Missouri Wrestling Revival is so blessed to have the talents of Dartallion Allen Jr. as a long time contributor of MWR. Wrestling fans have enjoyed his artworks on the site that is called MWR Top Draws featuring the likes of, Kurt Angle, AJ Styles , Samoa Joe as well as local stars like Gary Jay, Brandon Aarons and “Miss Natural” Heather Patera.
Dartallion Allen Jr. is set to honor each of the 2016 MWR Award recipients with their very own MWR Top Draw. The first one finished is none other than the 2016 Female Wrestler of the Year,Monica Passeri . The MWR plaque is sponsored by SICW Promoter Herb Simmons and will feature this very own artwork in the frame, so be sure to look for the presentation of the plaque in the near future at this very site.
If you would like to have some artwork done by the very talented Dartallion Allen Jr. here is how to do so. Tell him MWR set you.
Email Dartallion21x@gmail.com
Instagram and Twitter: Dartallion21x
9×12 Bristol board sketch : $25/ with grey tones $35
11×14 Bristol board sketch $35
/ with grey tones $45
11×17 Bristol board sketch $45/ grey tones free
Digital color prints 8×10,11×14,11×17
$10, $15, $20
It is a pleasure to have with us today pro wrestler and owner of St. Louis Anarchy Matt Jackson, better known to wrestling fans as Pierre Abernathy. Since his debut in 2003, Pierre has made an impact in the wrestling scene in many aspects of the wrestling business. Pierre, thank you for taking the time to speaking with us at Missouri Wrestling Revival
Pierre: No problem, thanks for having me.
MWR: What was your first memories of pro wrestling and who did you look up to growing up?
Pierre: The first pro wrestling event I can remember watching live was WrestleMania VI with Hogan vs. Warrior.
I was a huge Hogan fan so when he lost that sucked for me. I can remember going to the STL arena watching all the WWF live shows and I was at the only show WWF did at the old Busch Stadium, so that was cool.
MWR: The first opportunity that I got to see you in action was in Lawrence, Kansas for NWA Central States Wrestling as you and Gary Jay lost a three way to Nick Tyson on September 30, 2006. At that point you had been wrestling a little over than three years. How did you get your start in pro wrestling and who were the most helpful in your success?
Pierre: I first got my start when I met Jordan Lacey, he bought a ring and we were going to train in it. The issue was that he didn’t have the training to train us and to his credit he knew that. Most guys would NEVER admit that they had no business training people but he did. We later met Adam Raw and Nick Tyson and they did our training.
Adam Raw- Photo Michael Van Hoogstratt
From there they started the LWA and we worked there and branched into Gateway Championship Wrestling. Unlike most guys, our trainers did not travel, so we didn’t have a lot of help getting out of town shots. It was Matt Sydal and Delirious who taught us in a 12-hour seminar that we needed to get in a car and get out of STL and make résumés and start sending them out and do seminars all over and that is what we did.
MWR: What early match that you had gave you the confidence to succeed as a pro wrestler?
Pierre: Honestly I can’t think of one match. I always had confidence in my promo work more than my wrestling at the start. I think if I had to pick a break out match, I had a three-way match with Gary and Dorian Victor kind of early on that I liked. Plus, working Gary every weekend in a new state we could feel ourselves growing as wrestlers every week.
MWR: You would be part of the group that would spearhead The Lethal Wrestling Alliance. Who else were involved and what is the legacy of that promotion?
Pierre: Honestly I didn’t have anything to do with the start of LWA. LWA was started by Adam Raw and Jordan Taylor. When Jordan went into the Navy it went into the committee of five guys: Adam Raw, Nick Tyson, Frank Cashion, Mike D and Tim P ( I don’t want to butcher the spelling of their last names).
Jordan Lacey has been a part of the most brutal matches in the modern era of STL wrestling. Here he wars it out against the former MWR Future Star winner Alex Rudolph.
So Tyson was supposed to write the shows and book the talent but he wasn’t doing it, so I would in the background write the shows and send them with him to meetings and no one would know about it and he would get the credit. Fast forward a few years, he was going to quit, so Raw was kind of freaking out thinking he would have to write the shows all himself. I had to tell him I was really doing it all this time, which shocked him and so then I started writing and booking talent from there. Years later when the others quit, it became myself, Raw and Jordan Lacey. In the end of LWA, it was just me and Jordan Lacey.
Many of the top rising stars int the sport has made their way to SLA.
MWR: Fans at LWA were blessed to enjoy some great matches featuring local talent against many of the top stars in the world. Not too long ago, Austin Aries was the TNA World Champion, Davey Richards was a Ring of Honor World Champion and most recently one half of the TNA Tag Team Champions with Eddie Edwards, and Samoa Joe is quite possibly the most talked about free agent in the world today, but they all entered the squared circle at LWA.
