Date: October 21, 2023
Venue: Bel Air Armory
37 North Main Street
Bel Air, Maryland 21014
Tickets: Front Row $20.00
General Admission $15.00
Parking: Street Parking
Bel Air Parking Garage
Promoter: Jim Christian
Snacks: Pizza $ 3.00
French Fries $ 3.00
Chicken Tenders $ 4.00
Pepperoni Rolls $ 4.00
Spinach Rolls $ 4.00
Soda/Water $ 3.00
Red Bull $ 4.00
Ring Announcer: Steve Studwell
Merchandise: EWA T-Shirt $20.00
Ishman Martinez Arm Band $ 1.00
Referees: Erwin von Scharf
Mike Flury
Social Media: ewamaryland.com
facebook.com/ewamaryland
twitter.com/ewamdwrestling
instagram.com/EWA_Pro_Wrestling
Stream: youtube.com/@ewavideo1983
EWA Pro Wrestling began as the Eastern Wrestling Alliance in 2004 and changed its name to Eastern Wrestling Association in 2014. The promotion was founded by Jim Christian and is headquarted at the EWA Pain Factory in Dundalk, Maryland.
In an interview with Baltimore Watchdog, Christian explained that, “I got tired of all the politics of other companies,” he said. “I run my company like a family type thing. So I don’t like all the other egos, the drugs, all the things that are bad about wrestling, I just don’t do that.”
From the Pain Factory page: “Have you ever dreamed about being in the professional wrestling world? Whether it’s as a wrestler, manager, referee, ring announcer or ring crew, The EWA Pain Factory is a premiere training facility located at 1113 North Point Road, Dundalk MD 21224. Interested in training and joining the EWA family? Contact Jim Christian at 443-858-2755 to join now!”
The Bel Air Armory is an arts, entertainment, and community complex providing opportunities for public and private events. Contact them to schedule your fundraiser, party, trade show, convention, performance, reunion, business meeting, bingo, festival, and more, right in the Heart of Harford!
I parked in the Bel Air Parking Garage located around the corner from the venue because it is free after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all weekend long. The event took place in the main room of the armory, which had a stage at one end which was used for entrances. As soon as you walked into the room, the people were there to take your tickets on the left, and the concession stand was on your right. Some merchandise tables were also set up around the perimeter of the room.
As the event began, ring announcer Steve Studwell came out and got the rapidly expanding crowd juiced for the opening match. First, though, there would be an announcement from one half of the EWA Tag Team Champions, Art of War, Jason Andrews. Sadly, Andrews explained that his tag team partner, AK Willis, was injured, leaving Art of War unable to defend the tag titles against the winner of the appetizer match. As such, the appetizer match became a match to crown new EWA Tag Team Champions.
APPETIZER MATCH
AARON HOUGH & JAGERMEISTER vs. HERO NAPIER & BEEFCAKE vs. STELMAN SMITH & SETH COLEMAN vs. EDDIE BLAS & JOHN BERG
EWA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Early in this four corners match, it was Jagermeister and Aaron Hough taking control and keeping Eddie Blas in their corner to allow for quick tags. Hough choked Blas on the middle rope until the referee called for a break, but got stunned with a back suplex that allowed Blas to make the tag to John Berg.
Berg entered hot, but was stunned with a big boot from Hough that put Hough and Jagermeister back in control. Berg eventually tagged Hero Napier into the match, at which point he and Beefcake contained Berg in their corner while making quick tags. Berg and Beefcake would battle until simultaneous clotheslines left both men down on the mat.
Berg eventually tagged Seth Coleman and Beefcake tagged in Aaron Hough. Coleman went on a run against Hough, but stalled against Jagermeister and soon found himself trapped in the enemy corner. Coleman somehow managed to make the hot tag to Stelman Smith who cleared Hero Napier, then hit a second rope rolling neck breaker on Jagermeister which set up a top rope splash from Seth Coleman to crown brand new EWA Tag Team Champions.
WINNERS AND NEW CHAMPIONS: STELMAN SMITH & SETH COLEMAN
MATCH #1
“STURDY” SAL MISTRETTA vs. DAVID MOSES
David Moses and Sal Mistretta went back and forth early in this match, trading holds and counters, until Moses hit a spear in the corner, followed by a splash, a German Suplex and a clothesline for a near fall. Moses seemed to be on cruise control until Mistretta caught Moses trying to go up and over on a whip into the corner. From there, Mistretta lawn darted Moses into the turnbuckle to turn the tide in his favor.
Mistretta knocked Moses down with a shoulder tackle, then choked him on the middle rope until the referee called for a break. Mistretta continued to slow things down with a long-held rear chin lock on the mat, successfully thwarting a Moses rally attempt with an exploder suplex.
