NIW 7/26/2008

Northern Impact Wrestling held some wrestling matches at Lonetti's Lounge as part of the Rice St. Festival in St. Paul, MN this last Saturday night. This was an outdoor free show and it was a hot day so I didn't take photos of every match.
In the second match of the card Benjamin Sailer beat Arik Cannon. These two did some great mat wrestling to start things off but then took there match to the streets. They battled through Lonetti's Lounge first then they stopped traffic on Rice Street. They even battled in front of a police officer in his squad car. As Cannon and Sailer fought each other in the street and on coming cars would stop it reminded me of a scene in U2's Rattle and Hum. Good thing no arrest were made. The match made back to the ring where Sailer rolled up Cannon with a La Majistral cradle.
The Black Stallion pinned Arya Daivari after a power slam. Through the whole match Arya spoke only in his native tongue. You can learn more about Daivari by picking up the current issue of The Wrestler/Inside Wrestler where inside The Wrestler part of the mag there is an Introducing article on Daivari. Both photos from the article were taken by me.
Pete Huge defeated Ryan Cruz. This match, much like the Cannon/Sailer match, went to the streets and around the block.
Kamikaze Klecker and Nate Bash battled for the beer belt which was is named 'start drinking at noon and get drunk at some bar on the East side of Saint Paul middle weight title'. I believe that this match and title were not sanctioned by NIW. Nate Bash won this match and he retired the belt after the match because he needed the belt to keep his pants up. I want to point out that Ref Rob Page wore shorts for this event.

NIW Cottage Grove, MN 2/2/2008

Northern Impact Wrestling returned to action after 5 months of no action. The promotions return was a big one as they had signed Nora "Molly Holly" Greenwald to wrestle in her first match since quiting the WWE. Her opponent was not being revealed untill the night of the match.
In the opening contest Nate Bash defeated The Black Stallion with a roll up. February is black history month.
"The Professional" Benjamin Sailer defeated "The Anarchist" Arik Cannon with his Bengerman Suplex.
101 Proof beat The Junk Squad to win the NIW tag team titles. After the match Pete Huge turned on his partner Kleck Micheals.
In his first title defense Darin Corbin retained his belt against "the Suntan Superman" Cody O'Neill. This was the first one on one meeting between these two though they have been in many matches against each other in tag team action.
Nora Greenwald & Ryan Cruz beat Arya Daivari & the C.E.O. of NIW. At the beginning of the night the C.E.O. announced that Greenwald would be in a tag team mactch against himself and Daivari and she could pick anyone else as her partner. She wasn't able to choose as Cruz went to the ring to take the spot as Greenwald's partner.
The Prophets 26 month reign as NIW Impact champion ended when he lost a ladder match against "6% Bodyfat" Rob James.

NIW Amery, WI 6/9/2007

Northern Impact Wrestling returned to the Tac in Amery, WI after a cancelled show last month. Scheduled was the return of the first NIW champion who had not been in an NIW ring for about 2 years and a first blood match. Neither of those things happened this night as all announced matches were thrown out except for one and that was the opening match. One match that I didn't get photos from was the NIW Impact champion The Prophet defending his title against Kleck Micheals. Prophet retained the title.
Cowbow Gator Magraw beat Ryan Stone. This was to be Magraw's second to last match before he retires.
In a tag team match Bobby Mafi & Venom beat Tommy 'Spiderbaby' Saturday & Big Bad Booty Daddy.
The main event this night was an impromptu match for full control of NIW. The C.E.O. challenged NIW owner Frosty to find 4 wrestler to take on his team of 'Playboy' Pete Huge, Trent Jones, Malikite & Rob James. Frosty went to the locker room and put together the team of Arik Cannon, Ben Sailer, Ryan Cruz & Darin Corbin. The match ended when Huge hit Sailer with a title belt and got the pin for the C.E.O. to take full control of NIW.

