Missouri Wrestling Revival fans you are invited for a night of wrestling that you will not want to miss. The top four women wrestlers in the Midwest will be in the same building at High Voltage Wrestling On August 7th as Amy Hennig , Santana G and the Great Cheyenne battle it out in the biggest match of the year in the Midwest that does not involve MsChif!!!
That’s not all, the NWA Women’s Champion MsChif will be in the house that night to sign autographs and watch this monumental match!!
Missouri Wrestling Revival will be honoring MsChif with the 2009 MWR Women Wrestler of the Year plaque and do not miss the opportunity to come purchase a MWR Trading Cards from both MsChif and Santana G themselves!!
Plus the 2009 MWR Tag Team of the Year and current HVW Tag team ChampionsThe Hooligans will be presented their 2009MWR Plaques and you will get to see them in action that evening,
Plus VH1’S Tool Academy Chaysn Rance debuts and much much more!!
This past weekend in Florida the Midwest Sweetheart Santana G teamed up with former WWE/WCW Star Sean “SYXX –Pac” to take on Mister Saint Laurent and Becky Bayless at I Believe in Wrestling show in Orlanda Florida. MWR Fans are always asking me where and how is Santana G. Lets take a look at this important match with fellow New World Order Member Syxx-Pac.
Santana G will return to the Midwest at World League Wrestling to take on WLW Women’s World ChampionAmy Hennig. I am on the bandwagon that Amy is the future of womens wrestling and these two will be feuding for years to come.
You will not want to miss the show on July 17th in Farmington Missouri as these two lovely ladies show you how women’s wrestling was meant to be. Also on the card will be the WLW Champion Trevor Murdoch will be in a Leather strap match!!
What you want more of the lovely Santana G, take the time check out her exclusive interview with Lethalwow.com Arron Carlton by clicking here.
The NWA World Champion Adam Pearce will join Tommy Dreamer, Trevor Murdoch and others at Metro Pro Wrestling’s first event — Saturday, June 5, 2010, inside Memorial Hall in Kansas City Kansas
There is no one today that compares to “Big Thunder” Gene Kiniski , stated legendary St Louis announcer Larry Matysik. At 6”4 272 pounds Eugene Nicholas “Gene” Kiniski quickly made an impact with his size and energy that would not stop.
Born outside of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Kiniski was a natural athlete earning him a scholarship to the University of Arizona . After collage he played with the Edmund Eskimos football team. An injury would force his football to come to an end.
Pro Footballs loss was Pro Wrestling’s game. Kiniski would train with Dory Funk JR and Tony Morelli. He quickly earned a chance at the NWA title held by the great Lou Thesz.at the Olympic Auditorium on November 3, 1954. The veteran Thesz would defeat Kiniski in two straight falls but this would not be the last time these two would meet. .
After earning a reputation in the states at one of the top bad guys, Kiniski would return home finding one of his main rivals in Whipper Billy Watson. The two were would enjoy television exposure on CBS where their exciting feud was often featured.
Kiniski’s rival Watson would end Thesz’s 6 year stranglehold on the NWA title on March 15, 1956 in Toronto . Kiniski was a true threat to the NWA championship for the remainder of the decade.
In the Midwest Kiniski was often involved in the hottest feuds in Sam Muchnick’s Wrestling at the Chase. Wild Bill Longson would wrestle his last match in a tag team war with partner Whipper Billy Watson after Kiniski slammed Watson on the outside allowing Rip Hawk to get the pinfall.
In front of a sellout crowd at the Kiel Auditorium Kiniski would get a huge win against arch rival Whipper Billy Watson in the very first Texas Death match in St Louis . A back and forth battle that saw Kiniski get the win after 6 falls…yes 6 falls when Watson could not continue after the devastating backbreakers of Kiniski. This win led to him getting two opportunities at the NWA World title then held by Pat O’ Connor in St Louis.
Kiniski would be unable to defeat O’ Conner but he would go on to win titles wherever he went, enraging fans with his sarcasm and referring to himself as “ Canada ’s greatest athlete”.
