Post by ipwgreg on Sept 3, 2010 13:30:13 GMT -5
Time to get back to business.
Championships are hard to establish in the internet driven world. Without television and with the internet establishing a viable champion and building interest is difficult. People don’t believe in the “ Sport of Pro Wrestling” They don’t even come close to thinking of it as a competition and barely think of it as an “Athletic exhibition” . A lot of thought and consideration has gone into every title change in the history of IPW. I am going to go through a list of former Heavyweight, Grand, and World champions we have had ( Yes all still the same title)
E.Z. Cruz – Like him, hate him whatever. Cruz helped establish this promotion. He had both a look and intensity, a willingness to put it all out there and he had a hard hitting style that fit perfectly at that time. His matches with Pondo, Necro, and Nate Webb , and J.C. Bailey were nothing short of phenomenal. He and Dave Davidson showed that he could also come out and “ Wrestle” . Cruz in his prime was a fine champion.
Nate Webb- Nate was the perfect guy to take the belt from Cruz and run with it. Had we not run into issues with IWA Mid-south, Nate would have had a long run as champion. His matches with Necro Butcher were amazing. Someday we will get that footage back out there. God, he could fly, he could fight and he had a fun quirky charisma. At the time that he won the belt, the plan was for Nate to take it to Australia and defend it there, but then he had to forfeit the title. There were plans for Nate to have a run against Kickboxer that had it happened I believe people would still be talking about it today.
Hillbilly Jedd- At this point, we were heading into a more solid wrestling style in IPW and no one personified it more than the Residential Big Man. At that point , no one his size could move like him, and no one his size had the stamina that he does. HBJ is such a solid and believable wrestler that anywhere he goes he should be considered a potential champion. His style is so believable and hard hitting with just enough flair and excitement that you always want to see whats next.
Dave Davidson- Dave Davidson was a fun champion for me. He makes such a good “ Bad guy” and is such a solid competitor. He can wrestle, he can fight and he can fly somewhat. He is just that thingyy little snot that you just hate. Dave in his title runs was the “ Tully Blanchard” of IPW.
Cliffton Crunk- Cliff was the ultimate underdog as champion. He always surprised you by winning. He just didn’t look like a fighter, but he came out on top and you had a sigh of relief when he did. As much as Dave Davidson was the guy you loved to hate, Cliff was the guy you wanted to hang out with.
P.T. Hustla- The whitest guy in the locker room. A veteran in the locker room, PT was fun as champion, He could fight, he could wrestle, and those kicks he threw. He was the first man to be the “ Triple Crown “ champion in IPW. ( Hold the Grand, Mid-American, and Tag Team Championships) He was always a viable and legitimate guy in the ring.
Carlton Kaz- Kaz was everything we always wanted in a champion. He was the PERFECT Heel champion. He tops my list of guys for greatest champions. We had so much fun out there, and no matter what happened earlier in the night, he could always get the crowd back. There is always a danger in wrestling of killing a crowd. Showing them so much that they are numb for the next match. Let me tell you this, Kaz has followed Hardcore, Ladder, Fans bring the weapons, and any other kind of highspot match and still come out and had the crowd in the palm of his hand. You can't teach that.
Drake Younger- If Kaz was my favorite Heavyweight champion, well Drake is a very VERY close second. No other champion has had the passion and the enthusiasm for this business as Drake. You really felt like you would have to kill him to get that belt off of him. So vicious and yet so nice. A true sportsman. Drake took that championship overseas, defending it in Germany, Spain , and England I believe. And Wisconson. Drake did so much for that belt, that when we would talk about future champions I would say no to people if I felt they would not hold up the standard that Drake had set, and he set it High!
Jon Moxley- Jon may very well be remembered as the greatest champion in the history of IPW. He has every tool needed to make a huge impact on this business. I have never before witnessed a level of Charisma that matches Jons, and his ability in the ring is phenomenal. His interviews are the best I have ever seen. Mark my words he will be a star for years to come. Think about it, he isn’t even 25 yet.
Scotty Vortekz- Scott is the only man to have won Every title and the Jr. Tournament. He was also in the 3rd. ever Barefoot Thumbtac match with J.C. Bailey. Scotty was at the center of the old IPW vs. BBW feud. I once witnessed Scotty knock a guy unconscious because he disrespected Scotts girlfriend in the crowd right before a match. His kicks are vicious and he can fly. If I can be honest, all around talent, Scotty is as good as anyone.
This was harder than I thought. Like I said, a lot of thought goes into a champion. He has to be able to get it done in the ring, and the people have to be willing to pay their money to see him. Each champion sets a standard, and the next guy needs to be able to follow that and even raise it. We have been blessed with some amazing champions in IPW.
