Assault Championship Wrestling

Pwcompanybox
name=Assault Championship Wrestling


acronym=ACW
established=2000
folded=2004
style=American Wrestling
location=Waterbury, Connecticut
founder=
owner=Jason Knight (2001-2004)
parent=Jason Knight Productions
sister=New England Championship Wrestling
formerly=Acid Pro Wrestling
website= [http://web.archive.org/web/20030909043210/http://assaultw.my-ehost.com/indexa.htm AssaultWrestling.com]
[http://www.acidwrestling.iwarp.com/ AcidWrestling.com] (original website)|

Assault Championship Wrestling was an American independent wrestling promotion based in Connecticut and promoted by Jason Knight, a retired wrestler and manager, during the early 2000s. The first major independent promotion to operate in Connecticut, Assault Championship Wrestling became important on the independent circuit particularly after the close of Extreme Championship Wrestling in 2002 and featured many former ECW veterans including Danny Doring, Kid Kash, Justin Credible, Little Guido, Tony DeVito, Balls Mahoney, John Kronus, Francine and Joel Gertner who acted as its commissioner. [ cite web |url=http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/articles/99954982590790.html |title=Followups on Kronik and Francine, Whipwreck, Gertner, and Taylor interviews |accessdate= |author=Martin, Calvin |authorlink= |coauthors=Bloom, Doug |date=2001-09-03 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=LordsofPain.net |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

New England Championship Wrestling, a rival promotion, often held inter-promotional events as well as allowing its champions to defend their titles at ACW cards. They also had a working arraignment with Knight's wrestling dojo. A number of independent wrestlers also made frequent appearances including Matt Stryker, Julio Dinero, Wagner Brown, Matthew Kaye, Homicide, Jeff Rocker, [ cite web |url=http://inlewd.com/exclusives/interviews/j_rocker.shtml |title=Interview: Jeff Rocker |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2002 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Inlewd.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] Scotty Charisma [ cite web |url=http://www.oklafan.com/bios/171/profile.html |title=Bios: Scotty Charisma |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work=The Oklahoma Wrestling Fan's Resource |publisher=OklaFan.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] [ cite web |url=http://www.scottycharisma.com/bio.html |title=Scotty Charisma Bio |accessdate= |author=Charisma, Scotty |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2005 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=ScottyCharisma.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] and The Backseat Boyz (Trent Acid & Johnny Kashmere). Popular female wrestlers included Mercedes Martinez, [ cite web |url=http://www.necwwrestling.com/mercedes-feature.htm |title=The Fateful Journey of Mercedes Martinez |accessdate= |author=Lapere, Shellie |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2001 |month=June |format= |work= |publisher=NECWWrestling.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] Becky Bayless, [ cite web |url=http://www.wrestlingclothesline.com/becky.htm |title=Ten Questions With ... Becky Bayless |accessdate= |author=Schwan, Brett |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2003 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=WrestlingClothesline.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] April Hunter, Nikki Roxx, Talia Madison, Ana Rocha and Angel Orsini. [ cite web |url=http://www.wrestlingclothesline.com/Top50Women2005.htm |title=2005 Top 50 Independent Women Wrestlers |accessdate= |author=Schwan, Brett |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2005 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=WrestlingClothesline.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] [ cite web |url=http://www.wrestlingclothesline.com/Top50Women2006.htm |title=2006 Top 50 Independent Women Wrestlers |accessdate= |author=Schwan, Brett |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2006 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=WrestlingClothesline.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

History

Originally established under "Acid Pro Wrestling", the promotion began operating in central Connecticut in early 2000 and held its first supercard, "The Best Things In Life Are Free!", in Waterbury, Connecticut on May 26, 2000. It also held its first televised event in Waterbury featuring Angel Orsini, Joel Gertner and Jason Knight on November 12, 2000.

