By Josh Nason (with shouts to Harry Aaron for the headline idea & Michael Labbe for the picture)
The following are the opinions of the author and not of Limitless Wrestling.
I imagine anyone that saw this past Saturday’s Force of Nature (now streaming on IWTV for subscribers) has to feel like it was another incredible way to close out another unforgettable year for Maine’s favorite indie promotion.
But on another night of memorable moments, one will stick out with Limitless fans forever: the implosion of MSP after a hard-fought loss to Above The Rest — punctuated with a low blow from Aiden Aggro to his partner of nine years, DangerKid.
What followed was pure frustration as Aggro detailed why it was time to part ways, followed by him kicking his now-former partner and issuing a one-on-one challenge for January 20th where if DangerKid loses, he is done in Limitless forever. Then, he sealed his demand with a running knee strike.
Imagine predicting that scenario at any point this year. We now await DangerKid’s acceptance of the match as he left the venue in tears after he awoke from the crushing physical and mental blow.
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In the night’s main event, Limitless Wrestling World Champion Channing Thomas left Yarmouth with his title reign intact after what evolved into an anything goes match with Ace Romero. However, he and Sidney Bakabella left the 207 with not one, but two title challengers for January 20th.
Thomas and Bakabella had a plan for Romero, attacking the former champion with a chair before the match, bloodying him up and temporarily making him unable to compete according to referee Nate Speckman. But the champion made a grave mistake by leaving the title belt in the ring.
The crimson masked-Romero got to his feet, grabbed the belt, and said it wasn’t going down like that and said that in order for Thomas to get the belt back, he had to face him in an anything goes match. Much to Thomas and Bakabella’s chagrin, they had to accept.
Violence ensued and the two went to war — one that saw Romero nearly grab the victory after putting Thomas through a door and hitting a package piledriver. However, the Saco native’s second title reign was stolen by Bakabella who pulled Speckman out of the ring as he was about to count three. Romero took chase but as he was about to lay waste to the manager, Thomas took advantage and was able to secure the win.
Afterward, Dezmond Cole busted out of the backstage area to confront Thomas and call his shot but Thomas got the upper hand on him. That brought out former challenger JT Dunn to help Cole out, but Thomas ducked a Death by Elbow that caught Cole instead. After some intensity between those two, Dunn passionately talked himself and Cole into a triple threat challenge of Thomas next month.
Here’s the full rundown from Saturday’s 2023 LW finale:
Anthony Greene defeated TJ Crawford
Holy sh*t, what a match. This was Greene’s first LW bout since December 31st of 2022 and first appearance in Yarmouth since October 2022. He made his return a memorable one against Crawford, making his return to Yarmouth for the first time since April 2021 during the closed set era. A
After a spirited 20 minutes, Greene was able to defeat the “Silver Sniper” with a top rope assisted cutter into a suplex throw into the corner followed by the Alternative Ending (Storm Zero piledriver), taking to the mic to put over Crawford and that he didn’t know when he would return, but he always considers Limitless his home.
JT Dunn defeated Ricky Smokes
Ironically, Smokes subbed in for Aaron Rourke who was unable to perform Saturday. Looking to show his former ARTE mate who was the best talent on the team, Smokes delivered a scathing promo before the match but Dunn paid it no mind, eventually picking up the win with a uniquely angled Death by Elbow. Dunn now has his second straight win while Smokes is looking for his first singles win since July 2022.
Cosmic Cuties (Ava Everett & LSG) defeated Love, Doug & Gabby Forza
After Smokes lost, he was walking to the back when Everett’s music hit. However, she paid her former ARTE mate no mind, seemingly ending the ARTE era officially. Cold!
Everett then introduced her new love interest in the debuting LSG and as they were about to kiss, Love, Doug entered the scene with some thoughts — one of which being an assist for fan Mykl Roy at ringside who proposed to his girlfriend. What better way to pop the question than getting help from a real-life Cupid with wings?
Forza was impressive in her Limitless debut, getting a major rise out of the crowd when she carried Everett and LSG in a fireman’s carry at the same time. In the end, Everett and LSG got the victory and their kiss.
Dezmond Cole defeated Ortiz
The third time was the charm for this match between two of New York’s finest. Ortiz personally requested this match and the “Smooth Operator” didn’t disappoint, taking Cole to the limit. He even got referee Eric Greenleaf to cover his own eyes at several points, proving how smooth he is.
In the end, Cole picked up the pinfall victory and a verbal seal of approval from the AEW star while promising he would come for the Limitless World title if Cole wins it.
ATR defeated MSP in a two-out-of-three falls match
While the shocking breakup of DangerKid and Aggro dominated the X headlines, let us not forget these four men first went to battle for three falls in an effort to settle their near-yearlong feud. In a match that saw action spill outside the AmVets again, Tristen Thai and Gabriel Skye took this home with a final blow on DangerKid to get the pin and win. The four hugged it out afterward before Aggro’s post-match betrayal.
There can be no more doubt. Above The Rest are THE premiere team in Limitless. Who’s next?
Limitless Wrestling World Champion Channing Thomas (w/ Sidney Bakabella) defeated Ace Romero in an anything goes match to retain the title
As mentioned above, Thomas and Bakabella tried to get away with one but Romero rallied despite a steady stream of blood down his face. You have to give Thomas credit as he didn’t back down, even leaping onto a seated Romero with a springboard top rope dive ted Romero at one point. He and Bakabella even poured lighter fluid on the door and Romero, threatening to light everything on fire before Romero prevented it.
Again, Thomas got the win in his first title defense in Yarmouth despite going through a door and getting piledriven thanks to Bakabella pulling referee Speckman out of the ring. Thomas took advantage of Romero getting distracted with Bakabella and secured the victory after using a pair of brass knuckles that Bakabella gave him earlier. Now, he has two men staring him down for a title shot in January.
With that, the 2023 year in Limitless is complete. More to come on the year that was on this website coming in the weeks ahead.
The eyes of Limitless now look forward to January 20th and Beginning of End in Yarmouth, Maine. Tickets go on sale this Thursday at 7 PM Eastern.