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The idea for MCW began on May 18, 1997, when Dan McDevitt, along with
then-partner Mark Shrader, decided to open the Bonebreakers Wrestling
Training Center. The success of the training center, along with the
frustration from other indy wrestlers about the lack of quality
wrestling in Maryland, led to the formation of MCW. And on July 19,
1998, the first MCW event was held in the Patapsco Arena, in front of
nearly 1,200 fans. An awesome-packed show that featured the legendary
manager Jim Cornette, Little Guido, Balls Mahoney, Jerry Lynn, Crowbar,
and the Headbangers.
Beginning in 1998, MCW produced over 100 events that featured some of
the top independent wrestlers in the country during that time period.
MCW presented the legends like former AWA/NWA/WWE World Tag Team
Champions The Road Warriors, former ECW World Heavyweight Champion
Shane Douglas, former WWE World Heavyweight Champion The Iron Sheik,
former NWA World Tag Team Champion Ricky Morton , former NWA World Tag
Team Champion Beautiful Bobby Eaton, former AWA & WWE World Women's
Champion Sherri Martel, former WWE World Tag Team Champions The
Headbangers , former AWA World Heavyweight Champion Jerry "The King"
Lawler, and former WWE Intercontinental Champion & NWA World
Heavyweight Champion Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat . MCW was also the
home of, what was then known as tomorrow's superstars, like former WWE
United States Champion Orlando Jordan, former multi-time WWE SmackDown
Tag Team Champion Joey Mercury (formerly Joey Matthews), former WWE
World Tag Team Champions The Hardy Boyz, & former WWE Women's Champion
Lita.
But MCW had its' own stars in MCW Triple Crown Champion Romeo Valentino,
5-time MCW Heavyweight Champion The Bruiser, multi-time Tag Team The
Holy Rollers (Earl The Pearl & Ramblin' Rich) & The Slackers (Chad
Bowman & Lunchbox Dino Divine), and so much more. Wrestling fans were
able to see some unique matches involving celebrities from radio and
television, including Steve Wilkos, from the Jerry Springer show. His
wrestling debut at the MCW show, drew a standing-room only crowd of
nearly 2,000 fans! And long before the wrestling conventions that exist
everywhere today, MCW was one of the first organizations to pay tribute
to the legends, with an annual event, that will return in 2006.
But MCW's premier event was the Shane Shamrock Memorial Cup. Shane
Shamrock was the first ever MCW Light Heavyweight Champion. He won that
title by defeating Mark Shrader, Christian York, Joey Matthews, Earl The
Pearl, & Quinn Nash in a Six Way Dance. The evening follow his first
title defense over Joey Matthews on August 16, 1998, Shane Shamrock,
real name Brian Howser, was shot and killed, he was just 23 years old .
MCW retired the Light Heavyweight Championship, and chose to honor Shane
Shamrock in the annual memorial tournament.
This unique tournament features at least 12 Cruiserweight superstars,
battling each other in a one-night tournament. The winners of the
first-round matches advance to the 6-man elimination match finale,
where only one man can survive. MCW's final match, was the finale of
the 5th Annual Shamrock Cup. It ended with the memory of Brian Howser
being showcased to all, with Christian York defeating Joey Matthews via
submission using the Irish Cloverleaf, Shamrock's finishing hold.
The final Maryland Championship Wrestling event, presented on July 16th,
2003, the 5th Annual Shane Shamrock Memorial Cup: The Last Dance, at
Michaels 8th Avenue was packed with well over 1000 people.
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