Flyer for AIW’s “Girls Night Out 8”
On March 1st, Absolute Intense Wrestling will present the eight installment of it’s all female show, Girls Night Out. However, this time there will be some notable differences. Always seeking to push the envelope, the promotion has announced that the main event will be a number one contender’s match to see who will be the next challenger for Allysin Kay’s Women’s Championship. There will be four qualifying matches on the show, with the winners squaring off in a four way match. The twist is this: the main event for the number one contender’s spot will be a ladder match. This is a first for the women in AIW, and although we have seen no disqualification matches, fans bring the weapons matches and “Pondo Rules” matches (which are technically no disqualification), the addition of a ladder brings new risk to the women involved. However, they all know the risk and the reward, the chance to leap to the front of the pack no matter their win/loss record, is worth the chance. Each woman involved will be willing to risk it all for the chance to challenge for the belt that Allysin Kay has held for almost a full year.
Lets look at the card, starting with the qualifying matches.
One half of AIW’s tag team champions, Veda Scott versus the returning Leva Bates.
Veda Scott has been on a tear recently. Together with the man she has partnered with to give legal advice to, Gregory Iron, they captured the AIW Tag Team Championships from the Batiri towards the end of 2012. Since debuting on the GNO brand for the fourth show, she’s had an even win/loss record there – she lost her debut against Cherry Bomb, won her second against Kimber Lee, took a loss to Sara Del Rey on the third, and at Girls Night Out 7 she pinned Courtney Rush for the win. She also pinned Mia Yim in the latter’s last match for AIW before leaving for Japan, something that a lot of people weren’t happy about. However, no one can deny her partnership with Greg Iron has reaped both of them benefits – the tag titles currently around their waists testify to that. AIW management has declared that intergender bouts will not count towards a woman’s win/loss record, so Veda remains at 3 wins and two losses, the best record behind Mary Dobson for an active AIW female roster member. Veda has made it clear she is not happy about having to win a qualifying, then a ladder match, to become number one contender but she is determined to do what it takes to add more gold.
Standing in her way is the returning Leva Bates. The woman of many cosplays is making her second GNO appearance. The first was a bit of a fiasco – her scheduled opponent didn’t show up for GNO 6, and her attempt to fill the time with Star Trek trivia didn’t go so well (despite being dressed as Jean-Luc Picard and being accompanied by a Tribble). Hailey Hatred came out to challenge her to an impromptu match where, after a valiant fight, Leva fell to the more experienced woman. A disappointing result, but AIW management must have been impressed by her spirit and effort. Leva is returning to AIW and has a shot to fight for the number one contender’s spot. 2012 saw Bates step up her game and show that she has more to offer than just costumes – despite being beaten by LuFisto, Kalamity and Mercedes Martinez, her bouts against them have shown fans that she is putting into practice all that she has learned. One thing is clear: underestimate Leva Bates at your peril.
Kay’s former associate with Flexor Industries, Sassy Stephie versus AIW newcomer Addy Star
Sassy Stephanie isn’t happy. Her record stands at 0 wins and 3 losses, all at previous GNO shows against Cherry Bomb, Sara Del Rey and Athena – despite her association with Chest Flexor and Flexor Industries. It seems the red head cannot score a win with or without help – and as seen below, Flexor is not returning her messages. Nor does it seem like AIW is treating her with respect. A horrid record and no respect – it would be understandable for people to write her off as having no chance to win and advance to the ladder match. But it’s often with people having nothing to lose that they gain everything by fighting for it. Don’t count Sassy Stephie out. She is sure to do whatever is necessary to gain a title shot and to not be overlooked by anyone again.
In what is sure to be a trial by fire for the newcomer, Addy Starr faces the pissed off Stephanie in her first AIW match. She was due to debut for the promotion at last month’s Conspiracy Theory show in a Beyond Wrestling showcase match, but the weather derailed her plane. Addy is the self-proclaimed “All-American Canadian” who is slowly starting to make a name for herself outside of Canada and New England. In Inter-Species Wrestling she took part in a LEGO Deathmatch that has to be seen to be believed. She is no stranger to hardcore bouts and brutal brawls, as well as intergender matches, so AIW undoubtedly believes she deserves to be in a qualifying match for the number one contender status. The question is now, will she be able to overcome the Sassy one? Or will she wind up a victim of the Kiss My Sass?
This one is personal. At Girls Night Out 7, after her Pondo Rules match against Lil’ Naughty, Mary Dobson was attacked by Annie Social, Nikki St. John, Heidi Lovelace and Sammy Geodollno – the newly formed “Social Network”. The group made it clear that they were there to run things and viewed Dobson as a threat. “Crazy Mary” takes on the leader of the Social Network, Annie Social herself, and it’s hard to believe that things WON’T get out of hand. Mary Dobson has made a name for herself by being willing to do deathmatches and put her health on the line. She tweeted not too long ago that she was “more than just deathmatches” but she may have to resort to drastic measures to keep Annie Social down for the pin. If she makes it to the ladder match, there’s no doubt her willingness to go to the extreme will make her a favorite to win. Plus, her 3-1 record serves as proof she can get the job done.
