Great Canadian Wrestling Explained

Great Canadian Wrestling
Acronym:GCW
Established:2005
Style:Professional wrestling
Location:Oshawa
Website:http://gcwe.ca/

Great Canadian Wrestling (GCW) is an independent professional wrestling promotion company based in Oshawa, Ontario.[1] GCW was founded in 2005 and promotes shows throughout Southern Ontario.[1] [2] The company also hosts since 2005 an annual Great Canadian Wrestling Expo that takes place over several days and brings together a large group of wrestlers. Currently, four championships are defended at GCW events.

GCW events featured a roster of wrestlers who compete regularly for the promotion as well as occasional appearances by wrestlers currently signed with major promotions. In addition, a group of "legends", or veteran wrestlers from other promotions, also would compete on occasion for GCW.

On February 18, 2009, GCW began an online broadcast titled GCWtv.[3]

In November 2015, GCW rebranded itself as Infinity Wrestling.

History

GCW gives out the Ontario Indy Wrestling Awards annually, which is eligible to all wrestling promotions and wrestlers who perform in Ontario.[4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

Wrestling Expo

Beginning in 2005, the promotion's first year, GCW has assembled a group of wrestlers from various promotions to compete in a multi-day event known as the Great Canadian Wrestling Expo.[9] The first Expo attracted 600 visitors and included merchandise sales from a wide variety of vendors, an auction, and opportunities to meet with the wrestlers for autographs and photographs. Ed the Sock was named commissioner for the event and proceeds from the weekend were donated to the Sick Kids Foundation.[10] In 2006, the event was combined with the 10th Annual Anime North Convention.[11] The event featured primarily traditional wrestling matches but also included gimmick matches such as one between wrestlers competing as the Green Power Ranger and the Red Power Ranger for leadership of the Power Rangers, as well as an encounter between Team Sailor Moon and Team Rocket.[11] This cross-promotional event attracted 11,286 paid attendees.[12] Since 2006, GCW has continued to promote a series of shows along with Anime North.[13] [14]

Wrestlers

Although GCW promotes matches with many wrestlers who have not appeared in major promotions, the organization also has an agreement with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) that facilitates events titled TNmAyhem, in which wrestlers from TNA compete. The first of these cards took place on May 24, 2007, and features appearances by such wrestlers as Raven, Christopher Daniels, and A.J. Styles.[15] GCW events also feature wrestlers who have gained fame in major American promotions, such as Billy Gunn,[16] The Honky Tonk Man,[17] and Koko B. Ware.[18]

Roster

GCW had a regular group of wrestlers that competed for the promotion; this includes both male and female wrestlers. In addition, many wrestlers made sporadic appearances for the company. On the company roster, GCW divides these occasional performers into two groups: legends (longtime wrestlers, many of whom are semi-retired) and superstars (wrestlers who currently compete, or have recently competed, for major promotions).

Regular roster

GCW's regular roster consisted of wrestlers who competed for the promotion on a regular basis:[19]

valign=top
  • Akira Raijin
  • Andrew Davis
  • Asylum
  • Black Serpent
  • Brad Freakin Martin
  • Bruno Davis
  • Bryan Youngblood
  • Cody 45
valign=top valign=top valign=top
  • Rico Montana
  • Sebastian Suave
  • Sombra
  • Steve Brown
  • Tiger Star
  • Tyler Tirva
  • Xtremo

W.I.L.D. Division

The W.I.L.D. Division consisted of GCW's female wrestlers:[20]

valign=top valign=top

Championships

GCW National Championship

The GCW National Championship was a professional wrestling championship that serves as the major championship for Great Canadian Wrestling.

