Missouri Wrestling Revival

By Brian Kelley

During this past summer MWR took the time to rank the Top 30 Tag Teams in the Midwest during the MWR Years. Prior to naming the first tag team that made the list at number 30, which so happened to be the Heroes for Hire (Zach Thompson and Jimmy Rockwell) we honored some of the teams that just missed that list.

One of those tag teams were the Mississippi Madman and Benz, otherwise known as The Monsters of the Midwest. Everyone at MWR was high on the tag team, but was also cautious in where they were headed.
Let’s look back at what our concerns were.

A new team in 2011 features the exciting duo of the Madman and Benz. The two have all the tools to go far in the tag team division. They started the year off with a win against the exciting tag team the Full Metal Jackals which set them up for a title chance against the 2010 MWR Tag Team of the Year and current NMW Tag Team Champs Attitude Inc. The experience and skills of Attitude Inc. has been the deciding factor in the two title shots that Benz and Madman received as the champs were able to walk away with their belts. Can this young team regroup and stay strong or will the effects of coming up short tear them apart?

The article was posted on July 18th and by the time New Midwest Wrestling came to their biggest show of the year November Reign, The Monsters of the Midwest were not in a match for the NMW tag titles but in a match that would pit the two against each other in a bout with the stipulation being if Benz lost the title then he would retire.

What happened??

In May, during a huge Tag team title match against the champs Attitude Inc. The Monsters of the Midwest suffered a heart breaking loss in a tag team tornado match. While the fans were unhappy to see Attitude Inc. continue their stranglehold on the NMW Tag Team titles, the two powerful fan favorites were even more in despair over the loss.

The 2010 MWR Tag team of the Year, Attitude Inc. worked together to frustrate the Monsters of the Midway. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)

Out of true emotion Benz called out the Madman stating that they should be dominating the competition but in his eyes it seemed that the Madman had lost that fire that he once had. When it was time for a rematch against the NMW Tag Team Champs, out of the blue the Madman went on a sabbatical.

Months would pass as Benz would wait for his partner to come back. Time would only anger the powerful Benz, so he called out his partner for a one on one match to bring back the fire the Madman had. When he refused, Benz demanded the NMW management to grant him his match. With emotions high, Benz let NMW management know that if they would grant him his match and if he was to lose to the Mississippi Madman then his career was over.

Benz and the Madman. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)

On November 26, the biggest night of the year had come. NMW Ryan Phoenix was set to defend the title against A1 Tom Arson in the main event. Prior to that match was what many claimed to be a double main event when The Mississippi Madman looked across the ring at his former partner Benz.

As the two bulls locked up the fans were in awe and divided on who they wanted to win. One thing was certain the fans did not want to see Benz retire. The battle looked to be even until Benz would attempt a body slam, only to crumble under the weight of 453 pounds of the Madman. Somehow Benz was able to recover before the ref counted to three.

The Madman reluctantly went after his partner working him over in the corner as he prepared him for his patented “fifth floor” choke slam. With the crowd in disbelief Benz was trapped in the grasp of the Madman and with no defense took the long ride up above the 6’5 frame of the Madman then crashing to the mat.

The ref counted 1-2 –and somehow he kicked out.

The earth shook as Benz lifted the Madman up for a slam. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)

Very few have been able to withstand the Fifth Floor move ,but Benz was determined.

BOOOOOOOOOOM. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)

With the heart of a champion Benz fought back to get the edge and in the middle of the ring, in an amazing display of strength was able to pick up the 453 pounds off the ground in a bodyslam. Quickly, Benz went for the pin but the Madman was still too strong to go down yet.

The bearhug to wear down Benz. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)

The Madman returned to his feet and delivered his offense on his friend and before long; he went back to his bread and butter, the Fifth Floor again. Once again Benz was helpless as the Madman took him on the ride up, then brutally down to the mat.

The ref counted 1-2 –amazingly Benz kicked out. The Madman was stunned, the crowd was in shock but Benz’s carrier was still alive, though on a thread.

The Madman nearly had to picked the mountain of a man Benz himself off the mat, and as he did, Benz showed true heart by still continuing to fight with punches. While the Madman still had the advantage he delivered a crushing blow down onto Benz then put him in the corner to deliver a running smash to crush his friend and partner.

The Madman backed up and ran full force to deliver the splash but Benz was just a millisecond faster and was able to put up the big boot.

Just in time. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)

. The Madman was hurt and down to one knee. Out of desperation Benz went to the top rope to deliver a move but as he got to the top, the Madman had caught up to him. With Benz helpless to do anything, The Madman lifted Benz from the top rope nearly ten feet high for the third and final Fifth Floor.

The ref counted 1-2-3 ……The Madman had won, Benz career was over.

The Madman pleads to Benz to stay. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)

In an emotional moment the Madman pleaded to Benz to still be his partner. There were tears flowing in the stands as they realized that one of their favorites at NMW was done. Benz got on the mic stated that he was a man of his word and that this historic match was his last.

Tough loss for Benz. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)

While Benz went to the locker room, the fans came up to shake his hand, while his young daughter ran up to him with tears in her eyes to give him a hug, Benz in returned kissed her on the cheek before waving goodbye to the NMW fans.