All American Pro Wrestling returns on March 14 in West Frankfort, IL The AAPW Champion Shane Rich has just survived a war with “Homicidal” Steven Davis in 2008, then in January he not only retained the title against the popular Edmund “Livewire” McGuire but the MWR awards committee honored it as the January match of the month.
AAPW has delivered a Midwest dream match as Shane Rich will have his hands full when he takes on the MWR Wrestler of the Year in 2008, Jeremy “The Rebel” Wyatt. Wyatt will look to hit Shane Rich with the devastating move they call in Iowa the “Kansas Tumbleweed”; they may as well call the “Title Changer” because if he hits Rich with it then we will have a new AAPW Champion. Rich and Wyatt is a main event you do not want to miss.
You will also get to see one of the most exciting tag teams in the Midwest the AAPW Tag Team Champions The LONRS (Mark Sterling and Darrien Sanders) defend their belts against the tag team the fans voted on in the Fan Choice voting last fall, Vinyl and Vega. Vinyl and Vega had been on a roll in 2008 before they took a hiatus from the sport. They return in the biggest match that the two have ever been in. How will the ring rust affect the St Louis duo with an attitude? This will be exciting!!
After unmasking Crimson Shock on January 24th, Ty Blade will be pitted in a match with the mysterious masked man. If Crimson Shock loses, HE MUST REMOVE THE MASK AND REVEAL HIS IDENTITY!
Carnage was fired from Brooklyn Bobby’s stable and “Homicidal” Steven Davis publicly humiliated him at the last event. Carnage attacked Davis during a lumberjack match and beat Davis throughout New Beginnings Assembly. Now, Carnage not only gets Davis one on one in a match but has the opportunity to earn his first victory in almost 2 YEARS.
Also scheduled:
Mike Masters Ax Stevens Curly Payday Patterson Mike Sydal Tony Stetson
Tickets are $10 Adult $6 children 12 and under
Tickets available online at allamericanprowrestling.com or at the door
Bell time 7pm
New Beginnings Assembly, 1011 E. 6th st., in West Frankfort, IL.
Recap By AAPW Management with Picture commentary By Brian “Flair” Kelley
With freezing temperatures outside, over 160 fans were treated to hot action at New Beginnings Assembly for AAPW’s Fan’s Choice Show!
“Homicidal” Steven Davis and Carnage were introduced for the opening tag team bout. Davis came to the ring alone and told the crowd that his partner Carnage had been fired by their manager, Brooklyn Bobby, because Carnage had not won a match since May of 2007. Davis stated he refused to have a loser as his partner and introduced a replacement. Ax Stevens. Their opponents, The Money Makin’ Jam Boys, K.C. Jackson and Mississippi Madman. Jackson used his quickness to gain the early advantage but was soon shut down by Davis and Stevens. Davis and Stevens were able to cut the ring in half and keep Jackson from tagging his opponent but Jackson showed tremendous heart and never quit. Madman got the tag and used his size and power to finish off Stevens with a splash for the pin.
Homicidal" Steven Davis and K.C. Jackson go down after a brutal collision.
Fans had voted Jorden Vandal as the newcomer to AAPW. However, Vandal could not make it this night. Jay Spade received the honors. Spade, an undersized rookie took on the undefeated and mysterious Crimson Shock. Spade showed he was no slouch at the beginning but Shock beat down and mauled Spade the rest of the match. Shock applied a figure four leglock and used the ropes for added leverage. Shock refused to break the hold at the referee’s 5 count and the ref called for the bell. Shock became extremely upset and continued to let out his frustrations on Spade. TY BLADE came to the ring and pulled shock off the rookie. A confrontation ensued between Blade and Shock and SHOCK WAS UNMASKED by Blade! Gaylord Stevens, who ran to ringside, covered the mysterious wrestlers head and led him away from ringside. Stevens later offered a bounty to Ty’s opponent later in the night, Shawn Shultz, to retrieve the mask.
Ty Blade makes the save for young Jay Spade.
“Playboy” Paul Rose defeated El Magnifico in what can only be described as a comical match with a flatliner.
Mike Masters has words with a young man prior to his match with Curly.
Curly, Missouri Wrestling Revival’s wrestler of the month and also undefeated as a rookie, took on Mike Masters. Curly’s unorthodox style was a bit much for Masters as Curly defeated him with an elbow drop.
Mike Masters had Curly reeling early in the match, but Curly proved that he has what it takes to beat one of the best in AAPW.
Venom, the wrestler fan’s voted to see make a return to AAPW, took on another big and powerful newcomer in Travis Sawyer. Sawyer is the son of Buzz Sawyer. Venom’s only advantage gained was with underhanded tactics but it was not enough as Sawyer used a cradle shock slam to get the pinfall.
Shawn Shultz came to the ring and got the crowd into a frenzy. His opponent, Ty Blade, came to the ring carrying the mask he removed from Crimson Shock. As Blade gained an advantage late in the match, Gaylord Stevens came to ringside to distract Blade and Shultz used a school boy roll up to get the pin. Although many saw Shultz use the tights.
Toe to toe Shultz and Blade went at it. On this night Gaylord Stevens would be the difference when he distracted Blade and Shultz took the advantage for the win.
AAPW fan’s voted to see Chocolate Thunder V. Tony Stetson in a Lumberjack match. The crowd was not disappointed. Fan’s were screaming from start to finish. Carnage came to ringside and attacked “Homicidal” Steven Davis. This surprised fan’s and the lumberjacks at ringside as Carnage beat on Davis throughout the gym. The brawl even got the attention of the wrestlers in the ring. Stetson took advantage and rolled Chocolate Thunder up for the pin.
Young gun Tony Stetson goes all out in when he went high in the air in a Lumberjack match against Chocolate Thunder.
The main event featured two of the most popular wrestlers in AAPW. Fan’s voted for Edmund “Livewire” McGuire to get a title shot against AAPW champion, “Serial Thriller” Shane Rich.
For the All American Pro Wrestling Championship- "Serial Thriller" Shane Rich vs. Edmund "Livewire" McGuire.
