Post by Toom E. Guci on Aug 17, 2010 17:41:45 GMT -8
Theodore Long. Bill Alfonso. Dangerous Danny Davis. How many of you know what these men all have in common with EXW superstar Ryan Castelucci? Long was banned from refereeing after a fast count in the Road Warriors/Varsity Club tag team championship match on April 2nd, 1989 on Clash of the Champions. Long when on to manage such men as Norman the Lunatic, Johnny B. Badd, Ron Simmons & Butch Reed (Doom), & Sid Vicious. Today, he is Smackdown General Manager. Bill Alfonso was known to ECW fans as the only referee to rule a disqualification if weapons were used in a match. This angered fans to the extent that Alfonso turned to managing Tax, eventually turning on Taz to manage Sabu & Rob Van Dam. And Dangerous Danny Davis is probably the most famous one, known for controversial calls in the 1980’s. Davis almost cost Hulk Hogan the Heavyweight Championship on Saturday Night’s Main Event by declaring Paul Orndorff the winner in a steel cage match. But Davis is most famous for the being the referee who counted the 3-count fast for the Hart Foundation’s first Tag Team Championship victory on Superstars of Wrestling, only to be suspended for life a week later by WWF President Jack Tunney. This Hall of Fame Manager “Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart to bring Davis into the Hart Foundation,.
So what does all this back history have to do with Castelucci? Simple! Castelucci is the former Senior Official for the now defunct Impact Zone Wrestling right here in Arizona. Castelucci refereed some of the great IZW superstars like Triple X Lawrence Tyler, Peter Goodman, Ryan Lynch, & Dean Radford while secretly being trained behind the scenes by former friends Gabriel Gallo & Derrick Neikirk. Castelucci made his feelings known to IZW that he wanted to wrestle by decking NWA Representative Greg DeMarco after weeks of DeMarco mistreating Castelucci. And with the birth of EXW, Castelucci decided to leave the striped shirt behind, recruit his cousin from New Jersey, & begin his career as ½ of the Atlantic City All-Stars with Woodro Santenelli. But what exactly made Castelucci decide to get into wrestling? “ My dad was a wrestler for a few years out of Larry Sharpe’s Monster Factory. I watched my first match with him. It was Tito Santana vs Randy Savage. I've been hooked since I was 6.”
Kind of ironic that a match in which Dangerous Danny Davis cost Tito Santana the Intercontinental Championship would cause this former referee to get into wrestling as a child. And now a year and 9 months later, Castelucci is not only following his dream, but has traveled the United States & followed in his father’s footsteps. Besides his start as a referee for IZW & being one of the top draws in EXW, Castelucci has competed in the American Xtreme Wrestling (Utah), Rampage All-Star Wrestling (Texas), South West Pro Wrestling (Texas), & traveled with the National Wrestling Alliance.
EXW appears to be where Castelucci has his eyes set for the future. Being a man who has wrestled in singles action, as well as tag team matches, Castelucci backs down from no challenge to do what he loves. He’s faced the likes of Dom “The Bomb” Vitalli, Frenchy Rivera, the 2 men who have trained him…Gabriel Gallo & Derrick Neikirk, & even his own cousin, Woodro Santenelli. So who would Castelucci say his hardest challenge is? “Derek . He pushes me to my limits and beyond . It's a good thing though, cause I watch the tape over and over again and I practice with Woodro most of the counters to Derek's moves. The problem being is that his cardio work out must be so much more extensive than mine. It's gotta be harder than chasing Woodro down Mill Ave while he's wavin a Cheeseteak and some Tasty Cakes while riding a bike. It's exhausting. So I have to find out what he does to work out so that next time I'll be not only prepared for him; but any one else as well.”
