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The Julius Report: PPW Update

Greetings PPW fans. After a few months hiatus, the official PPW blog is back up and running! After my last post discussing Belles' hostile takeover of PPW, Belles himself attempted to shut this page down. My Blogger account was hacked, the page was sabotaged, and the password changed. I received threats against myself, my family, and my pomeranian, Philbert. I was not intimidated, however, and the powers of truth and transparency eventually prevailed. Now we're back bringing you spin-free news from the inner sanctums of PPW!

This installment of the Julius Report will discuss the results of our last few events including Aftershock and MAYDAY!, along with some behind the scenes news concerning Belles, Tommy Suede and all your favorite PPW Superstars.

PPW: High Voltage crew at Aftershock

April and May were momentous months for PPW, and saw two star studded events throughout the Hazleton Area. In April PPW presented Aftershock at the historic St. Joseph's Gymnasium to a capacity crowd stacked all the way to the rafters. It was our biggest show to date and definitely delivered an action packed evening for the audience in attendance. Several titles were up for grabs, including the newly sanctioned WYLN Television Title.

Mark Maverick was crowned the first ever PPW TV Champion after winning a 20 man over the top royal rumble style match up. Maverick was able to fend off an onslaught of over 20 wrestlers by utilizing his lightning fast speed and fearless in ring maneuvers. The match eventually came down to Maverick and "Mr. Xcellence" Brandon Scott. Maverick was able to get the best of Scott, and claim his spot as TV Champion. After the match, however, Brandon Scott shocked the entire PPW community by turning his back on Maverick and assaulting the newly crowned champ. Scott has vowed revenge against Maverick as he sets his sights on claiming the title that he feels he deserves.

South Philly's finest was crowned the new PPW Tag Team Champions after defeating their long time rivals, The Main Event Hustlas, in a special submission rules match. The bout was a grueling and methodical slobber knocker that pushed both teams to their physical limits. The capacity crowd erupted as "The Gent" Jimmy Konway and "The Line" Luca Brazzi of SPF made Mr. Main Event and M.H. Hustla of The Main Event Hustlas tap out simultaneously to close the book on this storied rivalry. SPF now sits atop one of the most dynamic and electric tag division in all of indy wrestling.

The highlight of the show was without a doubt the epic showdown between "The Product" David Starr and the PPW Champion "Smooth" Tommy Suede, which can be seen in the video below.



As you can see, this was easily one of the greatest matches ever sanctioned by PPW and both men delivered a show stopping performance. Unfortunately, Tommy Suede resorted to cheating once again to retain his title. Suede should be fined and stripped of the belts for assaulting Senior PPW Official Josh Minaker. With Belles in charge, however, that probably won't happen as chaos continues to sweep throughout the entire promotion.

I am still in a state of disbelief at the the action of Commissioner Ryan Race. David Starr had Suede beat dead to rights, not once but twice during this match. Ryan Race betrayed the entire PPW community by refusing to count to three and raise Starr's hand in victory. The only redeeming outcome of this match was that Belles finally got what was coming to him. Starr's attack on Belles cost him a prolonged suspension from the company, but it is a punishment that was well worth it.

Belles, unfortunately, never seems to learn his lesson. The former commissioner was back to his usual ways at PPW: MAYDAY! on May 24 at the Hazleton YMCA. There, he claimed himself the new COO of PPW and reinstated Ryan Race as commissioner. Race's reasons for betraying David Starr became clear as Belles made this blockbuster announcement. There is no telling how far the Belles conspiracy reaches, or how deeps his pockets run.

Belles meets a force of resistance. Photo courtesy of Eric Eichhorn

Belles was finally met with some resistance, however, as several members of the PPW locker room came to the aid of Val Venis at the close of MAYDAY!. Mark Maverick, T.J. Masters, South Philly's Finest, and Homeless Aaron stormed the ring in an attempt to avenge the fallen legend and show Belles, Suede, and Race that there is still a force of good to be reckoned with in PPW. Suede's manager Dylan Dean swore revenge on the unlikely alliance of heroes, and also set his sights on the Samoan sensation Lance Anoa'i.

