AAW presents Tradition Continues
Date: 1/7/2017
From: LaSalle, IL
Before the opening match, Silas Young cuts a promo about needing to cutoff the announcers from promoting what’s going to be on the show. Young decided to come out and stop their talking because the fans want wrestling. So, Young proceeds to talk about wanting wrestling and drink a few beers before getting some action with the women in LaSalle. Young admits the options for the women isn’t very good. Young doesn’t see one real man in the crowd. Colt Cabana comes out and says the people are tired of Silas talking and of his mustache. Cabaa says there are a few women he’d hookup with. Cabana doesn’t know if Silas a man because of his small trunks.
Opening Contest: Colt Cabana vs. Silas Young: Cabana tosses a charging Young, but Young bails to the floor to regroup. Cabana misses a chop on the floor and Young stomps Cabana a few times followed by an axe handle to the back. Young controls Cabana with an elbow strike and a headlock. Young shoulder blocks Cabana and taunts the crowd. Cabana rolls to the floor to avoid Young. Cabana slides into the ring from behind and spanks Young. Cabana gets a rollup for a two count. Cabana keeps wrist control and yanks Young down to the mat. Young knee lifts Cabana and delivers a few strikes in the corner. Young misses a clothesline, and Cabana keeps wrist control. Cabana arm drags Young and tries for an airplane spin, but Young wiggles free. They roll around the ring in an inside cradle, but neither man gets a three count. All three men, including the referee, fall to the mat. Young drives Cabana down with a backbreaker and a clothesline. Young stomps Cabana and takes Colt over with a snapmare. Young controls Cabana on the mat with a sleeper. Cabana sends Young to the apron. Young drops Cabana over the top rope and hits a slingshot double stomp from the apron for a two count.
Cabana elbow strikes Young, but Young takes Cabana down only to be kick to the floor. Young gets on the apron and is met with strikes by Cabana. Cabana sends Young into the post ribs first and tosses Young back into the ring. Cabana jabs Young several times and an elbow strike. Cabana hits a leaping splash in the corner and kicks Young out of the corner for a near fall. Young rams Cabana into the corner a few times, but is dumped to the apron again. Young avoids a kick and forearms Cabana before being cutoff on the top rope. Cabana grabs Young, but Young hits a top rope bulldog leading to a near fall. Young hits a rolling fireman’s carry and misses a moonsault attempt. Cabana nails Young with a leaping butt strike and locks in the Billy Goat’s Curse to win the match by submission. (**. A pretty basic match to kickoff the show. The promo before the bout raised crowd interest and the match kind of came across as silly and not as serious, but didn’t feature comedy.)
Backstage, Buck Nasty cuts a promo and says he brought AAW to LaSalle. Nasty appreciates being called Mr. LaSalle. The Hooligans are with Nasty, who Nasty says they’ve not been in LaSalle with him. Nasty has done a lot in AAW and in LaSalle. Nasty asks the Hooligans to not embarrass him before walking off with Connor Braxton and Kody Rice.
Second Contest: Ace Perry vs. Zachary Wentz: Wentz starts off with a headlock and shoulder blocks Perry. Wentz counters a leapfrog by yanking Perry down to the mat by his leg. Wentz controls Perry with a test of strength, but Perry gets free and arm drags Wentz out of the corner. Perry nails Wentz with a dropkick and plays to the crowd before managing a two count. Wentz avoids Perry in the corner and deliver a knee strike. Wentz hits a kick to the face and a standing moonsault for a two count. Wentz chokes Perry over the middle rope. Wentz controls Perry on the mat with a modified cattle mutilation. Perry breaks free and comes off the ropes, but is met with a dropkick by Wentz for a two count. Wentz stomps Perry in the corner a few times and delivers several chops. Wentz misses a splash in the corner and is kicked. by Perry. Perry hits a flying crossbody off the top and deliver a running dropkick in the corner a few times. Wentz responds with a running forearm in the corner. Wentz forearms Perry over the back, and delivers clothesline, but Perry responds with a cutter for a two count. Perry heads to the top rope, but Wentz yanks Perry off the ropes. Wentz hits a snapmare driver and heads to the top. Wentz hits a swanton bomb for the win. (**. A quick match, but a decent outing for both men. Wentz came across as more impressive out of the two, and I think that may have been the attempt.)
