What a month! I have really enjoyed this years July, as I grilled hamburgers and steak on my back porch threw back a few cold beers and watched some fireworks. The weather was great for America’s celebration of Independence!

On July 10th, NECW in Framingham, MA. It was the night where having hope, finally paid off as Frankie Arion defeated Michael Sain for the NECW Heavyweight Championship. It was an intense match as the whole locker room emptied out to the ringside area, rooting for their man to win. I can’t remember too much from this as I was struck by Frankie doing a cross body off the top rope by accident. What I can remember is earlier in the match I had to throw out Alex Crowley from ringside. He got in the ring, DDT’d Frankie, to purposely merit Michael Sain a disqualification. I felt that this match was too important to end in a disqualification, and wouldn’t stand for such un-sportsmanlike conduct.

I’m happy to announce my full-time status with the Wrestling Federation of America (WFA). I worked on all three of their events this month. On the 17th, I made the long trip up to Littleton, NH. If anyone hasn’t been up there yet, you should check it out sometime. If you’re up there early enough (during daylight hours) you can see the White Mountains all around you, its kind of cool. This night was exciting as “Psycho” Mike Osbourne d. Alex Arion in a Last Man Standing match, in which falls count anywhere. In the main event “Die Hard” Eddie Edwards d. Antonio Thomas in a Ladder Match for the Heavyweight championship.

On the 23rd, WFA made its return to the Dover Elks Lodge. On this night WFA crowned new tag team champions through a tournament involving Tough Guy Inc, Noize Boys, “MoFo” Steve Bradley / “The Graduate” Tim McNeany, Nightbreed, Alex Arion / Eddie Edwards, and The Metro Men. In the long run, The Metro Men defeated Nightbreed in the finals to become the first ever WFA Tag Team Champions.

Saturday Night the 24th, WFA was in Newport, NH at the Newport Opera House. This was definitely one of the nicest venues I’ve worked in right next to the Littleton Opera House. At least that is my own opinion. Others may believe otherwise. On the card for the night, “Psycho” Mike Osbourne won a 15-Man Texas Round Up for the #1 contendership of the WFA heavyweight championship by throwing out “MoFo” Steve Bradley and “The Graduate” Tim McNeany. Also later that evening was a six woman tag team hardcore match! This was the first time I was officiating a hardcore match at all (at least from what I remember), and it was nuts! Implements were used all over ringside, from steel chairs, crutches, and broom sticks. The team of Nikki Roxx, Sara Sullivan and Sumie Sakai, defeated Miss Peters, Tanya Lee, and Coverly Cook.

This has been an awesome month, and the summer has been great as well. I’d like to congratulate Antonio Thomas with his deal with the World Wrestling Entertainment! I’ve enjoyed working with this individual on several occasions including one of my first WFA matches last year. This is proof to all the doubters out there that it can be done, and it is attainable! Good Luck Thomas!

-Dan Tanaka