Omega Weekly Awards VI

OWA Champion Finnegan Wakefield at the Cross-Promotional Budokai Tenkaichi Event.

Rising Star of the Week

MONOLITH

If you saw Scotty Adams vs. Monolith at Budokai Tenkaichi, then you will know exactly why the mysterious monster from The Bronx is winning his first ever Rising Star Award. Not only did he almost defeat Scotty on a number of occasions, many would argue that he would have won the belt had it not been for the interference of Caspian’s men. Not to mention that at the end of the match, Monolith stood tall in the ring while Scotty Adams had to be carried out of the Osaka Dome on a stretcher and sent to hospital. I wouldn’t be surprised if Monolith was carrying championship gold himself in the very near future, and he must surely cross paths with Scotty Adams again.

Promo Battle of the Week

MILTIADES VS. ANDRE VIRGO

Andre Virgo now owns the honour of becoming the first non-OWA contracted talent to receive a weekly award. But given the cross promotional nature of Budokai Tenkaichi, this was bound to happen and it is well deserved. Five promos in total were exchanged between these two men in the build for their highly athletic contest for SSW’s Puroresu Junior Heavyweight Championship. Miltiades continued to build the rich mythology surrounding him with three promos that flowed like an epic poem that would make the likes of Homer blush. Meanwhile, the eventually victorious Andre Virgo cut straight to the bone and laid out why he is the only one who can lead the Junior Heavyweight Division in SSW. It was an enthralling exchange that was predictably matched with a hot contest that contributed towards Budokai Tenkaichi being one of the best wrestling events of the year.

Match of the Week

FINNEGAN WAKEFIELD VS MAELSTROM

Was there any doubt here? On paper, a one hour long wrestling match should be too exhausting to full enjoy, but that is where the magic of two of the very best on the planet comes into it. Finnegan had to fight from underneath against the imposing Maelstrom and struggled to stand come the end of the match. A thrilling an emotional finale that saw Finn pull out a clear-cut pinfall victory had the entire crowd on their feet and chanting the name of our champion. Finn’s heartfelt promo after match only solidified this epic encounter as one for the ages and the perfect cross promotional world title match. Bravo to both men for making me fall in love with professional wrestling all over again.

Promoer of the Week

WOLVESDEN

The tag champs like to remind us every week that they exist as a single entity, and they seriously upped the ante with their promos in the build to their match with the Sugar Girls. While most will remember their participation at Budokai Tenkaichi for its highly controversial entrance that even led to Kingdom General Manager Vernon Tressler issuing a fine to the triumphant title holders, let us not forget their blistering promo work beforehand. Nate Cage cut two promos, one from his ever-intimidating war room, but then a far more notable one that saw him jump out of a damn plane! I’m not entirely sure how they afford all of this, but I find it best not to question their choices. Not to be outdone, Nate’s partner and brother in arms, Kenny Drake, staged a haunting effigy burning of the Sugar Girls that I’m still having nightmares about. Wolvesden have cut some of the most dynamic, unique, original and terrifying promos in all of OWA and unless somebody with an unbreakable psyche steps up to challenge for their belts, they may be the tag champs until they choose to end their reign.

Goddess of the Week

ARIA JAXON

Love her or hate her, nobody can disrespect the work ethic and hustle of Aria Jaxon. She pulled double duty this weekend, being the only wrestler to perform on both nights of Budokai Tenkaichi. While she failed to capture the OWA Women’s Championship on Night One from Sweet Roxy, the match did end in a no contest, so the possibility of Aria holding the title is still a very real possibility. And on Night Two, she showcased why she is the hardest working woman in wrestling by successfully defending her Puroresu Heavyweight Championship against Drake Jaeger. Competing in two high level championship matches in two days and retaining a world title means that Aria Jaxon is, without question, the very best woman in the game today. Maybe even the best regardless of gender.

Alpha of the Week

FINNEGAN WAKEFIELD

This is the second Alpha of the Week for Finn and it will not be the last. In his last two world title defences, he has wrestled over two hours combined! Two hours in just two matches! Is there anybody who can match Wakefield’s work rate and longevity? I don’t know that there is. In the main event of Budokai Tenkaichi, he retained his OWA World Championship against Maelstrom in a 60-minute war for the ages, proving once again that he is the person to lead the OWA into the future. With such a prestigious and valued talent representing the elite level of this company, the sky is the limit for the OWA. We should all aspire to be on Finnegan Wakefield’s level, he is a credit the craft of professional wrestling.