Missouri Wrestling Revival

Combat Tested, Mother Approved

by Josh Ray (MWR Owner-Editor)

In this edition of my “Combat Tested, Mother Approved” column, I bring back an old interview that I conducted before I started this site. It’s an in-character interview for Central States Wrestling that I conducted of arguably the best wrestler in the Midwest, Mark Sterling. In it, he discusses his opinions of me, Michael Strider, Dingo, his wrestling skills and his self-proclaimed championship belt.

I loved this interview because it was a chance for me to really get involved in the wrestling scene upon my return to Missouri last year. I was still a relative unknown to the area and wanted to work for a promotion in some sort of writing capacity. As I’ve mentioned before, Ed Chuman of NWA Midwest and Martin T of Central States Wrestling really gave me a start, so CSW was a natural fit for my first work.

Here is the complete article:

One Hell of a Performer
The Mark Sterling Interview

By Joshua C. Ray

The name “Mark Sterling” elicits some very strong knee-jerk reactions from CSW fans. Some despise the man, almost to the point of full unadulterated hatred. Others have respect for him, as he has wrestled some of the best that the sport has to offer and, more often than not, emerged victorious. He’s the type of guy that people aren’t lukewarm about. They either like him or they don’t. There is no in between.

These days there are more and more people jumping over to the side of the fence where Mark Sterling isn’t appreciated or held in high esteem. He’s become obnoxious and borderlines on deranged. He revels in the fact that he is in shape and is quick to point out the people who aren’t in the crowd.

He’s basically the type of guy that many wrestling fans hated when they were in school… or at least that is what he told me when I finally got to sit down with him for an interview last week. I was given the assignment almost two months ago, but Sterling repeatedly told me that I was nobody of importance; a loser who didn’t deserve to be graced with his presence.

I get paid to tackle the hard subjects, though, so I finally wore the man down (by paying him half of my interview money) and got the interview. Enjoy it in its entirety:

Josh: Mr. Sterling, first of all let me tell you that it is a pleasure to finally be able to sit down and talk with you. You’ve made yourself scarce in recent months. Is this because of the loss of the Kansas State Title to Dingo?

Sterling: No, it’s because I am out getting laid by hot bitches. But you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you? You nerd mark ass mark!

Josh: I’ll go ahead and put that on the record that according to you I am a “nerd mark ass mark” and that you have been out “getting laid by hot b*****”. It’s all really interesting to know. Riveting.

Okay, now that we have that out of the way… what has been going on in your mind the past couple of months? You’ve seemed to gain an edge and have become more… um… deranged.

Sterling: What are you, my psychologist? If you were, I’d fire you for being stupid.

What’s been going on in my mind, huh? Well, mostly sick ways to put a hurting on every single wrestler in the world. I belong at the top of the food chain, so I am focusing all my energy on how to stomp out everyone that gets in my way.

In my spare time when I am not training my ass off or pleasing some dumb slut, I am playing violent video games, watching horror movies, or writing down all my ideas on how to tear off someone’s arm, leg, neck, or whatever.

If you weren’t such a tool, you might notice that in every match I have I find a target and maliciously attack it. So basically, most of my thought process is about how to break bones in ways that I find amusing.

What you think is an “edge” or me being “deranged” is called being the BEST! You can only get as good as me by devoting all your energy to wrestling. Everything I do in my life has something to do with furthering my wrestling career. It’s making money at a day job to buy new gear or wrestling tapes. It’s working out in the gym 5 days a week, and training in the ring twice a week plus going to matches on weekends. It’s shoot fighting with your only close friends to improve your conditioning. It’s studying tapes of the best wrestlers, like Finlay and Regal… not watching indy-riffic bullshit. It’s called having an attitude, and maybe you might call it “deranged”, but it’s how I am… I don’t care if people hate me, are scared of me, laugh at me… deep down they know that I am all business.

Josh: Well, I will say that the fans have a newfound respect of you and your in-ring ability in the aftermath of your loss to Dingo. The only problem with that thought process is that there are others that don’t need to act as maliciously as you do to get that job done. Don’t get me wrong, though… I have a lot of respect for you as a wrestler.

I’m getting off topic, though. What are your thoughts on Dingo’s title reign? I’ve heard that you called him out for a rematch.

Sterling: Hold up, hold up, hold up. Who is getting what job done?

There is no one, I mean NO ONE that can touch me when it comes to getting things done in CSW. Being aggressive and violent is the ONLY way to get things done. Just ask the best in the world: Triple H, Finlay, Regal… they wrestle with intensity and FIGHT for their wins.

