I have decided to run a contest over the next three weeks as a way of rewarding our great readership. The prize is a free copy of this very DVD, Defining Moment 2012. It’s a great chance to see some of the great stars of the promotion and an incredible main event, which you will read about very shortly. All you have to is submit a question for my mailbag column. From now until October 31, I will be taking your questions. While I’m on my long flight over the weekend of November 3, I’ll be answering. Then I’ll pick one person at random to get the DVD. There are two ways to enter:
1.) Send a question (or multiple questions if you’re feeling particularly inspired) to my e-mail at jcusson07@gmail.com
2.)Leave a comment under this very review.
In both cases, please leave your real name. If leaving a comment, please leave your e-mail address so I may get in touch with out. If you for a wrestling website, I’d discourage you from entering. Also, if you don’t live in the United States, we may have to have a conversation about shipping, but you should absolutely still enter regardless. Best of luck!
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-Taped from Berwyn, Illinois
-Your hosts are Phil Colvin and Dave Prazak
-Cameron Skyy vs. Mr. Miller
Match in Five Words or Less: The Clash Are Done
Match Highlights: Skyy says he’s going to save everyone in the building. Hopefully, he won’t do this by winning matches because he certainly hasn’t been doing that. Shove of Miller. Miller boots him in the face. Skyy cowers in the corner. Boot to the midsection. Miller tossed outside but looks more annoyed than anything. He comes back in the ring and Skyy exits. Skyy sends him over. Miller with a shoulder block and bulldog. Knee drop. Skyy with a forearm and back elbow in the corner. Whip across. Miller up and over. Spinning kick. Forearm by Skyy. Dave Prazak compares Miller to Low Ki. Well, CLEARLY SOMEONE READS MY REVIEWS AND LISTENS TO MY PODCASTS. AHEM! Trip on Miller. He twists Miller around but misses the boot. Miller hits one of his own. Skyy with a pair of punches as Miller gets ready to leap. Press slam but Miller rolls through. THE CLAW! Snapmare and diving forearm to the lower back. Rake of the eyes. Elbows to the back of the neck. Skyy rakes Miller across the top rope. Too much stalling. Miller hits an elbow. Kick. Skyy driven into the middle turnbuckle by Miller’s knees. He runs into the uppercut. Gutbuster and foot stomp send Skyy face first into the mat. Small package by Skyy gets two. Back to the claw he goes before hitting a backbreaker. Elbow drop. 1-2-NO! Skyy eye rakes. Russian legsweep. Miller with a kick to the face. Roundhouse misses. Series of forearms and punches by Skyy. Another boot from Miller. Running boot to the face. A third one hits. Sick kick as Skyy is prone. Double stomp in the back. Mr. Miller picks up a nice win.
Match Analysis: These two both have a lot of skill, but AAW clearly sees more value in Miller right now. Can’t really blame them as he’s very flashy and seems to slowly be building up a solid stable of moves. The Low Ki comparisons are quite apt at this point. Skyy needs something before he becomes a jobber. The man has the mic skills. He just needs an opportunity.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Mr. Miller/7:49/**3/4
-Jim Lynam informs Kevin Harvey and his people that Keith Walker still isn’t medically cleared and ths won’t be able to compete in an AAW ring until such time. Kevin Harvey talks about he and his group being put down. Arnold Pressey and the Moondogs talk about crawling up on the preshow. Harvey obviously makes fun of him for not finishing sentences. Lamar Titan and Tweek Phoenix beat up the Moondogs. Poor guys.
