Indy Mania: Gateway To Greatness - New England Championship Wrestling



By Norine Stice, email: KSSassyLLC@aol.com



I have become a diehard fan of New England Championship Wrestling and watch everything I can find. When I picked up this DVD, I had no idea what great talent was available on one disc. This compilation of matches covers the now well-known wrestlers who have passed through the NECW ring on their way to the "big two". While I try to be a professional reviewer, I don't stand a chance here. This review will be from a true rasslin' fan!



Announcer: Sheldon Goldberg



Match 1: "The Anarchist" Doug Williams vs. "The Alpha Male" Justin Powers

June 21, 2002, Good Time Emporium, Somerville, MA.



I have seen Williams in matches before and his technical skills are amazing. I have never seen Powers in action and while his heel gimmick is good, his mat skills are equal to those of his opponent. Most of this match moves so fast, I had to back up and watch it over again. Powers bails out but it's only a ploy to catch Williams off guard. The ploy works and Powers goes for a cover, getting two. Powers comes back strong. Maverick Wild appears at ringside and Sheldon Goldberg, ringside announcer, says that Wild has issues with Powers. YES! Williams is back in the action and he's kicking Powers all over the ring, knee drop off the top rope and Williams gets two. Count ref, COUNT! There are many near falls until Williams delivers his springboard powerslam Chaos Theory for three!



Winner: "The Anarchist" Doug Williams with the Chaos Theory.



I would have purchased the DVD for this match alone. Both of these workers gave everything they had. The video quality was not the best I have seen but this match was spectacular!



Chris Harvard (Christopher Nowinski) cuts a promo. He will be facing Aaron Morrison.



Match 2: Chris Harvard vs. Aaron Morrison

February 23, 2002, Berlin High School, Merlin, NH



I am not familiar with Morrison. He's not tall but he's a big boy. Harvard appears with a lettered "H" sweater and a football, making it a point to stop by the fans, snagging and ripping up a sign. The referee calls for the bell and this match starts off at a slower pace than the first one. Harvard uses power moves but Morrison works with wrestling moves. Morrison is surprisingly quick for his size and build. Harvard takes control at this point and gets three two-counts. The longer the match goes, the dirtier Harvard plays but he can't get a three. Morrison comes back with clotheslines before delivering a DDT. Morrison goes to the top, delivers an elbow and covers but can't get a three. Harvard delivers a backbreaker, covers and gets the win.



Winner: Chris Harvard with a backbreaker.



I have the utmost respect for Christopher Nowinksi and not only for his work in the ring but his work outside of the ring at the Sports Legacy Institute. You can check out his work at https://www.sportslegacy.org. Morrison also did an impressive job in this contest.



Match 3: Mercedes Martinez with Joel Gertner vs. "Heartthrob" Kurt Adonis

March 23, 2001, Vermont Technical College, Randolph, VT



I am not familiar with either of these workers. Adonis enters the ring and does a little fancy footwork in the manner of dancing before taking the mic to taunt the fans and to sing. As Sheldon remarks "Someone get that guy a bucket so he can at least carry a tune". Our ears are saved by Joe Gertner, who receives accolades from the audience. Martinez is a female wrestler, built like a female wrestler, and I was surprised at a male versus female match. It starts out as a shoving match but Martinez goes after Adonis with such zeal that she sends him outside. She makes an error by going out after him, catches a superkick, gets rolled back in and Adonis knocks Gertner off his chair before heading back into the ring. Gertner is now at ringside but not interfering in the action. Adonis has turned the tables and is putting a real beat down on Martinez. Martinez comes back but catches another superkick and Adonis goes to the top, delivers a splash, gets one and then pulls Martinez off the mat, shoves the ref, goes back to the top and this time Gertner shoves Adonis off the top, Martinez comes off the top with a cross body block and gets the three.



Winner: Adonis just got beat by a girl! Mercedes Martinez with a cross body block.



