a pre-match stipulation. Thunder would later win the title from Khoury in Middle River on February 25, 1994. His first championship reign lasted almost nine months, successfully defending the title against a young Shane Shamrock among others, before losing the title to the Ultimate Comet in Hampstead, Maryland on November 12, 1994. During this period Carter participated in the MEWF's very first specialty matches. He took part in the promotion's first three steel cage matches, two ladder matches, and strap match. In addition, according to Carter, he participated in two shoot fights with the 450 lbs. Mad Dog O'Malley. Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation (1995-1997) By 1995, Carter was among the promotion's rising stars. At an MEWF show on March 26, 1995, Carter won a 10-man battle royal last eliminating Bob Starr. Other participants included the Kabuki Kid, Morgus the Maniac, "Outrageous" Ricky Lane, Johnny Taylor, Quinn Nash, Mark Shrader, DP Ferguson, and Billy Brat. He also formed a brief tag team with Mad Dog O'Malley that summer and defeated Michael Sweet and Rockin' Rebel (substituting for Sweet's Models Inc. partner Johnny Handsome) in Annapolis for the MEWF Tag Team Championship on July 8. They lost the titles to Quinn Nash and Adam Flash in Essex the next day. Later that year, on December 3, 1995, Carter defeated Corporal Punishment for the MEWF Heavyweight Championship; sources differ as to whether he lost it to Corporal Punishment the next day or to Johnny Gunn on March 17, 1996. On April 4, Carter interfered in a three-way match between Gunn, Corporal Punishment, and Axl Rotten at the MEWF Arena in Essex; he also teamed with Gunn in a tag team match against Corporal Punishment and Axl Rotten. Carter would, however, regain the MEWF Mid-Atlantic title from Corporal Punishment on June 6 of that year. He lost the title to Knuckles Zanwich three weeks later. Later during the year, he wrestled the Cat Burglar and, at the MEWF's "Winter Warfare" supercard, Extreme Championship Wrestling's Jason Knight in Baltimore. On April 27, 1997, Carter was challenged by another ECW star, Raven, as well another meeting against Knuckles Zandwich in June. Carter also feuded with Lucifer that summer and, on September 18, 1997, joined together with Gino Caruso to face Lucifer and his one-time tag team partner Mad Dog O'Malley. He also worked for a time as an instructor at the MEWF's official training facility, the "Brain