The Women’s Revolution Comes To Synergy
NWA Women’s Champion Jazz and Maria Manic headline “Synergy 8.”
All Elite Wrestling has caused a ripple effect throughout the industry, from WWE losing Chris Jericho to promotions like Ring of Honor, MLW and Impact scrambling for high-profile names to independent companies having to having to develop talent at a quicker pace.
“As a wrestling promoter, there are three ways to come down on All Elite,” says Colin West, creative director at Synergy Pro Wrestling. “Either you’re jealous of them and hate them, you’re scared that they’ll expose you for being crappy and hate them, or you’re trying to build something great from the ground up and this motivates you. That’s where I’m at. Everything that AEW is doing is going to force people on my level to step up or shut up.”
After a series of unfortunate events at Synergy’s previous show in November, aptly named “Black Saturday,” the New Jersey-based promotion is certainly stepping up for its “Synergy 8” event. NWA Women’s Champion Jazz will defend the title against Northeast sensation Maria Manic in the first all-women’s main event in company history.
“There are only two women who are available right now that I would have main evented Synergy with: Lisa Marie Varon (Victoria in WWE) and Jazz,” West says. “If you haven’t watched her recently, Jazz is better than she was 10 years ago. It is unbelievable the effort and commitment to craft that she has put in. In looking for an opponent for her, I wanted somebody willing to hit Jazz as hard as Jazz is going to hit her. We’ve seen Maria Manic turn from a muscular, but glamorous blonde into this dark-haired, badass maneater. She has found herself.”
I’m the shark in this goddamn ocean. @Phenom_Jazz @synergywrestle @Phenom_Jazz pic.twitter.com/XrZ41Ty3tz
— Maria Manic (@TheMariaManic) January 21, 2019
That’s not only the first at “Synergy 8” – the Synergy Championship will be defended in a triple threat as champion Matt Tremont collides with Frightmare and Drake Chambers. The rivals earned the title opportunity after stealing the show at “Black Saturday” in a grueling ladder match, which was voted Synergy’s Match of the Year by fans.
“We want to prove you can do a show for all ages that has no filler,” West says. “My goal every show is for people to have a favorite match, but no matches that they hated. And it all starts with who you book.”
Someone who will no longer be booked is Brandon Kirk. The CZW standout had been built up as the top villain in Synergy, attacking staff and even a teenage boy while feuding with West in storyline. However, Kirk failed to show up in time for his scheduled chairs match with Jimmy Lloyd at “Black Saturday.” West says his hands were tied and that he had to fire Kirk.
“Behind the scenes for a very long time, I have had a lot of love for Brandon,” West says. “But this is business. It’s not personal, at least with me.”
Kirk’s departure creates an opening for somebody else to become the top villain in Synergy. Perhaps the “Bad Apple” Matt Macintosh? Maybe “Monsta” Mack? What if KTB turned his back on the fans? It’s purely speculation at the moment, but what we know for sure is that all three men will meet in a triple threat for the first time this Saturday.
“I don’t necessarily think I’ll have to go outside the company to find someone to fill that role,” West says. “I feel as though somebody already here will grab that role by the horns and run with it. I’m pretty sure we’ll have someone step up on January 26, if not multiple people.”
Two other candidates for the top villain spot are “2 Hot” Steve Scott and Mike Del. While the Selfie Superstar may not seem like a good fit, Steve Scott has lost his cool a couple times over the past few months, flirting with a turn to the dark side. He and Joey Janela stole the show as the opening contest for Jersey All Pro Wrestling’s 18th Anniversary event in 2014, and according to West, a lot of people thought Scott came out of that match looking even better than The Bad Boy.
“Then he had inner ear issues and vertigo and it derailed his momentum,” West says. “In talking with Steve, he wants it back real bad. He’s the Selfie Superstar and has fun, but he wants it back. It pains him to some degree.”
As for Mike Del, he has aired his grievances regarding lack of opportunity in Synergy, similar to Kirk. “There’s no reason why Mike Del can’t be a promotion’s champion,” West says. “I don’t know what the missing piece is. You look at the presentation, the ability, the charisma, the in-ring, the technical…all the pieces are there.”
Perhaps Del will find the missing piece this Saturday as he meets Scott in a rematch from “Black Saturday.” They wrested to a draw, so this time they’ll determine the better man in a two-out-of-three-falls match. “I’ll be watching this match very closely from a management perspective,” West says. “You can only put the same guys in title matches for so long. I need fresh contenders. I need guys to step up.”
“Synergy 8” takes place January 26 at the Polish Falcon’s Nest in Hillsborough, NJ.
For tickets and more information, visit www.synergywrestling.com
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