Martinez was impressive as a female who take the hits and come back for more. Gertner did his job in assisting Martinez when she needed it most and Adonis was a true heel, attempting to win by any means.



Match 4: Antonio "The Promise" Thomas vs. Zaqary Springate III

October 24, 2002, Good Time Emporium, Somerville, MA



I have seen Thomas work before and was impressed. I am not familiar with Springate's work. This is one of Thomas's first appearances in NECW. The bell rings and it is a combination of Springate whining about Thomas cheating and Thomas going to the mat with his grappling talent. Springate bails out but doesn't stay outside for long. Springate is no slouch in the technical department but Thomas is more muscular and has a power advantage. Springate delivers a chop that makes me stop breathing. Springate is completely in charge but Thomas fights his way back. Springate delivers a DDT but he's slow to cover because he's busy antagonizing the fans and Thomas kicks out. Thomas delivers a roll up and gets the three.



Winner: Antonio "The Promise" Thomas with a roll up.



If you have never seen The Promise in action, you have no idea what you are missing. He can be down and dirty but he is a great technical worker. This DVD is showcasing some of the best talent that has been in NECW and Thomas is one of the best.





Match 5:



NECW Tag Team Championship vs. ECWA Tag Team Championship

(East Coast Wrestling Association)



"The Egomaniac" Johnny Idol & J-Busta, NECW Champions



vs.



Matt Striker & Ace Darling, ECWA Champions w/their manager

August 10, 2003, Good Time Emporium, Somerville, MA





Matt Striker is the only worker I am familiar with in this match. J-Busta reminds me of Jack Evans in looks and size. Idol takes the mic but the sound quality isn't very good and I can't understand what he is saying. It appears both teams are considered heel and there could be a whole lot of cheating going on during this bout. Striker and Idol begin the action and it's double cheating, each in time with the other. Striker delivers a boot to the face and covers but Idol kicks out and tags in Busta which sends Striker to tag in Darling and they go for a punch-a-thon in the center of the ring before showing us some wrestling moves. Striker and Darling work well as a tag team unit. The referee gets taken out, a new ref appears. Darling pins J-Busta with the use of the ropes. An argument ensues about the ending and the ref calls for a continuation of the match. Busta pins Idol with his feet on the ropes. The extra ref is back in to point out the lack of a legit win and once again an argument ensues in the ring. The two teams take out both refs before going after each other in and out of the ring.





Winners: No Contest or Double DQ for attacking the referees.



While not a technical wrestling match, all four of these men put on a nice exhibition of trying to out maneuver each other and it made for an entertaining bout.



Match 6: Trinity vs. "The Fabulous Firebird" Phoenix

October 24, 2002, Good Time Emporium, Somerville, MA



Phoenix comes to the ring arguing with the fans and isn't beyond a little hair pulling in order to stay in charge but both of these women show some amazing mat skills. If you want to see the woman now known as Beth Phoenix wrestle, you need to see this match. There are many near falls in this contest. Phoenix drops Trinity in a semi power bomb covers and gets the three.



Winner: "The Fabulous Firebird" Phoenix via pinfall.



This match clearly shows that Beth Phoenix can and did wrestle before her move to WWE. She is consistent and tough in this match up and Trinity did some decent work although a few times she was a little off in her execution of maneuvers.



Match 7: "The Wonderkid" Jonny Storm vs. "The Phoenix" Jody Fleisch

June 21, 2002, Good Time Emporium, Somerville, MA



I have seen these two face each other in a different promotion and I thought they made spectacular opponents. Storm works as a heel and Fleisch takes the role of face and I am not disappointed in this match. It is fast paced, great moves, and these two work so well against each other they appear to be in perfect sync. Even the near falls are breathtaking in their fluid motion. The match goes out to the floor as Fleisch comes off of the top rope with a moonsault. Storm delivers a low blow, delivers a spin kick off of the top turnbuckle, but Fleisch rolls outside. Storm delivers a moonsault off of the top and lands on his feet. Fleisch delivers a Phoenix DDT, covers and gets the win.