On July 11 1961 he would win his very first world title by defeating American Wrestling Association Champion Verne Gagne. His title would be short lived as Gagne would regain it 28 days later. Kiniski continued to Main event wherever he went because the promoters knew he could deliver. The remainder of the 60’s Kiniski traveled the world challenging the best wrestlers of his day.
In Japan he headlined with wrestling legend Shohei “Giant” Baba while trips to the then WWWF (WWE) had him going against Bruno Sammartino in the historic Madison Square Garden .
Back in St Louis a young Nick Bockwinkel was set to debut in St Louis against Kiniski but Fritz Von Erich attacked Kiniski with the deadly claw thus keeping him from taking on the future world champion. Bockwinkel would go on to meet Don Plechas and win his first match in 2 out 3 falls. On May 14th 1965 Kiniski would get his revenge from Von Erich in a Texas Death Match at the Keil Auditorium
St Louis would also be the place that Kiniski would get his biggest career win on January 7 1966 when he defeated NWA World Champion Lou Thesz in two out three falls. Matysik recalls it as such Thesz won the first fall, Kiniski was awarded the second fall by DQ when Thesz threw Kiniski over the top rope. The St Louis wrestling fans were very respected and educated just as the St Louis Cardinals fans are today. At first the crowd booed because Kiniski was so hated but it quickly became cheers because they knew how special a NWA Title change was. Lou Thesz would show respect by shaking the new Champions hand cementing the special occasion.
NWA World Championship (Atlanta, GA 4/14/67) NO SOUND
Kiniski would be a fighting champion traveling around the world from his home country in Canada to Japan and throughout the states taking on the best in Thesz, Dick the Bruiser, Terry and Dory Funk Jr and many more during his three years of greatness.
It would be Dory Funk JR. that would defeat Kiniski in Tampa Florida on February 11, 1969 to end his title reign. Kiniski would continue to headline around the world winning titles and drawing big houses.
After Kikiski’s days were long gone, Kiniski and Matysik was driving by the Kiel Auditorium, they spoke of the changes of wrestling throughout the years. Kiniski put it in perspective “I don’t begrudge anyone in the business making money but be sure to let the fans know there was matches in that building that will never be done again.
The loving father of two sons, Nick and Kelly who followed in their dads footsteps to become pro wrestlers. Kiniski referred the main event of the inaugural NWA Starrcade (Ric Flair vs. NWA World Champion Harley Race in a steel cage) in 1983.
Special referee Gene Kiniski (a former NWA World Champion himself) checks Ric Flair for foreign objects. Kiniski has been brought in to guarantee a fair match(Photo WWE)
Kiniski was inducted into the Tragos/Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in Newton, Iowa in 2004 and a member of the St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame – Hall of Fame [2007].
On April 14, 2010 Kiniski at aged 81, passed away from cancer at his home in Blaine, Washington.
I am joined today with the men behind Metro Pro Wrestling, former Central States Wrestling promoter Joe McDonald and Chris Gough Last year Chris produced the wrestling documentary KC on the Mat. Chris is a Mizzou grad with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. After college, he went to work as a television writer for World Wrestling Entertainment in Stamford, Connecticut. In 2004, Chris returned to his hometown to begin work as an anchor and reporter for Metro Sports in Kansas City.
Brian -Gentleman good to speak to the both on you today on the exciting news that Wrestling is about to come back to Kansas City. How did this adventure come to be?
Chris– I actually did a documentary last year called KC On the Mat, which looked at the historical look at Central States Wrestling. It aired here in the city and shortly after that I spoke with Joe about running shows here in Kansas City. I produce several shows on Metro Sports, an all sports channel in Kansas City, and eventually Joe and I spoke to the general manager of the station who gave us the green light to put together a wrestling show that will debut at Memorial Hall on June 5th. Two or three weeks after that we will air the Metro Pro Wrestling show on Metro Sports.
Joe –Chris had actually myspaced me prior to me leaving for California for my new job when I left CSW. I kinda blew him off because as a promoter you always get these guys who say “I am a former this or that” and you tend to go whatever. Thankfully in time we did get together.
Brian – Chris, please tell our readers your background in Pro Wrestling.
