Ultimate Championship Wrestling brings Kick-Off Tour to Berwick Arena

By Kirk Starratt

kstarratt@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

Professional wrestling fans in the Valley and throughout Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island will have a chance to be part of Maritime wrestling history later this month.

The newly organized Ultimate Championship Wrestling (UCW) is taking its Ultimate Kick-Off 2008 tour on the road, which concludes at the historic Berwick Arena Sunday night, July 27.

The tour begins at the Barrington Municipal Arena Wednesday night, July 23 then heads to the Halifax Forum Thursday, July 24, the Summerside Credit Union Arena Friday, July 25 and the Charlottetown Civic Centre Saturday, July 26 before wrapping up in Berwick Sunday, July 27.

UCW Promoter and President Chuck Martin says he has secured one of the greatest living legends of the professional wrestling industry for the tour, the longest reigning and greatest WWE Intercontinental Champion of all time, the Honky Tonk Man. That’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Martin said his right-hand-man, UCW Vice-President and Head of Talent Mike Hughes, has put together a stellar line-up of professional wrestling talent for the tour. The UCW office has received hundreds of e-mails from wrestlers all over North America looking to get booked and step into the squared circle even though the promotion has yet to run a show. “The excitement is phenomenal,” Martin said. “Everyone is pumped. There are lots of good sponsors on board; it’s going through the roof.”

Another major acquisition for UCW is Carl Ouellette, perhaps best known as a multiple-time co-holder of the World Tag Team Championship with the legendary Jacques Rougeau. They were known as the Quebecers in the WWE and The Amazing French Canadians in WCW. Ouelette is also a former TNA Wrestling star. “Kowboy” Mike Hughes, a former WWE performer, a national TV star on The Fight Network’s Wrestling Reality and a long-time Maritime main-eventer, will be among the competitors.

Former ECW star and two-time former WWE World Women’s Champion Jazz has signed on with UCW, as has “The International Superstar” Portia Perez.

Expect some Maritime talent

Some Maritime favourites who have signed on with UCW include the Maritime Menace, “Lumber” Jack Johnson, Sidewinder, Killer Bee, Titus, Zero, Julian Moore, Transformer Shockwave the Robot and 21st Century Fox. Martin said there are many more stars to come. Referee Storm MacDonald and ring announcer “Captain” Kirk will be part of UCW and Martin will serve as commissioner.

Martin said everyone involved is putting forth a 110 per cent effort and the promotion will be here for the duration. They hope to bring wrestling back to the level it was in the Maritimes years ago. A larger tour is being planned for September and Martin said fans would definitely be seeing some “ultimate” matches.

Martin said the positive energy is overwhelming in every town where they’re promoting the Ultimate Kick-Off tour. This tour is different and special to him, he says, because it’s his own. The 18-year veteran will have a chance to use his own ideas and shape the future of the promotion. “I used to have to just go with the flow,” he said. “There are things I’ve wanted to try. I’ve seen where others went wrong over the years and I want to help make it right.”