Missouri Wrestling Revival

From NBWA management

In the 70 days in between the last NBWA show on October 3rd, and the net NBWA show on December 12th there have been a number of changes to the NBWA roseter, most notably the departure of the NBWA Heavyweight Champion, Issan Hadeev. Just days after winning the award for the NBWA’s “Heel of the Year”, and also winning an award for the NBWA’s “Match of the Year”, Issan Hadeev made the announcement via his Myspace page that he was walking away from the world of wrestling. When asked what brought about this sudden decision, the response was that Issan Hadeev was going on a quest for religious enlightenment.

With that said, the NBWA‘s Board of Directors had the unenviable task of deciding how to handle the title vaccancy, that was fair to the NBWA roster, and entertaining to the NBWA‘s fans. After much deliberation, the decision was made that a brand new NBWA Heavyweight Champion would be crowned in Rantoul, IL on December 12th, via an eight man, single elimination tournament, to be called the NBWA‘s “Tournament of Champions”. Included in this tournament would be representatives of the NBWA‘s past and present, with one common factor…they have all held NBWA gold at one time or another.

With that being said here is a glance at the 8 men chosen to participate in the “Tournament of Champions”

“The Man Without Fear”
Da Cobra

In his long and storied career in the NBWA Da Cobra has held his fair share of NBWA titles, most recently being the biggest title of them all, the NBWA Heavyweight Title. Da Cobra cashed in the 2008 Alberta J. Murray Memorial Trophy in March 2009 for a title shot against the champion at the time, “Fabulous” Jason V. and held the heavyweight gold for 3 months until June 2009. Aside for the NBWA Heavyweight title, “The Man Without Fear” has also held the NBWA Midwest Title, and was a NBWA Tag Team Champion.

“The Prime Cut”
Nick Cutler

Nick Cutler has had the shortest NBWA career out of all 8 participants in the “Tournament of Champions”, but make no mistake about it, Cutler has been groomed for greatness. Since his very first match in the NBWA Cutler has been in title contention. “The Prime Cut” made his NBWA debut on April 20th, 2008 in a Fatal 4 Way match for the NBWA Television Title, although he wasn’t the winner that day, it wouldn’t be long before he did claim NBWA gold. In January 2009 Cutler, in just his 4th NBWA match, defeated “The Apex” Blake Steel for the vacant NBWA No-Limits title. Although Cutler’s No-Limits title reign only lasted 2 months, he had already set his sights on the biggest prize of them all, the NBWA Heavyweight Title. Just 3 months after loosing the No-Limits title, “The Prime Cut” was involved in a Fatal 4 Way Ladder Match at Lincoln’s Challenge in June 2009, where he was the winner of the Heavyweight Title, but the win didn’t come without controversy. Nick Cutler would go on to loose the NBWA Heavyweight Title on July 19, 2009 in a Triple Threat Match to Issan Hadeev.

Vic “The Pitbull” Santelli

It has been MANY moon’s, as they say since “The Pitbull” has had the NBWA Heavyweight Title around his waist, but it would certainly feel right at home along side the NBWA Mid-West Title which “Pitbull” currently holds. If Pitbull can win the “Tournament of Champions” it would make this the 3rd title victory in 6 months after claiming the No-Limits title in a 8 man Championship Challenge Match in July 2009, and then defeated Eric Ruffington on August 23rd in a match to unify the Mid-West Title and the No-Limits Title. In addition, Vic Santelli is also a former NBWA Tag Team Champion, holding the titles with fellow “Wise Guy” Pain Train.

Eric Ruffington

It’s hard to think back to when Eric Ruffington wasn’t wearing a NBWA Title Belt. Eric Ruffington is coming off of a nearly 8 month long reign as the NBWA’s Mid-West Champion, in which he defeated Wild Bill for the title on January 11th, and held the title until August 23rd. Before that lengthy reign Ruffington had held the NBWA Heavyweight Title for five months from January 2009 until July 2009 when the fued between Eric Ruffington and “Bloody” Harker Dirge came to an end with a BHD title victory.

“The Apex”
Blake Steel

Blake Steel has spent much of the last year trying to escape from the shadows of “Feature Presentation” and his former partner Eric Ruffington, and what better way to do that than to claim the biggest prize in the NBWA? Although Steel is one of only 2 men in the tournament to NOT have ever held the NBWA Heavyweight, Blake Steel can claim that he has never been defeated for an NBWA title. On March 7th, 2009 Blake Steel got his first taste of NBWA gold with No-Limits title victory over Nick Cutler, but Steel’s first and only NBWA title reign was cut short by a shoulder injury. NBWA‘s Board of Directors had no choice but to vacate the No-Limits title, meaning “The Apex” was never beaten for the No-Limits belt. The Board of Directors thought it was only fair to include “The Apex” Blake Steel in”The Tournament of Champions”.

