Pro Wrestling Syndicate

During PWS' tenure, average independent promotions in New Jersey commanded crowds of a couple hundred paying fans or less per event. Based in Rahway and Metuchen, NJ, PWS achieved the drawing power of 1,500 - 2,000 fans per monthly live event. PWS had a dedicated fanbase who became overly familiar with the talent roster and ongoing character storylines. Many fans purchased VIP Experience Upgrades and/or became Season Ticket holders, something that promoter Eric Pleska introduced to the realm of professional wrestling.

PWS hosted two-hour Meet & Greets before live events to allow fans to take photos with wrestlers and obtain autographs. Wrestling Legends who appeared at PWS Meet & Greets have included: Superstar Billy Graham, Bret Hart, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Mick Foley, Terry Funk, Abdullah the Butcher, Barry Windham, Bob Backlund, Bobby Lashley, Booker T, Captain Lou Albano, Carlos Colon,Claudio Castagnoli, Diamond Dallas Page, D'Lo Brown, Don Muraco, The Godfather, Harley Race, The Iron Sheik, Ivan Koloff, Larry Henning, Lex Luger, Magnum T.A., Million Dollar Man, MVP, Nikolai Volkoff, Ox Baker, Paul Bearer, Paul Orndorff, PN News, Raven, Ricky Steamboat, Road Warrior Animal, Rocky Johnson, Ron Simmons, Stan Hansen, Taz, Tugboat, Tully Blanchard, Wild Samoan Afa,Ashley Massaro, The Bella Twins, Candice Michelle, Chyna, Lita, Mickie James, Missy Hyatt, Nicole Bass, Torrie Wilson, and many more.

PWS events featured some of the most elite wrestlers in the world, including Kenny Omega, AR Fox, The Briscoes, Amazing Red, Andy Harner, B-Boy, Brett Gakiya, The Bullet Club, CJ Esparza, Davey Richards, Desmond Wolfe, Eddie Edwards, Eddie Kingston, Facade, Grim Reefer, Handicapped Heroes, Harry Smith, Homicide, Human Tornado, Jack Evans, Jay Lethal, Jessika Havok, John Morrison, Lance Anoai, Lance Archer, Low Ki, Maria Kanellis, Matt Cross, Matt Tremont, Mia Yim, Necro Butcher, Nick Gage, Paul E Normus, Reckless Youth, Rich Swann, Ricochet, Sami Callihan, Samoa Joe, Samuray Del Sol (Kalisto), The SAT, Shimma Xion, Shrynron, Sonjay Dutt, Talia Madison, Teddy Hart, Tessa Blanchard, Tony Deppen, Tony Nese, Trent Acid, The Young Bucks, and Adam Cole, whose first professional wrestling match occurred in a PWS ring.

PWS often headlined events with huge Main Events, including AJ Styles versus Rob Van Dam, John Morrison versus Jushin Liger, Jerry Lynn vs Vampiro, and numerous others.

PWS featured Legends Matches, which included such classic marquee matchups as Demolition vs Powers of Pain, Brutus Beefcake vs Greg Valentine, Hacksaw Jim Duggan vs Doink The Clown (Matt Borne), and Lanny Poffo vs "Black Machismo" Jay Lethal.

Additionally, PWS retooled and deservingly pushed numerous veterans, including The Reynolds Brothers, Mario Bokara, Fallah Bahh, Bonesaw, The Drunken Swashbuckler, The New Heavenly Bodies, The Urban Legends, and Joey Janela, who became the masked, popular Starman.

PWS also focused on home-grown stars from the PWS Wrestling School, many of whom received original gimmick characters from Eric Pleska, including Johnny Howl, The Lifeguard, Merry Men in Tights, Monsters Island, Nikos Rikos, Sandy Mann, and the hugely popular Habib from the Car Wash.

PWS ring announcers have included Larry Legend, David Adams, and Stephen Deangelis. Referees have included Brett Lauderdale, Cory Price, and Matt Bennett. Current and former WWE referees Eddie Orengo, Drake Wuertz, and Jessika Carr, have all wrestled at PWS events.

