LadySports ::: A YEAR ON THE ROAD

The PGWA Live in 2004

By Shiai Mata

2004 might well be best remembered as the year in which the PGWA hit the road with a vengeance! Although from its earliest days the organization had been committed to promoting quality live shows, in was in the last year that fans saw the PGWA banner hoisted, rhetorically speaking, over rings in three countries across two continents. In short, it was a year to remembered!

It's always something special when the PGWA hosts a live card full of the best in women's pro wrestling, and '04 saw a precedent shattering FOUR such events promoted by the organization! Additionally, the PGWA sanctioned matches held by other promotions in Mexico and England.

The year kicked off to a grand start in February with 'Music City Mayhem', as the ring sang with the furious sounds of some of the finest competitors in the sport going at it before a most enthusiastic crowd. 'Music City Mayhem' brought together such PGWA favorites as Candi Divine, Robbie Rage and Summer Rain with newcomers to the organization like Tiffani Monroe, Hellena Heavenly, A.J. Sparx and others. The fans were understandably disappointed when it was announced that Christie Ricci was suffering from an injury and could not compete, and that Persephone had been unable to attend due to a last-minute problem; however, their regret was at least partially eased by the replacements: Jillian Hall (aka Macaela Mercedes) and Melissa Coates! Mexico was also ably represented by the masked Princess Sugey. Rounding out the impressive line-up Allie Spirit, Venus, Tara T, and Tasha Simone…who came away from the card with the biggest fan buzz we'd heard in quite some time!

'Music City Mayhem' had been held in the greater Nashville, Tennessee area, and was produced in conjunction with the United States Wrestling Organization, whose promoter, longtime wrestler Tony Falk, is as committed to women's wrestling as any independent booker in America. Tony was anxious to get the PGWA back to Nashville for another show, but the PGWA waited to make sure that a truly spectacular show could be put together for the fans. The time finally arrived that July, when 'Summer Heat' threatened to blow the roof off of the old USWO Arena!

When the dust had settled, many of the fans in attendance, all of whom were longtime fans of the PGWA and had attended previous live events, swore that 'Summer Heat' was the single best card the organization had yet done…and taking a look at the line-up of talent, it's easier to understand just why they came to that conclusion. Again, the promotion combined established PGWA favorites (Tasha Simone, Christie Ricci, ODB, Venus, Persephone, and Amber O'Neal) with some of the most impressive new talent around (Dixie, Camron Star, Zip, Jenny Taylor, Krissy Vain, Nikki Roxx, Diana la Cazadora, and Hailey Hatred) to give the spectators the best of both worlds! Also making her presence known, as at 'Music City Mayhem,' was the Goddess Athena, manager extraordinaire.

One month later, the PGWA was back in familiar stomping grounds, North Carolina, where the organization co-promoted a card with the American Independent Wrestling Federation called 'Hot August Night'. This was a unique experiment in which one half of the card featured male AIWF wrestlers, while the other half was the domain of the PGWA ladies: Nikki Roxx, Susan Green, Zip, Dixie, and newcomers Pagan and Sarah Sullivan. The battle between Nikki and Susan left the fans amazed, and the legendary Texas Cowgirl herself gave her opponent high marks after their match, with Roxx having earned Green's respect.

Come October, the PGWA was venturing into new territory in more ways than one. 'ChickFight', an all-women's tournament, would mark not only the organizations first collaboration with All Pro Wrestling, but would also be the promotion's first effort on the West Coast. The APW is well-known for being the home to such impressive talent as Cheerleader Melissa Anderson, Nene Kimura, and Tiffany, so the PGWA felt compelled to bring along some high-level talent of its own: Christie Ricci, Hailey Hatred, Nikki Roxx, and Princess Sugey. The show also saw the PGWA and APW debut of Candice LeRae.

And as if these four spectaculars weren't enough, the PGWA helped bring down a number of U.S. and Canadian wrestlers to Mexico to work with the Lucha Libre Femenil organization throughout the year. These ladies never fail to impress the Mexican fans (who are used to seeing some of the very best in the sport), and two of them, Christie Ricci and Nikki Roxx, even managed to win come LLF championship gold!

And finally, the PGWA's own championship belt was defended not once but twice this past year in England. Champion Pippa L'Vinn put the crown on the line at two live events which she herself promoted, first against legendary British grappler Jodie Lee, then just a few short weeks ago against Awesome Anne, who was marking her return to the ring wars.

And throughout the year, of course, not only did the PGWA offer videos of many of these live matches, but Special Events continued to produce its high-quality 'GrudgeMatch' series, giving fans the world over the chance to see literally dozens of amazingly talented women 'live' in action right on their television screen!

What will 2005 bring? More live events, with any luck!