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| Scott is one of three women in this year's JLIT Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
Absolute Intense Wrestling has been playing around with a late-spring tournament idea for the last few years now. In 2010, they partnered with Chikara and did the Jack of All Trios Tournament, one that introduced me at least to Johnny Gargano in a meaningful way. In 2011, it was the Todd Pettengil Invitational, which scored major brownie points with my ironic sensibilities. When the Cleveland scene's founding father and spiritual leader, JT Lightning, passed away in the summer of 2011, AIW found its clarion call. So many other scenes had memorial tournaments for fallen wrestlers; in fact, the Pettengil tourney was a play off the initials for perhaps the most famous memorial tournament of them all, the Ted Petty Invitational. Last year, the JT Lightning Invitational Tournament was breathed first life. This year, it returns, looking to become somewhat of a new tradition for not only AIW, but the independent wrestling scene altogether.
Last year's tournament was a huge critical success at least (I'm not privy to their books, nor do I really want to be). The weekend helped cement ACH as a star, provided stages for both Brian Kendrick and BJ Whitmer to show that they could still run with the young dogs, and it served as a transition point between Flexor Industries and the still-obscured Nixon faction as the promotion's big bad entity. This year's two-night extravaganza has the potential to eclipse last year's inaugural run, and it fully plunges AIW into the progressive stream of gender equity. The 24-person bracket contains three women - Tag Team Champion Veda Scott, former valet Seleziya Sparx, and rising star Kimber Lee - with one placed in each sub-bracket. While there's one major woman missing from the proceedings (AIW Women's Champion and certified bad-ass Allysin Kay), it's still a major statement. But that's not to diminish the men who are in the field either.
Basically, the 24 wrestlers in the field are a who's-who in wrestling. Sparx, Scott, Lee, ACH, Michael Elgin, Josh Alexander, Ethan Page, Louis Lyndon, Adam Cole, Tim Donst, Tadarius Thomas, Davey Vega, Chris Dickinson, BJ Whitmer, Johnny Gargano, Josh Prohibition, Matt Cross, Rickey Shane Page, Bobby Beverly, Marion Fontaine, Biff Busick, Colin Delaney, Gary Jay, and Nasty Russ Myers will all compete for the chance to win what I imagine will be a banked shot at Eric Ryan's Absolute Championship (or could it be Delaney, who has the shot at Absolution?). That's a hard field to pick from, especially when so many names could conceivably win. Judging from the first round matches and the way the tournament is laid out, however, there is great potential for a lot of really memorable contests throughout the tournament.
There are two matches that jump off the page for me for totally different reasons in the first round. The first is Cole vs. Donst, who are for my money two of the best wrestlers not signed to any regularly televised company at the moment. I understand why this isn't the main event of the evening - because of the namesake and what he meant to Cleveland, obviously, you anchor the first night with a match between two scene originals, in this case Gargano vs. Cross. However, this would be a main event on nearly any other card in the country. It's a first-time matchup, so all the excitement is based on novelty. Which Donst will show up? Will Cole be more the honorable, ROH-style character, or will he bust out in full, CZW/PWG heel mode? Regardless, both have the chops when it comes to their actual mechanics. Donst can go hard to the mat, which is a great style that works with any wrestler, while Cole has innovative use of moves targeting the back. It's the one match I'm looking forward to most in the entire tournament for quality reasons.
The second match in the first round that I have my eye on is Sparx taking on Ethan Page. Sparx used to be Page's valet until recently, when Page dumped her to the curb. It wasn't for anything she did wrong. His character was that of a frat boy-style misogynist who implied abuse on her. It's not one that I was a fan of AT ALL, especially when I was under the impression that Sparx wasn't really a trained wrestler and just a valet. We're in the '10s now, and there's no reason for a woman in wrestling to go running to another man to get revenge for her. The average woman has the power of agency, and it looks like that power is granted to Sparx with this match. I've never seen her wrestle before, but this is one hell of a baptism by fire. I hope for everyone's sake that this isn't just some set up for Page to enter into another feud. If anyone deserves to slap the taste out of his mouth, it's his sparkplug ex.
Of course, as with last year, there are non-tournament matches on the slate for night two. The match I am probably looking forward to most all weekend pits Jock Samson against the "Wild-Eyed Southern Boy" himself, Tracy Smothers. Smothers has history in Cleveland, where he was a main draw and Champion in Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling for a huge chunk of the middle of the last decade. He returns to face off against his spiritual godson, Samson, whom I'm still not sure has ventured past 1986. If there ever was a match that could drag the term "bunkhouse brawl" into the present, it's the tilt between these two throwbacks. No other matches have been announced, but I would be shocked if Kay didn't defend her Women's Championship. Also, I doubt that we'll go without appearances from Eric Ryan, Pierre Abernathy, Evan Gelistico, Crazy Mary Dobson, Myers' Jollyville Fuck-Its tag partner T-Money, or anyone from AIW's vast array of regular roster members or guests.
But the tournament is the thing. The way it's set up, I get the feeling that the last three guys standing in the final match will be Gargano, Rickey Shane Page, and Dickinson. I think Delaney's going to win the Absolute Championship at Absolution VIII, so Page getting to the finals by defeating him in the first round would set up one instant challenger. And Dickinson, my pick to win the whole thing, taking the trophy home sets up another. No matter who wins, if you're in the Cleveland area this weekend, you should get your ass to Turners Hall for either Friday night's first round show or Saturday's conclusion. Bell time on Friday is 7:30 PM local (hit up Melt Bar and Grilled beforehand for a hearty dinner). The JLIT Fan Festival on Saturday starts at 3 PM, and indie wrestling fan festivals are usually a fun go. The Saturday show starts at 6 PM local.
