By Sean Radican, Torch columnist

RADICAN’S AIW REVIEW SERIES
“GIRLS NIGHT OUT 11”
MARCH 29, 2014
CLEVELAND, OHIO

The show started with a promo from The Social Network. Sammy Geodollno talked first and said Jenny Rose had gone to Japan to get some skills, but she was crazier than Rose. She said Rose might have a mystery partner, but she’s not worried. Heidi Lovelace and Annie Social agreed with what Sammy said.

Marti Belle cut a promo on Thunderkitty and said she was going to “whip that ass.”

Kaela cut a promo on Sassy Stephie and said she had a lot of respect for her and didn’t want people to forget her after tonight.

Jasmin said it might be cold in Cleveland, but she was going to bring the fire.

Sassy Stephanie cut a promo on Kaela. She said tonight would be pure destruction.

Hania cut a promo and said it was her first time in AIW, but it wouldn’t be her last. She said her opponent would be hunted by the she-wolf.

Leah Von Dutch was backstage with the AIW Women’s Championship. She said just because The Duke was the ref, that’s not why she won. She said people arguing whether or not she’s the champ is ridiculous. The Duke said they were going to rub it right in Allysin Kay’s face.

(1) Jasmin vs. Angelus Layne. Chikarason and Bauer are in on commentary. Layne dominated the action during the early going and used cheap tactics to bully Jasmin. Chikarason said he had been reading old observers, but Bauer fired back that he read PWTorch and loved Bruce Mitchell. I really hate Bauer now. Layne hit a delayed vertical suplex and made a cocky cover, but Jasmin kicked out at 2. Layne pulled Jasmin’s hair and bit her head, but the ref made her break it with his count. Both women ended up exchanging kicks. They eventually both hit kicks to the head at the same time and went down to the mat. Both women got up and exchanged forearms. Layne sent Jasmin down with a big forearm, but she fired up and hit a pair of clotheslines. She then hit a big running boot in the corner and a bulldog for a 2 count. Layne fired back and hit a Gory special for a 2 count. Layne looked frustrated and Jasmin tried to mount another comeback. She countered Layne and hit a neck breaker for the win.

Winner: Jasmin

Star rating: (**1/2) – The action was solid with Layne using cheap tactics and seeming to underestimate Jasmin. Jasmin showed good fire late and got the upset win with a nice counter into a neck breaker on Layne.

The announcer is mentioning each wrestler’s GNO record before each match, which is a nice touch. It appears to be freezing at the venue given the way some of the fans in attendance are dressed.

(2) Marti Belle vs. Thunderkitty. The announcers mentioned that it was snowing heavily outside the venue. Belle is playing the heel here and using her hair spray to taunt the fans. Thunderkitty slammed Belle down to the mat and worked her over with a front face lock. The wrestling hasn’t been smooth so far during some of the exchanges. Belle went to the outside and Thunderkitty tried to grab her from inside the ring, but Belle tripped her on the ropes. Belle went on the attack and pulled Thunderkitty’s hair. Thunderkitty fired back and got a sleeper, but Belle drove her into the corner and hit several elbows over her head to break free. Thunderkitty nailed Belle with several big chops, but ended up tripping to the mat going for a hard chop. Belle fired back and slammed Thunderkitty down to the mat by her hair for a 2 count. Belle looked to be whipping Thunderkitty into the corner, but she ended up going face-first into the mat. Thunderkitty mounted a comeback and hit a pair of clotheslines. She caught Belle with a sidewalk slam, but it was only good for a 2 count. Belle fired back and hit a series of kicks capped by a running boot to the head for a near fall. Belle went and got her hairspray, but the ref took it away from her. Belle got a pick out of her kneepads, but Belle countered it and got a sleeper. She took Belle down to the mat with a body vice. The ref checked her arm and it dropped three times giving Thunderkitty the win.

After the match, Thunderkitty slapped Belle across the back to wake her up.

Winner: Thunderkitty – This was bowling shoe ugly at times as JR would say with Belle moving into exchanges at a snail’s pace. This was a forgettable match.

