Volume I, Season V

Season Five
December 19th 2016 – April 23rd 2017
29 Episode Season
Pandemonium III finale.

The Chief debuts officially, announcing himself as the new owner of OSW and the new home base of OSW itself in the Tap Room which would soon become just as iconic as the Schoolhouse was. He immediately runs into some trouble with Hysteria, the Showcase Champion furious as his championship is still missing… or was it? As it turns out, the missing championships that were stolen at the end of Gold Rush were in the possession of the Chief all along, who had been in the process of buying OSW already.

The cracks in the Asylum begin to show, Doubt and Smiley still having issues over Stephanie Rose despite Smiley’s insistence he’s past all that, Hysteria being forced to defend his Showcase title against the Shark in a brutal match and Mike Lane still on the trail of Hysteria, trying to bargain with the deeply incarcerated Doctor D’Ville for the whereabouts of Alex Reese’s body and true evidence to put down Hysteria for good, but his attempt to infiltrate the Asylum is met with dismay as he’s beaten down and dragged there by Hysteria and the Shark.

Meanwhile new stars began to emerge in the Tap Room with the likes of Stephanie Rose gaining her first OSW championship after the Double Feature title was forced to vacate with the Enforcer’s seeming demise but the big question would be the world champion himself, Red River Jack. Having regained his title in a shock victory a few weeks prior to Red Snow, it was destined that he and the street wise Chief would butt heads, but how much they would butt heads would soon be seen.

Following a rather interesting conversation with Betamax on VHS, The Chief hires a familiar IWF face in the bounty hunter Hannibal Corvin to find a man named Connor Murphy, also asking him to captain a Showcase team against VHS for a special in the future. Corvin accepts, as he tries to make his first pick the world champion Red River Jack, who seemingly accepts with a helping hand of blackmail.

Mike Lane’s turmoil with the Asylum continues, being forced to dig up the resting place of Alex Reese but the evidence he sought may never get used as it appears he was to be buried alive. In a moment of arrogance, Lane demands Hysteria bury him himself but the man who comes out is merely a decoy, revealing the detective who shut down the Schoolyard was under the Asylum’s thumb all along and although Mike Lane escaped, he was no closer to his revenge then he had been at the start of the Tap Room.

Meanwhile Knock Knock’s issues continued, Smiley bringing Stephanie Rose back into the picture once more as he tried to force her to attend a One Year Party for the tag team, much to the anger of Doubt. As Doubt tries to talk it out with Smiley, Smiley damn near attacks Doubt, who with sadness turns his back on his tag team partner.

The mysteries of the Chief are slowly unveiled as Connor Murphy is interrogated, revealing that the Chief is also known as the Ghost, with a massive amount of power in Miami before the Chief makes sure Murphy won’t tell anyone his identity before sending him off to the clink.

We also see the beginnings of a giant ploy to destroy Tommy Hawk, beginning with Hawk in jail for assault and Jon Davenport working at every turn to destroy him alongside a shadowy figure pulling the strings.

Casino Royal begins in a shocker as Red River Jack is arrested on terroism suspicions which means OSW doesn’t have a world champion. The fragile breakdown of Knock Knock continues as Smiley tries to assault Stephanie Rose for taking Doubt away from him, only for Doubt to just save Rose. Smiley swears he’ll have his brother back but he would have to do with a championship as he becomes the new Double Feature Champion.

Tommy Hawk is victorious over his tormentor in Jon Davenport before it’s revealed the mystery ally was Frank Harrison, who was doing all this to ensure Hawk’s land was no longer protected and could be all his, and thanks to Hawk’s actions over the last few months, he’s done just that.

We see just how far the Asylum has gotten into the police force as it’s confirmed Mike Lane’s former boss has turned on him, being the one who dragged Red River Jack in on false charges as Hysteria is using the man’s family against him. Swearing that if he’s not world champion by the end of the night, Hysteria will burn his family alive. Agent Dufrane tries to do everything possible, putting heavy security up near the ring to arrest Mike Lane but the Shadow endures, taking down all the officers himself but he couldn’t take down Hysteria, who finally becomes the new OSW Champion.

