| Premiere Wrestling Alliance | |
|---|---|
| |
| Information | |
| Acronym | |
| Industry | Hardcore wrestling Puroresu Traditional wrestling |
| Headquarters | New York, New York Newark, New Jersey |
| Theme music | |
| Brands | |
| Show(s) | Premiere Wrestling TV PWA Wrestling on HBO PWA Underground |
| CEO | |
| Parent | RD Corp |
| Formerly | GWF Sunday Brunch |
| Production | |
| Established | December 27, 2009 |
| Episodes | |
| Participants | |
| Founder(s) | The Reprobate |
| Key people | |
| Owner | Red Badger Inc (2007-2008) RD Corp (2009-present) |
| President | |
| Booker(s) | Robert Garland (2007-2008) Shane Xzavery (2007-2008) Damian DeNiro (2008-2009) Rep (2008-2011) Chris Williams (2011-present) |
| Folded | |
| External links | |
| Website | Official site Message board |
| Wiki | {{{wiki}}} |
The Premiere Wrestling Alliance is a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Newark, New Jersey by The Reprobate. The promotion traces its origins to Sunday Brunch, the b-show of the GWF, created in December 2007. The brand became the successor to the GWF when it broke free in to its own promotion two years later in December 2009.
The promotion is most known for its pure approach towards an intense professional wrestling product. Though the group does extremely well in pay-per-view buys and television ratings, they mostly run smaller, intimate buildings to make for a fight club atmosphere. The group has showcased many different international styles of professional wrestling, ranging from puroresu to southern-style and technical wrestling, to hardcore wrestling.
The promotion is mostly an ungoverned land, leaving the wrestlers to fight it out to decide title contenders and champions. This leads to a mostly unpredictable aura of a show, and the promotion is known to make use of many surprise appearances from past and present stars of the GWF and other companies. The promotion has been cited as one of the more original and inventive groups of the past decade.
History[]
Sunday Brunch and secession from GWF[]
Originally a second brand in the GameFAQs Wrestling Federation called Sunday Brunch, it was created and established by Robert Garland in late 2007. The brand was pitched as a weekly wrestling show, to showcase newer talent. A development camp hybrid, where young wrestlers went to start their careers, get noticed and get a good spot on the main roster, it was an initial success with the help of then-FNB stars making appearances and putting the newer wrestlers over.
Eventually the show grew to become a massive success, even outdrawing the main FNB show in viewers, buyrates and popular stars. The show would have become the a-show of the GWF had management not pulled the plug on the company. The show was forced in to cancellation when the GWF ceased operation in an ugly closing battle between the FNB bookers and the Sunday Brunch staff.
After the well received Sunday Brunch Anniversary Show, held seven months after closing in March 2009, the main booker The Reprobate found enough money to put in to a Brunch spin off project. The promotion was reinvented as the Premiere Wrestling Alliance and it was announced that they would begin running events in January 2010, three years following the beginning of Brunch.
Television syndication and deal with HBO[]
The original PWA logo.
Premiere Wrestling Television started running on January 10, 2010. The show was broadcast from taped events on the 10th and 20th of every month. PWA ran their first pay-per-view event, Chapter 2, on January 31, 2010. They now run pay-per-view events through HBO on January, March, May, August, September and November. On months without a pay-per-view, a television supercard event is held.
The HBO corporation regularly gives the promotion a large amount of money, due to the expensive budget of setting up arenas, purchasing production equipment and paying talent. Although the PWA is known for their simplistic production, notably not incorporating large stages and bright lights as the WWE or TNA does, critics suggest that the PWA's set up is far more beneficial to the wrestling aspect. "We've never used pyro, the lights shine only on the ring," stated a backstage worker. "Dim lights are set up over the stage, strobe lights are placed on the sides of the stage. The set up is mostly comparable to a boxing event or the UFC, which matches the highly physical product."
