Premier Championship Wrestling: Winnipeg Wrestling's Hottest Promotion

All Roads Lead To PCW!

Posted on 29 Oct 2009 by PCW

PCW's Back to School Bash was an exceptional and exciting event, which many fans are calling the show of the year!

In edition to the incredible action and the inclusion of three Ring of Honor Superstars, several surprise appearance made the 2009 Bash a highly memorable event!

"The Loose Canon" TJ Bratt

Perhaps the most controversial wrestling personality ever to grace Manitoba rings, TJ Bratt has been both loved by the fans and hated to the point of nearly inciting riots over the course of the past several years.

In the early part of his career, PCW's original home The LID Nightclub was often referred to as the house that Bratt built, an exceptional distinction indicative of his phenomenal popularity at the time. With an affinity for beers, brawls and babes, Bratt became the embodiment of the "every man", surrounded by his "Bratt Pack" outside the ring, but "Doin' It Alone" inside of it. His violent feuds with the likes of PCW Hall of Famer "Class Act" Chris Parys, MVP and others established him as one of the early foundations upon which PCW was built.

It wasn't long before Bratt's intensity gave way to unbridled anger and "The Loose Canon" was born. In one expletive-laden promo, Bratt launched a tirade against the fans and then-Commissioner Tom Manos before quitting PCW and walking out of his "house". Months later he would return in true Bratt fashion, surprising everyone and making an immediate impact.

At PCW's second Back to School Bash on September 18th 2003, he teamed with "Showtime" Robby Royce to beat Perfect Balance for the PCW Tag Team Championship. Whether or not his brief return was a calculated plan on his part or not has never been clearly established, but within five weeks, Bratt was gone again, this time signing with the competition, the Canadian Wrestling Federation. Controversy reigned as Bratt never officially quit PCW and debuted at the CWF's new home venue just a few minutes from the LID without ever losing his tag team championship. He would not be gone for long.

By the end of November, Bratt returned to PCW, this time leading a contingent of CWF wrestlers in an effort to disrupt the events at the LID. Along with the legendary "Pitbull" Kerry Brown, CWF owner Ernie Todd and others, Bratt sought to invade and destroy PCW, inciting near-riots with every appearance. The final volley in the war was a match between Bratt and Kenny Omega.

Over the years, Bratt would leave PCW, return occasionally but always remain a controversial figure. He would promote his own successful series of events, appear for virtually every promotion in the province, tease retirement and sometimes disappear for long stretches. But the one constant was his refusal to be anything but himself. Often abrasive, always shocking, as much as he was hated, he was deeply respected by a large portion of the audience. Bratt did it alone and did it his way.

If there was one certainty, however, it seemed clear that Bratt would never return to Premier Championship Wrestling. His appearance at the Back to School Bash was surprising. The loud ovation he received from the shocked fans was not, however. Even more intriguing was Bratt's announcement that he was back in PCW where he belonged and for the foreseeable future. He revealed that he was once a young wrestler, doin it alone, against the odds but that he wanted to take a young potential superstar and give them the guidance he never had. He wanted to impart his wisdom and desire upon a protege and lead them to success.

Whomever Bratt was speaking off remains to be seen, but the anticipation is that the questions will be answered at PCW's Hellbound, November 5th only at Dylans On Pembina. One thing is certain, however, and that is where TJ Bratt is concerned, it's never black or white and controversy is sure to follow!

"The German Juggernaut" Moses Luke

Any discussion of the greatest tag teams in Manitoba wrestling history will no doubt include mention of Perfect Balance, a duo that helped revolutionize tag team wrestling in Winnipeg in the early part of the century.

Moses Luke and The Big O thrilled fans with their exciting hybrid of fast paced and hard hitting wrestling action. Their ladder match at PCW's Commencement of Cool against Assisted Suicide became an instant classic and ranks number one on any list of best Ladder Matches in Manitoba history!

Perfect Balance cemented their names in the history books in 2002 by becoming the first ever PCW Tag Team Champions, a title they would hold on two occasions. Though O was the smaller of the two men by a wide margin, he may not have been the most agile. Well over 300 lbs, Moses moved around the ring like a man a fraction of his size and climbed the ropes like a cruiser weight.

Since the team broke up, Luke reinvented himself as a singles competitor, winning multiple heavyweight championships in Manitoba promotions. Never accused of being a pretty boy, Moses has a history of success in aggressive, violent hardcore matches.

