- 08/22/2007 (6:15:16 pm)
- Press Release
…..
August 22, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Samoa Joe to face Kishi (formerly Rikishi) FIRST TIME EVER
Joey Mathews (formerly Mercury) vs. 2 Cold Scorpio FIRST TIME EVER
Plus ten other huge matches tomorrow - Ballpark Brawl VIII in Buffalo, NY, Thursday, August 23rd
Buffalo, NY (8/22/07) – One of the largest indy shows in the nation takes place tomorrow, Thursday, August 23rd at Dunn Tire Park in downtown Buffalo, NY. The event features several first time ever matches such as the current NATURAL Heavyweight Champion – Samoa Joe vs. Kishi or Rikishi as he was known as in the WWE. Plus, 2 Cold Scorpio makes his Brawl debut against Joey Mathews who was known as “Mercury” ½ of the WWE tag championship team “MNM.”
As usual, a few surprises have emerged as former ECW Champion Steve Corino was signed yesterday along with former ROH tag champion Ricky Reyes to take part in the Tag Team Table Turmoil match!
We also have a unique collection of legends such as Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake who will be participating in the first ever Hair vs. Hair vs. Mullet match with local stars Jonny Puma and Cody Deaner where someone WILL go bald! Plus “The Doctor of Style” Slick makes a rare indy appearance as a judge in the European Rules match between Claudio Castagnoli and Delirious.
There are nine other matches on the main and pre-shows including the hottest 3-way ever between TNA Knockout’s Gail Kim vs. Traci (Ms. Brooks) and Toronto star Kelly Couture.
Plus additional matches featuring the top indy wrestling talents from coast to coast such as Sterling James Keenan, Ruckus, MDogg Matt Cross, Claudio Castagnoli, Delirious, Davey Richards, El Generico, Super X-tremo, John McChesney, Jennifer Blake, Devon Moore, Detox, Brodie Lee, Big Cat, Jonny Puma, Cody Deaner, Sara Del Ray, Krystal Banks, Glamorous Glen Dillion, Cody 45, The Dustytaker, J-Roc, Andrew Davis, Jake O’Reilly, Primo, Stickball, Gabe Saint, and many more surprises.
“We strive to create the best environment for our fans and the talent. We work to have every match become a showcase of the individual’s ability. Every match up could be a main event somewhere else. This year we believe that we have assembled the absolute best stars of today and tomorrow,” said Ballpark Brawl Executive Consultant John Godzuk.
A complete match listing follows this release.
The event will take place after the Buffalo Bisons vs. Pawtucket Red Sox baseball game on Thursday August 23rd. The pre-show begins at noon in front of the ticket windows with the game beginning at 1pm. The show will begin 45 minutes after the game ends. Limited field seating will be available for $30. Special Reserved tickets for the game and Ballpark Brawl are $10.00, reserved tickets are $9.00. Tickets are on sale now at the Dunn Tire Park box office, all www.Tickets.com and at the Bisons web site, Bisons.com. Field seats are only available by calling the Dunn Tire Park box office at 716.843.4373.
ANNOUNCED MATCHES
- NATURAL Heavyweight title match featuring Samoa Joe vs. Kishi (formerly Rikishi)
- Legendary appearances by Brutus ‘The Barber” Beefcake, and “The Doctor of Style” SLICK!
- 2 Cold Scorpio vs. Joey Matthews “Mercury” (First Time Ever)
- Women's Three-Way: Gail Kim vs. Tracy Brooks vs. Kelly Couture (guest referee Jennifer Blake)
-Hair vs. Hair vs. Mullet: Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake vs. Jonny Puma vs. Cody Deaner
- European Rules Match: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Delirious (Slick, Mosh and ? as judges)
- Ruckus vs. “MDogg” Matt Cross
- Tag Team Table Turmoil: Steve Corino & Ricky Reyes vs. Brodie Lee & His Mystery Partner vs. Detox & Devon Moore
- Six Man "Futures" Elimination Match: Sterling James Keenan vs. Davey Richards vs. John McChesney vs. El Generico vs. Winner of Young Lyons II vs. ???
- "Young Lyons II" Match: ??? vs. Super-Xtremo
- Intergender Tag Match – Cody 45 & Sara Del Ray vs. Cody Deaner & Krystal Banks
- Royal Rumble featuring some of the top area stars
EVENT INFORMATION
Thursday, August 23rd
Dunn Tire Park – Buffalo, NY
Ballpark Brawl ™ VIII
Gates will open at noon
Belltime will be 45 minutes after the game
Pre-show will take place at noon out side of the stadium ticket windows
About the Ballpark Brawls: The Ballpark Brawls are wrestling events at Dunn Tire Park (Buffalo, NY) that feature the top wrestling talent from the past, present and future of professional wrestling. For more information, please contact the Ballpark Brawl official web site www.ballparkbrawl.com.
