Awesome Championship Wrestling Returns to Poughkeepsie

Awesome Championship Wrestling (ACW) is set to make its comeback at the MJN Center in Poughkeepsie, New York, this Saturday for the Reckoning event—a gathering that promises to be filled with exciting talent.

This event is not just any wrestling show; it features renowned names like IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Andrade, NWA World Historic Middleweight Champion Flip Gordon, ACW Women’s Champion Steph de Lander, TNA star Indi Hartwell, and Major League Wrestling’s Lady Frost. Additionally, there are independent circuit stars like Richard Holiday and Ben Bishop.

The ACW Tag Team Champions, Vic Dalicious and Hale Collins—collectively known as The Now—will defend their titles in a high-stakes steel cage match against Saint 2 Slaughter, comprised of Danny Muff and Sean Donovan.

Dalicious and Collins are eager to put an end to their long-standing feud with their opponents. “We’ve been dealing with these guys for about a year and a half, and it stretches beyond ACW,” Dalicious noted, reflecting on their time across various promotions in the Northeast.

They believe the tensions escalated when Muff and Donovan disrupted their wedding, further intensifying their rivalry. “They’re just bitter because we took their tag titles at Wrestle Pro,” Collins remarked, noting that the feud has, at times, spilled into unexpected venues, including a Hall of Fame induction.

“It’s very personal; they actually ruined my wedding by showing up uninvited. When we first faced them in the cage, they had our manager on their side,” Dalicious explained. “The purpose of this cage match is to seek redemption for the wrongs we’ve faced. We’ve decided this is the last chapter, regardless of the outcome.”

The Now, known for their dynamism in the ring, have received accolades from fellow wrestlers and have shared their insights into why a venue like the MJN Center is critical for ACW’s growth. Dalicious reminisced about his experiences attending WWE’s “Monday Night Raw” in the ’90s and watching the evolution of wrestling events in that space.

He pointed out how, historically, big wrestling shows have come to this venue, citing a gap in bringing in TV stars effectively. “NXT and TNA have had limited success here, so when we started ACW, we wanted to create something unique for all wrestling fans,” Collins explained.

Since their debut show in January 2025, ACW has seen impressive growth and is recognized for enhancing typical independent promotions with better production quality. “I was nearly knocked out at our first show, but seeing the crowd grow was exhilarating—it felt like a dream coming true,” Collins shared. They aim to continue building on this momentum, hoping for broader recognition.

Plans for future growth are in the air. “We hope to take ACW to new markets,” Dalicious said, emphasizing the partnerships they’ve built that support their ambitions. “We’re surrounding ourselves with knowledgeable people in the wrestling community who can help us improve and grow,” he added.

Even small branding efforts, like showcasing events in different venues while maintaining the essence of ACW, are part of their strategy moving forward. Collins echoed this sentiment, saying, “We’re focusing on every detail and I believe we’re onto something big right now.”

This Saturday’s event will also feature the induction of wrestling legends “Macho Man” Randy Savage and Mike Bell into the MJN Center Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame. The lineup for the evening includes a range of exciting matchups, such as:

• Brian Cage vs. Hammerstone vs. Flip Gordon vs. Mance Warner vs. Mysterious Opponent A in a five-way survival match for the No. 1 contender status to the ACW National Championship.
• Zach Clayton (c) vs. Dante “El Jaguar” Casanova for the AEW National Championship.
• “Big Trouble” Ben Bishop vs. “Firework” Fox Vigna.
• Leo Sparrow (c) vs. Fenix ​​GKM vs. Riamo in a triple match for the AEW Cruiserweight Championship.
• Steph de Lander and Indi Hartwell vs. Vicious Vicki and Lady Frost.
• Vincent & Dutch (The Righteous) vs. Josifer (w/Chirac), Wrecking Ball Regulski.
• Andrade vs. Richard Holliday.