EVENT HORIZON II: PART 2

PART TWO September 6th, 2020 The Citadel in Toronto, Ontario

Leah Aguero was seen sitting by herself with her back facing the camera. As the view went over her shoulder, we could see that she was heavily taping her hands. As she finished, Leah balled up her fists and took turns pounding them into the opposite hand to ensure they were tightly secured. After a quick crack of her neck, Leah grabbed something from the ground and rose to her feet. She turned to leave the area but couldn't as the cameraman was in the way.

AGUERO: What the fuck do you want? I suggest you get out of here before you end up hurt.

The object that Leah picked up previously was shown in the shot as she was wielding a 2x4 wrapped in barbed wire. She took a swing, purposely missing the cameraman, slamming the weapon onto a table. The view shook a little but the cameraman didn't leave.

AGUERO: Oh so you got some balls on you, huh? Tonight, we’re going to test the balls that that little bitch Finale has got on him. The so-called “Buffalo Butcher” may have made a name for himself before by being a violent son of a bitch but we’re in the present now. He can make a supposed comeback to wrestling for other promotions but I don’t give a shit about what he does elsewhere. I don’t give a shit about anything other than the fact that he chose to type away on that little column of his questioning my career. Then, he wants to call me to the ring in an attempt to get himself over by further ridiculing me in a live segment. Well, I don’t care if we’re in your precious town of Toronto. Tonight, the streets of Toronto will run red with your blood. You see, my friend here has been wanting to make an appearance for quite some time. My friend has been locked away. Tonight, my friend will be freed and you, Finale, will get to know my friend quite well. It’s time to eat your words as I take back my own narrative BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.

Leah shoved the cameraman out of the way as she exited the room.

Walking through the backstage area of The Citadel, Jenna Sharpe stopped in front of a poster for Event Horizon II featuring the photos of several of the roster members, including FM Young, Stephanie Matsuda, Locke Helms, Reo Ojima, Scum & Villainy, The Runaways, Josie Wales… but not her. Her eyes narrowed at the poster as her arms cross over her chest.

JENNA: So even the graphic designers don’t think I belong.

Her voice was quiet, but the anger in it was unmistakable.

JENNA: Since I have arrived in OATH, I have distinguished myself as one of the top rookies on this roster. My only defeat was my second defense of the Tabula Rasa Championship. But according to people like Mr. Straker and Josie Wales, I haven’t done enough. I still need to prove that I belong, apparently.

JENNA: I’d like to ask Josie Wales how I could possibly have been trading on my name for years, considering that the first big contract I signed was with OATH back in July of this year. I’d like to ask her how I could possibly be mediocre, when she’s the one boring audiences to tears and making excuses for her lack of common sense.

JENNA: Josie Wales hates me because I have everything that she hasn't. She wants to believe that I’m a spoiled brat, that I’ve had everything handed to me because I am Edmonton Sharpe’s granddaughter, but that’s simply not true. It’s easier for her to believe, though. It’s easier for her to believe that I’ve done everything I can to avoid hard work, because then she doesn’t have to face the truth - that I beat her, and I took away her title.

JENNA: Say what you will about Bert’s involvement - it was negligible at best, and I allowed her to kick the little trash goblin in the head when he wouldn’t stop interfering. Say what you will about the attack on Josie prior to the match by ONI - that kind of behavior is not something I stand for, and even if I did… why would I get ONI involved when I have Mikey and Switch right here? Why would I trust strangers over family?

JENNA: I wouldn’t. And more to the point, with the way things have been between ONI and my cousins, what possibly could entice them to do me any favors on purpose? Why would I then come in to fight them off with a chair, if I’d in fact hired them in the first place? No, the pre-match attack by ONI was a statement to Josie Wales, to tell her that lightning would not strike twice and she would not get another win over Reo Ojima. After that, she should have done the smart thing and gone to the back to get medical treatment, instead of going out to the ring for our match. But she decided she was still going to fight, and she paid the price for her own stupidity.

JENNA: Josie Wales wants me to be responsible for her failings, because she can’t face the hard truth: that she lost to a very talented rookie. She wants me to be a spoiled brat trading on my last name because she can’t accept that I have worked since I was sixteen years old to get to where I am today, and that I am better than she can ever hope to be. In two months I’ve achieved more than Josie Wales has in ten years of toiling away because she doesn’t have what I have. She doesn’t have my talent. She doesn’t have my work ethic. She doesn’t have my looks, or my charisma, or my passion for this business. She hasn’t seen what I have - people who literally gave their lives for wrestling. She hasn’t had to live with watching her family destroy itself and rebuild itself, dealing with family members in and out of prison, fighting their demons, and all the while doing everything you can to make sure that you don’t run into the same pitfalls that they did.

JENNA: Do you want to know why I’m so good, Josie? It’s because I will not allow myself to be anything less than the best. I cannot fail, because someone in this goddamn family has to be the successful one. Someone in this family has to give the Sharpe name back the prestige it once held, and as much as I love Mikey and Switch, it’s not going to be those two knuckleheads. So the responsibility of carrying on my family name and legacy falls on my shoulders. That’s a weight that Josie Wales will never understand.

JENNA: Josie wants to stand as the gatekeeper to OATH? That’s fine. I’ll knock that gate down, and burn it to ashes. Because I am Jenna Sharpe.

Jenna reached up and tore the poster from the wall, a sick smile on her face. From inside her top, she pulled out a white Bic lighter and clicked it, taking a moment to stare into the flame before touching it to Josie’s face on the poster, her grin widening as the poster turned black and disintegrated before her. She dropped the burning paper on the concrete floor, pouring out some water from her water bottle to douse the flames as she walked off.

CRYBABY: The following contest is a grudge match scheduled for one fall! Introducing first from Calgary, Alberta, weighing in at 130lbs., “The Canadian Wildcat” Jenna Sharpe!

"Missile" by Dorothy cued up and Jenna got a massive pop from the Canadian fans. Jenna came out draped in the Canadian flag and if the fans weren’t all about The Canadian Wildcat before that then they definitely were now. Jenna marched to the ring and slapped hands with all of the fans at ringside. Jenna slipped into the ring and basked in the love from her Canadian fans.

CRYBABY: And her opponent, from St. Louis, Missouri, weighing in at 134lbs., “The Outlaw” Josie Wales!

"The Unforgiven" by Metallica cued up and there was a mixed reaction for The Outlaw. Her actions as of late had the fans unsure of whether they liked her or not. Wales came out onto the stage in her long duster and white stetson hat. Wales walked to the ring and seemed perplexed by the reaction that she was getting. Wales took her time walking up the steps as Jenna eyed her from across the ring. Wales entered and took off her coat, then placed her stetson atop the ringpost.

Ding, Ding, Ding!

The heat between these two was palpable as Jenna shot across the ring off the opening bell and started laying into Wales with giant body shots. Wales shoved her off and caught her with a knee to the chin and then shot forward and took her over with a roll up that Jenna rolled backward out of it and got up to her knees only for Wales to crack her in the side of the head with a hard kick.

Jenna was dazed on her knees and Wales grabbed her head and dropped her with a kneeling DDT. Wales tried to transition into a rear naked choke but Jenna bucked Wales off and then shoved her into the ropes. Wales hit the ropes chest first and staggered back right into a quick German suplex.

MEARS: Excellent propelling German suplex from Jenna. These two faced once before but it was not exactly a fair fight and that is what caused this match here tonight.

PETRIE: Jenna clearly paid ONI to help her win the Tabula Rasa Championship.

MEARS: You know that makes no sense.

PETRIE: That’s why she did it! No one saw it coming.

MEARS: I do not think we are legally allowed to say that phrase.

Wales rolled out of the ring to compose herself but Jenna wasn’t about to let that happen. Jenna darted and came through the ropes with a suicide dive but Wales turned at the last second and helped guide Jenna head first into the guard rail. Jenna was rocked and Wales knew that this was her moment to capitalize.

The fans were booing Wales and she could not understand why. Instead of trying to pander to the crowd in Toronto Wales decided to lean into it. Wales shouted for the Toronto crowd to “Shut up!” and then she sent Jenna hard into the ring steps back first. Jenna sat with her back to the ringsteps, her face an expression of pure agony.

PETRIE: Josie has been disrespected by everyone these past few weeks and it’s fucking gross. She has been with this company for a long while and she doesn’t deserve all the guff that she’s gettin’.

MEARS: I do agree that Josie is a wonderful talent but the constant complaining has gotten tiresome for many.

PETRIE: For you?

MEARS: No comment.

Wales looked to charge in with a running knee Jenna’s face but The Canadian Wildcat was able to shoot of the way and Wales hit the ringsteps knee first! Wales flipped over the ringsteps and landed on the mats holding her left knee. Jenna shook off the cobwebs and then took hold of Wales and slipped her into the ring.

The Canadian Wildcat was fired up and after some mounted punches she got Josie up and then hit her with a quick basement dropkick to the left knee, clearly targeting it for a submission move. Jenna called out to her fans in Toronto and then lifted Josie up and planted her with a quick and impressive Michinoku driver! Jenna reached over Josie’s head and hooked one leg.

PETRIE: No Josie you’ve gotta kick out!

1..

2..!

MEARS: And she does! The Outlaw will not ride off into the sunset.

PETRIE: How long have you wanted to say that one?

MEARS: I may have said it before. We’ve done almost fifty shows so who knows, I probably have.

Josie was able to kick out and the audience deflated. Jenna on the other hand, did not. Jenna tried to transition into a rolling leg lock but Josie scrambled and grabbed the bottom rope. Josie threw a kick back and caught Jenna in the face to force a quicker break. The audience booed her and Josie was getting more and more angry as a result of the negative reaction that she was getting -- which she felt was unfounded.

The Outlaw grabbed Jenna by the hair and then called out to Toronto. “You don’t like me? Let me give you a real reason!”. Josie, holding Jenna’s hair, then started kneeing the Canadian Wildcat in the face. With each strike Toronto booed louder. Josie then hoisted Jenna up to her feet, knee’d her in the midsection and planted her with Sundance Neckbreaker (Overdrive)! Josie covered.

PETRIE: See ya later Jenna. Back to the Alberta trailer park!

1..

2..!

PETRIE: OH come on!

Toronto popped when Jenna kicked out and Josie pounded the mat in frustration. Josie started arguing with some fans in the front row and that proved to be a bad idea because Jenna came back to life and dropped Josie with a running punt to the back of the left knee. Jenna then grabbed Josie’s leg and went for a spinning toe hold to Josie’s damaged leg but when she turned around Josie kicked her in the rear end and Jenna flew face first into the middle turnbuckle.

Josie charged, leaped in the air, and dropped down with a double stomp onto Jenna’s back. Jenna dropped to her knees and Josie got her up into a fireman’s carry. Josie then dropped Jenna with a fireman’s carry flapjack onto the top turnbuckle. Jenna was rocked and Josie called for the end, Toronto responded with a resounding “Fuck you!”.

PETRIE: Yeah fuck Toronto!

MEARS: Don’t you live here?

PETRIE: I live in Hamilton, thank you very much.

The Outlaw was very much over what the crowd thought of her and now she wanted to prove them -- along with anyone who didn’t believe in her -- wrong. Josie set Jenna up and went to apply Spirit of St. Louis (Havana Dreams) but Jenna fought out of it and applied a rolling kneebar. As usually, Jenna was smart enough to put her body between Josie and the ropes -- Josie had no choice but to submit.

Ding, Ding, Ding!

CRYBABY: Here is your winner, Jenna Sharpe!

“Missile” by Dorothy cued up and Jenna got her hand raised to a massive pop. Josie sat on the mat and could not believe that she was forced to submit. After having her hand raised, Jenna turned to Josie and just gave her a nod but Josie spit on the mat at her feet. Jenna just shook her head and slipped through the ropes to head up the ramp.

Some thought it troubling. Others said it was an exercise in deception. The man, James Edwards, would say his smile was genuine.

EDWARDS: I've got a surprise for you tonight, Reo, one I hope you will like.

He pushed a cart with a large rectangular item covered by a white sheet.

EDWARDS: I know you said on Twitter you liked my other two gifts, but I'm not sure that you did. You still seemed so angry with me at the end of Conviction. It made me feel sad that you had to hit me and then powerslam me. I'm sorry, I promise I am.

The Burning Heart stopped walking and eyed the ground.

EDWARDS: But I just couldn't hit a friend, not when it wasn't necessary. Not in a fight that didn't mean anything. I didn't want to get banged up too bad. As dumb as it may sound, I've been saving myself for you. I messed up bad and got hurt earlier this month. I almost blew our chance at a friendship. I didn't want to ruin it anymore than I almost did. I wanted you to get the very best of me, tonight and tonight only. I just didn't do a very good job. I made you madder and got hurt again. I'm sorry, Reo, I really am. But I'm going to make it up to you.

He tugged off the white sheet to reveal a colossal sheet cake decorated with the main event poster.

EDWARDS: When the time is right, we'll cut the cake and cement our friendship.

