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RADICAN'S AAW "One Twisted Chrismas" review (12-28-13) - Richards-Jacobs standout match, Elgin & Steen team as the ultimate odd couple, Steen defends AAW title in main event

Sep 19, 2014 - 1:15:46 PM
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By Sean Radican, Torch columnist

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RADICAN’S AAW REVIEW SERIES
“ONE TWISTED CHRISTMAS”
DEC. 28, 2013
BERWYN, ILL.
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The show began with highlights of Kevin Steen winning the AAW Championship from Shane Hollister from the previous event.

(1) Marcus Edwards vs. Moondog Bernard (w/Arnold Presley). Bernard bit Edwards’s backside. Kevin Harvey and Nikki then came out with Keith Walker. Walker hit a huge spear on Bernard. Edwards then tried to attack Walker from behind. Walker quickly obliterated him with a clothesline. Harvey choked out Presley on the outside.

Winner: No contest

Harvey got on the mic and the fans chanted “Shave your sideburns” at him. He said a crime was committed when Michael Elgin ended the undefeated streak of Walker. Harvey said it had only been a 2 count and questioned why the ref from that match hadn’t been seen since that match took place. Harvey called out Elgin to face Walker. Nikki got on the mic and said Elgin was scared. Harvey said the unbreakable one would be broken in half. Elgin’s music played and he came out to face Walker. Elgin got a good pop coming out for the match.

(2) Michael Elgin vs. Keith Walker (w/Kevin Harvey & Nikki). The crowd chanted for both men before the bell rang. Elgin tried to go up top early, but Walker caught him and hit a belly-to-belly suplex. Walker put a beating on Elgin on the floor and hit a choke bomb for a near fall. Elgin hit a German and mounted a comeback with a series of running clotheslines in the corner. Walker fired back with a choke variation of the German for a near fall. They went to a fighting spirit spot where both men no-sold German suplexes. Tweek Phoenix ran into the ring late in the match, but Elgin tossed him to the outside. Phoenix held Elgin’s leg from the floor and Elgin shook him off, but ran into a huge clothesline for another near fall. Elgin fired and rolled through a powerbomb attempt from Walker and hit a dead-lift powerbomb. Elgin then hit a pair of big kicks, a backfist, and a Liger bomb for the win.

Winner: Michael Elgin

Star rating: (***1/4) – This was a really good hard-hitting match between two huge men. I wasn’t a fan of the outside interference from Phoenix, as I would have liked to see Walker stand on his own or at least only have Harvey and Nikki at his side against Walker. That being said, they put together a good match that showcased the power of both men.

Matt Cage said he worked hard to be the Heritage Champion. He said the belt isn’t going anywhere for a long time. Cage said he was going to give a young upstart an opportunity. Cage said the Heritage Title was prestigious because he’s the champion. Cage said tonight a rookie would get their opportunity tonight. He said whoever got the opportunity should make the most of it.

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The Money Matt Cage makes his entrance for an easy Heritage Title defense.


(3) AAW Heritage Champion Matt Cage vs. Mallaki Matthews. Cage won the title the previous month by beating ACH. They didn’t do anything to introduce Matthews accepting Cage’s open challenge, but it looks like he’s the man stepping up to the plate. Matthews offered a handshake before the match and Cage nailed him with a headbutt. Cage tripped Matthews when he was charging at him while at the same time nailing him with a knee to the face as he fell. That was something I haven’t seen before. Matthews mounted a comeback and hit a variation of a Russian leg sweep for a 2 count. Cage hit a punch to the face out of the GTS position for a near fall. Cage eventually won with a code breaker after tripping Matthews off the apron and into the ring steps.

Winner: Matt Cage – This was a good showcase of Cage and what he can do in the ring as the new AAW Heritage Champion.

Kevin Steen cut a promo about coming back to AAW after winning the AAW Championship last month from Shane Hollister. Steen said that now that he was back, Hollister needs to know he’s going to do all he can to keep the title. Steen said people would be upset if he lost the title and didn’t come back to AAW after this month. Steen did the bit where he blows air while talking about the “Windy City Classic” title of the last show. He said, “I like blowing, I like blowing…air” to close the promo.

