Sermon on the Mat (Feb. 16, 2017): CMLL, AAW, AIW, APW, PWG, Glory Pro, IPW:UK, PWX, & WrestleCircus cards, FCP, Style Battle, FIP, WSU, CZW, Freelance, & NJPW results, plus all the usual free match action.

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...

CMLL Super Viernes (February 17, 9:30PM Eastern)

1. Eléctrico & Stukita vs. Mercurio & Pierrothito
2. Marcela, Sanely, & Vaquerita vs. Metalica, Reyna Isis, & Tiffany
3. Diamante Azul, Marco Corleone, & Volador, Jr. vs. Kraneo, Pierroth, & YOSHITATSU
4. Atlantis & Euforia vs. Dragon Lee & La Máscara vs. Dragón Rojo, Jr. & Guerrero Maya, Jr. vs. El Terrible & Rush vs. El Valiente & Último Guerrero vs. Hechicero & Stuka, Jr. vs. Místico & Negro Casas vs. Ripper & Titán (Torneo Increible de Parejas Seeding Battle Royal)
5. Torneo Increible de Parejas Tournament Matches

Another somewhat ho-hum Friday night card as CMLL run the second bracket of their Parejas Increible tournament. But hey, YOSHITATSU is making a guest appearance!

You can watch it, as always, free for nothin' on ClaroSports.

AAW The Art of War (February 17, 8PM Central)

1. Best Friends (Chuck Taylor & Trent Baretta) vs. Besties in the World (Davey Vega & Mat Fitchett)
2. Abyss vs. Eddie Kingston
3. Jason Kincaid vs. Matt Riddle
4. Scarlet and Graves (Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz) vs. Unbreakable F'n Machines (Brian Cage & Michael Elgin)
5. Matt Sydal vs. Trevor Lee
6. El Hijo del Fantasma vs. Low-Ki
7. ACH, AR Fox, & Rey Fenix vs. Killer Cult (Dave Crist, Jake Crist, & Sami Callihan)

AAW are back in Merrionette Park, Illinois, and yes, that's King Cuerno vs. Low-Ki. While I'm not holding my breath for him to up and quit AAA as Fenix and Pentagon have before him, the possibility is still tantalizing. But beyond that, you've got a crazy top-of-the-line trios match, a David and Goliath tag where the big dudes might flip as much as the little ones (I'm hoping that BIG MIKE and Cage are gonna steal S&G's assisted shooting star press at some point!), they're scooping Evolve on Kincaid/Riddle, it's just awesome-looking.

So get your tickets here or wait for this bad boy to go up on Smart Mark and Highspots.

AIW Walk the Plank (February 17, 7:30PM Eastern)

1. Facade vs. Flip Kendrick vs Lucky tHURTeen vs Shawn Shultz
2. Britt Baker vs. Hornswoggle
3. Joey Janela vs. ???
4. Laredo Kid vs. Ray Rowe
5. Louis Lyndon vs. Paul Burchill
6. Crazy Pain (Gringo Loco & Steve Pain) (c) vs. Jollyville Fuck-Its (Russ Myers & T-Money) vs. To Infinity & Beyond (Cheech & Colin Delaney) (AIW Tag Team Championship)
7. Alex Daniels (c) vs. "All Ego" Ethan Page (AIW Intense Championship)
8. Josh Prohibition (c) vs. "Hot Sauce" Tracy Williams (AIW Absolute Championship)

AIW are in their home base of Cleveland, Ohio once again this Friday. So, I try not to touch on controversy unless I have to, here. My general policy is that I don't like to waste time on negativity unless it's absolutely necessary, so when Matt Riddle and AIW had their unfortunate split a while ago, I just let it be for the most part. But it's important context that you need to be able to understand why this show is so monumental, so I'm gonna crack it open again.

