Nearly Forgotten Indies From the Early 2000s

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

I've been listening to a lot of The Card is Going to Change Podcast and am on the last part of the trilogy that gives the background of the AIW promotion. In the very early days of the promotion what would become the current AIW was battling a promotion called Extreme War (Adam Ryland would've been pissed). Extreme War only lasted four shows, but despite this they booked Tommy Dreamer for one and during a clinic he noticed a few guys that he was able to get first time WWE matches for. One of those guys ended up being EC3 and I believe the match he had was on this show: www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=7279

Then they booked Mick Foley to ref the main event. The show was held at an obscure venue that didn't have a sign or anything. The day of the show comes and nearly no fans show up. Foley tells the promoters that he isn't going out unless he gets all his money upfront. There were a few promoters for the company, but only one guy was putting any money into it. That guy who became the wrestler, The Duke, told the others before this show that he wasn't putting any money in to pay for Foley. So one of the other promoters has The Duke go to the other promoters grandfather's house and the grandfather took $2,500 out of a safe to pay Foley. The Duke said the other promoter probably didn't get the money himself because he didn't want to face his grandfather. The Duke said he felt 3 inches tall walking in to get the money.

That was the last Extreme War show.

[Spider2024]

Donovan Morgan. Someone I've only heard about in PWI magazines and that's it.

EDIT: I misread the topic title. Twice in fact. Anyway, I wonder if IWA-MS is only memorable/notable for being highly controversial (even more so than any other hardcore feds at that time).

[TOK Hehe'd Around & Found Out]

May 15, 2019 6:30:03 GMT -5 Spider2024 said:

Donovan Morgan. Someone I've only heard about in PWI magazines and that's it.

EDIT: I misread the topic title. Twice in fact. Anyway, I wonder if IWA-MS is only memorable/notable for being highly controversial (even more so than any other hardcore feds at that time).

IWA-MS actually fits here because for a while it was about even with ROH in terms of prominence and impact. Almost every major Indy name from the mid-00s made their name either there or CZW

[kingoftheindies]

There was an indy in the early 2000s I thin called Pro Wrestling Unplugged or Pro Wrestling Impact... they actually had a deal to run a show at the Spectrum in Philly (had to cancel due to horrible sales) but their big angle was Quiet Storm being their light heavyweight champion and always challenging Low Ki to a match, but Ki was on a tour with Zero One so the challenges were always unanswered... when Ki finally showed up it was a decent pop.

Another fed that doesnt get nearly the love they should is NWA Wildside

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

May 15, 2019 7:36:37 GMT -5 TOK Hehe'd Around & Found Out said:

May 15, 2019 6:30:03 GMT -5 Spider2024 said:

Donovan Morgan. Someone I've only heard about in PWI magazines and that's it.

EDIT: I misread the topic title. Twice in fact. Anyway, I wonder if IWA-MS is only memorable/notable for being highly controversial (even more so than any other hardcore feds at that time).

IWA-MS actually fits here because for a while it was about even with ROH in terms of prominence and impact. Almost every major Indy name from the mid-00s made their name either there or CZW

The weird thing about IWA-MS is that even at their peak they didn't draw that big of a crowd. I actually got a chance to go to a show in January 2015 and the vibe of the actual show doesn't seem that different than back in the day. Except with less deathmatch stuff (at least at the show I went to). They even get some fairly big names sometimes. The show I went to was headlined by Jimmy Jacobs. They more recently booked Michael Elgin after pretty much anyone in America wouldn't touch him.

I think their profile has just been reduced so much because like you mentioned at one time they were about even with ROH. ROH blew up by comparison. IWA-MS never went beyond being a good seller in the DVD market, and that DVD market is pretty much in the trash these days. Speaking of trash Ian Rotten and all his non-sense coming to light didn't help.

[Deleted]

NWA Rocky Top had their tv show online if you liked southern stuff

[Ash Whenzday]

I remember thinking 3PW was going to stick around a little longer, but it was a casualty of the Philly Indy wars that followed ECW’s demise. I’d imagine Jasmine St. Claire’s involvement probably turned off a few wrestlers, as she had heat with Danny Doring and Punk and Cabana once crossed the street to avoid Meanie and she, and according to Punk it was not because of Meanie, but rather because of his present company at the time. Also, there was a lot of name talent on those shows, and even at friend prices, that probably wasn’t sustainable for any significant period of time. ROH pretty much had the market cornered on workrate matches, CZW was doing hardcore and taking it further than what 3PW was willing to offer, and nostalgia wasn’t strong enough to carry it.

[The 1Watcher Experience]

May 15, 2019 11:11:23 GMT -5 Ash Whenzday said:

I remember thinking 3PW was going to stick around a little longer, but it was a casualty of the Philly Indy wars that followed ECW’s demise. I’d imagine Jasmine St. Claire’s involvement probably turned off a few wrestlers, as she had heat with Danny Doring and Punk and Cabana once crossed the street to avoid Meanie and she, and according to Punk it was not because of Meanie, but rather because of his present company at the time. Also, there was a lot of name talent on those shows, and even at friend prices, that probably wasn’t sustainable for any significant period of time. ROH pretty much had the market cornered on workrate matches, CZW was doing hardcore and taking it further than what 3PW was willing to offer, and nostalgia wasn’t strong enough to carry it.

