Hype Gotti and Tony Cortez, are the tag team known as “Simply the Best”. The two have more charisma than the whole locker room where they are booked. On a night before a Pro Wrestling Phoenix Show, they enlightened me with their thoughts on Missouri Wrestling Revival and at the time the Election between John McCain and Barack Obama.
When the former Pro Wrestling Phoenix Champion Abu Colossus, enters the room, Simply the Best has to use their quick wit to live another day.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the most underrated tag team in the Midwest- Simply the Best.
[Note: The views and opinions are of Simply the Best and do not represent those of the MWR staff. ]
Simply the Best will be in action this Friday, November 21, in a triple threat match for the PWP tag team titles with PWP Tag team champions the Northstar Express and the Jaysin Strife and Vic Victory. For more information goPro Wrestling Phoenix
Lethal Wrestling Alliance's undisputed best tag team, "Spitfire" Davey Vega (back) and "Blackheart" Johnny Vinyl (front).
At the end of October, Missouri Wrestling Revival reported on the emerging tag team scene in the Midwest. There are great tag teams out there that need no introduction in most regions of the MWR coverage area: Northstar Express, Phoenix Twins, Zero Gravity, Windy City Classic and LONRs are a few of the teams that fit in this category. Other strong teams include the Hybrids, Marc Godeker & Steve Anthony, Abuse of Power, Feature Presentation, Midwest Ground & Air, Gentlemen’s Club and Team W.A.R. These teams are a representation of the depth of tag team wrestling in the Midwest.
The real testament to the depth of Midwest tag team wrestling, however, comes in the form of a tag team powerhouse in a promotion with no tag team championship: “Blackheart” Johnny Vinyl & “Spitfire” Davey Vega. As the undisputed top team of the tag title deficient Lethal Wrestling Alliance, Vinyl and Vega have struggled to get the recognition each deserved. That all changed at the end of this past month when not only did they square off against arguably the best team in the MWR coverage area and the entire Midwest, The Northstar Express (Darin Corbin & Ryan Cruz), but they managed to defeat them! The victory moved Vinyl & Vega into 9th place in the 2008 MWR Tag Team Wrestling Revival Cup standings.
Earlier in the week, I had the opportunity to sit down with both Vinyl & Vega and talk about the match. We also discussed the LWA and their future. Here is the interview in its entirety:
The Lethal Wrestling Alliance (LWA), Missouri Wrestling Revival (MWR), and even many of the wrestling fans hyped the match between you two and The Northstar Express before the October 24, 2008 face off. Leading up to the match, did you feel it was being overly hyped?
Vinyl: No, I didn’t think so. It was going to be our first opportunity to prove ourselves on a national stage.
Vega: Yeah. On one hand you have the well-traveled tag team (Northstar Express). On the other, an up and coming team that a a few people know about but just needed that one high profile match to step it up.
Vinyl: It was our coming out party as one of the top teams going today, so I felt the hype was justified.
How did you prepare for the match?
Vega: I was in the gym five days a week for the two months leading up to the match. I also trained at Dynamo Pro Gym on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. It was the most I have ever prepared myself for one match. The week before the LWA show I slowed it down a bit so that I didn’t overwork myself.
Vinyl: I did everything I normally do, but doubled it. I don’t lift weights often, preferring a more cardiovascular workout. I turned my cardiovascular conditioning up a notch because I knew Corbin and Cruz were going to be well-conditioned. I wasn’t going to let them wear us down.
What was the atmosphere like in the back on the night of the match?
Vega: I’m not going to lie. I was nervous.
Vinyl: For me it was a mixture of nervousness and being psyched.
Vega: Well, my main goal was to walk out there and have a great match. I wanted to give the fans something to remember. I knew I needed to step up my game to hang with The Northstar Express.
Vinyl: I had full confidence in our team and I knew how good Corbin and Cruz are, so I had no doubt that the match would be good. It was all a matter o just how good. For me, it all just sort of washes away once our music hits, though. When it’s game time, it’s game time.
Did Northstar Express live up to the hype?
Vinyl: In my opinion they did, but that was never a doubt. They are incredibly talented and gave us the fight of our careers thus far.
Vega: They are seasoned wrestlers with years of tag experience under their belts, so of course they did.
Do you feel that this match puts the two of you on the map?
Vinyl: Boy, I hope so. The LWA website (www.lwawrestling.com) said that this was LWA’s best tag team match since the Motor City Machine Guns versus Dingo & Nick Tyson. That’s pretty high praise. I think that if nothing else this match has helped us turn a few heads.
