BANKIE'S HOT TAKE #115: Cheyenne Ortiz: ECWA Tag Team Champion???

Full disclosure here: I have known Cheyenne Ortiz since Day One of his independent wrestling career. Starting with ACE Pro Wrestling, through his hard work and dedication, his talents have made him the “Voice of the Indies”. Not only that, he is well respected by his peers. He’s a good man.

So when I saw this photo come across Facebook, I was even taken aback.

Cheyenne Ortiz, President of the ECWA, ECWA Tag Team Champion??

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Earlier this year, Cheyenne found himself in the ring against manager extraordinaire AJ Pan for Brii Combination Wrestling in a street fight. Although he did not win, he left relatively unscathed.

Worried for his safety as a friend, I thought this was it. I thought Cheyenne was one-and-done.

ENTER JOEY ACE.

“The Five Star Studd” and die-hard Mets fan needed a partner for his match at Abs Armstrong and “Raw Dawg” Travis Lee - the ECWA Tag Team Champions Backyarders - at the Jersey Dugout in Marlboro, NJ on November 8. After a lot of persuasion and pleading, the ECWA President finally accepted. The Night of Unusual Matches received the most unusual of all.

In what could be perceived as the modern-day Hulk Hogan and Mean Gene Okerlund training vignettes, Ace and Ortiz began working out together. To be fair, it was more like Joey preparing Cheyenne for battle. With the Backyarders being given guidance by the diabolical Chris Rockwell, Cheyenne needed to be battle-tested.

Hilarious.

Well, after all the training and rigorous preparation, the impossible had happened. Joey Ace and Cheyenne WON the ECWA Tag Team Titles to a fantastic ovation in a packed house.

For the first time since Kevin Kelly became ECWA Heavyweight Champion on April 7, 2001, a non–wrestler held an ECWA Championship belt. Cheyenne Ortiz is a part of history.

I am so proud, as his friend, to see him as champion. When you work hard and continuously ply your trade, positive things can happen. In a weird way, it’s like watching someone you know grow up in front of your eyes. Cheyenne, congratulations.

There is only one question I have to ask.

You do know you have to defend the Tag Team Titles, right?

#BANKONIT

Bankie Bruce

BankieBruce@gmail.com