Assault Championship Wrestling
Encyclopedia
Assault Championship Wrestling was an American independent wrestling promotion based in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...

 and promoted by Jason Knight
Jason Knight
Ronald Jason Knight is an American professional wrestler and manager. He is best known for his stints in Eastern / Extreme Championship Wrestling, where he was a one time World Television Champion.-World Wrestling Federation :...

, a retired wrestler and manager, during the early 2000s. The first major independent promotion to operate in Connecticut, Assault Championship Wrestling became important on the independent circuit
Independent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...

 particularly after the close of Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...

 in 2002 and featured many former ECW veterans including Danny Doring
Danny Doring
Dan Morrison is an American wrestler better known as Danny Doring, most known for his time in Extreme Championship Wrestling, as the tag team partner of Roadkill...

, Kid Kash, Justin Credible, Little Guido
James Maritato
James Maritato is an American professional wrestler, of Italian origin, currently working on the independent circuit. He is best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment and Extreme Championship Wrestling under the ring names Little Guido Maritato and Nunzio.-Starting out:While...

, Tony DeVito
Tony DeVito
Anthony "Tony" DeVito is an American professional wrestler, best known for working in Extreme Championship Wrestling and Ring of Honor...

, Balls Mahoney
Balls Mahoney
Jonathan Rechner better known by his ring name Balls Mahoney , is an American professional wrestler...

, John Kronus
John Kronus
George B. Caiazzo was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, John Kronus and later "Kronus". Caiazzo worked for Extreme Championship Wrestling, the United States Wrestling Association and Xtreme Pro Wrestling...

, Francine
Francine Fournier
Francine Fournier , known simply as Francine, is an American former professional wrestling valet most known for her work in Extreme Championship Wrestling.-Extreme Championship Wrestling:...

 and Joel Gertner
Joel Gertner
Joel Gertner is an American Professional wrestling announcer and manager best known for his work in Extreme Championship Wrestling.-Early career:...

 who acted as its commissioner.

New England Championship Wrestling
New England Championship Wrestling
New England Championship Wrestling was an independent professional wrestling promotion based in the Northeastern United States and has promoted events since 2000...

, a rival promotion, often held inter-promotional events as well as allowing its champions to defend their titles at ACW cards. They also had a working arraignment with Knight's wrestling dojo. A number of independent wrestlers also made frequent appearances including Matt Stryker, Julio Dinero, Wagner Brown
Wagner Brown
Wagner Brown is a professional wrestler better known by his ring name of Slyck Wagner Brown. He currently wrestles in the independent circuit in the Northeastern United States....

, Matthew Kaye
Matthew Kaye
Matthew Kaye is an American actor, wrestling commentator and semi-retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Matt Striker. He is signed to WWE, where he serves as the host of WWE NXT....

, Homicide
Nelson Erazo
Nelson Rodriguez Erazo is an American professional wrestler of Puerto Rican descent, better known by his ring name, Homicide...

, Jeff Rocker, Scotty Charisma
Scott Wright (wrestler)
Scott Wright is an American professional wrestler and bodybuilder, better known by his ring name Scotty Charisma. He currently performs on the independent circuit under his real name or as Mr. Scott Wright.-Early career:...

  and The Backseat Boyz
The Backseat Boyz
The Backseat Boyz were a professional wrestling tag team that consisted of Johnny Kashmere and Trent Acid who competed in Ring of Honor, Pro Wrestling Unplugged, Combat Zone Wrestling, Assault Championship Wrestling, the Premier Wrestling Federation, Jersey All Pro Wrestling, and Japan together...

 (Trent Acid
Trent Acid
Michael Verdi was an American professional wrestler best known by his ring name Trent Acid. Verdi had worked as a tag team wrestler for most of his career, primarily as part of The Backseat Boyz with Johnny Kashmere, in several independent promotions in America, including Combat Zone Wrestling,...

 and Johnny Kashmere
Johnny Kashmere
Johnny Kashmere is an American professional wrestler, best known as one half of The Backseat Boyz, along with the late Trent Acid...

). Popular female wrestlers included Mercedes Martinez
Mercedes Martinez
Mercedes Martinez is a American professional wrestler, currently performing for Shimmer Women Athletes, as well as numerous independent promotions including World Xtreme Wrestling, Women Superstars Uncensored, and Full Impact Pro....

, Becky Bayless
Becky Bayless
Rebecca Treston better known by her ring name Rebecca "Becky" Bayless, is an American professional wrestler, currently working for independent promotions such as Women's Extreme Wrestling, Wrestling Superstars Unleashed, Wrestlicious, and Women Superstars Uncensored...

