Great Canadian Wrestling

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.

Great Canadian Wrestling
AcronymGCW
Founded2005
StyleProfessional wrestling
HeadquartersOshawa
Websitehttp://gcwe.ca/

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

WWE wrestler A.J. Styles made appearances for GCW.

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]

  • Akira Raijin
  • Andrew Davis
  • Asylum
  • Black Serpent
  • Brad Freakin Martin
  • Bruno Davis
  • Bryan Youngblood
  • Cody 45
  • 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]

Championships

GCW National Championship

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

Wrestler:Times:Date:Location:Notes:
Michael Elgin1April 13, 2006Oshawa, OntarioWon a Ladder Match at Reach for the Gold[21]
TJ Wilson1May 25, 2006Oshawa, OntarioDefeated Michael Elgin and Shark Boy in a Triple Threat at Battleground Zero[21]
Michael Elgin2May 27, 2006Oshawa, OntarioDefeated TJ Wilson in a Tag Match at Anime North
Johnny Devine defeated Jake O'Reilly in a Lumberjack match at Breaking Point but it was ruled a DQ by CEO Jamie Virtue.[21]
Johnny Devine1September 15, 2006Oshawa, OntarioDefeated Michael Elgin in a Cage Match at Last Chance[21]
Jake O'Reilly1July 13, 2007Oshawa, OntarioDefeated Havok in a Dog Collar Match at Beyond the Limit
Jake O'Reilly is seriously injured in September 2007 but refuses to vacate. In February 2008 Jake O'Reilly returned to competition, still holding the title.[21]
Otis Idol1October 9, 2008Oshawa, OntarioDefeated Jake O'Reilly in a No-Holds-Barred Bunkhouse Brawl at Hair vs. Hair![21]
Jake O'Reilly2April 19, 2009Oshawa, OntarioAs the masked Sterling Silver, defeated Otis Idol at Veni! Vidi! Vici![21]
Hayden Avery1February 20, 2010Oshawa, Ontario
RJ City1September 10, 2010Oshawa, Ontario
Jaxon Jarvis1?Oshawa, Ontario
Zakk Atticus1January 8, 2015Oshawa, Ontario
Jaxon Jarvis2January 8, 2015Oshawa, Ontario
Steve Brown1??Oshawa, Ontario
DeactivatedOshawa, 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.[22]

Wrestler:Times:Date:Location:Notes:
Phil Atlas1December 28, 2007Oshawa, OntarioDefeated Cody Deaner in the finals of an 8-Man Tournament at Season's Beatings[22]
Otis Idol1February 21, 2008Oshawa, OntarioDefeated Phil Atlas in a Last Man Standing match at Cabin Fever; title unified with the National Championship in October 2008[22]
DeactivatedOshawa, Ontariotitle unified with the National Championship in October 2008[22]

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.[23]