Finally, though, Moses got his second wind. David evaded a corner splash, then hit a splash of his own in the opposite corner, followed by an exploder suplex and a Side Effect for a near fall. Both men hit their feet and tried to take the other down, with neither man budging an inch.
Suddenly, Mistretta hit a Falcon Arrow for a near fall, then Moses hopped up and locked Mistretta in a sleeper hold that nearly ended the match. When Moses released and Mistretta dropped, David hit a basement lariat to take home the victory.
WINNER: DAVID MOSES
MATCH #2
NOAH IDOL vs. EEL O’NEAL
Eel O’Neal was clearly the crowd favorite in this match and worked the fans against Noah Idol during the opening moments of the contest. O’Neal seemed to have the advantage and frustrated Idol repeatedly leading to multiple resets. However, Idol’s Pure Ignorance stable-mates, Chaz Evans and Prince Mackavelli, inserted themselves into the match the first chance they got to even the score.
When Idol whipped O’Neal into the ropes and distracted the referee, Mackavelli grabbed a hold of O’Neal’s foot, then Chaz Evans jumped in as they double teamed O’Neal behind the referee’s back. From there, Idol was in control of the match, at one point hitting a really nice somersault splash for a near fall.
O’Neal was not done, though. Eel used a headbutt to stun Idol, got an elbow up in Idol’s face when Noah charged, then hit a spinning slam that left both men down. Chaz Evans jumped up to distract the referee once more. allowing Idol to grab a pair of brass knuckles. Idol knocked O’Neal out and made the cover for the easy victory. Afterward, Sly Scarpone and Cory Bush ran in and challenged the remaining members of Pure Ignorance to get their tag team match started immediately.
WINNER: NOAH IDOL
MATCH #3
PURE IGNORANCE vs. SLY SCARPONE & CORY BUSH
Just like that, the next match started with Eel O’Neal in the corner of the good guys. Sly Scarpone, clearly fired up after the previous match, took on both Chaz Evans and Prince Mackavelli himself. Cory Bush tagged in moments later and started to toss Chaz Evans around the ring like a rag doll. When Evans fell into one corner, Bush hit a series of hard chops to Evans’ chest and a Stinkface when Evans slumped to the mat.
Scarpone returned to assist with the double team, but was ambushed by Prince Mackavelli soon after as Evans climbed to the top rope for a frog splash. Mackavelli and Evans moved Scarpone into their corner to cut off the ring from Cory Bush who soon began pounding on the turnbuckle to get the crowd chanting for Scarpone to rally.
Mackavelli body slammed Scarpone, then Evans hit a splash before Evans tried to toss Scarpone completely out of the ring. Scarpone had different plans and skinned the cat to return to the ring, then hit a back suplex that left both men down. Scarpone crawled to make the tag to Bush, who cleared house, then set up Evans and Mackavelli in opposite corners for multiple coast-to-coast splashes.
In the chaos, Bush ended up with the brass knuckles from the previous match. Thinking the referee’s vision was blocked, Bush used the brass knuckles for a knockout punch. Bush removed the straps from his singlet and hit a nasty splash to get the one, two, three. However, moments later, the referee reversed the decision, disqualifying Bush and Scarpone for the use of the brass knuckles.
WINNERS BY DISQUALIFICATION: PURE IGORANCE
MATCH #4
OLDMAN YOUNGBOY (c) vs. FILIPINOT GRIGIO
EWA CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
After some quick lockups and resets, the EWA Cruiserweight Champion, Oldman Youngboy unloaded with a flurry of offense that ended with a dropkick and a drop toe hold that sent Filipinot Grigio to the outside for a breather. For a while, it seemed as though Grigio had no intention of getting back in the ring. When he did, Youngboy hit a fireman’s carry takeover that send Grigio right back out to ringside.
This time, a frustrated Oldman approached the side of the ring, yelling at Grigio to get back inside. It was a trap, though, as Grigio pulled Youngboy out by his feet, which led to a brawl around ringside. Moments later, Youngboy tossed Grigio back into the ring and snapped his arm over the top rope before re-entering the ring himself.
Youngboy whipped Grigio into one corner and Filipinot went up and over onto the apron. When Youngboy approached, Filipinot appeared to poke him in the eye, then pulled Youngboy’s mustache clean off of his face. This led to another ringside skirmish until Grigio tossed Youngboy back into the ring and hit a back suplex for a near fall.
Youngboy tried to fight back after another suplex, but Filipinot whipped Oldman into the ropes face-first, and followed right behind for a pseudo-splash into the ropes. Grigio went out to ringside and grabbed the weapon he brought with him from under the ring, and managed to clock Oldman with it without the referee seeing.