(3) Sassy Stephie vs. Kaela. Sassy Stephie is 1-5 in GNO action. Kaela is making her GNO debut in this match. Kaela is blond and attractive. Stephie has a definite size advantage in this match. Stephie worked a headlock on the mat and told Kaela she should just give up. Stephie dominated the action, but Kaela fired back and used her feet on the ropes to hit an arm drag. The pace picked up with Kaela staying one step ahead of Stephie until she began gouging at her eyes. Stephie hit a running hip attack on Kaela and then covered her for a 2 count while the announcers talked about how cold it was outside. Kaela tried to fire back, but Stephie caught her with a big clothesline. They had an awkward exchange in the corner, but Kaela managed to go up and over Stephie to roll her up for a 2 count. Stephie fired back and hit a running elbow in the corner. Kaela went for a crucifix to counter a clothesline and transitioned it into an octopus variation. Stephie eventually drove Kael into the corner to break the hold. She then hung her up in the corner and dropper her knees across her stomach. Stephie tied up Kaela in a neck rank and then gave her a fish hook. She then rolled Kaela over and drove her head-first into the mat several times, but only got a 2 count. Stephie hit a modified DDT and locked in the last chancery. Stephie eventually let go of the hold and covered Kaela for a 2 count. Kaela fired back and hit an awkward bulldog off the ropes and both women were down. Both women got up and began exchanging strikes. Kaela caught Stephie with a pair of clotheslines and a big dropkick, but could only get a 2 count. They went back and forth and Kaela hit a splash off the top, but Stephie rolled through for a 2 count. Stephie then hit kiss my sass for the win.

Winner: Sassy Stephie

Star rating: (**) – There were some awkward exchanges at times, but this match had its good moments. Stephie dominated a lot of the action, but Kaela mounted several comebacks only to fall short in the end. This was a good debut for Kaela.

(4) Kimber Lee vs. Hania The Howling Huntress. This is Hania’s GNO debut. They did some chain wrestling early. Hania finally caught Lee with a dropkick and followed up with a big tornado DDT that sent Lee to the floor. Hania went up top and howled before catching Lee with a big splash to the floor. Hania tossed Lee back into the ring and nailed her with a big flip senton for a 2 count. Lee fired back and nailed Hania with a big roundhouse kick to the head for a 2 count. Lee set up Hania in the corner and nailed her with a big chop. Hania fired back with a chop of her own, but Lee caught her with a discus lariat for a 2 count. Lee set Hania up on the mat and nailed her with a pair of big kicks to the back, but only got a 2 count. They went to an exchange of kicks in the middle of the ring. Lee sent Hania into the corner, but Hania fired back and sent her face-first into the turnbuckles after trying to go up and over Lee out of the corner. Lee fired back and caught Hania with a submission in the ropes, but the ref made her release the hold with his count. Lee went up top as the fans fired up. She connected with a big missile dropkick and both women were down on the mat. Both women got up and began exchanging forearms. They then went to an exchange of kicks. Hania lit up Lee with a series of blows, but Lee caught Hania with a wheelbarrow German for a near fall. That was a heck of an exchange. Lee missed a charge in the corner and Hania nailed her with a kick. She followed up with a moonsault press off the top, but only got a 2 count. The fans fired up and Hania caught Lee with an axe kick, but Lee kicked out at 2. Lee fired back and dumped Hania down with a powerbomb/DDT hybrid for the win.

Winner: Kimber Lee

Star rating: (**3/4) – This match had its moments. Lee dominated the bulk of the action, but Hania looked good at times hitting a big splash to the floor during the early going and trying to mount several comebacks late in the match. The crowd got into the match late, as the last couple of minutes were very good.

Nikki Storm came out first for the next match and told the fans they are all happy to see her. Nikki told the fans she is Scottish and said she’s from Glasgow, Scotland before slamming the mic in the announcer’s chest. Angel Dust came out next to a decent reaction.

