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RADICAN'S TAKE
RADICAN'S AIW REVIEW SERIES: "2014 J.T. Lightning Invitational Tournament: Night 2" 5/24 - Bagwell returns to sing American Males theme, Scott-Iron feud heats up, Justice does Lucha, Elgin defends title throughout tournament

Aug 21, 2014 - 2:21:52 PM
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By Sean Radican, Torch columnist

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RADICAN’S AIW REVIEW SERIES
“2014 J.T. LIGHTNING INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT: NIGHT 2”
MAY 24, 2014
CLEVELAND, OHIO
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(1) Josh Prohibition vs. Tim Donst in a 2014 JLIT Tournament Quarterfinal match. The announcers mentioned that Prohibition’s mind was on Matt Cross and said he can’t look past Donst here. Donst sent Prohibition to the outside during the early going and hit a tope. Donst went for a running elbow off the apron, but Prohibition got out of the way and he crashed into the guardrail. Prohibition worked over Donst inside the ring for a long period of time. Prohibition eventually got the STF, but Donst managed to get to the ropes. They went back to the outside and Donst whipped Prohibition into the guardrail and followed up with a clothesline off the apron to the floor. He hit a STO back inside the ring for a 2 count. Donst hit several chops in the corner and then grabbed Prohibition’s nipples. The fans chanted t---y twister. Prohibition managed to counter Donst and he hit a T-bone suplex and both men were down. They went back and forth and Prohibition hit a neck breaker on Donst over his knee for a 2 count. Donst blocked the drunken driver and turned it into a bridging pin for a 2 count. Prohibition hit the drunken driver after rolling through, but Donst kicked out at the last second and the fans fired up. Donst eventually caught Prohibition in the from dusk ‘til Donst submission for the win.

Prohibition cut a promo after the match. He said as a former student and friend of J.T. Lightning, he thanked the fans for coming out to the show. He said without J.T. Lightning there’s no Josh Prohibition, Johnny Gargano, Matt Cross, or AIW. Prohibition said J.T. lives in all of the students he invested in. Prohibition said tonight was for J.T. a great man and a great wrestler. The fans chanted J.T. Lightning. Prohibition turned his attention to Matt Cross. He said Cross had doubted his love for wrestling and he doesn’t have to do it anymore, but he does it because he loves it. He said Cross is scared to get a real job and move out of his basement. Prohibition said he wants Cross at Absolution and the fans applauded. This was another really good promo from Prohibition to build up his feud with Cross.

Winner: Tim Donst

Star rating: (**1/4) – This was a solid opening match. It started slowly, but picked up nicely towards the end with some good exchanges between Donst and Prohibition leading into the finish.

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Eric Ryan got on the mic and said when J.T. Lightning booked shows, he had a little bit of everything on them. The fans chanted “Let’s get crazy.” Ryan asked for the rules to be relaxed a little bit for his match against Danny Havoc. The fans chanted “Relaxed rules.” Havoc looked at the camera and said, “This is for you, Nigel.”

(2) Danny Havoc vs. Eric Ryan in a 2014 JLIT Tournament Quarterfinal Relaxed Rules match. Dave Prazak joined Eddie Kingston in the commentary booth. Havoc backed Ryan into the corner and tweaked his nipples before backing away. What’s going on here with all this nipple play? Ryan returned the favor a short time later after backing Havoc into the corner. Havoc got the upper and began working over Ryan against the ropes. He sent Ryan to the floor with a dropkick. Havoc hit an asai moonsault to the floor and followed up with a Russian leg sweep on the entrance ramp. Havoc went up to the stage and hit an elbow drop to the floor. Havoc ended up going for a flying forearm against the guardrail, but Ryan got out of the way and he went flying into the crowd. Ryan got the upper hand on the outside before tossing Havoc back into the ring. Ryan set up a chair over Havoc in the corner and hit a coast-to-coast dropkick and the fans fired up. He made the cover on Havoc, but only got a 2 count. Havoc fired back and caught Ryan with a variation of the DVD driver for a 2 count. Havoc followed up with a sit-out powerbomb on a chair for a 2 count. Havoc hit a sit-out Michinoku driver off the top, but Ryan kicked out at the last second and the fans fired up. Ryan fired back and applied the lion tamer and Havoc tapped out.

Winner: Eric Ryan

Star rating: (**) – They filled the match with some big spots for near falls, which set the bar awfully high for the matches following this one. The fans fired up for the big spots during the match, but the Michinoku driver off the top onto a chair should have been the finish.

