Everyone knows the first weekend in April is Wrestlemania weekend, and about all the events associated with it. But at least some of you don’t know about the mega-convention/wrestling orgy called WrestleCon, planned for Friday, April 5- Sunday, April 7…just prior to WrestleMania.

Highspots and WWNLive are the event’s co-promoters, which will take place at the Meadowlands Expo Center on 355 Plaza Drive in Secaucus, NJ. The event convention will feature major wrestling guests, vendors, six shows of LIVE wrestling and more. It’s saef to say that the event will be the biggest weekend in indy wrestling history. The Meadowlands Expo Center is only 3 miles from the site of Wrestlemania, five miles from Manhattan and minutes from the Newark Airport. It is easily accessible to those in New Jersey (and elsewhere) from the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Expressway, and is accessible by a wide variety of means of New York/New Jersey transit, including PATH, and NJ Transit.

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ECW, originally known as Eastern Championship Wrestling, ran its first show on Tuesday, February 25, 1992 at the Philadelphia’s Original Sports Bar in center city Philadelphia in front of over 100 people. The first match in ECW history was a 20-minute broadway between wrestlers Jimmy Jannetty and Stevie Richards.

Much like ECW, the Philadelphia Original Sports Bar doesn’t exist any more…the site of the Sports Bar is now occupied by a Ross: Dress for Less discount store. Neither does the other site for early Eastern Championship Wrestling shows, the Chestnut Cabaret.

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It’s been said the best defense is a good offense. Nowhere was this proven more true than than in Stamford, CT this past week.

Vince McMahon had a bigtime disaster on his hands. He’d just give a semi-main event match to Jack Swagger as the result of his win at Elimination Chamber. He’s set to face Alberto Del Rio for the WWE “World” Championship at Wrestlemania 29 in New Jersey in April.

Well, just after appearing at last Tuesday’s Smackdown taping in Gulfport, MS, Swagger was arrested for speeding, misdemeanor marijuana possession and DUI. He just worked the WWE Smackdown taping in nearby Biloxi, and was pulled over by the local police. Swagger’s was searched and marijuana was found. Swagger’s car was towed away. He was released from police custody.

All the alleged offenses were misdeameanors. The worst case legal scenario would have Swagger fined $1,925 in fines, and lose his driver’s license for 90 days. He is scheduled to appear in court on March 12. After the arrest WWE issued a statement, saying “Mr. Swagger is responsible for his own personal actions”.

Only 24 hours before, Swagger, now working an anti-immigrant Tea Party type gimmick, did a promo with Dutch Mantell, who was appearing as “Zeb Colter”, whose new gimmick is a angry who is anti-immigration former Vietnam veteran. Many see it ias a knock-off of the RJ Brewer character from Lucha Libre USA: Masked Warriors, a character which has gotten maninstream press attention far in excess of what his promotion has done.

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This coming Saturday features a day of independent wrestling…termed “National Pro Wrestling Day with a two show lineup, one show at 1:00 pm and the finale at 7:00 pm at Derby Ink Gardens, at 802 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA on the northern edge of center city Philadelphia.

The shows have talent from a number of independent prompotions throughout the New York/New Jersey/Pennsylvania area and elsewhere on the east coast. ranging from CHIKARA Pro Wrestling and various spinoff names they run shows under (Wrestling is Art, Wrestling is Fun, Wrestling is Heart, Wrestling is Awesome), and from promotions as far away as Cleveland’s Absolute Intense Wrestling, the Carolinas based CWF Mid-Atlantic Wrestling, and Chicago’s Resistance Pro Wrestling. The matches bring a lot of talent Philadelphia area fans haven’t seen before, as well as some old favorites.

For the afternoon show:

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First I want to talk about the Jeff Paterson Memorial Tournament, being held in Ybor City, FL on Friday, December 14 (8:00 pm belltime) and Saturday, December 15 (6:00 pm belltime) at The Orpheum, 1915 East 7th Avenue, Ybor City, FL. This wil be the tenth annual and final Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup. The event was established to honor the memory of independent wrestler “All American” Jeff Peterson who died at age 21 after a two-year battle with leukemia. It is a standard 16-man single-elimination tournament intended to showcase the top junior heavyweight wrestlers from independent promotions throughout the United States and Japan. Many top independent wrestlers have participated in the event with former winners including Reckless Youth (2003), Justice (2004), Chris Sabin (2005), Milano Collection AT (2006), Chris Hero (2007), Erick Stevens (2008), Davey Richards (2009), Sami Callihan (2010) and AR Fox (2011) The tournament is dedicated to the memory of northeast independent wrestler Jeff Peterson, who died as the result of a 2 1/2 year battle with lymphoma in 2002. Peterson was held in the highest regard by all those with whom he worked; in his uncle Jim Kettner’s ECWA, Pennsylvania Championship Wrestling, IPW Hardcore Wrestling in Florida, California’s All-Pro Wrestling, and elsewhere. He was trained by Lance “Simon” Diamond and Too Cold Scorpio at the Pennsylvania Championship Wrestling/ECWA affiliated WrestleTech wrestling school, working such regional independent mainstays as Reckless Youth, as well as Florida’s OG Scarface and Frankie Capone, as well as TNA’s Christopher Daniels. Peterson wrestled in the 1999 and 2000 ECWA Super 8 tournaments, losing in 2000 to Jet Jaguar, as part of a program between the two that ran in Florida five years ago, a set of matches that helped Florida independent wrestling gain greater notice across the country. Jeff received chemotherapy for his lymphoma beginning in April 2000. He had a difficult time of it, with one remission, then a return of the cancer. He also missed being in and around wrestling and his extended family in the ECWA…which seemed to him to be the biggest hurt of all. In July 2000, while still battling his cancer, he came back to a ECWA show to be inaugurated into the promotion’s Hall of Fame; and to help his uncle, promoter Jim Kettner, get over the angle that would result in the ECWA’s biggest moment to date: the November 25, 2000 show at the Bob Carpenter Center, which drew over 2,200 fans far and away the largest crowd in the promotion’s history. My favorite thought on Jeff Peterson comes from one night back in 1999 at an ECWA show down at their homebase of St. Matthew’s in Newport, Delaware. It was at the end of another of the traditional style matches Kettner favors. As the end of this tag team match approached, my younger brother and I played armchair booker and tried to guess the finish. Then, one heel stood on the apron holding one of the babyfaces with his arms pinned waiting for the inevitable punch; so we said out loud “rollup, or…”. Immediately behind us, chirped this voice (in a carny stage whisper) “skiz-ool-biz-oy”, with a grin on his face. It was Peterson, who was back in the crowd being a fan he always was, after he’d already worked earlier in the evening. If you live in the Ybor City area, please take the time to attend these events to remember Jeff on December 14/15. As we all know, the Holiday season is here. This weekend sees two shows dedicated to helping others in the Philadelphia area In keeping with the actual spirit of the season, the wrestling community will reach out to those in need. Independent promotions hold a wide variety of events to benefit various food pantries, shelters, Toys for Tots drives. Over the years, numerous independent promotions of various sizes and types trough the United States, Canada, and elsewhere have scheduled these events to benefit their local communities. Even if you don’t have one in your own area this Holiday season, please take time to contribute to or volunteer with such organizations. Combat Zone Wrestling, for the eighth consecutive year, will be holding a Toys for Tots collection at Cage of Death 14 on December 8. The Cage of Death event, CZW’s annual mega-show will again be part of a doubleheader, with EVOLVE hosting the matinee show…all taking place at the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ 601 Laurel Oak Road, Voorhees, NJ. EVOLVE has also agreed to do a Toys for Tots collection at their matinee show with a 4:00 pm belltime. EVOLVE’s matinee features El Generico & Samuray del Sol vs. Super Smash Brothers, Chuck Taylor vs. Jon Davis, AR Fox vs. Tony Nese, Jigsaw vs. Rich Swann and Masa vs. Papadon. The four winners advance to a four-way match in the main event. Hurricane Sandy devastated the shore community of Union Beach, NJ. Raymond Smith wasone of the victims, who lost everything he owned and in an effort to help him rebuild his life EVOLVE is running a fundraiser show as part of the Cage of Death doubleheader. We ask that you attend this show to not only support a good man, but also to support EVOLVE Wrestling – a local independent company that has offered to partner to help raise money for one of the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Tickets can be purchased via Pay Pal for $20 to