At PPW: Koolin, on June 21 at the St. Joseph's Gymnasium, the resistance against Belles is sure to grow as Lance Anoa'i makes his return to PPW to respond to Dylan Dean's threats to take out the young Samoan for good. Former WWE Superstars Scotty 2 Hotty and Grandmaster Sexay of Too Cool are scheduled to make their PPW debut, and will surely be forced to choose a side in this ongoing conflict that threatens to tear apart the entire company. Also set to appear are all of your favorite PPW heroes and villains including PPW Tag Team Champions South Philly's Finest, WYLN TV Champion Mark Maverick, Havoc, and many more.

Tickets are $10.00 in advance, $12 at the door for General Admission, and $15 in advance, $20.00 at the door for ringside.

Remember that this will be a TV taping for PPW: High Voltage so don't hesitate to bring signs and be ready to raise hell for the cameras!

Catch PPW: High Voltage every Sunday @ 8:00 P.M. only on WYLN-35.

The Julius Report: A Coup D'état at March Mayhem

The weather hasn't been the only thing changing here in Northeast PA. PPW has been spiraling towards anarchy for the past several months, and at March Mayhem its descent into chaos was rendered complete. At March Mayhem, "Super Agent" Belles shocked the PPW community when he marched into the ring and declared himself the new commissioner. The former commissioner, Ryan Race, was demoted to the position of official in what can only be described as a coup d'état on the part of Belles. This, however, should come as no surprise to anyone who has been following events unfolding beyond the ring in PPW.

For example, in the following video I confront Mike Cammarelli after I catch him on the phone with Belles. I knew something was fishy, but I had no idea a scheme of such magnitude was being hatched.

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Its obvious that Belles already has Cammarelli in his pocket, but the question on everybody's mind is this: How deep does this conspiracy run? Belles claims that someone in a position of authority gave him permission to usurp Ryan Race, which is a very unsettling thought. Who is this shadowy authority figure and what is their role? It could be anyone; an investor, a new CEO, even a company attorney who knows how to manipulate loopholes in the company bylaws. This is a frightening situation developing here in PPW and anyone involved with the company should be more than a little worried.

Even more frightening is that with Belles' rise to power, PPW has become an increasingly dangerous place to work. Gang style beat downs are increasing, refs are losing control of half the matches on the card, and company officials are frequently assaulted with no repercussions. With millions of dollars in his war chest, Super Agent Belles is tightening his iron grip on entire roster of PPW.

Belles declaring himself the new commissioner.

There are, however, early signs of descent among the ranks. Lance Anoa'i stood up to Belles at the end of March Mayhem after Havoc and the Exerguys tried to interfere in his #1 contenders match against David Starr. Anoa'i was challenged to a ten man tag team match at the upcoming Aftershock event on April 26th, and accepted without hesitation. Lance plans to bring the entire Samoan Dynasty to PPW and help restore order to the promotion. This is one that you are going to want to watch closely as Belles' power is challenged for the first time since assuming authority. The Samoan Dynasty better prepare for an all out war because with Belles in their opponents' corner, anything and everything is possible.

I am going to keep this blog post short before I say something that causes retribution. It has become clear that PPW is now a company where holding certain opinions can get you fired. With that said, in the coming weeks I will try to get in touch with Belles and see if he can provide any answers to the questions I raised above. Keep checking back here for any updates to this developing story.

Tune in this SATURDAY for a SPECIAL EDITION of PPW: High Voltage at 9PM.

The Julius Report: March Mayhem

The upcoming March Mayhem show is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated PPW events in the company's history. A recent bombshell announcement dropped by Ryan Race on March 3, 2014 states that Tommy Suede will have to face an opponent chosen by the PPW fan base. This decision came when Tommy Suede accused Ryan Race and the PPW of favoritism after the company quoted David Starr on their official Twitter. Suede's tweet is posted below.

