Jake “Hardcore” Cage
Titles and Awards:
-AW Atlantic Champion
-AW “King of New Brunswick” Champion
-New Brunswick Heavyweight Champion (not officially sanctioned AW belt)
-NWA North American Champion
-NWA World Tag Team Champion (with Jason Stallion)
Acadian Wrestling Owner Patrick Ross says:
“Jake Cage embodies what Acadian Wrestling was all about. He broke onto the scene during a time of expansion and roster changes, and rose to become one of the biggest and most important signings ever! Cage is still one of the longest reigning champions ever. It was guys like him reigning with the “King of New Brunswick” Title that legitimized that title. Through people like Jake Cage it became a title to be coveted… not just a secondary belt.”
Acadian Ring Announcer Leah Trudeau says:
“Jake Cage is a world-class bonehead… and that might be why he’s so beloved. You look at Jake Cage, and most often, the average Maritimer can see a part of themselves within him. That’s why he gets cheered, even when he’s trying to get heat. His battles with Yoshima Kawazughi helped put this place on the map of the wrestling world. Almost more than anyone else, Jake Cage is what Acadian Wrestling is all about.”
Dirk Disaster
Titles and Awards:
-3X AW Atlantic Champion
-First Ever Atlantic Champion
-AW Francophone Rules Champion
Acadian Wrestling Colour Commentator Trevor Bezanson says:
“To be honest, I didn’t think sh*t of Dirk when I first saw the guy. He was small, scrawny, and looked mentally handicapped. I was beginning to regret taking this job when I saw him. I figured if he was the best Ross could do, the entire company would be under before the third show. Of course, Dirk proved us all wrong. That crazy Newfy went out there and brought the fans to their feet each and every time. He’s the ultimate underdog.”
Former Atlantic Champion Joe Raper says:
“What can you say about a man like Dirk Disaster that hasn’t already been said. He’s the truest people’s hero out there, and is one of the genuinely nicest guys you’ll ever come across. That’s what made him a perfect target for the Sindicate I suppose. I look back on it and feel bad about double crossing him sometimes, but it made for good TV. And we brought out the best in each other. Dirk wouldn’t be a three-time champion if it wasn’t for me, and I wouldn’t have won the World Tag and TV titles without him. Dirk is a great character, a great man, and a true champion… in and out of the ring.”
Junk Yard Jack
Titles and Awards:
-2X AW “King of the Yard” Champion.
-First Ever “King of the Yard” and named the championship.
AW Owner Patrick Ross says:
“Jack’s always been loyal and was the one guy, maybe more than anyone else, that put his heart into everything he did, and always gave you 110-percent. He’s helped shape the face of Acadian Wrestling… in more ways than one. He’s been involved in some of the most physical and legendary matches this company has ever seen. No one will ever forget JYJ inside the steel cage in Acadian Wrestling’s first real feud against Polecat, or going into Halifax Harbour while battling Steve Justice. So many of my favourite memories of the first four years of Acadian Wrestling involve Junk Yard Jack.”
Former “King of Sobeys” Champion Polecat says:
“That guy was tougher than a two-dollar steak. More than once I watched Junk Yard Jack pull himself up off the mat, often after I’d put him there, and so many times I wondered where he got the strength. Jack ran on pure adrenaline, and only had one speed… full throttle! When I finally took the title from him in 2004, I called myself the “King of Sobeys” Champion, rather than just the “Sobeys” Champion out of respect for that tough mate, and the tradition just stuck I guess. Jack gave it all to the fans of Atlantic Canada and the world. And mate, if you weren’t a fan of this guy then… You Don’t Know JACK!”
Lion Jennings
Titles and Awards:
-2X AW Atlantic Champion
-AW “King of the Ghetto” Champion
-NWA North American Champion
-Co-winner of the 2004 Halloween “In Costume” Battle Royale
Acadian Wrestling play-by-play announcer Kenny Chisholm says:
“Lion Jennings was a difficult guy to call in the ring. He was just so good at so much, which is why he had the success he did. Jennings was a master on the mat, and could stretch you in ways you never imagined you could bend. Of course, he could also fly with the best Mexican luchadores, and was a weapon in the sky. Then there was that strong-style he brought to the ring too. Jennings never weighed much more than 200-pounds even, but he could just plain kick your ass if he wanted to. And he was always a threat to just make up a move and lay somebody out with it. I never knew what would happen next with Lion, but it was always entertaining, that’s for sure.”
Acadian Ring Announcer Leah Trudeau says:
“Quincy was an amazing athlete and an amazing guy. He was a tough wrestler, but let his actions in the ring do his talking, unlike so many guys today that are all about ego and trash-talking. And he always brought his A-game. Overcoming seemingly impossible odds was just a normal part of the day for Lion Jennings. I still remember the night he defended his Atlantic Title against Jackson Dane in a steel cage, then jumped on a plane and fought in HWA, defending the North American Title like two hours later. There was nothing Lion Jennings couldn’t do if he wanted. And… he was always such a cutie too. Fighting to put food on the table for his family and five sisters… that’s something a girl finds quite sexy. Hey Lion, call me.”
Joe Raper
Titles and Awards:
-2X AW Atlantic Champion
-NWA World Television Champion
-NWA World Tag Team Champion
AW Owner Patrick Ross says:
“Joseph Rapier, or Joe Raper, is a wrestling genius. Built like a brick shithouse, and a mastermind when it came to getting inside the heads of his opponents. The first real story in Acadian Wrestling was hatched by Joe Raper and his “Sindicate” against Dirk Disater, and not only was it interesting to watch, but effective as it propelled Joe to the Atlantic Championship title belt. There’s an argument to be made that the plotting and genius was actually Jesus Rodriguez and Scotty Gibson, but without Joe that group had nothing. And what made Joe special from that is that he was able to go it alone and be successful too. Joe had a natural charisma, and he could make any crowd eat from the palm of his hand, whether he wanted them to boo or cheer.”
AW Training Academy Student Earl Brighton says:
“As someone in my position, a kid trying to make it in this business, Joe was someone to look up to. He came from nowhere and busted his ass, losing for the first few months in the ring. Of course, that all turned out to be an act. Man, he could make you believe anything. He could just captivate an audience, and his slide into the ring was just about the coolest thing in the world. I tried it once, but ended up with a nasty carpet burn on my chest.
And of course, Joe had that human side to him, unlike the other Team NWA and Sindicate guys. When Joe was about to sell his soul and re-join up, he gave me a championship match first. You could just tell he was begging me to beat him, to do something good for the fans, but Joe wouldn’t just lay down. He didn’t want it that way, and neither would I. He had a drive that made him want to succeed… and he did.”
