This show, promoted by Crowbar's NMW, was a tribute show for Sabu. All profits made from the show, by NMW, were directly donated to Sabu. This show featured a raffle as well as an auction, to raise money for Sabu as well. NMW really went all out and made a great effort raising money for Sabu. While I don't have the official number of the money raised, NMW certainly made an excellent effort raising money for a good guy. With that said, here's the review of the show:

New Millenium Wrestling (NMW)
12/26
From Rutherford, NJ
Referees: Mike Kehner and an unannounced rookie
Ring Announcers: Gerry Strauss and Steve D'Angelis
Approximate Attendance: 130 (Lots of little kids, as this was a family geared show held in a Church Gymnasium)

The show kicked off with what seemed like an hour long auction. For the purpose of this show it was a really good auction, but with an almost 5 hour show ahead of time, this would lead to burning out some of the crowd later on. The biggest thing to come out of this auction was former ECW diva, Elektra, who owns the Satin Dolls Strip Club (The Strip Club called The Bada Bing on the Sopranos) auctioning off some Bada Bing merchandise with a few of her strippers. It was funny watching the strippers and Elektra interact with the crowd, since most of the crowd was under the age of 10. Elektra and her girls did come off very professional, and outside of their tight bodies, you probably couldn't even tell they were strippers.

The NMW NorthEast Champion, Crowbar came out. He welcomed everyone to the show. He told the smart fans to enjoy the show tonight and just relax and have fun.

The NMW Heavyweight Champion, The Patriot, came out next with a couple of kids as his flag bearers. Patriot led the crowd in rising for the National Anthem.

Johnny Thunder d. Crazy Ivan
After missing a top rope legdrop, Johnny Thunder hit a superkick to pick up the clean pinfall victory. The crowd was very into this match, as they booed the hell out of Ivan and cheered Johnny Thunder. This match felt like something out of the vaults of ECPW.

Steve D'Angelis came out, as he and Strauss switched off on the house mic all night. Steve introduced everyone to Elektra again. Elektra and her girls accompanied "The A-List". The A List are Danny Doring, Matt Striker and Ace Darling. Doring enters the ring, and as the leader of this faction, he cut a promo. Doring basically says that his original opponent, Roadkill, is not here tonight. Doring reads a letter, supposedly from Roadkill's mother, which praises Doring and puts down Roadkill. This promo was sweating all types of 80ness. Doring mentions that the A-List is also looking for a new member. Eventually this long drawn out promo ends, and we get to our second match of the evening.

Danny Doring w/The A-List d. Danny Jaxx
This was a long old school match for people in the age range of 4-12. This match was very long. This match was not for smart marks, and after having a long promo, this match tired me out, (Then again I did party alot the night before), and it was only the second match on the show. After lots of interference from the A-List, Doring picks up the pinfall, even though it looked like Jaxx would win the match with a small package.
Like I said above, this was a very long match with lots of interference. Even though I wasn't into it, 95% of the crowd was, as The A-List did a great job playing up to the fans.

Right after this match, the A-List stayed in the ring and we went straight to our third match.

Scotty Charisma d. Matt Striker w/The A-List
This was another long match, which followed the same formula as the match previous. It was long and full of interference. The crowd was really into Scotty Charisma. Darling interfered in this match, hitting his top rope DDT on Charisma. Charisma was able to kick out during the pin attempt however. Darling interfered again, but this time missed Charisma, and wound up superkicking Striker down. Charisma went for the cover, but this time Striker was able to get out at 2. The finish of this match saw Matt Striker hold the ropes as Charimsa went for sunset flip pin. Ref Kehner saw Striker holding the ropes, and kicked Strikers hands off the ropes, letting Striker's momentum bring his shoulders to the mat for the 1-2-3 pin for Charisma.
POSTMATCH: The A-List beat up Charisma as the crowd shrieks and hollers. The Patriot eventually comes out to make the save.

NMW Tag Team Tournament to Crown First Ever NMW Tag Team Champions
ROUND ONE
The Solution (Papadon/Havok) d. The Valedictorians (Rob Eckos/Billy Bax)
This was a faster paced match than the first three previous matches which I appreciated. I thought the first match these two teams had at the last show was better than this one, but this match was still pretty decent. I like the Valedictorians as a face, even though their gimmick is more suited for heels. The Solution win this match via pinfall after hitting their patented Problem Solver finisher.

