?Reported by Mike Siciliano of WrestleView.com

On Sunday, February 27, 2005 at 3:05 AM EST

Ok. Everyone pretty much knows my speed on pro wrestling. But, I have yet to be cultured in the art of the independent wrestling show. Well, I am now. And quite frankly, holy S. Here is a recap, as best I can provide, of my experiences from tonight's card in Bethpage, Long Island, New York, at Sportime for UXW Genesis.

My buddy Barry and I arrive at the show, and after a little shucking and jiving parking, we get in line to get in to the ring area. Line was an interesting experience to say the least. Who enters the building right through the crowd from the door we're staring at as we go forward in line? None other than WWE superstar and Tough Enough guru Al Snow. How tempted was I to ask for his autograph, but I do remember the cardinal rule. Never piss off anyone who can turn you in to a pretzel.

We got 'ringside' tickets, I got the stub to prove it, thank you Barry, and that, in turn, allowed us to pick from any seat we could find in the third or fourth row. Let's just say that we were closer than I would've thought humanly possible without being actually in the front row. It was mind boggling how close to the ring we were.

As we enter, we both take a peek at the condition of the ring, and I gotta be honest with you, it was less than awe inspiring. I guess when you got a limited budget, but hey, it sure as hell took a pounding during this night. Also, prior to bell time, tucked in the corner, was a very fine lookin' feline and the Hardcore Icon himself, the five time ECW World Champion, the SANDMAN.

Yes, ladies and gents, the quest has another name to add to the gallery. I had the guts to go for broke and get Sandman's autograph. He was also offering polaroids, but quite frankly, I was afraid he was going to swallow me whole. Dude is HUGE, man, HUGE.

Well, smoke clears and the dust settles, and the show is off and running. UXW Owner Frank Goodman hits the ring, and tells us Mick Foley was originally scheduled, but was not going to be able to make it. In his place, Goodman booked Justin Credible, Steve Corino, and Prime Time Elix Skipper. In this person's opinion, not a bad trade off, or at least, so I thought. We settled in for what I didn't know at the time was going to be one hell of a roller coaster ride, which ended in an episode that, as I type this, still scares me.

I get my first live taste of what ECW must have been like back in the day as the UXW World Champion, Balls Mahoney, and the hardcore chair swingin' freak, Axl Rotten hit the ring at 100 mph. (BTW, can we possibly invest in a sound system where you can hear this guys talk? My buddy Barry said it best, it sounded like we were in the back of a garage hearing a bad rock band. The distortion was unbelievable, making some of the promos and announcements inaudible). Anyway, Balls and Axl say how it's now the era of Rotten & Mahoney, and they're taking over the new UXW. One other thing, who else thinks Axl Rotten looks like a hardcore Dusty Rhodes? They attempt to cut a heel promo, but in the process, get more face pop than they realize, claim Raven is out gambling somewhere in Atlantic City, and that if he makes it here to Bethpage, he's gonna get his ass kicked.

Quick notes, first, nice platnium belt for the UXW title. Second, Mahoney and Axl are insane. Plain and simple. Absolutely nuts. Funny as hell, to boot, but nuts.

First match on the card is a 10 man elimination match. I couldn't tell you half of the people that participated, partially from lack of experience at indy shows, mostly from the fact that I couldn't understand the damn ring announcer. I can tell you some of these observations. Most of the people in this match were all brawlers, no 'wrestling technicians' of sorts in this contest. I saw one guy who desperately wanted to look like Diesel, another one with almost puke orange hair. Also, can someone answer me this? Why would you want to endeavour in to the world of pro wrestling when you barely make it over 150 pounds? So many people during this show were 150, 175, 205, yadda yadda yadda. I know the cruiserweights are in, but in this surrounding, if you don't got some meat to shield those bones, they're gonna crack. Trust me, someone on this card found that out, the hard way.

One individual I did see and get his name during the opening contest, Bison Bravado, (nice name), he had some major league intensity to his shots, and took out a lot of violence on his opponents. Pappalicious ended up winning the contest over TNT with salt to the eyes. TNT had a hell of a spot, hitting a plancha off the top on to the floor, screamin' "Dead Man Flyin'". A lot of us around the ringside area screamed for that one. The ref sees the salt after making the count, and basically shrugs his shoulders, saying "I didn't see it before." They announced the ref as the "Senior UXW official", well, if he's senior, I would not want to meet his underlings, this guy was an idiot throughout the show. Some of his expressions were funny, but they were mostly pretty damn stupid. I digress, so let's get back to business.

