By Sean Radican, Torch columnist

RADICAN’S AIW “ABSOLUTION IX” REPORT
JUNE 29, 2014
CLEVELAND, OHIO

Cross with words for Prohibition before their match.

The show started with a series of promos. Matt Cross congratulated Josh Prohibition on cutting an excellent promo. He said Prohibition has a gift for promos. Cross said he could have used the talent to be on national TV, but when things got tough, he gave up. Cross said he felt Prohibition’s passion, but what he heard was someone settling for second best. Cross refuted Prohibition’s talking points and said he had Thanksgiving dinner with Hulk Hogan and Steve Austin had just recently called him. Cross said he was part of Warrior’s last show ever before he passed away. Cross said ultimately Prohibition had proven his point. He said he was a great professional wrestling fan. Cross said he loves wrestling fans. Cross said wrestling fans like Prohibition stay on one side of the guardrail. He said business needs fans like Prohibition to support the shows and not in the back or in the ring. Cross said he was still living his dream on his terms. Cross said when he has kids he will tell them to chase his dream like he did. He asked if Prohibition can do the same with his kids. This was an excellent promo from Cross.

Chris Sabin cut a promo and said he had been a junk food diet for his match against Kevin Steen. Sabin said Steen fans had been telling him on Twitter that they wanted Steen to kill him. Sabin says if this is the last week of his life, he wants to say he lived it up. Sabin wished Steen luck, but asked that he didn’t kill him.

ACH, Bill Banks, and Flip Kendrick were shown backstage. He got upset with Banks for flexing behind him. Kendrick said ACH was a part-timer and Banks was new, so he should be running things. Kendrick took over the promo and said he would win. ACH said he would win and they started arguing again.

Eddie Kingston cut a promo and said he didn’t get a haircut or shave because he didn’t care about looking good for AIW, but The Duke was paying him. Kingston said it wasn’t personal between him and Ricky Shane Page. Kingston said The Duke paid him and now Kingston would take out Page.

AIW Intense Champion Louis Lyndon said he was the best Intense Champion of all-time. He said tonight he would crush dreams and said Vega wouldn’t walk out with his belt.

The Iron Curtain was shown backstage holding hands. They kneeled down in prayer together. They asked for the fans online and in attendance to be protected. They asked Veda Scott to be forgiven for not understanding the love Gregory Iron has for her. Iron was shown and said the prayer was great. He said tonight the lord would have no mercy on Scott’s soul.

Colin Delaney, Seleziya Sparx, and Cheech were shown backstage together. Delaney said it was Absolution and they’re all in green and the promo isn’t going to get any better.

Johnny Gargano cut a promo and addressed Ethan Page. He told Page to get his moment.

The Forgotten were shown backstage. Jacobs said The Jollyville F—k-It’s had everything to lose in a No DQ match tonight. He said they would see if they can survive in an environment he and Whitmer thrive in. Jacobs said the stage is set and he’s not sure Money & Russ will want to come and play.

Bobby Beverly cut a promo on Tyson Dux. He said he would cement his name tonight.

Kevin Steen tonight was a big night. He threw a can at ACH off-camera and he howled in pain. Steen said people care about him versus Sabin. He said the first time he faced him was in CZW a long time ago. He said he had tried to erase his CZW career, but was looking forward to wrestling Sabin tonight. Steen said he and Sabin had teamed together once in PWG and it was awesome, but Sabin left and went to TNA to become a machine gun. Steen said tonight he would take out seven years of anger. That was funny.

Ricky Shane Page apologized to an injured Eric Young and said he would take care of it. Page said he looked up to Kingston and wished he had the conviction that Kingston had. He said guys like Kingston made him wanting to start #Nixon. Page said it’s not just business because it’s his life. Page said he had never quit wrestling and he doesn’t make money doing it. Page said Kingston has a nice job and Kingston is getting in his way. Page said Ryan was with him mentally and physically and The Duke wouldn’t stop them. Page said he had never been more focused, but he was going to end things tonight.

Tim Donst said he knows Elgin is better than him. He said he’s not cocky. Donst said he’s better than Elgin at getting back on his feet. Donst said he knew he would get hurt tonight, but it’s alright because he only feels alive in the ring. Donst said he was going to take the title away from Elgin. He said he is wrestling.

Myers & Money cut a promo backstage. Myers said they’re the masters of the universe. He said they hope Jacobs & Whitmer are ready for war.

Davey Vega cut a promo backstage. He said he won a scramble match and then got put right back in another. He said he’s a singles wrestler and wanted to show he can be a torch bearer for the company. He said Lyndon had beaten the best defending the title. Vega said he’s different because he needs this win and doesn’t want to go back to the Scramble matches. He said tonight he would make his own Absolution moment.

