The 2008 Independent Wrestling Draft: Rounds 1-5

Introduction

Welcome to the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft! Last Summer, six of 411’s top writers took part in project where the Independent Wrestling world was split up and a sextet of companies were given a fresh start. This year, the field of writers has ballooned to nine, with five of last year’s owners returning for a second shot at remaking their chosen promotion. The number of rounds in this year’s draft has actually been reduced to twelve, thus increasing the importance of each selection. Without further ado, let’s get down to business with a look at the Rules, Owners and the first five rounds of the draft!

The Rules

For the 411Mania Independent Draft, the following rules and guidelines were agreed upon to both keep the playing field level as well as force owners to make their selections carefully. All draft picks are subject to the following requirements and limitations:

1. The draft will take place over a period of 12 rounds with each owner receiving one pick per round.
2. The original draft order will be set by random selection, as conducted by Samuel Berman and The Cool Kids’ Table’s Brad Garoon on April 18, 2008.
3. Order of selection will reverse each round so that the company that selects first in the first round would select last in the second round and so on.
4. Each company will be allowed to use one pick to draft a tag team as a unit. To be eligible to be drafted as a team, the two wrestlers must be primarily recognizable as a member of that unit.
5. International talent (defined as any performer from outside the United States & Canada) may be drafted, but must have wrestled three times in the United States or Canada since the beginning of 2007. Bookings through the end of May 2008 that had yet to occur prior to the draft were counted towards the three required appearances, as was participation in Wrestling Society X.
6. Talent under contract with World Wrestling Entertainment or Total Nonstop Action is ineligible to be drafted.
7. Any talent that goes un-drafted will be considered a Free Agent and will be eligible to appear for any and all companies.
8. In a new development, the five returning owners will be allowed to retain the rights to one competitor (or tag team) of their choosing from their 2007 roster. However, owners will not be allowed to keep their 2007 first round selection.

The Owners

Returning Owners:
Samuel Berman, representing Ring of Honor.

Ari Berenstein, representing IWA Mid-South.

Larry Csonka, representing Universal Wrestling Federation.

Michael Bauer, representing Full Impact Pro.

Bayani Domingo, representing Pro Wrestling Guerrilla.

New Owners:
Stuart James, representing CHIKARA.

Jarrod Westerfeld, representing Combat Zone Wrestling.

Jeremy Thomas, representing Jersey All-Pro Wrestling.

Mathew Sforcina, representing Ohio Valley Wrestling.

Keeper Selections

Ring of Honor has selected to retain the rights to Shingo Takagi.
Samuel Berman: Shingo is one of the most underrated all-around talents in the entire wrestling world. While it saddens me to have to potentially miss out on having performers like Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black (both 2007 ROH draftees) on my roster, I simply cannot pass up this opportunity to hold on to a rising star like Shingo for the coming year.

IWA Mid-South has selected to retain the rights to Sabu.
Ari Berenstein: I had a few options to go with who I wanted to keep from last year’s selections. I knew I couldn’t keep Chris Hero or Claudio Castagnoli due to the rules of the draft, but the three stand outs left were Necro Butcher, Sabu and Erick Stevens. Necro is firmly cemented on the independent scene and Stevens has done well and is up and coming. Yet… Sabu still maintains an aura of mystery and intrigue about him. He can still deliver a tremendous spectacle when called upon to do so. Plus, there’s plenty of dream matches left to offer with Sabu at the helm… and then… an idea popped into my mind… an idea so great that I knew I would need to keep Sabu for it… see, I was going to bring the “Whole Fucking Show” to IWA Mid-South…and in the process turn this whole fucking draft on its head.

Universal Wrestling Federation has selected to retain the rights to “Sweet ‘n Sour” Larry Sweeney.
Larry Csonka: Larry Sweeney’s services were retained through a clause in his contract that the UWF could not break. Sweeney is a smart businessman and not only did he secure his spot in the UWF, but he also gets control of the UWF’s 4th pick (28th overall) in the draft. Could Sweeney be looking to create a new Sweet and Sour Inc in the UWF and will he be looking for gold? You’ll have to stay tuned to find out.

Full Impact Pro has selected to retain the rights to “Mr. Wrestling” Kevin Steen.
Michael Bauer: For Full Impact Pro, our keeper choice was pretty obvious. Steen has been FIP World Champion for the past few months after ending the reign of Nigel McGuiness. Steen has gotten more and more over with the Florida crowd with each appearance, leading to a huge emotional victory back in February. He had to beat out Test and BJ Whitmer on that night as well. Now with plenty of new challenges coming his way, what will the future hold for the present champion of Full Impact Pro?

