McPinions
By: Sean “The MiC” McCaffrey

Less than a year ago, I discussed some of the problems with NJ Wrestling. That column got alot of feedback. To read "The Art of Promoting A Wrestling Show" go here: McPinions Edition 28

In this column, I'm going to look at the recent drama in the State of NJ, concerning indy wrestling. I'll also rank what I think are the top 5 promotions out of the seemingly hundred promotions that are out there in the Garden State.

The biggest story in the last couple of weeks is concerning the use of the NWA name. Eugene Moore and Joe Panzarino of NWS both claim ownership. Eugene (Geno) Moore even has a court document proving sole ownership of the NWA New Jersey name. Many in the business consider him the owner of the NWA NJ name. Geno and Joe opted this year not to really run shows under the NWA NJ banner, as they focused on running their National Wrestling Superstars (NWS) name. NWS was the only "major" promotion in NJ to run more than 1 show in the summer. In fact, they ran 28 shows this summer. Just think about that. 28 Wrestling shows from June 1st-September 1st. The only other wrestling company to run that many shows might've been the WWE. While the NWS product isn't my cup of tea, as it's catered more to families than people looking for smart mark wrestling, 28 shows in 3 months is unheard of on the indies. While student shows may run every week, these shows that NWS ran featured legends such as King Kong Bundy and The Honky Tonk Man, as well as 2-3 top level indy talent names like Slyck Wagner Brown, April Hunter and Mike Kruel for example. Regardless of what you think about the NWS product, their achievements are impressive. Running 28 wrestling shows in three months is no easy task. Ask any promoter who ran just one show. Running in the NJ area during the summer,is even tougher, when you add the saturation of wrestling factor, in addition to the NJ Shore factor, as people aren't really into wrestling during the summer time.

Recently, at a UWA show, which is ran by Bandido and Frankie Starz, Fred Rubenstein came out and renamed the UWA to NWA NORTH Jersey. I emphasize the North, because the name that Geno owns, through his SEGI Corporation is called NWA New Jersey. Now the UWA is known as NWA North NJ. Some, including myself, questioned the legitimacy of Fred Rubenstein and UWA using the NWA name, but low and behold, on NWAwrestling.com, there is a full story confirming it. The following comes from the Official NWA Website:
Pro Wrestling Organization, LLC, doing business as National Wrestling Alliance/NWA, recognizes Fred Rubenstein as the only authorized NWA member in the state of New Jersey. The official list of all NWA members can be found on our website at www.nwawrestling.com.
ERNIE TODD, President
National Wrestling Alliance


If you go to the NWA site, several other NWA North NJ press releases are up. There is no mention of the NWS/NWA NJ or any of Geno or Joe's groups. According to the NWA, Fred Rubenstein is the owner, but what about Geno's court order proving that he owns the NWA name? Well, I saw alot of evidence and documents this weekend, and after I finish talking to a few more people in the situation, I will write a full column on it, and let you know who I believe is the true owner of the NWA NJ name. For now, I can say that Geno and Joe still claim to own the name, and that they feel that Fred is totally in the wrong.

Fred aligning up with the UWA certainly has lit a fire under NWS's asses. Since aligning with UWA, Geno and Joe responded by taking over JCW. While JCW is not what it once was, the JCW J-Cup, if promoted correctly, is a presitigous tournament to win. The NWS also made a deal with SSCW, which will let them run shows in conjunction with SSCW. While I really don't see any advantage in helping Carmine or SSCW out, as I think it is a company that is tarnished and screwed fans over so many times with so many cancellations, this does give NWS a second company that is North NJ based. The NWS largely promotes their shows in the South NJ area. They pretty much are the top dogs of South Jersey and really the only promotion that matters in South NJ. By taking over JCW and SSCW, NWS grabs two promotions in the North NJ area, which is where UWA/NWA North NJ runs. NWS in the true NWA fashion, is trying to take over smaller companies and create a territory. That is very old school of them, which matches their old school product.

