Cleveland, OH – 12.21.2012
Championship Rundown
AIW Absolute Champion: Tim Donst
AIW Intense Division Championship: BJ Whitmer
AIW Tag Team Champions: Hope & Change (Gregory Iron & Veda Scott)
AIW Women’s Champion: Allysin Kay
Commentary is provided by Aaron Bauer, Paul Arrand Rodgers, Vic Travagliante, and Denver Colorado.
Louis Lyndon vs. Josh Alexander
Both guys slap each other in the face. Alexander powers Lyndon to the corner. He delivers a splash and a shoulder block. Lyndon flips over a clothesline and nails a knee strike to the face. Alexander decks him with a rolling forearm. He clotheslines Lyndon off of the ring apron and chops him up ringside. Alexander wants a vertical suplex off the apron. Lyndon rakes his face and bicycle kicks him to the floor. He shoulder blocks Alexander in the corner and bicycle kicks him in the stomach for a two count. Lyndon stretches him out in a seated abdominal stretch, then an Octopus stretch. Lyndon moonsaults into a Dragon sleeper. Alexander escapes and deadlifts Lyndon into a German suplex. He sweeps out Lyndon’s legs on the apron and splashes onto his back. After that he powerbombs Lyndon into the ropes. In the ring he drops Lyndon with the Implant but only gets two. Alexander breaks the top turnbuckle by giving Lyndon a back breaker across it! Lyndon tries coming back with a huracanrana. Alexander counters it, but Lyndon turns it into a spike reverse huracanrana! A moonsault double stomp gets him a two count. He goes a tornado DDT. Alexander blocks it and delivers a spinning tombstone piledriver for the pin at 11:06. Well that was one hell of an opening contest. Both these guys were out to win and make an impression and both were successful. If Flip Kendrick decides to never come back, I see Lyndon doing good things in the world of singles competition. AIW should strike while the iron is hot with Alexander. He could have a number of great matches with guys like Whitmer, Elgin, etc. ***
Allysin Kay vs. Kobald
Veronica Ticklefeather is in Kobald’s corner. Referee Jake Clemons refuses to have Kay’s title on the line because he doesn’t want to get weird. Kay overpowers Kobald, bringing him to the corner. Kobald stupidly chops her spikey top. He recovers and delivers a spear. He sets up for the Demon’s Toilet but Kay rolls to the floor. Kay trips him off the apron. She puts a tin on his head and kicks it. She snapmares Kobald onto the entrance ramp and kicks him in the back. He throws some chops above and below her top, as well as delivering a spanking. Kay steals Veronica’ baton and chokes Kobald with it. She hits Kobald with it repeatedly, even sending him into the crowd. In the ring she rubs his face into her spikes. Back on the floor Kobald gets sent into the guardrails. Kay charges after him and ends up hitting the back of her head in the guardrail. Kobald throws a pair of clotheslines and a dropkick back in the ring. He gets two with a belly-to-back suplex. Some lewd gesturing pisses Kay off. She throws a bevy of chops before giving him a cut-throat suplex for the pin at 6:50. That was a lot of fun to watch. Kay beating the crap out of Kobald was a sight to behold. It made me want to see more matches with Kay taking on male wrestlers. Again, this was just fun. **1/2
Davey Vega vs. Chuck Taylor
