Photos by Peter Sigmund From Jeremy "The Impact" York: (El Palenque Event Center—Marietta) Officials: Mason Pike, Cody Nicholas C...
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| Photos by Peter Sigmund |
From Jeremy "The Impact" York:
(El Palenque Event Center—Marietta)
Officials: Mason Pike, Cody Nicholas Clonts
Announcer/Commentary: Carmen Michaels and 3MP with special guests Murder One and Sal Rinauro
Match 1: “The Misfit” Justin McKenzie Vs. Sal Rinauro—Sal grabs Justin’s foot early
only to set it down and hit a quick dropkick. McKenzie responds with a hurricanrana
followed by a dropkick. Body lock by Rinauro to ground the high-flyer. He spins around
the ring still in the body lock for multiple near falls. Justin with the flying knee lift for a
two count. A couple spinning round kicks then a swannton from McKenzie gets him
another close fall. Sal with his classic ten stomps, stopping at “6-7” to acknowledge the
crowd. Justin hits a neck breaker finishing with Sal’s neck dropping onto Justin’s knee.
The Misfit performs a picturesque poison-rana and a Pele kick on the apron before
finishing the combo with a frog splash for a two and seven eighths count. He takes a
breath only to have Rinauro latch on a neck crevasse….then McKenzie taps out!
Takeaway: The young superstar in McKenzie versus the wily veteran (and National
Treasure) Rinauro lived up to the hype and delivered. McKenzie has such an explosive
offense that keeps any opponent on their heels. Then Rinauro has seen and done so
much he has a counter or attack for anything thrown at him. The submission at the end
caught Justin off-guard and led to his ultimate defeat.
Winner: Sal Rinauro via submission.
Match 2: DPJ (w/ Coach Ethan Case) Vs. JT Paradox (w/ 3MP)—Dennis Parker Jr
(definitely not Dick Pickle Jr) starts this contest with a wrist lock on Paradox. JT uses an
acrobatic roll-through sequence to reverse the hold, then DPJ does the same. Hard
shoulder tackle from Parker Jr. Test of strength advantage saw Dennis (not Dick) pin
down Paradox for a two count before they roll out of the hold. Big boot from Parker (not
Pickle) Jr, then a slew of ruthless chops. Paradox unleashes some smashing chops of
his own followed by a series of reverses that lead to a Siedo suplex from Paradox.
German then a 2nd rope European uppercut leads to two count. Parker (not Pickle) with
the small package for a count of two. Dennis (not Dick) catches his foe with a spinning
roundhouse kick for another close fall. JT almost takes his opponent’s head clear off his
neck with a lariat for a two and thirteen sixteenths count. DPJ goes a flying attack that
misses, Paradox lands a chop block. As he locks on the ankle lock, DPJ chooses to tap
before the snap!
Takeaway: Two big, powerhouses colliding to produce a high intensity match up. DPJ
can hang with many a foe with his power, agility and ring awareness. Paradox is just a
wrestling beast and menace to anybody who faces off with him. Will be fun to see if
these two revisit this for another chapter soon.
Winner: JT Paradox (w/ 3MP) via submission.
Match 3: Alexis Littlefoot Vs. Ezabella Wilder—They trade quick pin attempts. Wilder
sends Littlefoot into the corner, follows with a running wheel kick, snap mare and
jumping kick to the side of her opponent’s cranium. Alexis responds with a similar
combo that ends with a Meteora for a two count. She lands a back elbow, then leg lariat
in the corner and a spinning DDT. Littlefoot with a big crossface. Ezabella fires back with
a trio of clotheslines, they trade kicks. Wilder with the knee in the corner, adding a
natural selection to the attack. As Ezabella rushes towards Alexis, Alexis jumps over her
catching a sunset flip on the way over and gets the win (while balancing on the ropes a
smidge)!
Takeaway: The women’s division in AWE is heating up even more, with these two
helping lead the charge. Wilder is always a threat to win anywhere she performs and
Littlefoot is a regular attendee at Bayley’s “Lodestone”. The ROAR division is on fire and
only looks to intensify as the year goes on.
Winner: Alexis Littlefoot via pinfall.