I attended nearly all of the 3PW shows. They were a lot of fun. They had a large variety of special guests. Everyone from Bam Bam Bigelow to Curt Hennig to Kevin Sullivan to Abdullah the Butcher to Dusty Rhodes to Jerry Lawler to Terry Funk worked there. There was even a great nostalgia match with Public Enemy against the Bad Breed where they recreated the chairs being thrown into the ring incident that happened in ECW. I honestly think this one looked a lot better too. 3PW definitely had their moments.

I think what completely killed their momentum was when the blew their budget locking down AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels to long term deals. They’re incredible talents but everyone in the area had seen them already. There were no longer any unique attractions to draw with. Since they couldn’t afford to keep any more big names around they put their title on Slyk Wagner Brown and Roadkill which was the kiss of death when it came to wanting their title to look important and attracting more fans to shows. 

[James Fabiano]

National Wrestling Superstars in the east coast. Wasn't the best if you're looking for great ringwork, mostly catered to families who wanted to see funny characters and legends. Home of fake Doinks and the story about the fake Golga. But I do miss it and feel it unfair how it was ran out of business, and I'll leave it at that.
For reasons.


Plus without NWS we'd have no Joey Janela, for those of you who like that sort of thing. I'd mention Rob Strauss, but then I won't miss NWS as much if I do ;-)

[Deleted]

EPIC in California evolved over several years. Their initial run in 2002 featured an interesting mix of guys like Sabu, Bryan Danielson, New Jack, Super Dragon, Samoa Joe, Christoper Daniels, Nick Mondo, Rocky Romero, Brian Kendrick, Backseat Boys, Jerry Lynn, B-Boy, The Messiah, Joey Ryan, and more. They later underwent some management changes and slight name changes (to Pro Wrestling WAR and then EPIC Pro Wrestling WAR), and during the later years focused more on local California wrestlers, rather than using the super indie model.

[Deleted]

May 15, 2019 15:03:27 GMT -5 @mack619 said:

EPIC in California evolved over several years. Their initial run in 2002 featured an interesting mix of guys like Sabu, Bryan Danielson, New Jack, Super Dragon, Samoa Joe, Christoper Daniels, Nick Mondo, Rocky Romero, Brian Kendrick, Backseat Boys, Jerry Lynn, B-Boy, The Messiah, Joey Ryan, and more. They later underwent some management changes and slight name changes (to Pro Wrestling WAR and then EPIC Pro Wrestling WAR), and during the later years focused more on local California wrestlers, rather than using the super indie model.

I had forgot all about that but they were kinda ahead of their time doing a daily(I think)episodic youtube show called I believe 365 or 7/365 doing lots of back and forth promo’s leading to their events even having a random couple at their home chatting about life then casually turning the conversation to whatever big match or stars where coming to EPIC War and it would build to using the footage of those matches as a single episode focusing on that angle i think it was 2009ish and not many companies where using youtube as an actual tv show.It lacked star power as the program I remember was Joey Ryan as world champ hooking up with Sunny to screw over Erik Watts from Tough Enough.

[XaviersSS2015hair]

XWF.

XPW should be forgotten by everyone because it was utter shit and Rob Black is possibly the biggest piece of shit ever in wrestling and that's saying a ton.

WWA.

Is Jeresy All Pro Wrestling still in business? They used to have a lot of ROH guys in the mid 2000's.


Russo's one show promotion that used a sword for a championship instead of a belt.

Extreme Risisng. Were supposed to announce a TV deal around early 2014. Instead they announced they were out of business.

MLW would have fit right in this thread until their semi recent resurrection.

Did Joey Styles run a promotion briefly in the early 2000's?

[David-Arquette was in WCW 2000]

May 16, 2019 2:42:31 GMT -5 XaviersSS2015hair said:

XWF.

XPW should be forgotten by everyone because it was utter shit and Rob Black is possibly the biggest piece of shit ever in wrestling and that's saying a ton.

WWA.

Is Jeresy All Pro Wrestling still in business? They used to have a lot of ROH guys in the mid 2000's.


Russo's one show promotion that used a sword for a championship instead of a belt.

Extreme Risisng. Were supposed to announce a TV deal around early 2014. Instead they announced they were out of business.

MLW would have fit right in this thread until their semi recent resurrection.

Did Joey Styles run a promotion briefly in the early 2000's?

Joey Styles was involved with MLW, no? I could be mistaken but I'm sure I saw him on their shows.

NWA Wildside was a good one. I never watched it enough to really follow angles and such but I remember seeing some great matches. I always liked the gritty atmosphere of the shows too.

[BorneAgain]

I went to a show by Main Event Championship Wrestling in 2001, one of countless also ran companies that sprang up in the mid-west after WCW and ECW's end.