Vega: I don’t think it will immediately pu us on the map, but as people begin recognizing how well both teams performed and that we aren’t a joke as a tag team the we’ll emerge as one of the best in the area.
Did you go into this match 100% sure of a victory?
Vega: If you haven’t noticed, Vinyl and I are very confident individuals. We go out there every time with the attitude that we are going to win.
Vinyl: There weren’t going to be any free rides in that match for the Northstar Express.
Have you received any more interest from outside promotions since your victory over Corbin and Cruz?
Vega: All American Pro Wrestling (AAPW) has a poll on their site (www.allamericanprowrestling.com) for the fans to vote on who they want to wrestle the LONRs for the AAPW Tag Team Titles. I’ve heard that we are ahead in the voting.
Vinyl: I’ve never worked for AAPW and Vinyl has only worked there once. I can only assume that some of this notoriety is from our victory over Northstar Express. I would love to work for AAPW because they have a great tag team division and the audience is radically different than what I am used to with LWA. It would be fun.
Vega: Outside of AAPW there hasn’t been much interest, yet. I think the shock will need to wear off from our big win and then more offers will roll in.
What are your thoughts on the LWA creating a tag team championship?
Vega: There have been some talks about tag titles in LWA for a long time, so hopefully it comes to fruition soon.
Vinyl: What would be the point in the LWA creating a tag team championship when there is only one team with the talent to hold it?
Vega: The belts already have a place reserved around our waists.
Where do the two of you go from here?
Vega: I plan on continuing to improve and make my name, no matter what it takes. I’ll take whatever challenge is set before me, so any company looking to book me can reach me at daveyvega85@gmail.com or http://www.myspace.com/daveyvega for booking information.
Vinyl: There is a list of companies we’d love to work for, like CHIKARA, IWA Mid South, American Luchacore, All American Wrestling, All American Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Phoenix, 3XWrestling, and more. If we continue to have matches like this past one with the Northstar Express, then we’ll be wrestling for them all sooner or later.
Any words for tag teams in the MWR coverage area?
Vinyl: I think the Midwest right now is in a strange state. We have one of the most shallow single wrestler pools, yet the tag team pool is very deep. We’d love to get in the ring with the LONRs, Phoenix Twins, Hybrds, Zero Gravity, B.A.B.E.WATCH, Osirian Portal, Cheech & Cloudy, Windy City Classic and anybody else we haven’t faced before. We’d love to keep wrestling talented teams like Northstar Express and Ego Express. If you’re a fan of tag team wrestling and you live in the Midwest, I believe right now is an exciting time and it’s only going to get better.
Vega: I can’t really add much else other than to say that I look forward to stepping in the ring with any tag team in the area.
The Northstar Express after winning the PWP Tag Team Titles
By Brian “Flair” Kelley
Photo Credits: Gary Giaffoglione
When two of the best tag teams of the Midwest hook up, the expectations for a great match is very high. On October 25th, at Pro Wrestling Phoenix the stakes were amplified. Adding on the fact that it would be for the PWP Tag team titles, as well as the spotlight of being a part of the Missouri Wrestling Revival “Best of the Midwest” DVD series.
After the dust settled between the defending Champions The LONRS (Mark Sterling and Darrin Sanders) and The Northstar Express (Ryan Cruz and Darin Corbin) the titles had changed and history had been made.
These two teams collided in a dream match that lived up to the hype and more. The action went back and forth between the two bitter enemies. The LONRS brought their “A” game and at moments looked to have the match well at hand. The Northstar to their credit withstood an early onslaught, as Sanders hit some killer kicks and Sterling nearly had the rare submission in tag team action with his “Markshooter” Sharpshooter. In the end the LONRS suffered a heartbreaking loss, but knew that they had been a part of something special. They showed respect to the Northstar Express by shaking their hands after the match but you know that they will look to regain the titles in the near future.
The bar has been set very high for others that will be a part of the MWR Best of the Midwest series thanks in part to the LONRS and the Northstar Express. The dream to help promote Independent Midwest wrestling around the world has started off in the right direction with this phenomenal match up.
I would like to thank Pro Wrestling Phoenix, the LONRS and the Northstar Express for letting MWR be a part of such an exciting event. We wish everyone involved the best and look forward to seeing them in action again very soon.
I hope that you look forward in the future for more MWR Sponsored “Best of the Midwest” matches in an independent wrestling show near you.
The Superstars of tomorrow are in the Midwest today!!