Pro Wrestling Guerrilla has selected to retain the rights to “The Generic Luchador” El Generico.
Bayani Domingo: After I was told American Dragon would not be eligible to keep I realized there was only one man left on my roster who was both a) worth keeping, b) be unavailable to me in a later round if I passed him up, and c) stand for everything that PWG is truly about. That man was El Generico, a PWG legend and fan favorite throughout the country. Generico embodies all of the principles that PWG stands for, namely; charisma, ability, and fun. The only problem I have to deal with now is how to teach all those rhythmically impaired fans to keep clapping along in rhythm to his entrance music when it hits that weird little section about 12 seconds in. Yeah, you know the part…it’s like they all become epileptic seals or something.

The Draft

Draft Order
As determined randomly, the order of selection for the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft will be as follows:
1. IWA Mid-South (Berenstein)
2. Full Impact Pro (Bauer)
3. CHIKARA (James)
4. Combat Zone Wrestling (Westerfeld)
5. Ohio Valley Wrestling (Sforcina)
6. Jersey All-Pro Wrestling (Thomas)
7. Ring of Honor (Berman)
8. Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (Domingo)
9. Universal Wrestling Federation (Csonka)

ROUND ONE

With the 1st pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, IWA Mid-South selects “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson out of Aberdeen, Washington.
Ari Berenstein: My selection of ROB…VAN…DAM! got shot down as being against the rules … so much for the idea of teaming up Sabu and RVD against a dream team of international competitors. I took some ribbing from the other staff members but hey I’ve got plans and plans. Time for plan B…”B” as in Bryan Danielson. Sure, it’s the predictable route to take “The Best in the World” on the independent wrestling scene as number one, but hey I’m not letting anyone else get their grubby hands on him. I’d also thought up a good plan for the “American Dragon” in my pre draft scouting. Let’s just say for now it’s an interesting avenue to take THAT moniker and see if it can be proven. So, using the power of the first draft pick, IWA Mid-South now has THE best professional wrestler by its side, and I intend to make full use of him on my show.

With the 2nd pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Full Impact Pro selects Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black out of Kalamazoo, Michigan and Davenport, Iowa.
Michael Bauer: There was no way that one of the most influential stables of recent memory was going to be passed up by Full Impact Pro. Jimmy Jacobs has gotten bigger by the minute it seems with victories over the past few months against Bryan Danielson and Alex Shelley, not to mention the Briscoes alongside Tyler Black. Tyler Black also has made his mark, competing in the main event of Ring of Honor’s last Pay per View. They are the fastest rising stars in Independent Wrestling and they will continue to grow in Full Impact Pro.

With the 3rd pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, CHIKARA selects Jay & Mark Briscoe out of Sandy Fork, Delaware.
Stuart James: The Briscoe Brothers, the hottest tag team in professional wrestling, was picked by CHIKARA wrestling because of their ability to have a good match with just about anyone. Their high-flying style greatly reflects the action packed fun goodness that CHIKARA provides, and made them the easy high-profile choice. CHIKARA hopes to get the best of the Briscoe Brothers, and the Briscoes surely hope to get the best of CHIKARA, as they sure to go after the Campeonatos de Parejas.

With the 4th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Combat Zone Wrestling selects Austin Aries out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Jarrod Westerfeld: Since returning to the indy scene, Austin Aries has seen a new change of direction and a harsh new attitude that has seen him unleash a furious onslaught within each of his matches. Evolving into a new athlete that focuses his attacks upon stopping a contest due to knockout or submission, Aries has become the true cross-breeding of MMA and pro wrestling that we’re proud to have on the roster. A fast and furious style of hard striking, grappling, clenched submission, and dare devil high flying skills along with the ability to handle his own through words, as well, makes Austin a true ring general, making him the perfect candidate for our first round draft choice.