Ethan Page cut a promo saying tonight he would rewrite what happened last year that spiraled into the worst year of his life. He said he was going to have a rebirth tonight and would walk into the AIW Absolute Title picture. He said this match would erase the first.

The Duke cut a promo backstage and said he had lost everything this year, but the other members of #Nixon haven’t lost anything since turning their back on him. He said tonight, Page would be beaten and hurt by Kingston. He said he wants Page’s head on a pike in front of the building so people know what happens when they screw with him. The Duke said this is personal.

Josh Prohibition cut a promo backstage. He said he cut a promo on Cross last month and said people had buzzed because of his passion. He said the people that WWE signs flop because they lack passion. Prohibition said people had called and asked him if he hates Matt. Prohibition says he said what he said because he cares about Cross and loves him. Prohibition said the one person that didn’t call was Cross, who he expected to apologize. He said Cross had disrespected him. Prohibition said he’s a man that has been disrespected. Prohibition said he’s going to lash out of anger because deep down beneath the family man was an angry dude. Prohibition said Cross would get the Prohibition he wanted tonight.

The show began and it looks like AIW drew one heck of a crowd for this show. Kevin Steen came out first to a big pop and the fans chanted his name and threw streamers at him. Chris Sabin came out next to a decent reaction. Steen threw some of his streamers at Sabin once he posed on the turnbuckles. The fans then chanted for Sabin. Steen interrupted the ring announcer because he didn’t know what providence he’s from. A fan shouted the right answer and the fans popped for Steen’s proper announcement. The fans booed Sabin being announced as hailing from Michigan. Sabin got a good pop and a “f---k TNA” chant when he was introduced.

(1) Kevin Steen vs. Chris Sabin. The announcers said this was the first singles match between Sabin and Steen on the independents. They did some comedy during the early stages of the match. Steen asked the crowd to be quiet as he set up for a chop on Sabin in the corner, but he poked him in the eyes instead. Sabin fired up a short time later and sent Steen to the floor with a dropkick. They exchanged chops on the outside and Steen told Sabin to stop, so Sabin poked him in the eye. Steen fired back inside the ring and hit a running senton. Steen went into the crowd and hugged a fan after biting Sabin’s ear. He went back into the ring and began working over Sabin as the fans chanted his name. Sabin went for a sunset flip and Steen looked at him like he was nuts. Steen ended up picking Sabin up before nailing him with a huge clothesline. The fans kept booing any mention of Detroit. Steen said the ref was from Detroit and the fans started a f—k Detroit chant. Sabin finally got a sunset flip after the fourth attempt for a 2 count. Steen went for a sunset flip, but Sabin rolled through and hit a dropkick that left both men down on the mat. Both guys went back and forth and Sabin eventually hit a superkick for a 2 count. Steen fired back and tied up Sabin before tripping him face-first into the mat for a 2 count. They battled up top and Steen shoved Sabin off and hit a swanton for a good near fall. Steen went for a cannonball in the corner, but Sabin got out of the way and hit a springboard tornado DDT for a 2 count. They went back and forth and Steen hit a package piledriver for the win.

The fans chanted “Thank you Steen” after the match. Steen got on the mic and told Sabin it was an honor to be in the ring with him. Steen talked about how he was supposed to be in AIW in March, but his wife had been taken to the hospital and he had to stay by her side. He thanked the fans for buying Panda Express shirts. He mentioned he was supposed to be in AIW in May, but Whitmer & Jacobs ran down and wiped him out. Jacobs said Steen wasn’t going anywhere and the fans won’t be able to miss him. Jacobs said he would never go to WWE because he can’t do cardio for 30 seconds. Jacobs asked the fans where the thanks from them was for him and Whitmer. Jacobs said he and Whitmer won’t going anywhere and called out the Jollyville F—k-Its.

Winner: Kevin Steen

Star rating: (***1/4) – This was a fun match. The crowd was hot and both wrestlers did a good job of engaging the crowd with some comedy early before the action picked up. They built a fun story into the match with Sabin continually going for a sunset flip and it ended up taking four attempts to hit it. The post-match segment was a nice way to transition to the tag title match.

(2) AIW Tag Team Champions The Jollyville F—k-Its (Russ Myers & T-Money) vs. The Forgotten (Jimmy Jacobs & B.J. Whitmer) in a No DQ match. Myers and Money ran down to the ring and began brawling with Jacobs and Whitmer. Both teams brawled to the floor and continued to go at it. The announcers mentioned that Whitmer had been a mentor to Money & Myers before sticking a knife in their back. Both teams continued to brawl as the action spilled into the crowd. Myers went up top and wiped out everyone with a moonsault into the crowd and the fans went nuts. Myers tried to pump up the fans when both teams got back into the ring, which allowed Whitmer to deck him with a big right hand. Money fired back and ducked a clothesline from Whitmer and nailed Jacobs with a pounce. Money set up Whitmer for Myers to hit a cannonball off the top, but Jacobs dragged the ref to the floor to break up the count. Tommy Mercer ran down to the ring and wiped out Money. Whitmer and Jacobs then hit the all seeing eye on Myers for the win.

