AAW Point of No Return 2013 Review

Elgin & Richards do it again!!

This is my first ever AAW Show. For those who don't know, they're one of the biggest promotions in the Mid-West, mainly running the Chicago Area. I guess a good comparison would be PWG, as AAW also mixes a number of top talent from ROH and Dragon Gate USA/Evolve, along with local talent. I've heard a lot of good things about AAW. Let's see how this show turns out.

AAW Point of No Return 2013

Berwyn, Illinois 4/12/13

1.) Jimmy Jacobs vs. Silas Young (with Val Malone): ***1/2

The show starts with two guys who have been AAW Stalwarts for many years. Young & Jacobs both cut promos before the match, talking about they, who were at one time main-eventing AAW Shows (and in the case of Silas Young, two lengthy reigns as AAW Heavyweight Champion), now curtain jerking in the opening match. The match itself was actually really good. They put on a great opening contest and it was a great way to start the show. 

2.) Dan Lawrence & Marcus Crane vs. Colt Cabana & Junthai Miller: **1/4

So Cabana & Lawrence have been having a little feud going on as of late. Cabana brought out Junthai Miller as his partner for this tag match. This was probably the weakest match on the show. Their wasn't really anything wrong with match, it was just kind of there. Typical early card match with comedy, as we always get from Colt Cabana.

3.) #1 Contender’s Triple Threat Match – Lamar Titan (with Kevin Harvey & Nikki Mayday) vs. Rich Swann vs. Louis Lyndon: ***1/4

Never heard of Lamar Titan, but I'm familiar with Louis Lyndon and of course I know about Rich Swann, who is making his AAW Debut here. This was actually really enjoyable. Had a lot of fun watching this. Just an exciting three way. With the victory, Titan earns a shot at the Heritage Title.

After the match, Kevin Harvey calls out the rest of his "We Are Here" Stable for their match so that they can finally settle their score with Darin Corbin & Marion Fontaine.

4.) Losing Team Must Split – We Are Here (Keith Walker & Tweek Phoenix with Kevin Harvey & Nikki Mayday) vs. Northstache Express (Darin Corbin & Marion Fontaine): ***

So these two teams have been having a very lengthy feud in AAW, and this is the big finale, with the losing team being forced to split. It was a good match, but nothing really more than that. I don't know why, but I just can't get into Walker or Phoenix at all, though I can get into Fontaine A LOT. In the end, interference & miscommunication lead to We Are Here getting the win, forcing the Northstache Express to disband.

After the match, Corbin & Fontaine get into an argument about the loss, and Corbin shoves his former partner before leaving.

5.) Shane Hollister (with Scarlet Bordeaux & Marcus Crane) vs. Sami Callihan: ***1/2

This is another big feud that's been going on in AAW lately. I guess the story here is that Callihan has been driving a wedge between Hollister & Scarlett Bordeaux, the latter being on the receiving end of alleged physical & mental abuse from Hollister. It was a pretty good match. Personally, I much prefer babyface Sami Callihan over the heel he portrays in Dragon Gate USA & Evolve. He's just so much better at that in my opinion. Late in the match, the distress Scarlett was under proved to be nothing more than a rouse as she low blows Callihan, allowing Hollister to win.

6.) SHIMMER Showcase - Saraya Knight, Heather Patera & Taylor Made (with Truth Martini) vs. Heidi Lovelace, Christina Von Eerie & MsChif: **3/4

As another part of his long running feud with MsChif, Truth Martini hires Saraya Knight to take her out in this match. It was a pretty good showcase. I'm big fans of some of the women in here and others I'm seeing for the first time. A pretty solid women's match with MsChif and company getting the win.

7.) AAW Heritage Title – ACH vs. Kyle O’Reilly: ****

ACH comes into this match as the champion. This was a pretty great match. Even though they would top themselves in a big way a few months after this in PWG, this match was still very good in it's own right. Just simply an amazing match that sees ACH retain his title.

8.) AAW Tag Team Titles – Irish Airborne vs. Arik Cannon & Mat Fitchett: ***1/4

So Cannon & Fitchett are two guys who have a history with Irish Airborne, and figured they could combine forces to take on their hated foes. A pretty solid Tag Team Title Match. Not the best match of the night, but it was very solid and proved to be a nice break between the night's two big matches. 

9.) AAW Heavyweight Title – “Unbreakable” Michael Elgin vs. Davey Richards: ****3/4

Amazing. Simply Awesome!! What else can be said? It's Davey Richards & Michael Elgin. Obviously not their greatest match, but definitely one of their best. What I love about this match, and the reason I rate it the way I do, is because when compared to their famed ROH Match at Showdown in the Sun, their roles are completely revered. Here, Elgin entered as the babyface champion while Richards was the douchebag heel. It created a completely different dynamic that still resulted in an awesome main event. Simply put, this match needs to be seen.

Overall: 9.0/10

This was my first time watching an AAW Show, and boy was it awesome. You have two great title matches (one of which is a MOTYC) featuring four of ROH's best that are well worth the price of the VOD alone. Along with that, you have a bunch of undercard matches that are really good and quite entertaining. It was a really great show, and it's definitely made me a lot more interested in AAW.