A SAD END TO A GREAT TAG TEAM
December 2
ACE DARLING TURNED ON CHASE DEL MONTE !
credit www.ecwaprowrestling.com
By: Josh Martin
click here to read the article at the ECWA website
One has to wonder what drives a man to the brink of wanting it ALL? Such is the case of ECWA icon Ace Darling. Here is a man who has done virtually everything in his storied career with the ECWA. He has been a Heavyweight Champion, Mid Atlantic Champion, Tag Team Champion, Television Champion, and was the 1st ever Super 8 winner. He is an ECWA Hall of Famer and has been with the promotion for almost 15 years. He has wrestled legends and has taken time to mentor and train many new talents. But WHAT DRIVES A MAN TO TAKE ALL HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THROW THEM AWAY ALL IN ONE NIGHT? That's the impression ECWA fans got when they watched this popular superstar, turn on his partner Chase Del Monte for no apparent reason at our last show on November 4.
Ace Darling took young Del Monte under his wing when Chase entered the ECWA almost 2 years ago. Chase was very appreciative of Ace's help and Del Monte went on to win the ECWA Mid Atlantic title which made Darling extremely happy. As a matter of fact, Ace Darling watched Chase Del Monte become one of the most talented and charismatic members of the ECWA roster. In Darling's eyes, he was watching Chase follow in his famous footsteps and it made him very proud.
Everything was going well this year. Ace Darling continued his successful career in the ECWA and even briefly teamed with his former partner and ECWA icon, Devon Storm.Chase Del Monte grew in ring experience and became extremely popular with the fans. When the promotion started assembling teams for the "Run for the Gold-Tag Team Tournament", the team of Chase Del Monte and Ace Darling, better known as CHASE N ACE, was a sure lock to be part of the prestigious tournament where the winners would get a title shot at the current tag team champions.
During the Tournament, the popular team of CHASE N ACE went through all the competition and even gained a victory over the legendary tag team of The Valedictorians to win the "Run for the Tag Team Gold Tournament". The two were ecstatic!
Ace had done everything in the ECWA, and the thought of holding the gold once again in the promotion was first and foremost on his mind. Anyone that knows this talented legend will tell you that winning and wearing gold is a very important part of his determination and drive. He eagerly awaited the chance to once again become a tag team champion.
Chase was also very excited about winning the tournament and he knew it would be another feather in his cap if he could capture tag team gold along with a legendary performer such as Ace. Del Monte was also very excited about this because he looked at it as a way to pay back Ace Darling for helping him so much with his career.
The stage was set for November 4 when the team of CHASE N ACE got the opportunity to wrestle "Your Tag Team" - Aden Chambers and Andrew Ryker the defending ECWA Tag Team Champions. It was a tremendous Tag Team confrontation that had fans very into the match and excited about seeing who would be the winners. Many critics gave the edge to the team of CHASE N ACE, due to the experience that Darling brought to the match. It was a an edge, that Darling must have taken as a burden. He knew that he had a lot riding on his shoulders, being the icon and more experienced member of the team. By the same token, young Chase Del Monte knew he had a lot riding on this match and needed to hold up his end to prove himself to everyone, especially to his mentor, Ace Darling. Then something went terribly wrong!!!!!
To everyone's surprise, the tag Team Champions, Ryker and Chambers were able to retain their titles by pinning Del Monte. Aden Chambers and Andrew Ryker were very happy that they were able to leave the ring with their coveted titles. The fans were on their feet in appreciation of the great Tag Team Championship they had just witnessed. Young Chase Del Monte was sad as he felt that he had let down the fans, Ace Darling and more importantly himself. The look on his face told it all.
THEN IN THE BIGGEST SURPRISE OF ALL ---- ACE DARLING TURNED ON HIS PARTNER CHASE DEL MONTE!!!!
Darling then proceed to tell the ringside fans and Del Monte, his true thoughts and by the end of his ranting and raving, he was booed heavily by the fans all the way back to the dressing room. Everyone was stunned. The entire locker room watched the TV monitor in disbelief. The fans sat there stunned when it happened. And no one was in more shock and disbelief than young Chase Del Monte. He not only felt the taste of defeat and the loss of becoming a tag team champion, but he felt he let everyone down and now his friend and mentor had turned on him. After the match, Chase sat alone in the dressing room looking despondent and depressed. Darling also did not say much to everyone and let the building, with a very upset look on his face.
It was sad to see. I waited a couple of days to catch up with both contestants, but neither had any statements about what happened.
All we can tell you is that earlier this week, the ECWA offices were contacted by Ace Darling, who demanded to have a match against his former partner Chase Del Monte. Our sources have also told us that Del Monte readily accepted the challenge.
Although neither competitor has given ecwaporwrestling.com or myself a statement about what happened, we were able to gain some information from the front office about what happened and what the two former partners have on their mind.
A spokesman for the ECWA offices stated: "The match between Ace Darling and Chase Del Monte is scheduled for December 2. Ace Darling has expressed that he is extremely disappointed in Del Monte's performance during the Tag Team Championship and claims the young star tried to upstage and disrespect him during the whole time they were a tag team. He don't care about any friendship and least of all cares what others, especially what the fans think. He just wants to teach Del Monte a lesson and possibly end the youngsters career. Chase Del Monte is quite upset about Ace's actions, but seems to have gotten over the accusations and is very much looking forward to meeting his mentor and former partner one on one at the December 2 show. Chase claims he looked up to Ace Darling and never wanted this. He thinks that Darling tried to relive his own career through his own success and when it didn't go the way Ace wanted it. He snapped."
So there you have it fans, December 2 a match that will define someone's career. A bitter, veteran who demands respect from the fans, and will do anything, including turning on friends to get it, and a young appreciative rising star who just wants to get past this ugly stage in his career and move on to bigger and greater heights. It has all the makings of a great match up with a lot of emotion behind it, as young Chase Del Monte meets the icon Ace Darling on December 2.