The first time AAW named a show Epic, it almost felt ironic given the quality of the show. In the ensuing years, AAW has grown so much, from a small, local independent wrestling company to a legitimate promotion that houses some of the premiere athletes in all of wrestling. Thanks to Smart Mark Video, there has been a noticeable upgrade in the video quality. Nine years ago, AAW was just another struggling company. Now there’s still a struggle, but wrestlers from all around the country want to come to Berwyn, Illinois every month. Regardless of the reasons for AAW trying to make all of these production and talent upgrades, they are honestly one of my favorite companies to watch in 2013. As the landscape shifts and we see some sea change in our little corners of wrestling, AAW seems prepared to be around for quite some time thanks to their quick building of guys like ACH and Shane Hollister FINALLY revving up for a main event run.
It should say a lot about a card when I don’t want to talk about ACH versus Davey Richards first. It was obviously a great wrestling match, but Shane Hollister and Jimmy Jacobs undoubtedly stole the show and was exactly what Hollister needed to get him to that next level as a performer. As good as Jacobs’s ROH match was with Adam Cole, I think I liked this one better. Jacobs played the sympathetic babyface so well and bled a little bit (not sure if this was a blade job or hardway) to give this match that extra oomph. Best of all, the result was relatively clean. I said in my 2012 AAW Year in Review that Hollister needed that one match to put him over the top and make him a full fledged main event star. I’ll be damned if we didn’t get it here. I’m going to ignore the Scarlett and Marcus Crane BS because it’s irrelevant to how I feel about this match. Hollister is stepping his game up, and if he’s not a contracted performer with someone by the end of 2013, I’ll be stunned. Jimmy Jacobs absolutely helped build a star on this night.
Speaking of building stars, Davey Richards did everything he could to get ACH over as the hot new babyface champion. I was a little bothered ACH didn’t get to main event Path of Redemption, but with Michael Elgin in PWG, I’m glad ACH got the chance here instead to wrestle a 30 minute draw with Richards. Given Richards would be receiving a heavyweight title match three weeks from when this show took place, AAW didn’t really have a choice but to book a draw. ACH did get to look sympathetic, and he’s rapidly become one of the most over guys within AAW. A year ago, I was complaining about him being squashed by Mason Beck, and look where ACH is now. There was no waiting period. ACH is in AAW for the long haul and would appear to be someone they’re going to build around in 2013. The only way the actual match fell short was in some of the psychology as ACH didn’t do nearly as well selling his leg given Richards was working on it for the second half of the match. My other minor gripe is Richards applying and holding onto some of the submissions for way too long without a tap. I understand not having the babyface tap clean, but did we really need to see multiple ankle locks and a sharpshooter to end it? Even so, I still enjoyed the match, and it’s obviously worth running out of your way to see.
If you had asked me before Epic for the matches I really couldn’t have cared less about, Ryan Boz and Keith Walker would have been on the list. How do you change my mind? Have a four minute match where you beat the holy hell out of each other. I think the word hoss is way overused in today’s wrestling, but these two exemplified that word with the way they were striking each other. Boz’s chest was purple, and I believe if you search around, you can find a picture on Twitter or some other social media outlet. It was as intense and real as real can get. I was disappointed there was a wacky ending with Kevin Harvey’s group interfering the moment it seemed Walker was in trouble, but if they’re building to a rematch, more power to them. Boz and Walker bring something completely different to the table than the two main events as they’re the complete opposite of the indy style we’ve all become accustomed to. I’m all in favor of a short burst of a contest where they’re pretty much getting Japanese stiff with each other. It makes AAW cards stand out and doesn’t allow for every show to feel samey.
Two of the guys who I believe deserve more attention than they’re getting are Junthai Miller and Prince Ali. They had a really gun midcard match where we got to see them actually get time and take some main event level bumps. There was a lot of action, and it had a fast pace, exactly what you would want out of these two wrestlers. What I liked most was Miller won, and it felt meaningful. I’m hoping Miller can continue this wave into other promotions. The announcers were even starting to refer to Miller as a young Low Ki (where have I heard that before?). Only way he gets there and gets closer to that level (minus the pretentiousness and not wanting to job) is ring time and getting to wrestle guys like Ali or some of the other excellent wrestlers AAW continues to bring in.
