Rip Sawyer
Encyclopedia
Rip Sawyer is a retired American
professional wrestler who competed in the Mid-Atlantic and East Coast
independent circuit
during the late 1980s and early 1990s. As one-half of The Cream Team with longtime tag team partner Dino Casanova
, they won the MEWF Tag Team Championship
in the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation
in 1991. Defending the title for over 10 months, they were the promotion's longest reigning champions.
The team also had short stints in Eastern Championship Wrestling and the National Wrestling League
. Prior to his retirement in 1995, Sawyer briefly appeared in World Championship Wrestling
with Rip Rogers
.
's Billion Dollar Babies (G.Q. Stratus & Mike Sampson) in a tournament final to became the first tag team champions for Max Thrasher's Atlantic Wrestling Federation.
On August 27 of that year, he teamed with Diamond Dave in a tag team match against The Jersey Boys for a benefit show held at the Bavarian Club in Northeast Philadelphia
. Other wrestlers on the card included King Kaluha, Larry Winters
, The Cheetah Kid
and Jules Strongbow
. At the end of the year, he began teaming with David Casanova
as The Cream Team and, on December 17, they faced The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton
& Robert Gibson
) for the Virginia Wrestling Association tag team titles. Successful on the Mid-Atlantic indy circuit, they wrestled The Brothers Superior (Superior & Neil Superior) in a match to crown the first NWL Tag Team Champions
in 1989.
where they became one of the promotion's earliest stars. They appeared at the MEWF's debut show where, on August 2, 1991, they battled the Lords of Pain (Pain
& Agony
) for the MEWF Tag Team Championship
. Although losing the match, they managed to win the titles two months later when they defeated Agony and Bubba Monroe, substituting for an injured Agony, in Dunbolt, Maryland on December 21, 1991. That same month, after more then three years as champions, the Cream Team lost the AWF Tag Team titles to the Hellhounds in York, Pennsylvania
.
Sawyer and Casanova would defend the MEWF belts for nearly a year before leaving the promotion for Eastern Championship Wrestling in the Fall of 1992. Also that year, the team became the first-ever tag team champions for Atlantic Coast Wrestling Federation. Prior to this, Sawyer became friends with future ECW star Hack Myers. According to Myers, it was Sawyer who gave him the idea to grow his trademark beard to resemble Danzig
.
& H.D. Ryder) at The Aztec Club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On October 3, they teamed with Glen Osbourne
in a six-man tag team match to defeat Max Thrasher and The Super Destroyers
(Doug Stahl
& A.J. Petrucci
) at the Taber Youth Association. Weeks later at Philadelphia's The Chestnut Cabaret
, Sawyer and Cassanova challenged The Super Destroyers for the ECW Tag Team Championship
but failed to win the belts.
Going their separate ways, Casanova returned to MEWF while Sawyer spent the rest of his career in various independents. A year later, he tried his luck in American Commonwealth Wrestling. He wrestled fellow MEWF veteran Max Thrasher on June 11, 1993, and Rick "The Model" Martel
in East York, Pennsylvania
two months later. He eventually won the promotion's heavyweight title and held it until March 26, 1994. Shortly before ACW closed, Sawyer lost to Chris Benoit
in Cocolamus, Pennsylvania on April 22, 1994. In one of his last matches, Sawyer teamed with Rip Rogers
in a tag team match against The Nasty Boys
(Brian Knobbs
& Jerry Sags
) at WCW Saturday Night
on February 18, 1995.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional wrestler who competed in the Mid-Atlantic and East Coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
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...
during the late 1980s and early 1990s. As one-half of The Cream Team with longtime tag team partner Dino Casanova
David DiMeglio
David Mark DiMeglio was an American professional wrestler, best known by his ring name Dino Casanova, who competed in Northeastern independent promotions including the National Wrestling Alliance, Extreme Championship Wrestling and the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation, most notably as one half of...
, they won the MEWF Tag Team Championship
MEWF Tag Team Championship
This is a chronological list of MEWF tag team champions. The MEWF Tag Team Championship is the oldest championship title in the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation having been established when the Lords of Darkness defeated Cream Team at the MEWF's first show in Pasadena, Maryland on August 2, 1991...
in the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation
Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation
The Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation was a Mid-Atlantic independent professional wrestling promotion based in Essex, Maryland. Founded by promoter Dennis Wippercht and wrestler Tim "Lucifer" Burke in 1991, the MEWF was one of the leading independent promotions on the East Coast during the 1990s...
in 1991. Defending the title for over 10 months, they were the promotion's longest reigning champions.