Grigio tried to capitalize with a pinfall attempt. However, the referee caught Grigio putting his feet on the ropes for leverage and called for a break. Off the reset, Oldman Youngboy hit a dropkick to Grigio’s back, then put his mustache back on and started a proper rally. Youngboy hit another dropkick and a body slam. Grigio countered with a slam of his own, then went back to ringside to retrieve the weapon.
The referee saw Grigio grabb the weapon and took it from him as he tried to re-enter the ring. Grigio hit a spear and went for another cover with his feet on the ropes. When Youngboy kicked out at two, Grigio got the weapon once again and swung it in Youngboy’s direction. The champion saw it coming and ducked, then hit a German Suplex with a bridge to retain.
WINNER: OLDMAN YOUNGBOY
MATCH #5
EWA TRICK OR TREAT RUMBLE
After the intermission, it was time for the advertised Trick or Treat Rumble. The match was briefly explained in the social media for the show, but ring announcer Steve Studwell fully outlined how the match would unfold for the live crowd. The rumble was essentially a battle royal. However, the goal was not to toss your opponent over the top rope, but rather, to retrieve one of the four Halloween baskets tied to each of the ring posts. Inside each basket was an envelope, three containing a “treat,” and one containing a “trick.”
The competitors for the match included: J.B. Anderson, Spider Man, The Ghostbuster, John Berg, Sal Mistretta, Aaron Hough, Beefcake, Hero Napier, Shane Banner, Syler Mason, Erwin Von Scharf, He-Man, Hobo Harry, and Jagermeister. As the match began, it was Erwin Von Scharf who drew the ire of literally every other competitor in the match. One by one, all thirteen other competitors body slammed Von Scharf before they kicked him out of the ring and had him carried to the back.
After that spot, the match was pure chaos, as expected. Men were being tossed over the top and brawling around ringside. First one to grab a basket was John Berg, then Syler Mason, Sal Mistretta, and Shane Banner. With all four baskets obtained, the envelopes were read one by one.
John Berg won a “treat” with a guaranteed future opportunity at the EWA Heavyweight Championship. Syler Mason was also “treated” to an entry into the 2024 EWA Sweet 16 Tournament. Sal Mistretta’s “treat” was a guaranteed shot at either the EWA Maryland Title or EWA Cruiserweight Championship at a future date. Obviously, Shane Banner drew the “trick,” but what would it be? Too bad for all of the Versace Boyzzz because Banner’s trick was that he and all of his stable-mates would be chopped in the chest by the children in attendance.
WINNERS: JOHN BERG, SYLER MASON, & SAL MISTRETTA
LOSERS: SHANE BANNER & THE VERSACE BOYZZZ
MATCH #6
JESSE O’RYAN (c) vs. SAUL ESPARZA vs. HAMISH STUART
EWA MARYLAND CHAMPIONSHIP TRIPLE THREAT MATCH
Saul Esparza seemed to display sportsmanship prior to the match, adhering to the proverbial Code of Honor. However, when Jesse O’Ryan and Hamish Stuart shook hands with each other, Esparza ambushed them with a double clothesline. Soon, though, Stuart and O’Ryan tossed Esparza out of the ring and turned on each other.
Stuart and O’Ryan exchanged quick near falls and resets until Esparza rushed back into the ring. Ready for him, Stuart and O’Ryan immediately tossed Esparza over the top rope on the opposite side of the ring and went back to battling each other. Stuart gained the upper hand with a full nelson slam and grabbed an arm bar. This time, Esparza returned and successfully broke the hold by attacking both men.
Esparza knocked Stuart to his knees and used him as a step for Poetry in Motion on the champion, then grabbed a single leg crab on Hamish Stuart. Esparza released the hold and fell into one corner. Stuart charged and Esparza lifted Hamish up and over. At the same time, O’Ryan came from behind with a fisherman’s suplex to Esparza for a near fall, then another to Hamish Stuart for another near fall.
O’Ryan hit another fisherman’s suplex to Esparza and made the cover, but Hamish Stuart broke it up with a senton that sent the champion outside the ring. Stuart whipped Esparza into the corner and hit a hard running knee strike, then whipped Esparza across to the other corner. Saul lifted Stuart up and over and followed with a basement dropkick to Stuart that caused him to fall out of the ring.
O’Ryan returned with a second rope cross body, but Saul caught the champion in mid-air and attempted to convert into a cross arm breaker, but could not lock it all the way. O’Ryan continued to fight until he escaped then hit a splash in one corner on Esparza and another in the opposite corner.
O’Ryan whipped Saul once more, but Esparza evaded when O’Ryan charged and countered with a clothesline. Stuart re-entered but Esparza hit him with a poison rana and a lariat in rapid succession. Unfortunately for Saul, Jesse O’Ryan spent that time climbing to the top rope. When Esparza hit the lariat and turned around, O’Ryan nailed him with a Codebreaker off the top rope to retain.
