(Highlights of the earlier days of the OWA Goddess Division featuring the likes of HENDRIX, Tarah Nova, Aria Jaxon, Sweet Roxy and several others plays on the screen as a familiar voice begins speaking in the background.)
Ashley Walker: Hello, OWA fans, this is Ashley Walker here with a very special look at one of the most hotly contested championships in the Omega Wrestling Alliance: The OWA Women’s World Championship. In the first year of OWA’s existence, only four women have been able to lay claim to this championship. In this retrospective we’ll take a look at the history of the championship and take a brief glimpse into the future as we head for the titanic clash between current champion Azumi Goto and her top contender: the Clash of the Goddesses winner Natalie Cage!
Chapter 1: Early Chaos
Ashley Walker: Once OWA came into existence, it was seen as a massive priority to establish the most diverse and competitive women’s division as possible. Under the title of Goddesses, international stars like Tarah Nova, Savannah Sunshine, Megan Harper and Aria Jaxon were brought in to form the backbone of what was expected to be a strong, thriving division. The genesis of the OWA Women’s World Championship was a single elimination tournament to crown the first champion. A wild, topsy-turvy tournament saw all the heavy favorites eliminated prior to the final, leaving two women remaining: HENDRIX and Jessica Rose. Hendrix, a blonde Canadian powerhouse with arrogance that was as profound as her strength and beauty, took on the up and coming British star in the tournament final at Hardcore Havoc 2018, contested inside a steel cage to fit the “hardcore” theme of the evening’s proceedings. The conclusion of the match saw Hendrix’s strength and quick thinking come into play as OWA crowned it’s first Women’s World Champion…
Gia Cervantes: IT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE JESSICA ROSE IS ALRIGHT! SHE IS DEFINITELY IN AGONY, BUT SHE’S MOVING ON HER OWN AS SHE BEGINS TO CRAWL SLOWLY BUT SURELY TOWARDS THE ROPES! HENDRIX is now on her feet and she limps towards the center of the ring, shaking her head. She just wants this to be over! She just wants to be the champ right now! Jessica Rose has crawled in the space between the ropes and the cage and she begins to slowly lift herself up with her back, using the cage as support. She barely looks conscious as she looks deep into HENDRIX’s eyes! HENDRIX lets out a huge, angry roar before SPRINTING FORWARD! SHE WANTS TO CRUSH JESSICA HERE! OH DEAR LORD!
Ashley Walker: JESSICA ROSE MOVES… OHHHH MYYY GOD!!! OH MY GOD!!! HENDRIX COLLIDES HEAD FIRST INTO THE CAGE WALL, FORMING A HUGE HOLE IN IT WHERE SHE IS FLOPPED OUT! SHE LOOKS UNCONSCIOUS, GIA! HENDRIX IS CURRENTLY HANGING OUT, WITH HER UPPER BODY THROUGH THIS HOLE OF THE CAGE AND HER LOWER BODY STILL IN THE RING!
Gia Cervantes: I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS! HENDRIX SOMEHOW MANAGED TO RUN FAST ENOUGH TO FORM A HOLE IN THE DAMN CAGE! ANY FASTER SHE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE WHOLE CAGE WALL TO IMPLODE!
Ashley Walker: BUT JESSICA ROSE SEES WHAT MIGHT BE HER FINAL OPPORTUNITY HERE! SHE LOOKS UP! DOES SHE HAVE ONE MORE CLIMB LEFT IN HER?! SHE USES HENDRIX’S BACK AS A STEPPING STOOL BEFORE LIFTING HERSELF UP TOWARD THE TOP OF THE CAGE! SHE TAKES A DEEP BREATH AS SHE’S SEATED UP THERE FOR A MOMENT, BEFORE NOW BEGINNING HER DESCENT! THIS IS IT! JESSICA ROSE IS ABOUT TO BECOME OUR INAUGURAL CHAMPION!
Gia Cervantes: JESSICA IS HALFWAY DOWN AND HAS REACHED HENDRIX! SHE CLIMBS DOWN OVER THE GOLDEN GODDESS AND… AND…
Ashley Walker: SHE’S DONE IT!!! NEW CHAMPION!