This match featured everything from technical wrestling, submission holds, brawling, and high flying. It was a back and forth battle with several surprises.
Edmund "Livewire" McGuire looked strong early in the match as he catches Rich in the corner going for a high risk maneuver.
At one point, both wrestlers brawled into the crowd. Livewire tossed Rich over the guard rail clear into the 3rd row! Livewire got Rich back into the ring and delivered a leg drop from the top rope which appeared to secure the victory for Livewire. RICH KICKED OUT! Livewire continued the assault and set Rich up for a superkick. Rich ducked and lifted Livewire onto his shoulders. Livewire fought out and went for a victory roll which the champion blocked and pinned Livewire’s shoulders for the 3 count.
Shane Rich showed on this night that he is one of the most complete wrestlers in the Midwest, here he works the air attack.
At the conclusion of the match, Livewire addressed the crowd. He expressed how disappointed he was and how sorry he was for letting down his fans. Livewire stated he would be taking some time off from wrestling. As Livewire said his goodbye, Shawn Shultz snuck into the ring and hit Livewire with a DDT. Shultz then stood over Livewire and berated him until Rich ran back to the ring for the save. Heated words were exchanged between Rich and Shultz. Security had to escort Shultz from ringside.
AAPW returns to West Frankfort on Saturday March 14th. This event will feature the fan’s choice tag team championship when The Lonrs take on “Spitfire” Davey Vega and “Blackheart” Johnny Vinyl.
AAPW would like to thank all the fans for their support.
For all your information for All American Pro Wrestling please check out their myspace at AAPW-MYSPACE.
MWR was excited to be part of history last month in Royalton IL when the LONRS (Mark Sterling and Darrien Sanders) defeated the Phoenix Twins (Tweek and Dash) to become the All American Pro Wrestling tag team Champions
Thanks to the wonderful people at AAPW we are able to share with you, one of the most underrated matches of the year in the Midwest.
Wrestling fans I give you …..
All American Pro Wrestling
AAPW Tag Team Champions The Phoenix Twins vs. The LONRS
Royalton IL October 25th
Part 2
All American Pro Wrestling recently asked the fans to vote at their site on who they would like to see take on the LONRS for the Tag team titles. St Louis’s own Vinyl and Vega was chosen to take on the new tag team Champions. Due to the demand of both teams schedule the first time that they both can hook up at AAPW is scheduled to be Saturday March 14th 2009, at location to be named later.
Lethal Wrestling Alliance's undisputed best tag team, "Spitfire" Davey Vega (back) and "Blackheart" Johnny Vinyl (front).
At the end of October, Missouri Wrestling Revival reported on the emerging tag team scene in the Midwest. There are great tag teams out there that need no introduction in most regions of the MWR coverage area: Northstar Express, Phoenix Twins, Zero Gravity, Windy City Classic and LONRs are a few of the teams that fit in this category. Other strong teams include the Hybrids, Marc Godeker & Steve Anthony, Abuse of Power, Feature Presentation, Midwest Ground & Air, Gentlemen’s Club and Team W.A.R. These teams are a representation of the depth of tag team wrestling in the Midwest.
The real testament to the depth of Midwest tag team wrestling, however, comes in the form of a tag team powerhouse in a promotion with no tag team championship: “Blackheart” Johnny Vinyl & “Spitfire” Davey Vega. As the undisputed top team of the tag title deficient Lethal Wrestling Alliance, Vinyl and Vega have struggled to get the recognition each deserved. That all changed at the end of this past month when not only did they square off against arguably the best team in the MWR coverage area and the entire Midwest, The Northstar Express (Darin Corbin & Ryan Cruz), but they managed to defeat them! The victory moved Vinyl & Vega into 9th place in the 2008 MWR Tag Team Wrestling Revival Cup standings.
Earlier in the week, I had the opportunity to sit down with both Vinyl & Vega and talk about the match. We also discussed the LWA and their future. Here is the interview in its entirety:
The Lethal Wrestling Alliance (LWA), Missouri Wrestling Revival (MWR), and even many of the wrestling fans hyped the match between you two and The Northstar Express before the October 24, 2008 face off. Leading up to the match, did you feel it was being overly hyped?
Vinyl: No, I didn’t think so. It was going to be our first opportunity to prove ourselves on a national stage.
Vega: Yeah. On one hand you have the well-traveled tag team (Northstar Express). On the other, an up and coming team that a a few people know about but just needed that one high profile match to step it up.
Vinyl: It was our coming out party as one of the top teams going today, so I felt the hype was justified.
How did you prepare for the match?
Vega: I was in the gym five days a week for the two months leading up to the match. I also trained at Dynamo Pro Gym on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. It was the most I have ever prepared myself for one match. The week before the LWA show I slowed it down a bit so that I didn’t overwork myself.
Vinyl: I did everything I normally do, but doubled it. I don’t lift weights often, preferring a more cardiovascular workout. I turned my cardiovascular conditioning up a notch because I knew Corbin and Cruz were going to be well-conditioned. I wasn’t going to let them wear us down.
What was the atmosphere like in the back on the night of the match?
Vega: I’m not going to lie. I was nervous.
Vinyl: For me it was a mixture of nervousness and being psyched.
Vega: Well, my main goal was to walk out there and have a great match. I wanted to give the fans something to remember. I knew I needed to step up my game to hang with The Northstar Express.
Vinyl: I had full confidence in our team and I knew how good Corbin and Cruz are, so I had no doubt that the match would be good. It was all a matter o just how good. For me, it all just sort of washes away once our music hits, though. When it’s game time, it’s game time.
Did Northstar Express live up to the hype?
Vinyl: In my opinion they did, but that was never a doubt. They are incredibly talented and gave us the fight of our careers thus far.
Vega: They are seasoned wrestlers with years of tag experience under their belts, so of course they did.
Do you feel that this match puts the two of you on the map?
Vinyl: Boy, I hope so. The LWA website (www.lwawrestling.com) said that this was LWA’s best tag team match since the Motor City Machine Guns versus Dingo & Nick Tyson. That’s pretty high praise. I think that if nothing else this match has helped us turn a few heads.
