Power League Wrestling (PLW) was an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. It was founded in Swansea, Massachusetts by Bob Evans and Mark Amaral in 1991, and later taken over by Amaral, Carlos Arenas, Paul Lauzon, and Tommy Degnan. It was the first and longest-running "indy" promotion in the state of Rhode Island and one of the few successful groups outside the Greater Boston Area.
PLW held wrestling events exclusively for charities and was one of the few professional wrestling promotions to operate as a non-profit organization in the United States. PLW had been praised for its shows to raise money for victims of the September 11 attacks, The Station nightclub fire, and the Boston Marathon bombings.
A number of Northeastern and East Coast-based independent stars had appeared for PLW charity events including "Mr. USA" Tony Atlas, Gino Martino, Claudio Castagnoli, Romeo Roselli, Ken Doane, Robbie Ellis, Hallowicked, Jigsaw, Larry Sweeney, Mike Quackenbush, Shane Storm, Antonio Thomas, and manager Johnny Fabulous. Ariel and Eddie Edwards of Ring of Honor, Rescue 911 Christopher Annino (Wrestler), Michael Sain of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, and Johnny Curtis of World Wrestling Entertainment all competed in the promotion during their early careers. Former Extreme Championship Wrestling star Spike Dudley, a native of Lincoln, Rhode Island, had made multiple appearances for the promotion. Several PLW alumni had been inducted into the New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame since 2008.
History
Origins
PLW had its origins in 1990 as the "backyarding" Outdoor Wrestling Federation (OWF), which was featured on "Talking Wrestling", a weekly cable access television program, hosted by wrestling journalist Cody Boyns. The final ten minutes of the show would highlight bouts from the promotion. The OWF received its name due to Boyns hosting its earliest events in his own backyard. A wrestling ring was eventually built and the matches were moved indoors to the television studio in 1991.
Early years: 1991–1995
Inspired by their time in the OWF, "Brutal" Bob Evans and "Maniacal" Mark Amaral decided to start their own half-hour program with just wrestling matches under the Power League Wrestling banner. The promotion held its first television taping at Joseph G. Luther Elementary School in Swansea, Massachusetts in October 1991. "The Fighter" Joe O. and The Brutal Brigade ("Brutal" Bob Evans and Maniacal Mark) won championship tournaments in November to become the inaugural PLW Heavyweight and Tag Team Champions respectively. Scott Z. was crowned the first-ever PLW New England Champion after winning a tournament at Luther School the following month.
The promotion's weekly half-hour television series was first on Heritage Cable, serving the Swansea area as well as numerous towns in Rhode Island. Evans was the producer of Power League Wrestling TV until he turned his position over to Tommy Degnan in September 1992. Degnan had been producing a "hometown" version of the PLW show on Pawtucket public access the previous month, as Heritage Cable broadcast in only a few select communities, and accepted Evans' offer to oversee the regular show. In addition to becoming PLW's ring announcer, Degnan would remain a key figure in the promotion for many years. Carlos Arenas and Paul Lauzon joined Amaral as co-bookers following Evens departure from the company. The initial quality of the show was described by Degnan as very "bush league" due to budget limitations. The wrestlers performed in a makeshift wooden ring, with the "audience" made up of the other wrestlers, and performed hours of matches in a single night to full up a month's worth of episodes. These shows were shot on location and later edited at the producer's home where voice over commentary was added. Episodes also included recorded interviews and music videos highlighting past matches. Some of their on-air interviews were filmed at T. F. Green Airport and Saint Anne's Hospital.
As the roster was still essentially high school and college age youths, PLW focused on a more comedic style of wrestling rather than presenting itself as a more serious promotion. Many of the early gimmicks and angles were inspired by what was seen in the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling at the time. Its television series typically featured humorous commentary and skits. One episode, for example, opened with a Masterpiece Theatre-style reading of Goldilocks and the Three Bears by facepainted wrestler Sub-Zero.