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We continue on with our look at this year’s installment of AIW’s #JLIT tournament. For the sake of ease, I have broken down the matches by round.

Quarter-Final Round Matches

Ethan Page and Davey Vega opened the show in a surprisingly competitive match. I’m not surprised it was competitive, but it was pretty obvious Page was moving on. That’s no knock to Vega, as he’s been having great matches the past few months, but Page is AIW’s golden goose at the moment. This match was really hurt by the crowd. A tornado DDT from the stage? An apron German suplex? A top rope spinning uranage? Met by silence. The work was really good but given it’s spot on the show it seemed the crowd decided to save their energy rather than give the two competitors their due. It was a fun watch but could have been better with a different atmosphere.

Poor Josh Alexander had his head bandaged up from an ear injury he suffered from ACH last night. That would not stop him from going to battle with the handlebar haberdasher Marion Fontaine. Although it would seem like Fontaine would be slim pickins for the Walking Weapon, Fontaine was able to hold his own. He even seemed to have the victory at one point, but Alexander caught him mid-air in a quebrada for a tombstone piledriver to put him away for good. This was short, but considering Alexander’s injury it’s easy to see why. Fontaine is so entertaining.

Kimber Lee wasted no time in her match with Louis Lyndon. She dropkicked him to the floor during the announcements and followed out with a high crossbody. She even tried Lyndon’s own cross armbreaker earlier on. This caused Lyndon to be disrespectful towards Lee, slapping her around and choking her at times with the ropes and his knee. She was able to withstand the Dragon sleeper and give Lyndon a super DDT from the top rope. She caught him with a Ranhei cradle to get the win, continuing a big weekend for Lee. This was another very fun match, and who doesn’t love a good underdog story?

Rickey Shane Page and Michael Elgin also had a great back and forth match. A slugest, as you would expect from these two ,with some more athletic things you might not expect. It’s rare to see Elgin in there with a larger opponent but naturally this was no issue for either him or Page. Page is one guy I consider to be an AIW homegrown and him getting the opportunity to mix it up with someone on Elgin’s level made me very happy. They had the best match of the quarter-final round thus far. Elgin got the win to no real surprise but I see big things for Page again in AIW.

Chris Dickinson vs. BJ Whitmer was pure storyline. They fought for a few minutes before the action spilled to the floor and we got a double count-out. Matt Wadsworth re-started the match, but under a minute later the match got out of control and was stopped. Referee Jake Clemons was attacked by Dickinson for making that call. Wrestlers and officials had to separate the two. A match was made for Absolution VIII for a decisive winner. Whitmer’s Intense Title would also be put on the line. It’s a shame the Absolution match never came to pass, but the build up to it was very strong.

Even before it was official, Johnny Gargano vs. Adam Cole was by many their most anticipated match in the tournament; PWG World Champion vs. Open the Freedom Gate Champion. Many folks on Twitter asked for it to happen and with the way the tournament brackets shook it out it was an inevitably. These two had not had a high profile singles match since EVOLVE 4 almost three years earlier, and the amount of growing these two had done since that match is immeasurable, giving this rematch a lot of anticipation. I’m happy to say that the match lived up to expectations. They had this really fun suicide dive exchange, almost a “can you top this?” sort of deal. Cole spent the majority of the match going after Gargano’s legs. Gargano is known for rolling guys into a low enzuigiri, but when he went for it mid-match, Cole was able to counter it into his figure four submission hold. Cole superkicking Gargano when he went for the slingshot spear was also an awesome counter. Since Cole went for his legs, Gargano was able to utilize the lawn dart, Hurts Donut, and Garga-No Escape without issue. Cole stringing together a Panama Destroyer and the Florida Key wasn’t enough to keep the Cleveland hero down. Out of desperation Cole tried hooking the trunks in an O’Conner Roll. Gargano was able to escape and force Cole to submit to the Garga-No Escape. This was the best match in the quarter-finals, slightly edging out Elgin and Page for that distinction.

Semi-Final Round Matches

Due to the way BJ Whitmer vs. Chris Dickinson ended, Ethan Page receives a bye into the finals.

Michael Elgin vs. Josh Alexander was interesting. Elgin offered to put off their match for “Absolution VIII” because Elgin knows what it’s like to wrestle hurt. He missed six months of his career due to it. He knows how capable of talent Alexander is given their previous battles in Canada. Alexander refused to quit so the match was on. Then, Elgin became a literal head hunter, targeting his attack on Alexander’s injured ear. It only took a Backfist in under 2 minutes for Elgin to give Alexander his first loss in AIW. After the match, the rematch for Absolution is made. Jumping ahead (as I saw the iPPV) they would go on to have a great bout.