Chris – I was a lifelong wrestling fan who went to University of Missouri. In 1997 I got an internship with WWE, went back in 1998. After graduation I got full time job with WWE in 1999 where I started with WWE.com as a producer and did a show called Byte This and some other shows on the site. I then went on as a creative writer for WWE’S Monday Night RAW thorough 2003. After leaving the WWE I came home and took a job with Metro Sports as an Anchor/Producer.
Brian – Joe, At one time you were a wrestler tell us about that and how long did you run Central States Wrestling?
Joe – We ran for five years, prior to that I joined a school called the Monster factory based out of New Jersey. I begged my parents’ and they said “as long as your grades stay up”. I trained in 95, my junior year in high school and I didn’t really get a very good training, but I hit the road and did shows in ST Louis for next to no pay. There was also a promotion based out of Wichita Kansas that had weekly TV. That was a lot of fun as Derek Stone and Ace Steel where also there. That tells you how long I have known Stone (LAUGHS).
I was too young to wrestle in Missouri until July of 1996 because I wasn’t 18. To be honest I was not a very good wrestler. When I began promoting, I wrestled at times but I didn’t want to put myself over at the expense of the guys. It got to the point where I had to come to terms that I was not nearly as good as the guys I was booking so I stopped wrestling and focused on being a promoter.
Brian – Joe, What have you been up to since you parted ways with Central States Wrestling?
Joe– I went to California working with TV shows and films, like Last Comic Standing and Harry Potterand the Order of the Phoenix. At the time I left there were a lot of things going on in my life, including the mentioned once in a lifetime opportunities. Once I got back home, I tried to jump start CSW but I didn’t have it left in me to do so. After the last CSW show I decided it would be best to take some time off and refresh my batteries. I don’t like to say I quit the wrestling business as I have kept up with what has been going on in the wrestling world, I just took a breather. And over the 12 months, Chris and I have been planning on making Metro Sports a successful wrestling promotion.
Brian – Joe, what do you take from your days at CSW?
Joe – There are no instructions on how to run a pro wrestling show. You learn by being on the road, what to do and not to do with the boys, How to treat the boys, the wrestlers always got paid by me. I never canceled shows, I made mistakes all of the time because I just did not know what to do. I will say that I have learned from all of those mistakes and hopefully I do not make them again.
I take some of the credit of CSW but I cannot take it all. It was a collaborate effort by several hard working people. What I did was give them a place to work and we all relied on each other to get the job done.
Chris – The goal for 2010 is to have a TV taping once a month. If it increases then that is great, but first things first get that first show done so that we get enough footage to provide an exciting program. We are hoping to have a 1 hour show each week on Metro Sports, weather or not its four or six weeks of tapings for our show.
Joe– We really don’t want to put the cart before the horse, we know that it will take 3 months before the TV really will provide the full benefit of advertisement. We are currently advertising Metro Pro Wrestling via print, Television, Radio ect , when the second TV taping airs we will have had two weeks of shows on Metro Sports that will create a buzz and then by the third we will have ran 6 or so weeks of TV. By the fourth week we will hope to see a return on the exposure from TV.
Brian – Will all shows be at the Memorial Hall?
Chris – For the time being that will be where the shows will be ran. Memorial Hall provides us with a great venue with a historic feel for our debut. Excellent lighting and a superb sound system will give the fans at the show that special feel and those watching at home that professional look. But Brian it’s like all business it comes down to money. If the fans show that there is interest by coming, we would love our shows to be there all of the time but if financially it doesn’t make sense to run shows there we will pull back and find other venues that we have scoped out.
Joe – If we didn’t have TV we would be running an armory or high school gym, to be honest without TV I don’t know if I would have given this another try….well I can’t say that, but it surely wouldn’t be on such a grand scale. Without TV there is only so far that you can go in Indy wrestling.
When I started CSW I borrowed ten thousand dollars. Out of that, six of it went into buying a ring while the other four went towards running shows. I ran for several years on that and then took on a partner. We tapped out at CSW, we got to the point where we had a show with AJ Styles we had four hundred people and that was as big as it got in Lawrence Kansas. Now we are in Kansas City, it’s a lot bigger than Lawrence. We now have a bigger fan base to draw from, TV and two guys that have industry specific background to both wrestling and TV. We most defiantly are not doing this to fail, we feel as if we have all the tools in place to succeed.
