Before WWE and Target Center there was F1RST Wrestling & First Ave

On Monday night the WWE was at Target Center in Minneapolis for a RAW broadcast. The main event that night was The Shield & John Cena VS The Wyatt Family. Before Erick Rowan was part of a main event at the Target Center he used to wrestle across the street at First Ave for F1RST Wrestling.

Erick Rowan, then know as Thoruf Marius,  VS Rasche Brown in 2008.

Another wrestler on RAW this Monday at Target Center was Seth Rollins. Back in 2007 he was across the street at F1RST Wrestling's first event.

 

On the third F1RST Wrestling event Seth Rollins, then known as Tyler Black, was in the main event against Kid Krazy.

This Saturday night F1RST Wrestling and Pabst Blue Ribbon present Wrestlepalooza IV at First Ave. This event features Arik Cannon, Horace the Psychopath, Ariya Daivari, Colt Cabana, Wild Cat, Yellow Dog, The North Star Express, Rob James and many more. Besides the pro wrestling there will also be music from punk band Banner Pilot and burlesque by Queenie Von Curves & Sweetpea.

This cool poster for Wrestlepalooza IV was done by David Witt. I last wrote about Witt back in August 2009 when I went to a wrestling art show in St. Paul, MN.

Thoruf Marius signs with WWE

Midwest pro wrestler Thoruf Marius recently signed a WWE developmental deal. He moved down to Tampa, FL last month to start training at FCW.

Marius started training back in 2003 with Midwest Pro Wrestling in Maple Grove, MN. In one of his first matches he wrestled against Ken Anderson. There was no wrestler larger then Marius in the Midwest.

In the summer of 2007 Marius traveled to Japan to train with Pro Wrestling Noah. Marius returned from Japan with some extra weight. Must have been from eating lots of fish and rice. In 2009 Marius took part in a reality show that was filmed in Norway called Alt for Norge. Marius took third place on the first season of the show. Most recently Marius wrestled with the American Wrestling Federation as seen here against Johnny Parks.

AWF Oakdale, MN 9/18/2010

This past Saturday night the American Wrestling Federation held a fund raiser event at Tartan High School in Oakdale, MN.
TV announcer Mortimer Plumtree came to the ring to do the TV taping intros. Then he called AWF senior official Rob Page to the ring for an announcement. Page told the crowd that AWF champion Tony DeNucci was attacked in the locker room and that AWF commissioner Sabrina Perri decided to strip DeNucci of the belt and start a tournament for the title. Page also showed off the brand new AWF championship belt. I must say, this is one of the finest looking wrestling belts I've ever seen. All the singles matches on tonight's card were part of the AWF championship tournament.

Arya Daivari defeated Cpl. Julio Julio in a first round match.

Lenny Lane defeated rookie Chiropractor DC in another first round match. This was my first time seeing DC and I think it was only his second match. Lane made DC tap out to the walls of lane. If DC ever has any finishing moves I think they should be called "the spinal crusher" or "the adjustment".

In the third match of the card Mitch Paradise wrestled Brody Hoofer. The match ended in a double count out. I'm not sure if that means that both men are now out of the tournament or not.

The AWF tag team champions John Johnson & Aaron Corbin defeated Ryan Cruz & Benjamin Sailer to retain the belts. It was odd to see Sailer tag with someone else as he and Nate Bash have been a regular tag team for the last three years. Being that both Sailer and Cruz wrestle often in tag team action they worked really well together in this match. The three count came after Corbin kicked Cruz's face into the crowd and Johnson made the pin as he was the legal man.

In the last match of the night Johnny Parks defeated Thoruf Marius. Mitch Paradise came to ring side to try to help Marius but it backfired and Parks got the win to advance in the tournament.

AWF North Branch, MN 5/15/2010

The American Wrestling Federation held their last fund raiser show for the school year this past Saturday night at the North Branch, MN high school. This event was tapped for the AWF TV show Saturday Night Slam which airs on channel 45 at 6:30pm in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

In the opening contest Aaron Corbin w/ John Johnson defeated The Black Stallion. It looked like Corbin may haved used the ring ropes for leverage to get the three count. Referee Rob Page didn't see it so it must not have happened. After the match Corbin and Johnson attacked Stallion untill Johnny Parks came out to make the save.

With both John Johnson and Johnny Parks already at ring side ref Rob Page made that the next match. Parks got the win over Johnson with a little help from a special guest enforcer referee who I believe was a member of the North Branch wrestling team.

Former WCW cruiser weight champion Lenny Lane defeated rookie Kirk Clemsens. This was Clemens third match after finishing the Florida Championship Wrestling training school.
Five years ago Clemson was getting a taste of pro wrestling as a manager called The Wizard. In the photo here from an NIW card in August 2005 the Wizard is getting a kick to the jimmy from former midwest female wrestler Rain. These days Rain can be seen on Mexico's AAA TV program on Galavision and on Wrestlicios as Felon. Head on over to Rain's web site and buy some photos that I have taken of her- The Radiant Rain

Thoruf Marius defeated Rob James after a choke slam. Odd seeing James wrestling by the rules.

AWF heavy weight champion Tony DeNucci defeated Arya Daivari to retain the belt. It looks like Daivari forgot to pick up his laundry at the dry cleaners as he didn't have his aladdin pants and carpet. DeNucci got the pin after a frog splash.