-Ballpark Brawl©-
MAIN EVENT
NATURAL Heavyweight Title
Samoa Joe © vs. Rikishi (formerly Rikishi)
The challenges are steep in this match. Can Samoa Joe be the first champion to be able to defend the title successfully at Dunn Tire Park? Usually he is the larger of the opponents but this time Joe will have the weight disadvantage as Kishi outweighs Joe by over one-hundred pounds! Kishi has been to the mountain top and has feuded with some of the top talents in our industry. Now for the first time ever he gets to step in to the ring with the top “new” star in the industry. A victory here helps his transition to his next federation. The dancing days are over. Now we will see the hardcore Samoan bringing it to the top talent in the industry today. It will be a stiff, brutal encounter truly a Battle of Samoa!
First Time Ever - Singles
2 Cold Scorpio vs. Joey Mathews (formerly Mercury from MNM)
The highflying legend and former ECW Champion 2 Cold Scorpio pits his aerial arsenal against one of the top up and coming talents in the industry Joey Mathews. In the WWE, he was Mercury ½ of the WWE Tag Champs MNM. Now on his own and anxious to prove his singles skills are more than hype. In one of the most eagerly anticipated matches of the evening who will prevail? The seasoned high flying veteran or the young upstart with something to prove?
Women’s Three-Way
Gail Kim vs. Traci (Ms. Brooks) vs. Kelly Couture
Traci or “Ms. Brooks” as she is known in TNA has one of the longest running involvements with the Brawls. She appeared on the original Ballpark Brawl© where she was pinned by former WWE & TNA standout Trinity. She squared off against current WWE developmental talent, Nattie Neidhart at Ballpark Brawl© III. It was another fantastic women’s match-up which, unfortunately for her, saw Traci pinned by her opponent in Nattie’s first match on US soil. Traci was included in one of the hottest and aggressively contested women’s royal rumble against Jackie, April Hunter, Jaime D and Nattie Neidhart. She was unable to come out on top but continued to produce a fantastic match.
Last year she was in Iraq performing for the troops and was unable to appear but this year she is back wrestling her fellow TNA Knockout, Canadian native, Gail Kim. Gail has history in Buffalo as she won the WWE women's championship on June 30th, 2003 in HSBC Arena in Buffalo, NY. Now in TNA, she has impressed many around her as one of the top wrestling talents in the industry today. Kelly Couture is the enigma in this match. She trained under each of her opponents in Toronto and has recently begun to make waves in the Blood Sweat and Ears promotion and elsewhere in the area.
Will lightning strike twice in Buffalo for Gail Kim? Will the young pupil become the master and defeat her mentors? OR will Traci finally get her first victory at a Ballpark Brawl? Time will tell but one thing for sure this will truly be one of the hottest 3-Ways ever!
Hair vs. Hair vs. MULLET Match
Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake vs. Jonny Puma vs. Cody Deaner
Someone is going bald on August 23rd! For the first time ever the Brawl will present a Hair vs. Hair vs. Mullet match and make no mistake someone will go bald. It's in the contract. If the person who loses does not go through with it then they don't get paid and they will never work on our shows again! Also there will not be any shenanigans with having a ref get cut or a ring announcer. There will be no cutting and strutting on the ring announcer. The person who loses by either submission on pin fall gets shaved, period!
So who’s in play…
Brutus - Sure he has cut a lot of guys but could the BPB be the place where the tables are turned? I think we know that the BPB has the financial wherewithal to make it happen...definitely a first time ever event that would get a lot of play around the globe.
Jonny Puma - He has been on more Brawls than almost anyone. We thought last year was to be his last because of his comedy career success. One year later his comedy career is skyrocketing. In an industry where looks are incredibly important a loss in this match could very well jeopardize his true career.
Cody Deaner - We use to know him as Cody Steele. The young up and comer wanted to find a character that could propel him to stardom. Deaner was born and is easily identified by the mullet, a firm commitment to the Deaner lifestyle. Now, a year and a half later he continues to be known as one of the top talents in the area. However, others around him have achieved the fame he craves. Eric Young is all over TNA tv and Spears is about to be seen every Monday night. Is this a breakout match or the start of a new Cody metamorphosis?
I don’t know. All I know is that SOMEONE IS GETTING CUT ON AUGUST 23RD!
European Rules Match
Claudio Castagnoli vs. Delirious
Ring Side Judges – “The Doctor of Style” Slick, from the Monday Night Mayhem radio program Mosh and a surprise guest to be announced at the show.
Last year Claudio was on the losing end of a wrestling classic with Colt Cabana. This year Claudio demanded to return and demanded a European Rules Match. What he wasn’t ready for was his opponent, Delirious. Delirious was one of the breakout stars from last year’s event and now gets to run rampant against Claudio…and the judges.
