Missouri Wrestling Revival

By Brian “Flair” Kelley
Photo credit:Dubray Tallman

Friday was here and I was more than ready to make my way to Richmond Missouri, to see World League Wrestling in action. They had invited us to meet with fellow wrestling fans to invite them to come too our site and sign up for a chance to win a free MWR T-shirt during their first show of 2009.

The doors opened up and the place filled up very quickly with wrestling fans, meanwhile my girlfriend went around to meet the fans and to encourage them to come to our booth and sign up. The legend himself Harley Race was at the table with autographs for the fans along with a handshake, Dan Gier announced on the PA that very shortly we would see some exciting action soon and not to forget to sign up at our booth. Former WWE Star Eugene was sitting near WLW rising star Amy Hennig, with kids and adults a like coming up to meet them. While looking at the there of them I felt as I was part of wrestling history as before me were the Past (Harley Race) the present (Eugene) and the future of Pro Wrestling ( Amy Hennig).

The show started off with two of the rising stars of the WLW, Dustin Lane and Brian Breaker. Breaker came to the ring as one half of the WLW Tag Team Champions along with Dinn T Moore. The last time I saw Breaker, I saw potential but it was obvious that he was just starting and seemed to have had a long ways to go. I had the privilege of seeing Dustin Lane in his first match at WLW against The Vietnam Phenom” Bao Nguyen and was really impressed with his athleticism and skill.

Dustin Lane and Brian Breaker start the action.

Breaker proved early in the match that his time at the Harley Race Academy and tag teaming with Dinn T Moore had paid off. Lane and Breaker went back and forth with Lane targeting Breakers left arm and Breaker countered with his power to get out of trouble when needed. Before I knew it the 15 minute time limit had expired

Brian Breaker used his power to his advantage.

The next match was between the “Young One” Darin Waid taking on Breaker’s tag team partner the ever dangerous Dinn T Moore. The crowd at Richmond despises Dinn T Moore and showered him with chants that were not flattering. Waid started the match off using his speed to keep the Champion at bay. Dinn T took the control of the match just for a few minutes but the crowd really seemed to light the fire in Waid as there were no stopping the man.

Dinn T Moore uses mind games to start the match.

Moore hit a devastating clothesline that would have stopped any other man. Moore went for a forearm shot in the corner but Waid tossed him nearly out of the ring. Moore returned the favor with a powerful right, followed up with a body block. Dinn T made the mistake of going to the top, which Waid used his speed to capitalize on using the ropes to catapult himself to hit Moore with a flying kick. Waid looked to have Moore’s number but with a quick strike into a slam, Moore went and got the 1,2,3.

Next up was a short intermission that led to the WLW Women’s Champion Stacey O’Brien defending her title against arch enemy Amy Hennig. Amy defeated Stacey briefly for the title this past fall but Stacey regained the belt on the way to becoming the first ever MWR Female Wrestler of the Year. Prior to the match Chants of Amy Hennig rang through the building.

The match started with Stacey delivering a slap to the challenger’s face which infuriated Hennig and she chased Stacey around the ring which allowed the Champion to get the upper hand for just a moment. Amy took an early advantage and worked O’Brien’s leg to perfection and had her crawling to the ropes for the break. Hennig’s name was being chanted even louder than before when the Champion was able to kick Hennig into the ropes head first. With a moment of hope, O’Brien attacked with an arsenal of moves, forearms, kicks and body slams were delivered with force. Hennig showed that she would not give up and took all the champion could give and came back to deliver some offense of her own. Then it happen, O’Brien claimed that she had a leg injury and begged the ref for a break but Hennig would have none of it saying that she had seen this one too many times and proceeded to attack, when O’Brien struck with a roll up and retain the title much to the dismay of Hennig and her fans.

Amy Hennig works the leg of Stacey O’Brien

What I noticed early was how much more confident Hennig was in the ring and it was obvious that O’Brien was taking the rising star more serious in this encounter. This rivalry is far from over and may be one of the most exciting feuds of the year in the Midwest in 2009.

I was excited when it was announced that the tag team Dinn T Moore and Brian Breaker would be defending their tag team titles against Waid and Lane. I had caught up with the menacing due to get their thoughts of 2009 and the tag team division and they had this to say.

I must admit after seeing how much Breaker had improved his wrestling along with more power to his arsenal, I was on the Moore and Breaker bandwagon.. Add on the fact that his tag team partner was none other than one of the most complete wrestlers in the Midwest Dinn T Moore, I was pumped up to see this tag team. A tag team I felt could lead the way in 2009.

