Mid 20th Century
42-470: 2300 Arena is a multipurpose indoor arena in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , used primarily for professional wrestling , boxing , mixed martial arts , and concert events. Originally known as Viking Hall , the venue has since been named XPW Arena , New Alhambra Sports & Entertainment Center , New Alhambra Arena , The Arena and Asylum Arena . It was known unofficially as ECW Arena when it
84-529: A 10-woman tag team match that saw Giulia , Jordynne Grace , Kelani Jordan , Stephanie Vaquer , and Zaria defeat Fatal Influence ( Fallon Henley , Jacy Jayne , and Jazmyn Nyx ), Cora Jade , and Roxanne Perez . Scenes from Rocky Balboa were shot at the venue in January 2006. Indoor arena An arena is a large enclosed platform, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre , musical performances , and/or sporting events . It
126-554: A brain hemorrhage . Freedom Fight was filmed by Dragon Gate USA at the venue on November 28, 2009 for pay-per-view broadcast. The event was headlined by BxB Hulk defeating CIMA , Gran Akuma and YAMATO in an elimination match to become inaugural Open the Freedom Gate Champion . Dragon Gate USA filmed their second-annual Enter the Dragon event at the venue for pay-per-view on July 24, 2010. The card
168-584: A blind eye when regulations were violated. Smart wrestling fans traveled from all over the world to experience the venue's atmosphere. Extreme Championship Wrestling founded their annual CyberSlam fan convention and supercard at the venue in February 1996. Future All Elite Wrestling founder Tony Khan attended The Doctor Is In as a teenager in August 1996, a show that featured his future star Chris Jericho . The Elvis Depressedly album New Alhambra
210-530: A five-year partnership, they would stop promoting boxing cards at the venue and move their shows to The Blue Horizon . Although their claimed reason for leaving was a rent increase from $ 1,000 per month to $ 6,000 per month, the new rental fee was in actuality $ 2,500. The venue was then renamed to The Arena by general manager Roger Artigiani. After The Blue Horizon closed in June 2010, J. Russell Peltz and Joe Hand, Sr. returned to once again promote boxing cards at
252-410: A location, often with the specific intent of comparing an idea to a sporting event. Such examples of these would be terms such as "the arena of war", "the arena of love" or "the political arena". Smark 1970s and 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s and 2020s Professional wrestling has accrued a considerable amount of jargon throughout its existence. Much of it stems from
294-476: Is also the sport of indoor American football (one variant of which is explicitly known as arena football), a variant of the outdoor game that is designed for the usual smaller playing surface of most arenas; variants of other traditionally outdoor sports, including box lacrosse as well as futsal and indoor soccer , also exist. The term "arena" is also used loosely to refer to any event or type of event which either literally or metaphorically takes place in such
336-429: Is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators, and may be covered by a roof. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the lowest point, allowing maximum visibility. Arenas are usually designed to accommodate a multitude of spectators. The word derives from Latin harena , a particularly fine-grained sand that covered the floor of ancient arenas such as
378-628: The Colosseum in Rome , Italy, to absorb blood. The term arena is sometimes used as a synonym for a very large venue such as Pasadena's Rose Bowl , but such a facility is typically called a stadium . The use of one term over the other has mostly to do with the type of event. Football (be it association , rugby , gridiron , Australian rules , or Gaelic ) is typically played in a stadium, while basketball , volleyball , handball , and ice hockey are typically played in an arena, although many of
420-484: The Dragon at the venue on July 25, 2009. The card was headlined by Open the Dream Gate Champion Naruki Doi defeating Shingo Takagi in a non-title match. It was voted Best Major Show of 2009 by the readers of Wrestling Observer Newsletter . In September 2009, independent wrestler Matt Riot died following a Pro Wrestling Academy training session at the venue where he collapsed from
462-647: The South Philly Vikings established a new Viking Hall in East Passyunk Crossing . In January 2003, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission banned barbed wire and light tubes from professional wrestling matches in response to violent Xtreme Pro Wrestling and Combat Zone Wrestling events at the venue. The building's ownership evicted Xtreme Pro Wrestling from the venue in February 2003 after