Backstage, Zachary Wentz cuts a promo saying that the AAW fans may not know who he is, but he’s been all over the globe. Wentz says the future is here. JT Davidson walks into the scene clapping and says “impressive” before walking off.
Backstage, Davey Vega is telling Mat Fitchett this is their chance to get back into the title picture. Vega shoves Fitchett during their entrance, though.
Third Contest: Davey Vega & Mat Fitchett vs. The Hooligans (Devin & Mason Cutter): Hooligans start the match with a double suplex and a corkscrew assisted splash onto both men. Fitchett is double teamed in the corner by the Hooligans. Fitchett is slammed to the mat and the Hooligans hit a middle rope leg drop/standing moonsault combo for a two count. Vega knee strikes Mason, and Fitchett nails Mason with a somersault kick. Vega enters the match and stomps Mason in the corner. Vega chops Mason in the corner and delivers a few strikes. Vega holds Mason and Fitchett delivers a middle rope stomp leading to a near fall on Mason. Vega enters the match and kicks Mason into the ropes. Vega gets a rollup with his feet on the ropes, but Mason kicks out at two. Mason fights back with a series of strikes, but Vega stops Mason with a bicycle kick into the corner. Mason fights back with a series of strikes, again, but is stopped by a senton splash by Vega for a two count. Fitchett forearms Devin into the corner, but is met with a big boot. Devin hits a leaping middle rope stunner and both men are down. Mason and Vega are tagged into the match with Mason delivering a few strikes. Mason clotheslines Vega in the corner and hits a bulldog. Mason delivers a fist drop and Vega recovers in the corner. Mason clotheslines Vega in the corner and the Hooligans hit several running splashes into the corner. Hoolgians hit a backbreaker/double stomp combo on Vega.
Fitchett decks the Hooligans from behind, and avoids the Hooligans in the corner. Fitchett hits a tornado DDT on Mason. Vega and Fitchett hit a twisting slam on Devin for a two count, which didn’t look great. Mason makes the save with stomps. Fitchett is sent into the corner and the Hooligans hit a double chokeslam on Fitchett. Hooligans hit a double team senton from the apron, but Fitchett kicks out at two. Vega low blows Devin on the floor. Vega assists Fitchett on a front flip piledriver on Mason to win the match. (**1/2. A decent tag match between these two teams. I haven’t seen much of the Hooligans prior to this, but they were better than I expected to see. Vega and Fitchett are a fun team with a great entrance song.)
Backstage, JT Davidson is with AAW Heavyweight Champion Sami Callihan and Jake Crist. Davidson is confident that Crist is going to win the AAW Heritage Championship. Crist says that ACH is going to find out why they call him the artist. Sami chimes in and says Davidson is the best manager going today. Sami says Dave Crist isn’t here and his videos are going viral. Sami says that their family is stronger than ever and notes the several wrestlers that they’ve defeated in AAW. Sami is wrestling John Morrison tonight and mentions he’s never beaten Morrison, but the AAW Heavyweight Championship has never been on the line before. Sami is clutch when the title is on the line and he doesn’t lose. Sami takes credit for the full house because he’s on top.