Though Moses and O made a one time special guest appearance in 2008 at PCW's Culmination of Cool in a tag team championship match, it has been many years since Luke was a regular contributor to PCW. It came as a huge surprise to fans and industry insiders when he made a shocking appearance at the Back to School Bash, though any student of history would probably agree the circumstances made sense.

For many years, Moses has had a love/hate relationship with Pete Chee. They've been both partners and engaged in bloody warfare against each other. When Pete and his new partner Pon Chee viciously assaulted Sabertooth, it was Luke who made the save from his position in the audience. The question of whether the impromptu run in was a one time appearance was answered immediately following the show as PCW confirmed Luke had re-joined the promotion. The question now is, what's the next step for this grizzled veteran?

"Vicious" Donnie Dicaprio

The biggest surprise return at the Back to School Bash had to be that of "Vicious" Donnie Dicaprio. While considered an exceptional professional wrestler in his day, Dicaprio had given up the sport as he built a successful career in Mixed-Martial Arts, fighting all over the world. One of the most sought after wrestlers in Manitoba, Dicaprio had rejected all requests to make a return to the squared circle until his close friend Kenny Omega asked for a favour at the Bash.

When Omega's opponent in his PCW Heavyweight Championship match was unavailable at the last moment due to being out of the country, the Ring of Honor superstar had Commissioner Chris Stevens enter him into the night's main event Triple Threat Match against fellow ROH Superstars El Generico & Kevin Steen, The Suicide Kings and Team Impact, making the match a Fatal Four Way. Without a partner, Kenny turned to Dicaprio. Although he had no wrestling gear on hand, he accepted the challenge and stunned onlookers with an exceptional performance.

Sporting a chiseled physique and in phenomenal physical condition, Dicaprio lived up to his nickname with a vicious offensive onslaught, including a devastating German suplex on Robby Royce that has been talked about as the move of the year.

Dicaprio was a solid choice as a partner for a tag team match. During his wrestling career, he was most well known as an expert tag team wrestler. Initially, he partnered with PCW Hall of Famer "Playboy" Will Damon and joined super clique MVP. He later teamed with Rawskillz as one of the most formidable duos in PCW history and captured the PCW Tag Team Championship. As a singles competitor, Dicaprio was always a top contender and popular superstar utilizing an under-stated sense of humour and quiet charisma that appealed to fans.

In 2002, when MVP appeared on the verge of a break up, Dicaprio appealed to his partners to stay together by singing "Think It Over". His classic rendition led to a feud with then-Karaoke Cowboy Adam Knight as the two men engaged in a Karaoke sing-off at the first Back to School Bash.

Though Dicaprio's appearance at the Bash was unplanned, he has made it clear that PCW fans have not seen the last of him.

The New Chee's

Though often a popular PCW superstar over the years, it should have come as no surprise that the sadistic Pete Chee would have a plan that would lead to violence. At the Back to School Bash, he made sure his victory over former partner and fellow masked man Ludicrous was a forgone conclusion. The inference of his new manager, the self-professed High Chieftain Big Chee and brother Pon Chee led directly to the win.

Chee has been known to involve family members in the past as one of his other siblings, Ron Chee teamed with him several years ago until being deported. The most controversial aspect of the Chee expansion was the questions surrounding the identity of The Big Chee. Sporting a three-piece suit and speaking perfect English, "Big" claimed to be from Uganda and wasn't "who you think I am".

Time will tell, but the addition of the athletic Pon Chee to the already sadistic Pete Chee and now with focus and guidance in the form of Big Chee, the team of "Double Chee's" appear poised to be make a major impact!

Steve H. Ross

PCW's Director of Authority and Senior Official Jay Walker vowed to be hands-on in his pursuit of experienced officials. He made good on his promise by re-signing long time PCW referee Steve H. Ross! Steve had been one of PCW's best refs over the years and his commitment to maintaining order was appreciated by the fans who would greet his arrival with a hearty "Super Steve"!

In the past, his refusal to be intimidated even led to his one and only wrestling match as he fought then fellow-ref Chris Marxwell in a Fans Bring The Weapons war. Since then, Ross has been content with plying his trade and becoming one of the finest officials in the game. Any PCW Superstar intending to defy the rules will have a much more difficult time with Steve Ross calling the shots!

PCW Presents Hellbound!
Thursday November 5th 2009
Only at Dylans On Pembina
Doors Open:8PM Bell time: 9:15PM
Tickets Only $10
PCW - "Nobody Does It Better!"

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