The wrestling world will never be the same as the great Harley Race has left us at the age of 76. Race was a native of the Midwest growing up in Missouri. He was known as one of the toughest men to ever enter the ring, with his entertaining and believable skills he earned respect around the globe. Race would capture the NWA Worlds Championship 8 times, and become just one of six men to have been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, the NWA Hall of Fame, the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.
Race was known for his great relationship with his fans. Throughout his years as a promoter at World League Wrestling, there must be hundreds of thousands, if not a million photos he gladly took with his fans. Kids lit up around him and you could really see him enjoy interacting with them. His penmanship and the time that he took with his autographs were one of the best in the sport.
I grew up watching All- Star Wrestling from Kansas City at 12 o’clock midnight. To say he is the reason I am writing this today is an understatement. I have always felt blessed that the Midwest had Harley in the area. He could of retired anywhere in the world or promote in an area that was given more love by the media, thus make more money but Harley always gave back to the Midwest. Through his fundraisers with WLW he helped those with disabilities, as well as school and communities. Through his wrestling school, young wrestlers from Trevor Murdoch, CM Punk to Tommaso Ciampa took their time to learn from the best.
Even with all the awards that the man received, I feel as if he deserved so much more fan fare. I am so thankful to have been with his promotion WLW for the past 10 plus years. Thanks to one of my best friends Dan Gier, I got to know my hero a little more when I started MWR. Race allowed MWR to present awards in his ring from the start when WLW was on tour. With Race’s seal of approval it allowed me not to only do something I love but build friendships with his wrestlers, ring crew, announcers and referees that will last a lifetime.
We gave Harley Race a MWR lifetime Achievement Award from MWR, and let’s be honest with as many awards as the great Race has received it could of been just thrown in the closet. Yet, I was so honored to had seen it one day while talking to him in his office on his wall. It may sound silly, but it was a personal highlight of mine. He also agreed to be a part of the MWR Trading card set adding the icing on the cake for a set of 100 cards of stars in the Midwest and around the country. I have cherished memories of speaking to Harley Race at the CAC with my fiancée as we all were getting ready for the banquet, taking photos of him with superstars, fans and his students. You just can not put a price tag on that.
I will always remember where I was when I heard that he passed away. Forever August 1st will always be Harley Race day.
On June 29th in Sedalia at Convention Hall, former ECW and WWE superstar Kid Kash will step in the ring to take on Superstar Steve! And to make sure that the match is called right down the middle, WWE Hall of Famer Ricky Mortonwill be the guest referee!
Get your tickets now at Car Mart or Walters Barbershop in Sedalia! Ringside Rows are $15 and will sell out quickly. General Admission is $10. We will also have a meet and greet with Kid Kash and Ricky Morton when doors open at 6pm!
This past weekend SICW hosted a seminar in conjunction with the Bruiser Brody/ Larry Matysik Memorial featuring the former NWA Champion of the World “The Man With the Hands of Stone” Ronnie Garvin, Killer Tim Brooks and Cowboy Bob Orton. The 3 hour seminar allowed students a chance to showcase their skills in front of the legends.
This Saturday May 25th at the East Carondelet Illinois community center former SICW CHAMPION and local WRESTLING legend will be back in the ring as a “Special Guest” referee for the “Main Event” when Champion Superstar Steve Fender defends the title against “The King of Chaos” Ricky Cruz. This is all part of the 60th year anniversary of the history of WRESTLING at the chase along with the Bruiser Brody and Larry Matysik Memorial.
Even the Greatest Wrestler on Gods Green Earth enjoyed watching Adam Cole interact with his fans.
The Current NWA World Champion Nick Aldis shares stories with Harley Race.
The Big Guy Ryback was a true treat to the fans and was happy to see Harley Race.
-”2.0” Da’Marius Jones d. Jayden Dominic Rose via Paydirt to win the Jr. Heavyweight Title (9:45).
-”The Attraction” Austin Cravens d. Gil Rogers after a fireman’s-carry slam (9:23).
-Lucy Mendez d. Stacey O’Brien with a jackknife cradle to win the Women’s Title (10:37).
–The People’s Tag Team(Kyle Roberts & “The Wrestler For The People” Rex Fults) d. Alpha Omega(Camaro Jackson & Kenny Alfonso) to retain the Tag Team Titles; Rex superplexed Alfonso and Roberts got the pin after the frog splash (12:57).
-”Superstar” Steve Fender d. Brandon Espinosa by DQ when Espy refused to release a hanging armbar in the ropes after the referee’s five-count (9:58). Espy delivered a post-match brainbuster.
-”The Hybrid Ace” Jon Webb d. Jack Gamble with the Sliced Bread #2 to retain the Heavyweight Title (15:31).