Brian – Who should the fans expect to see at Metro Pro Wrestling local and nationally?
Chris – The first show fans will get to see ECW Original’s Tommy Dreamer and “the King of the Streets” Angel,
along with 3 time WWE Tag team Champion Trevor Murdoch. We want to bring in the establish star to bring in the casual fans that don’t follow the Indy’s. It’s always good to bring them in but we also will be showcasing some of the top talent in the Midwest. Joe knows the local talent as well as anyone.
Joe – Yes, I hate to go back to the past but what I set up to do with CSW was to bring up all the local talent from Kansas City, St Louis, Missouri, Iowa, or just so simply the best in Midwest under one roof, just as Ring Of Honor had done. We had a great run with Michael Strider and Mark Sterling.
2009 MWR Wrestler of the Year Mark Sterling (Photo Credit Mike Van Hoogstraat)
This isn’t going to be a CSW retread, certainly we will use some of the guys that I am comfortable with. Mark Sterling for instance is in my opinion one of the best wrestlers in country right now. The man lives and breathes pro Wrestling. Jeremy Wyatt I put him in that category as well.
I have known Matt Sydal (Evan Bourne) since day one and when his brother Mike Sydal told him he wanted to learn how to wrestle Matt told him to go see the guys (Strider and Sterling) in Kansas to learn.
The 2009 MWR Tag team of the Year the Hooligans will make their debut in Kansas City . ((Photo Credit Mike Van Hoogstraat)
The Hooligans, who I have only seen on tape. Chris actually found them on your site and called me and said you need to check these guys out. I looked at a couple of matches of theirs on YouTube. They were awesome, they have that “it” factor. You can attest to that Brian, you have been around them a lot; I have only dealt with them via phone and e-mail. I called Sterling and Wyatt who I trust to get their thoughts on their work. They vouched that they were for real and that was good enough for me.
Angel and Domino Rivera were two guys I had teamed up at last few CSW shows I ran and had big plans for. Chris and I feel like they can make an impact.
The Mississippi Madman (Photo Credit Mike Van Hoogstraat)
The Mississippi Madman is someone that has a ton of charisma we believe that the fans will get behind.
The Ultra talented Jaysin Strife (Photo Credit Gary Giaffoglione)
Jaysin Strife, I have always been a big fan of as well. We are not a closed door company. If we see someone that we feel that the fans will enjoy and can help Metro Sports we will take a good look at them.
Nate Bash and Benjamin Sailer are a tag team that I am excited about being a part of the company. I feel as if we are really stacked in the tag division and have a heavy emphasize in tag teams.
Brian – Let me ask you Chris you have been with WWE who many feel have diminished tag teams in the past few years. Are you excited about tag teams as much as Joe?
Chris – Before we go any further let’s not forget we dragged Michael Strider out of retirement so fans will most defiantly have that to look forward to. That guy is willing to do anything. But he was done. When Joe first approached him about Metro Pro, Strider wasn’t going to do it. He was enjoying his life off the road. But we told him the game plan and it stoked that flame. As far as tag teams go your right it was a pretty dead deal down there. Granted there were some great teams during the Invasion with the Dudley’s, The Hardy’s Edge and Christina with some exciting matches with ladders. That seemed to be the last real run with teams other than just throwing two guys together. Anyone growing up in the 80’s remembers how big the tag teams were in the WWE and NWA. Myself I am a big fan of a team when they get together and hit their moves and work as a team, you just done see that in the Big two err one.
We didn’t set out to focus so strongly on tag teams but it just so happens that we are fortunate that we have talented guys who happen to team up. I believe that many fans on the Indy scene love tag team wrestling so I hope that it will be a big draw for us.
Brian – Chris, what kinda style should fans see at Metro Pro Wrestling? With the debut of Tommy Dreamer will be see old style ECW Wrestling or WWE/ECW? What style do you prefer?
