Things began when the first fans arrived at the arena from mid-afternoon. The box office was closed without explanation, leaving hundreds out in the cold unable to buy their tickets. Many fans went home fuming. But those who stuck around found themselves at the centre of an unfolding story all too familiar in the post-credit-crunch world. Around 6pm any fans still waiting were ushered inside. Perceiving that they were being let in without paying, fans rushed the doors and soon overcrowded a backstage corridor. Seeking to find space for the fans to wait as the auditorium of the Memorial Centre was prepared, stagehands let people into several rooms being used as offices backstage. Some even spilled into the dressing rooms, to the fury of Sean Edmunds, who made himself unpopular by berating a small boy who asked for his autograph. Others such as Cade Bane were more accommodating, sensing all was not right with the show.

It soon emerged that Jody Monroe, who has been running operations single-handedly since Tim Shipley left the tour and his prior number-two Troy Mason was cut to save costs late last year, had not arrived at the venue. Nor had she paid for venue hire or for the labour involved in putting on the show. As more fans crowded into the small backstage area, Dash Springfield demanded that the auditorium be opened up, and everybody spilt in to see that there was not even a ring in place. Some left to go home, others stuck around sensing imminent excitement. It was clear that there really was nobody in charge. Edmunds threatened to leave, and was stopped only by Springfield, notionally his opponent at the show, who grabbed him by the door. Purely by chance, referee David Myhre broke up the encounter, and as the two wrestlers stood off each other, glaring, a cheer went up from the nearby fans. Myhre nodded enthusiastically and shouted for quiet. “The following contest…” he began, and the rest was drowned out by an eruption of applause.

Springfield and Edmunds brawled backstage, in the main arena and in the parking lot, a hundred loyal fans following them everywhere they went. Knowing by now that this was all the show these fans were going to get, the King of Fashion thrived on the spontaneity of it all, and Fashion Victim’d the champion into the headlight of a car. The sound of sirens greeted the end of Edmunds’ tenure as two-time Champion, this time at least having lasted a day longer than previously. Myhre smacked out the three-count on the car bonnet and awarded Springfield a title belt that wasn’t even there.

Returning to the arena, fans and wrestlers alike were greeted by uniformed police. Using a megaphone, one announced repeatedly that the show was over and that everybody should go home. There was protest from several locals, who had spent the past half-hour finishing the ring setup that had been abandoned hours before by Just’s unpaid workers. The police relented, allowing one match to go ahead in the makeshift ring area before they would break up the party. They were loud cheers when Bane rushed into the ring, testing the ropes. He was followed by Greg Venom. Bane did his best to give the crowd everything they wanted, but up on the turnbuckle after several minutes he felt something give way, almost falling to the floor. Sensing that he was also testing the policemen’s patience, Bane finished proceedings with his stylish Flying Trapese.

Then came the revelations. Representatives from the Memorial Centre had been arguing with the police for some minutes. Fans spilled all around them, delaying their exit for as long as possible, enjoying the chance to rubberneck. Out of the buzz of sound came worrying phrases. Eventually the city’s Police Commissioner arrived and, seeing the chaos around him, invited the fans back into the auditorium. He took to the ring for his announcement, clearly enjoying the irony of delivering a damning verdict on a wrestling promotion from inside the squared circle. Just Wrestling was bankrupt, he said. Ms. Monroe had been covering things up for quite some time. There were payments owed to dozens of local temporary labour companies and ring crews. The bond paid for the Back Alley Brawler’s release was non-refundable and outstanding. All assets were frozen pending the “recovery” of Ms. Monroe, whose whereabouts were unknown. Anything of value would be seized.

Some cottoned on quicker than others. Edmunds protested loudly that the police had better be the ones to refund his travel receipts. A burly grey-haired man announced in his booming voice that now it all made sense as to why Shipley had repossessed the title belt last week. He knew what was going on, and scavenged the only item whose symbolic value exceeded its monetary value. He couldn’t see the Just Wrestling Championship fall into the hands of the repo men.

The rest of the tour has been cancelled, and we regret to say that for obvious reasons no tickets can be refunded – but do hold onto them pending the future restoration of the promotion, at which point outstanding ticket refunds will be a priority. With assets frozen, the company bankrupt, anything of worth being seized, Jody Monroe on the run and Tim Shipley in Australia, the story of Just Wrestling surely cannot become more sordid. But as far as the wrestling goes… it may just end here.

Much has been made of The Back Alley Brawler’s $100,000 bond over the past week. Jody Monroe has pulled out all the stops to bring the Just Wrestling Champion to Canada, though there was the unwelcome news that owner Tim Shipley is “looking after” the title belt. Shipley had initially repossessed the belt when the Brawler was banned from taking it back with him by correctional officers, but has now disappeared to Australia with it as he and GCW tour the country. So we had the bizarre sight of a champion coming out without his belt, the Bronx Barbarian stripped not only of the use of one arm (his right, which has been heavily reinforced with steel rods after breaking twice in May) but of the gold reflecting his success.

