McPinions
By: Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey
What's up everyone and welcome to the latest edition of McPinions. I was moved to write this column, after reading Mike Zevon's column about one of the best indy tag teams ever, Da Hit Squad. (Zevon's original column is available here: Mike's Column ) As a proponent of tag team wrestling, Da Hit Squad's name will always come up when discussing great tag teams. In this column I'm going to take a look at the tag teams today, while giving some history and opinions on Da Hit Squad.
Da Hit Squad, Monsta Mack and Mafia (aka Dan Maff) were a two man terror crew for most of the late 90's and early 2000's, and accomplished a feat that no other indy tag team has been able to do before or after- win 6 different sets of tag team championships, in 6 different promotions, simutaneously. (JAPW, JCW, USA Pro, ICW, WXW, and UCW) They would go on to hold other championships in other promotions, such as UCW, as well as be multiple time champions in the promotions listed above. Da Hit Squad drew as many fans as top name indy guys. Da Hit Squad were over as main eventers, and it wasn't uncommon for Da Hit Squad to main event indy shows across the east coast. Da Hit Squad was the best thing to ever happen to indy tag team wrestling. Some may say the Haas Brothers, but Da Hit Squad were around longer, arguably created more stars and had a bigger fan base. Da Hit Squad seemingly had a big future ahead of them, but then 2003 happened.
In late 2002, Monsta Mack injured his foot. Going into JAPW's December Woodbridge show, Da Hit Squad were the JAPW tag team champions. The promotion billed a tables match between Da Hit Squad, The Solution and The Dirty Rotten Scoundrelz. Instead of cancelling the match, or stripping Da Hit Squad of the titles, JAPW went through with the match. Mafia defended the titles on his own, and was able to beat the DRS and The Solution in one match and retain the JAPW Tag Team Championships. This match can be looked at as beginning of the end for Da Hit Squad.
In early 2003, Mafia wrestled singles matches. Then on 2/22, with Monsta Mack by his side, Mafia accomplished something that woke up alot of promoters, wrestlers and fans. On that afternoon, in the last Bayonne show ever, Mafia was able to unseat Homicide to become the new JAPW Heavyweight Champion. Mafia was then pegged the singles star of Da Hit Squad.
It was no surprise that Mafia was able to break out on his own. After touring Japan, and wrestling on Japanese PPV's, Mafia realized how much he loved wrestling. He knuckled up, and began focusing on his body weight and conditioning. Mafia lost alot of weight. As Mafia got in better and better shape, Monsta Mack looked the same. After an incident with ROH and XPW, Monsta Mack was looked at in a negative light with a few people. Mafia seemingly didn't want to attach his name with Monsta Mack anymore, coupled in with the fact that he wanted to see what he could accomplish on his own. I mean honestly, most kids growing up imagine themselves winning the World Title whether it be the WWE or NWA title. I have never heard of a kid dream of winning the Tag Team title. With Mafia tasting success as a JAPW champion, and with Monsta Mack holding him back as a singles wrestler, Da Hit Squad broke up in March 2003, at a USA Pro Show.
March 8th saw the first ever post Da Hit Squad split Mafia vs Monsta Mack match. It was haphazardly booked and rushed, for USA Pro Wrestling and didn't recieve the promotion or hype it deserved. (JAPW would later book a match on 2/28/04 which was done much better.) Mafia would win this USA Pro match, and seemingly Monsta Mack was pushed to the back burner, as Mafia excelled. Goodbye Mafia, Hello Dan Maff.
We all know what Dan Maff has accomplished since the split between the pair. Maff went on to lose, then win the JAPW Heavyweight title. Maff also picked up big singles wins all over the indies. Maff also defeated Slyck Wagner Brown in a match of the year contender on 4/12/03. Then recently, Dan Maff started teaming up with BJ Whitmer. As former members of the Prophecy, Maff/Whitmer accomplished what Mafia/Mack couldn't- win the prestigious ROH Tag Team Titles. Now the question for me is, "Can Maff and Whitmer be a full time tag team?" To me, the answer is no.
For any indy fan, there was a special feeling whenever Da Hit Squad wrestled. The blaring sirens and the Pump Pump easily hyped up any fan before Da Hit Squad walked through any wrestling curtain. While Maff/Whitmer may be able to accomplish that in the future, I don't think it will be the same as Da Hit Squad. Why is a Puerto Rican teaming with a Hillbilly Jesus clone anyway? While Maff/Mack were not brothers, many people believed they were, making their tag team even stronger. Only Helen Keller might mistake Maff and Whitmer as having the same blood line.
Look at the tag teams today. Only The Briscoes and the Havana Pitbulls draw the same attention and dollars that Da Hit Squad did. And those teams aren't even based in the Northeast, as the Pitbulls come from the West Coast, and The Briscoes are from Delaware and content on just working for ROH for now. Outside of those teams, there is really no team that draws the same interest Da Hit Squad did. That is not to shit on the other tag teams out there, but what tag team stands out like Da Hit Squad did? What other tag team can main event a wrestling show? What other tag team has must see matches? Just take a look at what's out there today:
The SAT- have had many career moments and feuded with Da Hit Squad. They have been at the top, fell a few rungs, went to the top, and as of right now seem to have either outpriced themselves in some places or don't want to work some promotions. I don't even think they have a home fed anymore, but if they do, it would have to be USA Pro.
The DRS- These guys have been battling injuries and politicks for some time. While they are good and arguably the best at what they do, (old school heel tag team wrestling) they are no where near the level of drawing the same money or earning the same fan respect as Da Hit Squad did.
