 Logo of the Great Canadian Wrestling | |
| Acronym | GCW |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2005 |
| Style | Professional wrestling |
| Headquarters | Oshawa |
| Website | http://gcwe.ca/ |
Great Canadian Wrestling (GCW) is an independent professional wrestling promotion company based in Oshawa, Ontario. GCW was founded in 2005 and promotes shows throughout Southern Ontario. The company also hosts since 2005 an annual Great Canadian Wrestling Expo that takes place over several days and brings together a large group of wrestlers. Currently, four championships are defended at GCW events.
GCW events featured a roster of wrestlers who compete regularly for the promotion as well as occasional appearances by wrestlers currently signed with major promotions. In addition, a group of "legends", or veteran wrestlers from other promotions, also would compete on occasion for GCW.
On February 18, 2009, GCW began an online broadcast titled GCWtv.
In November 2015, GCW rebranded itself as Infinity Wrestling.
History
GCW gives out the Ontario Indy Wrestling Awards annually, which is eligible to all wrestling promotions and wrestlers who perform in Ontario.
Wrestling Expo
Beginning in 2005, the promotion's first year, GCW has assembled a group of wrestlers from various promotions to compete in a multi-day event known as the Great Canadian Wrestling Expo. The first Expo attracted 600 visitors and included merchandise sales from a wide variety of vendors, an auction, and opportunities to meet with the wrestlers for autographs and photographs. Ed the Sock was named commissioner for the event and proceeds from the weekend were donated to the Sick Kids Foundation. In 2006, the event was combined with the 10th Annual Anime North Convention. The event featured primarily traditional wrestling matches but also included gimmick matches such as one between wrestlers competing as the Green Power Ranger and the Red Power Ranger for leadership of the Power Rangers, as well as an encounter between Team Sailor Moon and Team Rocket. This cross-promotional event attracted 11,286 paid attendees. Since 2006, GCW has continued to promote a series of shows along with Anime North.
Wrestlers
Although GCW promotes matches with many wrestlers who have not appeared in major promotions, the organization also has an agreement with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) that facilitates events titled TNmAyhem, in which wrestlers from TNA compete. The first of these cards took place on May 24, 2007, and features appearances by such wrestlers as Raven, Christopher Daniels, and A.J. Styles. GCW events also feature wrestlers who have gained fame in major American promotions, such as Billy Gunn, The Honky Tonk Man, and Koko B. Ware.
Roster
GCW had a regular group of wrestlers that competed for the promotion; this includes both male and female wrestlers. In addition, many wrestlers made sporadic appearances for the company. On the company roster, GCW divides these occasional performers into two groups: legends (longtime wrestlers, many of whom are semi-retired) and superstars (wrestlers who currently compete, or have recently competed, for major promotions).
Regular roster
GCW's regular roster consisted of wrestlers who competed for the promotion on a regular basis:
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W.I.L.D. Division
The W.I.L.D. Division consisted of GCW's female wrestlers:
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Championships
GCW National Championship
The GCW National Championship was a professional wrestling championship that serves as the major championship for Great Canadian Wrestling.
| Wrestler: | Times: | Date: | Location: | Notes: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Elgin | 1 | April 13, 2006 | Oshawa, Ontario | Won a Ladder Match at Reach for the Gold |
| TJ Wilson | 1 | May 25, 2006 | Oshawa, Ontario | Defeated Michael Elgin and Shark Boy in a Triple Threat at Battleground Zero |
| Michael Elgin | 2 | May 27, 2006 | Oshawa, Ontario | Defeated TJ Wilson in a Tag Match at Anime North Johnny Devine defeated Jake O'Reilly in a Lumberjack match at Breaking Point but it was ruled a DQ by CEO Jamie Virtue. |
| Johnny Devine | 1 | September 15, 2006 | Oshawa, Ontario | Defeated Michael Elgin in a Cage Match at Last Chance |
| Jake O'Reilly | 1 | July 13, 2007 | Oshawa, Ontario | Defeated Havok in a Dog Collar Match at Beyond the Limit Jake O'Reilly is seriously injured in September 2007 but refuses to vacate. In February 2008 Jake O'Reilly returned to competition, still holding the title. |
| Otis Idol | 1 | October 9, 2008 | Oshawa, Ontario | Defeated Jake O'Reilly in a No-Holds-Barred Bunkhouse Brawl at Hair vs. Hair! |
| Jake O'Reilly | 2 | April 19, 2009 | Oshawa, Ontario | As the masked Sterling Silver, defeated Otis Idol at Veni! Vidi! Vici! |
| Hayden Avery | 1 | February 20, 2010 | Oshawa, Ontario | |
| RJ City | 1 | September 10, 2010 | Oshawa, Ontario | |
| Jaxon Jarvis | 1 | ? | Oshawa, Ontario | |
| Zakk Atticus | 1 | January 8, 2015 | Oshawa, Ontario | |
| Jaxon Jarvis | 2 | January 8, 2015 | Oshawa, Ontario | |
| Steve Brown | 1 | ?? | Oshawa, Ontario | |
| Deactivated | Oshawa, Ontario |
GCW Interim Heavyweight Championship
In 2007, GCW National Champion Jake O'Reilly was injured but unwilling to vacate his title. As a result, an eight-man tournament was held to determine the first holder of the newly created GCW Interim Heavyweight Championship. O'Reilly, still holding his National Championship, returned in February 2008, and the two titles were unified when Otis Idol defeated O'Reilly in October 2008.