My day is made thanks to the SWAMP MONSTER being in Taylor’s corner. After some stalling, Taylor brings Vega to the corner and pulls on his hair. Vega does the same. He brings Taylor down in a wristlock. Taylor knees his way free. Vega huracanrana’s him across the ring. After a pair of kicks he lands a senton for two. Taylor pokes him in the eyes and throws strikes at his throat. He gets two with a suplex. He throws Vega to the floor hoping the Swamp Monster attacks. Instead, he hugs Vega?! Taylor angrily baseball slide dropkicks Vega and admonishes the Swamp Monster before hugging him. He chokes Vega on the guardrails. He takes a picture on a fans phone with referee Jake Clemons. Vega gets two with an inside cradle. Taylor gets two with his beautiful dropkick. Vega fights out of an arm hold. He gamengiri’s Taylor from the apron and delivers a missile dropkick for two. Taylor counters a corner attack with the Brodie Knee. Sole Food follows. Vega ducks a clothesline and German suplexes Taylor for two. Taylor comes back with a sit-out powerbomb. Vega crotches him on the top rope. Taylor distracts the referee so that the Swamp Monster can give Vega a headscissors! Taylor comes off the top rope with an elbow drop for two. He goes for the Awful Waffle. Vega escapes that and delivers an Air Raid Crash for the pin at 11:16. This win was a big deal for Vega. I think he has done a good job keeping the momentum in his partners absence (Mat Fitchett) and this match proved just that. Taylor and the Swamp Monster are welcome additions to every AIW show as far as I am concerned. **3/4
Old School (Jock Samson, Marion Fontaine & Colt Cabana) vs. The Submission Squad (Pierre Abernathy, Evan Gelestico & Gary Jay)
Fontaine drop toe holds Jay. He bails to the corner when Fontaine puts his dukes up. Cabana comes in with Abernathy. Cabana shows Abernathy up by doing a headstand when he can’t. He schools him in a wristlock. Abernathy puts on a sleeper hold, presumably putting Cabana to sleep immediately. Abernathy sets up for the People’s Elbow. Of course, Cabana wakes up just in time and applies his own sleeper that puts Abernathy down. Cabana uses a towel as a makeshift blanket. He goes for a pin. Jay and Gelestico try breaking it up and land on Abernathy. Samson and Fontaine come in and with Cabana land triple splashes. Samson dropkicks Gelestico. He cartwheels into an elbow drop. He and Fontaine drop stereo elbows for two. Jay holds Gelestico so that Samson’s dropkick misses. The Squad then takes control, isolating Samson in their corner. Samson escapes by leveling Abernathy with a lariat. Fontaine comes in but is clotheslined by Jay twice. Cabana then tags in and is successful in taking down everyone in the Squad. Abernathy eats triple bionic elbows from all of his opponents. The Squad retreats to the floor. Samson provides a distraction for Fontaine’s suicide dive. They double hip toss Jay back in the ring. Cabana locks him in the Billy Goat’s Curse for the submission victory at 11:51. Another really fun match. This Old School trio would be worthy of a CHIKARA ring at some point. **1/2
Beyond Wrestling Showcase
Jarek 1:20 vs. Jaka
Jaka attacks Jarek as he comes down the aisle. He delivers an overhand chop that sends Jarek into the crowd. Back in the ring Jarek goes for a Death Valley Driver. Jaka escapes and claws at his face. Jarek sneaks in a school boy for two. He avoids a splash from Jaka and hits a split legged moonsault for two. Jaka gives him a rib buster and a rolling thunder headbutt. He avoids Jarek’s sunset flip by striking him in the crown of his head. He overhead suplexes him to the corner. Jarek tries a kick. Jaka throws his legs into the ropes and delivers a series of strikes. Jarek avoids a splash. He kicks Jaka from the apron and comes in with double knees. He stomps his face into the mat. Jaka goes for a superkick. Jarek hits one and gets the pin at 4:42. That finish was supremely awkward as it came out of absolutely nowhere and Jaka had his shoulder up. It started out hot but didn’t evolve past much more than moves being traded back and forth, which is a shame since I really dig both of these guys. **
