Jonathan Gresham Enters Garden State Invitational
Synergy Pro Wrestling presents the one-night tournament on July 20.
The Wrestling Estate has learned the next name in the inaugural Garden State Invitational (GSI), presented by Synergy Pro Wrestling.
Jonathan Gresham is scheduled for the one-night, single-elimination tournament on July 20. The eight participants will have international wrestling experience, as well as a history in Synergy or notoriety throughout the industry. Gresham has been building his world-renowned reputation in Ring of Honor since 2017, including a star-making performance against Jay Lethal at Honor Reigns Supreme last year. He’s currently the Crash Cruiserweight Champion and recently competed in the Best of the Super Juniors tournament.
“To me, the GSI is an updated version of the Jersey J-Cup,” Gresham told The Wrestling Estate. “The best guys from around the area are taking part in this. That means I’m looked at as one of the best in this area. Now my job is to show Jersey I am the BEST.”
The Wrestling Estate previously reported Jake Parnell had entered the GSI. Earlier this week, The Wrestling Estate reported that Joe Gacy and “Retrosexual” Anthony Greene are also scheduled for the GSI. On June 4, Homicide was the first name announced. One week before the tournament, Game Changer Wrestling is celebrating his 25th anniversary in the sport with “5150 – A Tribute to Homicide” in Brooklyn, New York.
Perhaps more important to Colin West, owner of Synergy, Homicide is a seven-time Jersey All Pro Heavyweight Champion and Tag Team Champion, as well as a member of the JAPW Hall of Fame.
“Everything that has driven not just me, but the people I consider friends and respect in this business starts and ends at Jersey All Pro Wrestling,” West says. ‘“Fat” Frank is the godfather of New Jersey professional wrestling. He started with a bunch of dudes who were crazy talented and had a chip on their shoulder because nobody gave them the ball yet. It means everything to me because it’s the business model that I echo.”
In May, West took over Synergy from Dan and Heather Funkenstein, who stepped away from the New Jersey-based wrestling promotion that they founded in September of 2017. The creative force behind the scenes, as well as the authority figure on camera, West has given plenty of blood, sweat and tears over the past 11 Synergy events. He creates the match graphics, event posters, DVD covers, entrance videos – he even drives all over Hillsborough, New Jersey, setting up flyers. He handles the company’s social media, books the talent and speaks with the press before every event.
Since assuming financial responsibility for the promotion, West has increased the show budget, bringing in several big names for the GSI as well as Synergy’s event in September, which will feature Rhyno fresh off his run in WWE.
“A lot of companies are not living up to the expectations of a world-class tournament,” West says. “They are coasting on the name of their tournament. We don’t have that luxury because this is the first one. There is tradition and legacy in this area not being upheld. There’s no Jersey J-Cup anymore, which was the best tournament in this area’s history. We want to hold Synergy to that standard.”
The Jersey J-Cup ran from 2000 until 2011 and returned for one night in 2014. Modeled after the Super J-Cup in New Japan, it featured cruiserweights from promotions along the East Coast. CM Punk, AJ Styles, Colt Cabana, Joey Janela and even former Synergy Champion Frightmare have all competed in the Jersey J-Cup. Previous winners include former world champions such as Low Ki and Jay Lethal.
2019 Garden State Invitational takes place Saturday, July 20, at a venue to be determined.
Follow Synergy on Facebook and Twitter. For more information, visit www.synergywrestling.com.
You can watch all of Synergy’s past events on independentwrestling.tv. If you don’t have a subscription, you use the promo code “SYNERGY” and the first 20 days are free.
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