Match #2 was the Gestapo Hate Mongers vs. the Christopher Street Connection. The Hate Mongers won the match. I have to be honest. I saw a lot of kids at this show. These guys should not be allowed to do this gimmick in front of kids. If it was adults only, that's one thing, but don't go out there spreading racial overtones to a bunch of impressionable youngsters. Besides, with the diverse audience in attendance, I honestly thought things were going to get uglier than usual during this contest. They didn't, it got ultra ugly later. I'll explain when I get to it.

Match #3 was for the vacated UXW United States championship, due to Trent Acid's no show, an exact duplicate of the WCW US title. (Sorry, pet peeve of mine.) Jay Lethal was scheduled to go up against Chris Candido. A wrestler comes in before the bell rings, claims he deserves to be in this match because he beat Jay, but lost to Chris. After some investigating, I find out its Mike Kruel, the dude who jobbed to Bradshaw on Smackdown a hundred years ago.

The match was terrific, damn near stole the show, BUT, we did have an element of Chris Candido that I don't think any one of us needed to see. The old MOON shone bright and not so beautiful in downtown Bethpage, as Candido ended up showing us not only his back, but also his front. Luckily for me, I was writing some notes when the 'front' was shown, but my boy Barry's retina is still scarred by that encounter. Some major league bumps went down during this contest. Lethal does a cross body from the apron on to Kruel while Kruel was being suplexed by Candido. Candido superplexed Lethal twice from the very top rope. Candido then hit a superplex from LETHAL'S SHOULDERS on Mike Kruel.

Jay Lethal got eliminated by Mike Kruel when Kruel locked both Lethal and Candido for a double german suplex, literally, and managed to pin Lethal's shoulders, according to the ref. Funny side note, Candido waved bye to the crowd before going for that painful ride.

When the smoke cleared, Chris Candido defeated Mike Kruel to win the vacated US title. He then did a promo putting over his two competitors for a tremendous contest. They walked out in a show of respect, and just before Candido went to the back, he ran out for one more quick burst of applause, which he got, I think more from the fact that his trunks were back up around his waist.

Next up was a six man elimination hardcore match. Again, due to inaudible conditions, I couldn't tell you who participated. However, I did catch a couple of the names. The winner of the match was the "New Dynamite Kid", managed by Johnny Diamond and the Diamond Vixxxen. (PLEASE don't ask me to tell you about them). A nice spot on this contest was Kid SUPERPLEXING a 350 pound Heavy Metal to get the dupe. BUT, the culture changing incident occurred, at least one of them did, when during this match, I can't tell you who hit who, I am sorry for that, but computer keyboards were used. As God as my witness, I have three keys from that busted keyboard in my room right now, they almost were lodged in my duodenum, they came at me that fast. Barry didn't even have the chance to tell me to duck, I was writing when this happened, I look up, and there are these black things flying past me. Talk about a life changing experience.

It turned out to be the first of many life changing experiences.

Next up was former TNA star Simon Diamond. He was bitching about Matt Striker, and how he had been fired from UXW and now Diamond and Johnny Shea, his manager, were looking for new blood. Well, out comes Striker, as Ravishing Rick Rude, and put out a show that was bordering on offensive. Striker loses the contest, but not after making Diamond squirm and churn. Diamond gets out of an ankle lock, apparently Striker was a recent victim of the Kurt Angle invitational, counters it with the help of his manager to a superkick for the 1,2,3. I wasn't too impressed with either of them. Stirker can perform with the best of them, and I guess I understand why Diamond has been languishing since his departure from TNA.

Next was Mike Tobin vs. Finneus Zero? I am not sure about that name. This match did not impress me one bit. Zero won with the power of the punch, a chain attached to a closed fist. I wanted to get up there and chop this guy Tobin's chest till it bled, he just pissed me off that much because he had NO TALENT.