Fourth Contest: Taya Valkyrie vs. Jessicka Havok: Havok shoves Valkyrie to the mat to kickoff the contest. Havok shoves Valkyrie to the mat a second time out of a lockup. Valkyrie kicks Havok several times and comes off the ropes to hit a clothesline for a two count. Valkyrie clotheslines Havok in the corner and delivers a flurry of forearms. Havok misses a splash in the corner and is kicked by Valkyrie. Havok knocks Valkyrie to the mat to gain control of the bout with a chin lock. Havok settles for choking Valkyrie and goes back to putting a chin lock on Valkyrie. Havok kicks Valkyrie and taunts the crowd some more. Valkyrie kicks Havok several times and is met with a kick to the head. Havok spikes Valkyrie with an elevated DDT for a two count. Valkyrie nearly pins Havok with a victory roll, but Havok responds with a kick to the ribs. Valkyrie kicks Havok in the corner a few times. Havok misses a splash in the corner and is met with more forearm strikes. Valkyrie blocks a kick to deliver a kick to the groin area of Havok. Havok puts Valkyrie in the tree of woe and delivers several kicks in the corner followed by an elbow drop to the mat. Havok continues to deliver running boot strikes in the corner. Valkyrie kicks Havok and a running lariat followed by running double knee strikes. Havok avoids another running knee strike and hits a German suplex for a two count. Valkyrie almost sneaks a rollup. Valkyrie drop toe holds Havok and delivers a double stomp to the back and chest leading to a near fall. Davidson trips Valkyrie from the floor. Havok chokeslams Valkyrie and wins the match. (**. A fine match with the predictable distraction assisted finish. There wasn’t anything all that memorable of the encounter.)
Backstage, AAW Heritage Champion ACH is interviewed. ACH talks about AAW’s debut in the area. ACH is going to make the AAW Heritage Championship the most important championship. ACH is trying to get “super” over big time.
Fifth Contest: Nick Brubaker & Zero Gravity (Brett Gakiya & CJ Esparza) vs. Arik Cannon, Mike Hartenbower & Waylon Beck: Hartenbower and Esparza kickoff the match with Hartenbower shoving Esparza to the mat to showcase his strength advantage. Hartenbower shoulder blocks Esparza and delivers a spinebuster. Waylon enter and delivers a chop, but Cannon comes in and kicks Brubaker causing all six men to be in the ring brawling. Cannon and his partners are dropkicked to the floor. Zero Gravity his stereo dives to the floor. Cannon and Brubaker trade strikes in the middle of the ring. Hartenbower knee strikes Esparza, but Esparza head scissors Hartenbower over the middle rope. Gakiya delivers a kick from the floor and a splash from the apron for a two count. Hartenbower works over Gakiya in the corner with several short arm clotheslines. Gakiya kicks Hartenbower in the corner, but Hartenbower hits a sit out flapjack for a two count. Cannon tags into the match and delivers a rolling neck snap on Gakiya for a two count. Cannon delivers another rolling neck snap and taunts the crowd. Cannon delivers a snap suplex for a two count. Gakiya hits a twisting reverse DDT. Brubaker tags into the match and cleans house. Brubaker forearms Hartenbower and Beck in opposite corners for a two count. Brubaker tries for a slam, but Beck avoids it. Esparza dives over the top to the floor. Brubaker dumps Gakiya to the apron, but Gaikya hits a dive to the floor. Brubaker gets a two count on Beck with a German suplex. Esparza hits a crossbody on Beck for a two count.
Esparza forearms Beck followed by a quick suplex for a two count as Cannon makes the save. Cannon runs into a boot in the corner. Esparza is caught coming off the middle rope and Cannon delivers a buckle bomb. Cannon continues with a superkick and trades blows with Brubaker. Hartenbower nails Brubaker witha. spear. Gakiya nails Cannon with a tornado DDT. Gakiya is on Beck’s shoulders, but Esparza saves his partner and Gakiya hit a reverse hurricanrana on Beck. Zero Gravity hit Flippy Cup and pin Beck. (**1/4. I’m glad the match lost structure and became six guys battling it out as it didn’t drag along with that approach. I enjoy Zero Gravity.)
Backstage, Ace Perry cuts a promos saying he may have lost, but he impressed AAW. Perry doesn’t want the ladies to be upset because he’s coming back next month.
Backstage, Scarlett is praising Connor Braxton and says he’s the next AAW Heavyweight Champion. Scarlett says 2017 will be their year and if he disappoints her then he’ll regret it.
