-A graphic shows that this event is dedicated to the life and memory of Larry Sweeney. This is ironically the company where he made some of his last appearances in the fall of 2010.
-Taped from Berwyn, Illinois
-Your hosts are Phil Colvin and Kevin Harvey
-Awesome Threesome (Knight Wagner and Jordan McEntyre w/Eryn) vs. Ashton Sixx and Johnny Wade
Match in Five Words or Less: Threesome Moves Up The Ladder
Match Summary/Analysis: Wade and Syxx are Canadian. That’s about the most interesting aspect of these two. That and Wade’s tights, which are quite colorful. Babyfaces actually get some early offense on the Threesome. Heat segment on Wade who bumps quite well. Wagner and McEntyre get better and better each month, and it might be time to consider giving them a run with the belts. Never thought I’d say that even a year or so ago. Sixx shows some good fire on the comeback. Huge dive by Wade nearly gets three. Eryn grabs Syxx’s leg. Dropkick sends him out. Wade gets hit with Double Penetration and that’s another win for Awesome Threesome. Solid win and an okay opener.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Awesome Threesome/6:19/**
-Clash is many things. Unfortunately, they’re not as over as they should be. They promise to end their feud with Matt Mayday and Marion Fontaine. The word decimate is used, so you know it’s serious. Mena Libra also threatens MsChif.
-Phil Colvin brings out new AAW champion Dan Lawrence. Lawrence talks about his incredible accomplishment before quickly being interrupted by the familiar music of the House of Truth. Out come Keith Walker and Truth Martini. Martini says the reign will come to an end after just one month since Lawrence is about to lose to Walker. And Lawrence asks why wait to have the match. It begins RIGHT NOW!
-Dan Lawrence (champion) vs. Keith Walker (w/Truth Martini)
Match in Five Words or Less: SURPRISE
Match Summary/Analysis: Lawrence uses speed and cunning to maintain control early. Distraction leads to Walker delivering a forearm. German suplex into the top turnbuckle. Good gravy. Crowd wants to see it again. Pace slows down. Martini gets sent into the lower midsection of the guy he’s managing. Lawrence with a series of dropkicks in the corner. Chops by Lawrence. He pulls the rope down, and Walker ends up outside the ring. Martini pulls Lawrence’s foot. Boots by Lawrence followed by a rana. Tornado DDT for two. Martini goes for more interference. Walker hits a swinging backbreaker. LARIAT! Joey Eastman runs in out of nowhere and stops the referee from counting three. He even low blows him a second time for good measure. We have ourselves a rare disqualification. Match was actually going alone well until the ending. I’m not a fan of Walker clearly beating Lawrence before Eastman bailed him out. Doesn’t exactly put the champion over.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Dan Lawrence/6:46/*1/2
-Silas Young and Mason Beck come in for a beat down of the champion. Shane Hollister in with a chair and the heels quickly flee outside. Lawrence cuts a brief promo. Kevin Harvey points out the rules to the new referee since he dq’d Walker a few minutes ago. Harvey makes a double jeopardy tag team match with both the Heritage and heavyweight championships on the line. Not a fan of singles titles being decided in tag team matches, but at least whoever pins the champion gets that belt… if that scenario does happen to take place.
-MsChif vs. Kelly Klein
Match in Five Words or Less: ???
Match Summary/Analysis: MsChif has Freddy Kreuger’s glove, but the referee forces her to take it off. Crowd chants “NO DQ.” Least they know the rules. This isn’t nearly as good as the women’s match last month. Klein looked way green and awkward here. Both she and MsChif worked hard though. Mschif quickly taps Klein out. Not much here. MsChif says something to the referee who says something to Klein. What in the hell happened there?
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: MsChif/3:40/1/2*
-Clash begins stalking ringside. Mena Libra wants MsChif in the ring one-on-one. Series of blows in the corner. The bell doesn’t ring. What is going on? Running charge in the corner. Goes for the cover. MsChif hits a reverse DDT. She goes for the same submission that tapped Klein. Rest of the Clash comes in anf they slap her around. The boys come in to make the save. Fontaine and Krotch hit a double dive. I have no idea what’s going on right now. Thankfully, a bell rings and we can move on. Did MsChif hurt herself or what?