MWR would also like to congratulate Jeremy “The Rebel” Wyatt for becoming the PWP Heavyweight Champion. Wyatt was able to win the belt in the main event from the very dominating Abu Colossus in an epic battle.
By Brian “Flair” Kelley
Photo Credits: Gary Giaffoglione
The Northstar Express might have won the PWP Tag Team Titles, but young Cody Van Winkle took home the exclusive MWR T-shirt during the Pro Wrestling Phoenix Show “Night of the Rebel 2”.
MWR representative Dubray Tallman is shown here with Cody after his name was called out by PWP ring announcer KL Snow.
Your next chance to win a MWR T-shirt will be at High Voltage Wrestling in Granite City, IL on November 22nd during the intermission of a card that will have “Thee” Brandon Espinosa taking on “The Future” Donovon Ruddick for the HVW-Midwest Heavyweight Championship.
Also scheduled:
Battle of the PWI 500 Superstars, Jeremy Wyatt(449) Vs. Kahagas (373)
Mark Sterling Vs. Da Cobra
The Ego Express VS Brett Young and Mike Sydal
By Brian “Flair” Kelley
Photo Credits: Gary Giaffoglione
Mark your calendar on October 25, 2008 to be in Council Bluffs Iowa. You have been personally invited by Missouri Wrestling Revival (MWR) and Pro Wrestling Phoenix (PWP) to be a part of the Missouri Wrestling Revival’s “Midwest Best Series”. PWP Tag Team Champions the LONRS (Mark Sterling and Darrien Sanders) will defend their titles against the Northstar Express (Darin Corbin and Ryan Cruz).
[Mark Sterling and Darrien Sanders have had a stranglehold on the Pro Wrestling Phoenix Titles, with no plans on letting go anytime soon.]
[The Northstar Express (Darin Corbin and Ryan Cruz) shown here with the stunning Allison Wonderland look to win the PWP Tag Team Championship.]
When Josh and I were in discussions with Pro Wrestling Phoenix about being a part of the series, Pro Wrestling Phoenix said, “You are in luck, because we have the two best tag teams in the Midwest going at it for the tag team titles and this could very well be the match of the year.”
The MWR staff has a dream of delivering you, the fans, the best wrestling in the Midwest. We are one step closer with this dream match of two teams that will undoubtedly make it to the next level if they are given the opportunity. Both teams are masters of the double team. Sterling methodically wears opponents down with his brutal submissions, while his partner Sanders can hit a kick out of no where to end the match at any second. The Northstar Express work together so well that their opponents feel as if they are fighting both at the same time. This causes mass confusion within the ring, which they always swing to their advantage.
This isn’t the first time these two teams have met, though it may very well be the most important. The Northstar Express has the bragging rights as they are ranked number one at this time in the Missouri Wrestling Revival tag team rankings and have won titles all around the Midwest. The problem lies in the fact that the LONRS have had their number in Pro Wrestling Phoenix in the past year with two successful title defenses.
PWP tag team gold is slipping away from the Northstar Express, a team that is not only used to winning, but in winning often. Their first chance came on April 26th, the card was called “A New Era” but on that night there would be no changes even with the beautiful and deadly Allison Wonderland in their corner. With intense action throughout the match, it could have gone either way but to the shock of the PWP fans, Sterling used a roll up to get the win. What the ref didn’t notice was that Sterling had his hand on the ropes for leverage. The LONRS left the ring with their signature cocky smirks and on that night they were 1-0 against one of the best tag teams of the Midwest.
[The Northstar Express work as a team with perfect execution on Sanders in their first match in April.]
With the Northstar Express feeling as if they were close to unseating the Champions once before, they surely thought they could add to their belt collection on July 19, 2008 at “Battle of the Phoenix”. The match was highly competitive but once again the LONRs stole another victory. When Sterling had the ref distracted, Sanders blasted Cruz with the belt. Sterling, in turn, went to dump Corbin outside of the ring. With Cruz still woozy from the belt shot, Sterling covered Cruz for the easy cheap win. The LONRs’ smirk was still present and they had upped their lead between the two teams at 2-0.
[Ryan Cruz goes to the air to hit Mark Sterling. Exciting moves from both teams will be abundant throughout the night on October 25 when these two teams meet once again.]
I was able to catch up with Mark Sterling this weekend and he was cocky as ever when I asked him about this monumental event. He demanded I give this message for the Northstar Express:
“Third time will NOT be a charm for you, Northstar Express! Me and Showtime know all about how talented you are, how you are arguably the best team in the Midwest, but PWP is OUR HOUSE. We are the elite team in the Midwest and we will prove it at your expense. We built the PWP tag division up and you will not take our belts. We want you to bring everything you got, because we are hungry and eager to beat you at your own game. We have no respect, We have no regret. The Revolution is ready for you!”
