Eastern Wrestling Alliance, 1/31/03
Antonio Thomas vs John Walters

Main event as "Hurricane" John Walters defends the EWA Heavyweight and New England Championships against "The Promise" Antonio Thomas. Just hearing the two names in the match should tell you that this was match of the night. I don't know if I'd label it match of the year material, but the potential is always there when these two are in the ring.

Thomas had unbelievable crowd pop from the typically docile Southbridge town and even got a "Promise" chant going from about half of them. Thomas pulled a nice flip while grabbing the top rope for an arm bar reversal, and laid in a well timed desperation spine buster later in the match. Walters dominated the majority of the match with tie ups and his array of stretching submission holds. The best part of this match was the things that the average match might miss like the timing and move flow from opponent to opponent.

Walters picked up the controversial win in a decision reversal by Referee Holyoke Joe to remain EWA double champion. Walters is currently the man with the straps in New England as reigning EWA Heavyweight and New England Champion as well as Chaotic Heavyweight Champion. My only complaint about this match was that it was lacking in offensive material from Thomas and I would have liked to have seen a little more back and forth between the two.

Credit: The New England Independent