The fans booed as Whitmer & Jacobs posed with the titles alongside Mercer. Jacobs said their win will never be forgotten because it was in the history books before The Forgotten left.

Winners: B.J. Whitmer & Jimmy Jacobs to become the AIW Tag Team Champions

Star rating: (**) – The action was good while it lasted, but the finish left a lot to be desired given that this is AIW’s biggest show of the year and the tag titles switched hands in a very cheap manner. If this leads to something bigger between these two teams, I’m fine, but if this was the way the finish had to go down, I wish they had thought of something better than this in terms of letting the match build more before going to the finish.

Ethan Page got on the mic before the introductions started and told Lyndon and Sparx and told them he doesn’t need their help. Page said he believes he can beat Gargano on his own and asked Sparx and Lyndon to leave. The fans chanted for Sparx to stay at ringside. The fans chanted for both men after the formal introductions.

(3) Ethan Page (w/Louis Lyndon & Seleziya Sparx) vs. Johnny Gargano. They tied up and went all around the ring. Both men went for their finishers before coming to a stalemate and the fans applauded. That was a great opening sequence. Both men began exchanging blows in the middle of the ring and the announcers said Gargano had tapped Page out at Absolution last year. Gargano got the upper hand and hit an elbow on Page as he came off the ropes. They went back and forth near the apron and Gargano caught Page with a slingshot spear for a 2 count. Page caught Gargano and picked him up on his shoulders before hitting a throwaway slam. That was slick. Gargano ended up on the floor and Page followed him and tossed him into the guardrail. Page played to the crowd and Gargano caught him with a boot off the guardrail and followed up with a senton off the apron. Gargano went for a slingshot spear, but Page lifted him up in the suplex position and dropped him down on the mat for a 2 count. Great stuff from both men so far. Page tossed Gargano into the corner and nailed him with a clothesline to the back of the head. Both men traded attempts at vertical suplexes until Gargano finally landed one and both men were down. The fans fired up as both men tried to get to their feet. Both guys went back and forth and Gargano hit a rolling kick on Page.

Gargano counters a spinning Dwayne off the turnbuckles into a DDT.

The fans chanted for Gargano as both men went back and forth. Gargano went for a slingshot DDT again and hit it this time for a 2 count. The fans fired up as both men regrouped after the two count. Page blocked a lawn dart attempt and went for a slingshot ace crusher, but Gargano blocked it and hit a pair of superkicks to his head for a 2 count. Page blocked the hurts don’t it and hit a springboard enzuguri for a 2 count. They battled up top a short time later. Gargano punched Page to the mat, but Page nailed him with a big boot to the head. Page got Gargano up on his shoulders and went for a spinning Dwayne off the second turnbuckle, but Gargano countered it in mid-air into a super DDT for a near fall. The fans fired up and chanted for both men. Gargano blocked another spinning Dwayne attempt from Page, but he eventually caught him with an enzuguri. Sparx came down to the ring with a chair. Page told her to go away. Lyndon came into the ring from the other side with the ref distracted. Page turned around and saw Lyndon and nailed him with a superkick before he could hit Gargano with the Intense Championship. The fans went nuts and chanted for Page. Gargano sold shock as the fans chanted “You just got your f---in head kicked in at Lyndon. Page told Gargano to bring it and they began exchanging strikes. They went back and forth. Page went for another slingshot ace crusher, but Gargano nailed him with a superkick and hit a dive. Page went for a spinning slam a short time later, but Gargano countered it into the Gargano escape. Page eventually rolled Gargano up for a 2 count, but Gargano got right up and nailed him with a superkick. Page fired back and caught Gargano with two kicks as he came off the ropes. Page then hit a spinning Dwayne, but Gargano kicked out at the very last second and the fans went mental! Holy crap! Gargano countered another spinning Dwayne and got a rollup for a 2 count. Gargano hit the lawn dart and the hurts don’t it, but Page kicked out at the last second. The fans fired up and chanted for Page. Both men were down and the fans chanted “This is awesome.” Gargano put Page on the top rope. He got on top of Page and began nailing him with elbows. Page grabbed Gargano and hit a big face buster off the top for a near fall. The fans fired up and chanted for Gargano. Page sold shock that Gargano kicked out. Page and Gargano both went for hurts don’t it, but they countered each other. Gargano hit a spinning Dwayne and locked in the Gargano escape. Gargano nailed Page with several knee strikes to the head. The ref checked out Page’s hand, but he held it up at 3. Gargano hit several more knee strikes and the ref checked Page’s arm and called for the bell.