Massive industry stars didn't just appear to sign autographs at PWS events. Many of wrestling's biggest names have competed in the PWS ring.

This list includes The Great Muta, Jushin Liger, Mil Mascaras,

2 Cold Scorpio, Abyss, Balls Mahoney, Brodus Clay, Brutus Beefcake, Buff Bagwell, BWO, Butterbean, Carlito, Dan Severn, Demolition, Disco Inferno, The Dudley Boys, EC3, Elijah Burke, Gangrel, Goldust, Greg Valentine, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Hurricane Helms, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Jeff Jarrett, Justin Credible, Kamala, Koko B Ware, "The Genius" Lanny Poffo, Larry Zbyzsko, Marty Jannetty,Matt Hardy, Mr. Kennedy, Nasty Boys, New Age Outlaws, New Jack, Psycho Sid, Powers of Pain, Rey Mysterio, Rhino, Rock N Roll Express, Rikishi, RVD, Sabu, Sandman, Scott Steiner, Sgt. Slaughter, "Dr Death" Steve Williams, Tito Santana, Tommy Dreamer, Vampiro, Vader, and more.

PWS became known for often booking recently released WWE stars for their first post-television appearance. These wrestlers include Paul Birchill, Mason Ryan, Brian Myers, Tyler Reks, PJ Black, Trent Baretta, and Harry Smith amongst others.

PWS also enjoyed booking wrestling veterans that would reprise a former character gimmick they hadn't portrayed since doing so for WWE or WCW. Often these stars would be paired against each other, such as Bill Irwin as "The Goon" versus Tony Atlas as "Black Superman" and "El Matador" Tito Santana versus Mantaur.'

Other first-time-appearances since WWE/WCW have included Papa Shango, The Shock Master, "Young Stallion" Jim Powers, NWO Vincent, "Rap Master" PN News, The ECW Zombie, Glacier, and Phantasio. PWS also hosted the first-time reunions of 3 members of D-Generation X, Harlem Heat, and The BWO.

Several ECW alumni had their Retirement Matches at PWS including Justin Credible, Chris Chetti, and New Jack. Jerry Lynn's final wrestling Singles Match occurred at PWS, opposite Lance Storm.

The popularity of PWS' female division, led to the womens wrestling promotion PWS Bombshells, which held regular live events in New Jersey.

In addition to PWS' larger monthly events, the promotion held additional events at venues in parts of New York including Brooklyn, Long Island, Queens, and Westchester County. PWS also regularly held fundraiser events at multiple Knights of Columbus facilities in NJ and regular outdoor shows for various groups including street fairs, festivals, and private events.

When it came to talent booking, PWS crushed it. PWS also put a focus on booking non-wrestling personalities at its events. Perhaps the most memorable was when Saved By The Bell television show star "Mr. Belding" Dennis Haskins agreed to appear at a PWS event and get physically involved during a match. Haskins hitting a Stunner in the PWS ring on another wrestler made front page news on Yahoo.com and television coverage on TMZ.

Other non-wrestling personalities to appear at PWS include NBA Legend "Grandmama" Larry Johnson, iconic boxer Butterbean (who also appeared on Hulk Hogan's wrestling training reality show), former NY Giants wide receiver Stephen Baker, Step by Step television show star Sasha Mitchell, and several hip hop stars, including Poison Pen.

Commentators Sam Roberts from the Opie & Anthony radio show and at-the-time former college radio DJ Peter Rosenberg got their start in pro wrestling at PWS events. Both have gone on to have huge careers. Peter is an on-air talent for Hot 97, and both he and Sam regularly appear with WWE.

In 2008, PWS became the first wrestling promotion with a 24/7 streaming internet channel on its website. In 2014, PWS launched a weekly Youtube show, Monday Night Mayhem. The 30-minute episodes that dropped every Monday at 11 pm featured promos, vignettes, wrestling matches, and previews of upcoming events.

The internet show's popularity led to Eric Pleska and his business partner at the time purchasing television time to air PWS on cable. PWS worked with a media company, FYI Media, who acted as a third party to negotiate a cable deal to air PWS Wrestling on television. PWS accepted a deal to air on New York City-based station WLNY and signed a one-year contract with FYI Media, for which PWS paid monthly for 60 minutes of weekly air time. WLNY's coverage included all of metro New York City, surrounding NY counties, and New Jersey and Connecticut areas.

