AAW presents Don’t Stop Believing
Date: 1/20/2017
From: Merrionette Park, IL
Backstage, JT Davidson introduces the Killer Cult and promotes the matches they are involved in. AAW Heavyweight Champion Sami Callihan has issued an open challenge, and Sami notes that Steve Austin could show up because Austin tweeted him. Davidson also promotes the cage match between OI4K and Kingston & Homicide. Jake says if they want blood, they will get blood. Jake will drink their blood and promises people will be grossed out. Davidson looks off screen and says they’ve been off for a few weeks, but it’s time to show what he can do.
Opening Contest: Eddie Kingston & Homicide vs. OI4K (Dave & Jake Crist) in a steel cage match: They brawl on the floor as Dave Crist attacked Kingston from behind during the entrance. Homicide sends Jake into the cage door as Dave tosses a chair into the ring. Jake sends Homicide into the cage door before they get onto the stage. Jake rams Kingston into the railing and Dave whacks Kingston over the back with a chair shot. Jake tries for a suplex on Homicide off the stage, but Homicide counters with a clothesline. Dave continues to whack Kingston with chair shots. Homicide sends Dave into the railing again and into the cage door. Homicide sends Dave into the side of the cage, again. Homicide teases using a fork and jabs Dave on his forehead. Kingston and Dave get into the ring to finally make it a cage match. Kingston jabs Dave several times with a fork. Homicide enters the ring with vodka and pours the booze on Dave’s wound. Kingston plants Dave with a DDT for a two count as Jake has been prevented from entering the ring. Jake climbs to the top of the cage and dives off to hit a crossbody on Homicide. Jake superkicks Homicide, but is nailed by a spinning back fist by Kingston. Dave connects with two pump kicks to gain control.
Dave sets up a few chairs by the corner. Dave hits Homicide with a chair and Homicide gets crotched on the top rope. Dave lays Homicide onto several chairs and climbs the corner, but Kingston makes the save. Kingston crotches Dave in the corner. Kingston hits a suplex on Jake before going to Dave in the corner and hits a side Russian leg sweep off the middle rope onto the chairs. Homicide nails Jake with a cutter and does the same to Dave onto a chair, twice. Dave plants Homicide with a springboard DDT for a two count. Dave goes to the top rope, but is stopped by Homicide. Dave clubs Homicide over the back, but Homicide hits a top rope cutter. Dave avoids the Cop Killa, but Homicide hits it on the second try. Sami Callihan comes out to ringside and enters the cage. Sami whacks Homicide with a chair several times. Sami spikes Homicide with a tombstone onto the chair. Abyss has come out, as well. Sami tries to escape the cage, but Abyss stops Sami. Abyss lets go and chokeslams Homicide. Save covers Homicide for the win. (*1`/2. I mean, this is hardly a cage match. The majority of the match took place outside the ring and they brawled. The Abyss turn isn’t a surprise since Abyss fits in with the Killer Cult vibe. If I had to setup that cage and they barely used it I would have felt like it was wasted time.)
Backstage, Besties In The World are interviewed. Fitchett believes they will be the new AAW Tag Team Champions after tonight. Fitchett thought 2016 was their year winning tag gold and getting over their crappy music. Vega notes that their bond grew over the year. Vega thinks they had their year last year and they are going to do it again in 2017.
Second Contest: Moose vs. Dezmond Xavier vs. AR Fox vs. DJ Z: Xavier and Fox kick Z and Moose to kickoff the match. Fox avoids a head scissors by Xavier and delivers a kick. Xavier head scissors Fox into a corner and delivers a running forearm strike. Xavier knee strikes Fox in the corner. Xavier nails Fox with a 619 around the post over the middle rope. Xavier head scissors Fox to the stage area. Xavier slides to the floor, but is kicked by Z. Z shoulder rams Moose, but Moose jabs Z several times. Z nails Moose with a jawbreaker. Moose stops Z with a pump kick. Moose goes to the floor and tosses Xavier into Z on the floor. Fox baseball slides Moose and dives over the ropes, but is caught by Moose. Moose tosses Fox into Xavier and Z on the floor. Moose misses Fox in the corner and Fox hits a middle rope cutter. Moose elbows Fox in the corner. Moose boots everyone out of the corner and heads to the middle rope, but is met with triple kicks on a moonsault attempt. Z head scissors Fox after leaping off Xavier’s back. Xavier handspring kicks Z. Fox and Xavier nail each other on kick attempts. Z leaps over the ropes onto Fox and Xavier in the ring. Moose dives over the ropes into the ring onto all three men. Xavier boots Moose in the corner, but Moose dropkicks Xavier to the floor. Fox and Z dropkick Moose to the floor. Fox backdrops Z onto Moose on the floor and Fox dives onto Xavier. Moose, Xavier and Z are in the crowd where Fox hits a somersault dive into the crowd!
