GENESIS 7 Notes, WWW Notes & IRON 8 DVD

It's been a crazy couple of weeks here between preparation for GENESIS 7 and other work projects that seem to have peaked all at the same time. I'm putting in some pretty crazy hours these days, but have a lot to be thankful for.

GENESIS 7 was simply a super event. All of our athletes worked hard, the matches were all great and we had a packed house of great NECW fans to boot. You can't ask for much more than that.

We debuted a new upgraded entrance way and video projection set up that looked phenomenal. Hats off to Matt and Kyle Storm for their hard work in putting that together. It gives our events a real "big time" atmosphere that the quality of talent deserves.

I used to think that the physical presentation of wrestling was not so important. After all, wrestling was presented with just a ring and a few lights for decades. One of the things that has changed about our world is that people's expectations have changed. Their view of pro wrestling is what they see on TV and while there is no way that an independent company can match the physical presentation of a WWE or TNA, a strong physical production does make a real difference. I'm proud to say that NECW has a physical production that is the best in the region. Our fans deserve the very best event we can give them and attention to "the little things" is a big part of what sets us apart from everyone else in the area.

Back to the GENESIS event itself. I was really thrilled with the matches and so proud of our roster. One of the great stories of the night for me was seeing "Rocket" Fred Curry Jr. and Chase Del Monte capture the tag team titles. I always liked both talents, partcularly Curry who broke in to New England with NECW on our very first event back in 2000. This duo seems to have really clicked and I expect big things from them in the coming year.

D.C. Dillinger and Alex Arion tore it up with Dillinger coming up on the short end thanks to a quick thinking Alex Arion. Dillinger's post match attack on the sister of the Golden Greek was just despicable. I lost my cool over that one, as I have little patience for man on woman violence.

Eddie Edwards and Bobby Fish had another classic with Edwards picking the pocket of Fish with help from Sean Gorman for the win. I don't know about you, but I could watch these guys for hours. It's a feud that I hope never ends, because these two guys are magic together.

Antonio Thomas and Brian Fury had a tremendous match and as I have said before, Thomas is doing the best work of his career in my not so humble opinion.

While I may not agree with his tactics, I am happy that Big Rick Fuller is getting a chance to lead the charge in NECW as Triple Crown Champion. I can't think of a more credible titleholder than Fuller, though Max Bauer is going to give him a major run for his money. With Antonio Thomas in the hunt as well, the Triple Crown title picture has suddenly developed a whole lot of intrigue.

The one thing that struck me about GENESIS 7 more than anything else was watching the fans and how they were so into what was going on. It's nights like this that make me so happy, because it proves that if you present pro wrestling with that old school mentality, it still works and the people still respond.

A very gratifying night indeed.

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World Women's Wrestling makes it's return on Sunday, March 9 for the 2nd anniversary of the promotion.

It will be an interesting afternoon with a pre-show lunch with the stars at 12:30 and the show itself at 3 PM.

There will be a lot of new faces at this event and I am looking very much forward to it.

The luncheon is an unusual opportunity to get up close and personal with the stars. Last year's lunch was a really fun time and you owe it to yourself to be a part of it. Tickets are already moving fast and we have orders from as far away as England!

Make sure you get your tickets early for this one!

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The just-released IRON 8 DVD that we've put out is really something you should go out of your way to get.

It's our most ambitious release yet - a 2 disc set with over an hour's worth of extras.

The IRON 8 Championship is one of those rare things in wrestling - a completely original concept that really showcases the athleticism of its participants. 4 singles matches with the winners facing off in a 4 way, 45 minute iron man match. To win, you have to be able to wrestle for an hour or more. .

As I was doing the commentary for the DVD, I was struck by how really good it was and that the talent in this is so extraordinary. It's a real showpiece for NECW and pro wrestling at its best.

Make sure you pick one up at our TV site.

WWE Smackdown/OVW Thoughts, GENESIS 7 Notes, IRON 8 DVD This Saturday

I can't believe how busy it's been this past month. We have a lot of things going on in NECW and some cool stuff in the works for the warmer months. I'm really excited about GENESIS 7 this Saturday, but more on that later.

The big news stories in wrestling last week were the CW network dropping WWE's Smackdown and WWE ending their relationship with Ohio Valley Wrestling as a developmental territory.

It seemed to me that CW dropping Smackdown was something totally out of left field. While I'm sure Smackdown will end up on another network (My Network TV seems most likely), I don't see NBC giving it a slot (or ABC or CBS for that matter). It may help boost My Network TV, which needs some destination programming, and WWE might be able to leverage a better upside for itself in terms of ad sales revenue.

The dropping of OVW as a developmental territory was no surprise to anyone in the business, as WWE is making a serious investment in the Florida Championhip Wrestling territory and consoldating its developmental programs there. I hope OVW continues on as an independent entity because quality promotions are a real need in today's business.

I am sorry to hear about my old friend Al Snow being released from his contract. He's one of the true good guys in the business. I hope Al continues to stay involved in wrestling.

Saturday night's GENESIS 7: BATTLE OF THE GIANTS is going to be a tremendous card. I am especially looking forward to the main event with Fuller and Bauer. But there is so much here that is going to rock the house - Edwards vs. Fish, Dillinger vs. Arion. Sain and Siks in a Dog Collar Match, New Tag Champions will be crowned, plus the TV Title match with Locke battling Handome Johnny, Ariel vs. Luscious Latasha and more. This one you don't want to miss. GENESIS is a New England tradition! Make sure you get tickets!

Also, we have just finished the IRON 8 DVD from this past year's tournament. This is the best DVD we've ever done. The IRON 8 is a unique event that really showcases the great athletic talent we have here in NECW. There aren't many truly original wrestling concepts, but the IRON 8 is one of them. This 2 disc set has over an hour's worth of extras, including never-before seen interviews will all of the IRON 8 Finalists and myself.

See you in Quincy this Saturday night!

WWE World Class DVD; NECW SNOWBRAWL, Best of Polls and Year End Awards & 2008 Notes

First off, let me wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2008. Thank you for taking the time to read this stuff as your support is very much appreciated.