EvolveHurricaneRelief@gmail.com. Tickets will be mailed, you can pay cash and pick up tickets at Will Call. Raffle tickets will be available during the EVOLVE show and CZW’s Cage of Death later that night. Raffle tickets will be 1 for $10 or 3 for $20. The grand prize is 4 tickets to WWE’s Tables, Ladders and Chairs PPV at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, NY on December 16, an autographed WWE ’13 Video Game for the PS3 autographed by Paul Heyman and CM Punk, an autographed CM Punk – Best in the World DVD and various autographed 8X10′s including John Cena and Rey Mysterio. The winner of the raffle will be announced that night during CZW. If you are unable to attend the night show you will be contacted and the prize will be mailed to you. If you cannot attend the event but would like to donate, please send all donations to EvolveHurricaneRelief@gmail.com through Paypal and write in the notes of the transaction that it is a donation only. As a note, the Flyers Skate Zone also takes part in the annual Toys for Tots effort sponsored by Comcast. Matches already announced: Cage of Death match (with glass panes): DJ Hyde vs. Bulldozer Matt Tremont CZW officials have confirmed CZW World Heavyweight champion MASADA has accepted the challenge from Drake Younger In the rematch of the indy classic that was a hit through the Northeastern United States in 2012, Adam Cole returns to CZW, as he takes on Sami Callihan In what will be an ‘Ultraviolent Insanity Match’ – all members of 4Loco (Alex Colon and CZW World Tag champions Azrieal and Bandido, Jr.) face all members of The Nation of Intoxication (Danny Havoc, Lucky tHURTeen, and Devon Moore) Kimber Lee will fight for equality along side Drew Gulak as they face Greg and Momma Excellent Rich Swann vs. Shane Strickland in a battle for aerial supremacy CZW Wired TV champion AR Fox has asked CZW officials to bring in top world-wide talent to face him at COD. To name a #1 contender for the CZW World Tag Titles: OIFK’s Jake & Dave Crist with Nevaeh face BLKOUT’s BLK Jeez and Ruckus with Robbie Mireno To get tickets, go to the CZW Pro Shop. Tickets are GA Price: $25/second row $30/Front row sold out The Illinois Championship Alliance Wrestling from Anna, Ill. will collect toys as admission for their “Seasons Beating” performance on December 10 at 7:00 pm. ICAW does a show each yearto benefit a charity. This year they chose Toys for Tots as their charity. All of the fans, as well as workers for the show, are strongly urged to donate at least one new toy in its original packaging, unwrapped, that can be donated to Toys for Tots. ICAW is located at 1400 North Old U.S. Highway 51, behind Patriot Automotive. For more information, you can contact Curtis Girtman at 618-305-4284 or nuyash1@gmail.com or Matt Westbrooks at 618-614-4100. Pure Wrestling Association/Ontario presents: “Spirit of the Season” on December 7th, at the Alpine Club, 464 Maple Avenue, Kitchener, Ontario. Doors Open at 7:00pm/Bell Time at 7:30pm Tickets are $15.00 in Advance $10 in Advance for Youths and can be purchased at Combinations Sports – 306 King St W in Kitchener or by calling 519-998-8799. Tickets can be purchased at the door the day of the event for an extra $5 ALL PROCEEDS WILL BE DONATED TO THE TREE OF ANGELS!! HELPING KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY PURE WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP TURCAN CELIK VS. JOEY ALLEN -c- W/ LENNY LILAC ELITE WOMENS CHAMPIONSHIP GABRIELLA VANDERPOOL VS. JEWELLS MALONE -c- TAGTEAM CHAMPIONSHIP SCREAMING EGOS VS. THRILLBILLIES-c- ONTARIO CHAMPIONSHIP JOHNNY WAVE VS. ANTHONY FIASCO-c- PURE VIOLENCE CHAMPIONSHIP HARDKORE HICK VS. BUCK GUNDERSON-c- JIMMY KING VS. SGT. DICKSON REGGIE MARLEY VS. REX ATKINS DEREK PLATINUM VS. JUAN ORTIZ Chaotic Wrestling will do a show benefitting Toys for Tots on Fan Appreciation night, which takes place December 14th in Lowell, MA. California’s Apex Pro Wrestling has announced “Tag for Toys”show schedule for December 8th. Admission is a new/unwrapped toy (valued $10) to be donated to Toys for Tots. Show is highlighted with a Tag Team tournement to crown new Apex Pro Tag champs USCW Pro Wrestling will hold their Toys for Tots show on December 8 at the Baker County Fair Grounds, Macclenny, FL. For information , go to http://uscw.org. Cost: $10.00 at the door or bring a NEW unwrapped toy and get in free, Incidentally, Toys for Tots collections have already begin in other parts of the United States. If you need information on the charity, go to Toys for Tots.com Additionally, Brew City Wrestling will hold another event on December 9, when they return to their home base of Knights of Columbus, West Allis, WI. with a benefit for Food for Families of Greater Milwaukee As a reminder promotions (or their fans) can send information on scheduled Holiday charitable-themed (fund-raisers for clothes, food pantries or Toys for Toys, etc.) wrestling or MMA events to bobmagee1@hotmail.com. Until next time…. If you have comments or questions, or if you’d like to add the AS I SEE IT column to your website, I can be reached by e-mail at the address above. If you’d like to add advertising on PWBTS.com (the flagship website of this column), banner ads are available for $400 for one year. These ads would appear on each newspage appearing on the newsboard. Cube ads are available for $200 for one year, which would be placed on the main newsboard page.

