Sermon on the Mat (Nov. 23, 2017): AIW, CMLL, NOVA, AAW, Powerbomb, Beyond / WWR, & Progress cards

Welcome back to the Sermon on the Mat, your weekly one-stop shop for news from the wider world of wrestling beyond the big cable TV monoliths that get all the coverage.

Coming soon...

AIW Hell on Earth 13 (November 24, 7:30PM Eastern)

1. AJ Gray, Garrison King, Joshua Bishop, Malcolm Monroe III, & Tre Lamar vs. "Supercop" Dick Justice, Marino Tenaglia, Weird World (Alex "Worldwide" Kellar & Evan "Weird Body" Adams), & ???
2. Magnum CK vs. PB Smooth
3. Colt Cabana vs. Jimmy Jacobs
4. Gringo Loko vs. Louis Lyndon
5. Tom Lawlor vs. "Hot Sauce" Tracy Williams
6. Dominic Garrini vs. "All Ego" Ethan Page
7. DJ Z vs. Jody Fleisch vs. Laredo Kid vs. Matt Cross
8. Boys From Jollyville (Russ Myers & T-Money) vs. To Infinity and Beyond (Cheech & Colin Delaney) (c) vs. Young Studs (Bobby Beverly & Eric Ryan) (AIW Tag Team Championship)
9. Nick Gage vs. Tim Donst (c) (AIW Absolute Championship)

AIW are back in Cleveland, Ohio after nine weeks away and their annual Black Friday extravaganza is fit to bursting! Jimmy Jacobs makes his return against Colt Cabana, Lawlor and Williams clash in a battle of the shooters, you got TWO high flyer dream matches including the US return of UK indie legend Jody Fleisch after over a decade! But that's not all because AIW's students have a ten-man showcase, the tag titles are up for grabs in a three-way and the King himself Nick Gage is gunning for Tim Donst's crown.

Get you tickets here or check it out on Smart Mark Video, folks.

CMLL Super Viernes (November 24, 9:30PM Eastern)

1. Hijo del Signo & Nitro vs. Star, Jr. & Starman
2. Drone, Guerrero Maya, Jr., & Stigma vs. Los Revolucionarios del Terror (Dragon Rojo, Jr. & Polvora) & Vangellys
3. Solar vs. Virus
4. El Terrible, Hechicero, & Okumura vs. Rey Cometa, Soberano, Jr., & Titan
5. Blue Panther, Blue Panther, Jr., & the Panther vs. Cuatrero, Forastero, & Sanson vs. Dragon Lee, Mistico, & Pierroth vs. El Felino, Puma, & Tiger (Torneo por la Copa Dinastias)
6. Mephisto, Negro Casas, & Ultimo Guerrero vs. Rush, Sam Adonis, & Volador, Jr.

CMLL are back with your weekly Friday night dose of lucha libre action from Arena Mexico and it's looking like a pretty good show. The old guy elected to stick around this year after the legends show (after an unfortunate brush with the idea of having Rayo de Jalisco, Jr. vs. Cien Caras on the card) is Solar, who's great, and while as always with tournaments in CMLL I'm not exactly sure what format that battle of top family trios is going to take, the talent in it is pretty darn good. Plus a relevos increibles main event and a pair of solid trios matches and it's looking like a good way to spend your Friday night, folks.

Check it out, as always, free for nothin' on ClaroSports or CMLL's Facebook page.