My goal is to be at that level one day, so anyone in CSW that thinks they can get in my way is going to suffer and get tortured mercilessly.

Now back to your mark ass question….

So far Dingo’s title “reign” has been pathetic. He defended the Kansas title last May and beat two retards in a three way match.

Tony Morales is in CSW randomly, he has been in what, 5 matches here? If he was committed to really wanting gold, he’d be here at every show. So beating him doesn’t impress me. Jeremy Wyatt is garbage, so beating him is like beating up a trash can; it just makes you end up looking filthy and gross. Nuff said.

Who did I square off in my two year reign? Gee, I don’t know… I beat everyone’s favorite fat-ass Michael Strider twice, wrestled TNA’s Abyss three times, and defeated Steve Fender and Wade Chism, both of which are veterans of NOAH in Japan. I also beat Ace Steel, who everyone knows is one of the best out there right now.

So in summary, Dingo’s title reign is crap! He hasn’t proved anything to me! I made him suffer for half an hour last October, I destroyed him a ladder match at DWTS 3, and just because he got a fluke win over me in March, I promise you he was miserable for weeks after that match, since I brutalized him so bad.

Next question?

Josh: I guess my next question would be why weren’t you granted an immediate rematch if Dingo just picked up a fluke win over you? Are you trying to say that the “powers that be” in CSW have purposely kept you away from Dingo to milk his title reign for all that its worth? That sounds a little far fetched. Dingo has a lot more talent than you are giving him credit for.

Sterling: Well, duh! It’s obvious management holds me back. They can’t stand me. They know I make everyone else look foolish. All the boys in the back hate me because they know I am light years beyond them when it comes to this biz, so they bitch at management to get me out of the main events.

Management threw everything in the book to get the Kansas Belt off of me. Then, I finally make one mistake and thumbtacks backfired on me against Dingo…

Our third anniversary show “X Marks the Spot 3” comes around and I am not in the main or semi main event?

Look at what I’ve done for this company since April 2005! I consistently put on the best matches, month in, month out. Hardcore matches and Ladder matches with Abyss, Street Fights with Tyler Cook, wrestling clinics with Ace Steel, Steve Fender, and Hype Gotti… all of my matches in CSW are great. Most of them are classics. I am the best wrestler in this area, hands down. There isn’t a single person that can perform like me. I am the perfect blend of charisma, aggression, superior technical ability, hardcore/brawling, a sculpted physique, and athleticism. You name it, I got it. I have no holes in my game, unlike all these puds I have to share a locker room with each show. No one is in my league when it comes to delivering the goods.

Josh: That was one long winded method of saying that you are the best. I get it.

You think very highly of yourself, and in some respects you’ve got reasons to believe that. What I want to know is this: what’s next for you?

Sterling: NO! In ALL respects I have reason to believe that, not some. You better stop your snide little mark ass comments before I slap the nerd out of you.

(Sterling gets up at this time, ready to punch me square in the face.)

Josh: Okay, okay. No more smart comments from me. I swear. So much hostility coming from you… I’m glad I get paid to do this.

We’ve heard rumors that CSW’s August show is going to have a surprise. Are you going to be part of this surprise?

Sterling: You’re talking about the August 25th show? Why don’t you buy a ticket and find out when you get there? When you get there you can give me some more money for putting on a superior match.

Now, back to your question earlier:

What’s next for me?

Winning. A lot.

Showing the fans that I am better than them and f*cking up their so called heroes.

My goal is to be one of the best in the world, to maximize my potential, to achieve my destiny. I will not stop until I am satisfied. I have a hunger that is ferocious. But there are some issues that hold me back. All the bubble butt babes that want my c*ck are a prime example. What can I say? I like to get my rocks off….

Being in this god-forsaken Midwest is another one of them. Most of the wrestlers in this area are just “ham n eggers”. I crave to test myself. I am going to work tirelessly to realize my ambitions.

Josh: Since you speak ill of the Midwest, I guess I should follow up with another question.

Do you ever envision yourself going after Michael Strider’s CSW Championship Belt? In my opinion there would be no better way to show up the fans and mess up their “so-called heroes” than by winning the CSW title while in the Strider Nation. You’ve beat him before, but the only way to really make the fans pay would be to take the title from him.

Sterling: Oh, trust me. Every time I watch his matches on the locker room monitor, I think of all of the evil things I would do to him.

Management won’t book it though. For some reason, that goof Strider sells a lot of T-shirts, so they aren’t going to put him in a match that they KNOW he will lose, and lose badly mind you.

(Sterling laughs. The laughter could be best described as maniacal.)

It would cost them money. As soon he loses that belt, their goes all of the money from those ridiculous, white trash Strider Nation shirts.

