Top Rope Promotions

Last updated
Top Rope Promotions
AcronymTRP
Founded1981
StyleProfessional wrestling
Headquarters New Bedford, Massachusetts (1996-2000)
Fall River, Massachusetts (2000-2017)
Founder(s)Joe Eugenio
Owner(s)Steve Ricard (2000-2017)
FormerlyYankee Pro Wrestling (1994-2004)
South Coast Championship Wrestling
New England Wrestling (1988-1994)
Whaling City Wrestling (1981-1984)
Website www.topropepromotions.com

Top Rope Promotions (formerly known as Yankee Pro Wrestling and South Coast Championship Wrestling) is a North Eastern independent professional wrestling promotion based in New Bedford, Massachusetts and is the largest promotion in the Southern New England area rivaling other North Eastern promotions including Chaotic Wrestling, the Millennium Wrestling Federation and New England Championship Wrestling. [1] Along with its former head trainer Matt Hyson (Professionally Known as Spike Dudley), their seminars have been hosted by Ring of Honor alumni Jamie Noble and A.J. Styles. A number of independent wrestling stars have competed in Top Rope Pro Wrestling during their careers including Amanda Storm, [2] [3] Andy Jaxx, [4] D. C. Drake, [5] Slyck Wagner Brown, Johnny Heartbreaker, Shark Boy, Christian York, The Metal Maniac, Robbie Ellis, [6] Rick Fuller, Dan "The Beast" Severn, Anthony Greene, and "Brutal" Bob Evans.

Contents

Following the close of Extreme Championship Wrestling, several ECW mainstays such as Amish Roadkill, [7] Dawn Marie, Simon Diamond, Perry Saturn, Tony DeVito, Little Guido, Jerry Lynn, Steve Corino, Justin Credible, Julio Dinero, Chris Hamrick, Big Dick Dudley and Joel Gertner had brief stints in the promotion. In recent years, TNA wrestlers Christy Hemme, Talia, Abyss, Jay Lethal, Joey Matthews, Ron "The Truth" Killings, Bubba Ray Dudley, and D-Von Dudley have also made appearances.

History

The promotion began holding events in the Fall River-New Bedford area during the early-1980s, picking up the old territorial area previously run by the World Wide Wrestling Federation during the 1970s. After going through several name changes and owners, the promotion changed its name from New England Wrestling Association to Yankee Pro Wrestling during the 1990s. During this time, the promotion gained a strong following in southern New England regularly bringing in former WWF stars from the 1980s and 90s. The promotion features many wrestlers who compete for Impact Wrestling or for ROH Wrestling. The promotion also features wrestlers who have or would go on to compete for the WWE.

The promotion was purchased by head booker Steve Ricard in 2000. Under the Top Rope Promotions banner, he continued running monthly shows in the Fall River-New Bedford area as both Yankee Pro Wrestling and South Coast Championship Wrestling, [8] successfully making between $500–$5,000 a show. [9] The majority of its shows are held at the PAL Hall in Fall River, Massachusetts and the Top Rope Arena in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The promotion also ran a weekly cable television program in the local area. In 2007, the names Yankee Pro Wrestling and South Coast Championship Wrestling ceased to be used and all events were now exclusively under the name Top Rope Promotions.

In addition to monthly events at the PAL Hall in Fall River, Top Rope Promotions runs events at the Creative Auction Centers in Fall River and New Bedford, the historic Adams-Turners Hall in Adams, and the Elks Lodge in Franklin. Top Rope Promotions also appears at the annual Whaling City Festival at Buttonwood Park in New Bedford and at the annual Wolcott Country Fair in Wolcott, Connecticut. The promotion also holds annual events at Outdoor World campground in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, and also appears on occasion at The Wapping Fair in South Windsor Connecticut, however they have not been since 2008.

The Lock-Up Wrestling School

The school was founded by Top Rope Promotions owner Steve Ricard and former head trainer Matt Hyson (formerly known as Spike Dudley) in 2005. Hyson had been the school's head trainer from 2005 to 2013, The school is responsible for training several independent stars such as Teddy Goodz, T. K. O'Ryan, former Ring of Honor Television Champion, former Ring of Honor Tag Team Champion, former IWGP Tag Team Champion Matt Taven and Ring of Honor wrestler Vinny Marseglia. Top Rope Promotions veteran "H2O" Ryan Waters became one of the school's trainers in 2013 after Hyson left the promotion. In 2021 Lock-up graduate Nico Silva and New England veteran Elia Markopoulos joined Waters as co-trainers. Although he stepped down as the head trainer, Hyson is still on great terms with the promotion. In 2022, both Ryan Waters and Nico Silva stepped down as trainers making Elia Markopoulos head trainer. In July 2023 Bob Evans became a trainer at the Lock-Up.

