Wrestling Invades America returns to Swansea, Illinois Saturday November 28th! Dont miss this family friendly night of pro wrestling highlighted by four huge championship matches!
Doors open at 6PM for our Pre Show and the Main Show begins at 7PM!
Tickets are $10 General Admission and $5 for kids!
Location is the Swansea Improvement Hall located at 301 Service Street, Swansea, IL.
Travis Cook and his hired hit man Cousin Gator looked to end Ricky Cruz’s MWR MO Title reign before it got started in front of a red hot New Breed Wrestling crowd.
The King of Chaos” Ricky Cruz is a marked man ever since he became MWR’s first Missouri Heavyweight Champion in Fenton. Cruz’s first title defense was to be against the dangerous Attila Khan in Eldon for the upstart New Breed Wrestling. However, Khan was suspended for a recent brutal attack on Gary Jackson (outside of NBW).
Travis Cook, Khan’s manager, took great pride in finding a replacement: the powerful Cousin Gator of Guns and Beer. This year, Cousin Gator had impressed Cook by defeating Brandon Aarons and The Iceman (Iceman is consistently ranked in our Top 10).
As Travis Cook distracted the ref, Lucy Mendez assisted Cousin Gator in punishing the champ.
Cook not only knew Cruz’s strengths and flaws, but he enlisted another arch rival to help Gator win the belt and that was none other than the MWR Sexiest Female & Female Wrestler of the Year, Lucy Mendez.
Cook and Mendez stacked the deck against the champ with referee distractions and subsequent interference. Cruz showed the heart of a champion as he withstood it long enough to find an opening to land a superkick to put Cousin Gator down for the three count.
The MWR MO Champion Ricky Cruz celebrates with the fans after a hard fought victory.
Gateway Elite Wrestling, “The Lake Area’s Home Promotion” is thrilled to present it’s next event at H. Toads (Horny Toad) inside Camden on the Lake Resort Spa and Yacht Club. This event will take place on Wednesday evening August 12th in beautiful Lake Ozark, MO.
The main event matchup will feature Jack Gamble and Jon Webb (High Level Enterprise) taking on longtime adversaries David Delorean & Michael Magnuson (The Black Hand Warriors).
Also, MWR Award Winners, Elvis Aliaga and Lucy Mendez will be in the building. Aliaga will go 1-on-1 with Mike Outlaw.
Brandon Aarons will make his Gateway Elite debut when he battles the bearded giant, Jake Dirden.
Get your tickets for just $10 at Heroes Sports Saloon in Osage Beach, MO, H.Toads Bar & Grill, or at the door the night of the event. Doors will open at 6 PM and the show will start at 7 PM.
On Saturday August 15th Pro Wrestling Epic comes to the Party at The Beach Festival.
Start time 1:PM
End time 4:PM
Price of admission: Free
Reserve your free seating early because an EPIC deal like this won’t last long.
Before the Wrestling check out carnival rides and games, there’s plenty to eat and drink and After the wrestling check out the music.. At 9 PM You can see the Charlie Daniels Band.
Well look who dropped by tonight! Wonder what we were shooting…?Videos of the 2015 Missouri Wrestling Revival Sexiest Wrestler of the Year AND the reigning defending Pro Wrestling Epic Champion Brandon Aarons are coming soon!
Be lookin’ out for the updates!Thanks to Brandon for coming out. He’s always a blast to work with.
Leone Mephisto was beside himself, almost to the point of insane about the attention that the Midwest heartthrob Brandon Aarons had received heading into the tournament to crown the new Pro Wrestling Epic Championship in Pontoon Beach, Illinois. In February, thousands of fans flocked to the Missouri Wrestling Revival web site to vote him as the 2015 MWR Sexiest Male of the Year. When MWR took the time to feature Aarons prior to the event on the site with 10 questions on his career and the upcoming tournament, Mephisto took exception that he was not mentioned at all as a threat to the title.
Any other time an opportunity to be honored by the fans with a trophy, would be a wonderful experience, but when it was announced to Aarons that he would be presented with the trophy prior to his match against Steven Kennedy, there was some buzz from several of the other wrestlers that felt that Aarons’ needed to be knock off of his pedestal.
