Missouri Wrestling Revival

By Brian Kelley

2012 has started off red hot as many of the promotions are packing the buildings for their shows to see some of the top young talents in the sport today. In January two of the longest reigning champions in the MWR coverage area have been dethroned.

NEW MMWA-SICW Champ Brandon Espinosa (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)

Coincidently,it would be on the same night, as MMWA-SICW and New Midwest Wrestling each ran on January 21st. Let’s start with the action from the historic South Broadway Athletic Club in ST. Louis Missouri where the 2011 MWR wrestler of the Year Brandon Espinosa look to prove that the third time is indeed the charm as he met the MMWA-SICW champ Gary Jackson in a Lumberjack match.

Jackson had been able to get two victories via Disqualification, the last one being due to interference thanks to The Big Texan dressed as Santa jumped in the ring to attack the champ.

Gary Jackson would not go down without a fight.(Photo Credit Mike Van Hoogstraat)

With the animosity running high, MMWA-SICW officials felt that the match needed extra manpower to contain these two hated warriors. Thus a Lumberjack match was scheduled and it would not end without controversy. Wrestling reporter Patrick Brandmeyer called it like he saw it, with the two going at it back and forth the Ricky Cruz and Dave Vaughn tension from the previous match spilled over into this one, leading to Vaughn spearing Jackson while the referee was holding back Cruz.

Dave Vaughn and Ricky Cruz has been at each other’s throat’s recently, and this feud is about to become out of control if the MMWA-SICW officials don’t come up with a plan. (Photo Credit Mike Van Hoogstraat)

That gave Espinosa the opening to deliver the frog splash and pin Jackson for the title! Cruz and Vaughn brawled after the match and it took quite some time to restore order in the ring area…

We would like to congratulate Brandon Espinosa as he is now the MMWA-SICW Heavyweight Champion for the first time.

While our friend Mike Van Hoogstraat was photographing that historic and crazy moment. Dubray and I traveled to Springfield Illinois to the Lamphier High School to cover the very first show of the year for New Midwest Wrestling.

A great night of wrestling that was headlined with the New Midwest Wrestling Heavyweight Champion Ryan Phoenix trying to defy the odds as he would not only face one man but two in a three way dance. Phoenix has been a fighting champion since last January 29th, 2011 when he defeated the powerhouse Jonathan Magnus.

Tyler Priegel and Tom Arson double team the champ.(Photo Credit Brian Kelley)

Phoenix is no doubt one of the top wrestlers in the Midwest but the two men he was taking on were just as dangerous. First off you had A1 Tom Arson, who is as cocky as he is good. Then you have the “Dodgeball Superstar” Tyler Priegel, who has been a winner at everything he has done. Priegel is a champion Dodgeball player and if you don’t believe him, he has a plaque to prove it.

From the start Phoenix was at a disadvantage as Arson and Priegel decided to work together in taking down the champ. After several minutes of beating down Phoenix, Priegel decided to jump on the opportunity to get the pinfal and the title but before the ref could count to three, Arson pulled him off to stop the count.

Ryan Phoenix locks Priegel in a brutal figure four around the turnbuckles (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)

Priegel looked to dominate as he threw Phoenix in a vicious backwards toss onto the bleachers. Back in the ring

Phoenix would continue to fight back landing big shots to both men, and was able to lock in a figure four as he was on the outside while Priegel was inside the ring, while using the turnbuckle as a weapon.

Back in the ring Arson would get the edge once again, and had Priegel position for a moonsault but at the last moment the “Dodgeball Superstar” moved just in time.

Then out from the back came Attitude Inc., and Jonathan Magnus to assist Tom Arson. It was looking as if A1 Tom Arson had the perfect plan as he locked in Phoenix for piledriver onto a chair. As Arson was recovering himself, Priegel swooped in on top of Phoenix while the ref count to the mat 1-2-3…….NEW Champion Tyler Priegel had just got one over on Arson and Phoenix and ran to the mat along with the title championship.

