Lakewood, OH – 12.17.2010
Commentary is provided by Pedro Deluca & Aaron Bauer.
Preshow Match
Mr. RBI & The Kombat Kid vs. Lights Out (Ben Fruith & Korey Winters)
Fruith and Kid vie for control. The trade strikes. Fruith forearms Kid to the corner and whips him across the ring. He meets Kid with a back elbow and a basement dropkick. Winters tags in as Fruith hits a leg lariat. Winter knocks Kid down with a series of strikes for two. Kid takes Winters down with a satellite headscissors and a huracanrana for two. RBI tags in and hits a double back elbow with Kid. Kid hits a senton and RBI hits a moonsault for two. Winters and RBI trade wristlocks before lighting each other up with forearms. RBI nails him with a clothesline for two. Winters hits an enzuigiri. Fruith does some damage on the floor. Back in the ring, RBI drops him with a spinebuster. RBI connects with a polish hammer for the pin at 6:50. That finish came out of seemingly nowhere. Otherwise, each wrestler got the chance to show off their skills. A little more time would have allowed for a better, more fleshed out bout, but this was fine. *1/2
Preshow Match
Justin Lee vs. Nick Ando vs. Maximo Suave
Ando and Suave go back and forth while Lee looks on from the floor. Suave armdrags Ando to the floor and Lee attacks Suave from behind. He hits a Cheetah swipe and a standing moonsault. Ando breaks the pin and shoves Lee. Suave knocks them both down with a double clothesline. Ando prevents Suave from giving Lee a Northern Lights suplex. Ando pitches Suave to the floor. He slams Lee for two. Lee hops up into double knees. Suave breaks the pin and takes Lee over with an exploder suplex. Ando breaks his pin attempt. Ando hits a slingshot Falcon Arrow and Lee breaks the pin. Lee pounds on Ando in the corner. Suave chops both men. Suave shoves Ando into Lee. He drops them both with a DDT/flatliner respectively. Suave connects with an enzuigiri on Lee. Suave evades a corner attack from Ando. He hits Ando with a rolling elbow to the neck. Ando gets his knees up to block a swanton bomb. Lee cracks Ando with an enzuigiri. He drops Suave with a twisting brainbuster for the pin at 5:31. Suave and Ando have potential to make the main show, though Ando’s shtick got tired after just a few short minutes. Lee continues to put on good matches and was clearly the right guy to win. **
Da Latin Crime Syndicate (Luis Diamante, Joey The Snake, & K. Fernandez) vs. Blackballed (Lamont Williams, “Kano” Josh Emanuel, & Shawn Blaze)
Williams breaks a couple wristlocks from Diamante. Fernandez and Blaze tag in. They lock-up and roll to the floor. Kano and Joey tag in. Joey gets pissed at the referee for breaking a headlock when Joey grabs the ropes. They have a test of strength which goes to their knees. Williams and Diamante engage in a test of strength. Blaze, Fernandez, DLCS member Isaac Montana, and the referee engage in a test of strength above them. Lights Out come ringside in disbelief of what is occurring. All the tests of strength break at once. The fans chant “this is boring” since both teams won’t get into it. The Kombat Kid and Mr. RBI come out. A sit-in occurs, as both teams sit down in the ring and refuse to battle. The fans chant “we want wrestling.” Lights Out, Kombat Kid, & Mr. RBI chase them out of the ring. The bell rings at 6:53 when an all out brawl ensues. N/R
The Duke runs out with his paddle to chase DLCS off. Blaze tries to make amends but gets a big boot for his trouble. Duke throws Kano and Williams onto DLCS on the floor. We then see that Chest Flexor is ringside (as he has been at the past few events) scouting for talent to recruit. The Duke notes that the Alpha Beta Duke group has become a one man team. He says that Lights Out, RBI, and Kid need some sort of guidance. The Duke gives them the opportunity to pledge for the fraternity so he can give them some direction. They all agree to join and shake Duke’s hand. He asks for his opponent Dalton Castle to come out for their scheduled bout. Duke’s recruits watch from ringside.
