By Chris Vetter

Full disclosure: AAW gave me this DVD to review.

AAW is the hot, growing promotion based in suburban Chicago. They run events at an Eagles Club -- a tavern -- in Berwyn, Ill., and they are consistently drawing 150 to 200 paid, and that appears to be the case here. This is a review of AAW's "Third Year Anniversary," from March 10, 2007. I've written this before, but AAW reminds me of a very good edition of Monday Night RAW, with its emphasis on good-but-short matches, storylines, and backstage segments shown on an overhead screen. A LOT of thought goes into the storylines of each show. On commentary are Phil Coven and Billy Whack, but I can't tell them apart yet. The crowd was huge and hot!

* The DVD opened with owner Billy Whack talking to Jimmy Jacobs. Whack is frustrated that Jacobs was late. Jacobs didn't seem to care. "I'm your champ," Jacobs told Whack. Whack told Jacobs that if he lost his title, he would be fired. The promo felt contrived.

* A highlight clip showing action from recent AAW shows aired. More promotions should put together clips exactly like this! It instantly filled in viewers about what is going on. (The last AAW DVD I reviewed was the December show, so this filled in the gaps for me).

* A backstage interviewer talked to Tony Scarpone. Scarpone said his former manager Jim Jesus is a "fake" who offers nothing but "empty promises." Scarpone turned his attention to his opponent, Jay Ryan. "Nothing will stop me tonight," Scarpone said.

* Krotch, the sickly-thin wrestler (who seriously must weigh in at 140 to 150 pounds) argued with his sister, Nikki. Nikki wanted Krotch to wrestle later. "I'm gonna get killed," Krotch tried to tell her.

* A clip aired of Jim Jesus and Tyler Black in a graveyard. Jim Jesus talked about Danny Daniels' "dead daddy" was right here in the graveyard. Tyler Black turned his back to the camera and urinated on Daniels' father's grave. Jim Jesus said, "Danny Daniels, don't think of coming back."

To the ring! The first two matches are qualifiers to get a title shot later in the show.

(1) Qualifier: Jerry Lynn defeats Chandler McClure (w/Jim Jesus) at 6:40. These two just had a singles match in November. McClure attacked Lynn from behind. Lynn hit a flying-back-elbow and some stiff forearms. Jim Jesus grabbed Lynn's ankle to distract him. Lynn hit a dropkick in the ring, then a baseball slide dropkick to the floor, and the crowd loudly chanted, "Jerry!" McClure slammed Lynn's back into the guardrail at 2:30. McClure tied an arm behind Lynn's back. Lynn hit a crossbody block for a nearfall. McClure hit a backbreaker for a nearfall. Lynn hit a shoulder tackle, a leaping clothesline, and a Tornado DDT for a nearfall. Jim Jesus distracted Lynn, allowing McClure to get a rollup for a nearfall. But, Lynn nailed the Cradle Piledriver for the pin. Solid, but the first match was a bit better.

* In a backstage promo, Jayson Reign said that Jim Jesus helped Chandler McClure get a win last time. Reign challenged McClure to a match next month.

(2) Qualifier: Tyler Black (w/Michael Prader) vs. "M-Dogg 20" Matt Cross ended in a time-limit draw at 15:07. Good match, but I honestly hoped for a lot more, as I'm a big fan of both guys. The announcers were upset at the clip of Black urinating on the grave. Black jawed at fans. They opened with an intense lockup, and the announcers said this was a first-time-ever singles match. Cross hit some good reversals, so Black bailed to the floor. Black hit a shoulder tackle, and he's much bigger than Cross. Cross came back with a Japanese armdrag at 3:00, and he was focused on the left arm. Black bailed and huddled with his manager on the floor. Moments later, Black accidentally hit Prader.

Cross hit a bodyslam and a split-legged moonsault, but Prader made the save. Black started to head to the back, but he ran back and attacked Cross by the entrance ramp. Black hit some blows to the back, punches to the face, and he was now in charge. Prader hit Cross as well. Cross hit a standing moonsault for a nearfall at 7:30. Black hit a dropkick, and he tied Cross in the Tree of Woe and hit some stomps. Black applied a sleeper on the mat. Cross went for a sunset flip, but Black rolled through it and nailed a basement dropkick to the face for a nearfall at 10:00. Black dropped him gut-first on the top rope and kicked him in the head. The crowd rallied for M-Dogg.