width=20%Wrestler:width=0% Times:width=17%Date:width=20%Location:Notes:
Michael Elgin1Oshawa, Ontario
TJ Wilson1Oshawa, Ontario
Michael Elgin2Oshawa, Ontario
Johnny Devine1Oshawa, Ontario
Jake O'Reilly1Oshawa, Ontario
Otis Idol1Oshawa, Ontario
Jake O'Reilly2Oshawa, Ontario
Hayden Avery1Oshawa, Ontario
RJ City1Oshawa, Ontario
Jaxon Jarvis1?Oshawa, Ontario
Zakk Atticus 1Oshawa, Ontario
Jaxon Jarvis2Oshawa, Ontario
Steve Brown1??Oshawa, Ontario
Oshawa, Ontario

GCW Interim Heavyweight Championship

In 2007, GCW National Champion Jake O'Reilly was injured but unwilling to vacate his title. As a result, an eight-man tournament was held to determine the first holder of the newly created GCW Interim Heavyweight Championship. O'Reilly, still holding his National Championship, returned in February 2008, and the two titles were unified when Otis Idol defeated O'Reilly in October 2008.[21]

width=20%Wrestler:width=0% Times:width=17%Date:width=20%Location:Notes:
Phil Atlas1Oshawa, Ontario
Otis Idol1Oshawa, Ontario
Oshawa, Ontario

GCW Ontario Independent Championship

The GCW Ontario Independent Championship is a secondary title in the Great Canadian Wrestling promotion. It was created in May 2006, and a four-man tournament was held to determine the initial champion.[22]

width=20%Wrestler:width=0% Times:width=17%Date:width=20%Location:Notes:
Jimmy Jacobs1Oshawa, Ontario
Kris Chambers1Oshawa, Ontario
Jake O'Reilly1Oshawa, Ontario
Hayden Avery1Oshawa, Ontario
Cody Deaner1Oshawa, Ontario
Hayden the Destroyer
2Oshawa, Ontario
Cody 451Oshawa, Ontario
Xtremo1Oshawa, Ontario
Phil Atlas1Oshawa, Ontario
Brad 'Freakin' Martin1Oshawa, Ontario
Tiger Star1Oshawa, Ontario
RJ City1Oshawa, Ontario
Rico Montana1Oshawa, Ontario
VacatedOshawa, Ontario
Cody Deaner2Oshawa, Ontario

GCW Tag Team Championship

The GCW Tag Team Championship was a championship that serves as the major tag team championship in the Great Canadian Wrestling promotion.

No.WrestlerReignDateDays
held
LocationEventNotesRef.
1The Beverly Hills Gangstas
1Oshawa, OntarioGCWDefeated The Lunatics (Crazzy Steve & Gutter) in the finals of an eight-team tournament at Final War.[23] [24]
2The Lunatics
1Oshawa, OntarioGCW Last ChanceCrazzy Steve defeated Cody 45 in a one-on-one title match at Last Chance[25]
3Jake O'Reilly & Michael Elgin1Oshawa, OntarioGCW Season's BeatingsDefeated Lunatics (Crazzy Steve and Gutter) at Season's Beatings; on January 12, 2007, Jake O'Reilly attacked Michael Eligin, thus vacating the title.[26]
VacatedOshawa, Ontario
4Michael Elgin & Havok1Oshawa, OntarioGCW Canadian InvasionDefeated Jake O'Reilly & Joe Doering, but Havok dropped the title at Ugandan Invasion[27]
5Michael Elgin & Derek Wylde1Oshawa, OntarioDerek Wylde accepted Michael Elgin's invitation to become co-holder of the Tag Team Championships at VeniVidi! Vici Jake O'Reilly & Crazzy Steve defeated Michael Elgin & Derek Wylde at Anarchy in Angus but the decision was reversed[28]
6Hayden Avery & Cody Deaner1Oshawa, OntarioGCW Beyond The LimitDefeated Derek Wylde & Andrew Davis (substituting in for the injured Michael Elgin) at Beyond the Limit[29]
7The Flatliners
1Oshawa, OntarioGCW GenesisDefeated Hayden Avery & Cody Deaner at Genesis 11:25:07[30]
82Oshawa, OntarioGCW 2nd Anniversary Show: Game OverDefeated The Flatliners in a Tag Team Cage Match at Game Over[31]
9The House of Virtue
1Oshawa, OntarioGCW Random Acts Of Violence 2008Defeated Hayden Avery & Cody Deaner at Random Acts of Violence[32]
10The ProStars
1Oshawa, OntarioGCW Veni! VidiVici!Defeated The House of Virtue at VeniVidi! Vici[33]
11Cody 45 (2) & Ashley Six1Oshawa, OntarioGCW Final WarDefeated The ProStars, Josh Alexander and Tyler Tirva at Final War 09[34]
12Michael Elgin (4) & Ashley Six (2)1Oshawa, Ontario
Oshawa, Ontario