In short, Matt says he canceled his bookings with AIW because he wasn't happy with how he was booked, and one specific example is that he did not appreciate being booked to lose to a pirate. That pirate was Louis Lyndon, who wears a skipper's cap to the ring and calls himself the Captain of the Ship. Not very pirate-y, but whatever. I like AIW, I like Riddle, I ain't gonna give anybody crap, it happens.

That brings us to Walk the Plank, where Louis Lyndon (not a pirate) is wrestling Paul Burchill (very much a pirate). John Thorne, you madman! I love you, from the bottom of my heart. The rest of the card is almost superfluous in the face of that flourish.

Get your tickets here or wait for the show to go up on Smart Mark Video, mateys.

APW #WEOUTHERE (February 17, 7:30PM Pacific)

1. Black Armada (Papo Esco & Synn) vs. Jacob Fatu & Jeff Cobb
2. Berkeley Brawler vs. Joey Ryan
3. Adam Thornstowe vs. "War Pig" Jody Kristofferson
4. JR Kratos vs. Luster the Legend (APW Heavyweight Championship #1 Contender's Match)
5. Boyce Legrande & Rik Luxury vs. Lion Power (Marcus Lewis & Will Hobbs) (c) (APW Tag Team Championship)
6. Will Cuevas (c) vs. Zack Sabre, Jr. (APW Internet Championship)
7. Cody Rhodes vs. Pentagon, Jr.

All Pro Wrestling are on a roll and the next stop is Daly City for #WEOUTHERE, headlined by another Cody Rhodes dream match, this time against Lucha Underground's Penta... man without fear. Plus Zack Sabre, Jr. challenging Will Cuevas for the Internet Championship, international superstars Joey Ryan and Jeff Cobb in action.

And that's without getting to the local meat of it-- particulary interesting to me are the two singles matches, Kratos vs. Luster and Thornstowe vs War Pig. And when I say meat, I mean BEEF. Oughta be fun!

Tickets are sold out, but you can watch live on iPPV courtesy of FITE TV.

PWG Only Kings Understand Each Other (February 18, 8PM Pacific)

1. Lio Rush vs. Ricochet
2. Jay White vs. Marty Scurll
3. Rey Fenix vs. Trent?
4. Jeff Cobb & Matt Riddle vs. Unbreakable F'n Machines (Brian Cage & Michael Elgin)
5. Cody Rhodes vs. Trevor Lee
6. OI4K (Dave Crist, Jake Crist, & Sami Callihan) vs. SuperKliq (Adam Cole, Matt Jackson, & Nick Jackson)
7. Chuck Taylor vs. Zack Sabre, Jr. (c) (PWG World Championship)

PWG are back in Reseda, California with their first show of the year, and, as always, you see a healthy dose of Ring of Honor exclusive talent interacting with "outsiders" in a way that they're only allowed to in PWG, in North America, at least. It's only two matches this time, but the debuting OI4K facing off against the SuperKliq in a match that could have clear tag title implications and ROH Television Champion Marty Scurll wrestling New Japan's Jay White, they pack a pretty good punch.

Plus the grandson of a plumber squaring off with the Carolina Caveman, Lio Rush up against Ricochet in a generational dream match of the high flyers, and an Evolve superteam Cobb and Riddle facing down Cage and Elgin. Not to mention the world title defense, which, granted, is probably the least exotic one on the card, being the only one to feature men who regularly share a roster.

Tickets, as always, sold out soon after being opened for sale, but you'll be able to buy it on DVD eventually.