With the 5th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Ohio Valley Wrestling selects Nigel McGuinness out of London, England.
Mathew Sforcina: Ohio Valley Wrestling, in conjunction with Bolin Services, is proud to announce “Regeneration”, the inaugural show of Ohio Valley Wrestling’s new start, where Tomorrow’s Stars and Today’s Heroes now do battle. And as part of this new launch, we have several new Exclusive Talents that you can only see in the new look OVW. Perhaps the biggest shock is the news that Nigel McGuinness, current ROH Champion, has signed a 1 year exclusive deal with OVW. McGuinness is one of the hottest and most hated men currently in the Independent Wrestling scene. With his arrogance, his hard-hitting European style and, on occasion, his Iron, Nigel has held several titles, including being the longest reigning ROH Pure Champion. Reports state that he has been signed by Kenny “Star Maker” Bolin for a substantial amount of money, and intends to regain Gold sooner rather than later. We in OVW welcome Nigel to his new home, regardless of his attitude towards us or our loyal fans.

With the 6th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Jersey All-Pro Wrestling selects Roderick Strong out of Tampa, Florida.
Jeremy Thomas: For it’s first pick, Jersey All-Pro is proud to select the man who went fifth in last year’s draft, Roderick Strong. The eight-year veteran, drafted by UWF last year, is an interesting fit for us as we take JAPW in a more exciting, cutting-edge direction. Strong brings the kind of desire, skill, and competitive edge that any promotion would view as an asset. He’s sure to find himself right in the JAPW Heavyweight Title picture out of the gate.

With the 7th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Ring of Honor selects KENTA out of Japan.
Samuel Berman: KENTA a legitimate worldwide star, having competed against the very best in Pro Wrestling NOAH as well as in Ring of Honor and Dragon Gate. Having him on the ROH roster instantaneously keeps the company on the world stage, sending a message to fans and competitors that the post-draft ROH will be just as committed to excellence as it has been throughout the company’s history. My only regret here is that KENTA’s regular tag team partner, Taiji Ishimori, is ineligible for the draft, thus making an appearance by that unit impossible.

With the 8th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla selects Chris Hero out of Metropolis.
Bayani Domingo: I was a little disappointed that some of my picks didn’t fall my way but I had Hero and Low Ki slated as late round picks. It was a tough decision but since Hero truly has been a big part of PWG and has been climbing his way towards the World Title I felt it would be a bigger loss to the fans and the company to lose him then it would be to lose Ki. Plus it saves the company on hotel costs if he’s shacking up with Candice LaRae back at her pad, there is no guarantee that Ki can find a single young Puerto Rican/Cambodian/Cro Magnum chick to shack up with in Reseda. Perhaps Encino.

With the 9th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Universal Wrestling Federation selects Larry Zbyszko out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Larry Csonka: After much work by the UWF legal team, who absorbed Mr. Gagne’s monetary issues with World Wrestling Entertainment, the UWF is proud to make their first draft pick the man who has held the Western States Heritage Championship since 1989 and the current, reigning and defending AWA Champion of the world the Living Legend Larry Zybysko! Due to the deal brokered, the UWF has absorbed the AWA title, and the Living Legend will defend the title AT the first show!

ROUND TWO

With the 10th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Universal Wrestling Federation selects The Naturals, Chase Stevens & Andy Douglas out of Nashville, Tennessee.
Larry Csonka: Following up on the selection of the Living Legend, the UWF is proud to bring the former multiple-time NWA Tag Team Champions of the World, Andy Douglas and Chase Stevens, the Naturals into the UWF. The Naturals are known for their wars with the former team of America’s Most Wanted, and with their selection look to become the cornerstones of the Tag Team Division.

With the 11th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla selects Low Ki out of Brooklyn, New York.
Bayani Domingo: Well color me surprised that Ki dropped so far as I was sure someone would have picked him up but I think a lot of guys forgot that he was one of the hottest tickets on the Indy scene just before he became TNA property. After making his triumphant debut in PWG and having his title stripped after a fluke accident I figured Ki would provide some much needed intensity and legitimacy to the West Coast. Since the fans in PWG have seen little of Ki and since he still has a good following on the East Coast I figured he would draw more than enough to make up for his cost in ripe bananas, animals pelts, and kick pads.

With the 12th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Ring of Honor selects “Lightning” Mike Quackenbush out of West Lawn, Pennsylvania.
Samuel Berman: Ring of Honor’s hallmark has been in-ring excellence, and the addition of “Lightning” Mike Quackenbush to the roster is perfectly in-tune to that tradition. Any time you can bring a veteran with nearly two decades worth of experience into the fold, you don’t hesitate to pull the trigger. Quackenbush has had sporadic appearances for ROH in the past, but now seems poised to establish himself as a major player for America’s top Independent promotion.

