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COMPLETE 8/19 AIW JT LIGHTNING MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT NIGHT ONE RESULTS

AIW presents JT Lightning Invitational Tournament 2022 Night One

The Odeon

Cleveland, OH

August 19, 2022

AIW honors the late JT Lightning, former Cleveland-based wrestler and promoter, once again with a 24 person tournament, the first since pre-pandemic. On Night One, we’ll get the first round, 12 singles matches, on our way to crown this year’s JLIT winner and the new AIW Intense Champion. Tomorrow, the 12 winners will face off in 3 Fatal Four-ways, one fall to a finish. Then, the final match is three-way dance, elimination style. Josh Bishop un-unified the Absolute and Intense titles and vacated the Intense Championship at the recent Bill Alfonso Hardcore Tournament event. The trophy and Intense title are displayed at the entrance. Banners for the old Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling, JT Lightning’s former promotion hang on the stage.   

Marino Tenaglia defeated Joseline Navarro.

The former AIW Tag Champion, Tenaglia, has been putting on a bit of muscle mass since losing the titles in Akron last month. Navarro is riding the high of winning her feud with Katie Arquette. Back and forth with neither competitor gaining an extended advantage. Trouble in Paradise kick gets the win for Smooth Operator Marino Tenaglia. 

Chuck Stone defeated Arthur McArthur.

The current AIW Tag Team Champions collide in first round action. Chuck knows his partner too well, avoiding the Trust Fall. Back in the ring, the partners trade chops and lariats with McArthur gaining the upper hand until Stone connects with a Black Hole Slam. Stone locks in the Full Nelson, but McArthur is able to fight out of it. Chuck Stone gets a small package out of nowhere to get the pinfall. 

Derek Dillinger (w/ Ziggy Haim) defeated Mikey Montgomery (w/ The Duke)

The stigma of always being second place has to be wearing on Derek Dillinger, now coming in second in last month’s Fonzie tournament. INteresting to see as they make their entrances what role the Duke will play with his official charge, Montgomery, and an unofficial alliance with Dillinger in recent months. The commentators mention that Dillinger’s father was friends with JT Lightning. As Montgomery gets the advantage, he focuses on the arm of Dillinger. The Duke and Ziggy got into it on the floor, and an elevated stunner gets Dillinger the win. 

Ernest “The Cat” Miller defeated Casey Carrington (w/ Brian Carson)

The commentary notes that Carrington and Miller have wrestled each other, when Carrington moved to the Atlanta area for training. Miller already has his red shoes on. A miscommunication between Carson and Carrington helps Ernest Miller get the three count out of seemingly nowhere. 

Isaiah Broner defeated Philly Collins

Philly Collins, former AIW Tag Team Champion, called out Isaiah Broner at the Fonzie Tournament last month, and AIW matchmakers were more than willing to oblige the match for the first round of JLIT. Broner shows some mat wrestling skills to go with the power game. Collins gets the advantage, but clearly gets frustrated that he could finish Broner off. Huge lariat gets Broner the win. 

Dalton Castle defeated Colin Delaney

Colin Delaney has been in every iteration of the JLIT. Dalton Castle hasn’t wrestled in AIW in 11 years. Delaney and Castle are childhood friends who traveled through the indies for years. Castle is not fond of Delaney’s theatrics to begin the match. The action begins playfully enough with both men almost teasing each other. Bangarang, and Castle pins Delaney.

Jackson Stone (w/ Brian Carson) defeated Kaplan

Kaplan comes to the ring, carrying the Fonzie Tournament championship he won last month. Commentary mentions that Kaplan is fighting through injuries from recent events. Stone tries to use some aerial moves, climbing the ropes to add more force to his tackles. Kaplan hits two lariats and tries for the split-legged moonsault. Stone rolls out of the way of the moonsault and connects with a Pounce to get the win, which might be considered an upset. 

Chase Oliver defeated Alec Price

Alec Price is one of the rising stars around the independent circuit, making his debut in AIW. Commentary notes that Chase Oliver is undefeated in multi-person matches, but has only won one one-on-one match since the pandemic return. Price is very vocal throughout the match about his championships in other territories and promotions. Both men are able to block and counter a lot of each other’s significant attacks and attempts. Price counters a tilt-a-whirl into a bulldog and hits the Stick Up into the corner, but Oliver kicks up at two. A Blu-Ray and a Shooting Star Press gives Oliver the win. 