A highlight now, as a 5 man 'suicide' challenge to fill the vacant UXW Xtreme championship. Gotta admit, good looking unique championship belt. I recognized 4 out of the 5 combatants in this contest, which was similar to Royal Rumble rules, except it was 3 minutes instead of 90 seconds. The four I recognized were ROH star Azrael, TNA vet Sonjay Dutt, former ROH World Champ Xavier, and one of the 'special attractions', Prime Time Elix Skipper.

Prime time was built like a brick house. He probably is the best 'athlete' UXW had to show case during this entire card. This contest showed some nice spots, as Sonjay took out Azrael with a standing shooting star press, NOT FROM THE TOP ROPE. Xavier though took out Sonjay with a very effective, deadly powerbomb. Prime time took out the dude I didn't recognize with his finisher, the swinging reverse neckbreaker, and then, after a major league battle, Prime Time Elix Skipper wins the UXW Xtreme title with a modified sidewalk slam over Xavier. An extremely enjoyable contest throughout.

Next was the match between the Cornerman, Tony Low, and the Masked Maniac. What did yours truly do? Went and got dogs and Hawaiian Punch, that's what. Why, UXW, why? Tony Low wins.

Next was another hardcore match, falls count anwyhere, as the Polynesian Warrior, Nana, met the Hardcore chair swingin' freak, Axl Rotten. Rotten came out, barbed wire bat in hand, and bled quickly Very quickly. Nana had the advantage most of this contest, until the roof blew off the place when MICK FOLEY hits the ring, and takes out Nana and his manager, just before Nana is able to set up Axl for a bump through a table. Nana hits the table, Axl hits the cover, 1, 2, 3, as the entire place was jumping for the hardcore legend Foley.

Foley promos as to how he was not going to come in, but when he found out how much he had been promoted, he clawed his butt off the couch, and made it in to Bethpage, New York. He then tries to set up an ECW Reunion, as he mentioned the ECW Reunion PPV that WWE is doing in June, so he calls out some ECW alumni. Balls Mahoney, Axl, Raven, Chris Candido, and Tammy Sytch all hit the ring, until Raven starts claiming he was the star of ECW, and that people should worship him. He then immediately attacks Balls Mahoney, and the UXW World title match is underway.

Raven gets a ton of heel heat, as we chant Jonny Polo and Scotty Flamingo at him. He beings to lose his mind when Balls kicks out of two R1aven Effects. Balls hit a frog splash on Raven that I swear I thought killed him. He looked like road pizza, he got squished that much. Ye1s, I said squished. Balls did get the dupe with a modified Michinoku driver. Raven attacks Balls after the match, yet after he leaves, Balls still manages to get up and get the accolades he feels he so rightly deserves.

Next up, was another life changing experience. a match for the King of the Hardcore Death Match title between Low Life Louie and Corporal Robinson. One part good, one part bad. We got thumbtacks, we got staples, yes, thumbacks, hell one of them shot out of the ring and nearly stuck in my boy's chest. I kid you not . He practically jumped 20 feet. I have the tack to prove it. Louie pulled out what looked to be a literal machete, and began cutting Robinson's face. The ref looked like a fool, making faces instead of trying to keep any order. Louie wins the match and his title back with outside interference, and a FU drop on to 8 chairs on the floor. There was a spot in this match that was way over the top, but to keep this column positive, I will not discuss it here.

Next up, life changing experience #3. Justin Credible, former X Factor stableman, hits the ring, to obvious heel heat, and then the inevitable happens.

Enter Sandman hits.

It was like a bomb had gone off in the place. The roof came off the Sportime auditorium. Sandman hits the audience, beer in hand, kendo in hand, drinkin' and slammin' like the Sandman does. He does a literal lap around the ring, absolutely inches away from me & my buddy, and finally hits the ring with a little help from Credible, who got pissed off when Sandman spit beer in his face. Credible and Sandman did some irish whips in to the barriers near by my seat that made things look a little TOO CLOSE for comfort. It turned out to be a pretty quick match, all things considered, as Credible tries to use the kendo, but Sandman blocks hit, hits the russian leg sweep with the stick on the throat for the 1,2,3. The volume was electric, nothing else could describe it.