With the 13th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Jersey All-Pro Wrestling selects Jack Evans out of Parkland, Washington.
Jeremy Thomas: Dynamic, exciting action. That’s what anyone in the know thinks of when they think of Jack Evans. Joining his former Generation Next stablemate Roderick Strong, Evans is certainly going to make an immediate impact in Jersey All-Pro. The only question is whether he’ll go for the New Jersey State Championship, or shoot right for the top and compete for the Heavyweight Title and top man in the company.

With the 14th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Ohio Valley Wrestling selects Delirious out of The Edge of Sanity.
Mathew Sforcina: Ohio Valley Wrestling announces that it has signed a exclusive contract with Delirious. Perhaps the bizarrest wrestler to ever step into the ring, Delirious’ unique style, and even more unique wrestling style, has made him one of the most beloved wrestlers in the world, even if no-one can understand what he is saying. Delirious has (we think) agreed to a special 1 year contract with OVW, to both compete in the ring and to become the new face of the OVW Training Grounds, a world class facility that has produced more Stars than perhaps any other training facility in this or any other period of Wrestling History. The list of Superstars produced by OVW is seemingly endless, ranging from John Cena and Randy Orton to Batista and Victoria. Delirious joins the already world class staff, ready to help mould the next generation of Superstars. OVW welcomes its newest Star Employee, even if we still aren’t sure what he’s saying.

With the 15th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Combat Zone Wrestling selects Davey Richards & Rocky Romero out of Othello Washington and Havana, Cuba.
Jarrod Westerfeld: Holding similar styles and proving to be the perfect blend of hard striking athletes with precise high flying skills and excellent submission skills, the team of Davey Richards and Rocky Romero fit in perfectly with the new look of the company. Davey being a champion of the indy scene after taking the honor of Battle of Los Angeles in 2006, and Romero being internationally accepted for his skills and acknowledged for his abilities makes for the perfect blending. Both hold the abilities to carry any promotion on their backs, and as a unit, they are that much stronger and look to set the standard for tag team wrestling within CZW.

With the 16th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, CHIKARA selects Super Dragon out of Orange County, California.
Stuart James: Super Dragon, is a well respected member of the indy wrestling stage. His unique gimmick and great charisma allows him to fully interact with the fans, therefore making the wrestling as enjoyable as possible. CHIKARA chose him as their second draft pick because of this, and we are sure that the fans will love seeing Dragon in CHIKARA.

With the 17th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Full Impact Pro selects Naomichi Marufuji out of Japan.
Michael Bauer: It was a toss up between Marufuji and Morishima, but after a year of Morishima, Full Impact Pro decided to switch things up and go with Marufuji, who can put on a good match with just about anybody, regardless of style or ability. He has battled the best in the world in multiple arenas and came out successful in many instances as well. Matching him with Steen and members of the Age of the Fall should bring out the best in all involved.

With the 18th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, IWA Mid-South selects Takeshi Morishima out of Japan.
Ari Berenstein: Wow…what’s HE still doing here and available? I figured he’d either be a keeper pick or gone in the first round, but the GHC Heavyweight Champion just fell into my lap. You better believe I’m taking him. Morishima actually fits in quite well with my idea for this show as he’s an international wrestler with a name, talent and of course a definite presence in the ring. Plus, look what I now have as a match—the big one every Ring of Honor fan has been waiting for but has to wait and wait to see. Well, wait no more, because I can announce right here and right now that Takeshi Morishima will fight “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson one-on-one, ONLY in MY IWA Mid-South promotion!

ROUND THREE

With the 19th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, IWA Mid-South selects Claudio Castagnoli out of The United Banks of Switzerland.
Ari Berenstein: HEEEEEEYYYYY! Look who is back for another go round in IWA Mid-South. Claudio has been on a tear around the independent scene this year and his talents, promo abilities and outreach to the fans has clearly improved to all-time career levels. Truthfully, I was looking for Claudio and Quack as my back-to-back picks, as I thought Quack’s injury status would make him last and hold up to this point, but with Quack out of the picture I’ll still take Claudio and we now have MORE international flavor in IWA Mid-South.

With the 20th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Full Impact Pro selects Necro Butcher out of Morgantown, West Virginia.
Michael Bauer: And as long as Jacobs and Black are here, let’s bring the insanity also that come with the Necro Butcher. The Necro Butcher makes The Age of the Fall complete with the three founding fathers, but also adds great possibility to some of the hardest fought, mind numbing, hardcore action that only the Necro could provide. If you thought Steen vs. Necro was insane before, just wait until all the gloves come off and a title is possibly at stake.

