Notable AAW rivalries: Jason Dukes, Ace Steel, Josh Raymond, Tyler Black, Jimmy Jacobs
AAW Alliances: Irish Airborne (Dave and Jake Crist)
Other Career Highlights: Has competed for every major North American Promotion (WWE, TNA, ROH, DGUSA), Signed a WWE developmental contract in 2008, 2009 Jeff Peterson Cup finalist
AAW History:
Wisconsin native Silas Young broke into the wrestling business in early 2002 competing on the midwest indy circuit. He made his debut in the upstart AAW promotion in late 2004 and his growth and maturity would parallel that of the company. Young would soon cross paths with an old nemesis from his native state in Jason Dukes and their rivalry from Wisconsin spilled over into AAW and would mark Silas’s first major feud in company. Young would get his first taste of gold in May of 2006 when he defeated Danny Daniels for the Heritage Title. He would defend the belt and end his feud against Jason Dukes at the 2nd Annual Scars and Stripes show in a street fight. By this time the talent in the lockeroom had gone to a new level and Silas was known as one of the “go to guys” when the promoters needed an above average match anywhere on the card. Young had gained the respect of his peers for not only his work in the ring but his dedication to training. Silas had memorable matches with the likes of Ace Steele, Chandler McClure, Trik Davis and Jimmy Jacobs who he would eventually lose the Heritage strap to in September of ‘06.
As 2007 began Silas was sidelined with a neck injury and missed several shows. When he came back his attitude had changed. He felt the fans had not supported him through his injury and he turned on them quickly. Solid matches against Eric Priest, Zach Gowen,” Mdogg 20” Matt Cross, and Austin Aries would follow that year and by fall of 2007 Silas Young had caught the attention of WWE. After wrestling Val Venis and the Miz on consecutive nights Silas had impressed WWE officials and he was offered a developmental contract with Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). Silas wrestled what was to be his farewell match for AAW on 1/19/08 against Tyler Black and after the match Silas soaked in the applause of the crowd who showed their appreciation for his years of hard work. Without having to say one word, Silas had made amends with the fans.
The wrestling business can be cruel and weeks later OVW had shut down and with it went Silas Young’s contract. Rather than feel sorry for himself, Young jumped right back into competition in AAW. He received a Heavyweight Title shot reaching the Final Four in March of 2008 and then reached the “Fate of Eight” final in May against Josh Raymond which would start a long and bitter feud. Silas’s girlfriend Val Malone left him for Raymond while she was carrying their child. A series of intense matches followed and when Raymond joined Truth Martini’s “House of Truth” Silas enlisted the help of his old friend Dan Lawrence to combat the H.O.T. and in 2009 they feuded over the Tag Team Titles. The feud would come to a head in a brutal Dog Collar Chain match in the summer of 2009 and Raymond and the H.O.T would get the better of Silas Young.
In September Silas was hand picked by AAW management to wrestle the man many feel is the best wrestler on the planet, “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson. The match was one of the most anticipated in AAW history and it lived up to its billing. Young and Danielson battled for over twenty minutes and Silas proved he belongs in the upper echelon of the independent scene. It was Danielson however getting the win and the talk began about Silas Young not being able to “win the big one”. He had a shot to redeem himself in October when AAW was invited to send a team to Florida to compete against the top feds in the country in the Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup. Silas gutted out three matches over the weekend making it to the final of the tournament where he was defeated by Davey Richards. Once again Silas was just short of the big victory and his frustrations began to show.
In November it was time for AAW’s marquee event of the year, The Windy City Classic. Silas had qualified for the main event and a shot at Jimmy Jacobs’ AAW Heavyweight Title. Young would finally win the big one but not without controversy as he had enlisted the help of The Irish Airborne to ensure he left with the gold. Silas would go on to defend the title against Tyler Black as well as Jimmy Jacobs and in January of 2010 would make history becoming the first man to defend the AAW Heavyweight Title at a Dragon Gate USA event when he defeated CHIKARA’s Hallowicked. Silas now finds himself at the top of the heap in AAW and plans to stay there for a long while by any means necessary.