, April Hunter
April Hunter
April Hunter is an American professional wrestler, professional wrestling valet and fitness and glamour model. She has appeared in many publications, from MuscleMag International to Playboy Magazine and even has her own comic book series, Code Red by Pickle Press.-World Championship Wrestling :In...

, Nikki Roxx, Talia Madison, Ana Rocha
Ana Rocha
Ana Rocha is an Portuguese-American professional wrestler and manager known by her ring name "The Portuguese Princess" Ariel, who has competed in Northeastern independent promotions including Ring of Honor, IWA Mid-South and the National Wrestling Alliance.-Early life and career:Born in São...

 and Angel Orsini
Angel Orsini
Angel Orsini is an American professional wrestler, bodybuilder and former mixed martial arts fighter, best known by her ring name Riptide...

.

History

Originally established under Acid Pro Wrestling, the promotion began operating in central Connecticut in early 2000 and held its first supercard, The Best Things In Life Are Free!, in Waterbury, Connecticut
Waterbury, Connecticut
Waterbury is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, on the Naugatuck River, 33 miles southwest of Hartford and 77 miles northeast of New York City...

 on May 26, 2000. It also held its first televised event in Waterbury featuring Angel Orsini
Angel Orsini
Angel Orsini is an American professional wrestler, bodybuilder and former mixed martial arts fighter, best known by her ring name Riptide...

, Joel Gertner
Joel Gertner
Joel Gertner is an American Professional wrestling announcer and manager best known for his work in Extreme Championship Wrestling.-Early career:...

 and Jason Knight
Jason Knight
Ronald Jason Knight is an American professional wrestler and manager. He is best known for his stints in Eastern / Extreme Championship Wrestling, where he was a one time World Television Champion.-World Wrestling Federation :...

 on November 12, 2000.

The promotion would continue holding shows in Plainville
Plainville, Connecticut
Plainville is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 17,328 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 9.8 square miles , of which 9.8 square miles is land and 0.1 square miles is water...

, Southington
Southington, Connecticut
Southington is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is part of Connecticut's 1st congressional district. It is situated about 20 miles southwest of Hartford, about 80 miles northeast of New York City, 105 miles southwest of Boston and 77 miles west of Providence...

, Naugatuck
Naugatuck, Connecticut
Naugatuck is a consolidated borough and town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town spans both sides of the Naugatuck River just south of Waterbury, and includes the communities of Union City on the east side of the river, which has its own post office, Straitsville on the...

 and Meriden, Connecticut
Meriden, Connecticut
Meriden is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 59,653.-History:...

 during 2001 with appearances by Homicide, the F.B.I.
Full Blooded Italians
The Full Blooded Italians is a professional wrestling stable and tag team that wrestled for Extreme Championship Wrestling in the late 1990s and for World Wrestling Entertainment during the mid-2000s.-Extreme Championship Wrestling:...

, Francine
Francine Fournier
Francine Fournier , known simply as Francine, is an American former professional wrestling valet most known for her work in Extreme Championship Wrestling.-Extreme Championship Wrestling:...

, Christian York
Christian York
Jason Spence is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Christian York.-York and Matthews:...

, Chris Hamrick
Chris Hamrick
Chris Hamrick is an American professional wrestler. He is perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling throughout the early 2000s...

, Julio Dinero, New Jack
New Jack
Jerome Young is an American professional wrestler, better known by his stage name New Jack in ECW.He is known for his willingness to take dangerous bumps and his stiff hardcore wrestling style, often taking high risks and "shooting" on opponents, though he is only known to shoot on opponents who...

, Chris Candido
Chris Candido
Christopher Raul Candito was an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Chris Candido...

 and Tammy Lynn Sytch
Tammy Lynn Sytch
Tamara "Tammy" Lynn Sytch is an American professional wrestling manager, personality,and occasional wrestler. She achieved her greatest success under the ring name Sunny within the World Wrestling Federation during the 1990s, and is widely considered as one of the first Divas...

. On April 8, 2001, an Evening Gown match between Foxxy Dreams and Missy Hyatt
Missy Hyatt
Melissa Ann Hiatt is an American professional wrestling valet, better known by her ring name, Missy Hyatt. She gained the majority of her fame while working for World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling....

 took place at an ACW show in East Hartford. Hyatt was originally scheduled to face another female wrestler, however Dreams took her place when Hyatt's opponent did not arrive. Although Foxxy Dreams technically defeated Hyatt after tearing off her gown, the match official Joel Gertner stopped the match and awarded the win to Hyatt deciding to change the stipulations for the winner to be the first to lose her dress.