| Wrestler: | Times: | Date: | Location: | Notes: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Atlas | 1 | December 28, 2007 | Oshawa, Ontario | Defeated Cody Deaner in the finals of an 8-Man Tournament at Season's Beatings |
| Otis Idol | 1 | February 21, 2008 | Oshawa, Ontario | Defeated Phil Atlas in a Last Man Standing match at Cabin Fever; title unified with the National Championship in October 2008 |
| Deactivated | Oshawa, Ontario | title unified with the National Championship in October 2008 |
GCW Ontario Independent Championship
The GCW Ontario Independent Championship is a secondary title in the Great Canadian Wrestling promotion. It was created in May 2006, and a four-man tournament was held to determine the initial champion.
| Wrestler: | Times: | Date: | Location: | Notes: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Jacobs | 1 | May 25, 2006 | Oshawa, Ontario | Defeated Ash in the finals of a 4-man Tournament at Battleground Zero |
| Kris Chambers | 1 | June 8, 2006 | Oshawa, Ontario | Defeated Jimmy Jacobs at Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal |
| Jake O'Reilly | 1 | August 30, 2006 | Oshawa, Ontario | Defeated Kris Chambers at Final War' |
| Hayden Avery | 1 | November 18, 2006 | Oshawa, Ontario | Defeated Michael Elgin (substitute for Jake O'Reilly) at Stampede Showdown |
| Cody Deaner | 1 | November 18, 2006 | Oshawa, Ontario | Defeated Hayden Avery at Stampede Showdown |
| Hayden the Destroyer (Hayden Avery) |
2 | March 23, 2007 | Oshawa, Ontario | Defeated Cody Deaner at Ugandan Invasion |
| Cody 45 | 1 | June 22, 2007 | Oshawa, Ontario | Defeated Hayden the Destroyer at Random Acts of Violence |
| Xtremo | 1 | October 19, 2007 | Oshawa, Ontario | Defeated Cody 45 in a 'Loser Leaves GCW' match at Fright Nite |
| Phil Atlas | 1 | March 20, 2008 | Oshawa, Ontario | Won a 5-way match at TNmAyhem |
| Brad 'Freakin' Martin | 1 | April 10, 2008 | Oshawa, Ontario | Defeated Phil Atlas and Xtremo in a 3-Way match at Game Over |
| Tiger Star | 1 | January 7, 2009 | Oshawa, Ontario | Defeated Brad 'Freakin' Martin and Hayden Avery in a 3-Way match at New Year's Evil |
| RJ City | 1 | April 19, 2009 | Oshawa, Ontario | Defeated Tiger Star at Veni! Vidi! Vici! |
| Rico Montana | 1 | May 17, 2009 | Oshawa, Ontario | cashed in his title shot he earned in 2008's GCW Holiday Rumble and defeated RJ City |
| Vacated | December 27, 2010 | Oshawa, Ontario | Title was held up | |
| Cody Deaner | 2 | December 27, 2010 | Oshawa, Ontario |
GCW Tag Team Championship
The GCW Tag Team Championship was a championship that serves as the major tag team championship in the Great Canadian Wrestling promotion.