In the first round, the high flyer Billy McNeil used his speed and experience to defeat the Sean Orleans protégé Laurence Johnson via a frog splash from the top rope to head into the finals of the PWE tournament.
The second match would feature Danny Adams and Curt Stallion in what could be their biggest match up to that point. On this night, Adams would get the victory to move forward in the tournament, but there is no doubt that you have heard the last of Stallion.
Leone Mephistos crazed obsession with Brandon Aarons was apparent from the moment he came to the ring for his match against Everett Connors. Mephisto continued to call him Brandon, before and after of the dismantling of the rookie for the win.
Mephisto was not the only one that took exception to Aarons getting attention. As MWR Fan relations Dubray Tallman was presenting the MWR Sexiest Male trophy to Aarons, Steven Kennedy came to the ring demanding to know why he was not declared to be the winner.
Even though he was told that he was not even nominated to be named the Sexiest Wrestler, Kennedy would hear none of it.
Within moments the battle was on for the final spot in the championship main event match. The two had battled many times before and knew each others tendencies as they matched each others moves with a counter strike.
In the end it would be a vicious super kick from Aarons as Kennedy was on his knees that would send the Sexiest Wrestler of the year to the finals.
The final four way match would be an elimination style until one man was standing and thus would be named the new Pro Wrestling Epic Champion. With a vengeance Mephisto attacked Aarrons as McNeil and Adams tore into each other.
McNeil would soar early from the ring onto all 3 men on the outside to get the edge, but his night would be over just as quick when Adams used his feet for leverage on the ropes to illegally eliminate McNeil.
Aarons was in deep trouble as Mephisto and Aarons made a pact to take him out two on one. The two delivered heavy punishment in and out of the ring, including chair shots that left the star battered and bloodied. Yet, it would be Mephisto’s obsession that would leave an opening for Aarons to strike. As Adams went to eliminate Aarons, Mephisto stopped Adams, yelling that he was the one that had to eliminate him. Adams was not happy about at all, and the friendship was over.
During the battle between Adams and Mephisto, Adams was able to get the edge once again only to have Aarons surprise him with a small package to end Adams quest for the PWE title. Once eliminated, Mephisto’s psychotic tendencies came into play as he slid Adams a chair and instructed him to finish Aarons off. At first , it seemed as if Adams would decline the offer to administer the pain, but with Mephisto in his ear he snapped and began brutally beating a bloodied helpless Aarons as Mephisto looked on with a smile on his face.
After Adams was finished with his assault, Mephisto went for what he was hoping be the final pin of the match, but Aarons wouldn’t give up. Mephisto did not miss a beat as he continued his brutality on Aarons as he drove him from the apron head first through chairs that had been set up early on during the match on the outside of the ring.
As the fans looked on shocked and in disbelief Mephisto drug Aarons lifeless body into the ring only to again see their hero refuse to give up kicking out after a long 2 count.
Mephisto full of rage and hate, now with Aarons blood smeared on his face, went to the top rope and attempted an aerial assault in the form of a moonsault.
Aarons quick thinking ,even with a possible concussion, avoided the move hitting a short range Superkick as soon Mephisto came to his knees, this time however it was Mephisto who wouldn’t give up proving that he could take it just as much as he could dish it out.
Aarons attempted to pick Mephisto to deliver a burning hammer for the win, only to receive a shot below the belt which nearly set up Mephisto to deliver the same move that defeated Everett Connors early in the night. Aarons agility allowed him to avoid the move and rock Mephisto with one last Superkick sending him into the ropes. Though Mephisto was reeling he still struggled to latch onto Aarons to regain the advantage. Yet, it would be Aarons who would counter by locking in a beautiful Cobra Clutch Style Suplex that finally allowed him to defeat the man who had been taunting him for months and secure Himself as the New PWE Champion!
Tickets are only $12 for FRONT ROW – $10 General Admission and kids 12 and under are only $5
Kids can have their photos taken with the wrestlers in the ring during intermission!