It is actually not surprising in the least bit that Castelucci’s hardest challenge would be Neikirk, but recently Castelucci has been forced into the ring against his own cousin, something not by choice of either man. Yet, Castelucci is not afraid to back down from any challenge…not even his cousin. It would appear that EXW CEO F.T.W. has something against the Atlantic City All-Stars or he just wants to see the dedication of both men for the business. Castelucci has his own feelings regarding why the first match was made. “I was Pissed. You think we don't know what's going on. For sure we do. FTWhatever is trying..... let me repeat trying to drive a wedge between me and Woodro. Not happening. Me and Wood have been beating each other up since we were 2.”
And what would happen 5 days after Castelucci lost to his cousin? F.T.W. would do it AGAIN to both men. This angered Castelucci even more, “I thought to myself" OK; we are gonna do this again, but I've had enough of this shit!" That’s all I can stands and I can't stands no more. I knew that I was gonna have to turn my speed up a notch in order to pull off the win. Needles to say when I saw Wood layin there after I hit him with Diamond Dust; I can honestly tell you I felt like a loser. I don't like feeling like a loser. I don't like to see my tag partner / best friend / cousin half out of it; knowing it was my fault!”
So why does F.T.W keep doing this to the Atlantic City All-Stars? Castelucci is not 100% sure of why these matches have been happening, but he has a hunch. “I have no idea. Jealousy? Maybe he feels we are a threat of some sort.. What ever the reason I don't think he has a clue as to what he started!”
Well now F.T.W. knows what he started, because after the Atlantic City All-Stars’ second match, the All-Stars confronted back up ring announcer Sal Erakat since F.T.W. was not in sight. Both men questioned Erakat on being a representative for F.T.W. Erakat’s answer was yes, which was a bad move. The All-Stars sent a message to F.T.W. via a kick to the gut, followed by several punches & kicks to get their point across. The All-Stars punctuated their point with a double flapjack to Erakat. “Me and Woodro were talkin about how to send a message to FTwhohisname. Sal got into the ring and I saw an opportunity. Wood agreed. Now I gave him a chance. I did my best to get him to say he was NOT a direct representative of FTWhocaresreally. But with some people you give them a little taste of power, they think they own the world. I did that kid a favor in the end. Hopefully he learns a lesson!”
And what exactly is that lesson? “To FTWhostoleitfromTaz ? What ever your plans are I suggest you rethink them. I understand this is far from over but hey....... you threw the first stone! now you got Boulders comin your way!”
F.T.W. obviously has plans of his own for the Atlantic City All-Stars, but what does Castelucci say the All-Stars have planned? “Tag Tittles . Simple as that. We are the best Tag Team in AZ Today. We come up with somthing new every show. We will continue to give the fans everthing we have to keep them entertained... and to keep the winnners share of the purse!”
And speaking of the tag team division, Castelucci has had his share of bouts with the Freak Squad aka Dom “the Bomb” Vitalli & Frenchy Rivera. Both teams feuded all over EXW until the unfortunate incident between Gabriel Gallo & Frenchy Rivera, in which Gallo accidentally broke Rivera’s arm. With that feud getting hotter & hotter every week & both men out for blood, it doesn’t look like the break may have been on accident. And it is the backstage talk as things continue to get hotter, as Castelucci shares his own thoughts, “Who's to say. Gallo's a pretty quiet guy. Keeps to himself most of the time. He studies various forms of martial arts and reads allot. Fits the profile of a serial killer or a superb artist. So I cant really give ya a clear answer. Mad Man or Samurai. You pick.”
Castelucci isn’t even afraid to get back in the ring with the Freak Squad if called upon, but he doesn’t see a problem with them today. “They got their hands full with Gallo and if Gallo needs any additional help he knows who to ask. I have to admit they are a great tag team. You got Frenchy ( a master at his craft) who has been doing the deal for 17yrs along with the most charismatic bad guy in wrestling today; Dom the Bomb Vitalli. Last time we had a tag match I believe we got the best of them. So unless they want another piece of us... the slates clean. Unless Gallo needs us.. no problems here.”
