by: Bob Magee

The seventh annual Super 8 tournament, sponsored by Jim Kettner's East Coast wrestling Association, takes place on Saturday, April 5th at St. Matthew's Parish Center in Wilmington, DE with a 7:00 pm belltime.

Kettner's annual junior heavyweight tournament has spawned countless others tournaments around the United States, and has featured talent such as Billy Kidman, Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, Christopher Daniels, Chad Collyer, Jet Jaguar, Vic Capri, Shark Boy, Trent Acid, The American Dragon, Donovan Morgan, The Amazing Red, Xavier, Bobby Rude, Matt Stryker, Tony Kozina, A. J. Styles and Jamie Knoble.

Announced for this year's tournament:

• Brian "Spanky" Kendrick
  
  Kendrick was trained by Shawn Michaels and William Regal, and debuted against frequent ECWA competitor (and fellow Texas Wrestling Academy trainee) American Dragon. He uses the "Sliced Bread #2" (similar to the "Acid Drop" aka "Dudley Dog") as a finisher.
  
  This will be Kendrick's second Super 8, having competed in the 2001 Super Eight where he wrestled American Dragon.
  
  Long before WWE decided to debut him as a comedy character in an Undertaker skit, Kendrick wrestled for a wide range of promotions, including ZERO ONE, Ring of Honor, Heartland Wrestling Association, California's Ultimate Pro Wrestling, EPIC Professional Wrestling, and All Pro Wrestling; the Texas Wrestling Alliance, Memphis Championship Wrestling and Mexico's AAA.
  
  In a relatively short career, he has already won the ZERO ONE NWA/UPW/Zero One/International Jr. Heavyweight Championship, the Texas Wrestling Alliance Tag Team and Television Titles and the MCW Light Heavyweight Championship.
  
  He was also noted for being part of the independent Match of the Year, a 60 minute Iron Man Match in Philadelphia on July 27 for Ring of Honor with Christopher Daniels, Low Ki, and Doug Williams.
  
  
  
  
• Paul London
  
  London, who has achieved recognition among Northeast independent fans over the last year with his work in Ring of Honor, was trained by Rudy Boy Gonzalez at the Texas Wrestling Academy, by Ivan Putski, and by the legendary Dory Funk, Jr. at his Funkin' Conservatory/Dojo.
  
  While he is an excellent technical wrestler, he's known for his wild and unbelievable aerial moves, which have developed a chant among ROH fans "Please don't die", including his Shooting Star Press finisher.
  
  Wrestling legend Dory Funk described London this way: "There is no better gymnastic athlete in the ring than Paul London. It is the confidence in what he does that makes him an amazing performer to watch. His Shooting Star Press is phenomenal. Paul enjoys performing for the fans. The ring is his home."
  
  London has held the Extreme Texas Wrestling TV Title, and the U.S., TV and Hardcore Titles at the Funking Conservatory. He's constantly challenged as well for titles in Ring of Honor.
  
  Along with London's well-known work in Ring of Honor and recently in NWA-TNA, he's worked for Extreme Texas Wrestling, California's Ultimate Pro Wrestling, NWA-Wildside, Dory Funk's Funking Conservatory in Florida, and has worked tours for ZERO ONE and dark matches for WWE.
  
  
  
  
• Alex Arion
  
  Trained by Al Snow and Steve Bradley, Arion works a technical and aerial style, with a reverse double jump press as a finisher.
  
  Arion has worked for Ring of Honor on their Boston shows, in dark matches for WWE, and for a number of New England based independents, including New England Championship Wrestling, Maine Event Wrestling, NWA/New England, and Vermont's Green Mountain Wrestling. He has also worked for Heartland Wrestling Association and Puerto Rico's International Wrestling Alliance.
  
  Arion has held New England Championship Wrestling's Heavyweight Championship, as well as the Tag Team and TV belts for Green Mountain Wrestling.
  
  In an interview on New England Championship Wrestling's website, Arion described how he became interested in the business:
  
  "The wrestling bug bit [me] early....I wanted to be a wrestler ever since I was 5 years old when I first watched it on TV. I was attracted to the action, the drama, and the big crowds. The attraction never faded but grew stronger......My favorite memory was Wrestlemania 6. The Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior main event was great. My friends and I had a party and there were more than a dozen of us squeezed into my friend's tiny living room. We were divided as to who we wanted to win the match, and I remember the rush of adrenaline I had when the match was over and my favorite won."
  
  
  
  
• Chance Beckett
  
  The 5' 8" 200 pound wrestler was trained in the infamous Hart Family "Dungeon". Others reponsible for his training include American Dragon, who defeated Beckett for the NWA Canadian/ECCW Junior Title in late 2001.
  
  Beckett wrestles for the NWA British Columbia affiliate, Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling, recently competing in the promotion's third annual Pacific Cup. He lists Shawn Michaels and Brian Pillman as his inspirations. He has held all the major titles in NWA-ECCW, including their Heavyweight, Tag Team Championship, and Canadian Jr. Heavyweight Championship.
  
  Beckett has wrestled for NWA-ECCW, Stampede Wrestling, and other west coast Canadian independents; as well as IPW-Hardcore Wrestling, and World Professional Wrestling Federation in Florida. One of his frequent opponents was former ECWA competitor and 2001 Super 8 participant "Tornado" Tony Kozina.
  
  
  
  
• Chris Sabin
  
  Sabin was trained by Scott D'Amore and Amazing N8, well-known in Detroit and Ontario wrestling circles. While he uses a flying style, he uses a Chicken Wing Piledriver and Full Nelson Clutch as finishers.
  
