Jumping Joey Janella's first professional match was at AWESOME's intial event when he participated in the Opportunity of a Lifetime Battle Royal. While fate was not with him that night (he drew #1 and was eliminated relatively early), Janella continued to try to earn a roster spot often answering the open challenges of Steve Camacho before falling to Camacho's MMA influenced submission style. Eventually Dan Rageous recruited the young cruiserweight to aid him in his battle against the Canucks and in tag team action Janella scored his first victory in an AWESOME ring.