I finally got a copy of WWE's Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Championship Wrestling last week, and it was well worth the wait. While the WWE's version does not have the same emotional power of Brian Harrison's Heroes of World Class DVD, which you can get from Big Vision Entertainment, it has a lot that Heroes didn't have, such as commentary from Michael Hayes, Buddy Roberts and Jimmy Garvin and a good selection of matches.


The story of World Class Championship Wrestling is something the likes of which will never be seen again. A wrestling territory so far ahead of its time, so hot, so innovative destroyed by unimaginable tragedy after tragedy. It is a story so incredible, if it were not fact, it would never pass as fiction as it would be too implausible.

I will spare you the detailed review, but both the Heroes of World Class DVD and the WWE's Triumph & Tragedy deserve a place in your DVD collection.

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NECW has SNOWBRWAL coming up this coming Saturday night in Quincy, MA and it will be a barnburner of a card. We have a terrific 8 man tag team elimination match on top with NECW Triple Crown Champion, Big Rick Fuller, D.C. Dillinger, "Die Hard" Eddie Edwards and Antonio "The Promise" Thomas on one side and "Straight Edge" Brian Fury, Alex Arion, Bobby Fish and Max Bauer on the other. This one is contested under elimination rules and it is an absolute must-see.

We have 7 other bouts, including two title rematches as Brandon Locke defends the TV title against Handsome Johnny and Lexxus puts the gold on the line against "The Portuguese Princess" Ariel. Check out http://www.necwwrestling.com/ for the complete card and ticket info, but I want to see you there!

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This is the time of year for all the "Best of 2007" polls. The granddaddy of them all is the Wrestling Observer Awards. Dave Meltzer does the most complete job of this. And while it is a flawed awards list, it has become the standard by which all other polls of this sort are judged by.

I have issues with a lot of stuff in the Observer awards, though this year Dave did a much better job of separating the pro wrestling awards from the MMA awards. I've always maintained that the two are different animals and should not be judged side by side.

It's worth going out of your way to get, especially if you are either in the business or a serious student of it.

We do not do any sort of "Best of 2007" awards for NECW. There is a message board site that primarily covers the New England scene that has a year end poll, but it is so flawed in so many areas that it can't be taken seriously.

If I were to give you my own NECW "Best of 2007" winners, some might be offended because it's like telling you which of my children I like best. We will be coming out with a "Best of 2007" DVD in the next couple of months. In fact we have 3 releases in process right now: the 2007 IRON 8 Championship, BIRTHDAY BASH 7: Caged Fury and The Best of 2007, which will again be a 2 disc set. There will be a best of WWW DVD too in the not too distant future.

Without calling this a "Best of 2007 Awards," here are some of my thoughts on the year just passed:

You judge a wrestling company best by who it's champion is and what they have done. By that standard, D.C. Dillinger proved himself to be the top independent wrestler in New England. Dillinger toppped more sellouts than any other NECW Champion ever. His feud with Brian Fury was everything a great wrestling feud should be - hot issues, great promos, a great chase until the final conflict in a cage.

Brian Fury held up his end very well and delivered the goods in his role. Fury had a chance for the first time to play out a long program and he grew in that environment.

"Die Hard" Eddie Edwards and "The Infamous" Bobby Fish had a phenomenal series of matches in 2007 and those two are as good as any workers anywhere on the face of the planet.

Brandon Locke had a fantastic year and became a big fan favorite very quickly. Some workers need you to build them up to get the desired reaction. Brandon had the people almost immediately. This is a guy with great talent and finally the stage to show it.

Rick Fuller was such a solid performer for NECW in 2007. He finished the year winning the Triple Crown, but Fuller has had a tremendous positive impact on the promotion all year. If anyone deserves a big run on top, it's Fuller.

Michael Sain and Antonio Thomas have done great work in NECW in the latter part of the year. Sain was one of the better NECW Champions and has become a very good student of the business. Antonio Thomas is one of the best workers New England has ever produced, and his latest work is some of the best of his career. If you haven't been watching NECW TV and his promos, you are missing something special.

On the women's side, Tanya Lee grew tremendously as a performer as WWW Champion. One of the true rewards of promoting wrestling is seeing people get better when given the stage and the spotlight. Tanya Lee is going to get even better as time goes on. I cannot say enough good things about Lexxus. This is a girl who so totally upped her game in taking the WWW title in August, it's amazing.

This is the strongest roster in NECW history and I think we delivered an excellent product - one that I am so very proud of.

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As we look to 2008, we have some huge things on the horizon. We will be announcing some pretty interesting shows and relationships in the coming months that are really going to elevate the company.

We will be doing the Hot Dog Safari again this year. That takes place on Sunday, June 1 at Suffolk Downs in East Boston.

We will be launching a new web site in March that I think is going to be as good as anything on the net.

It's going to be an exciting year for NECW and WWW and I look forward to seeing you at the matches.

WALTZ Notes, Thoughts on 2007 & 2008

The NECW year 2007 came to a close on Friday night, December 28th with the annual TOXIC WALTZ. You can read the complete results at the NECW website, and watch highlights on this week's NECW TV, but I thought I would share a few notes on the show.

The big news of course is Big Rick Fuller being crowned NECW Triple Crown Champion. Fuller is a long time veteran and a guy who deserved a big run in this business. It would not shock me if he got that run somewhere, foriegn or domestic, within the next year or so.

Max Bauer was the 2007 TOXIC WALTZ winner, and it was Bauer's night to shine. Max is a tremendously gifted kid. He's got size and power, but also is intelligent, well-spoken and a student of the game. Now that he is out of the shadow of T.J. Richter, look for Bauer to have a huge impact on NECW in the coming year.

2007 was a great year for NECW. It may well have been the best year as far as the in-ring product goes in the history of the company. Guys like Dillinger, Edwards, Fish, Fury, Locke, Fuller, Frost, Arion and so many others have had consistently good matches. Michael Sain coming back on the scene in dramatic fashion at BIRTHDAY BASH 7 was a highlight. The NWA Championship Tournament Matches were so memorable, especially the return to NECW of "Prince" Fergal Devitt from Ireland, who is now full time in New Japan Pro Wrestling.

2008 looks like it could be an even bigger year with the emergence of some talents like Max Bauer and Antonio Thomas.

Our focus right now is to examine our business and look for ways to improve every aspect of what we're doing. Much is in the works, and I can promise you that you will see a bigger and better NECW in 2008.