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#1732794537350504-549: The company to run events in larger cities. Following the closure of Extreme Championship Wrestling in April 2001, Combat Zone Wrestling and Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling began running regular shows at the venue. Ring of Honor opted to run their shows at nearby Murphy Recreation Center, citing the need to establish their own legacy separate from ECW. Controversy arose when Xtreme Pro Wrestling signed an exclusive lease with
546-524: The facility. The South Philly Vikings also staged midnight bingo games at the venue to raise funds for their organization. Carmen "Butch" D'Amato of the South Philly Vikings served as the facility's general manager . The northern part of the building was occupied by retail space, most notably a dollar store and Forman Mills . The southern part of the building gained worldwide recognition when it served as ECW Arena, home of professional wrestling promotion Extreme Championship Wrestling from May 1993 until
588-401: The inaugural All Star Jr. Festival USA tournament . Impact Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling jointly presented Multiverse United 2 on live pay-per-view from the venue on August 20, 2023. Alex Shelley defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi in the main event to retain his Impact World Championship . World Wonder Ring Stardom broadcast Stardom American Dream 2024 on live pay-per-view from
630-476: The inaugural Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame induction ceremony on December 17, 2022. Jazz and Madusa were both on hand to receive their awards, with Gangrel accepting Luna Vachon 's posthumous induction on her behalf. New Japan Pro-Wrestling broadcast All Star Junior Festival USA 2023 on live pay-per-view from the venue on August 19, 2023. It was headlined by Mike Bailey defeating Kevin Knight to win
672-570: The industry's origins in the days of carnivals and circuses. In the past, professional wrestlers used such terms in the presence of fans so as not to reveal the worked nature of the business. Into the 21st century, widespread discussion on the Internet has popularized these terms. Many of the terms refer to the financial aspects of professional wrestling in addition to in-ring terms. Also road agent , producer and coach . Also juicing , gigging , getting color , and running
714-588: The larger arenas hold more spectators than do the stadiums of smaller colleges or high schools. There are exceptions. The home of the Duke University men's and women's basketball teams would qualify as an arena, but the facility is called Cameron Indoor Stadium . Domed stadiums, which, like arenas, are enclosed but have the larger playing surfaces and seating capacities found in stadiums, are generally not referred to as arenas in North America. There
756-423: The main event against Kurt Angle . New Jack was banned from the venue following an incident during a Pro Wrestling Xplosion show on September 13, 2006 . He famously ordered Sprite at the venue's concession stand and was instead given 7 Up , prompting him to verbally harass the stand attendant and assault a member of the ring crew. This ban was later rescinded in 2012. Scenes from The Wrestler were shot at
798-426: The original entrance at 7 West Ritner Street. Renovations were performed that saw a bar constructed in the lobby, with overall seating capacity rising to 1,300. The venue was modernized to accommodate conventions and other large events such as banquets and fashion shows . Christy Bottie, an accomplished artist with Mural Arts Philadelphia and Roger Artigiani's business partner, was responsible for designing
840-520: The promotion failed to make lease payments. Combat Zone Wrestling resumed running shows at the venue in March 2003, with Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling returning in November 2003. Roger Artigiani became the venue's general manager in 2004. That same year, the building's name was officially changed to New Alhambra Sports & Entertainment Center, which was later shortened to New Alhambra Arena in 2006. The name
882-442: The promotion's closure in April 2001. The promotion was charged $ 1,000 per month by Stein & Silverman Family Partnership, Inc. to rent the venue, and was also responsible for any damage caused by its performers. With the venue's size and intimacy reminiscent of Japan's Korakuen Hall , its vocal live crowds became synonymous with Extreme Championship Wrestling 's presentation of hardcore wrestling . Attendance frequently exceeded