Championships are hard to establish in the internet driven world. Without television and with the internet establishing a viable champion and building interest is difficult. People don’t believe in the “ Sport of Pro Wrestling” They don’t even come close to thinking of it as a competition and barely think of it as an “Athletic exhibition” . A lot of thought and consideration has gone into every title change in the history of IPW. I am going to go through a list of former Heavyweight, Grand, and World champions we have had ( Yes all still the same title)
E.Z. Cruz – Like him, hate him whatever. Cruz helped establish this promotion. He had both a look and intensity, a willingness to put it all out there and he had a hard hitting style that fit perfectly at that time. His matches with Pondo, Necro, and Nate Webb , and J.C. Bailey were nothing short of phenomenal. He and Dave Davidson showed that he could also come out and “ Wrestle” . Cruz in his prime was a fine champion.
Nate Webb- Nate was the perfect guy to take the belt from Cruz and run with it. Had we not run into issues with IWA Mid-south, Nate would have had a long run as champion. His matches with Necro Butcher were amazing. Someday we will get that footage back out there. God, he could fly, he could fight and he had a fun quirky charisma. At the time that he won the belt, the plan was for Nate to take it to Australia and defend it there, but then he had to forfeit the title. There were plans for Nate to have a run against Kickboxer that had it happened I believe people would still be talking about it today.
Hillbilly Jedd- At this point, we were heading into a more solid wrestling style in IPW and no one personified it more than the Residential Big Man. At that point , no one his size could move like him, and no one his size had the stamina that he does. HBJ is such a solid and believable wrestler that anywhere he goes he should be considered a potential champion. His style is so believable and hard hitting with just enough flair and excitement that you always want to see whats next.
Dave Davidson- Dave Davidson was a fun champion for me. He makes such a good “ Bad guy” and is such a solid competitor. He can wrestle, he can fight and he can fly somewhat. He is just that thingyy little snot that you just hate. Dave in his title runs was the “ Tully Blanchard” of IPW.
Cliffton Crunk- Cliff was the ultimate underdog as champion. He always surprised you by winning. He just didn’t look like a fighter, but he came out on top and you had a sigh of relief when he did. As much as Dave Davidson was the guy you loved to hate, Cliff was the guy you wanted to hang out with.
P.T. Hustla- The whitest guy in the locker room. A veteran in the locker room, PT was fun as champion, He could fight, he could wrestle, and those kicks he threw. He was the first man to be the “ Triple Crown “ champion in IPW. ( Hold the Grand, Mid-American, and Tag Team Championships) He was always a viable and legitimate guy in the ring.
Carlton Kaz- Kaz was everything we always wanted in a champion. He was the PERFECT Heel champion. He tops my list of guys for greatest champions. We had so much fun out there, and no matter what happened earlier in the night, he could always get the crowd back. There is always a danger in wrestling of killing a crowd. Showing them so much that they are numb for the next match. Let me tell you this, Kaz has followed Hardcore, Ladder, Fans bring the weapons, and any other kind of highspot match and still come out and had the crowd in the palm of his hand. You can't teach that.
Drake Younger- If Kaz was my favorite Heavyweight champion, well Drake is a very VERY close second. No other champion has had the passion and the enthusiasm for this business as Drake. You really felt like you would have to kill him to get that belt off of him. So vicious and yet so nice. A true sportsman. Drake took that championship overseas, defending it in Germany, Spain , and England I believe. And Wisconson. Drake did so much for that belt, that when we would talk about future champions I would say no to people if I felt they would not hold up the standard that Drake had set, and he set it High!
Jon Moxley- Jon may very well be remembered as the greatest champion in the history of IPW. He has every tool needed to make a huge impact on this business. I have never before witnessed a level of Charisma that matches Jons, and his ability in the ring is phenomenal. His interviews are the best I have ever seen. Mark my words he will be a star for years to come. Think about it, he isn’t even 25 yet.
Scotty Vortekz- Scott is the only man to have won Every title and the Jr. Tournament. He was also in the 3rd. ever Barefoot Thumbtac match with J.C. Bailey. Scotty was at the center of the old IPW vs. BBW feud. I once witnessed Scotty knock a guy unconscious because he disrespected Scotts girlfriend in the crowd right before a match. His kicks are vicious and he can fly. If I can be honest, all around talent, Scotty is as good as anyone.
This was harder than I thought. Like I said, a lot of thought goes into a champion. He has to be able to get it done in the ring, and the people have to be willing to pay their money to see him. Each champion sets a standard, and the next guy needs to be able to follow that and even raise it. We have been blessed with some amazing champions in IPW.