The Solution- Two good wrestlers but lack the intensity, drawing power and interest that Da Hit Squad did. This is actually a team that would benefit with Da Hit Squad coming back, as I can see Da Hit Squad making The Solution stars, just like how the Haas brothers did for Da Hit Squad.
The Christopher Street Connection- These guys might be the best team out of the whole lot, but no fan would ever confuse them as the next team to take over the indies like Da Hit Squad did. I'd say the CSC are the most successful team out there, but they are doing another different thing entirely.
The Outcast Killahz- too new to this area. They do have potential, but they aren't near Da Hit Squad level yet.
Slyck Wagner Brown/April Hunter, Striker/Eckos, ESK, AMIL, Los Lunatics and others are around the tag team scene but none of them would ever be compared to being the same team as Da Hit Squad were.
My point isn't to trash the other teams out there, as I am a fan of these teams. My point is to show that there isn't a dominating tag team anymore. There isn't a number 1 tag team out there today. Surely you could argue for The Briscoes or the Pitbulls, but if you look at the Northeast Tag teams, or if you look at the tag teams that tag up out of ROH, there are no teams that can make a legit claim to number 1. While I'd say the SAT, the DRS, the Solution, the CSC, the OCK and now AMIL are the upper echelon teams, none of them have stood out as the MUST-See, or as the standard of tag team wrestling like Da Hit Squad did. Da Hit Squad revolutionized indy tag team wrestling and brought it to a level that no other team has been able to match since.
Da Hit Squad also sets itself apart from these teams as Da Hit Squad created many stars in their matches. Milestones in many careers can be contributed to Da Hit Squad. Look at Jay Lethal. Insane Dragon. Rain. Dixie. Deranged. All benefited because of Da Hit Squad. Also, teams were brought in to many promotions to challenge Da Hit Squad, as the DHS were billed as the best of the northeast and take on any team. Da Hit Squad wrestled legendary tag teams such as The Legion of Doom during their fantastic run as team. Da Hit Squad were also able to bring promotions to new levels. Together, Dan Maff and Steve Mack as Mafia and Monsta Mack, brought JAPW to a level which no other NJ indy promotion has achieved. They also made any promotions titles mean more when they won them and lost them. Da Hit Squad were a firm number one on the indy tag team scene, left as number one, and if they came back tomorrow would stay at number one.
Many around the situation know that Da Hit Squad will not be coming back fulltime anytime soon. Maff has broken out to one of the better singles wrestlers today. Maff is able to make anyone look good, as was evident at a recent AWA show, where he helped not only the AWA, but Pinkie Sanchez. Maff is a main eventer in his own right, and is the centerpiece of one of the best indy feds today, JAPW. Maff has also done tours for IWA Puerto Rico, which is a big career pinnacle for Maff.
Monsta Mack on the other hand, has been seen as the weaker of the two, career wise, as he hasn't recieved the same opportunities that his partner has. While some may blame Mack's weight, you have to remember that he was the same weight when those same promoters were calling him up to wrestle with Maff. Mack has had some good matches for 3PW, and was involved in a major angle in WXW, before it was dropped. Mack also returned to JAPW, but has seemingly been dropped from the roster, despite being part of the main angle in JAPW, as he recruited the DRS to dump Maff from La Familia. Mack has worked some shots for USA Pro Wrestling, Defiant Pro Wrestling, but looks only to be a fulltime regular for 3PW, where he has thrived in. I think if Mack wants it, he can be the main man somewhere. I would love to see Monsta Mack be the main heel in a promotion such as NYWC or JCW. He is capable of doing it. I do believe Mack needs to start doing more shows, even going on some smaller shows to prove to the fans that he's for real. With success in littler ponds, Mack can go back to being a big fish in the big ponds again.
Tag team wrestling needs Da Hit Squad. They would breathe new life into the scene. It would get fans talking. It would increase attendance at shows. Other tag teams would benefit with them being around, as Da Hit Squad are able to give rubs to people. The ball is obviously in Maff's court. Why should Maff turn his back on what is becoming a great singles career? But if Maff is going to be a tag team wrestler with BJ Whitmer, where he will easily gain success, I think it will be all for naught, when the best possible partner is sitting in the wings.
Think of the new match-ups that are waiting for a Hit Squad Reunion tour. DHS vs The Havana Pitbulls. DHS vs Homicide/BBoy. DHS vs The Outcast Killahz. Think of the old feuds waiting to be revived- DHS vs The CSC, DHS vs the SAT, DHS vs The Briscoes, DHS vs The Solution.
I've watched Da Hit Squad for some time. When I think of the glory days of indy tag team wrestling, I pop in their Best of Tapes. (There are two of them, which can be found at RFVideo.com) Da Hit Squad has done alot for the sport. For now, I think Monsta Mack needs to work on his body and go on all out killing spree on the indies. Money is to be made with a DHS feud, and there is more money to be made with a DHS reunion.
It is obvious to many people that Mack may need Maff more than Maff might need Mack. This is why I hope for the same career success for Steve Mack/Monsta Mack that Dan Maff was able to achieve. Together and as singles wrestlers, I will be a fan of Monsta Mack/Steve Mack and Mafia/Dan Maff.
Maff has proved he can be a singles star. I do see Maff as a future ROH Heavyweight Champion. But I do think back and wonder where and how far Da Hit Squad could've went as a succesful unit. I don't think we'll ever know.
And for the record, BJ Whitmer is a better partner for Maff then Trekkie would be for Monsta Mack. Pump Pump.
Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey
BULLSMC@aol.com