MCW Company History

Announcers:
Jake Roth- Mayhem
Bobby Heenan- Mayhem
Brian Johnson- eXtreme, Mayhem reporter
Jimmy Spears- Mayhem and eXtreme reporter, Destiny, Friday Night Fights, Broadband Host
Rob Ploutus- eXtreme, Broadband Co-Host
Scott Somerall- Destiny, eXtreme
Rob Queen- Mayhem, eXtreme ring announcer
Debbie Gold- Destiny, Friday Night Fights ring announcer

Referees:
Dustin Ware
Houston Howard
Alan Fairchild
Skip McGuiness
Teresa Mowell
Alan Clark

Creative Staff:
Geoff Setliff- Creative Director
Steve Sierer- Writer/Producer
Rob Ploutus- Writer
Jeff Ratliff- Head Writer
Jake Roth- Consultant
Veronica Hayes- Writer
Carla Dinsmore- Writer
Roccino Sanchez- Consultant

Corporate Officers:
Bo Jackson- Chairman for SMDSports
Joseph Allen- President
Roccino Sanchez- Vice President
James Kaplan- Director of Finance
Jake Roth- Director of Talent Relations
Henry Mark- Director of New Media
Mark Gordon- Director of Marketing
Steve Sierer- Director of Television Production
Emily Greenhouse- Director of Television Distribution and Video
Christie Martin- Director Merchandise Licensing
Chris Montgomery- Director of Legal Operations
Jim Dooley- Director of Talent Development/Triple A Wrestling
Garret Blankenship- Director of Facilities and Real Estate
Tina Blank- Director of Partner Relations

Television:
MCW Monday Mayhem- Mondays, 9PM-11PM, Coastal Broadcasting Corporation
MCW eXtreme- Saturdays, 11PM-12AM, Seasonal (May-August) Coastal Broadcasting Corporation
MCW Battlezone- SYNDICATION, Check local listings
Triple A Destiny- Saturdays, 10PM-11:30PM, Seasonal (May-August) SMDSN2
Triple A Friday Night Fights- Triple A Wrestling’s Flagship Show. Shown Friday, 11:30PM-12:30AM WBQC UPN25 Cincinnati, OH, WDRB FOX15 Louisville, KY, WHIO UPN17 Dayton, OH, WNDY UPN23 Indianapolis, IN, WWHO UPN53 Columbus, OH, WHCP WB30 Portsmouth, OH/Ashland, KY/Huntington, WV

Media:
MCW Broadband- Internet Radio, Friday, 6PM-7PM
MCW Magazine- print edition, SMDPublishing

Company Synopsis (for SEC filing information only):

Millennium Championship Wrestling is owned by SMDSports Corporation and based in Cincinnati, Ohio. SMDSports (NASDAQ: SMD) is a company that specializes in sports events, sports television, and sports media.

Millennium Championship Wrestling provides entertainment using pre-determined outcome sports throughout the United States and Internationally through live events and television distribution. The MCW is in no way affiliated with federal, state, or local sports commissions. Its sole purpose is entertain the public and is not to provide sports competition. MCW and Millennium Championship Wrestling are trademarks and copyrights of SMDSports Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 1970, 1980, 1982, 1988, 1990, 1996, 2000, 2003., 2004

History:

In early years of television special events, namely sports, were produced for networks via third party production companies. In 1941 Allen Rollins began a production company solely for the purpose of producing professional baseball games for television.

Rollins struck a deal with Brooklyn Dodgers and WNBC in New York City to broadcast Dodger games on television. In the early forties television was scarce and only the elite could afford TV. The Dodgers, and Rollins, initial goal was get the upper crust of city socialites to watch games on television in special box seating. The first Dodger game was broadcast on closed circuit in the Presidential Box on June 5, 1942. All those watched loved it- including the commissioner of baseball and president of NBC. Immediately Major League Baseball struck a deal with Rollins to produce baseball games. NBC wanted to broadcast those games and in exchange for the production NBC paid the bill for the equipment. Rollins began broadcasting one American League on Saturday and a National League game on Sunday.

By the time 1950 rolled around television was about to take off. Rollins Productions (as it was known until 1961) and NBC were now able to produce regional games so fans could watch their favorite hometown team.