Sixth Contest: AAW Heritage Champion ACH vs. Jake Crist: ACH wants to shake hands, but Crist blows snot onto ACH’s hand instead. ACH controls Crist with a wrist lock, but Crist counters and takes ACH to the mat where they have a standoff. ACH controls Crist with a front face lock, but Crist rolls through and puts a sleeper on ACH. ACH takes Crist down to the mat again and keeps a sleeper on Crist. Crist tries to send ACH into the ropes, but ACH keeps control with a side headlock. Crist backs ACH against the ropes and delivers a forearm strike. ACH runs the ropes and sends Crist to the floor with a dropkick. ACH hits a slingshot crossbody to the floor. ACH grabs a fans cane and jabs Crist with it. ACH tries for a cover in the ring and manages a two count. ACH puts an Indian death lock on Crist and bridges backward to put Crist in the Muta lock. Crist reaches the ropes to force a break of the hold. ACH misses a dive to the floor, but lands on his feet. Crist slams ACH onto the apron with a back suplex. Crist yanks ACH down onto the apron and superkicks ACH. Crist tries for a cover, but ACH kicks out at two. Crist forearms ACH and keeps a chin lock on the champ, but doesn’t get a submission. ACH fights back with forearm strikes and an overhand strike. ACH chops Crist against the ropes several times. ACH nails Crist with a forearm strike in the corner. Crist stops a charging ACH with a big boot in the corner leading to a near fall.
Crist drives ACH down to the mat with a back suplex for a near fall. Crist tries for another suplex, but ACH lands on his feet and chops Crist several times. ACH decks Crist with a clothesline and gets the crowd behind him. ACH ducks a clothesline and leg sweeps Crist followed by a double stomp and strike. ACH goes to the apron and kicks Crist on the floor. ACH climbs to the top rope after rolling Crist into the ring. JT Davidson gets involved and allows Crist to kick ACH. Crist hooks ACH and hits a superplex. Crist rolls through and delivers a swinging neckbreaker. Crist misses a running boot and a clothesline. ACH hits a rolling German suplex followed by a brainbuster. ACH heads to the top rope again and hits a 450 splash for the win. (**1/2. An average match, but I don’t think there was much doubt as to who was going to prevail here. ACH tends to be a lot of fun to watch. Crist in a singles role doesn’t seem to work.)
Backstage, Rey Fenix is interviewed regarding his match tonight. Fenix says he’s happy to be in AAW as it’s his home. Fenix is excited to wrestle Elgin. That’s it.
Prior to the next match, Scarlett cuts a promo saying she’s a manager of champion and puts herself as a star from WWE RAW (she was enhancement). Scarlett puts over her men Connor Braxton and Eddie Machete. Scarlett claims Braxton is the future of the company. Scarlett doesn’t know if Machete belongs with them. Scarlett needs Machete to prove himself tonight and says this is his last chance to prove himself.
Seventh Contest: Stephen Wolf vs. Eddie Machete: Machete attacks before the bell with several strikes and stomps in the corner. Machete strikes Wolf against the ropes and delivers a clothesline before taunting the crowd. Machete drops Wolf over his knee with a backbreaker and tells the referee to count the fall leading to a near fall. Wolf kicks Machete a few times to gain control. Wolf kicks Machete in the corner and delivers a superkick for a near fall. Machete crotches Wolf on the top rope and delivers a strike. Machete hooks Wolf, but Wolf fights free and knocks Machete to the canvas. Machete runs the ropes and is shoved off a second time. Machete forearms Wolf and attempts a suplex. Machete holds onto the ropes and tosses Machete to the mat. Wolf hits a shooting star press and pins Machete for the win. (*. Angle advancement, I’d assume.) After the match, Scarlett slaps Machete.
