Hawai'i Championship Wrestling
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Details | |
|---|---|
| Acronym | HCW |
| Established | 2003 |
| Style | American Wrestling |
| Location | Honolulu, HI |
| Founder(s) | Don Muraco and Linda Bade |
| Owner(s) | HCW Ohana / Employee-owned |
Contents |
[edit] History
Hawai'i Championship Wrestling, is a American professional wrestling promotion founded in 2003. It is affiliated with the American Wrestling Association, and it was also an NWA member until September 23, 2006.
The promotion was founded by WWE Hall of Famer Don Muraco and television producer Linda Bade (after she split from NWA Hawaii).
Within just two years of their existence, they managed to attract talent from Japan, U.S. independents, and former WWE and WCW talent such as Sting, Diamond Dallas Page, Edward Fatu (Umaga, WWE), Kensuke Sasaki, The Great Muta (Keiji Mutoh) and Masahiro Chono. Hawai'i Championship Wrestling has had working agreements with All Japan Pro Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and TNA.
Through such agreements, HCW has been the most covered Hawaiian promotion by the mainstream wrestling media in recent memory with several articles featured in Japanese wrestling magazines and US publications, (the short-lived Total Wrestling Magazine, and WWE RAW Magazine, which featured an article on former HCW Commissioner Don Muraco)
HCW merged again with NWA Hawaii in 2004 after NWA Hawaii was lacking in depth from a depleted roster and 5 NWA Hawaii wrestlers were added to the HCW roster. HCW also offered the 5 wrestlers the opportunity to get on the Battle Hawaii 2004 card.
BATTLE HAWAII 2003 and 2004 were significant points in HCW's history as the promotion prepared to undertake serious business ventures in co-promoting itself with New Japan Pro-Wrestling in Battle Hawaii 2003 with the appearances of Masahiro Chono, Yuji Nagata, Jushin Thunder Liger, and Tiger Mask IV and with Battle Hawaii 2004 with the appearances of Sting, DDP, Rikishi, and The Great Muta. While the attendance for both events were quite impressive (400+ for Battle Hawaii 2003 and well over 1,000 for 2004) the expenses of putting on such events for a very new independent promotion were staggering.
HCW officials continued to work with outside talent from Japan eventually reaching a business relationship with Japanese puroresu icon Kensuke Sasaki and wife, Akira Hokuto. Kensuke Sasaki had just returned to Japanese wrestling scene and managed to capture the IWGP Heavyweight Title while still holding the HCW Heavyweight Championship after defeating 1st champion Lopaka.
HCW also entertained the US military troops, and communities through support by the contracting offices of the MWR. Some military installations they were contracted for are: MCBH - Bay Fest / Kaneohe Marine Corps Base - E Club, Pearl Harbor US Navy Base, and Schofield Barracks US Army Base. In May of 2006, TNA provided HCW with the appearance of then TNA's X Division Champion, Samoa Joe to HCW's special Friday Nite Slam! event, on Schofield Barracks, sponsored by the MWR. In late 2006 Don Muraco was released by HCW and longtime friend of HCW and pro wrestling journalist, Bill Apter was named as his replacement for the second time. (The first was back in 2003.)
On September 23rd 2006, during a live event, HCW wrestlers Kaimana, Mr. Spa Fitness, Kaniala, Ahuna, Nightmare, and Big Daddy Frank announced in the ring that the partnership with NWA Hawaii was again over after a falling out after JT Wolfen, Kapu, Ricky Thunder, Jody Lopez, and NWA Referee Scott Stryker unprofessionally "no-showed" to the event. Since JT Wolfen held the HCW Heavyweight Title and 939 Express held the HCW tag Titles and they all "no-showed" with NWA Hawaii, Linda Bade declared the titles vacant. Kaimana was awarded the Heavyweight title after winning a triple threat match.
In late November of 2006, the MWR awarded HCW with a newly signed 2007 contract for their Saturday Nite Slam! monthly series from Schofield Barracks US Army Base. HCW continues to entertain both the military troops and the public as they have since 2003, adding their own uniqueness to wrestling, with Polynesian cultural elements into their shows, such as Samoan fire knife presentations with live drums, and other Polynesian dance and chant forms.
They have opened their doors to several individuals from the island of Maui fronted by Hawaiian indy wrestling veteran Shin-Ku (who once wrestled former World Heavyweight Champion and current WWE Smackdown! Superstar Rey Mysterio). Maui wrestlers such as Da Crusher, Kamu, Carma, and Ma Hu Wong were added onto the HCW roster, (with some potential trainees from the Big Island) as well as the mainland US. Seattle, and Chicago veterans Matt Farmer, and Chris Del Sol (Suicide Kings), also became HCW regulars. HCW presently networks with the AWA Worldwide, World-1, and ZERO1-MAX, with former ECW, NWA and current AWA World Heavyweight Champion, Steve Corino's involvement established in January of 2007. HCW has also brought in former tag partner of Neff Maiava and NWA Hall Of Famer, Mr. Wrestling II (aka Johnny Walker) as their training coach, and on-camera "God Father" of the promotion.
SOURCES
[edit] Championships
[edit] Current champions
| Title Notes: | Current Champion(s) |
| HCW Kamehameha Heritage Championship | Kaimana |
| HCW Hawaiian Inter-Island Heavyweight Championship | Kaniala |
| HCW Kekaulike Heritage Tag Team Championship | Hawaiian Blood |
