ESW returns from its summer hiatus this Saturday by hosting an ex-World Wrestling Entertainment star at its next event as Empire State Wrestling Presents Turn It Up.
Turn It Up will take place at the Frontier Fire Hall in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and feature former WWE Light Heavyweight and Tag Team Champion Scotty 2 Hotty.
Empire State Wrestling presents Turn It Up
Scotty will take on “The Inspiration” Gregory Iron in singles action. This match was originally scheduled for June but was postponed until this month. In June, Iron taunted Scotty during his in-ring entrance before facing T.J. Epixx even though Scotty was not on the event.
Another match of major significance will determine the No. 1 contender for the ESW Heavyweight Championship. At the end of Mayhem at the McCarthy in July, ESW Heavyweight Champion “The Remix” Kevin Bennett got “Invincible” Vince Valor and “Big Time” Bill Collier to say they would do anything to win the ESW Heavyweight Title.
The ever-devious Bennett then set up a match between the two, with the victor earning a title shot at WrestleBash in November.
“Bill Collier is a fierce competitor, and quite arguably my greatest rival. We’ve gone to war for the past several years, only this time the stakes are much higher,” Valor said. “The marquee reads ‘Brother vs Brother’, now two brothers are both faced with the internal battle of what’s more important: family or the ESW Heavyweight Championship?
Kevin Bennett wanted this matchup so badly for his own entertainment. I can promise that he’s not going to be so happy with the end result.”
Check out this Instagram post highlighting the many matches Collier and Valor previously held between one another: here.
Bennett will hold a special appearance at Turn It Up, as well. The champ plans on addressing all of his “endearing fans” when he graces the squared circle.
The ESW Tag Team Championship will be on the line when the current champions High Seas, face Waves & Curls. High Seas will look to extend their reign after beating Collier and Valor in July. Waves & Curls originally became the No. 1 contenders last year when they beat To Infinity & Beyond. However, an injury prevented them from challenging for the tag titles until now.
To Infinity & Beyond will team with “Rockstar” Robby Vegas against Edge of Hope. Vegas and CXR joined forces in July to take on Edge of Hope in victorious fashion. However, Colin Delaney of 2I&B will look to avenge a loss to Edge of Hope’s leader Cerin Rahne from the same event.
“The ‘Rockstar’ Robby Vegas got himself more friends from higher places, Colin Delaney and Cheech from To Infinity & Beyond,” said Edge of Hope’s Darren Crowe.
“Vegas thinks that he’s getting another kiss from Lady Luck, bringing in one of the hottest tag teams in ESW. How unfortunate would it be, when they are granted a kiss of pavement as we bring these people Hope for the Hopeless!”
CXR will face the returning Money Shot. This will be Money Shot’s second match in ESW, with their first being against 2I&B in November 2021. Both teams spoke a lot about each other in the build-up to this bout.
See what CXR said here:
See what Money Shot said here:
Haley Dylan will look to build off her win in July over Miley. She will take on “The Standout” Taylor Rising. A product of the Toronto pro wrestling scene, Rising will make her ESW debut in the match. She is also known for wrestling in a pair of matches on All-Elite Wrestling events.
Read this feature on Dylan here:
“The Holy Hand Grenade” James Sayga will be in action. In July, Sayga defeated “The Investment” Price Purgold. He will next face “Moonlight Son” Mike Skyros. The last time Skyros appeared in an ESW ring was in a scramble match in May 2022.
“Most people show up to ESW with the goal of putting on a flashy match with their opponent,” Skyros said. “I’m showing up to kick James Sayga’s ass and take his spot on the card.”
Check out more of what Skyros said about Sayga here:
Former ESW Heavyweight Champion “The Aesthetic Crippler” Kevin Blackwood will return at Turn It Up. Blackwood will face “The Problem” Isaiah Broner. This will be Broner’s first match in ESW after originally scheduled to debut earlier in the year.
Prior to Turn It Up, Scotty will host a training seminar which will be open to any trained wrestler or student. On top of his in-ring credentials, Scotty also worked as a trainer and producer for WWE. Anyone interested in attending this seminar should email eswoffice@yahoo.com for more details.
Doors will open at 5 p.m. with the bell time set for 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at pre-sale prices on ESWTIX.COM. Front-row seats are sold out, with a limited amount of second-row seats still available. Ticket prices rise by $5 on event day. The official Turn It Up after-party will be held at Mooney’s on Main in Tonawanda, N.Y.