MsChif came out and cut a promo and said she’s out of wrestling until next year. She said she would miss wrestling in AAW. She said she was currently growing the greatest wrestler that the next generation will ever see. Truth Martini’s music played and he came out with Knight Wagner and Heather Pantera. Martini came out and said some vulgar things about MsChif being pregnant. He said hearing that she’s pregnant disgusts him. Wagner and Pantera held MsChif, but Heidi Lovelace and Tony Rican ran out to make the save.

(4) Tony Rican & Heidi Lovelace vs. Knight Wagner & Heather Pantera (w/Truth Martini) in a Fans Bring the Weapons match. I feel like Rican vs. Wagner and Lovelace vs. Pantera has been going on forever. Rican had a Poland Springs jug taped to a stick and he nailed Wagner with it several times. Rican seemingly wandered towards the ropes without looking so that Wagner could drag him to the outside. Pantera hit Lovelace on the floor with a smurf. Wagner tossed Rican inside the ring and worked him over with a crutch. There were weapons set up around the ring that the fans had brought for the wrestlers to use. Lovelace cleaned house with a big whiffle ball bat. Pantera was wearing sheer tights with a thong under them as her wrestling attire. Rican set up a cooking pan over Wagner’s crotch and nailed the pan with a putter. Lovelace wanted Rican to hit Pantera, but he wouldn’t do it. Lovelace put on Mr. Socko with tacks all over it and grabbed Wagner’s crotch, but Pantera made the save. Rican wouldn’t hit Patera while she taunted him. Patera began nailing Rican with some big shots before wiping him out with a clothesline. Rican finally nailed her with a big forearm. Martini hit Rican with The Book of Truth and Wagner finished off Rican with a falcon arrow off the top onto the tacks for the win.

Winners: Knight Wagner & Heather Pantera – I’m not a fan of garbage matches and they didn’t do anything creative here to change my mind about the genre.

Michael Elgin was shown backstage and he was approached by Ethan Page. Page indicated that he was the reason that Monster Mafia was having MOTYC’s like Elgin just had earlier in the night. Elgin said that Josh Alexander wasn’t a round tonight because he has a collapsed Anus. Kevin Steen then entered the picture with his phone and read the definition of a collapsed anus. Page said Canadians are always having MOTYC’s after Steen left. Page said he wanted to take their relationship to the next level. Page started undoing his belt buckle and showed that he and Elgin have matching tights. Page said he and Elgin are the men of the year. Page asked Elgin to team up with him. Page said he has a title shot tonight and Elgin agreed to tag with him. That was hilarious.

Tweek Phoenix came out with Kevin Harvey and Nikki. Harvey ran down the fans and called a fan in the crowd a jerk. Harvey said all you have to do in AAW is pin a person at random to earn a tag team title shot. Wagner and Harvey began challenging people in the crowd to wrestle. Colt Cabana’s music played and the match was on.

(5) Colt Cabana vs. Tweak Phoenix (w/Kevin Harvey & Nikki). The announcers mentioned that this was Phoenix’s return to the ring from an injury after being out for 6 months. Cabana did some comedy early and danced with Phoenix while they were chain wrestling before nearly getting the win with a folding press and the fans fired up. Nikki tripped Cabana from the outside and he went after her. Cabana finally grabbed Nikki, but Phoenix nailed him with a dropkick through the ropes. Cabana groped Nikki’s breast while she was choking him on the ropes, which forced her to let go of him. Phoenix continued to maintain the advantage in the ring. Cabana mounted a comeback and went to town on Phoenix. Cabana went for the flying apple, but Phoenix flew out of the corner and caught him by surprise with an elbow for a 2 count. Phoenix went for a splash, but Cabana got out of the way. Cabana went up top and Phoenix rolled out of the way, but Cabana landed on his feet and hit a jumping splash for a 2 count. Nikki interfered again and dragged Phoenix off Cabana’s shoulders. Cabana pushed Harvey’s head into Nikki’s chest. Phoenix took off his boot and nailed Cabana with it for near fall. Phoenix got another near fall with a big clothesline. The ref was distracted, so Cabana took off his boot and nailed Phoenix with it before tapping him out with the Billy goat’s curse.

Winner: Colt Cabana – This was a fun match and Cabana’s antics are always entertaining.

Lovelace was backstage tending to the thumbtacks stuck in Rican’s back and head. He said he’s getting too old for this s--- when asked if he had any comments.

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Richards and Jacobs get ready for battle.