Gia Cervantes: ...NOOO! NO SHE HASN’T WON IT, ASH! NO YET! HENDRIX CAME TO! SHE CAME TO AND GRABBED A HOLD OF JESSICA’S ANKLES TO PREVENT HER FEET FROM TOUCHING THE FLOOR! JESSICA LEGITIMATELY HAS HER ARMS ON THE RINGSIDE FLOOR BUT HER FEET NEEDS TO TOUCH IN ORDER FOR THE WIN!
Ashley Walker: WHAT ON EARTH?! JESSICA IS DOING ALL SHE CAN! SHE’S TRYING TO GET A LEG FREE AND IF SHE DOES, IT WILL BE ALL OVER! BUT THE STRENGTH OF HENDRIX IS FACTORING IN WELL FOR THE GOLDEN GODDESS HERE AS SHE IS ACTUALLY PULLING LEGS TOWARDS HER! WHAT IS THIS?!
Gia Cervantes: ...SHE IS FORCING JESSICA ROSE TO WRAP HER LEGS AROUND HER NECK!
Ashley Walker: BUT WHY?! HENDRIX HAS NOW MANAGED TO GET INTO A POSITION WHERE SHE CAN HOLD JESSICA SEATED UP ON HER SHOULDERS. SHE PUSHES JESSICA DOWN AND… HENDRIX FLIPS OUT OF THE HOLE AND OUT TO THE FLOOR!! JESSICA IS STILL HOLDING ONTO THE CAGE BEFORE SHE DROPS SOON AFTER, BUT IT’S TOO LATE FOR HER! WE HAVE A NEW DAMN CHAMPION RIGHT NOW!! OH MY GOODNESS!!
(DING! DING! DING!)
(“Focus On Havana” - Ariana Grande vs. Camila Cabello Mashup plays to shock and awe from the crowd as HENDRIX sits up against the security barricade in a comatose state. A ringside official collects the OWA Women’s Championship from the timekeeper’s area and gives it to HENDRIX.)
Julianna DeMarco: Here is your winner… AAAAAAAAAAAND THEEEEEEEEEEEEE NEEEEEEEEEEEEEW… OWA WOMEN’S CHAMPION… HEEEEEEEEEEEEENNDDDRRRIIIXXXX!!!
Ashley Walker: Hendrix had survived the tournament and looked to embark on a reign that would set the standard for the Goddess Division in OWA and for women’s wrestling in general. As the plans of men and women sometimes do, this plan went awry. An audacious young upstart was set to make a challenge for the title in Hendrix’s first defense and the result would turn OWA upside down.
Chapter 2: A Sweet Reign for the “Mafiosa”
Ashley Walker: Rosanna Claudette Vendetta joined the OWA roster as soon as she had turned 18 years old. Better known as Sweet Roxy, the young blonde was born to be a major player in professional wrestling. Daughter of wrestlings legends Robbie V and Heartbreak Gal, the Vendetta prodigy was earmarked as one to watch and be a future face of the company along with then-tag partner Mia Marie Vega. Her career in OWA started rather dubiously: a disqualification loss to Megan Harper after interference from Vega. Somehow, this was parlayed into a championship opportunity against Hendrix, whose reign was only two weeks old. Surely the inexperienced rookie would fall, right? Roxy had the pedigree and the training, but was virtually untested. Hendrix had survived a tournament featuring some of the heaviest hitters in women’s wrestling, winning a steel cage match in the final to boot. The world was in for a major shock as the 18 year old became by far the youngest champion in OWA history, upsetting Hendrix and claiming her first world championship. Dubbed “V&V Royale”, Sweet Roxy and Vega looked to establish a dynasty within not just the women’s division but the tag team ranks as well. They were more than willing to break the rules, taking any shortcuts possible to advance themselves and keep Rosanna’s grip on the championship tight. The two weren’t without opposition however. Their antics drew the ire of veterans like Megan Harper, Aria Jaxon and the returning Hendrix among others. Roxy was forced to defend her title against the former championship after V&V Royale lost to Harper and Hendrix in a tag team match at Game Over, Hendrix scoring the pin on the champion after an assist from the then-suspended Aria.
[Footage of Hendrix scoring the pin plays as Aria makes her way through the electrified crowd.]
