# New England Championship Wrestling

New England Championship Wrestling (NECW) is a dormant independent professional wrestling promotion based in the Northeastern United States that promoted events from 2000, owned and operated by Sheldon Goldberg. Its roster included independent wrestlers Antonio "The Promise" Thomas, Slyk Wagner Brown and Rick Fuller. Its women's division, World Women's Wrestling, included Ariel, Sumie Sakai, Alere Little Feather, Riptide, Nikki Roxx, Lexxus, April Hunter, Malia Hosaka and Mercedes Martinez. The promotion has not held events since 2019, though it still posts a periodic podcast.
World Wrestling Entertainment wrestlers Kofi Kingston, John Cena, Kenny Dykstra, Sasha Banks and R. J. Brewer also competed in the promotion during their early careers. Former WWE announcer and current Ring of Honor announcer Kevin Kelly worked as a booker for the promotion. Former state senator and current mayor of Weymouth, Massachusetts, Robert Hedlund, served as NECW Commissioner in 2000–2001.

## History

Former editor of the Mat Marketplace newsletter, Sheldon Goldberg had been involved with promoters Tony Rumble and Paul Heyman in bringing Michinoku Pro to the United States during the late 1990s. By September 2000, Goldberg himself began holding professional wrestling events in the Boston-area, successfully selling out local venues such as Good Time Emporium in Somerville and the National Guard Armory in Quincy. Over the next several years, the promotion developed a strong following based on its traditional "family-friendly" style of professional wrestling as an alternative to the adult themed sports entertainment adopted by World Wrestling Entertainment.
In 2004, the promotion became the first to produce a weekly wrestling TV show specifically produced for distribution on the Internet through its affiliate NECW.tv website. Its weekly internet broadcasts eventually grew to an average of over 20,000 viewers per week in over 40 countries around the world. Its exposure was further increased through DVD releases of yearly supercards such as the popular Iron 8 Championship Tournament.
In March 2006, New England Championship Wrestling merged with PWF Mayhem and the company operated under the New England Championship Wrestling brand. On August 16, 2006, the merged companies unified their championship titles in an interpromotional event in Quincy, Massachusetts. The event saw PWF Mayhem Tag Team Champions The Canadian Superstars (J-Busta & Dave Cole) defeat The Wild Boys (Billy King & Mike Lynch) for the NECW Unified Tag Team Championship, PWF Mayhem Junior Heavyweight Champion "The Talent" T.J. Richter defeated "Big Guns" Frankie Arion for the NECW Unified Television Championship and PWF Mayhem Heavyweight Champion "The Human Nightmare" Evan Siks defeated D.C. Dillinger for the NECW Undisputed Triple Crown Championship.
Also in March 2006, the company launched World Women's Wrestling, an all-female offshoot of the main NECW promotion.
Following its "Toxic Waltz" event on November 6, 2010, the merged company ceased operations due to a split between founder, Sheldon Goldberg and the PWF faction of Matt West, Kyle White and Roy Rossi. NECW was dormant until May 14, 2011, when the company returned with a benefit show in Carver, Massachusetts. The promotion has returned to active status running regular events mostly throughout the Greater Boston area, while the revived PWF Northeast promotion only lasted until October 2013, when it ceased operations.
After the split with the PWF promoters, NECW had a 90 week run on local broadcast TV station WMFP. NECW continued running regular events and Internet TV shows up until October 2017 when promoter Sheldon Goldberg suffered a badly broken shoulder in a fall. After his recovery, the promotion resumed on a much lighter schedule and put on two charity fundraisers in 2018 and 2019. Once the pandemic hit, NECW had abandoned plans to run live events, but in 2020 NECW released a 20th Anniversary Collection on YouTube, consisting of 20 matches that represented 20 years of the promotion. New video projects are in the works with a collection of "lost matches" set for release in the fall of 2024.

### Alumni

| Ace Darling Alexxis Al Snow Aleksander Chekov Amber Apocalypse Ariel Antonio Thomas April Hunter Barbie Barry Ace Beth Phoenix Bobby Ocean Bob Evans Brad Hollister Brandon Locke Brandon Webb Brendan Michael Thomas Brett Adams Brian Milonas Cha Cha Cindy Rogers Danny Duggan Danny Demanto Davey Cash D.C. Dillinger (d. 2016) Don Vega | Doug Summers Doug Williams Eddie Edwards Elia Markopoulos Fergal Devitt Frankie Kazarian Fred Curry, Jr. Genesis Gino Giovanni Hayley Skye Ivy Jason Knight Jason Rumble Jeremy Prophet Joel Gertner John Cena "Handsome" Johnny Hayes Johnny Thunder R. J. Brewer Jonny Idol Jose Perez Julian Starr Kahagas Kacee Carlisle Kevin Kelly Kevin Landry Kimaya KL Murphy Kofi Nahaje Kingston Kris Pyro Kristian Frost | Kyle Storm Luscious Latasha Luscious Lilly Madison Eagles Malia Hosaka Mark Shurman Matt Logan Matt Magnum Matt Storm Matt Striker Maverick Wild Max Bauer Melissa Coates Mercedes KV Mercedes Martinez Michael Sain/Mikhail Ivanov Mike McCarthy Mike Webb Mikey Nicholls Missy Sampson Mistress Belmont Mr. Mini-roe Mr. Munroe Nick Fahrenheit Nick Logan Nick Westgate Nikki Roxx Nikki Valentine Pat Piper Paul Richard (NECW General Manager, retired) Portia Perez Ray Keijimura | Rick Fuller Ryan Bisbal Riptide Rocco Abruzzi Ron Zombie Roxie Cotton Ryan Waters Sammi Lane Sara Del Rey Sarah Sullivan Scott Levesque Scotty Slade Sean Burke Sean Gorman Slyk Wagner Brown Steve Bradley Steve King Sumie Sakai Taeler Hendrix Tiny the Terrible T.J. Richter TJ Wyld Toxis Triplelicious Trinity Vinny Marseglia Violet Flame Zachary Springgate III Zack Statick Maze |

