(Absolute Intense Wrestling – Our Lady of Mt. Carmel – Cleveland, OH. – Belltime: 7:30 PM)
Correspondent: Ted Zep
First Round Matches
Ring announcer Steve Guy is out to start the show at 7:46.
Shawn Shultz defeats Ethan Page to advance.
Shultz jumps Page before the bell.
Page plugs Shultz in the temple with a right.
Shultz returns fire with an inverted atomic drop.
Page score with a roundhouse kick to the head and a floating mule kick.
Shultz wraps up Page with a crucifix for the win.
First upset of the night.
Dominic Garrini defeats Little Guido to advance.
Fan: “Take him to school, Little Guido!”
Garrini is relentless with the thigh kicks.
Guido defends against a double wrist lock.
Garrini is in the bottom position, offering his back to Guido.
I’m shocked to see Guido rolling with his younger opponent, who has extensive amateur wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu experience.
Garrini attempts a guillotine but Guido wriggles free. He stomps on Garrini’s exposed foot.
Guido: “Now we’re gonna do PROFESSIONAL wrestling.”
Garrini scores with a knee strike to the temple and an overhead suplex.
Guido gets the advantage with a leg lariat off the top rope.
Garrini falls the ECW Original with a Triangle submission paired with multiple elbow strikes to the head for a submission.
This was grittier than I expected. Guido can still go. And Garrini does nothing less than impress every time he takes the ring. It’s tempting to call this an upset against a vastly more experienced opponent but Garrini is quickly earning his spot in wrestling.
Colt Cabana defeats Space Monkey to advance.
Cabana cringes in fear as the fans shower the chimp with bananas.
Monkey offers Cabana a banana as a snack. Cabana begs off and retrieves a Subway sandwich that he brought to the ring. He peels the wrap down, almost like he, too, is eating a banana. The two squat and eat.
Audience: “This is wrest-ling!”
Before they finish their food, they engage in a sequence of chain wrestling. The Space Monkey tosses down a banana peel, attempting to trip up Cabana. The former NWA World Heavyweight Champion was too savvy for the ruse. He threw down his Subway wrapper in an attempt to sneak the chimp. Monkey didn’t fall for it. Cabana turns to drop the remainder of his sandwich on the time keeper’s table when he pivots and walks forward he slips on a banana peel that Space Monkey sneakily tossed back down. Cabana is about 3-feet above the ring and horizontal. It’s a fantastic bump.
Cabana regains his composure and begins working on the monkey’s tail. He smacks it against the turnbuckle. He stands above his prone opponent and…uh…”jerks off” the tail in a lewd manner.
Cabana tosses a banana to a kid in the audience—then another and another.
Audience: “Colt Ba-na-na!” (This was kinda terrific!)
Monkey gets a two after a moonsault.
Cabana stuns with an elbow. He stands on the second rope and drops Monkey across the top to earn a pinfall.
This was every bit as silly and engaging as one would hope for. The two did some hilarious spots.
Joey Janela defeats Laredo Kid to advance.
This one should be interesting…
The two are trading wrist locks and arm bars. The early minutes are being played evenly.
Kid catches Janela with a running “Blockbuster.” He then launches himself up and over the top rope to the floor. He hacks away on Janella’s chest.
Janela makes up ground with a “Death Valley Driver” on the apron.
Audience: “Ho-ly shit!”
Kid careens off the top rope onto his opponent who is in the front row.
Audience: “A-I-Dub!”
Kid: 450. Pin attempt. Kickout. Falcon Arrow.
Janela: Cradle Drive for two. He misses a moonsault.
Kid hits an “RKO” but misses a coast-to-coast dropkick.
Janela gets the pinfall.
This was a helluva match. Both men meshed well together and were looking to impress.
“Filthy” Tom Lawlor defeats Dan “The Beast” Severn to advance.
Lawlor is out first accompanied by a second. He has dyed his hair and mustache and is dressed like Dan Severn. He is holding his back and walking with a cane, mocking the UFC legend like he famously did at the UFC 113 weigh-ins.
He proclaims that his scheduled opponent isn’t at the venue. He makes an open challenge to anyone in the back.
Dan Severn’s music hits…
…and he steps out onto the ramp.
The audience goes completely nuclear. He has made a couple appearances with the company in the last year and has quickly endeared himself to the AIW faithful.
Severn gets the microphone.
Severn: “Who is this guy?”
Audience member: “It’s your son!”
He and Lawlor verbally joust.
Severn: “You might be “a” beast—but I’m “THE BEAST.”
Steve Guy attempts to start the match…
“Ladies and gentleman, introducing to each other (?)…!”
Severn v. Severn?? (Credit: @LuchaMax on Twitter)
Crowd: “Beast! Beast! Beast!”
Lawlor paces the ring with the cane continuing to mock the former UFC Heavyweight Champion.