NOVA Pro 11th Dimension (November 24, 7:45PM Eastern)

1. Graham Bell vs. Mack Buckler (c) (CRAB Heavyweight Championship)
2. John Kermon vs. Wheeler YUTA
3. ...And the Winners of the Match (Arik Royal, Lance Lude, Rob Killjoy, & Sugar Dunkerton) vs. Carnies (Beau Crockett, Kerry Awful, Nick Iggy, & Tripp Cassidy) (Elimination Match)
4. Jonathan Gresham vs. Fred Yehi
5. Spitfires (Ace Perry, Cabana Man Dan, & Sage Phillips) vs. the 1% (Bobby Shields, Logan Easton LaRoux, & ???) (Triathlon Survivor Match)
6. Team IV Eyes (Allie Kat, Deonna Purrazzo, Laynie Luck, Sahara Se7en, & Veda Scott) vs. Team Milkshake (Brittany Blake, Faye Jackson, Jordynne Grace, LuFisto, & Mia Yim) (Elimination Match)

NOVA Pro is back in Fairfax, Virginia, and as always I rely on my right hand NOVA man Duke (Follow him on Twitter!) for a breakdown of the show, so let's let him get right to it!

It's Black Friday and we keep up the Thanksgiving tradition in Northern Virginia, this time around with TWO big Survivor Series matchups! For the first time anywhere, Beau Crockett teams with all three primary Carnies members, and the opposition is full of crowd favorites looking to bring home a W!

On the women's side, though, is where the action is, as Faye Jackson's rivalry with Veda Scott leads to the two sides captaining their quite loaded teams of five -- Brittany Blake and Jordynne Grace aren't fans of Veda either, and Laynie Luck upset Jackson last month in a controversial finish! Meanwhile Sahara looks to avenge two losses to Faye, Mia Yim wants to make an impact in her hometown, Allie returns to one of her favorite haunts... all sorts of excitement!

Gresham and Yehi met in May, with Yehi getting the win via TKO. Intrigue was added to this rematch when Yehi defeated Jordynne Grace last month by the same TKO. Does Gresham have an answer for Yehi's kick barrage?

Plus, after seemingly upsetting Logan Easton LaRoux for the PWI Ultra J title, Sage Phillips gets another crack at the Champion of the 1% in a Triathlon Survivor Match! (THE RULES: one member of each team has a singles match; two members of each team have a tag match; if those are split, we decide it with a trios match.) But wait -- Alexander James of the 1% is in Europe! Who will Logan get to replace him?

And if you're going to Fairfax, please bring a toy along -- the JCC of Northern Virginia is doing a toy drive, and we want to give back! See you there!

Get your tickets here or check it out when it hits Smart Mark Video, folks.

AAW Unstoppable 2017 (November 25, 7:30PM Central)

1. Myron Reed vs. Flip Gordon
2. ACH vs. Sammy Guevara
3. OI4K (Dave & Jake Crist) vs. Stephen Wolf & Trey Miguel
4. Fred Yehi vs. Shane Strickland
5. AR Fox & Eddie Kingston vs. WRSTLING (David Starr & Trevor Lee)
6. Penta el Zero M (c) vs. Zema Ion (AAW Heritage Championship)
7. Jimmy Jacobs vs. Rey Fenix (c) (AAW Heavyweight Championship)

AAW are back in Chicago, Illinois and they've got a big night of action set up. Jimmy Jacobs makes his return to try and claim the AAW Heavyweight Championship from Rey Fenix, Zema Ion cashes in the title shot he won at the beginning of hte month to try and dethrone Penta, Starr and Kingston continue their war in tag team action, and most excitingly for me as a longtime fan of his, Fred Yehi makes his AAW debut putting the King of Swerve in the Trouble Zone!

Advance ticket sales have closed but you can check it out when it hits Highspots and Smart Mark Video, folks.

Powerbomb.tv Wazzup! (November 25, 8PM Eastern)

1. AJ Gray vs. Anthony Greene vs. Logan Easton LaRoux vs. Razerhawk
2. Dominic Garrini vs. Wheeler YUTA
3. Thick Boys (Jay Freddie & John Silver) vs. Ugly Ducklings (Lance Lude & Rob Killjoy)
4. Maxwell Jacob Friedman vs. Tom Lawlor
5. Jody Fleisch vs. Jonathan Gresham (c) (Powerbomb.tv Independent Wrestling Championship)

Powerbomb.tv are bringing us their next live supershow, this time from Chikara's WrestleFactory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! Jody Fleisch continues his US tour by challenging Jonathan Gresham for the gold, MJF has a stiff challenge in Lawlor, Beyond's Thick Boys take on NOVA Pro's Ugly Ducklings in interpromotional warfare, and more!

