This post is not about hyping these events, although it may additionally serve that purpose. This post is about its title "10 Years of New England Championship Wrestling."
NECW has run consistent live events for a decade. It has produced weekly original television distributed via the Internet for more years than there has been a You Tube or a Hulu and was the first to do so. It is currently producing original weekly television that can be seen throughout New England on Comcast Video On Demand - another first in the industry.
On Saturday, August 12, 2000, I stood in front of a group of young men in a former arcade in Wethersfield, CT and told them, "This company is about making you guys the stars. I live and die with you guys."
At the time, that was a radical statement. The conventional wisdom at the time was that TV stars drew the fans, and if you didn't have those stars, you weren't going to make it. In fact, I remember after our 3rd event, which took place at the old Good Time Emporium in Somerville, MA, our then ring announcer sat me down, looked at me and said, "If you don't start booking the big names, you'll be out of business in six months."
Keeping that promise was not easy. It took years before people started to believe that "local wrestling" was a viable way to conduct business. It still isn't easy. But today, when I call the matches for TV and see young men and women who are bound together by a near irrational love of pro wrestling and the burning desire to make it in this profession, and the audiences, no matter how large or small, touched by their in-ring stuggles, I continue to be inspired and priviledged to have had a hand in making those dreams into reality.
The list of athletes that have benefitted from the stage NECW has provided over the years is a long and impressive one. Whether they worked for one night, a few months or a numerous years, all had a part to play in the history and legacy of New England Championship Wrestling. Whether they were local or made the trip to our area from across the U.S. or overseas, they sought NECW out because it provided that stage that gave them credibitlity and exposure.
Some of NECW's alumni include, John Cena, Beth Phoenix, Trinity, Doug Williams, Sumie Sakai, "Die Hard" Eddie Edwards, "Prince" Fergal Devitt, Nikki Roxx, Mercedes Martinez, Antonio Thomas, Rebecca Knox, Jonny Storm, Jody Fleisch, The All Knighters, and many, many, many more.
The local stories are often the most compelling. When NECW decided to seriously promote women's wrestling and created the Wordl Women's Wrestling brand, Nikki Roxx, tapped to be the company's first champion appeared in every major local newspaper on radio and TV, garnering more press than any other wrestler - male or female - in New England wrestling history. It was a springboard to a tryout in WWE and a run in TNA.
Speaking of women's wrestling, this Sunday the World Women's Wrestling brand returns with a very unique main event - WWW Champion, Mistress Belmont vs. Alexxis Neveah for the title in a steel cage. These two women have improved so much since they started with us to the point that they are two of the best women in pro wrestling bar none.
Next weekend, as we celebrate 10 years and embark on our second decade, I hope you will make it down and share this extraordinary promotion and experience with us. I can say with every confidence that New England Championship Wrestling takes a backseat to nothing and no one. It has absoultely made an impact on this sport we call professional wrestling. If you've followed us at all, come back and you'll remember why. If you've never been to NECW live before, come down and be a part of a very special event and a very special group of people.
Thanks for reading and thanks for your support.
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