What is your favorite match that you have called involving WWE or TNA Superstars?
I have been very fortunate and blessed to be involved in this industry for nearly five years and it is a pleasure to share the same ring with the best in the business today. Whether the talent that you’ve worked with have competed overseas, or made it to one of the top organizations, either for a one-night tryout, still on a contract, or coming off of a stint and returning to the independents, being able to work with such great talent is surely a rewarding experience.
In April of 2008, I had the opportunity to work with then-TNA Superstar Christian Cage. I, like many who are currently involved in this industry, are wrestling fans and I, like many, had many favorite superstars growing up and the “Instant Classic” was one of them. I could remember myself and my best friend emulating Edge & Christian’s “five-second pose” and their signature catchphrases; and to have the chance to meet and work with him in a main event was a rewarding experience. His opponent, Dan Frietas, had the unique chance to wrestle against the “Instant Classic” in his hometown. Dan is a person that I have great respect for and since I broke in the independent scene, whenever I officiated his matches, has always told me, “Tonight, your career is on the line”, and that night, it was.
The match did what it intended to do and in the end, and after the match, Dan, Christian, and I took part in the famous “five-second pose” as well as Christian & I engaging in a “Spinnaroonie Challenge”. Overall, everyone involved came out the better for it and it was a match and night that I won’t soon forget.
In November 2009, I also had the chance to work with then-released WWE Superstar “Mr. Kennedy” Ken Anderson, before he signed with TNA Wrestling; it was also his first match in the United States since being released from WWE. I had enjoyed Anderson’s work throughout his WWE tenure, including his unique promo ability. His opponent, was then-Top Rope Promotions Heavyweight Champion “The Epic” Mike Bennett, who is one of the finest talents in the independent scene today, and who recently signed a contract to Ring Of Honor.
Having the best seat in the house, I witnessed a great match and it served as a proving ground for both men, especially Bennett, who in my book is one of the future superstars of tomorrow. I believe that just like working with Christian, working with Mr. Anderson proved to me, at least in my mind, that I am ready, one day in the future, to officiate in a high level organization.
The irony is that Christian along with Mr. Anderson returned to their roots, to the independent scene, to help out the younger, up-and-coming talent that is ready to make an impact, and become superstars in the very near future. It’s all about giving back and adding positive momentum to the future and longevity of the industry, and I have unlimited respect for them and it was indeed an honor and a privilege to share the same ring with those great competitors, as well as everyone playing their trade on the independent scene today.
Who would you rank as the five greatest Tag Teams in wrestling history?
In the long and illustrious history of this great sport, there have been some tremendous tag teams to step into the ring. Some designed to be paired together, some not, but the two individuals that are fortunate to be paired together to bond as one to engage in tag team competition have one goal in mind, to be recognized and remembered as the best in the world. The debate as to who are the true greatest tag teams of all-time will continue forever; however, here is my unofficial top five rankings and why…
Edge & Christian
The future “Rated R Superstar” and “Captain Charisma” debuted in 1998 as members of The Brood (along with Gangrel), and from their initial inception, gradually showed that they had the potential to be today’s top stars. In fact, three weeks after Christian’s debut, in his first match with the WWF, became Light Heavyweight Champion; but for E&C, direction in 1999 with their initial feud with the Hardy Boyz as their matches of high-risk, reckless abandon and tag team execution electrified fans across the country.
However, at the end of 1999, a team crossed over to the World Wrestling Federation from the land of extreme to add some much needed fuel to the fire of the E&C/Hardy Boyz rivalry: Bubba Ray & D-Von, the Dudley Boyz, who were known for putting their opponents through tables…add them to the Hardy Boyz, who were on top of their game when it came to using ladders and E&C were the resident “chair-men” of the WWF: put them all together and you have one of the most dangerous matches in wrestling: the Tables, Ladders and Chairs Match. This new concept took the word “death-defying” to a whole new level as these three teams risked their careers for the WWF Tag Team Championship, and with each maneuver, each chair shot, each risk taking situation, these men took was to get to the ultimate…to become champions.
These teams actually competed in the first three official TLC Matches with Edge & Christian victorious in the first two and as I watched these matches, I saw the transformation from comedic fan-favorites to two individuals who would do whatever it takes, no matter what the circumstance to win a match. All together, Edge & Christian became 7-time WWF Tag Team Champions, which is a record in WWF history, before the company’s name change in 2002; E&C broke up in 2001, and battled over the Intercontinental Championship.
Ironically, in my opinion, it was the momentum of the split that makes them one of the greatest teams ever, as tag team success led to individual career-highs. In the “Rated R Superstar’s” over 12-year WWF/E career, has held many accolades including the Tag Team Championship on 15 occasions with six different partners, a five-time Intercontinental Champion, and has obtained not only the World Heavyweight Championship five times (tied for the most in the history of the championship), but the ultimate, the WWE Championship on four separate occasions.
As for “Captain Charisma” his storied career has been full of championship gold as well. In his 15-year career, he has been a Tag Team Champion 9 times with 3 different partners as well as a 3-time Intercontinental Champion and the “Instant Classic” has proven that he can reach the main-event status as well, by becoming a two-time undefeated NWA World Heavyweight Champion in TNA and in his return to the WWE, became ECW Champion on two occasions.
In my book, great tag team success, followed by great individual success on both ends deserves a spot on this list and that surely “reeks of awesomeness”.
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