(6) Davey Richards vs. Jimmy Jacobs. Jacobs caught Richards in the end time early, but Richards countered it into an ankle lock. Jacobs manage to quickly fight it off. He nearly ran into a kick, but ended up stopping short and they came to a stalemate. The fans chanted for both men before they went at it again. Jacobs got the upper hand and went to work on Richards’s arm. Richards tried to fire back, but Jacobs fended him off and then went back after his arm. Richards managed to fire back by slipping around the ropes to tie up Jacobs’s arm and then he nailed him with a dropkick on the apron. Richards is a lot of fun to watch because he’s so smooth transitioning into submission holds. Richards got Jacobs in a reverse surfboard, but he kicked out at 2. Jacobs fired back and hit a suplex out of the corner. Richards hit a series of strikes on Jacobs capped by a rolling elbow, but Jacobs got the ropes. Richards tied up Jacobs’s legs, but Jacobs managed to spin around to counter the hold. Jacobs fired up and mounted a comeback.

The fans fired up as both men went back and forth. Richards got the upper hand. They went to a strike exchange, but Richards caught Jacobs with a handspring kick for a 2 count. Richards pulled the ropes on Jacobs and went for a kick on the apron. Jacobs ducked and got the end time on the apron. Richards ended up countering it into a suplex on the apron and the fans fired up with both men slow to get up. Richards went for a double stomp off the top, but Jacobs caught him with an ace crusher for a near fall. Holy crap! Jacobs hit a top rope senton a short time later for another near fall. The fans fired up as both men were slow to get to their feet. Richards hit the alarm clock, but Jacobs no-sold it and got the end time once again. Richards began to fade and the ref checked his arm. Richards grabbed Jacobs’s ankle while he was still in the end time. Richards finally broke the hold and got the ankle lock. Jacobs shook Richards off, but Richards nailed him with a big forearm in the corner. Richards went for another big move in the corner, but Jacobs nailed him with a big spear for a near fall. The fans fired up with both men down once again. Jacobs went for the Contra code again, but Richards countered it into a tombstone for a near fall. The fans fired up once again after Jacobs kicked out. Richards went up top and hit a double stomp, but Jacobs kicked out. Richards transitioned right into the ankle lock, but Jacobs rolled him up for a near fall. He followed up with a springboard ace crusher and hit the Contra code for a 2 count. Jacobs immediately applied the end time in the middle of the ring and Richards tapped!

The crowd gave both men a big ovation after the match. The announcers mentioned Jacobs still has a title match to cash in that he won last month. After the match, Jacobs got on the mic and said there are good wrestlers and there are great wrestlers and then there’s Davey Richards. The fans went nuts and chanted for Richards. Jacobs said Davey is going onward and upward in this business. He said he didn’t know if this was Richards’s last time in AAW, but he said Richards deserved a proper farewell. Jacobs said for the style of wrestling he does, nobody can hold a candle to him including Dynamite Kid and Eddie Guerrero. He said if they were here today, they couldn’t lace his boots. Richards said the fans didn’t realize what a special performer Richards is. The fans went crazy and stood and applauded. They started chanting for Richards again. Richards and Jacobs shook hands in the middle of the ring. Jacobs left Richards alone in the ring with the mic. Richards said it would be hard for him to follow what Jacobs said. Richards said he wouldn’t have a ring to prove how good he is if it wasn’t for Jimmy Jacobs. Richards said his time on the independent scene is coming to an end. The fans chanted “You deserve it.” Richards said the thing that makes him proud isn’t that he’s just a bodybuilder that was chosen to go to a big company, but instead he’s proven himself in front of fans like the ones in the building. Richards said wherever he goes, he’s thankful for every moment he’s spent in the ring. He said the fans have been there for all the bulls--- in his life. Richards concluded by saying, “This hunt will never die.” The fans went nuts again and applauded.

Winner: Jimmy Jacobs

Star rating: (***3/4) – The first half of the match dragged at times, but the match picked up and was excellent down the stretch with some incredible exchanges. They did a ton of near falls, but it didn’t bother me after a rather pedestrian first half of the show. It was nice to see Richards get a proper farewell on the independent scene here as well after the match.

Shane Hollister cut a promo backstage. He was surrounded by Scarlett, Markus Crane, and Dan Lawrence. He said 2013 had been a good year until Kevin Steen showed up and took the AAW Championship away from him. He mentioned he had celebrated his birthday this week, but it was terrible. Lawrence told him to calm down because tonight he was going to make things right tonight. Lawrence and Crane said tonight things would be better. Hollister said AAW is his house and Steen beating him was a fluke. Hollister said he was going to hurt Steen tonight.

