CLASS OF 2012 INDUCTION CEREMONY

RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK
TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 2012

As we fade in from black to loud cheers from the capacity crowd, the focus shifts to the podium on the legendary Radio City Music Hall stage, as ring announcer Lee Palmer is standing at its accompanying microphone. As the crowd quiets, he begins to speak.

Palmer: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Radio City Music Hall! Welcome to the 2012 PWA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony! I am pleased to introduce our Master of Ceremonies for the evening, Mr. Randall Buckingham!

Buckingham walks out onto the fabled stage to a different reaction than he’s usually accustomed to, as cheers greet him. After shaking hands with Palmer, he approaches the podium.

Buckingham: Lee Palmer, ladies and gentlemen. (Applause) Thank you everyone, I am thrilled to be here on what is one of the most important evenings in PWA history. When I was offered a position here with the PWA, I’ll admit, I might not have taken things very seriously. I come from a baseball background. What was I to know about the bumps, bruises, and the over-the-top personalities associated with professional wrestling? In my years here since, I’ve come to understand. While I cannot understand what it’s like to be inside the ring, and wouldn’t want to put any of you through that torturous sight, I have grown to understand other aspects.

I now understand things about the men and women who make this company work like the machine that it has been. I now realize what it’s like to experience missed flights, crazy drivers, lost luggage, getting lost at four in the morning going from city to city, or sometimes country to country, with no sleep. Before I got here, I couldn’t imagine what makes that worth it to you guys. But when I’m pulling my headset off after a broadcast and meeting the crowd, I can see the appreciation in the eyes of a father who might have taken his son to his first wrestling event. I can see and feel the excitement of a capacity crowd who hangs on every move inside that ring, as I try to convey that emotion out to millions of people watching it. I can also understand by looking out into this crowd at this historic venue.

I can see some familiar faces, but also those of yesteryear. People like Tony Annetta, Superstar Scott Hosemann, Rudy Montenora, Kayne, The Knakals, Jonathan Brett, Infernus, John Pantozzi, and I’m sure there are more I haven’t noticed. These people and their families are not part of tonight’s group, yet they come here anyway. They come to respect the honor and tradition of this business. They come because the PWA is a fraternity. They come because we are all a family. (Crowd cheers) This Hall of Fame is such an important honor. Every member in it has accomplished things that go far above and beyond just showing up for work. They have all given a part of their livelihood for the betterment of this industry. Some have done it inside the ring, like Jason Calysto, Jaguar, Vulture, Greg Tantalus, Mike Griffin, Mike Tortorici. Others have done it with business moves, like Bryan Conroy, and like Kerry Cox. Others have done it all, truly transcended life and inspired others, like the beloved and never, ever, forgotten Allison Kelly.

The crowd bursts into feverish cheers at the mention of the first three-time Women’s Champion, who lost her battle with sarcoma in 2004.

Buckingham: This night means so much to everyone here. And for you guys, for this fraternity, this night is for you. And with that said, let’s get this show on the road! Please direct your attention to the video screen for a look back at the nine legendary figures that, up until tonight, made up the entirety of the PWA Hall of Fame!



-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --

As we return, Randall Buckingham welcomes us back.

Buckingham: Our first inductee is a true rebel in every sense of the word. Nobody could ever say he did things in any manner other than his own. Let’s take a look at the career of GI Jew.



“Ante Up” by M.O.P. plays and the crowd gives a wonderful welcome to Evan Black as he approaches the podium.

Black: Wow. I’ve been looking forward to this evening all season, and it’s still pretty surreal to be even a small part of it. I’m going to take you back to a few years ago, 2002 to be exact. Being from Westchester County, I’d attended several CAW and FSW shows here in New York, and was about as big a fan as you could find. Every show I could make it to, I was there in the front row. Back then, I was a confused kid getting ready to start law school, but one who always dreamed of competing in the ring. But it was then I first took notice of a guy named Josh Schwartz.

Now here I was, a huge fan of the product, but never really had a guy who I could call my favorite. As we all know, I’m very proud of my Jewish heritage, and there had never been a major Jewish star at this point in time. Back then, the best role model I had was Brett Glatman. Anybody remember Brett Glatman? CAW?

A small pocket of the audience cheers at his mention.

Black: Not bad. Quite a talent, that guy, if a bit before his time. But when Josh arrived, he had this no-nonsense style that the crowd loved and gravitated to. This guy was just a badass, and wasn’t afraid to let anyone have it. Almost immediately, I knew “this is my guy. I have a favorite.”

After some success in CAW, and becoming a challenger for the Intercontinental Title, he was clearly on the rise and headed for bigger things. After signing with the PWA, he shot right out of the gates and became the first-ever Progressive Champion. From there, he claimed the International Championship. And just a few months later, he became the first Triple Crown winner in company history by beating Jaguar for the PWA Championship. After that, he won the Tag Team Championship to become the first-ever Grand Slam winner. Throw in being the first Golden Ring Tournament winner, plus capturing the ORA title, and you have an unmatched resume right there, ladies and gentlemen.

GI Jew might not be the guy everyone loved throughout. He’s brash, he’s arrogant, he’s very often angry. But he’s the most patriotic man to ever ride a Chopper to the ring, he’s the Baddest Hebe This Side of Tel Aviv, and most importantly to me, he’s the guy who indirectly taught me to “screw timing” and follow my dreams to take what I know I can rightfully take. So with that said, I’m bringing out the newest member of the PWA Hall of Fame, GI Jew!

“War is the Answer” by Five-Finger Death Punch hits, and a standing ovation greets GI Jew as he enters Radio City Music Hall escorted by Traci Reed, who is in a beautiful gown. After shaking hands with Black, he approaches the podium.

Jew: Man, just like the first time I met that kid. He sure can talk, can’t he? But thank you Evan, I appreciate the very kind words, and thank you to everyone for that reception. Everyone familiar with me knows that I’m a man of few words. I typically let my actions do the talking, and that style has brought me more success than I’d ever thought I would have here. In a twist that will shock no one, I never went to a traditional wrestling school. I was just helping out a friend in need when I got to CAW and came up with Jaguar. But being in CAW was refreshing. The physicality, the energy, the atmosphere, it was something I wanted more out of. I cut my teeth in that company in wars with James Biamonte, one of the most underrated athletes to enter a ring. And from there, I found ways to adapt. No matter who I faced, I brought it, night in and night out. But, that does take its toll. I’ve gotten more injuries than I’ve cared to have, more bruises, and a much, much higher insurance premium. But those aren’t the things that make it worth it.

All I ever wanted to do was ride my bike, let Old Glory wave as I did so, and make my family proud of the man I was. World titles, they’re great. $100K for winning a tournament, that was awesome. But I find my happiness in other things now. I’ll still give it my all every night until the PWA closes its doors, and I’ll work my ass off to regain the PWA title one more time in the process. But now, my happiness comes from moments like these, where I’ll be able to pop in a Blu-ray for my little girl and show her a night like this one, so she knows her dad did alright.