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#1732794537350924-439: The razor . Also booker and booking . Also going broadway . Also bury and buried . Also championship advantage . Also forbidden door . Also getting the heat . Also lackey or heavy Also babyface , blue-eye (England), or técnico (Mexico). Also playing Ricky Morton . Also hope spot . Also cross-promotion . Also persona . Also jobber to
966-539: The renovated venue. An NWA World Title Tournament at the venue on August 27, 1994 ended with Shane Douglas defeating 2 Cold Scorpio in the finals to capture the vacant NWA World Heavyweight Championship . Douglas then threw down the NWA belt and declared himself ECW World Heavyweight Champion , effectively launching Extreme Championship Wrestling as a national promotion. Extreme Championship Wrestling broadcast Barely Legal , their first live pay-per-view event from
1008-465: The tournament and become inaugural Chikara Grand Champion . The venue hosted the premiere of the unauthorized Extreme Championship Wrestling documentary Barbed Wire City on April 20, 2013. Wrestlers including Don E. Allen , Sal E. Graziano , Shane Douglas and The Blue Meanie were present for the event. Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro-Wrestling jointly presented War of the Worlds '15 at
1050-556: The venue during the Combat Zone Wrestling show 9 F'N Years on February 9, 2008, with professional wrestler Necro Butcher having a prominent on-screen role in the film. A Ring of Honor card on February 28, 2009 was filmed as the debut episode of Ring of Honor Wrestling on HDNet . The event was headlined by Bryan Danielson defeating Austin Aries . Dragon Gate USA filmed their first pay-per-view event, Enter
1092-655: The venue in December 2002 and renamed the building XPW Arena, preventing other promotions from utilizing it. Kirk Farrington, who had worked for Xtreme Pro Wrestling in California, was named the venue's general manager . Forced to relocate, Combat Zone Wrestling moved their shows to CZW Arena in Southwest Philadelphia , Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling moved their shows to Electric Factory in Callowhill , and
1134-453: The venue on April 13, 1997. The event was headlined by Terry Funk defeating Raven to become ECW World Heavyweight Champion . Filmmaker Barry W. Blaustein included behind-the-scenes footage of this event in his documentary Beyond the Mat . On June 10, 2005, an unauthorized Extreme Championship Wrestling reunion show called Hardcore Homecoming: An Extreme Reunion set a record gate for
1176-463: The venue on April 4, 2024. Maika defeated Megan Bayne in the main event to retain her World of Stardom Championship . The venue hosted the NWA 76th Anniversary Show on August 31, 2024. It was headlined by Thom Latimer defeating Ethan Carter III to become NWA World's Heavyweight Champion . WWE broadcast NXT 2300 live on The CW from the venue on November 6, 2024. The event was headlined by
1218-416: The venue on December 18, 2015, an event headlined by Jay Lethal retaining his ROH World Championship against AJ Styles . Major League Wrestling presented their inaugural SuperFight card from the venue on February 2, 2019. The event aired live on beIN Sports and was headlined by Tom Lawlor defeating Low Ki to become MLW World Heavyweight Champion . Evolve 131 aired live on WWE Network from
1260-581: The venue on July 13, 2019. Adam Cole successfully retained his NXT Championship in the main event against Akira Tozawa . The VICE series Dark Side of the Ring: Confidential was filmed at the venue in December 2020. Ring of Honor broadcast Death Before Dishonor XVIII on live pay-per-view from the venue on September 12, 2021, an event headlined by Bandido retaining his ROH World Championship against Brody King , Demonic Flamita and EC3 in an elimination match . The venue hosted
1302-505: The venue over two consecutive nights on May 12, 2015 and May 13, 2015. Originally scheduled as a one-night event, a second night was added after tickets for the original date sold out immediately. The first night was headlined by Kazuchika Okada and Shinsuke Nakamura defeating The Briscoes , and the second night was headlined by Adam Cole , Matt Taven and Michael Bennett defeating A.J. Styles and The Young Bucks . Ring of Honor broadcast Final Battle 2015 on live pay-per-view from
2300 Arena - Misplaced Pages Continue
1344-418: The venue with $ 135,000 in ticket sales. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission lifted their January 2003 ban on barbed wire for the main event Three-Way Dance between Sabu , Shane Douglas and Terry Funk . The ECW brand of WWE ran a house show at the venue on June 24, 2006, with tickets for the event selling out in under four minutes. Rob Van Dam successfully defended his WWE Championship in