Get your tickets here or check it out live on Powerbomb.tv, and note that you can go on nearly any Powerbomb promotion's social media page and find a coupon code for a twenty day free trial, folks.

Beyond / WWR Tournament For Tomorrow ♀ (November 26)

—Beyond Powerbomb Pre-Game (2PM Eastern)—

1. Ace Romero vs. Brian Milonas vs. Josh Briggs vs. Kyle the Beast
2. John Silver vs. Orange Cassidy
3. Dream Team (Jonathan Gresham & Maxwell Jacob Friedman) vs. Hot Wheelz ("Hot Sauce" Tracy Williams & Wheeler YUTA)
4. David Starr vs. Nick Gage

—WWR Tournament For Tomorrow ♀ (3:30PM Eastern)—

1. Davienne vs. Vanity (Tournament For Tomorrow ♀ First Round Match)
2. Tasha Steelz vs. Terra Calaway (Tournament For Tomorrow ♀ First Round Match)
3. Karen Q vs. Willow Nightingale (Tournament For Tomorrow ♀ First Round Match)
4. Jordynne Grace vs. Skylar (Tournament For Tomorrow ♀ First Round Match)
5. Alexxis vs. Jenny Rose
6. Sonya Strong vs. Veda Scott
7. Deonna Purrazzo vs. Madison Rayne
8. Tournament For Tomorrow ♀ Semifinals and Finals

Beyond and Women's Wrestling Revolution are back in Worcester, Massachusetts live on Powerbomb and holy hell is that a one-two punch of action they have lined up for everyone! The Powerbomb Pre-Game alone is nuts with Nick Gage vs. David Starr, that FOUR HOSS WAR, and an intensely tantalizing tag team match, but then you add WWR's main dish and things get really exciting. Eight of women's wrestling's best and brightest up-and-comers face off in a tournament that was won last year by Kimber "Abbey Laith" Lee, plus non-tournament action like Purazzo continuing her string of big-time matches against former Knockouts Champion Rayne?

Get your tickets here or check it out on Powerbomb.tv (twenty days free with promo code WWRPRO as mentioned above), but even if you don't want to pay anything or give anyone your credit card info, make absolutely sure to watch the pregame free on Beyond's YouTube channel, folks.

Progress Chapter 58: Live Your Best Life (November 26, 2PM GMT)

1. Joseph Conners vs. "Flash" Morgan Webster
2. Eddie Dennis vs. Jack Sexsmith
3. Strangler Davis vs. Timothy Thatcher
4. Dahlia Black vs. Jinny (Progress Women's Championship No Disqualification #1 Contender's Match)
5. Alex Windsor vs. Toni Storm (c) (Progress Women's Championship)
6. Matt Riddle vs. Travis Banks (c) (Progress World Championship)

Progress are back in London, England, and though they've still got two matches left to announce for this one as I write this, it's looking pretty great. The title matches speak for themselves, and we'll set the number one contender's match aside for just a moment as we look at those three undercard matches, each perfect in their own little way.

Conners vs. Webster? Joe is making his proper debut on Sunday and, with a standing challenge from Pete Dunne, he needs to make a statement, so he's up against... Flash, who has been in a tailspin practically since returning from injury and is ever more desperate for that big win that'll turn things around.

Dennis vs. Sexsmith? Jack has been betrayed, hurt, and left fighting mad by so many of the men he's looked up to recently, and so who do you put him up against? A man who turned his back on his best friend Mark Andrews in what should have been a moment of triumph at Alexandra Palace, a man who needs a few wins himself if he wants to turn blindsides and ambushes into an actual title shot.