With the 21st pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, CHIKARA selects Dragon Kid out of Japan.
Stuart James: Dragon Kid is renowned as one of Dragon Gate’s finest high-fliers. Another masked Dragon wrestler makes his way to CHIKARA, aiming to impress with innovative offence. Voted best flying wrestler of 2001, Dragon Kid looks to improve his reputation in the land of fun. CHIKARA chooses him for his action packed, innovative offence and unique look.

With the 22nd pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Combat Zone Wrestling selects Brent Albright out of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Jarrod Westerfeld: Brent Albright is a powerful man who can easily toss around his opponents with the greatest of ease. Since leaving the WWE, Brent has made a great impact upon the indy scene and has turned enough heads to silence any critics and doubters he may have had. Not only limited by his power, Brent is also speedy for a man of his size and has grown through the years on the independent scene to include hard striking and submission holds that blends well with his natural strength. Albright has a bright and brilliant future ahead of him and CZW is glad to welcome him to our home to help us construct our new image.

With the 23rd pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Ohio Valley Wrestling selects Nick Dinsmore out of Louisville, Kentucky.
Mathew Sforcina: Ohio Valley Wrestling is receiving a new influx of talent, but it is not forgetting or disposing of it’s current stars, and none come more long serving and loyal than the current OVW Heavyweight Champion, “Mr. Wrestling” Nick Dinsmore. A 9 time OVW Heavyweight Champion, and a man who has battled a long term mental illness, Nick Dinsmore is a credit to the industry and a proud standard bearer for OVW. Dinsmore, as well as spending time in the OVW Training Grounds, is ready and willing to take on all the new stars in OVW, and promises to prove to each and every one of them why he is “Mr Wrestling”.

With the 24th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Jersey All-Pro Wrestling selects Steve Corino out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Jeremy Thomas: The man who’s been wrestling in ZERO1-MAX as Mister Wrestling 3 is leaving his mask behind. The man known as the “King of Old School” is a legend on the independant wrestling circuit, a former ECW World Heavyweight Champion, and holds more accolades then anyone can possibly downplay. At almost 35 years of age, he brings a level of experience that some of his “hotter” contemporaries in the industry can’t hope to match, and he’ll be a great addition to JAPW’s talented roster.

With the 25th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Ring of Honor selects Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino out of Japan.
Samuel Berman: ROH feels truly blessed that such a talented duo has inexplicably fallen all the way to this point in the draft. How could Ring of Honor management live with itself if it didn’t lock up arguably Japan’s top tag team, one who has performed at such a high level on every stage in the world? The answer is that we couldn’t, and so former ROH World Tag Team Champion Naruki Doi and the fastest man in wrestling Masato Yoshino will now be ROH-exclusive.

With the 26th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla selects CIMA out of Japan.
Bayani Domingo: I was actually considering keeping CIMA over Generico just for the fact that he’s an international star that could bring a big Japanese following with him. Him falling to me was quite fortunate as I think he’s proven time and time again in PWG that he comes with his work boots every time out. More importantly is the fact that CIMA is due a World Title shot via his BoLA ’07 win. My original intent was to make PWG as international as possible and CIMA fits this just fine.

With the 27th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Universal Wrestling Federation selects Sid Vicious out of West Memphis, Arkansas.
Larry Csonka: The Man That Rules the World is officially a UWF property! Vicious recently announced his return to the ring, but when the NWA refused to meet his demands, Vicious became a free agent. There was lots of wheeling and dealing behind the scenes to make this pick a reality. Once the UWF got their “no scissors” clause passed and Vicious scored big with “136 Softball Days” all that was needed was the ink to dry. The former WCW and WWF champion is in this for the long haul and is looking for the UWF gold, as long as he doesn’t have to pitch that day.

ROUND FOUR

With the 28th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Universal Wrestling Federation selects Bryan Alvarez out of Seattle, Washington.
Larry Csonka: Due to a stipulation in his contract, Larry Sweeney gained control of the promotion’s fourth pick and used it for personal reasons, revenge. Sweeney selects Bryan “Super Chico” Alvarez, and this will likely lead to the feud over the ICW-ICWA Texarkana Television title continuing. Alvarez may be best known for his penning of Figure Four Weekly each and every week, but when he hits the ring he is the real deal.