Kimber Lee’s breakout weekend came to an end when Johnny Gargano put her away with the Hurts Donut. It was not from lack of trying on Lee’s end. She took the lawn dart into the guardrail and kept going. She used Gargano’s own slingshot spear against him. She kicked out of a superkick at 1. The only thing that could keep her down with a submission move that has also kept the likes of Shingo Takagi (DGUSA) and Matt Cross (in the first round of the tournament) down. This was a breakout weekend for Lee and she should be very proud of the effort and strides she made from going as far as the semi-finals. She deserves a spot on the main roster along with Veda Scott and Allysin Kay if you ask me.

Non-Tournament Matches

Tim Donst and Mickie Knuckles had a match that represented a lot of what I dislike in pro wrestling. Little in the way of story or selling, going long for no real reason, and a finish that played absolutely no part in the action that preceded it. For the most part they just used chairs to “improve” on their usual arsenal. The only real bright spot was Donst getting the win and then challenging Michael Hutter aka Derrick Bateman for “Absolution VIII” on iPPV. That should be quite good. This was not.

Jock Samson and Tracy Smothers had something that resembled more of an extended segment than an actual match. They both cut long promos before the match with Smothers running down Cleveland and Samson shutting him down. Their initial exchange lead to a dance off. There’s nothing quite like seeing men like Smothers and Samson dancing to “Right Round” by Flo Rida. Just when things got back on track, the Submission Squad came out to attack Samson. It seemed they were aligned with Smothers but then ended up giving him a double clothesline as well! Samson and Smothers decided to put aside their differences to face the Submission Squad in a tag team match, although Smothers was not feeling the idea at first. They proceeded to have a pretty mundane match, but the crowd really was into Smothers so what can you really knock? This segment went about 40 minutes but it only meandered for a bit and was fun by and large.

What is there to say about the AIW Tag Team Title Match? Hope & Change (Gregory Iron & Veda Scott) successfully defended them against the Jollyville Fuck-Its (“Nasty” Russ Myers & T-Money) that read like every other match Hope & Change have: the wrestling is OK but rarely better than that, the idiot babyfaces forget about the 4 count rule when they come close to winning, then Hope & Change cheat to win. It’s more than tiresome by this point. The only real highlight was T-Money giving Scott a Pounce. Thankfully, Veronica Ticklefeather made a challenge for Hope & Change’s titles for Absolution the next month. It will be a massive relief when Iron and Scott are no longer champions.

At this point the non-tournament matches were a mixed bag leaning on the side of taking away from the show…and then ACH vs. Biff Busick happened. These two had themselves a match. They went from chain wrestling to beating the snot out of each other. They threw each other into the ring apron and the guardrails. Busick KILLED ACH with a hook lariat to the face. When Chris Dickinson on commentary reacts to a move like it killed somebody, you know it’s gotta be brutal. In the end ACH was able to sneak in his “Cram for the Exam” cradle DDT to win a very hard fought contest. I am a big fan of both guys and I am really happy to see Biff performing in two top notch matches on back to back nights. He’s going to be the next big thing in independent wrestling; mark my words.

Eric Ryan and Colin Delaney, the main eventers in the Absolute Title match for the upcoming Absolution VIII iPPV, faced off in a dream partner tag match where each guy got to choose their partner. Ryan chose fellow #NIXON member Bobby Beverly who you may recall reigned as “The Young Studs” once upon a time. Delaney and his partner Matt Cross were accompanied by Seleziya Sparx, as Delaney had won Sparx in a Dating Game during the Fan Fest that afternoon. This action was as good as the “Gangsta” three way but obviously with no weapons to use. Delaney and Cross were just having fun as a formidable unit where the AIW fan in me enjoyed seeing Ryan/Beverly team again (even if Page and Beverly have been an awesome team lately). The Duke as usual was in #NIXON’s corner and tried getting involved. Chest Flexor ran out from nowhere to stop him and ended up eating a lariat for his trouble. Cross flew out onto Duke with a crossbody. While the referee was distracted, Ryan nailed Delaney with the Absolute title and picked up the win. Afterwards he choked Delaney with a chair and claimed he would never be champion. It was a very fun tag match to build up to the main event of the iPPV, so I would chalk this up as an all around success.

