Missouri Wrestling Revival

By Brian “Flair” Kelley

Missouri Wrestling Revivals first show of 2010 would be in Mascoutah Illinois with All American Pro Wrestling.

What we love about AAPW is that the show can be enjoyed by the whole family with stars such as the “Serial Thriller” Shane Rich, the colorful Curly and one of my girlfriends favorite Wrestlers Edmund “Livewire” McGuire. The roster is filled with talented wrestlers. Add On the fact they are also some of the nicest guys in the sport and have a great relationship with theIR fans it is always enjoyable to be at AAPW.

This show would be a mix of the AAPW Favorites and some new wrestlers that I would see for the very first time. The night started with my good friend John Bach doing the ring announcing introducing fan favorite Shane Rich hyping up the crowd letting them know that he and Curly would be going after the AAPW Tag team Champions Mike Masters and Mitch Blake collectively known as Rage.

AAPW Tag Team Champions RAGE (Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

Rage came to the ring and told the fans that there was no way that Rich and Curly was going to get the win…and Mitch Blake he believed it so much that he would be willing to give each of the fans a $100.00 bill if they should lose tonight. Hey maybe I would be walking out of this AAPW a richer man than I came in with if Shane Rich and Curly could become the AAPW Champions tonight.

The All American JT Calhoon (Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

The first match of the evening was Jack Damon, dressed in black with a bad attitude to boot taking on “The All American” JT Calhoon. Calhoon is one of the more impressive big men in the Midwest. Wearing a red white and blue mask he carries the flag to the ring to honor our country. Damon was overmatched from the start and never gain much advantage before Calhoon hit the leg drop for the win.

“Badboy” Chris Thomas drops a knee on Brandon Espinosa. (Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

Up next was a familiar face at MWR when “Thee” Brandon Espinosa was set to take on “Bad Boy” Chris Thomas. This was the first time that I would see Thomas and he let the crowd know that he was much better than Espinosa. Thomas would learn quickly that Espinosa was no push over as he quickly took over the match at the start from the inside to the outside but when Espy threw Thomas back inside the ring and tried to get back in the ring that’s when Thomas struck.

Kicks, punches and Suplexs from Thomas had Espinosa in deep trouble. It look like a huge upset when Thomas latched in a sleeper hold but Espinosa was able to fight out of but Thomas immediately went back to it.

Espinosa drops Thomas on way towards another victory in the Midwest. (Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

It looked to be all over but Espinosa showed his heart and was able to power out it and get the offense going to change the tide for the victory.

Midwest powerhouse Carnage (Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

If you like menacing big men then you would love the powerful Carnage. Unfortunately he doesn’t care that you to like him and he lets you know it. On this night he was taking on Heath Hatton. The young Hatton who is not small at all was put to the test against the wily veteran.

Heat Hatton goes flying after a shoulder block from Carnage. (Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

Hatton tries to ground the big man. (Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

The fans would cheer but it was no use as Carnage just laid into Hatton from pillar to post. With a powerful powerslam it was all said and done and Carnage had his hand raised.

1-2-3 Carnage starts the year off with a convincing victory. (Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

Two newcomers went to action in an exciting match up when the cocky Las Vegas Nevada’s Xavier Cage took on the Charismatic “The Jakester” Jake Landon from San Antonio Texas.

“The Jakester” Jake Landon prepares to meet Xavier Cage. (Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

I would find out that this would be the first time that London met Cage in action as well as Landon’s first match in the Midwest. Cage’s mouth never stopped talking and even though he disrespected this journalist during our interview I can not discredit his talent.

Jake Landon gives Cage a wake up call. (Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

Landon turns the tide in his favor using leverage in this battle of wills. (Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

Landon was quick and aware enough to make this move work. (Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

Cage was intense and confident enough in this match. Though the results was not what he expected MWR has their eyes out for Xavier Cage. (Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

A fast, hard hitting affair between these two athletic young wrestlers that matched up very well against one another as they tried to get an advantage. Back and forth it went when The Jakester delivered a Stan Hansen type Clothesline that sent Cage into a 360 in the air but somehow Cage kicked out to stay in the match. That move though seemed to slow him down enough as the match wore on as The Jakester surprised Cage with a roll up for the victory. I have to say that I was really impressed where each of these two is at so early in their career. Sure each of them has a long ways to go yet it was easy to see the potential in both of these young guns as we headed to intermission.

Back from intermission Carnage interrupted John Bach and he was not happy. He stated “(he) was sick of watching a bunch of young punks coming into sport claiming that they were wrestlers.” Before he could get another word in “The All American” JT Calhoon’s music hit and the AAPW Promoter demanded that Carnage faced JT Calhoon right then and there or face a 20 day suspension.

With the crowd on his side JT Calhoun was able to win the test of strength in this encounter. (Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

Carnage stomps The All American in the corner. (Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

The fans were easily on The All American side as the two big men collided. Carnage’s brute strength and ruthlessness looked to get the edge but Calhoun’s fans seem to be leading him into victory. Then Carnage threw Calhoon out of the ring then followed him. Nonstop the attack went as the ref made the count to get them back in the ring.

Carnage would beat Calhoon on the outside long enough to get the win with a countout. (Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

When the count hit 9 Carnage quickly rolled under the ring while JT Calhoon was unable to get to his feet while the ref counted to 10 thus giving Carnage the win much to the dismay of Calhoun and his fans.

