This CHAOS COLUMN is a recap of AWS Promotions “No More Presents for Christmas” at American Legion Post #355, South Gate December 28th. Another large crowd on hand for the final So Cal indie show of 2013, despite competition from those who opted to watch UFC 168.
1 – El Ridiculoso & Mariachi Loco (w/ Biggie Biggz) def. Che Cabrera & Leo Blaze (w/ Sasha Darevko) ….. Strong opener that saw Biggie & Sasha get involved, and ended when Mariachi Loco hit a Superkick on Leo, then Ridiculoso hit the Top Rope Leg Drop for Loco’s pin.
2 – Ricky Mandel (w/ Goldigger) p. Ryan Taylor ….. Goldigger’s managing work did the job again, preventing a 3-count from Referee Jason McCord after Ryan hit the Perfect Circle. Mondo Vega tried to cancel it out, but a wayward attempt from Ryan to “lip-lock” with Goldigger led to Ricky rolling him up for the pin, with a handful of tights not caught by the ref.
3 – Malia Hosaka p. Kitana Vera ….. Kitana gave a valiant effort against the long-time veteran, who has decades of in-ring experience, but was outworked and outdone, especially when Hosaka dodged a Corner Splash to roll her up, and put her feet on the bottom ropes, which was not caught by Referee Justin Borden.
4 – El Chupacabra (w/ Sage Sinn) got a DQ-win over Chris Kadillak (w/ Mondo Vega) to retain the AWS Lightweight title ….. An otherwise good match ended when Referee Rick Knox caught Kadillak’s low blow after being distracted by Mondo. Mondo & Kadillak, though, had the last laugh, as Kadillak laid out Chupacabra with the Gory GTS, and Mondo hit his DDT on Sage.
5 – Tyler Bateman p. SoCal Crazy … Another strong match that saw Tyler end it with the Spike Tombstone Piledriver for the pin, countering the Quesadora(?)/Crippler Crossface combo.
6 – Los Bandidos (Rico Dynamite & Tito Escondido) def. PPRay (Peter Avalon & Ray Rosas) for a successful defense of the AWS Tag Team titles ….. Hard-hitting, spot-filled match was a see-saw battle, but Tito managed to counter Rosas’s rollup attempt, getting a reversal rollup cover, and got some help from Rico, which was not caught by Referee Jason McCord. * PPRay did some extra stuff during intermission, especially when Hector Canales joined in after the photo ops with them & Drake Younger concluded.
7 – No-DQ match. Christina Von Eerie p. Candice LeRae for another successful defense of the AWS Women’s title ….. All the two women needed for this match was a staple gun, a couple of $1 bills, and 1 small lucha flyer; doesn’t that bring flashbacks to their steel cage match a few years back? Von Eerie didn’t get to put Candice in that Modified Bow-and-Arrow/Indian Deathlock submission that she used to make Hudson Envy, then LuFisto tapout earlier in the year, but she hit a Pedigree from the middle ropes for the pin.
SM – Lil Cholo & Drake Younger fought to a 20-min. time limit draw ….. It started out as a 10-min. match, but neither men would give in after trading hard shots and major moves. Twice, Bart granted an extra 5-mins. to close the deal, but after plenty of additional spots, with a couple of steel chairs involved, neither men would tapout to submission holds.
Shot Of The Night – 12-28-13 – AWS
M – B-Boy p. Willie Mack for a successful defense of the AWS Heavyweight title on his 35th birthday ….. It wasn’t easy for B-Boy this time around, as he & Willie traded plenty of stuff, and he had to surprise Willie with a countering cover to get out of the Chocolate Thunder-Driver attempt. Otherwise, a great main event.
In the end, the fans got their money’s worth, and they didn’t have to witness the horror of that freaky moment when Anderson Silva’s lower left leg snapped in half in that UFC 168 main event…..live, anyway. This card was a great way to finish off a great 2013 season, and time will only tell how good 2014 will be. MOTN? I’ll give it to the Cholo/Drake match, followed by the Candice/Von Eerie match, then the B-Boy/Willie match. And with that, the 2013 season has concluded. I’ll see you guys in Gardena on 1/18/14, for Wrestling Cares, and the RFTR Final between Adam Cole & Johnny Gargano.
For more photos, please visit my gallery here…
Updated January 2014 schedule:
18 – WCA & the Race for the Ring Tournament Final
31 – PWG