Why is @PPWWrestling1 quoting @TheProductDS ? That seems like favoritism ... Bunch of haters
— Tommy Suede (@TommySuede) February 25, 2014

Fans can vote on Suede's opponent by visiting this link to PPW's official Facebook page. The opponents to choose from include David Starr, Lance Anoai, and TJ Masters. Each of these wrestlers will prove to be a formidable opponent for the PPW Heavyweight Champion. Below I will examine each possible opponent and analyze the threat they pose to the champion.

TJ Masters

TJ Masters has been out for blood ever since Tommy Suede broke his ankle in the second round of the “Go For the Gold” tournament in November of 2013. Fully healed and looking better than ever, Masters looks to dethrone Tommy Suede and once again sit atop the company which he helped found. Before becoming co-owner of PPW, Masters wrestled across Pennsylvania establishing himself as one of the hottest up and comers in the region.

Having worked extensively with Suede in the past, TJ Masters knows every trick that the Champ could throw at him. The same, however, can be said of Tommy Suede. If Masters expects to pick up a W here, he will have to go punch for punch with Suede and let the champ wear himself down. He needs to avoid Suede's arsenal of power maneuvers and keep him grounded.  Going to the top rope in a match against Tommy Suede is always a huge risk but can also have a huge payoff. Master's finishing frogsplash will be difficult and dangerous to hit on Suede who is not easily taken down to the mat. The best bet for TJ Masters is to try and go for his signature muscle buster from a reversal and catch the Champ unexpectedly.

Suede and Masters know each other well. Both will be trying to plot 10 moves ahead of each other in a bout that could prove to be as much a game of chess as it is a wrestling match. The two have teamed together extensively and they each knows how the other operates. Expect to see a steady, methodical approach from both wrestlers, especially Masters who has the thought of  his recent injury fresh on his mind. That should not daunt Masters, however, who is as fearless as he is tough. In fact, his recent injury and thirst for revenge could prove to give Masters the extra edge needed to score the victory and the Heavyweight Title.

"The Product" David Starr

David Starr is slowly becoming one of the most recognizable wrestlers in the independent wrestling scene today. To give you an idea of this young man's popularity, I was at a Ring of Honor show last month and heard people chanting "Look at It" without David Starr even being on the card. He has wrestled in almost every major promotion throughout the Northeast and has impressed audiences wherever he goes. He was the first ever PPW Champion by winning the "Go for the Gold" Tournament before being attacked and defeated by Tommy Suede shortly after his victory. The story of that encounter can be read on my previous blog post.

Hungry for retribution and another shot at the title, David Starr is hoping to win the vote and face his former mentor Tommy Suede. Starr began his career as an amateur wrestler and won distinction in both high school and at West Chester University. He is an all around athlete who is as comfortable flying through the air as he is applying submission maneuvers in the middle of the ring. Suede will certainly have his hands full if Starr is chosen.

There is one thing, however, in which David Starr falls far short of Tommy Suede: experience. The saying goes age and treachery will overcome youth and skill and that certainly may apply in this match. Tommy Suede is a veteran and still in his physical prime. He made his debut when David Starr was still in elementary school. He has wrestled hundreds of young and cocky up and comers like Starr and loves putting them in their place. To get the victory over Tommy Suede will be the most difficult task Starr has ever faced in the squared circle. To win, Starr will have to utilize his speed and amateur wrestling background. Suede isn't used to facing wrestlers who can meet him move for move on the mat, especially ones as quick as Starr. Overpowering Suede will be nearly impossible so Starr's best bet is to keep things scientific. Once he has the champ matted he has to capitalize and hit his finishing Roaring Elbow. He won't have many chances to load up the cannon in this match, so he has to be alert for any openings that present themselves.