“The Rage”
Gavin Alexander

Gavin is the second of two wrestlers that have been invited into the “Tournament of Champions”. But let us not forget that Gavin is much in the same boat as the previously mentioned Blake Steel, having been a No-Limits Champion, having his reign cut short by an injury. Gavin Alexander defeated the NBWA‘s “Slick Nick” in the Spring of 2007 in a Hardcore Match with the help of his GAW co-horts, J.C. Michaels, and Kenny O’Brien. Before Gavin could defend the No-Limits Title, he would be put on the shelves by doctors orders with a broken foot, Meaning that the NBWA would have to vacate the title. Although it’s two and a half years later, the NBWA has rewarded Gavin’s patience with a shot at the top prize in the NBWA.

“Fabulous”
Jason V.

Whether you remember his as “The Inspiration of Innovation” or “Fabulous”, you simply cannot have a “Tournament of Champions” without Jason V. The NBWA‘s championship history books have many pages with the name Jason Vendetta written upon them. From the early days of the NBWA when Jason Vendetta was one half of “Wrestling Redefined” with Aaron Matthews, and a No-Limits Champion on top of a 2 time Alberta J. Murray Memorial Tournament winner. More recently Jason V. has become “Fabulous” and has held the NBWA Tag Team Titles with a new partner, Serenity” but all those title pale in comparison to the title victory “Fabulous” had on Jan. 1st 2009 when he defeated “Bloody” Harker Dirge to become the NBWA Heavyweight Champion. Although he had a bit of help form Serenity, and a pipe wrench, to win the grand-daddy of them all, “Fabulous” Jason V. is more than qualified to be included in “The Tournament of Champions”

“Bloody” Harker Dirge

Harker Dirge is arguably the most popular and beloved NBWA star of all time, bringing NBWA fans to their feet time and time again. But this fan favorite has more than just the fans behind him when he enters the “Tournament of Champions” , Harker also has a long and storied NBWA Championship history. Not only has BHD held the NBWA Heavyweight Title, but the NBWA Mid-West Title and was one half of the NBWA Tag Team Champions with Cheapshot McGrot, under the disguise of Noon Moon. Come December 12th, Harker Dirge will have the NBWA fans at his side, but it will take much more than cheers of the fans to win 3 matches against the top title contenders in NBWA history.

How will the NBWA’s “Tournament of Champions” pan out? Will we finally see a “Fabulous” Jason V. vs “Bloody” Harker Dirge rematch with the NBWA Heavyweight Title on the line? Will we finally see Eric Ruffington get into the ring with his former partner Blake Steel ? Or will DaCobra, Vic “The Pitbull” Santelli, or Nick Cutler regain the NBWA Heavyweight Title? Will the underdog in the whole tournament, Gavin Alexander pull off an upset and win his first NBWA Heavyweight Title? There is only one way to find out exactly how the “Tournament of Champions” pans out, be there live and in person! The show is scheduled for Saturday, Dec 12, 2009 at 2:00 PM at Lincoln’s Challenge Academy in Rantoul, IL!

Also scheduled for Dec 12th…..

The big rematch that was announced at the NBWA Awards ceremony, is “Super” Jimmy Karryt vs Cyclone. Although the stakes are much bigger this time, than they were the last time these two met, it should be a barn burner! Jimmy Karryt will be defending the Heritage Wrestling Coalition Title against “The Unpredictable” Cyclone’s mask and wrestling career!

“Absolutely Fabulous” will be defending their NBWA Tag Team Titles against not one, not two, but THREE tag teams. Yes, thats right a Fatal 4 Way Tag Team match for the NBWA Tag Team Titles. “Absolutely Fabulous” vs “Aaron and Jeff” vs Cheapshot McGrot and Cecil Cerveza, vs Wild Bill and Nicky “The Weasel” Mankotti.

Finally…What is being billed as a speacil attraction “Light’s Out” main event, will pit Lincoln’s Challenges very own instructor, “The Enforcer” Sgt. Bobby Jones will accept the challenge of another Rantoul native, making his professional wrestling debut “ The Black Diamond” Aaron Paul!

Come and see all this….10 Huge Matches….3+ hours of professional wrestling at it’s best for just $5.00 per person*

* If you print out the above flier and present it at the door you can receive $1.00 off the $6.00 admission

For more info on NBWA Check out their myspace here.