Davis vs. Thatcher? The simplest and arguably best of them all! Davis has beaten Thatcher both times they've met, the first time fair and square, the second time cutting corners. Tim, for his part, doesn't take losing lightly, and that alone is enough for pro wrestling magic, but Progress management have sweetened the pot-- Davis is owed an Atlas Division Championship match, and if he loses here, Thatcher will step up to face his brother in Ringkampf, WALTER, at a later date.

Now, back to the contendership for the women's title... Go watch this brawl. Got it? Now go watch this promo. Dahlia Black is going to do her damnedest to beat Jinny within an inch of her life to make up for what has transpired between them, and by god is it going to be entertaining!

As always, tickets for a Progress Chapter show are long since sold out, but you can try your luck on the official ticket resale site or otherwise wait with the rest of us schlubs for it to go up on Demand Progress.

Free matches here!

AR Fox vs. Austin Theory vs. Curt Stallion vs. Myron Reed vs. Stephen Wolf vs. Zema Ion

From the fine folks at AAW we have the six-pack challenge that lead to the Heritage Championship match this weekend. A pair of indie wrestling's finest established flyers go up against four of the best up-and-comers of a variety of styles in scramble action, don't miss it!

Jaka vs. Zack Sabre, Jr.

From the good people over at the World Wrestling Network, we have something to whet your appetite ahead of next month's Evolve shows. Zack Sabre, Jr. and Jaka have had a hell of a rivalry this year, coming to the rubber match at Evolve 97 on December 10, but they clashed first at Evolve 87, and you can catch it right here. Enjoy!

Flip Gordon vs. Lince Dorado

Speaking of generational clashes of high flyers, Limitless have come through with a timely example of the same! 205 Live's Lince Dorado takes on Flip Gordon in what turned out to be his final independent match before going full-time with WWE. Check it out!

Results

Chikara Silence in the Library / Dark Water / Kill the Moon (November 17-19)

—Silence in the Library (November 17)—

1. Oleg the Usurper over Hermit Crab
2. Dez Peloton (Donald Kluger & Jasper Tippins) over Rumblebees (Solo Darling & Travis Huckabee)
3. Rory Gulak over Icarus
4. Jeremy Leary & "Osirian Portal" ("Amasis" & Ophidian) over Maine State Posse (Aiden Aggro, Alexander Lee, & Danger Kid)
5. "Mr. Touchdown" Mark Angelosetti over Missile Assault Man
6. Xyberhawx 2000 (Razerhawk & Sylverhawk) over Cornelius Crummels & Sonny Defarge
7. El Hijo del Ice Cream over Cajun Crawdad

—Dark Water (November 18)—

1. Icarus over Missile Assault Man
2. Oleg the Usurper over Jeremy Leary
3. Hallowicked over "Mr. Touchdown" Mark Angelosetti
4. Ophidian (c) over Officer Warren Barksdale to retain the Chikara Young Lions Cub
5. Dasher Hatfield & Rumblebees (Solo Darling & Travis Huckabee) over Cornelius Crummels, Juan Francisco de Coronado, & Sonny Defarge
6. Mike Quackenbush over Max Smashmaster

—Kill the Moon (November 19)—

1. The Furies (Fire Ant, Solo Darling, & Travis Huckabee) over Jeremy Leary, Rory Gulak, & Sloan Caprice
2. "Osirian Portal" ("Amasis" & Ophidian) over Dez Peloton (Donald Kluger & Jasper Tippins)
3. Hallowicked over Missile Assault Man
4. Cajun Crawdad, Hermit Crab, & Merlok over Xyberhawx 2000 (Nytehawk, Razerhawk, & Sylverhawk)
5. Juan Francisco de Coronado (c) over Proletariat Boar of Moldova to retain the Chikara Grand Championship
6. Dasher Hatfield over Keith Lee
7. Los Ice Creams (El Hijo del Ice Cream & Ice Cream, Jr.) over Cornelius Crummels & Sonny Defarge

