Ty Awesome Thwarts PCA’s Clean Sweep
ECWA kicked off 2019 with a tremendous night of action and drama.
Despite snow and heavy rain in the forecast, the ECWA faithful showed up in full force at the Asbury United Methodist Church in New Castle, Delaware on Saturday. They were rewarded for their loyalty with a tremendous show, as the ECWA roster stepped their game up for the first event of 2019: New Year’s Resolutions.
It was an unusual sight to kick off the year as ECWA owner Mike Tartaglia laced up the boots to team with ECWA Women’s Champion “Marvelous” Miss Jasmine. They took on frequent challenger Sammi Pandora and former champion, as well as Tartaglia’s nemesis, Christina Marie. Naturally, the boss was hesitant to lock up with Marie, insisting on push-ups and jumping jacks to warm up. After the blood got pumping, he decided to bail, anyway, tagging Jasmine in. Succumbing to a test of strength, Jasmine demanded that Pandora tag in. When the champ got her wish, Pandora entered like a house of fire, ultimately extinguished with a well-placed knee to the back by Tartaglia. The boss and champion double-teamed Pandora, manipulating the fiery Marie to take the referee’s full attention so they could bend all the rules. Finally, Pandora made the hot tag and Marie got a hold of Tartaglia, attempting to German suplex the corrupt honcho. Unfortunately, he elbowed her, allowing Jasmine to bash Marie with the title belt and give Tartaglia the pin.
[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”4″ display=”basic_imagebrowser”]Speaking of corrupt management, Joel Blackhart lost his cool, as well as his biggest client, after slapping Chris Wylde for losing to Mr. Ooh La La. The two most tenured members of the ECWA roster had never clashed before, and Wylde seemed to be the favorite against the elder statesman of the promotion. As dueling chants of “Ooh La La” and “Let’s Go Wylde” echoed throughout the building, the two veterans emptied their arsenals, trading chops and slaps, cutters and stunners and various wrestling holds. Out of nowhere, Wylde dropped La La with a superkick and got the three count without realizing La La’s foot was on the rope. By the time Blackhart finally convinced his client that the match wasn’t over, La La rolled him up for a schoolboy. Afterward, Wylde dumped Blackhart and embraced the ECWA Hall of Famer for a hard-fought bout.
It was a big night for the PCA as AJ Pan accompanied all three members into battle. Well, he did more than just root them on – as BLK Jeez covered Joey Ace after hitting a thunderous frog splash, Pan hopped on the apron and distracted the referee. When Jeez grabbed him, Pan tossed a loaded elbow pad to Ace, who clocked the challenger. A devastating elbow drop from the top rope followed as Ace retained the ECWA Mid-Atlantic Championship.
The “crown jewel” of the PCA – former heavyweight champion Azrieal – went one-on-one with the longest-reigning heavyweight champion in ECWA history, Papadon. The Greek God received a hero’s welcome, informing Azrieal that he “built this place.” The well-conditioned, highly decorated athletes went on to tear the house down in a Match of the Year contender. Beginning with some fine chain wrestling in which neither man could maintain the advantage, the tension quickly intensified as they brawled outside the ring and into the crowd. When the action returned to the squared circle, chants of “This Is Awesome” reverberated as both men exchanged a series of high impact maneuvers. Finally, Azrieal hit a cutter before ascending the turnbuckle for his signature frog splash, driving the wind out of Papadon. The ref made the count and just before his hand slapped the mat for a third time, the Greek God summoned the strength to kick out. With the fans stunned, Azrieal bickered with the referee, blocking his view of a blatant low blow. He followed up with a small package and got the victory, snapping his losing streak.
[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”3″ display=”basic_imagebrowser”]The PCA was looking for a clean sweep heading into the main event as Mike Law received his contractually obligated rematch with Ty Awesome for the ECWA Heavyweight Championship. There were a couple differences from their previous encounter in December: this bout was two out of three falls, and Awesome wasn’t nursing injured ribs.
The first fall was pretty even as both competitors tried to outwrestle the other, before Law dazed Awesome with a double-arm DDT just long enough to score a pin. Fans were stunned, gasping as they witnessed the champion’s shoulders pinned for the first time since the Super 8 last April. With momentum on his side, Law immediately pounced to start the second fall, nearly decapitating Awesome with a lariat. Law then took a page out of his rival’s book, climbing the turnbuckle for a flying headbutt. To the crowd’s delight, he crashed and burned as Awesome rolled out of the way. The champion then applied a version of the dragon sleeper, forcing Law to submit before any permanent damage was done.
[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”2″ display=”basic_imagebrowser”]A slugfest started the third fall as the fans rallied behind the champion with “Ty Is Awesome” chants. He even channeled Latino Heat, hitting Law with Three Amigos. Before he could finish, though, Law blocked the third suplex and dropped Awesome with a version of the Perfect-Plex. As Awesome made it back to his feet, he looked to finish off the challenger with a superkick, but accidentally knocked out the referee. Law capitalized by low blowing Awesome and hitting a DDT. Then Joey Ace ran out to drop a flying elbow from the top rope. As Pan summoned another referee, the crowd was on its feet as a title change was imminent.
One…two…no!
Somehow, someway, Awesome got the shoulder up. Ace flipped out, Pan’s jaw dropped and Law’s eyes bulged. But the former champion remained focused, preparing for a superkick of his own. However, Awesome caught his foot before contact and blasted Law with a spinning heel kick, followed up by a snap German suplex. With adrenaline rushing through his veins, the champion dove through the ropes, knocking down Ace and Pan. Then he ascended the top rope and finished off Law with his 450 splash.
It was the perfect ending to a raucous evening, and the last time most of these competitors will be in action for a while. The next ECWA events are the Super 8 Chickfight Tournament on March 16 and the 23rd annual Super 8 Tournament on April 20. Tartaglia announced that Gabby Ortiz is the first participant in the Chickfight tourney. The men’s Super 8 tourney will consist of all second and third-generation wrestlers: Brian Pillman Jr. and Timothy Zbyszko have been announced thus far.
Full Results
ECWA Heavyweight Champion Ty Awesome def. Mike Law (2 falls to 1)
Adam Chandler the Great and ECWA Tag Team Champions Marcus Waters & Funky White Boy def. Primal Fear
ECWA Mid-Atlantic Champion Joey Ace def. BLK Jeez
Azrieal def. Papadon
Mr. Ooh La La def. Chris Wylde
ECWA Women’s Champion Miss Jasmine & Mike Tartaglia def. Christina Marie & Sammi Pandora
Dak Draper def. Johnny Moran
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