key moments in spw history
volume 1
Steeltown Pro Wrestling takes a look back at some of the most important moments in SPW history. Each moment had a profound impact in SPW that served as catalysts for many different chains of events. Each moment is listed chronologically and not in order of importance.
1. The Debut Show
With the debut show in April 2008 began the story of Steeltown Pro Wrestling, a new Canadian independent wrestling promotion. Based out of Selkirk, MB the original business model was to promote bi-monthly events at the Selkirk Memorial Hall with each event being released on DVD.
The debut event saw a 35-man battle royal in the main event which served to kick-off the all important road to the SPW Heavyweight Title where a champion was set to be crowned later in the year. Many critics predicted this would be the first and last SPW event but were proved wronged when SPW returned two months later with the June event Fight for the Right.
The Debut Show is the first key moment in SPW history serving as the “big bang” for Steeltown Pro.
2. SPW iTV
During the summer of 2008 SPW set out to be different from its competition and to compliment its DVD releases and live events, Steeltown Pro launched two internet based series that would be hosted on YouTube: SPW TV and SPW BlogTV. After the initial seasons both series were combined to created SPW iTV with episodes hosted on YouTube and a newly launched SteeltownProWrestling.ca.
Featuring exclusive matches and backstage interview SPW iTV ran for 8 seasons and more than 95 episodes. Along with a regular rotation of SPW stars, SPW iTV featured superstars such as Austin Aries, Claudio Castagnoli, Rick Martel, Cody Deaner, Raven and more.
As a new promotion on the scene, regular DVD releases and a weekly internet TV series immediately set SPW apart from the competition making the launch of SPW iTV a key moment in SPW history.
3. Crowning the first SPW Heavyweight Champion
The road to the SPW Heavyweight Title began in April 2008 at the Debut Show, culminating to September 27 and the first Battle for the Belt. Two entrants qualified through battle royals, three by surviving the Fight for the Right Match, one by winning the first annual Red River Rumble and two by winning qualifying matches.
With 8 men qualified, SPW held a one night tournament to crown the inaugural champion. Entrants included: Matt Fairlane, Marius, Rob Stardom, Zack Mercury, La Sombra, Bobby Fox, Jerin Rose and Bobby J. Winning the tournament and being crowned this first ever SPW Heavyweight Champion solidified Matt Fairlane as “the face of SPW”.
With its first champion crowned and five live events now under its belt, this is surely a key moment is SPW history, going from a potential “fly by night promotion” to a full fledged wrestling company that was hear to stay.
4. The Blind Fold Match
There are very few “firsts” left in professional wrestling but when “Wild Child” Jerin Rose battled Marius in the main event of Raising the Stakes 2009 in a Blind Fold Match, it was a first in Manitoba wrestling history; never before had a Blind Fold Match been promoted in Manitoba. The Blind Fold Match represents an apex in a feud between Rose and Marius.
The feud between Rose and Marius helped establish both men as main event talent in SPW and was one of the first major feuds in SPW along with The Epic Vs La Sombra. The Marius/Rose feud led to several stipulation matches including a Signapore Cane Match, a Hardcore Match, the Blind Fold Match and a Hair Vs Hair match. It also led to an excellent series of tag team match between the teams of Marius/Rob Stardom and Jerin Rose/Matt Fairlane. This series of tag matches culminated to Marius/Stardom Vs Fairlane/Rose in June 2009 that saw legend Rick “the Model” Martel get involved.
The importance of the Blind Fold Match and the impact it had on Rose and Marius’ career make it a key moment in SPW history. Jerin Rose, one of the biggest fan favourites in SPW, would go on to win both the TRCW title and the SPW Tag Team Titles. Marius would go on to wrestle in several different areas of Canada and the United States representing Steeltown Pro Wrestling and he would become 2-time SPW Heavyweight Champion.
5. 1st Anniversary Show
After so many claims that SPW would not last more than a handful of shows, SPW threw it all back by celebrating their 1st Anniversary in front of a sold-out crowd at the Selkirk Memorial Hall. This event was celebrated in full with major match ups set to take place making the 1st Anniversary Show one of the biggest SPW events up until that point.
Marius did battle with Jerin Rose in a Hair Vs Hair Match, the Sanchez brothers went to war in a Chain Match, wrestlers from the US and Western Canada appeared, Ike Idol became SPW Provincial Champion by winning a 6-way Ladder Match and Bobby Jay challenged Matt Fairlane for the SPW Heavyweight Title in the main event.
The 1st Anniversary Show marked 1 year and 20 shows under SPW’s belt, a moment of pride that represents a key moment is SPW history.