1386-517: The venue's legal seating capacity of 1,060. Fans Bring the Weapons matches encouraged audience members to purchase items from the adjacent dollar store for wrestlers to strike each other with. The promotion was sued after a fire stunt in October 1995 burned a member of the crowd. Frank Talent of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission was seen as an ally of the promotion, regularly turning
1428-770: The venue. Roger Artigiani announced in October 2010 that mixed martial arts group Asylum Fight League had purchased the naming rights to the venue and renamed it Asylum Arena. Joanna Pang of the Trocadero Theatre ( dba Arena Operating, LLC) signed an exclusive lease with the venue in February 2012 with plans to renovate and convert it to a concert hall. Forced to relocate, Chikara moved their shows to Trocadero Theatre in Chinatown , while Combat Zone Wrestling moved their shows to Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees Township, New Jersey . Arena Operating, LLC
1470-469: Was evicted by the building's ownership in April 2013 after Joanna Pang failed to complete her proposed renovations. Pang started the project but never completed it, leaving the venue stripped down to its bare walls. The venue reopened as 2300 Arena in May 2014, hosting a Peltz Boxing Promotions card for its soft launch . The name referenced a newly constructed entranceway at 2300 South Swanson Street, replacing
1512-473: Was headlined by Bryan Danielson defeating Shingo Takagi in a dark match . Chikara held a memorial service for Larry Sweeney at the venue prior to the first night of their King of Trios event on April 15, 2011. The finals of the 12 Large: Summit , a tournament named in Sweeney's honor, were held at the venue during High Noon on November 13, 2011. Eddie Kingston defeated Mike Quackenbush to win
1554-462: Was home to Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) from 1993 to 2001. The venue has hosted professional wrestling broadcasts including the first ECW pay-per-view Barely Legal , the first Dragon Gate USA pay-per-view Enter the Dragon , and the WWE television special NXT 2300 . It has hosted professional boxing broadcasts including Friday Night Fights and Wednesday Night Fights , for which it
1596-442: Was installed at the insistence of J. Russell Peltz , who believed that the small dimensions would force boxers to engage with each other and make bouts more exciting. The venue's bleachers were removed and replaced with folding chairs and skyboxes . Land was acquired for a 500-space parking lot that was built across from the venue under Interstate 95 . J. Russell Peltz and Joe Hand, Sr. announced in January 2009 that after
1638-428: Was later erected above the venue. Elias Stein and Leon Silverman of the law firm Stein & Silverman Family Partnership, Inc. purchased the freight house in 1986. The southern part of the facility was given the name Viking Hall when the South Philly Vikings, a local chapter of mummers , began utilizing it. They used the building to rehearse for the annual Mummers Parade , assembling and storing their floats within
1680-743: Was named ESPN2 's 2006 Venue of the Year. Recognized as the birthplace of American hardcore wrestling , the venue has been home to the Hardcore Hall of Fame since 2002. The South Philadelphia venue was originally constructed in 1920 as a 58,408 square feet (5,426.3 m) freight house . Railway tracks next to the building allowed freight trains to drop off cargo for storage and then continue on to their destinations. The tracks were eventually paved over to become an extension of West Ritner Street, allowing West Ritner Street to intersect with South Swanson Street. An elevated stretch of Interstate 95
1722-425: Was named after the venue, with frontman Mathew Lee Cothran deriving inspiration from a bloody Rob Van Dam match he witnessed from the crowd. Extreme Championship Wrestling moved away from the supercard model, broadcasting its first pay-per-view event called Barely Legal from the venue in April 1997. The promotion never ran another live broadcast from the venue, as their pay-per-view provider Request TV wanted
2300 Arena - Misplaced Pages Continue
1764-482: Was suggested by J. Russell Peltz , who began co-promoting professional boxing cards at the venue with Joe Hand, Sr. in May 2004. It paid homage to the original Alhambra Movie Theater in South Philadelphia that hosted boxing in the 1950s and 1960s. Renovations were undertaken at a cost of $ 500,000 to improve the building's infrastructure and increase its suitability for boxing . A 16-foot boxing ring
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