Please join Missouri Wrestling Revival at MECW in Wood River Illinois on December the 4th for their annual Toys for Tots show.
Bring a $5.00 toy and get a child in for free!!
There will also be a Ham drawing in the evening. MWR’S Dubray Tallman is currently working on a MWR Christmas treat bag that one lucky fan will take home for FREE. We will also be giving away a rare Holiday style MWR shirt that a MECW Superstar will be throwing out to one lucky fan prior to his match.
MECW’S Main event match will feature one of the very best in the Midwest Bailey Mannix defending his title in an I QUIT match against Eric Allen.
The new MECW Tag Team Champions the Brawlers will meet BroMance.
Plus all of your other favorite MECW stars. Do not miss this show and help join MECW Celebrate the Christmas season.
We received the news from Eric Allens good friend Chris L.O.G.A.N that Allen was going to be fine. The final word from the doctor is a mild concussion and Allen WILL be cleared to wrestle the new MECW Champion Bailey Mannix in an I QUIT match!!!
Plus the new MECW Tag team champs the Bowery Boys will defend against the former champs BroMance.
Check out the new poster to find out how you can get your child in the show for FREE.
Two legends that have countless hours providing fans with great promos Jim Ross and Ric Flair. (Photo from JRSBARBQ.COM)
Jim Ross wrote of Ric Flair “ Back in the day, and still today for that matter, no one could cut a more impassioned promo than the future Hall of Famer “Nature Boy” Ric Flair. Flair dressed the part, lived the part 24/7, and, seemingly, became the “Nature Boy. Credit Jim Ross’s websitehere.
By Brian Kelley
On my long drive to school in St Louis I have a LOT of time to think about stuff and when I am not thinking about my homework, I have my mind working towards pro wrestling. This past week my thoughts took me to who in the Midwest is the best on the Mic? Who can your attention the most during a promo?
If you take a look at most of my favorite wrestlers they all can talk. From my very favorite Ric Flair to the Honky Tonk Man and back the Midwest’s own Harley Race they could all talk you to the show.
Lets take a look at 20 of the most interesting wrestlers in today’s game here in the Midwest in my opinion, Feel free to disagree or add your thoughts but these are the top wrestlers who I Love to get hear from and the list is in no certain order.
Before we go to the 20 plus superstars lets give props to the three time WWE Tag Team Champion Trevor Murdoch who I felt was very underrated during his time at the big show.
First lets look at a promo from ALL-TIME greats Dusty Rhodes and Harley Race when he congratulated Trevor Murdoch for his signing with WWE.
Now lets take a flash back at a promo from Murdoch with his tag team partner the late Lance Cade as they were set to arrive in WWE. Some good stuff for sure.
1) Bloody Harker Dirge
The Vampire from the Midwest, Dirge has the look, can wrestle and is works his character to a T….or maybe he is a real vampire. Either way one of the best to get a promo from period.
2) Travis Cook-
The Manager of Champions or as my friend Herb Simmons calls him Travis “the Crook” Cook but no matter what you call him you will have no choice but to hear what he has to say. A link from wrestlings past, Cook knows how to get under the skin of wrestlers and fans alike.
3) Bailey Mannix-
In your face, no nonsense wrestler can talk the talk and walk the walk. Great in front of people and can bust out a promo in one take with out blinking an eye.
4) Michael Strider
– If you ask me this guy is the closest in the Midwest to have the same feel as my favorite Flair as anyone, and I am not the only one. Strider is believable in his words and can make you care for him in a heartbeat but just like Flair if he is in a foul mood can drive the fans in a frenzy.
5) The Northstar Express Darin Corbin and Ryan Cruz –
The Northstar Express is so good that you always want more……
Ask me who my favorite to interview and to work with in a promo and I promise you that I will no doubt have these two right among the top of that list. Charismatic and you never know what they will come up with. They deserve to be on a national stage.
6) Gary Jackson
The total package who never got that one break, Jackson may very well be the most loved wrestler in St Louis. With classic lines and his golden rules the geourgous one is always one that you will want to listen too.
7) Jayden Draigo
To be honest I didn’t know who Draigo was until this year. He quickly gathered my attention with the way he handled himself in the middle of the ring, drawing the ire of the fans without missing a beat.
8) #1 Brett Young –
Like the Northstar Express, Young has charisma to burn. A great talker he is able to do whatever is thrown his way be it serious or comedy it is always a honor to interview him…or at least that’s what he lets me know when we are done.