The promotion would continue holding shows in Plainville, Southington, Naugatuck and Meriden, Connecticut during 2001 with appearances by Homicide, the F.B.I., Francine, Christian York, Chris Hamrick, Julio Dinero, New Jack, Chris Candido and Tammy Lynn Sytch. On April 8, 2001, an Evening Gown match between Foxxy Dreams and Missy Hyatt took place at an ACW show in East Hartford. Hyatt was originally scheduled to face another female wrestler, however Dreams took her place when Hyatt's opponent did not arrive. Although Foxxy Dreams technically defeated Hyatt after tearing off her gown, the match official Joel Gertner stopped the match and awarded the win to Hyatt deciding to change the stipulations for the winner to be the first to lose her dress. [ cite web |url=http://www.glorywrestling.com/WomensWrestlingNews/20040403_1544.asp |title=Interview with Foxxy Dreams |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2004-04-03 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=GloryWrestling.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] [ cite web |url=http://www.glorywrestling.com/News/20040908.asp |title=G.L.O.R.Y. Girl Foxxy Dreams Talks With Joe Rules |accessdate= |author=Rules, Joe |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2004-09-08 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=GloryWrestling.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

Knight had originally been the booker for the promotion, however he left to start a rival promotion after a falling out with the owners. McCaffrey, Sean. "Interview with Bulldog Blanski." DeclarationofIndependents.net. May 2003. 18 Aug. 2008 . ] After Knight took over the promotion in August 2001, the promotion was renamed Assault Championship Wrestling and followed up on the success of the previous supercard with "Second Wave" and "Hell to Pay" later that year.

In 2002, the promotion expanded holding events in New Britain and North Haven, Connecticut. The promotion also began "Jason Knight's Pro Wrestling Dojo & Gym" in nearby Wolcott, Connecticut. On August 9, 2002, Knight and several ACW wrestlers were at New England Championship Wrestling's second annual "Birthday Bash" at the Goodtimes Emporium in Somerville, Massachusetts. Knight, who was a guest commentator for iMassRadio.com, was the first ever guest celebrity to attend the event along with Traci Brooks. Students from the House of Pain Pro Wrestling school were also at the event. [ cite web |url=http://www.angelfire.com/indie/usaindy/necwnews.htm |title=New England Championship Wrestling Newsletter |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2002 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=USA Independent Wrestling |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

The following year, its main "heel" stable "La Familia" appeared on several shows with Connecticut Championship Wrestling. Although speculated that their arrival might lead to an "invasion" storyline, ACW abruptly stopped future appearances for undisclosed reasons.

In early-May, an unexpected cancellation of an outdoor show as well as its website going offline prompted internet rumors that the promotion was shutting down. This was denied by officials, specifically wrestler and part-time road agent Bulldog Blanski, who explained the show had been originally canceled due to rain and that the venue had decided to cancel its next show the following week on Mother's Day. He further explained that the website had been changing servers and announced the promotion would continue holding shows with the next event being held at Riders Cafe in Waterbury on June 6, 2003.

However, the company began suffering financial trouble during its last year and held its last event in New Britain on March 21, 2004. The card featured Chi Chi Cruz, Dances with Dudley, Tony DeVito, Scotty Charisma, Mercedes Martinez and Justin Credible in the main event.

Knight's wrestling school remained open however and, in late 2004, several former ACW mainstays including Bulldog Blanski and Mike E. Milano decided to start another promotion, Defiant Pro Wrestling. The promotion was initially successful, however it became inactive for two months the next year. Jason Knight, who appeared at its last show to begin a so-called "invasion", returned at its next show "Burning Bridges" in Southington, Connecticut on November 19, 2005. Knight would remain the top heel in the promotion as he feuded with Milano during his time with the promotion. [ cite web |url=http://www.geocities.com/superwrestlingcenter/resultsdpw191105.html |title=DPW (19.11.05) |accessdate= |author=Dolan, Adam |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2005-11-19 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Super Wrestling Center |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

Roster

References

External links

* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/assault.html Jason Knight's Assault Championship Wrestling at Online World of Wrestling]
* [http://www.metrocast.net/~jjakan/features-graveyard.html#Acid%20Pro%20Wrestling The New England Independent - The New England Indy Graveyard: Acid Pro Wrestling]