The Clash (Cameron Skyy and Tommy Treznik w/Mena Libra) vs. Krotch and Marion Fontaine)
Match in Five Words or Less: Cameron Skyy Looks Goofy
Match Summary/Analysis: Babyfaces start out well. We even get a gay spot as Clash gets to know each other a bit better than they wanted to. Skyy and Treznik quickly gain control on Fontaine. I understand why Treznik wears the dress shirt and tie, but Skyy wearing that same get-up makes him look really goofy. Faces work over Treznik next. Heat segment on Fontaine. Krotch with a neckbreaker and lariat. Sliced bread attempt. Transitioned into a rana on Treznik. He tosses Skyy. Second rope moonsault by Fontaine. Treznik hits a nice acecrusher. Double elbows and clubbering forearms on Krotch. They go for their finish, but Fontaine prevents that. Treznik sent over the top and hits his leg on the rail. Jesus. What’s up with members of that faction doing that? Krotch can’t fight off two men for long. Clash hit the double burning hammer AND GET A CLEAN WIN! IT’S A MIRACLE! A bit awkward but some solid action from these two teams.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: The Clash/8:40/**1/4
-Brawl continues after the match. Skyy facebusters Fontaine into a steel chair. Treznik drives Krotch hard into the chair. I guess it’s that move that will keep Krotch out of action for the entire summer. Good match and angle to ACTUALLY GET CLASH OVER! This is what they’ve needed for months.
-Chaos Theory commercial to some death metal. Good idea by AAW to advertise other DVDs on their shows.
-Jimmy Jacobs vs. Mike Elgin
Match in Five Words or Less: Mike Elgin Rules
Match Summary/Analysis: So Justin Credible no-showed and we get this instead. Darn. Guaranteed this will be a better match. Stomps in the corner before mocking the crowd. Jacobs with stomps of his own until Elgin tosses him down foot first. Series of double stomps into an elbow drop. Elgin catches Jacobs and slams him through a steel chair. Back in the ring. Elgin works Jacobs’ back. Nice stalling suplex as he keeps Jacobs up for 20 seconds. He’s ridiculous. I give it less than a year before Elgin gets signed by WWE. Jacobs comes back with a suplex out of the corner. Elgin hits a right a hand as Jacobs is prone on the top rope. Sunset bomb. Superkick for two. Reminds me of Seth Rollins. Whatever happened to that guy? Series of moves and counter moves by both men. It all looks quite good. What doesn’t look good is Elgin trying to lock in Boston crab in the ropes. Jacobs placed on the top. Jacobs bites and sends him down. Senton met with knees. Ow. LARIAT! Jacobs kicks out. Forearms by Elgin. Roaring forearm by two. Spear by Jacobs. Elgin with a series of blows. Jacobs hits a springboard acecrusher. Contra code turned into a DVD in the corner. 1-2-NO! Elbows into a northern lights bomb for two by Elgin. Chokeslam. 1-2-NO! The straps come down. Jacobs counters a powerbomb into End time. Elgin rams him into all four corners, but the hold isn’t broken. Elgin appears to fade. Jacobs has to DDT him. Elgin once again tries working out of it, but Elgin finally has to tap out. Gotta love how a match that wasn’t even supposed to take place on the show pretty much saved the first half. Great work from both guys as I continue to be impressed with Elgin.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Jimmy Jacobs/15:49/***1/2
-Jesse Emerson vs. Austin Mannix vs. Sebastian Reese vs. Max Bauer
Match in Five Words or Less: Four No Names Battle
Match Summary/Analysis: I feel like Mason Beck has squashed at least three of these guys. The implication is whoever wins this match gets a roster spot. Max Bauer is huge. Phil Colvin calls him a cross between Mason Beck and Brodie Lee. I’m inclined to agree. This is like a lot of the four way frays you might see in DG USA. Obviously, these guys aren’t as skilled, but at least this wasn’t boring. Lots of moves. Lots of action. Probably goes too long. The heels work on Bauer’s for some of the match. Emerson appears to set up for a double team spot but he pulls Mannix out of the way so Reese lands on his face. Emerson gets the cover and the win. I give credit for that finish. Very creative and different. Match should have lost about three or four minutes however.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Jesse Emerson/10:16/*
-Dave Prazak says Arik Cannon has a new purpose in AAW after defeating Shima Xion and attacking Jimmy Jacobs at the last show.
-AAW Tag Team Championship: Zero Gravity (Bret Gakiya and CJ Esparza) vs. Irish Airborne (Jake and Dave Crist)
Match in Five Words or Less: Flippy And Smooth
Match Summary/Analysis: Jake Crist manages not to break the bottom rope this time. Airborne attacks Gravity from behind before the bell rings. Gravity hits a double ranas quickly. Airborne flees the ring. Tandem offense by the champions. Airborne briefly takes control on Esparza. Flying neckbreaker by Dave on Gakiya. Double knees to the face as Airborne asserts themselves. Gakiya eats a kick right to the face from Jake. Dave nails a tiger suplex right after. That was nice. Esparza in with a springboard dropkick and other such flippy moves. Double dives by the champs. Wow. Drop toehold into the second turnbuckle on Esparza. Both teams looking really good in this match. Esparza breaks up a spike piledriver attempt. Gakiya hits a spinning kick. Double superkicks on Dave. What a wild match. Flippy cup from the top goes awry. Jake hits a falcon arrow on Gakiya for two. But that always wins matches. I’ve seen many a PWG match end that way. Heat segment on Esparza. Esparza rolls jake up out of nowhere to get the victory. Very sloppy and such an odd ending. Referee forgets to ring the bell. What’s up with that tonight? Bells forgetting to be rung. Bells not ringing at all. Weird. Very enjoyable and energetic battle. Wish the ending could have been better.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Zero Gravity/13:31/***1/4
Path of Redemption commercial.
