Date: December 18, 2021
Venue: 2300 Arena
2300 South Swanson Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19148
Tickets: VIP $60
Premium $50
Reserved $40
General Admission $35
Parking: Lot behind building
Street Parking
Merch: Erick Redbeard Photo $20
Britt Baker Poster $10
Snacks: Chicken Sandwich $8
Nachos $6
Hot Dogs $3
Chips/Candy $2
Soda/Water $2
Promoters: Rob Feinstein
Tim Embler
Ring Announcer: Steven Deangelis
Referees: Johnny Q
Johnny Rankin
Social: www.battlegroundcw.com
www.facebook.com/battlegroundcw
On Demand: www.rfvideonow.com
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Battleground Championship Wrestling was formed in 2017 by owners Rob Feinstein and Tim Embler. They ran their first show in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania in May 2017. Since that time, they have featured such performers as Bull James, Billy Gunn, Fallahh Bahh, Sammy Guevara, and Al Snow.
The venue for this event was one of the most legendary venues in the history of professional wrestling, the 2300 Arena, formerly known as the ECW Arena, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The building served as the home for Paul Heyman’s Extreme Championship Wrestling from 1993 until 2001. Since that time, promotions such as Ring of Honor, Combat Zone Wrestling, and New Japan Pro Wrestling have used the facility to put on events featuring the world’s greatest performers.
For those who have never been there, the 2300 Arena has a huge lobby area. The will call ticket window is in the lowered part of the lobby near security. Past there, the venue has a large open area with benches, tables and couches on which to relax and enjoy a drink from the fully stocked bar on the far end of the building. Glass doors lead from the lobby area into the arena. As you walk into the arena, the perch for the hard camera is directly above your head.
Prior to this event, an Icons of Wrestling Convention and Fanfest took place at the venue. When I arrived, several performers were still there in the main lobby area with tables set up to sell merchandise, including Erick Redbeard, 2 Cold Scorpio, and The Godfather. There was some chatter that there were delays getting people into the building at the last event in September. I encountered no such issues and got in right away.
Prior to the first match, ring announcer Steven Deangelis called Blue Meanie to the ring. The Meanie, dressed as Blue Meanie Claus for the holidays, started with a hearty “Ho, Ho, Ho from the bWo.” Meanie said that, this holiday season, he is grateful to be from Phildelphia, grateful to have made his ECW debut in Philadelphia, and grateful to have performed in his only Wrestlemania in Philadelphia. Meanie kicked off the show by wishing everyone a Meanie Christmas and a Happy Blue Year.
MATCH #1
BULLY RAY vs. JERRY “THE KING” LAWLER
This match crossed off two different wrestling bucket list items that I was unsure I would ever be able to do. Not only did this show provide the opportunity for me to see ECW legend Bully Ray wrestle at the ECW Arena, but it gave me my first ever chance to see the WWE Hall of Famer (and the King of Memphis Wrestling) Jerry Lawler perform live, as well.
It did not take long for The King to let the fans in Philadelphia know what he thought of them and ECW. He asked himself aloud, “Why did I leave my mansion for this…Extremely Crappy Wrestling.” Lawler explained that he asked to be the first match so he could get the hell out of Philadelphia, just like Ben Simmons wants to do.
Bully Ray entered the arena to a loud ovation and chants of “ECW, ECW, ECW.” Bully said Lawler hates when fans chant “ECW” because no one ever chanted “Memphis Championship Wrestling.” Tonight, Bully promised, Jerry Lawler would be going through a table.
Lawler responded by saying that Memphis Championship Wrestling used to have 11,500 people in the Mid-South Coliseum every Monday night in Memphis back in the day. Lawler looked around at the crowd and said, “We had more people than this in the bathroom.” After he called ECW a rip-off of Memphis Championship Wrestling, Lawler told Bully that he had a present for him. Lawler reached in his pocket and threw a fireball at Bully Ray. Bully ducked as the fireball hit the referee and knocked him out of the ring.