For the NMW Heavyweight Championship
(c) The Patriot vs Paul E. Normous went to a No Contest
Watching this match felt like I was sucked into a time warp. This was very slow and old school match with a very old school finish. After watching these two stomp around the ring for 10 minutes or so, these two turned on their vicious mode and just started attacking each other. Evidentally the match was so boring and dry before these two started running and wailing their arms at each other, that the ref decided to break it up. Both guys bumped the ref down when the ref tried preventing these guys from showing emotion while wrestling. Other referees ran down to break up these two from actually you know, wrestle, and this match was called a no-contest because these guys were making fierce physical contact. This obviously sets up a rematch later on down the line, which is smart old school booking, but a drain to watch for your "smart fan". Keep in mind that the rest of the crowd were going nuts and popping like mad when this was all going on.
Despite me being sarcastic when writing up this match, I thought the finish was alright and set up a main feud in NMW. It was funny though that these guys got disqualified for showing some fire towards the end of the match.

This match led immediately to intermission, where The Patriot immediately left the ring and walked straight to the gimmick table to sell autographs.

After a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG intermission, which went somewhere in the 45 minute plus range, but it was for a good reason, because NMW was raising some money for Sabu, we returned with...

For the NMW Cruiserweight Championship
Queenan Creed w/Harry Acropolis d. Johnny Thunder
PREMATCH: Creed said that his opponents (Abunai and Wiqued) weren't here tonight. He made this match an open challenge match. Johnny Thunder came out, and the 250 pound cruiserweight got a title shot here.
This match started off slow with some ga-ga. Thunder had the match won after a superkick, but Harry Acropolis lazily (in gimmick and hysterical to watch) interfered. Creed distracted the ref, and after Harry was done demolishing Thunder, Creed ran in and picked up the cheap pinfall.
This match wasn't so hot from the get go considering Thunder isn't a cruiserweight and was filling in for the missing wrestlers. There was also so much interference up to this point on the show, that by the time this match rolled around, you were just waiting for the interference to happen so the match would end.

In The Match of The Night
Simon Diamond d. Chris Candido
PREMATCH: Simon Diamond cut a problem, letting everyone know that he has a problem. Go see a pyschologist. Anyway, Simon lets everyone know that he's a superduper star, and challenges anyone (just like the match previous) to a match. "Back In Black" was the response to Simon's challenge, and out walked Chris Candido.
Even though I think this match would be alot better if it took place in front of a USA PW or JAPW crowd, this match was perfect for this show, as both guys had an old school type of match but had enough in it for smart marks to get into. These guys wrestled a hard fought match, and at the same time was able to have the crowd going nuts the entire time. Candido threw Simon all over the ring in this match, with several back bodydrops. The finish of this match saw Simon Diamond hit Candido in the head with a foreign object and pick up the pinfall, but the match wasn't over yet...
POSTMATCH: Ref Kehner noticed that Simon has an object in his hand. The ref calls for the match to restart and nulls the previous decision. Therefore we have...

Chris Candido d. Simon Diamond
With the ref arguing with Simon, Candido grabbed a chain and rolled it around his fist. 3 seconds later, and a punch to Simon Diamond's head, Candido covered Simon Diamond to pick up the pinfall, and making the crowd go crazy.
Nicely booked match, and the crowd loved the finish. Any type of wrestling fan could enjoy this match.

NMW Tag Team Tournament to Crown First Ever NMW Tag Team Champions
ROUND ONE
Hot N Sexy (Red Hot Russ/Mo Sexy) d. Mana "The Polynesian Warrior"/Ric Fuller
Fuller and Mana squashed Hot N Sexy for the first 3 minutes of this match. Fuller hit his finisher, as he chokeslammed Mo and had the match won. Instead of pinning him, after hitting his finisher, Fuller decided to go for a steel chair. Mana grabbed the other woozy member of Hot N Sexy, Red Hot Russ. Fuller then hit Mana over the head with a steel chair in one of the most predictable spots in wrestling history. Despite Mana being an Islander, the Islander rule of never taking damage to the head didn't apply here, as Mana was laid out cold. Mo Sexy and Russ bumped Fuller out of the ring, and Mo then hit a frogsplash on Mana. Mo and Russ then both jumped on top of Mana, picking up the pinfall.
I understand why NMW elected to do this finish, but it was pretty corny and illogical.

