At the mid-point of 2008, it seems only fitting to take a look at how the wrestlers of NAPW have fared throughout these first six months. For some, '08 has been a year of triumph and glory. Others have stumbled. Either way, the roster of NAPW has rarely been as full of talent as it is now!The criteria for grading is subjective, based on a few categories. I will take a look at their career trajectories, key wins and losses, title victories, and the assorted "X" factor, assigning each wrestler a letter grade. I have graded wrestlers that have competed almost exclusively in Tag Team competition as a team. Please note that all comments are the opinions of this reporter alone, but as one of NAPW's most detailed chroniclers, I certainly think my opinions are valid.
Jake Phoenix
KEY WINS: d. Trent Daniels for Heritage Title, d. Krusty Kid Paul & Matthew Kurtis in a Barbed Wire Flaming Tables match
KEY LOSSES: l. Dan Ryan in 2nd round of 2008 Canada Cup, l. Ravager (whose win got him reinstated into NAPW), l. "LDK" Lloyd Rees in a World Title match
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Heritage Title, 2nd round of 2008 Canada Cup
Jake Phoenix is a perfect .500 since entering NAPW, and his 2008 has been no different. He is one of the biggest threats in NAPW at any given moment, a physical force that is impossible to stop... but he can be momentarily deterred. Phoenix's record in big match situations is, like his overall record, .500. He has thus far had a strong Heritage Title reign, but at some point Jake Phoenix needs to win the NAPW World Title or risk being labelled a "choker."
GRADE: BStone Zellor
KEY WINS: d. Bruce Richards & White Chocolate (w/Lady Sparks, mixed tag)
KEY LOSSES: l. Trent Daniels (lost Heritage title), l. The Beast in several different tag situations, l. Dez Carter & Asuka Katsuragi (w/Lady Sparks, mixed tag)
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Heritage Title
Stone Zellor is difficult to rate. He set a record as the longest reigning Heritage Champion of all time, as well as posting four successful defenses of the same title. However, each of those defenses was a losing effort where Stone only retained because he lost by DQ or count-out - most of which were intentional on the champions part. Stone was eventually dethroned for the title and became embroiled in a feud with former friend Bruce Richards. Stone's winning ways from 2007 have slipped away along with his good attitude and fan support. Could his win over Bruce Richards & Tiffany Macintyre just over a week ago could be the start of big things for the former "Dynamite" one?
GRADE: C+D!
KEY WINS: d. Trent Daniels, d. The Screaming Falcon
KEY LOSSES: l. Rex Caliber
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Does returning when people were beginning to think you were dead count?
The man nobody expected to ever see again returned in a shocking moment at Sole Survivor, as hate-filled as the last time NAPW fans saw him way back in 2006. Since returning, D! has feuded with wrestlers similar to how he once was, young up-and-comers. He has succeeded in breaking Jacob Venar, who has more or less lost his mind as a result of D!'s mindgames and beatings. However, D! has not had the same effect on one Trent Daniels. D! has beaten Trent, but it was not a decisive victory. To date, D! has not been able to put himself into title contention, and his loss to Rex Caliber has dropped him down in the rankings. Posting a respectable 4-1-1 record, D!'s future is nonetheless as unpredictable as his return was.
GRADE: B-Krusty Kid Paul
KEY WINS: d. Mystic Exposition (w/Tommy Deathrow), d. Tommy Deathrow (twice!)
KEY LOSSES: l. tag titles to Mystic Exposition, l. Jake Phoenix in Barbed Wire Flaming Tables
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Lengthy tag title run, undefeated against Tommy Deathrow
Once seen as little more than Tommy Deathrow's goofy sidekick, Krusty Kid Paul is undeniably coming into his own over 2008. His tag title run with Tommy Deathrow was vicious and very successful. Following the title loss to Mystic Exposition, KKP turned on Deathrow. Paul has posted a very solid record since returning to NAPW and more importantly, has performed well in big-match situations. He showed the world that he is no joke in a brutal Three-Way barbed wire flaming tables match against Jake Phoenix and Matthew Kurtis, and has defeated Tommy Deathrow TWICE in bloody encounters. His performances have earned him an NAPW title shot in two weeks. Krusty Kid Paul, NAPW World Champion? It's hardly as unbelievable as it once sounded.