Sean Edmunds is no stranger to being shorn of the same belt, having recently entered the record books for the debatable accolade of shortest run in Just Wrestling Championship history. After winning MVP for Tour X this was his chance to reclaim the belt, if not physically, and in so doing become only the second two-time holder. His strategy was infuriatingly simple, but the Brawler could do little about it – it’s quite hard to hide an arm. He has been compared to Just legend Brock Shepherd, who was famously called the One-Armed Wrecking Machine, but the fans found out there is a big difference between Shepherd’s prosthetic arm and Brawler’s disabled One Hitter Quitter: the prosthetic doesn’t feel pain.

At heart, the Brawler is a brawler; the clue is in the name. Having spent the past week acquiring the rudiments of grappling, the New Yorker fought valiantly, but ultimately was not up to the task, looking increasingly ill at ease as the contest went on, and once having to halt to vomit behind the ring steps. As we know, Joe Balboa will never say die, but Edmunds is a stalwart of this game and was never likely to pass up the chance to pounce on prey so heavily weakened. As much as the crowd hated it, the man who disowned his Canadian heritage set the 303-pounder up and impressively lifted him overhead in his patented Bridging Northern Lights Suplex. The Brawler hit hard, and was never getting up.

As he was ushered to the back, despondent, Jody Monroe emerged and was immediately set upon by Edmunds, demanding his title belt. Monroe brushed him off and announced to the crowd with perhaps even a lump in her throat that The Back Alley Brawler was clearly in no condition to continue on the tour, and would be returned to incarceration by the State of Georgia.

We never thought enforcing the law could prove so unpopular.

Heading up the touring line-up is the Brawler himself (13-2), the current Just Wrestling Champion. Though usually a fearsome proposition, the Brawler’s participation in Canada is shrouded in uncertainty. First, he is presently being incarcerated pending a murder investigation; and second, he’s broken his arm – twice. While we have no details on the Bronx Barbarian’s medical status, we were leaked information on how Just Wrestling is to get the convict across the border into Canada – and it’s coming at a high price for a promotion that can scarcely afford it.

We can exclusively reveal that Jody Monroe has had to put up an unprecedented $100,000 bond to take Joe Balboa out of the prison system and onto the Canadian touring circuit. While the bond is refundable, Just will lose the money if any mishaps prevent the Brawler’s quiescent and timely return at tour’s end – a cost that could put the promotion perilously close to shutdown. It is a risk that Jody Monroe can ill afford, but she may have had no other choice, having seen Balboa finally take the belt after the most dominant winning run in Just Wrestling history. To strip him of it now – and to tour new regions without his revenue-generating name plastered on the posters – could have been professional suicide.

The other big names just below the Brawler’s name on promotional material are Aaron Nothings (23-12), Anathkash Dakari (9-4), Sean Edmunds (6-7) – whose rematch with the Brawler will headline The Celine Dion Show in Baie-Comeau on Friday – and, as we revealed earlier in the week, SCCW’s own Terrence Kingsley (3-1). Together, this group of five will be expected to put on the big matches and fill the seats to the rafters. Other returning tourists include recent championship contender Cade Bane (3-2), veteran “Courageous” Charlie Cusack (2-1), and ALPHA’s Dash Springfield (3-1).

But what would Just Wrestling be without a fresh batch of newcomers looking to break into the upper echelons of the wrestling circuit and attract the TV scouts? We have seven making their first appearances on a Just Wrestling tour. Two are extreme cruiserweights, Jeska and Greg Venom each weighing in well under 150 pounds, which may be an indication of the sorts of matches they will be asked to put on. Jeska’s past is unknown, but Venom is known on the regional circuit, particularly to fans of Simcoe County Championship Wrestling. Another regional promotion is represented by technician Jay Price, who is the reigning Wrestling Championship Federation Elite Champion, and he is joined by fellow technical wrestler Johnny Hopkins, a youngster from Texas. Brent Carruthers is a former Baton Rouge weatherman (we await contact from Aaron Fujita’s lawyers), while CRANK! and The Chameleon join Jeska on our list of mystery new names Google (let alone Jody Monroe) just won’t tell us anything about.

Though rumours had suggested Monroe was struggling to fill a roster, there is a strong core of talent lined up. However, the roster is a little smaller than we’re used to, and a lot will depend on the lesser known of the rookies stepping up. This tour could be as much about Jeska and CRANK! as about Dakari and Edmunds. Or will the story of the tour be Terrence Kingsley avenging his loss in a championship match to Aaron Nothings? Only time will tell.

Kingsley, 25, was with Just Wrestling for the Long Hot Summer, building his WWW streak for a championship shot (including a victory over the now GCW star Cheap Labor) before narrowly losing out in a three-way match for Andy Murray’s belt as Aaron Nothings instead became the first (and thus far only) two-time Just Wrestling Champion. Kingsley went on to star in the GTT7 tournament, defeated by eventual winner Desade in a clear match-of-the-year candidate, and moved into SCCW where he is regarded, along with Jared Sykes and Suzanne Larsson, as the future of the promotion.

With SCCW still in the midst of a world tour, it is thought that Kingsley will be funding his own travel between Canada and the SCCW circuit – a call that will rankle with Jade Argent and “Normal” John Johnson, who have both been criticised for pulling out of the Canada trip due to GCW commitments in Australia. It seems that the Pit Viper is just that bit more motivated to grab a golden prize that he believed should always have been his.

