AfterLife Wrestling Federation — December Shows (Gold)

The AfterLife Wrestling Federation: for over 100 years, the revolutionary force in Slam Bang Western Style Wrestling!

During the Christmas/Hannukah holidays, all three brands get their own Big Events back-to-back. Gold goes first, then Blue, then Red. A feature of the Blue and Red shows this year is a match for each featuring Gold wrestlers, where the winner gets promoted. In addition, all the titles on all the brands are on the line! Here we go!

ALWF Gold: TakeOver
Hosts: Dick Lane and Mike Hogewood

Our opening package sets up Bam Bam Bigelow and Dick Murdoch as two trains ready to collide… only to show the bridge the trains are on blowing up near the collision. In retrospect, some foreshadowing we should’ve seen coming.

3-on-2 Handicap Match: Villano I/II/III vs. John Tenta/Don Leo Jonathan

Tenta’s evolution from monster heel to incredible hot tag has been something else. All five men brawl to start, but the Giants have the edge and send the Villanos packing, leading to Tenta backdropping Jonathan over the top onto the Villanos in a great spot. Back in, Jonathan goes up top but II and III throw him off into a lungblower from I, getting two. Not much of a heat segment follows, as the Villanos get their usual offense in. III tries for a bodypress, but Jonathan catches him into a powerslam, hot tag Tenta. He spinebusters III onto I and tries to pin both, II saves. Cartwheel kick by Jonathan takes out I and III, and Tenta with the Tenta.0 on II for the win at 9:44. **

Analysis: Tenta and Don Leo are developing very good chemistry together in the lower leagues. Jonathan in particular has strong selling that allows them to work the formula perfectly. Tenta’s mic skills on TV have been solid as always, and this duo could be a future player on one of the bigger rosters. As for the Villanos, they’re solid bodies in the lower card and that’s about it. This match got the crowd into it, which is all you can ask.

The Hardliners and Adrian Adonis are talking backstage. Murdoch and Slater wish Adonis good luck in his roster spot match.

A look back at Mountain Fiji’s heel turn and rampage. She put Judy Grable on the shelf and now wants to do the same to June Byers.

Mountain Fiji vs. June Byers

Byers throws forearms, but they have no effect on the Mountain. She tries coming off the top only to get swatted away. Fiji slams and throws Byers around, getting two off of a press slam before dumping Byers over the top rope to the floor. Byers beats the count back in and mounts a desperation comeback, but Fiji catches a Thesz press into a bearhug for the KO at 6:31. *

Analysis: They need heels among the women, but Fiji is very limited from her GLOW time and still trying to get better. Byers selling like mad for her will give her credibility, but I don’t see her beating Chyna for some time. This is a work in progress.

We look at Tanaka and Fuji breaking up a tag team battle royal with three teams left, throwing salt at everyone, until Fritz Von Erich declares a four-way ladder match for the belts. Then we see Public Enemy and Awesome/Candido in highlights in their crazy falls count anywhere match, which ended when Gino Hernandez smashed both Awesome and Candido with a chair, upgrading the match to TLC status.

TLC Match for the ALWF Gold Tag Team Championships: Toru Tanaka and Mr. Fuji vs. Dynamic Duo vs. Public Enemy vs. Triple Threat

Tanaka/Fuji are defending and Awesome/Candido represent the Triple Threat. Huge war to start as the Threat clear the ring, leading to Candido and Awesome diving onto all six guys. Back in, Fuji chops away on Adams, leading to a martial arts duel that gets broken up when Tanaka low blows Adams. Double back suplex by the champs, and they look for a ladder only for Public Enemy to smash both with a table. Table is set up in the corner and Rocco looks to put Adams through it, but Hernandez reverses it to a double suplex and throws the table out. Elevated DDT by the Duo on Rocco, but it’s Grunge off the top with a double clothesline. Awesome lariats down Grunge, and he and Candido return with a double-team powerbomb on Adams and Doomsday Device try on Rocco only for Tanaka to shove Candido away. Fuji brings in the first ladder. Tanaka does the Terry Funk whirly-bird routine until PE sandwich him. Hernandez is the first to climb, but he’s caught by Awesome and chokeslammed. Candido sets up a table on the outside and Awesome looks to throw Hernandez through it, but Adams clips Awesome. Dynamic Duo with a double superkick on Awesome, but Fuji and Tanaka throw salt everywhere and climb. A blinded Hernandez bumps into and knocks over the ladder, though, and Public Enemy set up another table in the aisle. Rocco puts the ladder by the ropes, giving Grunge room to land a senton on Tanaka and STO on Fuji. The Duo and Triple Threat brawl on the outside, with Hernandez introducing a chair to take control and put Candido on the table. Grunge climbs the ladder in the ring, but Tanaka knocks the ladder… so Grunge flies over everyone and puts Candido through the table with a elbowdrop! Back in, Tanaka looks to climb, but Adams chairs him off the ladder and gets a Captain’s Hook, dropping Tanaka on the chair. The ladder’s still up, so Hernandez climbs and is met by Awesome. Fuji gets a second ladder and climbs, and it’s a huge fight up top with Adams climbing to neutralize Fuji. No one ets an edge until Tanaka shoves both ladders down. He seems to be all alone, but Grunge is crawling back in. Tanaka takes him out by throwing him into the ladder and getting a cobra clutch slam on the chair. He sets up a table and climbs, but Rocco stops him and delivers a flapjack onto the chair. Tanaka’s on the table and Grunge climbs, but now Adams returns to stop him. Rocco catches Adams and powerbombs him through Tanaka on the table, and Grunge is all alone to claim the belts at 21:42. ****1/2