Dan Lawrence and Markus Crane came out to kick off the second half of the show. Crane gave Lawrence a gift, which was a bottle of alcohol. He said they were said they were going to rage, but Arik Cannon’s music interrupted and he came to the ring with a Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. Cannon said he likes to party and Lawrence asked him if he brought something to drink. He told Cannon he wasn’t invited to their party, so Cannon hit him with his beer. Cannon was overwhelmed quickly by Lawrence and Crane. Ryan Boz then ran down to make the save and the match was on.

(7) Arik Cannon & Ryan Boz vs. Markus Crane & Dan Lawrence. Boz and Cannon dominated the action during the early going. Crane finally snapped Cannon’s neck over the top rope and Lawrence was able to make the tag. Crane and Lawrence began working over Cannon. Lawrence couldn’t get a Boston crab on Cannon, so he gave him a Chinese gas pedal. Crane got into the ring and they made it a double gas pedal. Cannon finally caught Crane with a big swinging neck breaker for a 2 count, but Crane was able to tag in Lawrence, who put the boots to Cannon. Cannon grabbed his beer and tripped Lawrence with a log roll. He then spit beer in his face and nailed him with his beer can. Boz got the hot tag and ran wild. Lawrence went for a step-up move on the turnbuckles, but he couldn’t climb them either time. He finally got up on the top turnbuckle, but Boz crotched him on the ropes. Crane caught Boz with a blockbuster, but Cannon made the save. Boz ended up hitting the Boz driver on Crane for the win after Lawrence through Crane into him.

Winners: Arik Cannon & Ryan Boz – This wasn’t much of a match, as the action didn’t have a great flow and it was clear that Cannon & Boz were going to win from the start.

Eddie Kingston cut a promo outside the venue. They shot Kingston from the side and he didn’t speak to the camera, which was odd. He said it felt good to be back in AAW. He called the fans pigs and said Val had gotten into the ring last month and had tried to become a wrestler. He asked if she liked pain. Kingston then questions Silas Young’s manhood for having a woman fight for him. Kingston laughed and said it was going to be over tonight. He said Young has heart, but tonight he is officially ended it. Kingston then asked God to let Val get involved in their match. Kingston laughed and closed by saying, “Test my gangster.”

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Young wasn't going to wait to get his hands on Kingston.


(8) Eddie Kingston vs. Silas Young (w/Val Malone). Young charged the ring and they began brawling right away. Young ended up mounting Kingston in the corner and he nailed him with 30 punches. This is the match Young chose for winning the tag tournament last month. The announcers noted he wanted this match more than a title shot. They brawled to the floor a short time later and Kingston rang the ring bell on Young’s head. Silas went for a move off the guardrail a short time later, but Kingston crotched him. Kingston got a ladder and tossed it into the ring. They ended up battling on the ladder and Kingston hit a uranagi off the ladder for a 2 count. Kingston went after Val on the floor, but Young recovered and tossed the ladder into him from the ring. Young ended up hitting a Finlay roll onto the ladder a short time later and the fans went nuts. Young then went for a headstand into a moonsault off the top, but Kingston got out of the way. Kingston went to the outside and tossed the ring steps into the ring. Young slammed Kingston on top of the steps for a 2 count. Young went for the stock lock, but Kingston blocked it. Young hit a couple of big kicks on Kingston and rolled him up for the win.

Kingston attacked Young with a chair after the match. Kingston got some duct tape and taped Young’s arms to the top rope after nailing him with a back fist. The announcers said this kind of thing won’t be allowed in AAW and it could be Kingston’s last night. Val grabbed the chair from Kingston several times, but Kingston no-sold it and ended up suplexing her onto the chair. Kingston laughed at Young, who tried to free himself to help his wife. Several officials and staffers ran down to the ring to hold Kingston back. The refs managed to free Young, who checked on his wife.

Winner: Silas Young

Star rating: (**1/2) – The action fine, but the finish wasn’t was the fans were expecting given the nature of the match and feud, but it made sense given what happened after the match.