Accolades:
-Ranked #417 in the 2011 Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500
-2009 & 2012 St. Louis Invitational Cup Champion
-IHW Heavyweight Champion (x2) (defeated Sean Vincent)
-PWP United States Champion (Defeated Harker Dirge)
-PWE United States Champion (Defeated Mark Sterling)
-HVW Livewire Champion (Defeated Mike Sydal)
-LWA Tag Team Champion w/ Mike Sydal (Defeated The Hooligans)
-CCW Tag Team Champion w/ Brandon Espinosa (Defeated Knuckles ‘n’ Knives)
-MECW Independent Champion (Defeated Count Kharfu)
Brandon, thank you for joining us a Missouri Wrestling Revival as you prepare for quite possible your biggest night in wrestling this Saturday in Pontoon Beach, Illinois for Pro Wrestling Epic.
1) You began your training at the Dynamo Pro Wrestling gym under the watchful eye of one of the very best wrestlers in this era, Dingo. I know you have a lot of respect for your time with Dynamo and Dingo, please explain how that came to be?
Brandon: Back in the early 2000’s I attended Gateway Championship Wrestling Shows with my father and brother (who are also huge fans of pro wrestling) in the summer of 2006 I had the opportunity to take part in a 3 day seminar with Dingo, Kory Twist, and Cameron Cage. Being that I was only 16 years old at the time I had to get my parents to sign a release form for me, not only did they sign it, but my father actually signed up for the seminar and participated with me. Eventually GCW went out of business and I continued my training under Dingo until in late 2007 when the Dynamo Pro Wrestling Gym opened. The promoters for NWA: Central States Missouri were also the owners of the Dynamo Gym and eventually NWA:CSMO became Dynamo Pro Wrestling. It was quite in experience for me all around, I didn’t have many friends growing up that were into the whole wrestling scene so when I was at the Dynamo gym training with the guys not only did I not feel like I was an outcast, I felt like I was among friends and family.
That environment really helped me not only to want to stick it out through the brutal training sessions and the constant ribbing from the older guys, but it gave me an appreciation for how this business works. Dingo was a huge influence on me when I first started and he would even drive me to training and shows just so I could be apart of it all. He always stuck his neck out for his students, all he asked was that we gave everything we had, as he was putting his name on us and he didn’t want to be embarrassed. I am forever grateful to Dynamo and Dingo for everything I learned coming up, it helped me become not only wrestler I am and will become but the 25 year old man I am today.
2) It has been awhile since we last saw Dingo in action full time, for those that may just are becoming a fan of wrestling in the MWR coverage area and may not have seen him in action, how would you describe your former trainer?
Brandon: Dingo was tough as nails, I’ve seen a lot of tough guys over the years, but he was definitely one of the toughest and most intense wrestlers I’ve seen especially in this area. He was very technical and very smooth in the ring, he had a certain flow to him that you just don’t see anymore. It’s very unfortunate that he is not around anymore, he was one of those guys that had “it”.
3) What was your training like under Dingo and what do you remember from your very first match?
Brandon: His training was very particular, he paid attention to all the minor details. If you did something half-ass he would make you do it over and over and over and over again until you stopped screwing up. He was a hard ass, but also understanding. He never talked down to anyone but wasn’t afraid to tell you if something you did was horrible. To this day I still carry some valuable lessons he taught me over the years and I hope to one day pass them on.
My first match was against Adam Rich at an LWA event in Mehlville, MO in August of 2007. We were technically the dark match, I wore my eyeliner which my little sister applied on me backstage (don’t bring your little sister backstage to a wrestling show) and a cut off shirt because I thought I was fat, haha which now I laugh about. Adam and I had what I would call a pretty great first match. Like it wasn’t amazing, but hell for a first match I felt like it was pretty ok. Well, I also slipped on the top rope at the end of the match but that’s not important
4) Early on you found success as a member of B.A.B.E. Watch with 2 members that would go on in their careers to win the MWR Wrestler of the Year in singles action, none other than Brandon Espinosa and Mike Sydal. What was the highlight of that team in your eyes and what did you lessons did you take from that experience?
