Archive for March, 2007

this Subway is bumping…

Monday, March 26th, 2007

-AWA Power Pro returned Friday night at Union Pines High School – alma mater of the Hardy Boys, Shannon Moore and Cham Pain.

-Left Spartanburg at 1.30pm, got to the show at 5.40pm after stopping at Charlotte Douglas airport to pick up Chasyn Rance.

-Good to see some folks I have not seen in awhile – The Foxes, Tim & Chuck from www.carolinaindependentwrestling.com , Tre Smith, Ashley Walker, Rob McBride, Jaime Tucker etc.

- Long show!  It was over a little after midnight.  And hot!  Slamfest Bob told me that the H.S. was built in 1965 – so no air conditioning.

- Jeff Hardy and Shannon Moore appeared at the end of the show for autographs and pictures.

- CIW presented their 2006 awards for Announcer, promotion and female wrestler of the year to ER, PPW and Amber O’Neal respectively.

- We saw an accident on I85 on the way back home at 4.30am.  A first for me.

- The battle royal was a lot to keep up with, I don’t think I take good pics of battle royals.  There is always so much going on.  The one at PPW came down to Jake Manning, Christian York, Cham Pain, and KC McKnight.  Very good match between the four.  At one point Cham Pain and Jake went towards the Highspots table while York and McKnight headed in the other direction.  I hope Slamfest got some good pics of what York and KC were doing as I was following Manning and Pain.   The battle royal started with Otto Schwanz and Derek Ryze.  Ryze just had the crap beat out of him.  He was gorilla pressed twice.  Good job.

- Saturday night was CWA in York,SC.  Good time.  York is just a jump down from Spartanburg.  Rode with ER, TJ, Kirby and for the first time “The” Josh.  I can see why Josh is teaming with Michael Frehley – they both talk incessantly.  Match of the night was Team Macktion vs. Jake Manning and KC McKnight.  Main event was also very good with CWA Champ Bobby Houston v. Chris Desales.  Bobby is a great champion for CWA-he connects the title with the fans.  Short haired, evil Christopher Desales is better in my book than long haired hand slapping Chris Guerrero.

-After the show on Friday, I was incredibly hot, tired, and a little irritable – I know I wasn’t the only one in my group.  We had been on the road a long time, and on our feet for a long time.  I’m afraid this may have affected the quality of some of my photos.

-I got my first look at the UWF DVD’s from Gainesville and Chattanooga.  Look great – they even have my name on the back of them!  I was giddy!

The best one was caused by this finger…

Sunday, March 11th, 2007

So, SWA last night in Forest City, NC.  It had been awhile since I was last at SWA.  They had a pretty good turnout in the crowd, probably about 100 people.  The surprise of the night was running into “Dr Love” Josh Annon.  It was probably early last year that I actually saw him in person. 

SWA has a new ring entrance that looks better than just the average curtain.  They had seven matches, and the show was over probably about 10.30 – 10.45pm.

Leviathan, Maximum Exposure, Mario Hogg, Referees Laura and Tim were at the show since HVW is taking the week off for renovations.

Maximum Exposure (Ace Cowboy & Samoa Knox as I call them) have been working on their tag team stuff, as it was evident last night in their match.  They wrestled Law & Tattoo.  Leviathan did well in the first match which was a four way. 

Good six man tag – James Drake/Rob Killjoy/Zach Salvation (like the mutton chops) vs. Jeff Hamrick/Thug/Jaime Lee. 

Neil Nitro vs. Shea Shea McGrady for the Gran Prix pure wrestling title – and that’s what they did.  Technical wrestling, very good.  Both Neil and Shee Shee did a great job.  The crowd didn’t respond so much to the technical part of it though.

The main event was Ethan Case vs. Brice Anthony for the SWA title.   Ethan has a new “look” to him.  It came across as a “stronger” look. 

Afterwards we met at the Chili’s for a late supper.  There Jaime Lee opened up about his…view on life, Brice was embarassed and nodded off, and ER had to take Kirby Mack’s place of making sure everyone in the building knew he was there.

I’m taking next week off – it is St. Patrick’s Day weekend and I will be celebrating the “wearing o’ the green”.

Power Pro on the 23rd, CWA on the 24th and the big “Hardcore Hell” Anarchy show on March 31st.

I went to see “300″ yesterday.  Very good movie.  Not overly gratuitious in it’s violence.  Sparked an interest in the Greco-Persian wars.

The Wahoo McDaniel “The War Dance” tribute show is back on now.  April 5th in Salisbury,NC. 

My pictures from SWA should be up starting Tuesday or so.

Blake’s on the Park

Tuesday, March 6th, 2007

My UWF weekend is over.  Thank yous to Mike, et al with Highspots and Hermie Sadler.

We traveled I85, I285, I75, I24, I40 and I26.  Close to 600 miles.  Got caught in a snow storm in Tennessee before the NC state line.  Slowed the journey down considerably.

Met Japanese wrestling reporter/photographer Tetsuya Hashizume, who came over from Osaka Japan for the shows.

650 people at the show Friday night at the Georgia Mountains Center.  Not sure on the number for Saturday night.

Got to drive through Atlanta for the first time.  Big place.

Helping to load up Highspots merchandise after the shows really makes you appreciate what they do.

Got to meet Amy Dumas, Rikisihi, Chris Kanyon, and Earl Hebner.

I have a few of my pics featured on http://www.amy-net.org/ and http://www.amy-vibe.org/  Check them out.

I have also discovered that I have some pictures on Scott Steiner’s website: www.bootydaddy.com  If you click here:

http://www.bootydaddy.com/gallery/gallery5/index.htm

You will see some pictures I took that have been improperly credited to UCW Wrestling.  Not the websites mistake, as I recall seeing them on the UCW site back in the day and they had removed my copyright tags.

The Chattanooga Convention Center is very nice.  They have very nice bathrooms.  Wrestling was not the only event taking place on Saturday evening.  There was some type of Catholic get together a couple of halls up and I swear I saw Opus Dei.

Team Macktion did quite well in their matches against Diamonds in the Rough.  I believe they have impressed Mr Sadler quite well considering that they are the only “indy” guys on his shows. 

I did the in ring photos with Amy during the intermissions.  Super nice, and I understand their were no complaints about the pictures from the fans.  You can’t believe how worried I was that I was going to screw something up.

Coming up is SWA this Saturday, a break on the weekend of the 16th & 17th, AWA Power Pro’s Night of Champions on the 23rd, CWA in York on the 24th, then heading back to Anarchy for “Hardcore Hell” on the 31st. 

Taken from the UWF site:

The United Wrestling Federation will make is 2007 debut in Virginia with live events on April 20th at Colonial Harley-Davidson/Buell in Prince George (Richmond) and a return to Harrisonburg High School on April 21st. The following matches have been confirmed:

Prince George:

  • Steve Corino vs. Dustin Rhodes
  • Austin Starr vs. Jerry Lynn
  • An open challenge has been issued from Brother Ray and Brother Devon, TEAM 3-D!!!

Also appearing: Scott Steiner, TNA Knockout Christy Hemme, Amy Dumas, and many more stars to be announced!!!

Harrisonburg:

  • Team Maction will team with Amy “Lita” Dumas in a special 6-person tag match!!!

Also appearing: Team 3-D, Scott Steiner, Steve Corino, Austin Starr, Elix Skipper, David Young, Dustin Rhodes, Jerry Lynn, TNA Knockout Christy Hemme, and many more stars to be announced!