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Can anyone recomend an indy fed for me?

blslivewirePosted on 12/05/04 at 07:53:34

I've been out of the wrestling loop for almost a year and I can't watch the WWE anymore. I was a huge ECW fan and was wondering what indies best resemble it. Not just for Hardcore style (I know of Combat Zone) but in the pure wrestling significance and booking style.

Also I was wondering of the current whereabout of Sabu, Francine, Tommy Dreamer, Terry Funk, New Jack, Chris Candido, Tammy, Super Crazy, Mikey Whipreck & any of the other ECW alumini. If anyone could help me out I wopuld really appreciate it.
americamamushiPosted on 12/05/04 at 08:48:06

Sabu: Sabu wrestles TNA and Michigan indies (One of which is/was AWWL).  Other indies too I'm sure.

Francine: Doesn't seem like she's in the business anymore, could be wrong.

Tommy Dreamer: I think Dreamer retired.  He does scouting for WWE or scouting and booking for OVW or some such thing I think.

Terry Funk:  Prolly off having retirement show #3,043,293

New Jack: Wrestling indies in the south east, though he may still be in jail from his last Florida match (see indy section thread "Fun with New Jack")

Chris Candido & Tammy: East coast

Super Crazy: ?? Mexico maybe?  SoCal?  Dunno

Mikey Whipreck:  Retired, but I came back.  Dunno if it was a full time comeback or just a special thing here and there.
rey619Posted on 12/05/04 at 13:16:37

Tommy Dreamer made a special appearance in BCW recently where he lost to Abyss. Sabu has been hospitalized for 50 days to a severe illness.. don't know more details about that, but a host of TNA workers have / are holding a tribute show to raise money.

Francine is the General Manager of WEW (Women's Extreme Wrestling), a crossover between wrestling and porn. I don't know if that still exists, but that's what she was doing in 2003. Probably defunct now.
blslivewirePosted on 12/05/04 at 13:30:00

On 12/05/04 at 13:16:37, rey619 wrote:

Francine is the General Manager of WEW (Women's Extreme Wrestling), a crossover between wrestling and porn. I don't know if that still exists, but that's what she was doing in 2003. Probably defunct now.
Just out of curiosity, you would happen to have a link to that would you?
Snabbit888Posted on 12/05/04 at 15:12:25

On 12/05/04 at 13:30:00, blslivewire wrote:


Just out of curiosity, you would happen to have a link to that would you?
Yeah, out of HORNY curiosity! :)
Critic of the DawnPosted on 12/05/04 at 16:07:49

NWA-TNA and Ring of Honor are the two biggest indies out there at the moment.  

TNA has the advantage of larger size, a nationally telivised TV show (with a terrible timeslot) and PPVs, but has been criticized for its inconsistent booking quality (lots of WWE-esque screwjob endings) and may be in serious financial trouble.  The highlight of the promotion is definately the X-Division, and its main eventers are Jeff Jarrett (the Champion), AJ Styles, Ron Killings, Raven, Jeff Hardy and Monty Brown.  Additionally, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and Randy Savage are presently working with TNA to help draw fans.

ROH is a slightly smaller promotion (less shows, but drawing at least as well as TNA) with much of the same underground feel of ECW, but since it doesn't have TV or PPV you need to either make it to their shows (they promote mainly in the northeast) or order DVDs and Videos of past shows online at ROHWrestling.com.  Ring of Honor is known for very tight booking, classy shows and excellent quality wrestling, but if you can't stomach long technical matches it probably isn't for you, and since it doesn't have a free show it's probably not the best for fans without much cash.  ROH's main eventers are Samoa Joe (the Champion), CM Punk, American Dragon, Homicide, Low Ki and Austin Aries.  Additionally, Mick Foley, Ricky Steamboat, and Jim Cornette make appearances at ROH shows fairly often.

Eric "Critic of the Dawn"
TerryFunkaPosted on 12/05/04 at 20:18:32

Well theres always Chikara which is the fed run by Mike Quackenbush.Chris Hero is a trainer there.There is also IWC,PWG,JCW,IWA MS,ROH,CZW,NWA TNA and countless others.
TrancePosted on 01/18/05 at 05:09:17

In Dallas, we have PCW which is run by Skandor Akbar (for those who remember World Class Championship Wrestling).
H8-SuperstarPosted on 02/26/05 at 09:28:51

Pro Wrestling Guerilla
Alternative Wrestling Shop

You can get your SoCal hook up at SoCalUncensored.com. SoCal wrestling the only wrestling region that matters. Better than overrated east coasts especially RO-Who.
Critic of the DawnPosted on 02/26/05 at 16:49:16

I've heard lots of good things about SoCal wrestling.  But I've seen great things in ROH.  So I'd take ROH over PWG anyday... mainly because I'm familiar with the product, and actually in the region.  If I was in SoCal, I'd be more likely to follow PWG because it's also a strong product and actually close enough for me to attend.

I don't really understand the RoHate that a lot of indy fans seem to have, though.  Are indy fans upset that ROH is slowly but steadily expanding across the Northeast and stealing the thunder of smaller indies in the region?  Or is it a "Hey, we're putting on shows that are just as good as theirs but not getting anywhere near the same coverage!" thing?  Or do you think it's a variation on the old "You Sold Out" mentality - that when an indy band (or promotion in this case) starts to become popular, it means they actually suck?

