Date: October 9, 2021
Venue: Lacey Township High School
73 Haines Street
Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey 08734
Tickets: Front Row VIP $50
2nd & 3rd Row $25
General Admission $20
Parking: School Parking Lot
Merch: Jared Silberkleit Shirt- $20
Snacks: Popeye's Chicken Sandwich - $5
Pizza - $2
Chips - $1
Soda/Water - $1
Promoter: Chad Minnes
Referees: Mike Kehner
S.P. Anderson
Kevin "Thanks for the House" Keenan
Announcer: Rich Reed
Social: https://www.facebook.com/standalonewrestling
https://twitter.com/sawprowrestling
https://www.instagram.com/standalonewrestling/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFEr7vMujSIdqqEanfLpEUQ
Streaming: https://independentwrestling.tv
($9.99 per month)
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Stand Alone Wrestling was formed in 2018 by owners Chad Minnes and Preacher Finneus James. Mr. Minnes also owns and operates Pro Wrestling After Dark and Boardwalk Budz, as well as Lacey Cleaning, Inc. which provides home and office cleaning services. The promotion’s main region is the State of New Jersey, though they also hold events in Pennsylvania and Connecticut. In its brief history, Stand Alone Wrestling has featured such current stars as Danny Burch, KC Navarro, Joe Gacy and Jordan Oliver.
The event was held at Lacey Township High School which is a public high school in Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey. The school is the home of the Lacey Lions and boasts the 2018 Group II State Champion girls’ bowling team, as well as the 2005 and 2007 NJSIAA South Jersey Group III football championship runners-up. LTHS is also the alma mater of Ring of Honor and Stand Alone Wrestling star Rhett Titus.
The promotion invited me to attend the event as a member of the press which allowed me access to The Red Carpet Pre-Bang prior to the show. As the name suggests, the Red Carpet Pre-Bang is a unique kickoff show in which host Shane Fair stops each wrestler on the red carpet for an interview as they arrive at the venue. Each performer spoke about their respective matches that night and the event in general. I was able to capture some fantastic photos of performers such as Bad Company, Cruiserweight Champion Ant Bennett, Powerchild Eric Justice and more on the red carpet. Check out those photos on our Instagram page @IndyWrestlingExperience.
As fans started to enter the arena, Shane Fair and ring announcer Rich Reed took to the microphone to direct fans to a multitude of merchandise tables, raffles, and meet and greets located throughout the main area of the venue. Along the back wall, performers such as Bad Company, The Rep, and Jared Silberkleit had tables set up to sell their merchandise and interact with fans. Featured guests The bWo (The Blue Meanie and Hollywood Nova), along with AEW’s Mark Henry, Anthony Greene, and Bear Country were set up to take photos and sign autographs, as well.
In the back corner of the room, a live arcade version of the RetroMania video game was set up. Rich Reed informed the crowd that the game is now available on PS4 and Xbox One, with copies available for purchase. On top of everything else, there was a $5 raffle for a replica AEW World Championship belt, and a 50-50 drawing to benefit the Rotary Club of Forked River.
The event kicked off with a very special performance of the National Anthem by Kevin “Dr. Hurtz” Glenn on the electric guitar. Before the first match, ring announcer Rich Reed informed the crowd that May 21, 2022 marks the long-awaited debut of Stand Alone Wrestling in Connecticut as it presents Yankee Doodle Slamboree (purchase your tickets here).
MATCH #1
ANTHONY GREENE vs. JAY CURCIO
Many wrestling fans know the name Anthony Greene from his appearances on 205 Live and AEW Dark. Over the course of his career, Greene has also performed for Chaotic Wrestling, Lucky Pro Wrestling, Beyond Wrestling, Paragon Pro Wrestling and World Xtreme Wrestling, just to name a few. Greene entered after opponent Jay Curcio, who confidently strode to the ring with a sneer amidst a throng of boos from the crowd.
Anthony Greene took control early with a series of headlocks. Jay Curcio tried to use an arm drag to escape the hold, but Greene held on. Once Jay escaped, he attempted an axehandle from the middle rope, but he telegraphed the move. This gave Greene time to hit Curcio with a punch to the gut, followed by a dropkick that sent Jay Curcio out of the ring for a breather.