Black hit a running forearm in the corner. Cross hit an enziguri at 12:30, and they were both down. Cross hit a headscissors takedown and a leg lariat, then a hurricanrana for a nearfall. Black got a rollup with a handful of tights for a believable nearfall. Black nailed a Mafia Kick for another believable nearfall, but he missed a frogsplash. Cross missed a Swanton Splash, and suddenly the bell rang, announcing this was a draw. Good match, but these two are capable of so much more.

* The crowd, of course, wanted five more minutes. The announcers said it would be decided later which one would advance and get a title shot against Marek Brave. I'm not sure how only one of them would get picked...

* Backstage, an interviewer tried to talk to Charlie Manson and Tyme Paige. However, Manson and Paige spoke to each other in Spanish and they ignored the interviewer.

* Ami Zane cut a short promo, saying Jim Jesus had fired her, but he will not be able to get rid of her. Zane then warned Jim Jesus to stay out of other people's business.

(3) Phil Atlas defeats Samurai Del Sol at 3:15. Atlas has long black hair, and he's a 'ladies man.' I just saw him wrestle a good match in UWA Hardcore in Canada. This is the debut of Samurai, who has a red mask and red tights. Phil quickly tied up the leg, and he hit a nice armdrag, then a flip dive to the floor. Del Sol missed a moonsault off the apron to the floor. Del Sol hit a dropkick to the gut as Atlas was going for a move off the top rope. Atlas hit some chops and a spin heel kick at 2:30. Del Sol hit a (Roderick Strong) gorilla press gutbuster over his knees for a nearfall, but he made a cocky cover. Atlas nailed an enziguri and a full nelson-into-a-facebuster for the pin. Solid squash.

* Backstage, Shane Hollister and Bryce Benjamin talked. Lucas, the effiminate gay character walked up! "It's good to be back!" Lucas said. (Joey Eastman, a ring announcer, also is Lucas. He apparently has a split personality after repeated blows to the head.) Meanwhile, Dan Lawrence was drinking beer, and he was not serious about his tag match later on.

(4) N8 Mattson & Truth Martini (the Michigan Invasion) defeat Charlie Manson Jr. & Tyme Paige at 10:36. Solid tag match. The crowd was HOT. The luchadors are much smaller than the Invasion. Manson started against Martini, and they had a quick exchange, and Martini cowered in the ropes. N8 entered and he hit a quick armdrag on Paige, and he jawed at the crowd. Wow, the fans are LOUD for this, as they HATE the Michigan Invasion! Paige hit a nice headscissors takedown and a leg lariat. The faces hit a double dropkick on Mattson. Martini hit a low blow in the ropes on Paige at 4:00.

Mattson hit a European Uppercut on Paige. The heels hit a team Japanese Armdrag move. Martini hit a headbutt and a kneedrop to the face for a nearfall. The heels continued to make quick tags. Martini hit a running double knees shot in the corner, and he choked Paige on the mat, then he hit a Falcon Arrow slam. They hit double clotheslines, and both men were down at 8:00. Manson finally made the hot tag, and he hit some punches. Martini accidentally hit Mattson. Manson hit a hurricanrana on Martini. Manson nailed a dive to the floor on Martini, then a top-rope crossbody block on Mattson for a nearfall. Manson hit a tornado DDT on Mattson. However, the heels hit a Curbstomp & guillotine legdrop combo, and Mattson pinned Charlie Manson. Good heat throughout this match.

* Silas Young cut a backstage promo, apparently taped a few days ago. He apologized to the fans that he couldn't be there, but he has a sore neck from a match last month. "I've been trying to push myself," Silas said. Silas said he hopes to get some "get well" mail from fans, and he even held up an address for fans to write down. He said that get-well mail would really pick him up. (Great promo, as this is clearly going to lead to a heel turn! No self-respecting babyface would practically beg for fan support like this!)