NIW Amery, WI 4/15/2007

Nothern Impact Wrestling was back in Amery, WI at the TAC for Spring Breakthrough:Formal Edition. Last year the Formal Editon was held in Crystal, MN and there were a bunch of fans that came in formal wear but not as many this year.
The opening match of the night saw Darin Corbin defeat Kleck Micheals.
Ryan Stone w/Spiderbaby beat Ryan Sax. Too many Ryan's on this card. The loser of this match should have lost the rights to use the name Ryan.
NIW Impact champion The Prophet retained his title in a triple threat match against Rob James and Arya Daivari. This match was mostly a two on one as Daivari joined forces with James to try to beat The Prophet.
Malikite w/Spiderbaby beat Ryan Cruz. I think Spiderbaby may have had something to do with the out come of this match.
Arik Cannon beat Joey Envy.
The NIW tag team champions The Junk Squad beat 101 Proof to retain their titles.

NIW Amery, WI 3/11/2007

Northern Impact Wrestling returned to The Tac, formerly known as the Northstar Event Center.
In the opener of the night Tommy 'Spiderbaby' Saturday & Malikite beat Bobbi Mafi & Sean Slade. It's been a while since I've seen old Spiderbaby in the ring.
In a battle of brothers Venom w/ Rain beat Rob James. The event opened with a Spiders Web interview segment with the brothers. James brought up somethings from their past such as who got the Sega Geniss for xmas. Great stuff.
James Thomas beat Kid Krazy and Trent Jones in a three way dance. Kid Krazy hit his world of pain but Thomas took Krazy and tossed him out of the ring and go the pin on Jones. Smart move on the part of Thomas.
NIW Impact champion The Prophet retained hit title against Bret O'Brian in a hard fought match.
The Junk Squad beat Arik Cannon and the Northstar Express in a wild 6 man tag match.

NIW Amery, WI 2/11/2007

Northern Impact Wrestling returned to the Northstar Event Center in Amery, WI for the finals in thier strive to survive tag team tournament.
Venom beat Benjamin Sailer and Trent Jones in a three way match with a double muscle buster.
Rob James beat former NIW Universal champion Kid Krazy.
The NIW Impact champion The Prophet retained his belt when he beat Kleck Micheals.
James Thomas beat Bret O'Brian.
The Junk Squad beat the Northstar Express to win the NIW tag team titles.

NIW Amery, WI 01/07/07

The first pro wrestling card of 2007 that I photographed was at Norther Impact Wrestling in Amery, WI this last Sunday. Rob Page was the ref for all matches on this night.
Arik Cannon beat Aaron Corbin with the glimmering warlock. Durning this match both men went to the outside and Cannon hit one of the loudest chops on Aaron that I have ever heard. Starting next month you will be able to see Cannon on MTV's Wrestling Society X on Tuesday nights (and may more times in replays).
The Prophet retained his NIW Impact championship against Darin Corbin, Venom and Trent Jones. This was scheduled to be a singles match with just Prophet and Corbin but Venom came out and asked to be included in the match. That lead to Jones coming out and making it a 4 way.
Rob James beat Ryan Cruz. It was announced that the winner of this match would get a spot in the 2007 Impact Invitational so it looks like Rob James is the first man in the tournament. Before he gets in to that tourny he better make sure his shoes stay tied.
Chris Jordan beat Kid Krazy to win the NIW Universal title. I think this is Jordans first singles title since he held the ACW heavyweight belt a few years ago.

Other matches from this card were
Bret O'Brain beat Kamakazi Klecker
Malikite/Ryan Stone Vs Bobbi Mafi/Sean Slade ended in a no contest when Chris Jordan interupted the match.