Marek Brave was shown backstage. It was announced that he was back on the main roster in AAW. Brave said he wanted to thank the fans in Berwyn for always being behind him. He talked about his feud with Christian Rose, but Truth Martini interrupted him. He introduced him to Heather Pantera and Knight Wagner. Wagner said he was riding the coattails of his old partner (Tyler Black). Knight said Brave had lost his confidence. Wagner said the new House of Truth was a new devil. He said Brave wasn’t going to come in and steal his spot.

Ethan Page came out first for the tag title match. Elgin came out next and shook his head as he looked at Page in the ring.

(9) AAW Tag Team Champions Kung Fu Manchu (Louis Lyndon & Marion Fontaine) vs. MOTY (Ethan Page & Michael Elgin) vs. Zero Gravity (C.J. Esparza & Brett Gakiya) in a Triple Threat Elimination match. Esparza and Lyndon had a nice exchange during the early going and Page ran into the ring to wipe them out. Elgin didn’t want to tag in, so Lyndon and Esparza ran wild on him and he rolled to the floor. Elgin tagged into the match, but Page wanted to get in the ring, so he tagged himself into the match. Fontaine quickly got the upper hand on Page, who quickly tagged in Elgin once he managed to get to his own corner. Gakiya tagged him in and went for a German, but Gakiya landed on his feet. Gakiya hit a hurricanrana and continued to land on his feet when Elgin went for a power move. Zero Gravity hit a series of double team maneuvers on Elgin, but Page broke up the pin. Page tripped Gakiya and dragged him to the floor before slamming him into the guardrail. Elgin told Page to toss him back into the ring. Page wanted Elgin to get in the ring and help him work over Gakiya with the ref distracted, but Elgin made him make a legal tag. Elgin hit his signature delayed vertical suplex on Gakiya and Page rolled himself up in the apron and pretended to sleep. Elgin dropped down to one knee while holding Gakiya and eventually suplexed him to the mat. Gakiya tried to mount a comeback, but Page knocked Esparza off the apron. Gakiya hit a big DDT on Page and he made a double tag to Lyndon and Fontaine, who ran wild. Page took a series of double team maneuvers from Lyndon and Fontaine, but Elgin made the save. He went for a suplex on Fontaine, but Lyndon kicked his legs out from under him.

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Page saves the life of a young man by catching him.


The action broke down and ZG hit a double team springboard moonsault on Lyndon. ZG continued to run wild and Esparza hit a huge flip dive on Page. Lyndon and Fontaine then wiped out everyone with a pair of big dives to the floor. Gakiya jumped on Elgin’s back up top and nailed everyone with a flip dive a short time later. Elgin then grabbed Gakiya and went for a dead-lift suplex, but Gakiya blocked it. ZG then hit a tandem super hurricanrana on Elgin. The fans fired up as the action picked up. Esparza took a series of kicks from Lyndon and Fontaine, but managed to kick out at the last second. Elgin then ended up alone with Fontaine and he eliminated him with a buckle bomb and an Elgin bomb. The announcers said this guaranteed new tag champs. Elgin got both members of ZG on his shoulders and tossed them over his head. Page tried to help Elgin with a delayed vertical suplex on Esperaza and they began to argue. Elgin called Page fat and Page hugged him. Esparza took them both down with a hurricanrana. ZG hit flippy cup 2.0 on Page, but Elgin broke it up. The fans fired up as the action continued at a rapid pace. ZG hit a lung blower/top rope double stomp on Elgin for a near fall. Elgin blocked an assisted moonsault from ZG and tagged in Page. Page hit a huge sit out powerbomb on Gakiya, but he kicked out at the last second. He hit a spinning face buster on Gakiya a short time later, but he kicked out once again. The fans chanted for ZG. Page grabbed the ring bell, but Elgin took it away from him. Elgin hit a buckle bomb on Gakiya and Page finished him off with the spinning Dwayne for the win.

The announcers said Elgin is now a Triple Crown winner in AAW. Elgin shook hands with ZG after the match and Page got upset.

Winners: Ethan Page & Michael Elgin to become the new AAW Tag Team Champions

Star rating: (***1/2) – This match dragged during the first half, but it was fun watching the relationship between Elgin and Page during the match. Page wanted to cheat constantly during the match, but Elgin refused to do things the wrong way. There were some really good exchanges between MOTY and ZG down the stretch leading into the finish that woke up the crowd.

Dr. Keith was in the parking lot with a camera and happened to run into Davey Richards. He asked him if Richards would return to AAW in February. Richards said he has unfinished business with O’Reilly. He said if he does come back to AAW, he’s coming to steal the show.