In 1951 CBS decided it wanted to the Nation Football League. After contacting Rollins and getting a price on producing it for them, CBS decided it would be cheaper to produce the games themselves. When the NFL debuted on CBS in 1952 it was an immediate hit.

When NBC saw they could produce baseball games in house, they terminated the deal with Rollins. Rollins was shocked. Left without the equipment, but with 100 employees he had to think of something quick. He used what money he had left to purchase some high end film equipment. He called his friend, NFL Media Director Bob Sabol, and proposed that Rollins team come and film every NFL game. The coaches could use the film in practices and the NFL could use it for commercials or specials. Within weeks Sabol sold the idea of what would become eventually become NFL Films to the league. In addition the live television coverage the NFL would pay Rollins to tape football games. The catch for Rollins though was that the NFL wanted Sabol in charge. Rollins and the NFL worked out a deal that allowed Rollins reap the financial rewards and Sabol direct the NFL Films crew. It wasn’t long before Sabol was hooked on NFL Films he convinced the NFL to let him resign as Media Director and work for Rollins full time.

Meanwhile Rollins’s son Fred and college friend Ted Harper had began work at 20th Century Fox as Producers themselves. After a meeting with Academy for Motion Pictures, Fred Rollins convinced them to let his Dad’s company produce the Oscars. The folks at the Oscars decided to give it a shot as long as Fred and Ted headed up production. Fred and Ted resigned from Fox and went to work for Rollins Productions. By 1959 Rollins had become the exclusive production team for the Oscars, Emmys, and host of other television specials.

In 1960 Rollins and son sought to branch out. Fred used his Hollywood connections to secure casting agents and before long studios were contracting Rollins to cast their films. Several actors also began seeking contract advice from the Rollins’. Fred hired several lawyers and agents to run the talent agency side of the company.

1962 was big year for Rollins Productions. No longer just a production company, Allen Rollins allowed Bob Sabol and NFL Films out of their contract. NFL Films immediately became an official part of the NFL.

Allen decided it was time for a change on all fronts. Since Rollins Productions had become so diverse, Allen changed the name to Rollins Entertainment Group. His son Fred became acting Vice President and Ted Harper became Director of Media. Rollins was now a talent agency, a television production company, and casting agency.

By the end of year Ted Harper presented an idea to Allen Rollins to create their very own network. The plan, Allen felt, was too costly. Harper left Rollins and decided to try it on his own and purchased a small UHF station in Charlotte, NC. By the time 1968 would come around just 6 years later that small UHF station would become Harper Broadcasting Network and be seen in 11 states and over 3 million homes. It would become the cornerstone of Theodore Harper’s billion dollar empire.

In 1964 Allen Rollins, the founder and patriarch of REG died suddenly of a heart attack at age 62. His son, 30 year old Fred Rollins became the new President. Fred tried not rocking the boat his first 3 years at Rollins and he would not until a chance meeting in Los Angeles, California.

Fred Rollins was restless. He wanted to do something big with REG, but did not know what. On a whim he took off for a trade show in LA and ran into his old friend Ted Harper. Harper and Rollins were blown away by the concept of cable television. Most people thought that paying for television was crazy, but Rollins and Harper saw potential. The two went to lunch and over coffee discussed the idea of cable television.

What came of the meeting was essentially the seed of MCW. Harper wanted to be one of the first networks on cable and he wanted Rollins to produce all of the programming. That way he could keep his network running himself and let REG run wild on cable. He knew it would be less expensive in the long run. Harper was willing, more or less to let REG have their own network, but it would be branded with the recognizable Harper name.

Harper and Rollins left and both flew to Charlotte. Within a week Harper had secured regional cable spots Atlanta, Charlotte, Memphis, and Nashville. Harper and Rollins decided that it would be best to bring the network HBN to the masses with some differences. The cable Harper Channel would carry Rollins programming with Harper mainstays like the evening news and some game shows. The target date for the new network was January 1971.

Rollins decided to make a bold move and break REG up. He took television production and corporate affairs and moved it all to Charlotte. Rollins knew that the Casting and Talent side could exist on its own in LA.

In 1969, 7 months into planning it all fell apart. Cable companies were demanding programming now and Rollins and Harper did not have the funds to bump the networks start date up. Rollins was devastated. He had uprooted 120 families and moved them 4,000 miles from their home for nothing.

