Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2019 19:26:18 GMT -5
ULTIMATE CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING OFFICIALLY CLOSES ITS DOORS
After hosting their final show in Phoenix days ago, the local wrestling company is no more
By Peter Poplock| @poplock12
A R I Z O N A R E P U B L I C
When we first reported that UCW was going out of business many were expecting that someone else would take the company over and potentially grow the company into the future but according to Mickie Laree, UCW CEO and Owner, the company is such a big part of her life that she couldn't bring herself to give it away. "I was there with Chris (Laree) when he got the idea of starting his own company. I was there when the roster was only six wrestlers and we barely sold tickets. I was there when Chris had his breakdown. I was there for it all," said Laree.
48 hours removed from End of the Line and most of the assets that belong to Ultimate Championship Wrestling have been either auctioned off or given away to staff and crew as they pursue new endeavors. The orders fo quick turnout of cleaning out the established UCW Arena came directly from Laree herself. According to many who were backstage at the conclusion of the company's final show, Laree held a conference after the show involving all the staff, crew and wrestlers to thank them personally for the time, effort and dedication they put into "the family business". She got emotional when thanking everyone.
That sums up the passion and drive that Laree had for her employees as well as the business that she inherited from her ex-husband and many insiders now call Laree "the best owner the company ever had." The company's final show, appropriately named End of the Line sold out in 3 minutes, a new-record for the 69,000 seat venue and received critical acclaim from fans and critics alike for the quality of the matches as well as the numerous surprises.
Among the other surprises UCW pulled out for its last show was the in-ring return of Moxy and Roxy, better known as Mock Rock, the longest reigning champions in the history of the company as well as the award-winning band. The veterans faced Critical Kimberly and Cherry Darling, better known as The Critical Darlings, the current and final UCW Women's Tag Team Champions and one of the more popular tag teams in recent years for UCW. Mock Rock got the win and the Arizona crowd was happy to see them come back home, despite causing quite a stir while on tour.
A R I Z O N A R E P U B L I C
48 hours removed from End of the Line and most of the assets that belong to Ultimate Championship Wrestling have been either auctioned off or given away to staff and crew as they pursue new endeavors. The orders fo quick turnout of cleaning out the established UCW Arena came directly from Laree herself. According to many who were backstage at the conclusion of the company's final show, Laree held a conference after the show involving all the staff, crew and wrestlers to thank them personally for the time, effort and dedication they put into "the family business". She got emotional when thanking everyone.
That sums up the passion and drive that Laree had for her employees as well as the business that she inherited from her ex-husband and many insiders now call Laree "the best owner the company ever had." The company's final show, appropriately named End of the Line sold out in 3 minutes, a new-record for the 69,000 seat venue and received critical acclaim from fans and critics alike for the quality of the matches as well as the numerous surprises.
Among the other surprises UCW pulled out for its last show was the in-ring return of Moxy and Roxy, better known as Mock Rock, the longest reigning champions in the history of the company as well as the award-winning band. The veterans faced Critical Kimberly and Cherry Darling, better known as The Critical Darlings, the current and final UCW Women's Tag Team Champions and one of the more popular tag teams in recent years for UCW. Mock Rock got the win and the Arizona crowd was happy to see them come back home, despite causing quite a stir while on tour.
The company also dedicated the show to beloved WFWF wrestler and UCW alumni Mesh who is currently in the hospital with an epidural hematoma following a heinous attack by WFWF wrestler Ryan Payne, better known as Needles. "We would've loved having her," said Laree, "she has such an infectious personality and she always did her best to keep morale high when it was low. She's one of a kindl!"
The company also held an award show, revealing which wrestler would be given the commemorative replica belts. Laree stated that "those who helped give each championship a certain level of prestige and those that carried the title with honor were considered deliberately by myself and a group of experts and insiders". The results are as followed:
- Dragon was awarded the UCW Championship for being the mainstream attraction that helped propel UCW into the limelight. Dragon was one of the original six wrestlers that joined the company during its inception but quickly left after he was made an offer by RBW. Dragon has starred in various movies, television shows, owns a restaurant chain with hundreds of locations around the country as well as a musician. The 66-year old champion made his first appearance on UCW programming since his return in 2012.
- Bruce Medher was awarded the UCW Television Championship for being "a standard of excellence among his peers". Medher is a polarizing figure in the world of professional wrestling for his outspoken views and opinions, specifically women in wrestling but many praise his ability and natural talent in the ring. Many note that some fans weren't happy at the decision, citing Katharsis as the more worthy option. The company made no mention of Katharsis throughout the program. His match against Black Dream at UCW 2040 is widely regarded as one of the greatest matches of all-time.