-Irish Airborne (Jake and Dave Crist) vs. Zero Gravity (Bret Gakiya and CJ Esparza)
Match in Five Words or Less: All Action
Match Highlights: These two have had a number of matches but obviously haven’t wrestled for a while, mostly because of ZG’s time off from AAW. They had an incredible ladder match nearly 18 months prior. ZG head in the ring. IA attack. Double roll-ups by ZG get two counts. Double tope suicidas. Punt by Gakiya on Jake. Esparza works over Dave. Jake whipped into the rail. Gakiya with a springboard dropkick on Dave. Springboard clothesline by Esparza. Gakiya hits a springboard moonsault as Esparza hits the DDT. Jake comes in the ring and strikes away on ZG. Neckbreaker by Gakiya. Twisting press by Esparza. Forearms by Gakiya on Jake. Armdrag. Up and around with a headscissors. Kick by Dave. German suplex by Jake. Folding press only gets two. Dave hits a senton off the top rope. They continue working over Gakiya. Jake boots Esparza off the apron and on the rails. Gakiya with leg kicks. Dave hits a knee strike. Vicious double team stomp as Jake nails Gakiya. Superkick on Esparza. 1-2-NO! Gakiya ducks a blind charge and clothesline. Pele kick on Dave. Esparza boots Jake. Flying rana. Straight dropkick on Dave. Go behind by Jake. Tornado DDT by Esparza. Running back elbow on Dave. Double elbows. Blockbuster by Gakiya on Dave. Dropkick to the legs by Esparza. Flippy cup. 1-2-NO! Esparza send Dave out. Step-up kick. Dave catches Esparza with his knee. Wow. Jake picks Gakiya up. Gakiya goes for sliced bread. Low blow by Dave. Tandem piledriver and IA become the number one contenders to the tag team titles.
Match Analysis: ZG looked real solid in this outing. After just the oddest main event you’ll ever see, they went back to their bread and butter, putting on exciting tag team matches with teams like Irish Airborne. These two teams did not get a lot of team, but they found ways to keep things fun and exciting. IA really deserve another title reign, and I hope they put Jacobs and Cannon out of their misery once and for all in October. Good stuff.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Irish Airborne/7:58/***
-Sami Callihan promo. He keeps finding random places in the Berwyn Eagles to shoot promos. I hope the owners don’t start asking questions. He likes changing in the basement because it’s cold and nasty. Callihan wants to get carbed up and then runs into his tag team partner for later tonight, BJ Whitmer. Callihan wanted Whitmer to be his partner for this match. Whitmer talks about this main eventing anyplace in the world. Callihan says everyone should bet on them before dropping the camera.
-Lamar Titan (w/Nikki and Kevin Harvey) vs. Isaias Velazquez
Match in Five Words or Less: Digging The Music
Match Highlights: These two come from VWAA. Unfortunately for Mr. Velazquez, Mr. Titan is the one part of a brand new heel faction. Immediate running knee to the midsection. Pair of forearms. Velazquez with a back elbow. They show how well they know each other. Armdrag by Velazquez. Titan with a kick. Velazquez hits one of his own. Another armdrag. Headscissors. Whip. Velazquez has an enziguri blocked. Double stomp and seated senton. Velazquez teases diving but Kevin Harvey distracts him simply by sitting in a chair. Cross body by Titan. Stomp to the back of the neck. Double chops and an elbow drop off the ropes. Right hands by Velazquez. Titan hits another shot. Whip to the corner. Velazquez with a forearm. Titan with one of his own. Diving forearm into the corner. Snapmare, kick to the back, and a seated abdominal stretch. Another forearm by Titan. Velazquez hits a kick. Running clothesline. Springboard into the flatliner. 1-2-NO! Running boot misses. Back elbow hits. Flatliner sends Titan into the middle turnbuckle. Kick into the cover. 1-2-NO! Double stomp misses. Titan connects on a his second kick. Crucifix bomb into the nearfall. Velazquez hits an armdrag. He drives him down with his shin. Spin kick blocked. Kicks to the front and back. Uranagai into the knees gets Titan the win.
Match Analysis: I’ll say this for these two. They’re impressive athletes who can do some cool things. It’s tough to evaluate their skills as wrestlers right now, but they’re on the right track as far as I’m concerned. Titan clearly has the size, strength, and charisma advantage, so it makes sense to push him first. Considering the fact that these two are actually local, I’m hoping AAW uses them well moving forward.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Lamar Titan/5:39/**
-Tweek Phoenix comes out to join in on a beatdown on Velazquez. More mocking of Joey Eastman is also done. Here comes Marion Fontaine.