GCW WILD Championship

The GCW WILD Championship is a professional wrestling championship that serves as the major women's championship in the Great Canadian Wrestling promotion.

width=0%width=21%Wrestlerwidth=0% Reignwidth=15%Datewidth=5%Days
held
width=13%Locationwidth=15%Eventwidth=54% class="unsortable"Notes
1Sirelda1Oshawa, OntarioW.I.L.D. Tournament 2006Sirelda defeated Nattie Neidhart in the finals of an 8–woman tournament to become the inaugural champion.[35]
2Miss Danyah1Oshawa, OntarioUgandan Invasion
3April Hunter1Oshawa, OntarioVeni! VidiVici!
4Cherry Bomb1Oshawa, OntarioAnarchy in AngusThis was a fatal four–way, also involving Hailey Rogers and Miss Danyah.
5Miss Danyah2Oshawa, OntarioRandom Acts of Violence
6Portia Perez1Oshawa, OntarioW.I.L.D. Tournament 2007Portia Perez defeated LuFisto in the finals of an 8–woman tournament.
7Miss Danyah3Oshawa, OntarioFinal Night
8Deanna Conda1Oshawa, OntarioW.I.L.D. '08 - SupershowDeanna Conda defeated Jamie D in the finals of an 8–woman tournament.
9PJ Tyler1117 Oshawa, OntarioW.I.L.D. '09 - ShowdownPJ Tyler defeated Deanna Conda in the finals of an 8–woman tournament.
10Anthony Darko1Oshawa, OntarioGCW 100
11Skylar Rose1?Oshawa, Ontario
12Kaitlin Diemond1Oshawa, Ontario
13Skylar Rose2?Oshawa, Ontario
14Beautiful Beaa1Oshawa, Ontario