Following the match, Raven and Balls stumble back in to the ring, as Raven continues his assault. Sandman gets pissed off about what they're doing there, and Raven walks away with his back to the action, obviously setting something up. He ends up burning Sandman with a fireball. UXW owner Frank Goodman, per order of the NYS Athletic Commission, suspends Raven immediately from UXW for 60 days. Raven gets out a cell phone, calls Abdullah the Butcher, allegedly, and demands he faces Sandman in April in Jamaica, Queens. That match gets confirmed, and after Goodman claims had he followed the rules, he himself, being Raven, would've faced Sandman in a cage.

Well, that will happen in May, when UXW comes back to Long Island.

Next match was for the UXW World Tag Team championships. The champs, the Solution, vs. the challengers, the Outcast Killaz. Honest, the match was dead. Start to finish, no to very limited crowd interaction.

Then it happened.

Apparently, one of the members of the Soltuion 'missed his cue', and wasn't at the floor waiting to catch the Killa coming to the floor via a press slam. This Killla fell from a full press slam position to the floor. Upwards of 10 to 12 feet from take off to the floor The sound of that body hitting the plastic tiles that surrounded the ring still to this minute makes my skin crawl, it is like echoing in my head minute after minute I think about it.

It shook us up badly, I can only imagine what happened to the wrestler. Naturally, every talent was out there, and an ambulance was called in. Truth be told, me and my buddy were running out of juice ourselves, and being so close to such a freak accident like that kind of spooked us both out, so we decided to high tail it out of there after that, so we missed the last match. There's just no way of finishing a card after something like that.

As we were leaving, we got word over the mike, Axl Rotten came out over the mike, and said that the wrestler in question, I wish I knew his name, was conscious, was moving his arms, but they didn't want to risk anything, and wanted to make sure he was taken care of in the hospital. The tag member of the Solution that apparently missed the cue was being obnoxiously loud during the match was noticeably silent and distraught about the events. Nobody was at fault here, this was just a freak accident.

I asked the powers that be here to see if they had any connections whatsoever to try and find out what happened, and wrap up this experience for me. Hopefully, they'll help me out, if I get more info, I'll post it accordingly.

It was announced prior to the show that King Kong Bundy would face Bam Bam Bigelow at this show, but I don't think either of them were at the event. Most of the wrestlers were pretty accessible, I mentioned at the beginning of the show about the Sandman, well, also, I didn't even realize it, but I practically took out Balls Mahoney by accident trying to find a seat. I also stood next to Heavy Metal waiting to get a hot dog, so it was not hard to find who you were looking for. Not to mention the Al Snow sighting, and I did see Steve Corino backstage. I did not, like I said, see Bundy or Bigelow anywhere, and I doubt that the UXW put that match up, they said, during the time that the injury was being tended to, that they had one match left. It was also announced that Al Snow would face Steve Corino, and I bet, dollars to donuts that's what happened.

Don't blame us for leaving, you'd be freaked out too if you heard a body slam to the floor like we did.

Anyway, this is long as hell, and it's late as hell. I gotta go. This is, was, the best I could do regarding a recap of UXW Genesis in Bethpage, NY. I can tell you this. Barry and I together thought this experience was one we would never soon forget, and we were right. We were also right in saying this. This was our first indy show together, chances are, it's also our last.

ADDED: FEB 27TH: I took a look at the USA Pro Wrestling Message Board, and found out a couple of things. The injury was to "Diablo" of the Outkast Killaz, #1. #2, Al Snow defeated Steve Corino in sixty grueling minutes, which means the show disbanded afer 12:30am, since we left after 11:15. #3, 1,456 paid attendance at Sportime in Bethpage. I am shocked to say that UXW is coming back to Bethpage in May, with some more talent, like Billy Gunn, Sonny Siaki, D'Lo, and others. But, I doubt I can survive another show like last night.

Plug time:

My work..
BBS - http://palace1103.proboards43.com
Blog - Http://mikesiciliano.blogspot.com

UXW
http://www.usaprowrestling.net

Any questions, comments, hollers, or otherwise, direct them my way, PALACE@WRESTLEVIEW.COM

I thought I would've gotten this out saturday, but I guess not, it's Sunday, so this is my weekly submission. 4 in the first week, have I bored you yet?

KIMOSABE, SUMO!!?!?!?

Thanks for a hell of an experience to my friend, Barry "The Flash" Allen.