Darin Corbin, after hearing Mark’s warning had this to say:
“You know what Mark Sterling? If you want to beat us at our game you better bring your PS3 or Xbox 360… because we both are pretty good at Guitar Hero. However, if you want to settle this in the ring, we can do that too. What do you plan on doing this time to retain your precious titles that you supposedly built up?”
“Belt shot? Check.”
“Use the ropes? Check.”
“What else do you guys got left? Maybe I’m not giving you enough credit. Maybe… just maybe… you’ll tell the armory (your house may I add) that you can’t pay the electric bill and when we are about to get the 3 count lights go out and you guys take off. Hmmmm, what’s it gonna be? The NSE knows the tricks of the trade. We’ve been known to bend the rules once, twice, maybe 100 times. But you know what? Just because our halos are bent doesn’t mean we aren’t angels. We just got a devil side.”
“So do whatever you want. Say whatever you want. Just make sure the belts are ready for us when we get there.”
“See you on Oct 25th”
Will the LONRS be the team that continues to have the Northstar’s number, or will the NSE cement themselves as the best tag tag team in the Midwest? Someone is going to have their pride hurt in Council Bluffs, IA on October 25, 2008.
Pro Wrestling Phoenix will also deliver some great action with PWP Heavyweight Champ Abu Colossus defending the title against the #1 ranked wrestler in the entire MWR Coverage area, “The Rebel” Jeremy Wyatt!
Tony Cortez and Jaysin Strife square off in a grudge match!
Hype Gotti vs Vic Victory!
Top Midwest star “Anarchist” Arik Cannon vs PWP’s own Zac James!
“#1″Brett Young accepts the challenge of Chris Havius!
All this and more!
National Guard Armory
2415 E. Kanesville Blvd.
Council Bluffs, IA 51503
Doors Open at 6:30
Show Starts at 7:00
Front Row: $15
General Admission: $12
Join Pro Wrestling Phoenix and Missouri Wrestling Revival and see what could easily be the match of the year. For more Information, check out
Pro Wrestling Phoenix at www.prowrestlingphoenix.com.
With Halloween just weeks away, MWR and Midwest wrestling fans move into the fourth and final quarter of 2008. The third quarter is over and done with, so let’s reflect on the biggest winners of July, August and September as voted on by the MWR Awards Committee:
Wrestler of the Quarter
“Delicious” Devin Carter [3XWrestling]
3XW Heavyweight Champion "Delicious" Devin Carter
1st Runner Up – Hunter Matthews
2nd Runner Up – Tyler Black
3rd Runner Up – “The Future” Donovan Ruddick
Others receiving votes: KC Karrington.
Tag Team of the Quarter
Zero Gravity (Brett Gakiya & CJ Esparza)
[Scott County Wrestling]
1st Runner Up – Northstar Express (Darin Corbin & Ryan Cruz)
2nd Runner Up – Feature Presentation (Blake Steel & Eric Ruffington)
3rd Runner Up – Gentlemen’s Club (Gage Octane & Mark Sterling)
Others receiving votes: LONRs (Darrien Sanders & Mark Sterling).
Woman of the Quarter
Stacey O’Brien [World League Wrestling]
WLW Ladies Champion Stacey O'Brien
1st Runner Up – Alexis Lightfoot
2nd Runner Up – Amy Hennig
3rd Runner Up – MsChif
Promotion of the Quarter
3XWrestling
1st Runner Up – Lethal Wrestling Alliance
2nd Runner Up – World League Wrestling
3rd Runner Up – Pro Wrestling Phoenix
Personality of the Quarter
Gary Giaffoglione [Pro Wrestling Phoenix]
1st Runner Up – KL Snow
2nd Runner Up – The Mad Conservative Crimefighter
3rd Runner Up – Tiffany LaFane
Others receiving votes: Todd Countryman.