Winner: "The Phoenix" Jody Fleisch via pinfall.



I personally declare this a highly recommended match on this DVD. These two put together a tremendous match. There was the usual high flying with some well timed and executed mat maneuvers that make them two of the best in the business.



Preview to the final match:

Triple Threat Match

"Robbie Ellis vs. J. Wood vs. "Turbo" Tim Fury

April 27, 2001, Good Time Emporium, Somerville, MA



Kazarian attacks Fury, shoves the referee, grabs the mic and introduces himself as "The Future" Frankie Kazarian. He says there are two kinds of people in this world: Men who want to be him and women who want to be with him. I have never seen Kazarian as a heel. He does a very good job of drawing heat from the fans. John Cena enters the ring and Kazarian exits.



Match 8: "The Prototype" John Cena vs. "The Future" Frankie Kazarian



Cena has that bulky athletic build and is wearing wrestling tights. Kaz breaks into punches but Cena comes back with clotheslines and a dropkick and Kaz bails out of the ring and heads to the back. Cena goes after him and they fight in the audience area before heading back to the ring. The longer the match goes, the more near falls alternate between the two. Cena nails the ref when Kaz slings him into the corner, then Kaz goes into his tights for a foreign object and nails Cena in the face, covers but only gets two. Kaz goes up to the top, Cena grabs the ropes, throws Kaz across the ring, and delivers ten punches to the skull. Cena slams Kaz chest first into the corner post, picks him up and slams him to the canvas, covers and gets the three.



Winner: "The Prototype" John Cena via pinfall.



After seeing this match, I can say that John Cena does know a few wrestling moves and although he is not a high-flying worker, he was certainly worth watching. I have not seen Kazarian working as a heel before and his antics were impressive. I had hoped for a little more mat wrestling in this bout but was not disappointed with either of the competitors.



Extras:



Dusty Rhodes on NECW: Rhodes discusses the upcoming match between Evans and Arion.



NECW Championship Match



"Brutal" Bob Evans � with Manager, Scott Dickinson



vs.



"The Golden Greek" Alex Arion



March 22, 2002, Somverville, MA



This match added as an extra was a pleasant surprise. Before the match begins, Dickinson and the referee, Maverick Wild, get into a verbal altercation, with Dickinson slapping Wild and then spitting on him. This leads to Wild chasing Dickinson out of the arena. Arion takes the opportunity to attack Evans and the bell rings albeit missing a ref. The match moves outside and Arion uses everything at his disposal to work over the champ. The match moves back inside but Arion is still in charge. Arion delivers a splash, a new ref makes it in just in time to count two before Evans gets a shoulder off the mat. Arion gets distracted arguing with the ref about the count and Evans takes control. Evans gets tossed out of the ring and comes up holding his left wrist. Arion delivers a moonsault but hits the ref who bumps into Evans. Arion delivers the arm breaker arm bar, Evans taps out and referee Wild is back in the ring to call the match.



Winner and new NECW Champion: "The Golden Greek" Alex Arion



I have not seen as much of Arion as I would like and this match, although obviously in the earlier part of his career, indicates how well he would do in the future. Evans did a great job as well, but Arion stood out in this match as an up and coming star.



WWW Trailer



The Wrap Up: If you are a fan of wrestling with little talk and a lot of action, this DVD is for you. While some of the video is not the best quality, it is certainly not difficult to see the action. For WWE and TNA fans who would like to see what current stars can do outside of the big two, you don't want to miss this opportunity. You can pick up this little gem of a DVD at https://www.necwwrestling.com for $15.00.



With NECW, you never have to take my word for it. You can see it yourself at https://www.necw.tv. Every week a new match is aired free via the Internet and there is an archive of previous matches. You can also visit "The Mouthpiece Wrestling Show" via this link and catch some of the greatest wrestling stars on the air with Sheldon Goldberg, NECW ringside announcer.