There were two really good tag team matches worth mentioning since it appears the winning teams are destined to meet each other. Irish Airborne, one of my favorite teams on the indies, had a good little match with the Sex Bo-Bombs of Mat Fitchett and Davey Vega. Airborne’s angle is they’re out and out hurting tag teams in addition to beating them. Their second championship reign has been better by leaps and bounds, and there appears to be a team ready to feud with them. Louis Lyndon and Marion Fontaine kicked off the show in fine fashion with the debuting Monster Mafia duo of Josh Alexander and Ethan Page. Page and Alexander are well known in AIW circles, and I’m pumped we got to see them here. Alexander hit a ridiculous forearm to a diving Lyndon that got the crowd and announcers into things right away. Hell, we got a couple “Sweet Jebuses” out of Phil Colvin in the opener. Between this match and a more serious promo cut by one Marion Fontaine, I was genuinely excited to see these two teams meet in the future. Lyndon deserves more chances and AAW gold. He and Fontaine could be a fine babyface duo to beat IA at last.
Couple of random notes from the show. Jordan McEntyre beat Krotch in a nothing match, but at least McEntyre looked strong and has an actual character. Maybe he’ll never be a main event guy, but he can certainly hang around being the pretentious French model type character. Knight Wagner continues trying to get on shows and even shaved Tony Rican’s head in a desperate attempt to get back into AAW. Wagner is in an interesting position given the roster changes and his own abilities. I’m not sure where he’ll fit in once he comes back, but at least he’s changed his look and is showing some attitude by going after an AAW authority figure. In relation to talent being brought in, Christian Rose made his debut by going after Marek Brave. An awesome video package highlighting the feud between Brave and Tyler Black first aired. Brave tried to thank the fans before being interrupted by the rather odd Christian Rose. Rose is a great talker, and that was on display here as he cut a solid promo. Rose’s angle is being bitter and angry with the veterans of AAW. It’s a solid starting point and with his promo abilities, I can see him getting over quickly with the fans.
In the building Shimmer runs, women’s wrestling has never gotten over in AAW. Once again, management is going to give it the old college try as they had Heather Patera, better known as Miss Natural, cut a promo introducing herself and MsChif defeated Heidi Lovelace in relatively quick fashion. Not sure what my feelings are on MsChif just going back to wrestling women after doing so much intergender stuff, but if they bring in quality female wrestlers, it could work.
There was a four corner match which We Are Here got to win as Lamar Titan pinned Christian Able to get his team the win. Titan even got promo time in a post-show promo. Titan made a good showing, and it’s clear AAW is being patient with him. Patient in a good way. Dan Lawrence and Marcus Crane heeled it up and were mildly entertaining. Lawrence received a ride from Hollister to the show, AND HE WOULDN’T EVEN GIVE HIM GAS MONEY. WHAT A HEEL! Not much to the match except it got some guys on the show.
Epic was probably the best AAW show of 2013 thus far. Not a single bad match here. Everything that could have been a drag was kept short, and even without some of the heavy hitters, AAW was able to deliver yet again. The best part about AAW’s success? They’re no longer just the company that had Seth Rollins wrestle in a barb wire match.
Grade: B+
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Taped from Berwyn, Illinois-Commentators: Phil Colvin and Dave Prazak
Quick results, times, and match ratings:
-Marion Fontaine and Louis Lyndon defeat Monster Mafia (Josh Alexander and Ethan Page) after by pinfall after a springboard moonsault by Fontaine on Alexander/10:30/***1/4
-MsChif defeats Heidi Lovelace by submission/4:29/*1/2
–Junthai Miller defeats Prince Mustafa Ali by pinfall after the running kick to the corner/14:07/***1/2
Dan Lawrence not giving Shane Hollister gas money… HEEL!
-We Are Here (Tweek Phoenix and Lamar Titan w/Nikki and Kevin Harvey) defeat Zero Gravity (Bret Gakiya and CJ Esparza), Christian Able and TD Thomas, Dan Lawrence and Marcus Crane. Titan pinned Able after the uranagi into the knees/9:52/**1/2
-AAW Tag Team Championship: Irish Airbrone (Jake and Dave Crist) defeat The Sex Bo-bombs (Mat Fitchett and Davey Vega by pinfall after the tandem spike piledriver/10:18/***
– Jordan “Francois” McEntyre defeats Krotch by pinfall after the implant DDT/1:44/*
-Ryan Boz and Keith Walker (w/Nikki and Kevin Harvey) battle to a no-contest/N/R/N/R
-Shane Hollister defeats Jimmy Jacobs by pinfall after Shug’s Last Gift/25:05/****
-AAW Heritage Championship: ACH (champion) draws Davey Richards/30:00/***3/4
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