So yes, I would love the chance to beat that b*tch within an inch of his life in front of all of the fans of CSW that have put him on this pedestal. I have already dominated the Kansas Title scene and everyone knows that I would totally dominate the whole Central States title picture. It’s only a matter of time before wrestlers the world over will fear and respect me. Maybe not tomorrow, next month, next year… but I won’t stop until the world knows what the Midwest knows, and that is that Mark Sterling is one hell of a performer.

Josh: I couldn’t have come up with a better send off for this interview. Mr. Sterling, I appreciate your time. You’ve finally let this “nerd mark ass mark” interview you. You conducted yourself in a remarkably civil manner, too… that is, when you weren’t insulting me. Thank you very much.

Sterling: Thank God this is over. I could feel your nerd vibes and it was making my life a living hell.

Now go do something with your life. Don’t be jealous that I’m a wrestler and you’re not!

Information on Central States Wrestling and Mark Sterling can be found at http://www.cswwrestling.com. Join their message board community at http://cswwrestling.informe.com.

When a ‘Rock’ meets a hard place
Rocky Johnson’s appearance in MMWA-SICW

By Kari Williams

An uncertain buzz filled the tiny East Carondelet Community Center on July 19. Fans were packed into the building, anticipating the appearance of a bonafide legend—Rocky Johnson—who was on hand for his induction into the St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame. However, Johnson contributed more to the show than his namesake alone.

Johnson was involved in an altercation with The Connection’s Phil E. Blunt and Jerome Cody, along with their manager Travis Cook.

MMWA-SICW Wrestler of 12 years, “Wild Child” Billy Diamond, saw Johnson’s involvement as more than meets the eye.

“It was an honor to have Rocky Johnson there. There are always going to be times that you get star struck, but they remind you that they are just people dedicated to the same craft you are. Having anyone like that on our show is not only a benefit, but a very big honor,” Diamond said.

Despite his “cameo” of sorts with MMWA-SICW, Johnson relays the fact that the road he took to get to where he is today was not an easy one.

“It took 40 years for me to get here. It took a lot of struggling. It took a lot of hard work. It took a lot of striving. It took a lot of aches, pains, broken bones,” Johnson said.

During that time, the father of The Rock did not think about giving up—not once.

“I never ever thought of [giving up]. I [ran] into some rough times because in the 60s and 70s, and when I came to the south—not so much in Canada—I ran into some racial prejudice, I ran into a lot of that stuff. But it just [gave] me the incentive to go on,” Johnson said.

However, not every wrestler had the mindset that Johnson did. MMWA-SICW Wrestler Mr. Bibbs suffered a back injury in 2006 and questioned returning to the ring.

“It gave me quite a scare to think and wonder if I was ever going to be able to play with my children and live a normal life that I was used to,” Bibbs said.

Injuries can occur at any level of wrestling—Johnson suffered three broken ribs, a punctured lung and knee surgery—but he feels that it is that desire to succeed that holds back independent wrestlers.

“They don’t have that ‘eye of the tiger.’ If they have a job making $300 a week, and then they can they can get [into] independent wrestling and make $600 a week, they’re satisfied. They don’t have the eye of the tiger to make it in any sports,” Johnson said.

Bibbs, however, has a slightly different take on Johnson’s perception of the indy scene.

“Nothing against Mr.Johnson, I deeply respect the man, but I strongly disagree with him. I know a lot of guys in this business that, if given the chance, would out work some of the so called superstars,” Bibbs said.

Although on the same level as Bibbs, Diamond sees where Johnson is coming from. When Diamond first started in wrestling, he was told that there was not an abundance of money involved on the independent level.

“It is your responsibility to make an impact with the people. It’s all on you to seek out going to another level. It can be done, but often because of families or other jobs or other commitments it’s hard to chase it as much as you would like. It does happen though and that ‘eye of the tiger’ never say die attitude is what gets you there,” he said.

That attitude may be alive and well in some of the wrestlers that Johnson saw on his return to the St. Louis wrestling scene.

“Coming back here, I like to look at some of these youngsters and see—hope—some of them will get a chance. I’ve seen a few that probably could make it, but I think what they [have] to get today is that ‘eye of the tiger,’” Johnson said.

FIST Combat Arena Report

By Kari Williams

As FIST Combat made its return like the proverbial Phoenix rising from the ashes on July 26, 139 fans crowded into the River’s Edge Complex in Granite City, Illinois for an explosive night of wrestling action.