Glory Pro Crowning Achievement (February 19, 3PM Central)

1. Brandon Espinosa vs. Sean Orleans
2. Brother Reed vs. Davey Vega vs. Gary Jay vs. Jason Roberts vs. Mat Fitchett vs. Space Monkey (Chaos 6-Way Match)
3. Kobe Durst vs. Paco Gonzalez (Crown of Glory Championship Tournament First Round Match)
4. Jason Kincaid vs. Everett Connors (Crown of Glory Championship Tournament First Round Match)
5. Curt Stallion vs. Tyson Dux (Crown of Glory Championship Tournament First Round Match)
6. Danny Adams vs. "All Ego" Ethan Page (Crown of Glory Championship Tournament First Round Match)
7. Crown of Glory Championship Tournament Four-Way Finals
8. Jake Something vs. Shigehiro Irie
9. Matt Riddle vs. Michael Elgin

Glory Pro are making their debut in Alton, Illinois and looking to make a real splash in 2017. And, being Big Mike Elgin's baby, you know they're gonna deliver as best they can. Especially with that main event! Bro vs. Unbreakable, what's not to love?

The Crown of Glory Championship tournament is crammed with hot prospects and rising stars, you get a HOSS FIGHT between Something and Irie, a six-way scramble for a shot at the CoG championship in May, but wait, there's more. MsChif will make a statement regarding the future of her pro wrestling career and friend of the site Trina (as heard on Gabbin' Bout Grapplin' just last night) will be on hand to do the ring announcing!

Ticket presale has ended, but the show will be distributed through Smart Mark Video soon enough, and in the meantime, you can hit Glory Pro's YouTube and check out the cavalcade of videos that Big Mike has put together.

IPW:UK MVP in Harlow (February 19, 5:30PM GMT)

1. Nick Andreas vs. Oliver Peace
2. Mike Broly & Tom Dawkins vs. Monsters (eXodus & Snare)
3. #CCK (Chris Brooks & Kid Lykos) vs. Connor Hunter & Maverick Mayhew
4. Amazon (c) vs. Chakara vs. Nightshade (IPW:UK Women's Championship)
5. Jordan Wade vs. Scott Star (c) (IPW:UK All-England Championship)
6. Damian Dunne vs. MVP

Hark, a non-Supershow IPW:UK show comes to Sermon! Yes, coming at you from Harlow (which means the Genesis song Get 'Em Out By Friday has been stuck in my head the entire time I've been working on this), I bring this one to your attention because it will air on delay on FloSlam next Thursday, February 23.

Unfortunately it's a light show in terms of big name feature talent, but it's always fun to watch unfamiliar talent for the first time and hey, they brought MVP in! And, if you have a chance to attend live (check here for tickets), you'll be able to see Jonny Storm wrestle Pete Dunne, which will not be on the home video release.

PWX Rise of a Champion XII (February 19, 4PM Eastern)

1. Su Yung vs. Taeler Hendrix
2. Chip Day vs. Colby Corino vs. Darius Lockhart vs. Jason Cade vs. Tracer X (Opportunity Knocks Ladder Match)
3. Carnies (Kerry Awful vs. Nick Iggy) vs. the Revolt! (Caleb Konley & Zane Riley)
4. Elijah Evans IV vs. James Drake (c) (PWX iTV Championship)
5. Bruiserweights (Corey Hollis & John Skyler) vs. Ugly Ducklings (Lance Lude & Rob Killjoy) (c) (PWX Tag Team Championship)
6. Jeff Hardy vs. Sami Callihan
7. Anthony Henry vs. "Manscout" Jake Manning (c) (PWX World Heavyweight Championship)

PWX are back at the Cabarrus Arena in Concord, North Carolina for their biggest show of the year, and boy howdy, look at that card. There is not a single match on that list that I'm not excited for in some way or the other. Anthony Henry finally taking his place on top of the mountain, a hot guest star dream match in Hardy/Callihan, the final step on the road back to unity for the Bruiserweights (or Corey Hollis's final betrayal!), Elijah Evans IV throwing his metaphorical weight against James Drake's actual weight for the TV title, and I haven't even gotten into the actual undercard!

My dudes the Carnies taking on the Revolt!, a five-way ladder match with some of the best young flyers around, and a Queens of Combat showcase? Oh yes. And even more, because Martin Stone will be in action against an unspecified opponent!

So go ahead and get your tickets here, or sign up for Highspots Wrestling Network, where the show will be airing live on Pivotshare!