These matches along with other stars including Delirious, Mike Quackenbush and The Motor Machine Guns against LWA homegrown talents are featured on the DVD US vs. Them (click here to purchase). What memories stand out about this historic matches at LWA?
Pierre: There are tons of thoughts I have about that. The two big ones being the first “name talent” we ever used was Alex Shelley and our fans hated him with a passion because he was facing their guy in Nick Tyson and when Tyson tapped him out the legit emotion that came after is what this business is about to me: real emotion. The Second was Samoa Joe: A lot of people were saying behind my back (but I hear everything) that I was making a big mistake putting Dorian in that match and not Adam Raw, and to be honest at that time Raw was a better wrestler than Dorian—hell, Dorian was only a few years in, I think. However, Dorian grew from that match and it taught him how to step up… That’s my job: I have to force you to go outside of your comfort zone and step up to the plate, because if you can’t I need to know that before you fall on your face in maybe a way bigger situation. That night Dorian stepped up and grew from it.
MWR: You are a member of the famed Submission Squad with. Time has shown that you guys are among the most entertaining tag teams in the country, but early on in your career you teamed up with Evan Gelistico against Davey Vega and Gary the Barn Owl to showcase LWA for Chikara’s King of Trios 2009. In a weekend filled with top Indy wrestling stars like Bryan Danielson (Future WWE Champion Daniel Bryan), Austin Aries, and El Generico (WWE’SSami Zayn) , the match would receive chants of “DON’T COME BACK!” Many men after that night may have given up, but it only shows how much heart that the four of you had, during that time. Many people snickered and counted you out, but you guys have had the last laugh by becoming among the most traveled talents in the country. Looking back what went wrong, what could you have done different and what advice would you have for a young wrestler that would experience such a situation?
Pierre: I would say that you cannot let what people say bother you. When that happened to be honest it didn’t bother me, it did more the other guys for different reasons. Vega because he lacked confidence anyway so that almost killed him, Gary because the ECW arena was his dream and we just got booed out of it and Evan because he loved the idea of working Chikara. I am telling the God’s honest truth that it didn’t bother me because I was expecting it the whole time. Here you have the biggest weekend of the Chikara calendar with legit stars from all over the world and then you have four dudes from a company in Missouri that none of them knew.. How were they supposed to treat us? Plus, we did ourselves zero favors because of the way we worked the match. We are known for our personalities and we showed zero of it and that is what sucked. However we made a lot of money after that match because people wanted to see if either A) we really sucked or B) they knew we didn’t and wanted to bring us out. So I would do it all again, plus we went back there in 2014 and killed it, so it came full circle for us.
MWR: As I mentioned you have traveled around the country, including Canada. What has been your personal favorite places to wrestle and why?
Pierre: I love most every trip but I’ll pick one place and say ACW in Texas. Texas was like my second home for many years and I love the fans and friends I made there. Some of my favorite memories came from hangouts I had in Texas.
MWR: For seven years the LWA was known for an alternative style of wrestling that combined strong style, hardcore, comedy and good times for the fans, but a new day came that saw you announce the merging with the Texas based promotion known as Anarchy Championship Wrestling (ACW). That decision has allowed the fans to see many of the top stars of the Texas area make their way to the Midwest, while giving the young stars in this area to grow by challenging themselves against other top talents that may not have a chance to work with. In your eyes, who have taken advantage of working in the land of Anarchy and who are some of the top young stars that fans should have their eyes on for the future?
Pierre: Since we started Anarchy, we have seen ACH become a top star in the USA and I won’t do what a lot of others do and try and take credit for that man’s success. His success has helped us grow, so thank you to him.
Gary Jay and Davey Vega are in my opinion the two top guys in the area and they prove that every time they work in a ring. The fact neither of them are under a contract is a shame. The Hooligans are guys you have seen grow in Anarchy. Christian Rose has been tearing it up other places for a while but our fans are finally seeing how good he is. Two guys who I think could be the next 2 big stars are Jo Jo Bravo and Mat Fitchett. Jo Jo has gotten really good really fast and it’s up to Fitchett how far he wants to go. He has been ready for a long time now. One guy to watch I think is Everett Connor; I call him my new project because he is a good kid with potential.
The only guy who I think may be worse now than he was when we started SLA is Evan Gelistico… [sarcasm]
MWR: The Submission Squad was ranked number 12 in 2011 in the MWR’S top 30 tag teams during the MWR years. Four years later, the SS is still running strong, even capturing the Metro Pro Wrestling Tag Team titles recently as the Commission.
Because LWA and later SLA did not have tag belts along with the outside travel, it may have hurt your rankings in the poll. That year a team that you guys know very well the Hooligans were ranked number one, and are currently the St. Louis Anarchy tag team Champions. What has made the Hooligans and the Submission Squad such a great rivalry?