As the match started, the two combatants battled in the corner while Bully Ray called for a new referee to come out. Just as the new referee got into the ring, Lawler reached in his tights and pulled out a foreign object which he used to punch Bully in the face, knocking him out. Surprisingly, it was Lawler who then went out to ringside to grab a table. He set the table up in the ring and went to the corner where he began to choke Bully Ray. When the referee attempted to intervene, Lawler knocked him out, too.
With the second referee down, Bully Ray grabbed Lawler and attempted to slam him through the table. Unfortunately, the table did not break and Lawler landed flat on it. The fans began chanting, “One more time! One more time!” When Bully Ray gave it a second try, he got the same result. The table never broke. So, Bully hit a traditional pile driver on Lawler for the win as the fans chanted “Fuck that table! Fuck that table!”
WINNER: BULLY RAY
On Bully Ray’s way back up the entrance ramp to the dressing room, he was startled. The King of the Deathmatch, Atsushi Onita, appeared on the video board. Bully Ray looked on, stunned, while Onita explained that HE is the true hardcore specialist. Onita said that, on March 26, when Battleground Championship Wrestling returns to the 2300 Arena, he will be there looking for Bully Ray.
MATCH #2
STEVE GIBKI vs. ERICK REDBEARD
Erick Redbeard and Steve Gibki wasted no time in this match. They both charged to the ring with intention and seemed primed for battle. Immediately, the action spilled outside as the two competitors exchanged chops to the chest. Redbeard took control after he picked up Gibki like he was going for an atomic drop on the floor. Instead of the traditional atomic drop, Redbeard lifted Gibki up and threw him back down face first into the ring apron.
Back inside the ring, Gibki attempted some offense, but was stopped by a vicious Erick Redbeard sidekick. Erick picked up Gibki for a slam, but Gibki wiggled out and fell into the corner. Redbeard charged for a spear, but Gibki moved out of the way and hit a beautiful drop kick to the stunned Erick Redbeard. A running punch and a clothesline sent Redbeard over the top rope out onto the floor.
Steve Gibki looked to the crowd for approval and then went for a tope suicida to Redbeard on the outside. However, Redbeard saw it coming, stood up, and punched Gibki in the face as he flew through the ropes. Quickly, Erick Redbeard jumped in the ring, picked up Gibki for a side slam and took the victory. Afterward, Steve Gibki told the crowd, “I QUIT!!”
WINNER: ERICK REDBEARD
INTERVIEW
RAVEN with DAVE LAGRECA
Busted Open Radio’s Dave LaGreca was set to interview Raven after the second match, but Raven would not come alone. As he made his way to the ring, Raven was flanked by Alec Odin, (fresh off of a WWE Performance Center tryout the day before), on a metal chain leash. LaGreca asked Raven what was on his mind as he walked into the old ECW Arena. .
Because these people treated Raven so terribly for years, Raven said he is left with no warm and fuzzy memories of the ECW Arena. Raven continued and explained that there are no ECW Hall of Fame banners for Raven in the arena because everyone is trying to erase him from history. Raven said that his intellect, his ability to win, and his desire to hurt people is just not respected by the fans.
At that moment, Kevin Sullivan interrupted the proceedings. Sullivan came to the ring accompanied by two men, one of whom was Wrecking Ball Legursky. Sullivan grabbed the microphone from Raven and told him to stop whining. Sullivan challenged Raven to “step up and find out what evil means.” Raven responded that Sullivan is just a broken old man trying to hold on to former glory. This started a brawl between Odin and Legursky that had to be broken up by numerous referees and officials.
MATCH #3
BUDDY MATTHEWS & TONY NESE vs. KC NAVARRO & RAY JAZ
This match was billed as a singles match between former WWE stars Buddy Matthews and Tony Nese. However, once the bell rang, the lights went out. When they came back on, KC Navarro and Ray Jaz were in the ring attacking Nese and Matthews. Once order had been restored, Matthews got on the mic and issued a challenge for a tag team match.
With the tag team match official, Buddy Matthews sent KC Navarro over the top rope to the outside with a clothesline. Tony Nese followed with a corkscrew plancha to the outside. Nese got back in the ring to go for a second one, but landed on the apron instead. From there, he did a cartwheel out onto the floor and attacked Navarro and Ray Jaz.
