Saturday, December 28, 2024

2024 My Year in Wrestling!

In my 2023 year in review I stated I was not going to to try to top the 27 events I went to that year this year, but I did as I made it to 34 wrestling related events between shows and wrestling related experiences.  This is also the most events I have ever gone to in one year.  I have no expectations that in 2025 I will go to more, and I'm not going to try.

2024 by the Numbers

34 wrestling events

18 different promotions, 9 first time attending

2 different countries, 4 States, 1 new Province
US: Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, & Pennsylvania
Canada: Quebec City, Quebec

I went to shows in Maine, Mass, & PA last year, however this was the first time I've been to wrestling in New Hampshire since July 19, 2008 when I attended Front Row Wrestling in Rochester, NH.

356 Lifetime events

As I have stated in the past, it might be a bit controversial but when I'm counting my wrestling related events that I attended, I count everything that I went to because of wrestling.  For instance this year I went the Nemeth Brother's comedy show Hunkamania in Philadelphia and I count that as a wrestling related event.

January started out with two shows, the 12th with ¡Let’s Wrestle! debuting at the Fairfield Community Center.  The main event was the first ever Steel Cage match in ¡Let’s Wrestle! as Champion BRG successfully turned back the challenge of Eric Johnson.


On the 20th at Limitless Wrestling in Yarmouth the main event saw an unsanctioned match and the end of MSP as Aiden Aggro pinned The Dangerkid in 49 minutes marking the final match of The DangerKid.  

February featured two events, February 4th was the return of Mariner's Hockey with a wrestling show this time being promoted by the EWA: Eastern Wrestling Alliance.  This was first official EWA event that I have attended since their relaunch.  A stacked card with Dango, Scotty 2 Hotty, Tommy Dreamer, Colt Cabana, Shannon Moore, Heath Miller, Brian Myers and more.  

February 24th I attended Limitless Wrestling in Yarmouth with Ace vs. Sami Callihan in a street fight, and Alec Price vs. Lio Rush in a fantastic match.

March featured 1 event on the 22nd, the NAWA: North Atlantic Wrestling Association benefit show at Mt. Ararat High School in Topsham that had "Mr. USA" Tony Atlas in the main event tag teaming with Cousin Larry.

April featured  14 events two in Maine and the rest in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for IndieMania weekend!  You can read all about our Mania adventures in these 5 blog posts...


Back home in Maine, April 12th I attended NAWA at the Fairfield Community Center, that was a benefit show for the local baseball team and had a 16 person royal rumble style match.  On April 13th Limitless Wrestling in Yarmouth that had a TREMENDOUS match between Gabby Forza and Megan Bayne.  These two are must watch whenever they wrestle each other.

May had one event, back at the Fairfield Community Center on the 4th for ¡Let’s Wrestle! where BRG retained his ¡Let’s Wrestle! Championship in the Main Event against Jason Maverick.

June had one event with Limitless Wrestling on the 23rd, this time in Herman at the Morgan Hill Event Center.  AEW's Bulk Bronson teamed with Gabby Forza to defeat The Cosmic Cuties: Ava & LSG and Channing retained the Limitless Championship against Danhausen in the Maine event.  

July, also one event on the 20th with Limitless Wrestling back in Yarmouth.  The final show before the Vacationland Cup finalized the 4 competitors in the tournament and also saw Limitless Champion Channing Thomas defeat ¡Let’s Wrestle! Champion: BRG to become a double champion.

August 17th Limitless Wrestling presented The 2024 Vacationland Cup at the Colisee in Lewiston featuring their largest crowd to date of over 1,200 fans in attendance. Dezmond Cole, Gabby Forza, Alec Price, and Aaron Rourke all advanced to the finals where Cole emerged as the 2024 Vacationland Cup winner.
  

September featured two events on back to back nights.  The 20th in Worcester, Massachusetts for Big Time Wrestling featuring Sting and the 21st back in Yarmouth for Limitless Wrestling.  Big Time Wrestling was held at Polar Park and it was a pleasant evening outside.  Tommy Dreamer got the win over Channing Thomas, and Teddy Goodz pinned Danny Miles to win the BTW Championship.  Goodz would final wrestling match was that weekend.

Limitless saw their World Championship change hands as Dezmond Cole pinned Channing Thomas in the main event.  Also on the card IWTV Tag Team Champions: Fresh Air defeated fellow Canadians Le Tabernak du Team and Dijak defeated Jake Something in an awesome match.