Pierre: We just have good chemistry and we strive to do the same thing and that’s have a great match. We clicked since the first match we had at an IHW show in Dupo IL.
At one time we worked with the Hooligans at least once a weekend for like five months in a row, I think… Plus those guys love tag team wrestling as much as we do so it’s easy, The Hooligans are amazing talents.
MWR: SLA has recently been the home of double shot weekends in Alton, Illinois. You have promoted events for years, what are the advantages and disadvantages of having back to back events?
Pierre: Well it doubles the stress. I mean we have only done two, so I really do not know yet. I’ll say the advantage is for the fans as they will get 2 events a weekend instead of 1. As we keep going with this I am sure more advantages and disadvantages will come clear.
MWR: St. Louis Anarchy events have always been a can’t-miss show as talents around the world have been in action during each of your events. Men like Kyle O’Reilly, Michael Elgin, Chris Hero, the Young Bucks, Davey Richards, Akira Tozawa, and TJ Perkins have all appeared in the past. Who would you like to see that has not appeared yet?
Pierre: We used him in LWA but I really want to bring our fans Alex Shelley as he was supposed to work a show but got hurt. I am hoping to bring some more guys from overseas in. To be honest we will always use that name talent that people have come to think about when thinking of SLA but I am wanting to use more guys who are great but not maybe as well known…. Like there are Gary Jays and Davey Vegas all over the USA who are great but just can’t get breaks and I want to give them their breaks because you never know who could be the next ACH that you just are overlooking.
MWR: On August the 21st and 22nd, Circus Maximus 2015, an event what many fans say is THE event of the year for SLA? Circus Maximus has always delivered with a great mix of national talent as well as the top rising stars around the country. I am going to do a rundown of this years’ SLA talent pool for the double shot weekend and I would like for you to give your thoughts on them. We will start off with the current SLA Champion Gary Jay.
Pierre: Hardest working man in Anarchy, he tears down the house every time and then is the first person to lead people in tearing down the ring. He gives his all to the company and should be getting more chances outside it.
MWR: Tommaso Ciampa
Pierre: I’m looking forward to seeing him in SLA. He’s a tough dude so guys will have their hands full with him.
MWR: Davey Vega
Pierre: The “Ace of Anarchy” isn’t just a nickname, it is who Vega has become. He went from a guy who would legit vomit before a match to a guy who I know will always have one of the best matches on the show. He’s the man.
MWR: Mat Fitchett
Pierre: The Dirty Rook could be a star if he is able to really hit the road and do it. Sometimes though real life things are more important but he’s an awesome talent.
MWR: Jonathan Gresham
Pierre: He won’t be at Circus Maximus, but he’s an amazing hold for hold wrestler who stole the weekend at Gateway to Anarchy.
MWR: Jo Jo Bravo
Pierre: One of the top up and comers in Anarchy. He has held his own with some of the best in the world.
MWR: Christian Rose
Pierre: Great talker and wrestler and our fans are getting to finally see that. Plus, behind the curtain I love talking good and–even better–shitty wrestling with Rose more than maybe anybody.
MWR: Matt Cage
Pierre: He’s a lot like Rose in that he has been tearing it up other places and our fans will finally get to see more of that in Anarchy.
MWR: Angelus Lane
Pierre: The 1st lady of Anarchy. I am very proud of Layne. She has grown by leaps and bounds as a wrestler and she improves every event we have.
MWR: Viking War Party
Pierre: Going to have to buy me chairs if they keep breaking them. Both guys are awesome. Alex I have known since before he started, I am happy every time I see them work and get better and better.
MWR: Ricky Starks
Pierre: Big deal in Texas and I think he can do the same here so keep your eyes on him as I think he is going to do well.
MWR: The Cause: Mr. Gelistico, Mr. Raw, Mr. Adams, Mr. Everett
Pierre: We will have to see.
MWR: Zakk Sawyers
Pierre: The 2014 Anarchy Rookie of the year. He’s not a rookie but was in Anarchy and he stepped up huge. A hard worker in and out of the ring and really appreciates his spot on the roster and he earns it.
MWR: Mikey McFinnigan
Pierre: Kinda just starting to see what he can do. He will do well in Anarchy, he’s very entertaining.
MWR: Jeremy Wyatt
Pierre: The best LWA champion of all time. Jeremy is one of my favorite wrestlers and is a pure class act to deal with outside the ring. Jeremy makes no bones about his wrestling days coming to an end and I’ll be sad to see him go, but he’s a guy who will leave better than he came in and how many guys can honestly say that. He’s always done anything I asked him to do and I don’t think Jeremy knows how much I respect him and appreciate his run with the LWA title.