WINNER: JESSE O’RYAN
MATCH #7
TMHK vs. ISHMAN MARTINEZ
Ishman Martinez, who I first saw nearly two years ago at World Domination Wrestling Alliance against Dance Dance Lucha Libre, frustrated TMHK early by ducking a lockup and kicking TMHK squarely in the butt. Martinez screeched during that exchange, and continued to screech as he stood over TMHK on the second rope and unloaded with punches as the fans counted along.
Martinez grabbed a single leg crab until TMHK reached the ropes to force a reset. Martinez charged, but TMHK pulled him out onto the apron and hit a Death Valley Driver. Back inside the ring, TMHK choked Martinez with the middle rope until the referee forced another break, then hit a running knee for a near fall. TMHK choked Martinez on the middle rope until another forced break, then dropped Martinez with a clothesline off of a whip for another near fall.
TMHK maintained control with some illegal hair pulls and a series of crossface shots, then hit a step up kick using the second rope for a near fall and grabbed a rear chin lock on the mat. Martinez screeched repeatedly as he tried desperately to escape the hold. When Ishman managed to punch out, TMHK yanked him back down to the mat by his hair.
Back on the mat, TMHK grabbed a sleeper hold that nearly ended the match. However, Martinez screeched before his hand dropped the third time and used the surge of adrenaline to connect with a series of strikes to start a rally. Martinez would hit a screeching shoulder tackle, a body slam, and a cannonball into the corner for a near fall and climbed to the top rope.
TMHK had the presence of mind to push the referee into the ropes, knocking Martinez down as he climbed, then joined Martinez up top and superplexed Ishman back down to the mat. Both men rose to their knees and exchanged strikes, then onto their feet. Martinez knocked TMHK down and came off the ropes with a diving senton for a near fall.
TMHK was up first this time and lifted Martinez into a fireman’s carry. Martinez wriggled out, but TMHK used a referee distraction to lift Martinez into an urunage to take home the hard fought victory and spoil the EWA debut of Ishman Martinez.
WINNER: TMHK
MATCH #8
GRIZZLY O (c) vs. MICHAEL ANTHONY
EWA HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Finally, after a full night of compelling action, it was time for the main event clash between Michael Anthony and EWA Champion Grizzly O. The contest would be a casket match which means the only way to win would be to put your opponent into the casket and close the lid.
The champion took control at the beginning of the match by hitting a series of kicks and driving Anthony backward into the corner. Grizzly hit three consecutive splashes and, when Anthony slumped, followed with a basement drop kick that sent the challenger to the outside for a breather.
When Anthony seemed disinterested in getting back into the ring, Grizzly O followed behind and hit a flying knee strike from the apron. Grizzly O called for the casket to open in the hopes of ending the match early. Michael Anthony escaped and hit a back suplex onto the casket, but lost sight of the champion as he argued with security at ringside.
Grizzly O rolled back into the ring and attempted to hit a tope suicida on Michael Anthony. The champion did not get all of it, though, as he partially hit the casket on his way through the ropes, limiting the effect of the move. Both men remained down momentarily, but Anthony was up first and returned to the ring.
When the champion made it back into the ring, he hit a second rope shoulder tackle that left both men down once more. The champion was up first and started to slowly roll Michael Anthony toward the casket. Sensing disaster, Anthony’s stablemates, J.B. Anderson, Hero Napier, and Beefcake ran down to ringside and attacked Grizzly O.
Watching from the back, Team Autodraft, including Oldman Youngboy and Hamish Stuart ran down to ringside to even the score. As Michael Anthony watched both teams brawl their way to the back, Grizzly O channeled Monty Brown with a Pounce and started to roll Anthony to the casket once more.
As they got close to the apron, the champion called for the casket to open. When Grizzly went for that one last push to get Anthony into the casket, the debuting Snakebite popped out of the casket with some type of mysterious powder that blinded Grizzly O. She choked the champion with a belt, then Michael Anthony came behind with a front slam which allowed him to easily roll Grizzly O into the casket and close the lid.
WINNER AND NEW CHAMPION: MICHAEL ANTHONY
After two years of trying to get there, I was not disappointed with my first visit to EWA Pro Wrestling. When I first arrived, there were not many fans in attendance. As I waited for the show to start, I heard someone behind me say, “It always starts like this, but it fills up quickly.” That guy was right. As bell time neared, more and more people poured into the Bel Air Armory, adults, kids, and families alike, and they filled the venue with so much energy. The performers all worked hard and put on a great wrestling show from start to finish. I can not wait to come back again in the future.
Final note, I don’t know who thinks they are going to take the EWA Heavyweight Championship off of Michael Anthony, but all I can say is good luck…
The Indy Wrestling Experience 