"The Burning Heart" looked up and smiled again. Some would call it unsettling, just like his actions over the past few weeks. However, James would contend that they, like his smile and friendship with the world champion, were, in fact, genuine.

The scene opened with The Runaways and Bert Cocaine, the boys still looking scummy as ever and Bert still clad in goalie wear. All three of them found themselves at a Home Depot staring upwards at a display wall with ladders of all sizes from one end of the aisle to the other. Bert pointed up with his hockey stick.

BERT: Tell me about that one.

All three of them turned their attention to the employee who stood awkwardly next to them.

HD EMPLOYEE: Uh… well… what did you want to know about it?

BERT: Well there’s a couple things I guess. You see my boys here, they’re champions. And they’re fittin’ to be double champions. So what we need is one that is gonna hold all that gold and all that talent when they sit right there at the top and celebrate.

SWITCHBLXDE: We need one that’s tall enough so when we toss muthfuckas off it, I have time to hawk a fuckin’ loogie to meet ‘em at the bottom.

ROCCO: One strong enough that when we give these muthafuckas The Blade Runner or Slay Aways off the top, on top of it and fuckin’ through it it’s gonna stand long enough for us to make that climb and rip those straps down and have enough left afterwards to give ‘em another Blade Runner on to it for our own entertainment.

The employee stood there stone faced, processing everything these guys just said but giving no answer in the process. Before he could finish his thought, Switch pointed off into the distance.

SWITCHBLXDE: Yo what about that one?

HD EMPLOYEE: Oh, that one isn’t for sale.

ROCCO: Why not?

HD EMPLOYEE: That one is for store use only.

BERT: So it’s industrial sized? Hmm… you boys thinking what I’m thinking?

SWITCHBLXDE: That thing goes all the way to the top. I bet none of the other ones do that.

ROCCO: Ya but the guy already said it wasn’t for sale.

BERT: Sounds free to me.

All three of them looked at each other and give a shrug before each Sharpe boy took an end of the ladder and they started to carry it out, with much disagreement coming from the store employee who didn't do much other than call for security. The Runaways started to make the break for it carrying the monstrosity of a ladder outside the doors.

BERT: GO BOYS GO! I GOT THIS!

Bert Cocaine yelled out as Rocco and Switchblxde quickly made their way through the parking lot. Bert holed up between the metal detectors slapping each side like goalie posts as two security officers began to bum rush him. It proved to be a worth while distraction as the security got jumbled up in the door with Bert, the three a tangled mess. But before The Runaways fully took off, Bert yelled out.

BERT: GUYS, THEY GOT ME! SAVE YOURSELVES!

The security guards started to muscle Bert a little bit but to their dismay the last thing they heard is the clang of the ladder as Rocco and Switch made the save, clotheslining the security guards back in toward the store allowing Bert and The Runaways to make their grand escape.

CRYBABY: The following contest is a ladder match! The only way to win is to climb the ladder and retrieve all four Tag Team Championship titles! Introducing first, accompanied by Bert Cocaine, the Calgary Wrestling Alliance Tag Team Champions, Michael Sharpe & Switchblxde, The Runaways!

“Liquid Swords" by GZA cued up and The Runaways ran out onto the stage. The camera shifted to show all four Tag Team titles hanging high above the ring. The Runaways marched to the ring and the rampway was lined with ladders. Bert Cocaine followed behind them and was dressed in a very over the top pimp outfit, reminiscent of the entrepreneurs depicted in HBO’s The Deuce. Rocco and Switch slipped into the ring and were ready to get on with this shit.

CRYBABY: Introducing second, accompanied by Shortcut, representing ONI, the OATH Pro Wrestling Tag Team Champions, Zeke Davis & Baz Jacobi, Scum & Villainy!

“The Real Man” by SEATBELTS cued up. The lights took on that standard ONI red hue and the trio of Davis, Jacobi, and Shortcut walked out onto the stage. The three marched to the ring amid a chorus of boos but none of them seemed to give a shit. Jacobi slipped into the ring but Davis remained on the outside...for some reason.

Ding, Ding, Ding!

Following the opening bell Jacobi looked around to see that Davis was still on the outside. Davis held up a finger to tell Jacobi “One second!” and Davis went for a ladder. Jacobi was then blindsided by a double dropkick from the Sharpes. Davis put the ladder on the apron but Rocco charged and hit a basement dropkick that sent the ladder right into Davis’ face. Davis staggered back and caught himself on the guardrail as Bert laughed in his face.

Switch hit Jacobi with a running tornado DDT and then got up to bask in the adulation from his countrymen in the crowd. Switch called over to Rocco and Rocco set Jacobi up in a wheelbarrow lift. Switch put the ladder in place and The Runaways dropped Jacobi sternum first onto the prone ladder with a wheelbarrow cutter combination! Jacobi was forced to roll out of the ring to recover.

MEARS: Who is the best tag team in OATH? We have two sets of titles on the line here tonight and whomever wins will be undoubtedly considered the best.

PETRIE: This is ONI’s world and the Sharpes are the equivalent of garbage men. They walk around with their garbage attitude and their garbage titles -- it’s a disgrace.

I guess Davis thought that his opportunity was ripe because he slipped into the ring and took Switch down with a chop block. Rocco wasn’t having any of that shit because he got Davis up and took him over with a snap suplex onto the prone ladder. Davis screamed in pain and Shortcut was beside himself at ringside. S&V needed to pick up the pace, in that little freak’s opinion.

Switch had rolled out onto the apron, holding his knee and Jacobi was afforded enough time to recover. Jacobi got up onto the apron with Switch and Switch went for a low blow but Jacobi swiftly snapped his legs shut to trap Switch’s arm. Jacobi then spit in Switch’s face, lifted him up and planted him with Dying Light (Fisherman Suplex) to Switch! That one definitely fucked Switch up and both men fell down to the floor.

MEARS: Baz Jacobi with a little payback to Switch.

PETRIE: Remember when Shortcut tazed Bert?

MEARS: Yes.

PETRIE: I hope he does it again.

In the ring Davis had fought back to his feet and poked Rocco in the eye. Davis then dropped Rocco with a sit out jawbreaker and the audience fucking hated it. Davis, didn’t give a good shit what Toronto thought and he went about setting up the ladder. Bert jeered Davis the loudest and Davis just flipped him off. Jacobi slipped back into the ring.

There was a moment of tension between Davis and Jacobi before they decided that this match would likely be a lot easier to write...I mean a lot easier to win if they worked together. S&V both hoisted Rocco up over both of their shoulders and sent Rocco face first into the propped up ladder with the Dirt Nap Dive (Lawn Dart into Middle Turnbuckle)! Rocco dropped and rolled to the outside while S&V quickly positioned the ladder under all four title belts.

MEARS: The first double team from Scum & Villainy. I was not sure that they were on the same page when this contest started but it seems that they are.

PETRIE: I heard some rumors about a little strife between them but it seems like it was all BULLSHIT.

Davis and Jacobi each started climbing one side of the latter but Switch was back in the ring to a massive pop. Switch hit Jacobi with a hard forearm to the lower back and then positioned himself under Jacobi. Switch took two steps towards the ropes and then powerbomb Jacobi over the top rope to the floor. Jacobi landed with an absolutely disgusting thud. Switch then pushed the ladder over and Davis took a pretty rough bump onto the mat.

Rocco slipped another ladder into the ring and then got in there himself. Rocco hit a running stomp to Davis’ midsection and then both Runaways got Davis up and dropped Davis head first onto the ladder with a double brainbuster! That was a brutal move that got a massive pop from The Citadel. The Sharpes then each set up a ladder and began THE CLIMB.

PETRIE: These Runaways are shit heads. This isn’t Alberta rules you fucking losers! You’re gonna kill someone if you keep this garbage up.

MEARS: All four men signed on for this ladder match. They knew the risks.

PETRIE: Yeah but The Runaways are animals! Fucking rabid raccoons or something.

MEARS: Careful there.

Shortcut helped Jacobi up and tried to hurry him back into the ring. Shortcut armed Jacobi with a chair and shoved him into the ring. Bert didn’t seem to like that as he stomped over to Shortcut and raised his pimp cane in protest. Shortcut backed off, not wanting to get slapped around by this apparent street hustler.

The Sunday Morning Regret got into the ring and smashed the chair into Switch’s back, little payback for that dirty (power) bomb. Switch fell off the ladder and landed in a heap. Jacobi rushed up that side of the ladder as Rocco had his fingers on one of the four belts and Jacobi blasted Rocco with a modified Sonic Reducer (Leaping Ear Clap) to knock Rocco off the ladder.

PETRIE: Yes Baz Man! Get up there buddy!

Jacobi reached up for the titles but a desperate Switch got up and just shoulder blocked the ladder, knocking it over. Jacobi hit the mat awkwardly onto his shoulder and screamed in pain. Perhaps a separation. Maybe even a divorce. Davis got back in the ring and grabbed a ladder, he drove it into Switch’s head and then set it up. Davis then set the other ladder up beside it and started climbing both ladders one one side, as if this would give him an advantage. Definitely not a set up for some wild spot.

Davis nearly had the four title belts in his grasp when both Rocco and Switch started climbing the two ladders on the opposite side. Rocco and Switch met Davis at the top of the ladder but Davis nearly had the titles so The Runaways made the split second decision to grab Davis and take him up and over top of the ladders with a double Spanish fly!

MEARS: Good Lord! A spanish fly from the top of the ladder! That could have broken Davis’ ribs!

PETRIE: I actually heard that he had a few of them removed.

MEARS: Why would he do that?

PETRIE: Wait...no...I’m thinking of someone else.

All four competitors were down. Bert Cocaine stared across the ring from the outside at Shortcut. The two seemingly had the same idea as they both scrambled into the ring and started climbing opposite sides of the same ladder. They both reached the top at the same time and immediately started hitting each other with some of the worst strikes you’ve ever seen in your life. Shortcut then grabbed Bert’s head and tried to bite him but Bert reached into his pocket and pulled out a fistful of...baby powder? Instead of throwing it into Shortcut’s face, Bert pimp slapped Shortcut with the baby powder! Shortcut fell right off the top of the ladder and Bert was up there all alone.

The Citadel was electric for Bert and he looked around, positively shocked by said electricity. Bert started to reach up to grab the titles as Jacobi hit both Sharpes with a double dropkick. Jacobi got Davis up and the two grabbed the ladder and pushed it over! Bert landed on the top rope and then fell to the outside.

PETRIE: That’s what you get for pimp slapping poor Shortcut!

MEARS: Bert was trying to help his boys and he paid for it.

PETRIE: Good! Fuck him!

The Runaways were back up and they they both hit a superkick on each member of S&V. Davis and Jacobi both found themselves hanging on the top rope. Bert tried to climb back into the ring, grabbing the rope that Davis and Jacobi were hung up on. Switch and Rocco both charged and took Davis and Jacobi over the top rope to the floor...all four men landing on Bert!

Switch got Jacobi up and laid him on the announce table. Switch kept him there with a few punches while Rocco retrieved their extra special massive orange ladder that they definitely paid for and did not steal from a Toronto area Home Depot. Rocco slid the ladder into the ring and set it up under the titles. The top of the ladder was actually touching the titles.

PETRIE: How is this legal? These idiots should be in jail! They stole that!

MEARS: It seems that they got away.

PETRIE: I am dropping the dime on them right now. When I robbed places I had to go to jail! Why do they get a free pass.

MEARS: Wrestling.

Rocco went to get into the ring to start the climb but Davis was in the ring after him and he hit Rocco with a low blow! Davis then climbed over top of Rocco and started climbing. Switch, got up onto the apron and looked to dive onto Jacobi on the announce table but then noticed Davis. Switch entered the ring and called up to Davis, who had his hands on the titles. Davis looked down in horror as Switch pushed the ladder over! Davis fell all the way from the top down onto the announce table, crashing onto his partner’s head! It was a scary bump and Jacobi’s eyes rolled into the back of his head, he was clearly very hurt.

PETRIE: ...jesus.

MEARS: Davis just crashed and burned right in front of us but Jacobi broke his fall and Jacobi is very hurt. We need EMTs down here immediately, I’m serious.

The Runaways righted the ladder and they each started to climb a side. Once at the top, the Sharpes each took two Tag Team Titles and pulled them off of the apparatus. The Citadel exploded as The Runaways stood at the top of an obscenely large ladder, two tag team title belts in hand each.

Ding, Ding, Ding!

CRYBABY: Here are your winners...AND NEW...OATH Pro Wrestling Tag Team Champions, Michael Sharpe & Switchblxde, The Runaways!

“Liquid Swords” by GZA cued up and everyone in The Citadel was on their feet. Bert Cocaine entered the ring, holding the back of his head but he was eccastic. EMTs rushed to the ring with a stretcher and they immediately put a soft collar around Jacobi’s neck. The Runaways celebrated atop the ladder and although someone could be dead at ringside, the audience was loving it.