“War is the Answer” replays as the crowd applauds loudly. The cameras catch a glimpse of GI Jew’s daughter, a spitting image of her father, as we head to commercial.

-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --

We return from break as Buckingham begins to speak from the podium.

Buckingham: Our next inductee is a very special one, as she has established a Hall of Fame resume in the shortest amount of time. Zina is an instant legend here in the PWA, and now let’s take a look at why.

“Zerospace” by Kidneythieves hits, and a nice reaction greets Jade as the PWA’s inaugural Women’s Champion as she steps up to the podium.

Jade: It’s funny we are here in Radio City Music Hall tonight. Many tremendous artists have graced this stage and left their audiences in awe. But one legend in particular to perform here was the late, great James Brown. You see, the Godfather of Soul performed a song on this stage and on stages all over the globe, a song titled “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World.” While the song itself didn't resonate in my mind much at all, the phrase repeated in that song over and over, “this is a man’s world,” is one that has been embedded in the head of any female competitor who’s ever decided to lace up her boots. There are no entirely female wrestling schools, so we were trained alongside men, but we always were made to understand that inside that squared circle, it truly was a man's world. The PWA provided us the opportunity to go out and help attack that notion. Our company sought out the finest competitors from across the globe, and we have gone on to have stellar bouts all over it. However, there was one woman who sought to not just attack that notion, but to destroy it.

Zina came to our company from Russia with an extremely decorated resume. She had competed worldwide for years, demolishing both men and women alike, but national wrestling companies were too scared to take a chance on her. It wasn’t until she’d left the business altogether and had embarked on a new career as a circus bear trainer that Justin Schenck found her and convinced her to join the PWA. Her arrival was the first and only one here that made me feel concern regarding my opponent, and it was warranted. She remains the most destructive force that I have ever competed against, but she also is the most groundbreaking. Zina had a lengthy undefeated streak here and captured the Women’s Championship on multiple occasions, but it was her triumph for the Progressive Championship that proved Mr. Brown’s song to be simply a myth.

Zina held and defended that championship against some of the finest competitors the PWA has to offer, and in doing so, put her name in the mix with some of the greats of this industry. The Progressive Championship has been held by four of tonight's inductees. GI Jew, Showtime Damon Savage, and Romeo have all had tremendous legacies in this organization, legacies which began with the Progressive Championship. As the only woman to hold two different championships in PWA history, I would present this resume to Mr. Brown and ask, is it truly a man's world? I think not. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome, Zina!

Aria’s “Demons” plays, and Zina arrives with Scott Cornelius to a big ovation from the capacity crowd. She looks extremely gracious as she receives her plaque from Jade and approaches the podium.

Zina: Jade, a tremendous competitor, I thank you very much for this honor. PWA, I thank you as well. Jade makes very true statements. All over the world, the sport of wrestling is dominated by men. I am thankful to PWA for allowing me to face the finest competition in the world, women like Morgan Day, Keiko Ishida, and others. I was tested harder than ever before, but after passing these tests, I sought new challenge and competed for PWA Progressive Championship. Winning that championship shows women can compete with men, and I again thank PWA for allowing me this opportunity.

The former Women’s and Progressive Champion keeps her speech traditionally short, walking off to another nice round of applause as “Demons” replays.

-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --

As we return to the induction ceremony, Randall Buckingham addresses the crowd once more.

Buckingham: During my tenure here in the PWA, in my opinion, nobody has shown a better blend of athleticism, excitement, versatility and, well, instability than Showtime Damon Savage. He has done so many incredible things here, and it’s time for us to take a look.



At the video's conclusion, “Mama Said Knock You Out” continues to play as “Not That” Rodney King emerges onto the stage. A nostalgic, warm reaction greets him as he approaches the podium.

King: Ladies and gentlemen, a lot can happen in nine years. Certainly plenty has happened in my life over that time span. But during that span in the PWA, you have each bore witness to the most entertaining athlete to grace any squared circle. His name: Showtime Damon Savage. Now I know some of you guys scoff at that, but let's face it, a guy nicknamed Showtime was never about humility.

This was a kid who was only sixteen years old when I met him in 1996. From the inner city of Pomona, CA, the true heart and soul of Southern California, Damon found a way to manifest his energy in the form of boxing. He had a stellar career -- a two-time Golden Gloves winner, national amateur champion and medalist -- but got bored with being so dominant in boxing and wanted the flash and flamboyance that the professional wrestling ring provided the opportunity for.

I provided the string-pulling to open the door to the PWA, and he's been providing the history ever since. From holding epic boxing contests with Evander Holyfield and Vladimir Vydrina, to becoming the first man to hold the International Championship three times, to ultimately becoming the PWA World Heavyweight Champion, Damon Savage has truly done it all here. Nobody has entertained in as many platforms as he has, and it is my honor and privilege to induct him now into the PWA Hall of Fame.

Ice Cube’s “No Country For Young Men” hits and a respectful ovation greets Showtime Damon Savage as he walks out onto the podium with Traci Reed. The crowd is noticeably subdued a bit, perhaps a little put off by Savage’s recent change in attitude, but the former World Champion ignores his reception as he shakes hands with Rodney before approaching the podium.

Savage: I know I might not be everyone’s favorite guy here, and trust me, Showtime is ok with that. But through all the trials and tribulations I’ve had here, this is not an honor to take lightly. Rodney spoke of my background earlier. But to elaborate a bit, I am from Pomona, California. For a guy from the hood between L.A. and Anaheim, there was no real opportunity to simply fit in. I played football, but there was no time for USC or UCLA to come recruit Pomona kids. So I did what I've done all my life: I fought.

Boxing was cool, but there were sides to Damon Savage that had to be brought out, sides that needed to shine. I'd always been a fan of pro wrestling and knew that I would be able to adapt once I took the gloves off and got in this ring. Not only did I adapt, I excelled. You see, before Showtime ever lit up Holyfield or knocked out Vydrina, Damon Savage sat back and watched this event, this spectacle that was the PWA.

I bought a ticket to Revival 2002 at the Staples Center in L.A. For those that don't remember, that night ended with Jaguar winning his first PWA Championship. The second that bell rang was the second my mind was made up. I knew that if that guy could do it, there was nothing stopping Showtime from reaching that same goal. So I put in the work, and when I came up, the comments were “oh, how can a boxer make it here,” “oh, we'll break you in half when you can't use those fists,” you name it. But I plugged away and succeeded.

Three International title runs. One World Heavyweight title run, so far. Millions of eyes on pay-per-views, whether I was beating up Holyfield or main eventing Everlasting Epic. One could say that Showtime has done it all, but the work here is not yet done. Even in the Hall of Fame now, the work is still not done. For everyone who ever dismissed Showtime, or disrespected Showtime, the work is just beginning. There are many more heads that need to be knocked off shoulders, and that work will commence this Saturday night. For the other 29 dudes against me, you're nothing Showtime can't handle.