Ashley Walker: Roxy would face Hendrix in her first defense of the title in a two out of three falls match. The champion would prove to any doubters of her undeniable ability wrong by scoring the victory and notching her first successful defense of the title. Her next defense of the title was to take place in the Osaka Dome against Aria Jaxon, whom Roxy asked to be reinstated so she could defend the title against her. That turned out to be a ruse for Aria to be beaten down by the Vendetta clan as Robbie V and HBG came to their daughter’s aid and helped Roxy score payback. Roxy’s reign was further solidified at Boiling Point with a sensational defense against Japanese veteran Azumi Goto. The match showed all the traits that have made the “Heiress” famous: her tenacity, her complete disrespect for her opponents, and her amazing ability in the ring.
Chet Kensington: ONEEEEEEEEEEEE! TWOOOOOOOOOOO! THREEEEEEEEEEEEE!
Ashley Walker: NOT QUITE! ROXY IS SCREAMING AND POUNDING HER FISTS ON THE MAT! SHE’S LIVID! SHE GETS UP TO HER FEET, GRABBING AZUMI BY THE HAIR AND HOLDING GOTO’S HEAD LEVEL WITH HERS!
Sweet Roxy (off-mic): IT’S OVER! JUST QUIT! IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW MANY REFS THEY SEND DOWN HERE, IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT YOU DO! YOU CAN’T BEAT ME! DO YOU HEAR ME?! YOU’RE A FAILURE! YOU’RE TRA--
Gia Cervantes: A HEADBUTT PUTS AN END TO ROXY’S MONOLOGUE! IT CATCHES HER RIGHT ON THE BRIDGE OF HER NOSE, AND BLOOD IS STREAMING OUT LIKE A FAUCET! ROXY STUMBLES BACKWARD AND DROPS DOWN TO ONE KNEE! AZUMI SHAKES OUT THE COBWEBS AND STOMPS RIGHT OVER TO ROXY! SHE PULLS HER UP TO HER FEET AND SPINS HER AROUND! SHE’S TRYING TO TIE ROXY’S ARMS UP IN A STRAIGHTJACKET! AZUMI IS SETTING THE CHAMP UP FOR HER PATENTED STRAIGHTJACKET GERMAN SUPLEX!
Ashley Walker: ROXY SLIPS AN ARM BEHIND AZUMI’S NECK AND DROPS DOWN INTO A SEATED POSITION! THAT QUICK STUNNER COUNTER SAVES HER BY THE SKIN OF HER TEETH! ROXY KICKS AZUMI’S LEG OUT FROM UNDERNEATH HER, DROPPING GOTO DOWN TO A KNEE! THE HEIRESS BACKPEDALS, TAKING A DEEP BREATH BEFORE RUNNING BACK IN ROXY’S DIRECTION!
Gia Cervantes: MAFIOSA AMBUSH, ON THE MONEY! THAT HURRICANRANA DRIVER SPIKES AZUMI RIGHT ON TOP OF HER HEAD! IT’S LIGHTS OUT! ROXY SCRAMBLES INTO THE COVER AND HOOKS BOTH LEGS! IS THIS IT?!
Chet Kensington: ONEEEEEEEEEEE! TWOOOOOOOOOOOOO! THREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
(DING! DING! DING!)
(A fatigued Sweet Roxy rolls off of Azumi Goto as the final bell sounds and “Bubblegum Bitch” hits the PA system again, almost drowned out by raucous boos. Both women are flat on their back staring up at the rafters for a few moments before Chet Kensington retrieves the OWA Women’s Championship from ringside. He drapes it over Roxy, then helps her up to her feet. She presses the belt tightly to her midsection with one hand and Chet raises the other, causing the boos to momentarily spike. An exhausted smile slowly stretches across her face.)
Julianna DeMarco: HEEEEEEEERE IS YOUR WINNER...AND STIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLL THE OWA WOMEN’S CHAMPION...SWEEEEEEEEEEEEET ROXYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!
Roxy’s reign would continue well on into the summer, but by August an imposing fellow rookie finally came calling to attempt to dethrone her.