GRADE: A-The Screaming Falcon
KEY WINS: d. Trent Daniels & King Koji
KEY LOSSES: l. four-corners Heritage Title match, l. D!, l. "LDK" Lloyd Rees twice, l. Ravager/Krenshov/Dez Carter (w/Prince Darko & KBOND)
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Lasted from #1 to over an hour in Sole Survivor
2008 has not been kind to Jacob Venar, now known as "The Screaming Falcon." Despite coming into the year as one of NAPW's hottest talents, Falcon has suffered big loss after big loss. The loss to D!, in particular, combined with D!'s mind games and verbal abuse, seems to have fractured young Venar's persona. Now doing whatever it takes to win, including breaking the rules, Screaming Falcon has... not done much better. He did, however, score a big win giving him a Heritage Title shot at the next NAPW show. Whatever his name, Falcon needs to focus and fast or continue his descent down the rankings faster than a lead balloon.
GRADE: D"Bluegrass Badass" Matthew Kurtis
KEY WINS: d. "Bad Boy" Joey Malone
KEY LOSSES: l. "Bad Boy" Joey Malone
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Does "winning" the Extreme Jobber title count as an "accomplishment?"
Matthew Kurtis has not had a good year. After several upsets, the "Bluegrass Badass" became bent on physically abusing the hard-luck Joey Malone and his friends in the WGA, a vendetta which saw him lose matches at an alarming rate in singles and tag affair. Matt's rage even led to him being pinned by Joey Malone, making him the "extreme jobber" champion. After Matt ended his feud with the WGA with a decisive victory, and once again reunited with ex-flame Lyndsey Valentine, Matthew seemed to right the ship... only for his notorious history of injuries once again knock him out thanks to burns and injures sustained in a violent barbed wire flaming tables match. It would be tempting to give Matt an "incomplete" due to his current status, but for the better part of six months he wrestled on almost every card. He just didn't win very much.
GRADE: C-Prince W. Darko
KEY WINS: d. Bluegrass Mafia (w/KBOND), d. Ravager & Dez Carter (w/KBOND), d. "LDK" Lloyd Rees in the 1st round of 2008 Canada Cup
KEY LOSSES: l. Trent Daniels in 2nd round of 2008 Canada Cup, l. "The Show" Chad Kurtis & Dan Ryan in a World Title match, l. "The Show" Chad Kurtis
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 2nd Round of 2008 Canada Cup. And can you say "KBOND?"
While it is easy to write off Prince W. Darko as little more than a loud-mouthed trash-talker who can't get the job done, let's look at the facts. Darko has wins over some of NAPW's biggest stars. He's beaten Ravager and Dez Carter. He's beaten current champion "LDK" Lloyd Rees. He continues to surround himself with more proteges/lackeys and it only seems to better him. The reality is, though Darko loses as often as he wins, he has proven that he can win in the big matches, and he can beat the best NAPW has to offer... when he can keep his ego (and mouth) in check. But really, it is only a matter of time before he wins gold once again in NAPW, by hook, by crook, by KBOND.
GRADE: BTrent Daniels
KEY WINS: d. Stone Zellor for Heritage Title, d. Dan Ryan, d. Prince W. Darko
KEY LOSSES: l. Dan Ryan, l. Jake Phoenix, l. D!
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Heritage Champion, finals of 2008 Canada Cup
Most wrestlers, when trying to find their legs, wrestle opponents at their own level. Trent Daniels has spent 2008 wrestling legends, veterans and scheming jerks. He is constantly injured as a result of his never-say-die attitude and refusal to take time off, evidenced by his oft-taped ribs. But Daniels truly never says die, coming back for more no matter how bad the beating. He beat Dez Carter and Prince Darko to advance to the finals of the Canada Cup, where he lost to the legendary Dan Ryan. He was the man to finally defeat Stone Zellor for the Heritage Title, only to lose it to Jake Phoenix weeks later. At The 150th Show, Daniels scored the biggest win of his young career, pinning Dan Ryan in his third try. The future is intriguing for young Trent. He has expressed a desire to get the Heritage Title around his waist yet again, but he also wants another piece of D!. Their single match was inconclusive - an errant Rex Caliber lariat gave D! the win. Daniels and his loyal "street team" have done what few have ever done and gotten under D!'s skin... but just as easily, D! could get into Trent's head and break him like he did Jacob Venar. Time will tell.