Kingsley’s signing is a massive and timely coup for tour organiser Jody Monroe, who has faced well-publicised struggles to match the calibre of previous touring rosters. Without the pulling power of Tim Shipley, and – perhaps more crucially – with Just Wrestling now considered alongside (and therefore an occasional regional rival to) other Primetime Central promotions, Monroe finds herself unable to bring in big names on little money, the sort of coup Shipley founded the business model on.

Instead, Monroe is having to rely on making her own stars, such as Cade Bane and Anathkash Dakari. Arguably, the criminal charges faced by The Back Alley Brawler have helped too, as without them PTC’s #6 wrestler would surely have signed to a televised promotion by now. But now that Terrence Kingsley has bailed out Monroe, who will bail out the Brawler? Joe Balboa remains incarcerated by the State of Georgia; moreover, the Just Wrestling Champion has a broken arm. It appears unlikely that the Brawler will even make it to Canada – but how will Kingsley react if he doesn’t get a chance at the title belt he insists he deserves?

Just Wrestling will announce the full touring roster over the weekend, with Monroe still taking wrestlers’ applications until Saturday night in a final bid to bulk out her cards. If you believe you’ve got what it takes to succeed on the Just Wrestling tour, please send your resumé to Ms. Monroe care of the Albany offices. You will need to be able to cover your travelling expenses.

Although current champion The Back Alley Brawler, Just Wrestling’s most successful and arguably most popular wrestler of recent times, is likely to continue with the promotion, his availability for dates across the border is in question due to his ongoing incarceration by the State of Georgia. Sean Edmunds, who lost the belt to the Brawler in Albany ten days ago, should also return, but the two champions before him – Jade Argent and “Normal” John Johnson – are with Global Championship Wrestling. Though an informal agreement between GCW and Just was supposed to allow Argent and Johnson to continue touring as a thank-you gesture by the global promotion, GCW will be touring Australia, making it impossible for either of the former JWCs to make the Canadian dates.

Jody Monroe would not comment on the story, but asked us to make it clear that she is still accepting resumés from any and all unattached wrestlers available for dates in Canada between 28 May and 13 June, up until the time she announces the touring roster this weekend. If Monroe’s struggles to attach marquee names to the tour continue, revenues could drop dramatically, perhaps even throwing into question Just Wrestling’s viability going forward.

Skylar Montgomery might have stunk out PRIME this week, but he wasn’t above playing his usual role, and with impromptu partner Jesse Ramey shaped up for the glittering return of old favourites the Rowdy Boyz. Ramey looked faintly disgusted at the company he was having to keep; even more so when Montgomery, who had failed to cut eye-holes in tonight’s mask, was easy pickings for the coordinated double-teaming of the rainbow-haired Rowdyz. Our second encounter continued the theme of famous names losing to less heralded talent, with Clyde Fox continuing to prolong the bizarre discontinuity between defeating Tessa Windsor and Chris Storm at GCW Shockwave, and flopping in the glare of the Armory lights. For Dash Springfield, the brighter the lights, the harder they fall, and the King of Fashion waved goodbye to Tour X by making Fox another Fashion Victim.

Funnybone drew a mixed but loud reaction from the fans, his cartoonish Joker getup looking all the more garish in contrast to his black-clad opponent, Anathkash Dakari. The martial artist flew into Adam Hartman without warning, finishing up an early combo with a devastating simultaneous head and elbow strike, but Funnybone kept getting up for more, a chilling laugh audible beneath his painted face. A flying elbow from the top almost did for Dakari, but at a cumulative 8-4 the mystery man has some substance to him and a kickout was followed by the tables being turned. Quite literally. Funnybone turned vicious, too, manically swinging a chair to keep from being planted through the table, but Dakari had his heart set on splintering Funnybone’s dreams and a great somersault onto the prone Hartman did just that. Funnybone’s laugh was finally silenced, dragged into the ring and pinned after a spectacular final spot.

The ringside area was cleared of its detritus as the first combatants made their way out for the Battle Royal, and among just nine MVP hopefuls there was no Jade Argent, no Steve Harrison, no Aaron Nothings. There was Skylar Montgomery, but for the briefest of moments before he was launched from the ring by champion Edmunds. And then a hush descended, as The Back Alley Brawler shuffled to the ring in the now-familiar jumpsuit but with the new sight of a thick white fracture cast over his right arm. Without his One Hitter Quitter, the Bronx Barbarian was a sheep without the wolf’s clothing, and he stood in the ring quite unmolested as the rest fought on without him. Fox and Cusack went over the top before Funnybone’s leap was telegraphed by a sidestepping Bane and Hartman found himself flying at the Brawler. Unable to get his injured arm away, Brawler felt all Hartman’s 221 pounds crush it. His eyes turned purple, he caught Funnybone with his free arm, and deposited him calmly over the top rope.

