My First Indy Show

I recently found the DVD of the first ever Indy show I had ever been to.  I had bought the VHS and converted it to DVD, the quality is not the best.  The event was filmed with a camera on a tripod facing the ring.  No commentary, no graphics, but watchable, you can even see very young Jay & I sitting in the front row. 

Jay and I both saw this show advertised on TV during Nitro and Raw and in the Sun Journal.  Kevin Sullivan was originally advertised but didn’t appear, they announced the Public Enemy as his replacement.  Abdullah was not advertised in any way for this show and I was shocked when he came out for his match.  

Eastern Wrestling Alliance

May 16, 1997

Edward Little High School, Auburn, Maine

Ring Announcer: Rich Palladino

Referee’s: Scott Dickinson & Mike Dube

Light-Heavyweight Champion: El Mascarado defeated Maverick Wild by DQ when the Brotherhood ran in attacking Mascarado.  Baby Black Kangaroo made the save.  

Tre w/ the Brotherhood defeated “New Sensation” Steve Morabito with a jumping butt to the face.

Star Warrior with El’Mascarado & Baby Black Kangaroo defeated Knuckles Nelson w/ the Brotherhood by DQ when the Brotherhood interfered, Mascarado & Baby Black made the save.

The Television Championship match was announced next, but Rick Fuller refused to come out until after intermission.

Baby Black Kangaroo pinned Jose Valenzuela with a splash to the head.

The lead of the Brotherhood, "Boston Bad Boy" Tony Rumble

 “Mr. USA” Tony Atlas w/ Master Sandy pinned Abdullah the Butcher w/ “Boston Bad Boy” Tony Rumble with a round cross body block.  This was the typical Abdullah match with brawling outside the ring and both men getting busted open.   This was announced as Rumble vs. Atlas but Rumble said he wasn’t competing and Abdullah attacked Atlas from behind. 

“Prince of Pain” Kevin Kelly pinned The Storm Trooper with a pump handle slam

Vic Steamboat

Television Champion: Vic Steamboat pinned “Big” Rick Fuller w/ crucifix roll up.  The Brotherhood was banned from ringside during this contest. 

The Public Enemy: “Flyboy” Rocco Rock & Johnny Grunge w/ “Big Poppa” Bull Montana defeated The Power Company: Dave & Dean in a wild brawl with the Drive By through a table.

The Brotherhood consisted of “Boston Bad Boy” Tony Rumble, Tre, Knuckles Nelson & “Big” Rick Fuller.

Scott Dickinson was an active WCW referee at the time. 

This card was EWA’s second ever show, the first being the night before in Jay, Maine.  EWA was started by James St. Jean & Bob Staples.  These first two shows were run in conjunction with Tony Rumble’s Century Wrestling Alliance.  They were in fact essentially CWA shows under the EWA name.  The next show that EWA ran, 9/10/1997 in Bath, to me is the true first EWA show as it had nothing to do with CWA and only El’ Mascarado, Fuller, & Atlas appeared at this show. 

I feel very fortunate to have gone to this show as it was the only time I ever saw three guys in person that were significant figures in Professional Wrestling in New England; Tony Rumble, Knuckles Nelson, & Vic Steamboat.  

As far as first time Indy shows are concerned this was a damn good one to have gone to!

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Later Readers!