professional wrestling

It ends this weekend.

Three shows and that’s it. Squared Circle Wrestling will be no more after Sunday’s final show at the Pastime Athletic Club.

The remaining cards – Thursday in Binghamton; Friday in Elmira; and Sunday in Syracuse will likely not disappoint in any shape or form.

2CW always delivered with ambiance and incredible shows and matches, such as this one between Jay Freddie and Eddie Edwards. #thanks2CW

There have still been questions as to why this is happening and it’s been explained, but in the end, it’s really nobody’s business why 2CW is closing. Between the owner Josh and his management team, they made the decision to go out on top. Since the decision a few months ago, there have been different reactions from the fan base. Some condone, some are shocked, some still don’t believe it.

It’s doesn’t matter why, anyway. Reality is this – it’s happening.

Those who are fans have their own 2CW story. Mine is simple – I needed something new to take photos of and I wanted some wrestling. My first card was in Binghamton and I saw Mikey go through the flaming table, courtesy of Jason Axe. Not long after, I went through an extended bout of unemployment and 2CW was my escape from reality.

I have a lot of fond memories of this company and what it’s done. Is it sad they are ending it? Sure. But going out on top is a wonderful thing – and it gives all of us fans a chance to say a proper goodbye.

Now, though, it’s time to celebrate 2CW and what it has done. I can’t offer enough thanks to all those who have performed, but I’ll do my best. (Note to my regular readers: I don’t usually have color in my fonts, but I decided to have the 2CW colors for the “thank you” part of this post).

Thank you, Josh, for giving us great independent wrestling, making us feel part of something special, and delivering time and time again.

Thank you, Sean Carr, for growing in front of our eyes and becoming a great champion and one many of us will follow for years to come.

Thank you, Brute, for every lariat you’ve delivered. I always cringe (and enjoy) watching you send somebody sprawling.

Sean Carr’s first 2CW match was vs. Cheech … he’s made it to the top since then. #thanks2CW

Thank you, Young Bucks, for being outgoing, fun, and amazing talents who outperform pretty much everybody on every card.

Thank you, Captain our Captain, for making Gilligan’s Island cool again.

Thank you, Kevin Graham, for being that cocky old-school heel who is easy to hate but just as easy to cheer for.

Thank you, Cheech. Yes, deal with it – somebody is thanking you.

Thank you, Bin Hamin for showing us that the USA vs (insert insurgent person/country here) is still awesome and that if the character is done right, it gets over time and time again.

Thank you, Dick Justice, for defending ‘Merica.

Thank you, Eddie Edwards, for every chop you’ve delivered to make the crowd wince, yet continue to watch as you red up somebody else’s chest.

Thank you, Cherry Bomb for showing women’s wrestlers can be athletic, attractive, outgoing, and amazing athletes.

Thank you, Colin Delaney, for always putting on one of the best shows and having one of the best entrance themes out there!

Thank you, Brodie Lee, for sharing a cookie after a Binghamton card with my buddy Kevin. Well not really share, but pose for a photo anyway.

Thank you, Jason Axe, for power bombing Mikey through a flaming table at my first 2CW show. I was instantly hooked.

Thank you, Dalton Castle, for being the party peacock and … because you are just awesome.

The stars of tomorrow and legends often matched up in 2CW. #thanks2CW

Thank you, I.B. Green, or Rob Cook, or Cook … stick to a name, will ya?

Thank you, Isys, for making Weekend at Bernie’s relevant again!

Thank you, Jay Freddie, for showing that you can chase your dreams and make them reality.

Thank you, AR Fox, for defying gravity and showing athleticism like not many others.

Thank you, Isys Ephex for putting it all on the line and finding a way to keep people interested, in one shape or another.

Thank you, Gregory Iron for being an inspiration.

Thank you, Slyck Wagner Brown, for knowing how to play a crowd, and knowing even better how to perform.

Thank you, Ted Goodz, for having one of the most energetic entrances and fun-loving style out there.

Thank you, Pete D. Order for all those doughnuts you used to bring to the ring.

Thank you, Pepper Parks for putting on so many solid matches.

Thank you, Sami Callihan for the moments you’ve created in a 2CW ring.

Thank you, Kevin Steen, for being one of the best out there and always delivering.

Brute VanSlyke’s lariats are always fun to watch. #thanks2CW

Thank you, Joe Gacy, for being the chainsaw and performing at such a top-level and for being part of the 2CW history.

Thank you, Portia Perez … just because.

Thank you, 2CW fancast for giving me something to listen to and enjoy over the years.

Thank you, 2CW fans, for making every event fun because the people really can put something over the top.

Thank you, 2CW leg, just because.

As for some of the big names who’ve graced 2CW’s ring …

Thank you, Hacksa… HOOOOOOOO! USA! USA! USA! USA!

Thank you, Dudley Brothers, for passing the torch to one of the top young and talented teams in the world today.