-”The National Treasure” Nick Aldis(w/ Kamille Kaine) d. “The Legacy” Leland Race(w/ Harley Race) with the King’s Lynn Cloverleaf to retain the NWA World Title (18:07).
-Jon Webb vs. Jack Gamble – Heavyweight Title -Jayden Dominic Rose vs. Da’Marius Jones – Jr. Heavyweight Title
Tag Team Titles – Kyle Roberts & Rex Fults vs. Alpha Omega(Camaro Jackson & Kenny Alfonso)
Gil Rogers & Austin Cravens –
-Stacey O’Brien vs. Lucy Mendez – Women’s Title
-Brandon Espinosa vs. Steve Fender
-Appearing: Ryback, Adam Cole
Yes fans, as unfortunate as it is to have Tommaso Ciampa not be able to attend, his well-being and health is of utmost concern to us as well as others. We ware going to sincerely miss having the opportunity to have him here at our new home here in Lincoln County Missouri
That said, we hope that everyone is as pleased as we are with the replacement of WWE NXT Superstar Adam Cole coming in place of Ciampa.
Tickets are still on sale at nightofchampions.harleyrace.com right now. If you purchased Ciampa Meet and Greets and want to exchange it for Adam Cole Meet and Greets, don’t worry. We are more than happy to exchange it with no transactions needed!
Again – we thank all of our sponsors for making Night of Champions 4 possible!
Jim Trenary Automotive here in Troy, MO (Jim Trenary Ford and Jim Trenary Chevrolet) C.T. Harrison Business Solutions Uncle Eddie’s Kettle Corn Hall Trailer Sales Peoples Bank & Trust
Jack Gamble d. Camaro Jackson with the Blue Thunder Bomb (9:19).
-Jayden Dominic Rose d. Kenny Alfonso to retain the Jr. Heavyweight Title; Jack Gamble ran out to distract Alfonso and Rose capitalized with the roundhouse kick for the win (9:37). Camaro Jackson saved his partner from a post-match attack, leading to an impromptu tag bout.
-Alpha Omega(Camaro Jackson & Kenny Alfonso) d. Jr. Heavyweight Champion Jayden Dominic Rose & Jack Gamble; Jackson pinned Rose after he and Alfonso hit a back suplex/top-rope elbowdrop combo (7:19).
-Camron Bra’Nae d. Women’s Champion Stacey O’Brien(non-title) after a superkick (0:21).
-”The Hybrid Ace” Jon Webb fought “The Attraction” Austin Cravens to a time-limit draw to retain the Heavyweight Title (15:00).
-Tag Team Champions Kyle Roberts & “The Wrestler For The People” Rex Fults d. “Superstar” Steve Fender & Brandon Espinosa by DQ. Steve accidentally superkicked referee Martin Kattich, leaving no one to count the fall after Espy fell victim to Rex’s Blackhole Slam and Roberts’ frog splash…ref Richard White ran in but Espy kicked out at 2 ½. Fender & Espy turned the tide and Espinosa hit the brainbuster on Roberts with White making the three-count. The bell rang, but it was announced that Kattich had disqualified Fender & Espy for hitting an official and the tag champs were the winners (22:47)! The fragile relationship between Fender & Espy finally exploded as Espy attacked Fender, leaving him laying after two brainbusters.
The SICW schedule of 2019 begins January 19th in East Carondelet Illinois, and then January 26th in Cahokia Illinois at the Holy family Gymnasium for a HUGH fundraiser with WWE Legend “Cowboy” Bob Orton.
Then as we move towards May 25th, we will be celebrating the 60th year anniversary of “Wresting at the Chase”, along with the “Bruiser Brody and Larry Matysik Memorial“. Already signed to join The widow of Bruiser Brody, Barbara Goodish, is “The Hands of Stone Ronnie Garvin. Former NWA champion Ronnie Garvin will be on hand to talk about his career and traveling with Brody. There will be more about the extravaganza event on the weeks to come. Make you plans now to join SICW throughout 2019 as they continue to show way they were voted the number 1 promotion by the Hart Beat Radio Listeners.
World League Wrestling has been in business for 19 years and will continue strong into 20 years with 2019 just around the corner. Night of Champions has been a staple for the past few years for our company and our fans, and we are continuing on that tradition. What better form of tradition exemplified that to have the National Wrestling Alliance World’s Heavyweight Champion not only appear, but defend, the #tenpoundsofgold at Harley Race‘s creation.
Hear from “The National Treasure” Nick Aldis himself.
Tickets for this event will be on sale in the very near future.
Check into http://www.harleyrace.com for all information containing #WLW #NightofChampions and much more!