“No Country For Young Men” abruptly hits again, and Showtime exits the stage without formally thanking the crowd after his veiled barb at Jason Calysto. The camera catches The Iceman, who shakes his head and smirks as we head to another break.

-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --

As we return to the historic Radio City Music Hall, Randall Buckingham begins to speak from the podium.

Buckingham: The next inductee is a man with whom I'm extremely familiar. Some might say we are the banes of each other's existence, but Victor Troy is a phenomenal teacher, mentor and friend, and I'm thrilled to see him enter the Hall here tonight. Let’s take a look at his legendary career.



The familiar drumming of Oasis’ “F*ckin’ in the Bushes” reverberates through the building as a terrific ovation greets the five-time PWA Champion and Hall of Famer The Iceman Jason Calysto. Brooklyn's Finest acknowledges his reaction as he approaches the podium and asks for everyone to be seated.

Calysto: Thank you guys. In this line of work, wrestling is something that we do because we love it, because we just can’t live without it. What happens inside our rings is how we make our livings, how we feed our families, and how we live out our dreams. But one thing that comes along with that -- something we might not always realize -- is we are also entertainers. When you pay your hard-earned money to see a PWA event at the arena or at home, it’s our job to give it our all in our matches, but we also want to ensure that audiences are entertained.

I'll be honest as I can for you guys. When I have a 300-pound Solomon bearing down on me, the last thing I'm worried about is everyone's entertainment. But thankfully, for me and for the rest of this roster, we have folks around who handle that for us. A few years ago, I was given the opportunity to perform color commentary, and it’s much more difficult than anything I've done inside the ring. But from the day we opened our doors on August 3, 2002 until the present, every single match contested in the PWA has had a voice. The Voice. (Crowd applauds) At our events, we have loud music, flashy lights, fireworks, you name it. But it’s one man's job to take that energy we bring and harness it, to put it out for the rest of the world to enjoy. And when it comes to that job, nobody does it better... than Victor Troy!

Ours’ “Live Again,” the theme song of PWA: The Rebirth, now begins to play as a loud ovation greets Victor Troy. He walks out onto the stage, escorted by Traci Reed, and shares an embrace with the legendary Iceman. Calysto inaudibly makes a statement to Troy, who is clearly choked up as he approaches the podium to speak.

Troy: Thank you all. This is truly unbelievable. Ten years, my goodness. Well everyone, for the past decade, my role here in the PWA has been to use my voice to bring our action to life, to make you feel what is happening at every event we host, not to be a part of the action. And now, thrust into the spotlight, I couldn't imagine what I would say. I don't take body slams, clotheslines or dropkicks. I didn't feel I deserved a spot here in our Hall of Fame.

But to know that I was voted in by my peers in the selection committee has been the most humbling experience of my life. It is because of you all, that this 10-year ride feels like it has whizzed by. The sacrifices that our wrestlers make day-in and day-out is something I see firsthand, and I would be doing you all a disservice if I didn't give it my all in every match that I call. We have seen some tremendously emotional moments here, such as Greg Tantalus finally defeating Mike Griffin, Jaguar dealing the seemingly invincible Solomon his first loss, Vulture beating Jackie Baccaro, and the list goes on and on. It has been my extreme pleasure to take these moments and bring them to your living rooms. I will continue to bring my best every single night, and again, I thank you all for this opportunity and the chance to be called a Hall of Famer. Thank you.

The humble Troy waves to the crowd and walks off stage as “Live Again” replays and we head to another break.

-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --

As we return, Buckingham is back at the podium.

Buckingham: Folks, we are going to keep this wonderful night rolling with our next inductee. A tall, lean machine of athleticism, Scythe has used his unmatched conditioning and energy to electrify crowds all over the globe. Let’s look at the career of this beloved superstar.



“Perfect Strangers” by Deep Purple hits the speakers and a beaming Mike Tortorici steps onto the stage and walks up to the podium to the cheers of the crowd.

Tortorici: Thank you everyone. Ladies and gentleman, I've waited for this night for a long time. In fact, I've waited for it since August 20, 2004. On that night, I became a member of this prestigious fraternity that we call the PWA Hall of Fame. But what also happened that night was our first-ever awards presentation. One of the awards that night was presented to Scythe, for being the Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year.

I remember going to a restaurant in Philadelphia that night after the show with Scythe and a few others, and here he was, wondering how he won this award. I sat there, shaking my head, wondering if this kid would ever get it, and the fact that he still hasn't is wonderful to me. You see guys, there is humility to Scythe that is so real and so genuine. He truly doesn't understand how he inspires. He just lives his life the right way and always puts out maximum effort every time he steps through the ropes. That resonates both to fans and to the boys in the back.

Scythe could go out there and break records in the Symphony of Destruction, last the longest, and leave with the PWA Championship like he did in 2004, and then hit the hotel room, look at the tape, and tell himself he could have done more. He's a tireless worker, and a tremendous human being. He's a man I’ve been so glad to call my friend, and a man I'm extremely proud to welcome into the Hall of Fame tonight. I once was asked how to describe Scythe in just one word, and the one I came up with is so fitting: Purity.

Linkin Park’s “With You” now hits and a huge ovation greets Scythe as he walks out onto the stage, flanked by Traci Reed. He and Tortorici share the same embrace they did in 2004, but it is now Scythe's turn to take the spotlight, which shines upon him as he approaches the podium.

Scythe: Wow. Thank you, Mike. This really is unbelievable for me. I appreciate your kind words, and everyone coming out tonight. This has been a journey that I never thought was possible. But this industry has been so rewarding for me and this is the pinnacle of success. I never intended to get into wrestling. I was always a decent athlete, but I was a basketball guy, a handball guy, never really thought of being combative for a career. My story began here in New York actually.

I was visiting my longtime friend Jaguar early in his career when he was working the indy scene here, and got very intrigued by the sport. After flying back home and expressing interest, he sent me some videotapes of a man who absolutely dazzled me. His name was Ricky Steamboat. (Crowd cheers) Steamboat was so fluid in the ring, so graceful, without any wasted motions. He was everything I wasn't. But after a few strings were pulled I decided to enroll in wrestling school back in North Carolina and was trained by The Dragon. He saw things in me that I never saw in myself, but it took time to put it all together. Honestly, I still feel that I am.

