This is the complete history of our backyard wrestling federation. (Or at least what we can remember.)
The roots of the LBYWF can be traced back to Sulphur, Louisiana circa August 1996. A 13-year old wrestling fan by the name of Geoff Paul moved to Sulphur to begin his eighth grade year of school. While in school, he met a 15-year old eighth grader by the name of Jeremy Rhoades. These two young men were big fans of wrestling, and they thought that it would be fun if they began emulating what they saw on television. Granted, stories about backyard wrestling had not been shown to the public yet, but these two kids knew that others around the country had to be doing things similar. So Jeremy took on the name of JayDogg, Geoff took on the name of Guff Daddy, and they began to learn wrestling moves.
Not long after Geoff and Jeremy began wrestling, Jeremy introduced a third party - his friend Aaron Gorum, who was 11 at the time. Aaron was also an avid wrestling fan. He took the name of Coma, and now three young men were wrestling in the backyards of Sulphur, Louisiana. These three fought each other for over a year. Staging matches in Aaron and Jeremy's apartment complex yards, these three competitors began learning numerous moves. Matches involving the complex's pool were the high point of these, as the wrestlers could learn new moves without necessarily having to slam their bodies onto the ground. At this time, each wrestler began to develop specific moves and fighting styles. JayDogg began using a spear as a move, and generally brawled in matches. Guff Daddy used a Jumping DDT as a finisher, and seemed to focus more on technical maneuvers. Coma, however, chose a third route - being hardcore. Before trashcans and stop signs were popular on TV wrestling, Coma, who was drastically smaller than his two friends, decided to hit them with any object close to them. JayDogg and Coma, being closer friends, decided to team up on Guff Daddy, who was on the short side of numerous 2-on-1 encounters. At this time, the wrestlers purchased a $15 replica WWF title belt to use as a championship. They would exchange this title numerous times, all in fun.
Guff Daddy, JayDogg, and Coma continued to wrestle in the pool, around the pool, around a dumpster - again, all in fun. Around this time they decided to tape some matches between them. On one occasion, the three wrestlers and some of Geoff's friends decided to have an "event." Going to a local park, they staged an unofficial "card." They used WWF entrance themes and used socks to mark boundaries of a "ring." It was at this "event" that Guff, JayDogg, and Coma began to think of the idea of actually opening a federation - but it would take a year before this reality came to be.
1999 is probably the most important year in this history, as the federation truly began. On July 10, 1999, a handful of wrestlers came together for the first offical JBYWF(Jeremy's BackYard Wrestling Federation) Event. Jeremy Cole, AKA J.C., was crowned the first ever Cruiserweight champion. (The cruiserweight title was soon discarded.) This "belt" was made out of cardboard. Yes, a cardboard cutout in the shape of a belt with a feather on it. JayDogg defeated Quentin Cyrus, AKA Q-Ball, for the JBYWF Louisiana Intercontinental Title. This belt was also cardboard, with a drawn picture of Louisiana on it. For the tag-team titles, Guff Daddy and Q-Ball beat JayDogg and Coma. The tag-titles were two cardboard cutout belts with hands tagging. For the Hardcore Title, Coma won against JayDogg. Unfortunately, there was no Hardcore Title at the time. For the World Title (yes, the replica WWF belt from 2 years ago), Guff Daddy won a Battle Royal to become the first JBYWF Champion. More small events were staged over the cours of the next couple of months, with title changes etc. Geoff felt the need to bring in new talent - and after his signee Erik Rasmussen wrestled only one event before quitting, he found a giant wrestling fan by the name of Shane Miller. Shane liked the idea of the JBYWF, and joined as $onick. In his first event (September 21, 1999), he was the special ref for a JBYWF Title match between Guff and JayDogg. He seemed against Guff Daddy until he fast-counted JayDogg to the ground and secured the Louisiana Intercontinental Champion Guff Daddy another World Title reign! Going to hand Guff the new World Title (a kind of WCW replica title), he attacked the champ, challenged, and beat him for the LAIC title! $onick's impact grew, as he invited mutual friend Daryth "$eXXy" Carlin and formed the $Wo. Guff brought in two new wrestlers - The Commissioner Bruce Plauche' as "Fat Mexican", and Marty Lesperance as "Skinny." Guff and Skinny formed the team of T&A (yes, before Test and Albert, live with it.) The transitions of old to new belts became complete as well. As previously mentioned, there was a new World Title. The LAIC title became a newer raised WWF replica belt. The Hardcore Title was made out of the old World Title (which still is around today - although retired). The tag titles were two old-school WWF belts. The first JBYWF Pay-Per-View occurred on December 3, 1999. The event was Millenium Madness '99. Everything big happened at this event. T&A kept their tag titles. $onick and Skinny concluded their LAIC feud with Skinny winning the title. Guff took care of the Hardcore Title. The main event produced a shocker, with Guff and Skinny joining up with the $Wo!