Fox tosses Z back into the ring to continue the match. Fox heads to the top rope, but Z gets his knees up to block a swanton. Z kicks Fox and Xavier missile dropkicks Z. Moose spears Fox for a two count. Xavier avoids Moose in the corner and delivers a kick followed by a German suplex. Xavier nails Moose with a corkscrew splash for a two count. Xavier heads to the top missing a 450 splash. Z spikes Xavier with a DDT for a near fall. Z is stopped by Fox on the middle rope. Z forearms Fox off the middle rope. Z is stopped by Fox on the middle rope. Z tosses Xavier to the floor. Fox hits a 450 splash on Z for the win. (***1/4. As expected these four guys put forth a good match full of big spots. For the most part they were doing big spots and the crowd popped well for the action.)
Backstage, AAW Tag Team Champion Andrew Everett and Jack Evans are interviewed. Everett notes that his tag champion partner, Trevor Lee, isn’t there. So, Jack Evans is competing in his place to defend the tag titles tonight. Evans talks about reaching to the top and using that money to buy cheaper hookers. Evans wants to be a tag champion.
Backstage, Eddie Kingston cuts a promo outside the building and he’s pissed about what happened to Homicide. Kingston challenges Abyss to a match in February.
Third Contest: AAW Tag Team Champions Andrew Everett & Jack Evans vs. Besties In The World (Davey Vega & Mat Fitchett): All four men start off in the ring with Vega working over Everett as Evans decked Fitchett. Vega and Evans kick each other at the same time. Vega gets a two count on a rollup. Vega tries to cheat, but Fitchett tells Vega to do it right. Evans works over Vega on the mat. Evans rolls over Vega’s back to deliver a kick. Everett tags in and hits a standing moonsault after a kick by Evans for a two count. Everett chops Vega to maintain control of the match. Everett hits a suplex for a near fall on Vega. Evans splashes Vega in the corner on his buttocks. Evans knee strikes Vega and rams Vega into the corner before tagging in Everett. Vega kicks Everett in the corner and dumps Evans to the apron. Vega yanks Evans down, and Fitchett gets tagged in and cleans house. Fitchett keeps a front face lock on Everett. Vega returns to the match and back rakes Everett. Everett stops Vega with a few strikes, but Vega hooks Everett on the nose. Besties hit a senton and standing moonsault for a two count on Everett. Fitchett controls Everett on the mat, but doesn’t get a pin. Everett punches Fitchett, but Fitchett decks Everett to the mat to maintain the advantage.
Everett kicks Besties a couple of times and tries to make the tag to Evans. Evans hits a springboard kick to the Besties. Evans hits a springboard somersault elbow strike. Everett is tagged back into the match and kicks Fitchett at the same time. Evans and Vega eye rake each other and all four men are standing in the middle of the ring leading to a four way superkick and all four men are down. Vega nails Everett with a kick. Evans kicks Vega, but Fitchett kicks Evans. Everett hits a standing shooting star press on Fitchett for a two count. Vega works over Everett with strikes against the ropes. Evans hits a springboard somersault splash on Fitchett leading to a near fall. Vega knee strikes Evans on a springboard attempt. Everett tosses Vega with a German suplex. Fitchett Pele kicks Everett out of the corner. Vega heads to the top rope as Fitchett hands Evans over to Vega. Everett nails Fitchett with a kick. Vega rolls through a hurricanrana attempt. Vega drives Everett down to the mat face first. Vega pump kicks Evans and tries for a brainbuster, but Evans counters with a backslide with a bridge to pin Vega for the win. (***. A lot of face pace action and it worked well. I was surprised that Evans got the pin since he’s a replacement for the actual tag champion. I think this is leading to a Besties split. It’s a solid match.)
Backstage, Scarlett is with Eddie Machete and Connor Braxton. Scarlett gives Machete one more chance to prove himself and she’s happy with Braxton despite not being a champion yet. Scarlett has an idea and tells them to follow her.
Killer Cult come down to the ring and AAW Heavyweight Champion Sami Callihan cuts a promo about being the reason for the consistent sellouts. Sami isn’t bothered by the fans word. Sami says the championship means he’s the best wrestler in the world. Sami shows off the tweet by Steve Austin potentially showing up to the event. Sami taunts the fans to come into the ring and wrestle him. The challenger is revealed as being… Candice LeRae. Sami cuts a promo saying he thinks it funny that a girl like LeRae could defeat him. Sami decides to make some rules and that includes no rematches if you lose. Sami also says to get a title shot you’ve got to defeat him. Thus, LeRae needs to defeat him to get a future title shot. Sami wants LeRae to sign a waiver for the beating she’s going to get from him. LeRae responds accepts and calls Sami a bitch.
Fourth Contest: AAW Heavyweight Champion Sami Callihan vs. Candice LeRae in a non-title match: LeRae slaps Sami to start the match, but Sami responds with a vicious forearm to drop LeRae. Sami taunts the fans while LeRae is laid out. LeRae hits a reverse hurricanrana on Sami to earn a three count!
Fifth Contest: AAW Heavyweight Champion Sami Callihan vs. Candice LeRae: LeRae forearms Sami several times in the corner to star the title match. LeRae continues with a flurry of chops and forearms. Sami runs into a boot and a middle rope head scissors sending the champ to the floor. LeRae walks the ropes and head scissors Sami onto his manager, JT Davidson. LeRae dives through the ropes to hit a suicide dive on the floor. LeRae hits a second suicide dive to the floor. LeRae plants Sami with a tornado DDT on the floor and plays to the crowd. LeRae tries for a kick off the apron, but Sami blocks the kick and drops LeRae over the apron face first. Sami backs LeRae against the apron and spits on his hand to deliver a chop on the floor. Sami puts LeRae on the apron and continues to taunt the fans. Sami tries for a Death Valley Driver, but LeRae counters with a sleeper and tries for a ball plex off the apron, but is stopped by Davidson. Sami superkicks LeRae, and is laying upside down on Davidson’s shoulders. Sami rolls LeRae back into the ring and Sami follows. Sami slams LeRae and taunts the crowd more in the corner. Sami puts a sleeper on LeRae, but LeRae breaks free with a jawbreaker. LeRae forearms Sami on the apron, but is tossed back into the ring. Sami manages a two count. Sami chokes LeRae over the middle rope followed several strikes.
LeRae forearms Sami several times to break free. LeRae locks in the octopus and takes Sami down to the mat, but Sami powers back to his feet and counters with a cradle tombstone attempt, but LeRae counters with a rollup for a two count. LeRae avoids a pump kick and hits a ball plex! LeRae kicks Sami several times to gain the advantage. LeRae runs the ropes, but Sami counters hitting a GTS for a two count. Sami gets a chair and wedges it in the corner. Sami tries to ram LeRae into the corner, but LeRae counters with a rollup. Sami goes head first into the chair in the corner. LeRae plants Sami with a middle rope DDT for a near fall. LeRae nails Sami with several kicks to the chest and is met with a pump kick. Sami tries for another GTS, but LeRae counters with a reverse hurricanrana for a two count. LeRae heads to the top rope, but is stopped by Sami with a strike after Davidson caused a distraction. Sami is stopped on the middle rope and LeRae hits a middle rope ball plex for a two count. LeRae switches to a modified STF, but Sami counters into the Stretch Muffler. LeRae is trapped in the middle of the ring and is forced to submit. (****. That was fantastic. The crowd bought LeRae as a potential winner and they popped for the action throughout. I loved that LeRae pinned Sami leading into the title match right afterward. Great action and a great crowd atmosphere.)
AAW Heavyweight Champion Sami Callihan cuts a promo saying that he doesn’t care what the people say. Sami wonders who is next for him and who will show up. Kongo Kong makes his way out for the next match. Sami isn’t scared because he’s already beaten Chris Hero. Sami dares Kong to get in the ring. Sami bails to the floor and says that Kong will get him on his time. Sami wants the championship, but Kong has the belt in the ring. Sami says they can do this some other time. Sami decides against going to get the championship and will call his lawyers. Kong appears to be the next challenger.
Scarlett tells her men to go after Kong to be stars.
Sixth Contest: Kongo Kong vs. Connor Braxton & Eddie Machete in a handicap match: Kong tosses them both away, but Machete hits a Codebreaker on Kong and Braxton nails Kong with a big boot. Kong hits a Samoan Drop/fallaway slam combo. Kong continues with a cannonball splash into the corner onto both men. Machete saves Braxton, and is promptly chokeslammed by Kongo. Braxton decides against getting back in the ring and backs off. Kong heads to the top rope and hits a big splash. Scarlett tries to get involved, but Kong grabs Scarlett by her hair. Kong hits the Kongo Kong Driver on Scarlett. Kong didn’t pin anyone, but he’s essentially won the match.
Backstage, Abyss is interviewed regarding what he did earlier. JT Davidson enters the scene and says if anyone wants to talk to Abyss they have to go through him. Davidson kicks the interviewer out of the scene. Davidson says it was only a matter of time for Abyss to join forces. JT puts over Abyss for his match with Sami Callihan recently. Davidson brings up Colt Cabana and says that Colt is the first man to meet the killer, Abyss.
Seventh Contest: Davey Richards vs. Matt Sydal: Richards backs Sydal into a corner, but Sydal counters and they cleanly backoff. They counter each other on the mat for a few moments until Richards backs Sydal against the ropes and flips off Sydal. Sydal insists on peace. Richards keeps arm control, but Sydal pops out and counters. Sydal keeps arm control on the mat. Richards counters with a surfboard. Sydal counters with a surfboard of his own. They have another standoff. Richards keeps a headlock on Sydal for a few moments. Richards shoulder blocks Sydal and runs the ropes. Sydal gets a rollup for a near fall. Sydal runs the ropes to hit a head scissors and dropkicks Richards. Sydal hits a running dropkick into the corner. Sydal locks in a Muta Lock, but doesn’t get a submission. Richards responds with kicks, but Sydal leg sweeps Richards. Sydal tries for a standing moonsault and is met with knees. Richards knee lifts Sydal coming off the ropes. Richards snap suplexs Sydal and goes for a cover, but Sydal kicks out at two. Richards puts a Cloverleaf on Sydal in the middle of the ring, but doesn’t get a submission. Richards drives Sydal down with a backbreaker. Sydal tries for a sunset flip, but Richards connects with a double stomp for a two count. Richards controls Sydal on the mat with a body scissors. Richards continues with a knee drop to maintain the advantage. Richards hooks Sydal and tries for a suplex, but Sydal counters. Richards elbows Sydal and runs into a heel kick.
Sydal kicks Richards on the leg and delivers a head kick to drop Richards. Sydal nails Richards with another kick and a standing moonsault for a two count. Sydal heads to the top rope and tries for a dragon sleeper and drives Richards down to the mat for a near fall. Richards boots a charging Sydal in the corner and hits a powerbomb. Richards locks in a Cloverleaf, but Sydal reaches the ropes. Richards has Sydal on the apron looking for a suplex to the floor, but Sydal breaks free. Richards settles for a back suplex onto the apron. Richards goes to the top rope and hits a double stomp for a near fall. Richards locks in the Cloverleaf again in the middle of the ring. Sydal tries for a rollup, but Richards gets up and kicks Sydal in the midsection. Richards nails Sydal with a kick to the chest. Richards sits Sydal on the top turnbuckle and clubs Richards over the back. Sydal hits a top rope double knee strike. Sydal heads to the top rope again and hits the Shooting Star Press for the win. (**1/2. I thought this was a bit underwhelming and disappointing. It came across as if they didn’t mesh all that well together. I had higher hopes for this one and the crowd didn’t seem overly invested in the action either.)
Eighth Contest: Mercedes Martinez vs. Angelina Love: Martinez starts off with a waist lock to gain the early advantage. They trade go-behinds in the early moments of the contest. Martinez shoulder blocks Love to the mat, but is tripped. Love shoulder blocks Martinez leading to a one count. Love dropkicks Martinez on the knee and signals for a knee strike to the chest a couple of times. Martinez bails to the floor to regroup. Martinez drops Love over the top rope from the apron and delivers a boot on the apron for a one count. Martinez snap suplexs Love and continues to hit suplexs. Martinez drives Love down to the mat with a suplex for a near fall. Martinez pummels Love on the mat and taunts the referee. Martinez slaps Love a few times and rams Love into the corner. Martinez continues with a chop in the corner. Martinez continues with chops to stagger Love before delivering an eye rake. Martinez keeps Love on the mat and delivers several blows to the chest. Martinez forearms Love in the corner several times. Love elbows Martinez in the corner and hits a middle rope sunset flip for a two count. Love backslides Martinez for a two count. Martinez hits a swinging neckbreaker leading to a near fall. Love kicks out of a few other pin attempts. Martinez continues to control Love, but Love kicks out of a headlock and hits a stunner. Love comes off the ropes to deliver a clothesline a few times. Love nails Martinez with a spinning heel kick. Love overhand chops Martinez in the corner several times. Martinez elbows Love and tries for a slam, but Love counters with a flatliner and locks in a choke. Martinez manages to reach the ropes to break the hold. Martinez forearms Love and delivers a Codebreaker. Martinez drives Love down with a fisherman buster for the win. (*1/2. I personally didn’t care for this, at all. I didn’t have any interest in seeing Angelina Love. I’m sure she was booked on the show since her then husband Davey Richards was booked, too. The crowd was mostly lifeless for this one. The action isn’t horrible or bad, I just didn’t care about what they were doing.)
Backstage, Kongo Kong is with his manager. They have the AAW Heavyweight Championship. The championship is the final destination and the ultimate goal. Kong is getting a shot on February 4th. Sami Callihan sneaks up from behind and steals the championship back.
Prior to the next match, Drew Galloway cuts a promo on Silas Young building AAW up and notes this is Silas Young’s final match in AAW for a while. Galloway says he’ll be the new measuring stick when he beats Young tonight. Young is excited to have a match with Galloway and respects what Galloway has done everywhere. Young tells Galloway that he didn’t come here to lose tonight.
Ninth Contest: Silas Young vs. Drew Galloway: They start the match chopping each other until Young puts a headlock on Galloway. Young knee lifts Galloway and keeps headlock control on the mat for a few moments. Galloway keeps a head scissors on Young, but Young manages to break free quickly and puts a half Boston Crab on for a moment. Young switches to stomps and elbow drops Galloway on the left knee. Young chops Galloway several times, but is met with a big boot. Galloway stomps Young on the mat to maintain the advantage. Galloway chops Young in the corner, but Young responds with strikes in the corner. Galloway tries for a snapmare, but Young counters and they trade leg sweeps. Young gets a rollup on Galloway for a two count. Galloway misses a big boot attempt in the corner and crashes to the mat. Young forearms Galloway in the corner, but avoids a big boot. Young drops Galloway to the mat and Galloway rolls to the floor to regroup. Young fakes a dive to the floor and leaps off the apron, but Galloway nails Young with a big boot on the floor. Galloway catapults Young throat first under the ring. Galloway chops Young against the railing and punches Young on the floor. Galloway stomps Young on the apron and Young rolls back into the ring. Galloway tosses Young overhead with a suplex leading to a near fall.
Galloway continues to work over Young with stomps on the mat. Young fights out of the corner with forearms and they both go down following a headbutt by Galloway. Galloway mounts Young delivering a flurry of strikes. Young fights back with right hands, but Galloway chops Young. Young elbows Galloway and heads to the apron missing a shoulder ram. Young avoids a knee strike and drops Galloway over the top rope. Young hits a slingshot double stomp from the apron. Young misses a running boot and Galloway hits a tilt a whirl backbreaker. Galloway covers, but Young kicks out at two. Galloway waits against the ropes and plays to the crowd. Galloway slaps Young and they begin to taunt each other. Young forearms Galloway several times and ducks a strike. Young continues with several strikes against the ropes. Young kicks Galloway away in the corner, but misses a clothesline, but hits a middle rope moonsault for a two count. Young avoids a clothesline and gets a rollup, but Galloway kicks out at two. Young delivers a backbreaker and a clothesline for another two count. Galloway kicks Young into the corner to avoid a figure fur. Young elbows Galloway in the corner. Galloway elbow strikes Young in the corner. Galloway hits a reverse Alabama Slam for a near fall. Galloway tries for a DDT, but Young breaks free and they trade strikes. Galloway hits a sit out spinebuster for a near fall. Galloway sits Young on the top turnbuckle and continues with chops. Galloway hooks Young for a suplex, but Young punches Galloway over the back a few times. Young tries for a sunset flip powerbomb and drives Galloway to the mat. Young tries for a suplex, but Galloway breaks free. Young hits a knee strike and a cutter for a two count.
Young hits a rolling fireman’s carry and misses a moonsault out of the corner. Galloway hits a running boot and the Future Shock DDT, but Young kicks out at two. Galloway signals for the end. Galloway tries for a tombstone, but Young fights out of it and locks in the figure four leg lock. Young has the hold locked in right in the middle of the ring. Galloway rolls over, but Young counters again. Galloway manages to reach the ropes to break the hold. Galloway spikes Young with a piledriver and hits the Future Shock DDT a second time. Galloway hangs on and drops Young with a third Future Shock DDT to win the match. (***1/2. Very good match. Silas in AAW comes across a lot different compared to his work elsewhere. In the AAW universe he’s a star and puts forth great matches. These two are great and they put on a great hard hitting match.)
Silas Young cuts a promo about the people chanting for him despite Young insulting them for years. Young puts over Galloway as being tough. Silas says this is a see ya later because in wrestling you can’t ever say goodbye. Young puts over Galloway as the new measuring stick. Young shakes hands with Galloway to show respect.
Backstage, Mat Fitchett is apologizing to Davey Vega for messing up. Vega forgives Fitchett because things don’t always go as they are planned. Vega wants to move forward and drop it. Fitchett has some news and it’s a new team they are wrestling next month in Berwyn. They are wrestling a team that considers themselves… Best Friends. Fitchett says they are the better friends.
Tenth Contest: Abyss vs. Colt Cabana: Cabana starts off with wrist control, but lets go quickly. Cabana goes to the floor and knocks a phone out of a fans hand. Cabana poses at Abyss and wants to do a test of strength. Abyss gains the advantage in the test of strength, but Cabana drops down and breaks free. Abyss blocks a kick to the midsection and knocks cabana to the mat. Abyss sends Cabana into the corner, but Cabana comes back with a spanking. Cabana tries for a rollup, but Abyss avoids it and misses a sit down splash. Cabana tries for a rollup, but Abyss kicks out at two. Cabana forearms Abyss against the ropes, but is distracted by JT Davidson. Abyss plants Cabana with a chokeslam. Davidson stomps Cabana on the floor to help out Abyss. Abyss strikes Cabana on the floor a few times. Abyss rams Cabana into the railing. Abyss misses a strike and Cabana fights back with chops. Abyss sends Cabana into the railing back first to maintain the advantage. Abyss splashes Cabana in the corner and grabs a chair from Davidson on the floor. Abyss jabs Cabana in the midsection with a chair a few times. Abyss tries for a sit down splash, but Cabana gets the chair up to low blow Abyss. Cabana whacks Abyss over the back several times with the chair. Cabana sits Abyss on the chair and jabs Abyss several times. Abyss avoids an elbow strike, but Cabana low blows Abyss and hits a running elbow strike. Cabana wedges the chair in the corner. Cabana tosses the chair into Abyss. Cabana heads to the top rope hitting a moonsault for a two count as Davidson pulled the referee out of the ring. Cabana punches Abyss into the corner and hits a running back splash. Cabana chases after Davidson on the floor. Cabana runs into the Black Hole Slam and Abyss pins Cabana for the win. (*. Nobody wants to see Abyss in a regular singles match and this is essentially what this was. It’s a basic match and finish is rather lame. Abyss should be the monster of the group and not relying on a manager interference to gain victories.)