Eighth Contest: Buck Nasty, Connor Braxton & Kody Rice vs. Louis Lyndon, Marion Fontaine & Paco: Rice and Fontaine kickoff the six man tag match. Rice oils himself up, which gets a reaction from the crowd. Fontaine tries to lockup, but slips off because of the oil. Fontaine tries for a go-behind, but slips off again. Fontaine strikes Rice a couple of times and they go to the floor. Fontaine uses the apron skirt to rub the oil off of Rice. Rice kicks Fontaine and tags in Nasty to gain control of the match. Fontaine avoids a slam and Paco enters to chop Nasty. Paco head scissors Nasty to the mat and is fired up. Nasty avoids Paco in the corner and delivers an elbow strike. Paco hits a middle rope crossbody for a near fall. Lyndon delivers a top rope axe handle strike. Nasty rams Lyndon into the corner and Braxton enters the match to work over Lyndon. Braxton strikes Lyndon a few times, but Lyndon avoids Braxton in the corner and delivers a boot. Lyndon sends Braxton to the apron and delivers a kick followed by a slingshot kick to knock Braxton to the mat. Lyndon rams Braxton into the corner and Paco tags into the match. Paco strikes Braxton several times, but is tripped by Scarlett. Braxton plants Paco with a spinebuster and taunts the crowd leading to a near fall. Braxton controls Paco with a wrist lock before tagging in Rice. Rice puts a chin lock on Paco, but doesn’t get a submission. Paco comes off the ropes and is met with a sit down splash by Rice. Nasty leaps off the top to double stomp Paco and continues with a double knee strike and elbow drop on Paco. Nasty hits a cannonball splash over Paco’s back for a two count. Braxton enters the match and kicks Paco in the midsection. Braxton splashes down onto Paco’s back and delivers a knee strike. Rice knee lifts Paco and keeps control in the corner. Rice elbow strikes Paco in the corner. Rice eye rakes Paco and walks over to the corner. Rice oils himself up some more and hits a splash in the corner. Rice hits a cannonball splash in the corner leading to a near fall on Paco.
Paco elbows Rice a few times, but is stopped by an eye rake. Nasty oils Rice up some more and accidentally dropkicks Rice as Paco avoids the move. Nasty slips on a oil spill in the ring. Paco nails Nasty with a kick to the head and Lyndon gets the hot tag cleaning house. Lyndon forearms Rice and continues with chops. Lyndon is fired up, but Braxton stops Lyndon with a boot to the midsection. Braxton forearms Fontaine on the apron. Fontaine and Lyndon hit double forearms and Fontaine takes Rice out with a suicide dive. Lyndon hits a Slice Bread on Braxton and locks in a dragon sleeper, but Nasty makes the save. Fontaine is dumped to the apron and to the floor by Nasty. Lyndon kicks Nasty away and avoids a suplex by Braxton. Paco tags in and is overwhelmed by the three opponents. Lyndon is sent into the corner and Fontaine is sent into Lyndon. Paco sends Rice and Braxton into each other. Fontaine his a missile dropkick to Rice and Braxton. Paco slingshots Nasty into a double knee strike by Lyndon for a two count. Rice chops Fontaine against the ropes, but is dumped to the floor. Fontaine takes Braxton out with a dive and Lyndon hits a slingshot hurricanrana on Rice. Nasty nails Paco with a running knee strike and hits a crucifix driver on Paco for the win. (**1/2. Not a bad match. Rice came across as a fun character. Nobody stunk up the joint. It effectively filled time leading into the double main event segments.)
Backstage, Davey Vega and Mat Fitchett are sitting down. Fitchett is excited that they are teaming and won a match tonight. Vega tells Fitchett to relax and puts over Fitchett as his best tag partner. Vega notes they have done some great things as a team. They end it seemingly on the same page as being a team moving forward.