The Richmond faithful chanted NEW CHAMPS when Waid and Lane entered the ring and all I could think was fat Chance! You can not say that Richmond is not a sharing bunch because they gave the Moore and Breaker a chant of their own “OLD CHAMPS”.

Dinn T Moore and Brian Breaker lets the fans know who they champs are!

Before the start of the bell, the Champions ambushed their opponents. When the ref was able to force Moore back to his corner Breaker wisely powered Lane to his partner’s corner. Lane was able to withstand the early attack and make a tag for his team which allowed them to go on the offense for the first time. The Champions may have had the power but the challengers had the speed and utilized it to their advantage. This showed when Breaker bounced off the ropes and was treated to a swift dropkick. When it was time to win tag they too showed they could double team and took turns with chops in the corner.

Darin Waid shows one of the many moves in his arsenal.

With one mistake from Lane, Moore was showed his skills when he delivered a shoulder block that took the young wrestler off his feet. I thought at this moment that the titles were safe and the crowd must have sensed it to because they clapped and yelled for Lane to make the tag. Dan Gier stated that 10 minutes had expired and even with the crowed on his side, Moore and Breaker controlled the match with pure dominance…. Or so it would seem Lane was able to hit Moore with a neckbreaker which stunned him long enough to allow Lane to get the fresh Waid the tag. Waid and the crowd was on fire and the with the four men going at it at once. Moore looked to have things going their way and had slammed Lane in the middle of the ring. Moore then went to the top rope only to have Waid strike and hit him with a flying stunner off the top rope. The crowd went nuts and we did indeed have NEW CHAMPS.

During intermission Harley entered the ring to show respect by having two presentations, one was 300 to the Eagalton center to promote activities to the organization. A special donation was given to the Franklin family $500 to the cystic fibrosis foundation. Proving once again that Wrestling and the communities they come to have a close knit bond that each other share.

The main event was upon us and we would crown a new WLW Champion. Eugene had entered already entered the ring when Steve “King of the 450” Anthony came to the ring and asked Eugene for a “small favor” which was for Eugene to stay out of this match because this was Anthony’s destiny to be the Champion.

Steve Anthony ask Eugene for a favor as a "friend".

Eugene was confused on what to do, stay and wrestle like the fans wanted him to or go to the back and call it a night as Anthony had wanted from his friend. Anthony got tired of waiting and attcked and that’s when Superstar Steve Fender made the save.

Anthony was feeling the pressure from Fender as Eugene was still hurt on the outside of the ring. When Anthony pleaded for a break Fender hesitated which left an opening for Anthony to kick Fender in the stomach. Anthony’s good fortune did not last long because Eugene got back in the ring to get a few laughs as Anthony’s expense, at one time riding him like a horse and patting his butt.

Eugene always takes time to ask the fans what they want.

Eugene and Fender showed each other mutual respect by shaking hands before they went after each other. When Anthony did come back to the ring Fender and Eugene was ready with a double team. The problem arose when Fender went for the pin; Eugene was smart enough to make the save. Fender returned the favor when he Superkicked Eugene and then had to make the save before Anthony was able to pin the former WWE star.

Superstar Steve makes the save.

Fender went to the top to hit Anthony with a flying head butt while Eugene was down but missed. Eugene was taking some hits from the cocky youngster when he suddenly “Hulked up”. Anthony persevered and at one point accidentally threw Eugene onto ref, which prompted the other ref to come into the ring to try to count the pin. Fender by this time had caught his second wind and hit Anthony with fierce punches and a beautiful bridge suplex. By that time a third ref, Johnny Gold had entered the ring to count the pinfall. When it looked as if Eugene was to make the pin on Anthony, Gold hit the mat a second time but when it was time for him to count to three, something was in his eye???

Eugene’s attention was distracted just for a split second, which allowed Anthony to kick Eugene into the corner and the force propelled him back to Anthony who rolled him up while Johnny Gold suddenly could count to three and did so in two seconds. That evil Johnny Gold!!!

World League Champion Steve Anthony

2009 started off with a bang, Steve Anthony was the new World League Wrestling Champion, Dustin Lane and Darin Waid had done what I thought was impossible and defeated Dinn T Moore and Brian Breaker for the WLW Tag Team Championship. Brian Breaker has convinced me that he is one of the top rising stars not only in WLW but in the Midwest. I have no doubts that Amy Henning is a superstar in the making and treasure the opportunity to see her up close and personal before she makes it to the top of the world.

WLW is filled with a great group of young talent in the locker room and 2009 looks to be a breakout year. Join WLW in a town near you. For more information please go to the WLW please take time to check out their website at WLW-WEBSITE.