The Missouri Wrestling Revival Future Star Award has always been one of my favorite awards to give a wrestler. In the past, we tried to honor wrestlers that were just starting out within their first few years that we believed had the talent as well as have shown the desire to go the extra mile on the roads, training with veterans and doing everything that they possibly could to succeed.
This award was one that was personally chosen by myself, and I have been very proud of all the great talents that we have chosen.
This year I decided to change the philosophy of the award to not only talents that are just starting out. The reason is that wrestling has evolved within the past few years where stars that have entertained us on the Independents for years have had the opportunity to become household names at the WWE such as Daniel Bryan and Kevin Owens.
So I asked myself, Brian, with so many young wrestlers in the area often traveling in and out of the area, they often are in the mention of top wrestlers, but because of coming in and out of it how can I honor them for their efforts? So with that thought I imagine the MWR Future Star Award to be a representation of who I would send today to NXT if the WWE asked me and my reputation was on the line. Please note that former MWR Wrestlers of the Year winners will not be up for this award
This year we will have two announcements, one today and one tomorrow. Both as important as the other.
Kevin Lee Davidson is a wrestler that meets all the criteria that the past winners exhibited. I love his size, and his raw talents. He has shown that he is smart enough to reach out to the top trainers in the area to improve himself as he has been under the tutelage of former MWR Wrestler of the Year Brandon Espinosa, Former ROH World Champion Michael Elgin, and through camps with the likes of eight time NWA World Champion Harley Race. He has already wrestled in another country and been seen on Ring of Honor TV.
Today, he is a signed contracted wrestler with NWL that feature trainers such as former Harley Race’s right hand man, Derek Stone, and Michael Strider, as well as the wrestling minds of Chris Gough, Major Baisden, Matt Jackson and Travis Scott Bowden the foundation is as strong to succeed as it could be anywhere in the independents.
Brian Kelley – Owner and Editor Missouri Wrestling Revival
A mere two and a half years into his wrestling career, Kevin Lee Davidson(aka Todd Letterman) has made a huge impact on the Midwest wrestling scene. Debuting in the Mid-Missouri Wrestling Alliance in the summer of 2014, “K.L.D.” made an immediate impact with his sheer size and power. He held the Television, Survivor, and Heavyweight Titles in his time with the promotion, but his journey was just beginning as he appeared for most of the major promotions in the St. Louis area; his experience includes matches with Dynamo Pro Wrestling, World League Wrestling, St. Louis Anarchy, and Wrestling Invades America(where he held their Heavyweight Title).
K.L.D.’s big step in the wrestling world was seeking the mentorship of Ring Of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling star “Unbreakable” Michael Elgin; this led to several appearances for ROH as well as matches in Canada and Europe. Most recently, his talents caught the eye of National Wrasslin’ League President Major Baisden…K.L.D. was one of the first to be signed to an exclusive NWL contract!
Now known as “The All-American” Todd Letterman, the big man is one of the top names in the new NWL promotion…will he be the first NWL St. Louis Champion? Don’t bet against him!
Look for an exclusive MWR Future of the Year Kevin Lee Davidson/ Todd Leterman artwork honoring her for his achievement from acclaimed artist Dartallion Allen Jr. in the future.
If you would like to sponsor the MWR Future Star of the Year Plaques for KLD /Todd Leterman then please contact MWR at flairwhoooooo@yahoo.com. The cost is $50.00 and you will receive a past MWR Yearbook, a Tyler Black (Seth Rollins rookie card) and a mention on the MWR Website.
Bio courtesy of Patrick Brandmeyer
2015 MWR Award
Future Star: Redwing
2014 MWR Year Awards
Future Star: Daniel Eads
Future Star: Elvis Aliaga
2013 MWR Year Awards
Future Star: Raphael King
Future Star Alexander Rudolph
Adam Pearce has been the NWA World Champion since July 31st when he won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship for the fourth time by defeating Chance Prophet, Jimmy Rave and Shaun Tempers in a four-way match to win the vacant title.
It’s a shame that Pearce, a veteran of the sport for over 16 years has never received the just do that the man of his talents deserves. While the NWA title and the organization thrived for years under the management of the likes of Sam Muchnick, times have changed and the NWA has seen dark days for the type of wrestling that made me a fan of the sport.
With his years of experience in the ring and a desire to bring back the glory of the NWA World Title Adam Pearce has embarked on what he calls his “Last Ride tour”.
His last trip to the Midwest was memorable to say the least as he made his way to Kansas City for Metro Pro Wrestling. The Challenger was Michael Strider, the setting a packed house at the Turner Rec Center on November 5th, 2011.
Steven J Girthy and NWA Central States Champion Jeremy Wyatt make their claim for the NWA World title. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
Yet, it would be a classic matchup in the main event as Strider looked to have earned his boyhood dream to become the NWA World Champion when he pinned Pearce as referee Michael Crase Jr. counted 1-2-3.