Hysteria wasn’t done however, a man lost in his own memories as he believed his two championships were his long lost children, a madness driven further as Stephanie Rose takes the Showcase Championship away from him. Falling deeper into the abyss, Hannibal Corvin pays the price as he becomes the second man to die at the hands of Hysteria before the Asylum completely fractures and implodes leaving the glory obsessed and mentally broken Hysteria all alone…ahead of Face/Off where he must get along with so many others.

The Asylum’s fracturing continued as Smiley continued to try and bring back his brother Doubt, who refused to play Smiley’s games until the moment Smiley tried to take off the mask and something inhuman was revealed. We never truly saw what was behind the visage of Doubt but the slight hint Smiley got was enough to send chills down even his spine. Meanwhile Frank Harrison, thanks to corrupted officials, gained complete control over Tommy Hawk and his soul as not only was his land sold off, but Harrison attempted to use Hawk as his own personal weapon but could someone save the Spirit Walker before it was too late?

Face/Off was a huge night for Showcase, as Knock Knock were reunited once more, Doctor Panax and Hyde were revealed to be the same man, The Shark seemingly came out of the rage he had been under for months, showing signs of his old self and the remorse of everything he had done and in a hellacious main event, Showcase emerged the victorious brand as Hysteria stood tall the soul survivor but thanks to his greed and insanity leading to both Tommy Hawk and Mike Lane’s eliminations, he was lucky to walk away the victor.

The war between Mike Lane and Hysteria continued, Hysteria determined to ensure that Mike Lane didn’t take away his last remaining child, kidnapped Destiny Lane and her two month old child, Mike Lane’s daughter. Holding all the cards in his hand, Hysteria gives Mike Lane an impossible choice, find them, rescue them and he goes away but if he can’t, when they meet at Retroactive, lie down and die or else.

Meanwhile, The Sharkman, his head finally clear of the drugs he was inflicted with, goes after those who made him a monster, first targeting Smiley, but his quest for vengeance may not be as simple as the Sharkman thinks. Ocean’s One reunites, both men trying to align themselves with fellow Knight Bruce Van Chan but Bruce wants nothing to do with either man, a decision that may well be a costly mistake for the Real Freaking Deal. And Tommy Hawk’s problems with Frank Harrison continue, refusing to allow Harrison an easy title victory that leads to Hawk’s imprisonment once more but freeing Tommy Hawk with such an act would haunt Frank Harrison. Also during the leadup to RetroActive, Cody Greer become the new Double Feature Champion and Doubt took the Showcase Championship from Stephanie Rose.

RetroActive was just as explosive as Tapeover was, sparking off with the debut of a future legend in Edward Newton who begins his unthinkable run with a victory over Jack Jeckel, we see Viktor North retire Stephanie Rose for good from OSW in a brutal matchup. Ocean’s One defeats Bruce Van Chan in a handicap match only for King Royal to turn on Marvolo, having little use for his “jester” anymore while BVC has problems of his own, a massive heart attack ending his night in terrifying fashion.

Tommy Hawk finally gets his revenge, beating Frank Harrison in a brutal brawl to get his freedom and end Harrison’s OSW career and then we come to Mike Lane vs. Hysteria. Having tasked the Sharkman in finding Destiny and his daughter, Mike Lane was able to focus on the task at hand and usurp Hysteria for his record fourth OSW World Championship but he simply switched one murderous psychopath for another as Smiley now has his clutches on Mike Lane’s daughter with Destiny looking in very rough shape as RetroActive comes to an end.

The games continue with Mike Lane as Smiley keeps up the deal the Shadow had with Hysteria, the OSW World Championship for his daughter’s safety. Bruce Van Chan, having gotten word that he could very well die if he continues wrestling, perseveres as he inserts himself into the world title picture, much to the anger of both Mike Lane and Smiley, as the trio war over a piece of gold, a way of living and the life of an innocent child.

Meanwhile the rise of Edward Newton continues, gaining victories week after week as the implosion of Ocean’s One marches on, as King Royal reveals a little secret about the near mute Raquel, she’s actually the princess of Asturias, heiress to the throne of Spain and King Royal wishes to have her be his Queen. A fact that will be over the #1’s cold dead body as his love for Raquel sees a different side of Marvolo, a very dangerous side as he fights King Royal in a trial by combat for Raquel’s freedom. Marvolo wins, but is still the loser in the end as King Royal steals her away, intent on making her his bride.

