Missouri Wrestling Revival

By Kari Williams

Lethal Wresting Alliance underwent monumental changes on June 20 at Circus Maximus, including a new LWA Heavyweight Champion, the retirement of the LWA Medallion and the introduction of three new medallions. The 102 fans at the Knights of Columbus hall got their money’s worth and then some at what one could argue was the best show of the summer, thus far.

“Thee” Brandon Espinosa and Mike Sydal took on Dash Rando and Rebelucha, accompanied by Super Electro, in the opening bout. Despite never tagging together, Rando and Rebelucha worked extremely well as a team. The highflying styles of the two men meshed perfectly, creating a formidable offense. They sent Espinosa running to Sydal for comfort on more than one occasion.

Rebelucha and Dash Rando took on Mike Sydal and Brandon Espinosa in the opening match of Circus Maximus VI. Photo by Kari Williams

Still, even with the absence of “Irresistably Flawless” Brandon Aarons, B.A.B.E.WATCH kept their opponents on edge. The one-man advantage for Rebelucha and Rando worked in their favor, as they decisively won the match with double frogsplashes followed by double pinfalls, with Rebelucha pinning Sydal and Rando pinning Espinosa.

Adam Raw announced Tim Alley as the new LWA Commissioner due to Raw vacating the position for a spot on the active roster. Alley quickly addressed the problems within the LWA—President Luke Roberts’ recent actions, the pairing of Shorty Biggs and Dorian Victor for the Tag Title match and $15 front row tickets. In his first act as commissioner, he announced the retirement of the Medallion and the introduction of the Medallion Triad. A wrestler must obtain all three medallions (Torment/Submission, Pain/Pinfall, Brutality/No Disqualification) to earn a shot at the Heavyweight Title.

The first of the three medallions, Torment, was put on the line as “Spitfire” Davey Vega returned to take on “All American” Adam Rich. Both men did their best to wear down the other for a submission victory. Vega focused his attack on the lower back, in hopes of setting up the Texas Cloverleaf.

"Spitfire" Davey Vega and "All American" Adam Rich wrestled for the first of three new LWA Medallions, The Medallion of Torment, in which the match can only be won via submission. Photo by Kari Williams

Rich would not be deterred and did everything in his power to combat Vega. Despite Rich’s power and his ‘hulking up,’ Vega had worn down the All American more throughout the bout to force him to tap to the Texas Cloverleaf.

Alley announced that the winner of the following match would earn the Medallion of Pain. Eric Allen had to try and defeat Gorgeous Jordan, formerly XXX Jordan Lacey. Jordan addressed the crowd, saying that when he lost to Jeremy Wyatt, he said that XXX would never be in the ring again.

Gorgeous Jordan, formerly XXX Jordan Lacey, returned to take on Eric Allen in a match for the Medallion of Pain, which could only be won via pinfall. Photo by Kari Williams

Lacey needed time to collect his thoughts, forget the fans and focus on the LWA title. Jordan barely gave Allen any chance for offense. Jordan’s time away from the ring did more harm than good for Allen, as the gorgeous one pummeled Allen relentlessly from bell to bell. Jordan decisively pinned Allen to become the second Medallion winner of the evening.

The Submission Squad of Pierre Abernathy and Evan Gelistico defended their LWA Tag Team titles against the Luke Roberts-assembled team of Dorian Victor and Shorty Biggs. Victor attempted to convince the fans and Biggs that he had changed, and it appeared that way when after Abernathy and Gelistico raised his hands, he attacked them.

Evan Gelistico wears down Shorty Biggs during the LWA Tag Team Title match. Photo by Kari Williams

From that point on, Biggs and Victor looked as if they would work well together. But the cohesiveness of the Submission Squad, and Roberts’ presence at ringside deterred the unlikely tandem. In the closing moments, Victor turned on Biggs, powerbombed him, and allowed Abernathy to get the pin and retain the titles.

After the match, Roberts got on the mic and told the crowd that he was proud to represent the LWA fans, Jeremy Wyatt as the Heavyweight Champion, and Victor himself. He then verbally assaulted Biggs, who attacked Roberts in retaliation and told Victor that he “will rue the day [he] crossed the Don Mega.”

Once returning from intermission, “Spoiled” Steven Kennedy battled Gary the Nightowl, with Tiffani LaFane, in a street fight for the Medallion of Brutality. The two men wasted no time in taking the fight to the outside, where they battled through the crowd and where Gary forced Kennedy to collide with the brick wall. As Kennedy and Gary made their way back to ringside, Gary pulled out a screwdriver to use on Kennedy.

"Spoiled" Steven Kennedy punished Gary the Nightowl only moments after being thrown into the brick wall. Photo by Kari Williams

However, Kennedy wrestled it away from the Nightowl and dished out the punishment. Minutes later, Gary brought a ladder into the mix, which signaled the beginning of the end. Both men threw each other into the ladder on more than one occasion, but it was Kennedy powerbombing Gary onto the ladder that sealed his fate. Kennedy walked away with the Medallion of Brutality and talked about K.C. Karrington’s match with Wyatt, saying that he will always be there for Karrington.

“The Japanese Nightmare” Kahagas made his LWA debut against Mark Sterling in an impressive bout. Sterling looked hesitant to start the match, but once it got underway, fans witnessed Sterling’s tenacity yet again and Kahagas’ athletic expertise.

The fierce and intense Mark Sterling punishes the debuting Kahagas after the two battled outside of the ring. Photo by Kari Williams

The Japanese Nightmare took the fight to ringisde, and just barely escaped a Kendo Stick hit from Sterling as they battled through the crowd. Once they made their way back to the ring, Sterling dominated, but the unorthodox Kahagas would not go down easily and pulled out all the stops. That was not enough to stop Sterling, who used his wit and ring presence to secure the win by pinning Kahagas with his feet on the ropes for leverage.

K.C. Karrington had his work cut out for him in the main event, as he challenged Wyatt for the LWA Title. In a brawl that lasted nearly 40 minutes, these two athletes threw everything at each other, but the desire to be champion willed both of them on. Wyatt treated Karrington as an unworthy contender but soon realized that Karrington would not lay down for the champion.

K.C. Karrington proves to Jeremy Wyatt that he will be taken seriously in their battle for the LWA Heavyweight Title. Photo by Kari Williams

Both men went to unbelievable lengths to prove who the better competitor was, including Karrington launching over the top rope onto a wounded Wyatt on the outside. Many nearfalls and narrow escapes occurred, one of them being Wyatt inadvertently hitting himself in the head with a steel chair as it bounced off the ring ropes.

Wyatt and Karrington brutalized each other in the nearly 40 minute battle for the coveted title. Photo by Kari Williams

At one point, even the referee became a victim. Wyatt could have retained his belt after connecting with the lightning spiral, but with the ref down, he resorted to having Sterling interfere on his behalf. Biggs saw the events unfolding and chased Sterling to the back before any damage could be done. Karrington then hit Wyatt with a DDT from the second rope and made his dream come true.

Adam Rich, Adaw Raw, Shorty Biggs and Steven Kennedy came out to celebrate Karrington's title win moments after he pinned Wyatt. Photo by Kari Williams

To witness the aftermath of Circus Maximus VI, join LWA in House Springs, MO at the Knights of Columbus Hall on July 25.