Bane, Springfield, Dakari and the champion fought it out, a final four with Brawler ignored in the corner, sweat pooling around the edges of his flat cap, his face progressively whitening. Dakari got rid of Springfield, atoning for the result of two weeks back, and with Bane and Edmunds locked in combat there was only the Brawler in Dakari’s sights. Sympathy not being in his nature, it was time to engage, and Brawler held him off as best he could, his movement severely impeded by the cast on his strong arm. In the end it was no use, Joe Balboa toppling pathetically to the floor, suddenly looking his 47 years in every wrinkle. Our referees helped him to his feet and sat him in a ringside chair; the prison guards looked on, chuckling. Until both being flattened by a projectile named Cade Bane, tossed bodily out by Edmunds. Cue mass cheering.

It was down to two for MVP: Dakari and Edmunds. Neither would give an inch, Dakari one of the promotion’s most skilled performers, and Edmunds adamant on living up to the gold whose reflection features his face. But there could only be one. With every passing moment Edmunds tired, and the Brawler, regaining his strength at ringside, began to bellow his support for the man who eliminated him, the upcoming championship three-way firmly in mind. For now, though, Edmunds had his eye on the more immediate prize, and having reversed Dakari’s whip, followed up and sandwiched him between the ropes and a thick, hard clothesline. Dakari tumbled over the top, a firm kick to his flailing hand ensuring there was no catching onto the bottom rope. Sean Edmunds, current Just Wrestling Champion, took the MVP crown.

He didn’t even get to leave the ring before Bane and the Brawler were back in. As the bell rang, Brawler looked up at the lights and tore off his cast to a rush of support from all around the Armory. His arm now swaddled only in a loose, discoloured dressing, there was new life in the old man. He knocked Bane and Edmunds down intermittently with his weaker left arm, the driving forearms far too powerful for cruiserweight opponents even if there would be no One Hitter Quitter. It was all Cade Bane could do to keep his feet, and when he did found himself starstruck by the sight of the bull-like Brawler charging the Champion. Edmunds stepped away, ring-savvy as he is, and cruelly wrenched the Brawler’s broken arm. Even Joe Balboa couldn’t quench the cry of agony. Professional wrestlers aren’t paid to have a sense of right and wrong, but Bane couldn’t see that go on and flew into Edmunds’ temple with a missile dropkick. The champion was knocked out – of the ring and possibly of consciousness. This was it – this was Bane’s moment.

The Brawler clutched his arm, the dressing falling away, something mangled within. Bane stood, stared. The Brawler looked back up at him through grey eyes. His cap had long since fallen away, and angry welts oozed on the side of his head. Spittle flecked his chin. He strained for something inside. Bane took his head, planted a right hand in it as if testing bathwater for heat. The Brawler accepted the blow, offered no response, and waited for more. A second came, harder, truer. Bane backed himself into the ropes and scissors-kicked the Bronx Barbarian’s head. The Brawler dropped to the mat without complaint. Bane helped him back up, ran to the ropes once more.

BAM. CRACK. The gap between the two sounds was infinitesimal. Bane was flat out. People shook their heads, trying to dislodge the unpalatable truth from within. The kind of One Hitter Quitter they never wanted to see. The three. The Brawler looked up at the lights, rolled to his side, and spewed his guts out on the canvas. Then, he may have passed out. Bane was prone next to him. Edmunds was still unmoving outside. All three men lay still, but the Brawler was different. It might have cost him a lifetime of One Hitter Quitters, and as his arm trailed at an unnatural angle, we began to wonder whether this might be the end of the road for The Back Alley Brawler. At 47, he’d sacrificed his arm for the sake of the Just Wrestling Championship. Torn off his cast. Pulled away the dressing. Swung through thick air, with that devastating accuracy that made his name. The jolt of bone, only tentatively re-fused, snapping apart from itself once more. But he wasn’t a bridesmaid anymore.

WWR Women’s Top 30 Rankings
Rnk   Pts.
1        33.0   Valerie Belmont- Sin City Wrestling, Pro Wrestling X, High Impact Wrestling, XCore Wrestling
2        32.0   Valora Salinas- Wrestling Midwest
3        23.0   Hannah Rickman- Simcoe County
4        22.2   Zoey Swan- Universal Wrestling Federation
5        22.0   Glory Braddock- Global Division of Wrestling, Motor City Wrestling
6        16.0   Myst- Championship Wrestling Alliance
6        16.0   Jade- Wrestling Midwest
8        15.2   Sierra Browne- Dangerous Championship Wrestling League
9        15.0   Alexia- Viking Wrestling Federation
9        15.0   Katherine Stryfe- HIW
11      13.2   ‘China Doll’ Candace Okimura- Ring of Beauty, World Women’s Wrestling League
11      13.2   Serena Royale- 3WL
13      13.0   Samantha Raine- GDW
13      13.0   Hecate- WMW
15      12.0   Arkia Fisk- Phoenix Wrestling Revolution
15      12.0   Desade- Sin City Championship Wrestling
17      11.2   Nicole Hayes- Xtreme World Wrestling
18      11.0   Sally Screw- Siberian Wrestling
19      10.1   Delilah- 3WL
20      10.0   Wren- CWA
20      10.0   Marie Annabelle Jones- GDW
20      10.0   Kacy Knight- Millenium Wrestling Alliance
23      9.2     Nina Larue- Shootfire Pro
24      9.0     Carmen Jennings- High Octane Wrestling
24      9.0     Scarlett Willis- Simcoe County
26      7.0     Kristinia Kage- All-Star Championship Wrestling
26      7.0     Mystic (Megan Dela Vega)- CWA
26      7.0     Tessa Windsor- Global Championship Wrestling
26      7.0     Ashley Riot- ROB, 3WL
30      6.0     Elise Aries- PRIME