Vega: I don’t think it will immediately pu us on the map, but as people begin recognizing how well both teams performed and that we aren’t a joke as a tag team the we’ll emerge as one of the best in the area.
Did you go into this match 100% sure of a victory?
Vega: If you haven’t noticed, Vinyl and I are very confident individuals. We go out there every time with the attitude that we are going to win.
Vinyl: There weren’t going to be any free rides in that match for the Northstar Express.
Have you received any more interest from outside promotions since your victory over Corbin and Cruz?
Vega: All American Pro Wrestling (AAPW) has a poll on their site (www.allamericanprowrestling.com) for the fans to vote on who they want to wrestle the LONRs for the AAPW Tag Team Titles. I’ve heard that we are ahead in the voting.
Vinyl: I’ve never worked for AAPW and Vinyl has only worked there once. I can only assume that some of this notoriety is from our victory over Northstar Express. I would love to work for AAPW because they have a great tag team division and the audience is radically different than what I am used to with LWA. It would be fun.
Vega: Outside of AAPW there hasn’t been much interest, yet. I think the shock will need to wear off from our big win and then more offers will roll in.
What are your thoughts on the LWA creating a tag team championship?
Vega: There have been some talks about tag titles in LWA for a long time, so hopefully it comes to fruition soon.
Vinyl: What would be the point in the LWA creating a tag team championship when there is only one team with the talent to hold it?
Vega: The belts already have a place reserved around our waists.
Where do the two of you go from here?
Vega: I plan on continuing to improve and make my name, no matter what it takes. I’ll take whatever challenge is set before me, so any company looking to book me can reach me at daveyvega85@gmail.com or http://www.myspace.com/daveyvega for booking information.
Vinyl: There is a list of companies we’d love to work for, like CHIKARA, IWA Mid South, American Luchacore, All American Wrestling, All American Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Phoenix, 3XWrestling, and more. If we continue to have matches like this past one with the Northstar Express, then we’ll be wrestling for them all sooner or later.
Any words for tag teams in the MWR coverage area?
Vinyl: I think the Midwest right now is in a strange state. We have one of the most shallow single wrestler pools, yet the tag team pool is very deep. We’d love to get in the ring with the LONRs, Phoenix Twins, Hybrds, Zero Gravity, B.A.B.E.WATCH, Osirian Portal, Cheech & Cloudy, Windy City Classic and anybody else we haven’t faced before. We’d love to keep wrestling talented teams like Northstar Express and Ego Express. If you’re a fan of tag team wrestling and you live in the Midwest, I believe right now is an exciting time and it’s only going to get better.
Vega: I can’t really add much else other than to say that I look forward to stepping in the ring with any tag team in the area.
Steven Davis is the John Wayne of the Missouri Wrestling Revival coverage area. He is a man that commands respect with his actions and not with his words. Davis lives up to his nickname “Homicidal”, as he terrorizes fan favorites such as Chocolate Thunder and “Serial Thriller” Shane Rich.
Trained by the late Bud Chaplin, Davis is a ten year veteran of the sport. He has the skills and tenacity to work with all types of wrestling from old school, new school, technical, brawling and highflying. His matches in All American Pro Wrestling with Rich are sure to be make them a candidate for feud of the year in 2008.
When I first saw Davis live in action this year, it was in Chester, IL. He was trying to regain the AAPW wrestling championship from Rich. He had the crowd upset throughout the whole match. The fans booed Davis and then booed him some more, but he would not be denied and once again regained the title in a stellar match.
When I left the building that night, I knew down the road I wanted to not only see this guy more in action, but also wanted to do my best to let others know of the talent that he possesses. I can hype the guy with words and my opinions but more telling is what his peers have to say about them.
Edmund“Livewire” McGuire, who was trained by Davis said in an interview earlier this year at MWR, “I am grateful for all of the knowledge and time these (Davis and Donnie Sixx) gentlemen put into training me and molding me into who I am today.”
Promoter Sean Chambers said, “Steven Davis can hang with any one; he has the ability to make almost anyone look good.”
George the Animal the 3rd added, “I have known Steven Davis for the past 7 years and he is one of the top guys that I have worked with in my 16 years in and out of the ring. He commands respect wherever he goes. Davis puts everything into the matches that he is a part of. He is a rare commodity in the fact that he knows what he is doing and makes others look good.”
Davis is currently working with IWA Productions as a instructor. Every Wednesday at 7 P.M. in Olney, IL you can check out a free wrestling show that has a full mix of seasoned veterans working with the future of Pro wrestling. The owner of IWA Productions John Bach stated that he is blessed to have Davis as a part of the company. Bach also added that Davis is a true asset to not only the company but to the Independent scene in the Midwest.
In the sport of wrestling, you are sometimes expected to bring the best out of your opponent. tThere are very few that understand this and even less that are able to achieve it, but Davis is one of the few that understands and executes well, day in and day out. He is a leader in the locker room, a main event wrestler and one of the most respected men in the Midwest.
You can see Homicidal” Steven Davis and “Bad Boy” Chris Thomas square off against The Money Makin’ Jam Boys (K.C. Jackson & Mississippi Madman at All American Pro Wrestling, November 15, 2008 in West Frankfort, IL.
You can train with Steven Davis at IWA Productions by contacting John Bach at (618) 843-4588. Every Wednesday at 7:00 PM IWA promotes a free wrestling card with the instructors and students getting in ring for some on-the-job experience. The show is at 531 South Whittle Ave, Olney, IL 62540.
[Head of Wrestler & Promoter Relations Brian “Flair” Kelley, AAPW wrestler “Curly”, and his daughter Dani Summers.]
The very first drawing for a free Missouri Wrestling Revival T-shirt was held in Royalton, IL on Saturday, October 18, 2008 at an event hosted by All American Pro Wrestling (AAPW). The lucky winner was adorable Dani Summers, shown here with her father, an AAPW pro wrestler known as “Curly”.