The fans were ecstatic to see Michael Strider go for the NWA title in November at Metro Pro Wrestling. (Photo Credit Bill Smith)
Strider look to land the big move that would give the former NWA Central States champion his dream to become the NWA World Champion. (Photo Credit Bill Smith)
Strider the NWA World Champion??? (Photo Credit Bill Smith)
Matt Murphy, then the MPW comish goaded Strider to continue the match due to Pearce’s feet to be supposedly under the ropes. (Photo Credit Bill Smith)
While Strider went to celebrate with his fans and father, out to the ring came MPW commissioner Matt Murphy. Murphy claimed that Pearce’s feet were on the bottom of the ropes as Crase Jr. made the final third count to the mat.
Murphy on the mic taunted Strider stating that “You don’t want to win the title like that; you want to be a man and winit like a Champion.”
Strider unwisely would make the decision to not take the title that way and agreed to have the match continue. It would be minutes later that Pearce would benefit a little assistance from Murphy when he tripped Strider, allowing Pearce to strike and use a roll up with his feet on the ropes to retain the title.
The next day I would travel to Collinsville, Illinois to cover Ring of Honor where fans came up to me, asking if in fact Michael Strider had become the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion as they had seen on the NWA website, then was deleted as the NWA webmaster caught word of what had occurred. Unfortunately, I had to deliver the bad news that Pearce along with Murphy had stolen the Worlds Championship from the former NWA Central States Champion Strider.
Little did we know how someone’s missed opportunities would allow Wyatt to get his wish at the NWA world title.
Fast forward to the final show of the year at 3Xrestling on December 30th. 3XWrestling Champion Jeremy Wyatt loses a close match against Mark Sterling after the “Iron Man” used the ringside bell to help Sterling began his first 3XWrestling title reign.
In the locker room, 3XWrestling camera’s captured Todd Countryman offering Sterling the contract. Let’s watch this once more to see how Wyatt and not Sterling received this dream match against the World Champion Adam Pearce.
So mark your calendars, ask for the day off, and make your way to Des Moines, Iowa at ALL PLAY as the Champion of the World Adam Pearce comes to defend his title against the 2-time 3XW Champion Wyatt. Wyatt is currently the NWA Central States Champion and only the 3rd man in the history of the NWA to hold both the NWA Central States and the NWA Missouri title (He did this last year, Harley Race and Bob Orton being the other two men) Jeremy Wyatt.
Only the third man to hold the NWA Central States and Missouri Championship at the same time, Jeremy Wyatt(Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
Though Adam Pearce used some underhand tactics to defeat Strider at Metro Pro Wrestling, make no doubt about it that he can defeat Wyatt in many many ways. Pearce in the past has successfully defended the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against Bryan Danielson (WWE’S Daniel Bryan, the reigning World Heavyweight Champion) and Danielson is just one name on a list of victims.
From the Apr '09 edition of Pro Wrestling Illustrated; Pearce bludgeons perhaps his greatest opponent, a bloody Brent Albright, in New York City.
Pearce brings the ring an old school high impact attack, standing 6’2, 245 pounds he will unleash a fury of moves including the Figure four leglock, Flying fist drop, and the Middle-rope elbow drop setting his opponents up for The Rack Bomb (Backbreaker rack dropped into a powerbomb) or the vicious Jumping piledriver to retain the title.
Quite honestly, after hours of studying tape of Pearce in action, you can see many of his opponents in fear of those finishers from the start of the match.
Pearce will have to beware of the crossface finisher from Wyatt. Many matches and titles have been won via this feared move in the Midwest for “The Belt Collector” Jeremy Wyatt(Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
One man who will not have fear in his eyes is the “The Belt Collector” Jeremy Wyatt. Wyatt considered by many to be the best wrestler in the Midwest, has been dying for this opportunity to make a name for himself. He knows that opportunities likes these are very rare for wrestlers in the area. Quite possibly the most hated man in the Midwest, 3XWrestling fans have come to love him for his multiple matches of the year and giving a 110% during every match.
Wyatt can strike from anywhere!!!(Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
(Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
Wyatt has many of the fans scattering for safety as he stalks Gage Octane. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
Opponents have to be concerned about going to the mat as Wyatt is a student of the game and is scary to defend against. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
(Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
Devin Carter goes flying from a right hook from Wyatt….Where Wyatt lacks in size he makes up with the knowledge of when and where to deliver the blow.(Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
Wyatt has successfully defended his NWA Central States championship against arch rival and NWA Kansas champ Tyler Cook. In less than two weeks he goes for the NWA WORLD TITLE!!!(Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
Wyatt most likely will be the first to tell you he is not doing this for the fans, yet he is the fans best chance to bring back the NWA Worlds title back home to the Midwest.