Steven Kennedy vs. Brandon Espinosa

Kennedy and Espinosa kicked off the show with an awe-inspiring display of athleticism. They set the bar high, with both competitors working rabidly to gain the advantage. Despite Espinosa’s heart and determination, Kennedy, who was making his FIST debut, used his quick wit and caught Espinosa by surprise in the closing moments of the bout.

Steven Kennedy def. Brandon Espinosa with a roll-up

“The Main Attraction” Tommy Knight vs. “Future” Donovan Ruddick

Knight had an uphill battle to fight against Ruddick in the second match of the night. The imposing physique of Ruddick did not deter Knight, who relentlessly attempted to knock the larger man off his feet. However, Knight’s desire did not equal Ruddick’s dominance in this instance.

“Future” Donovan Ruddick def. “The Main Attraction” Tommy Knight with a big boot to the face

Abraham vs. Jeff Hawkins

These two behemoths barely had a chance to lay into one another because the ECW original, Sabu, made his presence felt in a way that only he could. Sabu hurled a chair at one man, and caught the other in a camel-clutch-like maneuver until the referees forced him out of the building.

No Contest

Conrad Kennedy III vs. C.J. Otis

Cockiness personified met pure athleticism as CK III and Otis squared off in a lengthy contest. The advantage went back and forth on multiple occasions, with the technical prowess of both men shining bright. Just as it appeared that Otis had CK III pinned, the bell rang, signifying that the match would end in a time-limit draw. This act prompted Otis to ask for five more minutes. However, CK III’s arrogance beckoned, as he berated the fans while declining the five-minute extension.

CK III’s actions prompted Dingo to venture ringside and challenge the self-proclaimed ‘Greenwich City Samurai’ to a match. Commotion ensued and resulted in the promoter of FIST, Mike Gordon, announcing that there will be a first-annual Sabu Invitational tournament. The three competitors announced who will compete in the tournament are none other than C.J. Otis, Conrad Kennedy III and Dingo.

Thirty-Minute Time-Limit Draw

Zero Gravity vs. The Soul Shooters

The high-flying team of Zero Gravity took on the Soul Shooters in a fast-paced, high-impact bout. Both teams provided stellar performances that were sure to please any crowd. In this ultimate showdown between brawlers and high-fliers, the brawlers won out.

The Soul Shooters def. Zero Gravity

Tracy Smothers vs. Shane Rich

Smothers practically embodied the Toby Keith song, “A Little Less Talk, and a lot more Action,” as he relentlessly forced the fans to endure his unpleasant antics. In an attempt to get the match started, Rich then got on the mic to usher the match along. Although Rich, a St. Louis native, had all the guts and fortitude to overcome the legend, it was not to be.

Tracy Smothers def. Shane Rich

MMWA-SICW Recap (July 19, 2008)

By Kari Williams
When a bonafide legend meets a of couple up-and-coming, loud-mouths, all hell is sure to break loose. With Rocky Johnson on hand to accept his induction into the St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame, one witnessed just that—along with multiple other events—at the East Carondelet Community Center on July 19.

As advertised, the main event pitted Jeremy Lightfoot against his most recent nemesis, Jeff Hawkins, in a cage match. Both competitors embodied hatred and detestation throughout the bout. However, Hawkins, who tried to end the fight quickly by attempting to climb out of the ring after delivering a handful of headbutts and a devastating clothesline, showed traces of cowardice. Lightfoot quickly capitalized on the ill-advised Hawkins and trapped him in the camel clutch, weakening the opponent. The remainder of the hellacious battle became a back and forth contest, with no man gaining a clear advantage over the other. Nonetheless, Lightfoot made his intentions crystal clear as he delivered a powerful Michinoku Driver to score the pinfall. Despite Lightfoot’s victory, his night ended in utter brutality, as Hawkins and his cohorts (Jerome Cody and Waco) attacked Lightfoot and even went so far as to handcuff him to the cage.

Previously, Tommy Riggs took on The Connection Member Jerome Cody in a rugged battle. Cody began the match the only way he knows how—with a cheap shot while Riggs’s back was turned. Regardless of Riggs’s efforts, Cody’s devilish deeds paid dividends as he connected with a powerful belly-to-belly suplex from the turnbuckles securing another win for The Connection.

The Big Texan made an effort to put Moondog Rover back in the dogpound during their bout. In only 4:40, a winner was determined, but not without controversy. Rover nailed Texan square in the head with his signature bone, causing a disqualification victory for Texan. Although the referee had done his job, fans were disgruntled nonetheless.