One thing to mark on your calendar and look forward to is the return of World Women's Wrestling on Sunday, March 9 at Good Time Emporium in Somerville, MA. This will be the second anniversary of WWW and you can look forward to seeing some great action on that date, including familiar faces and new talent as well.

While you won't see as many WWW shows as this past year, we have some big plans for that as well.

I got an e-mail this past week asking me about DVD releases. Right now, we have the 2007 IRON 8 in production. After that will be BIRTHDAY BASH 7, Best of 2007 and one or two WWW releases. We hope to step up DVD production and bring you some great releases in the new year.

Thanks for your support. I will have more later in the week.

TOXIC WALTZ Preview, The Patriots & Thoughts on 2007

NECW is presenting its final event of 2007 this coming Friday night at the Armory in Quincy, MA. THE TOXIC WALTZ is one of our "signature events" - an event unique to NECW that is one of the high points of the year.

Before I even get to the WALTZ, we made a decision about a month ago to change the date of this event. It was supposed to be Saturday night, December 29th, but seeing that the New England Patriots could be deciding a potential undefeated season, we moved the show to the prior night. Hell, I want to stay home and watch that! So yes Virginia, you can enjoy NECW and the New England Patriots too.

If you're in the Boston area, or drivably close, THE TOXIC WALTZ is an event you want to go out of your way for. THE TOXIC WALTZ is a tradition dating back to 1998 in Mayhem Wrestling. It is one of the most unique concept matches I have ever heard of - a 10 man gauntlet match, with a unique twist and a very important reward. Nine men are selected. Two men begin and the loser of each fall chooses the winner's next opponent. The final loser can chose anyone in or out of NECW to face the last contestant, and the winner gets a shot at the NECW Triple Crown Championship in February at GENESIS 7. The loser of each fall picking the winner's opponent means anyone could face anyone - friend may be forced to battle friend. It's a one-of-a-kind bout where anything can happen.

The participants already signed for THE TOXIC WALTZ include: Former Triple Crown Champion, D.C. Dillinger, 2006-2007 IRON 8 Champion, “Die Hard” Eddie Edwards, “The Golden Greek” Alex Arion, Michael Sain, “The Human Nightmare” Evan Siks, Antonio “The Promise” Thomas, “The Talent” T. J. Richter, Scott Osbourne and Matt Spectro. The 10th man can be anyone in or out of NECW. This is an interesting field full of former titleholders, any and all of whom are still threats to the Triple Crown in NECW. This is one where anyone can end up on top and the winner will dictate the course of NECW for months to come.

We also have the huge rematch between NECW Triple Crown Champion, "Straight Edge" Brian Fury and Big Rick Fuller. Last month, Fuller won the match via count out, when Fury was distracted by Antonio Thomas. This time, no one will be allowed at ringside - not Fuller's manager, Brian Cairo, not Antonio Thomas, or anyone else, as I have stipulated that if anyone interferes in the match, they are gone from NECW. Last month, Fury gave Fuller an amazing fight and showed that he could more than hold his own against the big man. Fuller has a size, power and experience advantage that makes the champion the underdog in what will be an epic rematch.

NECW Television Champion, Brandon Locke defends his title against top contender, Handsome Johnny. The Handsome One is one of the top talents in the area and he is an asset to any locker room. He'll be a title holder in NECW in the future if he wants it bad enough. That being said, Brandon Locke has taken off like a rocket in NECW this year and rockets are hard to catch.

World Women's Wrestling Champion, Lexxus puts the gold on the line against newcomer, Sammi Lane, making her debut in Quincy. It will be interesting to see what Sammi Lane brings to the women's division. Lexxus has really blossomed into a strong and effective champion and her best days are in front of her.

Plus D.C. Dillinger says he and Alex Arion will confront each other face to face at THE TOXIC WALTZ. This past week on NECW TV, you saw Dillinger put Frankie Arion on the shelf permanently in NECW. Alex Arion is not going to let that pass without collecting some serious retribution.

In addition, there will be a tag team title qualifying match pitting the team of Dave Cole and Scott Osbourne against the duo of Chase Del Monte and "The Rocket" Fred Curry. These four are all great competitors. Cole was one half of the Canadian Superstars and held the tag belts for a year. That's all that needs to be said about his credentials. Scott Osbourne is going to be a very big deal in this business if he keeps moving forward like he has been. Del Monte is a great talent, who has yet to land in a position where he can really show off his potential. "The Rocket" Fred Curry is a guy who has so much potential and just needs a shot of confidence and the focus to pull his game together enough to where he can make an impact. This will be a very interesting bout to watch.

We have another tradition in NECW and that's our annual calendar. We always give then away at the last show of the year as a gift to our fans for their support. We do our very best to earn your patronage each and every time we open the doors.

2007 was an extraordinary year for us. I really believe that this incarnation of NECW is the best roster we have ever had. We have had some incredible matches, some compelling feuds and it has worked because we often drew more than other shows in the area with so-called "big names."

Please join us Friday night for what is going to be a really terrific night of wrestling. Thank you!

Holiday Wishes, Bravo Kofi, TOXIC WALTZ

Is it me, or did this holiday season seem to be upon us too fast? What used to be a happy, spirited time of year just seems like a rush and a blur these days. That's probably a comment on our over-worked society more than anything else.

In any case, I hope you have a great holiday season and that at least one good wish of yours comes true.

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Nice to see Kofi Kingston getting called up to ECW with a push. Kofi worked for NECW a bit in 2006 before getting signed to a WWE developmental contract.

Kofi is a great guy, a first class individual and a terrific talent. You'll see him do great things because he had the right blend of undeniable charisma, quality athletics and the open minded respectful attitude that comes along with being a great student of the game.

I am looking forward to following what I think is going to be a stellar career for a very gifted and deserving man.

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Lots of things in the works for 2008 that I can't talk about yet, but I am looking forward to a great new year.

Before we get there though, NECW has its final event of 2007, THE TOXIC WALTZ, on Friday night, December 28 at the National Guard Armory in Quincy, MA.

THE TOXIC WALTZ is something that was originally developed in Mayhem Wrestling, was carried over into PWF Northeast and now into NECW. It's one of the most original concept matches I've ever heard of and something I am so proud to have as part of the promotion.