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Company Overview. Great Canadian Wrestling. 2009-04-01.
  2. Web site: Press Room. Great Canadian Wrestling. 2009-04-01.
  3. Web site: Indy News #1: February 10. WrestleView. 2009-02-10. 2009-04-02. Adam. Martin.
  4. Web site: Awards Overview « Awards Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database. www.cagematch.net.
  5. Web site: The 2009 Ontario Indy Wrestling Awards - OWW. https://archive.today/20170826001201/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/2009-ontario-indy-awards/. 26 August 2017. dead. January 20, 2010.
  6. Web site: Best in Ontario to be honoured this Saturday. https://archive.today/20180812120835/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2010/01/07/12376741.html. dead. August 12, 2018. canoe.com.
  7. Web site: Indy News #5: January 7 (Awards). https://archive.today/20180812121536/http://www.wrestleview.com/indy-news/2450-indy-news-5-january-7-awards/amp/. 12 August 2018. dead. Adam. Martin. January 7, 2010.
  8. Web site: Indy News #2: January 4 (Indy award). https://archive.today/20180812121609/http://www.wrestleview.com/indy-news/2560-indy-news-2-january-4-indy-award/amp/. 12 August 2018. dead. Adam. Martin. January 4, 2010.
  9. Web site: Johnny. Devine. A great Canadian wrestling weekend!. https://archive.today/20130115083050/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2005/11/11/1314428.html. usurped. January 15, 2013. SLAM! Wrestling. 2005-11-11. 2009-04-01.
  10. Web site: Oshawa Expo off and running. SLAM! Wrestling. https://archive.today/20120713201533/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2005/11/05/1293936.html. usurped. July 13, 2012. Andy. McNamara. 2005-11-05. 2009-04-02.
  11. Web site: Elmo, Power Rangers, Sailor Moon: An animated show. https://archive.today/20120714165529/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2006/05/29/1603597.html. usurped. July 14, 2012. 2006-05-29. Andy. McNamara. 2009-04-01. SLAM! Wrestling.
  12. Web site: Anime North 2006 Information. 2009-04-01. AnimeCons.com.
  13. Web site: Extreme Anime 2007: May 25, 2007. Great Canadian Wrestling. 2009-04-02.
  14. Web site: Anime North: Day 1. Great Canadian Wrestling. 2009-04-02.
  15. Web site: TNmAyhem: May 24, 2007. Great Canadian Wrestling. 2009-04-02.
  16. Web site: WrestleView. Pure Wrestling Association/All Canadian Wrestling reports + 3/20 GCW. Adam. Martin. 2008-03-17. 2009-04-01.
  17. Web site: Honky Tonk Man to shake, rattle and roll into Lindsay. The Lindsay Post. 2009-04-02.
  18. Web site: Koko B Ware puts on a show. The Oshawa Express. 2009-04-03. Wally. Donaldson. https://web.archive.org/web/20110706192738/http://www.oshawaexpress.ca/story1245.html. 2011-07-06. dead.
  19. Web site: Singles Division. Great Canadian Wrestling. 2009-04-04.
  20. Web site: W.I.L.D. Division. Great Canadian Wrestling. 2009-04-04.
  21. Web site: GCW Interim Heavyweight Championship. Great Canadian Wrestling. 2009-04-02.
  22. Web site: GCW Ontario Independent Championship. Great Canadian Wrestling. 2009-04-02.
  23. Web site: GCW Tag Team Championship. Great Canadian Wrestling. 2009-04-04.
  24. Web site: GCW - Event @ Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Philip. Kreikenbohm. Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. August 30, 2006. February 7, 2021.
  25. Web site: GCW Last Chance - Event @ Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Philip. Kreikenbohm. Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. September 15, 2006. February 7, 2021.
  26. Web site: GCW Season's Beatings - Event @ Canadian Legion Hall in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Philip. Kreikenbohm. Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. December 28, 2006. February 7, 2021.
  27. Web site: GCW Canadian Invasion - Event @ Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Philip. Kreikenbohm. Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. March 23, 2007. February 7, 2021.
  28. Web site: GCW Anarchy In Angus - Event @ Essa Recreational Complex in Angus, Ontario, Canada. Philip. Kreikenbohm. Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. April 14, 2007. February 7, 2021.
  29. Web site: GCW Beyond The Limit - Event @ Royal Canadian Legion in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Philip. Kreikenbohm. Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. July 13, 2007. February 7, 2021.
  30. Web site: GCW Genesis - Event @ Royal Canadian Legion in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Philip. Kreikenbohm. Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. November 25, 2007. February 7, 2021.
  31. Web site: GCW 2nd Anniversary Show: Game Over - Event @ Royal Canadian Legion in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Philip. Kreikenbohm. Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. April 10, 2008. February 7, 2021.
  32. Web site: GCW Random Acts Of Violence 2008 - Event @ Royal Canadian Legion in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Philip. Kreikenbohm. Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. June 13, 2008. February 7, 2021.
  33. Web site: GCW Veni! Vidi! Vici! - Event @ Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Philip. Kreikenbohm. Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. April 19, 2009. February 7, 2021.
  34. Web site: GCW Final War - Event @ Royal Canadian Legion Hall in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Philip. Kreikenbohm. Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. September 18, 2009. February 7, 2021.
  35. Web site: GCW W.I.L.D. Championship. Great Canadian Wrestling. 2009-04-04.