic, and leaving the interviewing area, as May tried to stop her.

O'NEIL: Josie, wait!

She said, as she was already storming away from the scene, making a b line to the administrative offices.

LAST MAN STANDING MATCH

James Edwards vs. Lock Helms

It was time for the main event and a rivalry that just would not die. These two men, “The Burning Heart” James Edwards and the OATH Intrepid Champion, “The Chairman of Chaos” Locke Helms have been doing battle seemingly since OATH started. They have traded victories back and forth but the most recent was in the Event Horizon Series when Helms prevented Edwards from sweeping his block by defeating him to start his second reign with the Intrepid Championship.

Edwards was out first and he was carrying the tire iron that he had been wielding for the last little while. Edwards did not pander to the audience or shift his focus away from the ring. Edwards entered through the ropes and then stood, twisting his one hand around the top of the tire iron. Helms was out next with his Hell Realm cohort Astaroth at his side. Astaroth was carrying Helms’ Intrepid Title but said title was not on the line in this contest. That is not what this last man standing match is about. This match is about ending this conflict so that both men could move forward with their careers, should they be physically able to do so.

MEARS: This is the rivalry that will not die. These two hate each other and each time we see them face one another, the matches are better but more brutal. More full of hate.

PETRIE: Edwards has fucking lost it. Guy has a World Championship match coming up at the biggest show of the year and all he can talk about is decapitating Locke Helms.

MEARS: He believes that he needs to exorcise this particular demon before he can take on a man like Reo Ojima.

PETRIE: From one demon to the devil himself. A charmed life Little Jimmy lives.

The referee explained the rules; no disqualification, answer the count of ten or you lose. Neither man needed to hear that, they knew the rules and they were fine with doing battle under such circumstances. The two competitors met in the center of the ring where Edwards was still wielding the tire iron. Helms glanced down at the weapon and then stepped backward. Helms closed his eyes, outstretched his arms and welcomed Edwards to take a free shot.

“The Burning Heart” was conflicted. He wanted so badly to take Helms’ head off, he said as much all week. But not like this, he was furious with Helms but he wasn’t going to blast him with this weapon of Helms’ was welcoming it. How would that look to the OATH faithful? To strike a willing man with such a weapon. Edwards thought better of it. The tire iron fell from Edwards’ grip, onto the mat, and Edwards cracked Helms in the jaw with a straight right cross.

PETRIE: Moron! He was giving you a free shot!

MEARS: Locke knew that James would not take that opportunity. Pretty intelligent.

PETRIE: Yeah I’ll agree. Helms is smarter than Edwards. No fucking doubt about that.

Helms was somewhat disappointed as he ate the shot but was quick to respond with one of his own. Then another. But when he went for a third, Edwards blocked it with a hard knife edged chop. And then another. Helms stumbled back into a corner and tried to come back at Edwards but got caught with a high roundhouse kick to the chest. Helms fell back into a corner, catching himself. Helms launched himself out of the corner but Edwards caught him in the face with an open handed palm strike.

“The Chairman of Chaos” was sent backward into the ropes from the force of that blow and before he knew it Edwards was on him, looking for a running STO but Helms grabbed the top rope and Edwards’ momentum carried him over the top rope, onto the apron and then onto the floor. Astaroth slowly approached Edwards, holding the Intrepid Title against his chest like it was the most precious thing in his universe.

MEARS: How long will it take for Astaroth to get involved in this contest?

PETRIE: He is just here for moral support!

MEARS: I highly doubt that.

The cold and calculated Helms slowly exited the ring and stalked his longtime rival. Helms delivered a stiff boot to the side of Edwards head, looking down at him with an expression of disappointment. What exactly was going through Helms’ mind was unclear but he was focussed and composed -- that much was clear. Helms lifted Edwards up and hit him with a succession of forearm shivers before he draped Edwards’ arm around his neck and then lifted him up with a back suplex. Helms’ readjusted mid-hold and dropped Edwards’ lower back right onto the guard rail.

“The Burning Heart” was in agony, holding his lower back. Did he slip a disk? Crack a vertebrae? Probably not but he was definitely feeling some serious pain. Helms stood over Edwards, staring at him. Helms then stepped aside and gestured to Astaroth. Astaroth stepped forward and squatted in front of Edwards, holding out the Intrepid Championship. We got a close-up of Edwards’ expression and he was clearly irate.

PETRIE: That’s as close as he’s going to get to a title for some time at this rate!