The idea is pretty simple. It's a 10 man gauntlet match, where the loser of each fall picks the winner's next opponent. Lots of interesting possibilities come out of this and that's what makes it such a brilliant concept.

This is one you don't want to miss. Check it out at www.NECWwrestling.com.

Book Review: Bret Hart: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling

"To me there is something bordering on beautiful about a brotherhood of big tough men who pretended to hurt one another for a living instead of actually
doing it" - Bret Hart

"Bret Hart: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling" is a powerful, roller coaster of a book - a journey through hard times, triumph, tragedy and survival. Bret Hart's is a life like few others have ever lived.

The book is based on an audio diary that Bret kept through his entire career starting in his early twenties. The pictures and details aren't always pretty, but they never fail to fascinate. Even at 553 pages, I found it hard to put the book down.

The Bret Hart revealed in this book is a diamond with many facets and unashamed to hide it's flaws. On one hand, you have the wrestling hero - a loyal, dilligent and often brilliant artist of the squared circle. Then you have the troubled husband finding solace in the temptaions of the road, the loving father, the prodigal son at odds with his siblings and the man trying to stay on track while personal tragedy and professional disappointment take their shots at him.

One of the things that comes through in the book is that the greatest love of Bret Hart's life was wrestling. There are those in the business who have criticized him for taking himself and the business too seriously. The book confirms my opinion that most people who are in it today don't take it seriously enough. Bret's book is a look at how pro wrestling has changed and not in too many ways for the better. Bret's example of hard work, loyalty and doing what's right for the business are qualities that both wrestlers and people in any field of endeavor would be well served to emulate.

If you are in the wrestling business or a student of it, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Even if you are not a wrestling fan, Bret Hart's incredible life is a literary adventure well worth taking.

I am still stunned over how well done this book is. Bret wraps his life up perfectly for us and I found much of it very moving. When I was finished with the book, I wanted to shake his hand, thank him and just chat about what I'd read.

As a wrestling promoter, it saddens me that we don't have Bret Hart in our business anymore. He has so much to give with his knowledge and as a personal influence, that it strikes me as so unfortunate that Bret couldn't make himself a presence in wrestling, even if it were strictly behind the scenes. Bret talks in his book about playing a wrestling hero, but in so many ways, he became a very real one and is even moreso in my eyes after reading this great book.

Toys for Tots Signing, Killer Kowalski & more

It was a fun day today for a good cause at West Real Estate in Wilmington, MA, as we participated in an autograph signing to benefit Toys for Tots.

Our Chris Sullivan did a great job putting this together with Frank and Karen West who have been doing these signings for the past several years.

This was a really well attended event that featured the legendary Walter "Killer" Kowalski, and in a rare show of babyface compassion, D.C. Dillinger and Sean Gorman actually signed autographs. If you ever been around NECW shows, you know that Dillinger and Gorman signing autographs is about as common as Haley's Comet making a pass.

A ton of toys were donated and I had fun chatting with some of the folks who come by. We even had a couple of guys from PA who were up in the area and donated a whole box of new unwrapped toys.

Frank had a pretty impressive collection of vintage programs and memorabilia on hand. One woman who came by named Ann had a really impressive autograph book with a ton of autographs from the top stars of the 50's. She talked about going to some of the tapings of the original "Bedlam from Boston" TV show in the late 1950's that aired on WBZ-TV.

It was really nice to see Walter Kowalski and his wife Theresa, whom I hadn't seen in a quite a while.

On the ride home, I thought to myself about how much Walter has done in the wrestling business - not just when he was active, but afterwards as well. Kowalski was always generous with his time and stories and not many men who who achieved so much in their field of endeavor are like that. He could have very well kept his knowledge to himself. Instead, he's touched the lives of hundreds of men and women who have become a part of pro wrestling and unselfishly shared his greatness with all of them, myself included.

The man is a true treasure.

We will be back at West Real Estate, 386 Main Street in Wilmington, MA, next Sunday, November 25 from 12 noon to 2 PM.

For a small fee of $5 or a new unwrapped toy you will receive a signed photo of all the stars at the signing. There will be refreshments, a DVD of different NECW matches going, and a special raffle with some great prizes and all money going to Toys for Tots.

On Sunday, November 25 it will be Antonio "The Promise" Thomas, "Mad Dog" Matt Storm, "The Human Nightmare" Evan Siks and Brian Cairo signing autographs. Please come out and see us and do something great for children who would have no toys this holiday otherwise.

For more information go to www.WestRe.com (West Real Estate's website)

Tony Rumble, More on Moolah, Jericho's Book

It was 8 years ago this week - November 13, 1999 - that "The Boston Bad Boy" Tony Rumble dies of a massive heart attack at the age of 43.

If you were part of the wrestling scene in this area at that time, you know how much of an impact Tony Rumble and his NWA New England promotion had around here. His passing left a void that will never be filled.

Rumble was a unique character. He made his fame as a wrestler, announcer and producer for Mario Savoldi's ICW in the 80's and early 90's. While, by his own admission, he was not a great wrestler, he was one of the great personalities and a talented booker and TV producer. He was able to take a crew of the good, the bad and the goofy and turn them into an entertaining product. He was also a streetwise promoter who built a solid sold show business second to none. His friendships with guys he worked with in ICW, who went on to become major stars, helped elevate the local business and opened doors for many local talents who went on to work for WCW and the then WWF. He would be as proud of guys he knew who made it, as if he made it himself.

More than any of that, Tony Rumble was a very close friend in a business where few real friends are made. Not a day goes by that I don't think of him and wonder what he would think of what our business has become. I would not be surprised to hear him say in that inimitable way of his, "Wow Goldberg, what a bunch of half-wits."

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Dave Meltzer had a great obituary on The Fabulous Moolah, along with a history of women's wrestling in U.S. in his Wrestling Observer Newsletter last week.

Moolah is not a member of of the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame and in Dave's article he goes into the pros and cons of her career and what works against her for Hall of Fame consideration.

One of Dave's issues is that Moolah was never really a money draw and seldom a main event attraction.

