Post by Consigliere on Jul 3, 2009 16:48:23 GMT -5
"We wanted a perfect ending. Now we've learned, the hard way, that some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment, and making the best of it, without knowing why." - JD & Jay
Several key events have happened since April 25, 2009 to bring us to the decision to gracefully close NWA Charlotte effective today, July 3, 2009. The tremendous financial loss from the abrupt closing of NWA Coliseum on April 25th cannot be recouped this year. And the enormous physical costs of re-building new sets, along with upfitting a new facility, are too much to invest in these challenging economic times.
NWA Charlotte was a great dream come true. For JD, it was a 25-year dream from his days of working for Jerry Jarrett & Jim Crockett Promotions to actually owning the NWA franchise in Charlotte in 2009. There is a great deal of professional wrestling history hidden in just about every corner of Charlotte! "I wanted to prove to myself that I could create a promotion from scratch, get the best talent, develop a facility to house it, surround myself with great people, and then put on good shows," said JD Costello. "Together, we all did it."
"We wanted to write and produce shows that people would talk about and remember," said Jay Joyce. "Despite the harsh words from the skeptics and critics, the workers and the fans were the ones who really enjoyed the shows, and we thoroughly enjoyed putting on the shows for them."
NWA Charlotte wrote and produced nine (9) shows from April 25, 2009, to May 30, 2009. Who can forget the opening night jitters and surprises on January 24 with "Homecoming"! Ivan Koloff vs. The Barbarian...who didn't have goosebumps during that match? What about the ill-fated hearse that backed into the Coliseum?! And seeing Raven surprise everybody from the top of the NWA Coliseum set? And what about the appearances of NWA superstars who made history-making appearances at NWA Charlotte: Ivan Koloff, Nikita Koloff, The Barbarian, Raven, Larry Zbyszko, Abdullah the Butcher, Jim Cornette, Babydoll, Awesome Kong, MsChif, NWA Referee Tommy Young, Brad Anderson, The SkullKrushers, Lodi, NWA National Champion Phill Shatter, NWA Superstars Adam Pearce and Brent Albright.
And who could forget our own NWA Charlotte superstars: Mikael Judas, Ryan O'Reilly and Phill Shatter of "III", NWA Heritage Champion Jeff Lewis, Ricky Steamboat Jr., David & Reid Flair, New Wave (Stephen Walters and Derrick Driver), The American Gangsters, TJ and Kirby Mack, Josh Magnum, Dylan Kage, Xsirus, Malachi, Team Ego, Truitt Fields, Kimo, Timber, Zack Salvation, CW Anderson, and the rest of the most talented and amazing roster ever assembled by Independent wrestling standards.
Then there were the unique characters in the audience and behind the scenes: Brady Parker, the genius behind building the NWA Coliseum, Stacy Parker at the front with tickets, Lodi helping run the backstage and announcing and wrestling (!), Tim "Dixon Knows Best" Dixon calling the play-by-play and producing the fantastic episodes of "Unleashed", Dawn and Ashley Smith serving you in The Cage, Tim Smith organizing the referees and security, Robert and Lori Lee prepping the front and back before every show, Joe Scarborough running that crazy spotlight, security mobsters Clint Scarborough, Mike Tiller, Jared Canup, and brothers Chris and Brian Rogers. Referees Josh Cash, Charles Culler, Ace Armstrong, Tim Smith and Tommy Young. Show producer Zack Smith. Lighting guru and producer Jeremiah Clever. How can we forget fan favorites Chris and Somer Wright, Franklin and Pam Dove, Len and Cassie Deffinbaugh, Angela Rabon, Peggy Latham, Dick Bourne, Carlos from New York, and the hundreds of others who filled our life with love and support.
It was a very short run. But we're all in the record books now! People will talk about what we all had. And, for the most part, they will say good things. For whatever reason, despite apparent success and buzz, it always comes down to money and timing. And for NWA Charlotte, both ran out.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You helped make the magic. You helped make dreams come true for thousands. You created entertainment. You made memories. You helped people believe again!