The fans booed the finish, as they badly wanted to see Page win. The fans then began applauding and chanting “That was awesome.” Page took a long time to get to his feet. Gargano was going to leave the ring, but he came back once he saw Page getting to his feet. Gargano offered Page his hand and they shook hands as the fans applauded. The fans chanted for Page as he stood alone in the ring. What a moment!

Winner: Johnny Gargano via ref stoppage.

Star rating: (****1/2) – This match was an amazing rollercoaster of emotions with Page turning face during the second half of the match by superkicking Lyndon when he tried to interfere on his behalf. They had some incredible counter exchanges down the stretch. The near falls down the stretch were great as well and I loved the finish with Gargano hitting the Spinning Dwayne and the ref eventually having to stop the match when Page passed out in the Gargano escape after Gargano hit him with several knee strikes while applying the hold.

The Six Pack Scramble is next. Banks interrupted the formal introductions to announcer himself as the fresh prince of profressional wrestling. ACH then had the ring announcer announce him as Carlton Banks of pro wrestling, which got a huge pop. ACH even did the Carlton dance.

Sparx knows how to keep the crowd hot after an epic Gargano-Page match.

(4) ACH vs. Seleziya Sparx vs. Cheech vs. Brent Banks vs. Flip Kendrick vs. Colin Delaney in a Six Pack Scramble match. Banks and ACH started the match because of the natural feud between them. ACH offered a handshake, but Banks grabbed a headlock. ACH broke free and did the Carlton dance again and the fans really fired up, so he did it again only for Banks to nail him with a kick. There was too much action to call as Banks and ACH had a crazy exchange off the ropes that ended with Banks hitting a huge dropkick. Kendrick hit a big dive to wipe out almost everyone, but Sparx on the outside. Sparx then hit a big senton off the top to the floor and the fans went nuts. Sparx started to twerk in the ring, but the five male competitors got upset with her and danced near her. Sparx got on her knees for Kendrick, ACH, and Banks and they got very excited, but she ended up nailing them all with low blows. Cheech got a low blow as well Delaney ended up blocking a kick to the groin and they went at it. Delaney eventually popped her up and nailed her with a kick to the head. Everyone started hitting Sparx with moves in the corner. ACH pulled up short and planted a kiss on Sparx. Everyone tried to go for a superplex on Sparx, but she fought them off. All the guys went for a tower of doom, but Sparx turned it into a double doomsday device on ACH and Kendrick. The fans went nuts for that crazy spot. Brent caught Sparx and hit a spinebuster into the turnbuckles and the action continued from there at a rapid pace. ACH wanted to hit Sparx after she broke up a sure pin on Kendrick. Sparx hit ACH several times, but he wouldn’t hit her. Sparx eventually nailed him with a big boot, but Banks sent her to the floor with a running knee. Banks hit a crazy splash over the top to the floor on Cheech. Sparx lifted up Kendrick and powerbombed him over the top to the floor onto everyone and the fans went nuts. ACH then ran into the ring and nailed her with a running kick and wiped out everyone with a huge dive to the floor. He then went up top and hit a 450 on Sparx for the win.

Winner: ACH

Star rating: (***3/4) – This was a blast to watch for a spot-fest. Sparx had the fans going nuts with her power moves. The spot where she powerbombed Kendrick over the top to the floor was insane. This match was a blast to watch overall and the fans were way into the action all the way.

(5) Gregory Iron (w/The Iron Curtain) vs. Veda Scott. Scott dragged Iron to the floor and they began brawling before the introductions could take place. Iron tossed Scott into the guardrail and took out a bunch of chairs from under the ring. They brawled up to the stage and Scott speared Iron off the stage into the Iron Curtain. The Iron Curtain held Scott up a short time later so Iron could nail her with a punch. Iron sat on a chair and held Scott. He got a belt and began choking her with it. Iron got into the ring and waited for Scott to crawl inside. The match officially started at this point. Scott tried to mount a comeback, but Iron nailed her with a springboard elbow that sent her from the apron to the floor. Iron went for a dive, but Scott got out of the way and he took a nasty spill into the guardrail. Scott went to town on Iron with chops back inside the ring, but he fired back with a forearm off the ropes. Iron worked over Scott for a long period of time. She finally mounted a comeback and hit a face buster. The wrestling in this match hasn’t been very good, as the timing between them isn’t smooth. They went at it up top and Iron sent Scott to the mat with a headbutt. Iron followed up with an elbow drop after pretending to jerk off. Iron called for a chair and Gerald came out and tossed it to Iron. Scott knocked Gerald off the apron to the floor. She then hit a hurricanrana onto the chair. Another member of the Iron Curtain came out, but Scott fended him off. Scott went for a chair shot on Iron, but connected with a very light chair shot to the ref’s head. That spot was set up so poorly. The rest of the Iron Curtain came out, but Scott fended them off. Martini ran in and hit Scott with a big Samoan drop. Iron got the ring bell and nailed Scott with it, but there was no ref to count. The Iron Curtain tossed the ref back into the ring, but he was still out. Martini lifted up Scott again, but she nailed him with a DDT and crotched Iron up top. Scott then hit a hangman’s DDT on Iron off the top, but the ref was still out. Scott kissed Iron and then hit a Saito suplex. She applied the last chancery, but there was still no ref. Scott then turned it into a dragon sleeper and Iron tapped out over and over. The ref recovered and called for the bell.

