Looking at potential SPW Heavyweight Champions
Recently SPW created a Ballot Box asking fans who they think might win their first SPW Heavyweight Title in 2011. We here at Steeltownprowrestling.ca know that there are many viable candidates so we picked the most popular five candidates taking a look at each mans potential to win the SPW Heavyweight in the next year or two.
Ike Idol
Ike Idol’s name came up almost unanimously. Everyone we talked to had him in the top two or three candidates and not without merit. After all, Ike Idol is a 2-time SPW Provincial Champion and a former TRCW Heavyweight Champion. What most found peculiar is that despite some major victories such as defeating Bushwhacker Luke and winning the Provincial Title in a 6-way ladder match at the first anniversary show, he has never received a shot at the SPW Heavyweight Title.
The fact that he’s never been the champion yet lays squarely on the fact that he’s never even been given the chance. This of course forced our hand; we went to Dale Barnett and asked him point blank, why not. Here’s what Barnett told us:
“This has been brought up in several meetings. So far it’s simply been a matter of logistics and timing. He’s a top contender, without a doubt and he deserves a chance. Sometimes it was because he was already Provincial Champion and other times because he was already TRCW Champion. Lately he’s been distracted with an on going feud with Chi Chi Cruz. It’s not a matter of if but when and I would not be shocked if he became the champion when given the opportunity.”
It seems like the president is giving Ike Idol a huge vote of confidence. But enough with the talk already, “Iron” Ike deserves a chance and far sooner than later.
La Sombra
La Sombra was given his opportunity to become SPW Heavyweight Champion in the summer with a series of matches against Marius. He held his own and almost dethroned the champion. A former 2-time SPW Provincial Champion, La Sombra was coming off of major reconstructive knee surgery only a few months before challenging Marius for the gold. Lingering knee issues and nagging shoulder injuries often became a deciding factor in that series of matches but La Sombra showed that he had what it took.
In fact, it wasn’t until after La Sombra’s series of matches with Marius that people stood up and realized that he had all the tools necessary to become the top dog in Steeltown Pro. Coming so close to becoming champion La Sombra has apparently begun to buckle down, increasing his gym routine and training in more mat based wrestling in an effort to round out his game. From what we’ve been told by John Henry his only goal in 2011 is to win the SPW Heavyweight Title.
With a renewed focus and a clean bill of health it might be a matter of time before the SPW Heavyweight Title is securely strapped around his waist.
Rob Stardom
Since the beginning, Rob Stardom has been in the main event mix. Whether it was against Jon Cutler, Matt Fairlane or Chi Chi Cruz, Stardom is consistently at the top of the cards. When SPW crowned its first Heavyweight Champion it was Stardom that made it to the finals before succumbing to Matt Fairlane. In 2009 he won the Red River Rumble making him #1 Contended to the SPW Heavyweight Title and on four different occasions he’s held the TRCW Championship. While some are surprised that he has not yet held the SPW gold one has to look at the big picture.
Stardom purposely paved the way for his protégé, Marius, to capture the goal and together they’ve made sure that the championship has stayed there. From the very first SPW show Stardom has been grooming Marius and it’s hard to deny the quality of student Marius turned out to be. Both as a team and as singles competitors they’ve been a fixture in SPW main events.
Stardom has a who’s who list of opponents from WWE legends to international superstars. TRCW footage of a match with the late Davey Boy Smith featuring Stardom was used on WWE Confidential, allowing him to claim an appearance on WWE television. He’s wrestled all over the Midwestern United-States, has travelled up and down the winter roads, toured the Maritimes and even trained in Stu Hart’s dungeon in Calgary during a trip to the newly re-launched Stampede wrestling.
With all the credentials needed, Stardom is a sure fire candidate to be a future SPW Heavyweight Champion. Most would agree it’s a matter of time and will likely happen once Marius is finally dethroned as the champion.
Big Cliff Corleone
If 2010 was anyone’s year it was Big Cliff Corleone’s. He captured 3 different versions of tag team gold including the SPW Tag Team Titles; he wrestled former WWE superstars such as the New Age Outlaws, Bushwhacker Luke and Demolition and was named by the fans as the 2010 SPW Wrestler of the Year. Anyway you look at it, that’s an impressive list to have on your resume.
All this plus the fact that he is the biggest man in Steeltown Pro Wrestling weighing well over 300 pounds, makes him a perfect candidate as a future SPW Heavyweight Champion. Much like Ike Idol, Big Cliff has never received as a chance to win the championship which most would point out is because he’s concentrated on tag team wrestling since his SPW debut in August 2009.
What makes Big Cliff special as that while most people his size rely solely on their height and weight, Big Cliff is in solid cardiovascular condition and is well versed as a technical wrestler with the ability to execute devastating power moves. On top of that, Big Cliff rarely rests on his laurels and is always working to move forward. With plenty of accolades, his size and his ability there is no doubt that, given the chance, Big Cliff could become SPW Heavyweight Champion.
Tommy Lee Curtis
Tommy Lee Curtis quietly debuted for SPW as a last minute edition to a live event. Visiting friends backstage and introducing himself to SPW officials an opportunity opened up and TLC was quick to lace up the boots and jump in the ring on a moments notice. From there TLC became a regular fixture first in tag team competition with a regular rotation of partner from The Epic to TJ Bratt to Spanky.
A dispute with Spanky is what launched TLC into singles competition and he wasted no time making an impact. In November, TLC was given a chance to challenge Ike Idol for the SPW Provincial Title. He shocked the people in the Selkirk Memorial Hall when he defeated Idol and the fans screamed in excitement when SPW ring announcer Tom Hallick announced him as the NEW SPW Provincial Champion.
TLC’s rise through the ranks has been a rapid one but should come as no surprise considering he was trained by former WWE superstar Lance Storm. Applying what he learned from Storm, TLC has taken full advantage of every opportunity that has been offered to him. It was with that in mind that many of the people in the SPW office chose him as a dark horse of sorts to become SPW Heavyweight champion in the next year or two. If the last year is any indication that very well may become a reality.