Chris Dickinson vs. Colin Delaney
Delaney’s physical transformation is quite incredible. Hard punches are thrown in the beginning, leading to hard chops, slaps and forearms. Delaney takes Dickinson down with a running back elbow. He tackles Dickinson which brings them both to the floor. Delaney sends him into the guardrails. After a forearm exchange, Dickinson is sent into the guardrails again. He backdrops Delaney onto the floor upon recovering. Back in the ring he chokes Delaney in the corner. Dickinson suplexes him out of the corner and kicks him in the side of the head. He gets two with a back elbow. He slaps the crud out of Delaney. Delaney responds with some headbutts, but one slap from Dickinson stops his momentum. Delaney counters a whip to the counter by hopping off the ropes and into a dropkick. He hits a hip toss knee strike and a twisting neckbreaker for two. A strike exchange takes place with both men on their knees. When they get to their feet, Dickinson snapmares Delaney into a back kick. Delaney dangles him on the top rope and drops him into a Code Breaker. Dickinson gives him a wheelbarrow suplex and the Brain Eater for the pin at 8:15. That was a very hard hitting affair that showcased two individuals who are looking to get their careers back on an upswing. I can’t put over enough how much Delaney has improved both in how he looks and how he wrestles. It’s like he’s a whole new person. Dickinson has this aura about him where you know someone’s going to get their ass kicked whenever he is in a match and he sure did deliver. We got to see a whole new side of Delaney and the same usual hard hitting affair from Dickinson, making for an unexpectedly great bout. ***
Irish Airborne (Jake & Dave Crist) vs. The Batiri (Obariyon & Kodama)
Veronica Ticklefeather and Kobald accompany the Batiri. Jake and Obariyon wrestle to a stalemate. Dave hits Kodama with a dropkick for two. Dave armdrags him to the floor to escape a wristlock and follows him out with a pescado. He hits a back senton off the top rope for two. The Airborne sandwich the sides of his head with kicks and knees. Obariyon runs in but gets taken down with a quebrada press from Dave. Jake suicide dives onto the Batiri. Dave then Fosbury Flops out. Obariyon kicks Dave in the side of the head as he re-enters the ring. This allows the Batiri to wear Dave down in the corner with some help from Veronica. He eventutally backflips off the second rope and kicks Obariyon in the head. Jake tags in and cleans house. He powerslams Kodama for two. The Batiri hit the Skull Bronzing for two. Dave clotheslines Kodama which also DDT’s Obariyon at the same time. Obariyon kicks Dave and goes for the Rapture. Dave escapes it but takes a superkick. Jake kicks Obariyon twice. Kodama drops him with a Flying Blockbuster. Dave stomps Obariyon off of Jake’s shoulders and into a Death Valley Driver on the ring apron! Obariyon manages to kick out. Veronica crotches Dave to stop Irish Coffee. Jake is sent to the floor. The Batiri hit Dave with the Seventh Circle for the pin at 13:24. As good as the work was, it lacked a certain amount of substance and never really had the crowd into it. The last two big moves were sweet but the rest of it was by the numbers stuff for both teams. **3/4
Veronica and The Batiri cut a promo about the world ending. NIXON of Rickey Shane Page and Eric Ryan run out to dispose of them. Duke Schork says they will decide when the end of the world is. Bobby Beverly was supposed to be Rickey Shane Page’s opponent, but Duke gave him the night off. Duke then decided to grab a name off the AIW List to replace him. His only crime was trying to make a living off of wrestling – Jimmy Jacobs.
