The First Ever Match I Ever Called: Bandido, Jr vs Shawn Walker - ACE 9/19/09
Tomorrow night, I will be calling Pro Wrestling Magic’s Enter Sandman at the Meadowlands YMCA in East Rutherford, NJ alongside Philly Jawn Williams and my dude Cheyenne Ortiz.
The reason why it is so important? It is the seventeenth anniversary of the first match I ever called live on commentary.
The night was September 19, 2009. ACE Collision Course at the ACE Arena.
Becoming a commentator for ACE was a journey within itself. Recently coming back to ACE in June 2009, which is another story for another day, I got “the call” from Mike Morgan, ACE Owner and my mentor, a few days prior that I would be replacing Mike Lewis full-time as a color commentator.
To understand how big this was, Mike Lewis, to me forever and always, was the best independent wrestling commentator I ever heard. When he was removed from commentary to become an agent, I was inserted into his spot. There were several people that told me that “I would never be as good as Mike Lewis.”
Current day Jon would have heard this and saw they were ribbing-on-the-square. Old me channeled it and passive-aggressively used it as a chip on his shoulder. I had something to prove.
Getting to the vaunted ACE Arena in my JCPenney suit (Rob Vegas would be proud), I remember shaking everyone’s hand and immediately going over to the announcer’s table. With my 50 cent Target notebook, I began jotting down notes for each and every match, perhaps too many. My nerves and anxiety were sky-high.
John Fallon, ACE’s play-by-play man, was the standard at the booth. ACE fans trusted and respected his longevity as a broadcaster. I knew that I would have to bring something different than what Mike Lewis had. Lewis was snarky, quick-witted, and dastardly. I’d have to be a wrestling nerd, complete with a hint of smart-aleck. Classic Mikey D would eventually call my style “the ACEopedia”.
I remember watching people filter into the second floor arena at 725 Sip Street in Union City, NJ and feeling incredibly nervous and anxious. To me, this was make-or-break. This was either going to be the best thing that has ever happened to me, or it was a nice one-time deal.
The first match I ever called was a match for the ACE Diamond Division Championship. Diamond Division Champ Shawn Walker would be defending his title against Bandido, Jr.
You know Bandido, Jr in modern wrestling very well. He is Eddie Orengo, one of WWE’s senior referees.
The match itself was absolutely excellent. Bandido was always a very underrated junior heavyweight, and Walker was one of the finest talents on the ACE roster. The finish, which was Jr feigning a lackadaisical pinfall to lure Walker into his Koji Clutch submission, was fantastic. Bandido was the new ACE Diamond Division Champion!
From my perspective seventeen years later, my performance was something else. I talked too much, way too excited, and yelled far more than I should have for an opening match. My biggest strength, however, was energy. The passion was there, and still is.
Professional wrestling has given me a lot of memories, and tomorrow night will be seventeen years since my commentary debut. I’m so happy that I’m still viable as a commentary option to be broadcasting. I’ll definitely have a blast.
Thank you to Fallon, Mikey D, Cheyenne, the late Tom Verga, Tommy Savoldi, Cindy Rogers, Jamal Jackson, Brandon Gold, Mike Greco, DB, and every broadcast partner I’ve ever had. You guys made me better. Forever appreciative.
I might never be as good as Mike Lewis, but seventeen years later, I'm still trying!
Also, check out that match. Eddie Orengo rules!
Jon Harder
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