(3) Matt Cross vs. Seleziya Sparx in a 2014 JLIT Tournament Quarterfinal match. Sparx countered Cross in the corner and caught him with an air raid crash during the early stages of the match. Cross rolled to the outside and Sparx nailed him with some chops, but Cross elevated over her against the guardrail and nailed her with a chop. Sparx tossed him into the ring, but he nailed her with a shoulder to the gut as she got back into the ring. Cross then hit a big dive through the ropes to the floor on Sparx and the fans booed. The pace picked up and Sparx ducked a springboard and went for a dive, but Cross nailed her with a kick as she came through the ropes and the fans booed. Kingston made an awful comment about women being able to bleed for 5-7 days and still stay alive. Cross worked over Sparx inside the ring as Kingston said that women are sneaky. Kingston said Cross should try to put away Sparx quicker after she got in a flurry of offense. Cross fired back and continued to work over Sparx. Cross hit a slam and slowly went up top. He went for a split-legged moonsault, but Sparx got her knees up. Sparx hit a series of atomic drops. She then tripped Cross into a split and nailed him with a big kick. That was a crazy spot. Cross countered a German, but ate a huge clothesline for a near fall. Both wrestlers were slow to get up after Cross kicked out. Cross blocked a German and hit a bicycle kick. Sparx countered a piledriver and they went back and forth. Sparx hit a big German and then put Cross on the top turnbuckle. Cross got Sparx up on his shoulders and hit a DVD off the top for the win. The fans booed after Cross won.

Winner: Matt Cross

Star rating: (**3/4) – This was a good match while it lasted and Sparx looked good here against Cross. I have to give her a lot of credit, as she’s almost always impressive when she’s matched up in the ring against a male wrestler.

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Ethan Page came out to face Buff Bagwell and flexed his pectorals. Buff Bagwell came out with Kash next and too sweet’d the fans at ringside. Page mimicked throwing money at Bagwell when he got into the rings. The fans started singing the American Males theme song and Bagwell started to clap along. The fans began clapping along with Bagwell. The fans booed Page when he was introduced. Bagwell then got on the mic and sang the American Males theme and the fans went nuts. The fans began singing along with Bagwell. The fans then chanted for Bagwell.

Page got on the mic and said Page vs. Bagwell couldn’t happen anywhere but in in AIW. He said he wanted to ask Bagwell if he made more money to f--- than to wrestle. Bagwell said it’s close and Page said he made a killing when he f----ed the fans out of a good match. He told Bagwell he wouldn’t have to sell the c--- if he hadn’t s--- the bed against Booker T on Monday Night Raw. I popped huge and the fans chanted for Page. Bagwell said he agreed with Page, but told him that’s one more time than he had ever been on Raw. This has been amazing pre-match promo exchange. Page said he was done talking.

(4) Ethan Page vs. Buff Bagwell (w/Kash) in a 2014 JLIT Tournament Quarterfinal match. Bagwell ran wild on Page during the early stages and sent him to the floor with a clothesline over the ropes. Bagwell dominated the action on the outside before tossing Page into the guardrail. Page fired back and snapped Bagwell’s neck over the top rope. He followed up with a big dropkick inside the ring, but Bagwell got his foot on the ropes. Page dominated the action for a long period of time. The fans tried to rally behind Bagwell, who began to fire up out of a headlock. Bagwell began to fire back and hit a flurry of offense on Page capped by a neck breaker. Page ducked the blockbuster and went to the second turnbuckle. Page ended up hitting an enzuguri and the announcers called it the Kickstarter. I was laughing hard as Page hit a powerbomb for a 2 count. Bagwell set up Page and hit the Canadian destroyer for a near fall. The fans went crazy and began chanting “Holy s---t.” Wow! Page fired back and hit an ace crusher through the ropes for the win.

The fans chanted for Bagwell after the match and chanted “Please come back.”

Winner: Ethan Page

Star rating: (***) – This was great for what it was. I loved the announcers talking about the Observer, PWTorch, and Kickstarter’s gone wrong during this match. The finish left me shaking my head a bit, as Page kicked out of the Canadian destroyer and then won with an ace crusher, but given what this was designed to do, I’m fine with it.