The bad guys managed to regain their composure and take control of Tony Nese for several minutes. They used great tag team strategy and cut the ring in half to prevent Nese from making the tag to Matthews. Navarro held a front face lock on Nese for nearly a minute as the fans chanted, “Let’s go Tony!” Nese was able to reverse the headlock into a suplex, but Navarro stopped him from making a tag to Matthews. Navarro taunted Matthews, who tried to get in the ring. This distracted the referee long enough for Ray Jaz and KC Navarro to double team Tony Nese in the corner even longer.
Finally, Nese made the tag to Matthews which caused KC Navarro to tremble with fear as the fans chanted, “Fuck him up, Buddy. Fuck him up!” Matthews power bombed Navarro but managed just a two count. Matthews picked up Navarro for a suplex, but dropped him forward onto his face. Tony Nese immediately followed with a springboard moonsault which also garnered only a two count.
KC Navarro was able to slow Matthews’ momentum with a tornado DDT. He followed it up with a frog splash to Tony Nese. A super punch from Tony Nese slowed Navarro and allowed him to tag Matthews who nailed Navarro with two running knee strikes and Murphy’s Law for the win. As Navarro and Ray Jaz made their way back up the ramp, Navarro told Matthews that he had a surprise. The video board lit up once again. This time, we saw a video message from AEW’s Brian Cage who challenged Matthews to a match on March 26.
WINNERS: BUDDY MATTHEWS & TONY NESE
MATCH #4
BEASTMAN vs. ACE ROMERO
Announced as hailing from Deepest, Darkest West Virginia, Beastman entered the arena with his signature bone in his mouth. His opponent, former MLW and IMPACT star, Ace Romero, was all business. Romero got in Beastman’s face before the bell rang as the referee tried to extricate Beastman’s bone from his mouth. With that out of the way, the bell rang and Beastman did a somersault for seemingly no reason.
The match started with the two huge men trying to knock one another off their feet. Competing shoulder blocks had no effect on either man. Romero and Beastman got into a three point football stance and charged at each other. Still, neither man could gain an advantage. Outside the ring, the two men charged around the ring at each other and collided. Eventually, Romero would leave ringside and walk to the top of the entrance ramp to get a full-speed running start as he plowed toward Beastman. Even then, neither man would fall.
Finally, the two men just began brawling at ringside. Around the ring, they continued until Beastman picked up the metal ringside barrier and clobbered Romero with it. As Romero sat on the floor exhausted, Beastman attempted a running senton to Romero who moved out of the way at the last second.
After several more minutes of brawling on the outside, Romero followed Beastman back into the ring and attempted a body slam on the big beast but was unsuccessful. Beastman tried a slam of his own with similar results. Frustrated, Beastman grabbed his bone, choked and then bit Ace Romero. The pace slowed down as Beastman locked Ace in a nerve hold on the mat for nearly a minute.
Ace Romero made his way to his feet and, after a series of blows from Beastman, was able to body slam his opponent. Not to be outdone, Beastman picked up Ace Romero for a slam of his own and took to the middle rope. Beastman landed an elbow drop, but was only able to manage a two count. Looking to finish the job, Beastman climbed all the way up to the top rope. This time, he was caught by Ace Romero who attempted a power bomb. Amazingly, though, Beastman reversed into a hurricanrana and climbed to the top rope again.
When Beastman missed with a senton to Ace Romero from the top, Romero annihilated Beastman with a Monty Brown-style Pounce. Beastman rolled to the outside where Romero hit an incredible tope suicida on the floor. Romero threw his stunned opponent back into the ring and nailed him with a lariat to pick up the hard-fought victory.
WINNER: ACE ROMERO
MATCH #5
SHANE DOUGLAS & STEVEN STETSON vs. 2 COLD SCORPIO & TRAXX
PASSING THE TORCH MATCH
One of the most famous moments in ECW history took place at this arena on August 27, 1994 when “The Franchise” Shane Douglas defeated 2 Cold Scorpio in the finals of the tournament to crown a new NWA Champion. After winning, Douglas threw down the NWA World Championship belt, picked up the ECW Heavyweight Championship belt and declared himself the new “ECW Heavyweight Champion of the World.”