WrestleCircus Taking Center Stage (February 19, 6PM Central)

1. Jax Dane vs. ???
2. Joey Ryan vs. Scott Norton
3. Dezmond Xavier vs. Rey Fenix vs. Shane Strickland
4. Donovan Dijak vs. Ray Rowe
5. ACH vs. Jeff Cobb
6. Chelsea Green vs. Rachael Ellering vs. Sexy Dulce (Lady of the Ring Elimination Match)
7. Davey Boy Smith, Jr. & "Texas Lion" Carson vs. DTF (Andy Dalton & Scott McKenzie) vs. Extra Talent-ed (Aaron Solow & Ricky Starks) vs. Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Roa) vs. Pretty Boy Killers (Keith Lee & Shane Taylor) vs. the Boys (Brandon & Brent) (Big Top Tag Team Championship Battle Royal)
8. Jordan Len-X vs. Scorpio Sky (c) (WrestleCircus Sideshow Championship)
9. Brian Cage (c) vs. Zack Sabre, Jr. (WrestleCircus Ringmaster Championship)
10. Ricochet vs. Sammy Guevara

WrestleCircus have pushed full-bore into the proverbial main event of the indie wrestling world in just a few short months, and now they're having their first internet pay-per-view! From Austin, Texas, Taking Center Stage promises to do just that.

Jax Dane issues an open challenge, Joey Ryan and Scott Norton face off in an unlikely battle of the dongs, you got a high octane three-way, a "Battle of Honor" between two dudes soon disassociated with that promotion, and ACH faces a high flyer's nightmare against the power AND grappling of Jeff Cobb. Plus a partial rematch of the Shine 40 barnburner between Chelsea Green and Rachel Ellering, a big ol' tag team staggered entry battle royal, a matchup that largely speaks for itself in Brian Cage vs. Zack Sabre, Jr, and another generational clash for Ricochet as he goes one on one with Sammy Guevara.

Get your tickets here, or buy the iPPV here, or, if you can't watch live, buy access on VOD after the fact here.

Free matches here!

Rock & Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) vs. Team IOU (Kerry Awful & Nick Iggy)

This gem from the Team IOU days comes to us directly courtesy of the Carnies themselves. One of the best tag teams on the indies today against all-time greats that can still go, so check it out!

David Starr vs. Michael Elgin

Coming to us courtesy of the fine folks over at AWE, we have wXw Shotgun Champion David Starr putting his title on the line against BIG MIKE. Give it a shot!

Matt Tremont vs. Stockade

Yep, those are LEGO in the still frame right there, so you knwo it's pretty hardcore. From World's Finest Wrestling by way of the good people over at Tier 1 Wrestling, it's Matt Tremont vs. Stockade in no DQ action!

Results

Fight Club: Pro All the Best (February 10)

1. Omari over Adam Cage and Killian Jacobs
2. Pete Dunne (c) over Joe Coffey to retain the FCP Championship
3. Team FTW (Kay Lee Ray & Nixon Newell) over #CCK (Chris Brookes & Kid Lykos)
4. Jimmy Havoc over Mikey Whiplash
5. Dan Moloney over Andrew Everett
6. Clint Margera over Eddie Kingston
7. Tyler Bate over Trent Seven, Travis Banks and Mark Haskins
8. Travis Banks over Pete Dunne

What's this? Fight Club: Pro? We don't usually cover that here! That's because my man BryanDanielson's Beard attended the show and sent results in! Some additional notes from the man himself—

[After the tag match] Nixon then said she's gonna miss us, Brookes came out, they hugged before he attacked her. Jimmy Havoc comes out to confront Brookes, but Mikey Whiplash comes out and attacks Jimmy to let Brookes run away. [After Havoc/Whiplash] Whiplash and Havoc sit down in the ring after and Whiplash challenges Jimmy to a World of Sport rules match. Jimmy accepts. [After the four-way match] Pete Dunne attacks an injured Travis after the match. (Travis is the #1 contender with winning the Infinity tournament.) Pete challenges him to a match.