We would like to thank AAPW for allowing us to meet with their fans and look forward to coming back soon.
MWR fans, your next chance to sign up and win a free MWR T-shirt will be next week with Pro Wrestling Phoenix in Council Bluffs, IA on October 25, 2008. The MWR-sponsored match of the night will be the PWP Tag Team Champs The LONRs defending the belts against the Northstar Express in match two of MWR’s “Midwest Best Series”.
“#1” Brett Young
A Sit Down Interview by Brian “Flair” Kelley
Brett Young is hard to forget. Just before his music starts and he comes through the curtain, a voice booms over the loudspeakers:
“The shiznitty of the city and the M.V.P. of this company. I’m the most charismatic guy on the show, because I’m Numero Uno Brett: You-Know!!”
That may very well be an understatement, as Brett Young is a multi dimensional wrestler. Many in this era want to be hardcore, a high flyer, or just simply like the next wrestler, but Brett Young is one of a kind.
Brett Young’s year has been full of ups and downs in 2008. While wrestling with NWA Central States Wrestling (CSW), he was able to win the NWA Kansas Championship in March only to see the organization fall on hard times and cease operations. Though it may have been rough to see a dream come true only to have it fizzle out, Brett went to work for Pro Wrestling Phoenix and quickly set his sights on the PWP Heavyweight Title. He was close to that goal, too, just coming up short in PWP’s August show “Raising the Bar” against the mighty Abu Colossus.
I am happy to have had the opportunity to sit down with “#1” Brett Young.
Brett, when did you decide to become a pro wrestler and who in fact trained you?
In the fall of 1998 was when I started wrestling. Psycho Sandman out of St. Joseph trained me with the help of Michael Strider. As I progressed a few years later in the southern territory of Memphis I actually learned a lot more about the psychology aspect (of wrestling).
[Brett Young had no time for fun and games in this classic match with the monster Abyss for Central States Wrestling.]
In March at a CSW show you were scheduled to wrestle Mark Sterling for the vacant NWA Kansas Championship, but when you arrived you were told by CSW management that you would have to qualify for the opportunity to wrestle Mark for the title later on that night. The twist was this: your qualifying match would not be a one on one contest, but rather an elimination match that would include the likes of Tony Cortez, Hype Gotti, Jeremy Wyatt, Jaysin Strife and Darrien Sanders. What was going on in your mind when you found out that some of the best pro wrestlers in the Midwest were in your way as you attempted to make history?
For one it really pissed me off, because I was already billed as the number one contender, to be prepared for Sterling that evening just to be put into another match with so many obstacles was disappointing, but the cards were dealt. I went into the match with one objective and that was to get the opportunity to become the NWA Kansas Champion.
You were able to overcome the odds of the elimination match, though. The crowd was thrilled and you were in the zone, but such a match surely must have taken a lot out of you. Add on to that the fact that the match with Mark Sterling was that very night. Sterling looked to have underestimated you and seemed to think that with the energy rush of your win and the hard work you had put into it, you would tire and give up. It was a strategy that he would regret. He attempted many sleeper holds and leaned on you throughout the match. In the end, he allowed you to use a little magic in the match when you puled a handkerchief from your ring jacket and, while the ref wasn’t looking, turned it into a three-foot magicians wand which you used to strike Mark Sterling. You followed it up with a “One and Done” for the win. With the crowd chanting “Number One! Number One” you were the NWA Kansas Champion. That match led to you being named the MWR Wrestler of the Month for March. What was that moment in your life like?
Through out the match Sterling really brought his A game and pardon my French, he truly was beating the shit out of me. I just continued to tough it out and in the back of my mind I thought something will happen to give me an opening and I would have something to work with. Eventually he started to get distracted and frustrated. He started to lose his cool and with that opening I felt the energy which allowed me to get the upper hand and bring a little magic to the match. With a little assistance of the wand, I hit him in the throat and like you said, that led to the “one and done” for the win.
That moment in my life was very special. Not only did Central States Wrestling think I deserved a shot, but the NWA believed it as well. I was overwhelmed, joyful, and excited to have such a prestigious belt and it was very rewarding.
In other matches you been known to use magic to your advantage as you did to win the Kansas Championship. Is there any chance that you could change careers on us and be the next David Copperfield?
Though I am very capable to do a small magic show, I do magic for fun and feel as if that is a talent that sets me apart from the many wrestlers who are out there today. Many times I hear the fans call for magic, so it truly has its place in a Brett Young match. It always keeps the fans eyes on the match, as they never know what they might miss.
Brett, it has to be asked, so I’ll just come out and say it. A sad day in the Midwest wrestling community was when CSW announced that they were closing their doors. What did CSW mean to you and do you have any comments for what former promoter Martin T called the “Death of CSW”?
That is very personal to me, because I started in Central States Wrestling. I worked every show that they have ever run in ten years minus three shows. Central States Wrestling is me. It is everything I stand for. It is everything that I have put my whole wrestling career into. I don’t spend my time on the independent circuit looking to get rich. That’s not important to me. CSW was my home and my heart. I felt it was inappropriate whenever Martin T put it in the words of “The Death of CSW”. I felt as if it was also incorrect.
Fine, it was over. They are closing doors. But to be claiming the death of CSW and that you are almighty and destroyed it was disappointing. I put a lot into that company and into Martin T as well as the other people that helped promote, book and put time and effort in Central States Wrestling. I always appreciated and treated everybody good and that was almost a slap in the face. As for the company, I care very deeply about CSW and it is sad. But like all good things, it must come to and end. I must move on and that is what I will do.
On a brighter note, while wrestling with CSW has come to a close, you have been very active with Pro Wrestling Phoenix. Once again when the opportunity knocked, you knocked the door down as you won the PWP 2008 Phoenix Challenge to become the new number one contender to Abu Colossus’ Heavyweight Title. This was after defeating one of hottest stars in the Midwest Arik Cannon earlier in the night. Explain to readers out there, what is a Phoenix Challenge match and what was your strategy going into it?