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A very happy Kevin Steen makes his first defense of the AAW Championship.


Steen got on the mic and told a fan he has no friends before the match started.

(10) AAW Champion Kevin Steen vs. Shane Hollister (w/Scarlett & Markus Crane). Steen threw Hollister the floor and he crashed into Crane. Steen went for a dive, but Scarlett cut him off and Hollister dragged him to the floor. Steen wiped out Crane and Hollister with a flip dive off the apron and the fans fired up. Hollister blocked an apron bomb and dropkicked Steen into the barricade after Steen had dominated the action for several minutes. Hollister worked over Steen with a bow and arrow submission, but Steen bit his hand to break free. Hollister did the shug step before going back to work on Steen. Hollister went up top and took his sweet time, so Steen managed to avoid a splash off the top. The fans fired up with both men down. Steen got the upper hand and Crane tried to run into the ring, but Steen crotched him on the middle rope. Steen caught Hollister with a big DDT through the ropes and followed up with a cannonball in the corner, but he managed to kick out at the last second. Hollister fired back and hit a shining wizard for a 2 count. Hollister took his time going up top once again and missed a double stomp. Steen hit a powerbomb and went up top and hit a swanton for a near fall. The fans chanted for Steen as he regrouped. Hollister fired back and hung Steen up in the ropes before nailing him with a double stomp for a 2 count. The fans didn’t react at all as the announcers talked about how they thought the match was over.

The fans tried to rally behind Steen, who caught Hollister with a sleeper suplex for a 2 count. Crane ran into the ring, but Steen gave him a package piledriver. Hollister nailed Steen with several kicks to the head, but he managed to kick out. Lawrence ran down to ringside to check on Crane before he dragged him to the back. Hollister went under the ring and got a chair. Steen blocked a chair shot and hit a code breaker on the chair. Steen went for a TKO on the chair, but Hollister blocked it. Steen eventually popped Hollister into the air and slammed him over the chair for a near fall. Steen went for a package piledriver on the chair, but Hollister tripped him into the chair and nailed him with a big kick. Hollister then hit shug’s last gift onto the chair for the win.

Steen was helped to the back after the match.

Winner: Shane Hollister to become the new AAW Champion

Star rating: (**1/2) – I just couldn’t get into the match. The action was fine, but the constant interference from Hollister’s crew and the lack of an in-ring story going on didn’t make for a memorable match.

The cameras caught up with Keith Walker after the match. He said he had no comment. Walker yelled at Tweak Phoenix, Kevin Harvey, and Nikki when they approached him. He tried to walk away, but Harvey told him that that was enough. Harvey told them AAW wanted them all gone. He said they would cram it down their throats until they get it done.

Fontaine and Lyndon talked about losing the AAW Tag Team Titles. Fontaine lamented losing the first fall. Fontaine said they weren’t expecting to face Elgin out of nowhere. Lyndon said there were no excuses and they would get a rematch. Fontaine said he would do whatever it takes to make that rematch happen. Fontaine left and Matt Cage approached him. He said in the future, he would accept his challenge. He said Lyndon is viable competition.

Elgin & Page were shown backstage. Page was very excited and Elgin looked like he was barely tolerating Page’s shtick. Elgin said Page needed to put in some work in the gym. Page offered to teach Elgin about comic books if he taught him how to work out in the gym. Elgin said he’s sick of Page’s talking and they have to focus on tough competition. Elgin talked about Ricochet & Uhaa Nation. He said Nation would find out he’s the strongest man in wrestling. Elgin also talked about Ricochet, but Page interrupted him. Page kept talking and then walked away.

Kingston said he felt like he had just had the best sex in his life when he heard her neck snap. He asked how is Silas a man if he can’t protect his wife. He asked if they were done yet to close the show.

Overall score: (5.0) – There were some good matches on this show, but AAW could use an infusion of new talent to their core roster to freshen things up, as the undercard was mostly average and the second half of the show didn’t deliver much outside of the Triple Threat Elimination Tag match for the AAW Tag Team Titles.

AAW could stand out by tightening up their shows and presenting better matches that weren’t filled with interference. When some of the matches on the card were allowed to stand on their own and tell a story without resorting to smoke and mirrors, there was some enjoyable action on the card.

Jacobs-Richards was the standout match on the card. They had an excellent match that had the fans hotter than they were at any point during the show. Richards also was given a nice farewell, although it was teased that he could come back for one more show.

