EDITORIAL: SRW - The Hardcore History of Shore Road Wrestling

By Johnny Walters

Some of you who watch OJ-FWA may be familiar with the indy promotion SRW. The no-nonsense, smash-mouthed, in-your-face style became the best-kept secret in the New York pro-wrestling scene. In fact, several OJ-FWA performers got their start in SRW. The Spoiler wrestled here for a while before having his career take off in Japan's NOJ. Liliana, while she full-timed as a automobile magazine model, got her start, and perhaps helped define who she was as the "Hardcore Italirican," wrestling for SRW.

However, the story isn't exactly the best for all who came from the promotion. Soon after the promotion's demise, OJ-FWA picked up three of the promotion's top stars: SHALLOW, Russ Morgan, and Trent Frost. SHALLOW and Russ Morgan's ascent in the world of Japanese pro-wrestling in general, and OJ-FWA in particular, while steady, have not set the world on fire. And in the most tragic case, Trent Frost left OJ-FWA after suffering a loss at Yuuki Matsuri 2007.

So, why is it that while Spoiler and Liliana have done well for themselves, arguably the three most important participants in SRW history have not? This is what I hope to find out.

You see, I have a bit of a stake in this. I worked for SRW during this time. This is my recollection of the "hardcore history" of Shore Road Wrestling!

OJ-FWA 『ユーキ』祭り２０１１のCM － Yuuki Matsuri 2011 Commercial

Ladies and gents, the anticipation in the OJ-FWA lockerroom is building as Yuuki Matsuri 2011 is a few short weeks away!





The Card:

1. Eriko Hasegawa vs. Ai Aoki
Merely an exhibition match, but important for a few reasons. First, Eriko made her OJ-FWA debut at the last Yuuki Matsuri in 2007. Secondly, Aoki, who made her debut at SNF 2 (and who also is the daughter of the late Shinzo Aoki, founder of the original OJPW who tragically killed himself when business tanked).

See Eriko's debut match here.


2. Russ Morgan vs. KAZU
Russ Morgan, the drastically improving transplant from New York's SRW will take on the legendary KAZU. Will his experiences from the previous Yuuki Matsuri hinder his performance?

See Russ Morgan in action in SRW versus fellow OJ-FWA competitor SHALLOW here.

See KAZU in action against OJ-FWA co-counder John "(C)" McKay here (a near 20 minute CLASSIC).


3. Sasori vs. Shiroko
Sasori was scheduled to face Shiroko at SNF 2, but an attack from SEA's Sai prevented that. Shiroko is back and is, needless to say, not very happy. What will happen when the technical mastery of Sasori meets the blind rage of Shiroko?

See Sasori in Yuuki Matsuri action from 2005 against Moemi Amano here.

See Shiroko in her destructive debut at the first SNF here.


4. Brad Harris vs. Tiger Miyazawa
After being defeated by Harris in a no-dq falls-count-anywhere match on OJ-FWA World Tour, Miyazawa took the low road and viciously attacked Harris from behind twice. Did this give Miyazawa the psychological advantage, or will Harris' acquisition of the managerial services of Moemi Amano lead him to victory?

See Brad Harris and Tiger Miyazawa in the encounter that started it all here.


5. So Ryung Park vs. A-Hole Ronald
At XGWL's Global Warning event, Ronald viciously attacked Park. Will this match be the end of the feud, or will it be the end of Ronald?

See So Ryung Park's first, and until this year, ONLY Yuuki Matsuri appearance versus a well-known female athlete in 2003 here (the reason being that back in the day, Yuuki Matsuri was an FWA event, and Park was an NOJ competitor).

See A-Hole Ronald's last Yuuki Matsuri appearance against Russ Morgan here.


6. Moemi Amano vs. Mary Riegan (C) for the Joshi Sekai Championship
Having won a four-way match to determine the number one contender to the Mary Riegan's Joshi Sekai Championship, Moemi Amano is determined to win in her first championship opportunity.

See Moemi Amano's "wrestling" debut (in Glitter Pro) here.

See Mary Riegan's most recent title defense (as seen on OJ-FWA FIGHT! TV) against Co-Founder Reiko Hikawa here.



7. Hidenori Tsujimoto (C) vs. BINGO-1's Caleb Dod for the Sekai Ningen-kyu Championship
Caleb Dod (from the BINGO-1 promotion) ran roughshod over the competition during the most recent Champion's Soul tournament and went ahead to win the competition.

The contract for the match was signed right away, but immediately after, Tsujimoto, the champion, was viciously attacked. Having suffered extreme physical and psychological trauma as a result of the incident, Tsujimoto wants nothing more than revenge.

See Caleb Dod in a Champion's Soul match against SMN's C-Block here. See Caleb in action outside of OJ-FWA here, in this WILD promotion match against OrochiGeese.

See a young Hidenori Tsujimoto (before donning the AKi-Man gimmick) in 2003 against a well-known puroresu name here.

Other past Yuuki Matsuri matches of note:

2007: Mary Riegan vs. Agent Zero (C) for the Joshi Sekai Championship
2007: Yubari vs. Kata Mary (LAWL)
1996: Reiko Hikawa vs. Misato "The Cat" Kubodera (C) for the Joshi Sekai Championship
1993: Reiko Hikawa vs. a famous joshi name of that era

There may be more classic matches from Yuuki Matsuri's past added as the days go on, so be on the lookout!