### Officials

* Sheldon Goldberg (NECW Owner/Promoter)
* Bryan Nadeau (Producer/Director of NECW Television)
* Anthony "Dirt" Moschella (Producer)
* "Stormin'" Chris Norman (Ring Announcer)
* Barbara Mahoney (referee)
* Kevin Quinn (referee)

## Championships

| Championship | Current champion(s) | Previous champion(s) | Date won | Days | Location |
| NECW Heavyweight Champion | Todo Loco | Mike McCarthy | July 2, 2016 | 3,106 | Brockton, Massachusetts |
| NECW Television Champion | Chris Escobar | Todo Loco | May 21, 2016 | 3,148 | Abington, Massachusetts |
| NECW Tag Team Champions | The Heavy Hitters(Shady Shay Cash and Frank Champion) | The Regulators(Jack Maverick and Brute Van Slyke) | September 10, 2016 | 3,036 | Wakefield, Massachusetts |
| World Women's Wrestling Championship | Vanity Vixsin | Alexxis Neveah | September 10, 2016 | 3,036 | Wakefield, Massachusetts |
| Iron 8 Championship Tournament | Todo Loco | Brad Hollister | June 11, 2016 | 3,127 | Wakefield, Massachusetts |

### Iron 8 Championship Tournament

The Iron 8 Championship is a trademark annual event hosted by NECW. Eight wrestlers are selected from inside and outside of NECW to compete in four single elimination matches, in which the winners of the four matches would compete in a 45-minute ironman match to crown an Iron 8 Champion. The 2014 winner also became NECW Heavyweight Champion after previous titleholder Slyck Wagner Brown suffered an injury. The event was not held in 2015.
| Year | Name | Date | Location |
| 2004 | "Revolution" Chris Venom | August 22, 2004 | Somerville, MA |
| 2005 | "The Pinnacle" Paul Lombardi | October 15, 2005 | Framingham, MA |
| 2006 | "Die Hard" Eddie Edwards | June 23, 2006 | Quincy, MA |
| 2007 | "Die Hard" Eddie Edwards | June 9, 2007 | Brockton, MA |
| 2008 | "The Golden Greek" Alex Arion | May 31, 2008 | Quincy, MA |
| 2009 | Antonio Thomas | May 30, 2009 | Quincy, MA |
| 2010 | "Handsome" Johnny Hayes | May 1, 2010 | Somerset, MA |
| 2014 | Brad Hollister | May 10, 2014 | Beverly, MA |
| 2016 | Todo Loco | June 11, 2016 | Wakefield, MA |

### The Toxic Waltz

The Toxic Waltz is an annual event that originated in PWF Mayhem. The Toxic Waltz is a ten-man gauntlet in which the winner would receive a Triple Crown Championship match at the winter showcase; Genesis. The match begins with two men in the ring, and contrary to a traditional gauntlet, the loser of each fall picks the winners next opponent. The tenth man selected could be anyone in or out of NECW. The last man standing would be the winner. On November 7, 2010, news began to spread that the 2010 Toxic Waltz would be the last event for NECW. Therefore, 2010 Toxic Waltz winner "Handsome" Johnny Hayes went on to face "The Real Deal" Brandon Locke for the PWF Northeast Heavyweight Championship after PWF Northeast resumed operations in 2011. In October 2013, PWF Northeast closed its doors.
| Year | Winner | Date | Location |
| 2005 | "The Human Nightmare" Evan Siks | September 16, 2005 | Quincy, MA |
| 2006 | "Straight Edge" Brian Fury | September 30, 2006 | Quincy, MA |
| 2007 | Max Bauer | December 28, 2007 | Quincy, MA |
| 2008 | "The Golden Greek" Alex Arion $^1$ | November 1, 2008 | Quincy, MA |
| 2009 | "The Real Deal" Brandon Locke | November 21, 2009 | Quincy, MA |
| 2010 | "Handsome" Johnny Hayes | November 6, 2010 | Quincy, MA |