A Phoenix challenge is an over the top Royal Rumble type match where two men start the match and every thirty seconds or a minute a new wrestler enters the ring until all twenty-five men have been a part of the match. I was the twelfth man and, not to be cocky, but I am smarter than most of these guys who have wrestled for one or two years. When you have been in the business and you have been around for a long time you start to figure things out, so I work smarter not harder. I let them beat themselves up.
It came down to me, Payday Patterson and Arik Cannon. This in itself was a problem, as you stated I had defeated Cannon in a very tough match earlier in the night, but I also was able to get the win on Patterson the month before. These two guys double teamed up on me and attempted twice to eliminate me with the thought that I was over and done but I just never quit and their underestimating me was the one mistake that I would capitalize on. I was the last man standing and looked forward to taking on Abu.
[Brett Young will not let you forget who #1 truly is. From the wardrobe to the smirk on his face, he feels as if he should be the standard that wrestlers are judged by.]
With the victory at the 2008 Phoenix Challenge, you were granted a shot at the PWP Heavyweight title owned by the powerful Abu Colossus in August. Before the match started you claimed that PWP management would have to give you the belt due the fact that Abu would have to forfeit the belt. You even took the time to brag about having some friends “get the job done” yet it was not meant to be as Abu appeared much to your dismay. Throughout the match you did everything you could to get the upper hand without having any luck. You were holding your own on the big man, yet you still had your friends, PWP bad boys Simply the Best (Hype Gotti and “Babyface” Tony Cortez) assisting you with your dirty deeds. Abu would land the Colossal Slam for the win, though. What problems did Abu present and how close did you feel you were to the PWP title?
The night before me and my boys roughed him up when we jumped him outside a supermarket. We took a shot at it and I thought for sure that he would not be able to come and defend his title.
Abu is tough as nails and to be honest even I underestimated how strong he is. When he lifted me with surprising ease, he proceeded to literally drop me on my head and I felt it for days after. I fought and I fought and at one time I thought I would have him prepared for a little magic, but he was not having any of it as he did his homework. On that night he was able to attain the title, but I hope to get another shot and next time it may not be as sweet for him.
That match set up a six man tag team match at Malicious Mayhem in September with you and Simply the Best taking on Abu, Vic Victory and Jaysin Strife.
Abu really wanted to take on myself and Simply the Best, 3 on 1. He really has some balls. Victory and Strife came out and said “let’s make it a six man tag”. I felt very confidant as I have defeated both Victory and Strife. I felt as if I should have beaten Abu. I thought as if we had the match won hands down. The match was wild and had bodies flying everywhere; at one time we had Strife in a world of trouble as we continued to beat him on our side of the ring. As with any time you have so many men in a match anything can happen, before we knew it the match was over and we ended up losing that night.
This year you have had the chance to show All American Pro Wrestling fans the talent that you possess, where else should a wrestling fan hope to see you at and what are your goals as 2008 comes to a close?
I am going to try to pick up bookings in the next coming months. I look forward to wrestling with All American Pro Wrestling in October so definitely check me out there. I plan on working with Tony Scarpone and Underground wrestling in Chicago, possibly in Denver for Rocky Mountain Championship Wrestling. You know you can always see me here in Pro Wrestling Phoenix and I look to take over 3XW, too.
Last but not least, you were the last NWA Kansas Champion. Is there any chance that the NWA will give you the opportunity to face NWA Missouri Champion Dingo? It’s a match that I feel you rightfully deserve?
I would like to do that. I don’t have bad blood with Dingo as he has been a friend in the past, so it would be a match built on respect. He is a great wrestler. Dingo is very talented and agile and has an arsenal of moves that he brings to a match, which makes it hard to prepare for. It would be a challenge but one that I am prepared for, and if I am ever asked, I will bring my all for that match.
I would like to thank Brett Young for taking the time for the interview. Brett is a talented wrestler who has a love and respect for the business and always gives a 100 percent whenever he wrestles. Next month you can see “#1” Brett Young at All American Pro Wrestling in Royalton, IL on October 18th, as well as on October 25th for Pro Wrestling Phoenix where he will battle Chris Havius.
Wrestling promoters usually have a title for their show to add excitement for the fans, WWE has the Summerslam and TNA has Lockdown. Pro Wrestling Phoenix’s card for September was called Malicious Mayhem. PWP’S main event on the evening would be a “Fans bring the weapons match”, and with that one match, I was able to convince my girlfriend for the 270 mile trip to Council Bluffs, Iowa . To say she was prepared was an understatement as she packed 30 industrial light bulbs, to be used in the match that would pit Chris Havius vs. Stephen Saint.
Also on the card was the excitement of seeing live for the first time, the Pro Wrestling Phoenix Champion, Abu Colossus. PWP also have the best tag teams in the Midwest in the LONRS (Mark Sterling and Showtime Darrien Sanders) and Simply the Best( Hype Gottiand Babyface Tony Cortez) who would be tagging with none other than the always entertaining Number One, Brett Young.Going into the show I knew they had talent, just was concerned on the presentation.
[The Sensational One, Sean Cruz is dressed to kill on this night.]
My first PWP experience was about to begin as the self proclaimed “The Sensational One”, Sean Cruz entered the ring with a look of disdain towards the fans. The music hits for the next wrestler and the kid sitting next to me goes nuts, jumping up and down with his homemade poster in his hand. This has me wandering if they had a WWE /TNA star on the card with how excited this young boy was. Who was about to come out from the curtain? Would it be Former WWE Star Nick “Eugene” Dinsmore? Or maybe it was TNA Superstar Sonjay Dutt who has been on prior shows at PWP. The man was none other than…. Donnie Peppercricket ???
[Donnie Peppercricket comes to the ring with much support from the PWP faithful.]