MWR: Steve O Reno
Pierre: Honestly, I worked him in ACW and I knew he was good. Other than that I have only seen his two matches in SLA and that is it. I think he is very entertaining and he can wrestle, too, so I think big things are on the horizon for him.
MWR: Bolt Brady
Pierre: I think his change in attitude will be good for him in SLA. I like making people do stuff they may not be used to doing. Bolt is a pro and will do great. He’s getting a lot of miles under him too which is awesome. I like Bolt a lot.
MWR: PACO
Pierre: In SLA, he became a star in one weekend. Taking Trik Davis to the limit and taking a hellish beating from Gary Jay. I think Paco is a hungry kid who will do big things.
MWR: Pierre, Thank you so much for joining us today, it is always a treat to get to speak with you. How can fans follow you and the world of St. Louis Anarchy?
Pierre: I am on Facebook under Pierre Abernathy and Twitter is @PierreAbernathy. You can like SLA on Facebook at Saint Louis Anarchy and on Twitter @stlanarchy. Thanks for the time!
Saint Louis Anarchy presents Circus Maximus 2015
Stage One: Friday August 21st Stage Two: Saturday August 22nd
Live from Spaulding Hall Club in Alton IL (402 E 4th Street)
Doors Open at 6:30pm, Shows Start at 7:00pm
Tickets (PER NIGHT):
Front row: $15, Second Row. $12. General Admission. $10 in advance all tickets are $15 at the door
$1 BEER, FULL BAR AND FOOD. Please do not record show or stand on chairs
Also special guest musicians Mental Fixation (Stage 2 only)
STAGE ONE MATCHES SIGNED:
Main Event Trios Action: Team Anarchy: Davey Vega, Mat Fitchett, Angleus Layne vs. Team BOSS w/Dorian Victor and Greg Jovi: Gary Jay, Christian Rose, Jeremy Wyatt
Tag Team Titles on the Line: The Hooligans (c) vs. The Cause (Mr. Adams, Mr. Everett)
Zakk Sawyers vs. Tommaso Ciampa
Grudge Match: Alex Castle vs. Matt Cage
Jo Jo Bravo vs. PACO
Steve O Reno vs. Mikey Mcfinnigan
BOSS vs. Anarchy: Bolt Brady w/Greg Jovi vs. Ricky Starks
STAGE TWO MATCHES SIGNED:
Saint Louis Anarchy Championship Match (NO TIME LIMIT) Gary Jay (c)w/Dorian Victor vs. “Ace of Anarchy” Davey Vega
Mat Fitchett vs. Former ECW/WWE Star LITTLE GUDIO
Christian Rose vs. Tommaso Ciampa
Matt Cage vs. Zakk Sawyers
Sugar Dunkerton vs. Steve O Reno
TALENT SIGNED FOR CM WEEKEND:
Saint Louis Anarchy Champion: Gary Jay
Saint Louis Anarchy Tag Champions: The Hooligans
Davey Vega
Mat Fitchett
Tommaso Ciampa
Jo Jo Bravo
Christian Rose
Matt Cage
Angelus Layne
Viking War Party
Sugar Dunkerton
Ricky Starks
The Cause: Mr. Gelistico, Mr. Raw, Mr. Adams, Mr. Everett
Zakk Sawyers
Mikey Mcfinnigan
Jeremy Wyatt
Steve O Reno
Bolt Brady (stage one)
PACO (stage one)
Donovan Danhausen
Today we are joined with Jeremy Wyatt. He is considered by many to be the best wrestler in the Midwest that has not been signed by ROH, TNA or WWE. Throughout his career he has earned the nickname “The Belt Collector”, as he has torn across the Midwest capturing singles and tag team titles while having exciting matches with an array of different opponents.
In 2015, he has shown no signs of slowing down as he is currently the enjoying his fifth reign as the 3XWrestling Championship and is also one half of the Pro Wrestling Phoenix Tag Team Champions with his teammate/rival, “The World’s Fittest Wrestler” Mark Sterling. Wyatt is the first ever MWR Wrestler of the Year and the only man to be included in every MWR Match of the Year before it was retired. So it is with great pleasure that we have in this edition of 10 Questions with Jeremy Wyatt.
MWR: Jeremy thanks you so much for taking the time to join us at Missouri Wrestling Revival.
Jeremy: No problem, thanks for having me.
MWR: Before we get into the serious world of pro wrestling, it is no secret to your fans that you are a hardcore fan of your hometown Kansas City Royals. Last year the boys in blue had an exciting year that saw them make it within one game of winning the Major League World Series. Were you able to make it to any of those postseason games, and if so what was that experience like? As the 2015 season is about to start, have the Royals improved themselves enough to make it back and why do you feel that way?
