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Courtesy of Alan J. Wojcik and http://alanwojcik.com 
 
In May 2003 IPW Hardcore promoters created the JEFF PETERSON MEMORIAL CUP in tribute to the fallen cruiserweight star who passed in 2001 after a long battle with cancer. Since then the event has garnered a list of international stars who supported the event and honored Jeff’s memory by putting on five star caliber bouts. The previous winners were “Reckless Youth” Tom Carter, Justice, Chris Sabin, Milano Collection AT, Chris Hero & Erick Stevens. On November 20-21 sixteen men will come to Brooksville & Crystal River, Florida to try and join those names. Could this year’s winner be:


 
“the New Deal” Dave Cole
Height: 6 Ft 2 In
Weight: 200 Lbs
Hometown: Shelton, CT
Pro Debut: January, 2004
Website/Myspace/Facebook: www.myspace.com/davecolelovesyou or
Where you have seen him: Hybrid Pro, ECWA, CZW, NECW, Jersey All-Pro, Millenium Wrestling Federation, Connecticut Wrestling Experience, Beyond Wrestling, PWF, CCW, Defiant Pro Wrestling
Championships held: Current Hybrid champion, NECW Tag Team champion, Defiant Pro Tag Team champion, PWF Tag Team champion, CCW Tag Team champion, MWF Tag Team champion (all w/J-Busta)
 
Alan Wojcik: What was your initial reaction to being named to Team Hybrid and competing in the 2009 Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup?
 
Dave Cole: Dream come true. Since I first got involved with the world of independent wrestling, the Peterson Cup has been a tournament that has spotlighted some of the best up and coming athletes. I’m going to go out there prove that I’m just that. It’s a great honor to be chosen to compete with the other participants and to be given a shot to show what I can do.
 
Alan Wojcik: What led you to become a wrestler and how did you end up working for Jeff’s uncle Jim Kettner and ECWA?
 
Dave Cole: Wrestling has been in my blood since I was young. I grew up idolizing the likes of “Macho Man” and Jake “the Snake” Roberts and continued to grow up and admire the skills of Bret Hart and Chris Benoit. Along with guys that went out there and busted their asses to put on the best show they could. I felt the need to do the same and began my training. Shortly after my training began, a fellow trainer (J-Busta) was working for ECWA doing singles work and busted his knee. This allowed me to come in as his tag partner and we were known as “The Canadian Superstars”. Jim Kettner and the ECWA is really where I first began to understand wrestling and how it works and I will be forever in debt to Jim, ECWA and guys like Matt Striker who taught me the basics of how to work.
 
Alan Wojcik: You were part of a successful tag team with J-Busta called the Canadian Superstars. What was it like becoming a Canadian, did you score their universal health care?
 
Dave Cole:  I really can’t say enough about J-Busta and The Canadian Superstars. Basically for the first 4 years of my wrestling career was involved with Busta and it really let me build a character and travel to some great places. I gained so much knowledge of the wrestling world through Busta and getting to go places like NECW, CZW, and then HYBRID. In HYBRID we developed an amazing feud with Faith in Nothing and I really think that feud solidified my name as a top player in HYBRID and really pushed me to where I am now as HYBRID Champion.
 
Alan Wojcik: According to your Myspace page you’ve attended seminars hosted by Mike Quackenbush and “Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels (Dave defended the Hybrid championship against Daniels at Project Mayhem 5/09/09). Talk about training with those two superstars.
 
Dave Cole: Training with these two was a blessing. I still to this day use things that both of these men taught me. I recently got a chance to work with Christopher Daniels for the HYBRID championship and I learned so much from that one match. Quackenbush taught me the importance of submission wrestling and many lucha holds and locks I still use. Training with great stars like Mike and Daniels really slaps you in the face and makes you realize how much you can learn in this business.
 
Alan Wojcik: On December 16, 2008 you wrestled in what is talked about in wrestling as a five star ladder match against Marion Fontaine, Louis Lyndon & Christian Faith. Talk about the match and its place in Hybrid’s history.
 
Dave Cole: This match meant so much to all 4 men in it and to HYBRID wrestling in general. Crowning the first champion. A multi-month tournament to qualify the 4 best in HYBRID. A ladder match that has NEVER been done before, it was all just so EPIC. We all went out there not only for the belt, but to show what HYBRID was about. I think we marked out spot on the map and for me winning that match has brought me places I have worked hard to get to, the perfect example being this year’s JPC. I love all 3 men in that match and would love to do it again someday.
 
Alan Wojcik: On December 5th you will defend the Hybrid championship against fellow Team Hybrid member Marion Fontaine. Think he might take a chance to do some damage to you here in Florida to get the title in his hands?
 
Dave Cole: I’m not worried about Fontaine. He likes to think that he can get into my head and play mind games with me until the 5th, but it just can’t happen. I’m the HYBRID Champion for a reason. December 5th in Fremont, Ohio will prove the world why I have been champion for almost a year straight now and why I will continue my reign for as long as my body lets me.
 
Alan Wojcik: Looking over the other 15 competitors including your fellow Hybrid team mates, who do you see as a road block to the trophy and why?
 
Dave Cole: Everyone. Everyone picked to be in this tournament was picked due to their ability to go out and perform at their best and their ability to give the fans what they want. Each participant has their own strengths and weaknesses and I’m VERY much looking forward to what each individual can bring to this tournament. I think HYBRID is the most unknown of the group of 16, so I think that we four have something to prove to the world and to everyone in the tournament.
 
For full event info, VIP ticket packages and profiles of other competitors log onto www.JPC2009.com