Later on, I partnered with my very good friend Billy Chan, and together we toured the world wrestling as a tag team with some success, but I remember coming back to New York to compete in CAW and it felt like coming full circle. I was comfortable. I felt we could go on to being one of the best teams ever. But as CAW folded, Billy and I had a talk, and he decided he was done with the business. I understood that, but I wanted to continue. Thankfully, Bryan Conroy offered me a PWA contract despite having never been a singles wrestler at this level before. I was a small fish in a big pond. So I decided to speak to Ricky, and he flew me out to Japan. Now contrary to popular belief, I'm not Japanese, I am Chinese, but I enjoyed their culture. I took the time to learn and soak it in, and find myself. Upon returning to the States, I decided to give being a singles wrestler a shot. It was a series of matches against Mike Tortorici that served as the turning point of my career. Although I lost our first encounter, it gave me the confidence to know that I could not only hang in the PWA, but I could rise to the top of it.

In 2004, I accomplished that feat by winning the Symphony of Destruction to claim the PWA title, and then I became the first man to defend it successfully at Everlasting Epic. I plan on repeating that feat this year, and the reason is I always make sure to set new goals. Wrestling has afforded me the chance to become known worldwide but that's never been my goal here. My primary goal is a simple one. It is to simply leave the PWA a better place than I found it. That's my main goal in life. Whether I do it by winning championships, mentoring others like Mike or Jaguar did for me, that’s all circumstantial. But one way or another, I will leave this industry a better place. Anyone who knows me knows that I am deeply connected to my family, and I want to be sure to fully thank them for their love and support throughout this journey. I lost my dad a few years ago, and I know that my career here and in the future will continue to make him proud. Thank you all.

“With You” replays and a standing ovation is shown for Scythe before we head to another break.

-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --

We return from break as Randall Buckingham begins to speak.

Buckingham: Most of my time in the PWA has been spent antagonizing some of our athletes while praising others, and I call ‘em as I see ‘em. But one guy who has always impressed me with his sheer athleticism and passion is Dan Crowley. A tremendous career for him; let’s take a look at some of his highlights.



As the video ends, “Body Ya” by Fabolous hits and a great reaction meets the reigning PWA International Champion Rich Revis as he emerges from the back and approaches the podium.

Revis: Thank you. Tonight is a terrific one for all of us -- our athletes, our staff, and our fans. We all partake in this, and it’s a wonderful honor for those who have accomplished so much both inside and outside of the rings of the PWA. But tonight is truly a special one for myself, because I get to induct the man who truly is my best friend into the PWA Hall of Fame. (Crowd cheers) Like Randall stated earlier, the one quality that sets Dan apart from all others is that inside that ring, his passion is unmatched. Just looking at that film, it bleeds through the screen. He will put his body on the line night in and night out in order to do whatever it takes to win, and I’m proud of the competitor he has become in reaching this goal.

When I first met Dan, he was in his first reign as the FSW Intercontinental Champion. I started traveling with him, really picking his brain as I broke into the business. I learned very early on that Dan was far and away the most determined person I’d ever been around. Determination was his key, because more often than not, he competed as an underdog, even back in his FSW days. All the experts said Dan wouldn’t be a major player in FSW, but he managed to become the only man to win the FSW Intercontinental title more than once, and the only man to hold it simultaneously with the CAW Intercontinental title.

From there, we both entered the PWA and redesigned ourselves, trying to find our niche as a tag team. As Speed Demon and Reaper, I think we did just that, as The Lost Souls captured the PWA Tag Team Championship three times. We later had our share of disagreements, particularly after I foolishly entered the Army of the Damned and, frankly, got what I had coming to me after doing so. I won’t spend much time on that topic because it isn’t deserved in this forum, but I will say that Dan managed to vanquish them one-by-one, and once that smoke cleared and he finally got to focus on just wrestling for the first time in a long time, he showed that the cream does rise to the top, winning the PWA World Heavyweight Championship at Everlasting Epic VI. He’s deserved this for a long time, and it is now my honor to induct Dan Crowley into the PWA Hall of Fame!

Judas Priest’s “Judas Rising” hits to a stellar ovation as Crowley walks out from the back with Traci Reed and hugs his longtime friend in Revis. The former Lost Souls share a word before Crowley approaches the podium to address an adoring crowd.

Crowley: Wow, thank you all so much. This has been such an unbelievable journey for me. I remember hearing the night of Everlasting Epic VI that winning the title would make me a Hall of Fame guy, and I didn’t believe it. I got to my hotel that night in Jacksonville, and I remember having the PWA Championship belt on a table as I’m looking out onto the river, not even processing that this could be possible. I felt my work was only just beginning, and that was true, but never did I believe that less than two years later, I’d be standing at this podium, giving a Hall of Fame acceptance speech. When you’re in this business, you become immersed in it. With flights, rental cars, hotels, and fans, there’s no time to take a step back, breathe a bit, and look at what you’ve done. Tonight is my opportunity to do that, and I’m very grateful for it. I’m also glad this event is being held here in New York, where this journey began for me.

FSW was quite the learning opportunity, and it truly did help prepare me for what would lie ahead here in the PWA. I’m proud to say I competed in the first event in this company’s history, and it’s been amazing watching this growth and being a part of it. Teaming with Rich in the Lost Souls was a great time for me, but I also never questioned whether or not more laid ahead for me. I always knew it did. Tag team titles are great, don’t get me wrong, but if you’re not here to become the World Heavyweight Champion, you’re wasting your time, to a degree. I knew I had to reach that goal one way or another.

I know Rich didn’t want to address it and I don’t fault him for that, but the story of Dan Crowley cannot be told without the Army of the Damned and Bishop Cross. For two years, Cross sought to torment me in the vilest ways possible, and while it was great to finish him here in New York, the company closed the very night I did so and I felt I’d been robbed of my opportunity to reach my largest goal, the PWA Championship. Thankfully, the PWA rose like a phoenix and I capitalized on that opportunity by finally claiming that title. Being a Hall of Famer here is an amazing feeling. We have some wrestlers who have accomplished so much and could wrap up soon, others here that are just now emerging and will surely follow their dreams elsewhere. While I’m not an emerging talent, I can assure you all that I’m not anywhere near wrapping up either. Please trust and believe me, I am in no way done with that goal, and I will recapture the PWA Championship. But again, I thank you all for this amazing honor, just as I thank everyone involved with the PWA for giving us this platform to compete and make dreams like this one come true. Thank you!

“Judas Rising” replays, and a standing ovation is given to Crowley as we head to another break.

-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --

As we return, Buckingham begins to speak once more.



Buckingham: Ladies and gentlemen, earlier in the night I mentioned how the PWA meant so much to us that we see stars from yesteryear attending this event. Tonight, we have one of our finest female competitors returning to do just that. To induct Keiko Ishida, please welcome Camieko!

“Hot Like Fire” by the late Aaliyah brings out the shapely two-time former Women’s Champion to a chorus of cheers.

Camieko: Thank you guys. It’s great to be back here with the PWA for such an amazing night. In the past several years, I’ve enjoyed retirement from the ring, and being a mom to my two children. Life has been rewarding, but retirement probably came just a little bit early for me. The main reason for that is the woman I'm about to introduce.