Jeremy: Yeah, I made it to Game 6 of the World Series. One of the funnest nights of my life. The whole season was a crazy ride. I’ve been going to 15-20 games a year since I graduated high school. I’ve watched a lot of bad baseball, as have a lot of Royals fans. To finally be repaid was so awesome. The whole city came together to support the team and the vibe of the city was amazing. I shed a tear or two when they clinched, won the wild card, then the ALDS, and ALCS. Definitely something I’d like to get used to.
As far as how they’ll do in 2015, it’s hard to say they’ll be better. The only way they’re better is if they win the World Series. I think they’re setup to compete for the Division and make some noise. Have a chance to get to postseason and see what happens. If they can get the lead through five or six innings, they’re gonna be tough to beat again.
MWR: Today, you are among the most respect wrestlers in the Midwest. Were you a wrestling fan growing up and how did you get your start?
Jeremy: Yeah, I’ve been a fan for as far back as I can remember. My dad occasionally will tell stories about how when I was three- or four-years-old, I’d try to wrestle everyone. Go bearhug their leg and try to pick them up, stuff like that. I started with a place called MEW, it wasn’t the best place but it got my foot in the door. Almost fourteen years later, here we are. That’s the much condensed version of the story.
MWR: Before you became known as “The Belt Collector”, you had the appropriate nickname “The Rebel” in Central States Wrestling. That promotion was known for their excellent matches that included appearances of wrestling stars AJ Styles , Samoa Joe, Christopher Daniels and the Monster Abyss mixed in with several of the top rising stars of the Midwest including Michael Strider, Derek Stone, Dingo, Brett Young, Tyler Cook, Steve Fender, Steven J Girthy, as well as yourself and Sterling. How did you come about “The Rebel” nickname and what were your most vivid memories of CSW.
Jeremy: The Rebel nickname came about because it’s my actual real middle name, and I wasn’t feeling very creative the day I was coming up with a “wrestling name”. Not much more to the story than that, haha. CSW was a really fun place. It was a place that all the guys in the area wanted to work at, much like Metro is now. CSW was the place that kind of started getting me noticed a little bit. I had a hard time getting bookings for quite a while my first couple of years due to some stigma of being associated with the place I started at. It sucked, I just wanted to wrestle and get better but most people wouldn’t give me the time of day because I was an “Estes” guy.
Central States Wrestling
Anyways, after trying for a while, CSW, Joe McDonald and Michael Strider threw me a bone, I took advantage. Other places started booking me after that and I started gaining confidence and my work started improving dramatically.
The first ever MWR Match of the Year was brutal, bloody and exciting as Michael Strider and Jeremy Wyatt went at in a Barb Wire Match… Next month, Strider hopes to end Wyatts Metro Pro Wrestling career.
MWR: CSW suddenly fades away even though the wrestling was top notch and Kansas City is pretty much a ghost town for pro wrestling. Unlike St. Louis, where there are several promotions within 30 minutes or so from each other, you had to drive hours to showcase your skills. You capture titles throughout the Midwest, including the Pro Wrestling Phoenix title in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the 3XW Championship in Des Moines, Iowa and the Lethal Wrestling Alliance in Missouri/Iowa (the current St. Louis Anarchy title) along the way. What stands out about either capturing the title or defending it during your triple reign that made you the only unanimous voted MWR Wrestler of the Year?
Jeremy: CSW going away definitely left a void, at the time. Guys in St Louis don’t realize how lucky they have it. There’s so many places to work in the area, plus you can drive four hours or so to Memphis or Chicago. The main thing about capturing those titles is simply this, multiple promotions believed in me and knew I’d deliver main event matches and angles. I believe the man makes the title, the title doesn’t make the man. Anybody can wear or carry a title around. It doesn’t really increase your value. But, with your work, you can definitely raise the value and prestige of a title. I don’t think any title I’ve won has been worse off or diminished while I had it. Over the years, it’s been a much bigger deal when I’ve lost titles than when I’ve won them–and a lot of my best matches have come in losses.
Jeremy Wyatt and Mark Sterling would put on a wrestling clinic in not one, but two IRON MAN matches !!
MWR: One man that has been a constant for the past several years in your career is Mark Sterling. The two of you have been the centerpiece of a group known as the Kansas City Killers with the likes of Mike Sydal and Showtime Bradley Charles.
This is a multipart question as your relationship is a huge part of many moments in wrestling for this generation. Your relationship as friends and enemies continues to this day, including a match that is set for April 3rd Super Spring Showdown against Sterling in Special Stipulation to be announced that evening for your 3XW Championship. First, how did you meet, and where did the Kansas City Killer name come from? One of my personal memories of the two of you teaming were a matchup against the Hooligans at High Voltage Wrestling where the ring fell apart. The four of you did not miss a beat and continued on to have an exciting matchup. What were you thinking at that moment and what advice do you have for a young wrestler if that should happen?