For the NMW Northeast Championship
Special Guest Referee: Mick Foley
Vic Divine w/Serena d. (c) Crowbar to become the second ever NMW Northeast Champion
PREMATCH: Mick Foley cut a promo. He talked about his backstage fight with Ric Flair, which maybe only 10 fans understood. Foley said this show was for a good guy and respected the hell out of Sabu. Foley also did a bit with the fans where he forgot socko, so a kid in attendance gave Foley his own sock to use as socko. I should also mention the crowd loved the hell out of Foley.
This was one of the better matches of the show, as Crowbar really worked hard to get a good match out of Divine. Divine's gimmick is pretty old school, as he does a Right Said Fred conceited gimmick. Crowbar hit a nice northern lights steel chair suplex in this hardcore match. The finish of this match saw Vic Divine hit a Crowbar with a sidewalk slam for the 1-2-3.
POSTMATCH: Divine, with his newly won title, attacked Crowbar some more. Mick Foley had enough and socko'ed Divine. Divine then bailed to the back. Foley then grabbed the mic and put over Crowbar for his efforts with the show, and called Crowbar a true winner.

Monsta Mack d. Genesis
Right off the bat, Genesis was awful. Monsta Mack has been doing better in recent matches, showing some DHS fire as of late. Mack tried his hardest in this match, but watching Genesis wrestle was like watching Shawn Bradley of the NBA do the limbo. It was fugly. Genesis has alot of size, which means he has potential, but here he looked bad. Mack was able to get the crowd into this match by emulating Sabu, as he threw chairs at Genesis's head like Sabu used to do. Mack even hit Sabu's jumping dive off a steel chair, followed up with two legs in Genesis's face. Mack continued the assault with a few lariats. After what looked like a very shaky Razor's Edge attempt by Genesis, Mack was able to put Genesis away with a top rope splash.
Mack looked pretty good here and gave the crowd what they wanted. Genesis has the size to be good in the future.

Steve D'Angelis came out next and introduced everyone to The Most Homicidal, Most Suicidal and Most Genocidal wrestler of all time, the former ECW Heavyweight Champion, Sabu. Sabu walked into the ring and said the following, "Thank you very much." Sabu promptly dropped the mic and walked to the back, keeping in character the entire time. Sabu looks like he is recuperating nicely and has regained some of the weight he lost earlier in the year. The crowd gave Sabu a well deserved standing ovation.

NMW Tag Team Tournament to Crown First Ever NMW Tag Team Champions
ROUND TWO, The Finals
The Solution (Papadon/Havok) d. Hot N Sexy (Red Hot Russ/Mo Sexy)
This was one of the better matches on the show, as both teams had a solid outing here. Both teams feature different styles as The Solution worked a more aggressive fast paced style, whereas Hot N Sexy wrestled the "South Jersey" style, meaning lots of headlocks and armbars. The finish of this match saw Havok hit his huge spear on Mo Sexy for the pinfall and to make The Solution the first ever NMW Tag Team Champions.
POSTMATCH: Sabu came out to crown the Solution the new tag team champions. The Solution and Sabu did the Sabu finger to the sky pose, and Sabu gave the Solution the NMW Tag Team Titles. Even though the heel team won this match, Sabu turned them face at the end, and this was a great way to close the show.

Final McWord
NMW did a great job of raising money for Sabu here tonight. While the show was 5 hours long with the auction, it was worth it for Sabu.

I do question the match order of the show, as alot of matches seemed out of place, as repetitive finishes occurred back-to-back. I was surprised Foley wasn't featured in the main event, and it was odd to have Mack/Genesis follow up Foley. I was also suprised to see a tag tournament on a benefit show. I think having two semi-final matches here tonight, to set up a finals match in February would've made more sense.

Candido/Diamond, Crowbar/Devine and Solution/Hot N Sexy stood out to me as the top three matches of the night. I thought Monsta Mack and Johnny Thunder looked solid in their matches. The rest of the show was old school and strictly for younger fans. NMW has done a great job of delivering a product that the fans want.

It was great to see Foley and Sabu at this show. NMW did a good job of using these two on the show and the fans appreciated them.

All in all, I thought NMW did a good job and made good on their promises and intentions for Sabu.

Overall- There were two shows going on here tonight. One was for Sabu and the second was NMW trying to further some of their angles. While this show was very family oriented, I was able to have fun and it was good seeing NMW have a show for a good cause.

NMW runs again on February 19th. Look for more information on that show as it becomes available.

Sean "The MiC" McCaffrey
BULLSMC@aol.com