(5) Angel Dust vs. Nikki Storm. Storm jumped Dust as she posed on the ropes during the introductions. B.J. Whitmer came into the commentary booth. Dust mounted a comeback and grounded Storm with a dropkick, but she baited her into the corner and slammed her into the turnbuckles. Storm hit a suplex, but Dust kicked out. Storm seemed upset and sold frustration before going back to work on Dust. Dust finally mounted a comeback and took Storm down with a series of clotheslines. Storm fired back and quickly cut off Dust with a neck breaker for a 2 count. She wasn’t very happy after Dust kicked out. Dust fired back and caught Storm with a dropkick as she came off the ropes for a 2 count. Storm raked Dust’s eyes and nailed her with a cradle shock. She got cocky and posed over Dust, who rolled her up for a near fall. Storm quickly fired back with a Golden Gate swing neck breaker for the win.

Winner: Nikki Storm

Star rating: (*3/4) – This was short and mostly one-sided, as Storm dominated the bulk of the action with Dust only getting in some brief comebacks before Storm put her away in the end.

(6) Veda Scott vs. Kay Lee Ray. This is Ray’s GNO debut. She is also out of Glasgow like Storm. Lee comes into GNO 11 with a record of 6-6. Ray took Scott down during the early going and worked an arm submission. Scott fired back and grabbed a hammerlock with a bridge. Both women went back and forth as the pace picked up. They exchanged pinning combinations before coming to a stalemate and the fans applauded. Ray offered a handshake, but ended up dropping Scot with a dropkick. Scott ducked a charge in the corner and set up for a dive a short time later, but Ray caught her with a forearm as she came through the ropes. Ray then hit a dive through the ropes and was lucky that Scott was able to break her fall, as her feet appeared to catch the ropes on the way through. They went at it on the outside and Ray went for a springboard off the guardrail, but Scott nailed her with a punch. Scott nailed Ray with a big forearm on the outside and Ray took a big bump on the wood floor. Ugh, that looked rough. They brawled over near the merchandise tables. Ray hit a double chop to Scott’s chest and set her up on a chair. Ray then nailed Scott with a big running dropkick. Ray went for a Gory special on the ramp, but Scott fought out of it and hit a suplex on the ramp. Scott tossed Ray back inside the ring and covered her for a 2 count. Scott grabbed a full-nelson and eventually rolled her up, but Ray rolled right through and locked in a nasty submission on the mat before kicking Scott off when she was about to break free.

Both women went back and forth and Ray caught Scott with a springboard missile dropkick and the fans fired up. Ray took some time to make the cover and Scott kicked out at 2. Scott fired back and hit a cross body off the top, but Ray managed to kick out at 2. Ray blocked a Saito suplex attempt and hit a modified Gory special into the ropes followed by an enzuguri. Ray took her time going up top and went for a swanton, but Scott got out of the way and hit a Saito with a bridge, but Ray kicked out at the last second. Ray went up top again, but Scott cut her off and hit a hangman RKO for the win.

Scott shook Ray’s hand after the match.

Winner: Veda Scott

Star rating: (***) – This was the best match of the night so far. They had a good back and forth match with a nice brawling segment in the crowd in the middle of the match. Ray hit some nice high-flying maneuvers down the stretch, but Scott managed to put her away in the end.

Jenny Rose came out to face The Social Network. Seleziya Sparx then came out as her mystery partner to a good ovation. Both teams had a booty shaking contest before the match.

(7) The Social Network (Annie Social & Heidi Lovelace w/Sammy Geodollno) vs. Jenny Rose & Seleziya Sparx. Social got cut off and Sparx tossed her across the ring by the chest at one point. You won’t see that in WWE. Sparx went into the corner to twerk and Rose slammed Social’s face into her backside. Lovelace ran into the ring and kicked Rose in the face. She then dragged Social into the corner and tagged herself into the match. Lovelace began working Rose over. Rose took a beating for a long period of time with The Social Network tagging in and out of the ring to work her over. Rose finally hit a double clothesline and tagged in Sparx, who ran wild. Sparx hit a double northern lights suplex with a bridge, but Geodollno ran into the ring to break up the pin. Sparx went after Geodollno, but ended up wiping out rose. Lovelace ended up hitting a lung blower on Sparx for the win.

Sparx and Rose argued after the match. Sparx ended up hitting Rose with a forearm before leaving the ring. She yelled at Rose for costing them the match.