Keiko Ishida came to us from Japan in 2004 as an accomplished competitor, known worldwide as one of the most lethal female fighters on the planet. It was a reputation she proved to be very true. When Keiko entered the PWA, I was the Women's Champion. After we met, I never saw the title again. From myself to Jade to Dee to all the other women on the roster, we tried to take her down and failed. She held the title for 389 days, the only competitor to hold a PWA championship for over a year actively. She's tough and she's vicious, but she's respected. She has given us some of the most amazing matches ever seen in the women's division, and I'm honored to induct her into the Hall of Fame.

“The Stone Monkey” by Kazu Matsui brings out the reigning PWA Women’s Champion Keiko Ishida, who is accompanied by Scott Cornelius as she walks to the podium to a nice ovation.

Keiko: To Camieko, I thank you. A terrific competitor and person, thank you very much. This is a much esteemed honor for me and I am thankful to be a rightful member of the Hall of Fame. I have prided myself on becoming the best wrestler in the world, and my fights with Camieko, with Lauren Tantalus, with Zina, and of course with Morgan Day, have been tremendous battles. I would never apologize for being a serious competitor. Every action I take is to become the best. I feel that I have reached certain goals here, but will continue to fight for more.

Although I currently reign atop the PWA as champion and now am a Hall of Fame member, my work here is not done. I will continue my dominance to make this reign, the final reign this company will ever see, my best reign yet. Again, I thank you all for your kind words.

The soothing “Stone Monkey” replays as Keiko exits the stage and we head to another break.

-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --

As we return from break, Buckingham begins to speak once again.

Buckingham: As we all know, I came to the PWA from a background in baseball. And when I got here, knowing I was going to need to commentate in a different type of way, I began comparing some of these guys to the types of baseball players that I previously knew. Well, let me tell you, if the PWA were a diamond, the baddest slugger around would be Anthony Failla. Let’s take a look at his long and storied career.



As Failla's video package wraps up, “Da Repercussions” by 50 Cent hits and a warm, yet surprised, greeting meets Michael Grieco as he strolls up to the podium.

Grieco: No need for everyone to look at their programs, they are correct. When the Hall of Fame committee first announced they were inducting Anthony Failla into the Hall of Fame, I guess there was a legitimate question regarding who would actually induct him. In my mind, there were no questions. This was something I felt I had to do, if not for my fiercest rival, but for a man I do in fact respect.

You see, Anthony and I weren't always rivals. We go back a long, long way, and started our careers together in Queens as friends. But, as you could probably expect from two big, tough Italian kids, we eventually butted heads and had our wars. In those wars, we took pieces of each other's health, pieces of each other's careers, pieces of each other's livelihood. It was those fierce battles with Anthony that led to not only extreme dislike, but also extreme respect for the man. There is no other name more tied to my career than Anthony Failla, and maybe that isn’t a good thing. But what is a good thing is his tremendous resume and impact on this industry.

People have said a lot of things about Anthony. Lazy, unmotivated, underachiever. It’s all B.S. When I think of Failla, I think of the guy who took me to my limits in Madison Square Garden, who beat me into bed rest at Everlasting Epic III in Philly, and a man who has held the CAW, ORA, and PWA Championships. No crap reigns either. He's not my favorite guy in the world and I won't ever be his, but on this night, I'm proud to introduce Anthony Failla into the Hall of Fame Class of 2012.

“Better Think Again” by Submersed hits and a rousing ovation comes for a clearly joyous Failla, as he walks out onto the stage with Traci Reed and shares a never-before-seen handshake with Grieco, his fiercest rival, before approaching the podium. The typically stoic and intense big man breaks into a rarely seen wide grin before beginning to speak.

Failla: A long time guys. I've waited a very long time for this moment, and I'm not the greatest with words as it is, but I can't put into words how good this feels. I'm glad to be back in New York, where I started on this path over 20 years ago. But being honest with everyone, when I first got into wrestling, I did it for the paycheck. Those things that have been said about me in the past at one point were true. I was an underachiever. I was using my size and strength to my advantage, just getting by on natural ability, but I didn't truly work at my craft.

Winning the CAW Championship was a very cool moment. I went on to have what many people think was the most dominant CAW title run of all time, and it didn't really register with me that I could do so much more. Even when the PWA began, I figured I could come in and be that same guy and it would all be ok. I found out differently. This organization has produced the best competition from every corner of the earth, and it caught up to me. I knew I had to channel my energy in a different kind of way. I won the ORA title and had a nice run, but when Everlasting Epic V had come and gone and this company closed its doors, I felt like an afterthought.

I left the business entirely, and had really lost my passion for it. Didn't want to watch any other companies, nothing. But about a year before we started back up, I got a call from Justin Schenck, asking if I was interested. I told him then I was more interested than I'd ever been. I knew I needed to commit in a way I never had before, because I wasn't going to waste my second chance to leave my mark on this industry. I sold my house and moved to Chicago. I got myself a loft right above a gym and went nowhere. All I did was train, eat, watch film, and sleep. Jaguar was our champion at the time, and I went back and watched tape of every one of our previous matches. I studied him, Vulture, Calysto, Savage, everybody. I knew that I had no room for error and simply couldn’t afford to fail. I got myself into the best shape of my life, and four weeks into the relaunch, I defeated Jaguar in a steel cage match to win the PWA World Heavyweight Championship, which launched the best time of my career, until tonight.

I've sat in the audience for years at this event, often spending the night upset at being overlooked. I wasn't overlooked. I just hadn't earned it. Well now I have, and I refuse to stop here. If anything, my motivation is greater than ever before. I will never make the same mistakes again. I'll continue to be as focused, strong, and aggressive as always until I can reclaim that PWA Championship and really leave my mark. And mark my words: that title is coming home with me in four nights after I win the Symphony of Destruction match. Thank you all for your time and it feels great to be a Hall of Famer!

“Better Think Again” replays and the crowd celebrates Failla's long journey with him as we head to another break.

-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --

We return to Radio City Music Hall as Buckingham speaks once again.

Buckingham: One of the coolest things about being a part of this organization is that we are able to present our product in front of thousands upon thousands of eyes weekly, both in person and on television. The reason our following has been so strong is due directly to our staff, but the programming always needs to have some direction. For the Rebirth Era, that direction reached unprecedented heights. Let’s take a look at our next inductee, Justin Schenck.



As the video package concludes, Metallica's “Sad But True” plays, and the crowd rocks as PWA Hall of Famer Bryan Conroy walks out onto the podium to a very positive reaction.

Conroy: As a member of the PWA Hall of Fame myself, I know exactly what this night means to the men and women being honored tonight. And while this moment certainly is not about me, a few years ago, I was ousted from this company and never dreamed that I would have the opportunity to come back to this event. The man I'm inducting here tonight afforded me that opportunity, and this induction is the least I could possibly do to thank him.