(5) AIW Intense Champion Louis Lyndon vs. Sonjay Dutt in a 2014 JLIT Tournament Quarterfinal Non-Title match. Lyndon jumped Dutt at the bell. The announcers mentioned the winner of this match would go on to face Page, who Lyndon had formed a unit with alongside Sparx. They went to a quick exchange off the ropes that ended with a hurricanrana into the ropes that sent Lyndon flying into the ropes. Both men went to an exchange on the apron. Lyndon ended up getting the upper hand after shoving Dutt into the ringpost. They ended up going at it on the outside. Lyndon whipped Dutt into the guardrail before nailing him with a big boot. Lyndon grabbed a Muta lock back inside the ring, but Dutt managed to get the ropes. Lyndon worked a headlock on the mat. Dutt began to fire up and got to his feet. He fought out of the headlock and nailed Lyndon with a series of punches. They went back and forth and Dutt eventually caught Lyndon with a satellite head scissors and a running SSP for a near fall. They went to another great sequence with Dutt hitting a standing moonsault, rolling through, and hitting a springboard moonsault for a near fall. Lyndon fired back and hit a big German with a bridge a short time later for a 2 count. Dutt fired back and dropped Lyndon down with a muscle buster. Dutt then went up top and missed a moonsault, but landed on his feet. Lyndon then flipped over him and rolled through into a sloppy pinning combination with a handful of tights for the win.

Winner: Louis Lyndon

Star rating: (**1/4) – They put together some good sequences, but this was kept rather short and the rollup finish with a handful of tights looked a bit sloppy. I was expecting a better match out of these two.

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Heidi Lovelace came out for her match against Michael Elgin and prayed in the corner. Elgin made his entrance and shook his head before making his way down to the ring.

(6) AIW ABSOLUTE Champion Michael Elgin vs. Heidi Lovelace (w/Sammy Geodollno) in a 2014 JLIT Tournament Quarterfinal Absolute Championship match. The bell rang and Elgin acted like he didn’t want to wrestle Lovelace. Elgin turned his back and Lovelace went for a kick, but Elgin caught it. Elgin then caught a slap from Lovelace and began dancing with her. Lovelace hit several forearms, but Elgin shoved her away. Lovelace kicked out Elgin’s leg and hit a kick to his head. She ended up pulling the ropes from Elgin and he went to the floor. Lovelace went for a hurricanrana off the apron, but Elgin caught her and swung her into the guardrail and the fans went nuts. Geodollno tried to revive Lovelace, who wasn’t moving. Lovelace finally began to stir and managed to barely beat the ref’s count, but as soon as she got into the ring, Elgin nailed her with a dropkick that sent her back to the floor. The announcers said Elgin might be worried about going too far. Lovelace tried to nail Elgin with a series of forearms, but Elgin lifted her up and slammed her onto the apron. Lovelace once again beat the ref’s count and Elgin looked upset. Elgin went for a buckle bomb, but Lovelace rolled around him into a sunset flip. Elgin tried to sit down on her, but Lovelace got out of the way. She went up top, but Elgin nailed her with an uppercut. Elgin went up top with Lovelace and lifted her onto his shoulders, but Lovelace broke free and went for a super hurricanrana. Elgin caught her and went for a powerbomb, but she turned it into a hurricanrana. Lovelace went up top and hit an inverted hurricanrana off the top for a near fall. Elgin set up for a spinning backfist, but he couldn’t do. Lovelace flipped him off and Elgin nailed her with a spinning backfist. Elgin hit the buckle bomb and the Elgin bomb for the win.

Elgin got on the mic and said Lovelace is kind of a bitch, but she’s a tough bitch, so thank you. The fans chanted for Lovelace once she recovered. The ref ended up carrying her to the back.

Winner: Michael Elgin to retain the Absolute Championship.

Star rating: (**3/4) – This match told a good story with Elgin not wanting to do a lot of damage to Lovelace. Lovelace finally brought out the anger in Elgin and he finished her off. I liked the story they told.

