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Photos by Peter Sigmund
From Jeremy York:
Match 1: Jonathan Moody (w/ Coach Ethan Case) Vs. “Agent 003” Chad Skywalker—As Moody and Case talked strategy on the outside, Agent 003 decided not to wait any longer to get the action going. He sprang through the ropes with a picturesque Tope’ Suicida to topple them both! Back in the ring, Skywalker executes a rolling crucifix slam followed by a second rope moonsault. Moody responds with a German suplex that sparks an athletic showdown between the two combatants, resulting in the crowd roaring with excitement! Chad charges at Jonathan, who catches him for the spinning power slam. Moody rolls up Skywalker and (along with some assistance from the ropes) gets the victory!
Takeaway: Great way to open this show. Showcased the power and cunning ability of Moody while allowing Skywalker to display his aerial assaults along with his ingenuity. The Palmetto crew get a nice win on the board early, however Skywalker continues to climbs the ranks as well and has to be considered close to being a top contender. Palmetto record: 1-0.
Winner: Jonathan Moody (w/ Coach Ethan Case) via pinfall.
Match 2: “Pretty Boy” AJ Black & “Headband Hero” Ashton Martin Vs. Frost & Flame (w/ Taliaferro)—Flame and Martin start it off with Martin using his speed to get the best of Flame who tags in Frost. Ashton rushes off of the ropes towards them for a double clothesline. Black tags in, but the heels catch his off guard. After some big strikes, Flame is tagged back in. He lands a big back elbow to AJ, then tags Frost. The thunderous chops of Frost to the chest of Black echo across the El Palenque Center. Frost works over his foe in the corner with more strikes and kicks before tagging Flame once more. Massive side slam from the masked superstar on AJ. In the melee that ensues, Frost springs off of Black to take out Martin. Flame plants AJ with a face slam as Frost soars off the top rope for the 1-2-3!
Takeaway: AJ Black made a solid impression on a crowd that may not know of his career to this point. His pairing with Martin was a fun, energetic team of young and talented superstars. Frost and Flame (along with Taliaferro) have to be considered one of the top teams in AWE and should see a potential title opportunity soon.
Winners: Frost & Flame (w/ Taliaferro)
Match 3: “Handsome Devil” Drew Hood Vs. “The Broker Of Violence” Drako Starx—Starx used a big power game early including five shoulder blocks. He followed with a sliding lariat for the first two count of the contest. Hood countered with a double axe handle to the dome of his opponent. A big shoulder tackle from Drew finally gets Drako off his feet. The Handsome Devil’s intense strike attacks lead to a rear chin lock. As The Broker of Violence breaks free, Drew keeps him grounded still with stomps. Hood implores his inverted Boston Crab, yet Starx finds a way out. He drops his foe with a swinging neck breaker then a pair of splashes in the corner, finished off by a running bullet train attack! Drako grabs Drew for a backbreaker that he turns into a Blue Thunder Bomb! Hood recovers to knock Starx down, but he misses the running senton. Drako leaps on Drew’s back to pull him down for the crucifix pin for the win!
Takeaway: What a first-time match up this was as these two juggernauts brought out the best in each other. Both utilized maneuvers they typically save for big time moments. With Starx now based in Atlanta and Hood always prowling around, I hope this is only part one of a many chapter story between the two.
Winner: “The Broker Of Violence” Drako Starx via pinfall
Match 4: James Johnson (w/ Coach Ethan Case) Vs. Sal Rinauro—Sal starts by sitting cross-legged in the middle of the ring, giant smile beaming towards James and Ethan. This enrages them both. Once the action begins, Rinauro locks Johnson in a body lock then uses joint manipulation to further the damage to his opponent. Johnson uses a handstand to break free. Back on their feet Sal once again takes the advantage, this time with a combo of arm, head, wrist and other related holds that had James both disoriented and flabbergasted to make heads or tails of the attack. Rinauro in turn drops to his cross-legged smiling pose, and waves wildly at Johnson. James kicks Sal hard, however he recovers to twist James up like a pretzel. Running Thesz press from Rinauro who grabs both legs of Johnson. The ref pleads with him to not do a specific attack so Sal hands the nearest leg to the ref and executes a wishbone attack! James dumps Sal hard to the apron. As Rinauro rolls back inside the ring it’s Johnson who hit a running senton. JJ sends Sal hard into the turnbuckles. Rinauro battles back to level Johnson. Sal gets the crowds help to count along as he stomps James ten times, stopping at a certain point to do the “six-seven” gesture. Johnson uses a release suplex for a two count. Sal sees the end in sight as he hits a flatliner followed with a neck crevasse submission. Johnson is forced to tap! Takeaway: Sal Rinauro is a national treasure. Absolutely at the top of his game right now and seems to be having the most fun. He is so innovative with how he does everything and the crowd enjoys it greatly. Johnson can carry his end of it though as he brought a combo of power and skill that had the veteran Sal on his heels. Palmetto record: 1-1.