-Marion Fontaine vs. Tweek Phoenix
Match in Five Words or Less: 2 For 2
Match Highlights: Big leg lariat and series of punches. Phoenix comes back with an elbow. He powders to the floor. Fontaine hits a tope suicida. Shot to the back. Phoenix sends Fontaine into the stairs. Fontaine with a back elbow. Phoenix shoves Fontaine deep in the crowd. Superkick comeback. Tea bag with Phoenix on the guard rail. Phoenix ducks. Fontaine with a kick and cross body follow-up. Shot to the throat. Fontaine out of a back suplex. Stroke and rolling neckbreaker. Left hands in the face. Phoenix takes him up and over. Nikki grabs Fontaine’s leg. He kicks it away. Powerslam by Phoenix. Back suplex. Fontaine sent outside. Nikki takes a couple shots before sending him back inside. Phoenix with a bodyslam and fist drop. Off comes the boot. Fontaine ducks and hits a series of left hands. Acecrusher. Fontaine grabs the boot now. Nikki pulls it away. Fontaine hits a rolling death valley driver. Springboard moonsault. Harvey plays with his lighter and distracts the referee. Nikki hands Phoenix the boot. Boot shot in the face. We Are Coming wins their second match of the night.
Match Analysis: Not much of a match and more of a back drop for the angle. I prefer these guys in tag teams. This wasn’t bad but felt more like filler than a real match.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Tweek Phoenix/5:31/*1/2
-Dan Lawrence comes out on crutches, but he can still put the booze away if you know what I mean. Lawrence says he’s not trying to get out of a match but suffered a severely sprained ankle last week. Phil Colvin brings up the issues with Gregory Iron. Lawrence says he’s the longest standing member of the roster and thanks everyone for their support. Lawrence has a special, quite lewd message for those who don’t like him. Lawrence shows respect to Iron but doesn’t seem happy about the situation. Lawrence doesn’t care who endorsed Iron, and this leads to Colt Cabana coming out. Cabana mocks Colvin for his hoodie and jeans. He boos and flips off Lawrence. Cabana shifts the conversation to what Lawrence did and says he has a bad attitude. Lawrence points out that Cabana has a match coming up right now. So that naturally leads to…
-Colt Cabana vs. Jesse Emerson
Match in Five Words or Less: Cabanastein Pulls It Out
Match Highlights: No Truth Martini tonight. Cabana slaps Emerson with his towel. More shenanigans with the towel even before the match begins. Emerson starts off by shoving Cabana around. Cabana begins to cry. “You’re a meanie.” Cabana mockingly retaliates. Cabana motorboats a fan in the front row. Emerson doesn’t break clean and chops Cabana. Cabana responds with one of his own. He works Emerson’s left arm. BJ Johnson accidentally helps Cabana make a wish. Into the corner. High five. Spinning toe hold but Emerson kicks him away. Cabana rolls him up and gets two. Boot by Emerson. Takedown. Indian deathlock. Cabana says Johnson’s show is untied. Cabana leapfrogs off the second turnbuckle. Slap to the back and he poses. Emerson with a shot to the chest. Cabana sent shoulder first into the corner. Reverse DDT gets two. Boot to the midsection. Rolling neckbreaker for two. Knee to the midsection. Russian legsweep into a reverse cross armbreaker. Emerson wants the submission. Cabana misses an elbow drop. Emerson rakes Cabana’s face with his boot. Knees to the corner. Butterfly suplex. Double axehandle to the back. Cabana catches him a second time with a right hand. Emerson misses a blind charge. Chop. Clothesline. Jabs. Boot by Emerson. Elbow strike to the head by Cabana. Right hand countered with a poke to the eye. Flying butt bump by Cabana. Go 2 Sleep but Emerson hits a uranagi. 1-2-NO! Cabana sunset flips out. Go 2 Sleep! 1-2-3! Cabana steals Punk’s finisher and wins!
Match Analysis: Good solid wrestling match from these two as they kept things basic and on the mat. Emerson played a great fool for Cabana’s antics. Similar to Skyy though, Emerson could really use some direction.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Colt Cabana/11:09/***
-Scarlet isn’t in the building. Somehow, I think we’ll make it through tonight’s show.
