Written by: Sean McCaffrey from http://www.declarationofindependents.net/doi/pages/index1.html
ECWA Presents The 8th Annual Super 8
Attendance: Approx 500
From Wilmington, Delaware
Referees: Paul Turner and the guy from the World 1 shows
Ring Announcer: Chuck Ristano
PRESHOW: After several beers and a quick dinner, it was time for the Super 8 Press Conference, where the wrestling media and bustrip fans were all allowed to ask questions. Here is what came out of the press conference, which was hosted by Dan Stabb.
SUPER 8 Press Conference Notes:
-All 8 particpants sat at a long table, in their Super 8 red t-shirts. Nicho had his mask on. The Havana Pitbulls speak perfect English while Nicho understands the language, but needed time to figure out what exactly was getting asked.
-About working for Jim Kettner and particpating in the Super 8, Chris Daniels said it was an honor to compete at a top level with the young guys, as he has gotten older. (Talk about foreshadowing, as this was the basis of the promo right before the finals.)
Shawn Daivari said he was happy to be working in the Super 8, but he wasn’t happy that the reason he is participating this year is because Tyson Dux got hurt. He said Tyson is his friend and wishes him well.
-Chris Daniels favorite wrestlers to watch are AJ Styles and Low Ki.
-The Havana Pitbulls say it was a good transition coming from Mexico to the U.S. They say it completes them as wrestlers.
-A question was asked to all the competitors. “Would you take a WWE Contract?”
Ricky Reyes: Not yet
Rocky Romero: Wants to compete more internationally, so no.
Pyschosis: He doesn’t really worry about it. His focus today is on the Super 8.
Mike Kruel: He would take the contract immediately.
Austin Aries: He would take it from a financial standpoint, but he wants to wrestle in other countries such as Japan and Mexico.
Chris Daniels: He’s happy where he is now. He said of course you make money, but the other side of the coin is the unhappiness. He loves being a wrestler and having fun doing it, and he doesn’t think the WWE offers that.
Shawn Daivari: He would take the contract.
John Walters: He said he’d need to think about it, but his focus really is on what happens at the Super 8, not the WWE.
-Another question was asked to all competitors. “Who were your inspirations?”
John Walters: Million Dollar Man Ted Dibaise. Later on in his career, Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit.
Shawn Daivari: Bret The Hitman Hart.
Chris Daniels: He was a fan growing up, but as he became a wrestler he was a huge fan of Shawn Michaels and Sean Waltman. (1-2-3 Kid/Xpac)
Austin Aries: Buck Zemohoff, which got a big pop.
Mike Kruel: His father, Bodyguard For Hire.
Pyschosis: Dynamite Kid. Interesting that he didn’t say his trainer, Rey Misterio Sr.
The Havana Pitbulls: Both were huge Hulkamaniacs, which had the crowd laughing, as well as The Pitbulls.
-Nick Knowledge, of CM Punk hating fame, asked Nicho if Super Astro was an inspiration to him. Nicho didn’t understand the question, so Nick rephrased it in Spanish. Nick is a funny man, and I don’t think he means to be lol. When he finally understood the question, Nicho said, “No, Dynamite Kid was my inspiration.”
-The Pitbulls were asked about where they work. They said they want to back to Japan. Rocky wants to go back to Mexico to regain his CMLL Super Ligero Championship.
-Chris Daniels was asked about winning the IWGP Tag Team titles with American Dragon. Daniels was happy with it. He said that American Dragon is the best pure technical wrestler today, and feels that Dragons style complements his.
-Another open forum question was “Back a few years ago, Steve Corino said that fans were spoiled and have too much. Do you think fans are spoiled today and expect too much?”
John Walters: He believes fans are spoiled because there is so much in one area, especially the northeast. He said finishers don’t mean the same as they once did.
Shawn Daivari: Agreed with everything Walters said.
Chris Daniels: He also agreed with Walters, then added that it’s not the fans fault, but he thinks smart marks need to calm down and have fun, instead of looking for faults in matches. He thinks more fans look for the bad first then the good, which is a statement that I think can be applied to anything.
Austin Aries: He thinks the fans have gotten better, becuase the “You Fucked Up” Chants have simmered down from days of the past.
Mike Kruel: He says he only works one style and some fans like it, and some fans don’t. The fans should watch what they like.
Nicho: Passed the mic over and didn’t answer.
Rocky Romero: Agreed with what was said by Walters and the others.
Ricky Reyes: Said you can’t please everyone.
