Rising Star of the Week - Kevin Maverick
In what was an outstanding athletic contest, Kevin Maverick took it to last week’s rising star, Allesandro Devione. Despite not being able to become the inaugural Cruiserweight Champion, Kevin gave the OWA Universe a match to remember. He was one of two men entrusted with kickstarting this new division and I don’t think anyone will question me when I say he did it in style.
Promo Battle of the Week - Men’s Clash of the Titans Match (Everyone who promoed)
There’s no question about it, the participants in the men’s Clash wanted to grasp greatness by the throat. Every single person who promoed was simply operating at their highest level, their work was stellar and the match delivered on the promise they showed. If I started to break down everyone individually, I don’t think I’d ever be finished writing, so just trust me when I say it was special.
Match of the Week - The Men’s Clash of the Titans Match/Azumi Goto vs. April Song
It was always going to be a Clash match in this spot, so I decided to also include an undercard match in the name of variety. The men’s Clash was a thriller from start to finish. Between the surprise entrants and shocking moments that were produced, the fans will be talking about this one for years to come. Nailing that first outing for such a huge match type is crucial, and I don’t think we could have asked for anything better.
As for Azumi Goto vs. April Song, this was a moment of pure catharsis for its victor. Azumi had to endure the stress of having a week to prepare for an opponent she didn’t even know the identity of. Not only was it an elite competitor, it was a woman she held an 0-4 record against. Against all odds, Azumi conquered the LAW representative to capture her first ever world title in a match that has been hailed as a masterpiece by Azumi’s peers. What a contest and what a moment.
Moment of the Week - Nate Cage is The Devil (Nate Cage)
One of the biggest talking points coming out of the show will no doubt be how Nate Cage is walking away as the most hated individual in the entire company. It all started with his attack on sister Natalie, after the latter emerged victorious in the Clash of the Goddesses. But he wasn’t done yet, Nate notched up four eliminations in his own Clash (tied for second-most with winner, Aria Jaxon), and not a single one of them was earned. He cheaply threw out a returning Monolith and Nobi, longtime foe Jeff X, and even the man who was thought to be his closest friend and ally, Kenny Drake. Natalie Cage put an end to this display when she got her revenge and distracted her brother, allowing Gareth Cason to take advantage and dump him over the top, but my God, I don’t think anybody in OWA is going to get booed if they find themselves across the ring from this despicable human being now.
Promoer of the Week - Isaac Thornton
Isaac came for blood in the Clash and let everybody else know that he gave zero shits about them. His precise character assassinations of the likes of Aria Jaxon, CM Nas, Carlos Rosso, Gareth Cason and Nate Cage, among others, reminded us all why he’s one of the best promoers in the business. Nobody was safe from his acidic wit and nuclear barbs. While he didn’t win the Clash, he found himself in the final four and even managed to throw out the legendary Robbie V, a hell of a notch to have in one’s belt for certain.
Champion of the Week - Jacon Senn
This was admittedly kind of a given going into this show. Senn was the only champion with an actual defence on the night, due to the sudden departures of Finnegan Wakefield and two other people. But that doesn’t diminish the fact that he batted away a very game Christopher Sabertooth in a predictably terrific match. He may not have got that handshake at the end, and Chris is not done with him, but he can be proud of the fact that he repped Olympus as their world champion.
Goddess of the Week - Azumi Goto/Natalie Cage
It’s another double, but who could argue? Both women pulled off the biggest wins of their respective careers thus far. One was crowned a world champion, and the other earned a world title shot on the biggest show of the year. Both wins were a big deal for the fans, who were all desperately supporting their beloved Goddesses to pull off the win of a lifetime. It’s safe to say that Azumi and Natalie are the two top dogs on Odyssey now, and the fans are already salivating at the thought of the match they’ll be having at Final Destination. It doesn’t even matter who wins at this point, because both are worthy of calling themselves the best.
Alpha of the Week - Scott Oasis/Aria Jaxon
Same as before, really. We saw four people officially canonised as the elite of the elite in their respective divisions. Scott Oasis quelled Layne Kurobane in an epic duel of explosive power vs. ingenious technique, climbing to the top of the mountain for the first time in too long. I may be biased, but being at ringside to witness my husband finally get his due was a magical moment that I’ll never forget. As for Aria Jaxon, she proved that the gender divide in OWA is non-existent. She went into the men’s Clash as a woman amongst boys, and got possibly the biggest feelgood win in company history. To see her embrace the Odyssey roster in celebration and celebrate with the women who are shaping the future of this industry made me cry tears of joy. What a special night and what a special performer.