ZACK: Welcome listeners to EZ Mornings on CIMX-FM, Ontario’s number 3 top morning radio show. Today’s sponsors are Dead to Rights Brewing Company, Hot Tub Pockets, Westend Capybara Grooming Company, and OATH Pro Wrestling! Speaking of OATH Pro Wrestling my block of co-host Bobby and I, that is Zack as you all should know, got a special guest from Today’s Sponsor.

BOBBY: We’re sitting here today with FM Young, former Tabula Rasa Champion of OATH , to talk about their huge upcoming show Event Horizon II. Let’s talk a little bit about OATH Pro Wrestling, hometown company, they have their arena right here in Southern Ontario, and are in fact one of the biggest companies in Toronto. This upcoming Sunday is their biggest show of the year, which promises all the pomp and circumstance a wrestling company can manage, so why don’t you tell us about the show from the viewpoint of some who’s going to be in it FM?

FM: I’ve made it no real secret that I’m incredibly excited about Event Horizon, not just as a wrestler but as a fan of the sport. So many good matches going on, Coleman V Matsuda, Tanahashi V Emmerson, Edwards V Ojima for the big belt. It’s gonna be a damn good show, all around.

BOBBY: What about your match though? Locke Helms has attacked your friends, stole your bike, crushed your bike, kicked your rodent, peed on your father's grave and said you suck, yet you have done nothing about it.

FM: He kicked Volta? Did I forget that?

ZACK: Are you high?

FM: Not gonna lie, (oh wait, radio no camera’s) yeah. I’m doing the thing with the thumb and forefinger. Little bit...lil' bit. Yeah.

MORGAN: Let’s talk about dat lil bitch though. Whas good, Helms! Hope you’s listenin’!

Welp. There’s the voice of Morgan Payne, followed by the slap of a hand on something. Knowing these two, it was probably her patting FM’s shoulder.

FM: F***** kicked my Capybara...

MORGAN: Kick his f**** nuts out his mouth!

FM: I’mma do just that, Morggy, good idea. Sunday is absolutely about making him pay for that shit. All of it, my goddamn bike which was like the first thing I ever bought on my own. No credit, no loans, just able to pay for outright, ya know? I loved that thing, goddam d***head….The S***...Ooohh, can’t swear, that’s fun. Anyway, he spends two weeks trying to get in my head and I already wanted to fight him. Like I’ll fight anyone, but the little b**** has spent time trying to make this personal. Like his arse beating wasn’t gonna be bad enough. Now I’m pissed, look...I know Helms is a tough dude, right? He changes the people who fight him, Black pissed off entirely, Edwards had several seats, and two psychotic breaks in between that. I hate head games, I’m not good at em, I JUST want to fight. I’m unholy god tough, but Helms is something else…

BOBBY: Yea, he’s the guy you keep letting get away with doing horrible things. I mean what kind of payback did you get for him attacking my favorite wrestler Minoru Tanahashi and that dear sweet girl Super Tiger?

FM: Yeah, I’m really not happy about that either.

ZACK: Bobby, dude she looks like she’s gonna rip your head off and shove it up Helms’s ass.

FM: Helms’ might enjoy that too much.

BOBBY: Hey hey hey, we do not kink shame on this show. I learned that from Minoru, the man who your opponent bludgeoned with a trash can. He deserves payback and he’s trusted you to get it, but so far all you’ve done is beat up the spooky luchador.

FM: Have they found all of.... s*** what was his name? Morgan what was his name?

MORGAN: Ass Tariff…? Ass Thot…? Astaroth! Dat’s it. And no, they ain’t pieced Humpty Dumpty back together again.

FM: That’s good, and likelihood is it’ll take whatever his friends on the other side are awhile to piece Helms back together too once I get done. See, dude is something else, but he’s also really spotty when it comes down to it. Sometimes he just doesn’t seem to give a s***. Chairman of Choas, what a f****** nickname right? Walking contradiction wants to be feared and hated, can’t be arsed to put in the leg work. I want to beat Helms because he’s f***ing tough when he cares and he seems to care now...Tryin to get into my head.

BOBBY: You’re sitting here high off your ass and talking about someone not giving a s***? What a damn joke. This is why I picked Locke Helms when we did our predictions earlier. Zack did too. He’s not gonna admit it, but both of us, our fans, the OATH faithful, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Raptors, and probably even Volta… well HE might still think you have a chance, but I damn sure don’t. How the hell did you even get here today? You’re clearly in no condition to operate any type of vehicle.

FM: Minoru drove, and Morgan rode with. I’m fine, f*** sake, it’s called relaxing a little. I’ve been working my ass to rehab and get into shape enough for this match. F***ing Helms, ruined half my plans. Yeah I wanna take that championship from him, a**hole only took it in the first place because I wanted it. Surprise b**** I’m back and I’m after your shit. All he’s done is make this interesting and personal, I know my share of darkness but me and my inner animal are more Dexter-like. It’s fine to maul Helms, why? He’s a f***ing prick. He and Hell Realm. OATH isn’t gonna be run by factions, and here Helms is trying to take over with ONI light? F*** that. Dynasty’s end on Sunday, including Helms and his new Hell Realm. The Chairman of Chaos is gonna learn you don’t mess with a Tiger.

BOBBY: That’s cool, but did you say Minoru drove you here? Is he still here? Can I get his autograph? Oh oh oh, does he have the Livewire title with him? You think he would let me try it on?

ZACK: Bobby, try to at least pretend you’re a professional. FM is here to talk about her match and those were certainly some harsh words you just had for Locke Helms. I just wonder, if the Hell Realm does get involved, are you prepared for that? Your closest friends, one isn’t signed to the company and the others have their own matches earlier in the night, plus as you said, they are an actual faction and you’re just...

MORGAN: I’mma be there, nobody gotta worry ‘bout dat. Whether or not Tommy Straker likes it.

FM: Morgan will be there, in fact I got something planned for my entrance but sshhhh not gonna spoil it. You got a point though, Zack, they are a faction and I’m just me. It’s gonna take Helms and his entire Faction to put me down, and he’s working hard for it, but I want him to work hard for it. All wrestling has ever been for me is the challenge, Helms is one of the biggest, especially backed by several psychos and possibly actual supernatural forces.

MORGAN: Ain’t Hell Realm fightin' Tiggy an ‘em earlier too? Kick-off show? Still, they could be good to go in time, shouldn’t count em out.

FM: See, they’ve got a match, I’ve got a Morgan. I want that title belt because I SHOULD have had it by now, I was gonna take it from Edwards in the finals, you know what they say about best-laid plans. Doesn’t stop me from being pissed about it. I also want to put Helms down, for everything he’s done and he deserves it but more than that if I put him down? I cement myself more and more as someone to pay attention to in OATH. Bobs’ has proven, I got more work to do.

ZACK: It is certainly a match to look forward to on a very stacked card. As Morgan mentioned the rest of Hell Realm will be in action on the preshow, which feels more like an episode of Livewire. I know I can speak for my co host when I say we are very excited for OATH Event Horizon II. Not sure if I can speak for him when I wish you good luck in your Intrepid Title Match.

BOBBY: No no, I totally wish her luck, she’s going to need it if she has any hopes of winning the match. Hey is that Minoru? We got a commercial coming up, right? I’m gonna go and say hi.

ZACK: Yes we do need to go to our sponsors soon. So I will say thank you to our guest FM Young, and leave it to you for any quick final words. You've got about forty-three seconds.

MORGAN: Yeah, I got some final words. F*** Locke Helms. F*** the Hell Realm. Yer ass belongs to Effy and so does your strap. As for Bobby? C’mere a second.

BOBBY: Wait, what? Oh s***!!

There’s was the sound of a bunch of audio scramble and microphones being hit. What can only be assumed is that Morgan dove over the table at Bobby.

ZACK: Annndddd that’s our show Lady’s and Gentlemen and security...SECURITY...We’ll be right back with Micromanaging with Mable after these messages from our sponsors.

A lone light sat swinging in the middle of a room, glimpses of minimal furniture were caught before two brown boots became the focus of the camera, slowly panning up to reveal Matt Shields, his head a few inches away from the bulb as he stood there with a smirk on his face.

SHIELDS: This is how it’s done, right? Stand here under this stupid light, spout off some lines about how I’m a dangerous man, a violent man, a crazy fucking man. Somehow saying all of that in a dimly lit room or parking lot or some shit somehow makes me more dangerous. HAHAHAHAHA.

As Shields laughed, he spud around, then suddenly headbutt the light bulb, causing the room to go pitch black, but only for a second, as several lights fired on above him, illuminating his personal locker room. The broken light hung there from the ceiling rigged up with duct tape. He shook the glass out of his hair, wiped off a small bit of blood, then licked it off his fingers.

SHIELDS: Hmmm, iron might be a little low.

Shields chuckled again, then went over to a large black recliner, reached into a cooler nearby and pulled out a Dr. Pepper. He cracked it open as he sat down and raised his feet up.

SHIELDS: Yea, I don’t need to do all that. I don’t need to make some elaborate speech or get myself psyched up. Out there tonight, Texas deathmatch, that’s like a singles match for the rest of these fucks. People are thinking I should be nervous or working out or some shit, like lifting weight can prepare you to get thrown through a table or piledriven into tacks or to have your leg wedged between a barbed wire wrapped board and the steel steps as someone slams a sledgehammer into those steps. Some people may need to isolate themselves and survive on rats that they catch but for me, this is all I have to do.

He took another sip of his Dr. Pepper as he grabbed a baseball from the table next to him and began simply tossing it up in the air and catching it.

SHIELDS: People think you’re a monster Holland, and it’s because of your size and some violent matches. They don’t know real monsters though. The real monster isn’t the one who beats someone up and makes the bleed, then wins a match. No no no, a real monster is the one who leaves people broken. Not just physically, but mentally. After this match, I guarantee you will be one of those things. Ojima may have started it, I will end it. I will do things in this match that you didn’t think a human being was capable of doing. I plan to torture you, to make you scream, and I have every intention of breaking your arm, but no matter what, you will never be the same man after this match Erik. Look at me right now, look at how calm I am, and know that as I speak, I am thinking of seventeen different ways to break your arm, and I will not be apologizing to anyone for that.

Shields just sat back and drank his Dr. Pepper, relaxing like it was a lazy Sunday right before he was set to compete in a violent bloody match.

CRYBABY: The following contest is a Toronto Street Fight! There are no disqualifications, no count outs, and falls count anywhere! Introducing first, from Chicago, Illinois, weighing in at 132lbs., “The War Queen” Leah Aguero!

“Killing In the Name” by Rage Against the Machine played throughout The Citadel as the “War Queen” Leah Aguero made her entrance to a mixed reaction. Upon walking out through the curtains, Leah called for the music to be stopped. Looking extremely focused, Leah slowly walked down to the ring sans music, dragging her barbed wire 2x4 with her. Her eyes didn’t even make contact with the fans around her; only dead set on the ring in front of her. Rolling in under the bottom rope, Leah sat in the corner with barbed wire 2x4 in hand just waiting for Finale to make his entrance.

CRYBABY: And her opponent…

Crybaby was cut off as the tron lit up and it showed Finale standing on the road outside The Citadel. He was dressed in a black “Shred ‘Em All” t-shirt, hunter green elbow pads, torn jeans, and black knee pads.

FINALE: Sorry War Queen but I think you missed the memo. This is meant to be a Toronto Street Fight. I’m out here on the fucking street. Now if you are too chickenshit to go full Doobie Brothers and take it to the streets. I understand. But this is where I am, so if you wanna do this then let’s do it properly.

As soon as Leah saw where Finale was she ran up the ramp armed with her barbed wire 2x4. Once backstage Leah commandeered as golf cart and sped off. We cut back to Finale outside.

FINALE: Is she coming? Great. I obviously can’t see the arena. So I’m going to just wait here and cut a scathing promo on her while I wait. I’ve got some really NASTY shit to say about her because this is a STREET FIGHT and that means that we HATE each other. Oh man I almost feel bad for all of the harsh shit that I am about to say about her. It’s vile, it’s rude, it’s --- oh here she is!

Ding, Ding, Ding!

Aguero rolled up in the golf cart at full speed and she jumped out, taking Finale down with a drive by barbed wire 2x4 shot to the cut. Finale dropped to his knees and Aguero was right after him, she grabbed him by the back of the head and went to send him face first into a lamp post but Finale reversed it and sent Aguero into the lamp post instead.

MEARS: In OATH a street fight means that they fight on the street.

PETRIE: I never understood why street fights were fought in the ring. Fucking stupid.

The War Queen was right back up but Finale hit her with Parts Well Known (Feigns a superkick and then hits a Spinning Back Elbow). Aguero staggered down the sidewalk and caught herself on a TTC bus shelter. Finale picked up the barbed wire 2x4 and threw it at Aguero but he missed. Finale shrugged and charged in at her but Aguero sent him face first into the bus shelter, which was advertising the show that they were currently competing on. Definitely unplanned.

Aguero led Finale over to the courtyard of the fan entrance to The Citadel. Aguero smashed Finale’s face into a concrete planter box. Finale stumbled away and Aguero stepped off the planter box and took Finale down with a moonsault. Aguero punched the shit out of Finale before she broke off in search of her 2x4. Aguero took hold of it and then went after Finale, who was putting some distance between them in search of a weapon of his own.