A double main event was set as the All American Pro Wrestling Champion Edmund “Livewire” McGuire in a non title match went up against young up and comer Christian Rose. It has been months since I last saw Christian Rose. Rose was raw in his skills but you could see that the talent was there. Since then he has been wrestling at IWA Productions during there FREE Wednesdays shows and the ring work has look too paid off.

On the other side of the spectrum I had my doubts going in that Rose stood much of a chance in this encounter as Edmund had a successful 2009. One that saw him win a MWR match of the month awards with Shane Rich in January and topped it off by defeating The Modern Day Viking Shawn Shultz in December to win the AAPW Championship in what many stated was a match of the year candidate. As tough of a champion as Edmunds is and the fan support it will be very hard for anyone to take that title off of him in 2010.

This was Roses time to show AAPW that he was a force to be reckoned with in 2010 and he knew it. A little off his rocker in my opinion, Rose paced outside the ring unhappily as the Champion was cheered big time from the AAPW faithful.

Edmund starts off red hot against Christian Rose.(Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

The two locked up and McGuire who is a true student of the game, took Rose to school by tying him up with arm bars which frustrated the young Rose who retreated to the outside.

Rose talks smack before getting back into the ring.(Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

Unfortunately back in the ring the Champion gave Rose more of the same who seemed to have no answer for McGuire’s speed and experience.

McGuire struggles to free himself from being choked.(Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

McGuire made one mistake and Rose capitalized then proceeded to choke the champion. Big elbows were dropped on McGuire but the fans rallied behind the champion as he attempted to get back on the offense. No matter what McGuire did to get back on top, Rose used McGuire’s speed against him and delivered another crushing elbow as McGuire flew back from the ropes.

A kick in the back causes the Champ some agony. (Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

The Champ fights back.(Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

Rose sized up Edmund for a perfect chop.(Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

Rose used a play off of Carnage’s playbook and sent McGuire on the outside. He followed it up with a Ric Flair chop in one corner but when he tried the second time McGuire was quick enough to get out of the way to get back on the offense.

Rose took a moment to be proud of himself on the apron and paid as McGuire sent him flying. (Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley

In the ring McGuire hit an atomic drop then struck with a Russian Leg sweep. When McGuire went for sweet chin music and missed it allowed Rose to hit a crushing kick to the face. Rose smelled victory within his grasp and went for his patented elbow but McGuire rolled him up with a bridge for the victory.

A hard earned win for the Champion who took time to celebrate with his fans but Rose attacked from behind leaving him laid out while taking out the ref with a spinning punch to the head. Not content with that Rose went to finish what he started and grabbed a chair.

The ref and the champ had been knocked out thankfully Shane Rich would make the save. (Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

Shane Rich helps his friend McGuire. (Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

Thankfully Shane Rich was nearby to make the save before anymore damage could be done.

The main event featured the AAPW Tag team Champions Rage had to put up or shut up by taking on Shane Rich and Curly with a $100 for each fan on the line. From the start Curly was able to get in the head of Mike Masters by challenging him to the famous Curly dance off much to the dismay of Mitch Blake. Stayin alive hit and Curly busted a move that the fans cheered heavily while Masters looked like a guy with 2 left feet.

Curly goes to the air as Rich holds Masters.(Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

Rich works the arm of Masters .(Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

Rich and Curly looked like a fine tune machine.(Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

Back to wrestling Shane Rich and Curly tag team work was so crisp that you would think that they were the tag team champs hitting Rage with one move after another. It was a dominating performance by the fan favorites 10 minutes into the match as they kept Masters from making the tag to the monster Blake. A low blow on Rich would be what it took for Masters to finally get the tag.

Even on the offense nothing seem to go the Rage’s way because when Blake sent Rich hurling in their corner Rich had the sense in him to hit Masters with a crushing elbow that sent him flying from the outside turnbuckle onto the mat.

Blake over powers Rich and takes control of the match. (Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

Rich slams Blake to the mat. (Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

Blake was able to use his size to his advantage to get the match in control for the tag champions. Rage was looking to make good on their promise when Rich hammered home a powerful slam on Blake that look to take the wind out of the champs and give the titles to Rich and Curly. Blake somehow was able to kick out and when Rich went to pull up Blake, that moment of relaxation cost Rich and Curly the belts because with a roll up the Champs got the 1-2-3

Blake steals the match with a roll up. (Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)

A exciting night of wrestling in the Midwest at AAPW. AAPW returns this Saturday, January 16th, 2010 at the Nashville Community Center in Nashville, IL. Fan’s Choice is back!

All American Pro Wrestling returns with special guest former, TNA Star Andy Douglas and also former ECW Original and WWE star Simon Dean in action with all your favorite AAPW stars.

Plus

Andy Douglas a TNA Original teamed with partner Chase Stevens were known as The Naturals. The Naturals were three time TNA tag team champions and feuded with America most wanted (Chris Harris and James Storm) in one of the most memorable tag team’s feuds in recent memory. Andy Douglas is talented and young enough to make it back to either TNA or get called up to WWE.

Matches include

AAPW Champion Edmund “Livewire” McGuire vs. Missippi Madman
AAPW Tag Team Champs Rage vs The Submission Squad.
“Bloody” Harker Dirge debut’s in AAPW against the returning “Marvelous” Mitch Ryder!
Curly and “Serial Thriller” Shane Rich V. Old School Thunder
Plus all of your favorite AAPW Superstars.