Running the PWA on a day-to-day basis is a very difficult job. Our staff is extremely efficient and always has been, but it’s also never been very large. Each week, there are cities, states, countries that are rocked by the PWA's presence. While that is the most glamorous part of the organization, there are several others that don't garner as much glitz.

Since The Rebirth began, Justin Schenck has managed to rework contracts and bring back some of the most popular names and personalities in this industry, and his direction has kept TV ratings high. He’s booked our venues, he’s arranged travel, he's managed through illnesses, childbirths, unfortunate bereavements, and other events of life while still making sure our fans have a tremendously entertaining product each and every time they tune to the PWA on the NOW Network.

While there have been struggles, and there will continue to be, he has found a way to persevere and keep this place running. And at Symphony of Destruction, I will see to it personally that his leadership here will continue here until the bitter end. Being the creative director is a pretty thankless job, I would know, but tonight, we say “thank you” to Justin Schenck. Justin, come on out here!

“Bounce” by Bon Jovi then hits and an ecstatic Justin Schenck emerges. He is escorted by Traci Reed before hugging Conroy and accepting his honor as the crowd cheers.

Schenck: Wow. Let's hear it one time for Bryan Conroy, guys. (Crowd cheers) Guys, I thank you all, but this is too much for me. All I’ve tried to do is bring you the most entertainment possible, and this reaction, this energy, is what makes me feel so good about doing it. My ways and methods were not always on the up and up, I realize that, but sometimes in doing this, it’s tough to find your way. It can be a lot of pressure to manage, and the reason that pressure exists is because these athletes here are the best at what they do, and their passion is unmatched anywhere else.

Years ago, I had a conversation with Jaguar shortly after his back surgery. He avoided fusion to return to the ring much sooner, taking a huge risk in doing so. I asked him why, and he told me it’s just the way of life here, and it took me years to understand why. Why would a guy like that, a multi-time World Champion risk his health, or why would a legend like Vulture ignore neck specialist after neck specialist to Spider Suplex a guy? It’s because of passion, guys.

When you have people so dedicated and committed to their crafts, with a ravenous hunger to be the best, it makes my job easy. These personalities, they determine what happens in front of your eyes each week. Whether it’s on a live TV event in Philly, or a non-televised one in Little Rock, their intensity and dedication remains the same. It is because of them that I continue to work as hard as I do, and it’s you guys out there that make this so rewarding for me. It’s why I refused to allow Jerry Georgatos to force me away from it. I could have sat at home and let this season and this company peter out with a whimper, but the staff here doesn't whimper, the talent doesn't whimper, and neither does Justin Schenck.

I just want each of you to know that being enshrined in the Hall of Fame is such a tremendous honor for me. I started with this company as a color commentator on PWA Overdrive on Sunday nights in 2003. From there, I decided to take a chance, to leave my announcing gig and try to break out on my own. I see Superstar Scott Hosemann in the audience, and I owe a huge debt of gratitude to him. He was the first man to sign me on as his manager, and what resulted from that was a legacy. The Legacy. Briggs, Kris Anthony, Greg Price, Omega, Darrin Giles: I owe you all a debt of gratitude. But what really put me on the map here was managing Hollywood Mike Griffin. I know we’ve had our differences recently, but Hollywood, managing you to the PWA Championship is the reason that anyone at the NOW Network even knew who the hell I was. And that opened the door for me to pitch the board of directors my vision for a Rebirth of this company.

I am so humbled by this incredible honor. To have left any small mark on this industry is incredible, and I want everyone to know I truly, truly thank you for this honor. I'll see everyone Saturday night at MetLife Stadium, and when we return from the break on August 14th, I’ll be there too, firmly in charge, steering the ship towards our final dock, Everlasting Epic VIII on October 20th. Take it to the bank! Thank you!

“Bounce” then replays as the fans give Schenck a loud ovation. The camera then catches a seething Jerry Georgatos in the audience as we head to another break.

-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --

We return to the broadcast as Randall Buckingham again addresses the crowd.

Buckingham: When we talk about tag team wrestling, no two names ring louder in the PWA than Romeo and Jaguar. Together, The Hot Boy$ have won nine tag team titles in the PWA, CAW, and FSW; an unbreakable record. But tonight, we honor Romeo for his own accomplishments, both in and outside of the team. Let's take a look at his legendary career.



As the video concludes, “My Avenue” by Lil' Boosie, Lil' Trill and the recently deceased Lil' Phat booms through the speakers for the arrival of Jaguar. A big ovation greets him, and the Hall of Famer looks ecstatic to be there as he approaches the podium, beaming with pride.

Jaguar: Man. Thank you guys. You know, I have done a lot here in the PWA, and I did a lot with CAW before that. World champion, tag champion, traveled the world, you name it. But with all that said, I can tell you, without a shadow of a doubt, today is the proudest day of my career here. For those that don’t know the story, Romeo, Scythe, GI Jew… I call them “my guys.” The reason for that is I had a major hand in getting each one of them their opportunity to crack the CAW roster way back when, and all three scratched, fought, and clawed their way to the top of this industry. Gentlemen, I'm thrilled to call you all Hall of Famers right now. (Crowd applauds)

But… there's one guy that's just like no other. I'm talking about Da Playboi. When Romeo and I met -- I think it was ‘98, something like that -- I had just moved south from working the territory up here. I came to find out that he had done the same thing. The Southeast was looking for some credible names to kind of grow things down there, and I answered that call to do just that. Once I was working Florida and Georgia, I run into this kid, just full of raw power, tossing dudes around left and right. I told myself it’d be much better for me to be on his side of the ring rather than facing him. So we teamed up and created The Hot Boy$.

When I left for CAW, I told Romeo that once I got myself established, I’d do what I could to land him a tryout. Less than two years later, he got that tryout and man, did he make the most of it. Once he walked through the doors of CAW, The Hot Boy$ immediately became CAW tag champs. We just kept building that resume, straight through the end of CAW and FSW and into the early stages of the PWA, but at the same time, we knew we both wanted singles success. Eventually, he took the Progressive title and then the International title, but we all know if you aren't in this business to be the world champion, it makes no sense to be here. While one part of me was so glad to see Romeo become the PWA World Heavyweight Champion in 2005, it wasn't easy being his victim in doing so. But through every up and down we have had, nobody has stuck by me through each high and low of my life quite like he has. It’s an honor and a privilege to introduce and induct my man, Da Playboi, Romeo!

“I'm Flexin’” by T.I. bumps through the PA system and Radio City Music Hall gives it up for Romeo as he emerges on the stage, flanked by Camieko. They meet Jaguar in the middle of the stage and the famed trio embraces in a small huddle, taking the moment in before a thrilled Playboi takes the podium.