Chikara have swung around New England for the last time this year and Dasher Hatfield has earned three points and the right to challenge for the Grand Championship. And according to my read of the last few months of Chikara results, so has Hallowicked, but his challenge will have to wait because his victory over Mr. Touchdown came with his feet on the ropes and the controversy means they'll be facing off in singles action first. And thinking of points, the mysterious new incarnation of the Osirian Portal seem to be on three as well, although no match has been made for Closing Time at this time.

Check 'em out on Chikaratopia, folks.

CWF Mid-Atlantic Ultimate Survivor 2017 (November 18)

Alright, folks, here's the deal— Results are available for this one, I'm not holding out on you... but why just read results and my nonsense when you can watch the show in its entirety? Happy Thanksgiving!

wXw Broken Rules XVII (November 18)

1. Ilja Dragunov over Da Mack
2. Alexander James over Jurn Simmons
3. Ivan Kiev (c) over Laurance Roman to retain the wXw Shotgun Championship
4. Ringkampf (Timothy Thatcher & WALTER) (c) over Bobby Gunns & Jaxon Stone to retain the wXw World Tag Team Championship (Tornado Elimination Match)
5. Monster Consulting (Avalanche & Julian Nero) over Dirty Dragan & Emil Sitoci and Jay-FK (Francis Kaspin & Kay Skillet) to become #1 contenders to the wXw World Tag Team Championship
6. Session Moth Martina over Jinny (wXw Women's Championship Tournament Match)
7. John "Bad Bones" Klinger (c) over Chris Colen to retain the wXw Unified World Wrestling Championship

Even against the untrammeled rulebreaking might of RISE, Dragunov is unbeatable, James remains having Simmons' number, Thatcher returned to his hardcore roots and busted out a sack full of thumbtacks, and, of course, RISE took full advantage of the rules of a ladder match to keep the title on their man Bad Bones.

Check it out on wXwNOW!, folks.

ICW Fear & Loathing X (November 19)

1. Bram over Aaron Echo, DCT, Jody Fleisch, Joe Hendry, Kid Fite, & Ravie Davie to become #1 contender to the ICW Zero-G World Heavyweight Championship (Ladder Match)
2. Polo Promotions (Jackie Polo & Mark Coffey) over Marauders (Mike Bird & Wild Boar) (c) to win the ICW World Tag Team Championship
3. Kenny Williams over Rey Mysterio
4. Stevie Boy over Chris Renfrew, Jimmy Havoc, & Mikey Whiplash (King of Insanity Match)
5. Kasey over Kay Lee Ray (c) and Viper to win the ICW Women's Championship (Steel Cage Match)
6. Lionheart over Rob Van Dam and Zack Gibson (Elimination Match)
7. Kinky Party (Jack Jester & Sha Samuels) over Kings of Catch (Aspen Faith & Lewis Girvan)
8. BT Gunn (Zero-G) over Joe Coffey (World Heavyweight) to win the ICW World Heavyweight Championship and unify it with the ICW Zero-G Championship

ICW have been to the mountain and it had a clean sweep of title changes on it! Commissioner Kevin Nash got involved in both the tag title match and the unification match on the side of the righteous, but darkness was afoot, as Session Moth Martina turned on Ravie Davie and helped Bram win the opening ladder match.

Check it out on ICW On Demand, folks.

As always...

Remember folks, no matter what type of wrestling you like, no matter how down you feel about the state of WWE, Impact, ROH, or any other "big-time" pro wrestling, there's something out there for you. There's a pro wrestling product that can hit you in the right spot and make you love wrestling like you thought you'd never be able to love it again. It's there, I promise. You just gotta reach out and find it, and that, my friends, is what the Sermon on the Mat is all about.