Chapter 3: Jupiter’s Rule
Ashley Walker: TyAnna Jupiter signed with OWA in late May 2018 and made her debut in June on Kingdom. It didn’t take long for the “Guardian of Love” to garner the attention and admiration of the fans...and the ire of Roxy and other members of the roster. Through the summer of 2018, TyAnna used her flawless technique and unbending resolve to push through opposition such as the eventual first-ever OWA Goddesses Champion Dulce Torres on her way to an unblemished mark in singles competition, a mark that she would defend in an inevitable confrontation with Sweet Roxy. The two colossal forces finally clashed at Burning Sky, in Roxy’s hometown of Las Vegas no less. Despite being in hostile territory, TyAnna was spurred on by the capacity crowd in the Orleans Arena, hoping to see the hometown girl finally stumble…
Ashley Walker: A VERY, VERY LATE KICKOUT FROM ROXY! Frustration has been a factor for a while now, but so has fatigue! Both women are sprawled out on the canvas! It looks like Roxy is beginning to stir first, but TyAnna is following suit! They’re both staggering up to their feet, and TyAnna makes the first move, starting to nail Roxy with shoot kicks to the legs that put the title holder on uneven footing! TyAnna swings for another -- but Roxy catches the leg! She uses a dragon screw to whip Jupiter away from her! TyAnna rolls through as Roxy is running right at her! Jupiter turns around to face her oncoming opponent -- TRAMP STAMP! MY GOSH! TYANNA TOOK EVERY BIT OF THAT JUMPING SUPERKICK, AND I THINK I SAW HER EYES ROLL BACK INTO HER HEAD! THE CHALLENGER DROPS TO THE MAT LIKE A TON OF BRICKS, AND THE CHAMPION SCRAMBLES INTO A DESPERATE COVER!
Elle Halen: ONEEEEEEEEEEEE! TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! THREEEEEEEEEEEE!
Gia Cervantes: WE’RE. NOT. DONE! TYANNA THROWS THE SHOULDER UP! BUT, AS WE’VE MENTIONED BEFORE, THE LACK OF ENERGY BOTH THESE LADIES ARE FEELING BY NOW PREVENTS HER FROM DOING MUCH ELSE! TYANNA LOOKS COMPLETELY OUT OF IT, AND ROXY IS STARING UP AT THE LIGHTS AND RAKING BOTH HANDS THROUGH HER HAIR, TEARS SPRINGING UP IN HER EYES AS SHE WONDERS WHAT MORE SHE HAS TO DO! SHE AMPS HERSELF UP ENOUGH TO GET UP TO A VERTICAL BASE, GOING TO GRAB THAT STEEL CHAIR AGAIN AND PLACING IT OVER TYANNA’S STOMACH! THE CHAMPION THEN BEGINS MAKING HER WAY OVER TO THE CORNER! THE FANS THAT WEREN’T ALREADY ON THEIR FEET ARE RISING UP AS ROXY SCALES THE TURNBUCKLES! SHE’S PERCHED ON THE TOP TURNBUCKLE! ROXY STARES DOWN AT TYANNA WITH HATE IN HER EYES BEFORE LEAPING OFF! SHE FLIIIIIIIIIIIIES! THE CURSE OF MIKADO IS ABOUT TO END THIS MATCH!
Ashley Walker: TYANNA ROLLS OUT OF THE WAY! WAS SHE PLAYING POSSUM OR WAS THAT PURE INSTINCT?! THE CHAMPION CRASHES AND BURNS, AND NOBODY’S HOME AS SHE TRIES FOR THAT FROG SPLASH! SHE SLAMS DOWN FACE FIRST ON THE MAT, THE IMPACT SHOCKING HER AS SHE TRIES TO HURRY UP ONTO ALL FOURS! MEANWHILE, TYANNA’S USING THE ROPES IN THE CORNER TO PULL HERSELF UP TO HER FEET, HER EYES FIXED ON THE CHAMPION! SHE MUSTERS UP WHAT MIGHT BE THE LAST OF HER ENERGY TO SPRINT OUT OF THE CORNER TOWARD ROXY! YOU MIGHT WANNA TURN AROUND, CHAMP!
Gia Cervantes: **CRESCENT BEAM, ON THE FUCKING MONEY!**
Ashley Walker: LANGUAGE, G! IN ANY CASE, ROXY’S DROPPED! TYANNA ALL BUT DROVE HER BOOT THROUGH ROXY’S FACE! THE CHAMPION IS DOWN! TYANNA CRAWLS INTO THE COVER AND HOOKS BOTH LEGS! ELLE DROPS DOWN TO COUNT!
Elle Halen/Crowd: ONEEEEEEEEEEEE! TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! THREEEEEEEEEEE--
--EEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
(DING! DING! DING!)