The Duke vs. Dalton Castle
Castle bails to the floor to avoid The Duke. Duke pulls Castle to the apron by his hair and Irish whips him into the ring. Duke connects with a pair of forearms. Duke lays in some punches in the corner. Duke chops Castle a few times. Duke serves up a right hand to send Castle back to the floor. Duke comes out. Castle uses the ropes to swing himself into a huracanrana. Castle kicks the ropes into Duke’s groin as Duke comes back in the ring. Castle tries to slam Duke, but Duke falls onto him for two. Castle tries a sunset flip. Duke picks Castle up by his throat. Castle headbutts Duke in the groin. Castle hits a crossbody block in the corner. He follows up with a springboard dropkick. Duke catches Castle with the Rikishi Driver for the pin at 7:18. Solid contest overall. The point of this was to make Duke seem like a good choice to lead the young talent to the next level, and this accomplished just that. Castle has a lot of potential (which he’s showed off multiple times in AIW) but needs matches that are less one-sided to show it. **
The AIW fans chant “Fuck TNA” as Tommy Mercer comes out to the ring. He’s wearing a TNA t-shirt which causes the fans to chant “You Sold Out.” Mercer signed a contract with TNA (where he currently competes as Crimson) and tonight is his last appearance in AIW. Mercer is seconded by his hired gun Chad Williams. Mercer says he’s supposed to face a big, bad mystery man tonight but he refuses to put his body on the line in front of so few fans. Mercer says he’s not wrestling tonight and the fans can chant in favor of him since he knows they want to. Absolute Owner Chandler Biggins comes to the ring. He bad mouths Dixie Carter to rile up the fans. Biggins says Mercer signed a contract to compete in any type of match Biggins wanted. With that, Mercer will be in a Gauntlet match that consists of three competitors. All those matches will have no time limit, count out, or disqualifications since he wants Mercer to go to TNA in a body bag. Mercer storms off with Williams in a fit of rage.
AIW Women’s Championship
Angeldust (Champion) vs. Portia Perez
Perez takes control before Angeldust hits a trifecta of dropkicks. Perez evades a top rope Thesz Press and elbows Angeldust to the mat. Perez lands a fist drop for two. Perez whips Angeldust to the corner and follows in with a clothesline. Perez throws Angeldust to the mat by her hair. She chokes Angeldust on the middle rope. Perez lands a basement dropkick for two. Angeldust comes back with a sole butt and an enzuigiri. Angeldust ducks a clothesline and hits one of her own. Angeldust connects with a top rope crossbody. Perez hits a pair of dropkicks for two. Angeldust blocks a kick and rolls up Perez for the pin at 5:01. Shockingly short match. I feel like a lot of these matches are being short-changed in order to fit more people on the card. The saying “quality over quantity” needs to be taken into consideration. *
Eric Ryan vs. Shiima Xion
Eric Ryan comes out wearing an anti-Hulk Hogan shirt. Chest Flexor grabs the microphone, telling us that in his time off he’s been taking business management classes since his second contract has given him more money than ever before. As he’s talking, a masked man attacks Eric Ryan from behind. The man reveals himself to be Bobby Beverly, who lost a Loser Leaves AIW match to Eric last month. Flexor informs us that his second contract has been given to Bobby Beverly, re-instating him into AIW. Beverly gives Ryan a piledriver on the steel chair. Flexor hands Beverly a pair of scissors and an electric razor. Beverly proceeds to bloody up Ryan as he shaves his head. From the announcer’s booth, Ryan’s former manager Aaron Bauer proceeds to mock him. Officials and security have to prevent Ryan from beating the crap out of Bauer. Bauer runs out of the building while the officials try to calm Ryan down. Just when it seems he’s calm, he storms off after Bauer.
