Jazz, Maria Manic & Synergy’s Largest Crowd
A historic night in Hillsborough Township, New Jersey.
After a serious of unfortunate events at Synergy Pro Wrestling’s previous show (aptly named “Black Saturday”), the New Jersey-based promotion experienced a complete 180 last Saturday in Hillsborough Township. Fans of all ages were lined up outside the Polish Falcons Nest for “Synergy 8,” eager to witness the company’s first all-women’s main event: NWA Women’s Champion Jazz defending the title against Maria Manic.
Anticipation had been building for two months, and a Twitter war between the two combatants poured gasoline on the fire. Colin West, creative director at Synergy, announced that the show surpassed ticket reserves and pre-sales for all previous Synergy events. A year ago, it was unfathomable that this matchup would draw such interest. Jazz was off everybody’s radar, last appearing in WWE in 2004 aside from a one-off during the failed ECW resurrection. Meanwhile, Maria Manic had begun a drastic transformation from blonde bombshell “East Coast Barbie” to jacked, militant “Maneater” with hair as dark as her heart.
Over the past 12 months, both women were reinvigorated: Jazz returning to her former glory and Manic discovering her true self.
Before Billy Corgan purchased the NWA in the summer of 2017, Jazz was already nearly a year into her reign as NWA Women’s Champion. Her matches were sparse, but her skills hadn’t faded. If anything, the veteran had simply honed her craft over the past decade, expanding her arsenal and working on her “brand.” As the NWA resuscitated itself via its “Ten Pounds of Gold” series on YouTube, the NWA World Heavyweight Championship became the primary focus. Tim Storm, Nick Aldis and Cody Rhodes were all featured as main characters in the extinct brand’s resurgence, leading to a highly publicized, compelling battle at “ALL IN.” Piggybacking off that success, the NWA announced a 70th anniversary show in October, in which Cody and Aldis would have a rematch.
This time, though, that wasn’t the most intriguing match on the card. The NWA released a short video highlighting its forgotten Women’s Champion, who was tired of biding her time and ready to remind the world why she is the baddest bitch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5xQmSIn2zI
Meanwhile, Manic has been turning heads and breaking bones throughout the independent scene, competing in CZW, SHINE and Women’s Wrestling Revolution, among other promotions. You could consider Matt Tremont’s H20 Wrestling her home promotion – she was the only woman to enter the HOSS Tournament, has headlined several events and even challenged for the promotion’s championship.
Both athletes are in the prime of their careers; luckily for them and us fans, their prime is in the middle of a women’s revolution. Women’s wrestling is no longer a side attraction, bathroom break or novelty. Thanks to the popularity of Ronda Rousey in UFC and the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team, as well as the progress of the feminist movement, women in sports, entertainment and politics are finally being treated (in most cases) as equals to men. The shift can also be seen in pro wrestling, from WWE to Impact to Lucha Underground.
Synergy fans clamored for women’s wrestling since its inception, as evidenced by post-show survey feedback. At “Gold Standard” in July, Terra Calloway and Willow Nightingale became the first ladies to compete in the promotion, teaming with their significant others in a mixed tag team match. At “Black Saturday” in November, Ava Everett paired up with “Retrosexual” Anthony Greene to defeat Allie Recks and Mike Orlando. The company also announced a mixed tag team division would be coming to Synergy this spring.
Thus, it was only a matter of time before women main evented a Synergy event. West told The Wrestling Estate that there are only two ladies not under contract right now who he would have chosen for the slot: Lisa Marie Varon (Victoria in WWE) and Jazz.
“If you haven’t watched her recently, Jazz is better than she was 10 years ago,” West said. “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
After months of verbal jabs via Twitter, Jazz and Manic finally came to fisticuffs last Saturday. In front of 160 fans – Synergy’s largest attendance since launching in September of 2017 – the NWA Women’s Championship was up for grabs in a No Disqualification, No Countout match. Manic requested those stipulations, a nod to her H20 roots. Jazz granted her wish, vowing to prove herself once again.
Despite the hardcore expectations, they started off slow, feeling each other out through collar-and-elbow tie ups. Manic attempted a test of strength, but the cagey veteran responded with a sucker punch, quickly taking her opponent down and locking her in a version of the Texas Cloverleaf. Jazz proceeded to outwrestle the challenger, shooting a half-nelson and maintaining control of the action.
Manic finally ditched her strategy and pounced on the champion, smashing Jazz’ face with forearms and choking her out in the corner. She clutched her throat and went for a chokeslam, but Jazz powered out and shook her off. Biting off more than she could chew, the Maneater then offered her hand in a sign of respect. But this is Jazz we’re talking about. She fought in ECW. She works in a prison. She’s the baddest bitch!
[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”5″ display=”basic_imagebrowser”]The champion brought Manic outside the ring, bashing her face into the steel post and then choking her with a chord. Then they brawled into the raucous crowd with Manic trapping Jazz in a camel clutch as a half dozen kids rallied the champion to her feet, inspiring her to drop toe hold Manic into a chair. Back inside the ring, Jazz displayed some fancy footwork, stinging Manic with a flurry of jabs. Manic then scooped her up and slammed her on her knee, crushing the champion’s ribcage.
Seemingly in control, Manic ascended the turnbuckle and soared with a double axe handle. But Jazz snatched her and tossed her to the mat, quickly locking in the Rings of Saturn. With no rope break available and a long career ahead, Manic had no choice but to tap out to the champion.
As Jazz marched around the ring, clutching her belt and grinning in triumph, realization had set in that the closest thing indy fans have to a dream match in women’s wrestling had just become reality.
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