Lane Anoai

The third opponent that fans can vote on is none other than Lance Anoa'i. As the heir apparent to one of wrestling's royal families, Lance is a 22 year old phenom who is blazing a momentous trail through the independent wrestling circuit. Lance's father, Samu, was a member of the "Headshrinkers" and his grandfather, Afa, wrestled under the "Wild Samoans". Both are considered legends in the WWE. The family's influence on the industry continues to this day with the Wild Samoans training center and the WXW promotion, both based in Allentown, PA. Wrestlers from all over the world seek the instruction of the legendary Samoans and any wrestler who faces Lance also faces a fierce, patented style honed over several generations.

Just because Lance hails from wrestling royalty, however, doesn't mean anything was handed to him. Last names can only get you so far in this business; the rest relies on your determination and in-ring capability.  Lance Anoa'i lacks neither. His wrestling style utilizes a mixture of speed and high intensity offense that often leaves his opponents dazed and breathless. His biggest advantage is that most opponents simply can't keep up.

In addition to his wrestling credentials, Anoa'i has the added advantage of already scoring a pinfall against Tommy Suede in the PPW. This past January, Lance teamed up with former WWE superstar X-Pac to take on the team of Tommy Suede and Havoc. After a hellacious battle, Lance hit his finishing splash from the top rope and scored the 3 count for his team. The only thing more battered than Suede's body after this match was his ego and he has had it in for Lance Anoa'i ever since. If Lance is chosen as his opponent, Suede will not only be defending his title, but also his honor.

This makes things very dangerous for the young Samoan. While a victory in tag-team competition is an achievement in its own right, gaining one against Suede in singles competition will be twice as difficult. After his defeat in January, Suede will be out to prove that he is the top dog in PPW and will be aiming for the throat of Lance Anoa'i. If Lance expects to pick up a victory and gain the PPW Championship, he will have to tap into a ferocity that he has yet to display in PPW. Speed and high flying maneuvers will only get you so far against Suede, but if Lance's recent singles match with Havoc is any indication, he is more than capable of going blow for blow in an all out slugfest and come out on top.

The man to beat, "Smooth" Tommy Suede

Each of these three opponents pose a serious threat to Suede's title run. Although I usually prefer to remain neutral in such situations, I have to say I would like to see David Starr finally get his rematch against Tommy Suede. This rivalry has been brewing for months now and David Starr is hungry to get in the ring and try to exact his revenge on the PPW Champion. Whichever opponent the fans choose, however, is sure to provide another classic in the annals of PPW. TJ Masters and Lance Anoa'i certainly have what it takes to beat Tommy Suede and both men have something personal at stake in this match. The polls are still very close and I can see this thing coming down to a single vote. All three men are fan favorites and I'm sure loyal followers of PPW will have a difficult time choosing between them.

Whoever ends up facing Suede at March Mayhem, it will certainly be an event you won't want to miss. See Suede take on his fan picked opponent along with all of your PPW favorites such as South Philly's Finest, the Main Event Hustlas, Havoc and many more! The show is on March 29th at the Freeland Event Center. Belltime is at 7:00 P.M.

Remember that this is a TV taping for PPW: High Voltage so don't hesitate to bring signs and be ready to raise hell for the cameras!  Catch PPW: High Voltage every Sunday @ 8:00 P.M. only on WYLN-35.

The Julius Report: AJ Styles comes to PPW

Former TNA Superstar AJ Styles came to Freeland,PA this Sunday to challenge Tommy Suede for the PPW Heavyweight Championship. The match was sanctioned last month at PPW: Redemption by Commissioner Ryan Race and provided Tommy Suede with his most challenging opponent to date. 

PPW Champion Tommy Suede makes his entrance against AJ Styles

Suede won the title from David Starr last November at "PPW: Go for the Gold" after Starr survived a grueling tournament to be crowned the first ever PPW Heavyweight Champion. To claim the title, Suede cashed in the championship contract he earned earlier in 2013 and drove Starr's head through the contract briefcase. Some have praised the audacity of Suede's actions as the proper decision to advance his career, but most have denounced them as desperate and unfair.