9) The Mississippi Madman –
Listen for this quote from the Madman at the interview “ You just saved a lot of lives, because there is going to be a lot of people running because the Madmans coming” Love it!
No wrestler in the Midwest can have the fans in the palm of their hands like the Mississippi Madman. His look, along with his mic skills is the reason why he would be one of the wrestlers that I would choose if I was a promoter.
10) BroMance Jordan McEntrye & Knight Wagner with Eryn –
Cocky brash and always entertaining this tag team is very underrated in the Midwest, they have a great look that catches the fans attention right away.
11) Mr Late Nite
The Midwest wrestling agent has an ax to grind and never seems to be in a good mood. That is until he is making fun of the fans who come to see their heroes in action.
12) Curley-
You can’t miss him with all those 3 stooges’ tattoos but then he gets on the mic for a promo or before his match and laughter is surly to come. 13) Matt Cage –
Cage is always willing to think outside the box. The scary thing about Cage is I believe he is only scratched the surface of how good he can be.
14) The Hooligans (Devin and Mason Cutter)
The 2009 MWR Tag team of the Year burst onto the scene making a name for themselves in and out of the ring with some great promos for their battles.
15) Attitude Inc (Guy Smith, Spencer Powers, and Michael Shard)
The trio of Smith, Powers and Shard bring to the table great wrestling action and a look that gets the fans and opponents attention quickly. They currently hold the NMW Tag titles while Shard is in the hunt for the NMW Title at November Reign. Look for great things to continue for these there.
16) Chad Mylan-
The man who many claim is the voice of 3XW has grew a chip on his shoulder. Leading his number one man Kwong into the ring to gain championships. He is a force at not only 3XW but MECW as well.
I am going to share with you a promo from 3XW’S monthly internet show Outside the ring from this past October. Look for Chad at the 5:16 mark into the show as he celebrates a big victory along with his protégé Ricky Kwong. Please take the time to watch the whole episode and add the 3XW website to your favorites to check out the new Outside the Ring.
17) Bobby Houston –
While many wonder what we do at MWR, “The Business Man” is not one of them. He knows that the site is out there to get the word out about wrestling, but more importantlyto Houston, is MORE coverage for himself. In the ring on the mic or outside the ring for a promo Houston is all about the Business and that business is to let you know that he is the best in the Midwest.
18) The Magic Man-
If you have not seen this legend from Japan then shame on you. I have had a lot of fun working with the Magic Man every time we get the camera in front of him. The fans MAY love him or hate him but they always and I mean always remember him
19) Steven J Girthy-
The classic manager in every sense. Successful check, rich check, loud mouth check. The truth of the matter is the man is good at his job and that is leading wrestling’s top wrestlers into battle.
20) AJ Williams-
One has to see AJ do wrestling impersonations to get a true feel of this young wrestlers talent. Don’t believe me then just ask Bill Apter.
MWR Hall of Fame Video
Hype Gotti and Tony Cortez formed the charismatic tag team Simply the Best. The two would hold onto the PWP Tag titles but we were always prepared to see what these two would say when we got them behind the camera. Lets look back at this classic interview.
Last but not least I leave you with a promo that we did with the 2008 Missouri Wrestling Revival wrestler of the Year “ The Rebel” Jeremy Wyatt. I took this to work to show some residents at the behavior unit that I worked with. The resident LOVE wrestling and my mother has been a nurse for over 30 years at the very same home.
My mothers reply to me after watching Wyatt blast , “Maybe you shouldn’t get involved in this wrestling, you’r going to get hurt.” …….SWEET
I now share with you that video that caused my mother such concern.
With a plethora of great shows these past few months, it has been hard to keep up with all the exciting news flash, photos and happenings around the Midwest.
MWR has been active with some of the top stars in the country while meeting many of you the great fans, some for the first time while others we know quite well.
We have spent almost every weekend on the road covering the top promotions in the Midwest.
Let’s take a look at some of the sights of the past few months with MWR, the Fans and Superstars around the Midwest.
August 7- Granite City Illinois- High Voltage Wrestling
HVW returned from their summer break to with top stars Kahagas taking on Trent Stone , the Midwest Sweet heart Santana G going up against her arch rival Amy Hennig and the Great Cheyenne with MsChif watching.
Dan Walsh (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
Would it be just by chance that the MWR Wrestler of the Week was MTV’S Dan Walsh who would give away a MWR T-Shirt in August only to see him get the HVW Livewire title soon after? Hey Dan we are just playing, you earned it….with a handful of Trent Stones tights.
