By Kari Williams

Every time LWA puts on a show, fans expect good wrestling, good entertainment and cheap beer. On Dec. 20 in House Springs, MO they delivered just that—and then some. With 130 in attendance, nearly every match set the bar for the next, and after the extreme tables, ladders and chairs match, not one person left the Knight of Columbus Hall in disappointment.

Billy McNeill and Evan Gelistico kicked off the show with a stellar performance that was flooded with animosity and anger. McNeill took the fight to Gelistico from the get-go, using his highflying tactics to his advantage. The former Bearded Men member slowed the pace shortly thereafter and connected with high impact moves on a number of occassions. Both men showed their athleticism and skill, but McNeill emerged victorious on this exchange. It seems the beard guide infographic they published as a joke was not so accurate (a joke statistic about their chances of winning in correlation to their beard sizes vs the opponent).

Following that stellar performance, Dorian Victor was scheduled to take on Shorty Biggs, but prior to Biggs’ introduction, Victor tried collecting money from the fans for a ‘sick’ Bavarian Boy, who happened to be sitting in the front row. Not one to leave empy handed, Victor did obtain three dollars from Biggs. However, he said it was to buy Victor a bra, not for Bavarian Boy. Victor put the money in his tights, and when Biggs and Victor tied up, Biggs retrieved his money. Many fans, specifically the superfans, did not care for this match—at all. These men put on a decent match with Biggs defeating Victor, despite the heckling.

Luke Roberts then made his way to ringside, accompanied by chants of “ASSASSINATE.” He announced that Vice President Jewells scheduled Jeremy Wyatt in a title match in Council Bluffs, IA. His next bit of news got a much better reaction. Roberts revealed that the briefcase he has carried around for so long contained the LWA Tag Team titles, and that the Tables, Ladders and Chairs match would determine the first-ever LWA Tag Team Champions, which elicited an “L-W-A” chant.

The next match put Mephisto against “Milwaukee’s Best” Rick Stone, but one could hardly call it a match. Mephisto pummeled Stone before the bell rang. Stone did not have a chance to get in any offense, and Mephisto quickly overpowered Stone and won the bout.

Gary the Barnowl took on “Future” Donovan Ruddick in the final match of the LWA title tournament. These men gave it their all and took remarkable risks in pursuit of the coveted title. The fans followed them with every kick, punch and powerbomb. Gary fought with every ounce of strength he had and then some. He kicked out of Ruddick’s finishing move, planted Ruddick to the ground and even attacked him ferociously on the outside of the ring. At one point, it appeared that Referee Eric Davis had reached a 10-count, then he said, “It’s not going to end like that,” and he helped Gary get Ruddick back in the ring. Despite multiple two counts for both men, Ruddick’s overwhelming power became too much for Gary, and the Ruddick earned a hard-fought victory. After the match, Ruddick extended his hand to Gary, who accepted, and then chants for Gary erupted.

After the intermission, Pierre Abernathy wrestled “The Technical Messiah” Nick Tyson in a classic match. Gelistico accompanied Abernathy to the ring, but the referee immediately removed him from ringside, which may have slightly altered Abernathy’s plans. Tyson and Abernathy matched each other hold for hold, neither wanting to give an inch. Just when it seemed like Tyson had the match won—and the Submission Squad would be 0-2—Gelistico re-emerged and interfered. The distraction allowed Abernathy to pick up a spoiled win, but Tyson came off looking like the better man.

The newly appointed LWA Commissioner Adam Raw made his way to the ring following the match sporting aviator glasses, which he threw out to a fan in the audience. After instigating a side v. side verbal war between the super fans and the rest of the audience, Raw announced that Wyatt successfully defended the LWA title. Just as Raw was about to go into a promo, the lights went off, and Mephisto confronted Raw, who responded to the entrance with, “With an entrance like that, I would’ve expected The Undertaker.” Mephisto put the locker room on notice, in a sense, by saying that he has been looking for someone just like him. He found this person in Shroud, who has yet to be introduced in the LWA. After proclaiming that, Mephisto said the era of violence and vulgarity has arrived.

In the following bout, B.A.B.E.WATCH was supposed to make their return. However, due to “Irresistably Flawless” Brandon Aarons’ extracurricular activities (according to “Thee” Brandon Espinosa), he was not able to wrestle. Therefore, Espinosa introduced Mike Sydal as an interim member of the tag team. Sydal said that Espinosa and himself have five things in common—“Shampoo, condition, shampoo, condition, (slight pause), condition.”

Shamus O’ Flannery and Super Electro took on the tandem, while Aarons observed the proceedings from ringside. Sydal and Espinosa worked surprisingly well together, despite having to contend with Super Electro, who shocked them every time they tried to lock up or attack him. In the end, Espinosa and Sydal defeated O’ Flannery and Super Electro. Then, adding fuel to the fire, so to speak, Sydal dumped ice water on Super Electro, which caused severe damage to the electric individual.

“Spitfire” Davey Vega, Dingo and The Ego Express (“Spoiled” Steven Kennedy and K.C. Karrington) wasted no time in starting the TLC match, as they busted through the hanging backdrop screen before either team made their entrance. Nobody was left unharmed, as chairs were brought into the mix early on, and the tables and ladders shortly followed suit. Fighting inside and outside of the ring, both of these teams proved that they deserved the belts. Every chair shot, every slam through a table, every punch, kick or slap had meaning behind it. The hatred between the two teams translated to the fans. Nevertheless, only one team stood above the broken tables, the battered bodies and the deformed steel chairs. That team was the Ego Express, LWA’s first ever—and most deserving—tag team champions. As risk-takers and innovators, these four men ended LWA’s year on a high note, possibly giving the match of the year for the Midwest.

Hoping to kick off the new year right, LWA will hold its inaugural double-shot, with the first show in Granite City, IL on Jan. 2 and the following night in O’ Fallon, IL.