Greene followed Jay outside and connected with some massive chops that you could hear all over the arena. Curcio managed to force Anthony Greene face-first into the ring post, allowing Jay to get back in the ring. Greene made his way back inside, but Curcio threw him back out onto the floor. Jay took a bow to each side of the room, inciting even more jeers from the fans.
Curcio continued his onslaught with several stomps in one corner, followed by a whip to the other corner. As Curcio grabbed a headlock, the crowd began clapping in support of Greene. The cheers stopped abruptly as Curcio snatched Greene’s hair, driving him to the mat. Curcio appeared to be going for a high risk move on the top rope, but decided better of it. He gently hopped down into the ring, walked over to Greene, and casually stepped on his chest which drew even more heat from the crowd.
As the match drew to a close, Jay Curcio climbed to the top rope, only to be knocked off by Anthony Greene before he could cause any damage. Once Curcio was back on even ground, Greene hit Jay with a superkick, followed by his finisher and the one, two, three.
WINNER: ANTHONY GREENE
MATCH #2
ANT BENNETT (c) vs. MATT MACINTOSH vs. BOBBY WAYWARD
SAW CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Cruiserweight champion Ant Bennett followed his challengers, Matt Macintosh and Bobby Wayward to the ring for this Triple Threat Cruiserweight Championship match. On his way from the dressing room, Bennett made a little kid’s day as he gave the boy his flashing red LED glasses.
The action was fast and furious from the outset. None of the three competitors could gain an advantage early, leading to a stand off and a reset between the three combatants after a flurry of action. A Matt Macintosh dropkick sent Wayward out of the ring, allowing Matt to focus his attention on the champ. However, Bennett would take control only long enough for Wayward to re-enter the ring, cut Bennett off at the knees, and send Macintosh flying out of the ring onto the floor.
Wayward would take control of Ant, at one point wrapping his legs around the outside pole and slamming them into the hard steel. As Macintosh attempted to climb back in the ring, he was met with a nasty right hand from Wayward, sending Matt back onto the floor. Matt got back in the ring the second time, only to have Bobby Wayward gain the advantage on both men, going back and forth to alternate attacks on each opponent.
Seemingly gaining some momentum, Ant Bennett started a comeback with what looked like his version of Sliced Bread #2 on Bobby Wayward. The rally was cut short momentarily by Matt Macintosh, who was then pushed to the floor by Wayward. As he turned back toward Bennett, the champion surprised Wayward with a crucifix and the pin.
WINNER AND STILL CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION: ANT BENNETT
MATCH #3
KASEY CATAL (c) vs. ASPYN ROSE
SAW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Aspyn Rose, who goes by one of my favorite Twitter names ever, Taco Michinoku, strutted to the ring with neon yellow hair so bright you could see it across the room. She waited as Stand Alone Wrestling Women’s Champion Kasey Catal made her way into the arena as her fans cheered. The little girl sitting in front of me had a sign she made specifically to show her support for the champion.
Rose reached out for a supposed show of good sportsmanship, but Catal saw right through it. Kasey landed several punches to Aspyn before the two women grabbed a hold of each other’s hair. Neither letting go of the other, the fighters rolled outside the ring where Rose threw Catal into the ring post.
Back inside, Aspyn continued the punishment with a running knee followed by a DDT. As expected, Catal made her comeback. She rammed Rose’s head into the turnbuckle several times, stunning her opponent. Catal then stepped on Rose’s neck for four and half seconds, narrowly averting a disqualification.
After a running knee in the corner, followed by a pin attempt and a two count, Aspyn Rose and Kasey Catal found themselves on the mat on their knees exchanging strikes to the face. Aspyn Rose hit a stunner out of nowhere, but was shocked as Catal rolled her up for quick pin.
WINNER AND STILL WOMEN’S CHAMPION: KASEY CATAL
MATCH #4
THE REP (c) vs. THE AMAZING GRAYSONS
SAW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE MATCH
The Amazing Graysons, Tommy and J.P., along with their manager, trust fund benefactor Jared Silberkleit, entered the arena next. Silberkleit quickly took to the microphone to promise new Stand Alone Wrestling tag team champions. Silberkleit said that the current tag champs have only defended their titles against “paycheck to paycheck posers” until now. The crowd erupted for The Rep, Dave McCall and Nate Carter, who made their way out of the locker room wearing the black SAW tag belts with bright silver plates.