Pandemonium comes and titles change hands, among them the Double Feature as the Sharkman gains his first championship gold here in OSW but the big stories start with the Royal Wedding as Marvolo manages to sneak in, nearly getting away with freeing Raquel…before she breaks his heart and joins King Royal in marriage willingly.

Mike Lane had a hard choice to make, lying down to save his daughter and he nearly does before Destiny emerges, having freed herself and her child before an emphatic Shadow Kick is all the answer to Smiley’s plans he needs. Mike Lane’s night begins on a high, retaining the world title but it soon turns dark. Tommy Hawk first cashes in, defeating the Shadow after a hellacious match to become the new OSW World Champion and after that, moments after he first learns his daughter’s name, he’s forced to watch as Smiley slits Destiny’s throat and see the love of his life die in front of his eyes.

On VHS:

The Scarecrow ended another Kersh at Red Snow but he wasn’t finished. VHS beginning with the Hayman having tracked down and brutally dispatching Kersh’s extended family. Joseph Kersh tries to plead and bargain with the Scarecrow, whos true evil nature is begging to flourish. He comes within seconds of murdering Henry Kersh, Brent’s nephew before a savior arrives. Lone Star, a hero who embodies the very legacy of Brent Kersh and swears to avenge him but may well be way over his head.

Meanwhile the beginnings of alliances and frayed allies are beginning to form. Alistair Huxley’s circus has firmly begun recruiting having turned the Dead into his own freakshow only to gain the ire of the Real Freaking Deals, although the Circus doesn’t have a good night overall in their debut in the Tap Room, losing the Rewind Championship to Ethan Bird.

We also see the return of a huge rivalry as with Jensen Cussen’s return at Red Snow, so also did a hero hell bent on making him pay return. Having allowed his daughter Stephanie and the love of his life be in the clutches of someone pure evil like Jonah, Jacob Phoenix was here for blood but their tale would twist into something neither man would expect.

Lone Star continues to go after the Scarecrow, who keeps letting Lone Star go in an uncharacteristic show of mercy from the Hayman but as the Lone Star continues to hunt down Scarecrow, he may not get any more chances for mercy.

At REC, The VHS team for Face/Off slowly emerges as team captain Lazarus recruits Viktor North and the Red Emperor but the two may not be able to get along in time for the match itself. The Knights seemingly join after their “third” Knight Nigel Royal returns, turning on both as he announces he’s joined the Showcase side.

Jensen Cussen and the Phoenix continue their war, both men blaming the other for Stephanie’s current predicament but as it appears, Jensen is totally under his father’s control as the Phoenix both loses and is laid out cold come REC as the hero falters once more. Mother also continues her rise as she wins the Rewind Championship from Ethan Bird, starting up a championship run that would last several months and into the next season.

Also at REC, after several months of investigations, false imprisonment and Jack Jeckel doing everything he can to find out the truth of his brother Jake’s death, Jake Jeckel returns, laying out Jack and proving that it was all a classic Jake Jeckel ploy all along.

Lone Star also fought the Scarecrow in a brutal battle before being unmasked to reveal he was Trevor Kersh all along. Before the Scarecrow could end the Kersh lineage for good, he was taken down by the Enforcer. Somehow, someway Brent Kersh survived only to find the one weakness Scarecrow has, his very own perch. The Hayman barely escapes with his life as this time, Scarecrow is the one running for his life.

On the road to Face/Off, both teams were very much uneasy alliances but no more so then the VHS team. Bellatorium, still uneasy after their wars over the last year and Lazarus’s recent return to the side of God were slow to trust one another again, and Viktor North was truly aligned only for the glory of battle as the Knights tried to bring their friends together, to little avail as attacks backstage and the loss of their tag titles to said Bellatorium did little to show the bond of Team VHS going into this giant brand on brand warfare.

The war between the Phoenix and Vengeance was heating up with the Phoenix quickly realising things were not as they seem. With Jonah firmly the monster in this tale, Jacob’s want to help his old mentor and save the love of his life would quickly turn sour with his own torture at the hands of the elder Williams and the thought of how much he would sacrifice to save Stephanie.

