Break the Barrier

Break the Barrier
The "ECW Arena" where the event was held
PromotionAllied Powers Wrestling Federation
Combat Zone Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Independent Pro Wrestling
Independent Professional Wrestling Alliance
Maryland Championship Wrestling
Music City Wrestling
NWA New Jersey
New Dimension Wrestling
South's Greatest Wrestling Fans
Steel City Wrestling
World Legion Wrestling
World Wrestling Organization
DateMay 15, 1999
CityPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
VenueViking Hall

Break the Barrier was a professional wrestling supercard event held at Viking Hall, better known as the "ECW Arena", in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 15, 1999. The event was organized by the founders of Scoopswrestling.com, Al Isaacs, Remy Arteaga and Barbi Bistrowitz, and brought together some of the top independent wrestlers from around the country.[1] It was one of the biggest interpromotional events in the United States and saw the participation of 13 independent promotions including Allied Powers Wrestling Federation, Combat Zone Wrestling, Extreme Championship Wrestling, Independent Pro Wrestling, Independent Professional Wrestling Alliance, Maryland Championship Wrestling, Music City Wrestling, NWA New Jersey, New Dimension Wrestling, South's Greatest Wrestling Fans, Steel City Wrestling, World Legion Wrestling, and World Wrestling Organization.[2] Pro Wrestling Illustrated has called it "one of the greatest Supercards of all time".[1]

Event

Tom Brandi won the main event, an interpromotional battle royal, and was presented a trophy from the promoter Al Isaacs. Instead of accepting the award, Brandi attacked Isaac and powerbombed him through a table. The undercard featured an interpromotional First Blood match between Fang (Allied Powers Wrestling Federation) and Blade Boudreaux (South's Greatest Wrestling Fans). Ten minutes into the match, Abdullah the Butcher came out and attacked both men.[1][2] Abdullah cut Fang with a fork and then placed him into a coffin, which he rolled backstage.

Four new champions were also crowned at the event. Mike Quackenbush defeated Lou Marconi and Don Montoya to become the first SCW Lord of the Dance Champion, Nick Gage defeated Justice Pain in an impromptu staple gun match to become the first CZW Interpromotional Hardcore Champion, Scab defeated Natrone Steele in a ladder match to become the WWO Heavyweight Champion, and Stevie Richards defeated Jimmy Cicero and Tom Brandi in a Three Way Dance to win the APWF Heavyweight Championship.[2] The event also saw the reunion of The Headbangers, and Shane Douglas, who was scheduled to represent Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), delivering a controversial "shoot" interview which ended with him quitting ECW one day before its Hardcore Heaven pay-per-view.[1][3]

Show results

No.Results[2][5]Stipulations
1Stevie Richards defeated Tom Brandi and Jimmy Cicero (c)Three Way Dance for the APWF Heavyweight Championship
2Derrick Stone (c) defeated Steve SharpeFalls Count Anywhere match for the WLW Heavyweight Championship
3Rick Link (c) vs. Manny Fernandez ended in a double disqualificationSingles match for the NDW Brass Knuckles Championship
4The Pitbulls (Pitbull #1 and Pitbull #2) defeated Phi DeKappa U (Biff and Chaz Wentworth) (c)Tag team match for the IPW Tag Team Championship
5Headbanger Mosh (c) defeated Romeo ValentinoSingles match for the MCW Heavyweight Championship
6The Tennessee Volunteerz (Reno Riggins and Steven Dunn) defeated The Badstreet Boyz (Christian York and Joey Matthews)Tag team match
7Scab defeated Natrone Steele (c)Ladder match for the WWO Heavyweight Championship
8Cueball Carmichael (c) defeated Julio SanchezSingles match for the IPWA Heavyweight Championship
9Mike Quackenbush defeated Lou Marconi (with "Hot $hot" Drew Lazario) and Don MontoyaThree Way Dance for the inaugural SCW Lord of the Dance Championship[4]
10Fang defeated Blade BoudreauxAPWF vs. SGWF First Blood match
11Nick Gage defeated Justice PainStaple gun match for the inaugural CZW Interpromotional Hardcore Championship
12Tom Brandi defeated Derek Stone, Maxx Justice, Reno Riggins, Rick Link Scab, and Steven DunnInterpromotional battle royal
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match

See also

References

General
  • Kirell, Jay (May 13, 2014). "Break The Barrier: The Untold Story of The Night The IWC Put On A Wrestling Show". Cagesideseats.com.
Specific
  1. ^ a b c d Isaacs, Al (2008). "Wrestling Stuff". Wrestling. AlIsaacs.com. Archived from the original on July 31, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2010. One of the great moments in Scoops history came when the group decided to promote their own show. Considered impossible at the time, BREAK THE BARRIER brought together independent wrestlers from over twelve different organizations from across the country for one historical night in Philadelphia in 1999. To this day PRO WRESTLING ILLUSTRATED lists BARRIER as one of the greatest Supercards of all time.
  2. ^ a b c d Pro Wrestling Illustrated. "Wrestling Supercards." PWI 2001 Wrestling Almanac and Book of Facts. Vol. IV. No. 1. Fort Washington, Pennsylvania: London Publishing Co., 2001. (pg. 175)
  3. ^ Pro Wrestling Illustrated (2007). "Pro Wrestling Illustrated: Wrestling History". PWI-Online.com.
  4. ^ "Biography". ChikaraPro.com. 2009. Archived from the original on July 10, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  5. ^ Gamble, Ron (2003-05-09). "Official 411 Wrestling Almanac For May". Wrestling News. 411mania.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2010-05-01.