(5) Jimmy Jacobs won a 20-man battle royal at 6:28, to advance to a title match later. "I don't know half these guys," one announcer said. I concur! There were a LOT of thin, small guys in the ring I've never seen before! Skullkrusher Rasche Brown, a big black man at about 6'4" and maybe 280 pounds was in the ring, as was mat technician Conrad Kennedy III and Texas cowboy Jay Ryan. Krotch, the tiny thin wrestler, hit in the corner, and the fans were behind Krotch. Krotch actually eliminated someone, and he was as shocked as the announcers!

It somehow came down to Krotch vs. Skullkrusher vs. the beefy Michael Prader vs. Jimmy Jacobs. Krotch saw Skullkrusher head toward him, and Krotch quickly eliminated himself at 4:00! Funny. Jacobs hid in the corner as Prader and Skullkrusher traded punches. Those two brawled to the floor (going through the ropes). Jacobs tried to attack Skullkrusher from behind, but Brown saw him. Skullkrusher hit a backbody drop at 6:00. Skullkrusher tossed out Prader, but Jacobs snuck up and tossed Skullkrusher! Basic battle royal.

* Backstage, Jimmy Jacobs was celebrating, but Billy Whack informed him he still must defend his Heritage title, or be fired. And if he loses the Heritage title, he won't get his heavyweight title shot later!

(6) Tweek & Dash (the Phoenix Twins) & Trik Davis & Conrad Kennedy III (DP Associates) defeat Dan Lawrence & Ryan Boz & Shane Hollister & Bryce Benjamin (w/Lucas) at 11:30. Lucas got on the mic and said he was glad to be back. The announcers talked about how there were a lot of egos among these four tag teams, and they wondered how they would all get along. The Phoenix Twins are identical, and I truely cannot tell them apart. Boz overpowered the twins, and he hit a shoulder tackle on Trik. None of the other heels wanted to tag in to face Boz! Funny. Boz gave each of the four heels a hiptoss, then he accidentally gave the ref a hiptoss, too. Good humor. The ref then gave Conrad Kennedy a hiptoss! Boz slammed Lawrenced onto the Phoenix Twins for a nearfall at 2:30.

The Phoenix Twins hit some team moves on the smaller Lawrence. Trik hit a nice missile dropkick to the back of Lawrence' head. The heels were taking turns beating up Lawrence. CK3 hit a neckbreaker. Lawrence hit a Lionsault press on CK3 & Trik. Bryce Benjamin made the hot tag at 5:00, and he hit some dropkicks and cleared the ring. Trik hit a snap suplex on Bryce, then a top-rope doublestomp on Bryce. The Phoenix Twins hit a team powerbomb. Trik chopped Bryce on the floor. Boz finally made the hot tag at 9:00, and he clotheslined the Phoenix Twins to the floor. Hollister dove through the ropes to the floor on some heels. Trik went for a dive, but Bryce cut him off. Boz dove onto the Phoenix Twins! The Phoenix Twins came back with a team back suplex on Bryce for a nearfall.

Boz slammed Lawrence on one of the twins for a nearfall. There was lots of fighting going on outside the ring. Suddenly, Lucas jumped in the ring, but he hit Bryce!!! The Phoenix Twins then pinned Bryce, and the fans booed Lucas' heel turn. Lucas ordered the Twins to beat up Bryce. A woman named Jadie, who was in Bryce's corner, hopped in the ring, and the announcers screamed for her to leave, saying she is six months pregnant. The heels tied Jadie in the corner! Lucas hit her in the face with a club! "Joey Eastman, you are the scum of the earth," one announcer said. Bryce finally got free, and he was crying on the mat in ANGER as people checked on Jadie's condition. WOW, that was an awesome post-match angle, if you are able to stomach watching a woman getting hit.

* Backstage, Derek St. Holmes talked to two skinny white kids who didn't do well in the battle royal. St. Holmes gave them each a new nickname, as he apparently has taken these students under his wing.

(7) Eric Priest defeats Jimmy Jacobs at 10:38 to win the Heritage title. Jacobs got on the mic and said he has already eliminated 20 men in the battle royal, and he said he can beat anyone in the locker room. His mystery opponent turned out to be Eric Priest, who got a big face pop. Jacobs attacked Eric before the bell and hit some stomps. They traded punches, but Priest is much bigger and stronger. Priest hit a clothesline and a full nelson slam, and Jacobs bailed. Jacobs grabbed his Heritage title and started to head to the back. Priest pulled him back into the ring. Priest crotched Jacobs on the guardrail at 3:00, then he hit a flying double ax handle. In the ring, Priest hit an elbow drop.