But the big story was still the Enforcer’s return to save his son from the Scarecrow. Months in a coma revitalised the broken Kersh who was more determined than ever to stop the Scarecrow once and for all but failure would cling to Brent, not only allowing the Scarecrow to gain dominion over the VHS brand as it’s champion and in the worst moment of his life, a failed attack on the Hayman in his own domain leads to the death of Trevor Kersh.

This comes close to breaking the Enforcer even far more then his near death did, every bit of fight drained from him as he refused to leave Trevor’s side until the reveal that his wife is pregnant and pleading for him to fight for them galvanizes the Enforcer to finally finish this war against the monster to good.

Face/Off came and was a huge event for VHS. From the debut of the monster Sergei Sokolov who would have a big part to play in coming months to the true birth of Alistair Huxley’s circus with the recruition of the Hangman and the violent and brutal death of Marvolo Jnr as he’s shot out of a cannon into a solid brick wall.

The Phoenix/Vengeance war finally came to a close with another brutal Cussen victory as the Phoenix found himself once more a captive of Jonah Williams, just as Jensen did, both being thrown unconscious into a van only to emerge in the old family home for a very familiar face. Jonah reveals to the slowly waking duo that this all has been an attempt to submit the both of them into being brothers in a Family that would soon turn OSW inside out as DTR initiates the pair into the Family and welcomes them home.

Running on fury and venom, Brent Kersh and the Scarecrow’s war just like at Red Snow is furious and fast, but unlike at that brutal event, the Enforcer gets the victory this time, stabbing Scarecrow with the Perch right through the chest as the Enforcer seemingly ends this war once and for all.

The War between Brands is a brutal and destructive one, neither side truly completely cohesive but despite attempts to solidify the VHS crew behind Nevill Sheldon, the purest hero OSW has, it’s Lux Bellator who proves to be the snake heel as he turns on Lazarus with a brutal Disciple Maker and walking away. A quick elimination of Bruce Van Chan thanks to the return of Ocean’s One left VHS with two and despite Viktor North’s best efforts, he couldn’t overcome the Shadow King. That left Neville Sheldon alone with three world class athletes and even with Hysteria’s jealousy, Neville Sheldon couldn’t overcome the World Champion as Hysteria lead Monday Night Showcase to victory. But the night wasn’t done.

Scarecrow presumed dead was hung up to dry in his cornfield until a mysterious figure pulled the perch out of Scarecrow, resurrecting the monster as Face/Off is punctuated with a horrifying laugh of purest evil.

None of this is known to Brent Kersh however, as finally shaking that monkey off his back, he wastes no time in proving the type of man he has always been, extending the olive branch of hope to a similarly rattled Neville Sheldon, announcing he wants to face Neville for his first VHS title defense. Kersh and Neville spark up a very friendly rivalry, almost a mentor like relationship but that’s soon to be tested as the Family begins to spread their poison through the foundations of VHS with Vengeance and the dulled Phoenix going after the Nerd and the Enforcer, while the Virus himself has a different target, another Family he must prove is false.

The Circus had been growing in power over the last few months and DTR was having none of it. Starting with a fire to the circus tent of Alistair Huxley that engulfed the poor imprisoned Pig and following up with the hanging death of the Hangman, The Family declared war on Alistair Huxley who responded by bulldozing down the Family home and kidnapping Stephanie Cussen, which may not have been the smartest idea from the Ringleader as things were not as they seemed with the young lady.

Meanwhile Lazarus was dealing with the harsh betrayal of his sworn brother who had spent months trying to save Lazarus from the clutches of Father Pedro only to viciously turn his back on him. Lux saw the failings in Lazarus and found him wanting, but Lazarus doesn’t buy it. Their fighting sees them lose the tag team titles to the Circus as Lux berates Lazarus, deriding him for the sin flowing through him as Lazarus calls Bellator a hypocrite for giving up so easily after months of preaching forgiveness. But Lux is absolute in his beliefs, trying Lazarus under the light of God’s Judgement as he judges him once more under the name of Solomon, a trial that would lead to Judgement under Fire itself.