Pay-per-view success and financial woes[]
In May 2010, the PWA dropped their syndicated television and opted to take up an offer with HBO, to broadcast three uncensored events a month. The final event of the month was a pay-per-view sized show. The PWA put on Capital Punishment under this system, and the event was a major success and the biggest show the PWA had put on thus far. Chris Williams remained the reigning PWA World Heavyweight champion for six months, becoming the longest reigning champion with the largest number of successful defenses.
The PWA's "chain-link" logo, still occasionally used to this day.
In mid-2010, the company found itself in financial strain. Despite selling out arenas and crossing over to the video game and music industry, the company was losing money because of the system in which pay-per-view revenue circulates. The company was owed thousands of dollars by HBO for pay-per-view events held since April. The lack of funds was one of the primary reasons for the PWA and HBO's split. Immediately following the split, the PWA and iNDemand came to an agreement to distribute pay-per-views. Shortly thereafter, following a search for a national network, the PWA found it in Fox Sports Net, and the program was set to begin running in January 2011.
During the time of the money crisis, the company gained quite a bit of media attention when Chris Williams lost the World Heavyweight championship in controversial fashion to Roc Anderson. That following month, Joseph Appice won the World Interbrand championship from Anderson, marking the shortest amount of time between singles title changes in PWA history.
Rebound, one year anniversary and internet popularity[]
The promotion dug themselves out of debt by abandoning their minimalist schedule, and pumped out three back-to-back monthly pay-per-views in the process. The money from the pay-per-views did a lot to aid the PWA's financial debt, and the company successfully stayed afloat through November. In the build up to their first full year as an independent promotion, the company posted their planned 2011 event schedule on their official website.
The company's slight change of direction from hardcore wrestling to technical wrestling, as well as the new division rules for all championship divisions, was a major factor in the internet taking even more notice of PWA than before. The 2011 schedule would plan Supercards to be broadcast on the internet every month, with national pay-per-view events being held tri-monthly.
Championships, accomplishments and information[]
Current champions[]
- PWA World Heavyweight Championship
- Michael Smart, since January 1, 2011 at New Year's Rotten Eve
- Defeated Roc Anderson, 1 successful defense
- PWA World Interbrand Championship
- Joseph Appice, since October 31, 2010 at Obscene Halloween
- Defeated Roc Anderson, 7 successful defenses
- PWA World Tag Team Championship
- Johnny Blaze and Osiris, since December 31, 2010 at a House show
- Defeated Michael Smart and Chris Williams, 1 successful defense
Other accomplishments[]
- Survival of the Sickest
- Roc Anderson on September 6, 2010 at Dead End 2
Broadcasters[]
| Announcers: | Tenure: | Programs: |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Baily and West Newhaven | December 28, 2007 - August 6, 2008 December 27, 2009 - Present |
Sunday Brunch, Pay-per-view PWA TV, PWA on HBO, Pay-per-view |
| Matt Baily and The Dan | August 6, 2008 - April 5, 2009 | Sunday Brunch, Pay-per-view |
| Matt Baily and Mark Snider | May 31, 2010 - September 6, 2010 | PWA on HBO, Pay-per-view |