NPW VS NIW world series of wrestling West St. Pual, MN 11/4/2006

From the National Guard Armory in West St. Paul, Mn two fueding promotions faced off in a best of 7 'World Series of Wrestling'. This was the second of such events to be held in MN as the first one was held in April of 2005 when Midwest Pro Wrestling lost to Chikara of PA. That WSoW was in the name of good sportsmanship but his one between Northstar Premeir Wrestling and Norhtern Impact Wrestling was to settle a fued that started earlier this summer when NPW head John Johnson invaded NIW. For this WSoW both promtions picked 5 singles and two tag teams (one being a 4 man tag team) for the seven matches.
Darin Corbin(NIW) beat his brother Aaron Corbin (NPW) to make the score NIW 1 NPW 0.
Tony DeNucci (NPW) beat Kamikazi Klecker (NPW) and Venom (NIW) to even up the score at 1 each. This match started out as Klecker VS Venom but DeNucci didn't like the idea that Klecker was representing NPW so he put himself in the match.
Mitch Paradise (NPW) pinned Nate Bash (NIW) to make put NPW head 2 to 1.
The Junk Squad (NIW) and The Big Guns (NPW) battled to a double DQ as both teams used chairs. The score was still NPW 2 NIW 1.
NPW cruiserweight champion JB Trask retained his title against NIW's Rob James. NPW 3 NIW 1.
NIW Universal champion Kid Krazy beat Joey Envy (NPW) to make the score NPW 3 NIW 2.
The final match was a 8 man survivior match with team NIW (The Prophet, Ryan Cruz, Horace the Psycopath and Arik Cannon) VS team NPW (Black Stallion, Cody O'Neill, Magnus Maximus and John Johnson). Team NIW won when Arik Cannon pinned John Johnson after two refs were knocked out and powder and fire was used and Nora 'Molly Holly' Greenwald made the 3 count. The WSoW ended in a 3/3 tie.
After making the 3 count in the final match Nora gave the C.E.O. a stone cold stunner.

NIW 9/1/2006 Crystal, MN

From the Crystal Ballroom in Crystal, MN Northern Impact Wrestling held the first night of their 'Welcome Back Weekend' with the return of Jerry Lynn to his home state of Minnesota.
The first match on the card was Horace the Psychopath vs Kamikaze Klecker. The 15 plus year vet Horace easily beat the much younger Klecker.
After Horace's match his fellow members of the Junk Squad came out to challenge Jerry Lynn to face any one in the Junk Squad. Lynn came out and got a really quick pin on Horace. Which was very surprising seeing how those two had many great matches over 10 years ago here in the twin cities area.
In the first Strive to Survive tag team tournament match for the NIW tag team titles The Junk Squad beat Ben Sailer & Nate Bash.
Cody O'Neill and Arik Cannon went to a 30 minute time limit draw, their second in a row. After the match Cannon challenged O'Neill to a one hour iron man match. No word on if or when that will take place.
The Prophet retained the NIW Impact championship when he beat Ryan Cruz.
101 Proof beat Tep & Jones to advance in the Strive to Survive tag team tourney.
The NIW Universal champion Kid Krazy beat Joey Envy to retain the title.
Former IWA MS heavyweight champion Darin Corbin beat former ECW heavyweight champion Jerry Lynn. This was Jerry's first time on a wrestling card in his home state in over 3 years.

NIW Crystal, MN 8/04/2006

Northern Impact Wrestling returned to the Crystal Ballroom in Crystal, MN on August 4, 2006 for what was titled Road to immortality night one. I even got on the poster. Ok, not really, the promoter was just goofing around and made posters with just about everyone on them.












Ryan Cruz beat his long time tag team nemesis Aaron Corbin. Corbin complained that Cruz grabbed his shorts for the pin. I think I got a photo of it but haven't looked at it yet. So I can't tell ya if he really did grab a hand full of shorts.
The C.E.O. of NIW has tried to keep women out of his wrestling ring but NIW owner Frosty booked this match between Ann-Thraxx and Portia Perez. This was Perez's first trip to MN and the fans got behind the much smaller lady. Ann-Thraxx got the pin and got the help from the C.E.O. in trying to cut off some of Perez's hair. But the Northstar Express came to her aid.
In a battle between two of the big men in NIW Horace of the Junk Squad beat Venom.
Darin Corbin was to face Cody O'Neill on this night but Cody had to cancel so the C.E.O. found a replacement and he found a member of the Junk Squad, Pete Huge. Corbin won the match and sold some of his brand new 'Got Belt' t-shirt.
Joey Envy beat the NIW Impact champion The Prophet in a no-title match. I think Rob James might have helped as he made his way to the the merch table to sell some 8x10's.
The NIW tag team champions Ash & Elgin retained their titles against 3XW tag team champions Bash & Sailer and former NIW tag team champions Tep & Jones. Bash & Sailer were joined at ringside by their new manager Paris and they announced that their team name is 'Sabotage'.
Kid Krazy beat Chris Jordan in his first title defense of the NIW Universal title.