The prior match-up pitted “Night Train” Gary Jackson against Phil E. Blunt with the stipulation that if Jackson were to win, he was guaranteed five minutes in the ring with Travis Cook. Jackson fought an uphill battle this night—and not for lack of ability. He had to contend with Cook’s interference, which allowed Blunt to take control of the match-up on occasion. Luck was on Jackson’s side—along with the multitude of fans on hand—which allowed him to connect with his patented elbow drop and fierce punches. Blunt then attempted to score a quick pinfall on Jackson, but Jackson was able to get one over on Blunt as he caught Blunt with small package.

As per the stipulation, Jackson was given his promised time with Cook. However, moments after the match ended, Cody and Blunt attacked Jackson, leaving him vulnerable for an attack by Cook. During the assault, the recently inducted St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame member Rocky Johnson got involved in a successful attempt to aid Jackson.

Before that action got underway, “Wild Child” Billy Diamond took on the fan favorite, Shaft. Although both men had their shining moments in the bout, Shaft had a slight advantage throughout. It was Shaft’s tenacity and determination to succeed that forced him to target Diamond’s ankle sporadically. This proved to be Diamond’s demise, as Shaft forced the wild one to tap to the ankle lock at just over 11 minutes.

Jaysin Static proved himself as a worthy competitor once again in his battle with Bobby D. D controlled the opening moments, but Static used his natural athleticism to connect with a Harley Race-like high knee to turn the tide. Unfortunately for Static, D was able to quickly regain the advantage. Despite Static’s heart and desire—and his ability to lock D in the sharpshooter—D’s experience proved to be too much for, arguably, the hardest working athlete in MMWA-SICW.

What made this night special was the fact that legends were on hand to accept their rightful place in the St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame. Former Wrestling at the Chase commentator Larry Matysik had the honor of inducting Buddy Rogers, Dory Funk, Jr., Jack Briscoe, Lee Warren, Joe Garagiola and Rocky Johnson into the hallowed hall. On hand for the occasion were Warren and Johsnon, as well as Mickey Garagiola accepting for his brother who was broadcasting an Arizona Diamondbacks game.

As Johnson was in the process of receiving his plaque, The Connection felt the need to interrupt the ceremony, proclaiming that no one cares about the “has-beens” of professional wrestling. This prompted Jackson to defend Johnson, which resulted in the match against Blunt.

The wild night began with A.J. Williams’ Junior Heavyweight Title on the line against Johnny Courageous. Though exhibiting tremendous athletic prowess, neither man had a clear advantage throughout the bout. Courageous and Williams exemplified what it takes to be champion, showing their never-say-die attitudes. However, in the end, Williams emerged victorious after a swift superkick at 11:46.

The Show Must Go On
An MWR Special Report

by Joshua Ray

“The Show Must Go On” is a special report by MWR covering the corruption of a promoter and his wrestling organization, while describing the fight of those trying to overcome the negatives to put together a great show.

The Situation

On July 12, 2008, nearly 200 wrestling fans attended what appears to be the last pro wrestling event under the International Wrestling Conference/The New Foundation (IWC/TNF)banner in Chillicothe, MO. Those fans were not aware of the problems faced by the individuals bringing them pro wrestling. All they knew was that there was supposed to be a good show. They were not disappointed.

The IWC/TNF problems stemmed from the owner of the company, Steve Scott. Missouri Wrestling Revival’s Brian “Flair” Kelley interviewed him in the March 5, 2008 edition of his “Your Trip to Space Mountain” column. In the article, Steve Scott (whose legal name is Steven Schonfeldt) made bold claims for IWC, including ODB and Sandman performances, globalization of the company, and nearly thirty events for 2008. Schonfeldt and IWC seemed too good to be true and -after three shows- proved to be just that.

Legal problems brought ICW/TNF to a close. Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon sued Schonfeldt for fraud unrelated to pro wrestling. A July 1, 2008 press release from the Missouri Attorney General’s Office stated that a permanent injunction, full restitution for consumers, and civil penalties were being sought against Schonfeldt and Complete Custom Home Concepts (CCHC), which was owned by Schonfeldt. According to the release, Schonfeldt had operated the business in the Blue Springs and Lee’s Summit areas of Missouri since at least 2006, and scammed thousands of dollars from customers.

One particular couple lost $5,950. Schonfeldt would personally meet with customers and negotiate contracts, then ignore any further inquiries about the work after receiving the money. At one point, he gave one customer a refund check but cancelled it before it could be cashed.

[Mug shot of Steve Schonfeldt (aka IWC’s Steve Scott).]

As a result of both Schonfeldt’s arrest and the disappearance of a large portion of sponsorship money, the Chillicothe show was in jeopardy of never getting off the ground. Wrestlers had not been booked, others had been promised money and a lot of people had been left out to dry. Approximately 17 days before the show, some of those scheduled to appear caught wind of the troubles. Rather than letting it shut the show down, they decided that the show must go on.

