MINORU'S MUSINGS 6

Hi everybody, it’s your old pal Minoru Tanahashi back for another weekly edition of Minoru’s Musings. Wait, what’s that? You’re saying that it can’t be weekly because I missed last week? Okay, now technically you are right, but they were many extenuating circumstances. For one, I got dropped 39 feet through 3 flaming tables, 6 barbed wire boards, and the exposed ring apron. It’s a miracle I can even walk, let alone that I won my match at #OATH3. Oh shit, forgot the spoiler alert. There were other things as well. A friend had to go to the hospital, I bought a new house, I had a 7 way, and I had to go rug shopping for my new house. Still, I would never leave all my loyal readers without my thoughts on the week’s action. I am simply going to do a double edition this week. That’s right reader, I am going to double penetrate you with my velvety smooth assessments. We’re going to do the 2 episodes of Livewire first, and then both episodes of Conviction. This also means, there will 4 MOTS choices and 2 MOTN’s. Alright folks, let’s get started with this double stuff.

LIVEWIRE 2 MUSINGS

Emmerson Vs. Scribbles - Expected result in the dark match

Mancini Syndicate Vs. Ultramega UK - Expected result in dark match 2

Astaroth vs. Shields

Matt Shields is dangerous when he’s calm. Even full of steak and 9 beers, I saw him nearly rip someone’s ear off because they said his tattoos looked stupid. Matt Shields angry means what happened in this match. I’m giving it two stars just because I really dig Shields’ finisher.

Blanco vs. Kincade

I can’t tell if Aaron Kincade is lazy or just not properly motivated. Either way, he has been pretty disappointing since joining Oath. Blanco, strange as he may be, came in looking for a win, took the fight to Kincade, and got the win. Kincade showed flashes where it looked like he might get something going, but that’s all it was. Giving this one two and a half stars.

Marshal vs. Reznik

The first match of the night that was at least somewhat competitive. Kallie brought the fight to Qiyanna and had some good moves, but it became apparent that she was outmatched, pretty soon into this thing. She kept fighting though, showed a lot of heart and toughness. In the end, the better wrestler came out on top and Qiyanna Marshal moved on in the Wildcard series with a win in this three star match.

Cosa Nostra vs. The Runaways

First things first, I don’t care for either of these teams. Cosa Nostra is embarrassing, The Runaways are douchebags. The douchebags were ultra aggressive in this one and win it with relative each. Giving it two stars.

Coleman vs. Mallon

The last Oath match for the rat (although we didn’t know that going in to it), and it was a very short one. Meg Coleman channeled her inner One Punch Man in this one and got the victory. I’m giving this one two stars just for the punch.

Jenkynx Vs. Tanahashi

I would have given AJ a lot of credit, commended his toughness, athleticism, aggression, and absolutely stiff striking. Unfortunately, he couldn’t handle losing, acted like a little bitch and tried to injure me. I’m still standing though, and I moved on in the tournament.

LIVEWIRE 3 MUSINGS

Keeton vs. Lapalm

Expected result in the lone dark match

Loco vs. Shields

Another beat down by the deranged Shields, and I’m starting to feel really bad for some of his opponents. This poor masked man never stood a chance, and once again Shields finishes him with that devastating finisher of his. Another two star match.

Kincade vs. War

This match was shit, okay. Neither one of these guys seems to really give a damn and neither of them deserved a win. War got it, but played around way too damn much. He showed flashes of brilliance, but then he would get complacent or too damn arrogant, and I just don’t give a crap about these guys. One damn star.

Emmerson vs. Jenkynx

This one was good, and the right person won. AJ might be a little bitch, but he’s a large athletic man with some damn good striking and it was on display tonight. What was also on display was Jamie Emmerson’s athleticism, speed, and surprising strength. These two went at it, had a great match, and obviously I was happy to see AJ lose after he attacked me after our match. This one is getting three stars

Mancini Syndicate vs. The Runaways

Well this was a shenanigans filled match. A paid off ref, interference on both sides, and that asshole Bert Cocaine. If you take all that away though, this was a solid tag team match. Unfortunately, the wrong team ended up winning this one and they got to keep the titles that they presumably found in a storage unit. Giving this one two and a half stars.

Blanco vs. Coleman

This was a better match than I expected honestly. No knock to the competitors, well maybe a slight one to Blanco. The masked man showed some skills and it definitely seems like he is getting better and better as the weeks go by, but in the end, Meg Coleman is and was just flat out better than him. Her striking made all the difference in this one and she came away with a big win to push her into the Wild Card tournament finals, where she will meet the winner of our next match.

Marshal vs. Tanahashi

Another week, another Livewire main event, and another win for yours truly. Qiyanna Marshal gave me one hell of a fight, did the smart thing by targeting the ribs, and was close to winning, but experience and maybe a little trickery, brought me the W. Still, it was close and that was one of my favorite matches I’ve had so far in Oath. I would give us the MOTS, but it wouldn’t be fair.

CONVICTION XXVI MUSINGS

Matsuda vs. Terror

Kicking off with the Event Horizon Series, and this match was really fucking good. When you have the MOTN kicking off the show, you know you are in for a ride. Four stars for this one.

Aguero vs. Holland

Continuing on in the series and again we see a size difference and a touch chick with blue hair. Leah absolutely took the fight to Holland in this one, looked close to winning so many times, but the former champion, he’s big, he’s bad, and he’s brutal. His size, power, and his ability to know where he and his opponent are, even when rocked, that gets him the win in this three and a half star match.

Sharpe vs. Wales

GOD DAMN ONI BASTARDS! Fuck Bert Cocaine as well. The more and more it happens, the more I’m convinced that Jenna does want his help and her being “angry” about it is a sham. This should have been an amazing match and there were times when it was. There were times when both these women brought their A-game. Without all the bullshit, this could have been MOTN, five stars, maybe a match of the year candidate. Instead, it’s a three-star match marred by attacks, distractions, and a definite asterisk beside Jenna Sharpe’s name in the champions log.