October 4th I traveled to Palmyra for RINGWARS for their debut shows that featured matches from competing Maine Indie Companies.  On the 26th Limitless Wrestling was in Yarmouth with Fresh Blood that featured Japan based Kyushu Pro wrestlers Jet Wei and Kodai Nozaki as well as the debut of Zilla Fatu.  However the biggest betrayal saw Delmi Exo turn on her Sea Stars partner, and sister Ashley Vox to side with Paris Van Dale.

November I went to 3 events, the first on the 6th in Manchester, New Hampshire for AEW Dynamite at the SNHU Arena.  I wasn't expecting to go to an AEW show this year, they seem to keep happening in New England when I have conflicting plans.  This was their New Hampshire debut, we got a couple dark matches, a Ring of Honor match with Shibata!!  I've always wanted to see him wrestle live and I'm glad I finally was able too.  The live Dynamite was decent with Adam Cole vs. Malachi Black and The Learning Tree vs. The Conglomeration.  

Two days later on the 8th in Lowell, Mass at the Memorial Auditorium for New Japan Pro Wrestling's Fighting Spirit Unleashed.  This was the first wrestling show at the venue since NJPW in September 2019.  This was a FANTASTIC show with great matches, including a title change as the Grizzled Young Vets captured the NJPW Strong Tag Team titles.  I also met Zack Sabre Jr. before the show.

November 29th, Black Friday, I was back at the Fairfield Community Center for my 4th show of the year, and 65th overall at the venue for NAWA.

December finished the year with 4 wrestling related events.  First on the 7th in Quebec City, Quebec at the Museum of Civilization for Lutte: Quebec in the Ring exhibit.  I will be putting together a complete blog on that wonderful exhibit.  That night, also in Quebec City, we attended NSPW: North Shore Pro Wrestling: Final Chapter 2024.  



The show featured Trevor Lee, Stu Grayson  and a whole host of Canadian wrestlers.  You can read about this show in more detail at this blog post: Quebec Wrestling Adventure

December 14th was the final Limitless Wrestling event of the year in Yarmouth featuring the Limitless Rumble!  I love a good Royal Rumble match and this was the first one in Limitless Wrestling, it featured 30 competitors and was won by Channing Thomas.  Also on the show B3CCA made her return filling in for an injured Maggie Lee taking on Kylie Rae and Dezmond Cole defended the Limitless Championship against Calvin Tankman in a tremendous match. 

On the 17th I was back at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium for a double NXT taping.  I was shocked that this show as announced, but very excited to go back to Lowell and my first NXT show.  We sat in the same exact seats that we did for NJPW in November.  They opened with that evenings live show and then after taped next weeks Christmas Eve show.

Before the show we saw the D'Angelo Family across the street at Rizzo's Restaurant doing a pre-tape, we got our pictures taken with them.  On the first episode we got a fantastic Tag Team Title match and a NXT Championship match.  On the second taping I got to see Stephanie Vaquer and Charlie Dempsey wrestle two of my favorites in NXT.  This was a great show to end the year on!

I'm excited for next year and have a couple shows on deck already, 

January 12th: Limitless Wrestling in Herman

January 18th: Limitless Wrestling in Yarmouth

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books.

Until next time!

Saturday, December 21, 2024

New Grail Card Update 3! ITS COMPLETE!

As you can read from the title of this blog post, after over two and a half years I have finally completed my grail card from the 1988 NWA Wonderama set, card #339 Four Horsemen.



Please read the past blogs to get the full story on this card, especially Update Part 2.

May 17, 2022: New Grail Card
February 11, 2023: New Grail Card Update

JJ Dillon was announced to be at WrestleCade back in the Spring, after I missed out in May I put my sights on November.  I knew I wouldn't be able to go myself, it's the day after Thanksgiving, my wife's favorite holiday, and I went to WrestleCon this year. 

Thankfully good buddy Brandon lives in North Carolina and was willing to go to WrestleCade this year to get JJ Dillon to finish the card.  Brandon had already gotten Lex and David Crockett to sign it for me at last years WrestleCade.  

I've heard from so many people that JJ wasn't doing well, physically, and this just be one of if not his final conventions appearance so I sent 5 NWA Wonderama Cards for JJ to sign.  My buddy Brandon said JJ seems great, but was moving a little slow, he wouldn't be surprised if his conventions days were coming to an end.  

Brandon's wife took the great pictures of JJ signing the cards, JJ liked how I had them set on the paper with the corner holders, made it easier for him to sign them, he also talked about the images in each of the cards. 





These are the five cards that I got him to sign this go round, I would have preferred if he signed the logo card a bit smaller as I plan to get several other signatures on it.
  

These are the previous cards I already had signed by JJ so I have completed the NWA Wonderama cards featuring him, and I have that WCW card signed as well.  