The aftermath of Suede's attack on Starr at "Go for the Gold"

Either way you look at it, Tommy Suede's talent and cunning inside the squared circle are undeniable. He has payed his dues throughout the industry, even competing in the biggest show of them all: the WWE. His list of accomplishments is extensive and includes a role in the 2008 hit film, "The Wrestler". Among the many lessons Suede has learned throughout his years in the ring, modesty is not one of them. He is one of the best to ever step between the ropes and he knows it. 

So far, nobody in PPW has been able to claim the title from Tommy Suede. He has run a campaign of terror throughout the promotion by assaulting wrestlers and officials alike. No one has been safe from his wrath. Desperate for someone to bring order back to the ranks of the company, Commissioner Ryan Race sought a superstar who could meet Suede toe to toe and try to reclaim one of the most coveted prizes in all of independent wrestling. He found his answer in "The Phenomenal One", AJ Styles. 

"The Phenomenal One" AJ Styles

Styles came to Freeland ready for action. The wrestlers in the locker room, who often fall victim to Suede's backstage harassment, felt safe in the presence of such a dominating superstar. He took many of the younger wrestlers under his wing and gave them advice on how to carry their careers into the future. Despite the huge buzz a superstar of his stature generates, Styles never lost sight of why he came to Northeast Pennsylvania. He was all business as he entered the ring on Sunday night.


 The match was a high intensity brawl that saw  both superstars pushing their skills to the limits. Despite his excessive whining and often child-like behavior in the ring, Tommy Suede brought his A-game against the "Phenomenal One" and showed him why he wears the gold in PPW. If AJ Styles came to Freeland thinking it would be a cakewalk, those thoughts were quickly dispelled as the match wore on past the ten minute mark with both wrestlers showing no signs of tiring.

Unfortunately, Tommy Suede's ego got the better of him once again as he resorted to cheating to ensure his victory.  While the referee's back was turned, Suede hit Styles with a foreign object that he had hidden in his trunks. He would have gotten away clean except that the fist packer dropped from his hands as the ref raised his arm for the victory. Upon seeing the foreign object, the ref reversed his decision and declared AJ Styles the winner by disqualification. Suede retained the belt and Styles left Freeland with possible head injuries.

In my opinion, it was unnecessary for Tommy Suede to cheat in this match. He was definitely not an underdog here and met Styles at every turn. If he would have kept up his high energy offense and continued to wear AJ Styles down with his explosive blows and crippling power maneuvers, he could have walked away from the ring with the W. A clean win in this match would not only have elevated Suede's status as a wrestler, but also would have brought new prestige to the PPW as a whole. An upset of that magnitude would have generated a buzz across the entire independent circuit and solidified PPW's status as one of the top promotions in the region.

In the months to come I hope to see someone rise from the ranks of the PPW locker room and challenge Suede for the title. Suede is a great all around wrestler who can adapt to any style put in front of him. Combine that with his cunning, and you have one of the most dangerous wrestlers in the business today.Taking the title from around his waist will not be easy. The PPW roster, however, is full of talented wrestlers who can pose a serious threat to Suede's title reign. David Starr and Lance Anoai are both explosive young athletes who are as comfortable on the top rope as they are in the middle of the mat and could prove to be formidable contenders for Suede's title. Bruisers such as Louie Castillo and Havoc can go punch for punch with Tommy Suede and keep him grounded in a slower paced slug fest in which Suede's arsenal of technical maneuvers would be rendered useless. The opportunity to rise to main-event status is certainly there for many  of the wrestlers in PPW if they are determined and brave enough to seize it.

Watch Tommy Suede face AJ Styles on PPW: High Voltage on WYLN 35 Sunday March, 9 at 8:00 P.M.