The Piledriver

It was great to see Joe (Xtmkeeper), former CLPW official Matt Burns, the wonderful “Cookie Lady” as well as many families in attendance. Hot dogs were also added to the menu along with the delicious pizza slices from the local pizzeria in Elburn. The hot dogs looked so juicy that I opted for an extra slice of pizza instead.

CPW message board member Johnval and his son recorded the show to be put on DVD. Their new company is DC Video 108. The DVDs will be available for purchase at future NAPW events or you can private message Johnval on this website.

Our master of ceremonies “The Articulator” Steve Kenton introduced the noisy crowd to NAPW officials Johnny Swift and Getch. Yes, Getch is his name. Booby “The Mean Brain” was the color commentator for the evening.

1. “Reckless” Jay Kross and “The Difference” Joey Rose vs Texas Pete and “Irish” Andy Anderson in a Steel Cage Match

All four participants began the bout brawling on the floor. They quickly took the fight inside the steel structure. The door would be locked shot and the only way to obtain victory was for one member of a team to scale the cage and land both feet on the floor.

Joey rammed the Irishman’s skull into the deadly steel structure as the burly Jay Kross tossed Texas Pete back first into the cage. “The Difference” attempted an early exit only to be dropped onto the top rope crouch first by Anderson. Pete tried several opportunities to escape but was always thwarted by his former tag partner Kross. The fans were totally into this match. Anderson illegally brought his steel chain into the match. Jay Kross was first choked out by the chain and then the chain was used to lacerate the head of Rose. All four men would eventually fall due to exhaustion. Kross and Rose would bounce back to take out Anderson. Joey eventually escaped the cage while Kross held back Texas Pete.

Winners: “The Difference” Joey Rose and “Reckless” Jay Kross.

2. Ravishing Ryan Kross vs Tom Heisman

The beefy Kross was escorted to ringside by his tag partner Loverboy Jeff Luxxon. The duo known as The Midnight Express Reboot was new to the Midwest region. Tom Heisman, one-half of the exciting young team Youth Gone Wild, flew solo for this bout. Heisman bolted out using his lightning speed on his larger opponent. Kross quickly placed Heisman in a fall away slam and delivered a thunderous clothesline. Heisman escaped near defeat. Loverboy Luxxon would get involved by holding down Heisman’s ankle on the official’s blindside and causing Cross to score the pinfall.

Winner: Ravishing Ryan Kross.

*Matt Creed, the tag partner to Heisman, stormed to ringside to explain to Referee Johnny Swift about the injustice to his partner. “The Articulator” entered the ring as well to see what Swift might decide. Swift asked the crowd if Luxxon did indeed hold the ankle of Heisman. The crowd roared YES! A decision was made to start another match but have it now be a tag team match.

3. Matt Creed and Tom Heisman (Youth Gone Wild) vs Ravishing Ryan Kross and Loverboy Jeff Luxxon (The Midnight Express Reboot)

Matt Creed and Ryan Kross started the match for their respective teams and went at it for a while. Creed slowly began to take punishment as Reboot took over the match. Near pinfalls almost gave Reboot the “W”. YGW never got into this match and a tag was never made. Creed finally went down to a splash by Luxxon.

Winners: The Midnight Express Reboot

*This new team showed they are a force worth checking out in the Chicago Land area. Yours truly was promised an interview next month. YGW is still an entertaining team that just had a bad night. A rematch down the road between these two teams would be great.

4. Derek St. Holmes, Esq. vs Tweek Phoenix

A rare handshake opened the bout. This was a very entertaining match. Holmes played gentleman early on and broke a hold whenever referee Johnny Swift gave a command. Derek would eventually nail Phoenix with a sucker shot. Tweek rolled to the floor to grab a mic. The crowd popped big time when Tweek threatened to punch Holmes in the face. The cagey veteran placed a classic headlock to wear down a riled Phoenix. Tweek escaped the hold to deliver two pounding double axe handles off the top rope. Tweek actually tweaked his ankle after the second axe handle. Holmes, licking his chops, went for the kill by setting up the dreaded figure four leg lock. A quick reversal into a small package gave Tweek a huge victory.