I think you have to see the bigger picture with Moolah. She came around at a time when women's wrestling was simply a special attraction used to spice up cards, much like the midgets and specialty acts like Haystacks Calhoun or Andre The Giant. The women generally weren't booked as consistent acts with programs and angles and that was how the promoters of the day did business. Moolah just provided them with an attraction, keeping herself as the top female star. Had the promoters of the era shown interest in making women consistent pushed characters, there would be more validity to that argument.

I would say that Moolah herself was a solid mid-card attraction. Anytime she appeared on a card and the promoter could bill a World Title match, it added something special to the hype for that particular show. I know as a young fan in the late 60's and 70's, I always had my interest piqued anytime Moolah was on the bill.

Moolah survived and thrived in a mans world and she should be recognized for having kept women's wrestling in business for decades. I have my doubts that women's wrestling would have fared much better without her booking the girls. In that era, most likely someone else would have come along and did the same thing.

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I've been busy with a number of non-wrestling projects these past few weeks and have been getting a fair amount of reading in.

Chris Jericho's book, "A Lion's Tale," is a laugh-out-loud fun read. Jericho is a great writer and storyteller who takes you through his career up to his WWF debut.

Anyone who was worked in the business will appreciate Jericho's story all the more. In fact, younger wrestlers who are just starting out should be required to read it.

Even if you don't like wrestling, it's a great book about one man's journey through a strange and often bizarre world to realize a boyhood dream.

Remembering The Fabulous Moolah

Lillian Ellison, better known to you as The Fabulous Moolah, was one of a kind.

I have been very fortunate to have met and befriended many of the legends of wrestling that I watched growing up. It was a special honor to be able to say that Moolah was a friend.

In the 90's, I started going out to Las Vegas every year for Moolah's LIWA (Ladies International Wrestling Association) conventions. The LIWA was essentially a lady wrestler's reunion, with a banquet and awards and an all girl's show featuring many of the older girls. They were some of the best times I've ever had around wrestling, and Moolah was the ever-gracious hostess.

She loved wrestling more than anything apart from family, and if you loved wrestling and respected the girls, she loved you too and treated you like an extended family member.

She inspired me to promote women's wrestling and I will always be grateful for her insight into the business as well as her friendship.

I will follow this up with more historical insight at another time.

Fury Announced for ECWA's Super 8 Tournament

NECW Triple Crown Champion, "Straight Edge" Brian Fury was announced as one of the competitors in this year's Super 8 Tournament, presented by the East Coast Wrestling Association and taking place on Saturday night, November 10 in Newark, Delaware.

This is the 11th annual Super 8 Tournament, which has become the premiere event of the independent wrestling world.

ECWA, which has been in business since 1967 under promoter Jim Kettner, is the longest running independent company in America. I am not ashamed to tell you that ECWA has been a big influence on me as a promoter. Jim Kettner is a first class gentleman and a true credit to the sport of professional wrestling.

There are a lot of wrestlers based here in New England who are extremely underrated outside of our area, and for years, Brian Fury has been one of them. I am thrilled for Brian and am glad he's getting such a richly deserved recognition.

Book Review: Brody by Larry Matysik & Barbara Goodish

People may complain about the current era of pro wrestling in terms of the product being put out by WWE, TNA and others, but this era is noteworthy for a new value placed on the history of pro wrestling. This era, having been launched by the success of the A&E special The Unreal Story of Professional Wrestling, and by Mick Foley's first best selling book, has produced a rash of wrestling books and some unique looks into the people and events that have shaped this industry we call professional wrestling.

Brody, by Larry Matysik and Barbara Goodish, is the story of the late, great Bruiser Brody (real name Frank Goodish). Brody, who murdered in a dressing room in Puerto Rico in 1988, was one of the top stars in the history of the mat game - a fiercely independent bear of a man, who was highly intelligent both in and out of the ring, as well as being a great friend, father and husband.

Brody is a fascinating and compelling book on many levels. The book chapters are written alternately by Matysik (the protege of the late NWA founder and St. Louis promoter, Sam Munchnik) and Barbara Goodish (Frank's widow). A balance is struck between Bruiser Brody and he what he meant to pro wrestling and Frank Goodish and who the man was behind the character of Bruiser Brody. The result of this choice is a book that is as informative and thought provoking as it is tragic and compelling.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the book is the discussion of the what the wrestling world was going through in the mid to late 1980's and the total upheaval of the pro wrestling business as Vince McMahon began his national expansion of the then WWF, and the world that was then called "independent wrestling."

Bruiser Body was an icon and an idol for many who were in the wrestling business during his sadly curtailed career. I remember my dear friend, the late "Boston Bad Boy" Tony Rumble speaking in reverential tones about Brody and what a great friend he was and what a great credit to the business he was.

Brody, who made his greatest impact as a star in Japan, was not really a part of the great national TV era of the 80's. The book speculates on what might have happened had Brody lived longer. It is a shame that younger fans who did not live in the territory era, did not get the chance to experience Bruiser Brody and understand his impact first hand, and another reason that this book is such a treasure.

Brody is one of the greatest wrestling biographies ever - brilliantly written, emotionally charged and a fitting tribute to a pivotal figure in the annals of professional wrestling.

Book Review: Pain And Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling

"Pain and Passion" is the perfect title for Calgary Herald reporter Heath McCoy's chonicle of the history of Stampede Wrestling and the legendary Hart family. Those few words sum up the experience of the professional wrestling business - the ups and downs, the triumphs and tragedies.

The book plays out like a sweeping epic, from the bitter childhood and hard life of patriarch Stu Hart to the rise and fall of Stampede as a full time territory to the numerous Hart family tragedies to the resurrection of Stampede as a small independent company and the next generation of Hart kids up to and including the Chris Benoit tragedy.

One could argue about which old time territory was the greatest, but there is no denying that Stampede was one of the most influential operations in the history of pro wrestling. The talent that came through Stampede over the years is staggering. This is a fair and balanced "warts and all" type of story. The author's skill as a journalist is also balanced by his obvious fondness for the glory days of the territory.

In the introduction, McCoy says that "the game has lost something special,' a statement that I wholeheartedly agree with and one that applies to all professional sports today. In "Pain and Passion," McCoy deftly captures and conveys that "something special" that made Stampede and the territory era one those of us that grew up in it remember with reverance.

The saga of the Hart family itself is fascinating reading. Even if you were not a wrestling fan, it would be hard not to be intrigued by the Harts and all the personalities within the family.

