World Xtreme Wrestling

World Xtreme Wrestling
Acronym WXW
Founded 1996
Style professional wrestling
Headquarters Minneola, Florida
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Founder(s) Afa Anoa'i
Owner(s) Afa Anoa'i
Parent Top Rope Productions
(1996–1998)
World Xtreme Wrestling
(1998-current)
Website WXWwrestling.com
WXW Womens League

World Xtreme Wrestling is a Florida-based independent professional wrestling promotion which has held events across the United States and have toured in Japan, the Middle East and South Pacific region including American Samoa and Guam.

Associated with Afa Anoa'i's Wild Samoan Pro Wrestling Training Center in Minneola, Florida, among its students who have competed for the promotion include current and former World Wrestling Entertainment competitors Batista, Chris Kanyon, Billy Kidman, Gene Snitsky and cousins Jamal (known as Umaga) [1] and Rosey [2] of Three Minute Warning. Court Bauer, a member of the WWE creative team, was formerly a booker for the promotion during the mid-1990s.[3]

The promotion features in the film The Wrestler, where Mickey Rourke's character "Randy 'The Ram' Robinson" wrestles Tommy Rotten (portrayed by WXW wrestler Tommy Suede).

Early history

Originally formed in 1970 as the Trans World Wrestling Federation in association with the original Wild Samoan Pro Wrestling Training Center, the promotion's early history is unrecorded however Jules Strongbow and Yukon Jack have both been credited as former heavyweight champions. During the early 1990s, the promotion's roster included independent wrestlers such as Bam Bam Bigelow, Chief Dave Foxx, Billy Kidman, Chris Kanyon, Tony Stetson & Glen Osbourne.[4]

Top Rope Productions and World Xtreme Wrestling

Established in 1996 as a continuation of the Trans World Wrestling Federation, continued to be owned and operated by Afa Anoa'i.

In 1998, the promotion held its first live televised supercard Sportsfest '98 in Allentown, Pennsylvania which featured several wrestlers from the World Wrestling Federation including Rocky Maivia, Mankind, Owen Hart, D'Lo Brown as well as former WWF wrestlers Doink the Clown, King Kong Bundy and The Bushwackers. In later Sportsfest's, wrestlers which have appeared include Greg "the Hammer" Valentine, Don Muraco, Tito Santana, Nikolai Volkoff, Kamala, Virgil, Gangrel, Rikishi and Gillberg. Independent wrestlers including "Mr. USA" Tony Atlas, "Big" Dick Dudley and "Pitbull" Gary Wolfe have also made appearances at past Sportsfests.

Around this time, WXW held monthly shows at the American Legion Building in Hazleton, PA. Shows ceased shortly thereafter, as the WXW talent was known for abusing the building and ultimately the building was condemned and demolished. This was not just because of the WXW talent, but they certainly contributed to the problems.

In addition, WXW changed from their former name because Afa was running shows without a license and was simply asking for donations at the door. The State Athletic Committee caught on after awhile.

Shortly after the close of Extreme Championship Wrestling, several former ECW wrestlers including Mikey Whipwreck, Devon Storm, Little Guido, The Sandman and Tommy Dreamer "invaded" Sportsfest 2001 with the Sandman and Tommy Dreamer being defeated by Samu and Mana in the main event.

During that year, the promotion established a women's division with Kattra becoming the first WXW Women's Champion however she would eventually be stripped of the title in March 2001 after failing to defend the championship. Although the title would be won by BellaDonna after defeating Jessica Dally on March 9, the title would again be vacated with the title remaining inactive for several months (the division would again be reactivated following the WXW Women's ELITE 8 Tournament in Danbury, Connecticut [5] on September 25, 2002 with Cindy Rogers winning the WXW Women's title in a battle royal at Sportsfest 2003).

Although the promotion had held live television tapings at past events, WXW began airing a weekly television program, WXW Rage TV, in January 2002 featuring a variety of WXW talent, including Afa, Afa, Jr., L.A. Smooth, Showtime Shane Black, Havoc, Nuissance and Supreme Lee Great as well as former WWE wrestlers such as Samu. Rage TV features a rotating commentary team that has included Doc Daniels, The Bald Guy, Ben Miller, Saul Steinberk, Gerry Strauss and Nate Stein. Other independent wrestlers who have appeared on Rage TV include Salvatore Bellomo, Lo-Ki, John Rambo and Slyk Wagner Brown.

In early 2002, WXW promoted its first tour overseas and appeared for U.S. troops stationed in the Middle East, including Afghanistan. In August 2002, the promotion held a second tour in Asia and the South Pacific appearing for one month in Japan, Okinawa, Korea, Guam and Hawaii.

In late 2004, WXW expanded and began holding events in Florida near the original Wild Samoan Pro Wrestling Training Center in Pensacola although the promotion later moved back to Allentown, Pennsylvania in January 2005.

WXW now holds all of its events in Florida, and a new branch of World Xtreme Wrestling, called WXW C4 has been created and promotes regular events in Allentown, Pennsylvania. World Xtreme Wrestling C4 is run by Afa's son Samu and Afa Jr. and has also taken the place of the old Rage TV slot with their weekly television show, Blast TV.

WXW events in Florida are primarily located in Minneola, and their RageTV broadcasts can be seen on their website WXWWrestling.com

Women's ELITE 8 Tournament

The Women's Elite 8 Tournament is a tournament formed by WXW promotion to offer a platform for top female wrestlers. There have been 8 annual WXW Women's ELITE 8 Tournaments starting September 27, 2002 in Danbury, CT. Traci Brooks won the first tournament.