Active Roster and Staff

Male Wrestlers

  • AJ
  • Anthony JR
  • "Brutal" Bob Evans
  • Brody Jackson
  • Carlos Rosales
  • Cesar Leo
  • "World Class" Channing Thomas
  • "Sweatboy" Christopher James
  • Cletus
  • Devin Justice
  • DJ Powers
  • Donny Staxx
  • Elia Markopoulos
  • Erik Chacha
  • Ichiban
  • Jobz
  • "Bulldozer" John Munroe
  • Johnny Pierce
  • Jora Johl
  • Justin Credible
  • "Comrade" Kenny Casanova
  • Kid V
  • Koosh Bandicoot
  • Leon St. Giovanni (LSG)
  • Mani Aries
  • Matt Hayter
  • Moshpit
  • The Mullet Man
  • Nick Diamond
  • "Powerful" Pat Garrett (PPG)
  • The Politician
  • Portuguese Power House (PPH)
  • RALF
  • Ryan Fraust
  • Rylie O'Neil
  • Samuel Radcliffe
  • Shane Aldenoff
  • Sigma
  • ”The Difference” Tyler Brooks
  • Viktor Vanko
  • Vortex

Female Wrestlers

Managers

Tag Teams and Stables

Trainers and Staff

Championships and accomplishments

ChampionshipCurrent champion(s)Date wonEventPrevious champion(s)Days
held
Notes
TRP Heavyweight Championship "World Class" Channing ThomasSeptember 9, 2022Summer Showdown 2022Nico Silva440
TRP Interstate Championship "The Difference" Tyler BrooksJuly 14, 2023Summer Showdown 2023Jora Johl131
TRP Tag Team Championship Koosh and ChaCha (Koosh Bandicoot and Eric ChaCha)October 13, 2023,Nightmare on Franklin StreetThe Beastmasters287

Accomplishments

AccomplishmentPrevious winnerDate wonEventNotes
Spindle City RumblePortuguese Power House (PPH)December 29, 2023Spindle City Rumble
Kowalski CupDJ PowersNovember 24, 2023Kowalski Cup Tournament
Gold RushMoshpitJuly 14, 2023Summer Showdown 2023

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spike Dudley</span> American professional wrestler

Matthew Jonathan Hyson is an American retired professional wrestler best known for his tenure in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as Spike Dudley. Prior to WWE, Hyson began performing as Spike Dudley in the 1990s with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW); the Spike Dudley character being a member of The Dudley Brothers. As part of a storyline, fellow members Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley betrayed the faction to form a separate Dudley Boyz tag team; resulting in Hyson and members being involved in a subsequent feud with the duo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Bucci</span> American professional wrestler

Michael Bucci is an American retired professional wrestler. Bucci is best known for his appearances in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) as Nova, Super Nova, and "Hollywood" Nova and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as Simon Dean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Mamaluke</span> American professional wrestler

Charles John Spencer is a retired American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Tony Marinara and with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Tony Mamaluke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Axl Rotten</span> American professional wrestler (1971–2016)

Brian Knighton, better known by the ring name Axl Rotten, was an American professional wrestler. In the early 1990s, he was a part of the tag team The Bad Breed with Ian Rotten. He had a short stint with World Championship Wrestling in 1991, but he was best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) from 1993 to 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Doring</span> American professional wrestler

Daniel Morrison is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Danny Doring. He is best known for his appearances with the professional wrestling promotion Extreme Championship Wrestling from 1997 to 2001.

Christopher Chetti is an American retired professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) between 1996 and 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWF Invasion</span> 2001 World Wrestling Federation pay-per-view event

WWF Invasion was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by the World Wrestling Federation. It took place on July 22, 2001, at the Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. This event was initially planned to be the fourth Fully Loaded PPV, as it was advertised at the King of the Ring event, which immediately preceded Invasion, although the decision to replace Fully Loaded was made in May. Invasion was the first pay-per-view to feature the ongoing Invasion storyline, which featured wrestlers from the WWF taking on The Coalition, a combined force of wrestlers from World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), later known as The Alliance. The event featured WWF wrestlers facing WCW and ECW wrestlers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ECW Barely Legal</span> 1997 Extreme Championship Wrestling pay-per-view event

Barely Legal was the inaugural professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event held by Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). It took place on April 13, 1997, from the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Massacre on 34th Street</span> 2000 Extreme Championship Wrestling pay-per-view event

