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NEW WOMEN'S PROMOTION IN NC, BERT PRENTICE BACK ON TV, DUELING CONVENTIONS IN NYC, THATCHER TO CZW, NECW IRON 8 RETURNING, PIPER, AJ, EATON AND MORE: THE INDY LANDSCAPE RETURNS

By Mike Johnson on 2014-03-07 16:50:00
Did you miss me? I apologize for the long delay between Indy Landscapes and I expect this to be a mother of a column, so I will be brief here. Two weeks ago, I basically was away on vacation (well, a vacation for me, although I was still recording audio and posting news), so the idea of sitting around and compiling items for the column was pretty much impossible. I returned for the Elimination Chamber and then a little thing called the WWE Network debuted and my schedule went insane. So, here we go and hopefully, I will be back on track with this puppy. If you have news, lineups, results or anything else to submit to The Indy Landscape, email me at MikeJohnsonPWInsider@gmail.com.

A new women’s promotion, Queens of Combat, will debut on 3/21 in Charlotte, NC at Club Hush. www.highspots.com are the backers of the promotion, so expect it to air on iPPV at Highspots.tv. Announced for the debut event are former TNA Knockouts Taeler Hendrix and Sojourner Bolt, plus Amber O’Neale, Kimberly, Mickie Knuckles, Leva Bates, Neveah, Amanda Rodriguez and Heather Owens. For details, visit http://www.combatqueens.com/.

Bert Prentice's USA Championship Wrestling, which runs in Nashville, TN and is planning to expand into Southern Illinois will be debuting on Nashville ABC affiliate WSIL-TV on Saturdays at 11 AM starting 3/15. The promotion's current champion is Jeff Jarrett. Jerry Lawler has worked for the promotion regularly. Karen Jarrett has also made recent appearances. Prentice has been promoting regularly in the TN area for years under different promotional names.

Combat Zone Wrestling will return on 3/8 to The Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ. Timothy Thatcher, who’s a great worker, is set to debut. CZW champion Drew Gulak AR Fox and CZW Tag Team Champions The Beaver Boys (John Silver & Alex Reynolds, who are really really good) vs. The Front are the top advertised matches. Also set for the show is Greg Excellent vs. Pepper Parks with the winner getting Parks’ valet Cherry. Excellent is the resident comedy guy, so you can see where this is going. They have an eight man tag with Juicy Product & Alex Colon & a member of the Front v. OI4K & Azrieal & Chris Dickinson, Masada vs. Mr. Tofiga, Joe Gacy vs. Tommy Dreamer, Blk Jeez vs. DJ Hyde, Alexander James v. Caleb Konley and more announced. The promotion’s next show after this weekend is 4/5 in New Orleans as part of Wrestlecon. Drake Younger’s final date with the company will be the 4/12 Best of the Best tournament in Voorhees.

Sheldon Goldberg’s New England Championship Wrestling is running this Saturday 3/8 in Beverly, MA at The Cove Community Center. Slyck Wagner Brown, who won the belt on 2/8 in a three way over Sean Burke and Antonio Thomas, will be defending the belt against Buke. This is actually Brown’s second title reisng as he won the belt from NECW’s first-ever champion Mike Hollow in 2001. So 13 years later, he’s the champion. The promotion will be bringing their Iron 9 Championship Tournament back on 5/10 in Beverly. NECW’s 30 minute TV series continues to get great feedback and is doing a very healthy number of YouTube views in addition to its broadcast airing on WMFP TV, Channel 62 in Boston on Thursday nights at 12:30 AM.. In the past year, NECW had over 2.3 million channel views on YouTube. That is REALLY impressive for a regional promotion.

Bobby Eaton made an appearance at the 2/28 Pro Wrestling Elite (PWE) card in Union City, TN at the Giant Flea Market. This was the promotion's final show at the venue as new owners have opted not to allow pro wrestling to continue in the building. Eaton was first introduced by special guest Brian Thompson (Traditional Championship Wrestling announcer), who inducted Eaton into the PWE Hall of Champions. Eaton thanked the fans for their support throughout the years and during his recent health issues. Eaton and Thompson later came out during the show's main event to accompany former partner Greg Anthony for his PWE Unified championship title defense against challenger Bull Bronson. Eaton nailed Bronson to cause a DQ, which led to Eaton being ejected out of the venue and the match being restarted. Bronson ended up winning the belt. PWE is running 3/16 in Dresden, TN with Eaton and Jimmy Valiant both making appearances. For more, visit PWEWrestling.com.

