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So What Time Is the Party?
The East Coast Wrestling Association returned with its first show of the fall season this past Saturday, and it was a pleasant diversion from the latest nonsense that’s permeating the wrestling business these days. Go figure- a show that no one tries to cancel, where no fire marshals are called, and fanboys and stooges aren’t pandering around backstage or around the crowd looking for attention, thinking they’re “part of the business.” It’s almost a two-hour drive, but it’s always worth it- even on those reasons alone.
Season’s Pizza, the usual pre-show stop for the Crew, seems to be getting better and better with each stop. The new Crew favorite, Chicken Quesadillas, were ordered, the Yankees game was on TV, and the beer was ice cold- the perfect way to start off a fun night of indy wrestling. Even the waitress was impressive (and BTW, waiting two whole minutes to give a waitress a tip personally when the service was excellent and she wasn’t there initially to receive it is a sign of class, common courtesy, and respect. So there.).
With a Yankees win and full stomachs, the Crew left to begin their usual wait outside the parish center for the start of the show. However, thanks to a few raindrops and a quick thinking Crew member who brought an umbrella and a pouting, hangdog look, the ECWA staff was fooled convinced enough to let us all in early to avoid the “downpour.” Watching one of the locals walk up more than once to be let in only to be rebuffed was one of the many highlights of the Wait for the Doors to Open.
As is the norm for any Jim Kettner run show, it started on time with a brief rundown of last month’s events and a preview of things to come that evening. With all the free time so many people in and out of the business seem to have, it’s amazing that this simple concept of putting together a simple video preview hasn’t been ripped off. Thank God for small favors- it’s always a great touch, and an easy way to get the crowd involved and excited for the upcoming show.
No other wrestler in the ECWA outside of the Cheetah Master gets the crowd involved more than Party Boy Mr. Ooh La La, who came out with his French Connection, renamed Less Resistance, to face the Japanese Pool Boy and the Shaolin Wrecking Crew (w/shoes on chains that are just begging to fly off and nail someone in the crowd). Leave it to the ECWA to bring in a team called the Shaolin Wrecking Crew and pair them with someone called the Japanese Pool Boy- a perfect, yet imperfect, combination. Pool Boy’s latest entrance was to “Barbie Girl,” and he was decked out in what appeared to be a nightie from the Bunny Ranch. One appreciative Crew member gave him a few playful smacks on the ass on his way around the ring, and then things were off.
The Shaolins are being booked as monsters so far in the ECWA, and that continued here with them demolishing Ooh La La (w/out cake) and his students/tag partners, who were pounded all over the place before the inevitable pin. One resembled a smaller Spanky, the other a shellshocked French artist. Both could have benefitted from a sandwich. Pure comedy, and it worked just fine. The Shaolins “celebrated” with Pool Boy by dragging him out of the ring and hoisting him over their shoulders in a scene eerily reminiscent of a prison rape sequence out of HBO’s OZ series.
The ECWATron was used again to show Prince Nana addressing his Royal Decision and once again getting upset at Mega, who got his postcard from Trinity torn up. Nice booking continuity involving Trinity, who hasn’t been in ECWA in the past two months, and building ever so slowly to the Mega face turn.
Striker, after a brief pep talk from Ace Darling, went out with ES Easton to face Hurricane John Walters in a great matchup. These two clicked, worked smoothly with each other, and gave the 200 or so there one terrific match. High flying, comedy from Striker, and some interesting submission moves that made Walters resemble the Running Man- this one begs for a rematch.
Too bad all the begging in the world couldn’t prevent the next matchup, as Zaquary Springate III (w/Napoleon, aka Carlton P Hightower) faced Xero, who by default received one of the largest face pops ever from the Clothesline Crew. Springate’s dull as dishwater entrance and opening monologue were thankfully missed by the Crew, who spent most of the time turned around speaking to Marc Corralluzzo, who wondered why he chose this match to return to after a 3 year absence. No 20 minute springboard elbows, but still a dead point on the card. Springate won with his feet on the ropes.
The next match was a pleasant surprise as Chris Idol returned from California to take on Mike Kruel, who’s settling into a nice groove in the ECWA. Idol’s ring name here was Hijinx, which is what he must have missed in his 37 seconds spent out in California. Like he was in JCW, Idol’s a good hand who made Kruel look real good coming off his loss last month to ECWA champ Christopher Daniels. Kruel worked his typical smart match, only this time incorporating a little humor in a follow up to last month’s match where he did some exercises, some on request, in the middle of the ring. This built to Kruel winning the match via submission and challenging Daniels to an Iron Man match next month, but not before he tore up the card all the fans signed for Daniels on the birth of his daughter. Kruel really is the Meanest Bastard on the Planet.
The running theme of malnourished workers continued as Big Benny (formerly Benny Stoltzfus, as apparently the last name was too much) squashed Miracle Mike Bennett, who looked like he hailed from Biafra. Is the business in that much of a decline where workers can’t even afford the dollar concessions at the parish center? No one told Big Benny! The best part of this match was Bennett attacking Benny during his entrance, and Benny taking over- with his polka music playing the entire time. Big Benny channels New Jack’s entrance- only in the ECWA.
Kevin Kelly was shown in the back talking to Johnny Maxx, who faced Cyco
later in the card. Maxx was a little hard on himself for “missing
the bump” last month in his title win over Darling and Striker when
talking to us later, but honestly how was he to know what they were doing-
since it was only his second time facing them and the Royal Treatment
wasn’t that established as a finisher? Maxx promised revenge for
Joey’s busted ribs, yet promised none for any of us forced to watch
any of Cyco’s matches.
