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J-Winger 9/27/04 Last night, J-Guru and I attended a NWA-NE event. First off, I must say there's nothing like having a promotion located in your own hometown. In the last few years, I've become accustomed to 2-3 hour road trips on Friday and Saturday nights. Being able to leave an event and be home in 15 mins is a luxury in itself. We'll still be visiting Southbridge, Methuen, and Fall River, but to be able to drive down Main St. to see some pro wrestling action is a nice change of pace. But anyway, I digress. At this particular event, it was announced that the next NWA-NE event would be their annual "Tony Rubble Memorial Show". On the way home after that event, I started thinking about the people in the audience that night. I'm willing to bet that most (if not all) of the fans in attendance didn't realize that the NWA-NE was a promotion with a long and rich history. I'm willing to bet that no one in attendance even knew who the original "Boston Bad Boy" was or realized the impact he had on professional wrestling in New England. In a time when promotions come and go almost on a monthly basis, there's something to be said for a promotion that can keep it going and continue to keep independent wrestling alive and well in New England. NWA-NE is one promotion that has been a cornerstone of professional wrestling in this area for over a decade now. Now days, if a promotion lasts 3 or 4 years, it's a veteran of the indy scene. Promotions like Power League Wrestling, Eastern Wrestling Alliance, the New England Wrestling Alliance, and the All-Star Wrestling Association have been around between 8 and 12 years. It's these promotions that have stood the test of time. Because of their longevity and their dedication, professional wrestling has continued to thrive in New England. It's because of these promotions that local athletes have been able to hone their craft in the ring. It's also these promotions that have entertained the fans for years. Promotions with this kind of staying power are few and far between. One name that deserves to be listed among those above is the National Wrestling Alliance-New England. New fans might not realize that, before there was NWA-NE, there was Century Wrestling Alliance, a promotion owned and operated by the original "Boston Bad Boy" Tony Rumble. Beginning around 1992, CWA had some of the biggest names in the region. Future stars like Tommy Dreamer, Taz, and Chris Candido, former stars like Tony Atlas, Jimmy Snuka, The Iron Sheik, Honky Tonk Man, and Don Muraco, as well as local legends like Vic Steamboat, the Pink Assassin, Knuckles Nelson, and Ray Odyssey. Around 1998, Tony took the CWA and requested membership into the National Wrestling Alliance. As far as tradition goes, you can't go further into the annals of professional wrestling history than the NWA. Renamed the National Wrestling Alliance-New England, the "Boston Bad Boy" was ready to continue the tradition of professional wrestling in New England and take it into the next century. Unfortunately, Tony Rumble passed away in November 1999. NWA-NE would continue into the 21st Century, however it would have to do so without it's founder. The NWA-NE continued to host some of the most talented athletes in the region. Current stars like Rick Fuller, Luis Ortiz, Slyk Wagner Brown, Vince Vicallo, Bob Evans, and the "Boston Bad Boy" Jason Rumble have all competed in a NWA-NE ring at one time or another. And now that the NWA-NE has a new home base and a rejuvenated roster of talent, my hope is that this promotion can grow to become a major player in the NE indy wrestling scene once again. Why did I write this piece? I think part of it is my yearning for the days of old when promotions lasted more than 2 or 3 events before they folded. The days when territories ruled the professional wrestling landscape. When a promotion itself had a history; it had it's own identity. There was more to running a promotion than getting 10 wrestlers together and throwing them into the ring. Promotions had a plan. What they were doing MADE SENSE. I think there are promotions today, such as CW, NECW, WFA and others, that have the ability to stand the test of time and become true institutions in the business. Only time will tell. Professional Wrestling has a long and distinguished history. In New England, two names that are synonymous with Professional Wrestling are "NWA-NE" and "Rumble." Now, after being on hiatus for a few years, NWA-NE is back, running regularly and building a fan base in southern Maine. At the head of the line, waving the NWA-NE flag is another "Boston Bad Boy." Jason Rumble is to NWA-NE what Harley Race and Ric Flair is to NWA. My hope is that, with Rumble at the helm, NWA-NE can grow and build to become a strong promotion in New England. With a history that's already about 12 years old and counting, I just hope that history and that tradition continues for years to come. |
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