Winner: Sal Rinauro via submission.
Match 5: “El Jaguar” Dante Casanova Vs. “Bad News & Tattoos” Carlie Bravo (c—Unified Championship, w/ Shawn Dean)—Dante starts with a wrist lock that Carlie counters into a head lock. Casanova reverses with some head lock takeovers. Carlie chops Dante, follows with a flatliner and some stomps. Carlie continues the momentum with a Thesz press and some knee drops. Casanova regroups on the outside while landing some smashing chops to Bravo. Carlie goes up and over the ropes from the apron with an impressive cutter. He adds a blissful DDT, gets a one count. Then another. Dante goes for a running lariat that Carlie evades. Bravo rolls him up with leverage, for the 1-2-3 to retain.
Takeaway: Carlie with another stellar title defense. Always finds ways to keep his “boo” around his waist. Even with friends on the outside, Dean stayed out of it and let Carlie win it on his own efforts. Casanova is impressive. Highly athletic with big power, he proved on this night he can go all out, head to head with one of the best around. He is a threat to win any night, any place.
Winner: (and STILL Unified Champion) Carlie Bravo w/ Sean Dean via pinfall.
Match 6: Vanguard (Jake Parker, Raylen Albey w/ Coach Ethan Case) Vs. The Good Brothers (Karl Anderson, Doc Gallows)—Ethan and Karl have a mic battle. It results in a “Festus” sighting to begin the match. At some point Case convinces the Good Brothers to put their MLW Tag Team Championships on the line. Karl asks the crowd if they want to see “Festus”. When the crowd obliges, he calls up The Blade (Tag Partner of The Butcher in AEW) who brings in a daddy soda. A good sip from Gallows of the soda and The Blade quickly retreats back to ringside as Anderson says “RING THE BELL!”. Bell rings as the confused Vanguard look on only to discover “Festus” is now unleashed upon them! Quick tags from the Good Brothers with each landing multiple quick strikes and slams on Albey. Parker gets the tag, but Gallows and Anderson continue to control the action. Then they all spill to the outside where the action goes all over the building. The teams trade chucking each other into objects, using objects as projectiles and throwing each other into objects including trash cans, chairs, poles, stairs and of course, beverages. At some point a prosthetic leg is used by Gallows on Albey (it was returned to the person it belonged to, who had offered it up for use in the first place). Back in the ring, Anderson and Gallows execute a back suplex/ neck breaker combo for a two count. Raylen rushes in to try and save his partner but eats a big boot for his efforts. Parker gets the “privilege” of being the recipient of the Magic Killer, and the Good Brothers pick up another big victory.
Takeaway: Always great to see the Good Brothers in action. They continue their legacy at the expense of The Vanguard on this night who put up a valiant effort. (For those still following along) Palmetto record: 1-2.
Winners: (and STILL MLW Tag-Team Champions) The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson) via pinfall.
Match 7: Alexander Lev Vs. DPJ (w/ Coach Ethan Case)—Lev decides not to wait on Dennis Parker Jr as he leaps over the ropes to crash down on Case and DPJ. Case seems to have picked up a slight limp. Inside the ring, Lev lands a second rope clothesline, but is caught by a big boot, stomps and chops from Parker Jr. Alexander rebounds with an STO (Hey Jimmy!), yet DPJ hits the inside-out neck breaker only to get a close fall. Another big slam from Parker Jr get another two count. Inverted DDT from Lev gets him a two count. Official misses a strike from DPJ that was a little low, only garners him a two count. Lev returns the favor then hits the rolling neck breacker for the win! After the match, Lev grabs the microphone to call out Carlie Bravo (who just so happened to be walking around ringside). Lev says it needs to be a one-on-on between the two, nobody else involved like there was every other time they’ve faced off. Carlie finds a microphone and says….. “NO”.
