The Illustrious History of the Trampoline Wrestling Association
TWA wrestling was established in 1997 in Warsaw Indiana. It was started by Tyler Reinholt aka Vince McMahon. In 1997 the roster was talented but meak in numbers with only 4 active original wrestlers. The 4 TWA originals were owner Vince McMahon, Cactus Jack, The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin. In late 1998, TWA was ready for the mainstream, and was ready to launch their first pay per view. This pay per view would be called " Trick or Die". This was a big pay per view debut for TWA as it featured the original four original TWA members, but added a large slew of new talent some of which are still members of TWA today. This new talent included Roadog, Blue Blazer, Gangrel, Christian, Edge, Gonzalez. The pay per view was a sucsess and saw TWA's first title change as Roadog defeated The Rock. Blue Blazer defended his I-C gold against Gonzalez. Christian captured the European Title in his debut by defeating Gangrel, Edge, Ken Shamrock in a four corners match. Trick or Die will forever be known as the Pay Per View in TWA history that got the ball rolling.
In December of 1998 TWA launched their next ppv, WInter Combat. This event featured the news that TWA champ Roadog had left TWA, and owner Vince McMahon introduced the new TWA champ The Big Bossman. This pay per view featured no new talent or debuts was basically a build off of the momentum created by Trick or Die. The event featured Big Bossman retaining his TWA title by defeating Kane. Stone Cold defeated Blue Blazer and The Rock in a triple threat match for the Intercontinental gold. Edge defeated Gangrel. St. Valentines Day Massacre was held in February of 1999 and by this time the Rival Backyard wrestling company ETW was heating up on the East side of Warsaw, so TWA knew they had to pick up some momentum. St. Valentines Day Massacre debuted the Hardcore title in a shed match between Cactus Jack and The Rock. This was one of the best matches in TWA history to this date. The Rock defeated Cactus in the match with a Rock Bottom on tacks. The Blue Blazer captured the IC gold once again from Stone Cold, and was turned on while accompanying Big Bossman in his title match against Vince Mcmahon, thus setting up the long time rivalry of Big Bossman and Blue Blazer.
WrestleFest was held on March 26th 1999 and was beyond a shadow of a doubt the Pay Per View that Put TWA over the top. With TWA already having a roster of 10 wrestlers, and having 3 sucessful Pay Per Views, WrestleFest saw the second major influx of talent making debuts at the event. WrestleFest saw the debuts of Isaac Yankem D.D.S., Val Venis, Mankind, Hawk, Mark Henry, Russian Bear, Russian Ox, Gillberg. The main Event was Title for Title for the first time in TWA History. Big Bossman proved to be too much for the challenger Blue Blazer, and took home both titles in their epic battle. Gangrel defeated the Rock for the Hardcore Title in a Ladder Match in a match that took Gangrels career to new heights. Stone Cold defeated Cactus Jack to become #1 contender. Isaac Yankem defeated Mankind in a match that went up on the balcony and ended with 3 vicious shots with a broom to mankind's head covered by a can. Gillberg defeated Vince McMahon and Val venis, and IRF defeated Hawk and Mark Henry.
Easter Extravaganza was the next Pay Per View held in April of 1999. This Event was another solid card which was highlighted by Stone Cold Steve Austin realizing his dream of becoming TWA champ, Ending a 4 month reign of the Big Bossman. Fire Storm was held in late April 1999. This event had 2 title matches, and a 16 man Firestorm match to determine the # 1 Contender for Strive To Survive. The Blue Blazer was unable to defeat Billy Gunn for the I-C title. Cactus Jack realized his dream of becoming TWA champ by defeating Stone Cold Steve Austin in a highly entertaining match. The FireStorm match was one of the best matches in TWA history. Firestorm's claim to fame is that it debuted The Big Show. Big Show entered the match and immidiatley made short work of opponets. He holds the record for quickest pinfall in TWA history by chokeslamming Isaac yankem right off the stairs on his entrance for the 1-2-3. Vince McMahon was the winner of the Firestorm match drawing # 16, making him #1 contender for Cactus Jack's title at the next ppv Strive to Survive.
Strive to Survive was held in May of 1999 and was in the opinions of many the best TWA Pay Per View ever. This event was teams of 3 on 3 elimination rules. All Survivors of matches would then be put into one battle Royal to declare the Sole Survivor. This man would be named Number one contender at the next ppv, SmackDown. Teams were "Underdogs" Blue Blazer, Marty Jannetty, Ken Shamrock- "Team Foley" Mankind, Hawk, Balls Mahoney- "DX" Billy Gunn, X-Pac, Gillberg- "Jabronis"Rock, IRF, - "The Ministry" Undertaker, Bradshaw, Gangrel- "Big Nasties" Big Show, Vader, Mark Henry. The Rock was the Sole Survivor in the event which saw much TWA action in it's "glory days". Cactus Jack defeated Mr. McMahon to retain his coveted gold. Strive to Survive was significant in another way, that being the debuts of longtime TWA talents Vader and Undertaker. ETW was losing ground day by day after Wrestlefest in the warsaw backyard wrestling ratings war, With these two major signings, ETW was forced to fold, thus ending the wars.
Smackdown was held in late May 1999. This pay per view had a great turn out of talent. The Big Show continued his push, by winning a battle royal to open the card. He won this by getting past the likes of Mark Henry, Vader, Russian Ox, Balls Mahoney. Blue Blazer defeated Gonzalez in a grudge Match. Gangrel defeated Russian Bear to retain the Hardcore title in a match that went all over the areana, even into a creek. X-Pac defeated Marty Jannetty in a match that saw many high-flying moves. Billy Gunn retained the I-c title by defeating Mankind in a highly entertaining match. Cactus Jack defeated the Rock to keep the TWA gold in a Main Event that captivated the fans all around the world.