Twenty-seven years later, Douglas and Scorpio appeared at the old ECW Arena to settle the score and pass the torch to a new generation of stars. Douglas teamed up with Steven Stetson to face 2 Cold Scorpio & Traxx in the first match after the intermission. 2 Cold Scorpio brought that Flash Funk energy as he danced his way to the ring. Douglas and Stetson looked to be all business.
Stetson and Traxx began the match with a lockup that found its way to the corner. After a clean break, the combatants engaged in a test of strength. Moments into it, however, Traxx kicked Stetson’s hand away and reversed into a hammer lock. In the corner, Traxx connected with three loud chops, but missed the fourth. Stetson reversed and landed three chops of his own.
Scorpio tagged in and, after an exchange of wristlocks, locked Stetson in an abdominal stretch. Scorpio rolled the abdominal stretch into a crucifix, but managed only a two count. Stetson made it to the corner and tagged Douglas. This led to a throng of “ECW” chants. Scorpio attempted to take control with quick kicks to Douglas. When Scorpio missed one, Douglas reversed into back body drop and tagged Stetson back in.
Traxx and Stetson battled in the ring as the match wound down. Traxx would throw Stetson into the corner, but missed a running shoulder block. This gave Stetson the opportunity to tag Douglas who cleared house. Douglas and Stetson each grabbed an opponent in opposite corners and whipped them toward each other. When they met in the center, Scorpio did a do-si-do reversal, but were nailed by clotheslines from Douglas and Stetson.
At some point, however, a disagreement started between Stetson and Douglas. Douglas attacked his partner and left Stetson to be double teamed. Traxx connected with a double underhook power bomb to Stetson for the easy victory.
WINNERS: 2 COLD SCORPIO & TRAXX
MATCH #6
MERCEDES MARTINEZ vs. KAMILLE
Mercedes Martinez was a bit upset as she entered the arena for her match with the NWA World Women’s Champion, Kamille. As Martinez came out from the back, Kamille’s music played, Kamille’s name was on the video board, and Martinez was announced as being Kamille. Once that issue was corrected, and Mercedes was properly introduced, we heard Kamille’s music a second time as the NWA champion made her way to the ring.
The opening sequence saw Mercedes start quickly with a go-behind, a trip and a headlock to the champion. Kamille reversed into a head scissors. Mercedes slowly escaped, pulled her head out, and stood up for a reset.
Kamille would take control with a snap mare and a kick to the back of Mercedes Martinez’ head. Kamille draped Martinez’ head over the bottom rope and step on her back for a choke, then connected with several forearm shots on the apron. After a running splash in the corner landed, Kamille went for a second. This time, Mercedes moved and landed several elbow shots and punches.
Martinez continued her onsalught with more kicks and a series of running knees. Martinez held an armbar on the champion on the mat for nearly a minute before Kamille was able to cause a rope break. Mercedes continued with another sustained headlock during which she landed several blows to Kamille’s ribs. From there, Martinez locked the champion in a guillotine choke.
Kamille was able to escape the choke, but found herself on the receiving end of a double underhook suplex, a belly to back suplex, and a double knee facebreaker. Kamille hit a clothesline which briefly slowed the challenger, but left both warriors exhausted on the mat.
Moments later, however, Martinez made a final push to win the match. She tried a small package, but managed just a two count. Martinez hit a back slide and a fisherman’s suplex. Two counts after both. Martinez picked Kamille up in a fireman’s carry, but Kamille escaped. Martinez lifted the champion into position for a Razor’s Edge, but Kamille escaped, threw her into the ropes and came off with a devastating spear.
WINNER: KAMILLE
MATCH #7
GANGREL vs. KEVIN THORN
KING OF THE DAMNED MATCH
The Battleground Championship Wrestling announcement for this match stated that, “Word has spread to every dark corner of the underworld. Word has spread that two unholy demons that have walked the earth for centuries will stand in each other’s presence. Two leaders who command the undead will collide for the control over the bodies they’ve claimed. They will come in numbers.”