So many to thank

There are, honestly, so many others who should be thanked. From the stars who have graced the ring, to other “local” talents who have been mainstays in the federation for so many years. I just can’t individually thank each one without becoming too repetitive. So, with that in mind allow me to thank the following:

Biff Busick, Jake and Dave Crist, Johnny Gargano, Matt Cross, Jessica Havoc, John Morrison, Davey Richards, Rich Swann, PAC, Claudio Castagnoli, Tommy Dreamer, Terry Funk, RVD, Raven, Loca Vida, Studly Steve, Michael Christopher, EMT, Jasper Whipple, Steve Cruz, Kage, Jimmy Olsen, all the referees, and anybody else I may have forgotten.

2CW has been an incredibly fun time to watch and I will miss it going forward, but at the same time, I’ll keep all these memories and know how great it was and how it was just amazing to be part of the run.

If you are reading this and have some memories you want to share or have some thanks you want to give, drop it in the comments below. I’d love to see some other people’s thoughts and such!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog@gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

And then there were three.

Three shows that is.

Some of you may remember a post I made a month or so ago about Squared Circle Wrestling, or 2CW as it is really known. The post talked about the company deciding to close its doors and go out on top.

Watertown saw the return of Sami Callihan, who had recently asked for and received his release from WWE. He left with the 2CW championship.

Many fans are still in a state of disbelief, but one thing is for sure – 2CW isn’t cashing it in for its final shows – it’s working to go out the only way fans would expect: with amazing shows filled with talented workers and great matchups.

The first of the final four shows was held in Watertown on Nov. 29. Watertown was a great leadoff to the final shows. There was great action and a lot of moments. There was magic.

Anybody who watched John Morrison vs. Matt Cross vs. Johnny Gargano will remember that match for a long time, that’s for sure. Amazing.

And Sami Callihan returning? Incredible moment. And though I may not have liked the result, it shows that 2CW can still pull people in, make them believe, make them appreciate, and make them realize how special these cards are.

The names coming to the final three shows will be awesome. I am excited to see the matches and be part of the crowd to watch these events.

Three and done.

Binghamton on Dec. 17.

Elmira on Dec. 18.

Syracuse for Dec. 20.

Then, that’s it. Just like that. I’m hitting up all three, which will give me 30 shows I’ve attended since I started following them in 2010. I wouldn’t miss these shows, that’s for sure.

Watertown was a great opening show for the final four in 2CW history.

For those of you going to the final shows, do your best to support this company. Check out the merchandise still available. Visit the tables where the wrestlers are. Thank people.

Oh, and there’s also a final magazine for the events. It’s more than 50 pages of stories and photos and history about 2CW. I had the honor to be the editor and designer for this magazine, so I hope fans find this to be something they can keep for many years to remember how great 2CW was.

I know it was one of the most challenging items I’ve worked on, but at the same time quite rewarding. I think it came out well, but I am nervous and excited to see the final product.

Watertown, though, was a great opener. Good action, some interesting results, a new champ heading into the final three shows. Binghamton, Elmira and Syracuse – get ready for some awesome action. All three shows will no doubt be something to remember.

It’ll be a fun three shows to watch. There will likely be some sad times, but it will still be an incredible time.

Bring on the final three!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

There’s an old adage that says “all good things come to an end.”

There’s another that talks about going out on top.

Both of these can basically describe the end of 2CW.

It’s been a great ride watching 2CW over the past five years.

For those who wonder what 2CW is, it stands for Squared Circle Wrestling, an independent wrestling federation based in Syracuse, New York.

Some of my regular readers know that I’m a wrestling fan. I’ve blogged about it before. There’s a lot to the world of professional wrestling — from the story telling to the athleticism, to the crowd and the personalities.

It truly is one heck of a fun atmosphere.

For those of you who might be reading this one and are thinking down on the world of professional wrestling, you might not want to read much further. This post is about celebrating one of the finest federations I’ve ever witnessed.

Finding 2CW for me was almost accidental.

In 2010, I wanted to find something different to take photos of and I had always been a fan of wrestling. A brief online search took me to a calendar of independent wrestling events and the closest was in Binghamton.

And it was 2CW.

Two of us went to the event that night. We sat about five rows back and enjoyed the night. Former ECW/WWE star Raven was on the card. We saw some amazing talent and moves. The end of the night featured somebody getting power bombed through a flaming table — which happened close enough to me so I could snap one of my favorite photos I’ve ever taken.

The flaming table.

I was hooked.

I hit a couple of other indy shows for photo purposes before getting back to 2CW. Every show I went to became better.

And then there’s my “2CW story.”

In February 2011, my position at the newspaper I was working at was cut. For the first time in my life, I was laid off and was on the job hunt. Of course, this happened in the middle of the recession, which meant finding a new job wasn’t easy. In fact, it took me 2 1/2 years to land on my feet.

But during that time, I didn’t do a lot of “entertainment things.” Spending money on that wasn’t always the brightest move. But I needed some entertainment, and 2CW was it for me. I went to many shows over that time and it allowed me to escape reality, if even for just a small window.

That’s the thing about professional wrestling. The days of kayfabe (selling it all as “real) have been long over. People know the truth about it. But to think these guys aren’t amazing athletes who can tell incredible stories … well, then you just don’t know the world of pro wrestling.