The match will be under European Rules which means that there will be three rounds of four minutes each. In the event that we do not have a pinfall or submission during the three rounds we will go to the judges scorecards to render a decision.
The official judges will be...
1) From the best years of the WWF the Doctor of Style - SLICK
2) From the Monday Night Mayhem program the Mighty Mosh
Our third judge will be revealed on August 23rd!
Six Man “Futures” Match
Future NATURAL Heavyweight Title shot on the line
El Generico vs. Sterling James Keenan vs. John McChesney vs. Davey Richards vs. the Winner of the Young Lions Match on the pre-show vs. a mystery competitor.
The stage is set for an out of the world spectacular when six of the top indy talents square off for a future title shot.
John McChesney: Last show “Fabulous” John McChesney won the first ever Young Lions Match up defeating Canadian Phil Atlas. The win propelled him to the six-man where he could have won a future title shot; however, the run in by Matt Morgan damaged any hope of that happening. A year later and this isn’t the shy John McChesney we saw in the past and others are noticing. John recently appeared on WWE Smackdown and has become a title contender in Phily’s Pro Wrestling Unplugged. The future is now for this Erie Pennsylvania native.
Sterling James Keenan: One of the most sought after talents, he recently worked several “dark” matches for the WWE. Last show he, Trent Acid and some unbreakable tables stole the show. This year he looks to continue his hot streak with a future shot at the NATURAL title.
El Generico: OLE! One of the industry’s most charismatic and talented performers makes his Ballpark Brawl debut. For Generico a victory is only a Brainbustaaaah away!
Davey Richards: The 2006 ECWA Super 8 Tournament winner, who did he defeat? Charlie Haas the fourth NATURAL Heavyweight Champion!
Winner of the Young Lions Match (pre-show): The main event of the pre-show will feature Super Xtremo vs. Kevin Dunn. Two of the top local talents square off in a Western New York dream match. Super X-tremo has been lighting up the stage in throughout Ontario and Kevin Dunn has impressed many feds as a member of several tag teams. Now he is looking to make a name for himself as a singles competitor. The winner of the pre-show match will gain a spot in the 6-man “Futures” match.
The final entrant…
PAC!!!!!! He is young and British and looking to make a major impact in the states. PAC arrives at the Ballpark Brawl. You may not know the name…yet…but hold on to your seats because he is sure to make a major high flying impact at BPB 8.
Mdogg Matt Cross vs. Ruckus
As many fans of the show know the event takes place after a Buffalo Bisons game so the people who watch the show are a mix of wrestling fans and curious bystanders. Soooo to a certain extent the first match on the card is the most important. Of course if it rocks it will kick off the show properly but it will also keep the curious entertained and bring in more people to the show.
We needed to find two people that could amaze and entertain. We found two people who fit that mold with MDogg Matt Cross and Ruckus. Both are participants in the Wrestling Society X experiment and are known coast to coast for the daring high risk aerial explosiveness. Without question this match has the chance to steal the show.
Tag Team Table Turmoil Match
Steve Corino & Ricky Reyes vs. Devon Moore & Detox vs. Brodie Lee vs. ???
Last show this match became an instant “Ballpark Brawl Moment” as the tables became the most difficult adversary. This year we have a former ECW Champion teaming with a former ROH tag title holder in Steve Corino and Ricky Reyes. Add in the high flying exploits of former PWU Champ Devon Moore and Detox and you have a hard hitting table splitting matchup. However, we are also adding the former NWA Upstate Champ Brodie Lee. A man who last year defended his title against Steve Corino. Plus he has something or better yet someone, up his sleeve as he has refused to name his tag partner. Regardless, this match will see more wood split than a wood chipper. In this match there are no victors…only pain.
PRESHOW
Young Lions Match
Super X-tremo vs. Kevin Dunn
Winner moves on to the main show and the chance for a NATURAL title shot!
Inter-Gender Match
Cody Deaner & Krystal Banks vs. Cody 45 & Sara Del Rey
The first ever Ballpark Brawl inter gender match up features the Ballpark Brawl duo of Cody Deaner and Krystal Banks vs. Canadian Cody 45 and Shimmer Champ Sara Del Rey. Will Cody be preoccupied with his match later on in the day (Hair vs. Hair vs. Mullet)? Or will he be able to concentrate enough to get by this major challenge of Canadian up and coming talent Cody 45. Shimmer champ Sara Del Rey is one of the most talented women’s wrestlers working today. She faces a relative newcomer to the squared circle in Krystal Banks. We all know with Cody it will be a very entertaining match.
Buffalo Royal Rumble
Canadian talent and US talent will be entering the ring every minute to see just who will gain locker room bragging rights. Stars from New Vision Pro Wrestling, NWA Empire, NWA Upstate and a few surprises will start the pre-show off!
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Christopher Hill
Buffalo Bisons
275 Washington Street
Buffalo, NY 14203