With that, the stage was set for the King of the Damned match between former WWE superstars Gangrel and Kevin Thorn. First, Father Joseph of the First Baptist Church was called upon to bless the arena. Thorn had no patience for such silliness. He kicked Father Joseph and threw him out of the ring. Thorn sprayed holy water in the eyes of Gangrel as the bell rang and the arena lights turned red.
Thorn was cruising early after a shoulder block felled the big vampire. This allowed Thorn to land several kicks to keep Gangrel down. Gangrel tried an eye rake to slow Thorn, but Thorn choked Gangrel with his hands and then his feet until the referee counted to four and a half.
Finally, Gangrel made a move. He landed multiple punches which dropped Thorn to the mat. From there Gangrel landed two elbow drops and pointed to the crowd for approval. Gangrel whipped Thorn into the corner, stood over him on the middle rope, and hit ten punches as the crowd counted along. As Gangrel looked to finish Thorne off, two zombies entered from ringside and distracted the ref. This gave Thorn the opportunity to hit an illegal blow and score the quick victory. Thorne’s zombies genuflected before their master as the fans chanted, “You suck! You suck! You suck!”
WINNER: KEVIN THORN
MATCH #8
JONAH vs. PCO
Most recently seen in Ring of Honor, PCO’s reinvention and resurgence has been one of the coolest things about wrestling in recent years. The former Quebecer in WWE returned to the ring after a five year absence in 2016 and has been on quite a tear. At Final Battle 2019, PCO defeated Rush to become a world champion for the first time at the age of 52. Since then, he has shown no signs of slowing down. His opponent for the evening was Jonah, formerly known as Bronson Reed in WWE, who has recently appeared in IMPACT, as well as New Japan Pro Wrestling.
The fans were solidly behind PCO and chanting, “He’s not human!” as the match got underway. A lone Jonah fan responded, “Yes he is!” as the former Bronson Reed went face to face with the monster PCO. The two men alternated shoves and shoulder blocks with neither gaining an advantage. When Jonah rolled outside, PCO went for the tope suicida. Jonah saw it coming and threw a chair at PCO’s face as he came through the ropes.
Now on the outside, the two men brawled up the entrance ramp and back down toward the ring. Jonah pummeled PCO with chair shots to the back as he threw even more chairs into the ring. Back inside, Jonah unfolded one of the chairs and hit a sidewalk slam on PCO onto the steel object. PCO tried to regain some momentum, but was continually pounded with chair shots and kicks from Jonah. Jonah set up two more chairs and connected with a DDT to PCO on the chairs. Unfortunately for Jonah, the monster felt no pain. PCO no-sold the move and stood up face to face with Jonah.
Jonah rolled out to ringside for a breather, but PCO followed him out with an amazing somersault plancha. PCO threw Jonah back inside the ring and looked the fans for approval as he set up some chairs of his own. PCO tried a bulldog onto the chairs, but Jonah hit the brakes and sent PCO flying forward onto the contraption alone. Jonah attempted a power bomb onto the chairs, but PCO reversed. PCO landed blows to Jonah which stunned him for a moment. then set up two more chairs and placed Jonah’s head on them. PCO attempted a moonsault from the top rope but missed. Jonah seized the moment, hit a power bomb and then a top rope splash for the victory.
WINNER: JONAH
This show was an ideal blend of legends and top talent from the independent wrestling scene today. The legends did not come to put on five-star matches this late in their career, but seeing each one of them made the night special and helped to make this an enjoyable show. The gimmick matches were enjoyable and young stars on the card were all outstanding.
Ace Romero and Beastman was the match of the night for me. Although there were other great matches, I was so impressed how those two guys turned a match that looked like a slow, plodding exhibition of big men into a match with a perfect build, fantastic acrobatics from such large men, and a story that made sense from start to finish.
Of course, what made this event even more special was the venue. There are few more well-known venues in history of professional wrestling and there’s a reason why. The arena is the perfect size for a wrestling event. The fans in Philadelphia are some of my favorite wrestling fans on the planet because they are so passionate and vocal.
I just started attending events here in the past two years, so I have no experience with the building prior to that. I would love to hear about your experiences at the ECW Arena over the past 30 years. Leave them in the comments!
The Indy Wrestling Experience 