Here the tally sheet on what I spend completing this card:

Purchased card on eBay May 9, 2022 cost $42.20
Arn Anderson signed June 10, 2022 cost $25
David Crockett signed November 26, 2022 cost $40
Lex Luger signed November 26, 2022 cost $40
Ric Flair signed January 15, 2023 cost $87.89
Tully Blanchard signed May 4, 2024 cost $40
JJ Dillon signed November 30, 2024 cost $25
Various Shipping Charges for mailing card: $23.40

Total cost: $323.49

I'm on the fence about getting this graded and authenticated.  I guess it depends on the cost.  I only know of 1 other card that is signed by all 6 men.

My buddy Jay & I attended the 2009 NWA Legends Fanfest in Charlotte, NC that featured a 4 Horsemen reunion.  I posted a blog about it back in 2015 and you can read that here: NWA Legends Fanfest 2009

At that convention we could get two items signed, Jay got this free program and he had Ole Anderson, Barry Windham, & Lex Luger sign it then, he found it recently and at my encouragement recommended that he finish it off.  I mean with that Ole Anderson signature if he didn't to, I would have done it.  Brandon was able to get JJ and Arn Anderson to sign it for him, he just needs to Ric Flair to finish the piece.
  

I'm very excited to have completed this card.  It feels great to have such an amazing piece in my collection.  I can't help but feel, what is next!?

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books.

Until next time!

Thursday, December 19, 2024

My Rasslin Results: November 6 - December 17, 2024

Here are the results to my last shows of the year:


November 6, 2024
AEW: All Elite Wrestling                        SNHU Arena Manchester, NH
Dark Match: Satnam Singh with Jay Lethal pinned Colt Cabana
Dark Match: Nyla Rose pinned Liviyah

Ring of Honor - aired November 7, 2024
Katsuyori Shibata pinned The Butcher

Dynamite - Live on TBS
Darby Allin & Orange Cassidy fought Death Riders: Claudio Castagnoli & PAC with Wheeler Yutah to a no contest
Fight Without Honor: The Conglomerations: Tomohiro Ishii, Mark Briscoe, & Kyle O’Reilly defeated  Ring of Honor World Champion: Chris Jericho, Big Bill & Bryan Keith when Ishii pinned Jericho
Adam Cole pinned Malakai Black
Jamie Hayter pinned Penelope Ford
Ricochet & Powerhouse Hobbs defeated The Don Callis Family: AEW International Champion: Konosuke Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher when Ricochet pinned Takeshita

Rampage - aired November 8, 2024
Hikaru Shida pinned Vivian Van
The Undisputed Era: Matt Taven & Mike Bennett defeated The Dark Order: Alex Reynolds & John Silver and The Infantry: Charlie Bravo & Shawn Dean with Trish Adora, Lee Moriarty, & Shane Taylor
Top Flight: Dante & Darius Martin with Action Andretti & Leila Gray defeated JD Drake & BEEF
Lio Rush pinned Komander with Alex Abrahantes


November 8, 2024
NJPW: New Japan Pro Wrestling     Memorial Auditorium Lowell, MA
Fighting Spirit Unleashed

IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion: David Finlay pinned Kevin Knight
Grizzled Young Vets: James Drake & Zack Gibson defeated New Japan Strong Tag Team Champions: TMDK: Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste to win the championships
Lio Rush pinned Mustafa Ali
Best 2 out of 3 Falls: The West Coast Wrecking Crew: Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs defeated Dirty Work: Fred Rosser & Tom Lawlor 2 falls to 1
1st Fall: Tables Match: Lawlor put Nelson through a table
2nd Fall: Submission Match: Isaacs submitted Rosser
3rd Fall: Last Man Standing Strap Match: Lawlor was eliminated then Rosser
New Japan Strong Women’s #1 Contender Match: Hazuki defeated Anna Jay, Koguma, and Trish Adora pinning Adora
Los Ingobernables de Japon: Openweight Champion: Shingo Tagaki & Yota Tsuji defeated The Undisputed Kingdom: Matt Taven & Mike Bennett
Ryohei Oiwa pinned KENTA
Shota Umino & Tomohiro Ishii defeated TMDK: Bad Dude Tito & IWGP World Heavyweight Champion: Zack Sabre Jr when Unimo pinned Tito
AEW International Champion: Konosuke Takeshita pinned TJP
NJPW Strong Champion: Gabe Kidd pinned Kosei Fujita