(A HUGE pop all but blows the roof off of Orleans Arena as “Chimichanga” hits once more, and a worn-out TyAnna rolls off of Roxy. Initially, all she is able to do is lay on her back on the canvas. Elle retrieves the OWA Women’s Championship from ringside and drapes it over her body. The official helps Jupiter up to her feet, who is overcome with emotion as she raises the title with one hand as Elle raises the other.)
Julianna DeMarco: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...YOUR WINNER…*AAAAAAAAAAND NEWWWWWWWWW* OWA WOMEN’S CHAMPION...TYANNAAAAAAAAAAA JUUUUUUUUUUUUPITER!!!
Gia Cervantes: Coming into this, TyAnna Jupiter was able to call herself unpinned, she could call herself unsubmitted, but now, she can also call herself the champion! Her incredible rookie run rolls right over a very game Sweet Roxy in her hometown to claim the ultimate prize for the Goddesses of OWA!
Ashley Walker: Jupiter’s reign, and her impressive streak of not suffering a pinfall or submission defeat, would immediately be tested. Not by the fallen champion, but by a dangerous duo of women from the Dollhouse. Diantha Moreau, the estranged younger sister of wrestling legend Carlos Rosso, arrived to OWA with all the fighting spirit one could hope for from a professional wrestler. Unfortunately for the Forgotten Senshi, her spirit didn’t translate well in terms of wins and losses. Even with painstaking excursions in Mexico and France, Diantha struggled to compete with the upper echelon of the Goddess division. She would put on impressive displays against Tyanna Jupiter and Aria Jaxon among others, but more often than not she only knew defeat. After a loss in Japan to Azumi Goto it was clear that Diantha needed further seasoning. Enter Natalie Cage. The brutal, sadistic sister of Wolvesden mainstay Nate Cage was slowly amassing an army to run roughshod over any woman who stood in her way. With Nate leading the recruiting effort, Diantha finally gave in to her frustration and curiosity and became one of the wolves. The pair didn’t waste any time, brutally assaulting the newly crowned Jupiter to stake their claim as the new force to be reckoned with in the division. After earning her first win with relative ease over Megan Harper, Diantha scored the biggest victory of her career up to that point in a tag team match alongside Natalie Cage. With Galactica, she pinned Azumi Goto who was partnering with TyAnna Jupiter. Never backing down from a challenge, the Guardian of Love challenged both women to face her for the Women’s World title at Vindication...a request that the duo were eager to oblige. TyAnna withstood the assault of both women to retain her title, but not without her mentor being sent crashing through a table and Diantha and Natalie showing off their close, bizarre relationship that constantly skirted the line between mentorship and perverse, sadistic romance.
Gia Cervantes: TYANNA JUPITER AVOIDS THE KNEE STRIKE BY DELIVERING A HURRICANRANA TO NATALIE, ALMOST SPIKING HER RIGHT ON HER HEAD! DIANTHA CRASHES TO THE CANVAS AS NATALIE SLOWLY GETS TO HER FEET FOLLOWED BY THE CHAMPION!! TYANNA RUNS FORWARD TOWARDS NATALIE AGE… BANG!!! THE CRESCENT BEAM FINALLY CONNECTS!! NATALIE DROPS IN A HEAP, BUT TYANNA DOESN’T GO FOR THE COVER AS SHE SEES DIANTHA GETTING TO HER FEET NOW! TYANNA JUPITER ROLLS TOWARDS THE CORNER AS SHE LINES IT UP. DIANTHA, IN A DAZE, TURNS AROUND… CRESCENT BEAM AGAIN!!! DIANTHA HITS THE CANVAS HARD AS THE CLAYMORE KICK CONNECTS ONCE MORE! TYANNA HOOKS THE FAR LEG FOR THE COVER, HERE WE GO…
Elle Halen: ONEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!! … TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! … THRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
(DING! DING! DING!)
(“Chimichanga” by Kali Uchis plays to a big ovation as TyAnna Jupiter sits up after the cover before rising to her feet. She immediately leaves the ring to check on her mentor, Tomazeya Venus, who is being assisted by ringside doctors by the announce table.)
Rebecca Sawyer: Here is your winner… AAAAAAAAAAAND STILL, THE OWA WOMEN’S CHAMPION… TYYYAAAANNNNNAAAA JUUUUUPPPPITTTTEERRRR!!!
