Missouri Wrestling Revival

By Kari Williams
Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat

HVW delivered impressive action to its fans at the one year anniversary show, “Encore” in Granite City, IL at the River’s Edge Complex. Ninety eight fans gathered to witness the crowning of new champion, an unexpected turn and the explosion that occurred between Mark Bland and Donovan Ruddick.

High Voltage Staff, wrestlers and fans honor BJ Race with a ten bell salute.

Before the festivities got underway, HVW honored Harley Race’s late wife, BJ, with a 10-bell salute prior to the shows.

As the night got underway, Eric Allen came out to boast about his undefeated streak in HVW and demanded a title shot. “TNT” Keny G made the match, and Allen faced Kahagas right then and there for The Japanese Nightmare’s HVW Heavyweight Championship. Kahagas made quick work of Allen, dominating him at every turn.

Kahagas punishes Eric Allen in the first match at High Voltage Wrestling’s “Encore”. (Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

Despite Allen’s persistence, Kahagas swiftly ended Allen’s undefeated steak and walked away with belt intact. Moments after the conclusion of the match, Mark Sterling emerged and demanded a shot at the champion as well.

One of the top wrestlers today NWA Central States Champion Mark Sterling demands a shot at the prestigious HVW title. (Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

The main event of the evening would be Kahagas v. Sterling, as Kahagas put his title on the line yet again.

TNT Keny G welcomes the Mississippi Madman to the packed house in Granite City. (Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

The Magic Man tries to assist his man Matt Cage to victory with some cheap shots out of the ring. (Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

Matt Cage and Mississippi Madman went at it next. Madman started off the bout by intimidating the referee, and doing his best to make Cage feel uneasy. Cage got in little offense to begin, as Madman flew at him with a flurry of punches, chops and elbow drops. However, Cage capitalized on a key moment, allowing himself to get the upper hand. Magic Man, who had accompanied Cage to ringside, interjected himself in the match as well.

But the domination did not last very long. Madman regained his composure and put an end to Cage’s pompous antics.

Matt Cage feels the power of the Madman. (Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

The lovely Santana G comes out for her very first match against Mia Martinez (Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

Santana G competed in her first singles match against Mia Martinez. Santana had the fans behind her the whole way through, which seemed to will her on and help her gain the early advantage. After being tossed out of the ring, Martinez had had enough and her demeanor changed to relentless fury. On more than one occasion, Martinez nearly had the match won, but Santana’s determination made her pull through.

The veteran Mia works over Santana G’s back. (Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

She slowly regained momentum and had victory within sight. After hitting a moonsault on the prone Martinez, she picked up her first singles victory.

The 2008 MWR Wrestler of the Year Jeremy “The Rebel” Wyatt (Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

Neil Diamond Cutter came to fight in his biggest match to date. (Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

Neil Diamond Cutter had a task in front of him in the form of “The Rebel” Jeremy Wyatt. Cutter attempted to chop down Wyatt early on, but to no avail.

Jeremy Wyatt delivers a suplex on the youngest Cutter.(Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

Wyatt’s brute force overpowered the energetic “Diamond.” Nonetheless, Cutter would not go down easily; he scratched and clawed his way toward victory, but each time he gained the slightest advantage, Wyatt would shut him down. The Rebel put an end to Cutter, swiftly and decisively.

Jeremy Wyatt takes out Neil Diamond Cutter as he gets ready for his war with “The Future” Donovan Ruddick and Arya Daivari this Saturday in Granite City Illinois. (Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

The following contest was to crown the first-ever HVW Tag Team Champions.

The Hooligans have quickly moved up the ladder in the top tag teams in the Midwest. (Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

The Hooligans (Devin and Mason Cutter) and The Submission Squad (Evan Gelistico and Pierre Abernathy) put everything on the line in a continuation of their battles that have taken place in multiple promotions across the Midwest. They started the match off with a number of double-teams, and Abernathy ended up with the early advantage. The Hooligans soon turned the tide, however, and began to target Abernathy’s knee.

Ruthless double teaming have been a staple in the Hooligans offense. (Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

Gelistico tagged in shortly thereafter and cleared the ring. But the Hooligans caught Gelistico off guard and cut the ring in half. Gelistico’s will propelled him forward, and he got the tag on Abernathy, who did his best to bring the advantage to the Squad. The Hooligans stopped him short and attacked his knee yet again, closing in on victory.

The Hooligans have been known to bend the rules to get a advantage. (Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

Despite the resolve of the Squad, the Hooligans got the pin and emerged as the HVW Tag Team champions.

The first ever High Voltage Wrestling Tag Team Champions- The Hooligans (Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

After intermission, Cabal and Max Archer duked it out. Cabal’s mean streak continued, as he downright dominated Archer, who got in little to no offense. Although Archer put up a valiant fight, and had the crowd on his side, he could not get the upper hand. The final moments came as Cabal delivered a back breaker that left Archer writhing in pain and prone for defeat.