The match started with an exchange of dropkicks and a Dave McCall powerslam to Tommy Grayson. McCall would be whipped into the ropes where Jared Silberkleit was waiting. He pulled down the ropes just enough for McCall to fall out of the ring and onto the floor. Back between the ropes, The Graysons employed sound tag team fundamentals, cutting the ring in half and double-teaming McCall in the corner. Silberkleit also got into the mix, choking McCall on the ropes when the referee’s back was turned yet again.
Continuing with the quick tags, the Graysons maintained their advantage. At several points, they taunted Nate Carter just enough to get Carter to enter the ring, only to have the referee force him back out onto the apron. Meanwhile, the Graysons were continuing their abuse of Dave McCall. It appeared McCall was about to make the tag, but The Graysons stopped him short with a well-angled headlock to block McCall from his anxious partner.
Once Nate Carter got the tag, he stormed into the ring and cleared house with strikes to each Grayson. He amazed the crowd with a double suplex to both Tommy and J.P. at the same time! Each one of the challengers fell backward into alternating corners following the suplex. Nate Carter pumped up the crowd by pointing to each corner, asking which Grayson he should attack first. Ultimately, Carter decided to go coast to coast, splashing both men.
Carter went for a quick pin, but Jared Silberkleit grabbed the referee’s leg and pulled him out of the ring before he could count three. Silberkleit’s mood changed quickly, though, as The Rep knocked him off the apron, then hit their finisher for the win and the successful title defense.
WINNER AND STILL TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: THE REP
Before the intermission, Rich Reed called Big 80s Donnie B to the ring. Donnie thanked the crowd and said that Lacey deserved this show after the long wait due to the pandemic. Donnie encouraged the crowd to chant, “We want Mark. We want Mark” in hopes that Mark Henry would come out and address the crowd.
To no one’s surprise, the chants worked. Mark Henry thanked the Lacey Police Department and the Rotary Club of Forked River for their contributions to the community and for making the event possible. As he led the crowd in a round of applause, the Coralluzzo Collection Agency interrupted the proceedings. Mark Coralluzzo introduced himself and the members of CCA, Rhett Titus, Rik Ratchet and Traxx. Coralluzzo was owed an old debt from ECW and he was there to collect. Coralluzzo expressed an intention to eliminate the bWo once and for all as he was betting everything he owned on CCA.
As Coralluzzo’s three henchmen appeared ready to pounce on Mark Henry in the ring, The Blue Meanie, Hollywood Nova and The Powerchild Eric Justice ran out from the back to chase off the Coralluzzo Collection agency and send the show to intermission.
MATCH #5
OLD SCHOOL vs. NEW SCHOOL
BATTLE ROYAL
The Old School vs. New School Battle Royal was an action-packed way to get the fans excited again after the break. The New School team consisted of DILFboi Daltano, Blaxstrom, Jay Evans, Bad Company (Lance and Kurt Bale), and Charlie Bonifer. The Old School team was made up of Craig Steele, Vinny Cenzo, Steve Scott, Steve Off and Slayer. The crowd went wild as veteran Slayer sprinted to the ring with feverish energy, dressed in a straight jacket and led by a chain held by his handler.
From the moment the bell rang, these men pounded each other on all sides of the ring. Men were being thrown from the ring left and right until we were down to the final four wrestlers: Craig Steele, Kurt Bale, Lance, and Slayer. First out was Kurt Bale who was thrown over once but managed to skin the cat and re-enter the ring. However, he was eliminated moments later, just before his partner, Lance. threw Craig Steele over the top rope. Before you could blink and eye, Slayer came up from behind Lance and tossed him out for the win.
WINNER: SLAYER
MATCH #6
HOMICIDE vs. BRANDON KIRK
LACEY STREET FIGHT
This match was originally supposed to be Brandon Kirk vs. MLW Champion Alexander Hammerstone. Unfortunately, Hammerstone suffered an injury in his big title win a few weeks ago and was unable to appear. To say I was excited about his replacement would be an understatement. When Homicide is in the building, you know things are going to get messy.