You'll be able to catch the show sooner or later on Vimeo or purchase it on DVD.

Style Battle Season 1, Episode 2 (February 10)

1. Sami Callihan over Dan Barry (Style Battle S1E2 Bracket B First Round Match)
2. Tracer X over Fred Yehi (Style Battle S1E2 Bracket B First Round Match)
3. Anthony Henry over Caleb Konley (Style Battle S1E2 Bracket A First Round Match)
4. Drew Galloway over AR Fox (Style Battle S1E2 Bracket A First Round Match)
5. Tracer X over Sami Callihan (Style Battle S1E2 Bracket B Semifinal Match)
6. Anthony Henry over Drew Galloway by countout (Style Battle S1E2 Bracket A Semifinal Match)
7. Austin Theory won the Style Battle FRAY!
8. Tracer X over Anthony Henry (Style Battle S1E2 Finals)

As always when I have a recap to point you to, I'll keep things light. A couple of questionable decisions kept Style Battle S1E2 from being impeccable, but it was certainly chock-full of great action. If I had to pick a match of the night, I'd probably go with Fox/Galloway, but aside from the countout, all the matches here were at least good.

Check it out on FloSlam.

FIP Ascension 2017 (February 11)

1. Drennan & Parrow over WWA4 Students (??? & ???)
2. Connor Braxton over Alex Taylor, Eddie Machete, Jackson Kelly, and Xander Killen
3. Dan Barry over Billy Barboza
4. Caleb Konley over Jason Cade
5. Aria Blake over Dynamite DiDi
6. Anthony Henry over Dan Barry
7. Martin Stone (c) over Jon Davis to retain the FIP Florida Heritage Championship
8. Fred Yehi (c) over Brian Cage to retain the FIP World Heavyweight Championship
9. Uncle John's Friends (AR Fox, Darby Allin, & Sami Callihan) over Austin Theory, Sammy Guevara, & Tracer X

Gimme an #FyeahFIP, everybody! The new-look FIP's second show went down a lot smoother than the first. With most of the kinks worked out, it was largely an enjoyable night of pro wrestling action, with the exception of over-enthusiastic ring announcer Timothy Barr continuing to attempt to set the tone between matches. A little goes a long way, and the star rating deal works about once a show.

As far as the matches, Caleb Konley and Jason Cade tore the house down, the women's match was a little loose but still entertaining, Anthony Henry and Dan Barry had a very good limb-focused duel themselves, Stone and Davis had a stiff battle, Fred Yehi defended his title in a top-shelf David and Goliath effort, and the main event six-man was excellent high-octane spot-heavy junk food wrestling.

If this the template, FIP is gonna be must-see wrestling from here on out, so head on over to FloSlam and catch up already.

WSU Tenth Anniversary (February 11)

1. Renee Michelle over Angelus Layne
2. Missy Sampson & BaleSpin (KC Spinelli & Xandra Bale) over Annie Social & Sinister Sweethearts (Brittany Blake & Samantha Heights)
3. Leva Bates over Terra Calaway
4. Fella Twins (Eddy McQueen & Rick Cataldo) (c) over the Academy (Maria Manic & Penelope Ford) to retain the WSU Tag Team Championship
5. Kiera Hogan over Su Yung (c) and Veda Scott to win the WSU Spirit Championship
6. Jordynne Grace over Britt Baker
7. Jade over LuFisto
8. Mercedes Martinez over Allie (c) to win the WSU Championship

WSU celebrated their tenth anniversary with an action-packed card. Leva Bates overcame Chrissy Rivera's hand-picked opponent, the Fella Twins retained the tag titles over their own students, Kiera Hogan won the Spirit Championship with a bit of an assist from Leva Bates, and Mercedes Martinez won the WSU Championship for a record-setting third time on the same day she went into the WSU Hall of Fame.

