Absolution has consistently been the biggest show of the year for AIW and has had some of the biggest moments in the past. The first Absolution in 2006 had future stars like EC3, Joaquin Wilde, Ray Rowe and Johnny Gargano.
Absolutions after that included Jon Moxley, Ricochet, Seth Rollins, Bryan Danielson, Britt Baker, Eddie Kingston, The Young Bucks, and more. Absolution will typically bring the end to feuds that have been going on for a long time. This year’s version did not disappoint, as it put an end to multiple feuds, many in a very bloody fashion.
We open with Dominic Garrini and Shaw Mason finally settling the score and putting an end to their feud with PB Smooth and Brian Carson. We then go to the mystery scramble, which has become a staple at Absolution events. The big surprise entrants in this match were Tre Lamar and Dr Daniel C. Rockingham. Other than an appearance in the Gauntlet for the Gold, Dr. Dan has not been in a match since 2020. Vik Vice, who is a product of the AIW Academy won this match, so look for big things from him in the future.
We really start to pick up with the next match, Joseline Navarro against Ziggy Haim. Joseline found a new mean streak during this feud, even attacking Ziggy at her home while Joseline was in Pittsburgh working for another promotion. The crowd was very much behind Ziggy in the match, which is a bit of a switch, because she was hated by most of the AIW fans for a long time.
It did not take long for Ziggy to get bloody in this match, as Joseline put tacks on a chair and slammed Ziggy’s head into it. Ziggy was dripping blood from her face but would not give up and eventually got the win. The celebration was short lived though as she was attacked by Katie Arquette. It appears that the two top female wrestlers in Pittsburgh will be taking their feud to Ohio and AIW.
The next match was The Duke, Money Shot and Eric Taylor against Bulking Season, Sam Holloway and Mikey Montgomery. The main focus of this match was the rivalry between the former Bitcoin Boyz, Eric Taylor and Mikey Montgomery, and this feud looks to continue as Taylor got the win for his team, pinning Mikey after hitting him with The Duke’s boot.
However, in my opinion, the star of this match was Sam Holloway. Sam is an incredible young talent from the AIW Academy, who towers over all of his opponents, yet can fly off the ropes in stunning fashion. He is for sure a future AIW champion and someone to keep your eyes on.
We then get a breather at intermission, but come back quick as To Infinity and Beyond attack Members Only before the bell rings. Members Only is one of the top tag teams in AIW, but cannot seem to get that big win, coming up short in their four title shots that they have had so far. Members Only were able to get the win when Malcom pinned Cheech and hopefully this was the big win that they needed to push them over the edge and get the tag titles.
Our next blood feud is Joshua Bishop against Filthy Tom Lawlor. The crowd was very hyped for this match and was split on who they wanted to win. Bishop was defending his Juggalo Championship Wrestling title, which he had won last weekend at the Gathering of the Juggalos against Lawlor, Joey Janela and Matthew Justice. These two wrestlers have had every kind of match against each other this year, including a Prince of Darkness match, a casket match, and a fans bring the weapons match.
This match was back and forth and got bloody quickly. Lawlor tried to use his striking and submission skills, but Bishop ended up getting the victory and retaining his JCW Championship.
Most would think that it would be hard to follow up the insanity of Bishop vs Filthy Tom, but that is exactly what Wes Barkly and Derek Dillinger did. This was another fight where the fans were split on who they wanted to win, and the crowd was on their feet through most of the match. Wes took a number of really nasty shots to doors, chairs, a guard rail and more, but he came out victorious and the NEW Intense Champion.
The next match is the main event for the Absolute Championship between the champion, Matt Cardona, and Isaiah Broner. Cardona won the Absolute Championship in March in a match that included the champ at that time, Joshua Bishop, Broner and Matthew Justice. During the match, Bill Alfonso turned on Justice and joined Cardona and his cronies. That was the same night that Steph De Lander debuted in AIW as Cardona’s extra muscle. Broner earned this title shot by winning the gauntlet for the gold.
This was another incredible match, that went all over the building and had the fans on their feet through most of the match. There were quite a few Cardona fans in the building, but Broner had the majority of the supporters who wanted to see him finish his story. Cardona kept stacking the odds against Broner throughout the match with help from Steph De Lander, Bill Alfonso and PME.
At one point, Cardona and PME, who each had neck braces on, piled up on Broner to pin him, but he still kicked out. Cardona then took his frustrations out on PME, slapping them in the face and saying it was their fault. Cardona turned his back on PME. They then threw off their neck braces and attacked Cardona to an eruption from the crowd. This led to Broner hitting Cardona with a lariat and becoming the NEW Absolute Champion.
The locker room came out and celebrated with Broner, then Broner’s wife, Joseline Navarro, came into the ring to celebrate, and the crowd told Broner he deserved this and in fact he did.
Broner started wrestling in 2017, but really started to pick up steam whenever he started training at AIW in 2021. Whenever Broner first appeared in AIW he was doing dark matches and scrambles, but was working hard the whole time and impressing the people in charge. This led to him getting matches against Minoru Suzuki and Eddie Kingston. He didn’t win either of those matches, but proved that he could hang with the best in the world. Broner then defeated top AIW stars, Dominic Garrini and Tom Lawlor, before losing and incredible battle with Joshua Bishop for the Absolute Title. After that, Broner does what he always does and that is kept on fighting. Broner decided that AIW was where he wanted to make his name and he certainly has done that.
In my opinion Absolution XVI was the best show that AIW has had in years. The crowd was into the whole show and red hot for the second half. This sets up the future very well with Wes Barkley as the new Intense Champion and Isaiah Broner as the new Absolute Champion. The feud between the former Bitcoin Boyz looks to be far from over and we look to have a new feud between Katie Arquette and Ziggy Haim.
The young wrestlers from the AIW Academy, like Shaw Mason, Sam Hollaway and Vik Vice will look to continue their climb to the top and look to be the next wrestlers to go from pre-show to champion in AIW.
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