Knight had originally been the booker for the promotion, however he left to start a rival promotion after a falling out with the owners. After Knight took over the promotion in August 2001, the promotion was renamed Assault Championship Wrestling and followed up on the success of the previous supercard with Second Wave and Hell to Pay later that year.

In 2002, the promotion expanded holding events in New Britain
New Britain, Connecticut
New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately 9 miles southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 71,254....

 and North Haven, Connecticut
North Haven, Connecticut
North Haven is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut on the outskirts of New Haven, Connecticut.North Haven is less than ten miles from downtown New Haven and Yale University. It is near Sleeping Giant State Park and home the Quinnipiac University School of Health Sciences, the School of Nursing,...

. The promotion also began Jason Knight's Pro Wrestling Dojo and Gym in nearby Wolcott, Connecticut
Wolcott, Connecticut
Wolcott is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 15,215 at the 2000 census.Wolcott was founded in 1796 and was originally named Farmingbury...

. On August 9, 2002, Knight and several ACW wrestlers were at New England Championship Wrestling
New England Championship Wrestling
New England Championship Wrestling was an independent professional wrestling promotion based in the Northeastern United States and has promoted events since 2000...

's second annual Birthday Bash at the Goodtimes Emporium in Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, located just north of Boston. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 75,754 and was the most densely populated municipality in New England. It is also the 17th most densely populated incorporated place in...

. Knight, who was a guest commentator for iMassRadio.com, was the first ever guest celebrity to attend the event along with Traci Brooks. Students from the House of Pain Pro Wrestling school were also at the event.

The following year, its main heel
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...

stable La Familia appeared on several shows with Connecticut Championship Wrestling. Although speculated that their arrival might lead to an "invasion" storyline, ACW abruptly stopped future appearances for undisclosed reasons.

In early-May, an unexpected cancellation of an outdoor show as well as its website going offline prompted internet rumors that the promotion was shutting down. This was denied by officials, specifically wrestler and part-time road agent Bulldog Blanski, who explained the show had been originally canceled due to rain and that the venue had decided to cancel its next show the following week on Mother's Day
Mother's Day
Mother's Day is a celebration honoring mothers and celebrating motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, yet most commonly in March, April, or May...

. He further explained that the website had been changing servers and announced the promotion would continue holding shows with the next event being held at Riders Cafe in Waterbury on June 6, 2003.

However, the company began suffering financial trouble during its last year and held its last event in New Britain on March 21, 2004. The card featured Chi Chi Cruz, Dances with Dudley
Adolfo Bermudez
Adolfo Bermudez is an American professional wrestler, known by his ring name Dances with Dudley, who competed in North American independent promotions including the American Wrestling Federation, International World Class Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling, most notably as an...

, Tony DeVito
Tony DeVito
Anthony "Tony" DeVito is an American professional wrestler, best known for working in Extreme Championship Wrestling and Ring of Honor...

, Scotty Charisma
Scott Wright (wrestler)
Scott Wright is an American professional wrestler and bodybuilder, better known by his ring name Scotty Charisma. He currently performs on the independent circuit under his real name or as Mr. Scott Wright.-Early career:...

, Mercedes Martinez
Mercedes Martinez
Mercedes Martinez is a American professional wrestler, currently performing for Shimmer Women Athletes, as well as numerous independent promotions including World Xtreme Wrestling, Women Superstars Uncensored, and Full Impact Pro....

 and Justin Credible in the main event.

Knight's wrestling school remained open however and, in late 2004, several former ACW mainstays including Bulldog Blanski and Mike E. Milano decided to start another promotion, Defiant Pro Wrestling. The promotion was initially successful, however it became inactive for two months the next year. Jason Knight, who appeared at its last show to begin a so-called "invasion", returned at its next show Burning Bridges in Southington, Connecticut
Southington, Connecticut
Southington is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is part of Connecticut's 1st congressional district. It is situated about 20 miles southwest of Hartford, about 80 miles northeast of New York City, 105 miles southwest of Boston and 77 miles west of Providence...

 on November 19, 2005. Knight would remain the top heel in the promotion as he feuded with Milano during his time with the promotion.

In August 2008 ACW returned to its home in Waterbury, CT and started training a few wrestlers. They managed to only have 2 shows with very little attendance. They went bankrupt for a second time in December 2008, also losing the building/gym.

Roster

  • Jason Knight
    Jason Knight
    Ronald Jason Knight is an American professional wrestler and manager. He is best known for his stints in Eastern / Extreme Championship Wrestling, where he was a one time World Television Champion.-World Wrestling Federation :...