MEARS: Perhaps Astaroth is just here to enrage Edwards more.

PETRIE: Well he isn’t here to support him.

Edwards shot for Astaroth but Helms intervened, grabbed Edwards, and sent him face first into the steel steps. Helms was not finished, he collected Edwards and hit him with a snap vertical suplex onto the steps, yet again targeting Edwards’ lower back. Helms stepped back and allowed the referee to start the ten count. Helms stood with Astaroth at his side, watching. At a count of six, Edwards started to stand.

Looking to take this match to a new, more violent level, Helms pulled off the steel steps and set them in front of the apron. Helms then sent Edwards back into the ring but when Helms got up on the apron to get back into the ring himself Edwards caught him with an open hand palm strike out of desperation. Ready to use Helms’ own weapon setup against him. Edwards joined Helms on the apron but Helms caught him with an eye poke and then took him off the apron with a back suplex onto the steel steps!

MEARS: Good Lord! Did you see the way that James just landed? His back has to be broken! There is no way that he can get to his feet after something like that.

PETRIE: Excellent strategy. This match is about STANDING. If you can’t, you lose.

MEARS: Compelling insight.

The referee started counting yet again but Edwards pulled himself up with the aid of the apron at a count of seven. Astaroth stood far too close to Edwards and Helms instructed him to move away. The Intrepid Champion shot forward and hit Edwards with a shoulder block to the midsection that sent Edwards’ ever-more-injured lower back into the solid apron. Perhaps it was the pain that shot through Edwards’ body that inspired him but he shoved Helms backward toward the ramp and then charged forward, hitting Helms with a running STO that sent the back of Helms’ head into the steel ramp, also doing some damage to the champion’s neck.

“The Burning Heart” had awakened and the man who said that he wanted to tear Helms’ head off had arrived. Edwards delivered some quick stomps to the back of Helms’ neck and then sent his rival sailing over the guardrail into the crowd. Edwards gave chase and a fan handed him their steel chair. Helms was on all fours when Edwards smacked it across his back. Edwards then stood over Helms and drove it into the back of his neck. Helms screamed in pain and Edwards seemed to like that very much.

MEARS: James wants to break Locke’s neck!

PETRIE: That’s one way to make sure that someone can’t stand up.

MEARS: Another sound strategy, albeit brutal.

After putting some distance between himself and Edwards by crawling deeper into the crowd, Helms tried to rally back by grabbing a chair of his own but Edwards was ready for it and he hit the chair with High Heat (Discuss Roundhouse) sending the chair into Helms’ face. Helms dropped and we could see that a gash had developed on his forehead. The referee was in the crowd as well now and he started the count. Helms started to stir at a count of six.

Wanting to end this contest in the middle of the ring, Edwards sent Helms back over the barricade toward the ring. Helms crawled away yet again but Edwards gave chase and sent Helms gut first into the ring steps. We got a good shot of Helms’ bloody face as he lay draped over the steel steps, which were obviously still out of position. Edwards then climbed up onto the apron and looked out into the audience in The Citadel. Edwards mean mugged and then came down on Helms with a double foot stomp to the back. The audience gasped and the referee started to count Helms out.

PETRIE: Holy fuck!

MEARS: That could have killed him! This feud...this is going to shorten both men’s careers significantly.

PETRIE: I honestly don’t think they care.

MEARS: Nor do I.

Using the apron just as his rival had earlier in the contest, Helms pulled himself up -- a complete bloody mess. Edwards seemed delighted by the sight of his brutalized opponent and he sent him into the ring. Once back in the ring, standing over Helms, Edwards started dropping a series of knees onto the back of Helms’ neck. Once Edwards was satisfied with the damage, Edwards put a knee into Helms’ spine and applied a camel clutch.

There were no rope breaks, no disqualifications, no salvation for Helms at this point. Edwards was pulling back with all of his might, a look of complete rage that we have seldom seen from him. Helms used Edwards’ determination against him by shifting his weight to get up to a knee. Helms then drove a sharp elbow into Edwards’ midsection. Then another, then another. Helms likely only needed to do one more to break Edwards’ grip but Edwards knew that and instead he absolutely blasted Helms with a Western lariat.

MEARS: This is the James Edwards that can defeat Reo Ojima. His bloodlust, his malice -- it could take him to the top of the mountain.

PETRIE: Or it could see him die ascending that fuckin’ mountain. He’s too enraged, he’s unfocussed on actually winning. He just wants to maim Helms.