August 21 – Council Bluffs Iowa – Pro Wrestling Phoenix
The trips to Iowa seem to take so long to get their, which has been a reason for us to scale back from going to PWP and 3XW. One problem they are so GOOD!! MWR fans don’t worry we have no plans what so ever to stop covering these two exciting promotions.
Pro Wrestling Phoenix delivered on this evening with some exciting wrestling action. We were on hand when Axel Greece assists Ryan Slade and Zac James cheat Chris Havius and Donnie Peppercricket out of the PWP Tag Titles. The show also saw the war rage on between Abu Colossus and Preston Maxwell.
Pro Wrestling Phoenix Champion Tony Cortez (Photo Credit Gary Giaffoglione)
The MWR Wrestler of the Night was the PWP Champion Tony Cortez. Cortez was able to survive the onslaught on Jayden Draigo to retain the championship in a feud that has become quite personal.
In the near future look for a phot recap from their last show in October from PWP/MWR Photographer Gary Giaffoglione
August 28- Lincoln Illinois – Pro Wrestling Epic
The Balloon festival in Lincoln Illionis is a BIG deal and with PWE providing a FREE show if you attend you can not miss it.
PWE delivered with the biggest match in years in the Midwest literally when the PWE title was on the line between the Mississippi Madman taking on “The Future” Donovan Ruddick led by MR Late Nite.
Ohhhs and AHHHS were heard as the two behemoths battle for supermecy and who is truly the top big man. Nothing was settled decisively, but the crowd went home to tell their friends about the Madman and Future. The match that shook the Midwest .
Evan Money explodes on Eric Allen (Photo credit Brian Kelley)
“The Kid” Evan Money was the MWR Wrestler of the Week as he went on to defeat Eric Allen with a frog splash.
September 4th – Kansas City Kansas- Metro Pro Wrestling
We were thrilled to support Metro Pro Wrestling for several reasons; first off the wrestling scene in the KC market has been dry for some time now. With Metro Pro Sports having TV, showcasing several of the top stars in the country today and oh yeah our former partner in crime Josh Ray is the current ring announcer for this upstart promotion. Metro Pro proved to be a great time with a great upside going into 2010.
“Rock and Roll” Mike Sydal with Amber (Photo Credit Bill Smith )
Amber," The host of Dubi meets the Fans" Dubray and Brecca take in a picture after the show (Photo Credit Bill Smith)
All the girls love Tyler Cook (Photo Credit Bill Smith)
From the looks of Brecca’s face WLW Star Ethan Wright did not learn the Masterlock from former WLW Champ Chris Masters. (Photo Credit Bill Smith )
September 11 – Waterloo Illinois – Independent Hardcore Wrestling
IHW has been on a roll in 2010 with some great matches in front of a packed crowd. On this night we were thrilled to debut the Tony Kozina MWR Trading Card. Kozina is one of the most well diverse and exciting wrestlers today. During the night Kozina wrestled one of the Midwest most impressive young men in the game Chris L.O.G.A.N
Tony Kozina (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
Let’s take a look at a Video recap of this great show from IHW
September 22- Olney Illinois – IWA Unlimited
Our first trip to Olney lived up to the hype that has been told to me. A weekly FREE Wednesday show how can you go wrong. A great small venue filled with some of the top young talent in the area.
IWA Unlimited fan favorite The Intimidator gives away a free MWR T-shirt to start the night off. (Photo Credit Tim Dunahee )
Everyone that I talked to loved the stars of IWA U and looked forward to the hump day of the week. If you have the day off and live in STL I urge you to take the drive to see what you are missing.
September 25 – Hillsdale Missouri- MMWA-SICW
A great day for the community of Hillsdale as MMWA-SICW teamed up with the Hillsdale Police force to provide a free wrestling show. MMWA-SICW are always fan friendly and if a free outdoor show was not enough, the team work also offered free BBQ and back packs filled with treats from the police force given to them by the stars of MMWA-SICW.
Ace Hawkins is the MMWA-SICW Santa Clause in September while sporting the MWR T-shirt
The MWR Wrestler of the day was none other than Ace Hawkins. Ace fresh off of his appearance at Ring of Honor not only gave away a free MWR shirt but bicycles from the kids and some awesome ST Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame shirts before having a great match against Brandon Espinosa.
September 25- Wood River Illinois – MECW Double shot evening
One of the best kept secrets in the Midwest, is the fact that some of the best talent in Iowa makes the long trip to the STL to go to prove that they are among the best in the Midwest. Jimmy Rockwell, Devin Carter, Zach Thompson, Ryan Slade and even self proclaimed wrestling genius Chad Mylan has put an end to Gabriel Brimstones stranglehold in the Independent title when his man Kwong won the belt in recent months.