The team also had short stints in Eastern Championship Wrestling and the National Wrestling League
National Wrestling League
The National Wrestling League, headquartered out of Hagerstown, Maryland, was founded by Dick Caricofe in 1988, and has held professional wrestling events throughout the US and overseas in Guam, Saipan, Pohnpei, Hawaiian Islands, Palau, and the Marshall Islands...
. Prior to his retirement in 1995, Sawyer briefly appeared in World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
with Rip Rogers
Rip Rogers
Mark Sciarra whose professional name is Rip Rogers is a former professional wrestler and trainer for Ohio Valley Wrestling. He is currently a trainer for Derby City Wrestling in Louisville, Kentucky.-Career:...
.
Early career (1988-1990)
Making his debut around 1988, Rip Sawyer spent his early career in the Philadelphia area. In May 1988, they defeated International World Class Championship WrestlingInternational World Class Championship Wrestling
International World Class Championship Wrestling was an independent professional wrestling promotion based in Boston, Massachusetts. It was promoted by Angelo Savoldi and his sons Mario, Tom, and Joseph Savoldi....
's Billion Dollar Babies (G.Q. Stratus & Mike Sampson) in a tournament final to became the first tag team champions for Max Thrasher's Atlantic Wrestling Federation.
On August 27 of that year, he teamed with Diamond Dave in a tag team match against The Jersey Boys for a benefit show held at the Bavarian Club in Northeast Philadelphia
Northeast Philadelphia
Northeast Philadelphia, nicknamed Northeast Philly, the Northeast and the Great Northeast, is a section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. According to the 2000 Census, the Northeast has a sizable percentage of the city's 1.547 million people — a population of between 300,000 and 450,000,...
. Other wrestlers on the card included King Kaluha, Larry Winters
Larry Winters
"The Living Legend" Larry Winters is a semi-retired American professional wrestler and trainer who competed in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and East Coast independent circuit during the 1980s and 90s...
, The Cheetah Kid
Rocco Rock
Theodore James Petty was an American professional wrestler better known as "Flyboy" Rocco Rock, one half of The Public Enemy.-Career:...
and Jules Strongbow
Jules strongbow
Frank Hill is a former professional wrestler, who is best known for his tenure in World Wrestling Federation , where he used to wrestle as Chief Jules Strongbow or simply Jules Strongbow, the brother of Chief Jay Strongbow.-World Wrestling Federation :Jules made his wrestling debut in the 1970s...
. At the end of the year, he began teaming with David Casanova
David DiMeglio
David Mark DiMeglio was an American professional wrestler, best known by his ring name Dino Casanova, who competed in Northeastern independent promotions including the National Wrestling Alliance, Extreme Championship Wrestling and the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation, most notably as one half of...
as The Cream Team and, on December 17, they faced The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton
Ricky Morton
Richard Wendell "Ricky" Morton is an American professional wrestler who has worked for such wrestling organizations as Jim Crockett Promotions, the American Wrestling Association, Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, the World Wrestling Federation and Total Nonstop Action...
& Robert Gibson
Reuben Kane
Robert Gibson is a professional wrestler. He is famous as half of the tag team known as Rock 'N Roll Express, with Ricky Morton.-Early career:Cain started wrestling as Robert Gibson in 1977...
) for the Virginia Wrestling Association tag team titles. Successful on the Mid-Atlantic indy circuit, they wrestled The Brothers Superior (Superior & Neil Superior) in a match to crown the first NWL Tag Team Champions
NWL Tag Team Championship
The NWL Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team championship in the National Wrestling League promotion. The Brothers Superior defeated The Cream Team in Moorefield, West Virginia in 1989 to become the first champions...
in 1989.
Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation (1991-1992)
In early-1991, Sawyer and Casanova joined the Mid-Eastern Wrestling FederationMid-Eastern Wrestling Federation
The Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation was a Mid-Atlantic independent professional wrestling promotion based in Essex, Maryland. Founded by promoter Dennis Wippercht and wrestler Tim "Lucifer" Burke in 1991, the MEWF was one of the leading independent promotions on the East Coast during the 1990s...
where they became one of the promotion's earliest stars. They appeared at the MEWF's debut show where, on August 2, 1991, they battled the Lords of Pain (Pain
Duane Gill
Duane Gill is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his stint in the World Wrestling Federation as Gillberg, a parody of then-rival promotion World Championship Wrestling's top star Goldberg. During his tenure in the WWF, Gill became a one time Light Heavyweight Champion...
& Agony
Barry Hardy
Barry Hardy is an American professional wrestler and trainer who has competed in North American independent promotions since 1987, including East Coast Wrestling, Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation, the National Wrestling Alliance, New Millennium Wrestling and Larry Sharpe's World Wrestling...
