AWL Defiance (2018)

Defiance's promo poster.

**AWL Defiance** or simply known as ***Defiance*** was the first ever PPV hosted by the AWL that was released to YouTube on the 23rd of Feburary, 2018 hosted in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 6 Matches were contested at the show, with the main event being a Triple Threat match to crown the inaugural AWL World Champion. The 3 competitors being Curtis Young, Lance Mercer and Buzzsaw Black. In the penultimate matches. Amber McQueen fought against Ashlee Ling for the AWL Womens Championship, and Steven Slick and Tommy Marshall fought in a submission match.

This PPV took place before the following show, Do Or Die.

## Story Lines

On Episode 1, Season 1 of Revenge. Tyler Slater announced the first match for Revenge will would be a triple threat between Casey Natoli, Steven Slick and Tommy Marshall, with Marshall being victorious. Slick was frustrated with this loss and made a verbal warning towards Marshall after the two bumped into each other in the locker room. The two later had a one on one match against each other, where Slick would win then viciously attack a referee and Marshall. In retaliation, Slater confirmed that Slick and Marshall will once again compete at Defiance in a submission match, giving Marshall the upper hand.

On Episode 1, Season 1 of Revenge. Amber McQueen defeated Victoria Venice in a one on one match. This win impressed Tyler Slater, earning McQueen an opportunity at becoming the first ever AWL Women's Champion. Slater however pitched a match the following episode where the winner would become Amber McQueen's opponent. Ashlee Ling would defeat Jessica Bailey in that match. The match was then set at Defiance. However, tension would grow between the friendship of McQueen and Ling. Slater would then change the match stipulation to a no disqualification match.

On the first episode of Revenge, in the main event. Tyler Slater was hyping up the first ever AWL PPV, however. He did not mention Curtis Young. This offended Young who interrupted Slater and asked for an opportunity at earning "a spot" on the card for Defiance. Slater eventually gave in and told Young that he must defeat Jake Jackson in order to earn a match at the PPV. Young defeated Jackson, earning Young a spot on the PPV. At the same time, Buzzsaw Black and Lance Mercer were engaged in a rivalry after Black savagely attacked Mercer during their match. The following Episode, Slater was cutting a promo once again regarding Defiance and the state of the AWL World Championship. Slater had pitched 2 matches, where the winners of them would face off at Defiance to become the first ever AWL World Champion. The matches were Lance Mercer VS Jake Jackson and Buzzsaw Black VS Shane Haste. Both Black and Mercer were victorious in their matches. Young interrupted Slater again asking why he wasn't in the tournament. Slater eventually gave up arguing and placed Young in a match against Buzzsaw Black. Young would end up defeating Black, being added into the match to much fanfare. An elimination rule would later be added by Slater.

## Event

### Pre-Show

The Pre-Show started with Tyler Slater welcoming everybody to Defiance, where he also unveiled both of the debuting Womens and World Championship belts. During his announcement however, he was interrupted by Pac, who said he wanted the AWL Championship and wanted to face whoever was the winner of the main event. Once Pac left, Slater was left confused. But shrugged it off and let the fans enjoy the show anyways. The show's opening match featured a match between Jake Jackson and CJ Arthur, where Jackson was victorious

### Preliminary Matches

The first match on the official show was Paul Garcia issuing an open challenge, only to be answered by Casey Natoli, who was defeated in a matter of minutes. Garcia would attack Natoli after the match.

Next, a match between Lexi Richards and Amy Stewart was up next. Which unlike the last match, much to fan surprise wasn't a squash. The match between Richards and Stewart with Richards getting a majority of the offence in, ultimately, Stewart would win the match after hitting the "Lights Out" on Richards. Stewart would attack Richards after the match hitting the same move again.

The next match on the card was Steven Slick VS Tommy Marshall. Marshall and Slick would go on to have the longest match of the night. And many fans considering it the "match of the night". Marshall and Slick went back and fourth with submission moves before Marshall defeated Slick after Slick tapped out to an Armbar.