Castelucci loves what he’s doing in the ring, but he’s not afraid to show his fun-side for the fans. At a recent show, Castelucci decided to have some fun & pull a prank on the Xtasy Dancers as they performed. Being the professionals they are, the girls maintained their styles & their dance moves, but what caused Castelucci to show the fans his other side outside the ring, “I was kinda feelin that the crowd wasn't into them for some unknown reason( those girls are smokin hot!). I couldn't help my self. I hadn't been in the club for a while and I was feeling the beat. I knew some how the crowd would be into it too. I'm all about the fans!”
And many don’t know this, but the clubs is exactly where Castelucci started the fist pump…but he didn’t start it alone. So Castelucci decided to share the history of the fist pump with the EXW fans, who love to join him & Santenelli in their pre-match ritual. “WE started that like 6yrs ago! Me and Woodro were in club Dirty Jersey of the boardwalk. They were playing Rhythm Is a Dancer. Woodro was at the bar talkin to like 7 girls at once. I was on the dance floor tryin some new moves out like the lawn mower. Al of a sudden some guy walked right into the downward motion and BAM! Right in the jewels. He went down and Me and Woodro ( who broke away from the girls cause he's my boy like that) tried to help him up. Next thing I know 2 really big guys about 6foot 8inches a piece ( one looked like Holly Wood Yates [American Gladiator Wolf]) tried to start a fight. Apparently the guy was their manager of some sort. Me and Woodro jumped in the air with a fist pump like motion to their domes! They were both so slow that they bounced back like two helium filled balloons. The bounced right back into another fist pump punch! Now a song is playing and the crowd is watching. People started doing the same motion like it was a new dance. Some guy started explaining how the whole thing happened with the downward punch. So People started " beating the beat down". Once the beat picked up they went upward. We knocked the two guys silly and started new dance craze that swept the nation; (although we're too humble to admit it).”
And in the end, a pre-match tradition was born that the fans share in before every single match, whether it be singles or tag team. The future may be known for the tag team, but what exactly does the future hold for Castelucci himself, “Muscles. Woodro has me on a new diet and training regiment. Look to see a new toner ( with no additives) bigger Ryan Castelucci!”
Castelucci shows in the ring he is ready to take on any challenge in front of him. And he also shows that he is not afraid of authority & will not be disrespected by any authority figure. So now the question remains: will F.T.W. feel Castelucci & Santenelli’s rage or will he continue to make their lives a living hell? The only answer to pay close attention to what EXW has to offer & prepare to see what the Atlantic City All-Stars have to offer, because this is far from over between the All-Stars & F.T.W.!
So what does all this back history have to do with Castelucci? Simple! Castelucci is the former Senior Official for the now defunct Impact Zone Wrestling right here in Arizona. Castelucci refereed some of the great IZW superstars like Triple X Lawrence Tyler, Peter Goodman, Ryan Lynch, & Dean Radford while secretly being trained behind the scenes by former friends Gabriel Gallo & Derrick Neikirk. Castelucci made his feelings known to IZW that he wanted to wrestle by decking NWA Representative Greg DeMarco after weeks of DeMarco mistreating Castelucci. And with the birth of EXW, Castelucci decided to leave the striped shirt behind, recruit his cousin from New Jersey, & begin his career as ½ of the Atlantic City All-Stars with Woodro Santenelli. But what exactly made Castelucci decide to get into wrestling? “ My dad was a wrestler for a few years out of Larry Sharpe’s Monster Factory. I watched my first match with him. It was Tito Santana vs Randy Savage. I've been hooked since I was 6.”
Kind of ironic that a match in which Dangerous Danny Davis cost Tito Santana the Intercontinental Championship would cause this former referee to get into wrestling as a child. And now a year and 9 months later, Castelucci is not only following his dream, but has traveled the United States & followed in his father’s footsteps. Besides his start as a referee for IZW & being one of the top draws in EXW, Castelucci has competed in the American Xtreme Wrestling (Utah), Rampage All-Star Wrestling (Texas), South West Pro Wrestling (Texas), & traveled with the National Wrestling Alliance.