MWR named Tyler Priegel one of the 12 men to watch in 2012, even though he had lost the NMW Central Illinois title to young upstart Tony G. In less than a month into the year he has proven us right by become the New Midwest Wrestling Champion.

All he does is win...NEW NMW Champ Tyler Priegel

Congratulations go out to Tyler Priegel for this great accomplishment in his career. We believe that he will be a man that you will hear about for years to come.

Continue to support both New Midwest Wrestling and MMWA-SICW to see if Tyler Priegel and Brandon Espinosa can retain their titles. MMWA-SICW will return to the South Broadway Athletic Club @ Saint Louis, Mo this Saturday .

New Midwest Wrestling will return on March 10, 2012 at the Lanphier High School in Springfield, Illinois, 1300 N 11th St .

UPDATE : RYAN PHOENIX WILL GET NO REMATCH

Due to a loophole surrounding the circumstances in which Former New Midwest Wrestling Champion Ryan Phoenix won the title almost a year to the day before he lost it, Line Producer, Lucious P. CoTrane has informed New Midwest Wrestling officials that Phoenix WILL NOT receive the customary rematch for the championship. The ruling stems from the fact that when Phoenix won the title, he did so in an impromptu, unsigned match.

LPC noted that it was a slight oversight throughout Phoenix’s reign, and was only pointed out to him just recently by the man Phoenix beat for the title in January of 2011, Jonathan Magnus. And as it stands right now, Phoenix is not in line to challenge the new champion “The Dodgeball Superstar” Tyler Priegel anytime in the near future.

Phoenix is said to disagree with the decision, and looking to dispute it. Executive Producer, Justin Clark has declined to comment on the situation

Bob Geigel is joined with his wife as we presented him with the 2011 MWR Lifetime Achievement award.

By Brian Kelley

Missouri Wrestling Revival loves to support the stars in the Midwest today, but we will never forget the fine men and women who brought respect and honor to the sport from the past. This year’s Lifetime Achievement goes to Bob Geigel, a man who more than deserves the recognition for his career not only in the squared circle but as President of the NWA.

Born here in the Midwest in Algona, Iowa,  Geigel would serve our country in the U.S. Navy for four years during World War II.

When he returned home, Geigel was a respected amateur athlete at the University of Iowa. He  was a champion amateur wrestler during his college years, coming in at third place during the 1948 NCAA Championships. Geigel would also letter four times at the University of Iowa in football.

After the late Alphonse “Babe” Bisignano took the time to teach pro wrestling with the athletic Geigel , it would not be long before he would travel to Florida , Texas, trips to Nova Scotia during the summers and a short stint in New York. During  a successful run in Florida  he would earn him the nickname “Texas” Bob Geigel.

Not only was he a star in the states but multiple tours of Japan earned him respect from legendary wrestler and promoter Giant Baba.

Geigel was a star at both the NWA and AWA,  He would be the NWA Central States Champion on six occasions and he would capture tag team titles multiple times. Quite possibly his most famous partnership would be with “Bulldog” Bob Brown.

Geigel, Pat O’Connor and Harley Race formed Heart of America Sports Attractions Inc., also known as Central States Wrestling, which continued to serve among the NWA’s most prominent divisions until it was purchased by Jim Crockett Promotions in 1986.

We had hopes to invite Bob Geigel and his wife Vera to Metro Pro Wrestling to honor him with a “Bob Geigel night” during a show, but Geigel reminds me of my grandpa. Though he is at the young age of 87, Geigel still works a day job during the weekends and does not miss a day on the job so he was unable to take part in such an event.

Even though Bob was busy getting ready for work, Geigel and his wife welcomed Dubray and I in to their home. Talk about a great moment, being able to sit and talk to the Geigel family about the important people that were involved in wrestling in the past, as well as the moments that changed history in the sport.

I explained to Geigel that his wrestling promotion’s TV show ALL-STAR Wrestling was a huge reason on why I was at his house that day. Memories of ring announcer Bill Kersten starting the show with “Helloooooooooooooooooooooooo wrestling fans” intro to “All-Star Wrestling.” Men like Harley Race, Rufus R Jones, Nature Boy Roger Kirby and Mike George made me a fan of wrestling  for life.