Ashley Walker: With the challenge of Wolvesden subdued for the time being, Jupiter turned to different challenges posed by April Song and her powerful team from Strong Style Wrestling. The former champion Sweet Roxy had been banned from challenging for the title again by Odyssey General Manager Viola DeMarco, citing the former champion’s...penchant for taking shortcuts in the ring. Undeterred by this, Roxy went on a winning streak and found herself selected to join Team OWA to do battle with Team SSW in a Brody Sparks Memorial tribute match contested under elimination rules. While Roxy tagged herself in to hog some of the spotlight, she and Jupiter were the survivors for Team OWA, winning the match. In an unusual move, Jupiter herself elected Roxy as her challenger and the two faced off for the title once again with the Protector of Beauty again emerging victorious. Roxy’s stablemate in the newly formed “Dollhouse”, DiVa, would be Jupiter’s next challenger. TyAnna would once again prove herself up to the challenge and further solidify her position as not only the top woman on Odyssey as the OWA Women’s World Champion, but perhaps the top wrestler in the Omega Wrestling Alliance. Soon, however, a tragic injury would bring the longest OWA championship reign in terms of days held (153 officially) to an abrupt end, prompting a search for a new Ace and new Champion.
Chapter 4: The Vanguard Becomes the Ace
Ashley Walker: Rumors had been circulating for some time, but on January 26, 2019 it was confirmed that Tyanna Jupiter had suffered a serious neck injury and would be indefinitely out of action. The severity of the injury was indeed determined to be career-threatening and Tyanna had no choice but to relinquish the very championship she had come to represent. There was legitimate concern that the Championship, and by extension the entire Goddesses division, would be unable to continue its upward trajectory with her departing the company. Tyanna was a fighting champion adored by the fans and respected by her adversaries. Who would be the next person to hold the championship? More importantly, would they be able to carry the title with the same standard of excellence in the ring and grace outside of it?
(A brief highlight package of Azumi Goto plays on the screen, showing her victories over the likes of Diantha Moreau and Savannah Sunshine.)
Ashley Walker: Well, there was already a top contender in place for the championship: Azumi Goto. Having worked tirelessly to get herself in position for a World Championship opportunity in America, the Japanese megastar worked her way into contention for the Ring of Opportunity, an honor that would grant the owner the title “Queen of the Ring” and, after successfully defending the ring, the opportunity to challenge the Women’s World Champion. She defeated Savannah Sunshine, then-current holder of the Ring, and was successful in her defense of the ring including a vicious battle with Diantha Moreau, who had become an increasingly irritating thorn in her side after joining the Wolvesden. Goto had agreed to challenge TyAnna at the upcoming Clash of the Titans pay-per-view event but with the Champion injured who would step up to face the Ringbearer? The answer to that question would be a familiar adversary to the Vanguard.
[The screen slowly fades as “Hopes and Dreams/Save The World” by GaMetal plays and one last image appears along with the face and name of her opponent and it sends the crowd of the United Center into a frenzy and Azumi staring wide-eyed in absolute shock.]
“You are challenged by Pro Wrestler April Song!”
Ashley Walker: OH MY GOD!
Gia Cervantes: NO WAY!
Ashley Walker: April Song was probably the last person that Azumi wanted to see going into that contest. The Killer Bee, a champion in her own right in Lethal Angels of Wrestling and other promotions, up to that point owned a 4-0 record against Goto, with most of her victories being earned by way of submission. A lethal striker with the technical wrestling savvy to make any opponent nervous, Song possessed the acumen to keep up with Azumi’s strikes as well as force her to the ground with a merciless array of submissions that could target any part of the body. April looked to keep the match grounded and for the most part succeeded in doing so. When Goto was able to survive her dreaded Killer Clutch (Peruvian Necktie) hold, Song took a gamble and attempted to bring an end to the bout using an Avalanche version of her Swan Song, a small package driver that she had perfected early on in her career. When that was thwarted, Song tried to lock in Professional Disposal, another submission, yet again….
Ashley Walker: We’re still going! Azumi lurches up to a seated position, and it looks like frustration may begin to take hold here! She’s running her hands over her hair, wondering what she has to do to seal the deal! She stoops to try and pull April up to a vertical base -- OH! Miss Song makes The Vanguard pay for being in close quarters with her, clocking her with a punch to the face! The impact causes Azumi to shoot up straight, and Miss Song gets up to her feet as well! APRIL IS TRYING FOR PROFESSIONAL DISPOSAL AGAIN!