2000 began great. The main wrestlers - JayDogg, Guff Daddy, Coma, $onick, and Fat Mexican - were joined by Benny Landry AKA Mohican Mobster (February) and Chris Stetz AKA The Punisher (March). Feuds began to develop - JayDogg vs Fat Mexican, JayDogg vs Guff Daddy, but it was in this year that Guff Daddy and Coma matches became the favorite match of choice by any JBYWF fan or wrestler. January 19, 2000 - the most remembered match in history. Guff defeated Coma for the Hardcore Title. This match featured the dumpster jump (Before) (After) and the flaming table (Before) (After). Also, Guff and Coma participated in two dumpster matches, with each competitor going into one dumpster each. Guff and Coma weren't done yet, also participating in a Lake Charles Street Fight. A turning point in federation history occurred on April 11, 2000 - the day of JBYWF Annihilation. This was the first event not held at Aaron and Jeremy's place. Annihilation (and all future events) took place at Geoff's house. This PPV was also the final event attended by JayDogg, as Jeremy would soon be moving to the other side of Louisiana, never to be heard from again. With Jeremy now gone, Geoff Paul assumed ownership of the federation, and on June 1, 2000 changed the name of the fed to the LBYWF (Louisiana BackYard Wrestling Federation.) D-Day 2000 was the first LBYWF Event, with The Punisher winning the LBYWF Title from Guff Daddy, losing it 10 minutes later, and eventually joining the $Wo. A major stopping point for the LBYWF happened on July 14 at the first ever King of the Yard. This marked the beginning of the end for the $Wo, as $onick turned on Guff Daddy. It also was the completion of Mohican Mobster's rise to glory, as he became LBYWF Champion for the first time. It sadly was the last event of the year for $onick, who also moved to the other side of Louisiana for his senior year of high school. After King of the Yard, only one LBYWF event took place - a small Wednesday Night Warfare.
2001's beginning continued a slide in the frequency and quality of LBYWF events. After a February 20 Tuesday Trauma, Fat Mexican and Mohican Mobster declared that they were leaving the federation because it wasn't fun to them anymore. Steven Black AKA Hoss, a new member to the federation, took over a more leading role in YoA's absence. Also, Eric Pine AKA Dark Angel (and later Biohazard)'s entrance, J.C. and Lord Slapnutz's returns, and the entrance of Charles Walsh AKA Sin in May padded the roster. On March 20, the LAIC and Hardcore Titles were put together to form the LBYWF Louisiana Hardcore Intercontinental Title. This belt was made because Geoff felt there to be too many titles. Hoss was the first LHIC champion. This belt lasted until July 30, when it was seperated back into the Hardcore and LAIC titles. $onick was able to attend a few of these events until his full-time return in September. During his absence wrestlers named Concussion, Chris Crisis, and The Demon came and went. In December, Mohican Mobster and Fat Mexican returned, albeit in a smaller role.
2002 started off pretty good, with Guff Daddy, Coma, $onick, Sin, and Biohazard being the main guys. Nicky Morvant (Diablo) joined earlier, and added a brawler to the events. March Mayhem III was a big event, with $onick turning heel and winning the LBYWF Title. Three days after that pay-per-view was a huge day in LBYWF history. Geoff found out about the EWF, which operated out of Lake Charles. Talks ensued, and the two federations began working together, even combining titles to create the Undisputed LBYWF/EWF Title. $onick defeated Justin Storm to become the first champion. Fat Mexican retired from the LBYWF, but Mobster stayed on. Ryan Landreneau (Justin Storm) defected from the EWF and joined the LBYWF, giving the LBYWF one hell of a technical wrestler, one whose talent rivals even $onick. Once September rolled around, various personal issues caused the LBYWF (and the EWF) to no longer have an event for the remainder of the year.
The first official event in 2003 did not happen until March, when the LBYWF's hiatus finally ended with March Madness IV, taking place among only three competitors - $onick, Guff Daddy, and Coma. The Undisputed LBYWF/EWF Title was disbanded, with Coma taking the LBYWF Title.