Scott was announced as the winner. The ref went over to the announcer and he said, “Are you kidding me?” The announcer got on the mic and said the ref had DQ’d Scott. The fans booed. He then declared Iron the winner. Scott was bleeding from the mouth and Iron went to the floor and celebrated with the Iron curtain.

Scott got on the mic after the match and looked emotional. She challenged Iron to a Cage match at Battle of the Sexes to keep the Iron Curtain away.

Winner: Gregory Iron via DQ

Star rating: (1/4*) – I haven’t enjoyed this feud and watching Iron and Scott wrestle was like watching two people wrestle in quicksand. The spots they put together never came off smoothly and the ref bump came off horribly. It looks like the feud should end at Battle of the Sexes.

(6) Tyson Dux vs. Bobby Beverly. Neither man could get the upper hand early as they did some chain wrestling before exchanging holds on the mat. Beverly caught Dux with a snap power slam, but Dux fired back with a shoulder tackle a short time later and nailed Beverly with several shots in the corner. They went back and forth and Beverly caught Dux with a running boot off the ropes for a 2 count. Dux caught Beverly’s leg when he went for a kick from the apron to the floor and tripped him. Dux then hit a big running DVD on the entrance ramp. Dux went for another DVD on the entrance ramp a short time later and hit it again. Beverly finally fired back and caught Dux with an enzuguri. Beverly followed up with a back breaker a short time later. They battled near the apron and Beverly went for a backdrop driver, but Dux blocked it. Beverly caught Dux with a sit out power slam a short time later for a 2 count. Dux fired back after blocking a kick and hit a huge clothesline. Dux then hit a DVD into the turnbuckles for a 2 count. Beverly hit the Lethal combination and locked in a variation of the Koji clutch for the win.

Winner: Bobby Beverly

Star rating: (**) – The action was fine, although the finish caught me by surprise since they hadn’t set up much in terms of submission work before the finish. The crowd was really flat for this match.

A well-deserved win for Davey Vega.

(7) AIW Intense Champion Louis Lyndon vs. Davey Vega. The fans taunted Lyndon for getting his head kicked in by Page earlier in the show. Vega went for an arm bar early, but Lyndon managed to escape. They went back and forth with some quick counter exchanges before coming to a stalemate. The announcers talked about Vega being one of the most underappreciate wrestlers in wrestling today. Vega sent Lyndon to the floor and wiped him out with a flip dive. Lyndon begged off and Vega turned his back to him, so Lyndon jumped him from behind. Vega fired back and nailed Lyndon with several kicks and a senton for a 2 count. Vega sent Lyndon over the guardrail with a dropkick through the ropes. He set up for a dive into the crowd, but Lyndon cut him off with a forearm as he came through the ropes. Lyndon sent Vega over the barricade with a knee on the apron. Lyndon then wiped out Vega with a big flip dive through the ropes and the fans fired up. Lyndon tossed Vega back into the ring and began working him over. Lyndon got a slingshot through the ropes and turned it into a German with a bridge, but Vega was in the ropes. Lyndon then applied a dragon sleeper, but Vega eventually tossed him off. Vega hit a kick from the apron and followed up with a big missile dropkick. He followed up with a running double knee strike in the corner, but Lyndon kicked out at 2. They ended up on the turnbuckles and Lyndon hit a super hurricanrana, but Vega kicked out at the last second. The fans chanted for Vega as Lyndon put the boots to him. Lyndon went for a springboard moonsault, but Vega stepped aside and rolled him up for a 2 count. They exchanged rollups and Lyndon ended up on the outside. Vega went for a dive, but Lyndon surprised him with a palm strike. Vega fired back a short time later and hit a pop-up German with a bridge for a near fall and the fans fired up. Vega caught Lyndon with a big boot as he came off the ropes that turned him inside out. He hit a huge double knee back breaker, but Lyndon kicked out at the last second. Vega went for a bridging pin, but Lyndon grabbed a dragon sleeper. Vega then shifted his weight on top of Lyndon and got the three count.

The fans fired up for Vega’s win. Lyndon grabbed the belt, but gave it to the ref and bailed from the ring. The fans chanted for Vega and the ref presented him with the Intense Title. Vega soaked in the moment after the match and the fans chanted “You deserve it.”