The match begins as it should with a collar and elbow lockup.
Clean break by Severn.
When the ref breaks up the second clinch, Lawlor slaps Severn.
Severn dazes his opponent with a wicked Biel throw.
Fan: “Where’s Bryan Alvarez when you need him?”
Severn: gutwrench suplex.
Lawlor is on his back. He suggestively spreads his legs to dissuade Severn from approaching him. Unflapped, Severn leaps, pivots and gets a two,
Lawlor catches “The Beast” in an ankle lock. The referee asks Severn if he surrenders.
Lawlor: “Ask him his age!”
Severn ties up Lawlor in a leg bar.
The men trade chops.
Lawlor’s second trips him with the cane as he steps out of the corner.
The cornerman: “I couldn’t tell which was which!” (Both men are dressed identically. LOL.)
Both combatants strip off their shirts and trade chops.
The second hits Severn from behind, allowing Lawlor to pin him (despite Severn’s foot being on the rope.)
Audience to Severn: “Please come back!”
This was absolutely superb. Because of the logistics of the business, it is often difficult for independent wrestling to deliver “moments.” The Severn “reveal” is one of many that AIW has pulled off over the years. It was big and memorable and was supported by an action-packed match. The entire segment felt significant.
I’ve been watching wrestling for a long, long time, so I don’t say this lightly. Don’t sleep on “Filthy” Tom Lawlor. Dude gets “it”—and has “IT.” He is flush with charisma and knows how to tweak the fans in the best way possible. He has the credibility of an elite-level fighter, in tandem with the swag of a top-flight WWE performer. At 34, he is young enough to make some serious waves in the business.
I spoke to both him and Severn during the intermission. Lawlor is affable and approachable. He was out for a large chuck of the second half of the show watching form the audience. It’s clear that he is not only eager to learn…but he loves him some wrestling.
Severn told me that his inclusion in the event was a day-of decision. AIW brass called to see if he could fill-in with only a few hours to spare. He’d never met Filthy Tom and was only familiar with the UFC 113 parody. When he was confirmed, Lawlor went out and dyed his hair so he would look at similar to Severn as possible. Severn said that he didn’t have to do it but Lawlor insisted.
There is more goodness to come on this show but it is worth purchasing the DVD or stream just for this segment.
Super Crazy defeats Matt Cross to advance.
The two trade a number of fast-paced reversals before ending up nose-to-nose.
Crazy slips from the ring to shake hands with Cross’ grandmother who is always posted in the front row cheering on her grandson. She doesn’t trust him.
Cross dives to the floor taking out the luchador. He hugs his granny afterward.
Crazy: twisting elbow drop and a “Tarantula.”
Cross misses a split-legged moonsault.
A double-clothesline puts both men down. The crowd follows along in Spanish as the referee counts down both men.
Cross hits a “Ghetto Stomp” and an “RKO,” each getting a two count.
Super Crazy moonsaults off the bottom rope and the middle rope before missing the final off the top.
Crazy sandwiches Cross for the win.
This was fast-paced and expertly executed. I’m not sure of his age but Crazy can still go.
Intermission
Gringo Loko defeats Colin Delaney to advance.
The crowd bubbles with chants for Loko.
Delaney is out wearing his AIW Tag Team Championship belt. Delaney makes fun of fans and “lucha libre” as a whole.
Loko biel tosses Delaney from the apron into the front row.
Delaney gains traction. He neck cranks Loko into the apron. After he dangles the tag belt in his opponent’s face, he elbows him in the head. He strikes with an “RKO.”
Loko executes a flawless standing “Spanish Fly.” (It was awesome.) He presses forward with a “Floating Mule kick” and a powerbomb for two.
Delaney jacks Loko with a right cross and a stunner off the top rope. He yells “12 Large” (in remembrance of the legendary manager Larry Sweeney) as he delivers a missed elbow off the top rope.
Loko combos a “Falcon Arrow” and moonsault to secure the pin.
Mike Tolar (w/ The Duke) defeats Britt Baker.
Baker gets a big ol’ pop.
Fan: “I think we know who wins this match…”
The Duke takes the microphone and asks why fans boo a local boy but laud Baker.
The Duke to fans: “Why would you cheer for her? She’s not going to sleep with you…”
Collar and elbow tie-up.
Tolar scoops Baker, who sunset flips him for a pin attempt.
Baker catches him off-guard with a “Sling Blade.” As good as she is, this exposes her a bit. Her second move OF THE MATCH is the Sling Blade. How about a little build in the match?
Tolar rattles Baker with an “Alligator Roll.”
Baker returns the favor with an “RKO.”
The opponents shake hands. Tolar won’t release his grip. He levels Baker with a clothesline. Tolar then greases her with a snap suplex, a delayed suplex, and a reverse chinlock.