November 29, 2024
North Atlantic Wrestling Assoc. (NAWA) The Community Center     Fairfield, ME
10 Bell Salute to Tommy Savoldi
Dunky Boy Bandit pinned Dave Dyer
Alex English with Coach pinned Teddy Jaxx
Tony Atlas & Cousin Larry defeated The Holy Roller & NBK with Robert Benson the 3rd when Larry pinned NBK
JP O’Reilly pinned Samiel Matthews with Coach
Malos with Mr. Nobody pinned Stormy Savage
NAWA Champion: Hazard pinned Mark Moment with Santone


December 7, 2024
Lutte NSPW: North Shore Pro Wrestling Centre Horizon     Quebec City, QC
Red Kingdom: Azaelle & Damian Wild defeated La Sainte Trinite: Leo Harvey & PL
Triple Threat: Shawn Martel defeated Hayden Bright & Golden Greg
Dylan Donovan pinned Pee Wee with Golden Greg
Interviewer Audrey Moreau forced to the ring by Matt Falco & Claude Maloon, and attacked by Falco 
Fatal 4 Way: Matt Falco with Claude Maloon defeated Mitch Thompson, Yann Pike & Leon Saver pinning Pike 
Marko Estrada & Mike Marston defeated Diamond Dynasty: Zak Patterson & Michael Styles when Marko pinned Style
Junior Heavyweight Champion: Kristara pinned Loue O’Farrell with Vlada
South Shore Wrecking Crew: Tag Team Champions: Jack Saunders & Tom LeBlond and Giovanni defeated Michel Plante, Dani Leo & Alex Silva when Saunders pinned Plante
Matt Angel pinned Trevor Lee
NSPW Champion: Travis Toxic pinned Stu Grayson


December 14, 2024
Limitless Wrestling             AmVets Hall     Yarmouth, ME
Limitless Rumble
Four Way Scramble: Conan Lycan defeats Aiden Aggro with J-Heru and Anthony Greene and Zak Patterson when Lycan pinned Patterson
Ashley Vox & Gabby Forza defeated Delmi Exo & Paris Van Dale when Gabby pinned Van Dale
B3CCA pinned Kylie Rae
Limitless World Champion: Dezmond Cole pinned Calvin Tankman 
Limitless Rumble: Channing Thomas defeated Ace Romero, Aiden Aggro, Alexander Lee, Armani Kayos, Ashley Vox, B3CCA, Brett Ryan Gosselin, Brian Black, Bulk Bronson, Conan Lycan, Covey Christ, Dean Furnacola, Delmi Exo, Diego Alvarez, Gabby Forza, J-Heru, Jada Stone, Jariel Rivera, Love Doug, Milo Mirra, Rip Byson, Rudy Lockheart, Santa Claus, Seabass Finn, Sidney Bakabella, Tony Atlas, Troy Nelson, Tyree Taylor, Zak Patterson last eliminating Rip Byson




December 17, 2024
NXT                                                             Memorial Auditorium     Lowell, MA

Live Show

Oba Femi pinned NXT Tag Team Champion: Axiom with Nathan Frazer

Meta-Four: Jakara Jackson & Lash Legend defeated Sol Ruca & Zaria when Legend pinned Ruca

Jaida Parker with Bronco Nima & Lucien Price pinned Wren Sinclair with Myles Borne & Tavion Heights

NXT Tag Team Champions: Axiom & Nathan Frazer defeated Gallus: Mark Coffey & Wolfgang with Joe Coffey when Frazier pinned Wolfgang

Promo Segment with Ethan Page who attacked Je’Von Evans with a chair

NXT Champion: Trick Williams wrestled Eddy Thorpe to draw after a  Double Pin 


Aired December 24, 2024

Stephanie Vaquer pinned Cora Jade

Lexis King with William Regal defeated NXT Heritage Cup Champion: Charlie Dempsey with Wren Sinclair by disqualification to win the championship

The Unholy Union: Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn defeated Fatal Influence: Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx

Ashante Adonis with Nikita Lyons pinned Dion Lennox

Promo Segment with NXT Champion: Trick Williams,  Eddy Thorpe, & Oba Femi setting up a triple threat match for the title at New Years Evil 

NXT Tag Team Championship #1 Contendership Christmas Chaos Fatal Four Way: Out The Mud: Bronco Nima & Lucien Price defeated Hank And Tank: Hank Walker & Tank Ledger and No Quarter Catch Crew: Myles Borne & Tavion Heights and The D'Angelo Family: Channing Lorenzo & Luca Crusifino with NXT North American Champion: Tony D’Angelo and Andrianna Rizzo


Going to my first every NXT event and having it be a double episode taping was even better!

I have two shows lined up in January 2025 both Limitless Wrestling

12th in Herman
18th in Yarmouth

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books.

Until next time!