Analysis: The announcement of this match was met with skepticism as there were so many ground-game guys in it, but we shouldn’t have doubted the ECW alumni in their natural element. This is the Public Enemy “throw caution to the wind” most fans have been waiting for, and when combined with the natural heel tactics of the Japanese team and the Duo, everything clicked. More Awesome and Candido might have helped, but other than that, this was a show-stealer. Also, the PE’s first title claim in the ALWF in years.

Video package follows on Peter Maivia and King Iaukea, both of whom claim to be the best of Polynesia. This match hopes to settle it.

King Curtis Iaukea vs. “High Chief” Peter Maivia

Headbutt battle starts it off, with Maivia winning it. Iaukea bails to the outside, and Maivia follows only to get hit with something in his throat. Iaukea works Maivia’s ear, channelling his former teammate Baron Scicluna, and when the ref gets mad he gives the ref a throat thrust to bump him. Iaukea now drops all pretense and stabs Maivia with a screwdriver, drawing blood. Iaukea goes up top, but Maivia stumbles into the ropes and crotches him. Super belly-to-belly throw and Rock Bottom follow, but no ref. A second ref runs in as Iaukea jams something into Maivia’s throat and gets the big splash for two. Iaukea chokes away in frustration before arguing with the ref, allowing Maivia a schoolboy for two. Maivia slingshots Iaukea into the turnbuckle, and a Samoan Drop and stump puller finish at 11:31. ***

Analysis: These two were the top rivalry in the Oceanic territory for quite some time, and their chemistry shows here. They packed a bloody brawl into a shorter amount of time, but they kept the crowd into it and that’s what matters. I don’t know if Maivia is a future Gold champion, but he’s been a solid upper midcarder throughout.

Larry Hennig applauds the result from ringside.

Video on the Triple Threat/Hardliners feud, culminating in Bigelow/Murdoch for the title.

ALWF Gold Championship: Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Dick Murdoch

Bigelow is defending. Murdoch works a headlock, only for Bigelow to toss him over the top. Back in, Bigelow cartwheels to avoid a clothesline and gets a headbutt and neck crank. Murdoch elbows out, but Bigelow gets a headlock takedown and works the arm. Murdoch fights his way out and whips Bigelow, who tries a crossbody only to get headbutted in the gut. Murdoch stomps Bigelow, who rolls to the outside where Dick Slater clotheslines Bigelow. Back in, Murdoch drops some elbows for two and goes to a chinlock. Bigelow fights out and gets a Samoan Drop before going for the diving headbutt, but Slater grabs his leg, drawing Mike Awesome out to brawl with Slater to the back. Murdoch, though, goes up top to meet Bigelow and gets a superplex for two. Brainbuster try, but Bigelow blocks and suplexes the other way. Clotheslines and a handspring elbow in the corner follow for Bigelow, getting two. Greetings From Asbury Park is loaded up, but Murdoch blocks it into a cradle for two. Bigelow gets avalanched in the corner, and Murdoch bites Bigelow before following up with a bulldog for two. Brainbuster connects, but Murdoch goes up top for a flying elbow only for Bigelow to move. Greetings from Asbury Park gets two, but Murdoch’s in the ropes. Bigelow tries a pop-up powerbomb, but Murdoch hangs on and gets a sunset flip for two. Murdoch tears off a turnbuckle, distracting the referee and allowing him to nail Bigelow with brass knuckles. Brainbuster follows, but somehow it’s only two. Murdoch points to the top and struggles to lift Bigelow, who elbows out. Murdoch splashes Bigelow and lifts him onto the top rope. A running forearm to the gut unbalances Bigelow, and Murdoch goes up top for the lift, but Bigelow gets himself back on the top rope! An uppercut follows, flooring Murdoch, and Bigelow gets the diving headbutt but can’t follow up. Double-down, but Bigelow is up first and charges with a lariat for two. Both men slug it out on their knees… but as they do, someone in a ski mask flies in off the top rope and dropkicks both men to stop the match at 23:08! ***1/2 The masked man then snap suplexes Murdoch and bulldogs Bigelow before climbing back to the top and nailing both men with a diving headbutt. He pulls the ski mask off… and it’s the debuting Dynamite Kid! Dynamite stands tall as the show ends.

Analysis: A strong main event that will get overshadowed by the big debut. Dynamite looks like a main eventer at this level, and while I don’t know if Murdoch gets another match, putting the title on the Kid right away wouldn’t be the worst move in the world. I can’t imagine Dynamite will be here long before he goes to the big roster, perhaps to join or break up the Hart Foundation.

Final Analysis: The two title matches delivered, making this an easy recommendation. The Giants/Villanos match was fun for an opener, too, and you can see the build of Mountain Fiji as a new challenger. Nothing wrong with this show.