Guys, if you like long matches, have I got the show for you!
I’m usually pretty good at making snarky comments about wrestling shows, but that opening was basically the best I could do at this point in my semester. In all seriousness, this was an eight match show that still hit the three hour mark on DVD, plus an extra 10-15 minutes for various insert and post-match promos. Remarkably, there were two matches that went over 20 minutes (both of which were technically no-contests), one match was eight seconds under the 20 minute mark (which had a bizarrely screwed up finish), and two matches that were around the 16 minute mark (both clean finishes, yay). It was a show marred by the lack of a truly big match, but hey, Carlito and Keith Walker allowed me the chance to witness a borderline miracle.
First off, I wanted to talk about Marek Brave and Christian Rose because it’s important to go over the fine line these gentlemen crossed. It should be no secret as to my thoughts on chair shots to the head and the use of blood in matches. Both were incorporated into this match in such a way where it felt like a crucial storytelling aspect. Rose had to cross a couple of lines in order for the match to be called a no-contest. Why would an unsanctioned match even have a referee you ask? Well, it’s the eternal question of professional wrestling, and I dump on AAW for doing it, then I’ve got to dump on every other company who’s done it, including Ring of Honor for putting on Kevin Steen and El Generico at Final Battle 2010. Rose and Brave had a violent, yet cerebral brawl that told a story and never felt out of control. Rose actually made working over Brave’s fingers seem interesting. In a very short amount of time, these two have channeled a lot of emotion to their feud. The promos each man has cut have obviously helped, and it’s to both men’s credit that this match came off so well. Of course a great deal of plunder was used, but Rose also got on the microphone and sign posted through his words why the match was still going on. Brave refused to concede (like a good babyface should by the way). Rose kept punching him with barb wire to the point that things needed to be stopped. I really really liked this match, but the ending left me a little flat. I get what they were going for, but Rose being declared the winner in some way would have meant a lot more to me as an audience member than referees breaking the proceedings up. It was also annoying given another no-contest that came later.
The Monster Mafia stepped up a bit in weight class by wrestling Jimmy Jacobs and Arik Cannon. I was worried the latter wouldn’t take this seriously, but my hopes got alleviated quickly. These two produced a high quality match that featured two heat segments and lots of action in the end. Page and Alexander kicked out of a lot of the finishing maneuvers used by Jacobs and Cannon. I liked that Monster Mafia got protected but didn’t understand why for the second straight show, a match had to be declared a no-contest when a third party (in this Irish Airborne) interrupted. Ring of Honor holding television tapings on this night ravaged the potential of the card, but unless Jacobs and Cannon are really challenging for the tag team titles, Monster Mafia could have had the rocket shoved up their asses and been given legitimacy almost immediately. Hell, I would have been okay with a 20 minute draw. But three no-contests in two shows is a bit much. Again though, despite the ending, there was really strong work from all four men.
The tag team titles finally changed hands as Louis Lyndon and Marion Fontaine won belts for the first in their AAW careers over Irish Airborne. There was an extended feeling out process in this match, yet both teams kept things entertaining. Fontaine and Lyndon have gotten the crowd behind them while the Crist brothers continue to be the rock of any division they’re in. Finish came off pretty badly though as Fontaine hit a springboard moonsault on Dave Crist for a three count. I have no idea what happened, but Dave appeared to kick out, yet a bell was called for. Everyone seemed confused, and the fans were rightly angry. It’s easy to point the blame, but to me the finish just needed to be executed better and allow this moment to breathe. Fontaine and Lyndon certainly deserved the titles; I just wish the finish didn’t mar their celebration.
Shane Hollister and Flip Kendrick wrestled for the AAW championship. I believe Flip Kendrick won a 32 man tournament in Rio Di Janeiro to earn this title match since he hasn’t appeared in this promotion in years. I was actually at this show live and wondered why they went 16 minutes. I watched it on DVD and thought the same thing. Did we really need a dog and pony show with Scarlett and Marcus Crane becoming involved? Hollister should have won in eight minutes and called it a night. The crowd rightfully didn’t believe Kendrick had a chance in hell of winning and responded with silence. Out of context, the work was fine. Within context, it was an okay match that left me wondering why it needed that much time.
