 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Review of AWA- NJ Show, Union City, New Jersey, Friday, February
27, 2004
by Lawrence Kleber
At last week’s JCW show, my long lost buddies, Christopher Idol
and Eric
Cooper, suggested that I come to the AWA show in Union City on Friday,
February 27, 2004. I had not known of this promotion before and was
curious. Finding 125 Sip Street in Union City was not easy. Sip Street
is a small road directly north of 495, the road leading to the Lincoln
Tunnel. Upon finding 125 Sip Street, I entered a small door and walked
up two flights of stairs. What I found at the top of the stairs was a
small arena with a brand new ring in it. I was met at the door by Mike
Morgan, the owner of the 7 month old AWA wrestling school housed in this
building. The affable Morgan informed me that he has been running shows
for the past few months. A 13 year veteran, Morgan came out of Gino
Caruso’s school and has now started his own school. Morgan said that
his
shows are family oriented and have strong story lines. The arena seats
about 120 fans. The card, which was to begin at 8:00 pm started twenty
minutes later.
Match 1 Bobby Vee, with Sheik Abdullah, took on the acrobatic Diablo
Negro. While Vee executed a fine belly to belly suplex, it was the
interference of the Sheik which allowed Bobby to defeat Negro with a leg
lock submission.
Match 2 In a heel-heel contest, Dan Dynasty pinned Jus Wonderful,
when Supreme, Wonderful’s body guard, threw baby powder in his eyes
by
mistake. At the top of the match, Dan decided to take a nap on the
turnbuckle! Very funny! At the finish, Jus Wonderful blamed Supreme for
the loss, attacked Supreme, and had to endure Supreme’s retaliation.
Match 3 In a better than expected tag contest, Joe Hardway and the
Enforcer picked up the win over Maxx Metal and J. Kronic when Hardway
pinned Maxx. The match started with some good science, but there were
some missed spots. Kronic told me to write that he was on during the
match. He was right! His Bruiser Brody gimmick was funny and effective.
Huff, huff, huff!
Maxx, on the stick, blamed Kronic for the loss. He told Kronic, “Huff,
huff, huff, bless you!” Of course, they then went after each other.
Match 4 For the AWA lightweight strap, Mayhem faced champ Demented
Damian Dragon, with Foxxy Dreams. Damian executed a good suplex on the
carpet, the combatants chased each other around the ring, and Foxxy got
knocked off the ring apron. Mayhem was counted out, when he helped Foxxy
back to the locker room. Damian blamed me for interfering in his match,
which started an argument between Damian and myself. Oh, well! After
the match, Mayhem reappeared and Damian went after him again culminating
in Damian coming off the top rope with Mayhem’s arm in a chair!
Match 5 Following a 25 minute intermission, when I once again got a
chance to speak with Mike Morgan, Justin Toxicated took on Bandido, Jr.
In the face-face contest, which included an ROH handshake, things were
fast and furious from the start. The audience approved with applause.
Bandido executed some stiff looking chops followed by a devastating drop
kick. Bandido picked up the win with a submission hold in which he
pulled on Justin’s hair. I wondered if he had won or was disqualified!
Match 6 For the AWA North American Championship, Rob Vegas challenged
champ Johnny Thundar. I always enjoy Thundar’s antics and he goes
over
big with the fans. Vegas was disqualified due to interference from J.
Kronic. We did not get to see Thundar’s version of sweet chin music.
Thundar picked up the stick and exclaimed, “How can you gyp these
people
out of a wrestling match? The fans deserve a lot better. Come back next
month, I’ll get a tag partner, and we will challenge Vegas and Kronic.”
Thundar then called out Morgan, who granted the match. Kronic and Vegas
then attacked Thundar and Morgan went after them. Possible tag partner?
Match 7 In the main event for the tag championship, VIP, Christopher
Idol and Eric Cooper (with Cherry Delicious) faced champs Touch of
Class, Nino Capone and Arian Payne (with Roxy). I have been pushing Idol
and Cooper since I first met them a year and a half ago. They are great
heels, with charisma, wrestling skills, and comic ability. This is not
to take anything away from Touch of Class, who are fine performers in
their own right. Throughout the match, I was much too busy taunting
Chris and Eric to notice holds. I was sitting with the Off Brothers and
challenging VIP to a match. (The Off Brothers are up and comers and I
would love to see them square off with VIP.) When the fans started
calling Idol, “Pee Wee Herman,” Chris went into the bathroom
and came
out with some toilet paper to use as a foreign object. Capone and Payne
picked up the win at the show’s 10:45 pm close.
I was quite pleased with my first AWA show and I intend to attend again.
This show is certainly worth the $7 admission fee. I wish the best of
success to Mike Morgan and his promotion. You can find information
concerning the AWA at www.awa-nj1.com
