History of PCW's Beat The Summer Heat!

[Booker Thee]

This annual event began in the summer of 2002, almost as an afterthought. For PCW, all roads lead to Boiling Point on July 25th headlined by the LOD vs Darren Dalton & Adam Knight.

WIth the immense effort that was required for such a huge show, little thought was given to enhancing the weekly Stratosphere shows - that would have to wait until the post Boiling Point period.

However, PCW's main competitor TRCW began promoting an even to take place on week after Boiling Point on a Thursday night in a direct comeptition to PCW's first weekly Stratosphere show after BP. That event, called Summer Heat would be headlined by former WWF superstar Tatanka.

While not overly concerned, PCW was not impressed that a show with a name would be running against their weekly event, especially a show that they expected to do well in the after glow of Boiling Point. Almost as an aside, PCW decided to include specific advertising for their Strat show during Boiling Point, calling the event Beat The Summer Heat, an obvious play on the name of TRCW's super show.

On August 1st 2002, PCW's first annual Beat The Summer Heat was a rousing success, drawing over 300 people and surpassing every expectation that management had. This event started an upward trend of wildly successful shows at the Stratosphere that did not begin to wane until the new year.

Here is that first card:

Donny DiCaprio defeated Ronnie Attitude ... Chris Parys defeated Big O ... PCW Junior Heavyweight Champion Rawskillz beat Kenny Omega ... Darren Dalton defeated Dean Richtor ... Adam Knight defeated Sugar Daddy Dixon ... Will Damon pinned Shane Madison

The main event saw the conflict escalate between 'Playboy' Will Damon and 'Mecca' Shane Madison. At Boiling Point, Madison had 'broken with creative directive' and pinned Damon, throwing the program into chaos. As Beat The Summer Heat opened on the 12 foot StratosTron, Damon vowed to Davidson to return the favour here at the Stratosphere. And he did just that, shooting on pin on the 'Mecca' and the feud had only just begun to heat up.

In 2003, the events surrounding Beat The Summer Heat were much more ominous. Pursued by the Avenue Nightclub to promote a large show, PCW soon announced plans for Boiling Point II to take place at that venue headlined by the awe-inspiring match of Kenny Omega vs D'lo Brown! In addition, PCW Heavyweight Champion Chi Chi Cruz would defend his title against 'Outlaw' Adam Knight in a Ladder Match! This was all to take place on July 9th 2003.

Within just a few weeks of the event, the Avenue Nightclub breached their agreement to run Boiling Point II forcing PCW to cancel the event. Instead, all matches and angles would take place at the second annual Beat The Summer Heat on July 10th at the Stratosphere! Omega would now face 'Showtime' Robby Royce and the Cruz/Knight match would be a 15 foot steel chain match.

Here is that card:

Winnipeg, Mb - PCW presented Beat The Summer Heat this past Thursday, July 10th 2003! In front of 313 wild fans, PCW put on what is being called by many as the best wrestling event ever!

The event opened with ring announcer Shallcross informing the crowd that due to illness, Antonio Scorpio Jr would be unable to compete. 'RedHot' Ryan Woody shocked the crowd by hitting the ring to take his place against King aftyer being fired by PCW only a few short weeks earler.

Woody and King set the pace for the night by engaging in a thrilling one on one contest with King coming out victorious in preparation for the inevitiable match with his former protege Antonio Scorpio Jr.

Beat The Summer Heat continued with a huge tag team match that was not without controversey and shocking returns. PCW Superstar Chris Raine teamed up with newcomer Jon Cutler to face ECCW's Vance Nevada and the 400lb AXE! The match was a tremendous encounter, culminating with young Cutler slamming the massive AXE and picking up the win for his team!

As the 300+ people continued to pour through the doors, they were instructed to view the 15 foot StratosTron Video Wall for a very special tribute to the career of Chi Chi Cruz.

[Booker Thee]

Beat the Summer Heat continued to get hotter with the first of three title matches, the PCW Junior Heavyweight Championship! Three-time Champion Rawskillz was set to defend against number one contender Shawn Houston (who earned the match by winning the unique Eliminator Match on a previous show)!

Rawskillz used his superior experience to frustrate the young challenger, but in the end Shawn Houston took another step towards greatness by capturing his first PCW Junior Heavyweight Championship!

One of the most anticipated matches of the night was next, the Tag Team Battle Royale to crown the first ever PCW Tag Team Champions! The fans eagerly awaited the return of perhaps the best tag team in PCW history, Perfect Balance (Moses Luke & The Big O), but there were many other surprises, including the one night reunion of the legendary tag team known as Assisted Suicide. Also entered into the Battle Royale was Steve Cox, who was one half of the reigning NWA Canadian Tag Team Champions until being stripped of the title in a boardroom only hours before bell time so he could compete for the more prestiges PCW Tag Team Championship!