Tommy Mercer Gauntlet
Mercer’s bodyguard Chad Williams comes out when ring announcer Pedro Deluca goes backstage to find Mercer. Mercer finally makes his way out. Chandler Biggins then brings out Mercer’s first opponent. New Jack’s music hits, and the fans go crazy. It turns out that his opponent is AIW regular Jack Verville going under the name of New Jack Verville, complete with bandana and trashcan full of plunder.
Tommy Mercer vs. New Jack Verville
Mercer big boots the trashcan into Verville’s face. Mercer chokes Verville with his own bandana. Mercer knocks him down with a back elbow. Mercer slams Verville down hard. Verville comes back with a forearm and kicks Mercer’s legs out. He hits a Perfect necksnap and a low dropkick for one. Mercer catches Verville with the Mercy Kill for the pin at 2:21.
Tommy Mercer vs. Samoa Lou
Southside Sinclair comes out to Samoa Joe’s music, but the fans don’t fall for it this time around. He’s going under the name Samoa Lou. Mercer kicks the crap out of him and drops him with a delayed vertical suplex. Sinclair tries a spear, but hurts himself and not Mercer. Mercer drops him the Mercy Kill for the pin at 1:27. Chandler Biggins apologizes to Mercer for the weak competition, but says he has someone who cares about AIW more than anybody. That of course would be the reigning AIW Absolute Champion, Johnny Gargano.
Absolut Championship
Tommy Mercer vs. Johnny Gargano
Gargano punches Mercer and sends him to the floor. He follows out with a suicide dive. Gargano throws him into the guardrail. He jumps off the apron. Mercer catches him and slams him on the ring apron. Mercer rubs Gargano’s AIW shirt on his taint. In the ring, Mercer nails a back elbow and knees Gargano in the groin. Mercer lays in knees to Gargano while applying a cravate. Mercer hits a cravate suplex for two. Gargano catches him with a slingshot spear. Gargano takes him over with a huracanrana. Mercer catches Gargano. Gargano reverses the Mercy Kill into a DDT. Gargano follows up with the Hurts Donut for two. Mercer hits the Mercy Kill but is too worn down to go for the pin right away. He pins Gargano but only gets two. Mercer goes a second Mercy Kill. Gargano slips off and hits three superkicks for two. Mercer blocks a superkick. Gargano catches Mercer with a crucifix pin at 6:34. While the first two matches were nothing, this was a great bout that packed a lot of action into six minutes. This was a great way to have Mercer go out and for Gargano to get a big win under his belt simultaneously. ***
Mercer grabs Gargano’s belt. He hands the belt over and shakes Gargano’s hand. Mercer changes his tune and puts over AIW big time. Mercer thanks the fans as they chant his name. The AIW locker room empties in support of him. Pedro Deluca thanks Mercer on behalf of the AIW locker room. Mercer hugs the fans and shakes hands one last time.
Gregory Iron vs. Matt Cross
Cross and Iron reach a stalemate after looking for the upper hand. Iron drop toe holds Cross into a cradle for two. Cross tries a Magistral cradle for two. Iron rolls into a wheelbarrow, but Cross kicks him in the face and slams him face first into the mat. Cross hits a hand spring elbow and a kick in the corner. Cross holds his position and continuously kicks Iron in the ribs. Iron ducks a clothesline. Cross evades an springboard elbow and applies a headscissors. Cross transitions from a Manhattan Drop into a modified bow and arrow. Cross slams Iron for two. Iron hits a Code Breaker and a back senton for two. Cross blocks the Handicap parking. Cross drops Iron across his knee with a fireman’s carry slam for two. Iron hits Handicap Parking for two. Cross avoids a top rope senton from Iron. Iron evades a moonsault, but Cross hits him with a standing shooting star press for two. Cross ducks a clothesline and nails a bicycle kick for two. Iron blocks a powerbomb with a huracanrana. Iron rolls up Cross for the pin at 9:27. This was a nice competitive bout, really showing how much Iron has improved and how much more polished Cross is these days. This rose Iron’s stock in the company while not hurting Cross in the slightest. I guess we know Iron is tough enough. **3/4
Tim Donst vs. Jimmy Jacobs