Gia Cervantes: AZUMI SAVES HERSELF! She grabs two handfuls of hair and all but RIPS April off of her, flinging The Killer Bee forward with something resembling a snapmare! The force with which Azumi does that causes Song to roll through and stumble into the ropes! AZUMI CHARGES, AND APRIL TAKES STEPS FORWARD TO MEET HER --
Ashley Walker: HEAVEN’S FLASH KICK OUT OF NOWHERE, MY GOODNESS! AZUMI PRACTICALLY DRIVES HER BOOT THROUGH APRIL’S FACE! THE KILLER BEE IS DEAD ON HER FEET, AND HER EYES HAVE ROLLED BACK INTO HER HEAD AS SHE FALLS BACK INTO THE ROPES -- ONLY FOR THE TAUTNESS OF THE RING ROPES TO PROPEL HER FORWARD INTO A *SECOND* HEAVEN’S FLASH KICK!
Gia Cervantes: A DUO OF IMPACTFUL SUPERKICKS HAVE LAID APRIL OUT! I DON’T KNOW IF SHE’S GETTING UP FROM THAT! AZUMI FALLS INTO THE COVER AND HOOKS BOTH LEGS!
Elle Halen/Crowd: ONEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! TWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! THREEEEEEEEE--
--EEEEEEEEE!!!!!
(DING! DING! DING!)
(A massive pop erupts as “Full Force” hits the PA system once again, and the cheers of the crowd initially almost drown out the music. An exhausted Azumi rolls off of April and covers her face with her hands, too tired to do anything but allow herself to be overcome by emotion. Elle retrieves the Women’s World Championship from its place at ringside, re-entering the ring to drape it across Azumi’s torso. Azumi uses a hand to cradle the belt and Elle takes the other hand, using it to help her up to her feet.)
Ashley Walker: With two Heaven’s Flash Kicks, Azumi’s dream finally came true. The championship victory was cathartic, not only for Goto but for so many loyal fans who had watched her struggle to reach the summit of OWA. The woman that regarded herself as a protector of sorts for the Odyssey brand had now become its unquestioned Ace. April, for her part, proved herself a worthy challenger for the title and vowed one day to challenge her friend once more. The long journey had been painful and difficult, but it had definitely been worth it for Azumi, the fourth woman to hold the title. Goto would not have much time to rest, however. Another rival from her past was coming to challenge her....bringing along baggage that the Ace was hoping she would never have to face.
Chapter 5: The Lioness, The Alpha Male, and the Ace
(Ominous music plays as old vignettes of Diantha Moreau sitting around in dingy classrooms scribbling notes on the blackboard and training to exhaustion are shown.)
Ashley Walker: The Forgotten Senshi had gone into an abrupt tailspin once her mentor and closest friend Natalie Cage defected from the Wolvesden. Sent by her superiors within the cult-like faction to hunt her former friend down, Diantha along with Roni De Vil engaged Natalie in brutal combat, leading to all three women being hospitalized at some point during the vicious feud. Roni’s injuries were so severe that she to this day has not been medically cleared to return. Diantha swore vengeance, heartbroken by what she perceived as her teacher and in some perverse respects a mother figure abandoning her, leaving her to her own devices. This obsession was Diantha’s goal going into Clash of the Goddesses. She didn’t want to just win the event to earn a championship opportunity; she wanted to win the battle royal and the OWA Women’s Championship to torture Natalie with the title being beyond her reach. Cage was able to again thwart Diantha’s plans for revenge by eliminating the upstart, who battled for nearly an hour, along her way to winning the Battle Royal by last eliminating another long-time nemesis in Dulce Torres and earning the right to challenge for the OWA Women’s World Championship at Final Destination. Natalie then laid down an audacious challenge: any woman who could defeat her in singles competition from Clash of the Titans up to the last Odyssey event before Final Destination could have her spot in the Championship contest. Diantha, however, chose to try a different path to Final Destination instead of challenging her bitter enemy.
(Intense music plays as Diantha is shown attacking and eventually confronting Azumi Goto face to face in the ring.)