6. Chi Chi Cruz debuts in SPW
While Chi Chi Cruz did not make his singled debut until Augusts Red River Rumble 2009, he did make a few select appearances in Battle Royals such as the SPW Fan Appreciation Day Battle Royal in Transcona, Manitoba. His singles debut at the Red River Rumble kicked off what would become the bloodiest feud in SPW history against Rob Stardom.
Over the next year Chi Chi Cruz went tooth and nail with Stardom in singles matches, chain matches, No DQ matches, Dog Collar Matches and I Quit matches. Pint after pint of blood was spilled through 2009 and 2010 in numerous Manitoba communities. But the impact of Cruz’s SPW debut isn’t limited to this feud.
Chi Chi Cruz would be involved in many greats moments including winning the SPW Heavyweight Title in March 2010, helping award the SPW Lifetime Achievement award to Ernie Rheault and Puppy Dog Peloquin, being in the main event of the 2nd Anniversary Show with his tag team partner of choice, former ECW World Champion Raven and winning the first ever Kerry Brown Memorial Tournament.
As a 25 year veteran and experience wrestling around the world against the biggest stars in the industry, Cruz was an import acquisition for SPW and its young, budding roster of wrestlers. His debut would serve as a catalyst for many more key moments in SPW history.
7. Matt Fairlane Loses the SPW Heavyweight Title
For 378 days Matt Fairlane reigned as the undisputed and uncontested SPW Heavyweight Champion. A hero in his hometown and recognized as the “face of SPW”, Matt Fairlane was SPW’s most famous and most respected wrestler. Beloved by everyone, Fairlane set the tone for what it means to be the SPW Heavyweight Champion by defending the title all over the SPW territory against top stars like WWE prospect Zack Mercury, former CMLL and current Japanese wrestling star Mentallo, “Beautiful” Bobby Jay and so many more. In fact, until October 10th, 2009 Matt Fairlane had never been defeated in a singles match, a one and a half year winning streak!
But on Saturday October 10th, 2009 all that changed with a series of events that turned SPW upside down. In the biggest main event to date, Fairlane defended the SPW Heavyweight Title against Marius, Chi Chi Cruz, Sgt. Tom Steele, TRCW Champion Jerin Rose and #1 Contender Rob Stardom. With Stardom’s help it came down to Matt Fairlane and Marius.
With Marius reeling and a referee now missing in action, SPW newcomer SYKO made his way to the ring and blasted Matt Fairlane with a steel chair. Helping Marius to his feet SYKO made his allegiance clear as Marius hoisted Fairlane up for a Peyote Piledriver on the steel chair. With a referee now present, Marius pinned Matt Fairlane to become the 2nd ever SPW Heavyweight Champion.
A shocked crowd of 250+ became eerily quiet, unsure what to make of what just happened. Silence turned to boos and jeers as the fans revolted and rejected the notion that not only did Matt Fairlane lose a match and more importantly the title but that it was done in such an unjust and dastardly way. Marius’ title win was seen as tainted and dishonourable.
After more than a year, a new era was ushered in with this key moment in SPW history.
8. 2nd Anniversary Show
Two years and almost 50 shows promoted, SPW celebrated its 2nd Anniversary in grand fashion! By this point critics no longer sounded the death knell of the promotion and in an effort to save face began to criticize SPW’s business practices all while praising other promotions for ideas introduced by SPW! Never deterred, SPW sold-out the Selkirk Memorial Hall for another anniversary celebration.
While Ike Idol lost the TRCW title, the inaugural SPW Tag Team Champions were crowned when Jerin Rose and Alex Shaver defeated 5 other teams to win the titles. Matt Fairlane defeated Big Jess to win the CEW Inter-cities Title, wrestlers from Alberta and Newfoundland appeared throughout the night and the main event saw Chi Chi Cruz team with Raven to defeat Marius and Rob Stardom in a Raven’s Rules Match.
Three title changes, wrestlers from across Canada and Raven’s SPW debut all infront of a sold-out crowd make the 2nd Anniversary Show a key moment in SPW history.
9. Matt Fairlane & Marius: Travelling Champions
Two men have helped define the SPW Heavyweight Title. Two men set out to establish the SPW Heavyweight Title as the premier championship to be held.
As SPW Heavyweight Champion, Matt Fairlane defended the title 21 times for 378 days throughout dozens of Manitoba communities and in Chanhassen, Minnesota, this first and only time that the championship has been defended outside of Canada. Marius has done much of the same with more than 30 title defences for 5 different promoters in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and more than a dozen Manitoba communities.