Wrestler:Times:Date:Location:Notes:
Jimmy Jacobs1May 25, 2006Oshawa, OntarioDefeated Ash in the finals of a 4-man Tournament at Battleground Zero[23]
Kris Chambers1June 8, 2006Oshawa, OntarioDefeated Jimmy Jacobs at Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal[23]
Jake O'Reilly1August 30, 2006Oshawa, OntarioDefeated Kris Chambers at Final War'[23]
Hayden Avery1November 18, 2006Oshawa, OntarioDefeated Michael Elgin (substitute for Jake O'Reilly) at Stampede Showdown[23]
Cody Deaner1November 18, 2006Oshawa, OntarioDefeated Hayden Avery at Stampede Showdown[23]
Hayden the Destroyer
(Hayden Avery)
2March 23, 2007Oshawa, OntarioDefeated Cody Deaner at Ugandan Invasion[23]
Cody 451June 22, 2007Oshawa, OntarioDefeated Hayden the Destroyer at Random Acts of Violence[23]
Xtremo1October 19, 2007Oshawa, OntarioDefeated Cody 45 in a 'Loser Leaves GCW' match at Fright Nite[23]
Phil Atlas1March 20, 2008Oshawa, OntarioWon a 5-way match at TNmAyhem[23]
Brad 'Freakin' Martin1April 10, 2008Oshawa, OntarioDefeated Phil Atlas and Xtremo in a 3-Way match at Game Over[23]
Tiger Star1January 7, 2009Oshawa, OntarioDefeated Brad 'Freakin' Martin and Hayden Avery in a 3-Way match at New Year's Evil[23]
RJ City1April 19, 2009Oshawa, OntarioDefeated Tiger Star at Veni! Vidi! Vici![23]
Rico Montana1May 17, 2009Oshawa, Ontario cashed in his title shot he earned in 2008's GCW Holiday Rumble and defeated RJ City[23]
VacatedDecember 27, 2010Oshawa, OntarioTitle was held up
Cody Deaner2December 27, 2010Oshawa, 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
(Cody 45 & Tarantula Gomez)
1August 30, 200616Oshawa, OntarioGCWDefeated The Lunatics (Crazzy Steve & Gutter) in the finals of an eight-team tournament at Final War.[24][25]
2The Lunatics
(Crazzy Steve & Gutter)
1September 15, 2006104Oshawa, OntarioGCW Last ChanceCrazzy Steve defeated Cody 45 in a one-on-one title match at Last Chance[26]
3Jake O'Reilly & Michael Elgin1December 28, 200615Oshawa, 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.[27]
VacatedJanuary 12, 2007Oshawa, OntarioTitle was held up
4Michael Elgin (2) & Havok1March 23, 200721Oshawa, OntarioGCW Canadian InvasionDefeated Jake O'Reilly & Joe Doering, but Havok dropped the title at Ugandan Invasion[28]
5Michael Elgin (3) & Derek Wylde1April 13, 200791Oshawa, OntarioDerek Wylde accepted Michael Elgin's invitation to become co-holder of the Tag Team Championships at Veni! Vidi! Vici! Jake O'Reilly & Crazzy Steve defeated Michael Elgin & Derek Wylde at Anarchy in Angus but the decision was reversed[29]
6Hayden Avery & Cody Deaner1July 13, 2007135Oshawa, OntarioGCW Beyond The LimitDefeated Derek Wylde & Andrew Davis (substituting in for the injured Michael Elgin) at Beyond the Limit[30]
7The Flatliners
(Asylum & Matt Burns)
1November 25, 2007137Oshawa, OntarioGCW GenesisDefeated Hayden Avery & Cody Deaner at Genesis 11:25:07[31]
8Hayden Avery (2) & Cody Deaner (2)2April 10, 200864Oshawa, OntarioGCW 2nd Anniversary Show: Game OverDefeated The Flatliners in a Tag Team Cage Match at Game Over[32]
9The House of Virtue
(Andrew Davis & Sebastian Suave)
1June 13, 2008310Oshawa, OntarioGCW Random Acts Of Violence 2008Defeated Hayden Avery & Cody Deaner at Random Acts of Violence[33]
10The ProStars
(Josh Alexander & Tyler Tirva)
1April 19, 2009152Oshawa, OntarioGCW Veni! Vidi! Vici!Defeated The House of Virtue at Veni! Vidi! Vici![34]
11Cody 45 (2) & Ashley Six1September 18, 2009386Oshawa, OntarioGCW Final WarDefeated The ProStars, Josh Alexander and Tyler Tirva at Final War 09[35]
12Michael Elgin (4) & Ashley Six (2)1October 9, 2010Oshawa, Ontario
DeactivatedOshawa, 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.

#WrestlerReignDateDays
held
LocationEventNotes
1Sirelda1November 18, 2006125Oshawa, OntarioW.I.L.D. Tournament 2006Sirelda defeated Nattie Neidhart in the finals of an 8–woman tournament to become the inaugural champion.[36]
2Miss Danyah1March 23, 200717Oshawa, OntarioUgandan Invasion[36]
3April Hunter1April 13, 20071Oshawa, OntarioVeni! Vidi! Vici![36]
4Cherry Bomb1April 14, 200769Oshawa, OntarioAnarchy in AngusThis was a fatal four–way, also involving Hailey Rogers and Miss Danyah.[36]
5Miss Danyah2June 22, 2007120Oshawa, OntarioRandom Acts of Violence[36]
6Portia Perez1October 20, 2007103Oshawa, OntarioW.I.L.D. Tournament 2007Portia Perez defeated LuFisto in the finals of an 8–woman tournament.[36]
7Miss Danyah3January 31, 2008304Oshawa, OntarioFinal Night[36]
8Deanna Conda1November 30, 2008363Oshawa, OntarioW.I.L.D. '08 - SupershowDeanna Conda defeated Jamie D in the finals of an 8–woman tournament.[36]
9PJ Tyler1November 28, 2009117Oshawa, OntarioW.I.L.D. '09 - ShowdownPJ Tyler defeated Deanna Conda in the finals of an 8–woman tournament.[36]
10Anthony Darko1March 25, 2010Oshawa, OntarioGCW 100
11Skylar Rose1?Oshawa, Ontario
12Kaitlin Diemond1May 2, 2014Oshawa, Ontario
13Skylar Rose2?Oshawa, Ontario
14Beautiful Beaa1February 7, 2015Oshawa, Ontario

References

External links