As far as the NWA New Jersey uniting NWS, SSCW and JCW under one common banner, it should be interesting how far NWA NJ goes with it. NWS is profitable and successful already. Adding JCW was a nice addition, and Ricky O can only help them out. I don't know what SSCW can do for NWA NJ except maybe get buildings. If you do look at SSCW's past history, SSCW has a hard time keeping their shows in one building consistently. I do see SSCW benefitting from the NWS relationship, because NWS can help teach SSCW how to promote their shows, as NWS crowds do average 200+ on any given night.

This NWA NJ situation should be very interesting as I don't see Geno and Joe taking this laying down. Regardless of who wins this legal war over the NWA New Jersey name, it has made NWS a more viable promotion as they are trying to create a territory. If NWA NJ can run as many shows in the north, as they do in the south part of the state, then it would be good for the workers as they will have more paydays. Like I said above, look for more NWS/NWA NJ news later on this week.

With JCW dead and SSCW not independent to itself anymore, it is obvious to see that wrestling is hurting. Other promotions in NJ, such as IHPW went under this year. Promotions like UCW, which saw a decent debut card, with Jay Lethal being crowned their first ever Heavyweight Champion, are having trouble getting money to stay afloat. There are dozens and dozens of promotions just running chicken shit shows in front of 30 people. Instead of focusing on the negative, let me take a look at what I consider the top five promotions in the state of NJ. I am ranking these promotions based on the following factors:
-My Enjoyability
- Crowd Sizes
- Frequency of Shows
- Profits
- Storyline Logic
- Fan Acceptance

1. JAPW- Jersey All Pro Wrestling might not be only the top indy in NJ, but very well one of the top 10 indies in the US today. Their shows are strongly attended. Their storylines are very thought out and logical. They are the top fed in Jersey to many. There is no promotion in NJ who combines great wrestling with solid story telling. The entire JAPW Staff- Jeff, Frank, Ray, Johnny D., and Dave all do a great job of getting the word out. Fans know about JAPW. People chant the JAP letters during big moments in matches. The way fans over here are creaming their pants over IWA-MS and PWG tapes, is the way fans in Indiana and California will soon want JAPW tapes. If you also notice, JAPW stays out of indy heat with other promotions. That's a big thing, as alot of these little groups are fighting so much, that they forget that they are only fighting over 30 fans. Instead, JAPW focuses their energy and efforts on promoting, spreading the word, and having good shows. They don't pick fights (Which they'd most likely win) and instead benefit the entire indy scene. One example of this is JAPW's relationship with AWA, as JAPW scouts AWA wrestlers and has put over the AWA promotion several times this year, most notably in the Dan Maff vs Pinkie Sanchez match.

2. NWS- National Wrestling Superstars is easily the best family oriented wrestling in NJ. It is not my style of wrestling, but as an unbiased journalist and a true wrestling fan, I can appreciate it. NWS is profitable, and that means alot in this current indy wrestling economy. NWS runs 50+ shows a year, and each usually feature an ex-WWF/WCW wrestler. One complaint about NWS is that by running so much, they might burn out areas. As of right now, NWS has acquired three new territories. By doing that, in the future, they will have more time in-between areas, and it will make those areas crave wrestling more. Just like how JAPW is the top promotion for smart marks, NWS is the top promotion for families. Joe and Geno do a great job, and wait until later this week when I discuss the whole NWA NJ issue.

3. CSWF- CyberSpace Wrestling Federation is promoted by Firehawk and booked by Dave Levy/JD Dreamer. I honestly thought their earlier shows were awful, but with hard work and a big wallet, CSWF has turned itself around and improves every show. No one books the wrestlers they use. No other indy promotion uses TNA guys like CSWF does. CSWF has alot going for them, but their biggest problem is their booking and storyline logic. Every show features many storyline inconsistencies. The best thing for CSWF would to write everything they've done, or storyboard some of their shows to prevent logic mistakes. CSWF would also benefit by stapling lips as every surprise they have is known by 1/2 the audience. With better booking, there is no reason why CSWF shouldn't be competing with JAPW. If it wasn't for alot of plotholes, CSWF would be ranked number 2.