Massacre on 34th Street was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). It took place on December 3, 2000, from the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, and was the penultimate pay-per-view event from ECW before the promotion's closure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ECW One Night Stand (2005)</span> World Wrestling Entertainment pay-per-view event

The 2005 ECW One Night Stand was the inaugural One Night Stand professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It took place on June 12, 2005, at the Hammerstein Ballroom in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York. Although wrestlers from WWE's Raw and SmackDown! brands appeared on the show, the event was primarily produced as a reunion show for wrestlers from the former Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) promotion, which had folded in 2001. After the promotion's closure, WWE acquired ECW's assets in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evan Markopoulos</span> American professional wrestler

Elias Evan Markopoulos, better known by his ring name Elia Markopoulos, and sometimes referred to as Evan, is a Greek American professional wrestler from Hudson, Massachusetts. Elia wrestles on the independent circuit, mainly for Ohio Valley Wrestling in Louisville, Kentucky, and formerly in the Northeast United States. At the age of 18 Elias appeared at TNA Wrestling's TNA Gut Check in a match against Doug Williams on the September 20, 2012, episode of Impact Wrestling, making him the youngest person to appear on Impact television.

In professional wrestling, Holiday Hell was a supercard produced by the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States-based promotion Eastern Championship Wrestling/Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). Themed around the Christmas and holiday season, it was staged in December from 1993 to 1996, and again in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">November to Remember (2000)</span> 2000 Extreme Championship Wrestling pay-per-view event

November to Remember (2000) was the eighth and final November to Remember professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). It took place on November 5, 2000, from the Odeum Expo Center in Villa Park, Illinois, US. This was the fourth November to Remember pay-per-view and the ante-penultimate ECW pay-per-view. The commentators for the event were Joey Styles, Joel Gertner and Cyrus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">November to Remember (1999)</span> 1999 Extreme Championship Wrestling pay-per-view event

November to Remember (1999) was the seventh annual November to Remember professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). The event took place on November 7, 1999 from the Burt Flickinger Center in Buffalo, New York. It was the third to be broadcast on pay-per-view.

Guilty as Charged (1999) was the inaugural ECW Guilty as Charged professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). The event took place on January 10, 1999 at the Millennium Theatre in Kissimmee, Florida.

Guilty as Charged (2000) was the second ECW Guilty as Charged professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). It took place on January 9, 2000 from the Boutwell Memorial Auditorium in Birmingham, Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guilty as Charged (2001)</span> 2001 Extreme Championship Wrestling pay-per-view event

Guilty as Charged (2001) was the third and final ECW Guilty as Charged professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). It took place on January 7, 2001, from the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, New York. This was the final nationally and globally broadcast event held by the original and independent ECW before it filed for bankruptcy two months later that year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crossing the Line Again</span> 1997 Extreme Championship Wrestling supercard event

Crossing the Line Again was a professional wrestling event held by the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States-based professional wrestling promotion Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) on February 1, 1997. The commentator for the event was Joey Styles. The title of the event referenced the 1994 ECW event The Night the Line Was Crossed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CyberSlam (1999)</span> 1999 Extreme Championship Wrestling supercard event

CyberSlam (1999) was the fourth CyberSlam professional wrestling event produced by Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). The event took place on April 3, 1999 in the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hardcore Heaven (2000)</span> 2000 Extreme Championship Wrestling pay-per-view event

Hardcore Heaven (2000) was the sixth and final Hardcore Heaven professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). The event took place on May 14, 2000 at The Rave in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The commentators for the event were Joey Styles, Joel Gertner and Cyrus.

References

  1. "Interview For Burning Hammer". Burning-Spirit.com. 2004.
  2. Storm, Amanda. "So You're that Girl Wrestler?". AmandaStorm.com.
  3. "Amanda Storm". Amanda Storm of G.L.O.R.Y. Wrestling. GloryWrestling.com. Archived from the original on 2010-01-14.
  4. Wood, Ryan (2008-06-25). "A chance to say goodbye". Wicked Local Plymouth.
  5. Schwan, Brett (2006). "Ten Questions With ... D.C. Drake". WrestlingClothesline.com.
  6. "Interview with ECW's Roadkill". SmashWrestling.com. 2001-01-01.
  7. "Interview with ECW's Roadkill". SmashWrestling.com. 2001-01-01.
  8. "Top Rope Promotions". Archived from the original on 2005-04-19. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  9. Lindsey, Joe (2007-04-24). "Just Another Night In Fall River". Living Now.