The Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup was an annual professional wrestling memorial show produced by Full Impact Pro (FIP) promotion, typically between October and December. The event was established to honor the memory of independent wrestler "All American" Jeff Peterson who died at age 21 after a two-year battle with leukemia. A rising star in the National Wrestling Alliance at the time of his death, his home promotion NWA Florida held a memorial tournament, co-hosted by IPW Hardcore, presented by his friends and fellow Florida wrestlers. The first show was held on May 16–17, 2003, at the Florida WrestlePlex in St. Petersburg, Florida. It is the longest-running tournament in the Southeastern United States followed by CWF Mid-Atlantic's Johnny Weaver Memorial Tournament.
It was a standard 16-man single-elimination tournament intended to showcase the top junior heavyweight wrestlers from independent promotions throughout the United States and Japan. Many top "indy" wrestlers have participated in the event with former winners including Reckless Youth (2003), Justice (2004), Chris Sabin (2005), Milano Collection AT (2006), Chris Hero (2007), Erick Stevens (2008), Davey Richards (2009), and Sami Callihan (2010). The tournament was originally held by NWA Florida from 2003 to 2005,"Night 2 of the JPC 2005 has been moved to the Brandon All Stars!." DeclarationofIndependents.net. Ed. Sean McCaffrey. N.p., Sept. 2004. Web. October 5, 2011. <www.declarationofindependents.net/doi/pages/pressreleases/petersoncup.html>. when it closed, and was continued by Full Impact Pro the following year. Both promotions held a combined 9 Memorial Cup tournaments. The tenth tournament on December 14 and 15, 2012, was billed as the last ever Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup and was an independent internet pay-per-view not officially held by any promotion. No wrestler has ever won the tournament twice, but multiple wrestlers have participated in the event more than once.
The event has also featured other wrestling personalities. The 2007 and 2008 editions were hosted by Lenny Leonard and Scott Hudson, former commentators for Ring of Honor and World Championship Wrestling respectively."Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup 2007 – 2 Nights of Action – Friday July 13th in Orlando and Saturday July 14th in Port Richey, Florida." DeclarationofIndependents.net. Ed. Sean McCaffrey. N.p., Oct. 2004. Web. October 5, 2011. <www.declarationofindependents.net/doi/pages/jpc2k7.html>. In 2009, "Outlaw" Ron Bass came out of retirement to wrestle Sean Davis (with Amy Vitale and Phil Davis) in a Texas Bullrope match. Gabe Sapolsky claimed that he used the 2009 tournament to scout talent prior to starting EVOLVE two months later. The following year, five champions took part in the 2010 Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup; FIP World Heavyweight Champion Jon Moxley, FIP Florida Heritage Champion Jake Manning, NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion Craig Classic, PWR Heavyweight Champion Bruce Santee, and PWR Tag Team Champion Milo Beasley. Aaron Epic, Peterson's last opponent before his death, also competed in the 2011 tournament. It was his first appearance with the company in several years and, though he was eliminated by Jerrelle Clark in the opening round, he praised the event commenting in a later interview for 411mania.com that "there has not been a lot of things that people remember from Florida wrestling but people always remember JPC and to be part of it was an honor".
Since its beginning in 2003, the Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup has been specifically used to raise money for various charities in the state of Florida. The recipient for the 2008 edition, for example, was a two-year-old child diagnosed with a rare form of cancer while proceeds from the 2009 edition went to St. Petersburg's All Children's Hospital.