Eddie Kingston & Johnny Gargano vs. NIXON (Rickey Shane Page & Jimmy Jacobs)
After a headlock exchange Jacobs goes for a single leg crab which Gargano rolls out of. Jacobs gets the rope to break a grounded wristlock. Gargano stomps him down in the corner. Jacobs brushes off a kick and knocks Gargano down with a clothesline. Gargano gamengiri’s him to the floor. Jacobs comes in with a sunset flip. Gargano rolls through and dropkicks him. Jacobs pokes Kingston in the eyes. That only angers him, as shown by the strikes that follow. Jacobs kicks him in the shoulder and tags out. Page throws some forearms to put him in a daze. Kingston reply with a rolling elbow. Jacobs trips Kingston as Duke distracts the referee. He comes off the apron with an elbow drop to the floor. Page and Jacobs assault Kingston in their half of the ring. Kingston ends up giving Page a uranage suplex.He gets the tag to Gargano who fights off Jacobs and Page with punches. He drops them both with a DDT/Complete Shot combo. Gargano hits Jacobs with a slingshot spear and suicide dives onto Page. Page stomps him into the canvas. Gargano comes back with an enzuigiri. Jacobs drops him with a spring back Ace Crusher. Gargano gets his knees up to block a senton. Kingston suplexes Jacobs and Page breaks the cover. Kingston ends a chop exchange by dropping Page with an STO. Page blocks the Sliding D with a rolling elbow. Gargano rolls him into a basement enzuigiri. Jacobs puts Gargano in the End Time. Gargano throws him off and nails a superkick. Jacobs accidentally spears referee Jake Clemons. Somebody in a Nixon mask makes his way out. He throws a fireball into Page’s face! It turns out to be Chest Flexor which causes Duke to flip. He takes Page to the back leaving Jacobs alone. He drops Gargano with the Contra Code, rolling up into a satellite headscissors for Kingston. Gargano superkicks Jacobs to block a spear. Kingston hits the Backfist to the Future and the Sliding D for the pin at 13:58. I love the rotating “List” gimmick they’re doing with NIXON. It makes sense and adds intrigue as to who will come in to help them out. The teams worked really well together and against each other, which is a compliment considering this is likely the first time they have ever teamed. This feud is pretty great. ***1/4
AR Fox vs. Ethan Page
Seleziya Sparx is in Page’s corner. Each guy foes after the others arm. Fox dropkicks Page to the floor. He leaps over the top rope and dives onto him. Fox follows up with the kick flip moonsault. Sparx grabs Fox’s leg, allowing Page to deliver an enzuigiri. He slingshots Fox into a backbreaker for two. He gets two with an elbow drop. Page schoolboy trips Fox and drops another elbow. He wears Fox down with a side headlock. He gets two with a release suplex and kicks Fox to the apron. Fox ducks a clothesline and delivers an enzuigiri. Page gets his boot up to block a corner attack, but then eats Thugbait. Fox clotheslines him in the corner and skins the cat back into a dropkick. Air Fox follows. He gets two with a Swanton Bomb. Page blocks another dive. He dropkicks Fox in the corner and spins him out into a DDT for two. Fox rolls out of a uranage and delivers a Shiranui. He follows up with Meteora for two. Page rolls to the floor. He shoves Fox off the top rope to avoid Lo Mein Rain. He hits the Boom! Head Shot for two. Fox drives his knees into Page’s face. He goes for Lo Mein Pain but gets shoved down. Page comes off the top with an enzuigiri for two. Fox comes back with an Ace Crusher. Page rolls out and Fox hits the Lo Mein Rain. In the ring Fox his a 450 splash, yet Page is able to kick out! Sparx gets in the way when Fox climbs the ropes. While the referee is taking care of her, Page gives Fox a low blow. The Spinning Dwayne gets him the pin at 12:19. Here’s hoping we can see this match again with a clean finish. This was as action packed and great as you would expect, but would have done much better had Page won with no BS. I give them credit for giving Sparx something to do aside from standing around though. ***1/4
AIW Tag Team Championship
Hope & Change (Gregory Iron & Veda Scott) vs. Youthanazia (Matt Cross & Josh Prohibition)
