John
04-15-2009, 04:59 PM
IT amazes me how, almost a decade after its heyday, the converted bingo hall that sits at the corner of Swanson and Ritner Streets in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is still considered one of the most famous wrestling arenas in the world.
Initially named "Viking Hall," the place that was christened "The ECW Arena" became the legendary smoke-filled warehouse that played home to some of the most memorable moments in the history of the original ECW, most notably the indescribably emotional Barely Legal pay-per-view on April 13, 1997.
The fact that people flew in from all over the world to see shows at this rundown, old school, four-wall hell hole never surprised me.
The building itself had character. It had its own very unique charisma. You weren't walking into just any old venue. You were walking into a house where something special really could happen, and often did.
What to this day surprises me is how many people have tried to recapture that magic simply by booking a show at that building, and thinking it'll be the same as it used to be.
You can't go home again. But Holy Hardcore, Batman...everyone certainly tried.
ECW founder Tod Gordon tried with Main Event Championship Wrestling and with Jasmin St. Claire's 3PW promotion. Porn impresario Rob Black and Shane Douglas tried with XPW. Court Bauer tried with Major League Wrestling.
Bad arse security guru Ronnie Lang also missed the action – opening up a promotion built around several ECW originals – but never ran a second show.
Former ECW CEO Steve Karel tried with a Womens' Extreme group.TNA's Jeremy Borash capitalised on WWE's 2005 "One Night Stand" reunion with the well-received "Hardcore Homecoming" show, but then tried to come back for more, which didn't work.
Oh, and lest I forget – even WWE Chairman Vince McMahon's vision of a global ECW tried to return to the hallowed halls of the ECW Arena shortly after the brand's relaunch in 2006.
Although Rob Van Dam and Kurt Angle tore the house down in the main event, the show proved the magic was not going to be recaptured.
The list goes on and on. It still goes on today, with people trying to recapture a magic that was a convergence of time, talent, atmosphere, and popular culture.
Just this past week, a newsworthy event happened at the venue, which is now simply known as "The Arena." Ric Flair made his 1st appearance there.
The Ring of Honor promotion, with its new-found opportunity of being broadcast by billionaire Mark Cuban's HDNet, decided to tape its weekly television shows in South Philly's very own mecca of professional wrestling.
Apparently realising the historical significance of Flair's first-ever venture into the place where in 1994 the chant "Flair is Dead" became both famous and infamous, former WWE writer David Lagana – who now helps coordinate the ROH TV tapings for HDNet – made sure Flair was going to acknowledge The Arena's heritage, and The Nature Boy got a huge reaction with his surprising mention of the original ECW during his in-ring promo.
ROH, the only promotion that rose from the ashes of ECW that made the smart move to seek out a style of its own and not try to be "The Next ECW," is still trying to service the needs of the niche audience.
Clearly positioning itself as a boutique promotion with an "all-action" alternative to World Wrestling Entertainment and its SpikeTV WWE-Wannabe promotion TNA, Ring of Honor is doing everything it can to create an exciting, dare I say "magical" atmosphere around their new television opportunity.
But now, The Arena may play host to a very interesting promotional battle that will surely see two leagues do everything they can to capture the attention – and the spending dollars – of the South Philly faithful.
Gabe Sapolsky, the former ROH head writer – and, as a matter of disclosure, a Philly-based assistant of mine for several years when I owned the original ECW – has been named the Vice President of Dragon Gate USA, the American touring company that will feature the stars of the high flying promotion in Japan.
It features such favorites as Cima, a protege of Ultimo Dragon and the master of some of the most innovative submissions in sports entertainment Dragon Kid.
Some would argue Kid has risen through the ranks to become – much like Asai was in his day – not only a spectacular wrestler, but also the finest technical masked grappler in the world.
Dragon Gate has an opportunity to bring to the United States a style that combines wild acrobatics like lucha libre, awesome submission wrestling, and great characters that appeal to a cool young audience.
While the names Shingo, and Naruki Doi, and Masato Yoshino may not be on the tips of the tongues of today's Philly crowd, these amazing performers are gearing up to stake a claim in the Cheese Steak Capital of the World.
There's obviously bad blood between ROH and its former head writer, and Sapolsky threw himself right into the battle by booking Dragon Gate USA's debut show not in New York, not in Chicago, not in Miami, not in Los Angeles. Nope. Want to take a guess?
BINGO!
Sapolsky booked the 1st show, scheduled for July 25th, in Philadelphia.
South Philadelphia, to be exact. Corner of Swanson and Ritner. Yup, Dragon Gate USA is going to debut at The Arena.
So now Philadelphia is about to become the battle ground for the niche promotions.
It's the seven-year old ROH promotion, trying to market itself as the "action alternative," offer itself as a "quality product," and establish itself as a legit player through its association not only with Mark Cuban and HDNet, but also by being endorsed by Ric Flair himself.
And it's the young, hot Dragon Gate promotion, looking to expand from its Japanese base, hoping to create a reputation as being the most exciting brand available to the pro wrestling consumer anywhere on the planet.
As Joey Styles may have enthusiastically declared ten years ago, "Oh My God!"
The Arena is about to get EXTREME!
Initially named "Viking Hall," the place that was christened "The ECW Arena" became the legendary smoke-filled warehouse that played home to some of the most memorable moments in the history of the original ECW, most notably the indescribably emotional Barely Legal pay-per-view on April 13, 1997.
The fact that people flew in from all over the world to see shows at this rundown, old school, four-wall hell hole never surprised me.
The building itself had character. It had its own very unique charisma. You weren't walking into just any old venue. You were walking into a house where something special really could happen, and often did.
What to this day surprises me is how many people have tried to recapture that magic simply by booking a show at that building, and thinking it'll be the same as it used to be.
You can't go home again. But Holy Hardcore, Batman...everyone certainly tried.
ECW founder Tod Gordon tried with Main Event Championship Wrestling and with Jasmin St. Claire's 3PW promotion. Porn impresario Rob Black and Shane Douglas tried with XPW. Court Bauer tried with Major League Wrestling.
Bad arse security guru Ronnie Lang also missed the action – opening up a promotion built around several ECW originals – but never ran a second show.
Former ECW CEO Steve Karel tried with a Womens' Extreme group.TNA's Jeremy Borash capitalised on WWE's 2005 "One Night Stand" reunion with the well-received "Hardcore Homecoming" show, but then tried to come back for more, which didn't work.
Oh, and lest I forget – even WWE Chairman Vince McMahon's vision of a global ECW tried to return to the hallowed halls of the ECW Arena shortly after the brand's relaunch in 2006.
Although Rob Van Dam and Kurt Angle tore the house down in the main event, the show proved the magic was not going to be recaptured.
The list goes on and on. It still goes on today, with people trying to recapture a magic that was a convergence of time, talent, atmosphere, and popular culture.
Just this past week, a newsworthy event happened at the venue, which is now simply known as "The Arena." Ric Flair made his 1st appearance there.
The Ring of Honor promotion, with its new-found opportunity of being broadcast by billionaire Mark Cuban's HDNet, decided to tape its weekly television shows in South Philly's very own mecca of professional wrestling.
Apparently realising the historical significance of Flair's first-ever venture into the place where in 1994 the chant "Flair is Dead" became both famous and infamous, former WWE writer David Lagana – who now helps coordinate the ROH TV tapings for HDNet – made sure Flair was going to acknowledge The Arena's heritage, and The Nature Boy got a huge reaction with his surprising mention of the original ECW during his in-ring promo.
ROH, the only promotion that rose from the ashes of ECW that made the smart move to seek out a style of its own and not try to be "The Next ECW," is still trying to service the needs of the niche audience.
Clearly positioning itself as a boutique promotion with an "all-action" alternative to World Wrestling Entertainment and its SpikeTV WWE-Wannabe promotion TNA, Ring of Honor is doing everything it can to create an exciting, dare I say "magical" atmosphere around their new television opportunity.
But now, The Arena may play host to a very interesting promotional battle that will surely see two leagues do everything they can to capture the attention – and the spending dollars – of the South Philly faithful.
Gabe Sapolsky, the former ROH head writer – and, as a matter of disclosure, a Philly-based assistant of mine for several years when I owned the original ECW – has been named the Vice President of Dragon Gate USA, the American touring company that will feature the stars of the high flying promotion in Japan.
It features such favorites as Cima, a protege of Ultimo Dragon and the master of some of the most innovative submissions in sports entertainment Dragon Kid.
Some would argue Kid has risen through the ranks to become – much like Asai was in his day – not only a spectacular wrestler, but also the finest technical masked grappler in the world.
Dragon Gate has an opportunity to bring to the United States a style that combines wild acrobatics like lucha libre, awesome submission wrestling, and great characters that appeal to a cool young audience.
While the names Shingo, and Naruki Doi, and Masato Yoshino may not be on the tips of the tongues of today's Philly crowd, these amazing performers are gearing up to stake a claim in the Cheese Steak Capital of the World.
There's obviously bad blood between ROH and its former head writer, and Sapolsky threw himself right into the battle by booking Dragon Gate USA's debut show not in New York, not in Chicago, not in Miami, not in Los Angeles. Nope. Want to take a guess?
BINGO!
Sapolsky booked the 1st show, scheduled for July 25th, in Philadelphia.
South Philadelphia, to be exact. Corner of Swanson and Ritner. Yup, Dragon Gate USA is going to debut at The Arena.
So now Philadelphia is about to become the battle ground for the niche promotions.
It's the seven-year old ROH promotion, trying to market itself as the "action alternative," offer itself as a "quality product," and establish itself as a legit player through its association not only with Mark Cuban and HDNet, but also by being endorsed by Ric Flair himself.
And it's the young, hot Dragon Gate promotion, looking to expand from its Japanese base, hoping to create a reputation as being the most exciting brand available to the pro wrestling consumer anywhere on the planet.
As Joey Styles may have enthusiastically declared ten years ago, "Oh My God!"
The Arena is about to get EXTREME!