1st Annual- September 27, 2002 in Danbury, CT. Griffin pinned Jessica Dally. Mercedes Martinez beat Katarina Heiss. Valentina fought Traci Brooks to a draw and both advanced in tournament. Ariel pinned BellaDawna. Gail Kim pinned Nikki Roxx. Traci Brooks pinned Ariel. Griffin pinned Valentina. Gail Kim pinned April Hunter. Mercedes Martinez pinned Griffin. Traci Brooks pinned Gail Kim. Traci Brooks pinned Mercedes Martinez to become the first ever Elite 8 Winner. (Special Enforcer For Finals: Steve Wilkos)

2nd Annual- November 21, 2003 - Sciota, PA Jessica Dally & Sarah Stock (Sarita) co-won a battle royal for entry into the tournament. Sarah Stock (Sarita) pinned Jessica Dally. April Hunter pinned Ariel. Angel Williams (Angelina Love) pinned Allison Danger. Beth Phoenix pinned Psycho Second round: April pinned Sarah (Sarita). Phoenix pinned Angel (Angelina Love). Finals of tournament. April Hunter beat Phoenix to win the Elite 8 Tournament.

3rd Annual- October 9, 2004 - Sciota, PA First Round: Alere Little Feather pinned Amber O’Neal. Krissy Vaine pinned Cindy Rogers. Allison Danger pinned Simply Luscious. Mercedes Martinez beat Lacy by submission. Second Round: Alere Little Feather pinned Krissy Vaine. Mercedes Martinez beat Allison Danger by submission. Tournament Final: Alere Little Feather pinned Mercedes Martinez to win the third annual Women’s Elite 8.

4th Annual- October 23, 2005 - Allentown, PA Alicia pinned Ariel Phoenix pinned Nikki Roxx. Cindy Rogers beat Allison Danger by submission. Melissa Coates beat 21st Century Fox by submission. Alicia pinned Phoenix. Cindy Rogers pinned Melissa Coates. Tournament Final: Alicia pinned Cindy Rogers to win the Elite 8 Tournament

5th Annual- October 14, 2006 - Allentown, PA Kacee Carlisle beat Jana (replacing Joy, who was attacked by ring announcer Meghan) Faith beat Lexi Lane. Hailey Hatred beat Cha Cha. Mercedes Martinez beat Amber. Kacee Carlisle beat Faith. Mercedes Martinez beat Hailey Hatred. Mercedes Martinez beat Kacee Carlisle to win the Elite 8 Tournament.

6th Annual- November 10, 2007 - Coplay, PA Mo'Nique -vs- Jana; Mo'Nique wins. Annie Social -vs- Jana; Annie wins. Hailey Hatred -vs- Alexa Thatcher; Hailey wins. Cindy Rogers -vs- Becky Bayless; Cindy wins. Mo'Nique -vs- Annie Social; Annie wins. Hailey Hatred -vs- Cindy Rogers -vs- Becky Bayless; Cindy wins Elite 8 Finals: Cindy Rogers -vs- Annie Social, Special Guest Referee was Sunny.

7th Annual- November 15, 2008- Leesburg, FL Rain defeated Becky Bayless, Lexie Fyfe beat Amber O'neal, Leva beat Betsy Ruth, Mercedes Martinez beat Ferrari, Mercedes Martinez beat Rain, Lexie Fyfe beat Leva, FINALS- Mercedes Martinez beat Lexie Fyfe

8th Annual- November 14, 2009- Minneola, FL Lace defeated Lorelei Lee, Sarona Snuka beat Rain, Betsy Ruth beat Josie (Sojournor Bolt), Kimberly beats Leva, Betsy Ruth beat Kimberly, Sarona Snuka beat Lace, FINALS- Betsy Ruth beat Sarona Snuka

Championships

Championship Current champion(s) Date won
WXW Heavyweight Championship Sugaa January 31st 2015
WXW Television Championship Mikey February 7th 2015
WCW Blast Television Championship Bo Nekoda May 30 2014
WXW Campeon Internacionale Championship Eddie Guapo June 6. 2009
WXW Cruiserweight Championship Jaxen Blade March 8, 2014
WXW Tag Team Championship The Sons Of Samoa (Afa, Jr. & L.A. Smooth) April 19, 2014
WXW Women's Championship Dynamite DiDi September 20th 2014
WXW Diamond Division Championship Niya July 20, 2014
WXW Elite Tag Team Championship Bad Intentions (AC Anderson & Havoc) May 30, 2014
WXW C4 Ultimate Heavyweight Championship Lance Anoaʻi November 2, 2013
WXW Ultimate Hybrid Championship Bo Nekoda February 1, 2014

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Umaga". SLAM! Wrestling. 2006-04-25. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  2. ↑ "Rosey". SLAM! Wrestling. 2005-10-23. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  3. ↑ Powell, Jason (2003-04-27). "Powell interviews and profiles latest WWE creative team member, Court Bauer". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  4. ↑ Shaffer, Eric. "Top Rope Productions Title Histories". Retrieved 2007-04-18.
  5. ↑ "WXW Women's ELITE 8 Tournament". Wrestlers Female. 2009-06-11. Retrieved 2010-01-10.

Further reading

External links