Missouri Wrestling Revival

By Kari Williams

LWA put on their best show of the year Feb. 21 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in House Springs, MO with 130 in attendance. From the opening match to the main event, there was not a single match that left fans disappointed.

The much anticipated and promoted six-man tag match for the LWA Tag Team Titles kicked off the night, as Evan Gelistico, Pierre Abernathy and Davey Vega tried to take down K.C. Karrington, Steven Kennedy and Gary the Barnowl. Gary and Abernathy started the match up and fought relentlessly.

LWA Starts the night of strong with an exciting 6 man tag match.- Photo Credit Brian Kelley

However, Abernathy began to overpower Gary, giving the Submission Squad the early advantage. The moment that Gary tagged Kennedy, everything changed. Kennedy cleared the house and delivered the patented “Go That Way!” kick to Gelistico with the help of Karrington. It was not long until Abernathy was back in the ring and taking control, allowing Vega and Gelistico to double and triple team their opponents. Halfway through the bout, Tiffani LaFane cornered a confused Gary and convinced him to walk with her backstage, giving the Squad an extra advantage. Unfortunately  , LaFane’s cunning work was not up to par, becaue the Egos had more fire after Gary and LaFane flew the coop and dominated in the three on two situation to retain the tag titles.

“Future” Donovan Ruddick and XXX Jordan Lacey came to the ring next, talking about their match against LWA Heavweight Champion Jeremy Wyatt and the LWA Vice President Jewels. They proclaimed that they would rid LWA of Jewels and Wyatt, which prompted the VP to make her way to ringside.

Jordan Lacey makes a deal with Jewels, but you should never make a deal with the devil –Photo Brian Kelley

She confessed that she cannot compete in the match and offered Ruddick a title shot against Wyatt as a settlement. Jewels also stated that “Thee” Brandon Espinosa—who came to prove the claim—would be Wyatt’s replacement in the match. Commissioner Adam Raw felt that Lacey needed a substitute as well and announced that Mark Sterling would do the honors.

After that debacle, Shorty Biggs and Dingo wrestled an impressive bout—one of Biggs’ best to date. Biggs appeared more focused on the task at hand than in previous months, and it showed, seeing as he made Dingo scratch and claw for a victory.

Dingo stretches Shorty Biggs as Ref Eric Davis ask if Biggs wants to quit- Photo Credit Kari Williams

Filled with technical wrestling and pure athleticism, these men went toe-to-toe, with each man only mere milliseconds away from securing a win. In the end, with both men fighting with everything, Dingo defeated Biggs, who offered his hand to Dingo as a sign of respect.

Shamus O’ Flannery was pumped for his match with Super Electro- Photo Credit Kari Williams

Super Electro took on Shamus O’ Flannery in an electrifying, fast-paced bout. Complete with an electrical shock to O’ Flannery and multiple high-risk maneuvers on O’ Flannery’s part, it was hard to find anyone who did not enjoy this match.

Shamus O’ Flannery slowed down just enough to get his picture taken in this fast paced match- Photo Credit Brian Kelley

Although not lengthy, O’ Flannery proved his worth when he secured his first victory since returning to LWA over Electro after a frog splash.

The ever-flamboyant Mike Sydal was in action next against “The Technical Messiah” Nick Tyson, in what one best describe as a personality conflict. When Sydal came to the ring, he declared that he is tight, tan and toned. Not one to sit around and wait for a fight, Tyson took it to Sydal, who put up an extroardinary fight in which each man scored multiple near falls. Sydal attempted to gain a pyschological advantage, but to no avail.

Mike Sydal puts all his weight on Nick Tyson – Photo Credit Kari Williams

Tyson’s experience and tenacity in the ring far outweighed Sydal’s mind games. Sydal’s antics only seemed to anger The Technical Messiah, but Sydal did not go down willingly and even used submission holds against Tyson.

Nick Tyson struggles to defend a submission from Mike Sydal- Photo Credit Kari Williams

In the end, the flamboyant interim member of B.A.B.E.WATCH succumbed to pain and tapped out to the Gateway City Stretch.