Winner: Davey Vega to become the new AIW Intense Champion.

Star rating: (***1/4) – This was a good match with lots of good back and forth action. The crowd was flat for parts of the match, but got into it late. They did some good near falls and counter exchanges late building towards the finish.

(8) Eddie Kingston (w/The Duke) vs. Rickey Shane Page (w/Eric Ryan). Both men exchanged blows right after the opening bell. Kingston sent Page to the outside and nailed him with a suicide dive. The announcers talked about the storyline and how Kingston is The Duke’s hired gun. Page ended up on the floor and the fans got all over The Duke after he tossed Page back into the ring. Kingston hit a series of machinegun chops on Kingston in the corner. Page fired back with a slap, but Kingston ripped his shirt off and hit another series of machinegun chops followed by a big running boot to the head in the corner. Page fired back and hit a kick to the back of Kingston’s head followed by a running knee to the head in the corner for a 2 count. Page hit a spin kick to the head and big DVD variation for a 2 count. The fans fired up behind Page, but Kingston cut him off and hit a tornado DDT out of the corner followed by a huge lariat for a 2 count. Page fired back and hit a TOF out of nowhere. He went up top and connected with a huge splash for a near fall. The fans chanted for Page as he set up behind Kingston. Page hit a huge roaring elbow, but Kingston kicked out again. Kingston and Page began going back and forth. Kingston hit a backdrop driver and a spinning backfist for the win.

Kingston got on the mic after the match and ran down the fans. Kingston said he won the match and was probably going to f--- their girlfriends later. Kingston continued to run down the fans on the mic. He said he had busted his a—for 12 years in every promotion. He ran down AIW management and put over The Duke for paying him. Kingston said The Duke is the best and is the only one that pays him. Ethan Page’s music played and he came down to the ring to a big pop. Page taunted Kingston for saying IAW instead of AIW. The fans chanted that Kingston is illiterate. Page told Kingston to show respect to AIW and AIW management. Kingston asked why he has to respect AIW. Page said Thorne and Biggins gave him everything. Page said Kingston was in God’s house and told him to bring it. Kingston said he had no fear of beating Page’s a--. Kingston then rolled to the floor and asked The Duke if he fought him to fight twice. The Duke said no and they walked to the back. The fans chanted that Kingston is a pussy. The Duke got on the mic and said Kingston is a businessman and they don’t give it away for free. The Duke told Page he doesn’t care about him or the fans. Page got on the mic and said he doesn’t care who it is, he says if anyone talks s--- about God’s house, he will be there ready to go. Page told AIW management to make it happen. He promised to make Kingston tap out in his ring. The fans chanted for Page to close the segment.

Winner: Eddie Kingston

Star rating: (**3/4) – I liked that Kingston and Page went out there and had a hard-hitting big man style match. The crowd was into Page and he nearly had Kingston finished a couple of times, but ultimately Kingston got the win. They did a good job of setting up Kingston-Page after the match as well and the fans were into the mic work.

(9) Josh Prohibition vs. Matt Cross. Both men went face-to-face before they began exchanging big blows. Prohibition eventually clotheslined himself and Cross over the top rope to the floor. The fans fired up and chanted for Prohibition. Cross fired back on the floor and wiped out Prohibition with a running splash over the guardrail. Cross picked up a child and used him to double stomp Prohibition multiple times. Prohibition grabbed Cross by the beard and tossed him into the wall of the venue. The announcers tried to make the match out to be a huge deal, but the fans seemed to be burned out even though the back and forth action on the floor was good. Cross got up on the table where the hard camera was and used the basketball hoop to swing into a hurricanrana on Prohibition that sent him crashing into the crowd. Prohibition fired back several minutes later and put a chair around Cross’s neck before tossing him into the ringpost. The fans began chanting for both men as they continued to battle on the floor.

Prohibition finally ends his war with Cross with a drunken driver through the chairs.

They battled up to the stage and exchanged counters until Prohibition hit a drunken driver on the entrance ramp and the fans broke out in an AIW chant. Several attendants and the ref came out to check on Cross, but Prohibition shoved them away and asked Cross if he thought he was a part-time wrestler. Some fans chanted part-time wrestler at Prohibition, who went to the outside and got a chair. He set Cross’s head up on the chair and went up top, but Cross popped up and tossed the chair at Prohibition, who fell through the timekeepers table at ringside. Cross hit a series of moves capped by a running SSP, but Prohibition kicked out at the last second and the fans fired up. Cross set up for the drunken driver, but Prohibition countered it. Prohibition went for a drunken driver, but Cross countered it into a hurricanrana. Prohibition then hit two drunken drivers, but Cross kicked out at the last second and the fans went nuts. Prohibition got a bunch of chairs and tossed them into the ring. They went at it up top a short time later. Cross finally sent Prohibition into the chairs with a series of chops and a big headbutt. Cross then went up top and hit a SSP, but Prohibition kicked out at the very last second and the fans went nuts and started an Absolution chant. Cross hit a piledriver on a chair, but Prohibition kicked out again at the last second. Cross set up a chair structure in the middle of the ring. Cross dragged Prohibition up onto the chair structure and went for a drunken driver. Prohibition blocked it and Cross got him up on his shoulders. Prohibition fought out and hit a drunken driver through the chairs for the win. Holy crap!

