Matt Vertigo Wins Territory Championship
“New York Drip” has taken over the tri-state.
Matt Vertigo made history at the 25th annual Super 8.
In his ECWA debut, the Long Island native faced LA Vin (replacing Eric Martin) and frequent foe “2 Hott” Steve Scott in a triple threat to crown the first Territory Champion. Even after the bell rang, it took a couple minutes for the action to begin because Vertigo was soaking in the spotlight. After all, there were several legends in the crowd, such as Gary Michael Cappetta and Joel Goodhart, as well as all those watching via IWTV.
Vin and Scott interrupted the showboating, which they’d quickly regret. At 6’5, Matt Vertigo towers over his competition, yet has the agility of a cruiserweight. He’s tough to pin down, but if you somehow catch him, don’t let him up because he also has a mean streak. He pummeled Scott around The Jersey Dugout, choking the life out of the “Selfie Superstar.”
“You wanna take pictures,” Vertigo quipped while grabbing Scott’s phone, taking a selfie and dropping an elbow on his fallen opponent.
Ultimately, it came down to Scott and Vin exchanging blows. When Scott delivered the knockout shot, he went for the cover, but Vertigo slid back in the ring, tossed him into the steel post and pinned the dazed Vin.
“This was a statement match for me,” Vertigo told The Wrestling Estate. “I put myself out there and let all the fans and all the wrestlers in the back know what Matt Vertigo is all about. I’m living to the fullest and really focused on making this title mean something.”
The Territory Championship will be defended throughout the Northeast, including at ECWA, South River, NJ-based UWA Elite, Morganville, NJ-based WORLD-1 Wrestling, Pittsburgh-based International Wrestling Cartel (IWC), New York City-based BattleClub Pro and Pennsylvania-based Susquehanna Wrestling Organization (sWo).
“This creates an awesome opportunity to bring new eyes to sWo, as well as potentially bringing our incredibly passionate fan base other places to get their wrestling fix,” says Donavan Vallee, booker for sWo. “Independent wrestling is nothing without the fans and anything that can help the business as a whole expand is a great idea in my book.”
It’s a career-defining role for Matt Vertigo, who broke into the sport in 2009. He trained at American Championship Entertainment (ACE) in Lodi, NJ, where AJ Lee got her start. However, admittedly too cocky for his own good, the natural athlete didn’t commit himself. “I was young and stubborn,” he says. “I thought I was the shit. I kept leaving, thinking I didn’t need to work on this and that. I was Allen Iversoning it.”
In 2015, that’s when Vertigo says he began to put the work in. Training with driven performers like Sonny Kiss and former ECWA Heavyweight Champion Sam Shields, he dedicated himself to the craft, learning the fundamentals and listening to those with more experience. “I got humbled,” Vertigo says. “Now I’m focused on doing the best that I can for this business.”
Despite his previous commitment issues, Vertigo has competed in UWA Elite for a decade. Considered his home promotion, he’s a former UWA Elite Iron Man Champion and was voted Most Improved Wrestler in 2019. “I can’t think of anybody that has come further,” says Dave Swan, owner of UWA Elite. “Matt Vertigo has become one of those rare performers that have very few holes in his game. The sky is the limit for him.”
Vertigo’s success can be attributed to finally putting all the pieces together, including his persona. Paying homage to his roots, he calls himself “New York Drip.” That doesn’t refer to his flashy clothes, designer sunglasses or expensive jewelry, though.
“It’s an attitude,” Vertigo says. “I’m trying to become the drip collector and collect all the gold, starting with the Territory Championship. If you’re not from New York, some of these things you’re just not going to understand. New Yorkers have a certain vibe. It’s personal.”
His first title defense will also be personal. He meets someone he considers a good friend – “The Diligent One” Corey Dillinger – on May 15 at UWA Elite’s Dangerous Uprisings.
“Corey is my boy,” Vertigo says. “We’ve been down the road together, we’ve trained together, we’ve hung out. But when it comes to this Territory Championship, there is no friendship. I’m here to keep this and no one is going to stop me. People are going to try, but just because we’re friends, I’m not going lightly.”
According to Dillinger, he was happy for Vertigo becoming the first Territory Champion. “He’s a hard worker, he grinds and he makes things work when other people couldn’t,” Dillinger says.
“But me being the first one in line is great for me and potentially bad for him. I’ve been overlooked by a lot of promotions for the last four years. This match is just as important for me as it is for him. This match is to show I’m the next best kept secret that should be known and the next superstar to look out for.”
Matt Vertigo makes his first comments since winning the Territory Championship this past Saturday Night! And sends a message to his opponent at “UWA Elite Dangerous Uprisings”, Corey Dillinger!
— UWA Elite (@UWAElite) May 4, 2021
“Dangerous Uprisings” Tickets are available right now on https://t.co/ogdF9zzl8D! pic.twitter.com/LdGXPWJwOH
Also at Dangerous Uprisings, there will be a fatal five way to determine the Territory Champion’s challenger at UWA Elite’s 20th Anniversary Show in June. The participants are Robbie Roller, Eric Corvis, Anthony Michael, Joey Adams and Sean “Damage” McNelis.
“I don’t want to see Eric Corvis in my match,” Vertigo says. “He always weasels his way into an opportunity when I’m champion. He doesn’t deserve a shot at my title. The other four guys have been busting their ass and deserve a shot. They better stop him.”
Of course, Vertigo may be getting ahead of himself. Not only must he get through Dillinger first, but then he defends against Suicide Myers at sWo’s first live event back at the Seven Valleys Fire Company on May 29.
“When I was given the book for the company, Matt Vertigo was one of the first people I got ahold of to come on board,” Vallee says. “His drive to be the best version of himself inside and outside the ring is contagious. This Territory Championship is a work load I know Matt is chomping at the bit to tackle. I can’t wait to see how far the title and Matt take each other.”
With bookings seemingly every weekend, Vertigo is already on his way to becoming the fightingest champion in pro wrestling. This demanding schedule will certainly take a toll on his body, but he’s up to the task. It’s a position that any wrestler on the independent scene would envy – steady income, maximum exposure, unlimited press.
But with great power comes great responsibility.
“Living in the streets of New York City has prepared me for anything,” Vertigo says. “I’m unphased. I don’t feel pressure when it comes to facing people I’ve never wrestled before. I’m cool, calm and collected no matter what. There’s nothing you can do to stop the drip.”
Dangerous Uprisings takes place May 15 at the South River VFW in South River, NJ.
For tickets and more information, visit https://www.uwaelite.
You can watch all of UWA Elite’s past events on the UWA Elite Network.
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