As champions, Fairlane and Marius took the SPW Title beyond the realm of Steeltown Pro Wrestling and far beyond the borders of what is considered SPW’s territory. Their efforts to take the SPW title beyond promotions boundaries helped elevate the importance of the championship and raised its awareness adding a sense of prestige to a relatively young championship history. Their willingness to travel as champion has set a strong example for future champions.
Each time the championship was defended outside of the SPW territory marked a key moment in SPW history.
10. SPW SHOWDOWN on Go Fight Live
After 8 seasons and 95 episodes, SPW iTV was cancelled in July 2010. In its place, SPW held a series of TV tapings, and launched SPW SHOWDOWN on GoFightLive.tv in October 2010. SPW SHOWDOWN was designed to be a 30 minute weekly series that would air every Wednesday on GoFightLive.tv, the leading distributor in on-line video content and internet Pay-Per-View for MMA, Boxing and Wrestling.
The introduction of SPW SHOWDOWN had a profound effect on SPW’s business model and marked the beginning of a new era for SPW. Each live event promoted was now made a SPW SHOWDOWN TV taping with the footage edited into 30 minute episodes. Rather than release live events on DVD, SPW began to produce a series of “Best of DVDs” as well as releasing episodes of SPW SHOWDOWN on DVD.
The change from being a live event promotion with DVD releases and weekly YouTube videos to a promotion that tapes and produces weekly episodic television was significant and marks a key moment in SPW history.
volume 2
1. The Red River Rumble
The annual Red River Rumble has always had a significant importance in the SPW calendar of events as one of the biggest shows of the year following the anniversary shows. The show is capped off with the Red River Rumble match where the winner is named #1 Contender to the SPW Heavyweight Title.
The first Red River Rumble was made memorable when 2-time ROH World Champion Austin Aries made a surprise appearance challenging Rob Stardom to a match which led to a tag team match between Stardom and Marius against Aries and recent WWE signee Jon Cutler who had just made an appearance on a live edition of WWE RAW. In the main event Matt Fairlane became the first Red River Rumble winner. Winning the match entered Fairlane into the SPW Heavyweight Title tournament that was to be held once month later.
In 2009 the Red River Rumble saw the official debuts of Chi Chi Cruz and Bad to the Bone (Reggie Gallagher and Big Cliff Corleone). Cruz would eventually win the SPW Heavyweight Title while Bad to the Bone would become SPW Tag Team Champions! In the main event, reigning TRCW champion Rob Stardom, won the Red River Rumble and was named the #1 Contender to the SPW Heavyweight Title.
During his quest to regain the SPW Heavyweight Title, Matt Fairlane won the 2010 edition that featured a star studded line-up of 2009 winner Rob Stardom, Chi Chi Cruz, Bobby Jay, wrestlers from Alberta, Newfoundland and the United States and legendary WWE tag team wrestler Bushwhacker Luke!
Each and every year the Red River Rumble contributes to key moments in SPW history.
2. Winnipeg Warfare 2008
SPW’s original plan was to promote bi-monthly shows in Selkirk, Manitoba. That plan was short lived when SPW debuted in Winnipeg, Manitoba in August 2008. SPW’s Winnipeg market debut would be the first of several events in 2008 held outside of the home base inside the walls of the Selkirk Memorial Hall. Before the end of the year SPW would promote events in Stonewall, Souris and other areas of Winnipeg.
By early 2009, SPW scaled back its Winnipeg dates in favour of touring rural Manitoba. After several months away from the city, SPW returned at the end of July 2009 with Winnipeg Warfare 2009 which would be the last Winnipeg event in 2009. SPW returned to Winnipeg in March 2010 with Winnipeg Warfare 2010 that served as a test run for a potential television taping.
The importance of SPW’s first event outside of Selkirk and the first major changes it marked in SPW’s orgininal business plan can not be understated. For these reasons, Winnipeg Warfare 2008 and its subsequent events are a key moment in SPW history.
3. Steeltown Showdown Match
The Steeltown Showdown match has become a stable in SPW. The basic premise of that match is 5 or 6 participants enter the match and wrestle to either a) eliminate the competition until you’re the lone survivor or b) win the match under one fall to a finish rules. Introduced as a mid-card attraction match, the Steeltown Showdown began to develop a reputation of “anything can happen”. In time it would become SPW’s signature match-up, a home grown creation.
At the 1st Anniversary Show in April 2009 the SPW Provincial Title changed hands during a Steeltown Showdown Ladder Match. October 2009 saw a Steeltown Showdown match between Matt Fairlane, Marius, Sgt. Tom Steele, Jerin Rose, Chi Chi Cruz and Rob Stardom where after 378 days as champion, Fairlane was defeated by Marius. In November 2009 the SPW Provincial was successfully defended by SPW Provincial Champion La Sombra in a Steeltown Showdown TLC Match. The first ever SPW Tag Team Champions were crowned in a first of its kind, a Steeltown Showdown Tag Team Match, at the 2nd Anniversary Show in April 2010. Several other Steeltown Showdown matches were contested as #1 Contender Matches and special attraction matches.