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(7) The Iron Curtain (Benjamin Boone & Dick Justice & Gregory Iron & Joey Vincent Martini) w/Jerry vs. Colin Delaney & Marion Fontaine & UltraMantis Black & Veda Scott in an Eight Person Tag match. The match started with everyone brawling. Scott and Iron ended up alone in the ring, but Jerry pulled Iron out of the ring. Boone and Black ended up going at it inside the ring with a brawl still taking place on the outside. Boone hit a big splash on Black for a 2 count. Black fired back and hit a DDT, but Martini ran into the ring and wiped him out with a clothesline. He followed up with a big powerslam. Fontaine got into the ring and offered a handshake, but Martini swatted it away. They did some comedy with the ref passing his leg back and forth between Martini. Fontaine eventually ducked a charge in the corner and hit a springboard splash out of the corner. The announcers tried to claim that Iron came up with coming out to “Cult of Personality.” Fontaine got the upper hand and Iron and got a schoolboy for a 2 count. Delaney and Justice ended up squaring off. Justice started talking trash to Delaney and started doing Lucha Libre style arm drags on Delaney and the fans went ballistic. The Iron Curtain ended up all running into each other in the corner. Everyone hit moves in the corner until Justice countered Scott. The action broke down and they went to a flurry of exchanges. Martini hit a huge F5 on Fontaine, who took an incredible bump.

Scott went up top and wiped out Martini with a big dive. Delaney then hit a big springboard to the floor onto the Iron Curtain. Delaney and Black wiped out the members of the Iron Curtain with a pair of rolling sentons to the floor. Delaney wiped out everyone with a trust fall to the floor. The fans chanted for Justice to fly. Justice climbed to the apron and wiped out everyone with a splash. Justice then pulled off his dress shirt revealing an American flag singlet. Scott ended up alone in the ring with the Iron Curtain, but her partners made the save. Justice ended up alone in the ring with Scott. The fans fired up with a “This is awesome” chant. Fontaine came into the ring and hit a knockout punch on Justice and they both fell onto him for the win.

Scott got on the mic after the match and promised that it wasn’t over between them. Scott said Iron had talked about him wanting to be together. She said at Absolution it would be her vs. Iron one-on-one. Iron sat on the entrance ramp and smiled.

Winners: Veda Scott & UltraMantis Black & Colin Delaney & Marion Fontaine

Star rating: (***1/4) – This was a good brawling style match. Dick Justice hitting a series of Lucha inspired arm drags was incredible given his size. They built up to a big series of dives that fired up the crowd before Scott’s team got the win.

(8) AIW Tag Team Champions The Jollyville F—k-Its (T-Money & Russ Myers) vs. The Forgotten (B.J. Whitmer & Jimmy Jacobs). Both teams began throwing punches and decked the ref and both teams began brawling. Jacobs wasn’t wearing boots to wrestle. The action quickly spilled to the floor and Jacobs slammed Myers on the ramp. The brawl continued to the outside until Myers hit a moonsault off the stage to the floor to wipe out everyone. Both teams continued to brawl on the outside. They brawled over to the merchandise table where Nigel McGuinness was standing! Both teams continued to brawl all over the building. Russ and Money took turns punching Whitmer until Jacobs nailed Myers with a running trashcan toss. Jacobs got a running start and jumped off a chair before hitting an elbow on Myers. Whitmer held Money over a garbage can and Jacobs jumped off a table and hit him with an elbow drop. Jacobs went for an elbow off the table with Russ draped over the trashcan, but he got out of the way. Myers got up on the trashcan and told the announcer to hold it. He then hit a moonsault off the large trashcan to the floor onto Jacobs. Jacobs and Myers brawled backstage. Whitmer and Money also brawled to the back. The announcer checked on the ref and he threw the match out.

Winners: No Contest – This was a decent brawl, although they didn’t do anything all that spectacular while going at it on the outside.

(9) AIW Intense Champion Louis Lyndon vs. Ethan Page in a 2014 JLIT Tournament Semi-Final Non-Title match. Page and Lyndon did rock, paper, scissors to see who would win the match because their friends. Lyndon lost, but wanted a rematch. Page told Lyndon to get down on the match. The announcers said this is never good for business when one man lays down for another. Lyndon got down on the mat and Page went to cover him, but Lyndon rolled him up for a near fall. Page got upset and both men brawled to the floor. Lyndon went for a springboard, but Page pushed him to the floor. Lyndon then charged Page, but ended up eating a bit boot. Both men brawled into the crowd. This is getting kind of old with three straight matches with crowd brawling. They went to a big exchange and Lyndon ended up hitting a rolling senton off the guardrail onto Page. Lyndon grabbed a dragon sleeper back inside the ring, but Page managed to get to the ropes. Page and Lyndon brawled on the apron a short time later. Page eventually went for a slingshot ace crusher, but Lyndon shoved him away. They ended up going at it up top and Lyndon hit a super hurricanrana for a 2 count. Page went for a slingshot ace crusher again a short time later and hit it this time for a near fall.

