GCW JOEY JANELA’S SPRING BREAK III PART 1
FRIDAY, APRIL 5
8:00 PM
WHITE EAGLE HALL
NEW JERSEY

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Watch online (Fite TV)
Live Stream available with Fite’s GCW Collective Package

In a couple of years, Joey Janela’s Spring Break has established itself as one of Wrestlemania Weekend’s top attractions. Its success has been so big that this year’s show was split in two parts, and both sets of tickets were sold out in just a matter of minutes.

In Part 1 we have the crazy array of matches you would expect from a Spring Break show but I would argue this one feels a little bit weaker than last year’s line-up, mainly because this time we didn’t get the incredible video packages to increase the hype of the show. However, since everything is sold out that’s hardly important so let’s talk about this creative mix of hardcore, comedy and spotfest extravaganza that will also feature Joey Janela’s return from injury.

MASASHI TAKEDA VS. JIMMY LLOYD (DEATHMATCH)

Masashi Takeda is the best deathmatch wrestler on the planet and the fact that he’ll be participating in this show is reason enough to get your butt inside the building.

Jimmy Lloyd has quickly become one of GCW’s most beloved stars thanks to his enormous passion and crazy hardcore matches; despite his technical deficiencies, Jimmy always works hard and is willing to take the sickest spots of any show. This could easily be the match of the night, but if you’re at ringside, please beware that there’s going to be many, many shards of glass flying around. Having Jimmy pulling the upset would push him even further as GCW’s top star (along with Gage) but I simply can’t see the incredible Takeda eating a pin here.

A-KID VS. JAKE ATLAS VS. SHANE MERCER VS. AUSTRALIAN SUICIDE VS. SLIM J

A sweet looking spotfest that will probably kick things off and one that is very important for the involved competitors. With the importance that GCW is acquiring and the fact that they’re one of the few indie companies that actively try to create stars, young wrestlers like A-Kid, Jake Atlas and Australian Suicide have a chance to convince everyone of their potential.

Hailing from Spain, A-Kid is well known for his tremendous match with Zack Sabre Jr. last year and while he has struggled a little bit in his recent European escapades alongside his partner Carlos Romo, I am very confident he has what it takes to get to the next level and become a top independent star. I hope he delivers in this match.

I have been in arenas where Australian Suicide honors his name by diving from the top of crazy structures, and because he’s a AAA regular, I’m very familiar with his work. The man is a very consistent high flyer that is even better live, so I really hope he shows all his skills in front of what will surely be a red hot crowd.

Jake Atlas is a young, hungry California-based competitor whose ‘big break’ in PWG last year left much to be desired, but I’m sure that was a little glitch in the system: every time I watch this guy he impresses me more and more, and after having a tremendous match at GCW To Live and Die in LA earlier this year, will be looking to carry that momentum to arguably one of the shows of the weekend. This is a huge match for Atlas: we’ll see if he takes the next step or continues underperforming in big stages.

Slim J has been wrestling for nearly two decades now but never got his big break. He has wrestled for NWA and Ring of Honor, where he was part of the forgotten Special K faction. Last year, PCO showed us that it’s never too late to cause an impression, and this might be Slim J’s last big chance to do just that.

Admittedly I haven’t seen much of Shane Mercer, but that man impressed the heck out of me in GCW They Said It Couldn’t Be Done in a match against the high flyer Eli Everfly. If he can replicate that magic with all the other high flyers here, we’re looking at another standout performance by this man.

THE FINAL BATTLE FOR ETHAN PAGE’S SOUL AND DIGNITY AS A WRESTLER AND A HUMAN
ETHAN PAGE VS. ???

In the quest to regain his soul and dignity, Ethan Page has successfully defeated Penelope Ford (Lost in New York) and D-Lo Brown (LA Confidential) but he has one more battle to complete. I refuse to think about what might happen if Ethan Page fails in this third and final stage but we might be looking at an eternity of pain and shame for him.

Who could be his opponent? I have a feeling Page will have to face the returning Joey Janela himself in order to get his soul back. If that’s the case, I have no doubt that we shall witness savage, desperate combat in which Janela would want to prove to everyone he’s as good as ever.

TAKA MICHINOKU VS. ORANGE CASSIDY

I am so happy TAKA has decided to take some bookings outside of Japan and what better opponent that one of the hottest names in the indie scene and one of the finest comedy wrestlers in North America. I am extremely excited to see what these two come up with and while we can’t expect a classic match, we sure will be treated to one wacky, unique experience.

SHINJIRO OTANI VS. NICK GAGE

Shinjiro Otani is a puroresu legend whose resume includes being IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, ZERO1 World Heavyweight Champion as well as winning the J-Crown in 1997. He was a very important junior in the 90’s and tremendous babyface that would always get the crowd rally by his side.

GCW Heavyweight Champion Nick Gage is one of the toughest, most scary competitors out there, whose live presence is electric: the man talks, walks and performs like a badass and he exudes a bone chilling aura of danger that not many wrestlers have.

The thing about this match is that Otani is Nick Gage’s favorite wrestler (or at least he said so a while ago) so you know he’s going to go balls to the wall. Also, I expect the crowd to get wild for this match, mainly due to Gage’s huge popularity but also because this match exemplifies what Spring Break is all about: a crazy bout that you would never expect to see in any other scenario.