Ninth Contest: Rey Fenix vs. Michael Elgin: Elgin backs Fenix into a corner, but cleanly backs off. Fenix gets arm control for a moment and arm drags Elgin to the mat. Elgin takes Fenix down to the mat, but Fenix counters with a leg lock before a standoff. Fenix hits a running hurricanrana, but Elgin does the same. Elgin ducks a wild kick and sends Fenix into the ropes. Elgin shoulder blocks Fenix and delivers a wild strike to knock Fenix to the mat. Elgin tries for a suplex, but Fenix breaks free. Elgin dumps Fenix to the apron and delivers a kick to the head. Elign goes to the apron and tries for a suplex, but Fenix fights free. Fenix superkicks Elgin on the apron and Elgin drops to the floor. Fenix hits a somersault dive over the ropes to the floor. Fenix rolls Elgin back into the ring and heads to the top rope. Elgin counters a springboard with a sit down powerbomb for a near fall. Elgin drives Fenix down to the mat with a delayed vertical suplex managing a two count. Fenix kicks Elgin and delivers a headbutt. Fenix tries for a slingshot, but Elgin hits a powerslam for a two count. Elgin uppercuts Fenix into the corner. Fenix kicks Elgin and hits a springboard kicks in the corner. Elgin tosses Fenix into the corner, but Fenix sends Elgin face first into the turnbuckle. Fenix hits a Code Red for a near fall.
Elgin nails Fenix with a cutter out of the corner and follows up with a couple of running clotheslines into the corner. Elgin tries for a suplex off the middle rope, but Fenix decks Elgin to the mat. Elgin catches Fenix off the middle rope and hits a Falcon Arrow for a two count. Elgin attempts a powerbomb, but Fenix lands on his feet. Elgin forearms Fenix and drops Fenix to the mat. Elgin misses a clothesline and Fenix hits a crucifix pin attempt for a two count. Fenix superkicks Elgin and hits a reverse hurricanrana followed by a rolling cutter for a near fall. Fenix misses a 450 splash splash and is met with a pump kick. Fenix kicks Elgin several times, but Elgin responds with a clothesline. Elgin and Fenix trade forearms in the middle of the ring. Fenix gains the advantage, but Elgin delivers a forearm and tosses Fenix overhead with a suplex for a near fall. Fenix rams Elgin into the corner and is met with a kick to the head. Fenix uppercuts Elgin on the top rope. Fenix walks the ropes and tries for a hurricanrana, but Elgin stops Fenix. Fenix manages to still hit the move. Fenix counters a powerbomb with a facebuster and a superkick for a near fall. Elgin back elbows Fenix to break free. Fenix avoids a lariat, but Elgin hits a spinning sit out powerbomb for a near fall. Fenix goes to the apron as Elgin waits in the ring. Elgin stands on the middle rope and grabs Fenix looking for a suplex hitting a Falcon Arrow off the middle rope for a two count. Elgin can’t believe it. Elgin signals for the Buckle Bomb and hits it. Fenix surprises Elgin with a quick surprise rollup to win the match. (***1/2. It’s a good match and the crowd reacted well to what they did here. I’m not a fan of the finish, though. It felt a bit flat and didn’t work for me. These two work very well together and the styles are an ideal match for a quality bout.)
Backstage, AAW Heritage Champion ACH cuts a promo about sitting on the sidelines for a year. ACH thinks he helped the company grow and mentions other names that helped AAW grow. ACH is proud to say that AAW is the best indie promotion going today. ACH has had one thing on his mind and that’s being the best. ACH is going to make the AAW Heritage Championship the best title. ACH promises to wrestle anyone that thinks they can take the title away from him. ACH calls out for all the challengers to try and take his title.
Main Event: AAW Heavyweight Champion Sami Callihan vs. John Morrison: They have a standoff after avoiding each other in the opening moments of the match. Callihan does his thumbs down taunt, because he has to do it. Morrison flips Sami off and is met with a kick to the midsection. Sami shoulder blocks Morrison and tries to run the ropes, but is tripped again. Morrison runs the ropes and trades leg sweeps. Sami gets a headlock, but they pop up and have a standoff. Morrison ducks a punch, but Sami nails Morrison with a strike and puts a sleeper on Morrison for a moment. Sami keeps Morrison on the mat with a headlock for a few moments. Morrison elbows free and sends Sami into the ropes looking for a clothesline, but neither man drops. They try for another clothesline, but nobody drops down. Morrison nails Sami with a kick and the champ bails to the floor. Morrison runs the ropes and lands on the apron. Morrison kicks Sami on the floor and tries for a baseball slide. but Sami traps Morrison with the apron and delivers several blows. Sami chops Morrison on the floor and taunts the crowd. Sami sends Morrison into the guard railing ribs first. Morrison nails Sami with a forearm strike and runs into a big boot. Sami runs around ringside and Morrison avoids him by leaping onto the railing and apron. Morrison superkicks Sami before returning to the ring. Morrison heads to the top rope, but is knocked down by Sami. Sami tries for a cover, but Morrison kicks out at two. Sami stomps on Morrison several times. Sami chops Morrison and puts a sleeper on Morrison for a few moments.