Page went for the spinning Dwayne, but Lyndon blocked it. Lyndon hit a German out of the corner a short time later. He held on for another German with a bridge for a 2 count. Lyndon slipped around Page a short time later and got a dragon sleeper. The fans chanted “Jesus didn’t tap” at Page, who managed to get the ropes. They brawled up top again and Page eventually hit a super ace crusher for the win.

Winner: Ethan Page to advance to the JLIT 2014 Finals.

Star rating: (**1/2) – There was some good action here, but the fans never really got into the action with the heel vs. heel dynamic. I did enjoy of the beginning of the match with Lyndon teasing agreeing to be pinned after he lost to Page in rock, paper, scissors only to roll him up for a near fall.

Donst came out to face Cross selling that he was a bit banged up from his Quarterfinal round match. Cross ended up jumping Donst from behind when his music played.

(10) Tim Donst vs. Matt Cross in a 2014 JLIT Tournament Semi-Final match. The action went right to the floor and Cross tossed Donst into the guardrail. Cross teased a flagpole press and then waved his finger at the crowd. Donst popped up and dragged Cross to the floor before nailing him with a back breaker. Cross snapped Donst’s neck over the apron and he fell to the floor. Cross then nailed him with a double stomp off the apron. They ended up back inside the ring and Cross put the boots to Donst in the corner. Donst went for a diamond cutter, but Cross swatted him away and hit a big senton. Cross went up top and hit a split-legged moonsault for a 2 count. The fans finally woke up and chanted for Donst after he kicked out. The action spilled to the floor and Cross jumped off the barricade, but Donst turned it into a diamond cutter. Donst went for a dive through the ropes a short time later, but Cross nailed him with a kick. Cross went for a tornado DDT, but Donst tossed him to the floor and wiped him out with a dive through the ropes. The announcers said Prohibition was watching the match. Donst tossed Cross back into the ring and continued to work him over. Cross went for a handspring into the corner, but Donst caught him and hit a German. Donst then hit a diamond cutter and a big clothesline for a near fall. I don’t get how that’s not the finish.

Cross fired back and hit a big clothesline. He then hit a springboard double stomp and a standing moonsault for a 2 count. Donst fired up and immediately grabbed from dust ‘til Donst. Cross managed to free himself, but Donst hit a big neck breaker for a near fall. The fans clapped as Donst went back on the attack. They brawled up top and went back and forth. Cross finally hit a modified air raid crash off the top. Cross looked like he hurt his knee coming off the top. He followed up with a piledriver, but Donst rolled to the floor. Cross tossed Donst inside the ring, but Donst surprised him with a rollup for the win.

Page ran down to the ring after the match and attacked Donst with a chair. The announcers talked about how Donst had never made it out of the first round in the tournament, but this year he was going to the finals. The fans were split chanting for and against Page. Page ended up hitting a DVD through a chair on Donst. He then shook his hand and left the ring.

Winner: Tim Donst to advance to the 2014 JLIT Finals

Star rating: (*3/4) – The crowd wasn’t into the match and they did a lot of near falls. The match felt like it should have been over well before it ended and after both guys hit big moves, the match ended on a rollup.

(11) AIW Absolute Champion Michael Elgin vs. Eric Ryan in a 2014 JLIT Semi-Final Absolute Championship match. Ryan charged at Elgin, who nailed him with a powerbomb for a 2 count right off the bat. Elgin set up for a buckle bomb, but Ryan went for a sunset slip. Elgin pulled Ryan to his feet, but Ryan fired back and hit a German. Ryan went for a dive, but Elgin caught him on his shoulders and ran him into the guardrail. The announcers said Donst was in no condition to compete after Page attacked him. Elgin continued to drive Ryan into the guardrail. Elgin then hit a DVD over the guardrail, which deposited Ryan into the crowd. Elgin put a beating on Ryan as they brawled around the building. Ryan tried to crawl under a table, but Elgin grabbed his feet and catapulted him into the bottom of the table. Elgin then hit a big slam on the floor. The fans seem to have really died out in the ladder stages of a long card. They brawled back to ringside with Elgin cutting off several attempts by Ryan to mount a comeback. Elgin finally hit a side slam on the apron and the action ended up back in the ring. Elgin held Ryan up for a long time before hitting a piledriver. They ended up on the apron and Elgin eventually hit a dropkick that sent Ryan to the floor. Elgin set up for a tribute dive to Dick Justice, but Ryan hit him a kick to the head as he came off the ropes. Ryan hit a moonsault and went for another moonsault right away, but Elgin got his knees up. Ryan sold his leg and Elgin applied a single leg crab for the win.