Here’s my thing when I go to an event. I know the truth. I know how things work. But for the 2-4 hours I am there, make me believe. I want to believe in the show. What’s happening. How it’s happening. Bring me into the show and make me totally lose reality.

Young up-and-comers have made their mark in 2CW.

2CW does that.

I’m an old-school wrestling fan. I cheer for the good guys. I boo the bad guys. Good over evil is always the way to go for me. There’s a few “heels” I’ll cheer for, but for the most part, I’m a fan of the “baby faces,” even though I’ll always appreciate that good heel.

I’ve had the chance to see many up-and-comers, such as Brodie Lee (now Luke Harper in WWE), Claudio Castagnoli (now Cesaro), PAC (now Neville), and Kevin Steen (now Kevin Owens). I’ve had the chance to see some amazing athletes like Eddie Edwards. There’s been some great performers like Samoa Joe. How about some of the greats like Hacksaw Jim Duggan or Terry Funk (and there’s been more that I’ve missed!).

But the talent that is grown “on the farm,” so to speak, is just as awesome. Or guys who compete in the northeast and make 2CW their home. Some of the ones I’ve been able to really enjoy over the years include people like Sean Carr, Slyck Wagner Brown, Kevin Graham, Brute Van Slyke and Jay Freddie, to name a few.

Brodie Lee made his mark in 2CW long before becoming Luke Harper in WWE.

I can get behind the 2CW faces. And the heels are great. And they bring in a good mix of big-name talent and those well-known on the indy scene.

But, as I noted above, all good things come to an end.

Recently, 2CW management announced the federation would be closing the doors, but not before three final shows at the hot spots — Watertown (Nov. 29), Binghamton (Dec. 17), and Syracuse (Dec. 20).

The group is going out on its own terms — and doing it in a way that only 2CW could do.

Pre-sales for the final shows were strong.

The names being brought in — to be mixed with their own guys — are incredible. Fans are talking. This is going to be big.

But why close? Why leave?

The group posted this on Facebook:

2CW Statement :

A few weeks ago I got together with some of the crew in 2CW to talk bluntly about the feelings I’ve been having regarding 2CW running its course and that we should end it now while we have a chance to do it on our own terms. When we began talking, it became fairly obvious that the other guys feelings, while not all exactly the same, were similar in many ways – most meaningful was that we love and respect 2CW and the 2CW audience too much to idly stand by and allow it to drag on pass the point of health and vibrancy.

At meetings end, we realized that after ten years together we were faced with a tremendous opportunity to graciously step away, united in our feeling of gratitude. 2cw ?#?2sets on Sunday, December 20th, in Syracuse will be our final show. We are thrilled and proud that our final show can be held at the Pastime Athletic Club, where 2CW began about ten years ago. We are also immensely excited about the shows in Binghamton and Watertown. These will be our final three shows together. 2CW is done. It’s been an incredible journey. We thank everyone over the years for all the love and support that you have shown us.

Cheers,
Josh
& The 2cw Crew

2CW leaves its mark

On Dec. 20, as the final card comes to an end, many will discuss the legacy of 2CW, which has lasted more than 100 cards and has been a mainstay for a decade.

It’s legacy is one of quality. As far as I’ve seen, the federation has never screwed its fans or put on crap shows. It’s all been top-notch, so it will be sad to see them shut the doors.

Kevin Steen had a long reign as 2CW champion before eventually signing with WWE.

In the indy wrestling world, the fans spoke loud by naming them the independent federation of the year for three straight years and voting one of the matches three times. This was on an “insider” website, who also reported the news of the closing recently (though, to be fair, it was almost condescending with how it reported some of the news, specifically by saying “The promotion has always had good reviews on their shows and had a pretty vibrant core fan base that went nuts during our Year-End Awards to insure their matches and events were well represented.”)

But, we don’t need to worry about things like that — instead, we focus on what we know — that 2CW is an amazing experience with fans who are loyal and passionate.

The fans who came out to support the federation knows just how good things are at a 2CW show. The fans who go time and time again know. Those who support the group know.

Honestly, that’s what matters.

Having the chance to see a great like Terry Funk was way too cool … and it happened in 2CW.

Three shows. That’s all that remains. Names are being announced. Matches are being announced (though 2CW isn’t announcing any matches for the final card — fully a surprise, which is pretty damn cool).

Front row is sold out for the final event. Tickets are selling for all three shows. If you want to see this group, make sure you get to one of these shows!

Over the five or so years I’ve followed 2CW, I’ve had the chance to make some friends. I’ve talked to many people about all of this and I’m honestly happy for them to be able to make this decision and do it without any regrets and go out on top. Not many people get the chance to make that decision.

Three shows and then it’s done.

But 2CW’s legacy as one of the finest independent federations will live on through the fans who had the chance to experience what 2CW was all about.

Note: Over the course of the next couple of months, I’ll probably have a few more posts about my experiences with 2CW and having the chance to watch so many cool things. 

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!