Pictured in the photo are SICW Promoter Herb Simmons, MMWA Promoter Tony Casta, ring announcer Ben Simon, Hall of Fame committee member Nick Ridenour, 2015 Hall of Famer Ken Patera and MMWA’s Tim Miller.
By Brian Kelley
The St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame showcases talents that flourished during the days of (and prior to) the St. Louis Wrestling Club. The Hall features 33 legends including: Lou Thesz, Ric Flair, Harley Race, Bill Longson, Bruiser Brody, Penny Banner, and Sam Muchnick.
The 2015 inductees are: Ken Patera, Joe Tangaro, Eddie Smith, and Bill Apter. The first two, Patera and Tangaro, were honored at the historic South Broadway Athletic Club on July 11th.
Former NWA Missouri Champion and Olympic strongman Ken Patera was in attendance for his induction. On April 25th, 1980, Patera defeated Kevin Von Erich for the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship and lost the title to Ted DiBiase on November 21. He dethroned Jack Brisco to regain the belt on October 23, 1981. Patera would go on to wrestle for the AWA and the WWF in the 80’s.
Joe Tangaro was also honored July 11th at South Broadway. Tangaro was a wrestler, referee, and restaurant manager who won the hearts of fans in Saint Louis. He passed away in 1997 at age 70 after suffering from ALS. He was the president of the local chapter of ALS research and helped to raise thousands of dollars to battle the disease locally and nationally.
The Hall of Fame was founded in 2007 by legendary Saint Louis announcer Larry Matysik, promoter Herb Simmons, promoter Tony Casta, sports journalist Keith Schildroth, and longtime fan Nick Ridenour. All except Schildroth remain on the Board.
The inductions are split for two dates. Eddie Smith and Bill Apter are to be formally inducted at an SICW event in October.
MWR Fan relations Dubray Tallman and the 2013 MWR Lifetime Achievement recipient Karl Lauer
Missouri Wrestling Revival was thrilled to be at NWA Central States Wrestling to honor the 2013 MWR Lifetime Achievement plaque with artwork by Raven Johnson prior to intermission on a night that saw a new NWA Missouri Champion crowned.
Lauer has done it all in the sport while being a friend to wrestling fans for many years. Lauer is a family man prior to adding his talents to the wrestling world. Throughout his banner career he has been a successful promoter, a World Champion wrestler, excelled as a stuntman and actor in Hollywood for classic such as the Six Million Dollar Man, Remington Steel, Atomic Blue and Personal Vendetta. Lauer’s dedication and expertise as the CEO has helped the Cauliflower Alley Club since 1989 and the non-profit organization is preparing for their annual convention in Las Vegas in June this year.
Lauer a current resident of Missouri was a co-founder of World Legion Wrestling, which was the beginning of what we now know as Harley Race’s World League Wrestling. Today Lauer is the Senior Inspector for the Missouri State Athletic Commission.
During the presentation we were thrilled to see the NWA Central States Wrestling fans give Karl Lauer a well-deserved standing ovation. Once again we would like to congratulate Lauer for his many positive accomplishments in the world of Pro Wrestling. At the young age of 75, Lauer shows no signs of slowing down.
Past Honorees
2012 MWR Lifetime Achievement Award: Herb Simmons 2011 MWR Lifetime Achievement Award: Bob Geigel 2010 MWR Lifetime Achievement Award: Mike Chapman 2009 MWR Lifetime Achievement Award: Larry Matysik 2008 MWR Lifetime Achievement Award: : Harley Race
One of the most underrated is the tag team division makes their home in St Louis. When the Ego Express of Steven Kennedy and KC Karrington enter the ring together it Is magical. There were able to defeat the Northstar Express in an exciting matchup in their home turf and they are twice the team now than they were back then. The Egos also had great matches with several of the best in the game including the LONRS, the Hooligans, the Bum Rush Brothers and Vinyl and Vega.
As with many young tag teams, the problem is that each man had a desire for singles glory. Currently Karrington is the NWA Missouri Champion and Kennedy who is coming off an injury is still by his partners side as the two are currently causing trouble at NWA Dynamo.
We would like to congratulate MWR readers Pete Sakaris from Nebraska and Brandon Brown from Missouri for answering the “Who’s the Superstar in the picture contest”.
The First question was who in the picture is the son of a former WWE Hall of Famer?
That none other was the son of WWE Hall of Famer Ted Dibiase, Mike Dibiase. Mike’s Brother Ted is currently a WWE Superstar.
Brandon will receive an autograph 8×10 of Mike’s dad Ted Dibiase.
Ted Dibiase
Before Ted became a household name he put himself up against some of the best in the world right here in the Midwest. Dibiase would capture the NWA Missouri Championship twice in ST Louis, Mo.
Dibiase defeated Dick Slater on August 12, 1977 and would earn his second reign on November 21, 1981 against Ken Patera.