JJ Dillon was then introduced as the man hosting the Super 8, to a big ovation. The press conference was then finished, lasting about 45 minutes or so. Good job by the ECWA not only to let the press into the event, but the loyal wrestling fans that go on the bustrips to follow their favorite wrestlers.
I give the event 2 1/2 *’s. LOL, only kidding, I figured that was something that the typical smart mark, according to the gospel of Daniels would say. Overall, I enjoyed the open forum, and thought it made the Super 8 event seem more special and unique.
After the press conference, all the fans in the building were allowed to get autographs for free, by everyone participating in the Super 8. Good way to give back to the fans. After about 30 minutes of this, another 30 minutes passed, and it was time for the 8th Annual Super 8 tournament.
During all this, on the ECWA tron, many local businesses and wrestling websites, including the one you are reading right now, had their ads displayed on the big screen. The ads came out pretty nice. I think for this show, all advertisers were in a win-win situation, because you have the loyal Delawareites who are at every show seeing the local ads, as well as the wrestling website ads because you got alot of hardcore rabid fans. It’s also a great way to make money on ECWA’s part, and I’m suprised more promotions don’t try getting a (insert fed here) -tron, as it probably pays for itself after a few shows.
After all this, the show started at 7 PM
The wrestlers all surround the ring. Former ECWA wrestler, JJ Johnston came out. He said that two men lost their battles but will never be forgotten. Marty Thompson, who was the head of the ECWA Ring Crew was one of the people who died this year. Also remembered was Ed Walls, the super fan in the wheel chair at every ECWA show. He says these guys were great people. We then have a 10 bell salute.
Over to the ECWAtron, we see what has been going on in ECWA. We are shown that Ace Darling d. Prince Nana for the ECWA Mid-Atlantic Championship. We also see Kruel defend his ECWA Heavyweight Championship against Cheetah Master. Also shown are highlights of The Valedictorians beating The SAT. We then run down the 8 men in the Super 8. Chris Daniels got the loudest pop of them all.
We then go to the ring where ring announcer Chuck Ristano stands. He introduces us to the ECWA commissioner, Richard Naegele. Chuck then introduces us to the man who’s hosting the Super 8, JJ Dillon. JJ Dillon gets the mic and puts over ECWA and Jim Kettner, who he said he’s been friends with for 25 years. He said he’s ashamed he’s never seen the ECWA product live before. He said he’s honored to be here and wishes everyone good luck.
Chuck then introduces the Super 8 competitors one by one. Each were given a medal by JJ Dillon. Good touch.
After the National Anthem, the wrestling began.
In the First Round of the Super 8 Tournament:
Austin Aries d. Shawn Daivari
I thought this was the strongest first round match. I’ll say it later on, but Austin Aries stole this show. Similar to Chance Beckett last year, becoming one of the big names, Aries was the fucking man. Hopefully Aries will be around this area in the future, as Chance Beckett really hasn’t done much in the northeast this year. For those at home, Daviari looks like a thicker and taller version of Mace from the CSC.
After feeling each other out, we saw a leapfrog and a quick underhook arm drag by Aries. Daviari then opened up Aries with some chops. Austin then counters with a stungun. Austin then grabs Daivari’s head, and pulls it down the top rope, as Austin jumps to the floor. Austin then ran back to the apron and hit an Eddie Guerrero senton. Daivari finally got some offense of his own, by hitting a big german suplex for 2. He then put Austin in a boston crab. Austin got out, and went to work with a lightening quick sequence of a gutbuster, STO into a tornado elbow. That elbow is what it’s all about, and has marketability written all over it. Aries then later put Daivari in a modified million dollar dream. Daivari got out of it, and enziguried Aries for his troubles. The match then went to the outside, and Daivari hit an Asai moonsault. We then go back in the ring, where Daivari went for his magic carpet splash, but had the rug pulled out from under him, literally. Aries gave him a kneebreaker/backdrop combo. Nice move. Daivari then hurranacarranned Aries and went for the magic carpet splash again. He missed the splash, then ate an Austin left forearm. Aries then hit a 450 splash to put him away.
Really good match. Both have feuded elsewhere, so it was a good idea putting this match up first to get the crowd electric. This was the beginning of Aries’s rise as one of the best.
