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Jersey All Pro Wrestling 2002 Report
By Brett Schwan
Jersey All Pro Wrestling returned to Rahway, NJ on December 13 at their new venue, the Rahway Rec Center, for Season's Beatings 2003.
Our pre match festivities started at Bertucci's where Frank, Ron, Paul, and myself enjoyed a very good meal as well as the looks of our very cute waitress (who more than earned her tip).
The show started at 8:05 with a 10 bell salute to the late Jerry Tuite.
Luminaries in attendance Angel Martinez, Chino Martinez, Denise Hoopes, Buck Woodward, Sure Shot Scott, Kathy Fitzpatrick, Robert Payes, Big Andy Vargas, Monsta Mack, The RF Video Crew, and Striker
Your referees for the evening: Paul Turner and Ref Hanson.
The opening match was for the JAP Lightheavyweight Championship. Azrael defended his title against Insane Dragon in an excellent opener. Both men exchanged moves. Azrael hit a nice fisherman buster floatover into a brainbuster for a two count. Azrael followed up with a springboard blockbuster before getting the pinfall with a cradle michinoku driver.
As the ring announcer was about to announce the next match, Dan Maff entered the ring to talk about his match later tonight with Jerry The King Lawler and Shane Douglas. Maff plans on leaving tonight with his second JAP Hvyt Title.
The ring announcer announces the next match as a tag team match. Stevie Nicks' Edge of Seventeen plays as Dixie and Deranged (with Hijinx and a kid doing his best John Cena impersonation). Dixie and Deranged have to face the Shaolin Wrecking Crew (Suba and Magic with his new retro "Meng" haircut). The SWC completely dominate the opening minutes of the match. Suba attempts a Vaderbomb on Deranged but Deranged gives him a low blow. Hijinx gets on the ring apron with a chair and Dixie punches the chair into Suba's head. Magic breaks up the pinfall. Magic throws Dixie over the top rope onto his partners. He then his a tiger powerbomb on Deranged for the three count.
In a "Rookie's Match", Rush Margera and Corvis Fear faced the Nelson Brothers. Good match by all four men. Rush hit a nice moonsault onto the Nelson's at ringside. Corvis tried to follow up with a suicide dive but the Nelson's moved and Corvis hit the floor. Back in the ring, Rush hits a reverse stroke on one of the Nelson's. Corvis makes the quick tag and hits a frog splash over Rush onto Nelson for the three count.
Fat Frank makes his way to the ring where he introduces his new tag team, the New Express (Havok and Papadon (sporting his new John Curse haircut) of the Solution). The New Express destroy both Corvis and Rush as Fat Frank talks about how he is tired of "pieces of shit" like Corvis and Rush getting matches when his team can't even get booked since tonight's show was already full. (Note to Frank... you are the promoter don't you have any pull? LOL)
Crazy Ivan faced Eddie Thomas for the JAP TV Title. Crazy Ivan dominated the entire match. He started by slapping Eddie like crazy. A huge off the top rope elbow drop by Ivan followed. Ivan put Eddie into an abdominal stretch. Eddie tried to make a comeback but Ivan fought back and continued his assault. Ivan started arguing with Ref Turner and when Turner wasn't looking, Jay Lethal ran in and nailed Ivan with a chair. Ivan fell backwards over Eddie who made the cover for the three count. Your new JAP TV Champion is Eddie Thomas.
Ariel enters the ring (in very nice, new ring attire) where she talks about the problems she has had with the Skyscrapers and Church over the past months. Johnny D interrupts and enters the ring with the Skyscrapers and Church. As the four men were preparing to destroy Ariel again, the Next Generation came to the ring. The Next Generation think they are Jedi's and tried using their light sabers on the four men from the Darkside to no avail. The Next Generation were destroyed. Mega took out the ref. Johnny stood on both men and Church slapped the ref's hand to the canvas for the three count. They then destroyed Ariel with a full nelson chokeslam by Church followed by a Mega rikishi driver and the other Skyscraper with his version of the Diamond Cutter.
After a 20 minute intermission, Santa Claus entered the ring. He was soon double chokeslammed by The Skyscrapers, who along with Church and Johnny D wished him a Merry Christmas.
The next match is a JAP Lightheavyweight #1 Contender Match between Jay Lethal and Buck Wylde. Great match by both men. Tons of highspots. Wylde hit a nice running corkscrew flying bodypress to Lethal on the floor. The two men battled back and forth until Lethal was able to hit a Dragon Suplex on Wylde for the pin.
The Christopher Street Connection, with Jailbait entered the ring for their JAP Tag Team Title match against Slyk Wagner Brown and April Hunter. The CSC refused to get into the ring with April as they both wanted Slyk. Jailbait then announced that many people were wondering why she was with the CSC. It seems it's a perfect fit as Jailbait likes women and has her sights set on April Hunter (and who wouldn't?) Slyk decides to get into the ring so the match can at least start. The CSC assault Slyk with their arsenal of homosexual maneuvers before hitting a double shattered dreams on him. Slyk made a comeback and hit a leg lariat on Mace. Buff E. took out April before a tag could be made. Buff E. with the testicular claw on Slyk. Slyk is finally able to make the tag to April. April hits two clotheslines followed by two bodyslams on CSC. Double suplex by Slyk and April on Buff E. Slyk then picks up April and throws her into a moonsault onto Buff E. Slyk immediately followed with a standing moonsault. Slyk is thrown to the floor and CSC double team April. As Buff E. makes the pin on April, Jailbait comes in and pulls him off her. She then slides herself up April's body and across her face. Seeing the action in the ring, Slyk makes his way in and lies next to April, inviting Jailbait to have her way with him. She didn't seem all that interested. April got pissed at Slyk because Slyk "is a pig". CSC come over and tell them to "make love not war" and the CSC start making out. April and Slyk hit clotheslines on CSC. Mace gets tossed from the ring. Slyk picks up Buff E for a Samoan Drop. April to the ropes. April jumps off with the Head Hunter into the Slyk Samoan Drop for the pinfall. Slyk and April retain the JAP Tag Team Titles. Dan Maff and DRS attack from behind. Slyk is handcuffed to the ropes while La Familia destroy April. Maff hits the Burning Hammer on April and they drape her in the flag of Puerto Rico.