| Matt Baily and Lala McKnight | September 6, 2010 - Present | PWA Underground, Pay-per-view |
Bookers[]
| Booker: | Tenure: |
|---|---|
| Robert Garland | December 28, 2007 - June 2008 |
| Shane Xzavery | December 28, 2007 - August 3, 2008 |
| The Reprobate | July 16, 2008 - April 5, 2009 December 27, 2009 - February 14, 2011 |
| Damian DeNiro | August 3, 2008 - March 22, 2009 |
| Chris Williams | February 14, 2011 - Present |
Roster[]
Current roster[]
- Roc Anderson
- Joseph Appice
- Johnny Blaze
- Kennedy Carson
- Spencer Cruise
- The Dan
- Tony D'Angeli
- Dante DeNucci
- Mint E Fresh
- Christina Hernandez
- Darrius T. Jackson
- Monty James
- Josh the Jersey Boy
- The Glasgow Mauler
- Lala McKnight
- Eddie Nash
- Osiris
- Douglas Ozzy
- The Reprobate
- Smark Robinson
- Angelo Samuels
- Xavier Serikaz
- Daniel Smart
- Michael Smart
- The Superbeast
- TJ
- Trina
- Constantine Valentine
- Gene Van Tyler
- Dan White
- Chris Williams
- XS3
- Shane Xzavery
Roster alumni[]
| Wrestler: | Tenure: |
|---|---|
| Adam Leos | February 22, 2008 - August 18, 2008 |
| Adrian Willard | March 20, 2010 - March 31, 2010 |
| Aku Samui | January 31, 2010 - May 20, 2010 |
| Alan Christopher | February 20, 2010 - February 28, 2010 |
| Andrew Franklin | January 31, 2010 - June 10, 2010 |
| Angelo Samuels | May 20, 2010 - June 23, 2010 October 16, 2010 - Present |
| Austin Tank | April 2010 |
| Austin Virgo | May 20, 2010 - June 20, 2010 October 16, 2010 - Present |
| The Canadian Kid | May 20, 2010 - June 20, 2010 |
| Casper Valentine | February 20, 2010 - February 28, 2010 |
| Chris Williams | January 10, 2010 - Present |
| Christina Hernandez | January 20, 2010 - Present |
| Damian DeNiro | November 4, 2007 - March 22, 2009 May 31, 2010 - June 20, 2010 |
| The Dan | January 10, 2010 - Present |
| Daniel Smart | January 10, 2010 - Present |
| Dante DeNucci | December 18, 2010 - Present |
| Darrius T. Jackson | June 20, 2010 - Present |
| Falcon McKenzie | December 23, 2007 - March 22, 2009 |
| Flap Benevolence | May 31, 2010 - June 10, 2010 |
| Frank Washington | January 31, 2010 - July 31, 2010 |
| The Glasgow Mauler | July 25, 2010 - Present |
| Jacob DaMeaco | March 2010 |
| James Murphy | June 30, 2010 - September 6, 2010 |
| Jeff Jones | June 20, 2010 - October 31, 2010 |
| Johnny Blaze | October 31, 2010 - Present |
| Joseph Appice | May 20, 2010 - Present |
| Josh the Jersey Boy | February 20, 2010 - Present |
| Kayla McKnight | June 10, 2010 - Present |
| Kennedy Carson | July 10, 2010 - Present |
| Kevin McAuliffe | June 30, 2010 - Present |
| The Lost Crow | January 10, 2010 - February 28, 2010 |
| Malicious | January 10, 2010 - February 28, 2010 |
| Michael Smart | January 10, 2010 - April 30, 2010 June 30, 2010 - Present |
| Mikaru Daiety | May 31, 2010 - June 30, 2010 |
| Mikey Bennett | January 31, 2010 - February 28, 2010 |
| Mint E. Fresh | March 22, 2009 - April 5, 2009 November 28, 2010 - Present |
| Monty James | May 20, 2010 - November 3, 2010 |
| Osiris | November 28, 2010 - Present |
| The Punisher | May 31, 2010 - June 20, 2010 |
| Rain | May 31, 2008 - March 22, 2009 |
| Rayn | February 28, 2010 - July 25, 2010 |
| The Reprobate | April 20, 2008 - April 5, 2009 January 10, 2010 - Present |
| Robert Garland | January 10, 2010 - June 30, 2010 |
| Roc Anderson | June 1, 2008 - April 5, 2009 January 10, 2010 - Present |
| Ross Lambert | January 10, 2010 - February 10, 2010 |
| Scoot Williams | January 31, 2010 - February 10, 2010 |
| Seth Eron | June 30, 2010 - July 10, 2010 |