JLIT 2013 Tournament Finals

We arrive at the main event with Ethan Page, Michael Elgin, and Johnny Gargano in an elimination match for the tournament finals. Page immediately retreated to the floor to let Elgin and Gargano battle it out. It helped Page in the fact that it spared him a few minutes and kept him fresh (keep in mind he got to sit out a round while Elgin and Gargano did not), but it made him a target when he got into the ring since Elgin and Gargano were incensed by his cheap tactics. That would not be the only keep tactic Page utilized. After using the Spinning Dwayne when Elgin was caught off guard to eliminate him, minutes later he kicked Gargano in the groin behind the referee’s back and once again used the Spinning Dwayne to pin Gargano and take home the tournament. This was after Page was able to kick out of the Hurts Donut, a move that got Gargano in the Finals. This win earned himself a title shot that he is able to cash in at any time just like a Money in the Bank tournament. If Page cheating didn’t make him the biggest jerk in AIW, attacking JT Lightning’s son Mikey with the tournament trophy after his speech sure did. Page finishes the tournament on top of the world and ready to take AIW by storm.

Overall: Night 2 was the lesser of the two shows, but still had some very good matches and plenty to merit a purchase. As it happens with most tournaments, guys seem to save the best for last and hold out a little in there earlier bouts. The non-tournament matches were a mixed bag with the bad stuff being pretty bad and the good stuff being very good. If nothing else, Gargano/Cole, Page/Elgin, Busick/ACH, the dream tag and the finals are worth your time. The show also built up the “Absolution VIII” iPPV really well. I’d say if you have to pick one of the two nights, go ahead with Night 1, but I certainly think it’s in your best interest to get both shows.

You can pick up this show on DVD from AIW’s store or Smart Mark Video. For a reduced price, you can also download the show as an mp4 from Smart Mark Video or watch it On Demand from SMVOD.

For more information on AIW, check out their official website, their Facebook page, follow them on Twitter, and follow them on Tumblr.

Quick Results/Match Times/Star Ratings

1. JLIT Quarter-Final Round Match: Ethan Page defeated Davey Vega with the Spinning Dwayne at 10:50. **½

2. JLIT Quarter-Final Round Match: Josh Alexander pinned Marion Fontaine with a tombstone piledriver in 5:30. **¼

3. JLIT Quarter-Final Round Match: Kimber Lee catches Louis Lyndon with a Ranhei pin at 7:03 to advance. **¾

4. JLIT Quarter-Final Round Match: Michael Elgin bested Rickey Shane Page with the Revolution Bomb at 16:36. ***¼

5. JLIT Quarter-Final Round Match: BJ Whitmer and Chris Dickinson went to a No Contest. The match first resulted in a double count out at 2:05, then was re-started and got thrown out due to both participants being out of control at 0:41. N/R

6. JLIT Quarter-Final Round Match: Johnny Gargano forces Adam Cole to tap out to the Garga-No Escape in 18:55. ***½

7. Tim Donst made Mickie Knuckles pass out in a No Disqualification match to From Dusk til Donst in 18:25. *

8. Jock Samson defeats Tracy Smothers via Disqualification in 8:21 when The Submission Squad (Evan Gelestico & Pierre Abernathy) attacked Samson. N/R

8a. Jock Samson & Tracy Smothers defeat The Submission Squad (Pierre Abernathy & Evan Gelestico) in 9:13 when Samson caught Abernathy with a crucifix pin. *½

9. JLIT Semi-Final Round Match: Michael Elgin bested Josh Alexander with a Backfist in 1:44. N/R

10. JLIT Semi-Final Round Match: Johnny Gargano beats Kimber Lee with the Hurts Donut in 7:34. **¾

11. Hope & Change (Gregory Iron & Veda Scott) successfully defended the AIW Tag Team Championship against the Jollyville Fuck-Its (“Nasty” Russ Myers & T-Money) when Iron rolls up T-Money and holds his tights in 11:20. **

12. ACH wins a hard fought contest with Biff Busick in 16:49 with the Cram for the Exam. ***½

13. #NIXON/The Young Studs (Eric Ryan & Bobby Beverly) defeated Colin Delaney & Matt Cross when Ryan clocked Delaney with the Absolute championship belt and got the pin at 10:25. ***

14. 2013 JLIT Finals; Elimination match: Ethan Page vs. Michael Elgin vs. Johnny Gargano
– Michael Elgin is eliminated by Page’s “Spinning Dwayne” at 15:50.
– Johnny Gargano is eliminated by Page’s “Spinning Dwayne” after a kick to the groin at 19:09.
***½

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