Jeremy: Sterling and I met when I started working at CSW. We knew of each other previously, but that’s the first time we were really ever around each other. I guess around 2007 or 2008, we started traveling together, and have been ever since. We are very similar, but very different. I’m more laidback and quiet, he’s much more hyper and high-strung. We’re a good Yin to the others’ Yang, but when it comes to wrestling we think very similarly. I take to the air a little more, and he’s more power-based but we have pretty similar styles. We believe in the same principles, share the same beliefs as far as psychology goes, etcetera. I’m definitely a better worker because of him, we push each other to be better. I could talk about Mark all day, honestly.
Pro Wrestling Phoenix Tag Team Champions!!!
As far as the name, Kansas City Killers was given to us by Keny G. He’s another person who has become a really good personal friend. He and Mark were both in my wedding. When the middle rope broke in the match against the Hooligans, I didn’t really think much beyond “that sucks, but we’ll figure it out”. Stuff like that happens from time to time. Can’t panic. They know what they’re doing, we know what we’re doing, we knew we all would figure it out, and we did. You don’t want things like to happen, but it’s a nice challenge when they do to see if you can get through it.
Josh Ray and I worked hard with several of the top promotions to produce the MWR Best of the Midwest DVD. I must say that the talent on the dvd was awesome and we were thrilled to have Dynamo Pro Wrestling take part with the Wyatt and Davey Richards match. The cover has artwork done by none other than Dartallion Allen Jr.
MWR: You have fought against a lot of the top names in pro wrestling, including being featured in the MWR Best of the Midwest DVD at Dynamo Pro Wrestling against Davey Richards.
Wyatt looking to submit the former ROH World Champion, Michael Elgin!!
Recently you also defeated former ROH World Champion Michael Elgin this past year in Illinois at Dynamo Pro.
I had a friend/fan that asked me how the match was against you and Christopher Daniels at MPW, and I told them that it went an exciting 40 minutes plus as 500 fans were into the match from start to finish, where my friends replay was “I take it they didn’t mail it in?” My reply was “has he ever?” This was the second match with you and Daniels, with the first being several years prior. I know that you are your hardest critic, so I ask you what was your thoughts of the match compared to the first? Also, who were your favorite matches against name opponents and why.
40 minutes of wrestling excellence as Jeremy Wyatt met Christopher Daniels during the last Metro Pro Wrestling show at the Turner Rec Center.
Jeremy: This last match was almost 9 years after the first. I’ve obviously improved leaps and bounds since then. The first match was good but it was obvious that he carried me. I was blown up and just trying to keep up and get to the finish. This time around, while he’s much more accomplished, I felt like I was his equal. I felt like I belonged in the ring with one of the best workers in the world. My confidence is a thousand times more than what it was back then. This may make me sound cocky or arrogant but it is how I honestly feel. While I don’t have the list of accomplishments, or the “name value” of a lot of guys, there’s not a single one of them that I don’t think I can’t get in the ring with and have a good to great match with. My path in wrestling hasn’t taken me the way of being world renowned but I have full confidence I can go with anyone. Other matches against “names” that stand out are a 30-minute time limit draw vs Seth Rollins (Tyler Black) back in April 2010 for 3XW.
We’ve all seen what he’s went on to become, he may be the best all-around performer going today, and will likely be a multi-time future world champ.
Nose to nose Adam Pearce and Jeremy Wyatt would not back down from each other in a series of matches that had fans from Iowa to Kansas on their feet wanting more.
Just when it looked as if Wyatt had become the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion after defeating Pearce, the match was decided to restart only to have Mark Sterling interfere and stop the celebration.
Another guy is Adam Pearce; we had five or six matches, all of them were fun, intense, and good. We just seemed to mesh well together.
I’ve been lucky, I’ve gotten to work my fair share of guys who’ve accomplished some very good to great things in this wacky business. Stevie Richards, Colt Cabana, Jerry Lynn, Road Dogg, Samoa Joe, Ace Steel, Eric Young, a multitude of ROH guys. It’s a long list and the experience has been really positive with pretty much all of them.
MWR: One last question of the past: MWR was covering you at one of your title hunts in Illinois for All American Pro Wrestling. I am not going to lie, we have covered over 300 events during the MWR years and it was one of the very few where there was a riot almost started as there was true heat and it was directed at you Sterling. after a match . I remember at the end of the night saying my goodbye to the promoter and some of the fans and the next thing I knew, a small mob was forming to come get you. It is obvious that you hit a nerve at one point from their fans, who were you wrestling and how did it get so heated that the fans were after you?