MEARS: It’s a little strange that Finale didn’t come armed.

PETRIE: Guy has been hit in the head so many fucking times that he probably just forgot.

MEARS: That is a distinct possibility.

The two moved down a pathway to the left of the building and down toward the lake! Aguero rushed Finale and swung on him with the 2x4 but Finale kicked her in the midsection and sent her stomach first into a nearby bench. Aguero had the wind knocked out of her but didn’t want to lose momentum so she went after Finale only to get blasted with One Foot In The Grave (Sick Kick) that sent Aguero over the bench.

The Buffalo Butcher got Aguero up and tossed her off of the pathway, causing Aguero to land about six feet below into the sand. Off in the distance we could see a bonfire party. Guess this is a Toronto Beach Fight now. The referee followed along as Finale picked up a nearby log and went to crack Aguero in the head with it but Aguero still had her barbed wire 2x4 and she used it to block Finale’s attack. Aguero then hit Finale in the midsection with it and ripped the 2x4 away, slicing up Finale’s midsection (probably, he was wearing a shirt).

MEARS: That was very unsettling.

PETRIE: It’s street rules motherfucker. Takin’ it to the blacktop!

MEARS: I believe that the courtyard is actually cobblestone.

It seemed like that last brutal shot brought Finale back to life because he stripped Aguero of the barbed wire 2x4 and took her down with a Lou Thesz press! Finale then started hammering Aguero in the forehead with the 2x4. After a sufficient amount of shots (according to him), Finale started grinding the barbed wire into Aguero’s face, busting her open further.

Finale started leading Aguero down the boardwalk toward the beach party. The Buffalo Butcher does love a sip now and again so maybe he was hoping that he could get him a little bit of the...beer. The crowd at the party started drunkenly cheering as the two competitors marched into the fray. Aguero fought back with some strikes to Finale’s midsection and then she stole a beer bottle from a party goer and smashed it over Finale’s head.

MEARS: Never leave your drink unattended.

PETRIE: Yeah someone may use it as a weapon.

The Buffalo Butcher fell into the sand and he was busted open. More fucking blood. Aguero then approached a table that was covered in drinks and she picked up a case of Dead To Rights Witch’s Brew stubby bottles. One bro that was there yelled “Hey that’s for everyone!” but Aguero clearly did not give any semblance of a fuck.

The War Queen held the case overhead and looked to slam it on Finale but he rolled out of the way and threw a fist full of sand into her eyes. Aguero staggered around blinded as Finale got to his feet near the bonfire. Finale grabbed a log, which was on fire on one end. Finale then walked over and smashed Aguero in the head with the flaming log. Finale tossed it away and hauled Leah up to her feet.

PETRIE: Is this moron for real? A flaming fucking log?

MEARS: I thought it was blacktop rules?

PETRIE: They are on the beach!

The two were back near the drink table and Finale called for the end. Finale grabbed Aguero with one arm and then lifted her up and dropped her through the drink table with a uranage! The party goers actually loved it, save for the one guy who just saw all of his beer tossed into the sand only moments earlier. Finale covered.

1..

2..

..!

MEARS: You have to believe that the sand broke her fall somewhat.

PETRIE: The table sure didn’t.

Amazingly Aguero kicked out. Finale didn’t seem surprised, more annoyed that his stomach was bleeding and probably covered in blood and sand. Like that show. Finale dragged Aguero over to another table where some (likely shitty) DJ was pretending to mix on a board that was not even plugged in. Aguero broke free, shoved Finale back and then hit him with a big boot that sent Finale into the fire pit! Luckily the force of it sent Finale through the fire but the damage was done, his shirt was lit up.

MEARS: Finale is on fire! Literally!

PETRIE: Oh just a bit, calm down.

Finale rolled in the sand to put himself up and this gave Aguero the opportunity to charge and nailed him with The Endgame (Running Punt)! Finale was cracked in the side of the head and still smoking as Aguero fell into a cover.

1..

2..

..3!

Ding, Ding, Ding!

CRYBABY: Here is your winner, Leah Aguero!

The shitty DJ cued up “Killing In The Name Of” by Rage Against The Machine and the party goers all cheered. Not because they liked Aguero, but because they were wasted. One bro tried to raise Aguero’s hand but she punched him in the face and walked off. Finale lay in the sand being checked on by the referee. The Buffalo Butcher was barbecue.

A lavishly decorated skybox. There are trays of canapes lining a long catering table that is dressed in the finest linens and topped with ornate centerpieces. There are various people milling about, wearing tuxedos and designer dresses. Standing away from the horde is OATH President Thomas Straker. He stands, looking out at the fans and the ring below.

His emotionless expression shifted when he was joined by his wife Clara Barlow-Straker and their young daughter Bella. Straker lifted the toddler up to give her a better view of the arena.

CLARA: I must admit, my love, this is all very impressive.

STRAKER: Yes. It is.

CLARA: You should be proud. All of your hard work saved this company. Father is very proud, you do know that right?

Straker scoffed and accepted a glass of scotch from a waiter. Straker took a dip sip and exhaled.

STRAKER: And yet he could not bring himself to attend.

CLARA: He had business in Tucson. But someone else is here.

Clara directed her husband’s attention to a meak looking man standing behind them. Straker turned to see his brother-in-law, the former President of OATH, Oscar R. Barlow. Not one to follow convention, Ozzy was dressed in a paisley suit that was in desperate need of pressing.

OSCAR: Hello Tommy. Hello Bella.

Oscar looked good, considering that the last time we saw him he had both of his arms broken by members of ONI. Straker set his daughter down and directed her to the catering table.

STRAKER: Oscar...how are you? You look...better.

OSCAR: The casts came off earlier this week. I surmised that it might be an opportune moment for me to return from exile. I did not want to miss this grand event.

STRAKER: We are happy to have you here. I am sure it was not easy for you.

Ozzy ignored the second half of that statement. He walked forward and looked out into the crowd. There was a hint longing in his gaze as he surveyed every aspect of the elaborate state set up.

OSCAR: You have done a great job with this.

Ozzy gestured to the arena and the grand stage design for the evening’s event.

STRAKER: I merely built on what you already established. OATH is yours Oscar.

Ozzy chuckled. He certainly didn’t feel that this was still his. The excitement that he felt nearly two years ago was gone, replaced by deep regret. Tommy knew this but was doing his best to comfort his brother-in-law.

OSCAR: It was mine. When...the incident happened to me two months ago...they did not just break my arms Tommy.

He dropped his head in shame and his voice trembled.

OSCAR: They broke my spirit. I am not like you, I do not have the resolve that you do. I do not know how to insulate myself. You should have been President from the start.

Ozzy looked away, clearly doing his best to stifle tears.

OSCAR: They broke me Tommy.

Straker set down his drink on a nearby table. Clara loved her brother but she knew that this was not a conversation that she should witness and went about wrangling her daughter who was already making a mess of the catering table.

STRAKER: So what now then Ozzy? You’re here to do what, just run away? That is the play? You just...run and hide your head in the sand like some fucking coward. No Ozzy. No.

Ozzy seemed taken aback by Straker’s directness. He shouldn’t be, Straker was a shrewd businessman and had no time for tact.

OSCAR: What would you have me do?

STRAKER: I would have you stand up. You do not want to be President again? Fine. But you need to face the son of a bitch who did this to you. You are going to that ring tonight and you are going to watch the main event from the best seat in the house. You are going to show Reo Ojima that he did not...in fact...break you.

Ozzy sniffed.

OSCAR: I do not think I can do that Tommy.

Straker grabbed his brother-in-law by the shoulders and forced him to make eye contact. Straker was taller, more physically imposing. These traits helped him greatly in his professional life in the past so he assumed that they would help him in his personal life now.

STRAKER: It doesn’t matter what you think. What matters is what I know. I know that you came into this business as a positive individual looking to create something of your own. That was not a mistake. That is not to say that you did not make one, you did. You thought that these athletes were your friends. They are not. They are animals. They are brutal, uncaring, and their only desire is to get to the top. When ONI attacked you, they sent a message to the world that OATH is Reo Ojima’s company.

Ozzy knew that Straker was right but it was still difficult to hear.

STRAKER: I do not care about the wrestlers in this roster. I care about this company succeeding. You are right, I am successful because I insulate myself from them. OATH is not run by the wrestlers, despite what Ojima would have everyone believe. This is our company Ozzy.

Straker gestured to the arena.

STRAKER: You still have a role to play in this company, I want to make you an Executive Vice President. You deserve that. Your father won’t like it but it is my decision. However, I will not do that until you look Reo Ojima in the face and let him know that The Barlow Family runs this company...not him. What do you say?

Ozzy’s gaze drifted down to his feat, but only for a brief moment. Ozzy looked back up and met Straker’s eyeline before the scene cut.

CRYBABY: Wrestling fans the following contest is set for one fall and it is for the OATH Pro Wrestling Intrepid Championship! Introducing first, accompanied to the ring by Morgan Payne, from Seville, Spain, weighing in at 210lbs., “The Tiger” FM Young!

The audience popped for Young but they were drowned out by the sound of a revving engine. "Helix" by Amaranthe cued up and a Ducati Monster 1200 S rolled out onto the stage, painted in black and gold. Payne was driving and Young was seated on the back. Looks like Payne used whatever connections she had to call in her own whip for this event. They rolled down to the ring and Young hopped off. Payne grabbed the back of Young’s head and they met forehead to forehead before Payne gave Young a sportsman pat and Young slipped into the ring.

CRYBABY: Introducing second, accompanied to the ring by Astaroth, representing The Hell Realm, weighing in at 235lbs, he is the OATH Pro Wrestling Intrepid Champion, “The Chairman of Chaos” Locke Helms!

"Heavy Grind" by Enigma TNG cued up and the lights turned to a blue hue. Astaroth creeped out onto the stage and held the curtain open. Helms slinked out to the top of the ramp with the Intrepid Title around his waist. The Citadel booed the everloving shit out of him but he did not care. Helms kept a deliberately slow pace as he walked down the ramp. Helms and Astaroth passed by Payne, who sat on her Ducati. Helms smirked, gave her a little wave and then walked up the steps. Helms entered the ring where Young was bouncing back and forth, warming up. Helms handed off the Intrepid Title to the referee.

Ding, Ding, Ding!

The bell rang and we could see Payne on the outside, hop off her motorcycle and pull a baseball bat from the abnormally large saddle bag. Payne pointed it at Astaroth who had no response because...he’s wearing a mask. He was probably scared. Hard to say.

In the ring the match began and Young stomped over to Helms only for Helms to stick his body through the ropes and beg off. This wasn’t really a cowardly act because the champ did it with a smile on his face. Young wasn’t about to buy in so she backed away and let Helms have his fun. Helms got back into the ring and then approached Young, speaking softly.

MEARS: I wonder what Helms is saying?

PETRIE: Probably something insanely spooky. So spooky that if we heard it, we would cower in fear. I’m actually happy that we don’t get to hear what he’s saying.

MEARS: Are you being facetious?

PETRIE: I don’t even know anymore man.

Helms and Young stood face to face and Helms slapped Young in the face like the absolute prick that he is. Young immediately speared Helms to the mat and started clobbering him like a smaller version of The Thing (Fantastic Four...not the John Carpenter creation). Helms welcomed the shots and he easily bucked Young off, which sent her headlong into the middle turnbuckle. Young caught herself and quickly turned around to see Helms just sitting on the mat, staring at her.

The Chairman of Chaos welcomed Young to come at him and against her better judgement, Young charged in looking for a running PK but Helms caught her leg and rolled backward into a single leg Boston crab! Young was able to quickly roll onto her back, twisting her legs, and she picked Helms’ leg, putting him face down on the mat.

MEARS: The technical prowess of the Intrepid Champion is on the display here. Young needs to be careful about rushing in on the champion.

PETRIE: He is outsmarting her and goading her in. That’s why he is the only two time Intrepid Champion. Dude is scary smart.

Young hopped forward and applied a laying headlock but Helms fought up to a vertical base and shoved Young into the ropes. Young stopped short on her return and gave Helms a little receipt from earlier with a hard slap. Helms ate it and then turned back to Young, smiling. Young blasted Helms with an uppercut that put Helms on his ass and roused The Citadel into a chorus of cheers.

The champion was reeling as Young shoved him into the corner and peppered him with a series of body shots. Young then walked Helms out of the corner, talking some serious shit. Young took him over with a snapmare and then hit a flurry of hard forearm shots to the back of Helms’ neck. Young stood the champion back up and took him over with a surprising gorilla press slam.

MEARS: As technically savvy Locke is, FM’s has that prowess when it comes to power.

PETRIE: That was a really weird sentence.

MEARS: Yes I forced it. It has been a long show.