Match 4: Bryce Cannon Vs. Suge D
—Early on, Cannon reminds his opponent and the
fans we are on “his time” as he rolls out of the ring, taking his time to re-enter. After an
intense lockup, Bryce grabs a headlock takeover. Suge threatens to touch the “Tip”, but
Bryce snatches another headlock to avoid the altercation. They trade headlocks,
takeovers and reversals then Suge D gets a hold of the “Tip” which enrages Cannon,
yet delights the crowd. Bryce hits a running European uppercut, then rear chin lock.
Both trade roll up attempts until Suge catches his foe with a sunset flip for a near fall.
They trade strikes while seated on the canvas in an awkward fashion. Running headbutt
from Suge leads to another two count. Cannon misses a running splash in the corner,
Suge turns it into a sunset flip out of the corner for the 1-2-3!
Takeaway: What a classic wrestling match this was. Both superstars at the top of their
game plus the entire contest was entertaining and fluid. Cannon boasts to be on of the
best around and backs it up with each performance. Suge has seen a whole new
special run with his current direction and is a must see any night of the week on any
card.
Winner: Suge D
Match 5: Elijah Drago Vs. Drako Starx—Starx with the early advantage as he locked
on a couple deep headlocks on the (slightly) bigger Drago. Chain exchange involving
headlocks, takeovers, leg scissors and a bone shattering shoulder block from Drago.
Starx tries a quick roll up, when his foe kicks out he executes a running lariat for another
two count. Drago tries to clear Starx’s head from his shoulders with a lariat of his own.
Starx sneaks in some swift jabs to counter the momentum, Drago counters with an STO
for a two count. Mounted punches from Drago reign down on Starx afterwards, then
Celtic clubs from behind on Starx while he is on his knees. Big slam from Drago gets
another close two count. Drago lands some big shoulders to the midsection of Starx in
the corner followed by a high-arcing back suplex and fallaway slam with accompanying
kip up. Both back on their feet to exchange powerful forearms before Starx hits a
running crossbody, splashes in the corner then a bullet train attack in the corner. He
concludes the combo with a fisherman buster for a two and sever eighths count. Drago
stuns Starx with an impressive spinebuster for anther near fall. Drago misses a spinning
wheel kick, Starx counters with a dropkick. He runs towards the corner then springs into
the air to attempt a Swagger bomb, however Drago moves at the last minute. As Starx
regains his feet, he is hoisted up in a fireman’s carry by Drago who drops him with the
F5 for the victory!
Takeaway: These two mammoth humans went toe-to-toe in a battle reminiscent of King
Kong and Godzilla. Starx utilizing his speed and ingenuity while Drago using his
strength and athleticism to combat the other. I hope this is not the last time we see
these two square off as mostly they towers over their opponents, yet in this one they are
much more on a similar level.
Winner: Elijah Drago via pinfall.
Match 6: The Vanguard (Jake Parker, Raylen Albey w/ Ethan Case) Vs. Frost &
Flame (w/ Taliaferro) Vs. Jonathan Moody, James Johnson (w/ Ethan Case)—The
Vanguard work over the Flame with strikes and a double back elbow drop for a two
count. Moody tags him self in as Jake begrudgingly exits to the apron. He drops Flame
with a spinebuster then Johnson enters the match. Jake finds a moment to tag himself
back into the contest, now Johnson is perturbed. He delivers some shoulders to the
midsection of the Flame in the corner as Albey tags in. They execute a handful of
double team attacks with Frost breaking up the pin attempt and gets sent flying for his
efforts. Flame back body drops Parker and gets the much needed tag to Frost! He takes
out all four of Team Palmetto as the crowd goes crazy! Johnson charges at him,
however Frost hits him with a flying forearm. Moody breaks up the pin. A melee breaks
out between The Vanguard and the tandem of Moody-Johnson as Coach Ethan Case
can only look on in horror. They scrap to the outside then Johnson gets back in the ring.
He is met with a high knee lift from Flame followed by a running back elbow attack from
Frost for the 1-2-3!