In the First Round of the Super 8 Tournament:
Mike Kruel d. Ricky Reyes
Crowd really didn’t like this match and booed it at several points. Kruel going into this match was the ECWA Heavyweight Champion. Remember that. This match started off as a greco roman match, with a few suplex throws and switches. Ricky, and his partner Rocky, both wrestle like thicker versions of Low Ki, meaning they throw alot of kicks and strikes and do unique submissions. Ricky kept kicking Kruel in the left leg viciously. Kruel rebounded, and hit the running neckbreaker, ala Curt Hennig. Ricky went for some more kicks, but had it countered with a german suplex. Kruel then hit two neckbreakers on Ricky. Ricky then got some wind, and put Kruel in a leglock submission, which Kruel broke by getting to the ropes. Ricky started bleeding from the nose, but I didn’t see what caused it. Ricky went for some more kicks, but Kruel trapped Ricky with a bodyscissors submission for the tap out win. Finish came from nowhere and the crowd voiced some dissapproval.
We go to the ECWAtron where Paul London is shown. He says he’s sorry he couldn’t be here and says good luck to everyone in it. He then hypes up the upcoming clips, which was done to My Sacrifice. I’m so getting sick of that fucking song. When Danny Demanto is using that song for an SSCW match, you know the song is played out. The highlights show all the former Super 8 winners and participants.
In the First Round of the Super 8 Tournament:
Christopher Daniels d. Rocky Romero
Daniels got a huge pop, as he’s been ECWA loyal for some time now. Rocky like his partner, went for alot of kicks, which eventually got countered by The Fallen Angel. This match also went to the outside. Funny for a pure wrestling tournament, that almost every match had a spot on the outside. Romero baseball slided across Daniels’s face. They got back in the ring, and after a backdrop from Daniels, Daniels put Romero in a 20 second long stalling suplex. Rocky finally got up and started showing off the talents of his left knee, as he used his left knee in different moves across Daniels’s face. Daniels out of nowhere put Romero in the Rock bottom. Romero then countered with another left knee to Daniels. The crowd then started a “ROCKY SUCKS” chant. Cute. After trading some 2 counts, Daniels hits a lariat. Daniels calls for the Angel Wings, but gets it reversed, he then reverses Rocky, and rolls him up for the 1-2-3, and to advance to the second round. Pretty good match. Both Havana Pitbulls look like they watched alot of Low Ki matches.
In the First Round of the Super 8 Tournament:
John Walters d. Nicho aka the wrestler formerly known as Psychosis
It surely wasn’t Mexican appreciation night at the Super 8, as all three Mexicans got bounced out like jumping beans in the first round. I honestly didn’t see any of them advancing anyway as Walters/Kruel/Daniels all have been in the ECWA for sometime, and ECWA knew how great Aries was before the fans did. At least Nicho and the Pitbulls opened the doors for international wrestlers in the tournament. The crowd was fucking loud in this match and was split 50/50. Chants of “LETS GO WALTERS” followed up by chants of “LETS GO NICHO” broke out. I never understood why the other fans just didn’t say “LETS GO WALTERSLETSGOWALTERS” really fast to break up the opposing Lets go Nicho chants. That would be cool. I think this was the weakest first round match, as both men didn’t really click with each other. Judging by Nicho’s press conference interview, I think communicating in English was a problem with Walters. Match was still fun to watch tho. Walters put Nicho in his surfboard submission. After some fast action, that resulted in a standoff, Nicho pulled up some classic lucha, throwing a few armdrags and a drop kick to the knee. Nicho then throw a lariat. Walters got up and gave Nicho a face slam and a camel clutch. There were alot of submissions in this match, as well as strikes from both guys. Both guys worked each other’s left leg. Midway through the match NICHO UNMASKED! While that might mean shit to American fans, and since it’s been done before, you never see a masked wrestler unmask himself in the ring, and continue to wrestle. Losing your mask in a match always ends the match and is usually a quick disqualification. I guess Rey Misterio broke that tradition by coming back masked, after losing his mask in WCW. The mask isn’t as respected as it once was, especially when people like the Masked Maniac are taking off their mask at shows. (Even tho in The Maniac’s defense, he said he was wearing a Frank Goodman mask underneath.)
Back to the match, Nicho kicked Walters out of the ring and hit a huge plancha. Nicho then goes for the top rope legdrop, but Walters rolls up Nicho with a bridge for the win, and to advance.
INTERMISSION- Sam Adams was the beer of choice. At the merchandise stand, I didn’t see the Super 8′s I was looking for. Cool T-shirts this year too.