If you are a true student of the wrestling business, I can't recommend a book more strongly than this one.

Post BIRTHDAY BASH 7 Notes, Best of 2006 DVD

I am 48 hours removed from BIRTHDAY BASH 7 and have still not come down from the experience yet.


Saturday night's anniversary event may well have been the greatest card in company history.


It had the big show atmosphere, the crowd anticipation and great talent that elevated themselves and great matches to boot. NECW put its best foot forward Saturday night and if you were there and I didn't get to say it to you directly, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support.


In the locker room before the show, I told everyone that in the last 18 months the company has become what I believe independent pro wrestling can and should be. NECW is on a march to fully realize its potential. We aren't all the way there yet, but anyone who was there Saturday night could see it in the ring and feel it in the air.


As a promoter, I get the most satifaction from seeing people live their dream. I believe if you can make someone's dream come true or at least give them the boost they need to reach it, then you have done something special and eventually that comes back to you.

I also get a great amount of satisfaction from seeing the fans enjoy themselves and get in to the matches. We are blessed with a lot of great fans and there were people at the show Saturday night that have been following NECW since the beginning. I can't even express what a priviledge that is, and one I never take for granted.

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Our new Best of 2006 DVD is now available online, along with the new WWW DVD, Pick Your Poison.

Best of 2006 really moved off the table Saturday night. I am very proud of this release and highly recommend this 2 disc DVD, as it is a tremendous representation of NECW & World Women's Wrestling.

Watch the trailer by clicking here. Check out the match list and order online by clicking here.

WWW Notes, New DVD's & BIRTHAY BASH 7

Last Sunday's World Women's Wrestling event was a terrific event in front of another full house at Good Time Emporium in Somerville, MA. Congratulations to Lexxus who defeated Tanya Lee, along with Jana and Natalia to become the 3rd World Women's Wrestling Champion in a bout that quite simply has to be seen to be believed. Ths was one of the most intense title matches we've presented and one of the wildest bouts in the history of the company. I see Lexxus as someone who will really rise to the occasion in the role of champion and I look forward to seeing her defend the title.

Jana suffered a mild concussion in that title match and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital. She was able to go home the same night and will be fine with a couple of weeks rest. Jana is a true bright spot in World Women's Wrestling and someone who has a lot to give to our business.

Luscious Latasha made her debut Sunday night, so the Soul Sistahs (Jana & Latasha) are united now in WWW. Lastasha was impressive in her bout with former NECW Women's Champ, Violet Flame and will be another "impact player" in the promotion.

Some thoughts on Tanya Lee, whose 10 month reign as champion was halted this past Sunday. It's possible that she could recapture that title, as she does have a rematch scheduled for this coming Saturday at BIRTHDAY BASH 7. However, Tanya deserves props for her perfomance as WWW Champion. She has had some terrific matches and is still young enough to grow even more as a wrestler, should she apply herself to that end. She has looks, talent, athletic ability and is only scratching the surface of her capabilities.

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NECW Home Video has two new DVD's that are done and coming out on the market shortly.

World Women's Wrestling's PICK YOUR POISON was a great night of action from February 25, 2007. The main event of Tanya Lee vs. Nikki Roxx is worth the price of the DVD alone.

NECW's Best of 2006 is a long-awaited release that will be available at BIRTHDAY BASH 7 this weekend and online the following week. This is a special 2 disc set of the best matches of the past year. There are 12 full length bouts on the two discs, and roughly 7 hours of great matches. Three of those bouts are World Women's Wrestling matches. This is really a great representation of what NECW and WWW are all about and I am really excited about this release.

We hope to be stepping up our DVD releases and we have a couple more titles in the works that should be available in the next 60 days.

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This Saturday night is BIRTHDAY BASH 7: CAGED FURY, the 7th anniversary of New England Championship Wrestling.

The story of NECW is a story of making positives out of negatives and trying to make our company and our business better as we go along. Our seven years of continuous operation, innovative concepts, like NECW TV, great cards and great local stars speaks for itself.

This could not be done without the staff, the wrestlers and the fans. I am also blessed with great partners who have embraced my vision of what wrestling in New England can and should be and have worked hard with me side-by-side to make that vision a reality.

Saturday night is about the triumph of local stars and local promotion. I promise you an unforgettable night of action that the true fan will not want to miss. I look forward to seeing you there on Saturday night and will look forward to thanking as many of you as posible in person for your support.

NECW TV Celebrates 100 Episodes

This week, NECW celebrates the 100th episode of our original Internet television broadcast, NECW TV.

It's an interesting show this week, featuring classic clips from past shows, current bouts and promos as we lead up to World Women's Wrestling this Sunday in Somerville, MA and the 7th anniversary of NECW, BIRTHDAY BASH 7: CAGED FURY at the National Guard Armory in Quincy, MA on Saturday night, August 18th.

I have a lot of pride in NECW TV (no pun intended, referring to the tag team of the same name) because it was a true innovation at the time in a business where innovations are few and far between.

NECW TV began in November 2004 as an attempt to create an alternate means to distribute a TV product for New England Championship Wrestling. Our other choice at the time was cable access, which has to be placed town by town and requires a lot of bicycling tapes or discs around. By going directly on line, we gave our Internet audience another way to follow our promotion and our fans attending our live events a way to stay engaged with NECW bteween shows. It also gave our talent the valuable experience of performing for television, as well as giving the booking structure and focus.

As soon as we started posting episodes, imitators started popping up. There are now dozens of independent companies that distribute shows on line, giving them an economical means to give voice to their product. Wrestling fans worldwide have been given an alternative to WWE and TNA. While it is not a substitute for conventional TV, it is a real means of getting significant exposure.

When I first posed the idea to my crew at the time, there were people who looked at me like I was nuts. "Who's going to watch wrestling on a computer?," they asked. NECW TV is currently seen by anywhere from 3,000 to 6,000 viewers per week from over 60 countries.

Behind this 100 episode effort is a very dedicated crew. I thank my partners Matt West and Kyle White, along with talent coordinator George Carroll, local promoter Paul Richard, plus Bryan, Mike, Jonathan and entire NECW and WWW roster for keeping this vision alive and helping it grow into the great representation of our business it has become.