With the 29th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla selects BxB Hulk out of Japan.
Bayani Domingo: Sure he’s not a HUGE name on the Indy scene but he’s a big name in Japan and a personal favorite of mine as I’ve been hoping to see him over on the West Coast for years. Hulk is not only a charismatic wrestler and underrated high flyer, but he is also a very accomplished worker who tends to let his opponents really sh…okay, I’ll be honest…it was all about the Harajuku dancers. So sue me.

With the 30th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Ring of Honor selects Josh Abercrombie out of Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Samuel Berman: There may be bigger names still available, but 2007 Ted Petty Invitational semi-finalist Josh Abercrombie is an absolute must here for Ring of Honor. One of the top young talents in the wrestling business, Abercrombie brings a champion-level amateur background to the table, as well as being one of the most beloved fan-favorites in the Midwest. He may be a newcomer to ROH, but there is no doubt that Abercrombie will be quick to elevate his game to new heights.

With the 31st pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Jersey All-Pro Wrestling selects Trent Acid & Johnny Kashmere out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Jeremy Thomas: JAPW is proud to welcome the high-flying, two-time former JAPW Tag Team Champions, Johnny Kashmere and Trent Acid, back home. Few tag teams are as decorated on the independent scene as the Philadelpha-based duo, having won 12 tag team championships between seven different promotions. Trent and Johnny are incredible talents, and their innovative, exciting team dynamic will provide a centerpiece for the tag team division. For the second time in the draft, talent who was in the UWF after last year’s draft finds a home in Jersey.

With the 32nd pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Ohio Valley Wrestling selects Go Shiozaki out of Japan.
Mathew Sforcina: Ohio Valley Wrestling is proud to announce a formal relationship with NOAH Wrestling in Japan. As well as Nigel McGuinness, another star in both promotions, OVW is now the only place stateside to see rising star Go Shiozaki perform. A protégé of Legend Kenta Kobashi, Go is one of the most talked about Japanese rising stars in the world, and is eager to make a name for himself here in OVW.

With the 33rd pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Combat Zone Wrestling selects PAC out of Newcastle, England.
Jarrod Westerfeld: Known simply as “The Man Gravity Forgot”, PAC is known the world over for his athleticism and high flying skills. Making every flight he takes look so simple and easy, PAC is a fast paced dare devil who takes risk for great rewards and great payouts. What gets lost in translation from this great athlete is his amazing wrestling skills and ability to stick to a ground based strategy that matches well with guys like Romero, Richards and Aries. With the ability to strike hard and chain wrestle with the best of them, PAC holds the right mix of wrestling and dare
devil risk taking that’s sure to get the fans buzzing about CZW, once again.

With the 34th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, CHIKARA selects Raven out of The Bowery.
Stuart James: CHIKARA is proud to introduce one of the finest talkers in professional wrestling, Raven. He is a man who has been in some of the most controversial and iconic angles of all time, and his years of experience will surely aid the younger members of the roster onto bigger and better things. Raven has both made and ended the careers of other wrestlers, so his inclusion may be a risk, but it is a risk CHIKARA is willing to make.

With the 35th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Full Impact Pro selects Erick Stevens out of Sarasota, Florida.
Michael Bauer: The heart and soul of Full Impact Pro comes back home after being drafted elsewhere last year. Erick Stevens has always stood for everything that FIP is and has always been the man that everyone gets behind when down in Florida. If anyone can give Steen a run for his money when it comes to fan support down in the Sunshine State, it might just be Erick Stevens.

With the 36th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, IWA Mid-South selects Ice Cream, Jr. & El Hijo de Ice Cream out of Mexicali, Mexico.
Ari Berenstein: Lots of people pick their tag teams and getting that in order so I’m moving up my timetable and picking my team here before they’re up and gone. Los Ice Creams are an unpredictable pair of frozen gelatinous fun. Los ice Creams will represent Mexico con mucho espirito. Really, who doesn’t love ice cream? Especially with toppings.