Romeo: Wow. Thank you everybody. I have waited so, so long for this chance to be here, and it means a lot to have Jaguar, my brother, here with me, not to mention being brought out by the original Hot Girl Camieko. We made lots of memories together, and this truly means so much to me. For much of the past decade of my life, I've been fortunate enough to be here and do my thing, having more fun than I could possibly imagine. I never dreamed it could be like this when I walked into CAW in 2002. If anything, I wasn't even all that serious about this business back then.

I remember the night of PWA Revival later that year. I won the Progressive title in New York and Jag won the world title in L.A. We talked on the phone and that's when things started to click. He had made it to the top of the industry, and we both had singles titles at the same time. There was no reason I couldn't follow his lead and become world champion myself. So I got serious. I got in the gym, eventually became International Champion, and kept rolling. But along the way, I would hear in airports, hotels, restaurants, everywhere I went, Romeo was “the other Hot Boy.”

Hearing that, I made the biggest mistake of my life and turned on Jag. I took the World Championship in the process, but that period of my life was the emptiest I'd ever been. Most people don't know what it’s like to have everything you've worked for in your hands, while losing everything you've ever wanted at the same time. I wouldn't talk to my family, my friends; I completely ducked off and shut down outside the ring. I got on the right track later in 2006, but it wasn't until I walked away from the ring then, that I could get my life back in order.

I had my first son, Aaron, my pride and joy. Even without the PWA Championship, the ORA Championship, Grand Slam, Silver Dollar, I was good. None of it mattered. Then I got that call from Jag to come back, and just had to scratch that itch. Scratching that itch brought me back here to you guys, and it’s been an incredible run. I'm now at a point in my life where things outside the ring are good. Things inside the ring, they're good too. But I want to know what it feels like to truly have it all now. My goal for the rest of this season, and this Saturday, is to regain the PWA Championship, and do it the right way.

But before I go, I want to thank Justin Schenck, the entire PWA family, and especially all you fans all over the world that have supported me throughout. It’s you guys who make this fun. To Jag, thank you for making sure I knew there was no “other Hot Boy.” We did it together, and now we are both Hall of Famers.

“We On Fire” hits and Jaguar re-enters the shot to embrace his partner before both put their closed fists out for the crowd to see, showing off the gleam of their respective Hall of Fame rings as we head to another break.

-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --

We return from break with Randall Buckingham at the podium.

Buckingham: Our next inductee is the final woman to be inducted this evening, and one of only three women to hold the PWA Women’s Championship on four separate occasions. As much as the PWA fans love to hate Keiko Ishida, they can’t help but cheer for this woman, who was put on the map when she ended Keiko’s year-long reign of terror over the women’s division. Let’s take a look back at the memorable career of clearly one of the greatest competitors in the history of our women’s division, Morgan Day.



As the video concludes, VAST’s “Falling From the Sky” blares onto the speakers and something of a mixed reaction greets Vulture as he emerges. Decked in a black suit with a black shirt and red tie to represent SIN, the Class of 2004 Hall of Famer hears more cheers than boos as he approaches the podium.

Vulture: Thank you. What do you say about your wife on a night when she is to receive the highest honor one can achieve in her chosen profession? I can start by stressing how unbelievably proud I am. Proud that this wayward soul who became my soulmate found her way into this profession. Proud that I had the honor of training her, falling in love with her, creating a family with her. Proud that she’s always been my moral compass and that I can always count on her. But tonight, I’m just incredibly proud to look back on her magnificent career and marvel at all she’s been able to accomplish. Morgan Day is the most amazing person I’ve ever been lucky enough to encounter in this life, and as great a human being as she is, she’s just as great in that ring.

In her PWA career, Morgan has defeated every major star in the women’s division that she’s had the opportunity to face. But, as Randall alluded to, the night she truly became a star in this company was PWA Revival in December 2005, when she ended Keiko Ishida’s incredible undefeated streak and captured the Women’s Championship for the first time. We weren’t together at that time, but I vividly recall watching that match backstage and marveling at what an incredible achievement it was. And she wasn’t even close to done. She’s captured the title three times more since then, and three of her four championship wins have come against fellow Hall of Famers. I have little doubt that Morgan will break the three-way tie and finish out this company the only five-time champion in its history, but whether she does or doesn’t, tonight’s induction proves her legacy is already cemented.

One of the truly awe-inspiring things about my wife is that, in 2006, after this company shut its doors for what we all thought would be forever, Morgan and I decided we were done with the business. Happily reunited after too many years apart, we decided to leave this life behind and move forward. We married, had a child, and Morgan evolved from the world-class Hall of Fame competitor you saw every Tuesday night into a simply fantastic wife and mother. But several years later, when we got the call from Justin Schenck, I started to get the itch. Aside from my final match, I hated the way my career ended and I wanted a shot to finish it the right way.

Vulture now pauses for several awkward moments, staring off into space, before he continues.

Vulture: Morgan wasn’t thrilled with my decision, but she supported it regardless. She decided to come on the road with me so that we could be together. Originally, she was going to stay out of the ring and simply manage my career. But as we got closer, she got the itch too. She felt obligated to defend the Women’s Championship. And just like that, she was back. But the awe-inspiring thing to me was that, after leaving this life behind, after returning to the ring more out of obligation than passion, Morgan was able to compete at the same ridiculously high level that had become her standard. She never missed a beat. And, I dare say, as The Rebirth has progressed, she just keeps getting better and better. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my absolute honor and privilege to induct into the PWA Hall of Fame Class of 2012, my wife, my best friend, my hero, Morgan Day!

With that, “Hysteria” by Muse hits the speakers and Morgan Day receives a tremendous ovation from the Radio City Music Hall crowd. She steps onto the stage wearing a stunning purple dress and is met by her husband, who kisses and embraces her before directing her to the podium.

Morgan: Wow. I didn’t think I was going to get emotional tonight, but dammit Michael! I guess if I didn’t want to get emotional, I shouldn’t have asked my husband to induct me! But in all seriousness, there was no one else who could possibly have bestowed this honor upon me. There is no one else who has seen all the ups and downs of my career, who knows the stories behind the stories. When Vulture said I was a wayward soul when we met, he wasn’t exaggerating. I lost both my parents as a teenager and found myself drifting through my adolescence, pent up with tremendous amounts of rage and aggression, just searching for the proper outlet. My travels took me to Thailand and the world of muay thai. As is well documented, it was there where I first came across Keiko Ishida, but more on that in a bit. But it was also there where I met the man who would change my life forever. Vulture happened to stumble upon one of my fights while touring the country and saw something in me. When we met, I was only vaguely familiar with pro wrestling. Without his influence, I would never have gone done this path.