Winners: Annie Social & Heidi Lovelace

Star rating: (**) – The action was basic in this match for the most part with the heels using cheap tactics to get the upper hand during the match. Sparx had a nice hot tag segment down the stretch, but overall there wasn’t much to this match.

Athena and Mia Yim got a good reaction from the crowd coming out for the semi-main event. Mia Yim comes into the match with a 2-5 GNO record. Athena’s GNO record is 2-1.

(8) Mia Yim vs. Athena. Both women went back and forth hitting big strikes. Athena hit a running knee strike in the corner, but only got a 2 count. The fans fired up as both women took a second to regroup before going at it again. That was a hot start to the match. Athena went for a springboard and got stuck. Yim easily got out of the way and hit a lionsault for a 2 count. Yim set up for a dive, but Athena nailed her with a kick as she came through the ropes. Athena then nailed Yim with a dive through the ropes to the floor. Yim countered Athena and whipped her into the guardrail on the outside a short time later. Yim then nailed Athena with a big running kick from the apron to the floor and appeared to hurt hers leg in the process. The fans fired up with both women down. They got back into the ring and began exchanging strikes. Yim nailed Athena with a combination of strikes and kicks and hit a German, but Athena managed to kick out at 2. Yim worked a camel clutch before applying a last chancery. Athena managed to break Yim’s hands apart to escape the submission. Yim applied a half crab, but Athena countered it and rolled on top of her for a 2 count. Yim immediately hit a big running kick to the head and continued to work Athena over. Athena fired back with a springboard tornado DDT and both women were down on the mat. Both women began exchanging leg kicks. Yim hit a big spin kick to the head, but Athena fired right back with a kick to the head. Yim decked Athena with a kick and went for a kick to the head, but Athena ducked it, did a kip up, and nailed Yim with a kick to the back of the head! Yim was out on her feet and Athena eventually hit a double underhook suplex, but she only got a 2 count.

The fans fired up with Athena in control. Athena locked in a Koji clutch variation on the mat. Yim managed to force a break, but Athena kicked her right in the head with bicycle kick for a near fall. Athena got a straightjacket version of the camel clutch and really pulled back on Yim’s arms, but she wouldn’t tap and Athena let go of the hold. Athena hit a spinning Rock bottom variation, but she managed to kick out at 2 again. Yim jumped a charge in the corner and locked in a tarantula variation in the ropes. She then went up top, but Athena cut her off. Yim fired back and hit a jumping code red off the turnbuckles for a 2 count. The fans fired up once again. Athena caught a kick and hit a leg capture suplex a short time later for a near fall and the announcers went nuts. Yim caught a kick a short time later and hit a sit out powerbomb for a 2 count and both women were down as the fans fired up. Both women got up and exchanged strikes, but stopped to catch their breath. They went back at it again and the pace picked up with both women destroying each other with forearms. Athena went for a hurricanrana off the ropes, but Yim blocked it and placed her on the top turnbuckle. Athena fought Yim off and hit the O face for the win! Wow!

Both women shook hands after the match as the fans applauded.

Winner: Athena

Star rating: (***3/4) – This was an awesome hard-hitting back and forth match. Athena and Yim managed to get the fans fired up, despite the frigid conditions in the venue. The strike exchanges down the stretch were excellent, as both women really fired up the crowd. They built to a really good finish and although the match dragged a bit after a hot start, overall this match is worth checking out if you haven’t seen it yet.

Leah Von Dutch came out first holding up the AIW Women’s Championship. Kay then came out with a new AIW Women’s Championship and attacked her from behind. This match is to settle who the real AIW Women’s Champion is. Both women jousted with the titles before Kay tossed Von Dutch into the ring and the match officially began.