ROUND FIVE

With the 37th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, IWA Mid-South selects Ultimate Warrior out of Parts Unknown.
Ari Berenstein: Larry Csonka may have been going crazy fruit loops with his picks, so allow me to do so as well. I do have a reason though for signing Warrior ((C) TM (R) Ultimate Creations). As many of you know, Ultimate Warrior ((C) TM (R) Ultimate Creations) has recently begun taking bookings again, including a few weeks back in New Zealand. What some people don’t know is that IWA Mid-South had begun discussions with Warrior ((C) TM (R) Ultimate Creations) about possibly coming into the fold and doing something very special and unique with the promotion. Originally the idea was to have Warrior ((C) TM (R) Ultimate Creations) vs. Delirious in a battle of “Parts Unknown” vs. “The Edge of Sanity”. However, Delirious was taken in an earlier draft round. So we go to Plan SABU. That’s right, IWA Mid-South will now present The Most Homicidal, Most Genocidal, Most Suicidal Ultimate Insanity ever! You know the controversy, you know the chaos this man brings, but believe us when we say that no matter you think of him, he has been, will always be and is unforgettable and he is a draw. He is the ULLLLLLLLLLLTIMAAAAATTTE WARRRRRRRRRIOOOOORRRRRRRRR… SNORT! .. ((C) TM (R) Ultimate Creations)

With the 38th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Full Impact Pro selects Human Tornado out of Hollywood, Alabama.
Michael Bauer: He’s electric, he’s suave, and he loves the ladies. He’s the Human Tornado! Full Impact Pro has been impressed with the Tornado since his days over in the one season of Wrestling Society X and now we get his unique style over in sunny Florida. He has some run-ins with Jacobs before, but we never got to see the one on one match. Guess we will now.

With the 39th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, CHIKARA selects Joey Matthews out of Los Angeles, California.
Stuart James: Joey Matthews has a CV that would make most wrestlers blush. Coming off a hugely successful run as one of the biggest tag teams in the biggest company in the world, Matthews has impressed anyone who has seen him wrestle. Like Raven, CHIKARA hopes his years of experience in five of the biggest companies in wrestling history aid both his career and the careers of those around him. CHIKARA chose him on the backbone that they know he will reach even higher potentials within the company.

With the 40th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Combat Zone Wrestling selects Matt Bentley out of San Antonio, Texas.
Jarrod Westerfeld: Once seen as the brightest to come from Shawn Michaels wrestling academy, Matt Bentley is a tremendous athlete who holds a great blend of chain wrestling similar to his former teacher and mentor, and high flying skills. Matt also showcases that size means nothing in this industry and that sends out the proper message that it’s not the size of the fighter as it is the size of the fight in the fighter. Matt can handle himself well with any sized fighter with the skills he possesses and the raw talent and ability he contains. Taking risks when necessary and sticking with a strike and move strategy, Matt will have a lot of success as he continues to stun his opponents and the crowd with his abilities.

With the 41st pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Ohio Valley Wrestling selects Kenny King & Jason Blade out of Orlando, Florida and Providence, Rhode Island.
Mathew Sforcina: Ohio Valley Wrestling has a proud tradition of solid, hard hitting action, and for being down to earth and loyal to its fanbase. This tradition appears to be in jeopardy, as Young, Rich and Ready For Action comes to OVW. The team of Kenny King and Jason Blade, current FIP Tag Team Champions, have signed to OVW exclusively. And they apparently aren’t happy. Lawyers, Agents, and a variety of lackeys have been trying to get YRR out of their contract, claiming they were ‘misinformed’ and that ‘Ohio sucks’. But they will be at OVW’s Regeneration show, where we are sure that OVW and their fans will give them a nice, ‘friendly’ welcome to The Heart Of It All, Ohio.

With the 42nd pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Jersey All-Pro Wrestling selects Brian Lawler out of Memphis, Tennessee.
Jeremy Thomas: The man known in the WWE as Grand Master Sexay needs little introduction. Proficient as both a heel and a face, Lawler’s wrestling skills, while often overshadowed by his personas in the ring, are nothing to sneeze at. Having found great success in his post-WWE years in Memphis Wrestling as part of his father’s “Jerry Lawler Coalition,” Lawler is ready to make a move and make his mark in Jersey All-Pro, and is perfectly primed to do so.

With the 43rd pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Ring of Honor selects “The Last of a Dying Breed” Eddie Kingston out of Yonkers, New York.
Samuel Berman: This pick is yet another blessing for Ring of Honor, as one of the most controversial men in all of professional wrestling has somehow dropped all the way to the 43rd pick. “The King of Diamonds” will fall no further, as ROH will take this world class warrior and give him the opportunity to prove himself as the major player that so many fans believe him to be. Interestingly, the buzz is that Kingston is actually upset by this selection, wanting desperately to have dropped one more spot so that he might continue to go after longtime rival Chris Hero in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. ROH management will have more on this as the draft develops.

