Post by Kathleen Conway on Mar 29, 2013 18:31:02 GMT -6
We see the Four Aces and a poker chip burning on screen.
Narrator: Some men burn brightest before they burn out. Others burn out before they ever get the chance to burn bright, but for one man, it was never about burning at all.
Following this an Ace of Spades silhouette is burned into the centre of our screens and 'Firestorm' by Xandria gives way to a much more familiar tune as the following video package is played over some narration and interspersed with clips of Kathleen Conway reflecting on her husband's decade long career.
Narrator: On February 22nd 2003, a brash young newcomer to the world of professional wrestling burst onto the scene and immediately captured the hearts of an adoring public with his dashing good looks, charisma, charm and personality, but things began to change very quickly for the man the world called The Ace as for much of his early years in the business he was locked in a deep blood fued with the man we would later learn recruited him from the British Independent Circuit, NCW Legend and Hall of Famer Spike Kane.
Kathy: In many ways Michael was the linchpin to Jake's career for about three years. He was the Joker to his Batman and people definitely wanted to see Spike Kane dead, especially after the Britney on Spike TV incident, it was a time of pushing the envelope, of pushing the Xtreme, today that kind of thing just wouldn't fly, but back then it made for some pretty compelling television.
Narrator: The seeds for the Apex of Evolution were sewn early in 2004, when he managed to overcome the odds and become Survivor Champion in Bottom Line Wrestling. The same company where he almost wed ring announcer Britney in what was the one of the first many on screen romances for The Ace.
Kathy: Oh God! I don't think I can recall everybody, but the guy certainly got around on screen back then, didn't he? Some of the ones which stick out most to me are Alena, Tanya, and Ruth.
Narrator: Away from the cameras, Jake Conway had many personal demons that seemed to bleed into his professional life.
Kathy: Yeah, it was a couple of years before I even met him, but looking back on it all now, I honestly believe,"Play Cards, Play Women, Play Life" wasn't just a motto, that he actually believed it.
Narrator: Jake Conway was the eldest of three and the son of a construction worker. He grew up in Birmingham, England and had dreams of becoming a Clinical Geneticist.
Thomas Conway: I couldn't believe it when my boy wanted to move to the US and try his hand at wrestling...
Margaret Conway: I don't know what happened, after his graduation from University, he just came home one day and said "Mom, I don't want to do this anymore, I want to be a wrestler..."
Narrator: Though Jake had found moderate success in the smaller companies, his big break came in September of 2007 when he joined New Championship Wrestling where he burst onto the scene as a low down dirty player in a Showcase match where he made a statement and picked up a win against some of the top guys in the company courtesy of a sledgehammer and the rest as they say is history. Hitting the big time in NCW also seemed to have quite a profound effect on Jake's personal life as he reunited with an old flame who had quite the bombshell to drop on him.
Kathy: It started out as a storyline. we were supposed to play it out for the cameras that Tiffany was the mother of Solitaire because I was still with Steve as far as Creative were concerned, but the truth is we had reconnected shortly before that night I made my return to television and was dropped on my head by Spike Kane. Steve was very understanding about the whole thing, and Jake had taken it remarkably well when I told him about Solitaire over coffee. We hadn't seen each other in two years, but we both felt it was right to try again, and we've never looked back since, no matter how many spins the Creative Team tried to put on it.
Narrator: One thing that cannot be spun is the reputation that The Ace has garnered over the years in NCW, as the respected locker-room veteran.
Davey Ortega: The Ace is the definitive heel.
Spike Kane: Jake Conway is arguably my greatest student and my greatest rival
Adam Knite: There is no doubt that he has earned his place in the Hall Of Fame
Andrew Jacobsen: The guy definitely deserves it, he's easily in my top then Superstars of all time.
Caleb Lockwood: To be honest, some days I still can't believe I've had this opportunity to work with him
Emma Danielson: It doesn't matter if Jake's on the microphone, in the ring or in his office backstage, you always know to pay attention...
Stephen Kingsley: The man has been an invaluable source of advice for me from day one.
Cyrus Daniels: I've only been in the ring with him once and I was sold...
Narrator: It is with great honor that we welcome the former Xtreme, Tag Team, World and three time current National Champion into the NCW Hall Of Fame Class of 2013...
