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Saturday, July 6, 2019

AAW presents Never Say Die 2019...A New Slogan for Impact

I suppose it should just be my manta after failing to request the following Saturday morning off. I just have to make it till 2 pm tomorrow, and I can breathe and...watch more wrestling. At least it feels like I am sticking it to WWE by catching up on AEW: Fyter Fest.

Then again, seeing a lack of standing room occupancy at 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park makes one fear for the indies. It maybe a great time for wrestling since a lot of the former/current AAW stars were involved with Ring of Honor's "Best in the World" pay-per-view and other mid majors were probably involved in counter programming. Still, we are Americans, and with so much stuff that is beamed into our homes, why watch Sami Callahan, The Rascals, and LAX in person for $20 (girlfriend of a wrestler discount) when they can stream Impact steams at $7.99?

My response is, "that Impact needs to die," but why would I want to limit the boys? Because Danny Daniels and Arik Cannon know how to use them and probably pay them better. If we do not attend indies, Impact will probably further abuse our favorites. They would benefit by having fewer places for talent to work. With Anthem never seeming to have their feet under them, you know they will not help the overall business.

The crowd was not as big as AAW's shows since their expansion renascence (when they started frequenting Logan Square in Chicago and moved away from the Berwyn Eagles Club), but the action was solid. Nothing that topped the low-end of four stars, so not necessarily memorable. For me, the biggest disappointment was failing to grab a $30 WWE 1997 Owen Hart shirt from a vendor. What made matters worse was my girlfriend (whose ticket I paid for) said, "Well, I would have bought it for you."

When it comes to personal victories, just getting to attend my old training grounds and see some familiar faces was great. And it is cool that tape traders have all but moved away from DVD. There is hope that I can get my girlfriend and parents to catch up with the times. If wrestling is about DVD production, so should you. I know my mom hates the thought of being associated with the marks.

Paco and Ace Romero defeated Ace Austin and Clayton Gainz

This was a solid opener. I am not a fan of how tag matches seem to abandon getting both babyfaces in before the heels lay in the heat, but Acey Baby needed to have a bit in the gas tank. Austin and Gainz had difficulty with rope-based attacks, but I think that may have been on them more that the ropes. It may not be my place to say, it has been four years since my last bump. Austin and Gainz were still able to keep the match moving in spite of those issues and they kept to few false finishes to not spoil the night for everyone else.

"Galaxy's Greatest Alien" Kris Statlander defeated "Hell's Favorite Harlot" Priscilla Kelly

It was kind of a pity for their to be only this much female talent involved on the card. Both performers were good, but seemed slow in their movements at points. Props to Kelly preventing a wardrobe malfunction from hurting or her pride or the match. Finish was solid, so the "Please come back chants" were earned.

Jake Something retains "The Heritage Championship" over Trey Miguel

This was one of the most solid matches of the night. It was great cruiserweight versus heavy action. Miguel announcing that his father just beat cancer made sure both guys walked out with a pop, and I admired Something for securing his with a knockout forearm from a handshake. Do not trust anyone who shakes with the left hand or does not drink.

Jacob Fatu defeated Kongo Kong

Fatu is as solid as anyone from the Tongan/Samoan line and the sky seems to be the limit for him, especially with Armando Estrada as his mouthpiece. It makes me wonder why Roman does not have a Jimmy Hart or Lou Albano descendant (may I suggest "Wrestling with Wregret's" Brian Zane). Too bad the luster from the attraction that is Kongo Kong seems to be lost with this pinfall. It is just my bad for not getting around Chicago enough to see him versus Callahan.

Loser Leave AAW: Jimmy Jacobs with the assistance of Josh Briggs forces Mance Warner out.

By no means a technical masterpiece, but I love it whenever guys give everything to entertain the crowd. The only problem with the match is that a brawl like this make Sami's brawl seem redundant.

Josh Briggs defeats Spider Nate Webb.

With Nate Webb, you are guaranteed a fun match.

Myron Reed defeats Curt Stallion via an inadvertent assist by Eddie Kingston.

I think the show finally felt long by this point and having the bout depend on an angle took away from what could have been a great showcase of sport. On the flip side, Kingston came through in showing his dedication to the craft when Stallion joining Jake Something in choke slamming him through the back of two, back-to-back, unfolded chairs.

Sami Callahan retains the Heavyweight Championship over Ace Romero.

Nice and hard hitting, but I think three years is too long for the Death Machine to be on top.

LAX retains the Tag Team Championship over The Besties in the the World and The Rascalz.

Once the match broke down into a tornado situation, the action made you forget all the lapses in logic. The Rascalz should not have laid their hands on LAX as they isolate Davey Vega from Mat Fitchet. When the Desmond Xavier was pinned by Fitchett, Zachary Wentz was pinning a member of LAX. An ECW referee would have counted both falls leaving the Besties winners by default. At least it looks like they are on the path back to the belts, so it all worked out in the end.

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