NOTES:
-Simcoe’s Hannah Rickman jumps into the #3 spot ahead of Zoey Swan (UWF) and Glory Braddock (GDW/MCW)
-ACW’s Kristinina Kage debuts at #26 after big win at Legends IV
-Mystic (CWA) also debuts at #26
-Nina Larue of Shootfire Pro defeated Heather Owens for the Women’s title and joins the top 30 at #23
-MWA’s Kacy Knight debuts at #20

WWR Tag Team Top 20 Rankings
Rnk   Pts.
1        27.0   Heirs of Wrestling(Ryan Gallway/Frank Pierce/Silver/Mack Brody)- Empire Pro Wrestling, Sin City Championship Wrestling
2        25.2   The Anthology(Jared Wells & Copycat)- EPW
3        24.2   TAKU & Go Taniguchi- Pro Wrestling Fury
4        23.2   Shane Lawson/Erick Kennylz- Volatile Wrestling Alliance
5        22.2   Jack and Joe Schmidt- Political Championship Wrestling
6        21.2   Samuel Hessingstock/Chris Stern- Simcoe County
7        20.2   Jeremiah & Valerie Belmont- Sin City Wrestling, Pro Wrestling X, XCore Wrestling
8        19.0   Pop Culture Phenoms(Ed/Klein)- All-Star Championship Wrestling
9        16.2   England’s Best(Rud Albion/Buddy Saxon)- ACW
9        16.2   Irish Pride Gang(Thaddeus and Desmond Rains)- World Wrestling Generation
11      15.2   Sexy Headliners(Chris Andrews/Sexy Jason)- Uliltimate Championship Wrestling Alliance
12      14.2   Southern Comfort(James & Kenneth Hill)- Championship Wrestling Alliance
12      14.2   The Grady Bunch(Terry Spruhen/Jared Borchard)- Dream Wrestling Federation
12      14.2   Feature Presentation(Noah Morgan/Presley Hylton)- Global Division of Wrestling
15      13.2   Nightmare, Inc(Katherine Stryfe/Emma McIntyre)- Championship Wrestling Council, High Impact Wrestling
15      13.2   Dream Warriors(Dark Ninja/Psycho)- no brand Wrestling
15      13.2   Changes in Spades(Nitz Donnelly/Vance Raymes)- PRIME
18      13.0   Team Danger(Stephen Greer/Johnny Lightning)- Defiance
18      13.0   Hidden Desires(Faith DeLuca/Samantha Raine)- GDW
20      12.2   Urban Legendz(Trill/8-Ball)- Hybrid Wrestling Organization
20      12.2   Aiden Payne/Goth- PrYde

NOTES:
-Heirs of Wrestling rise up from #4 to become the new #1 Tag Team.
-Hidden Desires dropped from #7 to #18 after losing GDW Tag Team belts to Feature Presentation who debut this week at #12
-Aiden Payne and Goth from PrYde and Urban Legendz (HWO) debut for the first time at #20
-CWA’s Southern Comfort debuts this week at #12
-Sexy Headliners from UCWA debuts at #11

WWR World Top 30 Rankings
Rnk   Pts.
1        33.1   Shawn Jessica Hart – Empire Pro Wrestling, New Era, All-Star Championship Wrestling
2        31.0  Alias – All-Star Championship Wrestling
3        29.0  Level One- Action Packed Wrestling
4        27.0 Valora Salinas- Wrestling Midwest
5        26.2   El Gallego(Hawk Henshaw)- Phoenix Wrestling Revolution
6        23.2   Hannibal Cage- Siberian Wrestling, Experts
7        23.1   Alexia- Viking Wrestling Federation
8        22.0   Bryan Payne- APW
9        20.2   Jim Rooster- Genesis Pro
10      19.2   Bullrush- Championship Wrestling Alliance
11      17.2   Jinx- PWR, High Impact Wrestling, Championship Wrestling Council
12      16.2   Katherine Stryfe- HIW
13      14.2   Trey Vincent- ACW
14      14.1   Myke Adams- Simcoe County
15      13.2   Yamamoto Tanaka- Political Championship Wrestling
16      13.1   The First- A1 Entertainment, EPW
16      13.1   Project: Revolution- Evolution
18      13.0  Chester Addison- HIW
19      12.2   Erick Kennylz- Volatile Wrestling Alliance
19      12.2   Kronin- WMW
21      12.1   ‘Cool’ Cancer Jiles/Kid F’n Cool- Defiance, Sanctioned Violence Organization
21      12.1   Glory Braddock- GDW, Motor City Wrestling
21      12.1   Jason Rolento- VWA
24      11.1   Kurt Logan- GDW
24      11.1   Impulse- Just Wrestling  NFW, New Level Wrestling
24      11.1   Pandemonic- Xtreme World Wrestling
27      10.2   Myst- CWA
27      10.2   Joe the Plumber- NFW
27      10.2   Lane Stevens- Sin City Championship Wrestling
30      10.1   Sal Fanucci- XWW

