This is about a month old, but as I was randomly looking things up on wikipedia during lunch, learned that Trent Acid passed away last month on June 18.
This is about a month old, but as I was randomly looking things up on wikipedia during lunch, learned that Trent Acid passed away last month on June 18.
The benefit show was on 7/10, but I can't find anything about it.
Here are the results of Acid-Fest. I'm just copying and pasting from a 4th rate site.
The show opened with D.J. Hyde in the ring to show a tribute to Michael "Trent Acid" Verdi on the video screen.
Hyde was then joined by Missy Sampson, Nick Berk, B-Boy, Adam Flash, and Homicide as it was announced that Verdi had been inducted into The Arena's Hall of Fame.
Helter Skelter won the Trent Acid Memorial Rumble. The match started with 4 wrestlers, with two more being added at regular intervals. Skelter eliminated Big Vito to win the Rumble. Skelter had been friends with Verdi since graded school.
Nick Berk and Z-Barr defeated Don Montoya and Robby Mireno, who were accompanied by Tom "Reckless Youth" Carter. This match featured probably Verdi's closest friends that appeared on the event, minus Johnny Kashmere and Missy Sampson. While Verdi was never trained in the traditional sense, he always credited Carter with being the most helpful in the earlier years of his career. Don Montoya helped him in similar ways and the two grew close in the late 90s when they worked for Jersey All Pro Wrestling. Nick Berk met him 15 or so years ago and was a frequent travel partner, in addition to being a close friend. Robby Mireno is another person who knew Verdi dating back to his early teen years. Z-Barr befriended him shortly after getting into the business in 1998-1999.
Acid's Angels (Missy Sampson, Annie Social, and Amy Lee) defeated Alere Little Feather, Roxie Cotton, and Detox. Sampson was one of Verdi's closest friends. Annie Social and Detox were both students of his.
The S.A.T. (Jose & Joel Maximo) defeated The Carnage Crew (H.C. Loc & Tony Devito), The H8 Club (Nick Gage & Nate Hatred), and Da Hit Squad (Steve "Monsta" Mack & Dan "Mafia" Maff) in a Scramble match when The S.A.T. pinned Mack. This was the first time Da Hit Squad had tagged together in 5 or 6 years.
Lou E. Dangerously and Tod Gordon presented Michael Verdi's Mother with a Lifetime Achievement Award plaque.
Homicide & B-Boy defeated Sonjay Dutt & Ruckus.
Wrestlers gather and pay their respects.
Wrestlers gather and pay their respects.
Johnny Kashmere defeated Devon Moore in the Main Event. Verdi had helped mentor and train Devon Moore early on in his career, however Kashmere and Moore had a falling out that resulted in serious animosity between the two. The idea was to play off the real heat and then squash it in honor of Verdi. Kashmere had attempted to get John Zandig, another guy Kashmere had significant heat with but was close to Verdi, to also be in the match, but Zandig is dealing with the same severe back problems that had caused him to pull out of CZW's Tournament of Death two weeks earlier.
The event ended with Missy Sampson presenting a check totaling $7,540 to Michael Verdi's Mother.
Notes:
* Attendance was estimated to be between 600-700.
* All performers on the event worked for free and also reportedly donated $10 each to the fund.
* Tickets were $10, shirts were $20 and programs were $5 with all profits going to the fund.
* World Wrestling Entertainment star John Cena reportedly donated a watch designed to look like the WWE spinner championship belt. The watch was raffled with proceeds going to the fund.
* The induction to The Arena's Hall of Fame was said to be very special. Verdi used to attend Extreme Championship Wrestling events in the building and would perform high spots off of the building's bleachers during intermission. He'd go on to main event shows in the building, so it is fitting that he be inducted into the arena's Hall of Fame.
* Notably absent was Billy Reil. Reil decided late this week not to attend the event due to unspecified issues with Johnny Kashmere. Kashmere reportedly made it clear that Reil wasn't welcomed at the event, which is inexcusable considering how close Reil was with Verdi dating back nearly 20 years.
* Reil posted this on his Facebook account shortly after the event ended:
Wants to personally thank the boys and the fans for honoring my friend today. While I was not physically there today, rest assured that my thoughts and spirit were with each and every one of you. Thank You for making these past 15 years so memorable. It's been a honor and pleasure to have met, worked with, laughed and cried with all of you. T. Acid 4 forever.