Adam Pearce has been the heart of the NWA since his first NWA World title reign September 1st, 2007 when he defeated Brent Albright in the finals of the vacated NWA tournament. Here Pearce is on set of NWA Wrestling Showcase talking 'rasslin' with David Marquez. (Photo credit Shane Kidder.)
Is Pearce making a mistake as he makes good on his promise to “GIVE BACK to a deserving industry that has given me16+ years of experiences that I’ll cherish forever.”
Onlu the kids are brave (naive)enough to talk back to the champ. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
Pearce has been wise in the past to align himself with men who can assist him in keeping his beloved gold, here he celebrates with the then MPW Champion Derek Stone and Matt Murphy. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
Pearce, a fighting champion will be around the world in Oberhausen, Germany defending the title a week prior to his return to the Midwest. Fans in Iowa can prepare for a double shot starting off with match against Wyatt at 3XW then heading to Council Bluffs, Iowa for Magnum Pro Wrestling to take on “ Babyface” Tony Cortez the very next night.
With one Lighting Spiral from Wyatt on January 27th at 3XWrestling, the NWA president Robert Trobich and Magnum Pro may be scrambling late Friday night to come up with a plan to resign a rematch against the NEW NWA World Champion Jeremy Wyatt and Adam Pearce immediately.
When it is all said and done, I want the NWA and Adam Pearce don’t say that Missouri Wrestling Revival didn’t try to warn you of “The Belt Collector”.
Great NWA world title moments in the Midwest.
April 3, 1908-Frank Gotch defeats George Hackenschmidt to become the world champion in Chicago, Illinois.
April 19, 1917 Earl Caddock defeated Joe Stecher to become the world champion in Omaha, Nebraska.
March 3, 1922 Ed “Strangler” Lewis defeated Stanislaus Zbyszko to become the world champion in Wichita, Kansas.
Here is a great photo of two of the most powerful, respected and important men in the history of wrestling, Sam Muchnick and Lou Thesz.
December 29, 1937 Lou Thesz defeats Everett Marshall in the first of his six NWA world titles in ST Louis, Missouri.
June 30, 1961 Buddy Rogers defeats Pat O’Connor to win his first NWA world title in Chicago Illinois.
I love this photo of Harley Race. Arguably the greatest NWA World champion of all time.
May 24, 1973 Harley Race defeats Dory Funk Jr. to win first of 8 NWA world titles in Kansas City, Missouri. Match named Pro Wrestling Illustrated match of the year.
Ric Flair would capture his first NWA World title right here in the Midwest in what many called an upset at the time.
September 17, 1981 Ric Flair defeats Dusty Rhodes to win first of 9 NWA world titles in Kansas City, Missouri.
June 10, 1983 Harley Race defeats Ric Flair for the NWA world title to set up Starcade. Match named Pro Wrestling Illustrated match of the year.
February 20, 1989 Ricky Steamboat defeat Ric Flair to capture the NWA world title in Chicago, Illinois
January 27th 2012 Jeremy Wyatt ???? Adam Pearce Des Moines, Iowa
Information of the NWA world title courtesy of the 16th edition of the PWI Wrestling Almanac.
Could Jeremy Wyatt be defending the NWA WORLD TITLE at these MWR Promotions after January 27th?
To many in the Midwest he is the most hated man in wrestling today; to his opponents he is their worst nightmare.
Jeremy Wyatt and Steven J Girthy have been dominate in 2011. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
His name is Jeremy Wyatt; pro wrestling’s greatest secret , has wrestled one great match after another from Des Moines, Iowa to ST Louis, Missouri and in every town in Illinois and back in his hometown of Kansas City, Missouri.
In the past Wyatt has earned the nickname “The belt collector” for his ability to capture title after title in multiple promotions against the very best. Wyatt would become the first man to be named the MWR Wrestler of the Year and has won three consecutive matches of the years with three different opponents Michael Strider, Tyler Cook and Tyler Black respectably.
Wyatt has mixed it up with the top names in the sport including the current Ring of Honor World Champion Davey Richards, Former TNA World Champion Samoa Joe, the former ROH World Champion Jerry Lynn, Christopher Daniels, Jimmy Jacobs, Al Snow and Road Dogg Jesse James to name just a few.
Still al the wins, belts, awards and great matches have not brought Wyatt to the forefront of the wrestling world.
Is that about to change??
Wyatt can be ruthless in his attack. A masterful tactician armed with the mastermind Steven J Girthy at ringside he is always one step ahead of his opponents. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
This past weekend the top wrestling manager in the Midwest Steven J Girthy set the wheels in motion at Metro Pro Wrestling to gain momentum to become the NWA World Champion. When It was announced that the former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Colt “Boom Boom” Cabana would be making his way to MPW, could the man that Cabana called “Porky Pig” of been masterfully setting his man up for a NWA World Title match against Adam Pearce?