Tournament winners TournamentYearWinnerTotal wonReference 2003 Reckless Youth 1 2004 Justice 1 2005 Chris Sabin 1 2006 Milano Collection A.T. 1 2007 Chris Hero 1 2008 Erick Stevens 1 2009 Davey Richards 1 2010 Sami Callihan 1 2011 A. R. Fox 1 2012 Samuray del Sol 1
Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup (2003)
Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup, Night 1 May 16, 2003 in St. Petersburg, Florida (Florida WrestlePlex)
#ResultsStipulationsTimes1Naphtali defeated Seijin Akki First round tournament matchn/a2B-Boy defeated Steve Madisonn/a3Tony Mamaluke defeated Jerrelle Clarkn/a4Reckless Youth defeated Sonjay Duttn/a5Jason Cross defeated CM Punkn/a6Ruckus defeated Roderick Strongn/a7Sedrick Strong defeated David Babylonn/a8Justice defeated Colt Cabanan/a9Chaos defeated Havoc and KubiakThree-Way Dancen/a10Lex Lovett defeated Agent SteeleSingles match; Due to a prematch stipulation, Lovett earned a title shot against IPW Heavyweight Champion Billy Fives.n/a11Mike Sullivan and Scoot Andrews defeated Danny Doring and Mikey TenderfootTag team matchn/a
Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup, Night 2 May 17, 2003 in St. Petersburg, Florida (Florida WrestlePlex)
#ResultsStipulationsTimes1Naphtali defeated B-Boy Quarter Final Tournament Matchn/a2Reckless Youth defeated Tony Mamaluken/a11Ruckus defeated Jason Crossn/a12Sedrick Strong defeated Justicen/a13Reckless Youth defeated Naphtali Semi Final Tournament matchn/a14Sedrick Strong defeated Ruckusn/a15Reckless Youth defeated Roderick StrongTournament Finals match with Special Guest Referee Jet Jaguarn/a16Frankie Capone, Pat Powers, and Pat McGroin defeated Pretty Fly, Comic Book Guy Anderson, and Mark ZoutSix-man tag team matchn/a17Agent Steele and Navy Seal fought to a no-contestSingles matchn/a18Sonjay Dutt and Steve Madison defeated Jerrelle Clark and Roderick StrongTag team matchn/a19Billy Fives defeated Lex LovettSingles match for the IPW Heavyweight Championshipn/a20The Shane Twins (Mike Shane and Todd Shane) (c) defeated Danny Doring and Steve CorinoTag team match for the NWA Tag Team Championshipn/a
Tournament bracket The tournament took place from May 16–17, 2003. The tournament brackets were:
Pin-Pinfall; Sub-Submission; CO-Countout; DCO-Double countout; DQ-Disqualification; Ref-Referee's decision
Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup (2004)
Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup, Night 1 June 4, 2004 in Brandon, Florida (Brandon Allstars)
#ResultsStipulationsTimes1Roderick Strong (NWA Florida) defeated Sedrick Strong (NWA Florida) First round tournament matchn/a2Alex Shelley (IWA Mid-South) defeated Jimmy Jacobs (CZW)n/a3Chris Hero (IWA Mid-South) defeated Matt Striker (ECWA)n/a4Homicide (JAPW) defeated Black Tigers (NWA Florida)n/a5Teddy Hart (H2wrestling) defeated Azrieal (JAPW)n/a6Mikey Tenderfoot (NWA Florida) defeated Puma (PWG)n/a7Petey Williams (BCW) defeated Naphtali (NWA Florida)n/a8Justice (NWA Florida) defeated Jack Evans (ROH)n/a9Danny Doring (with Vudu) defeated Z-Barr and Slyk Wagner Brown (with April Hunter)Three-Way Dancen/a10Lex Lovett defeated Colt CabanaSingles match; Due to a prematch stipulation, Lovett earned a title shot against IPW Heavyweight Champion Billy Fives.n/a11Zach Gowen, Chi Chi Cruz and Jerrelle Clark defeated The Bug, Erick Stevens and OG Scarface (with Ana Mosity)Six-man tag team matchn/a12The Shane Twins (Mike Shane and Todd Shane) (with Eric Loi and Ron Niemi) defeated Steve Madison and Mike Sullivan (with XTC Jenni Lee)Tag teamn/a
Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup, Night 2 (Afternoon) June 5, 2004 in St. Petersburg, Florida (National Guard Armory)
#ResultsStipulationsTimes1Teddy Hart defeated Mikey Tenderfoot Semi Final Tournament Matchn/a2Justice defeated Petey Williamsn/a11Roderick Strong defeated Alex Shelleyn/a12Chris Hero received a byen/a13April Hunter defeated Jenni Taylor and Chrissy DaineThree-Way Dancen/a14Luther Jackson defeated OG Scarface (with Ana Mosity)Singles matchn/a15Naphtali defeated Andre Lyonz, Chasyn Rance, David Babylon, Krazy K, Lit, and Mikey BattsLast Man Standing matchn/a16The Cuban Assassin (with Fantasy) (c) defeated Jeremy LopezSingles match for the Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championshipn/a17John Brooks, Chi Chi Cruz, and Azrieal defeated Puma, Matt Striker, and Sedrick StrongSix-man tag team matchn/a18Jeff Bradley and Jimmy Jacobs defeated Bug and Z-BarrTag team matchn/a
Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup, Night 2 (Evening) June 5, 2004 in St. Petersburg, Florida (National Guard Armory)
#ResultsStipulationsTimes1Justice defeated Chris Hero and Roderick StrongTournament Finals match with Special Guest Referee Jet Jaguarn/a2Alex Shelley and Petey Williams defeated Mikey Tenderfoot and Black TigersTag team matchn/a3Bruce Steele defeated Slyk Wagner BrownSingles matchn/a4Zach Gowen defeated Rod Steel (with Eric Loy)Singles matchn/a5Scoot Andrews (with Robby Mireno) defeated Colt CabanaSingles matchn/a6Mike Sullivan defeated Danny DoringSingles match for the NWA Southern Heavyweight Championshipn/a7Jerrelle Clark (c) defeated Azrieal (with Jack Evans)Singles match for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championshipn/a8Lex Lovett and Steve Madison defeated The Shane Twins (Mike Shane and Todd Shane)Tag team match with Special Guest Referee "Honest" Eddie Edwardsn/a9Double Deuce Inc. (Frankie Capone and Marcus Dillon) (with Cannon) defeated Clinically Inclined (Dr. Heresy and Andre Lyons)Tag team matchn/a
Tournament brackets The tournament took place from June 4–5, 2004. The tournament brackets were:
Pin-Pinfall; Sub-Submission; CO-Countout; DCO-Double countout; DQ-Disqualification; Ref-Referee's decision
Finals
1. A fourth semi-final match was held between Teddy Hart and Mikey Tenderfoot, which Hart won. He suffered a knee injury during the bout, however, and was forced to leave the tournament. Chris Hero had also received a bye for his semi-final match against Homicide and officials ordered the tournament to be decided among the three remaining participants in a final three-way elimination match.
Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup (2005)
Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup, Night 1 June 10, 2005 in Brandon, Florida (Brandon All Stars)
#ResultsStipulationsTimes1Ricky Reyes defeated Jay Fury First round tournament matchn/a2Matt Sydal defeated Tony Kozinan/a3Petey Williams defeated Jerrelle Clarkn/a4Vordell Walker defeated Tony Mamaluken/a5The Strong Brothers (Roderick Strong and Sedrick Strong) defeated Steve Madison and Erick StevensTag team matchn/a6Sonjay Dutt defeated Todd Sexton First round tournament matchn/a7Chris Sabin defeated Deliriousn/a8Jimmy Rave defeated Fast Eddien/a9Mikey Batts (with Billy Kidman) defeated James Gibsonn/a10A.J. Styles (c) defeated Lex LovettSingles match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship; As per the pre-match stipulation, Lovett was forced to retire.n/a
Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup, Night 2 June 11, 2005 in Brandon, Florida (Brandon All Stars)
#ResultsStipulationsTimes1Jay Fury defeated Jerrelle Clark, Chasyn Rance, and Aaron EpicFatal 4 Way matchn/a2Vordell Walker defeated Matt Sydal Quarter Final Tournament matchn/a3Jimmy Rave defeated Petey Williamsn/a4Antonio Banks defeated Rod Steel (with Ron Niemi)Singles matchn/a5Chris Sabin defeated Mikey Batts Quarter Final Tournament matchn/a6Sonjay Dutt defeated Ricky Reyesn/a7Double Deuce Inc. (Frankie Capone and Marcus Dillon) (c) defeated The Vandalz (Johnny and Tommy Vandal), The Market Crashers (Joey Machete and Shawn Murphy), and The Heartbreak Express (Phil and Sean Davis)Fatal 4 Way tag team match for the NWA Florida Tag Team Championshipn/a8Chris Sabin defeated Vordell Walker Semi Final Tournament matchn/a9Sonjay Dutt defeated Jimmy Raven/a10Tony Kozina and Sal Rinauro defeated Fast Eddie and Todd SextonTag team matchn/a11Bruce Steele (with Ron Niemi) (c) defeated Roderick StrongSingle match for the NWA Florida Heavyweight Championshipn/a12Chris Sabin defeated Sonjay DuttFinal Tournament matchn/a
Tournament bracket The tournament took place from June 10–11, 2005. The tournament brackets were:
Pin-Pinfall; Sub-Submission; CO-Countout; DCO-Double countout; DQ-Disqualification; Ref-Referee's decision
Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup (2006)
Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup, Night 1