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Post by frwfallguy on Jun 16, 2008 7:35:44 GMT -5
Recently, Front Row Wrestling announced we were changing the name of the Granite State championship to Northern New England Championship. This decision was made as FRW is looking at running about 30-40 percent of their shows outside of New Hampshire in the coming year and would allow the title to be defended outside the NH state borders.
Apparently, some of the faithful are enchanted with the idea of having their very own title. We are too, in fact-but the decision was made more towards the future in mind.
That being said...we love the idea of a one state title, as we feel it rewards our current base of fans with something special; a title they can really call their own. The Granite State title has also created some very special moments. "Moondog" DJ Baron originally won the belt in a battle royal in Claremont, NH on May 20, 2006. It ended up being the last title "Iron Man" Tim Walker would hold before retiring. On Feb. 24th, 2007, he lost that title to the man who dominated Front Row Wresting for over a year and half, Christian Angers. Shane Sharp upsetting Maverick Wild for the belt, and then subsequently defeating him against long odds in a classic, brutal street fight on Nov. 17, 2007, marked a defining point in Sharp's ascension to the top of FRW. Steven Marriott's unlikely title reign showed that while not exactly loved by the fans, what a tough competitor the man people derisively called "Frodo" could really be.
Even the title not being able to be defended outside of NH has made for some rather unique moments. Current Granite State champion Tommy Mack ended up having a landmark inter-promotional match in Leominster, Ma with EWA champion Kid Mikaze; had the title been the Northern New England championship in name and scope, it is likely he would have had to defend his own title instead and the match wouldn't have taken place.
So now, we have to consider...does a change in name and scope somehow hurt that history?
With all that we're going to put the change to a vote, and we've decided to run this poll as to the future of the (currently named) Granite State Title. We will abide by the will of the people on this one for one year, should you vote to keep the title as-is. After a year, we will again re-asses the situation and if FRW is doing a higher number of shows outside NH borders...we may not have any other logical choice. Until then...vote away. We will take votes until July 18, 2008 (the day before Ultimate Endurance II). Your comments are not only welcomed, but encouraged.
Sincerely,
FRW Fall Guy
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Post by Tauron Nox on Jun 16, 2008 10:54:47 GMT -5
I voted for the change. While it's uniqueness is something very cool in my eyes, it also limits what can be done with it. If FRW runs more shows out of state, then that means fewer defenses.
To sum up, how can a GS champ be a fighting champ if he can only defend the belt in NH?
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Post by frwfallguy on Jun 16, 2008 12:55:02 GMT -5
I voted for the change. While it's uniqueness is something very cool in my eyes, it also limits what can be done with it. If FRW runs more shows out of state, then that means fewer defenses. To sum up, how can a GS champ be a fighting champ if he can only defend the belt in NH? That is one of the main points for the suggested change. Another reason has to do with the injury Christian Angers had over the spring. It kind of left us scrambling for title matches on our first double weekend. |
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Post by jayredneckh on Jun 16, 2008 14:16:09 GMT -5
even though me and some of the youth squad only catch shows in N.H it would be neat to appear at a show to be suprised by something that we were not aware of outta state or beyond our cheering control change the name let everyone enjoy tital matches as much as we do
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Post by backrowfan on Jun 16, 2008 16:47:47 GMT -5
I voted for the change. While it's uniqueness is something very cool in my eyes, it also limits what can be done with it. If FRW runs more shows out of state, then that means fewer defenses. To sum up, how can a GS champ be a fighting champ if he can only defend the belt in NH? That is one of the main points for the suggested change. Another reason has to do with the injury Christian Angers had over the spring. It kind of left us scrambling for title matches on our first double weekend. I guess that’s a good point, and if you wanna change the name of the title truthfully it ain’t a big deal, and it is your call. BUT… when I was a kid growing up in Central Massachusetts, the WWWF would come to town about once a month and hardly ever was there a titled match. Bruno Sammartino and Bobo Brazil would headline the big cities, but it was up to guys like Chief Jay Strongbow and Gorilla Monsoon to keep the “B” venues going. And you know what? The matches were just as good. Two guys came out, they wrestled, one guy won. Like FRW today, we didn’t need run-ins, promos, storyline advancements, any of that stuff. And we didn’t need titles. I hope the wrestlers themselves also get to vote in this and I would be interested to hear their opinions. |
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Post by frwfallguy on Jun 17, 2008 14:19:16 GMT -5
That is one of the main points for the suggested change. Another reason has to do with the injury Christian Angers had over the spring. It kind of left us scrambling for title matches on our first double weekend. I guess that’s a good point, and if you wanna change the name of the title truthfully it ain’t a big deal, and it is your call. BUT… when I was a kid growing up in Central Massachusetts, the WWWF would come to town about once a month and hardly ever was there a titled match. Bruno Sammartino and Bobo Brazil would headline the big cities, but it was up to guys like Chief Jay Strongbow and Gorilla Monsoon to keep the “B” venues going. And you know what? The matches were just as good. Two guys came out, they wrestled, one guy won. Like FRW today, we didn’t need run-ins, promos, storyline advancements, any of that stuff. And we didn’t need titles. I hope the wrestlers themselves also get to vote in this and I would be interested to hear their opinions. Well...it's hardly a secret which wrestler this is. I'm interested as well, come to think of it. |
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Post by security1 on Jun 17, 2008 15:45:49 GMT -5
I voted yes, I think it should be defended at all the shows.