Match of the Quarter
8-Man Survivor Series Streetfight:
Submission Squad vs Ego Express & Bearded Men from Space Station 11 [Lethal Wrestling Alliance]
(July 12, 2008 in O’Fallon, IL)
1st Runner Up –
AAW Heavyweight Title Match:
Jerry Lynn vs Tyler Black [All American Wrestling]
(July 12, 2008 in Berwyn, IL)
2nd Runner Up –
Kensuke Sasaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima vs Keith Walker & Oliver John [World League Wrestling]
(September 19, 2008 in Eldon, MO)
3rd Runner Up –
Cage Match for the SCW Heavyweight Title:
Shane Hollister vs Marek Brave [Scott County Wrestling]
(September 12, 2008 in Davenport, IA)
Others receiving votes:
Nosebleed Seats Undisputed Heavyweight Title Match:
Mississippi Madman vs Bobby Houston
[Mid Pro Wrestling]
(September 27, 2008 in Decatur, IL)
Missouri Wrestling Revival (MWR) jump starts the “Midwest Best Series” on October 17, 2008 in Des Moines, IA with 3XW Pure Champ Tyler Cook facing Shane Hollister with the title on the line. The Midwest Best Series is sure to get off to a good start, but the match following is sure to live up to the hype.
The number one ranked Northstar Express (Darin Corbin & Ryan Cruz) take a trip to Council Bluffs, IA on October 25, 2008 to face the Pro Wrestling Phoenix Tag Team Champions, the LONRs (Darrien Sanders & Mark Sterling)!
More information will be released in the near future at www.missouriwrestlingrevival.com, but until then here is the rundown of the rest of the PWP card that day:
PWP Heavyweight Champ Abu Colossus defends the title against the #1 ranked wrestler in the entire MWR Coverage area, “The Rebel” Jeremy Wyatt!
Tony Cortez and Jaysin Strife square off in a grudge match!
Hype Gotti vs Vic Victory!
Top Midwest star “Anarchist” Arik Cannon vs PWP’s own Zac James!
“#1” Brett Young accepts the challenge of Chris Havius!
All this and more!
National Guard Armory
2415 E. Kanesville Blvd.
Council Bluffs, IA 51503
Ranked at the top of all tag teams in the MWR coverage area, the team of Darin Corbin and Ryan Cruz, collectively known as The Northstar Express, has dominated nearly all competition that the area has to offer. They are multiple-time tag champions for All American Wrestling where some of the best tag teams in the Midwest make their home, including the Motor City Machine Guns. They also hold the distinction of being the longest reigning 3XWrestling Tag Team Champions at 20 months. Make no mistake about it, The Northstar Express are for real.
There are few tag teams in the world, much less in the Midwest, that operate as a unit the way that Corbin and Cruz do. Both could be contenders in singles competition for any promotion in the area, but somehow they’ve managed to take their skills individually and multiply them by forming such a successful tag team. With a match versus the LONRs for Pro Wrestling Phoenix, an immenent showdown with the tag team that Pearl Harbor’d them out of the 3XW tag belts (Gentlemen’s Club) and a highly anticipated match against Johnny Vinyl & Davey Vega for Lethal Wrestling Alliance on the the horizon, not to mention the AAW Tag Team Titles to defendin one of the toughest tag divisions around, The Northstar Express has an unprecedented opportunity to show they are the best of the best.
On October 1, 2008, both members of The Northstar Express made their way down to MWR Headquarters in Lebanon, MO to talk with me about some of the pressing issues facing them for the remainder of the year and beyond. It was explained to me before the interview that Cruz was preparing for his grudge match against Mark Sterling at 3XW’s “BAM-O-Ween” on October 17, 2008. He wanted to focus on his mindset leading into the match, so his partner Darin Corbin did all of the talking.
First of all, I want to thank you both for talking with me today. There is a growing buzz surrounding The Northstar Express in the MWR coverage area, but people want to know what brought you two together as a team. What brought Darin Corbin and Ryan Cruz to the tag team party?
Darin Corbin: Well, we’ve actually known each other since we were in 1st grade, so it’s only fitting that we would end up as a team. I mean, we used to wreak havoc from when we were 7-years old all the way up through school, so why not do it in the ring? I guess you could say it was just fate.
I’ve heard you both make a bold claim to a tag team title from some promotion I’ve never heard of. The interplanetary something or other. What’s the name again?
Darin Corbin: We are the Intergalactic, Presidential, Transcontinental, Atlantic to Pacific, Extreme Tag Team Champions of the Universe. And there is a reason you’ve never heard of it, its not a promotion. It was an honor bestowed upon us by the United Galaxy of Wrestling when we became the first team to win tag titles on another planet. Let’s see any other team boast that. Plus, we have the belts to prove it.
Ah, yes. Anyways, how did you come about winning these belts?
Darin Corbin: Simple, we beat the best that the Universe had to offer. How else would you win tag belts? Huh?
What are your thoughts about pro wrestling in the MWR coverage area (Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Illinois), particularly the tag team scene?
