Big Time Wrestling show results
March 27, 2009
Danbury, Conn.
Report by Jeff Bradley, PWTorch.com reader

Big Time Wrestling held "Danbury Mania" on Friday, March 27 at the Danbury Arena in Danbury, Connecticut.

The main attraction of the night was "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, who was on-hand to second his son, referee the main event, and appear for photos and autographs prior to the show.

I arrived at the arena with my friends around 5:30 pm. The photo/autograph session with Flair was scheduled from 6-8 p.m. When we arrived, there were roughly 150-200 waiting in line for Flair. We checked out the concessions and merchandise before getting in line. I picked up a cool Midnight Express 25th Anniversary scrapbook at the Highspots.com table, which was written by Jim Cornette and Tim Ash. It is a great collection of results, pictures, notes, and backstage info.

Around 7:20 p.m., it was our turn to meet Flair. Pictures were first. I approached Flair, who pulled out his phone to check his text messages (which he did often) and shook his hand. He was nice enough to pose for two pictures with me and pat me on the back and send me on my way back into the autograph line. As I was now waiting in the autograph line, Johnny Ace appeared. Flair was excited to see him and stopped to hug him and talk for a couple of minutes. As my turn for the autograph approached I was trying to think of what to talk to him about. Surely he is tired of talking wrestling. I came up with something I think he may like.

I approach him as he is texting, and say hello. I then ask him what he thinks of Lane Kiffin taking over as head football coach of the University of Tennessee, the hated rival of his beloved Florida Gators. He said he is doing a nice recruiting job. I told him I agree but he is causing a lot of trouble and talking a lot of trash. Flair asked me why I think that is the case. I told him I am not sure, but most likely to get his name and Tennessee's name out there, as any publicity is good. Flair nodded, as our conversation was now longer than any he had had to that point today. He then continued on, "no matter how good Kiffin does, he will only be at best the second best coach in Tennessee history." I asked him who was #1, Phil Fullmer? Flair shot me an "are you stupid look?" and "Pat Summitt!" I told him I thought we were talking strictly football here as he continued on about how great (women's basketball coach) Pat Summitt is. I agreed and mentioned her 1,000 wins. Just as he started to respond about that, security started to make their way to break us up. So I moved on and let others have their time after shaking Flair's hand again.

On to the show, which started a little later than the 8:15 p.m. scheduled time, likely due to the long line for Flair that remained when my friends and I left it around 7:40 p.m. There were easily another 200-300 people behind us.

(1) "Sweet" Scott Ashworth defeated Gino Martino by pinfall. The opening bout had good heat as the crowd was ready for action. Martino got a lot of "you're not Kozlov" chants as his main offense came from a number of head related moves. Ashworth was an energetic wrestler who reminded me of ECWA's Mr. Ooh La La. Martino went for a pinfall while holding the ropes. The ref told him to break it up, and as he was, Ashworth cradled him for the pin.

(2) Slyck Wagner Brown defeated Eddie Edwards with a sharpshooter in the best match of the night. Crowd continued to stay into the action as the two traded a number of near falls.
Bob Backlund came to the ring to cut a promo. He was maybe 15 words in when the crowd started booing him. Backlund went off as the kids in the crowd rushed the guardrails to yell insults at him. For the next 15 minutes, Backlund marched around the ring, into the crowd, to the locker room, back to the ring, back into the crowd, etc. like the lunatic he is. Without saying any more words, he had the crowd hating him non stop for those 15 minutes before he finally gave the ring announcer the chicken wing and left.

(3) Tito Santana & The Danbury Ice Man defeated Rhythm and Blues (Honky Tonk Man & Greg "The Hammer" Valentine). Before the match, Honky asked for his music to be played again and proceeded to "sing" the entire song while he and Valentine danced. As a note, earlier in the night I saw Honky and Valentine arriving. Neither seemed very happy to be there. But once the action started, Honky seemed to be putting in an honest day's work. Valentine did too, but he still did not appear happy to be there.

(4) - Reid Flair (w/Ric Flair) defeated Antoine Roy of The French Connection (w/Roberto Rush). Flair stayed out of the action in this match and let his son handle both Roy and Rush. Flair ended up winning with the figure four. Flair showed a lot of potential and was already better than most indy workers would be at his stage in the game. At this point, he doesn't seem to be showing much personality, as he's a down-to-business, serious wrestler.

After the match, Ric Flair cut a promo about loving Connecticut, but hoping the women's basketball team does not continue to win. (Could my Pat Summitt conversation have inspired this?) John Cena Sr., Big Rick Fuller, and "Hurricane" John Walters came to the ring to confront Flair. Cena told Flair that due to the injuries Chris Jericho inflicted on him Monday night, Flair is not medically cleared to wrestle. And if you are not cleared to wrestle, you are not cleared to referee. Flair told Cena that he loved his (Cena's) son dearly, but he does not like him. He said he and his friends will get revenge on Jericho at WrestleMania and he WILL in fact referee later tonight. Cena pulled out the contract showing that Flair definitely would not be able to referee later.

(5) Shockwave the Robot defeated A.J. Mitrano by pinfall. Shockwave is a unique character I can honestly say I have not seen on the indies before. His gear is completely silver with flashing robotic lights, and he moves in a robotic fashion (most of the time). It was unique, therefore entertaining.

(6) Justin Credible & Spike Dudley (promoted as Brother Runt, introduced and referred to as Spike Dudley) & Eddy Delfonzo & Tony Delfonzo & Scott Ashworth & Malice defeated Big Rick Fuller & Benny Jux & Jack Maverick & Gino Martino & Mr. TA & Roberto Rush in a Danbury Dungeon of Doom Match (Weapons hanging above the ring). This was a weapons match using War Games rules. Of course, the heels won the coin toss. Mr. TA, Spike Dudley, and maybe one other were busted open, TA being the worst. TA was pinned when Spike came off the top of a ladder onto a table that was on top of TA. He and his five teammates covered him for the pin.

(7) BTW Heavyweight Champion "Hurricane" John Walters (w/John Cena Sr., Big Rick Fuller, and a female valet who's name I could not understand) defeated Jay Lethal by pinfall. Ric Flair came out before the match and said, "Decision reversed." He was cleared to referee the match. When Fuller tried to interfere, Flair sent him to the back. When the valet tried to interfere, Flair told her to get off the apron. As this was going on, Walters hit Lethal with the belt to score the pinfall.

BTW followed this show with a show in Chicopee, Mass. on Saturday headlined by Rhythm and Blues, among others. They had one in Webster, Mass. on Sunday with Ric Flair appearing once again to ref a John Walters vs. Justin Credible main event.

There were fliers at this show for a show at the Danbury Arena on June 20 that features an appearance by Rowdy Roddy Piper. Overall the show was very entertaining and worth every penny of the $75 I paid for a Super VIP ticket.

-Attendance was 1,687

-The valet in the main event was Miss Trust (GET IT? MIS-TRUST? I love indies!)

-Tito's partner was the Danbury Mad Hatters coach Dave McIsaac

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