Stepping Up To The Plate

There were no rumblings about how to get the ball rolling. Those involved took control of the situation and did what needed to be done to get the show off the ground. The sponsor, Big Dog Beverages, was the first to figure out that the show was in trouble. A call immediately went out to pro wrestler and Chillicothe native, Iceman.

“We put the show together in two weeks,” said Iceman.

While most shows take much longer to properly plan and put together, a few individuals stepped up to the plate to salvage a seemingly ill-fated show.

No Finger Pointing

The simple route would be to point fingers at Schonfeldt. After a background investigation, it was found that Schonfeldt had been in and out of trouble with the law since 1992 when he was 20 years old. Charges ranged from landlord complaints, traffic violations and writing bad checks to breach of contract, fraud, felony stealing and adult stalking charges (his only charge of adult stalking was dismissed). He has spent time in jail on more than one occassion as well.

Since 1992, Schonfeldt has had court judgments in excess of $12,000 and had over $20,000 in bonds for the State of Missouri. It is the type of pro wrestling stereotype that contributes to the current independent wrestling situation. It is enough to make some involved with the Chillicothe show angry but, despite Schonfeldt’s past, others find it hard to condemn him. One anonymous wrestler from the show summed this forgiving view up the best.

“Mr. Scott (Shonfeldt) shouldn’t be crucified here, as in this business, how many good promoters are above board?” said the source. He went on to add, “Certainly (Paul) Heyman was a criminal, and Mr. (Vince) McMahon has had his share of legal troubles.”

Others were not as forgiving. Stories of wrestlers being shorted money or written bad checks started popping up on MWR’s radar as early as April of this year. Another wrestler, under condition of anonymity, who worked in the ring and behind the scenes with Schonfeldt was understandably upset.

“The story is that Steve is a piece of (explitive) con artist,” he said.

Other Concerns

Others not directly involved with Schonfeldt or IWC/TNF have expressed concerns about the conduct of the organization since early this year. Reports surfaced about wrestling promotions in Kansas having venues canceled without them knowing by individuals claiming to be the promoter. Accusations flew at Schonfeldt and IWC/TNF about these reports, although MWR can not confirm the validity of those claims.

Joseph McDonald, promoter of the National Wrestling Alliance’s Central States Wrestling (CSW) in the Kansas City area, commented on the current situation due to Shonfeldt:

“He’s made it difficult to draw a decent crowd or book venues due to his conduct,” McDonald said.

Wrestlers also made public statements about IWC’s legal contracts and about other underhanded Schonfeldt practices. Some claimed that Schonfeldt and IWC attempted to scam the wrestlers by signing them to “exclusive” contracts. In these contracts, the wrestler would only be allowed to perform for IWC and IWC-approved events and promotions. MWR has obtained a copy of the contract from an anonymous source, and can attest to the “exclusive” part of the contract. It is important to note that the MWR copy of the contract was nearly ten pages long.

Information also leaked out that some wrestlers for IWC cards were not paid. Many cried foul.

One wrestler, under condition of anonymity, stated, “Steve not once came through with things he was supposed to for me. I mean, I got paid but I don’t think anyone ever got paid what they were supposed to.”

The Show Must Go On

Regardless of feelings for or against Shonfeldt, though, people came together to salvage the show. Much of the credit goes to Bob, the man behind Big Dog Beverages. Each person who contributed to the Chillicothe show and this article stated that he was the sponsor, and responsible for all of the cash flow for the event. He paid the staff, wrestlers, and even fulfilled an obligation to pay a band that was booked by Shonfeldt to play at the event, even though they didn’t have the equipment to perform.

Iceman was credited with much of the show’s success, as well.

One wrestler reported, “If it weren’t for the Iceman, this show would not have happened.”

The 10-year pro wrestling veteran took it upon himself to spend many nights coordinating advertisements and spreading the word by mouth and flyers. When all was said and done, between 150 and 200 fans reportedly made it out to catch the show. According to Iceman, at least ninety-five percent of those in attendance paid, with the remaining five percent coming from complimentary tickets.

Iceman said he also helped with booking the matches for the night, although he was quick to point out that at least eighty percent of the booking was done by Western Kansas’ Bad Boys of Wrestling promoter Dan Adams. Between Adams, Iceman, and Big Dog Beverages, the Chillicothe show turned into a success story.

My Thoughts

Pro wrestling has been given a bad reputation for years, mainly due to individuals like Steve Schonfeldt being allowed to operate without any real fear of loss. Wrestlers and staff deserve to get paid, whether the promoter makes money or not. If the promoter does not feel he or she can turn a profit without underhanded tactics, that promoter shouldn’t get involved in wrestling.