  • Kid Kash
  • Chris Hamrick
    Chris Hamrick
    Chris Hamrick is an American professional wrestler. He is perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling throughout the early 2000s...

  • New Jack
    New Jack
    Jerome Young is an American professional wrestler, better known by his stage name New Jack in ECW.He is known for his willingness to take dangerous bumps and his stiff hardcore wrestling style, often taking high risks and "shooting" on opponents, though he is only known to shoot on opponents who...

  • Tony DeVito
    Tony DeVito
    Anthony "Tony" DeVito is an American professional wrestler, best known for working in Extreme Championship Wrestling and Ring of Honor...

  • Balls Mahoney
    Balls Mahoney
    Jonathan Rechner better known by his ring name Balls Mahoney , is an American professional wrestler...

  • Dylan Kage
  • Ron Zombie
  • Slyk Wagner Brown
  • Jeff Rocker
  • Judas Young
  • Curtis Slamdawg
  • Chi Chi Cruz
  • Bull Dredd
  • Bulldog Blanski
  • Abunei
  • Johnny Thunder
  • Scotty Charisma
    Scott Wright (wrestler)
    Scott Wright is an American professional wrestler and bodybuilder, better known by his ring name Scotty Charisma. He currently performs on the independent circuit under his real name or as Mr. Scott Wright.-Early career:...

  • Jim Nastic
  • IceBerg
  • Del Tsunami
  • Avil Graves
  • Shabba White
  • Billy Reil
    Billy Reil
    Billy Reil is a former American professional wrestler currently working the Northeastern Independent circuit in the United States. A longtime veteran of the Tri-State area, he was a mainstay of Jersey All Pro Wrestling during the late 1990s...

  • Laithon
  • Tiger Mulligan
  • Apollo
  • Homicide
    Nelson Erazo
    Nelson Rodriguez Erazo is an American professional wrestler of Puerto Rican descent, better known by his ring name, Homicide...

  • Little Guido
    James Maritato
    James Maritato is an American professional wrestler, of Italian origin, currently working on the independent circuit. He is best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment and Extreme Championship Wrestling under the ring names Little Guido Maritato and Nunzio.-Starting out:While...

  • Wiqued
  • Jamie Pain
  • Nemesis
  • Nick Richards
  • Kaguchi
  • CueBall
  • Frankie Starz
  • Pat Gunner
  • Joe Rules
  • Vic Gun'R
  • Julio Dinero
  • Justin Credible
    Peter Polaco
    Peter Joseph Polaco is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name Justin Credible. He is also known for his earlier stint with the WWF under the ringname Aldo Montoya...

  • Luis Ortiz
  • Pepsi Boy
  • Spider
    Daniel Quirk
    Daniel Michael Quirk was an American professional wrestler, known by his ring name Spider, who competed in several Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic independent promotions including Assault Championship Wrestling, CHIKARA, the Millennium Wrestling Federation, the National Wrestling Alliance, World...

  • Bobby Panther
  • Dan Rage
  • Eddie Edwards
    Eddie Edwards (wrestler)
    Eddie Edwards is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for wrestling with Ring of Honor , where he is a former ROH World Champion. He also had previous reigns as a former ROH World Tag Team Champion with his partner Davey Richards as The American Wolves and as the inaugural ROH World...

  • D.C. Dillinger
  • Chris Candido
    Chris Candido
    Christopher Raul Candito was an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Chris Candido...

  • Danny Doring
    Danny Doring
    Dan Morrison is an American wrestler better known as Danny Doring, most known for his time in Extreme Championship Wrestling, as the tag team partner of Roadkill...

  • Bill Alfonso
    Bill Alfonso
    William Matthew "Bill" Alfonso is a former professional wrestling referee and manager. He achieved his greatest success in Extreme Championship Wrestling in the mid to late 1990s...

  • Sheri Benjamin
  • Mercedes Martinez
    Mercedes Martinez
    Mercedes Martinez is a American professional wrestler, currently performing for Shimmer Women Athletes, as well as numerous independent promotions including World Xtreme Wrestling, Women Superstars Uncensored, and Full Impact Pro....

  • Talia Madison
    Velvet Sky
    Jamie Szantyr is an American professional wrestler currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Velvet Sky. She is a former TNA Women's Knockout Champion and TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champion with her former Beautiful People partners Madison Rayne and Lacey Von Erich...

  • Ariel
    Ana Rocha
    Ana Rocha is an Portuguese-American professional wrestler and manager known by her ring name "The Portuguese Princess" Ariel, who has competed in Northeastern independent promotions including Ring of Honor, IWA Mid-South and the National Wrestling Alliance.-Early life and career:Born in São...