In the Second Round of the Super 8 Tournament:
Chris Daniels d. Mike Kruel (The ECWA Heavyweight Champion)
Very good match. Kruel worked some headlocks to start, before hitting a big neckbreaker. Kruel threw alot of strikes in this match. Daniels then reversed a strike and hit a neckbreaker. Kruel hit a superplex which he turned into an armbar, very cool. Daniels then threw a big time german suplex, then hit a big piledriver. Daniels then puts Kruel in a leglock/neckbreaker submission. No clue what he calls it. It was like a sit-down octopus. Mike Kruel taps out, and Daniels advances to the finals.
POSTMATCH: In what was probably the weirdest thing to ever happen after a Super 8 match, Mike Kruel gets the mic. Alot of “YOU TAPPED OUT” chants were directed towards Kruel. Kruel tells Daniels that he beat him for the belt back on November 8th. He says he’s a fighting champion. Kruel says since he is a fighting champion, and respects the championship, there is only one thing to do. Rematch? No, that would be the obvious answer. Kruel hands over the ECWA Heavyweight Championship to Chris Daniels. I was waiting for Chris Daniels to say he couldn’t accept it, or that it wasn’t a title match, but Daniels took the championship, flung it over his shoulder, and walked out. Very fucking interesting. Is Daniels the champ now? Is Kruel still recoginized as champion? Now this is a great fucking way to set up the next show.
Quick Note: On the official ECWA site, www.ecwaprowrestling.com, they have acknowledged that Chris Daniels is now the official ECWA Heavyweight champion. Whether this gets storylined or not, I do not know, but ECWA is calling him the champion, so he’ll be recoginized as that.
In the Second Round of the Super 8 Tournament:
Austin Aries d. John Walters
I was really pulling for Walters to win this tournament. After watching Austin though, I think he became the favorite to win during the middle of this match. I’m telling you, Austin will be a big name in the northeast, if he choses to do so. The guy can wrestle like a motherfucker. I mean, Joel Grayson actually decided to write something instantly about Austin when he got home, which is now up on the main page. That says alot when Joel Grayson needs to boast about someone lol. This tournament definitely brought out a new star. I thought this match was the second best match of the tournament. Walters worked on Austins left arm right away, which made sense because Austin is a southpaw. This match had alot of submissions and strikes as well. Walters gave Austin a headscissors, but Aries countered with a dropkick. Walters hit 2 suplexes then went for his cradle submission, but Aries got out. Walters then started throwing stiff shots (no, not Robert Payes) at Aries. Aries then hit his kneebreaker, backdrop combo. He then went to give his tornado elbow, but no one was home. Walters quickly put Aries in the full nelson leg submission. Aries got out, then hit his elbow. Aries hit a perfect, no hands lionsault on Walters for 2. Walters got up, and then hit a dragon suplex on Aries. Aries then hit a brainbuster on Walters. Aries then goes for the forearm, then hits another 450 splash, his second of the tournament, onto John Walters for the 1-2-3.
Your Super 8 Finals… Austin Aries vs Chris Daniels.
We go to the ECWA tron where Rob Eckos and Billy Bax, the ECWA Tag Champs were outside trying to sell the bus that took about 50 some odd fans to the show. Meanwhile, Cheetah Master was talking to Brandi from PWI. JJ Dillon comes outside and sees Carlton P Hightower, and the Valedictorians coming back inside. He asks who they are, and they say they are the champs. JJ blows them off, and the Valedictorians are upset. Cheetah then leaves Brandi alone, and out walks Mr. Ooh La La. He goes to kick some game, and goes to lean up against the wall, but winds up going through a nearby door, crashing into pots and pans and what not. Funny segment to break up the seriousness of the tournament.
TAG TEAM SUMMIT Match
This was a battle royal. If you or your partner was eliminated, your team got eliminated.
The winners of this match recieved a tag team title shot against the Valedictorians.
PREMATCH: Prince Nana, and his partner, Mozart Fontaine, With ES Eaton come to the ring. Nana says every year the summit match is considered filler. He says its a throwaway match. He says this year it will all change. He promises to become the new ECWA Tag Team Champion with Mozart.
First, order of entry:
Prince Nana/Mozart Fontaine w/ES Easton
Japanese Pool Boy and a wrestler dressed up as Scarecrow
Nick Malakai/Johnny Maxx
Mr. Ooh La La/Ruff House Rivera
J-Busta/Freak Nastty w/Sebastian Night
Cheetah Master/Louie Farrone
Shaolin Wreckin Crew
Xero/Big Benny (Who was a weaker dressed up version of Roadkill)
Big Sky/Mike Mayhem (Not the NYWC Mayhem) w/Sebastian Night
Mike Fury/Low Ki
Striker/Ace Darling
The SAT
Order of elimination
1- Japanese Pool Boy/Scarecrow
2- Mr. Ooh La La/Ruff House Rivera
3-Shaolin Wreckin Crew
4- Xero/Benny
5- Nick Malakai/Johnny Maxx
6- cheetah Master/Louie Farone
7- J-Busta/Freak Nastty
8- Big Sky/Mike Mayhem
9- SAT
10- Low Ki/Fury
11- Prince Nana/Mozart Fontaine
Matt Striker/Ace Darling win the Tag Team Summit
Notable spots: Japanese Pool Boy giving Nana a stinkface. Low Ki entering the battle royal and getting a huge pop. Prince Nana throwing out the SAT and Low Ki at the same time.