Jacobs breaks a wristlock and applies a half crab. Donst uses the ropes to break. Jacobs points out that his Twitter handle is on his buttocks. Jacobs sends Donst to the apron with a headscissors. Donst gives Jacobs a slam. It has little effect, and Jacobs rams Donst’s head into three corners of the ring. Donst responds with some elbows. Donst chokes Jacobs with his boot. Donst pie faces him before hitting a suplex for one. Jacobs sends Donst to the floor and follows with a tope con hilo. Donst trips Jacobs on the apron and brings him to the floor with a back breaker. Donst continues to damage Jacobs’ back on the floor. He gets a two count back in the ring. Donst gives him a trifecta of gutwrench suplexes for two. Donst suplexes Jacobs from the apron back into the ring for two. Donst puts on a full nelson which Jacobs breaks with a chin breaker. Donst gives him a bulldog for two. Donst pie faces Jacobs while telling him that he’s the better man. Jacobs fires up as Donst elbows him in the back. Jacobs fires up after being kicked in the face and knocks Donst down with a clothesline. He drops Donst with a neckbreaker for two. Jacobs comes off the top with a senton for two. Donst crotches Jacobs in the corner to avoid the Contra Code. He German suplexes Jacobs out of the corner for two. Donst drops Jacobs with a uranage for two. Jacobs tries a sunset flip for two. Jacobs spears him down for two. Jacobs blocks a clothesline and goes for the Contra Code. Donst turns it into the Donstitution for two. Jacobs slingshots into an ace crusher. He hits the Contra Code for two. Donst rolls through a suplex and gives Jacobs a Gator Roll for the pin at 14:35. Tim Donst has been on a roll in AIW and this match was no exception. A victory over an independent veteran like Jimmy Jacobs is exactly what he needed to truly break out to the next level. Jacobs put on an awesome performance as usual and had a really exciting match with Donst. ***1/4
AIW Tag Team Championship
Aeroform (Flip Kendrick & Louis Lyndon) (Champions) vs. The Olsen Twins (Colin & Jimmy Olsen) vs. Irish Airborne (Jake & Dave Crist)
Dave Crist fozberry flops onto Aeroform as they come out. The Olsens double team Jake Crist in the ring. Jimmy dives onto Kendrick. Dave comes back in and The Irish Airborne double team Colin. Jimmy breaks a pin after Dave hits a quebrada. Jimmy and Jake trade punches. Lyndon and Kendrick fly in with missile dropkicks to both men. Colin and Dave attack them. Lyndon boots Dave. He hops off Kendrick and Dave’s back onto Colin. Aeroform hit stereo flying kicks to send Dave to the floor. Lyndon and Kendrick hit stereo twisting dives onto The Olsens and Irish Airborne on the floor. Dave goes up top, but gets dropkicked by Jimmy. Dave crotches himself on the top rope. The Olsens look for a double suplex but get cut off. Lyndon and Jake powerbomb them while Kendrick takes Jake down with a huracanrana, leading to a crazy tower of doom spot. Kendrick hopes over Dave, but Dave catches him with an enzuigiri. Jimmy drills Dave with a hard right hand and Jake superkicks Jimmy. Lyndon bicycle kicks Jake and Colin hits a hip toss knee strike on Lyndon. Kendrick hits Colin with a shooting star press for two. Aeroform double team Colin, but Dave breaks their pin attempt. Dave clothesline and spears Lyndon. Jake hits a step-up enzuigiri. Dave flapjacks Lyndon and Jake hits a frogsplash. Jimmy breaks the pin. Jimmy superkicks Jake into a Gory knee breaker from Colin. Jimmy connects with a low huracanrana but Jake breaks the pin. The Airborne position Jimmy so that Jake senton bombs Jimmy onto Dave’s knees. Kendrick huracanrana’s Dave so that he gives Jimmy a spike DDT. Colin knee strikes Kendrick. Lyndon gives Colin a sole butt and headscissors him down. Colin armdrags Lyndon down. Colin whips Lyndon into Jake, sending them both to the floor. Kendrick sends Colin into the corner with a headscissors. Colin spikes Kendrick with a huracanrana. Colin dives onto the Irish Airborne and Lyndon on the floor. Jimmy drops Kendrick with the Overbomb and a piledriver for the pin and the titles at 10:50. That was crazy, nonstop action from bell to bell. The fans were into the bout the whole time, in disbelief of the effort these teams put on. This showcased the best of the AIW tag division in one bout and was a fun ride for the matches entirety. ***1/2
Absolute Championship; Ladder Match
Johnny Gargano (Champion) vs. Shiima Xion vs. Facade
This was originally supposed to be a singles match, but right before the match we’re told Chandler Biggins borrowed money from Chest Flexor to bail Façade out of jail. As part of the deal, Flexor could insert any wrestler he wanted into any match at any time. Flexor decides he will enter a man into tonight’s title match. That man would be Shiima Xion, Flexor’s latest signee.