Harper decided that Rollins and his staff were too valuable to him. Harper called Rollins and laid down a challenge to him. He wanted a 24 hour news network on cable. It would be cheap to produce and maintain. He told him if Rollins could deliver, he would move his production staff on the flagship HBN to the news network and allow REG to take over HBN. Rollins held a staff meeting and the staff approved of the move.

10 and 12 hour days were the norm and in only 4 months, Harper News Network was ready move from concept to reality. Another month of set building and satellite installation and HNN launched in February 1970 on cable outlets across the country. In 1970 less than 1 million homes had cable, but those who did were privy to HNN and the first cable network, the American Network.

Harper, true to his word moved his staff to HNN and Rollins people to HBN. Harper and Rollins flew to Atlanta to meet with the Atlanta affiliate. Next door to the station was legendary Omni, home of the Atlanta Hawks. The building was packed with people and traffic was backed up several blocks. Harper wanted to know who the Hawks were playing and was informed by his driver that wrestling, not basketball, had sold out the Omni. Harper looked at Rollins with that southern grin and Fred knew to pull the numbers on televised wrestling.

What Rollins found astounded him. The wrestling fans in the south were loyal and plenty. After reviewing some tapes of wrestling shows, Rollins and a think tank of producers, were shocked at how easy wrestling would be not only to produce, but how just a little bit of money could transform wrestling to a colorful spectacle.

The numbers made it to Harper and he gave wrestling the green light. Saturday nights were REG and their wrestling. First Rollins knew he needed talent. REG had the network and the time and plenty of money. In the south 2 wrestling promotions stood out above the rest, North Carolina Championship Wrestling and Georgia All Pro Wrestling. REG bought them both. Rollins observed how territorial wrestling was. He sought to break that barrier down and create one organization that would tour the country. Little did he know 5,000 miles away he was on the brink of getting some competition. Less than a year later the American Wrestling Federation would debut in Los Angeles.

He had the talent, the fan base, and the television, but none of the know how to run a wrestling promotion. Harper and Rollins decided to keep NCCW promoter Jimmy Niles on to book the events. Niles was well respected in the industry and had excellent repoire with the wrestlers. Niles worked long and hard putting together a talented roster and laid out the show for a late/fall early winter 1970. On December 5, 1970 a new wrestling promotion debuted on HBN. Millennium Championship Wrestling hit the mat for the first time in grand fashion.

MCW technically had been around before. MCW was a small southern promotion that ran from 1890-1954 before folding. REG had chose MCW namesake because Harper remembered attending MCW events as a kid. Since Harper was giving their baby the screen time, REG aimed to please.

MCW Saturday Night found instant success. A staple in the south, MCW was ready to break out nationally in 1978. In ’78 Jimmy Niles retired and REG hired Sam Piatt a highly renowned promoter from Texas to run the show. At this time cable was beginning its taxi down the runway and the first national cable channel, the American Network, had made a rival wrestling show, the AWF a nationwide success. The AWF had cartoon like characters and a true star in Thunder Law. Although MCW had a stronghold in the east, the AWF ruled the west coast.

Everyone knew MCW had one big problem. MCW did not have one household name wrestler that appealed to a mass audience. Rollins gave a commission to Piatt- find MCW a star. Piatt hired long time Japanese promoter Jim Dooley to scout talent. The two went to Japan and found the man that would become MCW and wrestling’s biggest star.

Today Rob Ploutus is a writer and announcer for MCW television. In 1978 he was a 25 year-old sensation in Japan. Wrestling under the name Heavy Metal, he was on t-shirts, caps, toys, and billboards. He was Japan’s biggest wrestling name. Dooley and Piatt went after Heavy Metal and offered him a spot in the growing MCW. As much fun as Japan was, the lure of MCW and returning to America was too much for Heavy Metal. He returned stateside to launch MCW into the 80’s and on cable television.

By 1979 cable was exploding. Ted Harper stood at a crossroads. HBN was a staple network on the east coast but the mid west and west remained untouched by HBN programming. By this time Harper had branched into publishing and music, so he was willing to risk it all. He called Fred Rollins and set up a meeting.

March 10, 1979 Ted Harper told REG employees that HBN was moving off network television in all markets but Charlotte and Atlanta and HBN would become 95% cable. Harper stressed that cable was the future and pointed out the success of the American Network and the upcoming launch of ESPN.