Darin Corbin: Well, I must say that having publicity is always a great thing for pro wrestling. It’s good to see that people’s efforts are acknowledged. And I do believe that we are number one tag team in the rankings, so that can’t hurt right? Anything with the Northstar Express on it turns heads. That’s what we do. But in all honesty, the more the merrier. MWR is definitely covering wrestling positively and you recognize talent when you see it. Keep it up.
Thank you. Recently at a 3XW event in Des Moines, IA, your 3XW Tag Team Title reign was ended by the Gentlemen’s Club (Mark Sterling & Gage Octane) in dastardly fashion after over a year as champs. Care to give your thoughts?
Darin Corbin: A 20 month reign, to be exact.
Well, anybody can come out and win a match when it’s 1-on-2, and they (the opponents) have already had to wrestle another match prior to that and one of them is injured and can’t walk. Pretty stacked deck if you ask me. However, do I just sit here and think about how terrible it was, and say, “that’s not fair guys, give us the belts back”? No. We win them back. That’s what we do.
Imagine this, Northstar Express versus Gentlemen’s Club: no previous matches; both teams at one hundred percent… Come on! There is no way that those too buffoons will keep those belts.
At the same show, you were injured with a possible ACL tear. Care to give the fans an update?
Darin Corbin: Well, the good news is that there was no ACL tear. I thought I was going to be out for eight months to a year originally. Since then I’ve been out of action, and I’ve been to five doctor appointments… nobody has told me what EXACTLY happened. So here’s what I’ve been doing: just waiting. Do you know how hard that is when all you want to do is wrestle?
I’ve got goals to accomplish when I come back. So until then, I’m just waiting patiently getting back to 100%.
What does this injury do for the Northstar Express’ future plans?
Darin Corbin: Well, its not like Ryan Cruz can’t handle himself.
(Corbin points at Cruz, who just simply nods his head once.)
Obviously I’m there for moral support, but you haven’t seen the last of me or the last of the NSE… not even close. Just wait, when we get back together it will be like I never left and we never hit this little snag.
You’re slated to make your debut for St. Louis’ Lethal Wrestling Alliance on October 24, 2008 against a tag team that has gained a reputation for being ruthless in their pursuit of victory, Johnny Vinyl & Davey Vega. First, will you be able to compete as a tag team for that show? Secondly, what are your thoughts on Vinyl and Vega?
Darin Corbin: Hmm… good question. Will I be ready? Honestly, I don’t know if I’ll be at one hundred percent, but I want to be there. It wouldn’t be a show without The Northstar Express now, would it?
So you describe Vinyl & Vega as ruthless? You know what…I’m pretty ruthless myself. I injured my knee and took myself out of action! If I would do that to myself, imagine what I’d do to others.
(Corbin laughs.)
Now that my friends…is ruthless.
Here’s a question for you. Is this Vega from Street Fighter II? Because that would be sweet.
No, I don’t think he is.
Darin Corbin: Bummer.
Yeah.
Darin Corbin: Seriously.
Now that we have that out of the way, who do each of you feel is the toughest tag team in the Midwest, other than yourselves?
Darin Corbin: I would have to honestly say the Phoenix Twins. You know what the hard part is about identical twins… they look alike. It’s confusing.
Past or present, what tag team do you feel you’d need to beat to be known as the all-time greatest?
Darin Corbin: Well, I think the best thing we could do is establish ourselves by beating an undefeated team that headlined a major PPV during the wrestling boom.. and once we beat DDP & Jay Leno, I don’t think that anybody can argue with us being the top team in the industry. And then we could get our own late night show.
Final question, guys. Ryan Cruz vs Darin Corbin. Who wins?
Darin Corbin: Unfortunately this match would never take place because the universe would collapse in on itself. Actually, talking about it puts us at risk… let’s end this interview.
“#1” Brett Young
A Sit Down Interview by Brian “Flair” Kelley
Brett Young is hard to forget. Just before his music starts and he comes through the curtain, a voice booms over the loudspeakers:
“The shiznitty of the city and the M.V.P. of this company. I’m the most charismatic guy on the show, because I’m Numero Uno Brett: You-Know!!”
That may very well be an understatement, as Brett Young is a multi dimensional wrestler. Many in this era want to be hardcore, a high flyer, or just simply like the next wrestler, but Brett Young is one of a kind.