Peppercricket was ranked number 91 in the 2008 Missouri Wrestling Revival Top 100, and this would be the first time that I would get to see him in person. From the looks of it, he had been working out and seemed to be in better shape than the times I had seen him wrestling on dvd in the past. There was no doubt that he was OVAH with the PWP fan base, Peppercricket had Cruz reeling, or maybe that was Cruz’s strategy because when Peppercricket went to the top he hit a flying body cross, Cruz yelled out in agony. The ref immediately asked for Peppercricket to give Cruz a break to see what was wrong. Peppercricket sincerely begged for someone to come from the dressing room to help Cruz, and with that one moment of weakness, Cruz struck from behind with a shot to the groin and then was able to hit a Snapmare Driver for the cowardly win.
The next contest saw Preston Maxwell taking on the ever popular Jimmy Rockwell. Just looking at Maxwell, one can tell he is not a technical messiah, but he was smart enough to know he had to slow Rockwell down, so he attempted to put his weight on his opponent and never allow Rockwell to get into a rhythm as I have seen him do in prior matches. When Rockwell would get the upperhand, Maxwell would bail out of the ring, which in turn flustered his opponent. This would allow Maxwell to capitalize with the Inside Cradle.
[LONRs’ – Mark Sterling and “Showtime” Darrien Sanders let Daniels know that he is in for a world of hurt coming out to the ring by himself.]
The next match was to be for the Tag Team Championship as the LONRS would defend their belts against the tag team of Leslie Ray and Joey Daniels, The SuperFriends. When Daniels came out alone with the deer in the headlights look, I knew he was in trouble. No tag team in the Midwest smell blood as the LONRS do and I had seen this myself in a match earlier this year at All American Pro Wrestling when they took advantage of JT Calhoun when his tag team partner Mike Masters left Calhoun out to dry. The LONRS took care of business then, and on this night it looked to be no different. The LONRS were taunting Daniels when out from the back came Donnie Peppercricket, who said he had no ideal why Ray was not there but he would do his best to bring home the Gold for the good guys. Though I give Donnie props for coming to bat for Daniels, this match was textbook LONRS, as they kept their opponent on their side of the ring with perfect tags. At one point the Superfriends would make the tag but it would not be long before the LONRS used some perfect distractions to get the upper hand. The LONRS are among the top tag teams in the Midwest and they teamed up and hit Peppercricket with the spike piledriver and the 1-2-3 as they retained their tag team titles.
The Rebel would be next as Jeremy Wyatt would be taking on Zac James. This was a mismatch on paper but don’t tell James that as he withstood the Rebels early onslaught, and with one swift move, James took out Wyatts legs and was relentless there on, James worked on the legs and the strategy was paying off as Wyatt never seemed to get more than two moves together. What look to be an upset in the making was not to be as Wyatt would put it all together and James would go down on the list of the wrestlers who has fallen in the past year and a half in Pro Wrestling Phoenix to the Rebel Jeremy Wyatt.
[Zac James pulls out all stops and strikes low on Jeremy Wyatt leg.]
[On this night James worked the perfect game plan as he punished Wyatts legs with a Boston crab. James was unable to get the win but earned this fans respect with the outing.]
The PWP bad boys Simply the Best,could easily be the most underrated tag team in the Midwest. These guys have the same tag team philosophy as the LONRS as they execute moves in perfect unison, but all the while they seem to want to get their kicks by antagonizing the fans and their opponents with their juvenile tactics, something I feel ashamed in Admitting is always entertaining. On this night they would be teaming with another charismatic wrestler in #1 Brett Young, a wrestler who just last month challenged the PWP Champion Abu Colossus for the title.
[Brett Young and Simply the Best works over Jaysin Strife with the classic triple team early on in the six man tag.]
The PWP Champion was looking to take care of business with his tag team partners Vic Victory and Jaysin Strife. Chaos would quickly ensue as Simply the Best and Young were causing trouble throughout the match with mind games. At one point, Hype Gotti had Strife grounded; Gotti teased the monstrous Abu by holding Strife’s hand just out of the reach of the Big Hurt. The big guy was so frustrated that he came in and sent bodies flying, but without the tag, the ref sent him back to the ring. Abu would be the Power while Strife and Victory would be the speed that was able to overcome the odds on this night and with a big Colossal Slam, Abu got the victory for his team.
Abu was celebrating in the ring when Jeremy Wyatt entered to issue a challenge for the PWP Championship match at next months show. Wyatt reminded Abu that he has not been defeated at PWP for over a year and a half and the time has come for the Rebel to become the champ. This match will be very interesting to see how Wyatt can overcome the rare power that Abu Colossus brings to the table. A match that I can not miss as it should be one that will be talked about for years to come.
[Jeremy Wyatt issues a challenge to Abu Colossus for the PWP title at the October 25th show when Pro Wrestling Phoenix returns to Council Bluffs.]
[Wrestlers themselves even seemed amazed at the plethora of weapons that the fans had brought for the match that Chris Havius and Stephen Saint would have later in the evening. Here Jaysin Strife is checking out one half of the pile with fans during intermission. Fortunately for the ladies, Jaysin did not have any part of the damage later on in the evening.]
I will not even try to relay to you in words the brutality and damage that occured during the Fans Bring the Weapons Match but will now share with you pictures along with short captions of one of the most eye dropping action I have ever seen. Readers beware as this is not for the faint of heart.
For fans of Hardcore I present you Malicious Mayhem
It’s a shame that the pictures can not give the full effects to the action of the two men going at it. PWP had close to 50 more Industrial light bulbs than what my girlfriend brought and when they went off it echoed around the building with the boom of a shotgun, with glass flying everywhere. The only two people smart enough to wear protective eyewear was the ref and my girlfriend. Malicious Mayhem had in fact lived up to the cards name after all.
Amazingly Attendance was light on this evening but that did not stop the wrestlers from showing up and giving the fans a 110 percent. With all independent wrestling, some matches are better than others, the same could be said about the wrestlers and this night was no different. Yet truthfully there wasn’t a match that hurt the card. If you were not able to be there, be sure to pick up the DVD as soon as it on the shelves because this card from top to bottom had a little bit of everything.
My friends, I hope to see you at a show soon. Till next time just remember the stars of tomorrow are only an independent show away.