Winner: Tweek Phoenix

-Intermission Break

-Rockin Randy Ricci was announced as the new NAPW Commissioner. Congrats to Randy. He’s a great guy that brings a lot of wrestling knowledge to the young NAPW company.

5. The Eight Man Rookie Gauntlet Match. All eight participants surrounded the ring. Two men would start by the number they drew earlier in the dressing room. The loser of the first match would leave the ringside area while the winner takes on the next challenger until all eight participants competed. This match was the show stealer and received a huge applause from the crowd.

A) Justice Jones vs The Freak
The Midwest Monster known as Jones gave swift justice on the newcomer sporting green hair. Both made their NAPW debut. Heavy body shots and crushing his opponent in the corner by Jones scored him the first victory of the Gauntlet.

B) Justice Jones vs Anthony Antonelli
The Italian Babyface was crushed off the bat by a huge Justice boot. Jones looked like he was going to run the Gauntlet until Antonelli pulled a small package from his bag of tricks and pulled off the upset win.

C) Anthony Antonelli vs Alex Bernadino
The two fan favorites shook hands before their match and treated the Elburn Community to an entertaining bout. Multiple quick moves throughout the bout. A quick roll-up put Alex in the showers.

D) Antonelli vs Big Red Tower
NAPW History was made during this match. Big Red Tower stormed into the ring and missed a huge body splash in the corner. A quick Antonelli roll-up a stunned Tower for the win.

*The match was about thirty seconds if that. Congrats to Big Red Tower for holding the NAPW record for shortest loss.

E) Antonelli vs Cameron Jacobs
The cocky Jacobs delivered an impressive bulldog that almost won him the match. Antonelli soared off the ropes with a high cross body to earn him another advancement.

*Hats off to Jacobs in a losing effort. This young kid is a good heel and continues to improve.

F) Antonelli vs Jack Carpenter
These two put on a solid match. The Italian crowd favorite was dumped early onto the floor. Antonelli fought back but his luck finally ran out when he attempted another high cross body only to be reversed.

G) Carpenter vs Aaron Xavier
Another good match to end the Gauntlet. Xavier started off with a good hip toss and wrenching arm bar. Carpenter bounced back with his own set of stiff kicks and a bulldog. Xavier delivered an impressive Arn Anderson spine-buster. Carpenter would eventually score the pin.

Winner: Jack Carpenter

*An announcement was made that Jack Carpenter would face Tweek Phoenix on February 25th in Elburn.

6. The Main Event for the NAPW Heavy Weight Championship
“The Strangler” Diego Corleone (C) vs “The Hater” Pauly Thomaselli

Pauly was sporting his own face paint as he opened the title match trash-talking with the champion. After a brief lock-up, the challenger took control early on. “The Strangler” kept jawing with the fans with his signature phrase, “Who’s the Man?” The power of Thomaselli and a rough shoulder block gave the #1 contender the early lead. The champion goaded his prey to the floor and caught Pauly with a stiff boot while re-entering the ring. A few more brawls spilled onto the arena floor. Both combatants were sucking for oxygen in the late stage of this title match. Pauly’s quest to win the title fell short when the thirty minute time limit expired.

Winner: A DRAW

-NAPW action returns to Elburn, IL on both February 25th and March 17th. Jack Carpenter vs Tweek Phoenix is slated for 2-25-12. Former WWE and ROH star Colt “Boom Boom” Cabana will be special guest at the 3-17-12 show. The re-match between Corleone vs Thomaselli will headline one of these two shows. Please check the upcoming shows section on this website or go to www.naprowrestling.com for more matches and ticket price info.

-Congrats to NAPW for continuing to draw better at each show in Elburn. Let’s hope for a bright 2012.

-Congrats to Jack Carpenter and all the participants in the Rookie Gauntlet for a tremendous match. It could have easily went down the toilet but all these men worked together to bust their butts off for us fans.

-Congrats once again for a successful NAPW debut for The Midnight Express Reboot. The Midwest area is fortunate to have them and should put on some great tag matches. One of the members of Reboot contacted yours truly about doing the interview through e-mail. Hopefully I can e-mail them some questions and post the interview withing the next two weeks.