| Shane Xzavery | January 10, 2010 - March 31, 2010 |
| Shelton Splash | June 20, 2010 - November 3, 2010 |
| Tony D'Angeli | November 28, 2010 - Present |
| TJ | June 20, 2010 - July 25, 2010 |
Tag Teams[]
| Team: | Tenure: |
|---|---|
| Angelo Samuels and Darrius T. Jackson | June 10, 2010 - Present |
| The Alliance of Defiance (Monty James and Jeff Jones) | June 20, 2010 - November 3, 2010 |
| Constantine Valentine and Dante DeNucci | January 15, 2011 - Present |
| Damian DeNiro and XO Malone | June 6, 2008 - August 8, 2008 |
| James Murphy and Kevin McAuliffe | June 30, 2010 - September 6, 2010 |
| Johnny Blaze and Osiris | November 28, 2010 - Present |
| Josh the Jersey Boy and The Glasgow Mauler | July 25, 2010 - Present |
| Michael Smart and Chris Williams | October 31, 2010 - December 31, 2010 |
| The Reprobate and Damian DeNiro | May 16, 2008 - April 5, 2009 |
| Robert Garland and Shane Xzavery | January 10, 2010 - March 31, 2010 |
| Stan Vishis and Baron Trotter | June 1, 2008 - April 5, 2009 October 21, 2010 |
Groups[]
| Group name: | Members: | Tenure: |
|---|---|---|
| Anderson's Crew | Roc Anderson, Christina Hernandez, Malicious, Casper Valentine | January 31, 2010 - March 10, 2010 |
| Anderson's Crew | Roc Anderson, Lala McKnight, West Newhaven | July 31, 2010 - January 15, 2010 |
| HBO | West Newhaven, Angelo Samuels, Darrius T. Jackson | June 10, 2010 - September 6, 2010 |
| The Movement | Damian DeNiro, The Reprobate and Stan Vishis | August 8, 2008 - April 5, 2009 |
| The New Movement | Osiris, Johnny Blaze, Tone E. D'Angeli, Mint E. Fresh, Trina | November 28, 2010 - Present |
| Trifecta | Michael Smart, James Murphy, Kevin McAuliffe | June 30, 2010 - September 6, 2010 |
Staff[]
| Employee: | Tenure: | Job title: |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Storm | January 10, 2010 - Present | Color commentator Trainer |
| Dick Hertz | January 10, 2010 - Present | Referee |
| Jack Oz | January 20, 2010 - Present | Referee |
| Jose Vega | June 20, 2010 - Present | Interviewer Referee |
| Lala McKnight | June 20, 2010 - Present | Associate producer Color commentator |
| Malicious | January 10, 2010 - Present | Head of security |
| Mark Snider | January 20, 2010 - Present | Color commentator Referee |
| Matt Baily | December 29, 2007 - April 5, 2009 January 10, 2010 - Present |
Lead play-by-play announcer |
| The Reprobate | April 20, 2008 - April 5, 2009 January 10, 2010 - Present |
Color commentator Executive producer Head booker |
| Dr. Stu Costello | December 29, 2010 - Present | Company doctor |
| West Newhaven | December 29, 2007 - August 6, 2008 January 10, 2010 - Present |
Color commentator Director of Television Interim booker |
See also[]
External links[]
| Premiere Wrestling Alliance | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information | ||||
| Championships | PWA World Heavyweight championship • PWA World Interbrand championship • PWA World Tag Team championship | |||
| Television | Premiere Wrestling Television • PWA Wrestling on HBO • PWA Underground | |||
| Pay-Per-Views | Chapter 2 • New Year's Rotten Eve • Life Sentence • Five Year Anniversary • Capital Punishment • Dead End • Obscene Halloween • Destiny Fulfilled | |||
| Supercards | Valentine's Venom • Chicago Style • Ultimate Decision • Anniversary Show • International Incident • Gang Wars • Going Back to Cali • Locked 'N Loaded • Big Apple Street Fight • Chicago Style Christmas | |||
| See also | List of PWA Alumni • List of PWA Events • List of PWA Music | |||