After the match, Elgin pulled up his tights and turned his butt towards the hard camera and pointed at a fan. Elgin then got on the mic and said he was sorry for going after Ryan’s knee when it was hurt. Elgin said he’s smart and he told Page and Donst to take advantage of their opportunity tonight. Elgin said he had told the fans he was going to defend the title four times and he said that’s not bragging, it’s just the truth.

Winner: Michael Elgin to retain the Absolute Championship

Star rating: (**) – This was a mostly one-sided match with Elgin putting a beating a Ryan most of the match before putting him away with a single-leg crab.

Sabin was booed when he was announced as hailing from Detroit. The crowd didn’t like the rundown of his titles in TNA either. They did cheer when he was introduced. The fans chanted “F--- TNA” and Sabin cupped his ear. Gargano got a good ovation when he was introduced. The fans then started a “Johnny wrestling” chant.

(12) Johnny Gargano vs. Chris Sabin in a Non-Tournament match. The announcer said this was Sabin’s AIW and also the first time these two have met in the ring. Both men went down to the mat, but neither could get the upper hand and they came to a stalemate. They went to another fast-paced exchange. Both men went for kicks at the same time. They both ended up blocking the kicks, but they gave each other a clean break and dropped their opponent’s leg at the same time. Sabin bailed to the floor before getting back into the ring. The announcers said Gargano had recently dislocated his jaw, but was back at 100%. Gargano got the upper hand and began working over Sabin’s arm. Gargano locked in a combo submission on Sabin and wrenched back on one of his arms. Gargano told the Sabin that this is why he’s the king of Cleveland. Gargano set up Sabin between the middle turnbuckles and nailed him with a double knee strike. Sabin fired back and tripped Gargano neck-first over the middle rope before clotheslining him to the floor. Sabin that Gargano with a running kick from the apron to Gargano’s jaw. The announcers said it was no accident that Sabin had gone after Gargano’s jaw.

The fans tried to rally behind Gargano, who tried to mount a comeback. Gargano went for a sunset slip, but Sabin rolled through and nailed him with a dropkick. Sabin grabbed an abdominal stretch while working on Gargano’s fingers. He then turned it into a pinning combination for a 2 count. They went to a big exchange off the ropes and Gargano ended up catching Sabin with a flying elbow. Gargano hit his signature rolling kick and Sabin rolled to the floor. Sabin rolled back into the ring when Gargano went for a slingshot. Gargano eventually caught him with a slingshot spear for a 2 count. Gargano went for a running kick on the apron, but Sabin tripped him. Gargano ducked a kick on the apron. They went at it near the apron and Gargano hit a slingshot DDT for a 2 count. Sabin countered the lawn dart and rolled up Gargano for a 2 count. Both men traded forearms, but Sabin got the upper hand and hit a flurry of strikes capped by a big DDT for a 2 count. Gargano and Sabin went back and forth until Gargano pulled the ropes on Sabin and nailed him with a dive through the ropes. Gargano went for a spear through the ropes again, but Sabin caught him and placed him over the top rope before hitting a twisting neck breaker for a 2 count. The fans fired up after that exchange.

Gargano countered Sabin and applied the Gargano escape in the middle of the ring. Sabin rolled through and applied a Texas cloverleaf. Gargano turned over and rolled up Sabin for a 2 count. Gargano hit a big kick to Sabin’s head and followed up with the lawn dart. Gargano made the cover, but only got a 2 count. Both men were slow to get to their feet and the fans fired up. They traded blows from their knees before getting to their feet. They went back and forth and Gargano blocked Project Sabin and applied the Gargano escape and Sabin tapped.

Sabin got on the mic after the match and said it was a pleasure to be in AIW before fans that love wrestling. Sabin said he wanted to come back to the independents to see heart and soul, which is something you don’t see in other places. Sabin said he loved working class talents like Johnny Gargano. Sabin says nobody has as much heart as Johnny Gargano. Both men raised their hands together and the fans applauded. The fans chanted “Please come back.”

Winner: Johnny Gargano

Star rating: (***3/4) – This was a very good match between two men who wrestle similar styles. They had some great exchanges throughout the match building towards the finish. These two are really smooth in the ring and they paced the match nicely before building to the finish. I think this match would have gone to another level if the crowd wasn’t burned out.

