Courtesy: AVN (Adult Video Website) & PWInsider.com

Obscenity charges against former XPW promoter Rob Black (Robert Zicari) and XPW performer Lizzie Borden (Black's wife, Janet Romano) were dismissed on January 20th by Judge Gary Lancaster of the United States District Court of Pennsylvania.

Black and Borden had petitioned that the charges (nine counts of violating federal obscenity statuettes and one count of conspiracy based on that conduct) had infringed on the rights of "free liberty and privacy guaranteed by the due process clause United States Constitution" and the judge agreed in a 45 page finding.

Black promoted Xtreme Pro Wrestling (XPW) from 1999-2003 in California, using his adult video production company Extreme Associates as the parent company. In April 2003, EA was raided by federal authorities after receiving materials that were ordered from the website of Black's adult video company and shipped to Pennsylvania.

XPW, using Shane Douglas as booker, had expanded into Philadelphia, which set off the Philadelphia wrestling war of 2002-2003 as well as helping to lead the way to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission taking a stricter stance on hardcore wrestling. At one point, the promotion secured the rights to exclusively use the ECW Arena but were gone by February 2003. The promotion had also moved into the Pittsburgh market, drawing a good house there thanks to Douglas' local promoting.

Once the federal charges were filed, the promotion pretty much ceased to exist although they maintained the company website for some time afterwards as well as presenting several taped "Best Of XPW" Pay-Per-View shows.

In a statement made the AVN, U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan stated they were disapointed in the decision and are looking into future action, including an appeal.

Just goes to show you -- first Feinstein, now Black. Both pieces of sh$t that get away scott free! That is horrible.