  Sabin brings the background of an athlete into his wrestling, having been an avid soccer player for 13 years, as well as competing in amateur wrestling and track & field.
  
  He has worked for IWA-Mid South Wrestling, Border City Wrestling, and a wide range of indies in Michigan, Ontario, and Ohio, including Detroit indies Max Pro Wrestling, Independent Wrestling Revolution and Insane Wrestling Federation, Xtreme Intense Championship Wrestling and Great Lakes All Pro Wrestling; Ohio's New Era Pro Wrestling and Cleveland All Pro Wrestling.
  
  Sabin has held MXPW's Cruiserweight Championship, the NWA Great Lakes Heavyweight and Cruiserweight Titles, and the GLAPW Junior Heavyweight Championship.
  
  
  
  
• Johnny Jeter
  
  Jeter is a Californian who moved to Kentucky to be trained in Ohio Valley Wrestling, with hobbies including rock climbing, surfing, extreme sports, and playing his guitar. He had high school background in track and field, holding various high school pole vaulting records.
  
  Jeter has been trained within the WWE developmental system by OVW's Danny Davis and Nick Dinsmore. His favorite wrestlers growing up were Randy Savage and Shawn Michaels, with current inspirations being Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho. He uses a wheel kick off the top rope as a finisher.
  
  Jeter has worked within the WWE developmental system with Ohio Valley Wrestling, Heartland Wrestling Association, Memphis Championship Wrestling and in dark matches with WWE.
  
  
  
  
• Chris Cage
  
  Cage has also been trained by Danny Davis and Nick Dinsmore within Ohio Valley Wrestling. Cage uses a neckbreaker as a finisher.
  
  Cage has worked within the WWE developmental system with Ohio Valley Wrestling, Heartland Wrestling Association, Memphis Championship Wrestling; with Ohio independent promotion New World Wrestling and USA Pro in Nashville.
  
  He lists Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, and the late Brian Pillman as inspirations.
  
  
  
  
• Sedrick Strong
  
  One half of IPW-Hardcore Wrestling's top tag team, the Strong Brothers, he was trained by partner Roderick Strong, as well as former Fabulous One Steve Keirn and former Heavenly Body Jimmy Del Ray, as well as the trainers at IPW-Hardcore Wrestling's "Wrestleplex" school. Strong couples aerial and technical wrestling.
  
  His finishers are "The Stronghold" and the Diamond Dust (known as Masato Tanaka's finisher).
  
  Strong has worked for a number of Florida based promotions, including IPW Hardcore Wrestling, NWA-Florida, Wrestling Federation, Future of Wrestling, New Breed Pro Wrestling, New Generation Wrestling; as well as with NWA-Wildside, Jersey All Pro Wrestling, and in dark matches on NWA-TNA.
  
  He had held the IPW Hardcore Tag Team Championships, and had held the Christian Wrestling Federation Cruiserweight Championship.
  
  --------------------------------------------------------------------

New York fans can attend the Super 8 via a bus trip emanating from Queens, New York to the event. The trip will leave at 1:30 PM from the Modells behind the Queens Center Mall and will be $45 per person. The trip includes your transportation back and forth to Delaware on our luxury bus, your ticket to the show. For reservations and information, email AgentCLPT@aol.com.

Boston area fans can travel to both the ECWA Super 8 and a Baltimore Orioles game on April 4th and 5th via Pro Wrestling Tours.
prowrestlingtours@hotmail.com.

For those driving, here are directions to St. Matthew's Parish Center:

From Pennsylvania:

Follow I-95 southbound. Take Exit 5B (Route 141 North/ Newport exit). Take Route 141 northbound about one mile to Exit 4 Route 4 East (Newport exit). At the bottom of the ramp, turn right onto Route 4 East. On Route 4, go through 4 lights. Between the fourth and fifth lights, St. Matthews Parish Center will be on your left.

From Delaware and Maryland:

Follow I-95 northbound. Take Exit 5-B (Route 141 North/ Newport exit). Take Route 141 north about a mile to Exit 4/Route 4 East (Newport exit). At the bottom of the ramp, turn right onto Route 4 East. On Route 4, go through 4 lights. Between the fourth and fifth lights, St. Matthews Parish Center will be on your left.

From New York:

Take I-95 south through Pennsylvania to Delaware. After crossing into Delaware, take Exit 5B/Route 141 North (Newport/Lancaster exit). Follow Route 141 north for 1 mile. Take Exit 4 Route 4 East (Newport exit). At the bottom of the ramp, turn right onto Route 4 East, and follow Route 4 East through 4 lights. Between the fourth and fifth lights, St. Matthews Parish Center will be on your left.

From Pennsylvania:

Follow New Jersey Turnpike (or I-295 below Trenton) to Delaware Memorial Bridge. Cross over Delaware Memorial Bridge (stay to the LEFT, following signs for I-95 south.)

Just before merging onto I-95 southbound, take Exit 5B/ Route 141 North (Newport/Lancaster exit). Follow Route 141 north for 1 mile. Take Exit 4 Route 4 East (Newport exit). At the bottom of the ramp, turn right onto Route 4 East, and follow Route 4 East through 4 lights. Between the fourth and fifth lights, St. Matthews Parish Center will be on your left.

Until next time...

(Pictures from Ohio Valley Wrestling, ECCW, IPW-Hardcore Wrestling, ECWA; courtesy: ECWA © 2003)

_________________________________________________________

(If you have comments or questions, I can be reached by e-mail at bobmagee1@hotmail.com)