(13) Bobby Beverly vs. Davey Vega vs. Eddie Kingston vs. Flip Kendrick vs. Ricky Shane Page vs. Tyson Dux in a Six Pack Scramble match. This was all action during the early going with big spots all over the ring. Beverly and Kendrick ended up alone in the ring and Beverly got the upper hand with a big back breaker. Beverly ended up hitting a Saito suplex on Kendrick over the top rope to the floor onto everyone. The fans started chanting for Dick Justice and really, who can blame them. They did a series of dives to the floor. Kendrick hit a huge twisting dive to the floor at one point to wipe out everyone, which brought more Dick Justice chants. Dux hit a double superplex on Vega and Kendrick. They did a series of big moves inside the ring. At one point Dux held up Vega and Kendrick came off the top, jumped off his back, and hit a hurricanrana on Page. Beverly and Dux brawled to the back. Kingston nailed Kendrick with a huge spinning backfist, but Vega caught him in an arm bar, but Page broke it up. Page hit a sit out powerbomb off the top on Vega, but the Duke dragged him out of the ring and tossed him into the guardrail. Vega then finished off Kendrick for the win.

After the match, The Duke continued to go after Page. He tried to get Kingston to help him. He offered Kingston some money to go after Page. Kingston ran into the ring and hit a spinning backfist on Page. The Duke got on the mic and said Duke’s money puts a smile on your face. He said he had just bought himself a certified killer in Kingston. The Duke said he would be at Absolution with Kingston and he would be there for war. The Duke also said Ryan had been taking to the hospital. Kingston got on the mic and said don’t boo him because they would do more for less money. He then told Page that this is just business, so it looks like we have another match set for Absolution.

Winner: Davey Vega

Star rating: (**1/2) – This was a nice departure from some of the other matches on the card that felt largely the same. They pulled off a nice sequence of dives. I was surprised the ref decided to let the match continue after The Duke interfered, but his interference did a good job of setting up Kingston vs. Page or Kingston vs. Ryan and Page at Absolution.

Page made his entrance and told the fans to wake up. Elgin came out next to defend the Absolute Championship for the fourth time in the tournament. The fans chanted for Dick Justice and Elgin asked them to stop because he didn’t want him to get in trouble. The fans chanted Canadian males before they did the formal ring introductions. Page, who won the tournament last year was introduced first. There was no sign of Donst. Page was booed when he was introduced. Elgin got an ovation when he was introduced before flipping off Page. The fans started chanting for Dick Justice. The ref and the ring announcer held up the Absolute Championship and the JLIT 2014 Trophy.

(14) AIW Absolute Champion Michael Elgin vs. Tim Donst vs. Ethan Page in a JLIT 2014 Absolute Championship Final Round Triple Threat Elimination match. Page and Elgin were about to lock up when Donst’s music played. Donst stumbled down to the ring. Donst went after Page on the outside. Elgin went for a spinning backfist on Page, but he ducked and Elgin nailed Donst. Page tossed Elgin to the floor and pinned Donst to eliminate him and the fans booed. Elgin hit a sliding dropkick through the ropes on Page and followed him to the floor. Elgin wore down Page on the outside before tossing him back into the ring. Elgin lifted up Page for his signature delayed vertical suplex and dropped him down to the mat. Elgin began targeting Page’s backs with some big knee strikes. Page finally caught Elgin with a sky high sit out powerbomb for a 2 count. Both men began trading running boots to the head. Elgin nailed Page with several big chops, but Page ducked a splash in the corner a short time later.

Elgin fired back and hit a big suplex on Page. The announcers noted that Elgin had made quick work of his second and third round opponent. Elgin hit a series of big running clothesline on Page in the corner. Elgin ended up hitting eight clotheslines in the corner before nailing Page with some big chops. Elgin caught Page with a side slam a short time later for a 2 count. Page mounted a comeback and went for his diving ace crusher through the ropes, but Elgin nailed him with a dropkick. Elgin hit a code breaker out of the corner a short time later. Page managed to fire back with an enzuguri, but Elgin caught him with a big lariat off the ropes for near fall. The fans fired up as Elgin was slow to get back to his feet. Elgin signaled that he was going to go for the Canadian destroyer, but Page hit a backdrop. Page charged at Elgin, but got crotched on the top rope. Both men battled near the apron. Page hit an enzuguri and hit a diving ace crusher through the ropes for a 2 count. Page went up to the second turnbuckle and hit a jumping enzuguri for another 2 count. The fans booed Page after he got in his first sustained offense of the match.