Southside St. Clair is in Hope & Change’s corner. We are reminded that it takes a four count for Youthanazia to win. Cross bicycle kicks Scott to the floor before the bell. Cross double stomps Iron into Prohibition’s TKO. Cross misses a shooting star double stomp but does dive onto St. Clair. Scott and Iron beat down Cross near the entrance way. Prohibition stalks Iron until Scott rakes his eyes from behind. The beat down to Prohibition continues in the ring, but not for long. Prohibition gives Iron a t-bone suplex and tags in Cross. Scott breaks his cover. Cross puts Iron in a modified half crab after a Manhattan drop. He throws Iron’s face into Prohibition’s boot. Prohibition takes Iron to the floor for more of a beating. He suplexes him back in the ring for two. Iron avoids a double stomp. He gives Cross a Code Breaker. Scott snaps his neck across the top rope and delivers a clothesline. Cross catches a crossbody. Scott works her way off his shoulders. Iron gets booted in the face. Cross misses a split-legged moonsault. Iron gets two with a senton. Prohibition gives him a brainbuster across his knee for three. He buckle bombs Scott. Cross cartwheels into a back elbow. Prohibition gives her a brainbuster. Iron breaks the pin. St. Clair hands Iron some powder. Prohibition smacks it into his face and throws Scott into him. He hits the Drunken Driver on her. Cross follows with a shooting star press. St. Clair pulls the referee to the floor. Prohibition chases him to the back. Iron low blows Cross from behind and rolls him up for the pin at 11:21. It’s going to be so awesome when Hope & Change lose the titles because they are so universally hated and good at playing their part. Their in ring work is a whole different story, but Prohibition and Cross brought out their best. With Prohibition being Iron’s rival it added a lot more spice to the match and the fans really thought we had a title change on our hands. **3/4
AIW Absolute Championship
Tim Donst vs. Eric Ryan
Duke Schork is in Ryan’s corner. Ryan tries to jump Donst. Donst avoids it and throws strikes in the corner. He suplexes Ryan in from the apron. Duke grabs Donst’s leg. Ryan tries again to attack. Donst clotheslines him to the floor and suicide dives onto Duke. Ryan chokes Donst and throws him into the guardrails. In the ring he goes for a Yoshi Tonic. Donst hooks Ryan’s arms and throws him overhead. Donst drops him with an Ace Crusher and spins him out into a uranage. Ryan tries a slingshot move from the apron. Donst catches him with a Donsitution. Duke pulls Donst out of the ring to stop the cover. Ryan tries for a suicide dive and ends up hitting the guardrails. Duke distracts Jake Clemons. Ryan low blows Donst and rolls him up for two. Ryan gives him a German suplex. He turns a Complete Shot into the Koji Clutch. Donst gets the ropes. Ryan sets up for a second rope Package Piledriver. Even though Donst blocks it, Ryan is able to bring him down with a super X-Factor for two. Duke is cutting off a top turnbuckle while Ryan is attacking Donst in the opposite corner. Donst avoids being thrown into it. Clemons goes for the fix the turnbuckle while Donst suplexes Ryan into the corner. He wants to powerbomb Ryan into the exposed buckle but Clemons won’t move. Frustrated, Donst powerbombs Ryan onto Clemons! He Gator rolls Ryan into From Dusk til Donst. Ryan is tapping but it’s of no use. Donst releases the hold when Duke jumps to the apron with a hammer. Eddie Kingston pulls Duke off the apron. Donst and Kingston yell at one another, bringing Kingston into the ring. Kingston ends up giving him a Backfist. He stands face to face with Ryan and gives him a Backfist. Ryan lands on Donst and referee Tom Dunn comes out to count the pin at 15:19, making Ryan the new champion. This was frustrating. This was the fourth match in a row to involve interference of some sort, causing this match to blend in with everything that proceeded before it. The action was only OK and I have to wonder if that’s because both guys knew what was to come. Ryan deserves to be champion but Donst sure as hell expected much better than that. This left a sour taste in my mouth. **1/2
Overall: This show started off fun and became frustrating by the end. AIW is known at this point for rocking some pretty good looking cards month to month, but when you have so many BS finishes, why even bother? Is that really the only way you can establish who is a heel and who isn’t? It’s especially frustrating when you consider this was their last show of the year and followed with what I thought was easily their best show of the year, Hell on Earth 8. It didn’t leave the best taste in my mouth, but I can’t deny that there are some quality bouts on here. This may be a mileage may vary situation, meaning if you can stomach so much interference and weak finishes you may enjoy this more so than others. I give it a thumbs in the middle since there’s certainly some stuff worth watching. I just hope that this type of show doesn’t become the trend.
You can pick up the show on DVD from either AIW’s Store or Smart Mark Video. At Smart Mark Video, you can also purchase the show as a digital download or stream it for a reduced price.
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