Takeaway: Firstly, Frost & Flame earn a match at the next show (October 4 th ) versus
the returning Good Brothers for the currently vacant Tag Team Championships. An
honor well earned from the Taliaferro stablemates and will be a must-see match for
sure. Secondly, Case’s Palmetto crew is really struggling not only to get wins, but not
also apparently in what the pecking order is in the group. I will say though that if anyone
can right the ship for the South Carolinians, Ethan may be best suited for the case.
Winners: Frost & Flame (w/ Taliaferro) via pinfall.
Match 7: Bobbi Thunder Vs. Savannah Evans—They lock up with Savannah having
the ever so slight power advantage in the corner. Bobbi counters with a deep headlock
then takeover. Once back to their feet, they trade shoulder blocks with Thunder winning
the battle. She follows with a side Russian leg sweep for a quick two count. Bobby hits
the running splash in the corner, but Savannah knocks her off the apron. They fight in
the crowd ultimately with Thunder pushing her Mom on a cart in to Evans! They unload
a trash can on each other. Bobbi smashes Savannah with a half-empty beer can. Back
in the ring, Thunder hits a cutter followed by some clotheslines. Evans battles back with
some vicious attacks and strikes, pounding her foe down to the canvas. Bobbi unloads
Savannah in the corner then runs in for the cannonball! Adding a spinebuster for good
measure, she gets a near fall. Evans catches her with a choke bomb for a near fall of
her own. Thunder hits the double-underhook piledriver for the win!
Takeaway: If you thought the earlier women’s match up was crazy exciting, THIS battle
went all over the arena, involved Bobbi’s mother and really showed that these two are
far from done with each other. Evans and Thunder are both really good and match up
well versus one another, creating must-see events every time they lace up their boots.
Winner: Bobbi Thunder via pinfall.
Match 8—Main Event: Alexander Lev Vs. Joe Black (w/ Amy Haven)—They trade
hammerlocks and wrist holds. Lev utilized using the ropes for reprieve. Joe gives a
clean break, however does strong pat the chest of Lev as he backs into the middle of
the ring. Alexander does a roll through into a leg crank, yet Joe finds a way to spin out
of it. Lev locks on a rear chin lock instead. Alexander attempts a couple shoulder blocks
that he turns into a couple hard chops. Flatliner into the buckles as Joe crashes hard.
Back on their feet it’s Lev with the inverted DDT as he climbs to the top rope. Lev
springs off for the attack but it caught by a stiff right hand from Joe. Black with
thunderous chops that light up the pectorals of his foe. Lev answers back with some of
his own. Joe smashes him to the canvas. More chops from Joe lead to a heavy lariat
and a high senton from Black garner him a two count. Black wraps his legs around the
torso of Lev. As he tries to reverse the hold, Black stops his charge with an eye gouge.
Joe springs up suddenly for the cutter out of the corner and another two count. Black
with the chin breaker followed by him lifting Lev in a choke in the corner. Alexander
recovers to execute a missile dropkick off the top rope then a flying clothesline for a
near fall. They scramble to their feet, yet it’s Black who floors Lev who rolls to the
outside. As Joe attempts the Tope’ Lev stops it with a heavy strike to the dome of Joe.
STO on the apron from Lev (“Hey Jimmy!”) then he hits the low rope Tope’ suicida. They
brawl outside. Joe with the old school rope walk into a flying cutter for a two count.
Brainbuster from Black into a crossface, Lev gets to the ropes. Another chop from Joe
to Alexander’s chest, then one to his back for good measure. Lev hits a sliced bread #2
from the top rope for a long two count. Joe with the shining wizard, forearm to the back
of Lev’s head…Lev kicks out at 1! Gotch-style piledriver from Lev garners a two count,
he follows with another for the win!
Takeaway: I’ll say it louder for the people in the back (and everywhere): ANY time Lev
and Joe are in a ring together it will be magic. Two rivals who know how to push the
other and get the absolute best out of each other. Not sure where Joe goes from here.
Lev gets his long awaited shot at AEW’s Eddie Kingston on October 4th.
Winner: Alexander Lev via pinfall.
Next show is Sunday October 4 th at El Palenque Event Center in Marietta.
Advertised matches as of now: Lev versus Kingston, Frost & Flame versus Good
Brothers for the vacant Tag Titles & debut of Avery Styles who faces a returning
Tristan Moody (Japan) for the middle title. Definitely do not miss