Until we meet again,
JD & Jay
Several key events have happened since April 25, 2009 to bring us to the decision to gracefully close NWA Charlotte effective today, July 3, 2009. The tremendous financial loss from the abrupt closing of NWA Coliseum on April 25th cannot be recouped this year. And the enormous physical costs of re-building new sets, along with upfitting a new facility, are too much to invest in these challenging economic times.
NWA Charlotte was a great dream come true. For JD, it was a 25-year dream from his days of working for Jerry Jarrett & Jim Crockett Promotions to actually owning the NWA franchise in Charlotte in 2009. There is a great deal of professional wrestling history hidden in just about every corner of Charlotte! "I wanted to prove to myself that I could create a promotion from scratch, get the best talent, develop a facility to house it, surround myself with great people, and then put on good shows," said JD Costello. "Together, we all did it."
"We wanted to write and produce shows that people would talk about and remember," said Jay Joyce. "Despite the harsh words from the skeptics and critics, the workers and the fans were the ones who really enjoyed the shows, and we thoroughly enjoyed putting on the shows for them."
NWA Charlotte wrote and produced nine (9) shows from April 25, 2009, to May 30, 2009. Who can forget the opening night jitters and surprises on January 24 with "Homecoming"! Ivan Koloff vs. The Barbarian...who didn't have goosebumps during that match? What about the ill-fated hearse that backed into the Coliseum?! And seeing Raven surprise everybody from the top of the NWA Coliseum set? And what about the appearances of NWA superstars who made history-making appearances at NWA Charlotte: Ivan Koloff, Nikita Koloff, The Barbarian, Raven, Larry Zbyszko, Abdullah the Butcher, Jim Cornette, Babydoll, Awesome Kong, MsChif, NWA Referee Tommy Young, Brad Anderson, The SkullKrushers, Lodi, NWA National Champion Phill Shatter, NWA Superstars Adam Pearce and Brent Albright.
And who could forget our own NWA Charlotte superstars: Mikael Judas, Ryan O'Reilly and Phill Shatter of "III", NWA Heritage Champion Jeff Lewis, Ricky Steamboat Jr., David & Reid Flair, New Wave (Stephen Walters and Derrick Driver), The American Gangsters, TJ and Kirby Mack, Josh Magnum, Dylan Kage, Xsirus, Malachi, Team Ego, Truitt Fields, Kimo, Timber, Zack Salvation, CW Anderson, and the rest of the most talented and amazing roster ever assembled by Independent wrestling standards.
Then there were the unique characters in the audience and behind the scenes: Brady Parker, the genius behind building the NWA Coliseum, Stacy Parker at the front with tickets, Lodi helping run the backstage and announcing and wrestling (!), Tim "Dixon Knows Best" Dixon calling the play-by-play and producing the fantastic episodes of "Unleashed", Dawn and Ashley Smith serving you in The Cage, Tim Smith organizing the referees and security, Robert and Lori Lee prepping the front and back before every show, Joe Scarborough running that crazy spotlight, security mobsters Clint Scarborough, Mike Tiller, Jared Canup, and brothers Chris and Brian Rogers. Referees Josh Cash, Charles Culler, Ace Armstrong, Tim Smith and Tommy Young. Show producer Zack Smith. Lighting guru and producer Jeremiah Clever. How can we forget fan favorites Chris and Somer Wright, Franklin and Pam Dove, Len and Cassie Deffinbaugh, Angela Rabon, Peggy Latham, Dick Bourne, Carlos from New York, and the hundreds of others who filled our life with love and support.
It was a very short run. But we're all in the record books now! People will talk about what we all had. And, for the most part, they will say good things. For whatever reason, despite apparent success and buzz, it always comes down to money and timing. And for NWA Charlotte, both ran out.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You helped make the magic. You helped make dreams come true for thousands. You created entertainment. You made memories. You helped people believe again!
Until we meet again,
JD & Jay
I'm very pissed off right now.