After the match, Abernathy emerged to attack Tyson, which was followed by the entire Submission Squad and Gary.

Tiffany Lefane and Pierre Abernathy with Gary the Barn Owl ?? – Photo Credit Kari Williams

Dingo made the save for Tyson with the aid of a steel chair, chasing the Squad away. Tyson and Dingo then revealed an alliance through a handshake.

Once the intermission ended, LWA President Luke Roberts and Raw came out to celebrate Mardi Gras and throw beads to the fans. Roberts then brought up the former LWA wrestler he wanted to bring back, and Raw revealed that he himself was the only wrestler who would stand up for the fans and bleed LWA. Jewels then brought up the fact that Raw turned his back on LWA one year ago, stated that Raw would have to work his way up and she will make it as difficult as possible.

“Irresistably Flawless” Brandon Aarons took on the masked newcomer Dash Rando. Unsure of Rando, Aarons looked reluctant to begin.

Brandon Aarons takes on Dash Rando in his LWA debut- Photo Credit Kari Williams

Rando quickly got the fans on his side, while the fans got to Aarons with their catcalls and accusations. Despite being new to LWA, Rando put up an impressive fight against Aarons, but Aarons held his own and did his best to overpower Rando.

Brandon Aarons welcomes Rando to the LWA with a crushing elbow- Photo Credit Kari Williams

Ultimately, Rando’s abstract arsenal proved too much for the “Irresistably Flawless” one, and Rando racked up his first victory with the company.

Aarons’ counter-part, Espinosa, was in action next, teaming with Jewells against Lacey and Sterling. In, essentially, a two-on-one bout, Espinosa started off against Sterling and did his best to hold his own.

Jordan Lacey sends Brandon Espinosa flying- Photo Credit Kari Williams

Being unable to tag his partner, who refused, severely hindered his chances of winning for the team, especially when Lacey and Sterling began making frequent tags.

Mark Sterling and Jordan Lacey double teams Brandon Espinosa – Photo Credit Brian Kelley

At one point, when Espinosa was down, Lacey nearly got his hands on Jewels, but, out of nowhere, Sterling lunged at his partner, and prevented him from doing so.

The devil herself makes Jordan Lacey pay with trusting her earlier as Dorian Victor and Mark Sterling ambushes the former LWA Champion –Photo Credit Kari Williams

Jewels waited on the outside and Espinosa walked away as Dorian Victor came to attack Lacey, ending the bout in a no-contest.

The main event, with Ruddick challenging Wyatt for the Heavweight Title, proved how much these two competitors want that belt. They held nothing back, and Wyatt began attacking Ruddick before the bell even rang, trying to gain the unfair advantage.

Wyatt attacks Ruddick early to offset the power of “The Future” – Photo Credit Kari Williams

Wyatt’s underhanded tactics did nothing to deter the 6’9” monster, who terrorized Wyatt inside and outside the ring. At one point, Ruddick had Wyatt in the air and planned to slam him into a table located next to the entrance ramp, but Wyatt countered and sent Ruddick flying.

Wyatt uses the air attack but The Future was ready and powers Wyatt with a devastating blow to the mat- Photo Credit Kari Williams

After regaining his composure and focus, Ruddick went for, and connected with, his impressive powerbomb that sent Wyatt clear across the ring.

The Future was 3 seconds away from the LWA Championship but Dorian Victor distracts the ref- Photo Credit Kari Williams

Before Ruddick had a chance to cover Wyatt for the three count, Sterling and Victor interfered, allowing Wyatt to steal the win with a roll up.

Sterling disclosed that after his match against Wyatt back in June that he knew they had to team up. He went on to say that Wyatt is the champion and the brains, and he is the muscle in the group. Then he made it known that Victor was never poor, that it was just a cover up, and Jewells was behind all of it.

To find out how this feud develops, do not miss the second LWA Double Shot on March 6 and 7. The first night is in Granite City, IL and the second in O’ Fallon, IL. For more information go to lwawrestling.com.