New Year, New Beginnings.

New Year, New Beginnings.


It's been a long long time since I have sat down to write a blog entry. With my over active Facebook account it feels like I am writing a blog throughout the day every day! With CWE celebrating it's 3 year anniversary I figured it would be a good time to sit down and put some thoughts in writing.

First off and most importantly, thank you! Thank you to each and every person who has supported CWE throughout the last 3 years whether it be as a paying customer throughout Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan, a official sponsor of the company, a performer who has put their body on the line for the company, and each and every person who helps with the little or big things on event day. You have all made the last three years an amazing life experience that will carry on with me personally for a life time.

Time really does fly by when you are having fun and to think it has already been three years since I nervously arrived at the Maples Community Center for what was our first and could have been our last event. As a performer I have always strived to be better and get further ahead in the industry and with Winnipeg being my hometown I had grown very tired and jaded with the scene at the time and the lack of drive and passion to attempt bigger and better things and create opportunities for some of the most talented men in this country. It was with great resistance and cooperation from the "industry leaders" at the time we looked to make our mark and create a splash in the Winnipeg market place. We had our doubters fans and wrestlers alike but with the team we had assembled, whether or not all of them were viewed as "top guys" at the time I knew we had a passionate dedicated group of guys that wanted a changing of the guard. That didn't take long to happen and three years later most of those men have developed into a amazing performers with great success to their name for it.

When we first launched the company Winnipeg was still stuck in the "exclusivity" mindset where if you wrestled one place, you weren't wrestling anywhere else. We wanted to break that mind set and in doing so we offered everyone a spot on the debut event we felt could contribute regardless of company affiliation. The likes of Robby Royce, Anderson Tyson Moore, Nate Hardy, Antonio Scorpio Jr., Adam Knight amongst many others you'd eventually see in CWE were offered spots but turned them down due to pressure with their current promoter at the time and not wanting to rock the boat and take a chance. A lot of these men were the established guard in the minds of many wrestling fans in Winnipeg at the time and without them it felt like it might be an uphill battle but luckily we had collected enough guys who wanted to break out to the next level and make something special happen. The likes of AJ Sanchez, Kevy Chevy, Rick Matthews, myself and many others were always considered future top guys in the town but due to never falling in line we never made the jump to the next level. With a chip on our shoulder knowing we were just as talented if not more so than people above us we viewed it as a challenge to prove just how talented we felt we were.

With a lot of the local industries top stars declining the initial show we had to take a chance on a lot of under dogs to step it up and fill spots and make an impression to get the ball rolling. With that being said, one veteran and industry leader decided to take a chance on us and that man was Mentallo. Every other wrestler on the initial event was a "freelance" wrestler in Winnipeg but Mentallo was the ONLY one currently working in a company that wanted exclusivity that took a chance on a company with no proven track record or stable future. When we signed "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson (WWE World Champion Daniel Bryan) to main event our first event it was an easy decision that Mentallo would get the go ahead and be put in the pressured position of the first ever main event.

Looking back on January 23rd, 2009 I recall excitement, nervousness, and disappointment. We had worked very hard to fill the building and the first show was standing room only. We had a packed house, a large crew, and a point to prove. Right out of the gate was a four way match with Billy Blaze, Rick Matthews, Bobby Fox, and Don Douglas. They are all very capable performers and have gone on to have some of the company's best matches in it's 3 year history but on this night something wasn't clicking and it was a beyond BAD match. The opening match sets the pace for the rest of the night and I recall being very stressed watching this match take place as it was the complete opposite of what we needed. With others in the industry wanting to see us fall on our face we looked to be right on track right out of the gate.

After that match it really didn't get too much better from there. Outside of a Big Sexy Beast Midwest Ground And Air tag match everything was fairly lackluster. That of course was until the main event of Bryan Danielson and Mentallo. This match single handily saved the show and perhaps the company in what to this day is one of the best matches I have had the pleasure of watching live.

Not only did Mentallo contribute to saving the show on this night he helped build the foundation in the months to follow by sticking to CWE throughout the pressure and eventual firing from his "home promotion" for working our events. Although things were shaky the first couple events he stood by us and essentially trendsetted other top stars wanting to make the jump and help the company the grow. The inexperience of running a regular wrestling event, especially with a team of young talent developing was apparent in the first string of CWE's shows but with time came confidence and with that confidence came everyone on the crew living up the potential and expectations put in front of them.

Three years later and after some potential company breaking partnerships and attacks we are still going strong, if not stronger than ever. Fresh off our second standing room only crowd in three events CWE has acquired every top star performer in the area, consistently running large scale shows, and providing it's performers opportunities against the world's best and providing opportunities on the road not only for CWE but other companies throughout the country. CWE went from being the place no one wanted to take a chance on to being the place everyone serious about the business wants to be apart of. Looking back on the resistance from other industry leaders it only forced us to work harder and think smarter to excel and realistically become the only top tier show in the city of Winnipeg.

I am personally very proud and appreciative of the team we have and what we have accomplished and look forward to making 2012 the most memorable year yet. Fresh off a memorable anniversary show we bounce right back with a huge show March 8th at Cowboy's Roadhouse featuring the debut of former ECW World Champion Tommy Dreamer. With an agreement set in place with Western based company the CNWA (www.cnwawrestling.ca) pioneered by Manitoba born Vance Nevada you will be seeing more fresh faces from out west making their way to CWE and some of your favorite CWE stars getting any opportunity apart of their upcoming television project.

It's been an amazing three years, again, thank you everyone who has supported the company on any level. Buckle up your seat belts, this ride is just getting started!



"Hotshot" Danny Duggan