Make sure you check out the shows at www.NECW.tv!

Thanks for watching!

Catching Up: Notes On Recent Shows, WWW This Sunday & More

It's been busy times here and we've got some catching up to do.

The June 30th NECW show in Quincy was another great house and another great night of action. It was especially good to see Fergal Devitt back in NECW - at least for one night - as he faced West Perth, Australia's Mikey Nichols in a first round NWA World Title Tournament match. This was a great bout with Fergal, the adopted home town hero, getting the "w."

Fergal, who spent a few months with us about a year and a half back, has become a rarity in the business - a foreign wrestling living and working full-time in Japan. "Prince" Fergal Devitt is a top young star with New Japan Pro Wrestling and is a name you will be hearing much more about in the years to come. Mikey Nicholls proved himself to be a great young star as well and another one who is a future superstar. If you were there on June 30th, you saw two of the wrestling world's best kept secrets in action.

The July 20th NECW show in Quincy was a tremendous event as well. The big news coming out of that card was "Straight Edge" Brian Fury finally getting the #1 contender's spot and facing D.C. Dillinger for the Triple Crown at BIRTHDAY BASH 7, Saturday night, August 18th inside a steel cage.

Fury has really come on strong since coming back from when Dillinger injured him in December. He's wrestled some of his best matches since that time as well, including his performance in the IRON 8 and last Friday epic battle with "Die Hard" Eddie Edwards. Does that mean Fury is a lock to defeat Dillinger in the cage? I'm not so sure.

In spite of all of his underhanded tactics and the those of the Dynasty, D.C. Dillinger has become a great wrestler in the past year. In my opinion, Dillinger hasn't had a bad match since becoming champion. The cage is indeed a weapon and with that added factor, it could be the champion with the advantage, though I think this one may be too close to call. One thing is certain. These guys are going to go out and give it 1000% at BIRTHDAY BASH 7, and you'd be wise not to miss it.

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Speaking of things you shouldn't miss, World Women's Wrestling returns this coming Sunday, August 12 at Good Time Emporium in Somerville, MA. It's a 7 PM bell time and it should be a wild night of action.

One of the great feuds this year has been Tanya Lee and Lexxus. This should be a barn burner of a bout as these two have really stepped it up in recent battles.

If you haven't seen World Women's Wrestling, you owe it to yourself to give it a try. Simply put, WWW is the most unique pro wrestling promotion in America. Yeah, I know Shimmer gets all the "indy buzz," but WWW is something different. Not a collection of matches, but a real women's pro wrestling promotion.

I hope to see you there.

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Later this week, and I'll have a separate post dedicated to it, we will be uploading the 100th episode of NECW TV.

In the TV world, that's quite a milestone. We will have some classic clips on the show, as well as current matches and promos leading up to WWW and BIRTHDAY BASH 7. It will be a must-see episode, so look for it later this week.

Thoughts On Wrestling History, A&E Special & Book Review: National Wrestling Alliance: The Untold Story of the Monopoly That Strangled Pro Wrestling

The history of pro wrestling is a subject that is near and dear to me for a lot of reasons. Pro wrestling was never a business that relished its past as much as it should have. As a result, many important facts, figures, personalities, footage and stories that shaped this uniquely American creation called professional wrestling have vanished into the mists of time.

In 1996, I was contacted by a producer from a company called Actuality Productions. They were working on a TV special for the A&E Network which they described as a 2 hour history of professional wrestling and they were looking for people to assist them on this project. I asked the producer, Bob Ziel and his boss Chris Mortenson, how they viewed the project, what they knew about pro wrestling and what their notions about it were. Ziel said that he had very little knowledge of pro wrestling and had no preconceived ideas about it. Chris Mortenson said that he wanted to do the subject justice and not simply make fun of it. For me, that was the right answer, and I provided them with names, phone numbers, sources of footage, photos and advice. I even convinced a few people that they needed to participate.

After all, here was a TV network that was going to devote two prime time hours to the history of pro wrestling, what better opportunity would the legends have to tell their story.

I was unexpectedly asked by the producers to appear on camera in the role of "wrestling historian" to provide some commentary to fill some gaps in the special.

The end result was a program called "The Unreal Story of Professional Wrestling" and when it first aired it was the highest rated program in the history of the A&E Network. I believe it is their largest selling home video of all time.

While the special was criticized by many for being inaccurate and leaving out many key figures, I thought that it was well produced and a decent thumbnail sketch of how we got from what pro wrestling was to what it is. No one is going to get a history of 100 years of anything 100 percent right in two television hours.

"The Unreal Story" did make an invaluable contribution to the business of pro wrestling. It made millions of people aware that pro wrestling did indeed have a history. It proved that people were just as interested in the past as they were in the present. And an imperfect history often breeds other attempts. "The Unreal Story" spawned the interest in more TV specials and documentaries, books by former greats and the marketing of older footage into videos, DVD's and the creation of WWE's 24/7 Video On Demand service.

A&E still shows 'The Unreal Story of Professional Wrestling" from time to time. I am very proud of that special for what it was, and just as proud for what it inspired.

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I just finished reading "National Wrestling Alliance: The Untold Story of the Monopoly That Strangled Pro Wrestling" by Tim Hornbaker, published by ECW Press.

If you are an aficionado of wrestling history or someone who is interested in the subject, this book is an essential volume in your library of wrestling literature.

It tells the story of the National Wrestling Alliance, formed in 1948 by a group of promoters who were being frozen out of booking key talent by the wrestling syndicates and cartels of the day. The NWA sought to be a fair governing organization that not only shared talent with its members and friends, but sanctioned a single set of World Champions and built a positive image for the sport.

By the 1950's, the NWA became the preeminent authority in pro wrestling. It boasted roughly 40 member promoters worldwide at its peak. In becoming the powerhouse conglomerate it turned into, the NWA promoters employed some of the same tactics it was formed to combat, such as blacklisting of wrestlers who took sides against member promoters. It also used questionable tactics to stifle competition against its members.

These practices brought complaints, which eventually brought the attention of the Federal government to the NWA, and a 1956 investigation into anti-trust violations. The case was settled by the promoters signing a "consent decree," which acknowledged past unfair practices and promised not to engage in them past that point.