- Jericho Kruger was awarded the UCW Light-Heavyweight Championship for being "the one who elevated it to greater heights than ever before". Kruger is a former UCW Champion but he is the only person to be both Light-Heavyweight Champion and UCW Champion at the same time. During Kruger's historic reign as champion, the belt was often defended in main events, something no one else had done prior and Kruger famously pulled double-duty on numerous shows for months, defending both belts in one night.
- Ashley Elizabeth was award the UCW Women's Championship for "being the face of a revolution". When Elizabeth joined UCW in 2012, the company was in the middle of a revolution. Hate is your Mistress and Mock Rock had raised the bar for women's wresting in the company and Elizabeth, daughter of world champion Richard Elizabeth was the one who carried the torch for years after, putting on acclaimed matches back to back with various opponents and breaking down barriers. Her defining moment was when she broke Mami Chula's record as UCW Women's Champion by being champion for two and a half years.
- Mock Rock were awarded the UCW Women's Tag Team Championship for being "the greatest team to ever hold the titles". In a decision that shocked no one, Moxy and Roxy were given the belts that they managed to hold for a record of four years, a record that no one has managed to break since. Moxy and Roxy are, arguably the most well-known UCW wrestlers of all-time due to the success of their award-winning band, Mock Rock.
- Kash Money Inc., the team of Kris Kash and Francis "Money" Dexter were awarded the UCW Tag Team Championship for "making those belts their own". No other team, male or female were as successful as Kash Money Inc. They were UCW Tag Team Champions ten times, a record that has yet to be broken to this day. Both men went on to write New York Times best-selling books about finances and life advice. Aside from dominating the real estate market, Dexter hosts a successful podcast about finances while Kash has his own business conglomerate, Kash Industries.
- Jericho Kruger was awarded the UCW Light-Heavyweight Championship for being "the one who elevated it to greater heights than ever before". Kruger is a former UCW Champion but he is the only person to be both Light-Heavyweight Champion and UCW Champion at the same time. During Kruger's historic reign as champion, the belt was often defended in main events, something no one else had done prior and Kruger famously pulled double-duty on numerous shows for months, defending both belts in one night.
- Ashley Elizabeth was award the UCW Women's Championship for "being the face of a revolution". When Elizabeth joined UCW in 2012, the company was in the middle of a revolution. Hate is your Mistress and Mock Rock had raised the bar for women's wresting in the company and Elizabeth, daughter of world champion Richard Elizabeth was the one who carried the torch for years after, putting on acclaimed matches back to back with various opponents and breaking down barriers. Her defining moment was when she broke Mami Chula's record as UCW Women's Champion by being champion for two and a half years.
- Mock Rock were awarded the UCW Women's Tag Team Championship for being "the greatest team to ever hold the titles". In a decision that shocked no one, Moxy and Roxy were given the belts that they managed to hold for a record of four years, a record that no one has managed to break since. Moxy and Roxy are, arguably the most well-known UCW wrestlers of all-time due to the success of their award-winning band, Mock Rock.
- Kash Money Inc., the team of Kris Kash and Francis "Money" Dexter were awarded the UCW Tag Team Championship for "making those belts their own". No other team, male or female were as successful as Kash Money Inc. They were UCW Tag Team Champions ten times, a record that has yet to be broken to this day. Both men went on to write New York Times best-selling books about finances and life advice. Aside from dominating the real estate market, Dexter hosts a successful podcast about finances while Kash has his own business conglomerate, Kash Industries.
The main event was Jeff Nero vs. Allan Jones, which many fans will recall was the main event of UCW's first ever show back in 2005. Jones' return to the company that he helped build caused quite the reaction on social media as Jones left UCW in 2010 and has spent the remainder of his career in Japan. Nero, another big name that many credit to putting UCW on the map was previously retired two years at the company's annual big show, Battleground XIII by wrestling legend, Tex Rattlehead but came back because according to Laree, "He was the lifeblood of UCW for many years. He was the flag bearer and the last ever show wouldn't have been right without him." Jones won the match and after the match, the arena lit up with fireworks as the two competitors hugged and gave one another respect. That is the last sight UCW fans would have of the arena - and the promotion.
(The fireworks that closed the final chapter in the history of Ultimate Championship Wrestling following its emotional main event)