The fans chanted for Prohibition after the match. The mic wouldn’t work after the match, so Prohibition said thank you to the fans. He said they are the reason he stills wrestlers. The fans fired up and applauded. Prohibition said to take his payday and give it to the bartender because the next 25 rounds were on him.

Winner: Josh Prohibition

Star rating: (***3/4) – This turned out to be one hell of a brawl. They brawled through the crowd to start things off and the crowd was flat, but they brought the crowd into the match eventually and once they went to the terrific near falls late, the match built from there leading into the finish. Cross and Prohibition did some great promo work leading into this match and they had one heck of a war.

(10) AIW Absolute Champion Michael Elgin vs. Tim Donst. Donst got this shot at the title by virtue of winning the Gauntlet for the Gold match this year. The fans chanted for Donst before the opening bell. He held the title up before the match started. The announcers noted that Donst hadn’t lost since “Absolution VIII.” Donst hit some chops, but Elgin simply shrugged them off. Donst hit a running chop on Elgin and several more chops in the corner, but Elgin turned him around and grounded him with several hard chops. The fans got behind Donst and chanted his name. Donst crotched Elgin on the middle turnbuckle and nailed him with a running clothesline after taking a sustained beating. Donst sent Elgin to the floor and went for a dive through the ropes, but Elgin caught him with a belly-to-belly suplex on the ramp. It looked like Donst bumped on his head when he landed on the ramp. They went at it on the floor a short time later. Elgin eventually hit a suplex onto the guardrail and Donst was down on the floor. Elgin rolled into the ring and the ref began counting. Donst barely beat the 10 count and stumbled into the ring. Elgin yelled at Donst and nailed him with a pair of huge rights. Donst managed to counter Elgin and he hit a leg capture suplex and both men were down on the mat. The fans chanted for Donst as he tried to regroup. Donst fired up and wiped out Elgin with a huge clothesline that turned him inside out. Both men ended up on the apron and began exchanging chops. Elgin went for a deadlift suplex to the floor, but Donst fired back with some headbutts and Elgin went to the floor. Donst then connected with a big dive through the ropes and the fans fired up and chanted for Donst.

They ended up back in the ring and Elgin tried to fire back with some forearms. They began trading shots once again in the middle of the ring. Elgin lit up Donst with a series of right and left forearms. They continued to go back and forth and Elgin hit a big side suplex for a 2 count to end the exchange. Donst ended up eating a German suplex after a big exchange and he managed to duck a clothesline, but Elgin caught him with the other arm for a 2 count. Donst countered a powerbomb attempt with a backdrop. The fans fired up and Donst eventually ended up eating a dropkick after Elgin placed him on the top rope. Donst eventually hit a light clothesline on Elgin from the arpon to knock him off the top. He then hit the roll of the dice, but Elgin managed to get his foot on the bottom rope to break up the pin. Donst countered Elgin when he went for a deadlift powerbomb and he locked in from dust ‘til Donst, but Elgin managed to get to the ropes. The fans chanted “Donst is wrestling” as Donst sold disbelief. Elgin struggled to pull himself to his feet. Donst went for a clothesline, but accidentally hit the ref. Elgin hit a buckle bomb and then an Elgin bomb for a visual pin with the ref down. Elgin tried to wake the ref up, but when he turned around Donst surprised him with a small package for a near fall. Elgin hit a huge roaring elbow and a buckle bomb. He hit a spinning backfist, but Donst managed to kick out. The fans chanted “You can’t beat him at Elgin. Elgin locked in a crossface, but Donst got the bottom rope with his foot. The ring was covered in sweat from both men at this point. Elgin set up for a super Elgin bomb up top and the fans chanted “no, no, no.” Donst countered Elgin and hit a DVD and a gator roll for a super close near fall and the fans gasped in shock. Elgin rolled through on Donst a short time later and applied the crossface again, but Donst countered it into a rollup for a near fall. Donst tried to fire up, but his chops were light as both men struggled to stay on their feet. Both men exchanged some light blows. Donst began to weaken and spit at Elgin. Elgin lit up Donst with a series of overhand slaps to the chest capped by a big slap to the face for a near fall. They battled up top again, but Elgin caught Donst with a super bomb. Donst kicked out, but Elgin hung on and hit two deadlift powerbombs. Elgin then hit several spinning backfists. He flipped off Donst and nailed him with a spinning punch. Elgin then hit the Elgin bomb for the win. Wow!