| No. | Wrestler | Reign | Date | Days held |
Location | Event | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Beverly Hills Gangstas (Cody 45 & Tarantula Gomez) |
1 | August 30, 2006 | 16 | Oshawa, Ontario | GCW | Defeated The Lunatics (Crazzy Steve & Gutter) in the finals of an eight-team tournament at Final War. | |
| 2 | The Lunatics (Crazzy Steve & Gutter) |
1 | September 15, 2006 | 104 | Oshawa, Ontario | GCW Last Chance | Crazzy Steve defeated Cody 45 in a one-on-one title match at Last Chance | |
| 3 | Jake O'Reilly & Michael Elgin | 1 | December 28, 2006 | 15 | Oshawa, Ontario | GCW Season's Beatings | Defeated Lunatics (Crazzy Steve and Gutter) at Season's Beatings; on January 12, 2007, Jake O'Reilly attacked Michael Eligin, thus vacating the title. | |
| Vacated | January 12, 2007 | Oshawa, Ontario | Title was held up | |||||
| 4 | Michael Elgin (2) & Havok | 1 | March 23, 2007 | 21 | Oshawa, Ontario | GCW Canadian Invasion | Defeated Jake O'Reilly & Joe Doering, but Havok dropped the title at Ugandan Invasion | |
| 5 | Michael Elgin (3) & Derek Wylde | 1 | April 13, 2007 | 91 | Oshawa, Ontario | Derek Wylde accepted Michael Elgin's invitation to become co-holder of the Tag Team Championships at Veni! Vidi! Vici! Jake O'Reilly & Crazzy Steve defeated Michael Elgin & Derek Wylde at Anarchy in Angus but the decision was reversed | ||
| 6 | Hayden Avery & Cody Deaner | 1 | July 13, 2007 | 135 | Oshawa, Ontario | GCW Beyond The Limit | Defeated Derek Wylde & Andrew Davis (substituting in for the injured Michael Elgin) at Beyond the Limit | |
| 7 | The Flatliners (Asylum & Matt Burns) |
1 | November 25, 2007 | 137 | Oshawa, Ontario | GCW Genesis | Defeated Hayden Avery & Cody Deaner at Genesis 11:25:07 | |
| 8 | Hayden Avery (2) & Cody Deaner (2) | 2 | April 10, 2008 | 64 | Oshawa, Ontario | GCW 2nd Anniversary Show: Game Over | Defeated The Flatliners in a Tag Team Cage Match at Game Over | |
| 9 | The House of Virtue (Andrew Davis & Sebastian Suave) |
1 | June 13, 2008 | 310 | Oshawa, Ontario | GCW Random Acts Of Violence 2008 | Defeated Hayden Avery & Cody Deaner at Random Acts of Violence | |
| 10 | The ProStars (Josh Alexander & Tyler Tirva) |
1 | April 19, 2009 | 152 | Oshawa, Ontario | GCW Veni! Vidi! Vici! | Defeated The House of Virtue at Veni! Vidi! Vici! | |
| 11 | Cody 45 (2) & Ashley Six | 1 | September 18, 2009 | 386 | Oshawa, Ontario | GCW Final War | Defeated The ProStars, Josh Alexander and Tyler Tirva at Final War 09 | |
| 12 | Michael Elgin (4) & Ashley Six (2) | 1 | October 9, 2010 | Oshawa, Ontario | ||||
| Deactivated | Oshawa, Ontario |
GCW WILD Championship
The GCW WILD Championship is a professional wrestling championship that serves as the major women's championship in the Great Canadian Wrestling promotion.
| # | Wrestler | Reign | Date | Days held |
Location | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sirelda | 1 | November 18, 2006 | 125 | Oshawa, Ontario | W.I.L.D. Tournament 2006 | Sirelda defeated Nattie Neidhart in the finals of an 8–woman tournament to become the inaugural champion. |
| 2 | Miss Danyah | 1 | March 23, 2007 | 17 | Oshawa, Ontario | Ugandan Invasion | |
| 3 | April Hunter | 1 | April 13, 2007 | 1 | Oshawa, Ontario | Veni! Vidi! Vici! | |
| 4 | Cherry Bomb | 1 | April 14, 2007 | 69 | Oshawa, Ontario | Anarchy in Angus | This was a fatal four–way, also involving Hailey Rogers and Miss Danyah. |
| 5 | Miss Danyah | 2 | June 22, 2007 | 120 | Oshawa, Ontario | Random Acts of Violence | |
| 6 | Portia Perez | 1 | October 20, 2007 | 103 | Oshawa, Ontario | W.I.L.D. Tournament 2007 | Portia Perez defeated LuFisto in the finals of an 8–woman tournament. |
| 7 | Miss Danyah | 3 | January 31, 2008 | 304 | Oshawa, Ontario | Final Night | |
| 8 | Deanna Conda | 1 | November 30, 2008 | 363 | Oshawa, Ontario | W.I.L.D. '08 - Supershow | Deanna Conda defeated Jamie D in the finals of an 8–woman tournament. |
| 9 | PJ Tyler | 1 | November 28, 2009 | 117 | Oshawa, Ontario | W.I.L.D. '09 - Showdown | PJ Tyler defeated Deanna Conda in the finals of an 8–woman tournament. |
| 10 | Anthony Darko | 1 | March 25, 2010 | Oshawa, Ontario | GCW 100 | ||
| 11 | Skylar Rose | 1 | ? | Oshawa, Ontario | |||
| 12 | Kaitlin Diemond | 1 | May 2, 2014 | Oshawa, Ontario | |||
| 13 | Skylar Rose | 2 | ? | Oshawa, Ontario | |||
| 14 | Beautiful Beaa | 1 | February 7, 2015 | Oshawa, Ontario |
References
- ^ "Company Overview". Great Canadian Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
- "Press Room". Great Canadian Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
- Martin, Adam (2009-02-10). "Indy News #1: February 10". WrestleView. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
- "Awards Overview « Awards Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net.
