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Posted on 03 Feb 2010 by PCW As PCW prepares to revive the legendary PCW Junior Heavyweight Championship at Thunderstruck on February 18th 2010, we take a look back at the history and legacy of the foundation of the promotion. When Premier Championship Wrestling burst upon the scene in early 2002, they intended the shake up the establishment in the Canadian wrestling industry. The cornerstone of PCW's revolution was the Junior Heavyweight Division, as the promotion assembled the very best high-impact, high-athleticism wrestlers. Such notables as Rawskillz, Mentallo, Kenny Omega, Antonio Scorpio Jr, Ryan Wood, Ronnie Attitude, Chad Tatum, Nate Hardy, The Big O, White Tiger, Shawn Houston and others competed in the highly entertaining and popular division throughout 2002 and 2003. Many of the top Junior Heavyweights were tagged as future top superstars and fans got an early look at several talented performers who would go on to become among the most successful wrestlers in the province. Premier Championship Wrestling made their official promotional launch on March 3rd 2002 at the Investors Group Athletic Centre at the University of Manitoba. Nearly 2000 fans, still a record attendance for an independent wrestling event in the province, witnessed a game-changing live show dubbed Commencement of Cool. Though "Latino Heat" Eddie Guerrero and "Playboy" Will Damon tore the house down in the main event, the future of PCW was set in motion from the opening bell as Junior Heavyweights Kenny Omega and Mentallo enthralled the audience with a jaw-dropping Match of the Year performance. Both young superstars would continue to develop their abilities and go on to win multiple Heavyweight Championships and wrestle around the world throughout their careers. But in 2002, the high flyers gave fans a sweet taste of what the Junior Heavyweight Division was all about. Recognizing the unique advantage they had over their competitors, PCW quickly created the Junior Heavyweight Championship and awarded in a tournament in May of that year. It was the first title PCW recognized and was created almost a year before they established a Heavyweight Champion. Truly, the PCW Junior Heavyweight Championship was the most valuable accolade in the province upon it's genesis. On Thursday May 16th 2002, the finals of the tournament took place at Manitoba wrestling's mecca, The LID Nightclub, as Rawskillz faced Mentallo. The tournament produced phenomenal action and high drama as Rawskillz defeated his own tag team partner Chad Tatum in the semi-finals. As Assisted Suicide, Skillz and Tatum were a breath-taking tag team combination, utilizing high flying, death defying athleticism and impressive traditional mat-based wrestling to achieve remarkable success as multiple-time tag team champions in their previous promotions. In the tournament final, Mentallo and Rawskillz engaged in an exceptional contest, foreshadowing many more great matches that would take place between the two. On this night, Skillz was victorious, making history as the first title-holder in Premier Championship Wrestling history, an appropriate development for the man who would go on to be known as the Most Decorated Champion in PCW History with a plethora of titles to his credit. Following the contest, Skillz was congratulated by Tatum, who then turned on his long-time best friend and tag team partner, ending their legendary Assisted Suicide partnership and kicking off an intensely personal and exciting feud. Tatum would turn his back on the fans and join super-clique MVP, calling himself "Priceless" Chad Tatum. The feud between Skillz and Tatum came to a head that summer. They battled for the PCW Junior Heavyweight Championship in their hometown of Brandon, MB at OCC's Nightclub on July 24th 2002. Tatum finally achieved what he desired for so long, defeating his former partner and capturing the gold in front of a packed crowd. He had little time to enjoy it however, as they faced each once again the very next night. On July 25th 2002 at PCW's Boiling Point at CanWest Global Ball Park, Rawskillz regained the PCW Junior Heavyweight Championship in front of over 1200 people, becoming the first multiple-time title holder in the promotions history. Skillz would go on to set the tone for all future champions by defending his championship several times per week against all challengers. It would be a nemesis from his recent past that would finally pry the title from his hands. Mentallo gained revenge and his first PCW championship, defeating Rawskillz for the PCW Junior Heavyweight Championship in a Fatal Four Way match at the inaugural Back to School Bash in front of a full house at the LID Nightclub on September 26th 2002. Kenny Omega and Ronnie Attitude were the other two participants in the hotly contested match of the night. The fans erupted when Mentallo was victorious but he was unable to hold onto the title the rest of the year. In one of the most impressive debut's ever, "Red Hot" Ryan Wood shocked PCW by defeating Mentallo in his first PCW match to capture the Junior Heavyweight Championship. It was December 12th 2002 and caught fans completely by surprise as Mentallo had looked unbeatable as he defeated much of the division in thrlling matches prior to this one. Woody would hold the championship for two months before losing to Rawskillz who became a three-time champion with the victory on February 13th 2003. His third reign