-Sami Calihan and BJ Whitmer vs. Davey Richards and Kyle O’Reilly
Match in Five Words or Less: Bananas
Match Highlights: Some fans are just happy Richards and O’Reilly showed up. A little bit of tension can be felt amongst these four men. Callihan immediately charges but they stand off. Callihan blocks a takedown and a gets a roll-up for one. Back mount into the choke. Richards gets the rocking chair. O’Reilly hits a dropkick. Callihan walks around the outside. Whitmer and O’Reilly enter next. O’Reilly kicks Whitmer away from holding his left arm. Whitmer stomps on the fingers. O’Reilly controls Whitmer with the arm on the mat. Richards hits a double axehandle and hits a running boot on Callihan. Double back elbow. Whitmer whips Richards into the top turnbuckle. Into Callihan’s boot. Chop in the corner. Whitmer and Callihan take turns teeing off on Richards. Callihan with a headbutt to the side. O’Reilly knocked off the apron. Bodyslam on Richards. Leg drop. Chop. Boot to the head. Headbutt on Richards. Richards reverses a whip. Callihan gets a boot out of the corner. Richards knocks him to the floor. Huge punt. Whitmer forearmed off. O’Reilly hits a running dropkick on Callihan. Now O’Reilly and Richards take turns kicking Callihan. Choking along the rail. Callihan sent in the ring. O’Reilly with a stomp and running knee. Trailer hitch by Richards. O’Reilly with a little illegal assistance. Flying knee. Backbreaker and he holds it for a brief second. Sitting abdominal stretch. Whitmer boots O’Reilly in the face. Headbutt sends Callihan in the corner. Tree of woe. Stomps. Richards charges but taps Callihan in the groin. O’Reilly with a back suplex. Callihan whipped front first into the corner. Richards sends him in the turnbuckle. Boots. Callihan placed on the top rope. Headbutt by Callihan. Sunset bomb blocked. Callihan with a low superkick. Whitmer with a series of clotheslines on O’Reilly. Spinebuster gets two. Running knee in the corner. Snap suplex. Northern lights suplex into the bridge. O’Reilly sent to the floor. O’Reilly whipped in the rail. Callihan sends him across to the other side. O’Reilly deposited back in the ring. Callihan utilizes the towel in a lewd way before shoving it in O’Reilly’s face. Whitmer with a kick to the side of the body. O’Reilly rammed into the top turnbuckle. Chop. Double back elbows. Callihan takes Richards off the apron. Whitmer threatens a face claw. Callihan boots him. Callihan then kisses O’Reilly. Hard exchange. Callihan pokes O’Reilly in the eyes. Whitmer boots O’Reilly. They take turns chopping him. O’Reilly catches himself and dragon screw leg whips both men. Whitmer with a boot to the back. Boot. O’Reilly with a leaping knee. Superkick. Both men are down. Richards and Callihan tag in and hit dives on each side. Both men end up back-to-back. Forearm exchange. Richards spin kick. Callihan forearm. Roundhouse kick by Richards. Clothesline. 1-2-NO! Callihan Clothesline. Kick combination by Richards. Running forearm misses. Enziguri by Callihan. Face wash. O’Reilly hits a boot in the face. Exploder by Whitmer. Callihan faces washes both members of Team Ambition. Boot into the exploder. Richards take turns kicking each man. Callihan blocks one. Enziguri on Whitmer. Whitmer misses a clothesline. Richards locks in Callihan. Exploder on Whitmer. Bridge on both men. 1-2-NO! Kick. Callihan flips him off. Dragon screw leg whip. Callihan goes for the stretch muffler. Whitmer punts Richards. Guillotine choke takes O’Reilly and Whitmer outside. Richards counters the muffler into the cloverleaf. Callihan inside cradle. 1-2-NO! Alarm clock. Whitmer boots Richards. Combo of moves and a back drop driver by O’Reilly. Kick misses. Callihan hits a hard shoulder breaker. Unreal. Whitmer and O’Reilly tag in. Exchange of strikes and kicks. Whitmer hits a German suplex. Dragon suplex. Whitmer rolls through a third time. Powerbomb. 1-2-NO! O’Reilly hits boots out of the corner. DDT. Richards dropkicks Callihan. Brainbuster connects as Richards punts Whitmer in the head. Callihan breaks the count. Callihan comes in. Running clothesline. Boot from O’Reilly. Boot from Callihan into the rear naked choke. O’Reilly taps out immediately.
