Chock full's back and badder than ever... Or better than ever? Which ever, I'm back with a boatload of rumors, new, and all other sort of crap for you all to read!
- First up, the biggest news that came out of this month is the reopening of one of wrestling's best regional federation, Knoxville Championship Wrestling. No official roster has been announced yet, but the federation has already listed the matches for its first show on Fourth of July weekend. So far, we know that former GIW stars Russ Brady and City Jack have signed, along with newcomers DJ Superstar, David Randall, and former LWC wrestler Crazy Mohammed. From its past roster, KCW was able to bring back Billy McGraw, Hawk Sloan, and Chi Chi LeVaughn. No other word on who else has signed, but
In addition, it appears that KCW in talks with two of its former bigger stars, Stevie Scott, Michelle Bailey and Jeremy Rhodes. Scott & Rhodes have recently appeared on the last couple PWR shows while Bailey is currently signed to contract with BSCW. In addition, since KCW is one of the few feds with a tag team division, expect many applicants for the few tag spots open.
- As reported in an RCW Newswire a week ago, RCW wishes its name not be used to promote other federations or supercards that it doesn't endorse. The reason for the message stems out of the NEO-Pro-hosted "The Sky's the Limit" tournament. Among the ranks of competitors for the event is none other than RCW Super J-Crown holder Alex Ripley. If the event continues promoting/associating Ripley with RCW, expect punishment to come down on Ripley.
- Another brewing fight is the one for the name of "The Fraternity Boys". A KAWF tag team currently wrestles under the name "The Frat Boys", which could very well be in conflict with the legendary team, The Fraternity Boys [currently in UWF]. No action has been taken, but the original, UWF-home-based team holds creative control on the name and could pull the carpet out from under the fledgling KAWF team.
- A ZS reunion in the works? Possibly, from many of my sources around the country. With TORA Wanizame now accepting matches in North American again and former ZS member Takuya Nobu wrestling the Southern California indyfed PWR, there's a buzz that the two could reform the Zokogun Sangai stable. However, with Kashan Akuma and Nijikon firmly in retirement, and Frazer Fury nowhere to be seen or heard of in a number of years, there would have to be a new third member of the stable. When asked after the latest PWR show about the rumored third member being RCW top junior, HERO Ishikawa, Nobu flipped the JTF reporter off and said some things that I can't repeat in this family friendly news organization.
- Speaking of PWR, on Friday June 18th, PWR owner Todd Michaelson held a press conference - with former EMWC owner Chris Blue - to announce the formation of a new supercard event. While the name of the event - J*STAR - has drawn some rather humorous replies, the event itself has some serious matches on it. Most importantly, the top three matches from the failed EMWC Showtime X show - as voted upon by the fans of the federation - will be showcased on the event. In addition, Blue & Michaelson are accepting offers from other promotions for matches. Lastly, PWR should figure to hold a couple of matches of its more prized students.
However, a huge sticking point with this idea is that many of the former EMWC wrestlers are decidedly retired, entrenched in a contract [with, more likely than not, the supercard-hating RCW], or have soured upon Blue in all forms. As well, some of the already established federations may not want to risk their talent for the show as they already have the exposure that a J*STAR would bump them. So its not likely that the event will live up to its IIeW billing, but it should be something to behold.
- And, I just have to add, the treatment from Michaelson, Blue, and staff at the press conference towards our JTF!3K1 reporter was deplorable. In no way should the reporter - former The Fan Site and current JTF!3K1 ranker Pat Spendle - have been treated in that way for a perceived biased towards the fed. We here at JTF give it to you straight - no preferences at all. We're fair and balanced and if you've got a problem with it, well tough!
- The rumored retirement of BSCW legend and current NEO-Pro & RCW wrestler, Hannibal Carver, appears to have been a hoax. In actuality, Carver had some personal issues to attend to and, in hindsight, didn't miss one show that he was scheduled in.
- Current RCW champion, Juan Vasquez, had an incident while attending a concert in his hometown of LA a couple of weekends ago. At the Prince concert on the 3rd, fresh off his successful Caged Rage performance, almost got into another fight with a fellow concert goer. Apparently, Vasquez was enjoying the concert when he accidentally spilled his drink onto the person in front of him. Vasquez apologized, but the man wouldn't hear of it. The man offered a rather odd way of settling the arguement, but security took him away as he was shouting something about a court.
- BSCW lives! The Boston-area fed recently got a new deal for tapes and syndication, so expect the federation to start up once again in the coming week. However, due to the long layoff, expect some wrestlers [mostly those whose position in the federation where questionable in first place] to not return.
- In other federation news, the new women's wrestling federation - Wichzini Wrestling Project - has gotten a boost. For one, the federation is tied to BSCW in some financial respects, so expect WWP to get a small boost in funds from the male fed's influx of cash. As well, WWP has gone under a bit of reconstruction, which is usually a bad sign for any new promotion. But from some, the redo has gone well and they cut out some of the deadwood on the roster.
- Expect Michigan-based Great Lakes Championship Wrestling to honor the newly crowned NBA champions, Detroit Pistons, on their next Destroy All Wrestlers! show. No word on how the celebration will go down, but there could be some members of the team on hand and possibly even the championship trophy, if allowed.
Aaaaaaand that's all for this edition! Expect another Chock Full later in the week for all the recent roster movings, news, NEO-Pro restructuring, J*STAR, and Wicked Voodoo 4 news!
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