NOTES:
-Ironically, the new #1, Shawn Jessica Hart was the referee in the then #1, Alias, and Trey Vincent match at ACW’s Legends IV
-Wrestling Midwest’s Valora Salinas falls back to #4 after losing the Great Lakes Championship to Kronin- who debuts this week at #19
-Bullrush from CWA won two matches at their Terror in the Aisles PPV, including a world title match and debuts this week at #10
-ACW’s Trey Vincent debuts at #13

Wrestling Night in America on HOTv
Saturday May 8th
Hosts: A. Kuluha Bacardi and Mitch ‘The Deuce’ Duesner

Bacardi and Duesner welcome everyone to another WNiA.  There’ll be a new number one in the WWR World Rankings and we’ll find out why later on in the show.  Now on to showcase the best wrestling action for the week.

MATCH #1
Agent Decipher Light vs. Insomnia
Sin City Wrestling Wildcard
Announcers: Courtney Reynolds and Oscar Cruize

MATCH #2 - CO-MAIN EVENT – I QUIT MATCH FOR THE 3WL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
WWR Women’s #12 Serena Royale (c) vs. Eva Rodriguez
World Women’s Wrestling League Fatal Fury 5
Announcers: Floyd Masters and Jay Jackson

MATCH #3 – Stunners Invitational Match for the UWF Women’s Title
Shayne Edwards vs. Serena vs. WWR Women’s # 12 Zoey Swan vs. Toxic Angel vs. Devin Skye
Universal Wrestling Federation Adrenaline
Announcers: Adam Stubberfield and Peter Curtis

Duesner runs down the up to date WWR Women’s Top 10:

Rnk   Pts.
1        32.0   Valora Salinas- Wrestling Midwest
2        27.0   Valerie Belmont- Sin City Wrestling, Pro Wrestling X, High Impact Wrestling, XCore Wrestling
3        22.2   Zoey Swan- Universal Wrestling Federation
4        22.0   Glory Braddock- Global Division of Wrestling, Motor City Wrestling
5        20.0   Hannah Rickman- Simcoe County
6        18.0   Myst- Championship Wrestling Alliance
7        17.2   Sierra Browne- Dangerous Championship Wrestling League
8        16.0   Alexia- Viking Wrestling Federation
8        16.0   Jade- WMW
10      15.0   Katherine Stryfe- High Impact Wrestling

-UWF’s Zoey Swan jumps to #3 after adding the Women’s title to her Prime Time belt.
-Wrestling Midwest’s Valora Salinas drifting back towards the pack.  Will her troubles with WMW’s GM Sault Saint Marie cost her the Women’s #1 spot?
-The full Women’s Top 30 will be released on Tuesday.

MATCH #4
Fort Knox vs. Oblivion
Wrestling Championship Federation Slam
Announcers: Shannon Lerch and Zach Davis

MATCH #5 – Four Corners Match for the ACW Tag Team Title
WWR Tag Team #1 The Pop Culture Phenoms (c) vs. England’s Best vs. The Entourage vs. Irish Spring
All-Star Championship Wrestling Legends IV

Duesner runs down the up to date WWR Tag Team Top 10

Rnk   Pts.
1        27      Heirs of Wrestling(Ryan Gallway/Frank Pierce/Silver/Mack Brody)- Empire Pro Wrestling, Sin City Championship Wrestling
2        25.2   The Anthology(Jared Wells & Copycat)- Empire Pro Wrestling
3        24.2   Jack and Joe Schmidt- Political Championship Wrestling
3        24.2   TAKU & Go Taniguchi- PWFury *
5        23.2   Shane Lawson/Erick Kennylz- Volatile Wrestling Alliance
6        21.2   Devon Poole/Josh Graves- Pro Wrestling X
6        21.2   Jeremiah & Valerie Belmont- Sin City Wrestling, Pro Wrestling X
6        21.2   Samuel Hessingstock/Chris Stern- Simcoe County
9        19.0    Pop Culture Phenoms(Ed/Klein)- All-Star Championship Wrestling
10      16.2   Irish Pride Gang(Thaddeus and Desmond Rains)- World Wrestling Generation
10      16.2   England’s Best(Rud Albion/Buddy Saxon)- ACW

-England’s Best cracks the top ten with their win over former WWR Tag Team #1 Pop Culture Phenoms at ACW’s Legends IV PPV.  The Heirs of Wrestling (SCCW, EPW) regain the top slot.
-Pro Wrestling Fury’s TAKU & Go Taniguchi jump to #3; Shane Lawson/Erick Kennylz from Volatile Wrestling Alliance move to #5.

CHRIS CANTWELL’S TWO SENTENCE WRESTLING COMMENTARY

A new feature, Chris Cantwell’s Two Sentence Wrestling Commentary- because two sentences is all you need to get your point across.

Topic: Wrestling Midwest turmoil between former Great Lakes Champion Valora Salinas and GM Sault St. Marie.

