The East Coast Wrestling Association’s (ECWA) annual Super 8 Tournament is the oldest and most recognized pro wrestling tournament in the United States. The inaugural tournament took place in 1997 and gave many of today’s stars their first big break on the East Coast including Daniel Bryan (aka Bryan Danielson, American Dragon), Christopher Daniels, Austin Aries, the Hardy Boyz and many more. Each year, Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) magazine has recognized and covered the tournament in depth. Many of today’s top independent stars in the United States and abroad grew up reading about the Super 8 in PWI magazine and were inspired by the prospect of one day competing in the Super 8 and fulfilling their dreams of being a professional wrestler! The tournament also inspired pro hopefuls who otherwise might have been considered too small to be a pro as the tournament has highlighted the junior heavyweight style.
In 2011, for the first time ever, the Super 8 Tournament was held outside of Delaware and took place in Voorhees, NJ at the Flyers Skate Zone.
This year, on April 7th 2012, the 16th Annual Super 8 comes home to the Greater Newark Boys & Girls Club in Newark, DE*, Bell Time 7 PM, which hosted the tournament from 2005-2010. The tournament was held at Saint Matthews Parish Hall in Wilmington, Delaware from 1997-2004!
For info on this year’s 16th Annual ECWA SUPER 8 including bios on all 8 competitors visit: http://ecwaprowrestling.com/ecwa/super-8/2012-super-8/
NOTE: Amazing Red had to pull out of the Super 8 due to a family emergency! Replacing Red is TNA IMPACT! Star TONY NESE!!!
http://ecwaprowrestling.com/ecwa/2012/04/01/red-out-nese-in-super-8-this-sat-apr-7th-5-days-away/
For media video and radio interviews with the 2012 competitors visit:
http://ecwaprowrestling.com/ecwa/super-8/2012-super-8-media/
For the history of the Super 8 visit:
http://ecwaprowrestling.com/ecwa/super-8/history/
16th ANNUAL ECWA SUPER 8 (Apr 7, 2012) PREVIEW:
2012 Super 8 … GOOGLE IT!!!
Bleacher Report by Dean Dixon
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1093979-previewing-the-16th-annual-ecwa-super-8-tournament
SNAPMARE.COM Coverage of 2012 SUPER 8:
http://www.snapmare.com/ECWA2012Super8.html
2011 SUPER 8 HIGHLIGHTS:
SNAPMARE.COM Coverage of 2011 SUPER 8:
http://www.snapmare.com/ECWA2011Super8Coverage.html
PWInsider.com Coverage of 2011 SUPER 8:
http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=57575&p=1
TNA IMPACT! SPIKE TV, Mar 1, 2012: Chris Daniels (Super 8 1999 finalist, 2000 & 2004 winner and former ECWA Heavyweight Champion) v AJ Styles (S8 2002 finalist) v Frankie Kazarian (S8 2003 semi-finalist); ODB v Madison Rayne; Zema Ion (Shiima Zion, S8 2011 semi-finalist) vs Shannon Moore (S8 2008 quarter-finalist); Bobby Roode (S8 2002 quarter-finalist), Austin Aries (S8 2004 finalist, S8 2011 semi-finalist) and Bully Ray v James Storm, Samoa Joe and Brutus Magnus. So 7 OUT OF 11 MALE WRESTLERS on TNA MARCH 1, 2012 CAME THROUGH THE SUPER 8!!! Many like Chris Daniels, Austin Aries, Bobby Rode (then Boby Rude), AJ Styles, Kazarian got their first big East Coast exposure and first PWI Magazine exposure from the Super 8! This year there are 8 competitors, some who some you know, some you don’t. One thing is for sure, EVERYONE will know them more after the Super 8 on Apr 7, 2012 than before!!! The Super 8 was the FIRST, the ORIGINAL, the MOST RECOGNIZED and still is the BEST 8-man, single elimination tournament in pro wrestling! Be there Apr 7, 2012 in Newark, Delaware for GreekGod Papadon, Kekoa, Bobby Fish, AMAZING RED, Azrieal, Gregory Iron, Kyle Matthews and Bandido Jr. For tix call 609.220.5598! Tix are ONLY $15 adult and $10 for kids 12 and under!!! Many others charge $20-25-30 for ringside and this IS the Super 8!!! “ECWA … become a fan all over again!!!”- Joe Zanolle, ECWA, Matchmaker
I can’t wait for this year’s East Coast Wrestling Association SUPER 8 TOURNAMENT! This year is the 16th Annual edition. It is the oldest, most recognized and most covered tournament of its kind. It has served as a platform to many future stars. But to clarify, the Super 8 is not about Joe Zanolle or Mike Tartaglia or founder Jim Kettner or the ECWA itself. It is about 8 professional wrestlers looking to prove they are the best of the best. Looking to prove that professional wrestling is still alive, that there are new stars waiting to break through, that there are new stars ready and able to have the torch passed to them and to help carry on the tradition of this business into the future and beyond. This year’s participants “Greek God” Papadon, Kekoa the Flyin Hawaiian, Bobby Fish, AMAZING RED, Azrieal, Gregory Iron, Kyle Matthews and Bandido Jr all have different levels of experience and exposure and all bring their unique talents and skills to the table this year. Like any competition, there is only one winner, but as a collective field of 8, there are no losers here. There are 8 winners! I am proud to serve as the caretaker of this event and promise to do my best to help maintain this tradition. Make sure you check out the Super 8 on Apr 7, 2012 in Newark, Delaware, PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING the way YOU remember it! I guarantee you will “become a fan all over again!” – Joe Zanolle, ECWA, Matchmaker