One historic moment in my young wrestling life  was watching on TV at Midnight on ALL-Star Wrestling was the shocking turn that “Bulldog” Bob Brown did on is tag team partner Marty Jannetty. As a young kid I was horrified and upset in the chain of events that happen…Pro Wrestling had me hooked.

During the tour of his home Geigel was very informational on the photos that he had kept, along with memories of the time that he shared with the promoters, wrestlers, boxers, stars and fans throughout his career.

From the start Dubray enjoyed meeting his wife and the two really hit it off great. A personal highlight was being welcomed to the basement of the Geigel home to look at photos of various events though out his life. I was impressed that each photo had a description on the front for it to explain just who each person was.

Vera and Bob shared with us photos of their marriage together, their three daughters and banquets with fellow friends in the world of wrestling.

In his collection were photos of his wonderful family, legendary wrestlers such as Harley Race and Pat O’Conner, American icons such as Bob Hope and even a great photo of the wrestlers playing a basketball game with the Harlem Globe Trotters. Bob also spoke fondly of huge wrestling fans Mertie and Gertie Hite. Two sisters who never missed a match as they would cheer on their favorites and give the ones they didn’t like a hard time.

A great form of entertaining the fans was a basketball game of pro wrestlers going head to head against the famed Harlem Globetrotters in 1962 .

It was easy to see the love that Vera and Bob shared for each other, and even with all the wrestling accolades in the world of wrestling you could tell when they spoke that they were most proud of  were their three daughters.

Bob Geigel has earned many title and awards in his career including being enter in George Tragos/Lou Thesz Hall of Fame class of 2002 as well as the 2007 Cauliflower Alley Club Lifetime Achievement Award.  So it was with great honor for us that he would accept the 2011 Missouri Wrestling Revival Lifetime Achievement award.

Once again thank you goes out to the Geigel family for inviting us into their home this past weekend.

 I would also like to thank the artist and personal friend Rob Schamberger for his artwork for the plaque that we presented Mr. Bob Geigel with at this house.

In the future come to Missouri Wrestling Revival to find out how you can win a free autograph photo from Bob Geigel.

To learn more about Pro wrestling in Kansas City we highly recommend that you purchase the DVD K.C. ON THE MAT: The History of Professional Wrestling in Kansas City…. For more info on this DVD and how to purchase it click here.

MWR fans, this Friday night there is no other place for you to be than in Richmond Missouri for WLW action !!!

The WLW Champion “The Prince” Jason Jones will be defending his title against the former champ and the 2011 MWR Future Star of the year recipient Brian Breaker.

Can Breaker regain the prestigious WLW title?

This match promises to be one that you will not want to miss.

Also in action will be the WLW Women’s Champ Lucy Mendez defending her title against the 2011 MWR Female wrestler of the year Stacey O’Brien.

WLW Tag Champions Strong and Reckless- Jack Gamble and Jeff Strong will be in action and the man himself Harley Race will be there as well.

The 2012 MWR Wrestler of the year Brandon Espinosa has started 2012 where he left off in 2011. (Photo Mike Van Hoogstraat)

Then get home to get your rest as you will need it to keep up with the action at the historic South Broadway Athletic Club for MMWA-SICW . We will be on hand to present Brandon Espinosa with his 2011 Wrestler of the Year plaque.

Espinosa just defeated “Gorgeous” Gary Jackson for the MMWA Heavyweight title last month in a very controversial match. In the next few days look for information on what exactly went down and how Espinosa became the new champ.

Also in action will be all of your favorite MMWA-SICW stars.

Don’t miss it!

Check out this future star in the MWR Trading card series at number #53 (Photo Credit Jessie Belle Smothers Facebook.)

Click here to vote for the one and only Jessie Belle Smothers!!

To hear this interview click here.

This is the final match in Tag Team Tournament for ZERO 1 USA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS