Views from the Hawke’s Nest: Free AAW Pro Matches

This is another free match article. This time I look at the free matches of AAW, which is an independent promotion based in Chicago.

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Shiima Xion (Zema Ion) vs. Shane Hollister vs. Christian Faith (Rickey Shane Page) vs. Johnny Wave from EPIC 2011

Faith was Rickey Shane Page under a mask. Page still worked as Faith in AAW even after he was unamasked in AIW. I wish AAW booked Page/Faith more often. He and Gregory Iron made for a really good team at War is Coming 2011. This is my first time seeing Johnny Wave. Xion hadn’t been signed by TNA yet. Shane Hollister had just lost the AAW Heritage Title last month, so he was looking for a bounce back win. Research~!

Hollister and Xion did a nice sequence to start the match. Hollister hit a spinning heel kick that caused Xion to roll to the outside. Wave came in and ate a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Wave sent Hollister to the floor with a headscissors. Faith tagged in. Faith hit Wave with a World’s Strongest Slam and Xion with a powerbomb…simultaneously. Faith then overpowered Hollister. Xion tried to crucifix bomb Faith, but it didn’t work until Wave hit a missile dropkick. Wave hit Xion with Paydirt. All four men traded some big moves and kicks until all four men were down. The crowd popped huge. Hollister and Faith ended up on the top rope. Faith sent Hollister to the mat and hit a senton atomico. Faith then wiped out Xion with a somersault plancha. Faith then hit Wave with a Samoan Drop variation on Wave: 1…2…Xion makes the save! Hollister hit Faith with a DDT and Xion with a Mic Check simultaneously. Xion hit Wave with a flipping facebuster on his knee. Weird move. Wave hit Faith with a tornado DDT and then a Phoenix Splash (he kind of connected on it). Hollister gave Wave a buzzsaw kick and a brainbuster: 1…2…3

The ending was anti-climatic, but everything before that was a lot of fun. Hollister getting the win made sense, since he was the most regular roster member. Faith should be a regular in AAW. Since Xion is in TNA now, I understand why AAW hasn’t made the effort to bring him back. I couldn’t find a record of Wave returning to AAW, but he seemed fine here.

Sidenote: Shane Douglas was on commentary and he really seemed to be trying his hardest to put everyone over. I’ve read about a lot ECW and Billy Corgan bullshit on this show, but Douglas reportedly tried very hard.
Match Rating: ***1/4

The Irish Airborne (Dave Crist & Jake Crist) vs. The Young Studs (Bobby Beverly & Eric Ryan) from Scars and Stripes 2011

The Studs were debuting in AAW here, but they had long broken up in AIW at this point. Airborne are regulars in both AAW and AIW. They have been champions of both promotions, and I believe in 2011 they were at one point champions in both promotions at the same time.

Dave showed off his crazy athleticism early. Ryan managed to send him to the outside though, and Ryan then hit a heat-seeking missile dive. The Studs then double teamed Jake back in the ring. Dave pulled Ryan to the outside. Dave then hit a running ace crusher through the ropes on Beverly. Ryan sent Dave to the outside. Ryan went for another heat seeking missile, but Dave blocked it with an enzugiri. The Airborne isolated Ryan and worked him over. Ryan went for a springboard move, but the Airbone avoided it. That still allowed Ryan to get back to his corner and make a hot tag to Beverly. The Studs ran wild for a bit. Dave ate a superkick and a double stomp. Ryan wiped out Dave with a somersault plancha. The Airbone came right back though and hit Beverly with the Tombstone/Double Stomp combination on Beverly: 1…2…3!

This was a sprint that didn’t mean much, but it was always fun to watch. They knew they didn’t have a lot of time, but Studs clearly went out there with the intention of making sure the AAW crowd remembered them. The Airborne deserve another shot in ROH.
Match Rating: **1/4

Louis Lyndon vs. Shane Hollister from Reign of Violence 2011

This was the opener for the Reign of Violence show. Lyndon is known more for his tag team with Flip Kendrick, but he’s been getting a solid push as a singles wrestler in AAW.

They both tried for some rollups early, but neither got the pinfall. Lyndon dropkicked Hollister to the outside. Lyndon went for a suicide dive, but Hollister blocked it with a forearm. Back in the ring, Hollister trapped Lyndon in the Tree of Joey Lawrence and hit a delayed dropkick. Hollister started to get the heat on Lyndon. Lyndon came back with a series of cool kicks, including a Brogue Kick and a Sick Kick: 1…2…NO! Hollister went for some kicks, but Lyndon got a Dragon Screw Legwhip that caused Hollister to retreat to the floor. Lyndon wiped him out with a tope con hello. Lyndon rolled Hollister back in the ring and went for a moonsault, but Hollister got his knees up. Hollister hit a Busaiku Knee Kick: 1…2…NO! Hollister then killed him with a powerbomb: 1…2…NO! They traded some kicks until Lyndon hit a bridging Dragon Suplex: 1…2…NO! Hollister hit a suplex ace crusher and a Final Cut: 1…2…NO! Lyndon avoided a buzzsaw kick. They traded rollups until Lyndon trapped Hollister’s arms on one: 1…2…3! Hollister did not show any sportsmanship after the match, as he was in the midst of a losing streak/heel turn.

This was quite the good showing from both guys, and it definitely served as a good opener for an AAW show. Hollister is one of AAW’s most well-rounded wrestlers, and Lyndon is one of the more exciting independent guys to not have a larger platform. Check this match out.
Match Rating: ***1/4

Dan Lawrence, Samuray Del Sol & Zero Gravity (Brett Gakiya & CJ Esparaza) vs. The CLASH (Austin Mannox, Jay Miller, Cameron Sky, & Tommy Treznik) from War is Coming 2011

The CLASH are a heel stable who are debuting two new members (Miller & Mannox). This match seems designed to get some regulars on the show who will have a fun opener.

The faces had the advantage early. The CLASH eventually were able to work over Del Sol after Miller cut him off. Del Sol made his own comeback and wiped out two CLASHmen with a Fosbury Flop. Del Soy made a tag and bodies started flying everywhere; I couldn’t keep up with the action. A parade of finishers from everybody followed that. Everyone (but Miller) ended up on the outside, which allowed Esperanza to hit a Shooting Star to the floor. Lawrence ran in the ring and hit a top rope hurricanranna on Miller for the win.

Fast and furious opener that the crowd enjoyed. There was some sloppiness at a couple of points though. Also, the heels never really had a prolonged heat segment, so the fans never really seemed invested in the good guys winning. Still though, the match had a lot of fun stuff.
Match Rating: **1/2

Samuray Del Sol vs. Alex Colon from Windy City Classic 2011

Del Sol got some nifty pinning combinations early. Del Sol then hit a nice neckbreaker for a nearfall. Del Sol went for a springboard move, but Colon kicked him and trapped him in the ropes. Colon started to get the heat after that. The heat didn’t last long, as Del Sol low-bridged him to the floor and hit an Arabian Press Moonsault. Del Sol went for a top rope move, but Colon met him with a jumping knee. Colon then hit a diving knee and a running elbow to a seated Del Sol. Del Sol came back with a Diced Bread for a nearfall. They ended up on the ring apron, where Colon hit a DVD. That move always looks like it sucks to take. Del Sol managed to crawl back in the ring. Colon went for a diving hurricanrana, but Del Sol caught him and gave him a bridging Steenalizer: 1…2…3!

This was a solid undercard match that made me want to see more of each guy. I have to give DGUSA/Evolve credit for presenting Del Sol in a way that makes him look like a future star in their promotion, whereas here he still seems like an undercard guy. I think AAW would do well to make Del Sol part of a regular tag team.
Match Rating: **1/2

Josh Raymond & Christian Able vs. Irish Airborne (Dave Crist & Jake Crist) from Windy City Classic 2011

These guys had an ‘ok’ match at War is Coming, but Able and Raymond looked to be suffering from ring rust there. Jerome Cusson says this match was better, so I am looking forward to it.

Raymond and Able were in control for most of the beginning of the match. Val Malone interfered, and that allowed the Airborne to cut off, and then work over, Raymond. Raymond eventually escaped a pinning attempt and tagged in Able who ran wild. Able nearly murdered a Crist (missed which one) on a F-5. Raymond wiped out David with a plancha, while Able had Jake pinned: 1…2…Val put Jake’s leg on the ropes. The Airborne did a Double Stomp combo thing but Able kicked out. Able and Raymond were back in control, but Malone distracted the referee, which allowed the Airborne to hit a Double Stomp-Tombstone combo on Raymond: 1…2…3!

I think this was a better showing from Able and Raymond, but they definitely have cut down on the more dangerous stuff (I miss Raymond’s Shooting Star Cross-Body!), but over time that should allow for them to become more complete performers. Good match overall. I hope Irish Airborne get another look from ROH soon. They’ve improved a lot.
Match Rating: ***

B.J. Whitmer vs. Mat Fitchett from The Chaos Theory 2012

They started out trading holds. Whitmer got a cross armbreaker, but Fitchett was near the ropes, so Whitmer had to break the hold almost right away. Fitchett took Whitmer down with a headscissors, and he then sent Whitmer to the outside. Fitchett hit a somersault plancha. Back in the ring, Fitchett was in control after hitting a big, risky dive. Yes! That is the easiest way to make me love a match. Whitmer cut him off shortly after this and started to work over Fitchett. Fitchett came back with a hurricanrana and an enzugiri, Fitchett connected on a middle rope moonsault to a standing Whitmer. Whitmer came back with a vertical suplex and a northern lights suplex: 1…2…NO! Fitchett came back with a standing shooting star press: 1…2…NO! Whitmer came back with an exploder. Fitchett came back with a kick to the head for another nearfall. Whitmer came back with a fisherman neckbreaker and a fisherman suplex: 1…2…NO! Fitchett hit a reverse hurricanrana: 1…2…NO!!! Ficthett went to the top rope and went for a shooting star press, but Whitmer rolled out of the way. Whitmer hit an exploder and locked in the Peruvian Necktie! Fitchett taps!

This was a very enjoyable match that made both competitors look good. The second half of the match was all trading moves, which works great with a hot crowd, but the crowd was kind of weak here until the very end. All and all though, a fun match that is worth watching, especially if you haven’t seen Fitchett or Whitmer during his comeback.
Match Rating: ***1/4

Samuray Del Sol vs. Louis Lyndon vs. Tommy Treznik vs. Dan Lawrence vs. CJ Esparza vs. Brett Gakiya from Path of Redemption 2012

Treznik did not make any friends early in this match, and he paid for hit by pissing off everyone. Lyndon gave Treznik a Cactus Jack clothesline to the floor. Zero Gravity then dropkicked Del Sol and Lawrence out of the ring, which allowed the tag team partners to go at it. Treznik interrupted it, only for Zero Gravity to quickly dispatch him. Del Sol tried to take them on, but Zero Gravity also took him out. Same story when Lyndon attacked them. Treznik finally took out Zero Gravity. Lyndon somehow hit got a Muta Lock on Esparza and Treznik at the same time. Lawrence locked Del Sol with the Keg Stand, but it got broken up. Things actually slowed down as Treznik had control for a couple of minutes. Things picked up with an “everyone dive to the floor” sequence. Lyndon and Treznik were left alone in the ring. Lyndon killed him with a buzzsaw kick and a moonsault double stomp: 1…2…3!

This was a really fun match that made everyone look good. In particular, Lyndon and Zero Gravity looked very strong in this match.
Match Rating: ***

The 411: I think this is a solid introduction to the AAW product. They produce much better matches in their main and semi-main events, but it's not a bad thing that they don't give those away for free. The four-way, Lyndon/Hollister, and Whitmer/Fitchett matches should definitely be the ones you make time to see. For more free pro wrestling, head over to FreeProWrestling.com.
Final Score:  6.5   [ Average ]