Morgan Payne clapped for her friend on the outside as Astaroth slithered around looking creepy and weird. Young called out to the fans and then measured Helms as the latter got up to his knees. Young went for a thrust kick but Helms caught her foot and then pulled Young into a strong belly to back suplex! Young landed on the back of her head but Helms was not done, he got Young up and hit her with a quick Saito suplex.

Young was face down on the mat and Helms simply put his knee on the back of Young’s neck and kept her there. Helms stared out into the crowd as if this required very little effort from the Intrepid Champion. The Citadel booed the shit out of him but that seemed to give Helms strength. Helms let Young get up and then slapped her in the back of the head.

MEARS: The sheer disrespect from the champion.

PETRIE: He is such a prick. I love it.

Helms was clearly trying to let Young know that she was no threat to his reign and Young clearly disagreed. Young rushed Helms and he low bridged the top rope causing Young to spill over the top rope to the outside of the ring. Helms then sauntered around the ring dusting his hands off. He clearly was not taking Young seriously and that attitude was really drawing ire of The Citadel. And why shouldn’t it? This guy was being a real jerk!

Payne tried to rouse her friend but Young took a pretty hard spill on her head. Helms slipped out of the ring and shoved Payne out of the way. Payne looked to engage Helms but stopped herself, knowing that it would cause a disqualification. Helms gestured for Payne to brush off and Payne was really not pleased. She pointed the bat at Helms but for what? He didn’t give a fuck. Helms lifted Young up in an inverted fireman’s carry and then dropped her spine first on the guard rail.

PETRIE: Fuck yeah! Helms is done fucking around and now he’s looking to hurt the challenger. He has spent weeks fucking her up mentally, not it’s time to destroy her physically.

MEARS: An astute observation.

PETRIE: Don’t use $5 words to describe me man, you know I don’t know what they mean.

Helms rolled Young back into the ring and despite the agony she was feeling in her back, she got to her feet and tried to rush Helms as he was on the apron but Helms caught her arm and applied a rope hanging armbar! The referee applied a five count but Helps wrenched and ripped as much as he could by the count of four.

The Chairman of Chaos released Young and then slipped back into the ring. Young charged Helms again but he caught her and planted her with a capture suplex. Helms then immediately transitioned into an arm bar. Young fought as hard as she could to get out and was able to get her feet on the bottom rope. The referee didn’t see it right away and Astaroth pushed Young’s boot off the rope! That was enough for Payne to advance on him.

MEARS: Here we go. Morgan Payne waited for Astaroth to do something shady and now she’s gonna stop him from doing anything else.

PETRIE: Leave him alone! He has suffered enough!

Morgan Payne chased Astaroth around the ring with the bat but Helms released his hold on Young, charged and hit Payne with a baseball slide that caught her in the side of the head and sent her careening into the announce table. Astaroth then reached into his pockets and pulled out some handcuffs! Astaroth dragged pain over to the ring, lifted the apron and handcuffed Payne to the ring framing.

Young saw what Helms did to Payne and that was the catalyst to let Young go fucking super saiyan. Young blasted Helms with a leaping knee to the back of the head that sent him into the corner and then she hit him with Minoru Tanahashi’s Akihabara Dreams (Yakuza Kick)! Helms got blasted to fuck and he fell to the side, finding himself draped across the middle rope, looking into the audience. Young pointed at Helm’s and then hit him with Super Tiger’s There and Back Again (Tiger Feint Kick)! Helms was blasted back into the middle of the ring and Young covered.

1..

2..!

MEARS: Tributes to her two friends that Locke attacked!

PETRIE: She’s trying the mind games now? Stick to lifting up heavy stuff and then putting it back down Young.

Helms kicked out and the audience was clearly pretty bummed about it. Young was not deterred, she got Helms back up and immediately hit him with Stand Alone Complex (Elevated Gutbuster)! Helms rolled to the side and Astaroth pulled him to the outside. Astaroth tried to hold Helms up but Young was fucking finished with this bullshit. Young charged and vaulted over the top rope with a senton atomico that took both Astaroth and Helms down.

The two Hell Realm representatives were down on the outside and Young got herself an idea. Cue the lightbulb graphic above her head (not really). Young pulled herself up to the apron and then ascended to the top rope. Payne was struggling to try and free herself from the handcuffs as Young leaped off the top rope and hit both Astaroth and Helms with Battery Powered Bombshell (Shooting Star Senton)!

MEARS: Are you kidding me?

PETRIE: She could have killed them! What is wrong with her?

MEARS: It’s Event Horizon. She is putting everything on the line.

Young hurt herself on that one, naturally. But she was able to grab Helms by the head and get him back into the ring. As Young went to re-enter, Astaroth mustered the strength to grab her by the boot. Young simply turned and kicked him in the fucking head. That seemingly KO’d the spooky luchador and Young was free to get back into the ring. Young went for a cover.

1..!

The Tiger was shocked as Helms was able to kick out at one. Payne couldn’t believe that shit either. Young went to hit Helms with a strike but Helms caught her arm and applied a Fujiwara armbar! Young scrambled to try to get to the ropes but Helms was an absolutely madman, tearing at her arm. Young got her foot on the bottom rope but Helms kept the hold on for four beats of the five count. After Helms released the hold he pulled Young up to her feet and planted her with Diamond Rain (Standing Moonsault Slam)!

MEARS: Young is back in control now and we could be seeing the beginning of the end of FM’s title aspirations.

The champion took a moment to plan his next move as he stood stationary. Helms dropped to a knee and then waited for Young to stand up. When she did Helms pounced on her and lit her the fuck up with a serious of knife edge chops that pushed her into the corner. Young shoved him away but Helms blasted her back into the corner with a bicycle kick. Young was absolutely slammed into the corner and Helms followed that up with a flurry of rights and lefts to the midsection.

Helms led Young out of the corner and then dropped her with an expert tiger driver, which we can only imagine that Young took offense to. Helms called for it to be all over when he set Young up for Shadows Over Heck (Exploder suplex lifted and dropped into a modified scoop powerslam) but Young slipped out and hit Helms with a dropkick! Helms was sent hard, face first into the bottom turnbuckle.

MEARS: FM has Locke literally on the ropes!

PETRIE: Get up Helms! She’s gonna eat you man!

MEARS: What are you talking about?

PETRIE: She’s a tiger!

MEARS: Good Lord Bad Mood. That was awful, even for you.

Young ascended to the top rope but Helms was wicked fast and got up to the top rope with her! The two battled back and forth with rights and lefts. Helms then set Young up for an uncharacteristic top rope poison-rana but Young reversed it at the last second into the Human Error Processor (Assault Driver)! Young draped her arm over Helms and the referee made the count.

1..

2..

..3!

Ding, Ding, Ding!

CRYBABY: Here is your winner...AND NEW OATH Pro Wrestling Intrepid Champion, FM Young!

As soon as "Helix" by Amaranthe cued up, Tabula Rasa Champion Meg Coleman and Super Tiger came down to the ring. Super Tiger fished the handcuff keys out of Astaroth’s pockets and freed Payne. The trio then entered the ring and helped Young up to her feet. Coleman and Payne lifted Young up onto their shoulders as Young held the Intrepid Championship high for all to see. What a nice moment. I mean, not for The Hell Realm but tonight was a big fuck you to them.

The muffled roar of a crowd filled the atmosphere of this locker room as we looked in and saw a hulking shadow standing in front of a television set in the corner of the established dressing area. We know full well who--and what--this is, but before we got a chance to speak to the anomaly that is Erik Holland, we wanted to know desperately just what the heck he was looking at.

It appeared to be footage from last year’s Event Horizon celebration of everything in OATH Pro Wrestling, including Erik’s sub-.500 performance which was capped off by Holland defeating Ryan Terror in a Texas Death Match by wielding the famous weapon of his mentor Nightmare. Redrum, the steel chair with wickedly broken shards of glass glued to the seat and backrest..

...was laying at his feet.

He clicked the footage off as his likeness on the screen cracks Terror across the head with that very weapon and walked around it, the camera caught the light reflecting beautifully on such a fearsome weapon. Even behind the empty goggles, Holland almost looked mesmerized by such a tool of violence.

HOLLAND: I forgot your name, my love.

He seized the chair in one meaty paw and lifted it up to his face, the darkly colored glass reflecting his face in all sorts of grotesquely cartoonish patterns.

HOLLAND: You and I, together, once, around this time last year..

Erik scoffed proudly.

HOLLAND: We put OATH on notice, didn’t we? Twisting your beautiful...edges...all around Terror's skull. Seeing him suffer, hearing the crowd roar in anguish and in delight, like they too FELT the pain that he had inflicted on me up to that point and finally seeing him get what he...deserved. I did the right thing that night. I took a bad man, and I tortured him for what he was. I punished him. I made him feel sorry he ever crossed me.

Erik then got a guilty look on his face--what we could tell with the goggles and the mask, anyhow--as he lowered the chair, looking off into space, seemingly still addressing the chair and not us.

HOLLAND: But what happened? Where’d I go? I left you. I ABANDONED you, I abandoned...this. Why? To show people that I was more than what they thought I was--even though I knew deep down in the deepest vestiges of my twisted mind that they’d NEVER accept me. That they’d keep moving the goalposts back. That even if I showed I could wrestle, that I could grab a few holds, it wouldn’t matter--wouldn’t -ever- matter.

Erik almost looked guilty as he sat on his knees in front of the chair.

HOLLAND: She didn’t abandon me. You didn’t. They didn’t. I abandoned MYSELF...

Erik closed his fist tightly around a loose shard. He already has got his hands taped up, though, so it didn't do much to pierce the skin.

HOLLAND: I grew my hair, I put on the paint, I stepped into a mirror universe not my own--and WHY? What did I have to prove? I have had the type of career in OATH Pro Wrestling that should be the ENVY of all who come here. A former World Champion. The number one guy in the business that does not have a title belt. The only man in OATH’s history EVER...to win a Trial By Fire match. I proved nothing by forgetting who I am. Thinking I needed to -change-. I lost my way. And now in this Deathmatch tonight...I wake from that fever dream.

Holland now turned the footage back on, letting it play as background noise. In the distance we could see him driving Terror through a stack of light tubes with the Toxic Avenger as he finally, slowly turned to the camera, and by extension, us. Lyric was dutifully capturing every moment of this intimate conversation.

HOLLAND: You...all of you...YOU wake me from this fever dream. You place a weapon in my hand and shout with a million strong voices that Erik Holland is where he always should have been-risking life and limb for glory and entertainment. All I’ve ever been good at is tearing apart bodies. Yours, Matt. Mine. Somebody else’s. It’s an art form. A way of life, and I left it behind so thoughtlessly. But you...YOU…

He gesticulated with his hands and almost doubled over, barely able to contain peals of sick laughter.

HOLLAND: You gave me an invitation, Matt, and I can’t thank you enough. Attacking me, brutalizing me, threatening to break my arm, EXPOSE me, cost me matches...And then you have the temerity to challenge me to a deathmatch. The rancor that I once had. You didn’t ask for me to call it forth, you DEMANDED it. And now you don’t want to reap the consequences. You laugh and you wave me away and you tell me you aren’t afraid of me. Maybe you aren’t. I don’t want you to be afraid of the MAN, Matt..

Holland clenched his fists tight.

HOLLAND: I want you to be afraid of what I will do. I want you to remember every bit of the pain I put you through tonight. I want you to remember it vividly every time you go to sleep, every time you wake -up-, every match you have whether it’s in front of thousands and thousands of people here in OATH, or in front of twenty-five people in VFW halls at the end of your career. I want you to regret calling me out, EVERY DAY, once Event Horizon reaches its conclusion. Because from here forward, YOU will be the example. From here forward the rest of OATH will think about the things that I did -TONIGHT-...and they will leave me a wide berth. Just like I like it.

Erik nodded savagely.

HOLLAND: OATH is not scared of -this- monster, Matt. Why would they fear something they created? Why would they fear something that would destroy itself to protect them? OATH forged me in their brutal fires, Matt, and they will not fear me! THEY call for your punishment, Matt, and it is what I will do. They have let me out of my cage. At last, at last, they free me...with only one directive. Destroy everything in my path until OATH is safe again. It starts at this Event Horizon...with YOU…

The black-clad, man-shaped incongruity reached up and pressed fingers to his temples, breathing with rage. A growl issued from deep in his belly and he stomped off camera. He was ready.

CRYBABY: The following contest is a Deathmatch! The only way to win is to pin your opponent for a three count and have them stay down for an additional count of ten. In this contest there are no count outs and no disqualifications.

The audience in The Citadel went bananas because they were definitely about to see some blood and guts, which is generally considered very entertaining.

CRYBABY: Introducing first, the manager, this is Lyal "Lyric" Allllennnnn! And she represents, from SILENT HILL, weighing in at 285lbs., “The Haunted” Erik Holland!

Will you tell these fools I'm not crazy! Make them listen to me before it's too late!

The arena suddenly went completely pitch black.

Listen to me. PLEASE listen. If you don't, if you won't...if you fail to understand, then the same incredible terror that's menacing me will STRIKE AT YOU!

WE MUST SURVIVE!