AWF Monticello, MN 1/9/2010

The American Wrestling Federation held a fund raiser event for the Monticello High School atletic department.
In the opening match Juice Robinson defeated former WCW cruiser weight champion Lenny Lane.

Thoruf Marius with manager Angel Armoni defeated Johnny Parks.

Cory O'Neill & Ryan Cruz, subbing for Cody O'Neill, defeated Aaron Corbin & John Johnson. The AWF tag betls were not on the line.

AWF champion Tony DeNucci pinned Chris Black to retain the title. After Black's manager Angel Armoni got involved in the match DeNucci was helped by the Monitcello wrestling teams coaches.

In the main event Bob Holly defeated Arya Daivari.

AWF Red Wing, MN 12/5/2009

The American Wrestling Federation held a fund raiser event at the Red Wing high school this past Saturday night.
In the opening match Cory O'Neill won by DQ over Aaron Corbin when Corbin's partner John Johnson interfered in the match.

"The rookie sensation" Juice Robinson defeate "The Anarchist" Arik Cannon in this first time meeting.

Thoruf Marius defeated "The Winner" Johnny Parks. This was the first time I heard Parks refered to as "The Winner". Angel Armoni managed Marius for this match.

AWF tag team champions, The O'Neill Twins defeated The Misfits, Aaron Corbin & John Johnson, to retain the belts.

Former WCW cruiser weight champion Lenny Lane defeated Ryan Cruz.

AWF heavy weight champion Tony DeNucci defeated Arya Daivari to retain the belt. Daivari was managed by Angel Armoni for this match.

AWF Annandale, MN 11/21/2009

The American Wrestling Federation hit the Annandale High School for a big fund raiser event. There were 5 big matches on this card and a new AWF heavyweight champion was crowned.
Arya Daivari defeated Sammy Savard in the opening match.

Mitch Paradise pinned Juice Robinson.

The AWF tag team champions retained their titles when they beat the Misfits (Aaron Corbin and John Johnson). During the match Johnson sprained his ankle when did an elbow drop on Cody O'Neill. Johnson left the match after he tagged out to Corbin right after the elbow drop.

Thoruf Marius defeated K-Train with a choke slam.

Tony DeNucci became the AWF heavy weight champion when he defeated Chris Black. Black had a lot of help from his manager Angel Armoni but he still was not able to beat DeNucci.

AWF Anoka, MN 10/17/2009

This past Saturday night I got to go back to my old junior high school as the American Wrestling Federation held a fund raiser for the Anoka athletic department. This event was held at the Fred Moore middle school center for the arts. Back in my day it was just Fred Moore junior high.
In the first match of the night K-Train defeated Arya Daivari. During intermission kids came up to Daivari wanting him to autograph their programe. Most of the kids held out the progame turned to the page with Daivari's brother Shawn "Abdul Bashir" Daivari.

In the second match "The Contract Killer" defeated Zero Kincade. This was my first time seeing "The Contract Killer".

The AWF tag team titles were on the line as champions The O'Neill Twins battled The Misfits. In the match Aaron Corbin was joined by John Johnson who has been out of action for about one year. Cody & Cory O'Neill got the win and retained the belts.

Tony DeNucci defeated Chris Black. DeNucci got a cut above his eye from Black's manager Angel Armoni.

Thoruf Marius defeated Juice Robinson. I think it was during this match that the fire alarm went off in the building but no one moved an inch except to plug their ears. I remember doing many fire drills in that building and just like all those this one was a false alarm.

"Livewire" Johnny Parks defeated Lenny Lane in the main event. There was some outside interfance in this match as Lane had attacked the O'Neill Twins after their match because he is jelous of all the attention they get. The O'Neill's came out and attacked Lane when ref Jay Soltis was knocked down and the Misfits came out the even the sides. The tag teams left the ring area and Parks won the match after this leg drop shown here.

AWF Inver Grove Heights, MN 9/19/2009

The American Wrestling Federation was at the Simley high school in Inver Grove Heights, MN for a fund raiser event on a Saturday night September 19, 2009. The gym was really hot on this night.
Aaron Corbin defeated Benjamin Sailer. This was Sailers first match in the AWF.

Thoruf Marius defeated Johnny Parks.

Juice Robinson battled Lenny Lane but I can't remember who won.

Tony DeNucci defeated Chris Black.

Cody & Cory O'Neill defeated Arya & Shawn (aka Abdul Bashir from TNA) Daivari.

AWF Zimmerman, MN 9/12/2009

The American Wrestling Federation held their second annual fund raiser event for the Zimmerman high school quarterback club on September 12, 2009, a Saturday night.
In the opening match Arya Daivari defeated Johnny Parks with the magic carpet ride.

Haystacks defeated Angel Armoni by count out when Armoni left the ring and didn't come back. This was my first time ever seeing Haystacks.

Cody O'Neill defeated Aaron Corbin.

Chris Black beat K-Train.

Tony DeNucci beat Thoruf Marius by DQ. At least that's how I think it ended. Angel Armoni was Marius's manager for this match and he hit DeNucci with a chair.

In the last match of the night Juice Robinson defeated Lenny Lane.