4. AWA- American Wrestling Alliance, promoted by Mike Morgan, not Verne Gagne, started off as a student show. Technically, it still is, but AWA has exploded and has gained alot of respect and prestige by their peers in the wrestling business, as well as fans. Many top flight indy wrestlers have worked for AWA for free, out of respect for pro wrestling and the AWA family. The shows will never compete with a JAPW or CSWF, at this level, but AWA is better than most of the feds that are out there. The booking is solid. I do question some things, but for the most part, there are never plotholes in their booking. AWA does a great job of building things up. There is something special about the AWA shows, and they could have 10 fans or 100 fans in the building, it don't matter- it's always loud.

5. SSCW- Stars and Stripes Wrestling, promoted by Carmine "Steinbrenner" Sabia, and booked by Simon "Cashman" Diamond, gets this last spot almost by default. There are about 20 other promotions out there who could've got this, but due to their lack of promoting and quality, SSCW gets the nod. SSCW gets this spot because they've run more shows than the others, and have better shows. SSCW will be changing their product soon, due to their new partnership with NWS, but for this year, SSCW did promote a memorable match, in this years Cruiser Combat. SSCW's biggest problem is their promoter for various reasons. The obvious reason is the phobia which hurts local promoting. The other reason is having a track record of cancelling shows. On the positive side, SSCW has been known to take care of their wrestlers. On various occassions, many wrestlers have expressed how SSCW took care of them, from Havok's hospital bill to B-Boy's hotel. SSCW also used alot of top talent this year. It should be interesting to see how NWS affects their product this year.

Indy Wrestling is hurting in NJ. There are only two real smart mark feds right now. They are JAPW and CSWF. Philly seems to be the king of smart mark wrestling with CZW, 3PW, ROH and PWU. I am wondering how the SAT's FUSION will impact wrestling in NJ. ROH continues to run big crowds in the Rexplex, even though their crowd numbers aren't the same in NJ from a year ago. NJ wrestling is just so oversaturated right now. With every Dick and Harry running one show, killing a town, and never running again, it hurts the legit promoters. High presale numbers are hard to do in NJ with all these little promotions killing the area. Fans of dead feds like JCW, IHPW, and PIW, for example, and fans of promotions that cancel alot like SSCW, are not willing to put money down on advance tickets, because of all the previous shows being cancelled by others. Also crappy feds, and for the sake of not singling anyone out, and trying to stay positive, who run shows hurt the area just as much as the promotions that cancel their shows. By having a crappy show, with 16 year old wrestlers, and other people who don't belong in a ring, it hurts the real promotions. Some indy fans might think all the indies are crappy just because of one crappy show. That is why the internet and word of mouth is so important in indy wrestling. If someone goes to XYZ wrestling, and thinks it sucks, it might turn them off from JAPW. It's up to the internet and word of mouth for other wrestling fans to let other wrestling fans know that not every show is like XYZ, and expose them to a JAPW.

As far as NJ wrestling in 2005, I see JAPW and CSWF having big years. NWS might run something like 60 shows with all the territories they are eating up. I'm sure a bunch of feds will pop up for one show. There are rumors of FTW returning, and that should be a good show. I believe FUSIONs success depends on how their competition recieves them. Running in the Rexplex will not be an easy task, in my opinion.

In the end, promotions will only exist if the fans want to see the product. Should there be a commission in NJ in order to weed the weak out of the strong? I do think so, and I outlined what sort of commission I'd like to see in a previous column. Support promotions that you like and spread the word on promotions you like. With wrestling the way it is, it's the only way for some promotions to stay alive.

I'll have a full NWS/NWA NJ/UWA/NWA North NJ story later this week.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey
BULLSMC@aol.com