By 1985 MCW was REG’s highest grossing venture and cable’s highest rated show. HBN became, and remains the most watched channel in the world.

So that’s how MCW came to be, but that’s just part of the story. The true story of MCW lies in itself.

The 1970’s: MCW had once been a widely popular organization. Owned by a former Georgia bootlegger, MCW toured the country in the early 1900’s before folding in 1954. As television gave rise to wrestling, MCW found themselves without a television outlet. Subsequently, their best stars left to be on television where there was more money to be made. Without drawing power, the original Millennium Championship Wrestling had its final show in Dalton, Georgia on November 3, 1954. Only 74 people paid to see the swan song.

When REG went to develop the wrestling company they found that the trademarks and intellectual property had been “dead” for 12 years. REG paid the government only $175 for the name and trademark. Today MCW trademark is valued at a little over $95 million- just for the name!

The 1970’s featured a bevy of talent. When MCW Saturday Night debuted on September 3rd, 1970 the legendary Pete Pizaaz became the first World Champion when he defeated Yentel McGee. Pizaaz became the face that MCW would start to build on in the early seventies. Pete along with dreaded heels like Red Dog Tatum and Rustler Nate drove the early MCW product.

The first coup for MCW would come when the most famous wrestler at the time, The Great Calloway, signed with MCW in 1973. Jack Calloway was a former Notre Dame Linebacker and NFL star with the Minnesota Vikings. He was popular, tough, and loved by everyone who knew him. He respected the business and the vision Rollins and Harper had. He left a cozy spot in the popular NCW promotion out of Chicago and had headed south; little did he know he would put MCW on the map.

Calloway won the World Title at the Civic Arena in Charlotte on December 1973. The show was televised live as part of a special on NBC. Suddenly America wanted bigger antennas so they could watch MCW. In 1974 MCW caused HBN to explode out of the South and into the Northeast. As the popularity of Calloway and MCW grew, so did HBN affiliates.

The ride would last only 2 years. In February of 1976, just two days after Rollins purchased the once storied NCW, The Great Calloway and Rustler Nate were riding to a show in Mount Airy, North Carolina when Calloway hit a deer and lost control of his car. The car skidded out of control and into oncoming traffic. Neither Calloway or Nate were wearing seatbelts and they both died instantly as they went head long into a delivery van and a station wagon. Jack Calloway became the first, but unfortunately not the last, World Champion to die while holding the title.

The loss of their top star hit MCW hard. They had yet to push any younger guys and were at a loss storyline wise. For the next 2 years MCW would flounder.

Now it was 1978 and Rollins knew he had to do something- so he commissioned his top executive Sam Piatt to find new talent. Piatt hooked up with Talent Scout Jim Dooley and the two spent six months in Japan scouting new talent. Piatt and Dooley were so impressed with the talent in Japan they convinced Rollins to open up a developmental program in Japan. War Time Wrestling still survives today as excellent place MCW youngsters to get experience.

Dooley and Piatt returned to the US with some serious talent who became legends. Handsome Bill Malone, Chris Blackcoat, Crazy Joe Callo, and Iron Chin Hayward all were the cogs that ran the MCW engine through 1979 and early eighties.

The mid eighties gave rise to some young kid named Rob Ploutus who wrestled as the most famous wrestler of all time Heavy Metal. Metal would have to wait a while for the spotlight because guys like The Bone Crusher, Andre Bower, and Tank Thrasher dominated the scene. Tank Thrasher became the first Word Champion to hold the title for 2 years since The Great Calloway.

Through the eighties MCW rolled. With advent HBN on cable, MCW was now scene nationwide and every kid had a Tank Thrasher t-shirt. The most popular MCW star was Heavy Metal. Rollins new the young man’s push could wait any longer on November 26, 1987 at “Clash of the Titans 8”, Heavy Metal delivered an amazing performance. To this day the 60 minute Iron Man cage match versus the legendary Terry Hudson is coveted by tape traders everywhere. Heavy Metal not only was given center stage, he shined in it. All kids wanted for Christmas in 1987 was a Heavy Metal lunchbox!