The next match is 1/2 of your double main event. Dan Maff faces Shane Douglas and JAP Heavyweight Champion, Jerry Lawler. Shane gets in the ring and cuts his usual "I shoot when I speak and when I speak it's a shoot" (which pretty much means it's a work) promo where he takes his shots on Vince and Paul. Shane says he's taking the belt with him back to Pittsburgh. Jerry Lawler enters and gets on the mic. First he tell Dan Maff, "The only good thing that ever came from Puerto Rico was an empty boat". He then says, "Douglas is so dumb, he thought vampires came from Pennsylvania." Lawler tries to convince Douglas that La Familia are going to try and make the match three against two. He tells Shane, "Do the math, you're the Dean." The match starts off with Shane and Maff trying to get their hands on Lawler who was able to evade them for a while. Lawler with some punches a kick and a piledriver on Douglas. Maff breaks the pin. Lawler hits a piledriver on Maff but Douglas breaks the pin. Maff and Douglas double team Lawler. Lawler pulls down the shoulder strap and starts throwing punches. He gives the finger to, kicks, then stuns Douglas and Maff. Maff is thrown brass knuckles while the ref isn't looking. He nails Lawler with them and makes the pinfall. The winner and new JAP Heavyweight Champion, Dan Maff (and for the first interview with the new JAP Heavyweight Champion click here.)
The final match of the evening saw The Phenomenal AJ Styles defeat The
Fallen Angel Christopher Daniels in a match that was as great as anyone
expected. Lots of great chain wrestling to start the match. The two men
make their way to ringside. Daniels whips Styles our way toward the guard
rail but AJ leaps over the rail. Daniels tries to follow him but is met
with a superkick. Back in the ring, Daniels hits the Best Moonsault Ever
for a two count. He follows up with the Angel Wings for another two count.
Ten headbutts by Daniels is followed by an enziguri by Styles. Daniels
backslides AJ who reverses it into a Majistral. Daniels Last Rites attempt
was blocked by a Styles snap mare into an armbar/headscissor combo. Daniels
goes for the Angel Wings again but Styles reverses it into the Styles
Clash for the three count.
Overall, a good show by JAP. The show ran a bit long at 3 1/2 hours and
even Ray said after the show that it seemed like a USA Pro length show.
The new venue is awesome and the sound, while still not perfect, was 100
times better than Center Circle. The show opened very strong with the
LightHeavyweight Title match, Dan Maff's promo, and the SWC v Dixie/Deranged
match. The rookie's match allowed all four wrestlers to show what they
had while introducing the newest addition to the JAP roster, the Solution,
errr... The New Express. Eddie Thomas got a huge pop from the crowd when
he won the TV Title from Crazy Ivan (of course, the fact that the Lethal
family were in attendance could explain that). Personally, I was a little
disappointed with Ariel's big surprise team being the Next Generation
(who only Frank A. knew since he had seen them once on a ECPW tv show).
The beating down of Ariel, which has now taken place on nearly ever JAP
show in the recent past, is getting a little old (in my opinion). If you're
building up to a huge finale to this monthly occurrence, the time is now.
Did anyone think Santa was going to make it out of the ring without getting
attacked by someone? Lethal v Wylde was an excellent match. How can you
expect less from these two talented wrestlers? The tag title match was
a good mix of comedy and actual wrestling. CSC hit some very good spots,
as did April and Slyk. April's facial expressions, as Jailbait tried to
hit on her, were priceless. The finisher of the Head Hunter into the Samoan
Drop was a great idea. The post match beatdown was also well done as it
continued to establish La Familia as the lead heels in JAP (although I
thought it went on a little too long). I was thrilled to see Dan Maff
win the JAP Heavyweight Title for numerous reasons: 1. He deserves it.
He has worked in JAP for a long time and has proven himself as a single's
wrestler. It guarantees some great title matches in the future. 2. Lawler
is great on the mic but not as great in the ring as he once was. 3. Shane
Douglas isn't great on the mic and was better when he was a Dynamic Dude.
(However, Douglas got a decent pop from the crowd so obviously, not everyone
shares my opinion). (a plea from Brett to Frank and Ray... If you're going
to use Douglas again PLEASE, I beg you PLEASE, bring in Tracy Brooks with
him as the two of them, along with Michael Shane as the new Franchise
Family make Douglas so much more tolerable LOL) The final match of the
evening was as great as expected. Both men put on a hell of a match, which
was definitely match of the night. If the show could have been cut down
by about 20 minutes (maybe let Lawler sign before the show if possible)
it wouldn't have felt so long. A good showing by JAP with a great combination
of actual wrestling matches plus some comedy thrown in. JAP returns to
Rahway in February 2004. Plus, on January 9th they run a joint card with
ROH at the Woodbridge Armory.