Iowa is not the only area that is well represented as the upstate Illinois wrestlers BroMance (Knight Wagner and Jordan McEntrye) with Erin currently holds onto the MECW Tag Championship and Matt Mayday, Mike Anthony and Chris Logan have all brought their own flavor in the company.
MECW Champion Bailey Mannix (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
On this night the MWR Wrestler of the Night was the champ himself, Bailey Mannix. Mannix is still one of the most underrated wrestlers in the game today.
October 2- Kansas City Kansas – Metro Pro Wrestling
Metro Pro Wrestling heated up with the brand new Metro Pro Wrestling TV Champion Trevor Murdoch taking charge. With an appearance from wrestling great Harley Race the fans where able to see some of the great from the past mixed in with some of the best today.
What has the best Wrestler on Gods Green earth Harley Race along with Ethan Wright and Jeff Strong so mad, could it be because of something that former MWR Josh Ray is doing? See it on METRO SPORTS in Kansas City (Photo Credit Bill Smith )
If fans in Kansas City want the best bang for their buck they need to give Metro Pro Wrestling a chance. You won’t regret it.
October 9- Eldon Missouri – World League Wrestling
One of the biggest nights of the year brought several of the most influential men in the game today. Co-Owner of Pro Wrestling Noah was in attendance along with Harley Race and Cauliflower Alley Club’s Karl Lauer. The MWR Wrestler of the Night was Midwest knockout Lucy Mendez who gave away the very first MWR pink t-shirt.
Midwest Knockout Lucy Mendez has the attention of Cauliflower Alley Club’s Karl Lauer. (Photo Credit Bill Smith )
Wrestlers from around the world took the week long camp in hopes of making it to the show.
MWR Photographer Bill Smith with the representatives of Pro Wrestling NOAH (Photo Credit Bill Smith )
WLW Super fan Vincent Heather gets an autograph Steve Fender trading card from the man himself
Look for a Full photo recap of this show in the near future from MWR Photographer Bill Smith
October 10- Marceline Missouri – Modern Championship Wrestling
Just down the road from my house was a new promotion was a rare Sunday show that featured local favorite The Iceman. Brian Blade won the belt at the very first show and has been a thorn in promoter Dustin Watson’s side ever since.
Larry Stilfield with Modern Championship Wrestling Champion Brian Blade (Photo Credit Bill Smith)
October 16- Glen Carbon Illinois – NWA Dynamo/High Voltage Wrestling
We were on hand to present the High Voltage Wrestling tag champs the Hooligans the 2009 MWR Tag team of the Year plaques. To be honest we offered the exciting tag team Full Contact Dojo (Jonathan Gresham and Ric King) the chance to be the MWR Wrestlers of the Week to throw out a t-shirt as a way of being nice.
In a shocking development they defeated The Hooligans to become the NEW HVW Tag Championship . No HVW Champion was safe as “The Belt Collector” Jeremy Wyatt defeated Kahagas and Dan Walsh won the HVW Livewire belt.
The HVW Tag Team Champs Jonathan Gresham and Ric King with the lucky fan who caught the MWR shirt Rebecca Haynes (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
Look for a photo recap as well and interviews with all of the new HVW Champions here at MWR in the future.
October 23 – Springfield Illinois – New Midwest Wrestling
NMW invited us and invited us and I am glad that they did, we had debut once before and was very impressed and happy to have added them in our NMW Coverage area. The last show I photographed the most dangerous ( and fun matches) to be a photographer at in my carrer during the4 team NMW Tag Team scramble match and returned for the biggest Battle Royal, rumble style of the year for NMW. All for the enjoyment of you the fans.
The MWR Wrestler of the Week was up and comer Christian Rose. Look for more information about this exciting night of wrestling at MWR soon.
Christian Rose (Photo Courtesy of Jon 'Skippy' Edgecomb)
There you have MWR fans, the itinerary of where Dubray and I have been in just the past tthree months. We may not be able to keep up with the miles that the 2009 MWR Wrestler of the Year Mark Sterling does but who can, that man is a machine.
I would like to thank you the fans, the wrestlers, and the promoters for making
Missouri Wrestling Revival – The Wrestling Press of the Midwest.
MWR fans please support your local professional wrestling and we hope to see you at a show.
Brian Kelley Owner/Editor of Missouri Wrestling Revival
Missouri Wrestling Revival 