"The Haunted" by Walls of Jericho ERUPTED over the sound system kicking up an air-raid siren style strobelight that pulsed steadily and angrily on the stage. Lyal "Lyric" Allen came bounding through the curtain first rocking her latest outrageous makeup and costume, waving to the crowd and bouncing around like a super-ball. She headed to center stage as she saw her beloved charge Erik Holland almost materializing onto the stage amid the lights and the pouring smoke from behind the curtain.

Lyric was pushing a shopping cart absolutely chock full of weapons to the ring. Inside we could see kendo sticks, a garbage can, a black velvet bag, a spool of barbed wire, and other implements. The manager stops and admires her man as he wanders down the ramp past her towards the ring, completely oblivious to anything other than the prospect of destroying Matt Shields. The loving smile melted away and Lyric puts her game face on as she followed Holland with the shopping cart of destructive implements.

The camera gets a good look at the monster's face--hidden by a pair of black welder's goggles and a black bandanna around his face with a barbed wire design. Holland seemed to be in his own world, tilting his head this way and that to look at the audience in attendance, leaving his fists out to touch knuckles with the fans.

Erik and Lyric stop as they got to ringside, Lyric sharing a stare with Holland as he seemed to wordlessly understand, approaching the steel steps and suddenly, explosively, lunging up them and into the ring. Then he headfaked Crybaby before he pushed his head and upper body through the top and middle ropes as red strobes blazed all over the place. He stares out at the rolling, moshing swarm of fans, Lyric strutted over and reaches up, taking off the goggles and the bandanna--so we could see that face, twisted in a violent snarl, the teeth gritting, the eyes unblinking.

Finally as the chaos started to subside, Holland fell against a turnbuckle pad with his butt on the mat, muttering still, with a thousand yard stare locked onto the entryway. The lights returned to normal and the music faded, as the crowd brought up one last roar ready for the fight.

CRYBABY: His opponent, from Dallas, Texas, weighing in at 235lbs., “The Hellhound” Matt Shields!

The lights went completely black, then the sound of a chainsaw was heard revving a few times before a woman's scream pierced through and we saw a young woman in a yellow bikini run out with blood all over her body. The chainsaw was heard again and someone dressed as Leatherface came through the curtain, chainsaw high in the air, the woman turned around as the lights went completely dark.

Another loud scream was heard, then silence. Suddenly "SAVAGES" by Ice Nine Kills began to blare through the arena as a spotlight shone down on Matt Shields standing there in his tattered jeans, vest, and boots, with a dark brown leather version of his Knightmare King mask, with his kendo stick in one hand and a bloody chainsaw in the other. He set the chainsaw down and went down towards the ring, stopping at the bottom of the ramp he raised his hands and the lights returned to normal and at ringside, there were four metal trash cans at each corner of the barricade filled with weapons. Shields went up the steps, wiped his feet, went to the middle, and smacked his kendo stick on the mat as he stared a hole through Erik Holland.

Ding, Ding, Ding!

The bell rang and it was time to go to hell. Shields wasted no time as he marched right over to Holland and swung the kendo stick like Vlad Guerrero Jr., catching Holland hard on the left side. Holland winced a little but seemed largely unaffected. Shields smirked and swung again, this time hitting Holland in the right side. Once again Holland just ate the shot. Shields took a step back and tapped the kendo stick on the mat before launching himself forward for a headshot but Holland caught the kendo stick and ripped it out of Shields’ hands.

Holland tossed the kendo stick into the crowd, giving a lucky fan a one of a kind keepsake. Shields shot forward at Holland again but Holland simply grabbed him by the throat. As Holland squeezed Shields’ windpipe, he pulled him in close to look him in the eyes. Shields, for a brief moment, looked scared. Holland took two steps and launched The Hellhound clear over the top rope to the floor. Shields landed with a thud and The Citadel exploded with cheers.

MEARS: Erik Holland competed in a Deathmatch last year at the first Event Horizon, which he won. This is his kind of match and it is my belief that we are going to see a return to form for The Haunted here this evening.

PETRIE: Yeah this motherfucker knows what to do in this kind of match. If I’m Matt Shields I am a little worried that Holland is gonna try to kill me.

MEARS: It is entirely possible that Matt tries to do the same to Erik.

The wind was clearly knocked out of Shields as he scrambled to get to his feet. He did so successfully but that didn’t last very long because Holland had vaulted over the top rope and landed on Shields with his near 300lbs frame. Both men lay in a heap on the outside and The Citadel could not believe what they had just seen from the former World Champion. If Shields wasn’t sucking air hard enough before he surely was now.

The Haunted got back to his feet and it seemed like he took no damage from that fall. Holland marched over to the shopping cart and grabbed it by the handle. Shields started to get up using the ring steps and Holland charged the shopping cart toward him, literally looking to crush his skull. Shields rolled out of the way just in time as the shopping cart slammed into the ring steps. Holland took a few paces back and then drove the cart right into Shields’ head.

PETRIE: That could have killed him! Holland is legitimately homicidal.

MEARS: This is Erik’s opportunity to get back on track. Ever since losing the World Championship to Reo Ojima two months ago his career has been in a downward spiral. A win on the biggest stage that OATH has to offer could get him back into the title picture.

PETRIE: That’s true. Now I really hope that he doesn’t win.

Holland started to get Shields up and Shields was bleeding from the forehead. Out of desperation, Shields reached into the shopping cart and was able to take hold of a trash can. He wildly smacked it into Holland’s back which broke Holland’s grip and then Shields smashed it over Holland’s head. Holland was on wobbly legs now so Shields just laid into him with shot after shot with the garbage can. A large dent formed and on the last shot, a jagged edge caught Holland right above the left eye and opened him up.

Lyric tried to check on Holland but Shields snarled and she was forced to back away. Shields hit Holland with a sharp kick to the face that sent a mist of blood into the Event Horizon logo that hung from the barricade. Shields smiled and wiped the blood from his own eyes and then began looking through the shopping cart. Shields pulled out the coil of barbed wire and a sadistic grin manifested quickly. Shields began wrapping the barbed wire around his own arm, very pleased with this idea. Holland clambered back to his feet and was immediately laid out by a barbed wire lariat.

MEARS: Bad Mood what drives men to be capable of this level of violence?

PETRIE: A traumatic past, general dislike for society as a whole, video games.

MEARS: Video games?

PETRIE: Yeah. Rocket League has turned a great many people into psychopaths.

Shields looked down at Holland, who was now bleeding from the chest as well as above his left eye. Shields could be heard saying, “Pathetic”. Lyric then shouted something at Shields and that prompted The Hellhound to move toward her. This gave Holland some time to recover and get to his feet. Shields was likely trying to scare Lyric more than anything and when he turned his attention back to Holland, Holland came at him and dropped him with Plan 9 from Outer Space (Superman Punch)!

Shields was rocked, laying on the outside and Holland stripped the barbed wire from his opponent’s arm. Holland wrapped the barbed wire around his fist and mounted Shields. Holland then went about punching Shields in the face with some deliberately paced shots. With every punch he started going faster, and faster. Shields could not cover up and the gash on his forehead just got bigger, spilling more blood. The fans were cheering loudly but there was a large section that was pretty disgusted. After Holland was satisfied, he stood up and kicked Shields hard in the ribs.

MEARS: It is not often that we see such brutal matches here in OATH. Some of our fans may be having trouble watching this contest.

PETRIE: Then they are normal people! They should be happy that they don’t enjoy seeing this kind of blood and guts.

Holland was on the warpath now as he grabbed a garbage can and smashed it over Shields’ back. Holland then wiped the blood from his chest and face and smeared it all over himself. Holland grabbed Shields a knee’d him in the face a few times before he got his opponent up to his feet. Holland drilled Shields in the midsection with a hard knee and then set The Hellhound up for a chokeslam. Holland hoisted Shields up and sent him crashing down onto the garbage can, flattening it completely.

Instead of covering Shields in an attempt to end this match, Holland wanted to inflict more damage. Holland shoved the shopping cart onto its side and then positioned Shields for a powerbomb. When Holland went to lift Shields, Shields shifted his weight and took Holland over with a back body drop onto the shopping cart. Holland landed hard and left a sizeable dent in the sturdy trolly.

MEARS: What does a type of match like this do to the longevity of a competitor’s career.

PETRIE: Aside from taking years off of their careers, they also will have lasting injuries that future competitors can exploit. Watching this match just lets people know what to target and how to beat both of these guys later on down the line.

Holland lay on the shopping cart, completely prone and Shields saw his opportunity. Shields grabbed Holland’s left wrist and started stomping on his bicep as it rested on the shopping cart. Holland let out in pain but Shields did not relent. With the shopping cart overturned we could see that Holland had Redrum (chair covered in broken glass shards) buried at the bottom. As for attacking Holland’s arm, this is what Shields said that he would do so, really, Holland should have seen this coming.

The Haunted was able to shove Shields away but Shields maintained wrist control. Shields dragged Holland up to his feet but Erik pulled Shields into a bicycle knee and then clobbered him with a clothesline to break Shields’ grip. Holland then reached down and picked up the black velvet bag. He reached in and pulled out the contents which were (to the surprise of no one) thumbtacks! Instead of spreading them on the floor as is the standard, Holland took a handful and shoved them into Shields’ face!

PETRIE: Come on! He could be blinding him right now!

MEARS: Matt Shields wanted this contest, knowing full well what Erik he’s capable of.

PETRIE: So that gives Holland free reign to try and disfigure Shields?

MEARS: I mean...those are the rules.

Grasping at his face, Shields staggered up the ramp. Through the thick layer of blood on Shields’ fae we could see several tacks sticking out of his cheek and eyebrow. Holland followed Shields up to the top of the ramp and we could see that Holland was dragged Redrum with him. Holland smashed the glass covered chair into Shields’ back, opening up a series of small cuts. Holland then grabbed the back of Shields’ head and sent it into the metal framing of the tron.

Shields was in serious trouble now, he crawled the curtain and he was an absolute bloody mess. Holland stalked him and he too looked like a Leatherface victim. Holland slowly stalked Shields as the latter crawled through the backstage area. Holland dragged Redrum behind him and seemed very pleased that he had the bigmouthed Shields literally fleeing in terror. The two eventually found themselves near the exit to the parking lot, which had a large bay window overlooking the staff parking area.

PETRIE: I swear to God if they fuck with my car I am going to march into Straker’s office and quit.

Holland got Shields up to his feet and screamed into his face. Shields could barely see for the blood covering his face. Holland said “I know how to shut you up” and then hit Shields with a throat thrust. Gasping for breath, Shields could do nothing to prevent Holland from tossing him through the bay window with a beale! Shields landed on the outside concrete in a shower of broken glass that got a collective gasp from the audience in The Citadel.

MEARS: No! Oh my!

PETRIE: End this shit! Someone think of the children!

The Haunted walked through the door to the staff parking area and found Shields laying in a bloody pile of glass. Holland slowly approached Shields, once again dragging Redrum. Holland tossed the chair aside and then reached down to grab Shields but The Hellhound picked up a glass shard and tried to stab Holland in the throat! Holland fought back by grabbing Shields’ wrist. Shields dropped the piece of glass and desperately pulled Holland into Greetings From Crystal Lake (Air Raid Crash) onto the concrete! Shields got up to a knee and then fell into a cover.

1..

2..

..3!

PETRIE: Okay great. This is over.

MEARS: Holland does have to stay down for a count of ten for this match to be over.

PETRIE: He’s not getting up from that. He’s not superhuman.

MEARS: But some say that he is supernatural.

PETRIE: Like he’s a big natural?

MEARS: Good Lord.

Shields got the pinfall but now Holland had to stay down for a count of ten. The referee started counting as Shields lay on the concrete next to Holland. The referee reached a count of seven and Holland rolled over, getting up to a knee. Holland stood and Shields could not believe it. Shields stood up to meet his opponent and Holland went for a lariat but Shields grabbed his arm, and was able to blast Holland with Frailty (Ripcord Elbow).

With Holland down, Shields grabbed his left wrist again and started stomping on Holland’s left shoulder joint. Shields hauled Holland up and then whipped him into a parked car. Shields charged in at Holland and went for a Yakuza kick but Holland moved and Shields put his boot right through the driver side window.

PETRIE: I hate this. I want it to be done. I don’t like snuff films and that is what we are likely to see by the time that this is all over.

MEARS: I wonder if we would still have employment after that.

PETRIE: Fuck. We probably wouldn’t. Don’t kill each other! I have boat payments!

Holland brought Shields up onto the roof of the car and the scene was beyond gory at this point. Likely the bloodiest match in OATH history -- just fucking digusting. Holland peppered Shields with some shots but both men were clearly reeling from all of the damage and blood loss. Amazingly, Holland hit Shields with a thigh press, lifted him up, and powerbombed him on the roof of the car! Holland fell into a cover.

1..

2..

..3!

PETRIE: Good. Stay down Shields. It’s over.

MEARS: This is Event Horizon. People have just a little more resolve on this show.

PETRIE: Based on what? The one other time this has happened?

