Editors Note: Last week MMWA-SICW open their doors literly to all aspiring wrestlers to have the chance to work with the 2009 MWR Promotion of the Year.
MMWA-SICW has five shows in the works for September and in 2010 fans have had the pleasure to see Donovan Ruddick, Brandon Espinosa, Ace Hawkins, Mark Sterling and most recently Mephisto make their way to the promotion.
I am sad to say that I was unable to attend due to prior commitments but I knew that MWR fans would have a great look into the happenings of this historic event thanks to Pro Wrestling expert Patrick Brandmeyer being able to attend as well as MWR Photographer Mike Van Hoogstraat.
I now give you Patrick and Mike with the rundown on the Open door tryouts.
Which one of these aspiring wrestlers and personalities will make a mark in the future at MMWA-SICW?(Photo credit Mike Van Hoogstraat)
I’ve been fortunate to get fairly close to the local wrestling scene…case in point, being invited by Tim Miller to the MMWA-SICW tryout in East Carondelet this past Thursday. Saw several familiar faces in attendance as well as some Broadway trainees and some out-of-towners.
Some of the familiar faces for MWR fans and new one lined up to speak to Keith Smith, Tim Miller and Jim Harris (Photo credit Mike Van Hoogstraat)
The main Broadway representatives were Tim himself, Keith Smith, and referee Jim Harris. They laid out what Broadway has to offer: Exposure in a great wrestling market in front of good audiences, as well as T.V. time(via their local-access program) and a decent payday. Broadway is stepping up their schedule in a major way in September, so the roster will be expanding in the near future…September has the usual shows at South Broadway and East Carondelet as well as their debut in Hillsdale, MO and a return to Fairmont City. The injured A.J. Williams was also in attendance as well as Ace Hawkins.
They had one interviewer/commentator tryout named Ben Simon who did a fine job and will apparently be at their East Carondelet show this weekend.
Blake Steel is one of the best promo men in the sport today, it was no surprise that he was dead on in showing his skills.(Photo credit Mike Van Hoogstraat)
Ben Simon was impressive in his effort to win a spot as a professional announcer, here he gets words from Ian Storm (Photo credit Mike Van Hoogstraat)
Kurt Styles lets the MMWA-SICW know who is. (Photo credit Mike Van Hoogstraat)
Rick Stone and Ben Simon looks to have a heated conversation.(Photo credit Mike Van Hoogstraat)
New faces try their hands on the mic.(Photo credit Mike Van Hoogstraat)
Tim Miller assist the new comers with their promos, with advice and pointers.(Photo credit Mike Van Hoogstraat)
Keith asked why I didn’t try out for that spot…and I didn’t really have a good answer for him. Haven’t gotten behind that particular microphone since the GCW days and wouldn’t mind doing it again sometime!
Those in attendance got a chance to prove themselves behind a microphone and also in the ring. The trainees practiced in the ring with Johnny Courageous while those with more experience under their belt had full-fledged matches with the likes of Courageous, Brandon Espinosa, and Sean Vincent.
Former MMWA-SICW manager The Magic Man is always entertaining and I have him hoping for his return to the promotion for some time now. (Photo credit Mike Van Hoogstraat)
The Magic Man was in the house and did a classic promo to kick things off…
Was good to see former GCW competitor Ian Storm in the house as well as Springfield IL’s Blake Steel.
Former GCW wrestler Ian Storm gets the upperhand on one of the Midwest top Wrestlers Brandon Espinosa while Ref Eric Davis looks on. (Photo credit Mike Van Hoogstraat)
Not so fast Storm, what you dish out the talented Espinosa will give you that and more. (Photo credit Mike Van Hoogstraat)
Is Eric Allen the best wrestler in Illinois? That is what he will tell you.(Photo credit Mike Van Hoogstraat)
Sean Vincent catches Allen and lets him know about it. (Photo credit Mike Van Hoogstraat)
Could moments like this lead to a big feud at MMWA-SICW in the future? My money is on the fact that Steel will not forget Espinosa actions during the tryout.(Photo credit Mike Van Hoogstraat)
Also saw a couple of guys who have flown under the local radar to some extent, Kurt Styles and Rick Stone. One of the more decorated local grapplers was in the house as Eric Allen sought to add another notch to his resume.
A group from Jefferson City arrived later in the tryout…some did better than others.
Espinosa was quick to let one of them know about an early mistake in their practice matchup.
New faces try their hand at the very difficult skill of wrestling.(Photo credit Mike Van Hoogstraat)
Critiques followed each matchup in the hopes that each wrestler would learn and work to improve. Vincent had a good short sprint with one of the Jeff City upstarts who went by “Bill Murray”(no relation).
Keith Smith and Herb Simmons have seen it all in their many years in the business, they watch the proceedings with a close eye for future talent. (Photo credit Mike Van Hoogstraat)
I’m always open to a learning experience and I feel like I’ve learned more in the past few years of wrestling viewing than at any other time in my nineteen(!) years of following the industry. I have all the respect in the world for anyone who steps in a wrestling ring because I couldn’t do what they do. I don’t think lack of in-ring experience disqualifies a person completely from having an opinion about wrestling…though I suppose I would respect the opinion of a wrestler over a non-wrestler.
Look for recaps from both of the shows that MMWA-SICW had in August in the near future at MWR.
Missouri Wrestling Revival 