The late eighties also saw the debut of young talents like The German Machine, Flying Josh, and The Guardian. A solid roster also included Brent Larson who would eventually become World Champion. The eighties also so the rise of the tag teams like The Denver Wrecking Crew and Crimson Red. In 1987 MCW reintroduced the US Title and created the Television Title as well.

Heavy Metal would carry MCW into the 90’s with a memorable feud with The Scorpion. Then MCW signed away Iron Man Steve Hogan from the AWF. Hogan found himself embroiled as the top face as Heavy Metal took a much deserved rest. Unfortunately in February of 1992 Hogan was seriously injured in a match with The Scorpion. Hogan injured his back and neck when he botched a backbreaker spot late in the match. The match was finished and spot barely noticeable to the untrained eye, but Hogan would not return to MCW until 1997. Hogan was able to return in early 1994, but chose to do so for the AWF.

MCW lost its way a little in early 90’s. The departure of Hogan and time off for Heavy Metal hurt the company. The Guardian did his best to carry the flame but near 2 year feud between he and The Scorpion wore thin and fans changed the channel.

Heavy Metal returned in 1993 and claimed back his World Title in an incredible 2 out of 3 falls match with The Guardian. The show, Clash of the Titans 27, was shown on HBN and remains one of the highest rated cable programs in history. Heavy Metal’s glory was short lived when he blew out his knee and was force to drop the title to a very green James Rawlings in 1994.

Rawlings did not get over with fans. No matter how hard MCW pushed him, the fans did not respond. Rawlings nearly killed the company, because they kept the title on him for over a year. Eventually The Giant Killer (Pablo Montoya) would take the title from Rawlings at Inquisition in 1995.

1995 would be a landmark year in sports entertainment. In an effort to out do the struggling MCW, the AWF introduced AWF Ground Zero. Ground Zero was live every other week and replaced the old AWF Showdown on the American Network. Ground Zero offered pay-per-view quality shows for free and slowly MCW saw the AWF start catching up in the ratings.

Finally in November Heavy Metal returned. With his return MCW made a bold move and copied the AWF’s format. MCW Mayhem was launched on the all new Dynamite Network in December of 1995. The program was shown live every Monday night and was two hours in length. The fans started coming back in droves.

The second ever Mayhem saw Heavy Metal regain the gold in a first blood match against the dreaded Viper. A bloody feud ensued between the two for months.

As the mid 90’s gave way to the late 90’s MCW found themselves in glory days again. Unfortunately in 1996 Heavy Metal suffered another injury. It was career threatening, but he could still wrestle one more match. MCW’s biggest and brightest star wrestled his last match at PowerSlam 1996 against The German Machine. In a grueling Iron Man Match Heavy Metal put on his finest performance in years and even though he lost, he was given a standing ovation by all who was in attendance. The next night on Mayhem Heavy Metal was honored for his contributions to sports entertainment. Without make up and his outfit Rob Ploutus thanked the fans before taking two years off with his family. Ploutus returned to wrestling as a Talent Agent for the HWA in 1998. After a falling out with Blair Stewart in early 2000 he rejoined MCW as a Talent Scout. In December of 2000 Ploutus joined MCW creative team and currently serves as the color commentator MCW eXtreme.

1997 saw the return of Steve Hogan. Hogan, however was outdated and at a time when the AWF had began to pick steam, MCW seemed to be losing it and fast. Unproductive years of ’97 and ’98 led to some of the less memorable MCW characters like Nat Daddy, The Redneck, and the Great White Hope. Some stars, however, made it in ’97. Justin Bradley and The Boulder both were bright spots for MCW. Unfortunately The Boulder left for the AWF in late 1998.

November 1998 brought the rise of Mike Goldstein. A huge imposing figure Goldstein captured his first MCW Title at Tidal Wave ’99. An incredible feud with the German Machine put MCW back in the mainstream. Once again kids and adults alike clamored for Goldstein merchandise.

Then on October 25th 1999 tragedy struck MCW again. A plane carrying MCW stars Mike Goldstein, James Rawlings, The Masked Mule (Crazy Joe Callo), Justin Bradley, Lace, The Executioner, Janice Sweet, Nat Daddy, Cannonball, the entire MCW announce crew, and several MCW referees and laborers crashed on a flight home from MCW Primetime in Phoenix, Arizona. There were no survivors.