There are actually, if you can believe this, two wrestling conventions tomorrow 3/8 in New York City. The Big Event, which runs several conventions a year, is running Elmhurst, NY at the Courtyard Marriot with former WCW and NBC star Dennis Rodman, Taylor Wilde, AJ Styles, Jimmy Hart, Shark Boy, Shark Girl, Ernest Miller, Daffney, Buff Bagwell, Scotty Riggs, Ashley Massaro, Howard Finkel, Harley Race, Gangrel, Brutus Beefcake, Greg Valentine, Andrew Anderson, So Cal Val, Taeler Hendrix, Jenny Rose, Little Boogeyman, Joey Styles, King Kong Bundy, Serena Deeb, Tammy Sytch, Honky Tonk Man, Colt Cabana, Roadkill, Virgil and more signing. Then, Kelly Kelly, Roddy Piper, Matt Morgan, Crimson, Mickie James, Becky Bayless, Matt Striker, Tony Nese, Little Guido, Bob Orton Jr, Robbie E, Rosita, Angelina Love, JJ Dillon, Big Vito, Joel Gertner, Justin Credible, Sonjay Dutt and more are signing before the debut World Premier Wrestling event at Resort Casino in Jamaica, Queens.

Announced for WPW is a Live Piper's Pit, Matt Morgan vs. Tony Nese, Angelina Love vs. Mickie James for the WPW Women's title, a TLC match featuring Grimm Reefer vs. Earl Cooter vs. Brian XL vs. Wes Draven vs. All Money is Legal vs. Bandido Jr. vs. Lane Anoai, Malta the Damager vs. Justin Credible for the Empire State title, Papadon vs. Danny Demanto, a Hardcore Match with Lowlife Louie Ramos vs. Jay Lover vs. former NWA champion The Almighty Sheik, The FBI (Little Guido & Big Vito) vs. The Cru, Amazing Red vs. Sonjay Dutt, Matt Striker vs. Kevin Matthews (with Becky Bayless) and a 20 Man Rumble. There must be heat between WPW and FWE as I’ve heard stories of talents who work for FWE being booked and unbooked because of their association with the promotion, which is obviously silly.

AJ Styles is working for Victory Pro Wrestling in Deer Park, Long Island at the Deer Park Community Center this Saturday 3/8. Styles will team with VPW champion VSK vs. Kevin Tibbs and Dorian Graves, the promotion’s top heels. Ricky Reyes vs. Jorge Santi is on the undercard. EJ Risk and Grop the Caveman are also scheduled.

A group named Southside Pro Wrestling is running 4/26 Roanoke, VA with Bob Orton, Jimmy an” Valiant, George Steele, Tony Atlas, ROH’s Michael Elgin, John Cena Sr., ROH’s Kyle O’Reilly and Tommy Rich for a fanfest and live event at the at the Salem Civic Center.

New TNA signing Santana Garrett has been working all over the Florida indy scene while waiting word on when she will debut on TV. On 3/1, she worked for Southern Championship Wrestling, defeating Chelsea Diamond in Sanford, FL.

Stevie Richards and Gangrel are working the 3/8 Warriors of Wrestling event in Staten Island, NY at Funstation USA. Richards will defend the Extreme Rising title (even though Luke Hawx has the belt) against Chaci, who is dubbed “The Latin Lover.” Gangrel is working a tag underneath, tagging with Pete Lombardo to beat Scotty Priest and Talon.

A group called Legends of the Squared Circle ran Waynesville, Ohio at the Waynesville Middle School Gym. Jimmy Wang Yang defeated Eddie Gonzales while Shark Boy won a three way over American Kickboxer II & Jay West. The main event saw The Brutal Bellman defeated Dean Baldwin in a Falls Count Anywhere Match. I think someone worked double duty there.

Jersey All Pro Wrestling, which hasn’t run in several years, is apparently coming back.

PWS Bombshells are running Avenel, NJ on 3/8 with champ Missy Sampson defending against Amber Rodriguez, Serena Deeb vs. Yim, plus Lo Rosa Nega, Annie Social, So Cal Val, Taeler Hendrix, Daffney, Sumie Sakai and more appearing. Hacksaw Duggan, Davey Richards, Danny Maff and Trent Baretta are working for PWS on 3/22 in Bellevile, NJ at the High School. That show is headlined by a ladder match with PWS champ Bonesaw vs. Alex Reynolds while Kevin Matthews vs. Arkin in a steel cage is also set.

Superstars of Wrestling will be running Avenel, NJ on 4/12 with Shane Douglas, Pitbull Gary Wolf, Tony Atlas, Pat Buck, Kevin Matthews and more scheduled.