And then there was the resurrection of Scarecrow, brought back from an eternal slumber by a mysterious figure, a figure who has been searching for Scarecrow for a long time. To reignite its purpose, to destroy all of mankind. A desire that grows more and more each week, The Hayman gaining more and more strength from this mysterious figure who asks only one thing from Scarecrow…destroy Mother.

Tapeover II would be far bloodied then it’s inaugural showing, beginning with the devastating war between the Jeckel Brothers, Mother and Scarecrow. Sparking off with a little trickery from the Jeckel Brothers, all Jake and Jack had to do was step back and watch the two monsters rip eachother apart but Mother managed to retain her Rewind Championship in this match, although in an unusual turn of events, despite his task to destroy Mother, Scarecrow didn’t lay a finger on her in the contest.

The war between the Family and the Circus raged on as the Virus spreading through Stephanie Cussen reared it’s ugly head with the death of Huxley’s Fat Lady, and the final decimation of the Circus with the turning of Painkiller as the Family gains another Son and the Tag Team Championships.

Lux Bellator and his former brethren Lazarus faced off once more, Lux picking up the tainted victory before with the aid of his torchbearers, forced Lazarus into submission before stripping away his redemption and rebirth, taking the mask and leaving Solomon Rhodes no longer able to hide from his sins as the symbol of righteousness and faith burned in the flames.

The Chief meanwhile had to deal with his past once more as someone else found out the Ghost of a man he once was, Errol Flint. A man determined to get vengeance against the Juggalo that ruined him, Flint was in The Chief’s presence simply to buy a match against Jake Jeckel at Ring of Dreams, for the other man who Jake destroyed in Ethan Bird.

The battle between Brent Kersh and Neville Sheldon was meant to be a good and pure contest, as the Nerd rose high and became the new VHS Champion. But it was merely a footnote in what happened next as Mother revealed her true cards, the Mother of all evil emerging, the figure who saved Scarecrow from it’s demise as the two monsters destroyed the heroes and stood tall, a new Genesis arriving in VHS

Both Neville Sheldon and Brent Kersh went through a war the next few weeks, Genesis dividing and conquering as Scarecrow focus his attention on the little birdie Sheldon and his VHS title, Mother homes in on Brent Kersh and his greatest weakness..his family as Mother seemingly infects Nicole Kersh and her baby with the evil flowing through her veins and kidnap Nicole Kersh to boot, forcing Brent Kersh to do some terrible things. He brutalises Neville Sheldon, delivering him like a lamb to the slaughter to Genesis but the good in Brent’s soul shined through as a ruse allowed Sheldon to rescue Nicole, even if Kersh had to face the wrath of the Scarecrow once more.

Meanwhile Solomon Rhodes’s eyes were opened up by Lux’s recent actions, realising how far Bellator has fallen from God and that only he can put down his former brother. Lux continues to preach that Solomon’s judgement was nigh but when push came to shove, the flames of judgement burnt Lux and not Solomon, who in his despair, washed his hands of Bellator forever but as Bellator’s former torchbearers engulfed Lux in the flames, Bellator was reborn…into something far worse then Solomon Rhodes ever would imagine.

Pandemonium was a night of great change. The Family started it off for VHS as following a very hard fought title defense against the Jeckel Brothers, Jacob Phoenix was found to have purged the Virus from his system and cast out of the Family forever, galvanizing the hero to strike back and save his family from the clutches of DTR for good.

Genesis had a mixed night, both Mother and Scarecrow emerging victorious in their matches, as Mother defeated Brent Kersh but the evil inside Nicole Kersh was quickly defeated by the good inside of her and although Scarecrow became the VHS Champion for a second time, his night would end in defeat to another.

Lux Bellator broken and warped by the flames had become a very different man, twisted by his faith, he sought to bring about something that even the most devout would err away from, as Lux Bellator heard the word of God, and God implored Lux to bring about Judgement and the end of days with the breaking of the seven seals.

His former brother Solomon had no idea of this though, the Dragon reinvigorating himself as he tore through Pandemonium, defeating all that stood in his way and after an almighty Blood Double Stomp to the unstoppable monster Scarecrow, he became the 3rd man to win the deadly Pandemonium but would he be able to break the mold and go on to do what others have not, become the OSW World Champion?