With the 44th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla selects Joey Ryan & Scott Lost out of Los Angeles, California and San Diego, California.
Bayani Domingo: I really wanted to pick Human Tornado with this pick and I’m actually regretting taking Hulk over HT just a little bit. With Super Dragon and Tornado off the board I knew that I had to swallow my pride and bring “Sleazy Back” to PWG in the form of Joey and Lost. These two are not only owners of PWG, but are originals and icons of the company. they will provide a solid tag team for some of the younger workers I’ll throw up against them and if nothing else “The NEW Dynasty” will be a force to reckon with. As well as all those courts summons that are required when Joey can’t stay 100 feet away from those Chuck E Cheese’s.

With the 45th pick in the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft, Universal Wrestling Federation selects Justin Credible out of Ozone Park, New York.
Larry Csonka: The UWF looks to get extreme as they select the former ECW World Champion and tag team champion Justin Credible! Credible hasn’t been a part of the main wrestling scene for quite some time, but the former Impact Player has hit the gym, spent some time at the Storm Wrestling Academy to remove the ring rust and is now rededicated to pro wrestling. Will Credible look to gain singles gold or will he look to get back into the tag team action and look for gold there?

Results Through Five Rounds

To recap the day’s action, the current rosters appear as follows:

IWA Mid-South – Ari Berenstein
Keeper: Sabu
1. “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson (1)
2. Takeshi Morishima (18)
3. Claudio Castagnoli (19)
4. Los Ice Creams of Ice Cream, Jr. & El Hijo de Ice Cream (TEAM) (36)
5. Ultimate Warrior (37)

Full Impact Pro – Michael Bauer
Keeper: “Mr. Wrestling” Kevin Steen
1. The Age of the Fall of Jimmy Jacobs & Tyler Black (TEAM) (2)
2. Naomichi Marufuji (17)
3. Necro Butcher (20)
4. Erick Stevens (35)
5. Human Tornado (38)

CHIKARA – Stuart James
1. Jay & Mark Briscoe (TEAM) (3)
2. Super Dragon (16)
3. Dragon Kid (21)
4. Raven (34)
5. Joey Matthews (39)

Combat Zone Wrestling – Jarrod Westerfeld
1. Austin Aries (4)
2. The No Remorse Corps of Davey Richards & Rocky Romero (TEAM) (15)
3. Brent Albright (22)
4. PAC (33)
5. Matt Bentley (40)

Ohio Valley Wrestling – Mathew Sforcina
1. Nigel McGuinness (5)
2. Delirious (14)
3. Nick Dinsmore (23)
4. Go Shiozaki (32)
5. The YRR of Kenny King & Jason Blade (TEAM) (41)

Jersey All-Pro Wrestling – Jeremy Thomas
1. Roderick Strong (6)
2. Jack Evans (13)
3. Steve Corino (24)
4. The Backseat Boyz of Trent Acid & Johnny Kashmere (TEAM) (31)
5. Brian Lawler (42)

Ring of Honor – Samuel Berman
Keeper: Shingo
1. KENTA (7)
2. “Lightning” Mike Quackenbush (12)
3. Speed Muscle of Naruki Doi & Masato Yoshino (TEAM) (25)
4. Josh Abercrombie (30)
5. “The Last of a Dying Breed” Eddie Kingston (43)

Pro Wrestling Guerrilla – Bayani Domingo
Keeper: “The Generic Luchador” El Generico
1. Chris Hero (8)
2. Low Ki (11)
3. CIMA (26)
4. BxB Hulk (29)
5. The Dynasty of Joey Ryan & Scott Lost (TEAM) (44)

Universal Wrestling Federation – Larry Csonka
Keeper: “Sweet ‘n Sour” Larry Sweeney
1. Larry Zbyszko (9)
2. Chase Stevens & Andy Douglas (TEAM) (10)
3. Sid Vicious (27)
4. “Super Chico” Bryan Alvarez (28)
5. Justin Credible (45)

Please be sure to join us next week for the conclusion of the 2008 411Mania Independent Wrestling Draft. Also upcoming will be promotional materials regarding each company’s first show in the wake of the draft. If the opening rounds are any indication, it’s going to be a hot Summer of action across the Independent scene here on 411Mania!