Tim Hornbaker's book chronicles this period well and the book is a treasure trove of information on the key figures of the era, many of whom would be totally unfamiliar to today's fan.

Just reading about the roles of men like Sam Munchnik, Pinkie George and the true father of pro wrestling, Joseph "Toots" Mondt, make this book a must-read.

The 372 page volume, while generously packed with information, is not without its flaws.

The book suffers, in my opinion, from being too ambitious. While trying to cover every aspect of the NWA from its formation to its decline to it's current incarnation, some of the information is glossed over or not given the proper depth or context.

For example, when discussing the current incarnation of the NWA, Horbaker does not explain the difference between the territories of old, which were full time offices, and the independent promoters who banded under the NWA banner under the late Dennis Coralluzzo, who were all small, part time operators.

Some of the book's subjects cry out for volumes of their own. Toots Mondt and Pinkie George are just two of the figures that I wanted to know more about. Ditto Vince McMahon Sr. This I don't consider a flaw, but the real triumph of Hornbaker's book. It gives you a lot of food for thought, but leaves you wanting more.

In spite of its shortcomings, "National Wrestling Alliance" is an important book I would recommend as being absolutely worth your time.

Steroids On The Indy Scene

Bix replied to my last post and wrote:

"On this level of the business, the monies made don't support a drug-fueled lifestyle."Then explain the physiques of much of the ROH roster, which includes a wrestler whose gimmick is that he is on steroids.There are also plenty of roided up guys in indies much smaller than ROH. It's disingenuous to suggest otherwise.

Bix, I am not suggesting that no one on the indys takes steroids. My point was that the money one makes as an independent wrestler isn't so great that you could support a significant drug habit on it. As long as the national companies put a premium on the bodybuilder physique, and endorse cosmetics over talent, people who want those spots badly enough will turn to whatever aids them in reaching that goal. Are you suggesting that ROH encourages steroid use? I highly doubt that.

I can't say for certain what other promotions do, but I can say what NECW does. We push people based on working ability, not based on physique.

The most important thing that we can do as a wrestling promotion is to continue to operate with that standard and have success with it. Meaningful change comes when you lead by example.

Weekend Notes & Even More Benoit Fallout

I want to thank all the great fans who showed up to support NECW this past Saturday night in Quincy. This was just a great night of action and you should kick yourself if you missed it, because this one was something special. I will address the card in another post.

To be honest with you, I was scared of what Saturday might bring. Our company had put up six straight sell outs in Quincy the months previous to this past weekend's event. We skipped a month due to National Guard activity that made the venue unavailable to us for the month of May. We had a tremendous event on paper going in.

The Benoit tragedy changed everything.

As much as I tried to rationalize the situation as it pertained to NECW, I was still scared. Ours is a business where when scandal hits it's like a truck driving at high speed through a great big puddle of condemnation. It's not about whether or not you will get wet, but how wet you're going to get and how fast you can get dry again. My hope was that after close to 7 years of presenting professional wrestling, our fans would see past the Benoit tragedy and know that we have yet to let them down. Thankfully, my faith in our fans was not misplaced.

The Benoit situation has started an outcry for stricter regulation both from inside and outside the industry. There is a hysteria that has begun to swirl around this issue because a heinous crime was perpetrated in this latest tragedy. Sad to say, if there were no murder and just "another dead wrestler," no one would be talking about this. But in the news business the credo is, "If it bleeds, it leads." And underneath the blood shed in this latest tragedy, there is that long string of fatalities in our business in recent years. It's easy for the press to pick up the steroid flag and fly it high. And while the Benoit situation goes much, much deeper than steroids, the sordid history of death in recent years is now becoming a media battle cry for some greater level of scrutiny in pro wrestling.

Let me say here that "wrestling" is not the villain. There is a drug culture that has grown around WWE's version of wrestling due to the "success" of the bodybuilder look. The demand by WWE for chiseled physiques on a challenging road schedule is what has to change. The view of what a "wrestler" looks like is what has to change.

In NECW, and many dozens of independent companies throughout the country, the prerequisite for getting a spot is talent and ability over cosmetic appeal. We want guys in shape, but not looking like they are ready to explode. Our job has been to build our business to where that mentality and approach becomes a viable business strategy and it is starting to happen.

It is inevitable that our company will be painted with the same stained brush as those who attack what they think "wrestling" is. It isn't fair.

My friend, Zach Arnold, wrote a very interesting piece for CBS Sportsline that you can read by clicking here. I was quoted in the article and am rather upset about it, because I covered a lot more territory that put those quote in greater perspective.

I said that most independent companies would cease to exist if they had to pay for drug testing. On this level of the business, the monies made don't support a drug-fueled lifestyle. I would suggest that in WWE, you could do all the testing you want but you can't test people and regulate how they live their lives.

What it does not say is that our company was specifically meant to present pro wrestling in a way that gets away from the image of impossibly built behemoths. In fact, if anything, wrestling has shrunk since the 80's. Very few big bodybuilder types are signing up at local wrestling schools. Most of the guys who come through the ranks these days are smaller in size.

We cannot and do not test our athletes for steroids or other performance enhancing drugs. Do some of our guys take them? I couldn't tell you. It certainly isn't apparent from the looks of them. On our level, it's not necessary. The shows are drawing because they are well booked with capable athletes telling compelling stories. Wrestling works without that type of "jacked up is better" mindset.

Let's not confuse "wrestling" with WWE. Not all of wrestling is WWE. Not every promoter has the same mindset. In fact, many of our fans, particularly families with children, express to me that they come to our shows specifically because they love wrestling, but don't like the WWE's presentation of it.

If there is any answer to the long string of premature deaths in pro wrestling, it's to create a true alternative to the drug fueled culture that WWE represents. We need companies that can be financially viable by going back to the old school philosophies of doing business. Just because it's not being done on a national stage right now, doesn't mean it couldn't work. That approach, however must start from a local level and be built upward. Few people have the patience to do that. I have spent the past 7 years building my business that way and we are slowly coming to a place where that is happening. We are still years away, but I am more convinced than ever that it will happen.

I am also convinced that pro wrestling will survive and thrive. My hope is that WWE will make significant changes, including philosophical ones, that make this business, and more importantly the perception of this business, a healthier one for those who are in it.