Crowbar Returns To The Super 8
ECWA founder Jim Kettner would be proud.
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.
That quote is attributed to philosopher Seneca, but Crowbar understands it better than anyone. Look no further than his performance at the 25th annual ECWA Super 8.
First of all, he wasn’t even supposed to be in the tournament. When I interviewed him in February for the Super 8 retrospective, he expressed interest, but figured all the spots had already been taken. Then, I informed him that Ricky Morton was scheduled for the tournament.
“Why ain’t I in there with Ricky Morton,” Crowbar asked. “You can’t tell me you wouldn’t want to see me vs. Ricky Morton. If they want an unprecedented entrant from the very first one, c’mon!”
It was hard to argue. Before he became Crowbar in WCW, he cut his teeth as Devon Storm in ECWA. As part of the inaugural Super 8 class, he lost to Cheetah Master in the first round, but his innovative offense dazzled the Delaware crowd. At one point, he and Cheetah were perched on the top rope – Crowbar then dropkicked him, sending the fan favorite collapsing to the floor. He followed up by seating Cheetah in a chair on the floor, going back in the ring and then soaring over the top rope onto his prey.
The next year, he was eliminated again in the first round, this time to Inferno Kid. But in the third tournament, Crowbar beat Jeff Hardy to advance to the semi-finals, where he ultimately lost to that year’s winner Steve Bradley.
View this post on Instagram
Over 20 years later, Crowbar doesn’t look all that different. His now dark hair still flows down his massive frame, and despite his love of wine, there’s no trace of a beer belly. At 47 years old, he looks more intimidating than ever. “I made the most of the 2020 quarantine – my cardio is top notch,” Crowbar told me. “I’m the only person from the first Super 8 still active and dare I say I’m a better worker now than I was at that time. Whenever I bust out this year, I’m going to shock a lot of people.”
That’s exactly what he did this past Saturday. After Morton’s flight was canceled, ECWA management scrambled to find a suitable replacement. Just three hours before bell time, Crowbar got the call he’d been waiting for. During the opening ceremony, he was announced last as the surprise entrant, drawing a decent pop. Longtime fans remembered him, but the younger crowd was skeptical. After all, he hasn’t been a regular on TV since the early days of Impact Wrestling.
Crowbar instantly brought everyone up to speed. Jumping Mike Law from behind in the first round, he continued the assault by driving Law into the ring post and dropping him face first onto the ring steps. Law attempted a comeback with a missile dropkick and a blockbuster, but in the end, Crowbar was simply too much for the “Colossal One” to handle.
After the impressive showing, Crowbar demanded the mic and cut a blistering promo on Morton, the current generation of pro wrestlers and anyone who’s ever doubted him.
View this post on Instagram
By the second round, Crowbar had become the sentimental favorite. Killian McMurphy pounced right away, not taking any chances with this madman. However, Crowbar merely absorbed the blows, tossing McMurphy overhead. That’s when Big Dust interfered, tripping and choking Crowbar, allowing “The Shamrock Shooter” to lock in the crossface. Crowbar returned the favor, trapping McMurphy in a surfboard stretch. Turning back the clock, Crowbar went to the top rope, but as McMurphy distracted the referee, Big Dust got involved yet again, crotching the veteran. McMurphy capitalized by unleashing a lariat for the victory, and he’d go on to win the whole tournament.
That wasn’t the end of Crowbar’s night, though. During a confrontation between Joey Ace and new ECWA Heavyweight Champion Mr. Ooh La La, Crowbar appeared behind the new champion with a chair. When Ooh La La turned around, Crowbar dropped it and embraced his old friend. The fans cheered, but Ace crashed the reunion. He was able to strike Ooh La La, but ate two chairshots from the former WCW Hardcore Champion for his trouble.
.@JoeyAce1988 learned a hard lesson at the 25th annual Super 8:
— The Wrestling Estate (@TheWrestlingEst) May 3, 2021
Don’t interrupt an @ECWA1967 reunion! @wcwcrowbar @mroohlala pic.twitter.com/KKkzdNyaRv
Although Crowbar didn’t take home the trophy, participating was enough of an accomplishment. A quarter century later, he proved that he still belonged in the most prestigious tournament in the sport. Whether this leads to a full-time return to ECWA remains to be seen, but even if it was for just one night, he left the New Jersey crowd and all those watching on IWTV with a lasting memory.
After all, Crowbar is timeless.
About Author