GRADE: B+Thomas Deathrow
KEY WINS: d. Mystic Exposition (w/KKP) to retain Tag Titles
KEY LOSSES: l. Mystic Exposition (w/KKP) to lose the tag titles, l. Krusty Kid Paul twice
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Tag Team title run with KKP
For the first half of 2008, Deathrow's run mirrors his former SAD partner Krusty Kid Paul. SAD had a memorable tag title run and feud with Mystic Exposition over the belts. However, ever since Paul turned on him, Deathrow has seemed adrift. He did score a win over Paul in a tag match with The Beast as his partner (Stone was Paul's partner), but in their two singles battles, Paul has utterly decimated him. Deathrow has had a difficult time winning in big singles matches throughout his NAPW tenure, but has shown that on any given night he can beat any man in NAPW. Right now, STD needs to refocus and pick up some wins.
GRADE: C+"The Show" Chad Kurtis
KEY WINS: d. KRENSHOV, d. Dan Ryan, d. Prince W. Darko
KEY LOSSES: l. world title match where Dan Ryan pinned Prince W. Darko
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: How do you not lose but not win the world title... twice?
When you look at the win-loss record and the names in the "L" columns, Chad Kurtis has had a seemingly fantastic year. He is one of only three men in NAPW to have scored a pinfall or submission victory on "The Ego Buster" Dan Ryan. In point of fact, Dan Ryan has yet to pin "The Show!" Kurtis drew in one match for the World Title and was not involved in the fall in another. However, "The Show" has seen his year fraught with injuries which have adversely affected his stardom. After months on the shelf, Chad returned at The 150th Show to knock some sense into the man who put him there, Dan Miller. "The Show" has proven he can be a main eventer, but will he ever stay healthy long enough to have a memorable run?
GRADE: B-"The Ego Buster" Dan Ryan
KEY WINS: d. Trent Daniels in the finals of the 2008 Canada Cup, d. KRENSHOV to win the NAPW World Title, d. Jake Phoenix, d. Bruce Richards
KEY LOSSES: l. "The Show" Chad Kurtis, l. "LDK" Lloyd Rees to lose the World Title, l. Trent Daniels
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 2008 Canada Cup winner, NAPW World Champion
When you look at a guy like Dan Ryan, you're not looking at a man who needs to prove himself to anybody anymore. After ten years on top of the wrestling world, there is no doubting Ryan's legacy. But Dan Ryan in NAPW is not a man coasting on his reputation. Ryan fought his way to the Canada Cup through a hard road, and then utilized that shot to win the World Title. He endured a hellish title defense schedule before finally dropping the belt to "LDK" Lloyd Rees. In spite of his excellent win-loss record, Dan Ryan seems unable to solve "The Show" Chad Kurtis. It is well known that Ryan is winding down his career, but he does not seem content to exit NAPW just yet. Hopefully we fans will get to see Dan Ryan square off against the best NAPW wrestlers he hasn't faced before he is all said and done.
GRADE: A-"LDK" Lloyd Rees
KEY WINS: d. The Falcon, won Sole Survivor, d. Dan Ryan to win the World Title, d. Jake Phoenix
KEY LOSSES: l. Prince W. Darko in first round of 2008 Canada Cup
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: World Championship, 2008 Sole Survivor winner, MOTY against Chris Casino
When you talk about the standard, you talk about NAPW's "ace." "The Technical Terror" has proven match in, match out, that he is the very BEST in New Alberta Pro, tapping opponents out to the Conception Bay Chinlock left right and center. Lloyd Rees turned his career around late last year, rode the momentum into 2008, and has never looked back. He won Sole Survivor, won the World title for a third time, and has fended off challenges from some of the toughest foes. His only real setback this year was a first-round loss in the Canada Cup, one of only TWO losses on the year. The facts speak for themselves: Lloyd Rees has won virtually every match he's been in this year, had one of the greatest matches in NAPW history against Chris Casino, won Sole Survivor, and finally won the World Title. Undisputedly the NAPW's MVP.
GRADE: A+KRENSHOV
KEY WINS: d. Donovan Astros for the World Title
KEY LOSSES: l. "The Show" Chad Kurtis, l. Dan Ryan to lose the world title
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: World Championship
Kenny Krenshov has only wrestled five matches in 2008, spending most of the year out as a result of a brutal sneak attack that left his knee blown out. KRENSHOV was able to win the world title on that bad leg, but his decision to defend it while injured led to him immediately dropping it to Dan Ryan and being sidelined for months KRENSHOV has always had a wildly varying career path, full of huge wins and crushing defeats. It will be interesting to see how his new alliance with Ravager & Dez Carter plays out. They did well in their first match together, but there is a lot of wrestling left to play this year.