Empire State Wrestling ran 3/1 in North Tonawanda, NY with Colin Delaney defeating Kevin Steen and Pepper Parks in a three way. Brandon Thurston beat Trent Baretta underneath.

NAWA Big Time Pro Wrestling ran their anniversary show at the NAWA Arena in Waxahachie, Texas on 3/1 headlined by Big Zach Attack (great name) defeating Nobe Bryant to win the NAWA title. Underneath, Joe Angelo Garcia & Cowboy Adam beat NAWA Tag Team champs Doberman & Big John Famous to win the belts. This is the group Killer Tim Brooks promotes regularly. Their next event is 4/5.

Gangrel worked a 2/28 event in San Jose, CA for Wrestling for Charity at the St. John Vianney Community Center. He teamed with El Chupacabra to defeat Hell’s Henchmen, Dalton Frost and KMJ. Vinny Massaro, who worked a lot for the old Roland Alexander APW promotion, worked the undercard, pinning Marcus Lewis. The show was headlined by Dave Dutra pinning Jeckles to become the new WFC Heavyweight Champion.

Tony Atlas, Caleb Konley (DGUSA regular) and Jimmy Jacobs all worked in Quincy, MA for Pro Wrestling Experience (not the same PWE mentioned above in the Bobby Eaton news) at the Quincy Armory on 2/28. Pretty eclectic collection of talent from all over on this one. Atlas and Konley teamed up to defeat The Soviet Alliance. Sort of sad and funny how that gimmick is suddenly timely again. Jimmy Jacobs defeated Florida wrestler Chasyn Rance on the undercard. Jeremy Prophet and Rex Lawless worked the undercard. Brian Cage (PWG regular) defeated Danny Duggan to win the promotion's title.

Rob Conway worked for Hoosier Pro Wrestling at the 4-H Fairgrounds in Columbus, Indiana at the Family Arts Center, working a six man tag in the main event that saw Rob Ramer & Donny Idol & Ricky Ruckus defeating Rob Conway & TJ Kemp & JKO. Underneath, 8-Bit Punks defeated Dash Venture & Demarcus James to become the new HPW Tag Team Champions. The show drew 300. They run again on 4/5.

Marty Jannetty worked for Blue Collar Wrestling on 2/28 at the North Portland Eagles Club in Portland, Oregon, teaming with Tex Thompson, to defeat Damon Scythe & Lonestar the 51%.

Project Revolution Wrestling ran Dalton, IL at the PRW Studio featuring Mark Reconcile, Scott Powers & The Rock N' Roll Express' Robert Gibson defeated the 3rd World Order (Colonel Prince Hakeem, Sergeant Death & Ryu Shinzaki) in the main event on 2/28.

St. Louis Anarchy ran 3/1 in Alton,IL. Lots of ROH names on this one. Davey Vega beat Roderick Strong. The Hooligans (Devin & Mason Cutter) defeated Nick Jackson & ACH. Jojo Bravo beat Bolt Brady. SLA champion Gerald James defeated Kyle O'Reilly in a Best of Three Falls bout.

Right Coast Pro ran Newark, DE on 2/22. Results saw Bazooka Joe pinned Joey Silver. Chris Steeler defeated Michael Blake in a Spin the Wheel Match which was Loser Leaves RCP. Pedro Duro defeated Mozart Fontaine in a Bowtie on a Pole Match. Yes, you read that right. Aaron Stride pinned Courageous Cruz, who does a superhero gimmick. Ryan Rush pinned Kipland Stevens. Billy Bax pinned Colton Quest. Sonny Deeds vs. Erik Chapel went to a Double DQ. In the main, Jason Gotti, Alvin Alvarez & Chris Steeler defeated Mike Reed, Nick Sohlo & Harry M. Baldwin.

All Star Wrestling ran 3/1 in Lewisburg, TN at the House of Pain with The Ringmaster pinning Cody Morton, Yukon Jack pinning Sexy C, Lawrence pinning Jeremiah Plunkett, Mikey Dunn pinning Norman Cross, Shane & Steve Morton defeating Forsaken & Mephisto, Larry Cooter pinning JP Jones and Jeremiah Plunkett winning a Battle Royal.

Lou Marconi defeated Phil Monahan for the NWA National Heavyweight Championship at an NWA Rage event on 3/1 in Williamston, North Carolina.

A big thank you to Thomas Rude, Keith Lipinski, Brian Thompson, Jess McGrath and everyone else who contributed.

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