I do not know all of the facts about this story, but my investigation painted a fairly clear picture. A man with a long list of legal problems for scamming people out of money was allowed to get involved in pro wrestling. People worked with and for him, knowing (or at least suspecting) that he wasn’t completely on the level. There has to be a point somewhere along the way where people realize that by encouraging people like this, it only hurts wrestling as a whole. Yes, a young wrestler can get valuable experience, but at what cost? Aren’t there other, better ways?

What about Big Dog Beverages? By all accounts, this business embraced pro wrestling as a part of the business strategy. If the tour was successful, it could have opened many doors for wrestlers and promoters in the Midwest. Instead, it could possibly have achieved the opposite.

Fortunately, there are still reputable people involved in this business. People who try to do the right thing, not just for money’s sake but because it’s the right thing to do, deserve recognition:

• Big Dog Beverages fulfilled obligations to bring pro wrestling to Chillicothe by paying the workers, not to mention a band that didn’t even play at the event.
• Iceman worked diligently to sell tickets for the show. He also helped find young, willing talent that could put together some quality matches for the wrestling fans.
• Dan Adams of Bad Boys of Wrestling added valuable leadership and booking experience, contributing greatly to the success of the show and the fans’ enjoyment.
• Harley Race and World League Wrestling (WLW) provided four solid workers for the event when it did not benefit WLW to do so. They did it because it was the right thing to do and they knew that the talent would be properly taken care of.
• The wrestlers, most with less than a week’s notice, came out and did their best to put together an entertaining show.

The damage has been done, but these individuals deserve a pat on the back for salvaging a bad situation and turning it into a positive. There is word of another show from some of these individuals in the near future. Without as many obstacles, it’ll be great to see what they can do!

Final Rundown

Here is the final results of the show from Chillicothe, MO on July 12, 2008:

• Brian Blade, Kyle King, and Danimal start the show off by running down Chillicothe, MO. They also run down Total Nonstop Action (TNA) and ODB, who is the special guest for the show. The idea is that nobody cares about TNA because TNA doesn’t have the three of them, so nobody cares about ODB, either.
• Vash Hartley defeated Austin Storm in a great opening bout.
• Anguish defeated Pyro.
• Kyle King defeated Mike Sydal. Sydal was very well received by the crowd. King, however? Not so much…
• At intermission, ODB came out to hype TNA’s Victory Road Pay-Per-View. She was interrupted by Brian Blade, Kyle King, and Danimal. They cornered ODB, who was saved by Iceman!
• Iceman grabbed the microphone, challenging Brian Blade.
• Kraig Keesaman & Steve Anthony defeated Brian Breaker & Dinn T Moore. Steve Anthony was injured in the match, and is currently recovering.
• The Iceman (with Peaches) defeated Brian Blade (with Danimal & Kyle King) by disqualification. Blade was originally declared the winner after getting away with a chairshot. ODB came to ringside and showed the referee the dent in the chair, prompting him to reverse the decision.
• Kyle King should be really sore after being put through an especially difficult-to-break table by Iceman.

by Joshua Ray

There is more to professional wrestling than the talented men and women who square off in the ring each week for our enjoyment. Going further, there is more to pro wrestling than the individuals who book, promote, and otherwise coordinate the events. There are many others involved behind the scenes. They help in other ways that are not typically recognized, such as setting the ring up before the event, cleaning up afterwards, and helping run concessions.

If one takes the time to look, this can be one of the more intriguing aspects of the show. Wayne McCarty, a ringside photographer in the Midwest, would more than likely agree.

[The man himself, Mr. Wayne McCarty.]

Most of the time, photography is overlooked in pro wrestling. In the days before the Internet, there was more respect for the profession. Wrestling magazines such as Pro Wrestling Illustrated did well, and the photos were in more demand. The standards were higher in those days, even on the independent scene.

Wayne McCarty raises that standard. While doing my normal Internet browsing one day months ago, I stumbled upon his photo blog, called Midwest Indy Wrestling. The photography was amazing. I contacted him immediately and wanted to add his site to my blogroll. Since then, I have continued to stay in touch with him. Recently, I fired a few questions his way for this special feature.

Watching the AWA (American Wrestling Association) on Sunday mornings with my older brothers back in the mid ‘70’s is my earliest wrestling memory. Some of the big stars of the time were Nick Bockwinkle, Baron Von Rasche, The High Flyers and Jesse Ventura. I didn’t make it to a live card until about ’87 when the AWA came to a local high school.