Dom Garrini defeated Adam Priest

A cautious handshake to start the match. Priest invites Dom to give him his best shot, but rolls out as Dom winds up. Dom gets Priest back in the ring, and connects with a kick to the back and one to the chest. Priest gets the upperhand, focusing his attack on Dom’s arm. Chops and uppercuts, and you can see the sweat fly. Priest snaps the knee and hits a piledriver, but only gets 2. Priest goes to the top, but Garrini stops Priest with a headbutt. Pumphandle driver, and Garrini gets the three count. 

Wes Barkley defeated Cheech

Cheech focuses on the neck of Barkley every chance he gets. Barkley hits an enzugiri to create some separation and get his breath back. Cheech kicks out after a Mazerati Driver. Cheech fights out of the Stroke and gets a two count of his own. Barkley hits KDogg and the Stroke, but Cheech kicks out. Cheech schoolboys Barkley and puts his feet on the ropes, but the ref, Porter O’Shea, catches him. Cheech yells at the ref to watch the shoulders, not his legs. Barkley jackknifes Cheech and put his feet on the ropes too and gets the pinfall. Cheech seems to respect the chicanery.

Jack Evans defeated Drago

These two lucha stars meet again. Commentary claims that no two opponents in the tournament know each other as well as these two. (I’ll forget Dalton Castle and Colin Delaney went to elementary school together.) They fight to the floor. Evans and Drago trade topes. Drago snaps off an elevated DDT, but a nonchalant cover allows Evans to kick up. Evans locks in a jackknife backslide, but only gets 2. Falcon Arrow from Evans for only two again. Evans cinches in the STF, but Drago reaches the ropes. A 450 gets the three count for Evans.  

Eric Taylor (w/ The Duke) defeated Eric Young

Eric Taylor has a huge following in the building tonight. Young goes for the deep arm drag one two times, and Taylor counters. Taylor hits a couple big moves, but struts for the crowd before going for the pin. Taylor attempts an elbow drop from the top, but Young rolls out. Moments later, Young hits one of his own. Young goes for the piledriver, but Duke distracts him. Young connects with another piledriver, but Duke pulls the referee, Jake Clemons, out of the ring at two. As Clemons is escorting Duke to the back, Taylor hits a low blow and then an air raid crash backbreaker to get the win. Mikey Montgomery comes out to celebrate with his tag partner. Eric Young calls Taylor back into the ring and shakes his hand. 

Notes: 

Matt Wadsworth took the lead on play by play as Brian Carson, Cheech, The Duke, Riley Rose, and Malcolm Cambridge rotated as color commentary. Porter O’Shea, Jake Clemons, and Tom Dunn rotated as your officials. On the AIW podcast, AIW owner John Thorne mentioned everyone announced was booked for both nights. 

Saturday afternoon at 3PM, AIW presents Fresh Meat 2, a showcase of the recent graduates of the AIW Academy, some making their official debut. 

To Infinity and Beyond vs Members Only

Derek Dillinger vs Hendrix Hawkins

Shaw Mason vs Wes Barkley

Riley Rose vs Vik Vice

Tyson Riggs vs Dom Garrini

The Duke vs Austin James

Non-title match: AIW Absolute Champion Joshua Bishop vs Sam Holloway 

Then, Saturday evening at 7:30pm, AIW presents JT Lightning Invitational Tournament Night 2:

Second round of the tournament (These matches are one fall): 

Marino Tenaglia vs Jack Evans vs Chase Oliver vs Derek Dillinger

Dom Garrini vs Ernest Miller vs Dalton Castle vs Wes Barkley

Isaiah Broner vs Jackson Stone vs Chuck Stone vs Eric Taylor

Three-way elimination match of the winners of the second round to crown a new Intense Champion 

Austin James, Vik Vice, Tyson Riggs vs Sam Holloway, Shaw Mason, and Henrix Hawkins and more to be announced

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