Narrator: Some men burn brightest before they burn out. Others burn out before they ever get the chance to burn bright, but for one man, it was never about burning at all.
Following this an Ace of Spades silhouette is burned into the centre of our screens and 'Firestorm' by Xandria gives way to a much more familiar tune as the following video package is played over some narration and interspersed with clips of Kathleen Conway reflecting on her husband's decade long career.
Narrator: On February 22nd 2003, a brash young newcomer to the world of professional wrestling burst onto the scene and immediately captured the hearts of an adoring public with his dashing good looks, charisma, charm and personality, but things began to change very quickly for the man the world called The Ace as for much of his early years in the business he was locked in a deep blood fued with the man we would later learn recruited him from the British Independent Circuit, NCW Legend and Hall of Famer Spike Kane.
Kathy: In many ways Michael was the linchpin to Jake's career for about three years. He was the Joker to his Batman and people definitely wanted to see Spike Kane dead, especially after the Britney on Spike TV incident, it was a time of pushing the envelope, of pushing the Xtreme, today that kind of thing just wouldn't fly, but back then it made for some pretty compelling television.
Narrator: The seeds for the Apex of Evolution were sewn early in 2004, when he managed to overcome the odds and become Survivor Champion in Bottom Line Wrestling. The same company where he almost wed ring announcer Britney in what was the one of the first many on screen romances for The Ace.
Kathy: Oh God! I don't think I can recall everybody, but the guy certainly got around on screen back then, didn't he? Some of the ones which stick out most to me are Alena, Tanya, and Ruth.
Narrator: Away from the cameras, Jake Conway had many personal demons that seemed to bleed into his professional life.
Kathy: Yeah, it was a couple of years before I even met him, but looking back on it all now, I honestly believe,"Play Cards, Play Women, Play Life" wasn't just a motto, that he actually believed it.
Narrator: Jake Conway was the eldest of three and the son of a construction worker. He grew up in Birmingham, England and had dreams of becoming a Clinical Geneticist.
Thomas Conway: I couldn't believe it when my boy wanted to move to the US and try his hand at wrestling...
Margaret Conway: I don't know what happened, after his graduation from University, he just came home one day and said "Mom, I don't want to do this anymore, I want to be a wrestler..."
Narrator: Though Jake had found moderate success in the smaller companies, his big break came in September of 2007 when he joined New Championship Wrestling where he burst onto the scene as a low down dirty player in a Showcase match where he made a statement and picked up a win against some of the top guys in the company courtesy of a sledgehammer and the rest as they say is history. Hitting the big time in NCW also seemed to have quite a profound effect on Jake's personal life as he reunited with an old flame who had quite the bombshell to drop on him.
Kathy: It started out as a storyline. we were supposed to play it out for the cameras that Tiffany was the mother of Solitaire because I was still with Steve as far as Creative were concerned, but the truth is we had reconnected shortly before that night I made my return to television and was dropped on my head by Spike Kane. Steve was very understanding about the whole thing, and Jake had taken it remarkably well when I told him about Solitaire over coffee. We hadn't seen each other in two years, but we both felt it was right to try again, and we've never looked back since, no matter how many spins the Creative Team tried to put on it.
Narrator: One thing that cannot be spun is the reputation that The Ace has garnered over the years in NCW, as the respected locker-room veteran.
Davey Ortega: The Ace is the definitive heel.
Spike Kane: Jake Conway is arguably my greatest student and my greatest rival
Adam Knite: There is no doubt that he has earned his place in the Hall Of Fame
Andrew Jacobsen: The guy definitely deserves it, he's easily in my top then Superstars of all time.
Caleb Lockwood: To be honest, some days I still can't believe I've had this opportunity to work with him
Emma Danielson: It doesn't matter if Jake's on the microphone, in the ring or in his office backstage, you always know to pay attention...
Stephen Kingsley: The man has been an invaluable source of advice for me from day one.
Cyrus Daniels: I've only been in the ring with him once and I was sold...
Narrator: It is with great honor that we welcome the former Xtreme, Tag Team, World and three time current National Champion into the NCW Hall Of Fame Class of 2013...