Photo by WWE

Well, $100 million later. Two election campaigns. After all that, Linda McMahon is still not the United States Senator from Connecticut.

Republican nominee Linda McMahon was beaten handily by Democrat Chris Murphy in this past Tuesday Connecticut Senate election, which helped the Democratic Party maintain its majority in the US Senate, as President Barack Obama was reelected in one of the most expensive, dirty, vicious elections in United States history.

What, if any, changes will the election FINALLY being over with being to WWE’s product? Will Vince and Stephanie McMahon finally loosen up on “PG-rated” wrestling. They have always claimed that the changes in the product were due to the wishes of advertisers…a claim believed by very few wrestling fans; who have seen it as an attempt to not give Democrats and critics in general any ammunition to throw at Linda McMahon. But there were years upon years of ammunition to throw…the entire Attitude Era, and the far more adult (and many of us would argue, more entertaining) product.

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I hope all of you reading this in the Northeast are doing well after the frightening experience known as Hurricane Sandy.

Other than what appears to be a small leak in the basement, a bunch of branches down in the yard and a brief power outage, my house and family came out fine. Hundreds of thousands are far from fine….losing much, if not all that they own. The destruction up and down the Jersey Shore and New York has become an endless lunatic newsreel on television, interrupted only by political ads.

It’s time for us to help others in these areas. Here are organizations you can contribute to:

AMERICAN RED CROSS

The Red Cross is providing shelter, clothes, supplies, food and blood, as needed, for the victims of Sandy. You can donate blood, but in terms of items, you’ll be doing more for those in need by donating money instead of physical goods.

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Photo by Space.com

I’m putting this column out early given the real possibility Hurricane Sandy creating downed wires and no power, and as a result, no Internet.

Not to mention the fact it’ll allow me to briefly go over what actually might be an historic moment tonight…as Vince McMahon gets a rare opportunity to make a star. The injury to and subsequent surgery of John Cena, has given WWE an opportunity to make a new star out of Ryan “Ryback” Reeves tonight, as he faces WWE champion C.M. Punk in a Hell in a Cell match.

No guess as to how this one will go. Conventional wisdom suggests Ryback wins tonight, then have Punk regain the title; as the eventual CM Punk-Rock match at Royal Rumble 2013 seems to have already been pencilled in.

Other matches include:

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Last week ended on two very sad notes for the world of wrestling.

Independent wrestler Marvin Lambert, who wrestled as “Brain Damage” and Mike Graham both committed suicide.

One of the problems is that, for some bizarre reason in this society; receiving mental health care is seen as a sign of “weakness”. Those with alcohol or other drug addictions are seen as “weak”. The victims in this case, both men are supposed to be “tough”. But those who break an arm or need their appendix out are simply “going to the doctor.”

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Combat Zone Wrestling begins the road to the 14th annual Cage of Death with a show this coming

Saturday, October 13 at The Flyers Skate Zone, 601 Laurel Oak Road, Voorhees, NJ with a 7:30 pm bell time! Tickets can be purchased at the door, or online at the CZW Store.

The announced lineup for October 13:

• CZW World Heavyweight champion MASADA”s open challenge has been accepted by the returning Necro Butcher
• The CZW World Tag champions Nation of Intoxication’s Danny Havoc and Devon Moore face former champions 4Loco”s Azrieal and Bandido, Jr.
• BLK Jeez takes on Greg Excellent
• Dustin Rayz will face Ruckus
• The Nation”s Lucky tHURTeen goes up against 4Loco”s Alex Colon!
• Drew Gulak of The Gulak Campaign for a Better CZW goes against The Latin Dragon
• ACH returns to CZW and will team with Rich Swann to take on “Ohio Is For Killers” Jake and Dave Crist
• “Ohio Is For Killers” Nevaeh will also face Cherry BombFurther added to the storyline out of the last CZW show in Townsend, DE was the firing of Matt Tremont by DJ Hyde; just after defeating Hyde. Expect some fun to take place as the result of that happening.

  Cage of Death 14 takes place on Saturday, December 8. Plans are underway for the annual Toys for Tots collection (in conjunction with the Marine Corps Reserve) to take place for the eighth year in a row. More news upcoming after the October 13 show.

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