On the other hand, having one win and one loss under Annie Social’s belt, she looks like the dark horse in this contest. But if you know Social’s history, you know she is capable of a few nasty tricks of her own. She’s been in wrestling for over ten years, traveled extensively, and is no stranger to hardcore matches. On her own, she’s a formidable opponent. Having backup in her manager, Sammy Geodollno, as well as St. John and Lovelace looking out for her, makes her even more dangerous. For a shot at the women’s belt, Annie will probably take on Malcolm X’s motto: by any means necessary. The cherry on the cupcake is being able to take out Dobson in the process.
The last qualifying match promises to be one hell of a match. Kimber Lee has impressed fans everywhere she has competed, be it in AIW (where she got her first win at GNO 7 against Melanie Cruise), WSU, SHINE or CZW (she was the first female graduate of the CZW wrestling school). She is athletic, a quick learner and has a lot of charisma – all this and she has only been wrestling since mid-2011. Yet she has captured attention wherever she has wrestled. Kimber earning a title shot at AIW would certainly raise her profile even higher. To do that, however, she will have to face a woman she has met in the ring before…
“The Wrestling Goddess” has been invited back to AIW after a stellar debut at GNO 7. She made it there originally due to fans being willing to donate to a campaign for her funds (her and AIW in return gave rewards to those who gave money), and she wowed the crowd after a fantastic opening match against Sassy Stephie. Management obviously were impressed: this time they are flying her in themselves and she now has a shot to go for the number one contendership. Athena has become one of the women that, if she is on the card, you know you’re in for a treat. 2012 saw her win the ACW Queen of Queens tournament; challenge Saraya Knight for the SHIMMER Women’s Championship; debut in Canada for NCW Femmes Fatales and challenge Kalamity for the Femmes Fatales Championship; win the ACW Televised Championship; and be personally chosen by Jessicka Havok to wrestle for the WSU Championship in 2013. Given her background in ACW, a ladder match would seem to be up her alley if she can get past Kimber Lee. But someone who has graduated from the CZW Wrestling Academy knows what it is to be ultraviolent. It goes without saying that this match has major potential to be one of the best, if not THE best, on the card. May the best woman win.
Outside of the qualifying matches, there are three others on the card. This tag team match between Lovelace/St. John and Angeldust/KC stems from GNO 7, where, in a tag match that saw Angeldust partner with Lovelace against Social and St. John, Heidi turned on her partner to pair up with the other two to form The Social Network. Angeldust wants revenge and together with long-time AIW member KC, she aims to get it. KC presumably doesn’t look kindly on anyone wanting to “run” things, least of all two upstarts like Nikki and Heidi. With her record, KC recently challenged Kay for the title and lost. Yet she’s not one to back down from a fight. I predict we will see all four women in a brawl, and with Sammy G on The Social Network’s side, she may tip the balance in the end.
In an “Absolute Opportunity Match”, two women will compete to earn a place on the AIW roster. One is Canadian Jodi D’Milo, who has been wrestling since 2007 mostly in Canada. She made her American debut for Inter-Species Wrestling in April 2012, wrestling Addy Starr at “Boner Jam II”. With the amount of experience she has, she is sure to make an impression on both fans and AIW management alike. However, to become a permanent roster member, Jodi has to get past a woman who has been making waves in the Midwest recently…
Angelus Layne is brash, outspoken, and ready to prove she has what it takes to be a player in any promotion she appears for. Debuting in 2008, she mostly has wrestled in the Midwest, and graduated in 2012 from SPARKLE to SHIMMER on Volume 52. She has also made an impact as the manager of Alex Castle and Matt Cage, the Kentucky Buffet; and with the start of a new promotion, Pro-Wrestling Collision, she has teamed with Castle to stir things up and create opportunities for herself. This Friday, Angelus looks to bring her own brand of chaos to a new place. The question is, which woman wants it more?
Management announced that, in an unexpected twist, Allysin Kay will be defending her belt at GNO 8…but that her opponent will not be revealed until the show is underway. Possibly not until the match is set to go on. There has been much speculation and guess-work as to who will be challenging Kay. Is it a current AIW roster member? Someone who has been noted as “inactive” on the AIW Tumblr page? Perhaps someone completely new to the company? Whoever it is, AK-47 has shown she takes on all comers, even defeating Kobald of the Batiri at a recent show. And, really, after the finish of her cage match against Mia Yim at GNO 7, it’s hard to imagine she is nervous about who the challenger will be. Hanging upside down from the top of a cage while choking out your opponent tends to boost your confidence. Whoever it is will have to be on their A-game to have a prayer of winning the belt.
I mentioned at the top of this article that there were notable differences with this show. Aside from the ladder match, the other major detail about this GNO is that it is AIW’s first ever iPPV. Smart Mark Video is presenting it, so given the past iPPVs SMV has hosted, it is sure to be good quality. So, even if you live on the other side of the world, you can watch this live and have it to watch on demand afterwards! This is a huge step for AIW, and it speaks volumes about their confidence in the women on their roster that a Girls Night Out show was chosen as the first iPPV. Huge congratulations and praise to them for taking a chance. If you have seen the previous GNO shows, it’s fair to say that you would think they have gotten better with each one. This Friday they take things to a whole new level. If you can’t be there, I highly recommend purchasing it from SMVOD.com. A low price for a guaranteed fantastic show. Here is the direct link: http://www.smvod.com/
Good luck to AIW and all the women involved. I will be there in attendance – I hope all the AIW and female wrestling fans support and buy the iPPV!
