Chris Sabin vs. Johnny Gargano AIW 2014

Match: Chris Sabin vs. Johnny Gargano
Promotion: Absolute Intense Wrestling
Show: The JT Lightning Invitational Tournament 2014 – Night Two
Date: 5/24/2014
From: Cleveland, OH

Post by Bob Colling:

Early on, Gargano takes Sabin down with some mat wrestling but they soon have a standoff and the fans appreciate the early efforts. They are rolling around on the canvas and we get another standoff. Gargano gets the first clear advantage working over the left arm of Sabin but it doesn’t last long as they trade arm drags. They block kicks and they have a standoff until Sabin goes to the floor to regroup. It’s a rather slow start.

Gargano stomps on Sabin’s left hand and focuses his attack on the left arm. Johnny jabs Sabin in the corner a few times before laying Sabin across the middle turnbuckle in the corner. Gargano delivers a running double knee strike to put Sabin on the apron in pain. Sabin comes back with a clothesline to send Johnny over the top to the floor. Sabin kicks Johnny from the apron to drop Gargano on the floor. Back in the ring, Sabin hits a snap suplex followed by a back suplex for a near fall. Sabin begins to choke Johnny using Johnny’s own forearms. Gargano fights back but is stopped with a series of knee lifts. Gargano delivers a kick to the head but Sabin quickly hits a seated dropkick for a near fall.

Sabin rolls Gargano up but can’t get a three count on the cover attempt. Sabin walks into a big boot and a twisting back elbow strike. Gargano hits a slingshot spear from the apron back into the ring for a near fall. Johnny kicks Sabin while on the apron but gets tripped off the apron and Johnny falls to the floor. Sabin waits on the apron but misses a kick and Gargano gets on the apron to hit a slingshot DDT back into the ring but Sabin kicks out at two. Sabin rolls Johnny up to counter the lawn dart but only gets a two count. Sabin kicks Gargano and follows up with a short arm clothesline. Sabin drives Johnny face first into the canvas but only get a near fall on the cover attempt. Sabin with another Flatliner but misses a superkick. Gargano misses a rolling kick and Sabin goes to the floor where Gargano hits a suicide dive. Sabin catches Johnny on a spear attempt and hits a twisting neck breaker but can’t get a three count.

Chris delivers a few head butts to the back of Johnny’s head but Gargano quickly counters with the Crossface in the middle of the ring. Sabin gets out of the hold and locks in the Texas Cloverleaf. Gargano with an inside cradle for a near fall. Johnny sends Sabin into the corner with the lawn dart but Sabin kicks out at two on the cover attempt. Sabin walks into a super kick but Sabin delivers a spinning back kick but can’t hit Cradle Shock. Gargano gets the Crossface locked in and Sabin is forced to tap out.

Bob’s Thoughts:
So, that was really disappointing and lacked crowd reaction to get this match going. The match came across very repetitive and they didn’t seem to get into the second gear. I was not entertained by this one and expected more from these two, honestly.

Match Rating: **1/4

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