2CW: Doing The Work – The Official Ranking of Every Match From Upstate New York’s #1 Indie Promotion of All-Time
I’m only mostly ashamed that I was called 2SamW in certain wrestling DMs over a decade ago. I started going to 2CW shows in 2008, going to Fight To No Avail in Binghamton with my dad. I was 15 so I understand why my dad didn’t want me to going to Binghamton at night by myself, not mention I couldn’t drive yet. That night was the last chance I had have my dad ever thinking being a wrestling fan was a normal thing. Compared to him going to WWF shows back at the Veteran’s Memorial Arena in downtown Binghamton, this was geek central. A different vibe filled with weirder people. I don’t remember many one-off people I sat next to at these shows but in HD I recall the woman sitting next to us in the front row how telling us through the gap in her teeth how she was compelled to buy a ticket when she saw the commercial of the Blue Meanie coming to town. My dad certainly had no idea who the Blue Meanie was, and trying to explain it to him only filled me with shame.
Despite all this I would go to dozens of 2CW shows over the next handful of years across Upstate New York. Most of them with my friend Chad, who I don’t talk to all that much anymore. Have to imagine the experience scarred him. I became an evangelist for a wrestling promotion I didn’t watch outside of the events I went to and who put on matches where I knew I was talking up to people despite what was in front of my eyes. Again, only mostly ashamed.
I Will Live Up To My Name
All this said to admit that several months back I said Tajiri and Mikey Whipwreck versus AR Fox and Rich Swann was a top 5 match in 2CW history. A match so good I feel confident based on everything I’ve seen it would hold up. But if I have only seen the shows I’ve gone to live, how can I be sure? I truly can’t be. When asked to do the work I knew I couldn’t tell you the other matches in the top 5. This didn’t eat at me, that would be absurd. But I was bummed I couldn’t immediately come up with a list that I would go to the mat for. I’m 2SamW and I can’t even feel confident in 5 matches? Doesn’t seem right.
Can’t Believe We Have Access
Then after months of harassing Bob Collins, who I feel the need to call out as an extremely unhelpful person who has access to every 2CW show and refused to allow me access despite being willing to show up to his home and do the work myself, a Patreon started up. An official/unofficial 2CW Patreon. Former ring crew member Justin Parker, best known for vacuuming the mat to most 2CW shows. It comes off more ambitious than the typical wrestling company Patreon. It is a mix of a show archive and newly filmed DVD Special Features. He’s interviewed former 2CW wrestlers, telling stories ala a shoot interview. The direction feels novel, and while it isn’t the stuff that immediately grabs me, the Patreon clearly is run by somehow who wants to share as much of the 2CW story as possible.
With this show archive I am officially Doing The Work and ranking every 2CW match in history. There are some shows that haven’t hit the archive but the intention is to go chronological order. Every post will have the matches listed from worst to best and with the Official Canonical Ranking for 2CW. Not entirely sure of the posting schedule. Certainly not once a week. Probably once a month. You can expect your dose of 2CW match rankings, with quasi-reviews. I am 2SamW, and this is my story.
