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| Deaf Wrestlefest | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg/500px-Deaf_Wrestlefest_(2009)_poster.jpg) Event poster for the 2009 edition of Deaf Wrestlefest | |
| Promotion | Steel City Wrestling |
| Date | 1994-2002; 2009- |
| City | Edgewood, Pennsylvania |
| Venue | Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf |
Deaf Wrestlefest is a professional wrestling supercard, produced annually in late April or early May by Lord Zoltan, a longtime wrestler and sports promoter based in Western Pennsylvania.[1][2] It is considered a major fundraiser for the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and has raised, on average, between $3,000 and $4,000 per show. Proceeds from the event benefit Pennsylvania school programs to educate Deaf students.[3][4]
The event was first produced in 1994,[5][6] originally as part of the Steel City Wrestling promotion, and produced six editions until the promotion closed in 2000, and two more independently. The school, according to Zoltan, then decided to discontinue the event due to the increasing violence and adult content associated with professional wrestling during the late-1990s. Two of his sons, both Deaf, attended the school during this period. Following a seven-year hiatus, it was revived for the school's 140th anniversary in 2009;[5] the highlight of the show was J. J. Dillon who, in his first in-ring appearance since 1989, teamed with "Beef Stew" Lou Marconi and "Handsome" Frank Staletto in a six-man tag team match against "Franchise" Shane Douglas, Dominic Denucci and Cody Michaels.[7][8][9]
The event is a staple on the East Coast and Mid-Atlantic independent circuit. Unlike standard wrestling events, however, an interpreter is provided to sign for the students during promos and for other parts of the show.[10] Among the promotions represented at the event are the International Wrestling Cartel, Keystone State Wrestling Alliance,[1][2] National Wrestling Alliance and UCW Wrestling; the arrival of the North Carolina-based G.O.U.G.E. Wrestling at the 2010 Deaf Wrestlefest marked the organization's debut in Pennsylvania.[5] The event has featured a number of stars from Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, and World Wrestling Entertainment.
Show results
Deaf Wrestlefest (1994)
1994 in Edgewood, Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf)
Deaf Wrestlefest (1995)
April 9, 1995 in Edgewood, Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf)
Deaf Wrestlefest (1996)
April 21, 1996 in Edgewood, Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf)
Deaf Wrestlefest (1997)
April 22, 1997 in Edgewood, Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf)
Vince Kaplack vs. Barry Kohlhoff ended in a draw.
Deaf Wrestlefest (1998)
April 26, 1998 in Edgewood, Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf)
BombSquad defeated Dennis Gregory & Barry Kohlhoff.
Deaf Wrestlefest (1999)
April 18, 1999 in Edgewood, Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf)
Deaf Wrestlefest Y2K (2000)
April 12, 2000 in Edgewood, Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf)[10]
Deaf Wrestlefest 2K1 (2001)
April 29, 2001 in Edgewood, Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf)[14][15][16]
Deaf Wrestlefest 2K2 (2002)
April 21, 2002 in Edgewood, Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf)[17]
Deaf Wrestlefest (2009)
May 3, 2009 in Edgewood, Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf)[18][19][20]
Deaf Wrestlefest (2010)
May 2, 2010 in Edgewood, Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf)[1][2][24][25]
Deaf Wrestlefest (2011)
May 1, 2011 in Edgewood, Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf)[3]
Deaf Wrestlefest (2012)
April 29, 2012 in Edgewood, Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf)
References
- ^ a b c Martin, Adam (April 12, 2010). "Indy Update #2: BTPW, MPW, AWF, KSWA". WrestleView. Archived from the original on October 2, 2012. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
- ^ a b c Babinsack, Joe (May 2010). "Joe Babinsack talks Deaf Wrestlefest". Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Weekly. F4Wonline.com. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
- ^ a b Barnes, Jonathan (April 28, 2011). "Wrestlers perform to benefit school". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on March 16, 2012. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
- ^ "Legend Bruno Sammartino Headlines 'Deaf Wrestlefest'". 17 April 2012.
- ^ a b c DiVittorio, Michael (April 29, 2011). "Glassport's Lord Zoltan, friends aid school with Deaf WrestleFest". McKeesport Daily News. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
- ^ Barnes, Keith (April 25, 2012). "Wrestling benefit for WPSD continues to grow, prosper". TribLIVE. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
- ^ Deitch, Charlie (April 30, 2009). "The Wrestler". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
- ^ Shrum, Rick (April 30, 2009). "Zoltan organizes Deaf WrestleFest". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
- ^ Csonka, Larry (May 5, 2009). "Various News: RVD Video Blog, Doug Basham Retires, J. J. Dillon Returns to the Ring, More". News. 411mania.com. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
- ^ a b Place, M. J. (April 12, 2000). "Ringside Seats; Edgewood School For Deaf Hosts A Wrestling Extravaganza". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "SCW Deaf Wrestlefest 1995". Events. Cagematch.de. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "SCW Deaf Wrestlefest 1996". Events. Cagematch.de. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "SCW Deaf Wrestlefest 1999". Events. Cagematch.de. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
- ^ "Bingo". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 25, 2001.
- ^ Samudovsky, Kathy (April 25, 2001). "SouthScape: A weekly calendar of events in South communities". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
- ^ Mendelsohn, Joyce (April 30, 2001). "Going To The Mat For Deaf Children". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- ^ Mervis, Scott (April 19, 2002). "Weekend Hotlist, 4/19/02". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
- ^ Magee, Bob (April 20, 2009). "AS I SEE IT 4/20: Dragon Gate USA this July, and The Voice". Pro Wrestling: Between the Sheets. PWBTS.com. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
- ^ Magee, Bob (April 27, 2009). "AS I SEE IT 4/27: Doing good with wrestling...again". Pro Wrestling: Between the Sheets. PWBTS.com. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
- ^ Alvarez, Bryan (April 28, 2009). "TUES. UPDATE: RAW NOTES, FLAIR, ABISMO NEGRO, FABER V BROWN, MMA ANNOUNCER BAR FIGHT, MORE". Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online. F4Wonline.com. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
- ^ GB-Team. "Deaf Wrestlefest". Showarchiv: Zusatz. Genickbruch.com. [unreliable source?]
- ^ "Deaf Wrestlefest 2009 results from 5/3 in Pittsburgh, PA featuring Brutus Beefcake, Shane Douglas & J. J. Dillon coming out of retirement". Newswire. IndyWrestlingNews.com. May 5, 2009. Retrieved July 29, 2011. [unreliable source]
- ^ "Deaf Wrestlefest 2009." DOIwrestling.com. Ed. Sean McCaffrey. N.p., May 2009. Web. 29 July 2011. <www.declarationofindependents.net/doi/pages/dwf54.html>
- ^ Kamchen, Richard (March 25, 2010). "David Sammartino recalls first 'Mania as 'no big deal'". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Deaf WrestleFest benefits School for Deaf". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 29, 2010. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
- ^ Wade, Bill (May 6, 2010). "Festival of Wrestling". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- ^ "The Scoop". Columns. Oklafan.com. May 10, 2011. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
- ^ Meltzer, Dave (May 4, 2011). "WED. UPDATE: New Japan U.S. tour ads hot matches, WWE injury, UFC surprise injury, Edge Syfy gig". Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Weekly. F4Wonline.com. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
External links
- Official website