The Duke punches Baker in the face—classy guy!—and runs her face-first into the barrier with the referee is distracted.
Baker is on the comeback with a swinging neckbreaker. She misses a right with about three inches of sunlight between it and her target. She connects with two “Fameassers” for a two-count.
Tolar scores with an “Olympic Slam” and pinfall.
This is the second upset of the night.
Garrini and The Duke and Tolar get into it at the ramp. Garrini is shoved.
Matthew Justice defeats Facade to advance.
Facade goes for an early Sunset Flip to get a two. He dropkicks Justice through the ropes to the floor.
Justice dumps Facade on the railing. Justice charges him and is backdropped onto chairs.
Facade cracks a full beer across Justice’s head.
Back in the ring.
Justice presses Facade off the top rope.
Facade levels Justice with a springboard spin kick to the face.
Justice rallies and fires off “Snake eyes” and a coast-to-coast dropkick.
Facade pops the crowd with a springboard “Canadian Destroyer.”
Justice hits the “Jackhammer” for a clean pinfall.
Why hasn’t Justice been in AIW all along? He occasionally does this huffy-stomp move that can’t help remind me of Hulk Hogan.
And I haven’t been to make the last five or six shows, but when did Facade turn babyface? He had a heel-turn no more than nine months ago.
“Hot Sauce” Tracy Williams defeats Eddie Kingston to advance.
Kingston boots Williams in the stomach.
Williams is working the leg and ankle.
Kingston whiffs a chop.
Williams consummates a double-legged dropkick. He transitions into an armbar. He kicks Kingston in the kidneys and chops him. He is pouring it on the “Mad King.”
The two are trading violent strikes.
Kingston takes the offense. He dominates with a trio of knee lifts.
Both men are fighting from their knees.
Kingston delivers machine gun chops.
Williams hits the Teardrop for a two-count. He DDTs Kingston on the Apron. He suplexes Kingston on the floor. Williams’ chest is an absolute mess.
Kingston staggers Hot Sauce with a pair of “Backfists to the Future.”
Williams counters with a lariat and two-count.
Audience: “A-I-Dub!”
Kinston performs a backdrop driver, exploder, and a lariat for two.
Fan: “Just shoot him, already!”
Williams combos a DDT off the top rope, a sit-out piledriver, and a crossface that lead to the submission.
The audience stands: “That was awe-some!”
Mordecai defeats Swoggle (w/ Dedication Personified) to advance.
Mordecai enters enveloped in fog. He gets on the microphone and requests a moment of silence for the “little guy.” He shamelessly panders to the live audience by putting over the Cavaliers, Browns, and Indians. Yawn.
Audience: “Mordecai! Mordecai! Mordecai!”
Dedication Personified (Brian Carson & Daniel C. Rockingham) attack Mordecai as referee Jake Clemons personally walks the Pale Rider’s staff to the locker room.
Mordecai press slams Swoggle over the top rope.
Swoggle runs through the crowd trying to outdistance his larger opponent.
Mordecai empties a trash can at Swoggle before tossing it at him.
Swoggle assaults Mordecai with a Lacrosse stick. He then low-blows him from behind.
Baker brings out Mordecai’s staff. She hands it him over Swoggle’s head. Mordecai breaks it over his diminutive opponent’s head and pins him.
Baker plants a foot on the fallen Swoggle’s head while Mordecai poses for his Cleveland fans.
Mordecai has kept himself in terrific shape. He looks ready for television tomorrow.
Alex Daniels (w/ Gregory Iron) defeats Steve Pain to advance.
Pain smacks Daniels in the chest as he attempts a leapfrog. He glides up and across the turnbuckle and second rope. He is so nimble. Amazing.
The two are trading shots outside the ring.
Pain double Daniels with a chop. He pummels him with a series of kicks to the small of the back before sending him up for a pop-up RKO. This gets him a two-count.
Daniels comes back with a springboard Frankensteiner and a double-knee strike to the back.
Pain boots Daniels in the face.
Iron distracts the referee.
Daniels connects with a thunderous superkick.
Pain package piledrives him on a chair.
Daniels rolls up Pain for the pin.
Overall
Solid show. The first half hit on all cylinders. The energy was down just slightly for the second half. The show featured some welcome upsets and a lot of great comedy. I’d like to see Daniels focus on streamlining his character a bit. His ring work has grown exponentially. I’d very much like to see “Filthy” Tom Lawlor and Dan Severn back in the future. Maybe a rematch?
Full Cover of JLIT 2017 Night Two HERE.
More Wrestling Coverage
Absolute Intense Wrestling’s JLIT 2016 Night One
Absolute Intense Wrestling’s JLIT 2016 Night Two
AIW Double Dare Tag Team Tournament 2016: Night 1
AIW Double Dare Tag Team Tournament 2016: Night 2
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