EMBLEM vs. ONI

First things first. ZEKE DAVIS IS A PIECE OF SHIT! I needed to get that out of the way. As for the match, well you can all guess who I was rooting for in this one. Unfortunately, grumpy old bastard and the taint ticklers won this. The match was exactly as crazy as you would expect a six man tornado tag to be. It was violent, it was fun, wrong team won. Still, it’s worth three and a half stars.

Helms vs. Edwards

The third title match of the night as James Edwards again put his belt on the line in a Horizon Series Match. His back was against the wall thanks to a Matsuda win earlier in the night, and Locke knew it. These two flat out do not like each other and they showed it right from the start. This was a good back and forth match, both men going all out as one was desperate to get back on the winning track, and the other wanted to keep his title and secure B Block. This was a great match, and then The Hell Realm showed up. Technically only one of them got involved, but it was in a big way as it leads directly to Locke Helms stealing the intrepid title and dropping this from four to three stars.

Declan Black vs. FM Young

An absolutely great match and obviously I am a little bit biased on this one, but I was happy to see Effy win. She went through absolute hell and she earned that victory. Earned it because Declan Black is cunning and crafty and took advantage of the injured ribs. Both of them looked like they had the match won numerous times, but it was Effy who snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and swept the A block in this four star match, which also could have been MOTN. I was so conflicted that I flipped a coin.

CONVICTION XXVII MUSINGS

Nyx vs. Sharpe

This was a damn good match. Both ladies brought it and thanks to the guy who got involved in a match on the last show, that douchebag Bert Cocaine was completely neutralized and Jenna’s first defense was legitimate at least. Adrestia gave her one hell of a fight, but the submission specialist used her considerable skills and retained the belt two falls to one in this three and a half star match.

Aguero vs. Holland

HOLY FUCKING SHIT SNACKS! Just go and watch this damn insanity. These two are absolutely insane and I had so much fun watching it. It gets four stars from me.

Scum & Villainy vs. The Umbra Knights

Zeke Davis is a piece of shit, I award him no stars, and may god have mercy on his worthless soul… I mean… FUCK! It was bad enough when the grumpy old bastard had the World title, but now the taint ticklers have pilfered the tag titles. That little worm helped them steal the gold and I just felt sick seeing that. Were in not for that bullshit, this was actually a solid match. Giving it three stars I guess, even though the piece of shit doesn’t deserve them.

Black vs. Helms

The Intrepid title is on the line for the fourth show in a row, but it’s the first defense for new champion Locke Helms, and he’s facing a man he knows very well. Their match at Rapture was insane and one of my favorites of the year. This one was definitely more technical, although the hatred remained and there were plenty of stiff strikes. The end result was also different as Locke Helms picks up the victory and his association with The Hell Realm continues to prove fruitful. Giving this one four stars.

Edwards vs. Matsuda vs. Young

The Event Horizon Series final match, and because of both Edwards and Matsuda getting four points, we get a triple threat. I’m not the biggest fan of ending tournament without singles matches, but it happens and these three did deliver one hell of a match, plus it did have the elimination stipulation rather than first pin. We all know who I was rooting for and god damn did Effy have one hell of a match, as did Matsuda, but you have to give it to James Edwards. He bounced back from losing the Intrepid title and earned the opportunity to challenge for the World title. This match becomes a little difficult to grade when I remember that it ended with my friend being placed on a stretcher, but it was the MOTN, four and a half stars.

Josie Wales vs. Reo Ojima

Another great match with a winner I was less than pleased with. Josie Wales went out and took the fight to Ojima. She didn’t let him play his mind games or get under her skin, in fact, she was able to throw him off a bit. There were several times where it looked like she had the grumpy old bastard down, but he is nothing if not tough. He’s also crafty and strong as a damn ox. Josie has to be commended for this match. She took the World champion to the limit, even if the stubborn old dick won’t admit it. He was this damn close to losing that title and I would have been so damn excited. In the end, those still lariats and kicks made the difference and the grumpy old bastard retained in this four star match.

FINAL GRADES

Astaroth vs. Matt Shields - **

El Diablo Blanco vs. Aaron Kincade - **½

Qiyanna Marshal vs. Kallie Reznik - *** (MOTS - Livewire2)

Cosa Nostra vs. The Runaways - **

Meg Coleman vs. Mary Mallon - **

AJ Jenkynx Vs. Minoru Tanahashi - AJ is a sore losing little bitch

El Caliente Loco vs. Matt Shields - **

Aaron Kincade vs. Tyler War - *

Jamie Emmerson vs. AJ Jenkynx - ***

Mancini Syndicate vs. The Runaways - **½

El Diablo Blanco vs. Meg Coleman - *** (MOTS Livewire3)

Qiyanna Marshal vs. Minoru Tanahashi - I WON!

Stephanie Matsuda vs. Ryan Terror - **** (MOTS Conviction XXVI, MOTN Night 1)

Leah Aguero vs. Erik Holland - ***½

Jenna Sharpe vs. Josie Wales - ***

EMBLEM vs. ONI - ***½

Locke Helms vs. James Edwards - ***

Declan Black vs. FM Young - ****

Adrestia Nyx vs. Jenna Sharpe - ***½

Leah Aguero vs. Erik Holland - ****

Scum & Villainy vs. The Umbra Knights - ***

Declan Black vs. Locke Helms - ****

James Edwards vs. Stephanie Matsuda vs. FM Young - ****½ (MOTS Conviction XXVII, MOTN Night 2)

Josie Wales vs. Reo Ojima - ****