- "The 2009 Ontario Indy Wrestling Awards - OWW". January 20, 2010. Archived from the original on 26 August 2017.
- "Best in Ontario to be honoured this Saturday". canoe.com. Archived from the original on August 12, 2018.
- Martin, Adam (January 7, 2010). "Indy News #5: January 7 (Awards)". Archived from the original on 12 August 2018.
- Martin, Adam (January 4, 2010). "Indy News #2: January 4 (Indy award)". Archived from the original on 12 August 2018.
- Devine, Johnny (2005-11-11). "A great Canadian wrestling weekend!". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - McNamara, Andy (2005-11-05). "Oshawa Expo off and running". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ McNamara, Andy (2006-05-29). "Elmo, Power Rangers, Sailor Moon: An animated show". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - "Anime North 2006 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
- "Extreme Anime 2007: May 25, 2007". Great Canadian Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
- "Anime North: Day 1". Great Canadian Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
- "TNmAyhem: May 24, 2007". Great Canadian Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
- Martin, Adam (2008-03-17). "Pure Wrestling Association/All Canadian Wrestling reports + 3/20 GCW". WrestleView. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
- "Honky Tonk Man to shake, rattle and roll into Lindsay". The Lindsay Post. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
- Donaldson, Wally. "Koko B Ware puts on a show". The Oshawa Express. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2009-04-03.
- "Singles Division". Great Canadian Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
- "W.I.L.D. Division". Great Canadian Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
- ^ "GCW National Championship". Great Canadian Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
- ^ "GCW Interim Heavyweight Championship". Great Canadian Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
- ^ "GCW Ontario Independent Championship". Great Canadian Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
- "GCW Tag Team Championship". Great Canadian Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
- Kreikenbohm, Philip (August 30, 2006). "GCW - Event @ Oshawa, Ontario, Canada". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- Kreikenbohm, Philip (September 15, 2006). "GCW Last Chance - Event @ Oshawa, Ontario, Canada". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- Kreikenbohm, Philip (December 28, 2006). "GCW Season's Beatings - Event @ Canadian Legion Hall in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- Kreikenbohm, Philip (March 23, 2007). "GCW Canadian Invasion - Event @ Oshawa, Ontario, Canada". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- Kreikenbohm, Philip (April 14, 2007). "GCW Anarchy In Angus - Event @ Essa Recreational Complex in Angus, Ontario, Canada". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- Kreikenbohm, Philip (July 13, 2007). "GCW Beyond The Limit - Event @ Royal Canadian Legion in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- Kreikenbohm, Philip (November 25, 2007). "GCW Genesis - Event @ Royal Canadian Legion in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- Kreikenbohm, Philip (April 10, 2008). "GCW 2nd Anniversary Show: Game Over - Event @ Royal Canadian Legion in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- Kreikenbohm, Philip (June 13, 2008). "GCW Random Acts Of Violence 2008 - Event @ Royal Canadian Legion in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- Kreikenbohm, Philip (April 19, 2009). "GCW Veni! Vidi! Vici! - Event @ Oshawa, Ontario, Canada". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- Kreikenbohm, Philip (September 18, 2009). "GCW Final War - Event @ Royal Canadian Legion Hall in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- ^ "GCW W.I.L.D. Championship". Great Canadian Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
External links
- GCWE.ca – official website
- CanadianWrestlingExpo.com – official website (old URL)
- Event results at Online World of Wrestling
- Ontario Indy Wrestling Photos and current news at Ontario Indy Wrestling
 Professional wrestling in Canada | |
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| Notable active promotions | |
| Defunct promotions |
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| Governing bodies and interpromotional alliances |
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| Television and streaming channels | |
| Other | |