The Haunted dropped off the roof of the car and knelt beside it on the concrete as the referee started the ten count. At a count of eight, Shields slipped off the roof and landed on his feet. Shields then stumbled away and found himself near a wooden enclosure of sorts. Holland let out a primal roar and charged, spearing Shields through the wooden fence! The wall collapsed and we saw that the enclosure housed...dumpsters!

Looking to finish Shields off, Holland walked Shields up some wooden pallets, using them as steps to climb up to the top of the dumpsters. These were NO REGULAR DUMPSTERS. They were about ten feet high...because this is an arena after all. Holland pulled Shields up to be standing up on top of them but Shields grabbed Holland’s arm, wrenched it with all of his might and sent Holland face first into the lid of the dumpster.

PETRIE: That arm could be the cause of Holland’s downfall.

MEARS: Shields did say that he was going to break it tonight.

PETRIE: As if all this gore and bullshit wasn’t enough.

The two competitors stood atop the irregularly large dumpsters with the moon over Toronto hanging above them. Shields’ body was stained with his blood and Holland’s. Shields got Holland up and took him off of the dumpster onto a stack of wooden pallets with The Necronomibreaker (Top Rope Swinging Fisherman's Neckbreaker)! Holland’s body shattered the wooden pallet and Shields landed beside it. Shields was able to pull himself up onto Holland to cover him.

PETRIE: Jesus. Fucking. Christ.

1..

2..

..3!

Holland was down and the referee started counting. Shields tried to stand but he fell back into the dumpster, catching himself. Shields watched, wiping the blood from his eyes as the referee reached the count of ten and Shields was the winner.

Ding, Ding, Ding!

CRYBABY: Here is your winner, Matt Shields!

As soon as the bell rang, Shields collapsed. We got a shot from inside the arena and everyone in the audience was on their feet, applauding these two sick fucks. Although Shields won, this match was more about who survived and the audience was showing respect for both of them for the mayhem that they presented.

Backstage in a little corner of the building that was away from everyone, The Stone Gargoyle Reo Ojima stretched up against a wall. The old man isn’t as flexible as he used to be and takes a little bit longer to loosen up before a match these days. Laying on a shipping container was the OATH World Title. Next to that was a white towel that has a mouth guard on top of it. And next to that, a lit cigar.

Pushing off against the wall, Reo turned around and noticed the camera crew pointing the camera at him. Annoyed, Reo slowly walked over to his cigar and placed it in his mouth as he addressed the camera.

OJIMA: When I first showed up to OATH the locker room was the drizzling shits. No real leadership or protocol to enforce. Wrestlers would leave trash everywhere and no one knew how to be professional with their locker room edicate. At first I bit my tongue because I was the new guy, but as weeks passed the old timer in me started to come out. See, I came from a generation and an upbringing that acted like a professional in the back. So ONI and I started to enforce some common sense laws. Called people out. Got in their face and challenged them for being a dumbass. I wasn’t a favorite at first but I set up law and order that people started to pay attention to and follow.

Reo paused as he takes a few puffs and let the smoke escape his mouth.

OJIMA: Under my reign and my law and order I got rid of assholes that had no purpose for being here. OATH has changed a lot, for the better, but we still have some work to do. Assholes in the back need to learn their place and shut their mouth if they want to continue to be here. Under my rule OATH will be respected in this industry, either willingly or kicking and screaming like the cry babies that they are.

Killing the cigar by smashing it on the shipping container, Reo grabbed the towel and placed it around his neck while placing the mouth guard behind his ear.

OJIMA: Speaking of kicking and screaming, that’s what you were doing the last time we faced one another in singles competition, Ed? You couldn’t beat me the last time we fought, so you have to play some stupid mind games now? I’m an old fart Ed, no need to play mind games with me. You have youth and energy on your side while I’m just a broken body with only a few years left in my wrestling career. But because you’re a hack you’ll play games a child would play and it’s pathetic.

The OATH World Title shined as Reo picked it up and held it in front of the camera.

OJIMA: That’s why I can’t let that joke of a human being Edwards win. If he wins then OATH goes right back to the shit hole it once was under the lazy eyes of Black and Holland. OATH will be mocked again and most likely laughed out of foreclosure. So everyone on the roster better pray to this ONI that I don’t lose this title anytime soon, because once I lose this place goes under.

Reo gave one final smug look into the camera before walking off.

OJIMA: You may not like me. You may hate my guts and wish the worst out of me. I don’t care. I’ll sleep well either way. But the entire roster, including Ed better respect me because without me and this title in my hands OATH wouldn’t be here today.

It was time for the main event and the fans were ready. A hush fell over the crowd, they knew that only one match was left and it was for all the marbles. “When The Levee Breaks” by Led Zeppelin piped out over the speakers and the audience was unfamiliar with whomever’s theme music this was. The mystery was solved when OATH President Tommy Straker walked out onto the stage, to a mild pop. Straker then turned his attention to the curtain and out came Oscar R. Barlow, who I guess was now the new OATH Vice President.

Ozzy seemed taken aback by the loud response from the fans in The Citadel. Tommy and Ozzy made their way to the ring and after passing by the announce position, where Matt Mears and Ben Petrie gave the executives a standing ovation. Tommy and Ozzy sat adjacent to the timekeeper’s table and waited for the match to begin.

PETRIE: I guess the new VP is no pussy!

MEARS: I applaud his bravery.

PETRIE: Bravery, stupidity -- often confused.

The house lights went down, and the arena stayed black during the garbled opening guitar riff, then, "Okay." "My Name Is Human" by Highly Suspect cued up and strobe lights moved with the easy beat of the song. “The Burning Heart” James Edwards appeared at the top of the ramp with the hood on his ring jacket up. He took a few moments to survey everything before him. The hood went down with the opening lyrics. Moving with the meandering pace of the music, his eyes never left the ring. He lapped the squared circle, and passed by the executives without acknowledging them. Edwards slid under the bottom ropes, and bowed martial arts style to all four corners before settling into his own.

“The Real Man” by SEATBELTS played throughout the arena as OATH World Champion, “The Stone Gargoyle” Reo Ojima made his way out from behind the curtain with a black towel around his neck, a black mouthpiece behind his ear and the World Championship around his waist.

A lit cigar hung out of his mouth, smoke came out and rose to the ceiling. Scanning the crowd, Reo pulled the cigar out of his mouth and tapped it a few times to knock the ash off before putting it in his mouth and making his way to the ring. Stepping inside the ring, Reo stood in the center and looked at the ground while black, red, and white streamers filled the ring. Ripping the streamers, Reo made his way to a corner turnbuckle where he tossed the towel and the cigar to a stagehand.

CRYBABY: Wrestling fans it is now time for our main event of the evening. The following contest is scheduled for one fall and it is for the OATH Pro Wrestling World Championship!

The referee collected the championship from Ojima, who essentially threw it at him. The referee showed it to Edwards and then held it up high in the center of the ring.

CRYBABY: Introducing first, the challenger, from Lexington, Kentucky, weighing in at 240lbs., he is the 2020 Event Horizon Series Winner, “The Burning Heart” James Edwards!

A pop for the champion from the fans in The Citadel. Edwards moved to the middle of the ring and held up one arm as Ojima watched on.

CRYBABY: And his opponent, from Tokyo, Japan, weighing in at 239lbs., representing ONI, he is the reigning and defending OATH World Champion, “The Stone Gargoyle” Reo Ojima!

There was actually a small pop for the champion. Ojima did not move from his corner, he grabbed the mouthguard that was placed behind his ear and put it in his mouth. Ojima appeared to grin but he was likely just making sure it was in place. The champion cared deeply about his dental health.

Ding, Ding, Ding!

The two competitors moved cautiously toward the middle of the ring. Ojima said something inaudible, likely due to the fact that his English isn’t great and that he was wearing a mouthguard. Ojima presented his left cheek to Edwards, essentially giving him an open shot. Edwards just stared into Ojima’s eyes and shook his head.

PETRIE: He is still doing this shit? You know I thought once he actually got to the marquee match of the biggest show of the fucking year that Edwards would maybe reconsider this whole pacifist bullshit that he has towards the champion but I guess I was fuckin’ wrong.

MEARS: I do not understand how James is willing to throw this opportunity away like this. It is incredibly disrespectful to every single wrestler in the back who is chomping at the bit for an opportunity like this.

PETRIE: I can’t believe that this motherfucker is going to ruin the main event like this.

Ojima seemed disappointed but that didn’t deter him from blasting Edwards with a lariat that had Edwards land hard on the back of his head. Edwards rolled back to his feet but he got Quasimodo’d, his bell was rung. Edwards backed into a corner but Ojima was after him. Ojima presented his left cheek again but Edwards refused to accept the free shot.

As Ojima was trying to egg Edwards into hitting him, a production assistant came down the ramp wheeling a long cart covered in a sheet. The PA parked the cart at the bottom of the ramp and then pulled off the cloth to reveal the cake that Edwards had bought for Ojima, depicting the main event poster on top.

PETRIE: This is just getting worse with every passing second. If Edwards hasn’t hidden a fucking tire iron in that cake then I may just go in there and kick his ass myself.

MEARS: Is that your plan? With the two top executives sitting next to us?

PETRIE: Fuck them. I’ll answer to Monty Barlow -- the CEO.

The Stone Gargoyle was growing tired of Edwards’ bullshit. It was clear that the World Champion wasn’t falling for this whole “friendship” routine that Edwards was selling and Ojima was trying to force Edwards’ hand. He wanted to get to the “prestige” of this little trick. Ojima threw a wild lariat and to the surprise of many, Edwards evaded it. Too bad that Ojima just turned around and threw another lariat that connected perfectly and dropped Edwards on the back of his neck yet again.

The camera got a nice shot of Edwards’ eyes, nearly glazed over as he lay on his stomach. Ojima stood over the challenger and then started stomping on his left shoulder blade. Edwards rolled out of harm’s way but Ojima followed him at a leisurely pace. Ojima hit Edwards with another boot to the left shoulder and then stood the champion up. Ojima let out a roar and blasted Edwards with a headbutt that sent The Burning Heart reeling backward into a corner.

PETRIE: Edwards should just lay down and fuckin’ die. This is stupid as hell.

For the first time in the contest Ojima looked over to where Ozzy and Tommy were seated. Ojima gave Ozzy a small wave and then pointed at his own arms before giving Ozzy a thumbs up. The Vice President was looking very uncomfortable while Straker stood there stone faced. Ojima then turned back to Edwards, charged, and hit him with a body avalanche in the corner.

The Stone Gargoyle kept Edwards in the corner and then held up his own hand. Ojima grabbed the back of Edwards’ head with his free hand and then laced Edwards with One Thousand Cuts (Multiple Slaps To the Face). Ojima must have hit him with over a dozen open hand slaps, honestly I lost count. Edwards was rocked as he spilled between the top and middle ropes, bouncing off the apron, and came to rest face down on the outside.

The champion stood in the ring, hands on his hips, shaking his head as he looked down at Edwards. Ojima turned back to look at where the executives were sitting. Ojima gestured to Edwards and then shrugged, as if to say “really?”. Ojima moved to the outside and stalked Edwards, who was now back up to his feet. Edwards was standing beside the cake and he asked Ojima, as he tried to catch his breath, “Want a slice?”.

PETRIE: Are. You. Fuckin’. Kiddin’. Me?

MEARS: Apparently not?

PETRIE: This isn’t a fuckin’ birthday party you dunce! This is Event Horizon!

MEARS: It seems that he does not care. I do not understand.

It was clear that Ojima took offense to Edwards’ ongoing bullshit so he charged at the challenger. Edwards made no indication that he was going to move until the very last second when he caught Ojima with a drop toe hold that sent the champion face first into the cake! This got a pop from the audience that only increased in volume when Edwards caught the champion with a chop block to the left knee.

MEARS: Finally! I think we have a match Bad Mood!

PETRIE: I never thought that I’d say this but -- I’m happy that Edwards actually showed up tonight.

MEARS: I think everyone is pleased! The main event is truly on now!

Ojima tried to hobble away but the veil had been lifted and Edwards was (finally) ready to fight. Ojima suffered a series of hard kicks to his left knee before Edwards hit him with a hard chop. Ojima staggered back so Edwards hit him with another, and then another. Edwards went for one final chop and Ojima moved out of the way. Edwards nearly chopped the ring post but stopped short. Ojima then threw a wild punch at him but Edwards caught his arm and turned it into a left shin breaker, but onto the steel steps!

The champion lay on the outside, holding his left leg in agony. Edwards had no life in his eyes as he stood over the champion. Edwards ripped the steel steps away from their position and then put Ojima’s left leg between the steps and the ring post. Edwards kept Ojima subdued with a few quick stomps to the face and then backed away. The crowd all cringed as Edwards charged and hit a dropkick to the steel steps, sandwiching Ojima’s left leg between the steps and the ring post.

MEARS: Not only has James decided to fight but he is brutalising the World Champion here! Reo may have underestimated Edwards’ capacity for violence.

