MWR September 2008 Awards
The MWR Awards Committee has grown slightly this month in an effort to spread representation around the coverage area. With that said, here are the results for the September voting:
September Wrestler of the Month
Hunter Matthews
[Scott County Wrestling]
[Metro East Championship Wrestling]
[Mid Pro Wrestling]
Matthews had quite possibly his best month in his pro wrestling career, becoming the first wrestler in Scott County Wrestling History to win the Quad Cities Championship on three separate occassions. The title win came about in a grueling “I Quit” match with Dewey Dawson, a man he has been feuding with for months. He also wrestled at Mid Pro Wrestling’s first show, defeating KC Jackson in front of 200 fans to become the first ever Nose Bleed Seats Middleweight Champion.
1st Runner Up – Ryan Cruz [3XW]
2nd Runner Up – “Vietnam Phenom” Bao Nguyen [WLW]
3rd Runner Up – Kraig Keesaman [Whiplash]
Others receiving votes: Gary Jackson, Tojo Yamamoto Jr., “Serial Thriller” Shane Rich.
September Tag Team of the Month
Gentlemen’s Club (Gage Octane & Mark Sterling)
[3XWrestling]
Mark Sterling, Gage Octane & Todd Countryman
These two did something that seemed impossible to most 3XW fans… they ended the 20-month 3XW Tag Team Title reign of The Northstar Express, the longest in 3XW history. What’s even more amazing is the underhanded manner in which it was done. Being more underhanded than the Northstar Express in 3XW is tough. The Gentlemen’s Club made it look easy.
1st Runner Up – Zero Gravity (Brett Gakiya & CJ Esparza) [SCW]
2nd Runner Up – Northstar Express (Darin Corbin & Ryan Cruz) [3XW][AAW]
3rd Runner Up – Aaron Masterson & Mad Dog McDowell [MECW]
Others receiving votes: None.
September Woman of the Month
Stacey O’Brien
[World League Wrestling]
That's soooo Stacey O!
Stacey continues to hold it down in WLW as Ladies Champ, and was the only female in the MWR coverage area to pick up a victory in the month of September.
1st Runner Up – Amy Hennig [WLW]
Others receiving votes: None.
September Promotion of the Month
World League Wrestling
Harley Race's World League Wrestling
WLW had two shows in the month of September, and both made a huge impact! On September 4th, Bobby Lashley faced Marc Godeker and Go Shiozaki in what looked to be a handicap match at various times during the match, with Lashley picking up the victory. The other show was the annual WLW-NOAH show which took place on September 19th. Both were big successes
1st Runner Up – Pro Wrestling Phoenix
2nd Runner Up – Whiplash Wrestling
3rd Runner Up – Mid Pro Wrestling
Others receiving votes: 3XWrestling.
September Personality of the Month
Gary Giaffoglione
[Pro Wrestling Phoenix]
It’s been heard over and over again in MWR conversations: “Not a nicer man can be found in Midwest pro wrestling”. On top of Gary Giaffoglione’s friendly disposition and love of pro wrestling, he takes some of the best pictures on the Indy scene. Don’t take our word for it. Go check out some of his photos here.
1st Runner Up – Todd Countryman [3XW]
2nd Runner Up – Mark Bland [Absolute Wrestling Radio]
3rd Runner Up – Jewells [LWA]
Others receiving votes: None.
September Match of the Month
Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima
vs
Keith Walker & Oliver John
[World League Wrestling]
(September 19, 2008 in Eldon, MO)
This match was one of the hardest hitting and crowd pleasing matches of the entire year. At the end of the match, Japanese wrestling legend Kensuke Sasaki got a standing ovation and his name chanted by the Eldon, MO crowd. It was that good.
1st Runner Up –
Fans Bring the Weapons Match:
Chris Havius
vs
Stephen Saint
[Pro Wrestling Phoenix]
(September 20, 2008 in Council Bluffs, IA)
2nd Runner Up –
Cage Match for the SCW Heavyweight Title:
Shane Hollister
vs
Marek Brave
[Scott County Wrestling]
(September 12, 2008 in Davenport, IA)
3rd Runner Up –
Nose Bleed Seats Undisputed Heavyweight Title Match:
Mississippi Madman
vs
Bobby Houston
[Mid Pro Wrestling]
(September 27, 2008 in Decatur, IL)
Others receiving votes:
Last Man Standing Match:
Kyle King
vs
JC Thunder
[Whiplash Wrestling]
(September 27, 2008 in Harveyville, KS)
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..JPG)
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 