Backstage, Jack Evans cuts a promo saying he nearly destroyed the careers of two men and proved he’s Jack Evans and the tag team champions. Andrew Everett enters the scene and tells Evans he did great. Everett chose Evans because he knew he could rely on Evans. Everett trusts Evans to be his partner and win the match. Everett tells Evans that he’s a stand-in and not the actual tag team champions. Everett says he has something to take are of across the pond next month. Everett asks Evans to defend the titles with Trevor Lee next month. Evans understands Everett and says he can carry the team to glory.
Backstage, JT Davidson is with the OI4K and says they are the greatest tag team going today. Sami Callihan chimes in and says they are the best team and he’s been saying that for year. Dave says that Desmond Xavier and Zachary Wentz will find out why they call them the best. Jake talks about the top prospects going against wrestling kings. Jake considers themselves tag team wrestling redefined.
Main Event: Michael Elgin & Brian Cage vs. AAW Heritage Champion ACH & Rey Fenix: ACH and Cage kickoff the main event. ACH tries for a shoulder block, but bounces off of Cage. Cage shoulder blocks ACH to the mat. ACH cartwheels and dropkicks Cage, but Cage decks ACH with a clothesline. ACH clotheslines Cage, but Cage doesn’t budge. ACH kicks a charging Cage in the corner. ACH kicks Cage from the apron and goes to the top hitting a crossbody for a one count. Elgin and Fenix tag into the match. Fenix shakes hands with Elgin and is sent into the corner. Fenix leaps off the ropes and is met with a shoulder block. Elgin takes Fenix over with a head scissors. Elgin blocks a head scissors by Fenix. Fenix tries for a sunset flip, but Elgin blocks it. Fenix kicks Elgin. Elgin and Cage deliver clotheslines to their opponents. Cage clotheslines ACH in the corner, but ACH and Fenix hit running strikes on the aprons and hit stereo strikes on opposite sides of the ring. Fenix and ACH hit suicide dives to the floor. Cage and Elgin toss ACH and Fenix into each other out of a powerbomb position. Elgin forearms ACH into the ropes and along with Cage they trade off on delayed vertical suplex on ACH. Eventually, Cage drives ACH down to the mat. ACH forearms Cage, but is stopped by an uppercut. Cage shoulder rams ACH in the corner followed by a running strike and a clothesline for a two count.
Cage headbutts ACH into the corner and catches ACH in the corner. ACH tries for a rollup, but Cage holds onto the ropes. ACH nearly pins Cage with a rollup and delivers a chop. Cage uppercuts ACH against the ropes. ACH plants Cage with a brainbuster. Elgin kicks Fenix coming off the top rope. Fenix ducks a clothesline and goes to the stage where Fenix kicks Cage. Fenix hits a head scissors on Elgin after being tossed into the ring by Cage. Fenix kicks Elgin in the corner and heads to the top rope where Fenix head scissors Cage on the stage. ACH hits a facebuster on Elgin and Fenix nails Elgin with a swanton bomb for a near fall. Fenix superkicks a sitting Elgin and goes to the top, but is tossed off the ropes by Elgin. Elgin decks ACH off the apron. Cage clotheslines Fenix in the corner and Fenix is met with double clothesline and a double swinging slam for a two count. Elgin tries for a middle rope powerbomb, but Fenix hits a hurricanrana. Cage misses a clothesline, but Cage is kicked by Fenix several times. ACH kicks Cage in the corner, but is met with a knee strike. ACH double stomps Cage followed by a dropkick. ACH runs into an elbow, but clotheslines Cage in the corner and coming off the ropes. ACH plays to the crowd with the advantage. ACH tries for a German suplex, but Cage elbows free. ACH tosses Cage with a snap German suplex and does the same to Elgin. ACH grabs Cage and attempts a German suplex managing to hit it, but Cage kicks out at two.