) for the MEWF Tag Team Championship
MEWF Tag Team Championship
This is a chronological list of MEWF tag team champions. The MEWF Tag Team Championship is the oldest championship title in the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation having been established when the Lords of Darkness defeated Cream Team at the MEWF's first show in Pasadena, Maryland on August 2, 1991...
. Although losing the match, they managed to win the titles two months later when they defeated Agony and Bubba Monroe, substituting for an injured Agony, in Dunbolt, Maryland on December 21, 1991. That same month, after more then three years as champions, the Cream Team lost the AWF Tag Team titles to the Hellhounds in York, Pennsylvania
York, Pennsylvania
York, known as the White Rose City , is a city located in York County, Pennsylvania, United States which is in the South Central region of the state. The population within the city limits was 43,718 at the 2010 census, which was a 7.0% increase from the 2000 count of 40,862...
.
Sawyer and Casanova would defend the MEWF belts for nearly a year before leaving the promotion for Eastern Championship Wrestling in the Fall of 1992. Also that year, the team became the first-ever tag team champions for Atlantic Coast Wrestling Federation. Prior to this, Sawyer became friends with future ECW star Hack Myers. According to Myers, it was Sawyer who gave him the idea to grow his trademark beard to resemble Danzig
Danzig (band)
Danzig is an American heavy metal band, formed in 1987 in Lodi, New Jersey. The band serves as a musical outlet for the singer/songwriter Glenn Danzig. Danzig can be seen as the third stage in Glenn Danzig's musical career, preceded by the horror punk bands The Misfits and Samhain...
.
Eastern Championship Wrestling (1992)
On September 12, 1992, The Cream Team made their ECW debut defeating The Hell Riders (E.Z. RyderBay Ragni
Bay Ragni is an American professional wrestler and former promoter, also known by his ring name Chubby Dudley.-Independent circuit:Ragni trained in Philadelphia under the Tri-State Wrestling Alliance's Larry Winters and Jimmy Jannetty. He debuted in Eastern Championship Wrestling, the forerunner to...
& H.D. Ryder) at The Aztec Club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On October 3, they teamed with Glen Osbourne
Glen Osbourne
Glen Osbourne is an American professional wrestler, perhaps best known for his appearances with Eastern Championship Wrestling in the early 1990s, where he was the youngest holder of the ECW World Television Championship...
in a six-man tag team match to defeat Max Thrasher and The Super Destroyers
The Super Destroyers
The Super Destroyers is a Professional wrestling Tag team consisting of Doug Stahl and A.J. Petrucci. They both currently perform on Independent circuit and they are best known for their stint in NWA Eastern Championship Wrestling where they were the first-ever and longest reigning tag team...
(Doug Stahl
Doug Stahl
Douglas E. Stahl is an American professional wrestler who currently works in the Independent circuit as one half of the masked Tag team known as The Super Destroyers...
& A.J. Petrucci
A.J. Petrucci
A. J. Petrucci is an American professional wrestler. He was one half of the Extreme Championship Wrestling tag team The Super Destroyers as Super Destroyer #1 with his partner Doug Stahl, who was known as Super Destroyer #2....
) at the Taber Youth Association. Weeks later at Philadelphia's The Chestnut Cabaret
The Chestnut Cabaret
thumb|[[Exene Cervenka]] performing with [[X |X]] at the Chestnut Cabaret in 1986The Chestnut Cabaret was a nightclub in Philadelphia...
, Sawyer and Cassanova challenged The Super Destroyers for the ECW Tag Team Championship
ECW Tag Team Championship
The Extreme Championship Wrestling World Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship in Extreme Championship Wrestling...
but failed to win the belts.
Independent circuit and retirement (1992-1994)
At the beginning of 1992, DiMeglio and Sawyer had regained the AWF Tag Team titles from the Hellhounds. The two men remained champions until their breakup in May 1993. DiMeglio and Nick Tarentino, as "The Goodfellows", defeated Rip Sawyer and A.J. Fritzoid for the belts in York that same month and held the belts until the promotion's close that same year.Going their separate ways, Casanova returned to MEWF while Sawyer spent the rest of his career in various independents. A year later, he tried his luck in American Commonwealth Wrestling. He wrestled fellow MEWF veteran Max Thrasher on June 11, 1993, and Rick "The Model" Martel
Rick Martel
Richard Vigneault is a retired Canadian professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation between 1980 and 1995 under the ring name Rick Martel...
in East York, Pennsylvania
East York, Pennsylvania
East York is a census-designated place in York County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,777 at the 2010 census.-Geography:East York is located within Springettsbury Township at...