Cantwell: “Sault St. Marie is trying to run off the wrestler who’s done more to bring attention to Wrestling Midwest then he’ll ever dream of which has to be one of the absolute moronic things I’ve ever seen.  Memo to Sault St. Marie- no one cares about you; everyone cares about watching Valora Salinas who’s proven time and time again to be money inside the ring.”

Topic: Global Division of Wrestling- Angela Jameson is threatening to file suit against GDW because she lost her heavyweight title to Samantha Raine in a three way match where Jameson wasn’t pinned.

Cantwell: “Angela, don’t agree to three way dances for title matches and certainly don’t agree to three way title matches if they aren’t elimination-style.  Stop crying and clogging our judicial system with stupid lawsuits like this and go win the title back in the ring.”

Topic: Max Danger reappeared at All-Star Wrestling’s Legends IV and announced that his wife is pregnant and he will retire for good after making one last run.

Cantwell: “I’ve missed Max Danger.  Here’s to a memorable final go at it.

Bacardi introduces the main event of the night.  WWR Men’s #1 Alias putting his ACW Heavyweight Title on the line against Trey Vincent with WWR Men’s #2 Shawn Jessica Hart as the referee.  Hold on to your hats for this one.

MATCH 6 – ACW Heavyweight Title Match
WWR World #1 Alias (c) vs. Trey Vincent
All-Star Championship Wrestling Legends IV

Duesner runs down the up to date WWR World Top 10:

Rnk   Pts.
1        33.1   Shawn Jessica Hart – Empire Pro Wrestling, New Era, All-Star Championship Wrestling
2        31.0   Alias – ACW
3        29.0   Level One- Action Packed Wrestling
4        27.0   Valora Salinas- Wrestling Midwest
5        26.2   El Gallego(Hawk Henshaw)- Phoenix Wrestling Revolution
6        24.1   Alexia- Viking Wrestling Federation
7        22.0   Bryan Payne- APW
8        20.2   Jim Rooster- Genesis Pro
8        20.2   Hannibal Cage- Siberian Wrestling, Experts
10      19.2   Katherine Stryfe- High Impact Wrestling

MATCH #7 – Match of the week
Terrence Thompson vs. Wendy Briese
Pro Wrestling X Adrenaline 30
Announcers: Ricky and Chris

We passed the twenty-minute mark, surely a record for an opening contest at a Just show. But this wasn’t just any opening contest. A double-arm DDT netted Edmunds a two-count. Argent’s flying elbow from the top got the same. A crunching neckbreaker couldn’t do for the champion. Nor would Edmunds stay down after a superkick cut him short and almost in two. They fought on. Bodies tired, the ring creaked and groaned, the fans’ chanting grew labored. Frog splash by Edmunds… kickout. Argent’s dragon sleeper took things down a couple of notches. The half-hour mark beckoned. Edmunds fought out, elbow after elbow to the gut weakening Argent. He flew into the ropes – running knee – and pulled the champion up – Bridging Northern Light Suplex – new champion. He’d done it and he’d done it honourably. Jade Argent felt cheated. Only his first defeat, but now he would go into the record books with the unwanted accolade of shortest reigning champion in history.

We’d just witnessed a marathon, far exceeding the time limits usually placed on early matches. With the championship belt having changed hands Jody Monroe knew the fans had got their money’s worth already and urged the roster to keep things trim. Last time out at the Yanitelli Center the promotion picked up a fine for overrunning. Adam Hartman came out, rebranded as Funnybone, dropping the full name and donning a frightful costume. Skylar Montgomery did his best to mimic the look, but couldn’t do anything about the Punchline. Clyde Fox bulldozered Jesse Ramey, almost by accident, half-strangling him with his furry pink cape for good measure before trotting off to celebrate his first win here with a tankard of milk. “Courageous” Charlie Cusack gave it everything, coming up just short with the young and sprightly Dash Springfield wearing him out. There would be no championship match for the veteran, but he garnered enough applause for schooling Springfield in some of the ways of the mat before he tired.

Cade Bane succeeded where Cusack had failed, impressive in winning out against Joey Harris, who has a GCW contract under an alternate moniker. Aaron Nothings couldn’t repeat the feats of his earlier win over Steve Harrison, returning to the infuriating inconsistency that gave him the nickname “Nothing” in those days before he was anyone’s Godfather. Anathkash Dakari was unsympathetic to Nothings’ struggle against himself, running him through a brutal series of strikes to the joints as if keen to literally pull Nothings to pieces. The Metamorphosis was sweet deliverance.

We ended with the hotly anticipated match, under a Hardcore billing, between Steve Harrison and the incarcerated Back Alley Brawler, out once more on temporary bail. Little is known of the Brawler’s legal situation but he arrived with more welts and bruises than he’d expect to leave a Hardcore match with. Indeed the New Yorker was in such a bad way that a hush fell over the Yanitelli Center, the prison guards eventually letting him walk to the ring alone, it being clear that escape was impossible in his condition. Harrison scented an opportunity that rarely comes to a Just Wrestling tourist, the Bronx Barbarian being 11-2, and flew at his opponent with an enthusiastic rage that the Brawler just could not respond to. He took a beating, first with fists and then with chairs. Two count after two count after two count, but he would not give in. The fans got involved, willing the Brawler’s comeback, tossing weapons his way. But he was in no state to catch them, and Harrison barked angrily at the fans, who responded with more vehement booing. A giant foam finger swiped at Harrison over the guardrail. He had had enough.