Xion brings a ladder out and rams Gargano in the face after Gargano tries a baseball slide. Façade tackles and kicks away at Xion. Xion kicks Façade in the face. Facada pops up into a leg lariat. Façade clotheslines Xion to the floor. Gargano slingshot spears Façade. Gargano hits a sole butt as Xion brings a ladder into the ring. He nails Gargano in the face. He puts the ladder around his waist and drives it into Façade. Façade drives Xion into the ladder with a gord buster. Façade places Xion on the ladder and hits a split-legged moonsault. He goes for a second, but Gargano catches him with a German suplex. Gargano suicide dives onto Xion. In the ring, both Gargano and Façade superkick Xion. Xion blocks the Hurts Donut. Gargano and Xion knock each other down with simultaneous clotheslines. Façade roundhouse kicks Gargano. Gargano evades a splash from the top rope and lawn darts Façade into a ladder in the corner. Gargano climbs the ladder and Xion pulls him down. Xion hits the Mad Scientist Bomb. He goes for a second one, but Façade roundhouse kicks him, causing Gargano to hit a Yoshi Tonic. Façade goes for a moonsault onto Xion (who is laid across a ladder). Gargano hits him with a ladder from the floor, causing Façade to fall from the top rope to the floor. Gargano slams a ladder into Xion’s ribs and begins to climb. Flexor prevents Gargano from grabbing the title. Gargano knocks Flexor down and sets up a table ringside. Façade comes back into the ring with a chair. Gargano hits a frogsplash onto Flexor through the table. Façade bulldogs Xion off the ladder. Façade triple-jump moonsaults into a dropkick from Gargano. Gargano superkicks him. Gargano climbs up and Xion follows him with a chair. Gargano uses the chair to knock Xion down. Façade walks the top rope, and Gargano throws the chair at him to knock him off the top rope and through the announcer’s table. Gargano falls off the ladder to win the match and retain his title at 12:31. This had all the crazy ballyhoo you expect from a ladder match and then some. All three guys (plus Flexor) worked hard and it showed. Some of the spots were damn near jaw dropping. Really great way to end the show. ***1/2
Eric Ryan cuts a promo to end the show, covered in blood with his shaved head. Ryan promises Bobby Beverly will be the one to end up embarassed.
Overall: AIW ends 2010 on a high note, saying goodbye to one of their top wrestlers while also cultivating some interesting stuff heading into 2011. The last half of the card is a load of fun, especially the tag team title and ladder matches. Donst vs Jacobs and Cross vs Iron were two really strong wrestling bouts, giving some of the up and coming independent talent victories over the bigger stars. Johnny Gargano shines through as the star of the company and has all the opportunity to bring AIW to a brand new set of fans. The only complaint is the number of matches; it’s clear that these 10/11 match cards hit the overall quality of the show. If AIW trimmed the fat and gave all the matches on the card ample amount of time, the overall product would increase tenfold. The future looks bright for the company, with 2011 looking to truly be their breakout year. I suggest picking this up to hop on board before you get left behind.