We hit it off immediately, and he convinced me that pro wrestling would be the ideal outlet for my aggression, that it would give my life the most purpose. He was right. He trained me to become a wrestler, and we fell for each other hard. But the timing wasn’t right. Neither one of us were in the right emotional place to make it work then. So we went our separate ways and I kept at it. I got better and better. I traveled the world, added new moves and styles to my repertoire. And in 2005, I caught the eye of PWA officials. It was Bryan Conroy who signed me to my PWA contract in the summer of 2005, and for that I thank him. At that time, there was a feeling in the front office, I’ve been told, that no one on the current roster could ever defeat Keiko Ishida and end her women’s title reign. They did an exhaustive search of the globe and came across my name when searching through her muay thai records from years before. I was brought in with tremendously high expectations behind the scenes, if that wasn’t made abundantly clear on screen.

That of course brings me to the period of my career for which I am best known. Keiko and I have never gotten along and will never be friends, but I can’t deny for a second that competing against her makes me better. She is the greatest rival of my career and my favorite opponent. After months of hype, I challenged her for the Women’s Championship at Revival in December 2005, and after a tremendous battle, I hit her with the Daybreak and ended her historic reign. But our rivalry was about more than just one match. Over the course of the next several months, we competed in a best-of-seven series that ended with me victorious, four to three. I’m sure Keiko will be quick to point out that she in effect evened up that series just a few weeks ago, when she defeated me for her fourth women’s title, but no matter how you slice it, our feud made both of our careers. Because whether she wants to admit it or not, until I came along, she was just someone who dominated everyone in less than five minutes. Working with me proved to the world that Keiko was a damn exciting competitor when challenged.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my battles with another member of the Class of 2012, Zina. Since returning for The Rebirth, my greatest matches of this final stage of my career have come against Zina. We have great chemistry in that ring and the TLC match at Everlasting Epic last year remains one of my all-time favorite matches.

I don’t want to just single out two opponents, however. Over the years, I’ve had great matches with the likes of my stepdaughter Alexis, Jade, Kemi Okoro, Camieko, Magnifica, Lauren Tantalus, the list goes on and on. But moreover, I just want to thank you, the fans. Everything I’ve become is because of you. I never could have done it without your support. My husband alluded to the fact that I was initially unsure of returning to this company after the hiatus. One of the reasons that I changed my mind was all the support I received from you. So to my wonderful husband, to my adorable son who is in the audience with his aunt, and to all my supporters all over this globe, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you all.

With that, “Hysteria” replays and the New York City crowd gives Morgan Day a rousing ovation as we head to commercial.

-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --

We return from our final commercial break to find Randall Buckingham at the podium once again.

Buckingham: Ladies and gentlemen, this has been a truly wonderful, emotional, and incredible evening. We have seen sides of our wrestlers and personalities here that we never thought we would, and we all appreciate the opportunity to come into everyone's homes tonight to present that. However, we have one more inductee tonight, and we all know who that is. The PWA has been defined by two distinct eras: Frequency and The Rebirth. Well, there should be two other eras, centered around June 7, 2003: Before and After Solomon. Although he truly needs no introduction, let’s take a look at the man, the myth, the force of nature… the Alaskan Monster known simply as Solomon.



After the video package wraps, "Trust" by Sevendust plays and a cordial reaction brings Briggs out to the podium.

Briggs: Thank you. I'm sure a lot of folks in our audience are wondering how I was chosen to induct Solomon into the Hall of Fame here tonight. It’s no secret that Solomon and I have not been, nor ever will be, friends. But what I do have is more respect for him than any other competitor to enter a wrestling ring. This is a man who was bigger, stronger, and faster, than everyone else, born and bred for domination. Since entering the PWA in 2003, he has done just that. He has had hour-long wars with Scythe, technical masterpieces with Jason Calysto, and brutal wars with myself, yet he adapts to any situation or circumstance. We come from similar backgrounds -- big, brawny men used to the coldest and harshest elements in the world. Yet inside this ring, he is unequaled. My battles with Solomon have been so fierce that I’ve lost chunks of my career in them, but he has gained my respect, and it is my honor to induct The Alaskan Monster into the Hall of Fame.

“Hear Me” by Darkseed now booms over the Radio City Music Hall speakers and a tremendous ovation greets the PWA World Heavyweight Champion Solomon as he arrives. After shaking hands with Briggs, the newest Hall of Famer begins to speak.

Solomon: You know, I rarely say this here, but thank you. This is such an honor and I thank the PWA and its fans for giving me the platform to really make a difference within this industry. I've had a love-hate relationship with many of you, and frankly I don't anticipate a change in that. I've been a true fan of the art of wrestling my entire life, though I'd always been kind of a closeted fan. Wrestling promotions didn't visit northern Alaska, and we only received national network television.

Back in 2002, when this company had first formed, I was able to catch the PWA on television and finally get to see some of these superstars that I'd heard so much about. I knew it was the start of something special and that I needed to be a part of it. I felt that being seven feet tall and 300 pounds, there was nobody in or out of that ring that could compete with me. My time was consumed by being a whale hunter in the summer and a travel agent in the winter, and I was wasting it. Before long, After seeking out representation, I found a man named Walter Gindin, who put together a meeting with the PWA. That one meeting was all it took. I was a young man who had never left the state of Alaska before, but I knew I could come down here and swim with the sharks that made this entity the empire that it was.

I arrived at the Georgia Dome for the Symphony of Destruction in 2003, and my reception in the PWA wasn't a friendly one. No one knew me, and I can't say that I wanted to know them. My job was to come in here and take care of my family via domination. Whomever I needed to dissect to make that possible, I dissected. In Barrow, Alaska, wrestling companies don't come by and hold "tryouts." I had to fight, scratch, and claw for everything I've obtained, and I’ve done that. My attitude here has been misunderstood, and I haven't been overly concerned about that, but with this forum, I want to make it clear. My only goal here has been to become the unquestioned and undisputed best wrestler to ever grace a PWA ring.

My road to doing that has been bumpy, and it likely will continue to be. But I will compete with unmatched intensity until that goal is reached. I’ve taken a step towards that goal tonight, becoming the only reigning PWA Champion to ever be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and I’ll take another step this Saturday, when I become the only man to take the PWA Championship into the Symphony of Destruction match and also leave with it. Ladies and gentlemen, when I promised to be the last man to ever hold this championship, I meant it. However, during my quest, I'm glad that I had this chance tonight to tell everyone who has watched or appreciated me along the way that I thank you all very much.

“Hear Me” plays once more and Solomon acknowledges the crowd as confetti begins to fall in the theater. Shortly thereafter, the music fades and each member of the Hall of Fame fraternity now emerges on the stage, congratulating one another. With the raucous applause of the crowd as their soundtrack, the legends mingle and chat while a still image of the late Allison Kelly appears on the stage's backdrop, allowing each and every member of the illustrious Hall their due as we fade to black.


-- END SHOW --


Click here for the 2004 induction ceremony

Click here for the 2005 induction ceremony

Click here for the 2006 induction ceremony