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Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing coverage of AAW's Destination Chicago, streaming live on Highspots.TV from Logan Square Auditorium!
This is the first AAA live event presented on Highspots.TV, available to all of their subscribers.
PRE-SHOW NOTES:
AAW is a staple in the Chicago area, promoted by former local star and ECW referee Danny Daniels and Keith Lipinski. Logan Square is their central venue.
They’ve had a number of lineup and match changes due to injuries over the last few days, including injuries to Alexander Hammerstone and Fred Yehi, among others.
They are obviously running tonight due to AEW being in town for All Out.
Rex Fenix, Skye Blue, Nick Wayne, Dante Martin and Jimmy Lloyd are all visiting backstage.
Scramble Match: Diamond Cut Ace Perry vs. Dante Leon vs. Gary Jay vs. Laredo Kid vs. Big Beef Gnarls Garvin vs. Gringo Loco
Loco and Laredo started out with some nice back and forth lucha action. Loco nailed a Canadian Destroyer into a Code Red off the top. Loco was going for a dive but Ace Perry nailed him. Perry and Leon hit the ring. Leon nailed a big German suplex. Gnarls and Gary chopped at each other. Leon and Perry tried to intercede but were taken out. Garvin went for a Razor's Edge on Jay, throwing him over the top onto everyone else on the floor for a big pop. Chicago chanted for Beef. Al's Beef? Nope, Garvin, who hit a dive to the outside. That's a lot of flying beef.
Leon avoided a charge in the corner and nailed a superkick. He hit a swanton across Beef. Gary Jay got involved but Loco powerbombed him into the barricades. A series of big dives followed by everyone, followed by a fast succession of hot moves. Loco hit a big Spanish Fly off the top on Leon. He nailed a Spiral Tap but Leon kicked up. Garvin nailed a big lariat but Gary Jay broke it up with a big dropkick. Garvin nailed a big splash on Jay and scored the pin.
Your winner, Gnarls Garvin in 8:44!
An enjoyable opening match. Laredo Kid is ridiculously smooth and Gringo Loco may be one of the best lucha talents going right now, but this was the story of everyone working hard and trying to hit a lot of big moves to entertain the crowd. Garvin reminded me of a young Balls Mahoney in that he's got some girth to him but everything looked legit and strong in the ring.
Billie Starkz was interviewed about her match against Christi Jaynes. She cut a basic interview, promising she would be champion. Something was going on in the background with John E. Bravo, who manages here, with Ren Jones.
Silas Young vs. Mike Bennett
Young said that he was under the impression that Bradon Lee was going to show up and beat him, even though last time Young was victorious but now, we have Mike Bennett. He said Bennett has had a hell of a career as Mr. Maria Kanellis, which is how he is known in the wrestling world. He said that this is the company that made Silas Young and got him away from all these idiot fans for about 10 games. He told Bennett to bring his A-game tonight. Young got to where he was based on nothing but hard work. He's not a flavor of the month and he's not someone's wife. The locker room doesn't like him, but they respect him. Bennett said he respects him. Young said that's fine, but he doesn't give a sh** about his respect. The crowd chanted for them to ring the bell. Young teased they would keep talking, but said this is going to end with his hand raised.
Bennett asked him if he was going to hit all the cliches in professional wrestling. He said he's not going to go and waste everyone's time. He said he's just going to kick the sh** out of him, because he brought his Chicago lucky charm with him. Out came Maria Kanellis-Bennett. She received a big pop. Pretty funny they are babyfaces here and heels on AXS TV at the same exact time.
They finally locked up with Young grabbing and holding a side headlock, grinding away and then holding him from escaping. Young was sent into the ropes but drilled down to the mat. Young and Bennett fired back and forth with punches. Bennett chased Young to the floor and drilled him with chops. They battle around ringside and into the entrance aisle. Lots of back and forth chops to the chest. Bennett took him down with a charging boot. The crowd loved all of this. He went for another but Young moved and Bennett struck the ring post.
Bennett was tossed into the ring, limping but still nailed Young with an uppercut as he attempted to return to the ring. Bennett tried to suplex him into the ring but Young snapped him throat-first across the ropes. Young drove himself down onto Bennett over and over. He beat down Bennett, who tried to fight from underneath. Young beat him down in the corner with right hands and stomps. Young whipped him across the ring and clubbed him but Bennett kicked out at the last second. Young cinched on a chinlock, trying to force the submission but Bennett fought his way back to his feet but while trying to escape was shoved through the ropes to the floor.