GRADE: IncompleteDez Carter
KEY WINS: d. Stone Zellor & Lady Sparks (w/Asuka Katsuragi), d. Screaming Falcon/Prince W. Darko/KBOND (w/KRENSHOV & Ravager)
KEY LOSSES: l. Heritage Title four-corner, l. Prince W. Darko & KBOND (w/Ravager)
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Won the first-ever mixed tag in NAPW history
Always on the cusp, but never quite there. Dez Carter has certainly not had a bad 2008 in NAPW. He is one of the most popular wrestlers in NAPW thanks to his hard-hitting, Puroresu influenced style. His Go 2 Sleep finisher is one of the most exciting, sudden and deadly maneuvers in the fed. Carter simply has not been able to transition those qualities into title gold or main event shots. His new team with Ravager & KRENSHOV holds a great deal of potential, but as of this writing they have only wrestled two matches as a team. Certainly Dez Carter hopes the second half of 2008 proves more rewarding.
GRADE: C+Ravager
KEY WINS: d. Jake Phoenix to get reinstated into NAPW
KEY LOSSES: l. Prince W. Darko & KBOND (w/Dez Carter)
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Successfully returned from NAPW exile
Ravager is doing well just to have his name on this report card. He began the year out of NAPW after losing a December "Loser Leaves NAPW" match to Jake Phoenix. However, Ravager utilized a loophole to enter Sole Survivor using an open contract, where he eliminated Phoenix. Ravager's continued mind games led to Phoenix demanding one more match with him, double or nothing. The greatest champion in NAPW history once again proved himself in big match situations, defeating Phoenix to regain his roster spot. His current goal? The Triple-Crown, which he needs a tag title run to earn. Ravager & Dez Carter have teamed up (now adding KRENSHOV to their crew) in a hard-hitting team, but they have not quite had the immediate success most fans thought they would. With only a half-dozen matches under his belt in six-months, there isn't much to judge "The Last Resort" on, but he has had mixed results so far.
GRADE: B-Stein
KEY WINS: d. Mystic Exposition to win the Tag titles (w/Chris Kamikaze), d. Southern Destruction, d. Nation of Innovation
KEY LOSSES: l. Jake Phoenix, l. Dan Ryan in first round of 2008 Canada Cup
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Won Tag Team titles with Chris Kamikaze! Stein did not start 2008 off on the right foot, losing big-time regular singles matches and disappearing from the cards. However, after Sole Survivor he found himself in the company of the WGA. The seemingly random pairing with Chris Kamikaze led not only to a tag title shot, but a tag title reign that is now three defenses strong! So, terrible in singles but incredibly successful in tag team. How long will the amazing story of Stein & Chris Kamikaze: Tag Team champions continue?
GRADE: BChris Kamikaze
KEY WINS: d. Mystic Exposition to win the Tag titles (w/Stein), d. Southern Destruction, d. Nation of Innovation
KEY LOSSES: l. Tommy Deathrow & Dan Miller
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Won Tag Team titles with Stein! Much like his current tag team partner, Stein, Chris Kamikaze had an unremarkable first three months of 2008 before stumbling (literally) into tag team success. Kamikaze did actually pick up some wins in the first half including a ten-man tag win and a couple DQ wins. The reality is that his career was going nowhere fast until being paired with Stein. Since that time, Kamikaze has racked up a string of five straight tag wins, picking up the Tag titles and defending them three times to date! Inner ear imbalance or no, fans certainly hope the Cinderella story of Kamikaze will continue into the second half of 2008!
GRADE: B+"Bad Boy" Joey Malone
KEY WINS: d. Matthew Kurtis
KEY LOSSES: l. Jake Phoenix in 1st round of 2008 Canada Cup, l. Matthew Kurtis
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: "Lost" Extreme Jobber title to Jake Phoenix, formed the WGA!
Everybody's favorite lovable loser showed some moxie and initiative in 2008. Joey Malone gathered together a band of jobbers, oddballs and misfits in the hopes of turning them into great wrestling machines and guys who could stand up to bullies... in the Worker's Guild of Alberta! Joey himself has had his usual level of glory in 2008: not much. But he did score a huge win over Matthew Kurtis, before Matt killed him in the rematch. Joey seems more and more focused on helping his "students" turn up their game. He's got to be proud of Chris Kamikaze's success in the tag division. It's been one of Joey's better runs in his NAPW career... even if that's not saying much.