Eddie Kingston and Rhino in the main event served as the final “longer than 15 minute match” of the night. It was fun watching these two beat each other up at times, but something seemed to be missing. I’m assuming Kingston’s match with Silas Young will pick up some of the intensity, but a match that should have been a huge deal just felt like another mid-card contest. Kingston won with three backfists and a low to cap off the show. Scars and Stripes desperately needed Silas Young versus Eddie Kingston, and that wasn’t going to happen thanks to the Ring of Honor television tapings. Kingston versus Rhino was ultimately fine but lacked the energy to be a main event quality contest.
A match I wasn’t looking forward to at all turned out to be the best overall executed match of the night from an action and finish standpoint. The idea AAW is putting forth is that Keith Walker is a monster who hasn’t lost in a couple of years. Clearly, he’s being built toward a potential AAW championship match, but he needed a win against someone the caliber of Carlito. I’ve got mixed feelings on Carlito’s WWE and independent matches, but he came ready to work on this night. Walker is in the best shape of his career and also played his role to perfection. Maybe this was a bit more “WWE style” than someone would like out of a show like this, but I liked the match and felt Walker winning with a powerbomb and lariat relatively clean was the perfect ending. I think you all will be legitimately shocked by my star rating.
Funny to think about the match that got tons of time while a number one contender’s match featuring six guys barely reached seven minutes. Junthai Miller earned a future title match by pinning Lamar Titan with double knees. Miller was the only babyface in the match. Dan Lawrence, Knight Wagner, and Alex Colon, and Tweek Phoenix were also involved. Match was pure insanity as one might expect. Lots of dives and minimal control by the referee. Right guy won and a Miller/Hollister match sounds like a real winner.
Also worth nothing that while Wagner hit Tony Rican in the back with a chair at Bound by Hate, Rican returned the favor on this show to set up their double dog collar match to take place a week later at the charity show.
Heidi Lovelace picked up a measure of revenge over Heather Patera by pinning Jordan McEntyre with a frog splash. CJ Esparza and Patera were also involved. I guess Bret Gakiya was injured or something. Similar to the opener, it went about seven minutes and wasn’t exactly anything special.
I liked the show in certain spots, particularly some of the action. There was a lot to be engaged in despite my feelings on some of the finishes. I enjoy picking things apart, but anyone who buys the DVD can get their money’s worth since the roster worked hard, and there was a great deal of good wrestling to be found.
Grade: B-
–Taped from Merrionette Park, Illinois
Commentators: Dave Prazak and Derek St. Holmes
-Six Way Mayhem: Junthai Miller wins over Dan Lawrence, Knight Wagner, Alex Colon, Lamar Titan, and Tweek Phoenix. Miller pins Titan after double knees/7:03/**3/4
-Heidi Lovelace and CJ Esparza defeats Jordan McEntyre and Heather Patera. Lovelace pins McEntyre after a frog splash/7:14/*1/2
-Christian Rose and Marek Brave go to a no-contest in an unsanctioned match/22:44/***3/4
-AAW Tag Team Championship: Marion Fontaine and Louis Lyndon win their first ever AAW championship over Irish Airborne (Jake and Dave Crist)/19:52/***1/4
. -Keith Walker (w/Kevin Harvey and Nikki) defeats Carlito Colon by pinfall after a lariat/11:24/***1/4
-Shane Hollister (w/Scarlett and Marcus Crane) defeats Flip Kendrick to retain the AAW Heavyweight Championship by pinfall after Suge’s Last Step/15:59/**3/4
-Jimmy Jacobs and Arik Cannon versus Monster Mafia (Ethan Page and Josh Alexander) ends in a no-contest when Irish Airborne interefered /21:37/***1/4
–Eddie Kingston defeats Rhino by pinfall after three spinning backfists and a low blow /16:52/**3/4
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