The JT Lightning Tournament may only be a year old so far, but that doesn't make it less of a tradition. It's just a new one, but a new one that's already attained a grandiose status, even in its infancy. If you can be there, you should be there.
Last year's tournament was a huge critical success at least (I'm not privy to their books, nor do I really want to be). The weekend helped cement ACH as a star, provided stages for both Brian Kendrick and BJ Whitmer to show that they could still run with the young dogs, and it served as a transition point between Flexor Industries and the still-obscured Nixon faction as the promotion's big bad entity. This year's two-night extravaganza has the potential to eclipse last year's inaugural run, and it fully plunges AIW into the progressive stream of gender equity. The 24-person bracket contains three women - Tag Team Champion Veda Scott, former valet Seleziya Sparx, and rising star Kimber Lee - with one placed in each sub-bracket. While there's one major woman missing from the proceedings (AIW Women's Champion and certified bad-ass Allysin Kay), it's still a major statement. But that's not to diminish the men who are in the field either.
Basically, the 24 wrestlers in the field are a who's-who in wrestling. Sparx, Scott, Lee, ACH, Michael Elgin, Josh Alexander, Ethan Page, Louis Lyndon, Adam Cole, Tim Donst, Tadarius Thomas, Davey Vega, Chris Dickinson, BJ Whitmer, Johnny Gargano, Josh Prohibition, Matt Cross, Rickey Shane Page, Bobby Beverly, Marion Fontaine, Biff Busick, Colin Delaney, Gary Jay, and Nasty Russ Myers will all compete for the chance to win what I imagine will be a banked shot at Eric Ryan's Absolute Championship (or could it be Delaney, who has the shot at Absolution?). That's a hard field to pick from, especially when so many names could conceivably win. Judging from the first round matches and the way the tournament is laid out, however, there is great potential for a lot of really memorable contests throughout the tournament.
There are two matches that jump off the page for me for totally different reasons in the first round. The first is Cole vs. Donst, who are for my money two of the best wrestlers not signed to any regularly televised company at the moment. I understand why this isn't the main event of the evening - because of the namesake and what he meant to Cleveland, obviously, you anchor the first night with a match between two scene originals, in this case Gargano vs. Cross. However, this would be a main event on nearly any other card in the country. It's a first-time matchup, so all the excitement is based on novelty. Which Donst will show up? Will Cole be more the honorable, ROH-style character, or will he bust out in full, CZW/PWG heel mode? Regardless, both have the chops when it comes to their actual mechanics. Donst can go hard to the mat, which is a great style that works with any wrestler, while Cole has innovative use of moves targeting the back. It's the one match I'm looking forward to most in the entire tournament for quality reasons.
The second match in the first round that I have my eye on is Sparx taking on Ethan Page. Sparx used to be Page's valet until recently, when Page dumped her to the curb. It wasn't for anything she did wrong. His character was that of a frat boy-style misogynist who implied abuse on her. It's not one that I was a fan of AT ALL, especially when I was under the impression that Sparx wasn't really a trained wrestler and just a valet. We're in the '10s now, and there's no reason for a woman in wrestling to go running to another man to get revenge for her. The average woman has the power of agency, and it looks like that power is granted to Sparx with this match. I've never seen her wrestle before, but this is one hell of a baptism by fire. I hope for everyone's sake that this isn't just some set up for Page to enter into another feud. If anyone deserves to slap the taste out of his mouth, it's his sparkplug ex.
Of course, as with last year, there are non-tournament matches on the slate for night two. The match I am probably looking forward to most all weekend pits Jock Samson against the "Wild-Eyed Southern Boy" himself, Tracy Smothers. Smothers has history in Cleveland, where he was a main draw and Champion in Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling for a huge chunk of the middle of the last decade. He returns to face off against his spiritual godson, Samson, whom I'm still not sure has ventured past 1986. If there ever was a match that could drag the term "bunkhouse brawl" into the present, it's the tilt between these two throwbacks. No other matches have been announced, but I would be shocked if Kay didn't defend her Women's Championship. Also, I doubt that we'll go without appearances from Eric Ryan, Pierre Abernathy, Evan Gelistico, Crazy Mary Dobson, Myers' Jollyville Fuck-Its tag partner T-Money, or anyone from AIW's vast array of regular roster members or guests.
But the tournament is the thing. The way it's set up, I get the feeling that the last three guys standing in the final match will be Gargano, Rickey Shane Page, and Dickinson. I think Delaney's going to win the Absolute Championship at Absolution VIII, so Page getting to the finals by defeating him in the first round would set up one instant challenger. And Dickinson, my pick to win the whole thing, taking the trophy home sets up another. No matter who wins, if you're in the Cleveland area this weekend, you should get your ass to Turners Hall for either Friday night's first round show or Saturday's conclusion. Bell time on Friday is 7:30 PM local (hit up Melt Bar and Grilled beforehand for a hearty dinner). The JLIT Fan Festival on Saturday starts at 3 PM, and indie wrestling fan festivals are usually a fun go. The Saturday show starts at 6 PM local.
The JT Lightning Tournament may only be a year old so far, but that doesn't make it less of a tradition. It's just a new one, but a new one that's already attained a grandiose status, even in its infancy. If you can be there, you should be there.