The Teams were as follows:
The Ukrainian Sex Mafia (The Gigolo & Sugar Daddy Dixon) with Charity
Pete & Ron Chee
JC Derksen & Steve Cox
Perfect Balance (Moses Luke & Big O)
'Diehard' Greg Romijn & Natrix
Chris Raine & Jon Cutler
Vance Nevada & The AXE with Angel
Assisted Suicide (Rawskillz & 'Priceless' Chad Tatum).

It was a wild affair with the fans going crazy. Early on, with Steve Cox clearly not understanding the rules, eliminated his own partner, JC Derksen, thus eliminating himself as well.

Half way through the match, a three-way catfight erupted at ringside as Chairty, Angel and Tracy-Lynn all began tearing into each other. It took several minutes to separate the women as PCW agents filled the ringside area.

As bodies continued to be eliminated, the match came down to Assisted Suicide and Perfect Balance and these two teams thrilled the crowd. But on this night, destiny belonged to Perfect Balance as they captured gold and made history as the first ever PCW Tag Team Champions!

At this point in the show, 'Outlaw' Adam Knight, the challenger for the title entered the ring with a 12 foot ladder and knapsack. he aknowledged that they would be unable to do the ladder match but that he wanted a match that would allow him to brutualize the champion and take his title. Out of the knapsack, Knight pulled a 15 foot steel chain and challenged Cruz to a chain match. In a sickening display, Knight then began insulting the elderly parents of Chi Chi Cruz who were sitting at ringside to witness their son's match. An enraged Cruz hit the ring, grabbing the chain and swinging it wildly. He accepted the match.

The second half of PCW's Beat The Summer Heat started off with a huge match! One of the most anticipated matches of all time, Kenny Omega vs 'Showtime' Robby Royce! Royce, a former NWA North American Champion and the 19 year old Omega put on a wrestliung classic that the 313 fans in attendance. This match was all about who was going to face former WWE Superstar D'lo Brown.

Late in the match, with the referee injured, Omega hit the Hidoukan and convered Royce. The fans counted well past three, but the ref was still down. With Kenny trying to revive senior official Scotty Bowman, Royce went on the attack and also scored an unofficial three-count. The match continued at a breakneck pace and after a series of suplexes, with both men's shoulders down, the savvy veteran Royce lifted his shoulder at the last moment and scored the pin!

The night of Main Events continued with the six man grudge match, The Dynasty - Darren 'The Bomb' Dalton, "Mr Sports Entertainment" Chris Stevens, & "Right Stuff" Ronnie Attitude vs MVP - "The Mecca" Shane Madison, "Vicious" Donnie Dicaprio & "Playboy" Will Damon.

The match was a violent brawl from the start with issues between the two team dating back months. As Dicaprio and Attitude brawled to the backstage area, Stevens was thrown from the ring. As Madison set Dalton up for the Tomikazi, Damon shocked the world by attacking his own partner. Dalton easily pinned the unconscious Madison. After the match, Damon grabbed the mic and ripped into Madison and the fans, even assaulting the 'Mecca' valet, Tracy Lynn. Damon continued to kick and stomp on Madison befor leaving the ring to a chorus of boos from the 300+ in attendance.

PCW's Beat the Summer Heat finally came down to the much anticipated main event. Chi Chi Crus came into the match still suffering the effect of a fractured right hand as a result of a brutal attack by 'Outlaw' Adam Knight several weeks prior. He was unable to cast it by order of Real Action Wrestling because he had mandatory title defenses to make in July. Cruz returned from the maritimes where he defended his Real Action Wrestling championship and captured a third title, the MainStream Wrestling Heavyweight Championship!

But this match was for the PCW Heavyweight Championship and it was to be a 15 foot steel chain match! Anything goes, no DQ!

The match started out fast and furious. There was no way to get away from each other as they were chained together at the wrist. The thick steel chain was used as a weapon from the start as was the 12 foot ladder, still sitting under the ring. The crowd was on its feet for the entire match as Cruz and Knight battled like warriors. Mid-way through, Cruz was busted wide open and wore the crimson mask the rest of the match. By the end, Knight was also bleeding profusely, but neither man would quit.

With the 313 fans in attendance on their feet, Cruz pinned Adam Knight to retain his championship. While a standing ovation awarded the champion, even Knight was met with applause from the crowd that knew they had just witnessed a classic match and a classic night of action!