Jacobs nailed a drop-toe-hold onto the title belt. Jacobs hit several doublestomps and a senton for a nearfall, then a second-rope elbow drop for a nearfall at 6:00. Jacobs hit a spear for a nearfall, and he went for a top-rope crossbody block, but Priest caught him in mid-air, and Priest nailed a Spinebuster for a nearfall! Jacobs hit a spear, and he jawed at the referee. Priest hit a chokeslam powerbomb for a nearfall at 9:00. Jacobs bit Priest on the forehead, and he hit a top-rope senton splash for a believable nearfall. Jacobs grabbed a chair, but the referee took it from him. Priest hit a Mafia Kick and an "FU69"/spinning uranage slam for the pin! New champ! Above-average match, but not much more than that.

* BIlly Whack walked to the ring. Jimmy Jacobs begged for forgiveness. Whack said he has "released Jacobs from his contract." (So, he never gave the Vince McMahon wind-up "your fired" line.) Skullkrusher hit the ring, gave Jacobs a Burning Hammer, and dragged him out of the ring and out of AAW (for now, anyway! He'll be back!)

* Next was a backstage interview with the champion, Marek Brave. It was announced that both Tyler Black and M-Dogg 20 would be in the four-way finale, as Jacobs was out! Marek noted that he has scored victories over all three of his opponents, but he also acknowledged that "the odds are stacked against me." He said he would walk out as champion.

(8) Jay Ryan defeats Tony Scarpone in a Texas Bullrope match at 12:38. This is the sort of bullrope match where a wrestler must touch each corner to get the win; no pinfalls here. They traded punches and fought to the floor. Ryan choked Scarpone with the rope. Scarpone whipped Ryan into the ring steps at 2:00. Ryan hit some headbutts and slammed Tony into the guardrail. Back in the ring, Ryan hit some blows with the bell to the head, and he was able to touch two corners before getting cut off. Scarpone hit a Mafia Kick, and he touched three corners. Scarpone hit some chops, and they fought back to the floor. Ryan grabbed the mic and hit Scarpone in the head with it. Scarpone grabbed the cowbell, and he grinded it into Ryan's arm at 5:30! OUCH!

In the ring, Ryan hit a powerslam, and they traded more punches. Ryan was bleeding from the forehead. Scarpone gave Ryan a backbody drop onto a table at ringside at 8:30, but the table didn't break. Fans chanted for Scarpone, as he jabbed Ryan repeated on the forehead, and Ryan was now quite BLOODY. Scarpone touched three corners, but was again cut off. Ryan hit a back suplex. Scarpone hit a clothesline, and the crowd was hot! Ryan hit a DDT at 11:30. Scarpone hit a one-armed Samoan Drop, and he went for the cover, but the referee had to remind him there aren't pins here. Scarpone touched three corners, with Ryan touching them behind him. Ryan then charged at Scarpone, trying to hit a clothesline. Scarpone ducked, and Ryan touched the final turnbuckle to get the win! Scarpone hit a standing powerbomb after the match to get his heat back. Above-average action for this style of match.

* A couple skinny kids congratulated Eric Priest backstage on his title win, but Priest responded by beating them up! He said he didn't need their congratulations.

(9) Marek Brave defeats Tyler Black (w/Jim Jesus & Ms. Matano) and M-Dogg 20 and Jerry Lynn in an elimination match at 19:45 to retain the AAW Heavyweight title. Very good match, and easily best of the show. Lynn clutched his lower back during introductions, selling an injury from his first match. Bravo. Lynn and Marek started and traded good reversals, and the announcers said that Marek has the advantage, because he's the only one not to wrestle yet tonight. Good point. They traded armdrags and dropkicks and ended in a standoff. Black jawed at the crowd. M-Dogg entered at 4:00 to face Marek, and Marek hit a headscissors takedown. M-Dogg hit a leg lariat. Black entered and hit some stomps on the prone Marek, and some blows to the back, then a standing neckbreaker.

