By A.K. Edwards
Every month, fans pack into the South Broadway Athletic Club knowing that they’re about to witness something special.
Whether it be the high-flyers, the brawlers, the tag team or those hell bent on singles glory, MMWA wrestling fans know that each and every single month not only are they in for a show; they’re in for a ride.
Emotions run high, bonds are formed, friendships are broken and rivalries are made.
No matter the outcome, everything is always on the line. MMWA’s finest wrestlers do what they do best, often times leaving broken and battered.
Those who go down for the 1-2-3 head back to the locker room and back to the drawing board, always plotting, planning and finding ways to get better.
The few that leave victorious leave on top of the world, but knowing that they have a target on their back.
Below is the complete and comprehensive Top 20 power ranking of those who lace up their boots and put it all out on the line at the South Broadway Athletic Club.
20. Jackson Whitechapel
Whitechapel is no longer a tag team champion, but he’s still a big, strong wrestler with a mean streak. Don’t expect him to remain this low on the power rankings forever.
19. J-Mal Swagg
Swagg has no shortage in confidence or athleticism. He’s got skills and he’s not afraid to show off what he’s made of. Expect Swagg to bounce back from a pin in July.
18. Webmaster Stevie K
The Webmaster had the crowd on its feet and firmly in his corner as he tossed around Sean Orleans last month. You could feel the momentum firmly in Stevie K’s corner as he swung Orleans around like a rag doll, but unfortunately, the Webmaster suffered a count out.
His strength and smarts are sure to keep him moving forward, though.
17. Mephisto
Not many can go toe-to-toe with The Moondog and hold their own. Despite losing the TV Title, Mephisto came away from his dog collar match looking strong, mean and dangerous.
His mean-streak is sure to come out in the following months, which could mean trouble for his opponents.
16. Barackus
Despite losing the Survivor Championship, Barackus is still one of the most intimidating wrestlers in MMWA. He can lose it at any time and isn’t afraid to make the rules, which makes him a very dangerous enemy to have.
15. Zulu
Zulu’s high-flying athleticism and heart is quickly winning over fans at South Broadway. If he picks up a few wins, he’s the type of wrestler who can gain momentum fast.
14. Gary Jackson
Despite taking the loss in a tag match last month, Jackson continues to be one of the most experienced and physically imposing wrestlers in the MMWA. His brand of power, explosion and passion is hard to match.
13. Tony Kozina
The journeyman veteran showed up to the SBAC in a big way last month, viciously flying around the ring and providing the “lighting” for Kevin Lee Davidson “Thunder” in a tag match win.
12. Kevin Lee Davidson
The big fella intimidated his way through his first ever matchup at the South Broadway Athletic Club, eventually securing a huge pinfall in a tag team match to start the show.
KLD has the size and mean streak to be a future main eventer.
11. Brian James
The veteran and fan favorite had Brandon Espinosa and The Elitism dead to rights before Sean Orleans pulled his legs out from underneath him.
James suffered a brutal chair shot to seal the deal for The Elitism, but it would be unwise to count him out. He’ll bounce back stronger than ever.
10. Andrew “The Wolf” Wilder
Wilder used a combination of crowd support, guts and determination to battle Ace Hawkins in the first ever ladder match at the SBAC.
Truthfully, he should have walked away as the Junior Heavyweight Champion, but Hawkins channeled his inner-Elitism and stole one away from “The Wild One”.
Wilder’s grit and determination will keep him in the hunt for big things in the future.
9. Chase King and Lamarcus Clinton
This tag team proved to be brutal, dangerous and willing to do anything it takes to get a win. Whether or not they stay together or go their separate ways in the future, both King and Clinton are forces to be reckoned with in MMWA.
8. Everett Connors
The little man proved that size truly doesn’t matter in the squared circle. Heart does.
He provided a huge boost for Team Harris with his big leg drop off the top rope, pinning not one, but two of The Elitism.
The feisty underdog will be someone to watch moving forward.
7. Dave Osborne *Survivor Champion
Big Dave Osborne literally survived a 2-out-of-3 falls match against Barackus, who may be one of the most physically and psychologically intimidating people on the roster.
Osborne’s size and intensity helped him snatch the Survivor championship away from Barackus, and after that showing; it’s hard to fathom somebody taking it from him anytime soon.
6. Moondog Rover *TV Champion
The fan favorite captured his first MMWA title in six years by beating Mephisto in a brutal dog collar match. Moondog proved to be more brutal than his opponent, despite a gash in his forehead filling his eyes with blood.
He’ll be a tough champion to beat. It’s going to be hard to control the dog.
5. Da’Marius Jones and A.J. Williams *Tag Team Champions
The tag team of Jones and Williams continues to excite fans with their high-flying ability and constant energy.
After defending their titles against Jackson Whitechapel and Sean Orleans, Jones and Williams have solidified themselves as the top tag team in MMWA.
It’s going to be tough to knock them off.
4. Ace Hawkins *MMWA Junior Heavyweight Champion
Yes, Hawkins cheated and low-blowed himself to a victory against Wilder in the first ever ladder match in South Broadway Athletic Club history. Yes, Hawkins wears more eye makeup than the average pageant contestant, and yes–he’s still despicable.
At the end of the day, though, it was Hawkins on top of that ladder holding the Junior Heavyweight strap, and that’s something this writer can’t take away from him.
3. Shaft
There are not many wrestlers who can go through what Shaft has gone through and still end up on top. Shaft suffered a pin at the hands of Brandon Espinosa last month, but he had the crowd on its feet his whole time in the ring–and the former MMWA Heavyweight Champion proved to the world that he’s still got it.
2. Sean Orleans
Orleans wasn’t able to win back the Tag Team Championships last month, but he was able to pry away power from now former commissioner Jim Harris.
Now that Orleans is in control–or at least now that he thinks he’s in control–it’s safe to expect that The Elitism will find itself graced with more than a few unfair advantages heading into the future.
Orleans, ever the conniving snake both inside the ring and out of it, is sure to be a corrupt commissioner and a tough opponent to beat.
Ace Hawkins and Brandon Espinosa
1. Brandon “Espy” Espinosa *MMWA Heavyweight Champion
The leader of The Elitism still reigns over MMWA as the Heavyweight Champion.
His title wasn’t on the line during last month’s “Christmas in July” event, but Espinosa did more than his fair share of dirty work in order to take down Team Harris and secure the commissionership for Sean Orleans.
ESPY’s reign, which started in February, doesn’t look to be ending anytime soon.
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