PETRIE: Oh fuck off he did not. He knew that Edwards was gonna pull some shit.

MEARS: And yet it seemed to have worked.

PETRIE: The match isn’t over! It’s barely begun!

The champion writhed in agony on the outside like a fish out of water. Edwards was able to get the champion up and into the ring. Edwards took his time entering the ring, wanting Ojima to fully experience every second of pain. When Edwards got into the ring, Ojima was up to his feet, albeit hobbling. Edwards darted at the champion looking for another chop block but Ojima turned at the last second and drove Edwards into the mat with a double a spinebuster. Ojima immediately covered.

1..

2..

..!

MEARS: A brutal spinebuster but the challenger was able to kick out.

PETRIE: How much did those opening minutes hurt Edwards? He got his ass kicked willingly for the first little while there.

MEARS: That was a gamble without question.

The Burning Heart was able to kick out and most of the audience was pleased to see it. Ojima kept Edwards on the mat and mounted him. After some heavy ass grandpa punches to Edwards’ face, Ojima got the challenger up and even with a bad leg, he was able to get Edwards up and drop him with an ushigoroshi! Ojima covered once again.

1..

2..

..!

Edwards was able to kick out again but that did not deter the champion. Ojima went about stomping on Edwards’ left arm a half dozen times before Edwards rolled out of dodge. Edwards pulled himself up using the ropes and Ojima rushed him. Edwards sidestepped a lariat attempt and then kicked Ojima’s left leg out of his leg. Ojima dropped and the old man was seriously hurting. Edwards glanced over at the executives with a “this your champion?” kind of expression.

MEARS: The challenger is feeling mighty confident right now.

PETRIE: It’s gonna cost him. Ojima is not a man to be fucked with.

MEARS: I have a feeling that James is very aware of that.

PETRIE: Apparently NOT. Because he DID fuck with him.

Never one to stay down for too long, the champion rose to his feet but faltered with each step. Ojima gestured for Edwards to bring it on but the challenger just planted his feet and returned the gesture. Ojima scowled and shot for Edwards, only for the challenger to hit the ropes behind Ojima and then took Ojima down to the mat with a running STO. Edwards immediately tried to transition into the Wildfire (Heel Hook) but Ojima threw some wild kicks backward. Edwards went to plan b and applied an ankle lock on the champion’s injured left leg.

Ojima was in a bad spot, perhaps the worst spot we’ve seen since he became champion. The old man started crawling toward the ropes but Edwards was applying some SERIOUS torque to the champion’s left leg. However, Ojima was the stronger of the two and he summoned his dad strength to crawl and reach the bottom rope. Edwards broke the hold but then immediately jumped into the air and came down on Ojima’s left leg with a jumping double stomp.

MEARS: James has picked a body part and he is exploiting it. If Ojima can not stand that limits a great deal of his arsenal.

PETRIE: I imagine that is why Edwards did it.

MEARS: That is exactly what I just said Bad Mood.

The champion was in serious trouble as The Burning Heart pulled him to the center of the ring and applied a single leg Boston crab. Ojima screamed in pain, but not like a bitch. It was more of a manly scream, like Schwarzenegger or something. Something bad ass. Edwards wrenched back with all of his might but Ojima pushed off the mat yet again and walked on his hands towards the ropes. Edwards released the hold but the challenger was beyond frustrated.

Edwards got Ojima up and rushed the champion into a nearby corner with a running shoulder block. Edwards hit a couple more in the corner to keep Ojima there and then slapped the champion in the face. The audience in The Citadel gasped -- this was something that you simply do not do to Ojima. That was proven quite true when Ojima looked at Edwards like the latter had just insulted his mother. Ojima let out a roar and blasted Edwards with a hard forearm smash.

Ojima spun Edwards around and now had the challenger in the corner. Ojima grabbed the back of Edwards head and started a barrage of headbutt’s to Edwards’ face. With each one a little more blood started trickling out from Edwards’ nose until the bottom half of Edwards’ face looked like he just participated in a no hands cherry pie eating contest. Or something far more x-rated. Edwards was rocked and Ojima finished the onslaught with a huge slap to the challenger’s face.

PETRIE: I knew that this one would get bloody. You owe me ten bucks Mears.

MEARS: I never made that bet.

PETRIE: Fuck wasn’t that you? Who was it then?

MEARS: I can not begin to know.

The Stone Gargoyle walked Edwards out from the corner and then applied an arm wrench. With Edwards doubled over, the champion blasted him with a knee strike to the face and then an elbow to the left shoulder joint. Edwards dropped face down on the mat and Ojima rolled him over to reveal a face sized bloody stain on the mat. Ojima covered.

1..

2..

..!

MEARS: The challenger is nothing if not resilient.

PETRIE: So you’re saying he is nothing? That is mighty rude Mears.

MEARS: You know that is not what I said.

PETRIE: I don’t know nothin’.

MEARS: On that we might agree.

PETRIE: Hey!

Following the kickout we could see that Ojima’s forehead was busted open too. The champion didn’t seem to give a fuck as he limped in place. Ojima stood Edwards up again, applied a hammerlock to Edwards’ left arm and then dropped Edwards on his own arm with a hammerlock scoop slam. Edwards cried out in pain which seemed to delight the champion. The assault of Edwards’ left arm was clearly working.

Ojima took hold of Edwards and dragged him up off the mat by his bad arm. Ojima slapped Edwards yet again and then shot him across the ring with an Irish whip. On his return, Edwards showed his speed superiority by hitting Ojima with a basement dropkick to the left knee. Ojima buckled and once again found himself on the mat.

MEARS: That left knee is in real bad shape. I know that “give up” is not a phrase that is commonly used by anyone when talking about Reo but that may be the case soon.

PETRIE: Yeah right. You’d have to rip his leg off and beat it with him to even keep him down for a two count.

MEARS: I do not disagree. He is a tough old bastard.

PETRIE: Mears...you swore?

MEARS: It is Event Horizon after all.

PETRIE: Fuck yeah!

Edwards mercilessly punched Ojima’s left knee and then stood the old man up. Edwards screamed something inaudible in Ojima’s face and then set the old bastard up forSaka Otoshi (Dragon Screw Leg Whip)! Ojima was able to break Edwards’ grup and then pulled him into his fatality-level move, the Last Call (Running Powerslam)! Due to the hitch in his step Ojima couldn’t manage as many paces as usual but he hit the devastating move all the same. Ojima covered.

1..

2..

..!

In a strange turn, Ojima looked completely shocked. Beside himself even. No one had ever kicked out of the Last Call (that we can remember at this moment, could be wrong) and the audience in The Citadel could not believe it either. Ozzy shifted in his seat, clearly intrigued by this development. Ojima was even more shocked when Edwards sat up and looked him dead in the eye.

MEARS: James Edwards just kicked out of the Last Call! I do not believe what I have just seen.

PETRIE: That...but...what the fuck?

The two men got to their feet and Edwards blasted Ojima with a chop that sent small specs of blood into the air like a fine mist. Ojima responded with one of his own and that sent some of Edwards’ blood into the air. The two went back and forth and the audience cheered louder for each chop. Finally Edwards got the upperhand with a thigh press and then took Ojima down with yet another chop block.

The World Champion was breathing heavy and his leg was, at best, at 15% mobility. Edwards stalked the champion but his own left arm was essentially just hanging at his side. Ojima looked up at Edwards and had the expression of a man about to be executed. But being the tough old fuck that he is, Ojima stood up, on one leg and gestured for Edwards to “bring it”.

PETRIE: This tough old bastard! I love him! What a champion!

MEARS: What a championship match!

PETRIE: These two are gonna kill each other!

Edwards stared at the champion, almost marvelling at his heart. Ojima stumbled a bit and Edwards saw his opportunity. Edwards moved in to strike but the sly old bastard threw a heavy lariat. Edwards saw it coming and was much quicker. Edwards slipped through and got behind the champion, where he hit him with RRE (Reverse Release Exploder Suplex)! Ojima got up on both knees but was clearly dazed and that is when Edwards hit the ropes, only to come back and blast the champion with Night Comes (Hidden Blade)! The audience cheered as Edwards covered the champion and nodded his head with each count from the referee.

1..

2..

..!

PETRIE: Fuck yes grandpa!

MEARS: Ojima kicks out! Ojima kicks out! Ojima kicks out!

PETRIE: He only did it once Mears.

MEARS: I really do hate you sometimes.

Ojima kicked out and the lack of a third count seemed like a prompt for Edwards to quickly transition back into Foxfire (Heel Hook)! Ojima was in the middle of the ring with nowhere to go! Edwards twisted his hips back and forth in the hopes of getting the submission victory. The referee was in Ojima’s face asking him if he wanted to give up but Ojima just grabbed him by the collar and screamed “No!”.

The Stone Gargoyle was in big trouble but no one told him that because he sat up and started dropping hammer fists on Edwards’ bad arm! Edwards let go with his left hand and Ojima grabbed his arm, yanking on it! Edwards was forced to release the hold due to the searing pain in his shoulder joint.

MEARS: That is a veteran move from Reo. Simple and effective.

PETRIE: That was my nickname in high school.

MEARS: Uh…

PETRIE: What?

Edwards rolled backward and was up to his feet but to his surprise -- so was the old man! Ojima staggered toward Edwards and threw a heavy lariat that Edwards was once again able to avoid. Edwards then hit the ropes behind Ojima and went for one more chopblock but the wily veteran knew it was coming and he threw back a mule kick that caught Edwards right in the nose. Edwards crumbled to the mat and the audience could not believe it.

Ojima turned to face Edwards, who was down and out on the mat. The ring canvas had blood stains all over it and Ojima looked out at the audience and threw his own crimson mask. He saw that a lot of them were actually cheering. Ojima hefted Edwards up to his feet and then set him up for a second Last Call (Running Powerslam) but his knee buckled.

MEARS: Reo can’t hit the Last Call! This is the opening that James needs!

PETRIE: Come on old man!

Edwards slipped off of Ojima’s shoulders and tried to pick the champion’s left leg but Ojima threw back another mule kick. Edwards was out on his feet when Ojima slipped behind him, applied a waist lock and took Edwards over with Ojima Special (Chaos Theory into an Armbar)! Edwards was trapped in the middle of the ring and the damage done to his left shoulder was too great to endure this hold for too long. He was forced to submit on the biggest stage that OATH has to offer.

Ding, Ding, Ding!

CRYBABY: Here is your winner by submission...AND STILL OATH Pro Wrestling World Champion, Reo Ojima!

“The Real Man” by SEATBELTS cued up and the audience actually cheered. It was a hard fought match and they had respect for their champion. Ojima had dropped to a knee and blood fell from the gash on his forehead into a puddle that was forming on the mat.

MEARS: We have our winner. What an incredible contest.

PETRIE: That may be the best World Title match I’ve ever fuckin’ seen. Holy shit!

MEARS: The man holding the title really earned it here tonight.

The referee called for the World Title belt but Ozzy stopped the timekeeper. Ozzy gestured for the title and then to Straker’s surprise, he started to walk up the steps to get into the ring. The fans could not believe that Ozzy was about to go face to face with the man who called for both of his arms to be broken not two months prior.

PETRIE: Ozzy...don’t go in there man.

MEARS: This is ill advised, even with the rest of ONI being indisposed.

As Ozzy started up the steps, Edwards slowly got to his feet. The Burning Heart held his left shoulder and the look of disappointment in his eyes was unmistakable. Edwards and Ojima stared at each other for a moment before Edwards held out his hand. Ojima accepted it, but it was momentary as Edwards let go quickly and rolled out of the ring.

MEARS: A great show of respect from James Edwards. He is obviously disappointed with not winning but he should not be disappointed in his performance.

Ozzy entered the ring with the title and cautiously approached the champion. Ojima caught sight of him and he himself seemed surprised. Ozzy stood two feet away from Ojima and then stared down into the faceplate of the OATH World Championship as Straker watched from ringside. Ozzy then looked up at Ojima and held out the title.

PETRIE: What in the fuck is he doing?

MEARS: He’s showing Reo who runs this company.

PETRIE: Yeah but does he believe it?

Ojima took the title belt and then Ozzy grabbed the champion’s wrist. There was a moment of tension before Ozzy held Ojima’s arm in the air. Pyro exploded from the light rigging above the ring and the shot pulled out to show the fans giving Ojima a standing ovation. Ojima retrieved his cigar from the stagehand and lit it with a Zippo that he had been given from the referee. Ojima chomped on the cigar and held his title in the air as Event Horizon II came to a close.

Results:

• Jamie Emmerson def. Minoru Tanahashi; New Livewire Champion

• JC Keeton def. El Diablo Blanco • Meg Coleman def. Stephanie Matsuda (2-1); New Tabula Rasa Champion

• Jenna Sharpe def. Josie Wales

• The Runaways def. Scum & Villainy; New Tag Team Champions

• Leah Aguero def. Finale

• FM Young def. Locke Helms; New Intrepid Champion

• Matt Shields def. Erik Holland

• Reo Ojima def. James Edwards; Still World Champion