As World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and All Elite Wrestling (AEW) have continued to succeed and grow bigger than ever before, the entire landscape of Professional Wrestling has changed, allowing smaller promotions to gain their own spotlight and thrive under it. And leading the charge for independent wrestling in the Buffalo-Niagara region has been Empire State Wrestling (ESW).
Before some of the most well-known stars in the sport got their chance to shine on the biggest of stages, they started on the independent wrestling scene, many of whom making appearances in ESW. Founded in 2002 by North Tonawanda-native Jonny Puma, ESW has been one of the top draws in Western New York, piling in hundreds, sometimes thousands, of the most passionate wrestling fans the region has to offer for 23 years and counting.
“We put on a wrestling product that every member of the family can appreciate.”, said ESW referee and publicist D.J. Jarka. This Friday night, those same fans will be out in droves for the promotion’s latest event, “1 Fall!” at Niagara Falls’ Frontier Fire Hall at 2176 Liberty Drive, just 25 minutes away from campus.
In preparation for the event and this article, I had the opportunity, and pleasure, of asking a few questions via email to the aforementioned ESW referee and publicist, D.J. Jarka, regarding the upcoming show and what ESW is all about. For many wrestling and non-wrestling fans, WWE is all they know based on the company’s long-standing popularity and cultural significance to the world of sport and entertainment. Because of this, I decided to ask about what separates ESW from a powerhouse like WWE.
“One of my favorite ways to compare WWE to ESW and independent wrestling as a whole is similar to how there’s different types of musical acts,” Jarka said. “WWE puts on large events at stadiums with high levels of professional production like a Taylor Swift concert. Us on the indies are more like punk rock shows. We don’t have all the bells & whistles and household names like WWE, but we make up for that by creating a wrestling product that’s more intimate with the fans that creates a stronger connection on [a] personal level.”
A common trend in this generation is for people to fall out of the loop with wrestling as they get older, often citing it as “fake” or “not a real sport”. This is something I wanted to touch on in one of my questions, asking how this latest event could be a good entry point for new fans and those fans who fizzled out.
“For new fans, they’ll see some of the indie scene’s hottest wrestling stars today like Bustah & The Brain, while also seeing local fan favorites that are carrying the torch from over the years like Vince Valor, James Sayga and Will Calrissian. They’re will also be up & comers looking to leave their mark such as in the street fight and scramble match. The fans will get a little slice of everything that night.” Jarka said.
When asked about what matches fans should look forward to most, Jarka mentioned a Tag Team Match between Bustah & The Brain and Miracle Generation, citing it as a long-awaited dream match on the independent scene. The other match, he said to be on the lookout for, was ESW World Champion Vince Valor and Women’s Champion Christina Marie versus The Production, a match in which both Valor and Marie’s titles will be on the line.
“I don’t recall ESW booking a 2 Titles, 1 Fall match like this ever before with this many implications.” Jarka said.
As a final question, I wanted to ask about how ESW differentiates itself from all the other independent wrestling promotions in the Western New York area. Throughout the United States and Europe, independent wrestling has been a staple in multiple different markets for years, this region being no exception.
“What separates ESW from the other promotions in our area is we maintain the highest standards amongst all them. Our main roster features not just some of the top local talent but also some of the best talent from Rochester, Pennsylvania and Ontario on a regular basis. Add that core to the outside guests we bring in and that creates a roster that’s on a different level…I’ve seen WWE fans that don’t know much about the indies come to our shows for the first time and get hooked, wondering why they didn’t start coming sooner. I’ve seen non-wrestling fans tag a long to ESW shows with their friends and become hooked, too. It’s truly a unique night out that creates a special experience for everyone that’s there and gets them to return.” said Jarka.
The Empire State Wrestling family also looks to give back to the community that’s supported them over the last 20-plus years, and will be doing so this Friday night. “1 Fall!” hosts the promotion’s third annual Non-Perishable Food Drive for The Little Free Pantry NT. “We’ve done similar food drives for FeedMore and Hearts for the Homeless before too. We also donate gift baskets to various causes over the years, held a chicken BBQ event for P.U.N.T. and hold an annual charity wrestling event in Medina for the East Shelby Vol. Fire Co.”
For over 20 years, Empire State Wrestling has put on a show for the Buffalo-Niagara region, growing from putting on small shows in North Tonawanda to hosting events at the Buffalo Riverworks, one of the largest entertainment venues in Buffalo, and beyond. Along the way, they have given back to the community and proved why they are the most must-see professional wrestling product in Western New York.
Whether you’re a wrestling fan, not a wrestling fan, or even just curious, give Empire State Wrestling a shot this Friday night, just miles away from the Buffalo State campus, at the Frontier Fire Hall at 2176 Liberty Drive in Niagara Falls. You can purchase tickets at eswtix.com. An exciting night of action awaits.