EXW appears to be where Castelucci has his eyes set for the future. Being a man who has wrestled in singles action, as well as tag team matches, Castelucci backs down from no challenge to do what he loves. He’s faced the likes of Dom “The Bomb” Vitalli, Frenchy Rivera, the 2 men who have trained him…Gabriel Gallo & Derrick Neikirk, & even his own cousin, Woodro Santenelli. So who would Castelucci say his hardest challenge is? “Derek . He pushes me to my limits and beyond . It's a good thing though, cause I watch the tape over and over again and I practice with Woodro most of the counters to Derek's moves. The problem being is that his cardio work out must be so much more extensive than mine. It's gotta be harder than chasing Woodro down Mill Ave while he's wavin a Cheeseteak and some Tasty Cakes while riding a bike. It's exhausting. So I have to find out what he does to work out so that next time I'll be not only prepared for him; but any one else as well.”
It is actually not surprising in the least bit that Castelucci’s hardest challenge would be Neikirk, but recently Castelucci has been forced into the ring against his own cousin, something not by choice of either man. Yet, Castelucci is not afraid to back down from any challenge…not even his cousin. It would appear that EXW CEO F.T.W. has something against the Atlantic City All-Stars or he just wants to see the dedication of both men for the business. Castelucci has his own feelings regarding why the first match was made. “I was Pissed. You think we don't know what's going on. For sure we do. FTWhatever is trying..... let me repeat trying to drive a wedge between me and Woodro. Not happening. Me and Wood have been beating each other up since we were 2.”
And what would happen 5 days after Castelucci lost to his cousin? F.T.W. would do it AGAIN to both men. This angered Castelucci even more, “I thought to myself" OK; we are gonna do this again, but I've had enough of this shit!" That’s all I can stands and I can't stands no more. I knew that I was gonna have to turn my speed up a notch in order to pull off the win. Needles to say when I saw Wood layin there after I hit him with Diamond Dust; I can honestly tell you I felt like a loser. I don't like feeling like a loser. I don't like to see my tag partner / best friend / cousin half out of it; knowing it was my fault!”
So why does F.T.W keep doing this to the Atlantic City All-Stars? Castelucci is not 100% sure of why these matches have been happening, but he has a hunch. “I have no idea. Jealousy? Maybe he feels we are a threat of some sort.. What ever the reason I don't think he has a clue as to what he started!”
Well now F.T.W. knows what he started, because after the Atlantic City All-Stars’ second match, the All-Stars confronted back up ring announcer Sal Erakat since F.T.W. was not in sight. Both men questioned Erakat on being a representative for F.T.W. Erakat’s answer was yes, which was a bad move. The All-Stars sent a message to F.T.W. via a kick to the gut, followed by several punches & kicks to get their point across. The All-Stars punctuated their point with a double flapjack to Erakat. “Me and Woodro were talkin about how to send a message to FTwhohisname. Sal got into the ring and I saw an opportunity. Wood agreed. Now I gave him a chance. I did my best to get him to say he was NOT a direct representative of FTWhocaresreally. But with some people you give them a little taste of power, they think they own the world. I did that kid a favor in the end. Hopefully he learns a lesson!”
And what exactly is that lesson? “To FTWhostoleitfromTaz ? What ever your plans are I suggest you rethink them. I understand this is far from over but hey....... you threw the first stone! now you got Boulders comin your way!”
F.T.W. obviously has plans of his own for the Atlantic City All-Stars, but what does Castelucci say the All-Stars have planned? “Tag Tittles . Simple as that. We are the best Tag Team in AZ Today. We come up with somthing new every show. We will continue to give the fans everthing we have to keep them entertained... and to keep the winnners share of the purse!”