Cabal bodyslams Max Archer.(Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

A Livewire Gauntlet/Battle Royal took place next, where all the but the remaining two competitors had to be eliminated by being thrown over the top rope. The final two would then battle until a pinfall or submission occurred. Gary Jay, Rebelucha, Brandon Aarons, Mike Sydal, Brandon Espinosa, Alexandre Rudolph and Davey Vega participated in the gauntlet. Rudolph looked like he would dominate, but the other competitors teamed up and eliminated him early on.

Brandon Espinosa tries with all his might to throw out Rebelucha as he attempts to get back his HVW Livewire title.(Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

Aarons, Espinosa and Sydal were the final three competitors, and once Sydal tossed Espinosa to the outside, Aarons and Sydal battled it out for the Livewire Championship.

Brandon Aarons accidentally super kicks Espy after Mike Sydal moves out of the way. (Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

Sydal quickly went to his high-flying tactics in hopes of capturing the title without delay. But, Aarons’ fast-paced agility put Sydal’s hopes on hold for a little while longer.

Mike Sydal and Brandon Aarons was a chess match between 2 of the top young stars today. (Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

The two athletes tried to hit as many high impact moves as fast as they could, and Sydal was on a role in that regard. He emerged as the Livewire Champion, ending Aarons’s championship dreams.

Mike Sydal is crowned the new High Voltage Wrestling Livewire Champion.(Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

Absolute Wrestling Radio Host Mark Bland and The Future Donovan Ruddick have been in what many think was the 2009 feud of the year. (Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

Absolute Wrestling Radio Host Mark Bland’s finally had the opportunity to prove to all the naysayers that he would knock out “Future” Donovan Ruddick in their much-anticipated match.

The most powerful man in the Midwest Donovan Ruddick with his manager The Magic Man. (Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

Bland showed his cockiness before even stepping into the ring, as he passed signed Mark Bland 8x10s to members of the audience. But once the bell rang, Bland proved that he was not just talk; his training showed, as he had Ruddick reeling on more than one occasion. Still, each blow from Bland only angered the 6’9” Monster, and Ruddick turned the tables.

Mark Bland had determination for victory in his eyes in his return to the squared circle.(Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

Ruddick puts the boot to Mark Bland (Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

Mark Bland gets desperate and uses a chair on Donovan Ruddick.(Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

When Bland sensed his moment of glory had neared its end, he went to desperate measures and hit Ruddick with a chair. In normal circumstances, this would constitute a disqualification, but “TNT” Keny G forced the match to continue.

Matt Krueger feels the wrath once again after he interferes on behalf of Bland from the former HVW Champion.(Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

As Ruddick took care of Bland inside the ring, Keny G made sure that Matt Kreuger would not interfere—as did Magic Man. Ruddick then soundly defeated Bland.

Surviving everything that Mark Bland and his cronies could throw at him. Ruddick lets the HVW Fans know that he is dominate once again. (Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

Kahagas returned for his second match of the night to defend the HVW Heavyweight Championship against Central States Champion Mark Sterling. Keny G made the bout a title for title match, where whomever gets the victory wins both belts. Sterling’s fierce determinism made him a prime candidate for a title shot, and Kahagas did not take that lightly. These two stellar athletes wrestled an incredible match, leaving fans begging for more.

No one is as methodical in his moves as the Central States Champion Mark Sterling. (Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

War escalated outside the ring between Kahagas and Mark Sterling.(Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

Kahagas brings the momentum back on his side with a stunning suplex. (Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

Kahagas brings the momentum back on his side with a stunning suplex. (Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

Kahagas goes Matrix on Sterling.(Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

Jeremy Wyatt comes to the aid of Mark Sterling.(Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

Sterling capitalized on Kahagas’s tendency to combat opponents with stiff kicks and other unorthodox moves by keeping him grounded as much as possible. Kahagas’s resolve forced him to continue, and the two took the fight out of the ring, where Sterling gained the upper hand. The moment Kahagas started to gain an inkling of momentum—as if on cue—Wyatt ran from the back, interfering in the match up, rewarding Kahagas with a disqualification victory.

After the biggest win in his career Mike Sydal turns on his fans and his hometown St Louis to join the KANSAS CITY KILLERS. (Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

Obviously, the reward was not very fruitful, as Wyatt and Sterling viciously attacked Kahagas. Then, Sydal came out and turned his back on the fans only hours after winning the Livewire title. The three of them—The Kansas City Killers—utterly dominated Kahagas until the Hooligans and Neil Diamond Cutter came to the Japanese Nightmare’s aid.

Neil Diamond Cutter and his brothers the Hooligans makes the save setting up The Hooligans vs the Kansas City Killers on Dec 5 at High Voltage Wrestling. (Photo credit Michael R Van Hoogstraat)

The next HVW show will take place Dec. 5 at the River’s Edge Complex in Granite City, IL. Fans can go to http://www.missouriwrestlingrevival.com or http://www.highvoltagewrestling.wordpress.com.