-Airborne continue the fight anyway and hit the tandem spike piledriver on Gakiya. They also take the belts with them, a fine set-up for the ladder match which would take place at Epic a month later.
-Joey Eastman makes his hatred for House of Truth clear and wants a fight. He threatens to make Walker his bitch and will then beat up Martini. Does he not remember what happened back in February. Here’s Martini and Walker. As the fight begins, Chris Hall comes out for the save. He and Eastman, who I’m calling The Baldies, take care of business. Martini’s selling of the low blow shot from Eastman is magnificent.
-Double Jeopardy Tag Team Match- AAW Heritage and AAW heavyweight Championship: Dan Lawrence (AAW Heavyweight Champion) and Shane Hollister (AAW Heritage Champion) vs. Silas Young and Mason Beck (w/Val Malone)
Match in Five Words or Less: Beck Steps Up
Match Summary/Analysis: No feeling out process here. Brawl goes all over the place. Can’t even follow all of the action. Needless to say, it goes through the crowd. Lawrence dives on both heels as Hollister holds them. Beck tosses Hollister through multiple rows of chairs. Heels work over Lawrence back in the ring forever. Lawrence hits a standing enziguri and appears set to make the hot tag until Val pulls Hollister off the apron. Young drops down into a low blow, but Beck once again prevents the tag. Hollister FINALLY tags in. Series of clotheslines. Young tosses him down. Beck misses a splash. Hollister hits a flying knee. Stomp to the head on Beck for two. Hollister has new gear, and it looks a million times better. Young pulls Hollister out of the ring. Double team by the babyfaces work over Young. BECK DIVE! OH MY GOD! Battle between Beck and Hollister in the ring. Beck with a samoan drop/fallaway slam combo on both men. Wow. Double team by Young and Beck on Lawrence leads to a two count. Doomsday device misses. Lawrence rolls up Beck for two. Double stomp on beck. Double dropkick on Young, but the referee is pulled away by Val. Nagasaki roll by Young. Pee gee waga plunge gets 2.9. Young doesn’t like the count. Kick by Hollister. Pele kick sends Young out. Springboard DDT by Hollister. Val Malone interjects again. Hollister threatens to buzzsaw kick her. Boot from behind by Beck. Splash mountain and we have a new champion as Beck becomes the new Heritage champion. This didn’t even touch the quality of a lot of past AAW main events, but the right guy went over. Then booking was designed to make Beck look good, and it was ultimately successfu in that regardl. Young doesn’t seem thrilled Beck came away with the title though.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: NEW Heritage Champion-Mason Beck and Silas Young/13:36/**
-Mason beck gloats.
-Mena Libra wants her one-on-one match with MsChif at 115 Bourbon Street.
-Irish Airborne say they’ve been overlooked and will win the AAW tag team titles in one month at 115 Bourbon Street.
-Joey Eastman encourages Chris Hall to put this loud yellow hat on his head. He says Chris Hall is “The Happiness,” not “The Madness.” Eastman loves Chris Hall.
-Jimmy Jacobs talks about wrestling Arik Cannon at Epic.
-Zero Gravity talk about getting their belts back at Epic.
-Awesome Threesome are beating “international” talent and also some gloating of their own.
Line of the Night: Phil Colvin for the win, “Are we having an undressing contest or a fight?”
Finish of the Night: Jesse Emerson’s intelligence in winning his match earns him the award here.
MVP: Michael Elgin really stepped up on this night. Not that Justin Credible was going to have the better match, but I’m hoping Elgin made people forget who Jimmy Jacobs was supposed to wrestle.
The Verdict: Ultimately, I think 2011 is going to be a year of rebuilding year for AAW as they desperately need to develop new talent and new wrestlers. I’m not a huge fan of having Hollister lose his title to Mason Beck, but Beck has been around quite a bit, and he has the potential to be something special for the company as a big monster. I think Jesse Emerson, Clash, and The Awesome Threesome are also individuals and teams to watch the rest of the year. I can’t recommend Point of No Return from a match quality standpoint, but a number of important angles happened on the show. Will be interesting to see how Epic turned out on iPay-Per-View.
For more information on AAW and their upcoming shows (including a return to the Berwyn Eagles club this weekend and information on their first iPPV coming in May), check out AAW’s Website. To buy this and many otherAAW DVDs, check out Smart Mark Video. To read past AAW reviews, check out my AAW blog. Below is a list of contact information for both the website and me.
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