After both men were in the ring, Brandon Kirk extended a challenge to Homicide to make this regular match into a street fight. Homicide accepted the challenge, but warned the kids in the audience, “Don’t do this at home, because I’m gonna bust him up.”
Within seconds of the opening bell, the fighters were out on the floor in the ringside area brawling. Kirk grabbed a kendo stick and gave Homicide a shot to the gut, followed by another to the back of the head. Homicide stole the kendo stick away and hit Brandon Kirk so hard that the stick broke. Kasey Catal, who escorted Kirk to the ring, jumped on Homicide and covered his eyes while Brandon berated a fan.
Kirk grabbed a metal grate from ringside and positioned it horizontally between the ring apron and the ringside barrier. Brandon laid Homicide on top of the grate and entered the ring. Kirk attempted a plancha, but Homicide moved, sending Kirk crashing into the grate. Later, amid chants of “We want tables,” Kirk went under the ring and retrieved a table, only to throw it back outside the ring just to irritate the fans.
Homicide took the opportunity to gain an advantage over Kirk. The fans recognized the next move as Homicide hit the Three Amigos on Brandon Kirk. Homicide rose to his knees, gave the well known Eddie Guerrero shoulder shimmy, then looked to the sky and wished Eddie a happy birthday.
Near the end of the match, Brandon Kirk began building something. He and Kasey Catal grabbed two chairs and a door. Kirk set the two chairs next to each other, with the door flat across the two. Soon a second set of chairs were placed on top of the door, with another door flat across the second story of this contraption. One door was accidentally knocked off as Kirk climbed to the top rope. Brandon was caught by Homicide who threw him off the top and through the one remaining door.
Kasey Catal jumped in the ring and slapped Homicide in the face. Homicide grabbed Catal and was getting her in position for Da Cop Killa when Brandon Kirk jumped in the ring and saved the women’s champion only briefly. Seconds later, Homicide hit Catal with a cutter, then hit Brandon Kirk with a cutter.
WINNER: HOMICIDE
MATCH #7
SHAWN DONAVAN (c) vs. T.J. MARCONI
STAND ALONE WRESTLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
The raucous crowd was solidly behind the Stand Alone Wrestling World Champion, Shawn Donavan in this first main event title match against challenger T. J. Marconi who started the match by quickly and intentionally exiting the ring to incite the crowd. Donavan yelled to Marconi, “Don’t be a b—-” which made the children in the audience giggle as Marconi frantically warned them to cover their ears.
Marconi continued to stall. T.J. left the ring a second time, then a third before he decided to enter the ring and engage with the champion. Donavan hit Marconi with a shoulder tackle which had little effect on the much larger Marconi. Donavan tried a second shoulder tackle with the same result. The third time, Donavan hit T.J. with a shoulder tackle and a huge right hand. Finally, Marconi was knocked off his feet.
Marconi was just able to stand up when Donavan attempted more offense. T.J. avoided the onslaught with an impressive cartwheel followed by a huge boot to the face of the champion. Marconi would later hit a second big boot to Donavan, this time keeping his foot on Donavan’s face all the way to the mat, resulting in a vicious stomp on the back end. Later, Marconi placed Donavan’s neck on the ropes and choked Donavan with his leg until the referee threatened a disqualification.
Donavan would eventually make his comeback with three splashes in the corner. He attempted what looked like an Angle Slam on the challenger. Marconi hit the mat hard as he fell straight back. Marconi tried to get the champion in a Razor’s Edge, but Shawn Donavan escaped. Donavan walloped Marconi with a running knee and a spine buster.
T.J. looked under the ring and found a table, which he brought back into the ring and set up in one corner vertically. But before he could put Donavan through the table, Marconi punched the referee, causing a disqualification. A second referee ran out from the back, but was quickly clotheslined by Marconi. A third referee was punched even harder than the first as Marconi laid out everyone in the ring.