The Mississippi Madman was in agony on the outside as Wyatt pulled out all the stops early on and throughout the match. With his tactics the AAPW fans were furious at the end of the night and was seeking revenge from the Kansas City Killers. Photo Credit Michael Van Hoogstraat
Jeremy: Heat machine, baby!! I used to always want to get people so pissed that it’d start a riot; I probably should’ve been born another twenty years earlier. I’ve turned it down some but I think people still pay money wanting to see me get my ass kicked. As far as that particular incident, I said something to a guy, he thought I said something else and got all worked up. So, once I knew he was heated, I just tried to get more and more people worked up. Don’t remember the exact details but Sterling may have been at ringside with me or he may have just interfered in the match later on. Pretty sure it was a match against Mississippi Madman.
The Lethal Wrestling Alliance fans had to scatter as the Rebel took it to fan favorite Jordan Lacey on the outside as the chairs flew and referees fell among the chaos. – Photo Michael Van Hoogstraat
MWR: I am of the belief that there you are one of only a handful of wrestlers that a promotion in the Midwest can build around to carry a company. We have seen that in Metro Pro Wrestling, 3XWrestling, Pro Wrestling Phoenix and before in LWA, as you are able to be the hated bad guy or the man that they have grown to love.
I know that this may be the hardest question that I throw at you, but what do you feel you have done to have made the fans become so invested in you, as either a good or bad guy in the ring?
Jeremy: I think it mostly comes down to being believable in the ring. Nothing I do is overly intricate, or choreographed looking. I don’t think I do anything that looks fake. While we may be doing wrestling moves, it looks like a fight. Anybody can get people to pop for moves, not everybody can get people emotionally invested. If I can get the same reaction from a chop or punch that someone gets from a dive, for example, I don’t need to dive. I’ll just punch you in the face but when I do dive, the reaction is going to be even bigger.
Wyatt locks in the crossface at Pro Wrestling Phoenix.
I also think people can see how hard I work to give them their money’s worth. The whole show could suck, hopefully it doesn’t, but if it does, I’m still going to do everything I can to make them feel like the $10 to $20 they spent was worth it. The main thing is if you can get people to believe in you and invest emotionally in you, the moves you do don’t really matter.
MWR: We had spoken about how Kansas City had become a ghost town for wrestling for quite some time. Thankfully, Chris Gough would spearhead Metro Pro Wrestling in 2010 and pro wrestling is alive and well in Kansas City.
Life is not easy at Metro Pro Wrestling as Wyatt is challenged by many of the best in the world including the likes of Ace Steel and ROH Star Kyle O’Reilly.
I like to call Chris Gough the Sam Muchnick of Kansas City as both men were/are of high integrity, and were/are respected in the mainstream sports world and brings that attribute to the squared circle. Like Muchnicks’ NWA, the best of the Midwest have pretty much made their way to the Turner Rec Center for MPW including a highly respected match in the Adam Pearce vs. Colt Cabana’s Seven Levels of Hate series, as well as wrestlers Stevie Richards, Kyle O’Reilly, Trevor Murdoch, Ace Steel and Christopher Daniels mixed in with the likes of Metro Pro Champion Derek Stone, ACH, Mike Sydal, SBC, The Commission, Pete Madden, The American Bulldogs, Miss Natural, Kobra Kai Dojo, Lucy Mendez,Dan Walsh, Ryan Drago (NXT’s Simon Gotch) and Tyler Cook just to name a few. What has surprised you the most of Chris Gough and what has been the recipe for success for MPW?
Jeremy: Chris is a good guy, first and foremost. He’s just a good person, in general. As a promoter, he takes care of people, you’ll never hear him say “sorry, the house was light”. With the booking, he has ideas, but if you have a better idea, or an idea to tweak his idea and improve on it, he’ll be more than willing to go that route. He gives people a lot of freedom, but he’s there to reel them in if need be. Some people, if it’s not their idea, they don’t want to do no matter how much more your way may make more sense. I think people perform better if they at least feel like they can contribute ideas to what they’re doing. They become more emotionally invested in the match or angle. He runs the show, the whole shebang, but he makes time for everyone and makes sure everyone is happy and excited to be involved in whatever they have going on that particular night, or for future shows. Chris gets a huge thumbs up from me.
