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On Friday 1/13, professional wrestling returned to Brooklyn for the first time in about a decade as Gino Caruso's East Coast Pro Wrestling organization drew a legitimate 900-1,000 fans for an event in Bay Ridge at the Regina Pacis School.
Although it was run under the ECPW banner, the show was designed to raise money for the school's athletic program and was the actually brainchild of New York indy star Mike Kruel and Anthony Passaro, the director of the school's athletic program. The event was promoted heavily in the local area including a cover story and full page spread in the local Bay News newspaper, a huge banner outside the facility, local sponsorships, and old school cardboard posters hung in the area to drive ticket sales.
It was done old school style and it worked. In the day and age of indy shows promoting themselves solely on the Internet, a show that had barely buzz on that medium sold out in advance and urned away a number of fans who sought to buy tickets at the door, and had a packed house. Although there were mentions of the show on the Internet, including this website, the crowd was made up of mostly old school area wrestling fans and families bringing their children to cheer the heroes and boo the villains. The show was designed for a family audience and was a throwback to the type of independent wrestling show that populated the local scene in the early 1990s before Extreme Championship Wrestling evolved the scene and made every independent company since try to create their own brand name and niche.
ECWA promoter Jim Kettner was brought in to run the locker room and many of his regulars were used, allowing for a crop of talent that isn't often seen in this area to have a chance on the show. It added a fresh dimension to the show, as opposed to feeling like so many other indy companies today, running the same matches with the same talent pool. This was a show designed to be a fun night out, and that's how it should be described - as something that was a fun evening.
The show opened with a local priest leading a prayer for "peace" for the troops overseas, which I thought was ironic given that we were about to watch a professional wrestling show. Passaro then gave a long speech about bringing wrestling back to the area, noting that it had been close to a decade since a show was held in the general vicinity. The crowd, which knew him, treated him respectfully. Several local fans were given awards for their dedication to wrestling, which was filmed for an upcoming documentary by a group called the Wrestling Junkies. From there, it was on with the show:
*Crowbar pinned the Japanese Assassin. Assassin was ECWA regular Japanese Pool Boy with a slight name change, managed by Carlton Hightower. Crowbar was managed by Father Tim, a local priest who came out in military fatigues carrying an American flag. Crowbar led "USA" chants and seemed to be having a good time, mixing comedy with some highspots. He pulled out a Lionsault and a moonsault at different points of the match. Hightower actually tried to interfere at one point and was pulled down by Tim.
*Damian Adams defeated Andrew Ryker and Scotty Charisma in a Three-Way Dance. Adams came out with his website's name on his ring jacket. Note from Jess McGrath: I tried to go to the website tonight and it didn't work. Nothing like good advertising. This was a solid back and forth bout with Adams playing up to the crowd and getting booed. Charisma worked really hard at playing babyface.
*Tito Santana pinned Arch Kincaid. Santana looked older but for the most part was in decent shape. He scored the pinfall with his flying forearm. At one point, Kincaid came off the top with a double sledge, setting up Santana to hit him in the gut as he descended but Santana was a little too slow. The crowd enjoyed seeing Santana.
*Prince Nana did an interview segment in the ring, accompanied by John Walters, who was dressed as African royalty. Nana brought out Anthony Passaro of the school and prompted to insult him. Nana threatened to buy the building and turn it into a homeless shelter if his men Walter and the Valedictorians didn't have good "standings" in their matches tonight. Passaro stood up to Nana, with the heels threatening him. This led to Mike Kruel and the Logan Brothers hitting the ring to set up their respective matches later that night. Nana was pure gold on the mic and in many ways was one of the best performers on the entire show.
*Low Ki pinned Josh Daniels. From a wrestling standpoint, this was the best match of the night. Daniels was announced as hailing from New Jersey and was immediately pelted with waded up paper balls by a good portion of the crowd as he came to the ring. Ki was announced as the "Tiger Man" of wrestling and had his babyface look when he came to the ring. He was announced as being from Dyker Heights, Brooklyn which made him an immediate babyface. The crowd popped when Ki jumped and rolled into the ring and really enjoyed the stiffness of the match. A fun bout. After watching so much of Ki's heel work in Ring of Honor, it was really fresh to see him in another environment. The crowd was really taken aback by the uniqueness of his work, something that most hardcore wrestling fans take for granted after seeing him so much over the years. There were children sitting in front of us and around us completely amazed by what they were seeing, which in many ways, was one of the highlights of the show.
*The Valedictorians defeated The Logan Brothers to win the Tag Team championships. I'm guessing these were the ECWA Tag belts, but I'm not sure. Nana and Carlton Hightower were both at ringside. A fun back and forth tag match with the Logans playing a Rock N' Roll Express type role, right down to the little girls screaming for them. Nana danced for joy when his team captured the belts, which was one of the funniest sights I've ever seen. This was a good bout.
*Jimmy Snuka pinned Mike Tobin. Snuka was managed by Captain Lou Albano. Tobin came out to ZZ Top's "Sharp Dressed Man" doing a Chippendale's gimmick. Albano cut a promo about Snuka using all his famous lines before the match. Snuka scared Tobin out of the ring several times, including Tobin scrambling over the guard rail in fear. Once they got into the ring, it was a quick two minutes, culminating with a Superfly Splash off the middle rope. From an in-ring standpoint, there wasn't much here but the crowd loved the entire segment, which is all that matters.
*Heavyweight champion Mike Kruel pinned John Walters. Kruel came out to the biggest reaction of anyone all night. The only thing I can compare it to was watching a conquering hero returning to the homestead. He was obviously well known by everyone in the building as there were fans of all ages screaming for him and a "Mikey" chant started when he was on the defense. From a charisma and a selling standpoint, I don't think Kruel has ever had a finer match. Walters did a great job as heel. He tossed Kruel out to the floor, hurting his back, and then worked him over with a Sharpshooter. When Kruel made his way to the ropes, there was this huge sigh of relief in the venue. After Kruel finally scored the pin, Nana cut off the celebration by attacking him. Walters and Nana put the boots to Kruel until the school's Anthony Passaro hit the ring, ripped off his shirt like Hulk Hogan and helped run off the heels. He and Kruel, legitimate friends from the neighborhood, celebrated to end the show. I enjoyed this match a ton.
The crowd went home happy. Good defeated evil. In the end, that's what professional wrestling is all about, right? In many ways, I enjoyed this show more than I've enjoyed other independent shows I've attended over the last year, because it was an audience that believed in what they were watching and having fun, not an audience that came to mock or analyze the show.
Notes: While running the locker room, Jim Kettner also filmed promos for his next live event....Fred Sampson, Serena, and Judas Young were at the show visiting....There is talk of doing a follow up event, although when that would be hasn't been announced....There were a number of local politicians in attendance at the show, who were announced and brought into the ring to make brief speeches....They gave out free programs (an ECWA tradition in Delaware) to fans as they entered the building. I always found to be a classy touch....The ECPW website can be found at www.ECPW1.com....Albano, Snuka, and Santana signed autographs before the show. Most of the roster signed during intermission....For those of you interested, www.TotalAccessWrestling.com sent word that they have Kruel vs. Walters online for viewing.
Mike Johnson can be reached at Mike@PWInsider.com.
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