Brett Young’s year has been full of ups and downs in 2008. While wrestling with NWA Central States Wrestling (CSW), he was able to win the NWA Kansas Championship in March only to see the organization fall on hard times and cease operations. Though it may have been rough to see a dream come true only to have it fizzle out, Brett went to work for Pro Wrestling Phoenix and quickly set his sights on the PWP Heavyweight Title. He was close to that goal, too, just coming up short in PWP’s August show “Raising the Bar” against the mighty Abu Colossus.
I am happy to have had the opportunity to sit down with “#1” Brett Young.
Brett, when did you decide to become a pro wrestler and who in fact trained you?
In the fall of 1998 was when I started wrestling. Psycho Sandman out of St. Joseph trained me with the help of Michael Strider. As I progressed a few years later in the southern territory of Memphis I actually learned a lot more about the psychology aspect (of wrestling).
[Brett Young had no time for fun and games in this classic match with the monster Abyss for Central States Wrestling.]
In March at a CSW show you were scheduled to wrestle Mark Sterling for the vacant NWA Kansas Championship, but when you arrived you were told by CSW management that you would have to qualify for the opportunity to wrestle Mark for the title later on that night. The twist was this: your qualifying match would not be a one on one contest, but rather an elimination match that would include the likes of Tony Cortez, Hype Gotti, Jeremy Wyatt, Jaysin Strife and Darrien Sanders. What was going on in your mind when you found out that some of the best pro wrestlers in the Midwest were in your way as you attempted to make history?
For one it really pissed me off, because I was already billed as the number one contender, to be prepared for Sterling that evening just to be put into another match with so many obstacles was disappointing, but the cards were dealt. I went into the match with one objective and that was to get the opportunity to become the NWA Kansas Champion.
You were able to overcome the odds of the elimination match, though. The crowd was thrilled and you were in the zone, but such a match surely must have taken a lot out of you. Add on to that the fact that the match with Mark Sterling was that very night. Sterling looked to have underestimated you and seemed to think that with the energy rush of your win and the hard work you had put into it, you would tire and give up. It was a strategy that he would regret. He attempted many sleeper holds and leaned on you throughout the match. In the end, he allowed you to use a little magic in the match when you puled a handkerchief from your ring jacket and, while the ref wasn’t looking, turned it into a three-foot magicians wand which you used to strike Mark Sterling. You followed it up with a “One and Done” for the win. With the crowd chanting “Number One! Number One” you were the NWA Kansas Champion. That match led to you being named the MWR Wrestler of the Month for March. What was that moment in your life like?
Through out the match Sterling really brought his A game and pardon my French, he truly was beating the shit out of me. I just continued to tough it out and in the back of my mind I thought something will happen to give me an opening and I would have something to work with. Eventually he started to get distracted and frustrated. He started to lose his cool and with that opening I felt the energy which allowed me to get the upper hand and bring a little magic to the match. With a little assistance of the wand, I hit him in the throat and like you said, that led to the “one and done” for the win.
That moment in my life was very special. Not only did Central States Wrestling think I deserved a shot, but the NWA believed it as well. I was overwhelmed, joyful, and excited to have such a prestigious belt and it was very rewarding.
In other matches you been known to use magic to your advantage as you did to win the Kansas Championship. Is there any chance that you could change careers on us and be the next David Copperfield?
Though I am very capable to do a small magic show, I do magic for fun and feel as if that is a talent that sets me apart from the many wrestlers who are out there today. Many times I hear the fans call for magic, so it truly has its place in a Brett Young match. It always keeps the fans eyes on the match, as they never know what they might miss.
Brett, it has to be asked, so I’ll just come out and say it. A sad day in the Midwest wrestling community was when CSW announced that they were closing their doors. What did CSW mean to you and do you have any comments for what former promoter Martin T called the “Death of CSW”?
That is very personal to me, because I started in Central States Wrestling. I worked every show that they have ever run in ten years minus three shows. Central States Wrestling is me. It is everything I stand for. It is everything that I have put my whole wrestling career into. I don’t spend my time on the independent circuit looking to get rich. That’s not important to me. CSW was my home and my heart. I felt it was inappropriate whenever Martin T put it in the words of “The Death of CSW”. I felt as if it was also incorrect.
Fine, it was over. They are closing doors. But to be claiming the death of CSW and that you are almighty and destroyed it was disappointing. I put a lot into that company and into Martin T as well as the other people that helped promote, book and put time and effort in Central States Wrestling. I always appreciated and treated everybody good and that was almost a slap in the face. As for the company, I care very deeply about CSW and it is sad. But like all good things, it must come to and end. I must move on and that is what I will do.