The fans chanted for Elgin and a small chant for Page countered it. Elgin blocked the spinning Dwayne and hit a superkick. Elgin then hit a deadlift German with a bridge for a 2 count. They battled up top and Elgin went for a superplex, but Page blocked it. Elgin nailed Page with a big kick to the head and lifted Page onto his shoulders. Elgin ended up hitting an air raid crash off the second rope for a 2 count. Page surprised Elgin with the spinning Dwayne a short time later, but Elgin kicked out at the last second. The fans chanted for both men. Elgin hit a big forearm to the back of Page’s head and a spinning backfist for a 2 count. Elgin hit the buckle bomb and a powerbomb, but Page kicked out at the last second. Elgin got on top of Page and hit a series of big forearms and the ref called for the bell and awarded the match to Elgin. The fans booed the finish.

The ring announcer announced Elgin as the winner, which got a mixed reaction. Elgin said he was guessing he hadn’t made things clear enough. He said whether or not they liked the way he won the match, he doesn’t wrestle for approval, he wrestles for results. Elgin said he will walk into Absolution being exactly what he says he is. Elgin said he’s the absolute best inside these ropes right now and the fans applauded. Elgin said he hopes he sees everyone at Absolution. He said the fans will have to get use to these results because he will not lose.

Elgin was then presented the JLIT Trophy by J.T. Lightning’s son and the ring announcer handed Elgin his Absolute Title. The fans applauded for Elgin, but there were some boos from the crowd.

Winner: Michael Elgin to retain the Absolute Championship and win the 2014 JLIT Tournament.

Star rating: (***1/2) – Elgin dominated a lot of the action here, but things picked up nicely down the stretch with Page mounting a comeback and hitting the spinning Dwayne for a near fall late in the match. It was interesting to see the tide turn as the match went on with the fans eventually becoming split between Elgin and Page.

Overall thoughts: (7.0) – This was a long show, but there were enough positive on the show to make it a show that’s worth checking out. I think next year, AIW management should consider either expanding the tournament to three nights or cutting down on the number of entrants in the tournament, as the fans clearly were worn out for the last half of the card and had a hard time getting into the bigger matches on the show.

There were no bad matches during the first half of the card, but there wasn’t anything particularly memorable coming out of the Quarterfinal round outside the hilarious interaction between Buff Bagwell and Ethan Page prior to their match. Their promo exchange was hilarious and the fans fired up for Bagwell singing the American Males theme.

The Iron Curtain vs. Delaney & Scott & Fontaine & Black match did a good job of setting up a big singles encounter between Scott and Iron at Absolution. AIW has done a nice job of progressing the feud between Iron and Scott since they split as a tag team. Dick Justice of the Iron Curtain had one of the most entertaining sequences of the night when he hit a series of Lucha Libre arm drags on Delaney that really fired up the crowd.

The second half of the show was highlighted by a really good match between Gargano and Sabin that would have been even better if the crowd hadn’t been burned out by the time they came out to wrestle late in the show. Both guys wrestle a similar Style and they had some really good exchanges. Both guys are so crisp in the ring, so it’s a lot of fun watching them put together different sequences in the match with a hiccup.

The main event between Page and Elgin and Donst was quite good, but the crowd had a hard time getting into the match. Donst was eliminated quickly and was clearly suffering the effects of Page’s attack on him after he won his semi-final round match. The fans seemed split between Elgin and Page down the stretch and didn’t react well to Elgin winning by ref stoppage, although Elgin covered for that nicely in his post-match promo. I liked the finish here, as it plants the seed in the minds of fans that there’s another way a match can end besides pinfall and submission. Although Elgin put his Absolute Championship on the line throughout the tournament, it only felt like he was threatened during his First Round match with Kingston and in the Final Round match against Page.

I like tournaments and J.T. Lightning 2014 was a solid all-around tournament, but I feel it would be a better tournament overall if AIW management cut down on the number of participants or considered expanded the tournament to give some the matches a chance to breathe. A lot of the matches felt rushed and it seemed several matches were similar in how they were put together.

You can purchase AIW “2014 J.T. Lightning Invitational Tournament: Night 2” on VOD by clicking HERE;. You can purchase this show on DVD/MP4 at SmartmarkVideo.com. You can also purchase this release at shop.AIWrestling.com. For more information on AIW, visit AIWrestling.com.

***

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