In the last match before intermission, the Valedictorians, Billy Bax and
Rob Eckos (w/Carlton P. Hightower), squared off against Inferno, back
after seven months, and Ruffhouse Rivera, who was shouldering (no pun
intended) the load of the feud with Inferno out for so long. The Dice
are back! And the crowd popped for them- proof that Rivera, Bax, Eckos,
Hightower, and the ECWA bookers did a great job of keeping this feud alive
and compelling. Unfortunately, things seemed to end rather quickly with
this feud as the Valedictorians won the match after interference from
Hightower. It was a fine, charged match, but a decisive pinfall by the
heels with no followup? What a shame!
During intermission, the shame continued for some fans- not the Clothesline Crew. Some people, no matter what their intelligence level, just can’t take a hint. Kudos to Brett for helping them along.
After intermission, J-Busta wrestled Nick Malakai, who had the injured Mozart Fontaine in his corner. Poor Mozart must be snakebitten- but the second nice surprise of the night came after this blah match, won by Malakai with a Nasty Boys Shitty Elbow off the top rope which resembled someone tripping over a bum in a subway. Busta didn’t take the loss well and started in on Mozart, who thankfully went into the ring and had a fine match with Busta. Mozart continued to be inventive with his “heel spots” as he tossed his towel in the ref’s face and while the ref was “blinded” he kicked Busta in his little Bustas. Mozart won with a twisting uranage, just like Slyk Wagner Brown does. Nice looking move that starts as a bodyslam and goes into a Rock Bottom. Good to see Mozart Fontaine being used in a different way rather than being used as fodder for other opponents.
Watching fodder, or watching paint dry, was a better alternative to the next match, as Cyco (w/Sebastain Knight) took on October’s Sacrifice Johnny Maxx. Maxx did get enough offense in at the start to erase the intimidating X off of Cyco’s head, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Series of Twos, as in Two Matches Straight Where Cyco Got a Boring Chant and Two Times It Takes To Get Johnny Maxx Up for the Finisher. Night embarrassed himself with his theatrics again, too. Cyco didn’t get his elaborate entrance, which may be a bad sign for him, similar to when the WWF got rid of Flash Funk’s Funkettes. Then again, it’s doubtful any entrance would do anything for the guy- the gimmick is stifling, he’s not able to emote and therefore bring the crowd into it (leaving that task up to Sebastain Night is a BAD IDEA), and even if he’s a real find and a super talent you’d never be able to see it as he’s booked to be a lumbering, unstoppable “giant.” Poor Cyco.
Kevin Kelly rescued the crowd with his announcement that Daniels would defend the title against Kruel next month- even if last month was Kruel’s “last chance,” WHO CARES? It’s an Iron Man with Christopher Daniels! It’s a no brainer. Also, the Whitest Man in the Country, American Dragon, makes his ECWA return. Kelly interviewed Simon Diamond, who put over the ECWA and his long stay with the company until he was interrupted by Ace Darling, who made sure Simon knew it was not going to be a pleasant homecoming in their upcoming match.
And that flowed right into their match, the best one of the night, as Ace Darling (w/ES Easton) and Simon Diamond put on a 30 minute clinic. Walters vs. Strike was great, but this gets the nod on emotion and impact, as they played right off of their long history with each other and with the ECWA. Only one slow spot in the match, after a hurricarana by Ace on Simon, but Easton did a great job keeping things going on the outside as Ace and Simon got it together in the ring. Simon won and promptly put Ace over in a long, LONG overdue bit of mic work. Simon showed why he’s on TV every week as he made ECWA look first rate, Ace Darling, a top heel, look like a champ, and didn’t half ass it in his return to the place that made him famous. This is why the Crew loves wrestling.
However, there is a fine line between love and hate, as the main event was Royal Decision, this time comprised of Mega, Prince Nana, and Tyler Payne, taking on Team 1614, which included Cheetah Master, Louie Faraone, and Bryan Russo, who went from bellowing in the crowd last month to the MAIN EVENT of an ECWA show this month?? Yikes. The sound guy made it three shows in a row that he blew music in at least one match- if he’s working for free, he’s overpaid. CAN HIM. Russo showed he earned that main event spot by laughing when Mega was landing shots on him and stumbling all over ringside. Promoting a sponsor is fine, but this was borderline disgraceful. Easton was prevented from interfering and hopefully doing the fans a favor by popping the guy in the head because he was chained to someone who resembled Darryl Dawkins and who had the emotional range of a paper bag. Does the gym drain its members of personality as well as common sense? Shouldn’t it disclose that in its application?
The match was thankfully short, and was really just a build to the long awaited face turn of Mega, who was doubleteamed by Payne and Nana after a missed clothesline on Team 1614. Mega is finally a face- KFC for everyone! Who won? Who cares? The angle’s the thing here- and it was furthered when Nana challenged Team Green 1614 to a cage match, and Cheetah did the only thing that ever got a positive reaction out of some Crew members when he made it a War Games matchup.
Next show is November 8th, but part of the Crew will be in Florida, unfortunately.
Hopefully Mr. Ooh La La will delay his long awaited party, just as ECWA
masterfully drew out and delayed Mega’s long awaited face turn. With
Daniels vs. Kreul, War Games, and the return of American Dragon, it’s
a party anyway. Enjoy!
Complaints, comments, questions?? Email Jim
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The comments and statements
do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Brett Schwan and the Wrestling
Clothesline (although many times, he comes damn close!). Please
feel free to email HIM with any comments, complaints, etc.
Jim has been watching wrestling for over 20 years and has followed and reported on indy wrestling for over 6 years. He's also a fan of the New York Giants, New York Yankees, St. John's Red Storm basketball, Alabama Crimson Tide football, and the New Jersey Devils, but please don't hold that against him.
Contact Jim at BilJim2@hotmail.com