Chris– My background is WWE and that’s the style I worked with, did I agree with everything no but no company is perfect. I know that WWE takes a lot of slack for what they do but a lot of that has to do with over saturation. With WWE TV storylines need to go so fast because of the amount of shows that need to be done. Sometimes it can take away from what you are doing.
Here at Metro will “Extreme” be the norm? No. Will there be guys that have that in their background and at times will that be sprinkled in sporadically. Yes. As a fan I was a big fan of ECW and still have fond memories of them. The problem is that the style trickled up towards the WWE and every match feature blood in the first match, people jumping off 40 foot ladders. Nothing could top it so it meant less.
What we hope to do with Metro Pro Wrestling on TV is character development. I am all for pure pro wrestling in the ring and we will have that but it’s not so much the storyline that matters as much as is it is for the fans to care for the wrestlers to make the storylines mean anything. I feel as if that is what is lacking in wrestling on TV. I am not going to say I know how to do it better than the next guy but I do know going into this that the wrestlers will have an opportunity to shine on TV. From the top to bottom they are going to be able get their name out to the casual fan.
Joe– Too put it in perspective I was once told by a very smart guy and I am sure he was told by another smart guy. Wrestling is like a three ring circus “You have to have your flyers, you have to have brawlers and you need have your freaks. You need to have something for everyone.” We have to do a little bit of everything for this to succeed. Our balance will be found with the traditional wrestling fan that just likes wrestling but our job is to make the show interesting.
You hear a lot of older fans say that back in my day it wasn’t such a soap opera. But the truth is, it really was. There have always been stories in wrestling. Storylines have just adapted over the years to fit the current world climate. The beautiful thing about early ECW was that you had 2 or 3 matches on their show and the rest was you had advertisements for their next one. During the show you may have had one hardcore match – Tommy Dreamer going hardcore with Raven all over the arena. Then Psychosis and Rey Mysterio flying all around the ring then you had Dean Melenko and Eddie Guerrero in a mat classic.
I would like to see Metro be a little bit like that. You have storylines mixed with wrestling and in the end you have entertainment because of that.
Brian– Any last words for the MWR Fans
Joe – I hope that people give us a shot, come on out and I feel as if their money will be well spent. Come support the guys as we have household names mixed in with some guys we feel will be able to get to the next level. I hope people come to what we hope will become a successful endeavor in the wrestling area. I would also like to thank Martin Thomas for letting us use the CSW Library. That was a really cool thing of him to do.
Be sure to catch Metro Pro Wrestling’s debut television taping on Saturday, June 5, 2010, inside Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas. Tickets available now at MetroWrestling.com, TicketMaster.com or by calling the Memorial Hall ticket office at (913) 549-4853.
A dream came true for me at Total Nonstop Wrestling’s Fan Interaction in ST Louis on April 17. I was honored when my friend from the St Louis Hall of Fame Nick Ridenour asked me to present one of the greatest NWA World Champions of all time Dory Funk JR, the one and only Bobby the Brain Heenan and Baron von Raschke their St Louis Wrestling Hall of fame plaques live during the TNA Legends main event that also included Jimmy Hart, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair and Sting.
To say that I was nervous would be an understatement but it will be a day that I will never forget and will always be grateful for. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the members of the ST Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame committee
After we were done Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Jeff Ruoss was on hand to present Funk Jr, Heenan, Raschke and Hart their Lifetime achievement awards.
NWA Supreme returns to action this Saturday on April 24th. There will be a SUPREME CHAMPIONSHIP match between DaCobra(Supreme Champion) and Micheal Shard The NWA Illinois State Champion Marcos Cordova will be facing Bloody Harker Dirge in a title match.
Special Super Heavyweight match between Bear St.Pierre against the debuting Guy Smith. Many new NWA stars are debuting this night.
We have been informed by Chad TallyDeAndre King will have an open challenge for any takers that night.
Also
Win a FREE pair of TNA Wrestling tickets at the April 24th NWA Supreme show in Mattoon,IL courtesy of centralillinoisprowrestling.com For may 13th show in Springfeild Il.