Bit of a morbid show in hindsight as much of the talent (Curt Hennig, Rocco Rock, Johnny Grunge, Terry Gordy) all being dead within five years, with Gordy in particular dying a week after the show, meaning it may very well have been his last match.

[XaviersSS2015hair]

May 16, 2019 4:35:04 GMT -5 David-Arquette was in WCW 2000 said:

May 16, 2019 2:42:31 GMT -5 XaviersSS2015hair said:

XWF.

XPW should be forgotten by everyone because it was utter shit and Rob Black is possibly the biggest piece of shit ever in wrestling and that's saying a ton.

WWA.

Is Jeresy All Pro Wrestling still in business? They used to have a lot of ROH guys in the mid 2000's.


Russo's one show promotion that used a sword for a championship instead of a belt.

Extreme Risisng. Were supposed to announce a TV deal around early 2014. Instead they announced they were out of business.

MLW would have fit right in this thread until their semi recent resurrection.

Did Joey Styles run a promotion briefly in the early 2000's?

Joey Styles was involved with MLW, no? I could be mistaken but I'm sure I saw him on their shows.

NWA Wildside was a good one. I never watched it enough to really follow angles and such but I remember seeing some great matches. I always liked the gritty atmosphere of the shows too.

I'm pretty sure Joey Styles was the commentator for MLW back then. I thought he ran his own promotion but I could be completely wrong about that.

[honsou]

I remember when Fight Sports Midwest first put on a show with a ton of indie stars at the time the thought was that they might be the next big thing...they ran one other show and went out of business

[BlackoutCreature]

May 15, 2019 12:08:04 GMT -5 The 1Watcher Experience said:

May 15, 2019 11:11:23 GMT -5 Ash Whenzday said:

I remember thinking 3PW was going to stick around a little longer, but it was a casualty of the Philly Indy wars that followed ECW’s demise. I’d imagine Jasmine St. Claire’s involvement probably turned off a few wrestlers, as she had heat with Danny Doring and Punk and Cabana once crossed the street to avoid Meanie and she, and according to Punk it was not because of Meanie, but rather because of his present company at the time. Also, there was a lot of name talent on those shows, and even at friend prices, that probably wasn’t sustainable for any significant period of time. ROH pretty much had the market cornered on workrate matches, CZW was doing hardcore and taking it further than what 3PW was willing to offer, and nostalgia wasn’t strong enough to carry it.

I attended nearly all of the 3PW shows. They were a lot of fun. They had a large variety of special guests. Everyone from Bam Bam Bigelow to Curt Hennig to Kevin Sullivan to Abdullah the Butcher to Dusty Rhodes to Jerry Lawler to Terry Funk worked there. There was even a great nostalgia match with Public Enemy against the Bad Breed where they recreated the chairs being thrown into the ring incident that happened in ECW. I honestly think this one looked a lot better too. 3PW definitely had their moments.

I think what completely killed their momentum was when the blew their budget locking down AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels to long term deals. They’re incredible talents but everyone in the area had seen them already. There were no longer any unique attractions to draw with. Since they couldn’t afford to keep any more big names around they put their title on Slyk Wagner Brown and Roadkill which was the kiss of death when it came to wanting their title to look important and attracting more fans to shows. 

I got a bunch of old 3PW DVD's from Netflix a long time ago and I remember being very surprised at how much I enjoyed their shows. Well at least until Todd Gordon and Jasmine St. Clair would come out and everything would grind to a halt for their "shenanigans". But the shows in general felt like a genuine continuation of ECW with them trying to create new stars from the ECW mold, as opposed to most ECW-wannabe's at the time where it just felt like they were a nostalgia-driven cash grab.

May 16, 2019 4:59:57 GMT -5 BorneAgain said:

I went to a show by Main Event Championship Wrestling in 2001, one of countless also ran companies that sprang up in the mid-west after WCW and ECW's end.

Bit of a morbid show in hindsight as much of the talent (Curt Hennig, Rocco Rock, Johnny Grunge, Terry Gordy) all being dead within five years, with Gordy in particular dying a week after the show, meaning it may very well have been his last match.

Was this the same Main Event Championship Wrestling run by John Collins? I thought they only did that one infamous show in the ECW Arena before Collins had his "heart attack".

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

If MLW hadn't come back they would be on this list. I tried to look up the stuff referenced in their intro sting and half of them don't even have wikipedia pages.

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

May 18, 2019 11:09:19 GMT -5 "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay said:

If MLW hadn't come back they would be on this list. I tried to look up the stuff referenced in their intro sting and half of them don't even have wikipedia pages.

Still looking for anything related to Dusty’s “Long blood between me and you” match.

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

May 18, 2019 19:09:11 GMT -5 Clash, Never a Meter Maid said:

May 18, 2019 11:09:19 GMT -5 "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay said:

If MLW hadn't come back they would be on this list. I tried to look up the stuff referenced in their intro sting and half of them don't even have wikipedia pages.

Still looking for anything related to Dusty’s “Long blood between me and you” match.

And am I an idiot or do the Extreme Horsemen not have a page?