ACH tries to send Cage into the ropes, but Cage hooks the ropes. ACH chops Cage several times, but Cage decks ACH with a clothesline. Cage slams ACH and hits a middle rope moonsault. Elgin tags in and heads to the top rope hitting a twisting senton splash for a near fall. Cage tags back into the match, but ACH kicks Cage and tags in Fenix. Fenix tries for a crossbody off the top, but is caught. Fenix plants Cage with a tornado DDT and a reverse hurricanrana on Elgin. Fenix plants Elgin with a rolling cutter. Fenix boots Cage in the corner and hits a springboard hurricanrana for a two count as Elgin breaks the cover. Elgin nails ACH with a clothesline. Fenix kicks Elgin a few times. Cage nails Fenix with a clothesline . ACH hits a Codebreaker on Cage and all four men are down. ACH forearms Elgin a few times, but Elgin responds with strikes. They trade several strikes in the middle of the ring until Elgin drops ACH with a spinning forearm. Elgin tries for a powerbomb, but ACH counters with a stunner. Cage grabs ACH, but is superkicked by Fenix. ACH hits a running cutter from the stage into the ring on Cage. Fenix hits a Destroyer on Cage to win the match. (****. A very good main event. The power dynamic of one team against the high flying dynamic worked well here and all four men put on a good showing. I thought the match was going to go on for a bit longer, so the Fenix pin at that moment surprised me a little bit.) After the match, Fenix hands the AAW Heritage Championship to ACH and they celebrate the win. Elgin and Cage show respect, as well.
Backstage, JT Davidson is with Abyss and says business now turns to Eddie Kingston. They took out Homicide and they don’t see Homicide returning soon. Davidson says a match between Kingston and Abyss has been signed for February. Davidson asks if Kingston wants to suffer the same fate as Homicide. Abyss will do what a killer monster wants to do.
Backstage, Wentz and Xavier are excited for their match next month. Dave Crist enters the scene and mocks them. Dave says this has been the longest time they’ve gone as not being the tag champions in AAW. Dave reminds them that they are the longest running competitors in AAW. Dave notes he helped trained them so they know each other well. Dave says this isn’t a game. Dave tells them that AAW means a lot to people and he’s not ready to give up his spot. They better be ready for a fight, because they are. Xavier and Wentz call him a dick after he leaves.
Backstage, Rey Fenix is interviewed. In February, Fenix will wrestle Michael Elgin another time. Fenix talks about winning the tag match with ACH tonight. Fenix says that Elgin is one of the best wrestlers in the world today. Fenix has one more opportunity. Fenix hasn’t forgotten about Sami Callihan.
Backstage, AAW Heritage Champion ACH cuts a promo. ACH says February means a lot to him because it’s full of love and it’s Black History Month. ACH talks about wrestling Trevor Lee and says there’s no love lost between them. ACH will see Lee on February 4th.
Backstage, Brian Cage is interviewed. Cage says nobody is better than him. Cage looks like a million bucks and feels better. Cage is wrestling Matt Riddle next month. Cage isn’t going to let Riddle to enter his sport and get over. Cage didn’t fail at his real dream to switch careers. Cage says nobody is better than him especially Riddle.
Backstage, AAW Heavyweight Champion Sami Callihan gets startled by Abyss, despite Abyss being on their side now. Sami says they are a family of four now. Sami says they live their life by the number four. Sami believes they are going to kill in February. Sami notes their victories tonight after Homicide, Kingston and Candice LaRae. Sami is going to issue an open challenge every month. Sami isn’t afraid of Kongo Kong and knows exactly what Kong is. Sami tells AR Fox to bring it on. Sami will knock any person down. Sami wants us to remember the number four and learn to love it.
Final Thoughts:
Easy show to recommend. It’s a little lengthy, but it’s worth checking out.
Thanks for reading.