TWA took a few months off and came right back in July of 1999 with King of the Tramp. The competetors in this single elimination tourney were Mankind, Gangrel, Billy Gunn, Blue Blazer, Gillberg, Vader, and Christian making his TWA debut. A tournement that saw a lot of high flying action featured Mankind vs. Blue Blazer in the finals. Mankind avoided a leg drop attempt from the Blazer and capitalized with a big splash for the clean 1-2-3. Mankind was attacked by Billy Gunn during the corination ceromony. Trick or die 2 was held in October of 1999. This card had Mankind ending a 7 month hardcore title reign of Gangrel(who vanished from TWA after the event) by defeating him and Triple H in his Debut. Kane debuted by defeating the Blue Blazer for the I-C title match as well.
The 90's passed by, and by May of 2000 TWA was ready to return in a big way. Redemption was the name of the Pay Per View, and argued by some to be the best TWA of all Time. Too Cool defeated Rikishi and Mr. Mc Mahon, with Rikishi turning of Vince and giving him "the stink face" and joining Too Cool for dance Moves after the match. Shortly after the celebration Juggalo and Wicked from ETW attacked Rikishi, breaking the first light bulb in TWA history. Mankind defeated Bubba Dudley Stone Cold and the Russian Bear in a 4 way hardcore title match to retain his title. The Rock and X-Pac eached wrestled their last TWA matches ever with The Rock gaining the win. Chris Jericho debuted in a big way in TWA by defeating the Undertaker in one of the true classics in TWA history thus making him #1 Contender. The main Event was for the I-c Title as Big Bossman defeated Blue Blazer in their epic rematch from WrestleFest 14 months Earlier.
In May of 2003 TWA made a return at a new venue. And it's first PPV was named Battle for the Belt. With Cactus Jack being stripped of the title due to lack of defenses, TWA needed a champion. A 7 man Elimination Tourney was held that day with names such as Chris Jericho, Raven, Stone Cold, Cactus Jack, Ultimate warrior, Razor Ramon and Bret Hart most of which making TWA debuts. Stone Cold defeated Cactus Jack in the finals of the tourney becoming the TWA champion. TWA Disorderly Conduct followed in June 2003 and saw The Hart Foundation defeat Drax and Dudly To become the first ever TWA tag Team champions. In the Main Event The Ultimate Warrior defeated Stone Cold in the center of the ring to become TWA champion.
Firestorm 2 was the final Pay Per View held in 2003, and was in the opinions of most the best. The event kicked off with Jim the Anvil defeating Drax Obrien for the Hardcore Title. The Hart Foundation defeated Drax and Dudley in their rematch from Disorderly Conduct for the Tag Titles. After this match, Drax Obrien (an ETW member originally) went balistic in an interview, and disappeared from TWA but vowed he'd be back. Andre the Giant defeated Owen Hart and Stone Cold for the European Title. The Newly crowned TWA champion the Ultimate Warrior defeated Chris Jericho in an epic match. Jim the Anvil won the Second annual Firestorm Match that was mediocre at best.
TWA had a long hiatis until Sepember 7th 2008 as they returned with September to Remember. This card was limited and had only the most loyal vetrans and a few newcomers. Carlito defeated 1-2-3 kid in a debut match. Vader and Kevin Nash had a confrontation ending in disaster, Stone Cold defeated Blue Blazer to retain the I-C gold. The Undertaker defeated Chris Jericho to retain His coveted TWA gold.
July 12th 2009 TWA launched the biggest Comeback Pay Per View in it's storied history, Wrestle Fest 2. Much like 10 years prior when TWA was taking off, Wrestle Fest put it's roster over the top, history would repeat itself with Wrestle Fest 2. This Pay Per View marked the debuts of Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, Ted Dibiase Jr. , Jd Fury, Tank Johnson, Dice Morgan, IRS, Hawk. It also featured the TWA return of the legandary Big Bossman as Commisioner. Big Bossman defeated Cody Rhodes in the opening contest. After the match legacy attacked Big Bossman, but not before he named himself refferee for the #1 contender match later between Orton and the Blue Blazer. IRS defeated Ted Dibiase Jr. in a match with much controversy of a fast count by ref Burt Gosslidge. In an Extreme Rules match, Jd the Fury defeated Dice Morgan when he put him through a table. Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated Hawk to retain his I-c Gold with a stunner in the middle of the ring. Blue Blazer defeated Randy Orton to become # 1 contender. This match was mostly dominated by Randy Orton, climaxing with the Blue Blazer going through a "double table". However Blue Blazer gained control down the stretch and a simple leg sweep and front roll, gained him the victory. After this match Big Bossman and Blue Blazer had a handshake and celebration. This was a classic Wrestle Fest moment with the history of the Bossman and Blazer's storied rivalry, finally burrying the hatchet. The main event was an instant classic as well. It featured 6 year champion Undertaker defending his coveted TWA championship title in a triple threat match against seasoned vetran Vader and Tank Johnson making his TWA debut. This match lived up to it's main event status, seeing pandamonium right from the get go of the match. Undertaker showed why he had been the longest TWA champ in history by shattering a flourecent lightbulb over Vaders's back. Vader would later gain vengence by ending the deadman's 6 year reign with a Vader bomb for the 1-2-3 in the center of the ring. This would gurantee a new TWA champ at Wrestle Fest 2. Tank Johnson and Vader battle on TWA's grandest stage for close to 15 minutes breaking 3 more tables before Tank Johnson realized his dream of becoming TWA Champion with a face lock choke out. Wrestle Fest 2 has TWA hotter than ever and King of the Tramp 2 will be held in the summer of 2010.
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