Leaping over into the crowd, Harrison found himself at the centre of a mob with himself the target. Already alarm bells were ringing and he turned, looking wistfully back at the ring. But with people pulling at his arms, he couldn’t get anywhere. Other people’s saliva ran down his chest. At one moment we worried he might cry. Then came the Brawler, parting the seas in an instant. Harrison was dragged to the guardrail, set against it, kicked and choked. The Brawler’s blood ran cold, days-old wounds reopened with gleeful chair shots, but he fought through the red haze. Harrison hid his face and took the blows. This was not what he signed up for.

In the ring, his attempt at recovery was valiant. Despite the last five minutes he still had more in him than Joe Balboa. The bright lights made more apparent the Brawler’s broken body and fatigued spirit. Wrestling in his prison coveralls was just another reminder how securely he was locked down. He took a DDT without even guarding his head, and kicked stoically out. Harrison lost his temper, screaming at the Bronx Barbarian. The yell aroused something in Balboa, and Harrison had just one second to regret this before he blacked out. The One Hitter Quitter, cutting through the air like a scythe, was the last thing he saw.

Best Manager:
Alyssa Morenna- Action Packed Wrestling
-Managed Hellfire KID to a series of wins in April.

Best Heel:
The Career Killers (Fallen Angel, J.C. McDonald, Jonnah Street, Level-One)- Totally Fictional Wrestling Federation
-Every fed has to have an arch-heel group.  TFWF is no exception.  The Career Killers have specialized in making their enemies pay dearly for crossing them.  The addition of Level-One to the group has made TCK even more dangerous.

Other Notable Heels in April:
Angela Jameson- Global Division of Wrestling
Ornery Hillman- Sin City Wrestling, TFWF
The Rev. James Onlee- TFWF
Level-One- Action Packed Wrestling

Best Face:
Sebastian Cross- Totally Fictional Wrestling Federation
-He’s lost his wife and child to the influence of the Reverend James Onlee.  He’s lost the TFWF Title.  He’s a desperate man.  Looking for the big time payoff in May of a long running TFWF storyline where Cross finally gets his shot at the title again and gets his hands on Onlee.

Other Notable Faces in April:
Scarlett Willis- Simcoe County
Bryan Payne- Action Packed Wrestling

Best Character:
ChristPlow (Mike Polowy)- High Octane Wrestling
-Let it be said that Mike Polowy isn’t afraid to try different gimmicks.  Last year in Dream Wrestling Federation, he became the Women’s champion who specialized in kicking females in the mommy parts.  This one, where Mike was temporarily dead while in France and brought back to life, takes the case.  At once, uproarious and borderline sacrilegious, you have to read ChristPlow to believe it.  Or believe in him.

Match of the Month:
El Gallego Hawk Henshaw (c)  vs. Cory Hatred vs. General David McCoy vs. William- Phoenix Wrestling Revolution Envy PPV
-Henshaw somehow retains the title in a loaded four-way match with an unpredictable Cory Hatred, a demented William, and General David ‘Bones’ McCoy.

Other Notable Matches in April:
High Flyer vs. Alias- All-Star Championship Wrestling Courage 110
Darin Zion vs. Brian Hollywood- Pro Wrestling X
Angela Jameson (c) vs. Samantha Raine vs. Jake Storm- Global Division of Wrestling Wrestlecade PPV

Show of the Month:
Global Division of Wrestling Wrestlecade
-Another solid outing from GDW in April

Other Notable Shows in April:
Phoenix Wrestling Revolution Envy
Pro Wrestling X High Stakes
Wrestling Midwest High Stakes

Male Wrestler of the Month:
Hannibal Cage- Siberian Wrestling, True Experts Champion
-Defeated Ryan Ruckus and El Mundo for the Heavyweight Title at Siberian’s Shades of Grey PPV- vaults into the WWR World top 10

Other Notables in April:
Kronin- Wrestling Midwest
-Defeated then #2 Valora Salinas for WMW’s Great Lakes title
ChristPlow (Mike Polowy)- High Octane Wrestling
-Won ICON Title from Max Kael at HOW’s Lethal Lottery show- new Jesus gimmick…interesting
Stephen Messier- Genesis Pro
-Def. Jim Rooster and Seth Iser @ Genesis 42 to win Genesis title- moved up into top 15
‘Normal’ John Johnson- Just Wrestling, Global Championship Wrestling
-Debuted in GCW and moved up the rankings into the top 10 for a time.

Female Wrestler of the Month:
Samantha Raine- Global Division of Wrestling
-Won GDW Heavyweight title from Angela Jameson at GDW Wrestlecade

Other Notables:
Hannah Rickman- Simcoe County
Glory Braddock- Global Division of Wrestling, Motor City Wrestling
Valerie Belmont- SCW, PWX, HIW, XCW
Valora Salinas- Wrestling Midwest

Wrestler of the Month:
Hannibal Cage- Siberian Wrestling, True Experts Champion