AS I SEE IT 3/16: Goodbyes and updates

AS I SEE IT
Bob Magee
Pro Wrestling: Between the Sheets
PWBTS.com

The endless list continues...

I woke up Saturday morning to read about the passing of Andrew "Test" Martin. who was found dead by a neighbor early Saturday in his apartment in Tampa. While nothing's been announced publicly as of yet, it won't be hard to figure out the reason.

A Jim Ross online comment confirmed something I'd heard Saturday night...that Martin had recently taken advantage of a WWE offer to send former talent to rehab, and was scheduled to work a set of independent dates in Europe later this week. The part Ross didn't confirm that I'd heard suggested that Martin may have a relapse relating to alcohol and other drugs.

I've talked about this subject what seems like 100 times with 100 different names attached to each time someone dies way the hell too young. It seems like nothing changes, because each and every wrestler thinks they're immortal.

WWE has even given some of these wrestlers (those who've worked for WWE at some point in the past) the option of sending them to rehab. Many have accepted, and some have dealt with their addictions and moved on with their lives. But too many others haven't, and wind up being another name on what seems like a never-ending list of casualties of the wrestling business

No matter what some would like to believe, the story depicted by "The Wrestler" is far more true, far more often than some in power and most that the story depicts can acknowledge.

So I suspect I'll be writing about this again....and again...and again.

In a story with a indirect wrestling link, after recent unfounded rumors that the ECW Arena would no longer run shows, it turns out that the local discount store well-known as a landmark for first time Arena fans to find the building...and who then went into to kill time before a show and get a good deal on clothing...is itself losing its lease after 23 years.

Forman Mills, a Philadelphia area discount chain with stores all over the Philadelphia region (as well as New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland); announced in newspaper ads this week that it was losing its lease at the Swanson and Wolf location. I also saw it for myself last night next door to the ECW Arena. I would be curious who moves in to this retail space and what effect it has on the neighborhood, given the plans for Arena management to add a health club adjacent to the Arena.

There are more updates on this March's CHIKARA King of Trios 2009 tournament taking place at the ECW Arena from March 27-March 29.

Tickets
Tickets for King of Trios 2009 are now on on sale. Front Row seating is already SOLD OUT. General Admission is $15. Kids age 12 and under admitted for just $5.

Tickets are available online at the CHIKARA's US online store, CHIKARA CHIKARA online store, or at CHIKARA events.

Match pairings announced as of Sunday mornng are:

CHIKARA King of Trios 2009: Night 1
March 28, 2009 ~ The Arena, Philadelphia, PA

  • King of Trios 2009 First round match
    The F1rst Family: Darin Corbin/Arik Cannon/Ryan Cruz vs. Team EPIC/WAR: Tony Kozina, Austin Aries, and Ryan Drago

  • King of Trios 2009 ~ First round match
    Team PWG - El Generico, Nick Jakson, and Matt Jackson vs. The Osirian Portal: Amasis/Escorpion Egipcio/Ophidian

  • King of Trios 2009 ~ First round match
    Team Uppercut: Claudio Castagnoli, Dave Taylor, and "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson vs. Team Roughnecks: Grizzly Redwood, Eddie Kingston, and Brodie Lee

  • King of Trios 2009 ~ First round match
    Da Soul Touchaz with C. Red (Willie Richardson, Trauma and Marshe Rockett) vs. Team CZW: Beef Wellington, Pinkie Sanchez, and Greg Excellent

    5. King of Trios 2009 ~ First round match
    6. King of Trios 2009 ~ First round match
    7. King of Trios 2009 ~ First round match
    8. King of Trios 2009 ~ First round match

    Remaining teams announced:

  • The Masters of a Thousand Holds: Mike Quackenbush/Jorge 'Skayde' Rivera/Johnny Saint
  • Incoherence: allowicked/Frightmare/Delirious
  • The Future is Now: Lince Dorado/the new YLC champ Equinox/Helios
  • The Death Match Kings - Necrobutcher/Brain Damage/ Toby Klein
  • The Cold Front: Al Snow & Iceberg & Glacier
  • Team FIST: Gran Akuma, Icarus, and Chuck Taylor
  • Team Unstable: Vin Gerard, STIGMA, and Colin Delaney
  • Team DDT: Kota Ibushi & KUDO & Michael Nakazawa

    CHIKARA King of Trios 2009: Night 2
    March 28, 2009 ~ The Arena, Philadelphia, PA
    1. Inter Species Wrestling Offer Match ~ ISW Title Match: Player Uno [c] vs. Twiggy
    2. Lethal Wrestling Alliance:The Submission Squad of Pierre Abernathy and Evan Gelistico vs. Davey Vega and Gary the Barn Owl
    3. King of Trios 2009 ~ Quarter Final Match
    4. King of Trios 2009 ~ Quarter Final Match
    5. King of Trios 2009 ~ Quarter Final Match
    6. King of Trios 2009 ~ Quarter Final Match

    CHIKARA King of Trios 2009: Night 3
    March 29, 2009 ~ The Arena, Philadelphia, PA
    1. Elimination Style Tag Team Gauntlet: KC “Cloudy” Day/Cheech Hernandez & X vs X & X vs X & X vs X & X vs X & X vs X & X vs X & X vs X & X vs X & X vs X & X vs X & X vs X & X
    2. King of Trios 2009 ~ Semi Final Match
    3. King of Trios 2009 ~ Semi Final Match
    4. King of Trios 2009 ~ Tournament Finals


    CHIKARA Fan Conclave:

    The second annual CHIKARA Fan Conclave will be taking place on Saturday, March 28th from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM at The Arena in South Philadelphia, PA. Autograph sessions with both the tecnicos and rudos of the King of Trios tournament will be available, as well as an in-ring exhibition starring the fans, a promo station where you can film your very own promo in front of the CHIKARA banner with your favorite CHIKARA wrestler, the deadly game of Rock Band with the stars and much more! Tickets are only $6.

    Until next time...

    If you have comments/questions/event announcements/results, if you'd like to add the AS I SEE IT column to your website, or if you'd like to add advertising on PWBTS.com (the flagship website of this column), e-mail me at the address above. Advertising consists of banner ads, available for $400 for one year. These ads would appear on each newspage appearing on the newsboard. Cube ads are also available for $200 for one year, which would be placed on the main newsboard page.

    _________________________________________________________

    If you have comments/questions, or if you'd like to add the AS I SEE IT column to your website, I can be reached by e-mail at bobmagee1@hotmail.com)