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Post by pmoholland on Jun 18, 2008 7:01:30 GMT -5
just a comparison going semi old school lol - barry windham had the western states belt and defended it against rick steiner in atlanta and also against dr death steve williams north carolina - last time i looked atlanta and north carolina were eastern states.just saying
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Post by frwfallguy on Jun 18, 2008 7:39:28 GMT -5
just a comparison going semi old school lol - barry windham had the western states belt and defended it against rick steiner in atlanta and also against dr death steve williams north carolina - last time i looked atlanta and north carolina were eastern states.just saying The real standard (to me) was always the Missouri title. Like I posted earlier...that belt was never won or lost outside the city limits of St. Louis, never mind outside of the state. That's kind of what we had in mind when we made the Granite State Title. That, and Jeff Costa used to have one on his shows. Yes...I didn't make it up out of the blue, I stole the idea from Lobsterman. It was a title that eventually got dropped, but I always liked the home town feel the title had. The poorest standard used to be the WWE European title, that got defended more times in the United States than anywhere else. |
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Post by Bad Karma on Jun 18, 2008 17:32:12 GMT -5
I think the title should continue to be called the Granite State Championship. For my time, AWA and FRW have always been considered by me, to be based in NH. The gym is located in NH and most of the shows are run in NH. While that may change, the legacy and soul of the title should remain in tact. Right now, FRW is one of, if not the only group putting on shows in NH. It's nice to have a title that represents something unique. There are plenty of New England titles in New England. Some are the "secondary" title while others are the "top" title. But nobody else has a Granite State Championship.
That being said, it doesn't mean that the FRW office can't change the rules of the Granite State Championship. They could allow the title to be defended outside of NH without tarnishing it's legacy & meaning. Perhaps a different stipulation could be crafted for title defenses outside of NH. For example, 2/3 falls, 2 referees (like the All-Star Championship), or judges... something to make the match more meaningful and at the same time put more pressure on the challenger to earn the championship. Or make those stipulations for title defenses held in NH, if there is going to be less of them.
Proud to be Former FRW Granite State Champion
(and AWA New England Champion)
Christian Angers
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Post by Tauron Nox on Jun 18, 2008 20:58:35 GMT -5
Christian, I like the way you're thinking there. Interesting.
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Post by frwfallguy on Jun 19, 2008 13:14:45 GMT -5
We almost went with 2/3 falls mandatory for the All Star title at one point. If I were going to do it with any championship, that would be the one as it's the main one.
Some of Christian's suggestions to me, would make the GSC appear to be an "equal" title rather than secondary. That would be odd...but it might be good. I've never really seen that done anywhere where a promotion has two titles of roughly equal value. It could set up a scenario where the two champions are constantly trying to outshine the other and would make for an interesting rivalry.
Hmmmm.......
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Post by Tauron Nox on Jun 19, 2008 19:11:15 GMT -5
2/3 falls matches in title defenses is awesome. It's one of my favorite parts of Lucha Libre.
Anyway, the changes Christian mentioned wouldn't necessarily elevate the GSC to the same level as the ASC. A great example is the ROH Pure Wrestling Title. Before it was unified with the ROH Heavyweight championship, it was defended under much more stringent rules, yet it was never held up as an equal title. It was just handled differently. They made sure that defenses of that belt weren't placed higher o the card than the heavyweight title, and they used the Pure title as a way to elevate guys. If not for their reigns as Pure champ, Walters & Nigel wouldn't have had the level of success they've had in ROH.
Just some food for thought.
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Post by Bad Karma on Jun 19, 2008 19:18:31 GMT -5
I agree with Nox. It can be handled differently to make it mean something different. To me the All-Star Championship represents Front Row Wrestling, while the Granite State Championship represents NH. Both are admirable entities to be champion of.
Sometimes titles are defended outside their namesake area. Though not frequent, it is not unusual to see a title from one promotion defended in another. The FRW and EWA titles are sometimes featured on each others' shows. As long as the matches are sanctioned by the governing bodies of the respected titles, they can be defended wherever and however the offices see fit.
Besides, NH would still be in the approximate center of Northern New England. The name still makes sense. I doubt the Granite State Championship would be defended in New Jersey.
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Post by pmoholland on Jun 23, 2008 7:42:28 GMT -5
HOW ABOUT BARRINGTON HINT HINT WE GOT A GOOD SIZE TOWNHALL GYMNASIUM SIDE BLEACHES AND FOLDING CHAIRS AND HIGH ROOF FOR STEEL CAGE MATCHES LOL.
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