two months later. He eventually won the promotion's heavyweight title and held it until March 26, 1994. Shortly before ACW closed, Sawyer lost to Chris Benoit
Chris Benoit
Christopher Michael "Chris" Benoit was a Canadian professional wrestler whose career and life ended in a murder–suicide...
in Cocolamus, Pennsylvania on April 22, 1994. In one of his last matches, Sawyer teamed with Rip Rogers
Rip Rogers
Mark Sciarra whose professional name is Rip Rogers is a former professional wrestler and trainer for Ohio Valley Wrestling. He is currently a trainer for Derby City Wrestling in Louisville, Kentucky.-Career:...
in a tag team match against The Nasty Boys
The Nasty Boys
The Nasty Boys are a professional wrestling tag team consisting of Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags, active from the mid to late 1980s and throughout the 1990s. Their gimmick was that of anti-social punks who specialized in hardcore wrestling and brawling...
(Brian Knobbs
Brian Knobbs
Brian Yandrisovitz , better known as Brian Knobbs, is an American professional wrestler, best known as one half of the tag team The Nasty Boys along with Jerry Sags.-The Nasty Boys:...
& Jerry Sags
Jerry Sags
Jerome Saganovich is an American professional wrestler best known as Jerry Sags. He is one half of the tag team The Nasty Boys along with Brian Knobbs.-Career:...
) at WCW Saturday Night
WCW Saturday Night
WCW Saturday Night was a weekly Saturday night TV show on TBS produced by World Championship Wrestling. The program existed through various incarnations under different names before becoming WCW Saturday Night in 1992...
on February 18, 1995.
Championships and accomplishments
- American Commonwealth Wrestling
- ACW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Atlantic Coast Wrestling Federation
- ACWF Tag Team Championship (1 time, first) with David CasanovaDavid DiMeglioDavid Mark DiMeglio was an American professional wrestler, best known by his ring name Dino Casanova, who competed in Northeastern independent promotions including the National Wrestling Alliance, Extreme Championship Wrestling and the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation, most notably as one half of...
- Atlantic States Wrestling Alliance
- ASWA Tag Team Championship (2 times, first) - with David CasanovaDavid DiMeglioDavid Mark DiMeglio was an American professional wrestler, best known by his ring name Dino Casanova, who competed in Northeastern independent promotions including the National Wrestling Alliance, Extreme Championship Wrestling and the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation, most notably as one half of...
- ASWA Tag Team Championship (2 times, first) - with David Casanova
- Atlantic Wrestling Federation
- AWF Tag Team Championship (1 time, first) with David CasanovaDavid DiMeglioDavid Mark DiMeglio was an American professional wrestler, best known by his ring name Dino Casanova, who competed in Northeastern independent promotions including the National Wrestling Alliance, Extreme Championship Wrestling and the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation, most notably as one half of...
- Mid-Eastern Wrestling FederationMid-Eastern Wrestling FederationThe Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation was a Mid-Atlantic independent professional wrestling promotion based in Essex, Maryland. Founded by promoter Dennis Wippercht and wrestler Tim "Lucifer" Burke in 1991, the MEWF was one of the leading independent promotions on the East Coast during the 1990s...
- MEWF Tag Team ChampionshipMEWF Tag Team ChampionshipThis is a chronological list of MEWF tag team champions. The MEWF Tag Team Championship is the oldest championship title in the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation having been established when the Lords of Darkness defeated Cream Team at the MEWF's first show in Pasadena, Maryland on August 2, 1991...
(1 time) with David CasanovaDavid DiMeglioDavid Mark DiMeglio was an American professional wrestler, best known by his ring name Dino Casanova, who competed in Northeastern independent promotions including the National Wrestling Alliance, Extreme Championship Wrestling and the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation, most notably as one half of...
- Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
- PWI ranked him # 389 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1994
- Universal Independent Wrestling
- UIW Tag Team Championship (1 time, first) with David CasanovaDavid DiMeglioDavid Mark DiMeglio was an American professional wrestler, best known by his ring name Dino Casanova, who competed in Northeastern independent promotions including the National Wrestling Alliance, Extreme Championship Wrestling and the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation, most notably as one half of...
- Wrestling Independent Network
- WIN Tag Team Championship (1 time, first) with David CasanovaDavid DiMeglioDavid Mark DiMeglio was an American professional wrestler, best known by his ring name Dino Casanova, who competed in Northeastern independent promotions including the National Wrestling Alliance, Extreme Championship Wrestling and the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation, most notably as one half of...
External links
- Rip Sawyer at Cagematch.net
- Rip Sawyer at ProFightDB.com