Bennett returned to the ring, but Young continued to beat him down. They are giving Young a lot as a heel to set up the big comeback. Maria slapped her husband to motivate him. That woke him up and he exploded with punches. Bennett whipped Young into the ropes and nailed a sunset flip and maneuvered into a Kimura Young battled to make it to the ropes. It was a great sell. Bennett nailed chops and several superkicks. He followed up with a DVDR for a close two count.
Young kicked Bennett in the bad leg as he charged and snapped him with a twisting brainbuster off the ropes for another close two count. Bennett made a comeback and drilled him for another close two count. The crowd chanted it was a three count. Bennett called for a powerbomb but Young rolled out of the ring. Bennett tossed him back into the ring but as he returned himself, Young kicked the ropes into his groin. He grabbed Bennett for a small package, scoring another close two count. Young tried to hit a handstand into an Arabian Press but Bennett moved out of the way. He speared Young. They battled and Bennett speared him again, then nailed a piledriver for the pin.
Your winner, Mike Bennett!
A great back and forth old school bout with the heel beating down the babyface until Bennett finally made the comeback and scored the win. The storyline was that this was Bennett's first win here. They told a great story from bell to bell.
Impact Wrestling Champion Josh Alexander said that he gets to welcome Masha Slamovich to AAA but tonight is more than that. It's about winning and losing. He is the face of Impact Wrestling and he's not going to lose the title.
AAW Women's Championship Match: Christi Jaynes with Ren Jones vs. Billie Starkz
Jaynes attacked Starkz at the bell and choked her against the ring ropes several times. She shoved Starkz to the mat and kicked her in the face. Jaynes nailed a Cradleshock for a two count and rained down with right hands. Starkz was whipped into the corner and controlled by Jaynes, who chopped her across the chest. Starkz tried to turn the momentum with a headscissors but was caught and dropped into a tombstone piledriver for a two count. Jaynes locked on a Texas Cloverleaf.
Starkz made it to the ropes but continued to get worked over. She finally turned the tide when they battled on the top rope, hitting a superplex. Starkz exploded and nailed a series of German suplexes. Jaynes came back with a backdrop driver. Starkz no sold it and popped up like Road Warrior Hawk. Oh, come on now. Starkz nailed a Gori Guerrero Especial and went to the top. Jaynes was knocked to the floor, where she was hit with a pair of dives. She nailed a swanton off the top but Jaynes kicked out at the last second.
Jaynes nailed several elbows and a STO. She nailed a knee strike to the face but took too long making the cover and Starkz kicked out. Starkz nailed a boot to the back of the head and elevated Jaynes onto her shoulders, then dumped her forward in what was a SCARY bump on her neck with a one-winged angel. Jayne rolled her up right away and pinned her.
Your winner in 10:09 and still AAW Women's Champion Christi Jaynes!
Levi Everett was interviewed backstage. He was starting to talk about Ren Jones and their bout tonight when he was attacked and beaten down by John E. Bravo and Hartenbower, who were obviously paid off by Jones.
Russ Jones vs. Schaff
Jones speared Schaff at the bell and attacked him. They have history here. Schaff came back with a big suplex throw and a clothesline over the top. Schaff nailed a big tope con hilo over the top to the floor. Hell of an intensity here as they were really taking the fight to each other. Jones has a hell of a right hand. Schaff finally avoided a charge and Jones hit the ring post. Schaff beat the hell out of him with hard shots across the back. They fought to the apron and battled back and forth.
Jones gained control and beat Schaff down. He went to the top but was cut off. Schaff went for a superplex and finally nailed it. That looked evil. Schaff was tossed brass knuckles by Chuck Smooth but Schaff threw them down and pulled Smooth into the ring. Solomon Tupu and Conan Lycan hit the ring and destroyed Schaff. Jones attacked them but he took was overwhelmed. Joe Alanzo, who the announcers said has been blackballed from all the local promotions, hopped the rail and joined the attack. Heather Reckless, who is associated with Jones, hit the ring but Alanzo attacked her and laid her out as well. The idea here was a new heel contingent, Smooth Operations, had established itself.
Jones checked on Heather Reckless and showed respect to Schaff.
AAW Heritage Champion Ace Austin was interviewed backstage. He's finally returning to the ring. He's been gone because he's been busy touring the world and joining Bullet Club. While he was gone, Davey Vega was complaining he was the true champion but that's not how it works. You don't get to be the champion until you win the damn thing. He promised Vega would fold.
More AAW coverage on Page 2!
For more on AAW, visit http://aawpro.com.
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