Elgin got on the mic after the match and said he knew he and the fans weren’t getting along and he was only giving it back to them because he knows how much they love wrestling. He put over Donst and said he had proven that it’s not if, but when Donst will be wearing the Absolute Title. The fans applauded. Elgin told Donst that he has his respect, but as long as he’s living the title is his. Elgin said there’s not a living soul on the planet that will take the title from him. Donst left the ring and Josh Alexander came out to a big pop. The fans chanted for Alexander. He got on the mic and said he hadn’t been in AIW for 8 months. He said the whole time he had been out with an injury, Elgin had nothing but success. Alexander told Elgin he might not have beaten him, but he sure as heck hadn’t beaten him. Alexander said success had gone to Elgin’s head. Alexander said in this building he has what it takes to be the best. He told Elgin he still owes him a match and he promised to take it from Elgin.

Alexander looked ready to wrestle, but Elgin got on the mic and said he’s the best. He asked Alexander for a 2/3 Falls match, but Wadsworth ran down to the ring and said he wanted both men to wrestle at 100%. He said they couldn’t do it tonight. Wadsworth said they would meet at Aug. 8 at Failure by Design. Elgin looked under the ring and got on the mic and said he was looking for his balls. The fans wanted the match to take place. Wadsworth said they would have no time limit in a 2/3 Falls match with both men at 100% with no excuses to find out who the better man is for the Absolute title. Both men then shook hands. Alexander tried to lift Elgin up. Then Elgin tried to return fire. Both men went after each other, but several officials ran into the ring. They had a pull-apart after Alexander held up the title. The fans wanted the officials to let them fight and they continued to go after each other. Elgin got back on the mic after Alexander left. Elgin put over AIW and said they put on the best show in wrestling. Elgin said the fans make the shows special. Elgin called Turners Hall a mecca of professional wrestling and the fans chanted AIW. Elgin said on Aug. 8 they would wrestle in a 2/3 Falls match and said it wouldn’t be better than their first match. Good luck topping that one!

Winner: Michael Elgin to retain the AIW Absolute Championship

Star rating: (***3/4) – This was a really good main event. Some of the spots didn’t come off crisp, but overall this was a really good match with Donst refusing to go down and mounting several spirited comebacks against Elgin, who finally managed to put him away in the end. The post-match angle was well-done, but it felt like too much after a very long show.

Overall thoughts: (8.5) – “Absolution” is AIW’s biggest show of the year and they delivered an excellent show that felt like a big deal. The early part of the card was highlighted by a MOTYC between Page and Gargano. The show continued with a string of really good matches for the most part and was capped off by a very good main event for the Absolute title between Elgin and Donst. The only downside to the show was that it was very long and the crowd was exhausted by the end of the show, which made it very hard for the wrestlers to get them into the matches, but as a credit to the matches that went on late, they managed to do it.

The Page-Gargano match is a must-see match in my opinion. They told a really good story in the ring and completed Page’s face turn. Once Page turned on Lyndon by nailing him with a superkick when he was going to attack Gargano with the Intense title, the crowd really got into the match and they had some crazy exchanges leading into the finish. I really got wrapped up in the story of this match and they executed it very well.

Unlike last year, the second half of the card didn’t feel like a big comedown. The only bad match on the card was Scott-Iron, which is a feud that just needs to end, as it feels dragged out at this point. The second half of “Absolution IX” was bolstered by some really good matches including Vega finally rising from the role of underappreciated talent to champion with a win over Vega for the Intense title. Although Prohibition and Cross had a hard time getting the fans into it, they had one hell of a war and the second half of the match was really hot leading into the insane finish.

The main event between Elgin and Donst told a really good story. Donst hadn’t lost a match in AIW in over a year and the announcers did a good job highlighting the names he beat. They had a hard time getting the crowd into the match at times, but this match had some really good sequences and they told a good story with Donst fighting from behind and refusing to give up. The finish came off well, as Elgin really had to unload on Donst to put him away. The post-match angle was good as well and it was a nice surprise to see Alexander come back.

This show is well-worth picking up and gets a strong recommendation from me. The storylines were really clicking for the most part on this show and the show itself felt like a big event. I would implore AIW to cut down on the length of their shows, especially this one to help the atmosphere for the matches and allow the wrestlers to easily engage the crowd. That being said, this was a really good crowd and they really gave the wrestlers all of the energy they had for what was presented to them on this night. Thumbs up!

You can purchase AIW “Absolution IX” on DVD by clicking HERE or by visiting Shop.AIWrestling.com. You can also purchase this show on VOD at SMVOD.com. For more information on AIW visit AIWrestling.com.

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