Deaf Wrestlefest is a professional wrestling supercard, produced annually in late April or early May by Lord Zoltan, a longtime wrestler and sports promoter based in Western Pennsylvania.[1][2] It is considered a major fundraiser for the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and has raised, on average, between $3,000 and $4,000 per show. Proceeds from the event benefit Pennsylvania school programs to educate Deaf students.[3][4]

Deaf Wrestlefest
Event poster for the 2009 edition of Deaf Wrestlefest
PromotionSteel City Wrestling
Date1994-2002; 2009-
CityEdgewood, Pennsylvania
VenueWestern Pennsylvania School for the Deaf

The event was first produced in 1994,[5][6] originally as part of the Steel City Wrestling promotion, and produced six editions until the promotion closed in 2000, and two more independently. The school, according to Zoltan, then decided to discontinue the event due to the increasing violence and adult content associated with professional wrestling during the late-1990s. Two of his sons, both Deaf, attended the school during this period. Following a seven-year hiatus, it was revived for the school's 140th anniversary in 2009;[5] the highlight of the show was J. J. Dillon who, in his first in-ring appearance since 1989, teamed with "Beef Stew" Lou Marconi and "Handsome" Frank Staletto in a six-man tag team match against "Franchise" Shane Douglas, Dominic Denucci and Cody Michaels.[7][8][9]

The event is a staple on the East Coast and Mid-Atlantic independent circuit. Unlike standard wrestling events, however, an interpreter is provided to sign for the students during promos and for other parts of the show.[10] Among the promotions represented at the event are the International Wrestling Cartel, Keystone State Wrestling Alliance,[1][2] National Wrestling Alliance and UCW Wrestling; the arrival of the North Carolina–based G.O.U.G.E. Wrestling at the 2010 Deaf Wrestlefest marked the organization's debut in Pennsylvania.[5] The event has featured a number of stars from Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, and World Wrestling Entertainment.

Show results

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Deaf Wrestlefest (1994)

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1994 in Edgewood, Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf)

Deaf Wrestlefest (1995)

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April 9, 1995 in Edgewood, Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf)

No. Results[11] Stipulations
1 Lord Zoltan and Psycho Mike defeated The American Patriots (Preston Steele and TC Reynolds) Tag team match
2 Futureshock defeated The Godfather (with Notorious Norm) Singles match
3 Super Mario defeated Frank Stalletto (with Notorious Norm) Singles match
3 The Juicer and Preston Steele defeated Black Cat and Lou Marconi Tag team match
4 Demolition Ax defeated Big Bully Busick Singles match
5 T. Rantula (with The Black Widow) defeated Cactus Jack (c) Singles match for the SCW Heavyweight Championship
(c) - refers to the champion prior to the match

Deaf Wrestlefest (1996)

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April 21, 1996 in Edgewood, Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf)

No. Results[12] Stipulations
1 Benson Lee and Ninja Turtle defeated JB Destiny and Masahiro Panic Tag team match
2 Paul Atlas defeated The Gravedigger Singles match
3 Randy and Sean Evans wrestled to a time-limit draw Singles match
4 Batman defeated The Shadow Singles match
5 Dynamite Dean won the Deaf Wrestlefest Battle Royal Deaf Wrestlefest Battle Royal
6 Lord Zoltan, Psycho Mike and T. Rantula (with Notorious Norm and The Black Widow) defeated Cody Michaels, Dynamite Dean and Preston Steele Six-man tag team match
7 Stevie Richards and The Blue Meanie defeated Frank Stalletto and Lou Marconi (c) Tag team match for the SCW Tag Team Championship
8 Koko B. Ware defeated The Iron Sheik Singles match
(c) - refers to the champion prior to the match

Deaf Wrestlefest (1997)

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April 22, 1997 in Edgewood, Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf)

Vince Kaplack vs. Barry Kohlhoff ended in a draw.

Deaf Wrestlefest (1998)

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April 26, 1998 in Edgewood, Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf)

BombSquad defeated Dennis Gregory & Barry Kohlhoff.

Deaf Wrestlefest (1999)

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April 18, 1999 in Edgewood, Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf)

No. Results[13] Stipulations
1 Dynamite Dean won the Deaf Wrestlefest Battle Royal Deaf Wrestlefest Battle royal
2 Robert Gibson defeated Tom Brandi (with Drew Lazario) Singles match
3 Slick Rick defeated Havoc Singles match
4 The Dope Show (Big Neil The Real Deal and Shirley Doe) (with The Black Widow and The Joker) defeated Bison and Powerhouse Hughes Tag team match
5 Batman defeated Vladimir Vampyre (with Drew Lazario) Singles match
6 Awesome Arpin defeated Goonberg Singles match
7 The Player (with Drew Lazario) defeated Dennis Gregory Singles match
8 Cody Michaels (c) defeated Preston Steele Singles match for the SCW Heavyweight Championship
9 Dynamite Dean defeated Nick Crane Singles match
10 Super Hentai defeated Vince Viper Singles match
(c) - refers to the champion prior to the match