Dibiase would go onto to be one of the most hated/loved wrestlers in this generation as the Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase. Pro Wrestling Illustrated would name Ted Dibiase #32 in 2003 in the PWI Years.
The current NWA Missouri Champion is Davey Vega who defeated Dingo in Glen Carbon Illinois last year on October 16th.
The second question was who was the former NWA Central States Champion in this photo?
Pete answered correctly when he named Derek Stone who was on the top nailing Mike Dibiase with the ten punch. Derek Stone became the NWA Central States Champion by defeating Michael Barry, Griz and Gary Jackson in Coffeyville, KS on November 16. 2002
Fun fact: both Mike Dibiase SR and his son Ted would also rein as two time NWA Central States Champion. Mike Sr defeated the Spoiler and The Viking while the future Million Dollar Man pinned Bob Slaughter and “Bulldog “Bob Brown.
The current NWA Central States Champion is the 2009 Missouri Wrestling Revival Wrestler of the Year Mark Sterling. Sterling defeated Michael Strider to become the NWA Central States Champion in 2009.
Pete will be receiving the must have collectable the Mark Sterling MWR Trading Card , which is number two in the set that celebrates the hard working men and women in the Midwest wrestling today.
This picture was taken at CSW in Lawrence Kansas in a three way match between Derek Stone, Mike Dibiase and Mason Hunter. Special thanks goes out to my friend Retro Rick for having information up about this show so I could find some information about it.
I would like to thank everyone for partaking in this contest. Look for exciting information coming from Missouri Wrestling Revival. In the future we have several superstars that will be announced into the MWR Trading Card set, we have some exciting fun promotions in works with our friends at High Voltage Wrestling, Independent Hardcore Wrestling and one with MECW in December that I am thrilled about. Keep checking MWR for all these great announcements
We will also be having more contest, plus we hope to be at these shows to allow you to catch a shirt from a Midwest Superstar at these showsNew Midwest Wrestling on July 9th in Springfield Illinois, World League Wrestling on the17th in Park Hills Missouri, NWA Dynamo on July 24th in Glen Carbon Illinois, MECW in Woodriver Illinois on July 31st and High Voltage Wrestling on August 7TH IN Granite City Illinois.
If you are a promotion or wrestler that would like to include yourself in one of our contest by donating DVD’S, T-shirts, Autographs and other fan collectables please contact me at flairwhoooooo@yahoo.com to discuss how we can work together to give back to the fans while having a little fun.
Coming up in the next couple of days join us for a MWR Awards presentation from 3xwrestling with info for their exciting show coming up this Friday in Des Moines Iowa with the return of the Northstar Express and Arik Cannon and a main event rematch between 3XW Champion Jeremy Wyatt and Rory Fox in a ladder match, a Dubi meets the fans from Pro Wrestling Epic and the announcement of the MWR Trading card #12.
Last but not least do not forget to join us in Springfield Illinois to catch a shirt from a NMW Superstar and join Dubray in the first ever Dubi meets the NMW Fans. Last night MWR received information on some new exciting matches added to this Saturdays show.
High Voltage Wrestling returns on Oct. 10 with “Encore” in Granite City, IL to celebrate their one year anniversary. HVW will be giving back to the community by donating $2.00 from each ticket sold to the American Diabetes Association. ADA is hoping to invite a family to enjoy exciting wrestling action as well to receive the check from the proceeds of this event. ADA is a cause that TNT Keny G feels strongly about supporting because he fights with the disease himself every day. Also in attendance will be the wonderful people at The Fan Shop. The Fan Shop will be giving 20% of all sales at the show towards the fundraiser.
For only $10.00 you can watch the most exciting wrestling action in the Midwest and help a good cause as well.
The main event could very well be THE must see of the year. HVW Champion Kahagas will once again go one on one against Dingo, this time with the title on the line.
These two warriors went blow for blow this past January with the ultra talented Dingo getting bragging rights in his hometown. As one of the most booked wrestlers in the Midwest, Dingo dominated as he reigned throughout the year as the IWA-Midsouth Champion and NWA Missouri Champion. Dingo returned to HVW last month at “You got another thing Coming” against Tony Kozina in a back and forth war. Dingo got his hand raised and as soon as Kahagas had defeated Donovan Ruddick for the championship, Dingo let the fans know that he had his eyes set on the belt.
Dingo may have the 1-0 lead in the series, but he should beware. Since their classic match, Kahagas has been on a roll facing some of the toughest competition around the world and HVW. Kahagas teamed up with “Big” Rick Fuller to take on HVW Livewire Champion Brandon Espinosa and HVW Champion Donovan Ruddick with the stipulation being that if either Kahagas or Fuller got the pin, they would be crowned the champion of the respective belt. Kahagas became the Livewire Champion after pinning Espinosa. In August, Kahagas got even with his former manager The Magic Man by defeating his protégé Ruddick in a Falls count anywhere match.
There will be no turning back when two of the best wrestlers in the Midwest meet once again to determine just who the best is.
