Territory Championship Match Finalized
The inaugural champion will be crowned at the 25th annual Super 8.
The third piece of the puzzle was completed at UWA Elite’s Setting the Standard on April 17, as Matt Vertigo defeated KTB and Brandon Kirk to enter the inaugural Territory Championship match.
Vertigo will now meet “2 Hot” Steve Scott and “The Classic” Eric Martin in a triple threat at the 25th annual Super 8 on May 1 at The Jersey Dugout in Morganville, NJ.
The Territory Championship will be defended throughout the Northeast, including at ECWA, South River, NJ-based UWA Elite, Morganville, NJ-based WORLD-1 Wrestling and Pittsburgh-based International Wrestling Cartel (IWC), as well as other promotions to be announced in the future.
“It’s an opportunity for not just promotions, not just wrestlers, but for wrestling fans to really help bring together the independent wrestling circuit just a little bit closer under one tight-knit umbrella,” said Dave Swan, owner of UWA Elite.
Lot happening here @TheReal_Kirk @MattVertigo @KTB_mauls @refryant @UWAElite pic.twitter.com/05WqBETDJp
— 👑Queen of the Indies 📝Tiffany👑 (@Luvs2Dream82) April 18, 2021
The Long Island native with the “New York Drip,” Vertigo has been in the sport for over a decade. At 6’5, he’s taller than most wrestlers you see on TV today, and blends power, speed and agility into a deadly potion. He’s a former UWA Elite Iron Man Champion and was voted Most Improved Wrestler in the promotion in 2019.
A 15-year veteran of the squared circle, Steve Scott brings the most experience to the Territory Championship match, having competed up and down the East Coast. Obsessed with his phone, the “Selfie Superstar” is a fan favorite everywhere he goes, often incorporating some unflattering photos of his opponents during matches. The Jersey boy took a sabbatical from the beginning of 2019 until the fall of 2020, so he’s eager to remind the wrestling world how skilled he is between the ropes. At ECWA Night of Unusual Matches, Scott earned his spot in the Territory Championship match by overcoming the mighty Zach Nystrom.
And then there’s Eric Martin, an old-school grappler adapting to the 21st century. With less than a decade of bouts under his belt, the New Jersey native has already achieved great success, winning titles in ECWA and WORLD-1, as well as joining the Ring of Honor Dojo in 2019. Unfortunately, on the same night that he qualified for the Territory Championship, Martin lost the ECWA Legacy Championship to Killian McMurphy.
“People want promotions to start working together,” said Ryan Kavanaugh, ECWA representative. “It’s better for the fans, the wrestlers and the business itself.”
.@ClassicEMartin takes to the air while battling @CalitriRey and @TheShooterKM. Now available VOD on @indiewrestling cc:@bigdust__ pic.twitter.com/DsloEWt5Xz
— ECWA Wrestling (@ECWA1967) April 16, 2021
ECWA is considered the longest-running independent wrestling promotion in the United States. Jim Kettner created the company in 1967, when he promoted his first show in his backyard, and it grew into a breeding ground for future stars, such as Christian, Christopher Daniels, Low Ki, Billy Kidman and more. After 43 years of promoting, Kettner retired in 2010 and sold the company to Mike Tartaglia. At the end of 2019, longtime matchmaker Joe Zanolle took over with the help of Kavanaugh. On May 1, ECWA presents the 25th annual Super 8 tournament, the predecessor for all tournaments on the indie scene.
UWA Elite also began as a backyard wrestling promotion. In 2011, after a decade of Swan’s friends and trained wrestlers coming to his house, the promotion moved indoors in front of audiences with a focus on family-friendly, episodic pro wrestling featuring colorful characters and compelling stories. Notable names like Jay Lethal, KTB and Brandon Kirk have cut their teeth in UWA.
Initially, Synergy Pro Wrestling was part of the Territory Championship, but the promotion ceased operations in March after owner Colin West was exposed as a register sex offender.
The Wrestling Estate will have exclusive coverage of the Territory Championship, bringing you live results of every defense and in-depth profiles of the champions and challengers.
“2 Hott” Steve Scott has qualified for the Territory Championship on May 1 at @ECWA1967 Super8. pic.twitter.com/isDM0Qwn2H
— The Wrestling Estate (@TheWrestlingEst) April 3, 2021
The 25th Annual Super 8 takes place Saturday, May 1, at The Jersey Dugout in Morganville, NJ.
For tickets and more information, visit ecwaprowrestling.com.
You can also watch live on IWTV.
You can also join the ECWA Pro Wrestling Facebook group for the latest news, match announcements, promos and more.
Check back with The Wrestling Estate for live coverage of the 25th annual ECWA Super 8.
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