The signature that is the Steeltown Showdown Match lent its name and likeness when SPW created a newly weekly TV series: SPW SHOWDOWN. Other events used the “showdown” name including Souris Showdown in October 2008 and Selkirk Showdown in November 2010.
The Steeltown Showdown match has led to some memorable and key moments in SPW history.
4. SPW Training Academy Graduates
The SPW Training Academy has been in operation since the Debut Show in April 2008. The first batch of students began training during the summer of 2008 and continued their wrestling education well into 2009. Among the first to graduate were: Jay Lanza, Pierre North, Mr. Nasty, Shadow Xtreme and Alex Shaver. Every graduate would impact SPW in some way.
Jay Lanza would become the first graduate to win a championship, defeating DOOM to become the SPW Provincial Champion. Before winning the title Lanza was involved in a series of matches with SPW Heavyweight Champion Marius that allowed Lanza to prove that he was coming into his own and was ready for big match opportunities.
Pierre North would quickly become SPW’s chief referee and would go on to referee many of SPW’s biggest main events. He’s would also lend his voice on commentary for several episodes of SPW iTV.
Mr. Nasty formed a successful team with DOOM during his start as a regular roster member. As one of the biggest wrestlers in SPW, Mr. Nasty has proven to have the braun that’s needed to make an impact in the ring. In April 2010, Mr. Nasty had his biggest challenge to date when he faced former ECW and NWA-TNA World Champion Raven on SPW iTV.
Shadow Xtreme was always an underdog, never being given his due for having natural talent. This never stopped him from going out there and doing what he needed to do to succeed. Shadow would have a great series of match through 2008, 2009 and 2010 against Rob Stardom, Marius and Ike Idol. Along the way he wrestled on Tony Condello’s world famous “Northern Death Tour” and partnered with former WWE Stars Road Dogg and Eugene on events in Northern Manitoba.
The last graduate of the first class, Alex Shaver was written off before he even began because of size and most importantly, being a new fan of the sport of wrestling. Many thought the desire would fade and he would disappear. Shaver persevered, however, continued to train and continued to win over SPW officials with his hard work and dedication. First he became SPW’s audio expert, then he began to referee match and finally he made his in-ring debut to very little fan fare. Over time, Alex Shaver won over the fans just as he had won over SPW officials. Struggling as a singles wrestler, Shaver was taken under Jerin Rose’s wing and the two formed the tag team S ‘n R. In April 2010 S ‘n R became the first ever SPW Tag Team Champion and Shaver’s name was etched in SPW history books.
Championship reigns and main event matches makes the first SPW Training Academy Graduation a key moment in SPW history.
5. Recognition of non-SPW Championships
During the summer of 2009, SPW was approached by Top Rope Championship Wrestling regarding a TRCW reunion show that would be held outdoors. Conversations turned into official business dealings and before long the TRCW reunions became SPW Fan Appreciation Day with the highlight being a TRCW reunion which included the crowning of a new TRCW Heavyweight Champion. As part of the agreement, SPW would recognize the TRCW Championship as official title.
Winning the Main Event Rumble, Rob Stardom was crowned TRCW Champion for a third time. He reign would last a few months before he lost the championship to Jerin Rose who lost it to Ike Idol after a 5 month reign. Ike Idol would then lose the title at the SPW 2nd Anniversary Show and before long it was back around the waist of Rob Stardom for a record fourth time! During the summer of 2010, SPW quietly stopped using the TRCW Championship as they prepared to launch SPW SHOWDOWN.
In the spring of 2010 SPW was approached by promoters from Newfoundland and Alberta that represented Cutting Edge Wrestling. CEW were looking for a strong promotion to increase the visibility of their CEW Inter-cities Championship. Arrangements were made and a title match was set between champion Big Jess and Matt Fairlane at the 2nd SPW Anniversary Show. During this time SPW began officially recognizing the CEW Inter-cities Championship. Fairlane defeated Big Jess and defended the title for more than 6 months before losing it to Andrew Hawk.
Like the TRCW Championship, SPW ceases recognition of the CEW Inter-cities Championship prior to the launch of SPW SHOWDOWN on GoFightLive.tv. Two singles championships with more than a decade of history had their legacies live on through Steeltown Pro Wrestling. Promoters seeking out SPW to raise the prestige of their own championships certainly serve their purpose as key moments in SPW history and how far SPW had come since its Debut Show in April 2008.