And speaking of the tag team division, Castelucci has had his share of bouts with the Freak Squad aka Dom “the Bomb” Vitalli & Frenchy Rivera. Both teams feuded all over EXW until the unfortunate incident between Gabriel Gallo & Frenchy Rivera, in which Gallo accidentally broke Rivera’s arm. With that feud getting hotter & hotter every week & both men out for blood, it doesn’t look like the break may have been on accident. And it is the backstage talk as things continue to get hotter, as Castelucci shares his own thoughts, “Who's to say. Gallo's a pretty quiet guy. Keeps to himself most of the time. He studies various forms of martial arts and reads allot. Fits the profile of a serial killer or a superb artist. So I cant really give ya a clear answer. Mad Man or Samurai. You pick.”
Castelucci isn’t even afraid to get back in the ring with the Freak Squad if called upon, but he doesn’t see a problem with them today. “They got their hands full with Gallo and if Gallo needs any additional help he knows who to ask. I have to admit they are a great tag team. You got Frenchy ( a master at his craft) who has been doing the deal for 17yrs along with the most charismatic bad guy in wrestling today; Dom the Bomb Vitalli. Last time we had a tag match I believe we got the best of them. So unless they want another piece of us... the slates clean. Unless Gallo needs us.. no problems here.”
Castelucci loves what he’s doing in the ring, but he’s not afraid to show his fun-side for the fans. At a recent show, Castelucci decided to have some fun & pull a prank on the Xtasy Dancers as they performed. Being the professionals they are, the girls maintained their styles & their dance moves, but what caused Castelucci to show the fans his other side outside the ring, “I was kinda feelin that the crowd wasn't into them for some unknown reason( those girls are smokin hot!). I couldn't help my self. I hadn't been in the club for a while and I was feeling the beat. I knew some how the crowd would be into it too. I'm all about the fans!”
And many don’t know this, but the clubs is exactly where Castelucci started the fist pump…but he didn’t start it alone. So Castelucci decided to share the history of the fist pump with the EXW fans, who love to join him & Santenelli in their pre-match ritual. “WE started that like 6yrs ago! Me and Woodro were in club Dirty Jersey of the boardwalk. They were playing Rhythm Is a Dancer. Woodro was at the bar talkin to like 7 girls at once. I was on the dance floor tryin some new moves out like the lawn mower. Al of a sudden some guy walked right into the downward motion and BAM! Right in the jewels. He went down and Me and Woodro ( who broke away from the girls cause he's my boy like that) tried to help him up. Next thing I know 2 really big guys about 6foot 8inches a piece ( one looked like Holly Wood Yates [American Gladiator Wolf]) tried to start a fight. Apparently the guy was their manager of some sort. Me and Woodro jumped in the air with a fist pump like motion to their domes! They were both so slow that they bounced back like two helium filled balloons. The bounced right back into another fist pump punch! Now a song is playing and the crowd is watching. People started doing the same motion like it was a new dance. Some guy started explaining how the whole thing happened with the downward punch. So People started " beating the beat down". Once the beat picked up they went upward. We knocked the two guys silly and started new dance craze that swept the nation; (although we're too humble to admit it).”
And in the end, a pre-match tradition was born that the fans share in before every single match, whether it be singles or tag team. The future may be known for the tag team, but what exactly does the future hold for Castelucci himself, “Muscles. Woodro has me on a new diet and training regiment. Look to see a new toner ( with no additives) bigger Ryan Castelucci!”
Castelucci shows in the ring he is ready to take on any challenge in front of him. And he also shows that he is not afraid of authority & will not be disrespected by any authority figure. So now the question remains: will F.T.W. feel Castelucci & Santenelli’s rage or will he continue to make their lives a living hell? The only answer to pay close attention to what EXW has to offer & prepare to see what the Atlantic City All-Stars have to offer, because this is far from over between the All-Stars & F.T.W.!