Match Analysis: This match was pure insanity, and I’m not sure my review comes close to conveying this feeling. This felt like four guys going to war and delivering the kind of balls to the walls action we used to see out of Ring of Honor matches and really only get in places like PWG and Japan. Callihan choking O’Reilly quick was a bit sudden, but if it leads him building another submission move, I’m okay with it. Great effort from all four men. Everyone was equally outstanding. I don’t like Richards on a personal level, but he can perform at the highest level possible among indy wrestlers. Whitmer wrestles like someone who is 10 years younger. Callihan and O’Reilly are developing into the most outstanding wrestlers in the world.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Sami Callihan and BJ Whitmer/19:14/****1/4
-Danny Daniels vs. Lil’ Waylon
Match in Five Words or Less: Dave Prazak Is Drunk
Match Highlights: I figured there was no better place to mention it then here since this is just a filler match. Lil’ Waylon is white, but I no nothing else about the man. And until he makes his second appearance, I see no reason to care. Come on. The man has confederate flag boots for God’s sake. Daniels flattens the kid on the floor. Yup, Waylon is dead. Waylon manages some offense, including a diving DDT. Piledriver right on Waylon’s head and this match is ovuh.
Match Analysis: Nothing to see here. Move along.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: Danny Daniels/5:08/*
-Michael Elgin is in the ring cutting a promo. He vows change and says 14 months will go down the drain. He vows to make Silas Young say I Quit. He even breaks the ROH line about God creating all men equal and being wrong.
– Markus Crane vs. Trevor Court vs. Mason Beck vs. Austin Mannix vs. Davey Vega vs. MsChif
Match in Five Words or Less: A Hot Mess
Match Highlights: Crane attacks Vega right away. Vega hits a knee. Crane tosses him outside. MsChif charges with a clothesline. Go behind and Crane sexually harasses MsChif. Smack in the butt and he licks his hand. MsChif screams him out of the ring. Boot by Mannix. Forearms from Court. Double forearms. Court ranas Mannix on his head. Clothesline by Beck. One for everyone. Double spinebusters on Vega and Crane. Boots on Mannix and Court. He takes to the top rope. Super fallaway slam. MsChif stares him down. Screaming from MsChif. Beck screams right back. Forearms. Beck tosses her in the corner. Court hits a missile dropkick. Boot and right hand by Mannix. Puts on the breaks. Mannix taken up and over. Kick by Mannix. Leaping knee strike and messed up acecrusher by Court. Vega dives on Mannix and Court. MsChif sends Crane in a plancha. Beck boots MsChif in the midsection. Press slam to the outside. Huge cross body to the other five people involved. MsChif with chops. Knee by Beck. MsChif sent into the turnbuckle. Beck with a running clothesline. Beck Mountain countered by MsChif. Mist in the face. Double kicks from Crane and Vega. Double vertical suplex. Mannix takes MsChif out. Court hits 450 knees on Beck. Chops by Mannix on Court. Running forearm. Yakuza kick sends Court out. Vega with a knee. Crane sends them out of the ring. He licks her face. Roll-up gets two. Knee to the midsection. MsChif into the octopus. Crane taps.
Match Analysis: This felt like more filler. At least the right person won since she’s the one with an issue. Beck needs direction. Crane is a fine lackey and a great, revolting character. Court showed some flashes. Mannix is getting better but needs something to do. Vega is lost without Mat Fitchett.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: MsChif/7:46/*3/4
-Silas Young doesn’t know why there is so much hype about tonight. He says he’s the champion forever and says the belt isn’t going anywhere.
