Ohio’s top promotion, Absolute Intense Wrestling (AIW), is heading to WrestleMania week as part of Game Changer Wrestling (GCW)‘s The Collective, and on Thursday holds their showcase, Slumber Party Massacre, at 11pm at the White Eagle Hall in Jersey City, New Jersey.
La Familia de Tijuana (Bestia 666 & Damien 666) vs. The Young Studs (Eric Ryan & Bobby Beverly)
La Familia de Tijuana is one of Mexico’s most dangerous factions, working the likes of The Crash Lucha and the hardcore Desastre Total Ultraviolento (DTU). Two of the stable’s members, Bestia 666 & Damien 666 (the former WCW Superstar), make their way to New Jersey for WrestleMania week to face a Midwest veteran tandem in The Young Studs. The tandem of Eric Ryan & Bobby Beverly are 2x AIW Tag Team Champions and are no stranger to hardcore fights – Eric Ryan is a GCW regular who recently faced Nick Gage for the GCW World title.
Eddie Kingston vs. Shinjiro Otani
Two of the best in the business, one from the US and one from Japan. Eddie Kingston is one of the pioneers of the US indies for the past two decades, debuting in 2002 and running riot through promotions like CHIKARA (924-day reign as CHIKARA Grand Champion), IWA Mid South (Heavyweight and 2x Tag Team Champion), Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW, World Heavyweight and 2x Tag Team Champion), Ring of Honor, All American Wrestling (AAW, 2x Heavyweight Champion and Tag Team Champion), IMPACT Wrestling, and EVOLVE (reigning Tag Team Champion). He’s also been terrorizing AIW as part of the faction WRSTLING. He faces a Japanese legend in 27-year pro Shinjiro Otani, a veteran of NJPW, ZERO1 and countless Japanese promotions, and a former WCW Cruiserweight Champion, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, and ZERO1 World Junior Heavyweight Champion.
Ethan Page & MJF vs. Colt Cabana & Space Monkey
While they’re currently embroiled in a bitter feud in Alpha-1 in Canada, “All Ego” Ethan Page and MJF will try and co-exist together in a tag team to face an odd pairing of opponents. Colt Cabana was originally scheduled to partner with Scotland’s Grado, but other obligations forced Grado to pull from his scheduled appearances. In his steed, Cabana has recruited the enigma known as Space Monkey, a Canadian simian who has returned from his space missions with an urgency to wrestle.
AIW Tag Team Championship: To Infinity And Beyond (Colin Delaney & Cheech) (c) vs. The Production (Eddy Only & Derek Director) vs. The Philly Marino Experience (Marino Tenaglia & Philly Collins) vs. The Boys From Jollyville (Russ Myers & T-Money)
To Infinity And Beyond‘s Colin Delaney & Cheech are Midwest veterans and the reigning and 4x AIW Tag Team Champions. They have their work cut out for them when they face three other teams in a Fatal Four-Way tag match, featuring three solid tag teams from AIW’s tag team division. The Production has been a stable that has worked hard to disrupt AIW from every angle the past year or so and Derek Director & Eddy Only hope to bring tag team gold into the mix. The Philly Marino Experience has only been together since 2016, but 2019 looks to be a break out year for the young stars. The Boys from Jollyville (aka the Jollyville F*ck Its) have been with AIW since 2013, but have been tagging together since 2006. They were last AIW Tag Team Champions in 2014 but would love to get back into the title picture.
Scott Steiner vs. Swoggle
Another WrestleMania week event and another insane fight for former WWE Superstar Swoggle. But this one just might be his looniest opponent yet. The diminutive grappler will be facing former WCW World Heavyweight Champion “Big Poppa Pump” Scott Steiner in a singles match. Considering Steiner has broken men twice his own size, it may be a long and painful night for the former WWE Cruiserweight Champion.
Mance Warner vs. Nick Gage
In Star Wars lore regarding the Sith, the purveyors of the Dark Side of the Force, there can be only two, and the pupil can only claim the throne by destroying his master. This match may be the American hardcore equivalent as one of the fastest rising stars in the US indies, the maniacal sadomasochist Mance Warner (who is the reigning CZW World Heavyweight Champion), facing off against the reigning King of American hardcore (and GCW World Champion) Nick Gage. This will be as bloody as it gets over WrestleMania weekend and the winner will continue into 2019 as the ultimate Sith Lord.
Absolute Championship: PB Smooth (c) vs. “Filthy” Tom Lawlor vs. Tim Donst vs. Matthew Justice
AIW’s top title, the Absolute Championship, has only recently found a new waist to reside on, and it’s a large one. The 7′ behemoth PB Smooth only captured the title at the end of February this year, but he’s ready to defend it against three tough competitors. “Filthy” Tom Lawlor is not only a former UFC fighter, but he’s the reigning Major League Wrestling (MLW) World Heavyweight Champion. Tim Donst is the heart and soul of AIW, a former 3x Absolute Champion and Intense Champion. A win here would make him the most decorated Absolute Champion in AIW history. And the final competitor is the reigning AIW Intense Champion, big man Matthew Justice, who is looking to leave WrestleMania week as a double champ in AIW.