It’s that time again! This is Missouri Wrestling Revival’s fifth installment of monthly awards as we progress toward the midyear point. The month of May was busy for MWR and the entire Midwest wrestling scene. MWR expanded our coverage area in an attempt to bring pro wrestling fans better coverage of events in this part of the country, and we hope this will reflect in future MWR Awards posts as well as future articles and features on the site.
The committee has also expanded, as now we have eight members who nominate and vote on the awards. Let’s see how they voted!
Wrestler of the Month
Shane Hollister [AAW/SCW/3XW]
Hollister had one of the toughest schedules of all wrestlers in the Midwest for the month of May. It all started with a tough tag team loss (with Bryce Benjamin) to the Motor City Machine Guns in AAW. It was all good after that, as he followed the loss up with a victory (although tainted) over Egotistico Fantastico in a hard-hitting affair, the closed out the month by defending his Scott County Wrestling Title not once, but twice in one night. He retained the title after defeating Danny Daniels and Marek Brave. It was a successful month for Shane Hollister, as he wrestled some of the best in the business and came out on top in three out of the four encounters.
1st Runner Up – Mark Sterling [CEW/3XW/TLCW/CSW/PWP/AAPW]
2nd Runner Up – Justin Sane [Fusion Tradition Wrestling]
3rd Runner Up – Josh Abercrombie [AAW]
Others receiving votes this month from the committee: Jaysin Static [MMWA-SICW], Brett Gakiya [NGW]
Tag Team of the Month
Phoenix Twins (Tweek & Dash) [SCW/AAW]
The Phoenix Twins continue to impress wrestling fans across the Midwest. This month, Tweek and Dash won two non-title matches against current tag champions in SCW and AAW. They also each competed in singles matches as part of “Best of Three” series of matches with members of Zero Gravity, splitting the contests and inching closer to being the number one contenders for the SCW Tag Team Titles. For 2008, Tweek and Dash have set the bar very high. It often seems as if they are the only tag team that can surpass this high standard.
1st Runner Up – The LONRs (Mark Sterling & Darrien Sanders) [PWP/AAPW]
2nd Runner Up – B.A.B.E.WATCH (Brandon Espinosa & Brandon Aarons) [LWA]
3rd Runner Up – Mr. Bibbs & Dave Vaughn [MMWA-SICW]
Others receiving votes this month from the committee: Northstar Express (Darin Corbin & Ryan Cruz) [SCW/AAW/3XW], Midwest Ground & Air (Benjamin Sailor & Nate Bash) [CSW/PWP]
With a terrific venue, entertaining champions, and a staff that cares about the fans, 3XW has it all. Looking at the champions can tell a wrestling fan all he or she needs to know: Gage Octane (3XW Champ), Mark Sterling (Pure Champ), Casanova (Cruiserweight Champ), and Northstar Express (Tag Team Champs). 3XW had a great month of May and no doubt is looking forward to their next show in Des Moines, IA on June 20th!
Others receiving votes this month from the committee: Lethal Wrestling Alliance
Woman of the Month (Female Wrestler)
Stacy O’Brien [WLW/MMWA-SICW]
Stacy O’Brien has emerged in the second quarter of 2008 as the premier female wrestler in the Midwest. She currently owns the World League Wrestling and MMWA-SICW Women’s Championships. She defeated Ms. Natural and Alexis Lightfoot for each belt, respectively. In yet another month where female wrestlers have been inactive, Stacy is a step in the right direction.
1st Runner Up – Alexis Lightfoot [MMWA-SICW]
Others receiving votes this month from the committee: None.
Personality of the Month
Luke Roberts [LWA]
Luke is an eighteen-year pro wrestling veteran in various capacities with high hopes (and an equally high possibility) of becoming the Lethal Wrestling Alliance President. A former Personality of the Month winner for other contributions to the St. Louis area wrestling scene (March), Luke Roberts is well-respected and well-spoken.
1st Runner Up – Steve “Botch” Szoke
2nd Runner Up – Joey Eastman [AAW]
3rd Runner Up – Davey Vega [LWA]
Others receiving votes this month from the committee: None.
Match of the Month
No Disqualification Match for the LWA Heavyweight Title: Donovan Ruddick (C) defeated Gary the Barn Owl to retain. St. Peters, MO on May 24, 2008 [LWA]
1st Runner Up –
War Games Elimination Match for Number One Seed in IWC Heavyweight Title Tournament:
Dan-O-Mite is the sole survivor.
Dan-O-Mite, Chance Prophet, Dekin Cane, Enigma & Iceman
vs
Kyle King, Devan Scott, Brian Blade, JC Thunder & Justin Pain
Ottawa, KS on May 9, 2008
[IWC]
2nd Runner Up –
AAPW Heavyweight Title Match:
Steven Davis defeated Shane Rich (C) to become the new AAPW Heavyweight Champion.
Chester, IL on May 17, 2008
[AAPW]
3rd Runner Up –
Bunkhouse Stampede – Fans Bring the Weapons – Over the Top Rope Elimination Match
For the Fusion Tradition Wrestling Tradition Title:
Justin Sane last defeated Daddy Mac to become the first Tradition Champion.
Cookeville, TN on May 24, 2008
[Fusion Tradition Wrestling]
Others receiving votes this month from the committee: None.
No more disclaimers. No more excuses. It’s just me, “Smart” Mark Anthony with another edition of “Mark This Down”. Today, I’ll try to be a little less controversial. I won’t talk about anything that will get anybody severely riled up. I won’t entertain thoughts of talking backstage politics or the he said, she said stuff that can sometimes become a staple of the professional wrestling landscape. We all know that my people are going to call wrestlers underrated, overrated, or average. Wrestlers and promotions are going to call fans “marks” in a negative way and still beg them to buy merchandise and tickets to events. It’s all just a vicious cycle, but I digress.
This time around I’m taking another step to the foreground of Missouri Wrestling Revival. I’ll be going over the twenty guys that at this stage in the game I feel should be listed in Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s PWI 500. That elite list of professional wrestlers from around the world has lost a little of it’s prestige in this day and age due to my people, the Internet Wrestling Community, but while some of my people will say that it’s obsolete, I hearby decree it to be THE list of professional wrestlers.