With so many of the matches on the card relying on brawling on the floor and weapons, the Kingston-Young match didn’t stand out. Given the way it was booked to build to another match between them, that makes sense, but the show badly needed another standout match to make the overall card stronger and instead this match was just used as a way to further the feud between Young and Kingston. The post-match angle with Kingston taking out Val was well-done and I’m looking forward to seeing the blow-off to this feud.

The Triple Threat Elimination match took a little bit to get going, but it was fun to watch Elgin and Page try to coexist as a tag team. There were some really good exchanges between Page and Elgin once Fontaine & Lyndon had been eliminated leading into the finish.

The main event didn’t do much for me. I’m not a fan of playing ping pong with the top title in any promotion and the match from Steen and Hollister was average at best, as once again, a match on this card relied on weapons and interference instead of telling a story in the ring. Their match the previous month was better, but it doesn’t seem like Hollister’s mini-feud with Steen did a lot for him in the long run.

There were some bright spots on this show and some good matches on the card. I enjoy how AAW inserts promos to forward their storylines throughout the show. Nearly all of the promos were effective and gave people a reason to see the next show, but unfortunately this show isn’t worth checking on unless you really want to see the Richards-Jacobs match.

You can purchase AAW’s “One Twisted Christmasr” on DVD by clicking HERE or by visting SmartMarkVIdeo.com. SMV also offered an MP4 version of this event. If you’re interested in purchasing this show on VOD, visit SMVOD.com. For more information on AAW, visit AAWrestling.com.

***

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ABOUT US

THE TORCH REACHES MORE COMBAT ENTERTAINMENT FANS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

PWTorch editor Wade Keller has covered pro wrestling full time since 1987 starting with the Pro Wrestling Torch print newsletter. PWTorch.com launched in 1999 and the PWTorch Apps launched in 2008.

He has conducted "Torch Talk" insider interviews with Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Steve Austin, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Eric Bischoff, Jesse Ventura, Lou Thesz, Jerry Lawler, Mick Foley, Jim Ross, Paul Heyman, Bruno Sammartino, Goldberg, more.

He has interviewed big-name players in person incluiding Vince McMahon (at WWE Headquarters), Dana White (in Las Vegas), Eric Bischoff (at the first Nitro at Mall of America), Brock Lesnar (after his first UFC win).

He hosted the weekly Pro Wrestling Focus radio show on KFAN in the early 1990s and hosted the Ultimate Insiders DVD series distributed in retail stories internationally in the mid-2000s including interviews filmed in Los Angeles with Vince Russo & Ed Ferrara and Matt & Jeff Hardy. He currently hosts the most listened to pro wrestling audio show in the world, (the PWTorch Livecast, top ranked in iTunes)


REACHING 1 MILLION+ UNIQUE USERS PER MONTH
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MILLIONS OF PWTORCH NEWSLETTERS SOLD
PWTORCH STAFF

EDITORS:
Wade Keller, editor
(kellerwade@gmail.com)

James Caldwell, assistant editor
(pwtorch@gmail.com)

STAFF COLUMNISTS:
Bruce Mitchell (since 1990)
Pat McNeill (since 2001)
Greg Parks (since 2007)
Sean Radican (since 2003)

We also have a great team of
TV Reporters
and Specialists and Artists.

PWTORCH VIP MEMBERSHIP

PWTorch offers a VIP membership for $10 a month (or less with an annual sub). It includes nearly 25 years worth of archives from our coverage of pro wrestling dating back to PWTorch Newsletters from the late-'80s filled with insider secrets from every era that are available to VIPers in digital PDF format and Keller's radio show from the early 1990s.

Also, new exclusive top-shelf content every day including a new VIP-exclusive weekly 16 page digital magazine-style (PC and iPad compatible) PDF newsletter packed with exclusive articles and news.

The following features come with a VIP membership which tens of thousands of fans worldwide have enjoyed for many years...

-New Digital PWTorch Newsletter every week
-3 New Digital PDF Back Issues from 5, 10, 20 years ago
-Over 60 new VIP Audio Shows each week
-Ad-free access to all PWTorch.com free articles
-VIP Forum access with daily interaction with PWTorch staff and well-informed fellow wrestling fans
-Tons of archived audio and text articles
-Decades of Torch Talk insider interviews in transcript and audio formats with big name stars.


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