would be the charm as Skillz set an all-time longevity record while dominating all other competitors. His superiority in the division resulted in a unique new concept match - the Eliminator - to produce a new number one contender. The Eliminator began as an eight-man elimination tag team match. Step two would see the survivors of the victorious team face each other to determine the next challenger for Rawskillz. Young upstart rookie "Mr Amazing" Shawn Houston survived the Eliminator and took full advantage of his opportunity when he upset the veteran Skillz on July 10th 2003 at PCW's Beat The Summer Heat. 2003 saw several rookie superstars enter the Junior Heavyweight Division as in addition to Houston, Nate Hardy, Chris Raine and Antonio Scorpio Jr all pursued the championship. It was Scorpio, the protege of Mentallo, who would finally unseat Houston. On September 4th 2003 at the LID Nightclub, Scorpio defeated Houston to capture the PCW Junior Heavyweight Championship. He was young, fresh and dominant and looked to reinvent the division in his own image. He challenged any and all comers to face him and was confronted by then-CWF Junior Heavyweight Champion Darien Karisma. They battled in an unprecedented Title vs Title match, with Scorpio coming out victorious, unifying the titles. For much of his reign, Scorpio had been locked in a vicious feud with his mentor Mentallo and they were set to collide in what would be the climax to their intense personal feud at PCW's annual Halloween event with the championship on the line for the last time. PCW's then-Commissioner Tom "Manchine" Manos had ordered the PCW Junior Heavyweight Championship retired following the Halloween event, regardless of who won the match. The reason for the decision was Manos' belief that many in the Junior Heavyweight Division were not simply the best junior's in the province, but among the best wrestlers of any division. He ordered the title retired, to be replaced by a new secondary championship concept at a later date. There was much anticipation when Antonio Scorpio Jr faced Mentallo that the two well-acquainted superstars would put on a Junior Heavyweight classic. However, before the match began, then-PCW Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega confronted both men and asked them why they would tear each other apart for the amusement of the fans over a championship that was being retired. He urged them to think of their past relationship, put their differences aside and join him in dominating PCW. Omega's words resonated with them as Scorpio and Mentallo shook hands. Scorpio then punctuated the retirement of the PCW Junior Heavyweight Championship by tossing it in a garbage can. The two men would return only minutes later to surprise everyone by capturing the PCW Tag Team Championship and joining Omega, Chris Stevens and "Class Act" Chris Parys in a revival of Parys Wrestling International. Longest Reign: Rawskillz set the longevity record with his third PCW Junior Heavyweight Championship reign, holding it a remarkable 147 days. Shortest Reign: Chad Tatum was PCW Junior Heavyweight Champion for one day, winning the title in his hometown of Brandon, MB on July 24th 2002 and losing it back to Rawskillz the following night at Boiling Point at CanWest Global Park. By order of longevity, the other title-holders were: Mentallo (77 days), Rawskillz' first reign (69 days), Rawskillz' second reign (63 days), Ryan Wood (63 days), Shawn Houston (56 days), Antonio Scorpio Jr (56 days until title retired) and Chad Tatum (1 day). Most Reigns: Rawskillz was the only multiple-time PCW Junior Heavyweight Champion holding the title three different times for a cumulative total time as champion of 279 days. Antonio Scorpio Jr captured the CWF Junior Championship while holding the PCW Junior Heavyweight Championship. Never Defeated: Antonio Scorpio Jr was never defeated for the PCW Junior Heavyeight Championship, holding the title until it's retirement on October 30th 2003. A Sign Of Things To Come: Former PCW Junior Heavyweight Champions Rawskillz, Chad Tatum and Mentallo all went on to win the PCW Heavyweight Championship. Mentallo, Scorpio & Tatum all went on to win the PCW Canadian Championship. Rawskillz, Mentallo, Tatum, Scorpio & Shawn Houston all won PCW Tag Team Championships. Most Decorated: Rawskillz held the PCW Junior Heavyweight Championship three different times, the PCW Tag Team Championship three different times with three different partners and merged the TRCW & ICW Heavyweight Championship and NWA Canadian X Division Championship and Open Rules Championship into the PCW Heavyweight Championship. The legacy of the PCW Junior Heavyweight Championship cannot be understated. It became the early cornerstone of the promotion from it's inception, providing PCW fans with a style and level of talent they could not witness in any other promotion in Manitoba. Many of the men who competed so ferociously within the division would go on to become the most talented and successful wrestlers in the province, in any weight class. At PCW's Thunderstruck, a new era of young, athletic superstars will revive the championship and embrace the heritage of the past while blazing a new trail to the future of the business. PCW's Thunderstruck Thursday, February 18th 2010 Dylans On Pembina Doors: 8PM, Belltime: 9:15PM Tickets: Only $10 "Nobody Does It Better!" Content Management Powered by CuteNews
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