  • Tanya Cornell
  • Nikki Roxx
  • April Hunter
    April Hunter
    April Hunter is an American professional wrestler, professional wrestling valet and fitness and glamour model. She has appeared in many publications, from MuscleMag International to Playboy Magazine and even has her own comic book series, Code Red by Pickle Press.-World Championship Wrestling :In...

  • Foxxy Dreams
  • Purty Kurty
  • Angel Orsini
    Angel Orsini
    Angel Orsini is an American professional wrestler, bodybuilder and former mixed martial arts fighter, best known by her ring name Riptide...

  • Bobcat
  • Francine
    Francine Fournier
    Francine Fournier , known simply as Francine, is an American former professional wrestling valet most known for her work in Extreme Championship Wrestling.-Extreme Championship Wrestling:...

  • Tammy Lynn Sytch
    Tammy Lynn Sytch
    Tamara "Tammy" Lynn Sytch is an American professional wrestling manager, personality,and occasional wrestler. She achieved her greatest success under the ring name Sunny within the World Wrestling Federation during the 1990s, and is widely considered as one of the first Divas...

  • Missy Hyatt
    Missy Hyatt
    Melissa Ann Hiatt is an American professional wrestling valet, better known by her ring name, Missy Hyatt. She gained the majority of her fame while working for World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling....

  • Rednecks from Hell (Big Jay and Matt Lariat)
  • Kappa Tappa Kegga (Andy Jaxx and Curt Daniels)
  • The Prowlers
  • New Strike Force (Matt Striker and Scotty Charisma)
  • Deranged Freaks (Balls Mahoney and Ron Zombie)
  • The Mutilators (Pain and Nemesis)
  • Red Hot Russ and Mike Xylas
  • Fred Cury, Sr. and Jr.

  • Championships

    Championship: Last Champion(s): Active From: Active Till: Notes:
    ACW Heavyweight Championship
    ACW Heavyweight Championship
    The ACW Heavyweight Championship was the top professional wrestling championship title in the American independent promotion Assault Championship Wrestling. The first-ever champion was Chris Hamrick who won the title in a championship tounament held in Meriden, Connecticut on August 24, 2001...

    Ron Zombie February 15, 2004 March 21, 2004
    ACW Junior Heavyweight Championship
    ACW Junior Heavyweight Championship
    The ACW Junior Heavyweight Championship was a secondary professional wrestling championship title in the American independent promotion Assault Championship Wrestling. The first-ever champion was Tiger Mulligan who defeated Jeff Starr, Shockwave, and Frankie Starz in a Four Corners match in...

    Abunai February 15, 2004 March 21, 2004
    ACW Television Championship
    ACW Television Championship
    The ACW Heavyweight Championship was a secondary professional wrestling championship title in the American independent promotion Assault Championship Wrestling. The first and only champion was Scotty Charisma who won a battle royal in Waterbury, Connecticut on July 19, 2003...

    Scotty Charisma
    Scott Wright (wrestler)
    Scott Wright is an American professional wrestler and bodybuilder, better known by his ring name Scotty Charisma. He currently performs on the independent circuit under his real name or as Mr. Scott Wright.-Early career:...

    July 19, 2003 March 21, 2004
    ACW Hardcore Championship
    ACW Hardcore Championship
    The ACW Hardcore Championship was the top professional wrestling hardcore championship title in the American independent promotion Assault Championship Wrestling. Ron Zombie was declared the first-ever champion in Meriden, Connecticut on August 24, 2001...

    Jamie Pain September 7, 2003 March 21, 2004
    ACW Great American Championship
    ACW Great American Championship
    The ACW Great American Championship was a secondary professional wrestling championship title in the American independent promotion Assault Championship Wrestling. The first champion was "The Machine" Jeff Rocker who won the title from Mercenary in Meriden, Connecticut on November 30, 2001...

    Tony Devito
    Tony DeVito
    Anthony "Tony" DeVito is an American professional wrestler, best known for working in Extreme Championship Wrestling and Ring of Honor...

    June 8, 2003 March 21, 2004
    ACW Tag Team Championship
    ACW Tag Team Championship
    The ACW Tag Team Championship was the top professional wrestling tag team championship title in the American independent promotion Assault Championship Wrestling. The first champions were Heavy Artillery who defeated Mind and Matter the finals of a championship tournament held in Meriden,...

    Kappa Tappa Kegga (Andy Jaxx and Curt Daniels) June 8, 2003 March 21, 2004

    External links

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