Morrison gets to his feet and punches free. Sami nails Morrison with a clothesline. Sami puts a modified abdominal stretch on Morrison, but doesn’t get a submission. Morrison stops Sami with a jawbreaker and elbows Sami. Sami runs into a big boot in the corner. Morrison nails Sami with a kick on the top turnbuckle. Morrison punches Sami on the top rope and hooks for a superplex. Sami bites Morrison and tries for a sunset flip powerbomb. Morrison punches Sami and hits a springboard kick. They begin to trade strikes in the middle of the ring. Sami chops Morrison and is met with a clothesline a few times. Morrison hits a heel kick and plays to the crowd before delivering a running knee strike. Morrison rolls Sami towards the corner and tries for a moonsault, but settles for a standing Spanish Fly for a near fall. Morrison kicks Sami in the midsection and tries for a DDT. Sami forearms Morrison, but Morrison delivers a kick from the apron. Morrison hits a double springboard kick and covers Sami for a two count. Morrison hits a standing shooting star press for a near fall. Sami kicks Morrison in the corner. Sami tries for a cover, but delivers a kick. Sami drops Morrison with a GTS for a near fall. Sami nails Morrison with a boot to the face. Sami takes off Morrison’s boot, but Morrison almost wins with a rollup. Morrison grabs his boot and hits Sami with it. Morrison has the shoe on his hand and delivers another strike. Morrison nails Sami with another boot chop and plays to the crowd.
Sami locks in a single leg Boston Crab and switches to an STF, but Morrison reaches the ropes quickly. Sami puts Morrison in the tree of woe and delivers a kick to the knee. Sami continues with strikes. Morrison hits a stunner off the middle rope and connects with a superkick. Morrison hits Starship Pain, but Sami kicks out at two. Morrison waits for Sami to get up, but Sami stops Morrison with a low blow and nearly wins with a rollup. Sami locks in the Stretch Muffler and lays down to force a clean submission to retain the title. (***1/2. A good hard hitting match with a fantastic clean finish for Sami. I’m not sure I was expecting a clean finish for Sami, but I love it. Morrison was ready to work and they put forth a fun match with Morrison getting a couple of believable near falls. Sami is thriving in his heel work for AAW.)
Outside, Buck Nasty cuts a promo about LaSalle being his area. Nasty backed up his words while the Hooligans didn’t, but that’s okay. Nasty promises that he’s going to win every time they are in the area.
Backstage, Arik Cannon walks in on the host promoting next months show. Cannon notes that he thought he was cool with Brubaker and it’s news to him that they aren’t.
Backstage, AAW Heavyweight Champion Sami Callihan is recovering from his title defense. Sami likes getting kicked in the head dozens of times. Sami isn’t a normal person. Sami changed trying to make people happy and it didn’t work. It got him nowhere. Sami says that the AAW Heavyweight Championship means something and he made it a World Championship. Sami will take on any opponent. Sami recalls making Morrison, Fenix and Hero submit. Sami gets no respect and instead gets shit on. Sami says the title is a chip on his shoulder. Sami promotes January 20th as their return and doesn’t care who challenges him because he accepts the challenge. Sami will walk out as the champion.
Final Thoughts:
Compared to a lot of other AAW shows this is a show that is likely seen as a secondary level. It’s a two match show with Elgin/Fenix and the main event being the main draws and they delivered quality results. I’ll give this a mild thumbs up as nothing felt like a chore to get through and the crowd atmosphere was good throughout.
Thanks for reading.