MCW not only was in mourning they were in trouble. Former AWF Announcer/Writer and mainstay Jake Roth was hired to take over Talent Relations and become the new voice of MCW. Roth hired a young Dave Houseman as the new creative director. Houseman and Roth reached to the crass renegade Hardcore Wrestling Alliance and AWF mid card for talent. Roth knew exactly what young AWF and HWA stars could make a impact.

The first wrestler hired by the new MCW brass was Ivan Trotski. Ivan was a Goldstein like wrestler that was loved by AWF fans. Ivan had been working in the HWA after a falling out with AWF owner Mark Cruise. Ivan brought with him the most controversial wrestler of all time- Rocky Sanchez.

Wrestling as the “Enigma” in the AWF Sanchez was involved in a Hell in a Cell match that resulted in the death of another wrester. Sanchez, though the spot was not his fault, was blackballed for the incident thanks to AWF owner Mark Cruise placating the blame on him to take heat off the AWF. Roth knew better however and knew that Sanchez had the charisma and ability to break through the stigma and become a huge star. Sanchez was wildly popular in the southwest for Tumbleweed Championship Wrestling. He was known for his great wrestling ability, hardcore style, and intense persona. After the incident Rocky could not find work for several months. Finally the HWA's Blair Stewart- at the urging of Ivan- brought Rocky on board. Rocky quickly established himself as one the HWA's top performers. Finally nearly a year after the incident Mark Cruise admitted under oath that he had forced Sanchez and the victim to do the dangerous spot that cost the victim his life. Finally Rocky had been vidicated.

The biggest coup for Roth and MCW was signing 4 true legends. No stars were bigger heels during the eighties in the AWF than Steve Swanson, Ken Davidson, Rob Diablo, and Alex Brody. After a huge falling with AWF management the trio had went to Japan where they could “appreciated.” Roth convinced them all to come back state side and the result was more than spectacular.

Swanson had a real life tussle with Rocky Sanchez in the early 90’s, and the heat between the two was used to fuel one of the greatest rivalries of all time. Swanson and Sanchez real life distaste for each other morphed into to respect and the two put on one of the greatest shows of all time Last Man Standing Scaffold Match in January of 2000. The Unowretling.com match of the year for 2000 garnered national recognition and solidified Sanchez as the Heavy Metal of the new millennium.

By 2002 MCW had again changed. The Hardcore Wrestling Alliance folded in 2001 and MCW swooped in and signed several of their top tier stars. One of the men signed was a Native American named Mirado. Mirado’s Indian character could not get over with MCW fans so he shed his head dress and started using his real name- Shawn Blackheart. Blackheart skill in the ring reminded older fans of Chris Blackcoat and his heel persona served him well.

Blackheart found a good foil in his former tag partner Titan. The two were embroiled in a bitter feud over the coveted MCW World Title for most of 2003. Meanwhile Rocky Sanchez, Ultimo Gaffi, Ivan, and Joey Allen (wrestled as The Guardian) left MCW in 2001. Rocky and Joey started a wrestling school in San Diego, California. Along with Ivan and Ultimo they decided to take their successful school and start a new wrestling regional promotion- SoCal Wrestling. SoCal Wrestling became a phenomenal success and in late 2003 SMDSports bought a large part of it and created the SMDWF. Almost immediately it impacted MCW negatively.

Backed by big corporate dollars the SMDWF immediately threw money as big name stars. The first big name star to sign with them was Shawn Blackheart. Blackheart had dropped the title in the late summer of 2003 and was sitting at home negotiating a new deal when Rocky called him. The Blackheart signing was an immediate wake up call for MCW. The SMDWF was not playing games, they were playing for keeps. Within the same week they had signed Los Ambrossos, Confederate Soldiers, Godiva, and The Cowboy. SMDWF didn’t just raid MCW; from the AWF they signed The Beef, Mike Gabriel, Annubus, Lucifer Grimm, and the Nightmares. Joey Allen then convinced wildly popular UFC star Tito Ortiz to sign on.

The wrestling world was suddenly given a huge shake up with creation of the SMDWF. For the first time ever a third promotion was taking a sizeable chunk out of the wrestling audience. To make things worse on MCW and the AWF Rocky, Ultimo, Ivan, Steve Swanson, and Ken Davidson came out of retirement to make the show successful. By April of 2004 SMDWF had surpassed the AWF and MCW in the ratings. Fred Rollins could hold the stockholders at bay any more and he was forced to sell MCW.