Marek hit a bodyslam on Black, and Marek tagged in Lynn. The faces all took turns working over Black, who was the lone heel in this match! Lynn hit a sideslam for a nearfall on Black at 7:00. Marek hit a springboard crossbody block on Lynn for a nearfall, then a nice hurricanrana. Lynn hit an inverted DDT for a nearfall. M-Dogg hit a nice dropkick on Black, then a Tornado DDT, a neckbreaker over his knee, and a doublestomp on both Lynn & Black. M-Dogg then hit a moonsault on Black for a nearfall at 10:00. Lynn and Black traded punches on the floor, and Marek dove on both of them! M-Dogg then hit his cartwheel-into-a-dive to the floor on everyone, and the crowd went nuts! One announcer said M-Dogg is "the most amazing athlete I've ever seen." However, just seconds later, Black hit a piledriver on M-Dogg in the ring to pin him at 11:36.

Marek hit a top-rope crossbody block and a Tornado DDT on Black for a nearfall. They did a a tower spot in the corner, and all three were down.Marek hit a dropkick on Lynn, then his spear-into-a-Northern Lights suplex on Lynn, and Black hit a splash on Marek. Lynn dropped BLack on his head. Jim Jesus distracted Lynn. Black hit a low blow. Marek nailed a Superkick on Lynn to pin and eliminate Lynn at 15:16. It's down to just Marek Brave vs. Tyler Black!

Marek hit a faceplant for a nearfall, and he went for a Lionsault, but Black got his knees up. Black hit a Falcon Arrow slam for a nearfall, then a powerbomb into the corner. Marek hit a running boot, and they were both down. They traded punches and chops, and Marek hit a Blue Thunder bomb for a nearfall at 18:30. Ms. Matano grabbed Marek's leg. Black hit a Superkick. Suddenly, Ami Zane charged to ringside, and she attacked Ms. Matano! Meanwhile, Danny Daniels ran in to the ring and he hit a low blow and a piledriver on Black! Black nailed a Superkick on Black to score the pin! Good match, and the crowd was hot for the wild finish, between Zane and Daniels hitting the ring.

Final thoughts:

This was a solid show, but not the best of the recent AAW shows I've watched. The main event was easily the best. Cross and Black saved their best stuff for their second match of the day. I've said it a lot lately, but nobody in their 40's is working harder on the indy scene than Jerry Lynn. The crowd went nuts for both Zane and for Daniels at the end of the big main event.

Second-best goes to the solid M-Dogg-Black match early in the show. Again, while I expected a bit more, it still topped everything else here. Third-best goes to the big eight-man tag match, as the action stayed hot, and the crowd was shocked at the Lucas swerve at the finish, as I think this crowd really loved Lucas' fun-loving gay antics. In fourth place is the solid big-man brawl between Scarpone and Jay Ryan.

What didn't work: This is the second time I've seen an AAW battle royal this year, and it just seems to be a blah match to get all the undersized trainees on a show. Most of the people in that match just aren't ready to work in front of a crowd. I also didn't like that Jacobs was told he would be fired if he lost his title; I just didn't see the logic of why Whack felt he had to go. Jacobs-Priest was solid, but these two are also capable of having a better match. N8 Mattson has the 'look' of a wrestler, but he just does nothing in the ring that interests me. McClure has had better matches than this of late.

Other random thoughts: I guess I'm fine with Lucas hitting a pregnant woman in the face and knocking her out, but I definitely would not have approved of a shot to the belly. That definitely was some edgy booking. Equally edgy is the decision to have Black urinate on a grave. It's certainly pushing the boundaries of good taste (even for wrestling!), but the crowd didn't seem to have a problem with it, and the fans really gave Daniels a huge pop when he got revenge at the end of the show. Phil Atlas is a welcome newcomer, and I hope he's back.

This show gets a thumbs in the middle. The main event is the only must-see match, but it's no "match of the year" candidate, either. But again, AAW is more about quick, short matches and storylines that entertain the fans than it is about providing big "workrate matches" one after another. For AAW, the formula is definitely working, and I approve. This DVD is available at www.aawrestling.com.

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