The PWI 500 dates back to the days when I was a wide eyed boy looking at professional wrestling as a legitimate sport. It was a great way for me to see how wrestlers I was more familiar with rated with others from around the world. Since the late 90s, the list has decreased in popularity due to the decline of pro wrestling magazines (in favor of… GASP! the Internet), but it still has a prominent place in a true wrestling fan’s heart.
I understand that I am getting a little on the ranty side, so let’s just look at my list.
20. Curtis Payne (Full Throttle Wrestling) – The new FTW champion won the belt in very dramatic fashion, proving that he belongs on this list.
19. Brett Young (Central States Wrestling) – Young is one of the best talents out there and while he doesn’t have the most impressive win-loss record, he has really turned it on in 2008 with valuable victories on the way to winning the NWA Kansas Title.
18. Shorty Biggs (Lethal Wrestling Alliance) – A crowd favorite, Shorty held the LWA Heavyweight Championship for months before losing it to “The Future” Donovan Ruddick in April.
17. Edmund “Livewire” McGuire (All American Pro Wrestling) – He’s currently at a point in his career where a lot of title shots for multiple titles could all come at once. A great guy with a very good win-loss record over the past year.
16. Gage Octane (3XWrestling) – The 3XW Champ is one of the best working in Iowa, hands down.
15. Mississippi Madman (Scott County Wrestling) – Come on, it’s the friggin Mississippi Madman!
14. Mark Sterling (3XWrestling) – 3XW’s Pure Wrestling Champion is also one half of the Pro Wrestling Phoenix Tag Team Champions. I don’t think there are too many in the Midwest that are better workers than this man.
13. Adam Raw (Lethal Wrestling Alliance) – Has it all, except for the LWA Heavyweight Title. Could a showdown with Donovan Ruddick catapult him to the top of this list next year? I say yes… and I know all.
12. Shane Hollister (Scott County Wrestling) – Few are having a better 2008 than Shane Hollister. He just recently beat Tyler Black for the SCW Heavyweight Championship.
11. “Serial Thriller” Shane Rich (All American Pro Wrestling) – AAPW’s Heavyweight Champ is always solid in the ring. He hasn’t had a bad match in 2008.
10. “The Future” Donovan Ruddick (Lethal Wrestling Alliance) – This is the guy everybody is talking about. He’s big, he has a huge upside, and he just grabbed the LWA Heavyweight Title away from Shorty Biggs.
9. Eric Ruffington (New Midwest Wrestling) – I’ve seen plenty about this guy through this site. The guy is entertaining and frequently has gold around his waist. He deserved to be in the PWI 500.
8. Jeremy Wyatt (Central States Wrestling) – One of the best in the Midwest, and he’s just as active in other places like LWA and PWP. The guy is tough and talented. That’s an excellent combination.
7. Keith Walker (AAW: Pro Wrestling Redefined) – The big guy had a lot of momentum but recently lost a lot of it when he left WLW. We’ll see what kind of impact he has in AAW and SCW.
6. Dangerous Derek (World League Wrestling) – The new World League Wrestling Heavyweight Champion had his stock rise significantly by defeating Chris Masters.
5. Dingo (Central States Wrestling: Missouri) – Can I get Dingo on TV? Like, seriously. This guy is that good, and NWA Missouri Champion to boot.
4. Jerry Lynn (AAW: Pro Wrestling Redefined) – He’ll be in the PWI 500 no matter what I say, but he still belongs on this list as the AAW Heavyweight Champ.
3. Michael Strider (Central States Wrestling) – I wish there was more Michael Strider to go around. I don’t think I’ve personally seen him wrestle for months now.
2. Tyler Black (Scott County Wrestling) – Ring of Honor has really helped raise the profile of this former SCW Heavyweight Champ.
1. Chris Masters (World League Wrestling) – Just recently losing the WLW Heavyweight Title doesn’t diminish his WWE experience for the majority of the year. I imagine he’ll rank highly, and should. He’s had some great matches in WLW.
That’s all I have for this edition of Mark This Down. Until next time, my people.
Missouri Wrestling Revival and this update are brought to you by:
Pro Wrestling and More Radio plays wrestling related music… AND MORE! PWAM also supports breast cancer awareness and hopes for a cure. We are proud to be sponsored by PWAM, and encourage you to go give them a listen!
![[From left to right] Head of Wrestler & Promoter Relations Brian "Flair" Kelley, AAPW wrestler "Curly", and his daughter Dani Summers.](https://missouriwrestlingrevival.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/2-drawing-aapw-10-18-2008.jpg "2-drawing-aapw-10-18-2008")
Hollister had one of the toughest schedules of all wrestlers in the Midwest for the month of May. It all started with a tough tag team loss (with Bryce Benjamin) to the Motor City Machine Guns in AAW. It was all good after that, as he followed the loss up with a victory (although tainted) over Egotistico Fantastico in a hard-hitting affair, the closed out the month by defending his Scott County Wrestling Title not once, but twice in one night. He retained the title after defeating Danny Daniels and Marek Brave. It was a successful month for Shane Hollister, as he wrestled some of the best in the business and came out on top in three out of the four encounters.
The Phoenix Twins continue to impress wrestling fans across the Midwest. This month, Tweek and Dash won two non-title matches against current tag champions in SCW and AAW. They also each competed in singles matches as part of “Best of Three” series of matches with members of Zero Gravity, splitting the contests and inching closer to being the number one contenders for the SCW Tag Team Titles. For 2008, Tweek and Dash have set the bar very high. It often seems as if they are the only tag team that can surpass this high standard.
Stacy O’Brien has emerged in the second quarter of 2008 as the premier female wrestler in the Midwest. She currently owns the World League Wrestling and MMWA-SICW Women’s Championships. She defeated Ms. Natural and Alexis Lightfoot for each belt, respectively. In yet another month where female wrestlers have been inactive, Stacy is a step in the right direction.
Missouri Wrestling Revival 