Prior to the creation of the SMDWF, Bo Jackson from SMDSports had contacted Rollins about selling MCW. Rollins had resisted the selling to Jackson because he felt he could keep MCW afloat. The stockholders were tired of pumping money into MCW to keep it alive. Rollins made three calls. The first call went to his old friend and partner Ted Harper. He offered Harper a deal to sell him total control of MCW. Harper wanted MCW, but he knew the board at Haprer Broadcasting would never approve the buying of a company that needed an immediate infuse of cash to keep going. Harper declined. He then called Mark Cruise. The AWF was deep trouble as well, but the owner of the AWF knew using the remaining cash reserves to buy MCW was just the boost he needed to stay alive. Cruise arranged to send a team Charlotte to meet with Rollins. Rollins made one final call to Bo Jackson. Jackson got off the phone 5 minutes later and boarded the corporate jet. He met with Rollins in is home that night and over dinner they worked out a deal that Rollins would present to the board pending what Mark Cruise offered.

A team from the AWF arrived the next day without Cruise. Rollins felt like Cruise should have come himself like Jackson and made up his mind then and there to sell to SMDSports. Rollins rejected the AWF’s offer and called Harper. Harper and Rollins flew to Cincinnati and finalized the details of what Harper Communications would receive for its portion of MCW. Both men flew back to their offices and called an emergency board meeting. Both boards passed the proposed sale and minutes later an SMDSports/SMDWF contingent was on a plane for Charlotte.

On April 5, 2004 Fred Rollins announced to the public that Millennium Championship Wrestling had been sold to SMDSports. SMDSports wisely threw out their SMDWF moniker and went the much more established MCW name. Just a few short moths later time and money ran out on Mark Cruise and the AWF and they filed for bankruptcy. In less than a year SMDSports had gone from no wrestling promotion to new kid, to #1, and now they had elminiated all the competition.

The sky is the limit for the new MCW. With a company like SMDSports behind them MCW has gained back some wrestling fans that left earlier this decade. The new MCW is committed to creating new stars and keeping MCW in the spotlight for generations to come.

Fast Facts

Pay Per Views
January: Deep Freeze
February: Fury (Defunct), Inquisition (Defunct), Valentines Day Massacre (Defunct)
March: Spring Breakout
April: No Escape (Defunct)
May: Old School, Ides of MAYhem (Defunct)
June: WrestleBowl, Tidal Wave (Defunct)
July: Beach Blast (Defunct)
August: Dissension
September: Iron Man (Defunct), Cold Steel (Defunct)
October: Conquest
November: Full Throttle (Defunct)
December: PowerSlam

Titles
MCW World Championship (established 1918)
MCW World Tag Team Championship (established 1945)
MCW United States Championship (established 1950-1954, reactivated 1987)
MCW Television Championship (established 1987)
MCW Womens Championship (1972-1986, reactivated 1997)
MCW eXtreme Championship (established 2004)
MCW Cruiserweight Championship (1975-1982)
MCW North American Championship (1977-1979)
MCW Carolina Championship (1971-1977)
MCW Carolina Featherweight Championship (1972-1975)

Top 5 Highest Attendance
1. Clash of the Titans XXX: Mystery of the Orient- Tokyo Racecourse in Tokyo, Japan: Attendance 97,259 Date: 7/23/84
2. WrestleBowl- Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, OH- Attendance: 78,233 Date: 6/20/04
3. Powerslam 10- Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, MI- Attendance: 78,144 Date: 12/17/89
4. Powerslam 9- Houston Astrodome in Houston TX- Attendance: 74,517 Date: 12/18/88
5. Powerslam 13- Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis, IN- Attendance: 73,942 Date: 12/20/92

Top 5 Highest Ratings:
1. Clash of the Titans XLVIII: Heavy Metal’s Revenge- Composite: 8.20
2. MCW Mayhem January 2, 2000 Composite 7.48
3. Clash of the Titans XLV: One Night in Chicago- Composite 7.35
4. MCW Mayhem December 28th, 1998- Composite 7.32
5. Clash of the Titans XXXVIII: A Night to Remember- Composite 7.29