Check it out when it goes up on CZW Studios, folks.

CZW Eighteen (February 11)

1. Jake Crist over Shane Strickland
2. Tim Donst over Tony Deppen
3. Homicide & Mercedes Martinez over Chrissy Rivera & Greg Excellent
4. Dave Crist over Rickey Shane Page
5. Maxwell Jacob Feinstein over Billy Danvers
6. Joe Gacy (c) over Shigehiro Irie to retain the CZW World Heavyweight Championship
7. Joey Janela (c) over Stockade to retain the CZW Wired Championship
8. Scarlet and Graves (Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz) (c) over EYFBO (Angel Ortiz & Mike Draztik) to retain the CZW World Tag Team Championship
9. David Starr (c) vs. Matt Riddle (c) went to a double disqualification draw (wXw Shotgun Championship vs. Progress Atlas Division Championship Title vs. Title Match)
10. Notorious, Inc. (Devon Moore & Drew Blood) over Conor Claxton & Danny Havoc (Fans Bring the Weapons Deathmatch)

CZW's eighteenth birthday party seems to have been a blast. And, in true CZW fashion, matches ending in chaos was the order of the day. Donst tapped Deppen out in just two seconds, Starr and Riddle fought to a double DQ after several ref bumps and a seeming victory for Starr, the Dub Boys ran in on the end of the tag title match, staking their claim to the belts, and Penelope Ford once again got powerbombed, this time by Stockade into some cinderblocks. Jeff Cannonball showed up to even the score, and a tag match is set for Proving Grounds next month.

And, perhaps most excitingly for anyone who enjoys a spot of ultraviolence, Jimmy Havoc was announced for this year's Tournament of Death!

Check it out on CZW Studios or the Highspots Wrestling Network-- I know I will!

Freelance Hammer of Dawn (February 11)

1. Rob Matter over Arik Cannon, Elliot Paul, Kenny Sutra, Kevin Park, and Pat Monix (Scramble Match)
2. Stephen Wolf over Brubaker
3. N-Words (Acid Jaz & Bryce Benjamin) (c) over Carnies (Kerry Awful & Nick Iggy) to retain the Freelance Tag Team Championship
4. Darin Corbin over Space Monkey
5. Matt Cage over DJZ to become #1 contender to the Freelance Championship
6. GPA (c) over Isaias Velazquez to retain the Freelance Championship

Another show with a recap, folks, but Freelance are moving along at a good clip here with some good action and some good angles.

Check it out when it goes up on Smart Mark, folks.

NJPW New Beginning in Osaka (February 11)

1. TAKA Michinoku over Henare
2. TenCozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima) over KUSHIDA & YOSHITATSU
3. Juice Robinson, Jushin Liger, Tiger Mask IV, & Yuji Nagata over Chaos (Gedo, Hirooki Goto, Jado, & YOSHI-HASHI)
4. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Taichi, & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) over Chaos (Beretta, Kazuchika Okada, & Rocky Romero)
5. Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI, EVIL, & SANADA) over Taguchi Japan (Hiroshi Tanahashi, Manabu Nakanishi, & Ryusuke Taguchi) (c) to win the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship
6. Katsuyori Shibata (c) over Will Ospreay to retain the RPW British Heavyweight Championship
7. Chaos (Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano) (c) over Great Bash Heel (Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma) and Suzuki-gun (Davey Boy Smith, Jr. & Takashi Iizuka) to retain the IWGP Tag Team Championship
8. Hiromu Takahashi (c) over Dragon Lee to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
9. Tetsuya Naito (c) over Michael Elgin to retain the IWGP Intercontinental Championship

Once more, dear friends, I point you in the direction of a recap! I had a busy week indeed. But in short, the three singles title matches all delivered excellently, so you should watch them on NJPW World.

As always...

Remember folks, no matter what type of wrestling you like, no matter how down you feel about the state of WWE, TNA, 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.