Eric "Critic of the Dawn"
H8-SuperstarPosted on 02/26/05 at 21:02:52

It's pretty much like the rap wars in 1990s. West Coast vs East Coast. UPW, as laughable as they are, constantly get guys signed to WWE deals and appearing on WWE TV regularly. Then there come to booking shows. By the time SoCal fed releases their lineup and advertising about 6 weeks before the show, east coast fed will book the same wrestlers on the same date of SoCal show and have the wrestlers back out of their SoCal agreement. Overrated Chris Daniels half-ass his matches into boredom when he's there. Basically it comes to timing of booking and laugh at PWBTS' Bob Magee bullsh*t explaination shilling on east coast feds. When east coast fans think of west coast they immediately comes up with XPW (remember they are dead), Gary Yap abortion known as EPIC, Roland Alexander APW (they're Bay Area NoCal, not SoCal), and UPW and its usually about negativity. There plenty of positives around.

I dislike ROH for several things. I did watch few early shows and thought it was snoozefest. It was once run by accused pedophile and the guy did rip me off on tapes.  The way how he manage to f*ck over MLW and tried to secretly start a war with CZW with luring of Backseat Boyz. The way how he was caught on tape and the internet tried to protect him. 98% refuse to touch the subject with a 20 foot pole and this pissed me off. If this happens to WWE staff expect a huge outcry on it. Instead no one said anything for a day until Mike Johnson, Wade Keller, Bob Barnett, and Eric Garguillo gave it a much deserve blasting it. Pretty much all of IWC lost their credibility on it. The way ROH handle it the situation was laughable by still having Fagstein around until TNA manage expose them withholding talent if he's around. Thus led to Fagstein being on outs and Gabe in. Btw, who decide to book Jack Evans on same day as RevPro J show? Evans really wanted get booked on RevPro last shows when he finally he did ROH decide to book him.

I got sick of same b*llshit east coast feds always do to f*ck feds over. I gave up on them. I'm down SoCal wrestling.
Critic of the DawnPosted on 02/26/05 at 22:47:15

Feinstein was removed from Ring of Honor as soon as the whole situation went down to begin with.  Within a day or so he was gone.  He also supposedly left RFVideo (which handled ROH's video distribution), but everyone knew or strongly that the person who took over was essentially working with Feinstein.  Unfortuantely, ROH didn't have the equipiment to continue running their business immediately after the incident had they ended their relationship with RFVideo (which they technically could have done, as Cary Silken was the majority owner of the promotion by that time).  If they had immediately ended things, the promotion would have died, plain and simple.

Instead they tried to ignore Feinstein's unspoken but not particularly subtle presence at RFVideo until they could acquire their own production equipiment, etc.  As soon as they did (and it took a couple months to work everything out), they were gone, and virtually every ROH fan was glad to hear it.  Ask 10 Ring of Honor fans about Feinstein, and 9 will tell you that he's a sicko that needs help, and that his pedophilia very nearly killed ROH.  There ARE people who support RF, but they generally aren't ROH fans.

As for ROH booking west coast talent... yeah.  They do.  Because there's great talent on the west coast, and they'd be stupid not to want good wrestlers wrestling for them.  Yes, this occasionally leads to scheduling conflicts, but that happens to Ring of Honor all the time.  Half of their top names regularly go on tours of Japan, and ROH fans don't get pissed off about it because for the most part they're happy that the wrestlers they like are getting a chance to be seen by a wider audience and to make more money, and because they'll be back.  If wrestlers you like are consistently choosing ROH bookings over SoCal bookings, it's clear where their priorities are, and not really a good reason to dislike ROH (or the east coast in general).

Then again, I suppose I can understand resentment towards people who make it harder for you to see some of your favorites - after all, ROH fans are required by law to hate TNA for pulling their talent and not letting them make fulltime returns once the supposed underlying issue (Feinstein) was dealt with.

Interesting stuff.

Eric "Critic of the Dawn"
Snabbit888Posted on 02/27/05 at 06:10:06

Now try that argument without using bad homophobic language and see where it takes you, Ray.
cerberosPosted on 02/27/05 at 06:17:57

Tommy Dreamer:  Retired and working in the WWE office.  He is basically in charge of the upcoming ECW PPV.  Atleast he is the guy who has been contacting superstars like The Sandman, Sabu and Justin Credible.  Also makes some Indy appearances.

Terry Funk:  Heard he was planning another retirement (seriously)

New Jack:  We actully given a "tryout" by WWE a few months back.  Doing Indy's still

Chris Candido:  Working for TNA.  Has really looked good IMO.  Seems to be with the Naturals.

Tammy:  She left the business to become a flight attendant last I knew.  

Super Crazy:  I believe over in Japan.  Recently meet with WWE officials but is suffering from an injuried hand so his "tryout" has been delayed until it heals completely.

Mikey Whipreck:  Semi-retired.  Still hear from him on NYC indy's now and then with some people helped train.

Chilly Willy:  Recently appeared at an OVW event.  He has a WWE Dev. Contract

CW Anderson:  Had a tryout match recently with Spike Dudley that actually aired on Velocity.  Looked good and has lost a little weight I thought.

Simon "Irish Pat Kenney" Diamond:  Recently debuted for Zero One I believe.  Under contract with TNA but hasn't been used in months.  

Swinger:  Recently released by TNA.  Rumor has it there is interest from the WWE.  

Steve Corino:  Also working with Zero One and was on the ROH last weekend I believe.

That should give you a recap of some ECWers.  I can't think of anyone else that I have heard from.  
TerryFunkaPosted on 02/27/05 at 06:36:50

well japw has started a internet broadcast with the first week up
Snabbit888Posted on 02/27/05 at 06:39:02

As far as I've heard, Swinger is already signed by WWE.
TerryFunkaPosted on 02/27/05 at 06:46:37

Candido also does some IWA MS, I know he did a couple of shows not sure if hes an active part of their roster or not