Takeaway: DPJ had a solid performance versus the uber-talented Lev. Definitely something he can build on moving forward. No idea the extent of the Case injury as he appeared to be moving around a little better as the match progressed. Lev once more showed he is running on all cylinders and is at the top of his game. He and Carlie are due to cross paths again real soon. When and where are the only questions left to answer.
Match 8: “Misfit” Justin McKenzie Vs. Chip “F’n” Day—They exchange chain wrestling holds until Justin lands a big-time dropkick on Chip. Day targets the arm then leg of McKenzie to try to slow down the speedier competitor. Justin with the double stomp to the back on his opponent, gets a one count. He adds a spinning kick and gets a two count for his efforts. McKenzie with a thunderous chop, Day responds with a plethora of his own chops in the corner. Justin goes for a sunset flip, Chip rolls through to deliver a penalty kick. Sheer-drop brain-buster from Chip. McKenzie drops the neck of Day on his knee from a fireman’s carry position, then hits a swan-ton bomb for a near fall. Palmetto Boys rush the ring and are finally ran off by Murder One, Sal Rinauro and Joe Black. Murder gives Team Palmetto to the count of ten to leave or else. As he gets to six, they start to retreat but it’s not fast enough for Murder’s liking so he and Sal chase them to the back where a lot of chair banging and commotion can be heard.
Takeaway: I remember Chip when he was at the point of his own career that Justin is at right now. This match was such a treat because it somewhat gives us all the chance to see a “time-travel” match where it was as if Day had traveled back to face an early version of himself. At some point McKenzie will have another tag partner to face Chip and Toon for the titles. It will be a cannot miss event. On the other hand, at some point we should get to see the Palmetto Boys and the Hierarchy will face off in what could be one of the most brutal team confrontations in AWE history. Again, it’s a cannot miss event.
No real winner as Palmetto Boys attacked both to end the match.
Match 9—Main Event: Oro Vs. Joe Black—Oro tries to evade Joe to start. Once Joe gets close enough he unleashes a snap suplex, running senton and attempts his Old School walk across the top rope, however Oro knocks him off the rope. Running chop in the corner from Oro, then he dumps Black to the outside. They trade slashing chops. Oro slings Joe into the stairs followed with a slam. Oro hits the wheel kick then a cutter from a fireman’s carry position, only gets a two count. Rear chin lock that sits deep on Joe. Oro misses a second wheel kick, Joe follows up with some back elbows and a falcon arrow. Textbook deep cross-face from Black that almost has Oro ready to tap. Back on their feet they trade forearms and chops. Oro performs a reverse back body drop, then a methodical turning neck breaker for a two count. Joe catches Oro with a piercing spear out of nowhere that leads to a clothesline and flatliner in the ropes for another two count. STO on the apron by Joe, Oro rolls back inside the ring just as Joe hits the diving headbutt! He gets a near fall. Black walks the top rope then jumps off for the cutter. Another spear attempt results in Oro rolling up Joe, however he rolls through to lock the small package on Oro for the victory! After the match, he makes Oro look him in the eye as he puts his beads around the neck of the former NXT superstar.
Takeaway: Joe knocks another one off his hitlist and shines once more as one of the best overall talents around. Oro held his own and definitely earned the respect of Black. The crowd chanted “bring him back” when Oro and Casanova were in the ring in a nod to management to make sure these were not one offs.
Next AWE show is their ROAR division Sunday August 30 th at the El Palanque Center in Marietta. Next AWE show is Sunday September 13 th as world-traveled superstar from AEW Eddie Kingston will be in the house. AWE tried some different things with this show and it feels like it worked. This show marked the debut of Arianna Tysinger as the ring announcer and Carmen Michael as full-time commentator. Will be interesting to see what they do next show.
Winner: Joe Black via pinfall.
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