Brandon: Espy and Sydal are two phenomenal talents here in the Midwest and dare I say the country. Both guys have taken the time to perfect their craft and it shows by the top tier matches they compete in on a consistent basis. I think as a trio our biggest highlight was at an LWA Event in 2009 when the three of us faced off against The Northstar Express & Arik Cannon. That was also the night Espy left the group. Some of my favorite memories of teaming with Espy were our segments and matches at High Voltage Wrestling. Keny G was great and pretty much let us do our thing and I had the time of my life. When it comes to Mike Sydal and I, the biggest highlight would have to be when we defeated the Hooligans for the LWA Tag Team Titles. I never felt like B.A.B.E.WATCH really peaked as a whole, but we all started doing well for ourselves as singles wrestlers and there was no point in holding each other back. Those two guys will always have special places in not just my wrestling career, but my heart.
5) From there, you did not slow down as you went on to find success in singles competition as you took to take on the very best in the Midwest, including Jeremy Wyatt, Mark Sterling and a man that would become the NWA World Champion, Kahagas. How hard was the transition from tag team action to trying to survive at such a young age against some of the best in the sport?
Brandon: It was awesome because the guys you just mentioned are not only some of the best wrestlers in The United States, but they are incredible wrestlers to learn from. Wrestling Kahagas was great for me because he was one of the first veterans I had the chance to get in the ring with and really learn from. Over the years Ive had the privilege to wrestle Wyatt and Sterling on more than one occasion and every time I take away more knowledge from them and apply it to myself. The transition overall wasn’t difficult, but I learned to expect more from myself in the ring because now it was just me every time go to the ring.
6) You were instrumental in the success of Independent Hardcore Wrestling that was based in Illinois where you really came into your own. The fans really rallied around you as many wrestlers looked to make a name for themselves in a new promotion. Though the promotion did not last long, the crowds were red hot from top to bottom, what do you see as your highlight in the company that’s saw you feud with the likes of Eric Allen, Steven Kennedy, Sean Vincent, KC Karrington and Cameron Cage?
Brandon Aarons and IHW found success with the fundraiser for the St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Brandon: I think the highlight for me was just someone giving me the chance to show what I could do when the handcuffs are off. Winning the IHW Title the first time was huge because after that I held 3 other titles for 3 different companies besides IHW. I felt like I was starting to get noticed, to get my name out there more than ever. One of my personal favorite matches was against KC Karrington back in 2011. I don’t think Ive ever jelled with someone so well in a match before and to me that was the match where I told myself I never wanted to quit wrestling no matter how tough life got for me or how hard it was going to be to make it in this business. Unfortunately, a few months later I was sidelined with injuries and soon after IHW ceased operations.
KC Karrington just felt the swift kick from Brandon Aarons.
7) MWR has covered Pro Wrestling Epic in the past, including the Epic 8 Tournament when it was based out of Lincoln, Illinois. This tournament is under new management, but the Epic 8 tournament survives and fans in the St. Louis area will be able to see this historic tournament in Pontoon Beach this Saturday. Fans may be surprised to know that during your time as a former PWE US Champion you were challenged by the then Ring of Honor World Champion Tyler Black (WWE’S Seth Rollins). You were able to get the win via DQ, as well as a handshake from a man that I stated in the recap on this site who I felt was the best wrestler in the world, and I feel that holds even more weight today. I was thankfully on hand to cover the event in person, yet I ask you what do you recall from that historic match in your career?
Brandon: That was without a doubt the biggest, most humbling experience I have ever had in Professional Wrestling. I learned so much about myself and also what it will really take to get to the next level. The match itself isn’t what stands out to me when I think about it, I was 20 years old, some young kid one the indies trying to make a name for himself going up against a guy who was regarded as the best in the world, what stands out to me is he gave me a chance, he let me work hard, and he worked hard for me in return. I’ll never forget that.
8) At that point you were one of the hottest young stars in the sport, that is until an injury took you out of action for a whole calendar year. I covered your return match against the current MWR Wrestler of the Year, Ricky Cruz at Dynamo Pro Wrestling. I know you have never back down from a challenge, but that first match back was rough as the “King of Chaos” took advantage of your ring rust. Thankfully, in the past 6 months I can tell that you were hitting your stride as 2015 has come upon us. What was it like to sit back and watch others move up the ladder?