PWS Wrestling began airing on WLNY every Saturday night in January 2015. PWS produced the episodic content in-house, which featured wrestling matches, recurring segments, and promo material. The premiere episode garnered a viewership of more than 200,000. Episodes were later released on Youtube and eventually on other cable networks in various cities, including Boston, Denver, Philadelphia, and Minneapolis.

PWS produced and aired television commercials for its live events which aired throughout the metro NY and NJ areas. The commercials, which aired on numerous stations, including during area broadcasts of WWE programming, often featured PWS General Manager Mick Foley.

Television programs such as The Late Show with Larry Wilmore, MTV True Life, and TMZ filmed segments at PWS events. In recent years, Vice TV's Dark Side of the Ring has utilized PWS footage on numerous episodes.

Pro Wrestling Syndicate had several title belts including:

The PWS Championship, introduced in 2008, was first held by Devon Moore after a victory over Kenny Omega. Other PWS Champions have included Trent Acid, Butterbean,Sami Callihan, Matt Hardy, Bonesaw, Mario Bokara, Fallah, Habib from the Car Wash, and Matt Macintosh.

PWS introduced a secondary title, known as the Tri-State Title, originally held by Tony Nese in 2011. In 2015, when PWS began airing on television, the title was revamped as the PWS Television Championship, initially held by Brian Myers.

The PWS Tag Team Titles have been held by The Urban Legends, Black Hollywood, The Heavenly Bodies, They Reynolds Brothers, and The Handicapped Heroes (Zach Gowen & Gregory Iron)

PWS had a specialty match featured on events known as The Suicidal Six Way. These fast paced matches featured six wrestlers competing in a One Fall bout. In 2012, Starman became the first PWS Suicidal Six Way Champion. Other champions included Alex Reynolds, The Drunken Swashbuckler, Matt Macintosh, Habib, Amazing Red, Bobby Wayward, and Andy Harner.

By 2016, PWS' run on television ended, as did Pleska's relationship with his business partner. Shortly after, Pleska regained sole ownership of the promotion he started nine years prior.

Pleska promoted one final PWS event at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ. Headlined with appearances by numerous wrestling legends and the retirement match of the first wrestler Pleska ever booked for PWS, Necro Butcher, the event held at a concert venue Pleska attended regularly, sold out. The event netted the highest earnings of any PWS event.

Shortly after, Pleska sold PWS and all of its assets. Title Match Wrestling purchased the highly sought-after video library, including nearly 100 live events, 52 hours of "Monday Night Mayhem," and a year's worth of PWS' weekly television show. Its owner, Telly Bistus, is an award-winning producer with extensive experience in a Top-10 TV market. Pleska then sold other assets, including PWS' social media accounts and physical items, including guardrails, wrestling ring parts, and several hundred folding chairs. He then sold PWS Bombshells, and its video library, to Combat Zone Wrestling.

Finally, Pleska sold the remains of PWS, including five custom-made title belts, event banners, the PWS website, the PWS name, unsold merchandise, and other assorted items to Brooklyn-based promoter Frank Mayor. The total sale of assets exceeded expectations.

Write on dudes

PWS General manager mick foley

WRESTLING LEGENDS AND BIG CROWDS

TOP TIER TALENT and BIG MATCHES

BIG NAME STARS IN ACTION

PWS booked the best

BEYOND PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING

PWS ON TELEVISION

PRESS

PWS Championships

Development

PWS MATCHES

AJ Styles vs Rob Van Dam

New Jack vs Necro Butcher

Suicidal Six Way Match

Tony Nese & Sami Callihan vs KAI & The Great Muta

Teddy Hart vs Jack Evans

Habib From The Car Wash & Rey Mysterio vs Matt Macintosh & Amazing Red

PWS t shirts featuring The Drunken Swashbuckler, Starman, and Bonesaw

PWS at The Rahway Rec Center in NJ

PWS Energy Drinks

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