After that was the Womens Championship match between Amber McQueen and Ashlee Ling. Ling would get offence in with a chair, before McQueen delivered vicious moves. Including an STO back first onto a ladder. Eventually, the match would end with McQueen being victorious after putting Ashlee Ling through a table with a Superplex. After the match, McQueen and Ling shook hands and celebrated together before Amy Stewart would interfere and attack both women. Ling was attended to by paramedics after the attack was over but shoved them off and headed to the back under her own power.

A tag match came afterwards between The Mighty (the team of Shane Haste and Mikey Nicholls) and The All Americans (CJ Arthur and Dean Ryan) It looked as The All Americans had a disadvantage as Arthur had already participated in a match earlier in the night, but The All Americans ultimately defeated The Mighty to much hatred from the fans. However, The Mighty slid back into the ring and attacked the All Americans much to the fans joy.

### Main Event

The main event of Defiance was the Triple Threat match for the AWL World Championship. This was between Lance Mercer, Buzzsaw Black and Curtis Young. The match started with both Mercer and Black double teaming on Young, causing Young to roll out the ring whilst Mercer and Black inflicted damage on each other, once Young came back in, he got offence in on both men. Eventually hitting a Church City Cutter on Mecer, pinning and eliminating him out the match first. It was now a one on one between Black and Young. Black started getting offence in on Young, delivering a urange and multiple power moves to Young. Eventually, Young popped up and came back into the match, hitting Black with a Church City Cutter and a Stunner, but Black ended up kicking out. Young eventually went to the top rope and hit the Fall From Greatness, and pinned and defeated Black. Defiance ended with Young holding the AWL Championship high over his head.

## Results

 Paul Garcia defeated Casey Natoli
 Amy Stewart defeated Lexi Richards
 Tommy Marshall defeated Steven Slick
 Amber McQueen defeated Ashlee Ling
 All American Boys (CJ Arthur & Dean
Ryan) defeated The Mighty (Shane
Haste & Mikey Nicholls)
 Curtis Young defeated Lance Mercer
(Elminated First) and Buzzsaw Black

## Aftermath

Before his match with Tommy Marshall, Jake Jackson bumped into Steven Slick in the locker room by accident. Slick took this as an insult and punched Jackson to the ground. This would start a feud between the 2 heading into Do Or Die. As they were both added into a four-way match to crown the first Internet Champion. The two other participants added into the match were Buzzsaw Black and Lance Mercer

After Amy Stewart's attack on Amber McQueen and Ashlee Ling. The following episode of Revenge. Amy Stewart was scheduled to have a one on one match with Ling. But Ling would attack Stewart before the match started, suplexing her onto the stage. Slater would set up a match between the two to crown a number 1 contender for the Womens Title at Do Or Die. Whilst McQueen's opponent was chosen by Slater. Her opponent being Tenille Dashwood, the two would enter an intense feud afterwards.

On the following episode of Revenge, Curtis Young was celebrating his title win thanking all the fans for "getting him where he was today". He would however be cutoff by a debuting Pac who challenged Young to a title match at Do Or Die, to which Young accepted.

Following up to Defiance, Paul Garcia would be taunted by a woman known as Olivia Martinez. Saying that a force "far greater than him" Would soon defeat him. Garcia ignored this warning. Following the show after Defiance, Garcia would be confronted by Fulton, to which Fulton started attacking Garcia. Setting a fued up between the two which would conclude in a steel cage match at Do Or Die.

## Sequel

During a Reddit Q&A session with AWL creative head writer, Scott Barnell. He was asked the following question... "What would be considered AWL's flagship show?" by a Reddit user. Barnell would reply by saying that rather than having 1 flagship show, that there would be 2. Those being Defiance and Showdown. "With all the time and effort we've put into AWL's first show, it absolutely can be considered one of our flagship shows, it was the show that put the AWL on the map, and so far it's one of our most popular we've ever hosted." Barnell said in his post, he would later follow up by saying. "I've spoken with a lot of fans of our product saying that Defiance was our best production to date, so I can gladly confirm that yes, Defiance 2 will be happening, and if you thought the first show was great? You ain't seen nothing yet."

The logo for Defiance 2 would later be leaked on pro wrestling fan forum Ringside Jobbers. As well as AWL's plans to book a 10,000 seat capacity arena for the show in Sydney. One match has also been rumoured to take place at the event, that being Curtis Young VS Jake Jackson for the AWL World Championship.