Brandon: It pissed me off. It made me feel worthless. It gave me a dose of reality that once you’re gone, not a lot of people give a shit. You have to always keep yourself current in whatever you do. You have to refuse to fall to the back of the pack. If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse. I told myself if I came back I would do it with the goal of never giving up until I’ve done what I set out to do when I was some 16 year old kid, and that is to let every single person know who I am. This is me pushing myself, stepping on toes, doing what is best for me and my career. A lot of people don’t realize how selfish this business is, but I do.
9) You recently won the 2015 Sexiest Male of the Year based on the most votes by the fans over Valentines weekend. Your MWR Trading card #15 states on the back that it is a FACT that when you enter the ring ,“GIRLS GO CRAZY”.
I hate to be the one to ask ,but since then we have received tons of letters from girls wanting to know if you are single, and what’s the best strategy for them to get a date with you?
Brandon: That is a FANTASTIC question. I actually am single at the moment, unfortunately I’m not really looking. Wrestling is amazing in so many different ways, unfortunately it doesn’t make the best business to have a relationship in. If I was to take the time to find a girl she would need a certain set of skills: She would need to be fit (health is a priority), she needs to be trustworthy (no easy girls), she needs to be patient (my schedule gets crazy), she needs to trust me (don’t hack into my fb/email), and she needs to be funny, none of this boring and annoying stuff I get all the time. Also don’t stalk me. I get that enough. Lastly but certainly not least, you need have great hair, odds are we will be sharing hair products
10) By winning the MWR Sexiest Male award as well as coming off the huge main event during the last PWE in Pontoon Beach you will now have a target on your back as you look to make history.
Now I ask you to please tell the MWR fans why they should make their way to see this exciting night of action on Saturday.
Brandon: This past year I have been pushing myself in the gym, and in the ring to show everyone why they need to keeps their eyes on me. This Saturday I am going to show everyone why they’ve been needing to keep their eyes on me, and continue to do so. I promise a performance from myself that no one has seen before. I want the standard in Midwest Wrestling to be higher than it has ever been. I want to be the person that helps raise it up. The show this saturday means more to me than anyone can ever imagine. Everything I’ve gone through the past few years with injuries, relationships, friendships, all my personal issues, it all leads to this Saturday Night in Pontoon Beach, Illinois where I’ll show up and give the greatest performance of my professional wrestling career.
I would like to thank you Brandon for taking part in this Q and A, and we look forward to presenting you the MWR Sexiest Male of the Year trophy while wishing you the best in the Epic 8 tournament.
Wrestling fans we would like to welcome you to join us in Pontoon Beach, Illinois on March 7th as we will be covering the prestigious Pro Wrestling Epic tournament to crown a new PWE Champion.
Brandon Aarons, Leone Mephisto, Paco Gonzalez, Danny Adams, Tony Kozina, LaMarcus Clinton, Billy McNeil and Evan Morris will enter the night looking to make history to become the champ. MWR is excited to be in the house to watch as the hard hitting action escalates in and out of the ring to lay claim to the gold.
The tournament is set up to feature four matches in the first round, then the winners of these four matches will then proceed to the final four way elimination match that will lead to the championship.
That is not all !!
MWR will also be on hand to present the 2015 MWR Sexiest wrestler as voted on by you the fans, Brandon Aarons with his trophy during the evening.
There will also be 2 additional matches on the card throughout the night that you will not want to miss.
The tournament alone is worth the small price of $12.00 front row, or $10.00, but there is more, PWE has also brought in the metal band Final Drive to play during the intermission of this star studded event. Be sure to free up your calendar, purchase your tickets and make your way to an Epic evening in Pontoon Beach, Illinois.
The Address to The Field Sports complex is 4141 State Route 111, Pontoon Beach Illinois 62040 and is located right next to GCS Bank on HWY 111
Front Row seats to this event are ONLY 12 dollars, all other seating is 10 dollars…. Kids 12 and under are 5 dollars.
You can get tickets through pay pal sherytakamadulski@yahoo.com or by calling 618-806-4656
Heroes Hideout (Comic Shop) 3361 Fehling Rd Suite 3 Granite City, Illinois
Missouri Wrestling Revival 