-Shane Hollister (w/Marcus Crane) vs. ACH
Match in Five Words or Less: A Little Help From Friends
Match Highlights: I’ll give credit to Crane for selling his shoulder during this match. Immediate running dropkick and pair of superkicks. 1-2-NO! Wow. Hollister taunts ACH. Elbow strike to the top of the head. Forearms. ACH takes him up and over. Elbow to the back of the neck. Dropkick. Fake dive and stomps. Kick in the face. Tope con helo on Hollister and Crane. Chop on Crane. Acecrusher blocked. Snapmare. Into a standing chinlock. Elbows by Hollister. Whip in the corner. Back elbow by ACH. Forearm by Hollister. Pair of kicks. Gordbuster sends Hollister into the top rope. Crane grabs ACH. Superkick to the knee and ACH is down. Hollister steps on ACH’s head. Crane gets involved too. Slingshot sends ACH into the bottom rope. Chop exchange. Snapmare and dropkick by Hollister. Strikes to the midsection by ACH. Clothesline and forearm to the back. Powerslam by Hollister. Modified crossface. Hollister rakes his face. Hollister with a running elbow on ACH. Bodyslam. Suge step. Running knee drop. Kick to the back. Uppercut in the corner by Hollister. ACH up and over. Series of ducked clothesline. Flying forearm by ACH. Reverse whip. ACH with double boots. Flying rana. ACH slides out and hits a round kick. Slingshot acecrusher. Strike exchange. Series of palm strikes by ACH. Hollister springboards off and applies a guillotine. Rolling elbow by Hollister. Chinbreaker. Kick to the head. Superkick. Half nelson suplex and another superkick by Hollister. 1-2-NO! Series of strikes by Hollister. ACH rolls through into a half crab. Drop toe hold by Hollister. Roll-up by Hollister gets two. Takedown by ACH. Swinging cloverleaf. Crane goes on the apron. ACH clears him off. Roll-up by Hollister. Hollister sends him down face first. Crane on the apron. Cabana sends Hollister off. Implant DDT by ACH. 1-2-3! ACH picks up his first AAW win!
Match Analysis: I feel like these two have more in them, but this was a good match, bordering on great with more time and a more epic feel. These two are considered rising stars for a reason. Hopefully, this is the first of many matches between these two.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: ACH/12:00/***1/4
-Sweet video package sums up the Silas Young/Michael Elgin feud.
-I Quit Match: AAW Heritage Championship and AAW Heavyweight Championship: Silas Young (AAW Heavyweight Champion) (w/Val Malone) vs. Michael Elgin (AAW Heritage Champion)
Match in Five Words or Less: Not Forever Young
Match Highlights: Immediate takedown and right hands. Young goes to the corner and hits shoulder blocks. Elgin clubbers away and sends Young out of the ring. Young rammed into the post and then the stairs. Chop exchange at ringside. Knee to the midsection by Young. Elgin rammed into the post and then the ringside table. Right hands in the face. Young back dropped into the front row. Elgin begins moving barricading. They head into the bathroom as the brawl continues. Elgin puts a garbage can on top of Young. Bodyslam by Elgin. Young hits Elgin with the wooden part of the ring bell. Clubbering blow to the back. Elgin rings the bell in Young’s ear. Young sent back over the barricade. Hard right hand. Young wears Elgin’s left arm on the steps. Elgin rammed shoulder first into the post. Armbar back in the ring. Into a modified crossface. Elgin counters out. Young with a boot to the arm. Knee strikes and then back to the armbar. Elgin punches out. Running kick to the midsection. Clubbering blow. Running kick as Young puts his head down. Backbreaker/clothesline combination. Young goes for the full nelson on the mat. Elgin rises and fires out. Right hand by Young. Elgin sends him back outside. Champion reaches for a ladder. As he tries bringing it in the ring, Elgin dropkicks it in his face. Back suplex on the ladder. Yeesh. Knee strikes in the back. Backbreaker. Elgin holds it. Young knees his way out of it. Chop in the corner. Series of punches. Stomps in the corner. Elgin goes under the ring for a steel chair. Double axehandle by Young followed by a clubbering blow. More blows before Young tries hitting with the chair. Chair shot to the midsection. Snap suplex on the chair. Stomp in the back. Elgin puts the ladder between the top and middle turnbuckle. Young rolls through. Drop toe hold as Elgin’s chin hits the steel. Slingshot by Young. Young mounts him and hits a series of right hands. Some straight biting from the champion. Front facelock by Young. Elgin takes him into the corner. Series of clotheslines in the corner. Out of the corner. Bubba bomb into the full nelson. Elgin comes back up. Young sends him into the ropes. Up and over on the apron. Shoulder tackle. Young goes for a suplex on the apron. Enziguri by Elgin. Punches and a kick from Young. Pedigree but Elgin hits an air raid crash. Crossface. Young immediately counters