GRADE: C+Worker's Guild of Alberta
KEY WINS: d. Nation of Innovation in a Ten-Man Tag
KEY LOSSES: l. Nation of Innovation
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Big Mitch ate a Ravager cake. Nom nom nom!
Along with Chris Kamikaze, Stein and their leader "Bad Boy" Joey Malone, the WGA have had limited success in NAPW. Big Mitch, Esteban, Gary (Mr. Slick's Double) and the newcomer Modo WHOA! sure give their all in every match, but their limited in-ring skills have not led them to many wins in relatively few matches. Of these four, Modo WHOA! has the most potential to find NAPW success, but when you're talking the WGA, miracles can happen! Unless you're talking about Big Mitch losing 100 pounds. Then you're just daft.
GRADE: (overall) CGrade "A" Alberta Attitude
KEY WINS: n/a
KEY LOSSES: l. Tagstravaganza III
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Became lackeys for Matthew Kurtis?
2008 saw the return of "The Moose" Mark Millar and Wayne Wright to NAPW rings. Their team may be called "Grade A" but their limited in-ring performances have stank on ice. Little has changed for these two men. Wayne continues to loathe "Bad Boy" Joey Malone, and The Moose continues to drink lots of beer. Does anybody really care?
GRADE: DSouthern Destruction
KEY WINS: won Tagstravaganza III, d. Sexy Adorable Drunks,
KEY LOSSES: l. Mystic Exposition, l. Chris Kamikaze & Stein
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Won Tagstravaganza II
You can't argue with numbers, and the team of Dan Miller and Hank Henderson have posted a 5-2-0 tag team record in 2008, including winning the 2008 Tagstravaganza. However, those two losses were both in Tag Title matches. S.D. started the year as fan favorites but have since turned into one of the most hated teams in NAPW, and they hate the fans equally as much. There is no questioning that Miller & Henderson have the skill and teamwork to become NAPW tag team champions, but there is a question of focus. Dan Miller has seemed more pre-occupied with mocking "The Show" Chad Kurtis over the past couple months than tag gold, much to the irritation of his partner. Despite their overall tag team success, the titles have eluded them, and that lowers their grade.
GRADE: B-Mystic Exposition
KEY WINS: d. Sexy Adorable Drunks to win their 4th tag titles, d. Southern Destruction, Mystic Ninja d. Donovan Astros (in triple-threat)
KEY LOSSES: l. Chris Kamikaze & Stein to lose the tag titles, Mystic Ninja l. Donovan Astros for World Title
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Tag Team champions, MOTY candidate vs SAD
Certainly one of NAPW's most fan friendly teams, Mystic Exposition have had a solid 2008 thus far. They started the year off with uncertainty, however, as Expositioner was out thanks to a throat injury at the hands of Sexy Adorable Drunks. Mystic Ninja acquitted himself well in singles, scoring a huge upset pinfall on then-World Champion Donovan Astros. Ninja was not able to repeat the performance with the title on the line, but proved he was no one-trick pony. With Expo returned, the dynamic duo finally defeated Sexy Adorable Drunks in a mind-blowing 2/3 falls ladder match at Sole Survivor, and then shockingly managed to retain the tag belts for a match. Since dropping the belts to Chris Kamikaze & Stein, Ninja & Expositioner have traded wins for losses, never far from tag title contention. Though they have 4 tag title reigns and a positive win/loss record, their continued inability to hold onto those belts (and win consistently) hurts their grade.
GRADE: B-Nation of Innovation
KEY WINS: d. WGA
KEY LOSSES: l. WGA in a Ten-Man tag with tag titles on the line
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Without them, we would never have seen "TONY's Mom Has Got It Goin' On." Wait, is that a good thing?!
The newest team on NAPW's roster is embroiled in the strangest feud ever, bar none, feuding with the WGA. Jeremy Daines and Enrique Rodriguez are talented individually and as a team, but the current focus on being the "New & Improved Censorship Against Bad Stuff" is possibly detracting from their pure in-ring ability. The NoI at times seem to be too much involved in an ongoing soap opera with TONY and TONY's mom to be a credible contender, but it is difficult to grade them with only three matches in NAPW under their belts. Their final grade will have to wait until the end of the year report card.
GRADE: Incomplete
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