After the summit, we went straight to the tag team title match.
For the ECWA Tag Team Titles
Valedictorians (Rob Eckos/Billy Bax) w/Carlton P. Hightower d. Matt Striker/Ace Darling
This was like a JCW match. Solid wrestling with a schmozz finish. Ace/Striker are now good guys in ECWA. For those wondering, the EBC (try to figure what EBC is) was 4. I know SLG will get it. Ace pressed Eckos right into his partner. Striker then doubleteamed the Valedictorians. Striker/Ace then did a wheelbarrow into a ddt. Nice double team move. Ace superkicked Eckos right into a Striker lungblower, and it looked like we had new champions. Carlton then climbed up the apron and distracted the ref. Striker went to go clock Carlton a fresh one, but he got distracted by Eckos/Bax. Behind the refs back, Carlton WALLOPED Striker with the DIPLOMA/Mortarboard of DEATH, and after a backsuplex/clothesline combo from Eckos/Bax, Striker got pinned, giving the Valedictorians another month to celebrate with the tag titles.
Promo on the ECWAtron: JJ Dillon is with Daniels and Aries. Aries implies that Daniels is old and its his time to shine. Daniels says Aries better say his prayers. Effective dialogue here.
In the Final Round of the Super 8 Tournament:
In the Match of the Night and Match of the Year Candidate
Christopher Daniels d. Austin Aries to become the first ever two time winner of the Super 8.
Christopher Daniels is now crowned as the Super 8 champion as well as the ECWA Heavyweight Champion
After the Daniels/Kruel match, I didn’t think Austin would win the tournament, because it would take away what Kruel did for Daniels. Aries lost the match, but won the crowd. Aries started things off with a great dropkick. After an armtoss over the top rope, Aries hit a tornado dive onto Chris. They both battled on the outside. At the ref count of 9, both sprinted back into the ring. Daniels then got Aries down, and hit a springboard moonsault on Aries. Aries got back up tho, and hit an STO, followed up by his tornado elbow. That elbow is steak. Aries then hits a corkscrewon Daniels. Daniels wouldn’t go down tho, and put fought off Aries. Aries then put Daniels in a submission, which Daniels then countered into the neck/leg lock submission that beat Kruel. After some big moves for 2 counts, Aries hit a brainbuster and a 450 splash, the same splash that knocked out 2 competitors for another 2. Chris Daniels then hit the Last Rites, but he only got 2. Daniels then hit three of the best moonsault ever (That’s what he calls it. It’s a triple jump moonsault, which he did 3 times here) for the pinfall. Incredifuckable match!
POSTMATCH: The locker room clears out, and puts Daniels on their shoudlers, as Daniels wears the ECWA Championship, while holding the Super 8 trophy above his head. That’s one of the best visuals, and would make for great pictures by whatever photographers took it. The crowd got on their feet and gave Daniels, and Aries, the applause they deserved.
Final McWord
I’ve only seen 4 of the tournaments, and I think this was the best one ever. I’ve heard from others that the 1998 and 2000 tournaments were on par with this one, but I have never seen the tapes of those shows, and didn’t see them for sale. This was a great tournament, and really did alot of things. You cement Chris Daniels as one of the best wrestlers to ever step foot in the ECWA, and give him the win he rightly deserves. He deserves being the first ever 2 time champion in the Super 8′s history. Winning the title from Mike Kruel was a nice touch that will probably be talked about next show.
Austin Aries- the guy stole the show. He was involved in the top 3 matches of the night. He should capitalize off this showing and get bookings all over now. Jim Kettner has an eye for talent, and this was just another example of Kettners keen eye, and someone stepping up to the plate and smacking a homerun.
This was the best show I’ve been to all year, which says alot, because I’ve been to about 30 or so this year. With ECWA going through roster changes as well as shaking up the championship pictures, this was definitely a strong show which should bring back wrestling fans to the ECWA.