and goes for a Boston crab. Elgin kicks him out. Boots out of the corner. Stomp by Elgin. Pair of German suplex. Misdirection. Elgin hooks a backslide but transitions into the crossface. Elgin has to go completely out of the ring. Young hits a back suplex. Champion takes down some water but introduces a wrench into the contest. Young uses the wrench to tighten Elgin’s groin area. I did not like typing that previous sentence. Elgin placed in the ladder. Young wears his legs out with the chair. Elgin hits a swinging neckbreaker off the ladder. That was dangerous. Elgin sets the ladder up and puts Young between the two sides. Elgin’s turn to use the chair. Elgin brings another chair. Young sent head first into the ladder, prone in the corner. Elgin goes for a barricade. Elgin goes for an awesome bomb through the ladder. Young counters. CHAOS THEORY! CROSSFACE! Val Malone comes in. Crossface for her too. Young nails Elgin with the chair. Young applies the full nelson. Elgin won’t give even as he knees Elgin in the midsection. 2K1 bomb on the chair. Elgin crashes into the chair. Young grabs the duct tape. He wraps Elgin’s arm with the tape. Chair shots to the head, but Elgin PUTS HIS HANDS UP thankfully. Young puts the chair down after spitting in his face. Back drop and Elgin lands his side across the freaking ladder. Jesus Christ. Next, Elgin slowly takes the top turnbuckle off. And by slowly, I mean this takes 15 minutes to do. See, if the Moondogs hadn’t gotten beaten up earlier, they could have done this. Elgin wraps the tape around Young’s throat. Elgin ties young into the ropes with the tape. Next he hits him with the chair. Elgin resorts to using the wrench on Young’s groin. Powerbomb through two chairs. Crossface! Young quits! NEW CHAMPION!
Match Analysis: I didn’t think they could top themselves considering they went 60 minutes five months ago, but they did. They absolutely put on one of the best matches of 2012. I don’t care what promotion you’re talking. Ditto for the wrestlers. These are two of the best wrestlers in the United States of America. Period. This is an indy wrestling truth you can take to the bank. To elevate things one more time took so much out of them. Nearly 40 minutes. Ladders. Chairs. Wrenches. They gave it everything they had. Young had an incredible 900 days as heavyweight champion. Whether it’s a world title or not means nothing. He elevated this title to the point where someone like Michael Elgin can win it and it may end up meaning more than when he wins another prestigious indy title. Major props to both men. Nothing more can be said.
Winner (s)/Time/Rating: NEW Heavyweight Champion/STILL Heritage Champion-Michael Elgin/39:02/****1/4
-Isaias Velazquez talks about doing what he needs to to defeat his opponents. He’s taking his advice from someone.
-Young says he needed Beck tonight. Beck wasn’t there, nor can he win a match. Beck says he wasn’t there to back Young up and look what happened. He says he’s sick and tired of him. Young says Beck needs him.
-Knight Wagner talks about busting his butt on the preshow and moving up the card. Wagner was on the preshow and all he wants respect. All he needs is a little bit more respect to be happy.
-Christian Able points to a door that says “Not an exit.” He talks about being hurt and being hurt everyday. Great promo about the thing he loves causing him so much pain. Able asks if this is worth it. He’s depressed…and hurt. He refers back to the door and says it gives him hope. Able says he doesn’t have much time. Able is doing everything he can because time if on his side. Able is not exiting. He won’t rest until he wins.
-On October 26, a couple days before Halloween, Sami Callihan gets his chance to be the AAW champion. Callihan is jealous of Elgin for beating Young. Callihan says Elgin is one of his best friends, but regardless, the match is on. The battle will be waged. Callihan says Elgin is going down just days before Halloween.
The Verdict: I can’t say Defining Moment 2012 was a perfect show considering there were 10 matches, and a couple of them really dragged the middle of the show down. Nonetheless, there are two unbelievable must see matches that make this a must see DVD. Silas Young’s historic title reign coming to an end is worth a thumbs up by itself. The tag team match before intermission was a tremendous showcase of four indy superstars. There were some solid matches in the first half of the show and what I hope is the start of a feud between ACH and Shane Hollister. The top of the cards have the chance to carry any other deficiencies. Yes, you should buy this show. The sooner, the better.
For more information on AAW and their upcoming shows, check out AAW’s Website. To buy this and many otherAAW DVDs, check out Smart Mark Video. Below is a list of contact information for both the website and me.
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