(9) AIW Women’s Champion Allysin Kay vs. Leah Von Dutch (w/The Duke). Kay put the boots to Von Dutch. The announcers mentioned there was no heat in the building. Whitmer got mad at Bauer for singing and told him to call the match, which was pretty funny. Kay hit a big clothesline, but only got a 2 count. Kay dragged Von Dutch’s shirt over her head and hit her with some light slaps. She then took her shirt off and nailed her with a big chop. Von Dutch fired back and choked Kay against the ropes. The Duke then snapped Kay’s neck over the top rope while the ref was admonishing Von Dutch. Whitmer insisted he wasn’t retired on commentary and said nobody will let him wrestle. Von Dutch worked a leg scissors on Kay’s head on the mat and used the ropes for leverage. Von Dutch hit a discus eye poke, which Bauer loved. The Duke got involved again and raked Kay’s eyes while the ref was yelling at Von Dutch. You could see Bauer pop Whitmer with a VD joke on The Duke, as they were standing doing commentary in the background. Kay fired back and hit a splash in the corner followed by a big boot to the face. Kay hit a cutthroat suplex, but only got a 2 count.

Von Dutch countered Kay and shoved her into the ref, who took an HBK style bump through the ropes to the floor. Kay hit a big roundhouse kick to the head and got a visual pin on Von Dutch. The Duke snuck into the ring and hit a choke slam on von Dutch. He went for a Vader bomb, but Kay got her knees up and hit a stunner. Von Dutch nailed Kay with a spear and the ref got back into the ring to count, but Kay kicked out at the last second. Kay grabbed an arm submission and Von Dutch tapped out.

Kay was handed both AIW Women’s belts after the match. She posed with Von Dutch’s hat on. Von Dutch yelled at The Duke to end the show.

Winner: Allison Kay to retain the AIW Women’s Championship.

Star rating: (**3/4) – This was a match that was getting good down the stretch, but they went around 9 minutes and didn’t have enough time to fully develop the match. The fans got into the match at times, but it seemed like the cold temperature in the building definitely hampered their enthusiasm, especially given the stakes of the match.

Overall thoughts: (5.5) – The in-ring action on this show seemed to be lacking spark for most of the night with a couple of exceptions. The cold conditions in Turners Hall didn’t seem to help either, as the announcers made several mentions of how cold it was in the venue and many of the fans in attendance were wearing jackets. A lot of the matches didn’t get a lot of time to develop and the GNO roster at this point in time had women in various stages of development in terms of experience. The highlight of the show was clearly the Yim-Athena match, which brought the crowd alive in a big way.

The show started with Jasmin, who recently reported to NXT, against Angelus Layne. They started the show off with a solid match that saw Jasmin get an upset win over the veteran Layne, who was taking her lightly.

The quality of the in-ring action dropped from there, although Lee-Hania was solid. Things picked back up with a good match between Scott and Ray, who had the second best match on the card. They had a good back and forth match and Ray hit some nice high-flying maneuvers before falling short in the end. I enjoyed Ray’s work during the ChickFight Tournament that was held on SHIMMER Vol. 71, but to avoid spoilers, I won’t get into the particulars of that tournament for those that haven’t seen it yet.

Athena-Yim had a very good match that bordered on excellent at times. They had a red hot start to the match and things slowed down a bit before picking up for the duration of the match. The fans really got into the big strike exchanges and back and forth sequences as they went back and forth down the stretch. I think these women are capable of going into the four star range at some point. I’ve only seen them wrestle twice and both matches bordered on excellent.

The main event was a bit of a letdown given that Kay and Von Dutch weren’t given much time to put together a full-fledged match, as this encounter went around 9 minutes. They did a good job of putting the head on Von Dutch with both women having a claim to the AIW Women’s Championship. The Duke interfered constantly during the match when the ref was distracted. They did a big ref bump late in the match and did a good near fall late after Von Dutch caught Kay with a big spear, but the match definitely could have used another 5 minutes or so to fully develop.

This show didn’t have a lot of good things going for it. The cold conditions in the building certainly didn’t seem to help things on this night, as the fans and performers seemed to be hampered by the cold. Most of the matches were solid, but this show is only worth checking out if you really want to see Yim and Athena, who were clearly working at a level several notches higher than the rest of the roster on this show.

You can purchase AIW’s “Girls Night Out” on DVD by clicking HERE or by visiting Shop.AIWrestling.com. The show is also available on MP4 at SmartMarkVideo.com and VOD at SMVOD.com For more information on AIW visit AIWrestling.com.

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