Deaf Wrestlefest Y2K (2000)

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April 12, 2000 in Edgewood, Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf)[10]

No. Results Stipulations Times
1 Tarek the Great vs. American Kickboxer Singles match
10 King Kong Bundy vs. Preston Steele Singles match
(c) - refers to the champion prior to the match

Deaf Wrestlefest 2K1 (2001)

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April 29, 2001 in Edgewood, Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf)[14][15][16]

No. Results Stipulations
10 The Patriot vs. King Kaluha Singles match
(c) - refers to the champion prior to the match

Deaf Wrestlefest 2K2 (2002)

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April 21, 2002 in Edgewood, Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf)[17]

Deaf Wrestlefest (2009)

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May 3, 2009 in Edgewood, Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf)[18][19][20]

No. Results[21][22][23] Stipulations
1 Jason Gory and Justin Idol wrestled to a time-limit draw Singles match
2 Private Twinkie defeated Eric Xtasy (with Krystal Frost) Singles match
3 Powerhouse Hughes defeated Bill Collier Tag team match
4 Patrick Hayes defeated Bobby Shields and Super Hentai Three-way match
5 Kris Kash and Anthony Alexander defeated The V.I.P.s (Shawn Blanchard and Lou Martin) (with Frank Durso) Singles match
6 Tennessee Ernie Nord and Seymour Snott defeated Devin Devine and Dash Bennett (with Stacy Hunter) Singles match
7 Brutus "the Barber" Beefcake defeated King Kaluha (with Stacy Hunter) by disqualification Hair vs. Hair match; due to a pre-match stipulation Stacy Hunter's hair was cut.
8 The Gambino Brothers (Marshall and Mickey Gambino) (with Vicki Gambino) defeated The Wrong Crowd (Brian Anthony and Paul Atlas) (with Curtis N. Stevenson) Tag team match
9 Dominic DeNucci, Cody Michaels and Shane Douglas (with Missy Hyatt) defeated J. J. Dillon, Lou Marconi and Frank Staletto (with Count Grog) Six-man tag team match
10 J.T. Hogg won Deaf Wrestlefest Battle Royal Deaf Wrestlefest battle royal
11 Sara Brooks and Hailey Hatred defeated Morgan Rockefellor and Brittany Force (with Stacy Hunter) Tag team match
12 C.J. Sensation defeated Jimmy DeMarco and Apollyon Three-way match
13 Sheriff Steele (with Mayor Mystery) pinned Seth James Singles match
14 Leviathan pinned Wraith (with Johnny Demonic) Singles match
15 Dennis Gregory pinned Crusher Hansen (with B.C. Steele) Singles match
16 Dynamite Dean pinned Bubba the Bulldog (with Aaron Lester) Singles match
(c) - refers to the champion prior to the match

Deaf Wrestlefest (2010)

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May 2, 2010 in Edgewood, Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf)[1][2][24][25]

No. Results[26][27] Stipulations
1 Crusher Hansen (with Tony Hansen and BC Steele) defeated Jason Cage Singles match
2 Joe Brooks defeated Scott Prodigy (with Stacy Hunter) Singles match
3 Angeldust and Jimmi The High Flyin Hippie defeated Shawn Blaze and Britney Force Mixed tag team match
4 Dynamite Dean defeated Barry Ray Kohlhoff (c) (with PIV) Singles match for the Alabama State Heavyweight Championship
5 The Blue Meanie defeated Sheriff Steele (with Mayor Mystery) Singles match
6 Stryder and Shane Douglas (with Dominic DeNucci) defeated J-Ru & Bill Collier (with Dr. Feelbad) Tag team match
7 David Sammartino and Larry Zbyszko defeated Lou Marconi and Frank Staletto (with Count Grog) by disqualification Tag team match with Mick Foley as the special guest referee
6 Seymour Snott (c) defeated Logan Hodge Singles match for the G.O.U.G.E. Heavyweight Championship
7 The Bulldozer (c) defeated Toby Cline Singles match for the UCW Heavyweight Championship
8 Patrick Hayes (c) defeated Ashton Amherst (with Morgan Rockafeller) Singles match for the NWA East Heavyweight Championship
9 Bubba The Bulldog defeated Jon Burton Singles match
10 Kris Kash, Justin Sane and The Latin Assassin defeated The VIPs (Shawn Blanchard, Lou Martin and Anthony Alexander) (with Frank Durso) Six-man tag team match
(c) - refers to the champion prior to the match

Deaf Wrestlefest (2011)

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May 1, 2011 in Edgewood, Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf)[3]