Ashley Walker: She chose to go after the Ace instead. Moreau, now herself defected from the Wolvesden and taking up the alias of “Iron Lioness”, knew that Goto and Cage had a respect for one another if not a casual friendship. Her long standing grudges with both women prompted her to seek out Azumi with the intent of challenging her for the Championship. Goto accepted. She had fallen into the Lioness’s trap. It was soon revealed that Diantha had found a new mentor, someone that would untap her potential and ensure that she became World Champion. This new mentor would also be all the more interested in making sure Azumi was dethroned. This shadowy figure turned out to be Erica Ford, Azumi Goto’s former tag team partner in a team known as Shinsei Domei. A younger, more impulsive Goto abandoned her friend in a six-person tag match and then feuded with Ford, the aftermath of a steel cage grudge match between the two doing severe damage to Erica’s neck despite being victorious in the contest. The injuries would mount for Ford and she was forced into semi-retirement, her resentment growing for a woman she considered akin to a little sister. The vengeance-obsessed pairing instantly made the most of their partnership in a tag team main event on Odyssey. Partnered with Natalie Cage’s latest rival, “The Cleanser” Eris, Diantha faced Cage and Goto in a brutal tag team match. Cuffing her former best friend to the ring ropes, Erica taunted Azumi as Eris and Diantha brutalized Cage and scored the victory.
Ashley Walker: At Pluto’s Gate, the Odyssey main event for Final Destination was to be set. Azumi would battle Diantha in the main event, but the show kicked off with a wild, absolutely brutal encounter between Eris and Natalie Cage. Eris was vicious and unyielding, but it was the Alpha Male who would land the decisive blow and keep her place in the Final Destination main event. Natalie was hellbent on clashing with Goto for the title and all but demanded she destroy Diantha to keep their dream match intact. Azumi’s mind, however, was not entirely focused on her opponent. Even though Goto insisted she was beyond her past, she tried reaching out to her old friend even before her first title defense began. An incensed Erica rejected the overtures and her new protege went to work brutalizing the champion. Erica even got in a few timely kicks of her own to a downed Goto on the outside and it appeared that the Ace’s title run would be cut short. Diantha taunted the Champion one time too many, however, and found herself on the receiving end of an assault so brutal that even some of the fans in attendance began to boo. The champion mercilessly targeted her challenger’s knee, severely hobbling Moreau. Instead of giving in to the pain the Iron Lioness let bits and pieces of the Forgotten Senshi that was beloved by so many shine through. She got into this title match by being cold, calculating and vicious. She put on the match of her OWA career by tapping into that old persona, showing grit and fighting spirit, even unleashing her old Space Turbulence finisher. Goto would persevere and after finally refocusing herself would take advantage of Diantha’s knee buckling while going for her Galactica finisher, scoring the pinfall with Erica’s “Thundering Finish”, one last olive branch to her friend that unfortunately went for naught. The Dream Match was set for Final Destination...or so we all thought.
(Clips of Goto’s encounters with Natalie Cage play next before showing her intense main event match with Persephone Bane.)
Ashley Walker: Right before Final Destination, Goto had to withstand the maniacal onslaught of the former Savannah Sunshine in a brutal non-title main event. Immediately as Goto began to celebrate, she was blindsided by the recently crowned “Queen of the Ring” Natasha Night, who was keen to take the opportunity to take the title and the spot on the Final Destination card. If Natasha’s goal was to catch Azumi off guard and make a big splash, she succeeded. However, if her goal was to WIN the title...she failed. One stiff right hand from Natalie Cage and a Heaven’s Flash Kick from Goto sealed the deal and Night’s championship challenge was wasted. With the match official, the two pillars of the Goddess division now prepare for the ultimate challenge at Final Destination: each other.
(Clips of Diantha Moreau, Megan Harper, Nicole Fyre, Nikita LaShae, Dulce Torres and a bevy of newcomers and other veterans show on the screen.)
Ashley Walker: What’s next for the winner? Diantha Moreau and Persephone Bane were successful entrants into the Ascend to the Heavens Ladder match. If one of them was to emerge victorious, they would be able to challenge the champion at any time they pleased. Could Dulce Torres work her way into the title mix, or perhaps the meteoric rise of Goddesses Champion Nikita LaShae could continue and lead the way to a mouth-watering double title match? Regardless of who emerges in the future, the OWA Women’s World Championship has seen incredible champions, heart-stopping title defenses, and amazing moments that wrestling fans all over the world will remember forever in just one year of existence. What happens in year two? The only way to find out is to keep watching! Thank you for watching this OWA Special Retrospective, this is Ashley Walker saying goodbye for now and enjoy Final Destination!