Garden State Invitational Bracket Revealed
Synergy Pro Wrestling presents the one-night tournament on July 20.
Synergy Pro Wrestling has announced the quarterfinal matches for the inaugural Garden State Invitational on July 20.
During a press conference last Friday at the Bridgewater Fit Body Boot Camp in the Bridgewater Commons Mall, Synergy owner Colin West revealed who will be facing who in the one-night, single-elimination tournament in Hillsborough, New Jersey. All eight participants have international wrestling experience, as well as a history in Synergy or notoriety throughout the industry.
After calling each other out on social media, Brandon Kirk and “Warhorse” Jake Parnell will open the show. Over the past six years, Parnell has been building his reputation, taking on a variety of opponents across the United States. He currently holds the ZERO1 USA World Junior Heavyweight Championship and the Black Label Pro Indiana State Championship.
“Warhorse can’t call himself the best unless he crushes the best,” Parnell told The Wrestling Estate. “The Garden State Invitational has gathered the best from across the nation, but Horsepower and Heavy Metal is going to strike them all down! Warhorse will crack like lightning when his opponents hit the canvas after they feel Death By Doublestomp!”
Meanwhile, Kirk has wreaked havoc throughout Synergy’s first year in business, attacking staff and even a teenage boy during his feud with then-creative director Colin West. The CZW standout was built up as Synergy’s top villain, but after missing a show in November due to a double booking, West said he had no choice but to fire Kirk.
However, a lot has changed since then. West is now the owner of Synergy, and he has named Nicholas Kaye as his replacement. Vowing to “throw some grenades and see what happens,” Kaye has reinstated Kirk for the GSI.
Also in the first round, Josh Briggs will collide with Joe Gacy. The “Professional Disliker of People” has caused quite a stir in less than five years in the sport, terrorizing both the United States and Canada. Just this year, Briggs has battled a who’s who of the independent scene, including PCO, Nick Gage, David Starr, Mance Warner and many more. He even battled Kassius Ohno in EVOLVE.
On the other hand, Gacy is no stranger to Synergy, having recently fought Frightmare to a 30-minute draw in a Winner Takes All match for the Synergy and Stand Alone Wrestling Championships. Honing his craft throughout the United States, Gacy currently holds the Xcite Heavyweight Championship and the EVOLVE Tag Team Championship with Eddie Kingston.
“A pro wrestling tournament is my favorite thing to participate in,” Gacy told The Wrestling Estate. “This being the first GSI, I will set the example of how important this night will be. I will be the first GSI champion in the history books. When time passes and we come to see GSI 2 or 20, they’ll know who set that example and know no one will ever be able to duplicate it. I need to win for me and for everyone else.”
The winner of Briggs and Gacy will meet the winner of “Retrosexual” Anthony Greene vs. Jimmy Rave, a rematch from CZW Trifecta Elimination in March. Greene picked up the victory there, but West has suggested that Rave’s shoulder was up before the three count.
“I know I was one of Colin West’s first choices for the GSI,” Greene told The Wrestling Estate. “His vision reminds me a lot of the Jersey J-Cup. I’m honored to be among what I know will be an elite group of talent.”
Rave has been in nearly every single prestigious tournament in pro wrestling: New Japan’s Best of the Super Juniors, CZW’s Best of the Best, Pro Wrestling Guerrila’s Battle of Los Angeles, IWA Mid South’s Ted Petty Invitational, IWC’s Super Indy Tournament, Ring of Honor’s Survival of the Fittest and the first Scenic City Invitational, which he won.
“In my 20 years of professional wrestling, I’ve been in the most high pressure situations you ever think of,” Rave told The Wrestling Estate. “Synergy has no idea what kind of Pandora’s box they just opened by signing me up. I promise to make this event Jimmy Rave Approved.”
The winner of Kirk and Warhorse will meet the winner of the most anticipated match in the tournament: Homicide vs. Jonathan Gresham. The Octopus 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.”
Homicide will have the distinction of competing in both the Jersey J-Cup and the GSI. 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. He’s a former Ring of Honor World Champion, three-time Impact Tag Team Champion and X-Division Champion, in addition to racking up many other titles throughout his career.
Perhaps more important to West, 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 the Polish Falcons Nest in Hillsborough, New Jersey.
For tickets and more information, visit synergywrestling.ticketbud.com.
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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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