No. Results[28] Stipulations
1 Dennis Gregory and Lou Marconi went to a ten-minute time limit draw Singles match
2 J-Ru defeated Johnny Mercury Singles match
3 Seymour Snott defeated Jimmy Jack Funk, Jr. (with Admir Al Akbar) Singles match
4 Justin Sane and Kris Kash defeated The VIP's (Shawn Blanchard and Lou Martin) (with Frank Durso) Tag team match
5 Dash Bennett defeated Trailer Park Heat (with Stacy Hunter) Singles match
6 Zach Gowen defeated Jason Gory (with Vicki Gambino) Singles match
7 Tony Atlas, Shane Douglas and Dynamite Dean (with Dominic Denucci) defeated Sean Alexander, Bill Collier and Bobby Shields (with J-Ru) Six-man tag team match
8 Frank Stalletto (with Count Grog) defeated Patrick Hayes Singles match
9 Damien Wayne defeated Scott Prodigy Singles match
10 Jimii the High Flyin Hippie defeated Brittany Force (with Morgan Rockafellar) Intergender singles match
11 Jon Burton defeated Crusher Hansen (with Shawn Patrick) Singles match
12 Doink the Clown defeated Nasty Nick Crane (with Mayor Mystery) Singles match
(c) - refers to the champion prior to the match

Deaf Wrestlefest (2012)

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April 29, 2012 in Edgewood, Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf)

No. Results Stipulations
1 Jason Cage and Jock Samson wrestled to a ten-minute time limit draw Singles match
2 Lou Marconi and Frank Stalletto (with Notorious Norm) defeated The Gambino Brothers (Marshall and Mickey Gambino) Tag team match
3 Ryan Mitchell defeated Ashton Amherst Singles match
4 Patrick Hayes defeated Trevor Lowe Singles match
5 Preston Steele, Dennis Gregory and Johnny Mercury defeated Ali Kaida, Nasty Nick Crane and Sniper (with Mayor Mystery) Six-man tag team match
6 Gregory Iron defeated Bobby Beverly Singles match
7 Dynamite Dean defeated Terry Ring Singles match
8 Shark Boy defeated J-Ru Singles match
9 Zach Gowen defeated Jason Gory Singles match
10 Bushwhacker Luke and Justin Sane (with Joker) defeated The VIP's (Shawn Blanchard and Lou Martin) (with Frank Durso) Tag team match with Big Bully Busick as the special guest referee

References

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  3. ^ a b Barnes, Jonathan (April 28, 2011). "Wrestlers perform to benefit school". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on March 16, 2012. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  4. ^ "Legend Bruno Sammartino Headlines 'Deaf Wrestlefest'". 17 April 2012.
  5. ^ a b c DiVittorio, Michael (April 29, 2011). "Glassport's Lord Zoltan, friends aid school with Deaf WrestleFest". McKeesport Daily News. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  6. ^ Barnes, Keith (April 25, 2012). "Wrestling benefit for WPSD continues to grow, prosper". TribLIVE. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
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  8. ^ Shrum, Rick (April 30, 2009). "Zoltan organizes Deaf WrestleFest". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  9. ^ Csonka, Larry (May 5, 2009). "Various News: RVD Video Blog, Doug Basham Retires, J. J. Dillon Returns to the Ring, More". News. 411mania.com. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
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  11. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "SCW Deaf Wrestlefest 1995". Events. Cagematch.de. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  12. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "SCW Deaf Wrestlefest 1996". Events. Cagematch.de. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  13. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "SCW Deaf Wrestlefest 1999". Events. Cagematch.de. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  14. ^ "Bingo". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 25, 2001.
  15. ^ Samudovsky, Kathy (April 25, 2001). "SouthScape: A weekly calendar of events in South communities". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  16. ^ Mendelsohn, Joyce (April 30, 2001). "Going To The Mat For Deaf Children". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  17. ^ Mervis, Scott (April 19, 2002). "Weekend Hotlist, 4/19/02". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  18. ^ Magee, Bob (April 20, 2009). "AS I SEE IT 4/20: Dragon Gate USA this July, and The Voice". Pro Wrestling: Between the Sheets. PWBTS.com. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
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  23. ^ "Deaf Wrestlefest 2009." DOIwrestling.com. Ed. Sean McCaffrey. N.p., May 2009. Web. 29 July 2011. <www.declarationofindependents.net/doi/pages/dwf54.html>
  24. ^ Kamchen, Richard (March 25, 2010). "David Sammartino recalls first 'Mania as 'no big deal'". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  25. ^ "Deaf WrestleFest benefits School for Deaf". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 29, 2010. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  26. ^ Wade, Bill (May 6, 2010). "Festival of Wrestling". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  27. ^ "The Scoop". Columns. Oklafan.com. May 10, 2011. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  28. ^ Meltzer, Dave (May 4, 2011). "WED. UPDATE: New Japan U.S. tour ads hot matches, WWE injury, UFC surprise injury, Edge Syfy gig". Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Weekly. F4Wonline.com. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
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