MEARS: I think Helms wanted that to happen.

With Helms face down on the mat, still bleeding, Edwards turned his attention to his beloved tire iron. Edwards collected it as Astaroth paced at ringside. Edwards shot a glance at the masked manager and then dropped a knee into Helms’ spine yet again and used the tire iron in an effort to choke him out! The bits of skin on Helms’ face that weren’t covered in blood started to turn blue as Edwards wrenched back with all of his might.

Once satisfied, Edwards released Helms but Astaroth got up on the apron. Helms, gasping for breath, screamed “No!” at Astaroth and the luchador dropped off the apron. In what appeared to be a last act, Helms evaded Edwards’ grasp and hit him with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Both men were down and Helms had extended his life in this match just a little while longer. The audience was on their feet for the violent display they were witnessing.

PETRIE: Looks like that lower back assault earlier is helping Ol’ Locke now.

MEARS: It may have just saved this match...his career...his life…

PETRIE: Honestly? Yeah.

Helms called out to Astaroth and the luchador nodded. Astaroth searched under the ring and pulled out a steel chair. Astaroth slid the chain into the ring and Helms took hold of it. Helms got to his feet and stared through his blood soaked eyes at Edwards, who was starting to stir. Helms doubled the chain up and then whipped Edwards’ lower back with it. With each shot, more long cuts appeared on Edwards’ back.

Offering some pay back, Helms wrapped the chain around Edwards’ neck and started choking him with it! Helms was wrenching back just as Edwards had, with his knee in the small of Edwards’ back. Edwards was reaching out, looking to grasp anything to help him when his hand found the tire iron. Helms went to stomp on Edwards’ hand but it was too late. Edwards smashed Helms in the knee with it and Helms let go of the chain.

MEARS: Thank God for the tire iron.

PETRIE: I’ll take things that you don’t hear outside of a garage for $100 Alex.

MEARS: Alright I will give you that one.

Edwards got his wind back and then smashed Helms in the head with the tire iron, dropping him. The referee went to start counting but Edwards screamed “No!”. Edwards then slipped out of the ring and when Astaroth approached him Edwards cracked him in the head with the tire iron. Astaroth dropped, with the Intrepid Title draped over his body. Edwards then searched under the ring and pulled out a table.

“The Burning Heart” placed the table in the ring and then set it up in front of a turnbuckle. Helms was starting to rise, a complete bloody mess. He looked like a victim in a horror movie -- it was bad. Edwards dropped the tire iron and then hit Helms with Double Tap (Pair of consecutive spinning back fists). Helms was dropped yet again but Edwards hefted him up and lay him on the table.

PETRIE: Just end it now James you moron! You have him!

MEARS: He wants to end this emphatically. He wants to exercise this demon once and for all.

PETRIE: I mean he has gone through hell to do just that...

Wanting to end the contest and the rivalry right here and right now, Edwards ascended to the top rope. Glaring down at Helms with all of the hate in his heart Edwards leaped off the top rope looking for a showstopper-esque diving elbow drop but at the last moment Helms rolled off the table onto the mat. Edwards went crashing through the table and it pretty much exploded. Not literally but you know what that looks like.

MEARS: He missed! Oh good Lord!

Edwards was down and Helms took hold of the chain. Helms crawled on top of Edwards and wrapped the chain around his neck yet again. Helms wrenched back, choking Edwards out and once Edwards started turning blue, the referee made Helms stop. The referee then made the ten count. Edwards was not getting up, but at this point neither was Helms. At a count of nine, Helms pushed off of one knee and stood. At the count of ten, he dropped again but he had won.

Winner: Locke Helms

"Heavy Grind" by Enigma TNG started playing and it was heard perfectly because the audience in The Citadel was completely silent. The violence that they had just witnessed and how it ended left everyone speechless. An overhead shot of the ring showed Helms laying on his back, a bloody mess, and Edwards face down on the mat. Commentary was silent, only the music could be heard as Conviction XXVIII went off the air...

Results:

• Matt Shields def. El Caliente Loco & Scribbles • Scum & Villainy def. Cosa Nostra

• Stephanie Matsuda def. Jenna Sharpe to win the Tabula Rasa Title

• The Runaways def. The Hell Realm to retain the CWA Tag Team Titles

• FM Young def. Leah Aguero; #1 Contender to the Intrepid Title • Locke Helms def. James Edwards