While Cabana entertained the crowd from bell to bell with his masterful wrestling skills and silly antics, Wyatt And Girthy were at were at there very best and they had to be, Cabana has been to the top with WWE and as the NWA World Champion by defeating none other than Adam Pearce on March 6, 2011 at the NWA Championship Wrestling from Hollywood television tapings earlier this year.
Former NWA World Champion Colt Cabana would fall victim to the The Rebel in the main event at Metro Pro Wrestling. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
Earlier this year the Belt Collector would become only the third man in the history of wrestling to capture the NWA Missouri Title and the NWA Central States Championship as the same time. Harley Race and Bob Orton SR being the other two men. Since that time, Wyatt has been able to keep the NWA Central States firmly on his waist against the likes of Sir Bradley Charles, Trent Stone, Jimmy Rockwell, Ryan Drago and arch rival NWA Kansas Champion Tyler Cook.
The greatest years in the NWA History has had the very best in the Midwest in the middle of the title hunt. Former 8 time World Champion Harley Race would bring honor, respectability and toughness not only to the NWA Title but to Japan and around the World.
With momentum on his side and the great mind of Girthy in his corner is the NWA World Title poised to change hands for the first time in Kansas City since Ric Flair defeated Dusty Rhodes on September 17th 1981 nearly thirty years ago?
With all the positives in this equation there is one huge problem for the Belt Collector.
NWA World Champion Adam Pearce!!!
Make no mistake about it, Adam Pearce is one of the top wrestlers in the world today. It is by no fluke that he is a four time NWA World champion who has sent many challengers packing who felt their time was now home wandering what if.
His resume speaks for itself. Titles around the country, victories against the likes of WWE’S CM Punk, Daniel Bryan ( Bryan Danielson), Delirious, Blue Demon Jr. In a true testament of his greatness Pearce was not only able to be a force in a four-way match between Chance Prophet and Jimmy Rave and Shaun Tampers for the vacant NWA World title on August 30th but would become a four time NWA World Champion.
Wyatt may have been great in the past but if he is to compete with Pearce then he cannot make one
mistake. If so the confident, ruthless NWA Kingpin will capitalize and remain the NWA World Champion.
When the last bell rang at the Turner Rec Center last week a stunned Colt Cabana and Metro Pro Wrestling fans watched as Wyatt and Steven J Girthy celebrated yet another win.
Metro Pro Wrestling has not announced who Pearce would defend the title against when he returns to on November 5th at the Turner Rec Center but if Girthy and Wyatt have their way then it could be the NWA Central States Champion vs. the NWA World Champion.
Could history be made on November 5tth and Jeremy Wyatt was able to add his most important belt to his collection? The NWA World Championship!!
Jimmy Falcon has returned to MWR after a short hiatus. The last we saw Falcon he was causing trouble at High Voltage Wrestling. Now you can check out his very good wrestling variety show.
Cloverleaf Radio is a variety show, with mostly interviews involved around Professional Wrestling, hosted by Jimmy Falcon, James Soley, and Georgeous Ladies of Wrestling Season 3 & 4’s Gremlina, bringing you interviews with some of the hottest professional wrestlers, actors, comedians, etc!
In the past he has had special guest such as former WWE and TNA World Champion Kurt Angle.
What does Angle think about Daniel Bryan? A great interview that you need to listen too.
Dec. 9th: Jimmy Falcon birthday celebration with Bushwhacker Luke, Kevin Kelly, Pete Gas, Gillberg, WWE sign guy Rick Achberger, Vito Lograsso, and others.
Dec. 16th: EA Sports MMA video game announcer Shannon Rose.
Dec. 23rd: Andrew Anderson from The Wrestler and Skittles commercials and Nikita Brezhnikov from The Wrestlers and Grand Masters of Wrestling.
Dec. 30th: Former TNA head referee Rudy Charles.
Jan. 6th: Razor Ramon, Rick Titan, Jelena from Wrestlelicious, Former WWE head of security and actor Jimmy Noonan and Tracy Smothers.
Jan 13th: ?
Jan 20th: Rocky the Soulman Johnson, uncle of the Rock and wrestling legend
A mere two and a half years into his wrestling career, Kevin Lee Davidson(aka Todd Letterman) has made a huge impact on the Midwest wrestling scene. Debuting in the Mid-Missouri Wrestling Alliance in the summer of 2014, “K.L.D.” made an immediate impact with his sheer size and power. He held the Television, Survivor, and Heavyweight Titles in his time with the promotion, but his journey was just beginning as he appeared for most of the major promotions in the St. Louis area; his experience includes matches with Dynamo Pro Wrestling, World League Wrestling, St. Louis Anarchy, and Wrestling Invades America(where he held their Heavyweight Title).
Missouri Wrestling Revival 