On a brighter note, while wrestling with CSW has come to a close, you have been very active with Pro Wrestling Phoenix. Once again when the opportunity knocked, you knocked the door down as you won the PWP 2008 Phoenix Challenge to become the new number one contender to Abu Colossus’ Heavyweight Title. This was after defeating one of hottest stars in the Midwest Arik Cannon earlier in the night. Explain to readers out there, what is a Phoenix Challenge match and what was your strategy going into it?
A Phoenix challenge is an over the top Royal Rumble type match where two men start the match and every thirty seconds or a minute a new wrestler enters the ring until all twenty-five men have been a part of the match. I was the twelfth man and, not to be cocky, but I am smarter than most of these guys who have wrestled for one or two years. When you have been in the business and you have been around for a long time you start to figure things out, so I work smarter not harder. I let them beat themselves up.
It came down to me, Payday Patterson and Arik Cannon. This in itself was a problem, as you stated I had defeated Cannon in a very tough match earlier in the night, but I also was able to get the win on Patterson the month before. These two guys double teamed up on me and attempted twice to eliminate me with the thought that I was over and done but I just never quit and their underestimating me was the one mistake that I would capitalize on. I was the last man standing and looked forward to taking on Abu.
[Brett Young will not let you forget who #1 truly is. From the wardrobe to the smirk on his face, he feels as if he should be the standard that wrestlers are judged by.]
With the victory at the 2008 Phoenix Challenge, you were granted a shot at the PWP Heavyweight title owned by the powerful Abu Colossus in August. Before the match started you claimed that PWP management would have to give you the belt due the fact that Abu would have to forfeit the belt. You even took the time to brag about having some friends “get the job done” yet it was not meant to be as Abu appeared much to your dismay. Throughout the match you did everything you could to get the upper hand without having any luck. You were holding your own on the big man, yet you still had your friends, PWP bad boys Simply the Best (Hype Gotti and “Babyface” Tony Cortez) assisting you with your dirty deeds. Abu would land the Colossal Slam for the win, though. What problems did Abu present and how close did you feel you were to the PWP title?
The night before me and my boys roughed him up when we jumped him outside a supermarket. We took a shot at it and I thought for sure that he would not be able to come and defend his title.
Abu is tough as nails and to be honest even I underestimated how strong he is. When he lifted me with surprising ease, he proceeded to literally drop me on my head and I felt it for days after. I fought and I fought and at one time I thought I would have him prepared for a little magic, but he was not having any of it as he did his homework. On that night he was able to attain the title, but I hope to get another shot and next time it may not be as sweet for him.
That match set up a six man tag team match at Malicious Mayhem in September with you and Simply the Best taking on Abu, Vic Victory and Jaysin Strife.
Abu really wanted to take on myself and Simply the Best, 3 on 1. He really has some balls. Victory and Strife came out and said “let’s make it a six man tag”. I felt very confidant as I have defeated both Victory and Strife. I felt as if I should have beaten Abu. I thought as if we had the match won hands down. The match was wild and had bodies flying everywhere; at one time we had Strife in a world of trouble as we continued to beat him on our side of the ring. As with any time you have so many men in a match anything can happen, before we knew it the match was over and we ended up losing that night.
This year you have had the chance to show All American Pro Wrestling fans the talent that you possess, where else should a wrestling fan hope to see you at and what are your goals as 2008 comes to a close?
I am going to try to pick up bookings in the next coming months. I look forward to wrestling with All American Pro Wrestling in October so definitely check me out there. I plan on working with Tony Scarpone and Underground wrestling in Chicago, possibly in Denver for Rocky Mountain Championship Wrestling. You know you can always see me here in Pro Wrestling Phoenix and I look to take over 3XW, too.
Last but not least, you were the last NWA Kansas Champion. Is there any chance that the NWA will give you the opportunity to face NWA Missouri Champion Dingo? It’s a match that I feel you rightfully deserve?
I would like to do that. I don’t have bad blood with Dingo as he has been a friend in the past, so it would be a match built on respect. He is a great wrestler. Dingo is very talented and agile and has an arsenal of moves that he brings to a match, which makes it hard to prepare for. It would be a challenge but one that I am prepared for, and if I am ever asked, I will bring my all for that match.
I would like to thank Brett Young for taking the time for the interview. Brett is a talented wrestler who has a love and respect for the business and always gives a 100 percent whenever he wrestles. Next month you can see “#1” Brett Young at All American Pro Wrestling in Royalton, IL on October 18th, as well as on October 25th for Pro Wrestling Phoenix where he will battle Chris Havius.
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]
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)
Missouri Wrestling Revival 