Burgess-Osborne Auditorium
1701 Wabash Ave. Mattoon, IL.
12 and up $10.00
6-11 $5.00
Under 5 Free Presales $8.00
In less than 2 weeks the world’s tallest female wrestler will make her debut in St Louis at NWA Dynamo/ High Voltage Wrestling. I have long to see “ISIS” the Amazon for quite some time as MWR has kept a close eye with her fellow Coastal Championship Wrestling colleague the CAC and HVW Champion Kahagas.
On March 27th in Granite City, Illinois you will have a chance to see the best in the world today MsChif team up with CAC Women’s champion to take on ISIS and Jessika Haze.
If you’re a fan of women’s wrestling then you will not want to miss this first ever encounter with ISIS and the NWA Women’s and Shimmer World Champion MsChif!!
Tickets only $10.00 each with kids 7 and under Free!!
Till then let’s enjoy 10 questions with ISIS
1) Have you always been a fan of wrestling and if so who did u look up?
I was a die hard fan of Chyna (go women of dominance!) and Chris Jericho, I always appreciated the innovative matches Jericho had.
2) How did you go about getting in the sport?
I was working for a corporation at a trade show in South Beach and came across the Main Event Training Academy, formerly known as Coastal Championship Wrestling.
3) At this point of your career what has been your personal highlight?
My FCW evaluation with WWE after just 10 months of training.
4) Who was your first match against and what was it like stepping the ring for the first time?
Calypso and her two “henchmen”. I was wearing what I like to call the bumble bee outfit, since then I’ve upgraded to actual original gear I have drawn and had made. Stepping in the ring for the first time in front of a crowd was a great experience. I had so much fun I just knew I had to do it again and again and get better.
5) What do you think some of the obstacles of being so tall and getting into the sport has been?
Learning how to bump, lol. Hip toss. Controlling the match.
6) What has surprised you the most about being a professional wrestler ?
The reality of back stabbers and prima donnas that come along with it.
7) If you were asked to be at Wrestlemania who would like to go up against and destroy and why?
Chyna- I was an avid fan and would love that opportunity. She was so bad-ass!
8) We have a lot of Juggalo’s and Juggalette’s in the STL that love wrestling and you have worked with the Insane Clown Posse in the past. I checked out your website where you stated that it was an awesome experience and you looked forward to working with them again. What exactly did you do there?
Well, I’ll be at JCW this weekend, the 20th, performing for them again. I wrestled 3 puny guys and threw their lightweight asses around like rag dolls.
9) “Where can people go to see your matches, videos, photos, or even to book you for an event?” http://www.isistheamazon.com/
10) One of the top women wrestlers in the sport, MsChif will be in the house on March 27th when you make your debut at HVW/NWA Dynamo. If you should happen to go face to face with the Women’s Champion of the World, in your mind what do you see happing?
I have seen her work and respect her. I can see an awesome match occurring and your’s truly coming out on top as always. I belong on top, little girls such as the said belong underneath me. She will definately be “kissing the sky” and laying out for the 1, 2, 3 when she lands.
This week on the Nose Bleed Seats podcast hosted by Chris Lee and
co-hosts MOAV5706 and the Mad Conservative Crimefighter our guest is
Chicago mainstay and soon to be legendary manager Joey Eastman. We
discuss the new Rebellious Wrestling Federation as he shall lead the
NWA Florida Champion the new Shiek against Silas Young for the NWA
Midwest title this Friday in Ashton, IL at the Mills & Petrie Memorial
Building – 704 North First St. http://ap-sheet.podomatic.com/entry/2009-10-21T18_41_23-07_00
This will be part one of a two part interview
If you missed last week’s podcast we interviewed legendary Memphis
figure Rockin’ Randy Ricci. We cover his wrestling history, what
changed to cause wrestling to lose popularity, and he gives his
comments on ROH and TNA and who he thinks is being set up for a fall
at TNA. http://rap-sheet.podomatic.com/entry/2009-10-14T20_27_27-07_00
To check out more on the Nose Bleed Seats take the time to check out their myspace here.
Please note: The opinions expressed herein are those of The Nose Bleed Seats and no not necessarily reflect those of Missouri Wrestling Revival.
Missouri Wrestling Revival 