Being a fan of both photography and pro wrestling, did wrestling magazines fuel your creative fire early in your life?

I grew up watching wrestling at a time when someone my size had no chance of being a wrestler. Seeing as there was no way that I would ever get in the ring, I thought that I could at least get close to the ring and be one of the guys who got all of the great photos for the magazines. When I would watch matches, I would take notice of which photographers were at ringside. I could pick out Bill Apter and George Napolitano. I really didn’t get into photography until I was given the chance to take photos at ringside.

You now contribute photos to wrestling magazines such as Pro Wrestling Illustrated. What is your opinion of pro wrestling magazines and their role in today’s wrestling world?

Pro wrestling magazines were one of my favorite parts of being a fan back in the ‘80’s. The magazines were the best way to learn about pro wrestling in other parts of the country. The role of pro wrestling magazines is much different today than before the Internet and dirt sheets. These days, even though any news about pro wrestling hits the Internet almost as soon as it happens, I think there is still a place for the Oscar magazines (Pro Wrestling Illustrated/The Wrestler/Inside Wrestling, formerly known as the Apter magazines when Bill Apter was an editor, but now owned by Oscar De La Hoya).

The magazines still keep with the storylines in many articles but they also break some kayfabe sometimes. One of the big benefits of PWI is they let pro wrestling fans know about promotions outside of the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). They give a lot of coverage to TNA (Total Nonstop Action), ROH (Ring of Honor), other smaller promotions such as CHIKARA, PWG (Pro Wrestling Guerrilla) and ECWA (East Coast Wrestling Association), as well as promotions from Japan and Mexico.

I tend to stick to covering the Midwest area but I have made it to Japan twice where I used my PWI connection to get ring side for a few different promotions. My first vacation there I made it to Blue Field in Chiba Japan for a Michinoku Pro card that featured TAKA and the Great Sasuke. On my second vacation to Tokyo I was ring side for 2 Zero One cards and one NOAH card.

One thing that stuck out about your history as a photographer was that you went on a sort of hiatus for eight years beginning in 1993. What brought this about?

My main goal in doing ringside photography was to sell photos to PWI (Pro Wrestling Illustrated). After a year of submitting photos and not selling any, I decided to take a break. The cost of film and processing also helped in my decision to take a break. Once I was able to buy a digital SLR camera, I went back to the local shows. It was a good time to get back into the scene, as there were no other photographers in the Minneapolis area. I also wouldn’t have started taking photos again if I wasn’t using a digital camera. Why anyone still shoots with film I don’t know.

Can you give the Missouri Wrestling Revival readers a story that you consider memorable from your time working ringside?

One of the more memorable times at ringside happened at an ROH show in Chicago Ridge, IL on July 24, 2004. There was a Chicago streetfight tag team match between the team of CM Punk & Ace Steel and the team of Dan Maff & BJ Whitmer. During the match, the wrestlers went into the crowd and started throwing chairs into the ring. Chairs were being thrown towards me, so I ducked next to the guardrail to keep from getting hit. When the match was over, the floor around the ring was covered with chairs, broken tables, streamers, and blood.

I would tell anyone to go to their local promoter and ask if there is any way they can help the promotion out. If someone is looking to be a wrestler, I would encourage them to find a good trainer.

Right now, what would be the wrestling card of your dreams?

My dream card would have the biggest stars from the United States, Mexico, Japan and Canada. I always loved the idea of promotional crossovers. One of my favorite things to do when reading PWI was to compare the top 10 rankings or the WWF, NWA and AWA. On my dream card there would be matches like Somoa Joe vs Keiji Muto, Mistico vs Austin Aries, and A.J. Styles vs Chris Jerico.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Still taking photos at the local indy promotions and contributing to the PWI family of magazines I hope. I’ve done all that I set out to do as a ringside photographer so long as I keep doing what I’m doing now I’ll be happy.

[Nate Bash promotional 8 x 10.]

I’m sure that after seeing some of your work, there will be more demand for the great things you have to offer professional wrestling. Is there any information that you would like to make available for anyone looking to put you and your talents to work?

I have a website at http://www.waynemccartyphoto.cjb.net/ where some samples of my work can be found, as well as my contact information. I also have a Myspace page, which can be found at www.myspace.com/wamccarty.

Thank you very much for your time, Wayne. I wish you the best of luck and have no doubt that we’ll all be hearing more about you in the near future!

[Curry Man vs Sonjay Dutt – Spencer, Iowa April 8, 2008 at a TNA house show.]

There are numerous other men and women behind the scenes that offer much to the Midwest pro wrestling scene. If you are one of those people an would like to be featured here at Missouri Wrestling Revival, contact me.