Anthony Greene ran in from the dressing room, climbed to the top rope, and landed a flying body press on T.J. Marconi, who rolled under the bottom rope to escape. As the fans shouted their approval, Anthony Greene found the World Championship belt on the mat. Greene picked up the strap and handed it to the champion, holding onto it long enough to let Shawn Donavan know that he expected to be repaid with a title shot.
WINNER BY DQ AND STILL WORLD CHAMPION: SHAWN DONAVAN
MATCH #8
CORALLUZZO COLLECTION AGENCY vs. THE BLUE WORLD ORDER & ERIC JUSTICE
After nearly three hours of a fantastic wrestling show, it was time for the main attraction of the evening. The Coralluzzo Collection Agency arrived first, looking to collect on ECW’s debt to Mark Coralluzzo. To do that, CCA would have to go through The Blue Meanie, Hollywood Nova, and Powerchild Eric Justice. Chants of “bWo, bWo, bWo” caused Rhett Titus to yell at the fans not to cheer for the good guys.
Titus started the match against Nova, but was soon replaced by Traxx. Nova tagged in Eric Justice who went head to head with Traxx before engaging in a test of strength. Traxx kicked justice in the stomach, but neither man broke their grip on the other. The test of strength continued until Traxx attempted a second kick but missed. Justice hit Traxx with two clotheslines and a big body slam, leading Traxx to seek the aid of teammate Rik Ratchet.
Rik Ratchet entered the ring as the crowd yelled “Woo!” While doing his signature strut, the crowd buried Ratchet with chants calling for The Blue Meanie. Justice acquiesced to the fans request and tagged in the Meanie who imitated Rik’s strut then let out a “Woo!” of his own. Rik countered by making fun of The Blue Meanie’s signature dance.
Eventually, the two combatants would find themselves in a war…a thumb war. Lying flat on the mat on their stomachs, Rik Ratchet and The Meanie clasped hands, counted 1, 2, 3, 4, and off they went. The referee, not sure what to do, decided to count the thumb near-falls. Rhett Titus, fed up with this display, came in and brought an end to the hijinx.
TItus found himself back in the ring with Eric Justice before too long and gained the upper hand working Justice in the corner as the bWo tried to get the crowd behind Justice. When The Powerchild made the tag, The Blue Meanie cleared house. Unfortunately, the rally lasted only a short time, as the members of CCA triple-teamed the Blue Meanie. Rhett Titus and Rik Ratchet wrapped The Meanie’s legs around the ring post and slammed them together. Ratchet would lock in the figure four on Meanie for a moment before getting into an altercation with the referee. Rik hit the ref with a hard chop. Surprisingly, the referee countered with a chop of his own to the stunned Rik Ratchet.
Toward the end of the match, all six men entered the ring and paired off into separate corners. The bad guys looked to whip the bWo and Eric Justice to the center of the ring, but all three reversed the move and sent CCA crashing into each other. In the confusion, though, Rik Ratchet grabbed a pair of brass knuckles and leveled Nova for the pin and the apparent victory.
Mark Henry raced from the back and informed the referee that Ratchet had used an illegal foreign object. The referee restarted the match which brought the crowd to its feet. Rhett TItus went outside the ring and grabbed the decorative Halloween pumpkin from the commentary table and brought it into the ring as a weapon. Although his intended target was Nova, Titus missed and smashed the pumpkin down onto the head of Rik Ratchet who was rolled up by Nova for the pin.
WINNERS: POWERCHILD ERIC JUSTICE & THE bWo
Stand Alone Wrestling has a fan base like no other I have ever seen. They were over-the-top with excitement and energy for over three hours. Children were crowding the entrance ramp barriers for a brief glimpse of their favorite wrestlers and maybe even a high-five. The adults in the crowd were chanting all night long. It was the best kind of insanity.
Even better, and more importantly, Stand Alone Wrestling makes it known that they put on a fun event designed to appeal to fans of all ages. Ring announcer Rich Reed instructed the crowd, as the fans entered the building, not to swear, not to touch the performers, and to respect that it was a family show. The announcement set the tone for the event and led to an enjoyable evening for all.
For me, this show was a lot of fun. I drove five hours to get there and five hours back the same night. I still was not tired when I got home. I was amped from the energy of a top-notch professional wrestling show.
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