The summer of 2009 will always be remembered as the feud of HVW and Mark Bland. Bland hosts Absolute Wrestling Radio, and maybe he thought no one was listening when he made the mistake of calling out champions throughout the Midwest. Weeks went by and Bland felt good about himself as no one stepped up to the plate. That changed with one phone call—not from a wrestler but HVW Promoter TNT Keny G called in to let Bland know he had an invite to May’s HVW “Peace and Blood” show. Bland claimed he was busy that night and sent AWR’S Matt Krueger in his place. The aftermath saw Krueger hitting Donovan Ruddick with a chair and paying for it dearly. TNT Keny G added insult to injury when he kicked Krueger out of the building.
Mark Bland immediately went to the airwaves to let Ruddick know that he was going to “Knock him out.” Bland stated that he was a superstar in the making and if not for an injury that sidetracked him he would be in the WWE today. TNT Keny G made a move that sent Bland to the edge, with prior knowledge that Bland was not going to be at an AWR broadcast, TNT Keny G and Ruddick took over the AWR show to make fun of Bland and what he claimed as the popular wrestling drinking game “The Randy Orton Game.”
Bland was not amused and with his spy’s around the city, he got word that the controversial promoter was making a visit at The Fan Shop. With a camera man on hand, he videotaped a vicious assault on TNT that shocked the wrestling scene.
Later the two had words at Six Flags as Keny and Ruddick sent an invite for Bland to show up at HVW’S “You got another thing coming” on August 15.
The night started out with fireworks as the two had to be separated when Bland took the offer to wrestle Donovan Ruddick at the next show. Bland promised that Ruddick would be knocked out.
Little did anyone know that it would be THAT night he would make good on that promise. In the main event, Bland changed the course of HVW when he sent The Magic Man reeling with a punch then delivered a chair shot that KNOCKED Ruddick out and set him on a table. Kahagas then went to the top of the balcony and delivered body splash to be crowned the new HVW Kingpin.
In less than one month, all the talking will be in the past. Can Mark Bland show the wrestling world that he is indeed an untapped wrestling talent and one to be reckoned with? Or will the former HVW Champion and 6 foot 9 monster Donovan Ruddick get revenge for his title loss?
Want more??
Tag team action does not get any better than this one. HVW will crown their first ever Tag team Champions, and the two teams going for this coveted prize do not like each other at all.
Devin and Mason Cutter, The Hooligans, have been dominating wrestling throughout the Midwest. Don’t let their actions fool you; what appears to be total chaos in the ring is text book tag teaming. From the moment that they signed the contract at HVW these two have been itching to prove that they are the team to beat in the Midwest.
The Bandana Mafia (Pierre Abernathy and Evan Gelistico) are 2/3 of the 6 man cup. Always entertaining, these two have earned the respect of the fans with their own unorthodox style. They go into this match with bragging rights of defeating the Cutters younger brother Neil “Diamond” Cutter and his tag team partner, The Blackheart, in the first round.
MWR was able to catch up with both teams after the August 15th HVW show.
A main event match anywhere in the Midwest you will not want to miss The Hooligans and The Bandana Mafia battle to become the first ever HVW Tag Team Champions.
Fans of women wrestling will not want to miss Santana G’s one on one wrestling debut, as she takes on the St Louis debut of Mia Martinez. Santana has already won the hearts of wrestling fans with her sweet personality and work ethic. Santana has been getting proper training at the NWA Dynamo Gym as the veteran Mia Martinez looks to make a name for herself in the Midwest.
Mia, trained by Ace Steele, Danny Dominion, is dubbed La Chica Diamante…”The Diamond Girl”. Mia battled with one of PWI’s top 50 female wrestlers in the world, Malia Hosaka, this past year in the Midwest.
HVW continues to bring fresh talent to the area when the one and only Curly makes his way to Granite City. You will not forget the three stooge fanatic once you see him. One of my favorites and after October 10th he will be one of yours as well.
On August 15th at “You got another thing Coming” Jeremy Wyatt was offended that he had no one to wrestle and he let MWR’s Josh Ray know about it. Josh responded that he would personally have a challenge set for “The Rebel” when HVW returns on October 10th. Who has Josh signed to be Wyatt’s opponent? He won’t say but he advises Wyatt to be ready. Wyatt promises to make an example of his said opponent as he gets closer to defending his HVW Cup on November 14th at the MWR Showcase Show in Granite City against Dingo.
Also appearing HVW will be Mark Sterling, Brandon Aarons, Davey Vega Gary Jay, Eric Allen, Alexandre Rudolph, Mississippi Madman, Brandon Espinosa, Cabal, and The Magic Man.
High Voltage Wrestling continues to mix the best in St Louis with elite in the Midwest. No where else can you get this much action for the measly price of $10.00 a ticket with kids 7 and under FREE.
Be a part of history as HVW celebrates their ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY with “ENCORE” on October 10th in Granite City.
Missouri Wrestling Revival 