Michael Strider and Jeremy Wyatt received their MWR Match of the Year at an LWA event in House Springs, MO as Wyatt shows off his scar from the battle in the barb wire match in 2009. Time has pass, but the war and bad feelings continues. Pictured left to right Michael Strider, MWR Columnist Kari Williams, MWR Owner Brian Kelley, Jeremy “The Belt Collector” Wyatt
MWR: Last but not least, you are heading into the middle of 2015, better than ever, but the stack is against you wherever you go. You continue to lock down title belts around the Midwest and look for more. This coming week, you will take a break from challenging Sterling for who is the best in the Midwest, as the two of you travel to Illinois to enter the Proving Ground Pro 8-man tag team tournament to add to the PWP Tag team belts to the KCK résumé (Editors note: This interview was unable to be put up on the site in time for this match to happen) , then on the 28th the two of you will be defending your PWP Tag Team Champions in Council Bluffs, Iowa. On April 3rd in Des Moines, Iowa it’s the start of the double shot weekend as you defend your title against your Sterling at 3XW.
The next night you make your way to Metro Pro Wrestling as Commissioner Strider has ordered a special tag match, as you and SBC will meet Sterling and Mike Sydal. If you or SBC is pinned, you are fired from Metro Pro Wrestling. I personally would love to see you challenge for the World League Wrestling Championship this year for your first opportunity to capture Harley Race’s title. All in all though, you will have logged thousands of miles for the love of wrestling. How much fun are you having, and what are your goals as you are expected to once again be in the running for the MWR Wrestler of the Year?
Jeremy: I’ve made it no secret that I’m a lot closer to the finish line than I am the beginning but I’m having a ton of fun. I only work at places that I enjoy, I’ve done it long enough that I can be more selective with my bookings. But I’m also managing to keep pretty busy. It’s funny, the shows you mentioned coming up, Mark and I are either teaming or fighting. Either way, it’s a good combo. I sometimes wonder how good of a team Mark and I could’ve been if we just focused on that. But we both enjoy beating each other up in singles matches too much to strictly be a team.
My goals are pretty simple, have as much fun as I possibly can, this isn’t going to last forever. I want to keep trying to get better. When my last match comes, I want to be the absolute best I’ve ever been. If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse. I also really want to help guys get better, while I’m still around. I’ve been trying to be more active in giving advice and feedback. It sounds corny, but I want to help make this area better than it was when I started. I’m at least trying to do my part. Those are the main things. There’s guys I’ve never faced, like AJ Styles, who I’d like to get in there with, and test myself against but that’s out of my control. So, if it happens, great. If not, no sweat, I’ve gotten to work a lot of other guys up to this point. And since I’ve been robbed of the MWR Wrestler of the Year award the last six years in a row, I’ll throw winning it in 2015 on the list.
3xwrestling All Stars Of The Midwest Episode 11 Rory Fox Vs Jeremy Waytt
Gary Jay pulls out all the stops at the 2013 St Louis Anarchy Circus Maximus against Adam Raw in a 10,000 Thumbtacks match main event !!
One of pro wrestling’s respected tournaments returns in 2013 when the Ted Petty Invitational tournament begins on Friday, September 13, 2013. The great history of the tournament has seen superstars such as Chris Hero, Ace Steel, B.J. Whitmer, Danny Daniels, A.J. Styles, Matt Sydal (WWE’s Even Bourne) , Low Ki, Mike Quackenbush and Drake Younger have all been crowned champions in the tournament. Superstars such as Colt Cabana, CM Punk, Adam Pearce, Christopher Daniels, Ken Anderson, Jerry Lynn, Arik Cannon, Samoa Joe, Austin Aries, Davey Richards, and Bryan Danielson (WWE’S Daniel Bryan)are just a few of the stars that have thrilled fans in matches in the tournament.
With the names of the men that are set to compete in the 2013 TPI tournament there is no doubt that this years winner will go down in history books as one of the best in todays’ sport.
Already set to compete are
1. Drake Younger 2. Jack Thriller 3. Eddie Kingston 4. B-Boy 5. Davey Richards 6. Kyle O’Riley 7. IWA-MS Light Heavyweight Champion Devon Moore 8. Roderick Strong 9. Andrew Everett 10. Chrisjen Hayme 11. ‘Confederate’ Chris Hamrick 12. Necro Butcher 13. Louis Lyndon 14. Flip Kendrick 15. Prince Mustafa Ali 16. BJ Whitmer 17. Dustin Rayz 18. Justin Credible 19. Bad Bones
The promoters at IWA Mid-South Wrestling announced on their Facebook page that the 24th participant would be chosen by you the fans and fellow wrestlers support. One man that is deserving is the man that many claim to be the best kept secret in the wrestling today, Gary Jay.
Gay Jay can be seen wrestling around the country for the land of Anarchy in Texas and St Louis respectfully. He has made an impact at Metro Pro Wrestling in Kansas City, Pro Wrestling Epic in Illinois and AIW.
Adam Raw brutalizes Gary Jay as the two went to a classic in 2013.
Hard working and very entertaining Gary Jay puts his body on the line each and every match for you the fans. It is now time for you to take the time to go to the IWA Mid-South Facebook page and let your voice be heard. Be sure to tell them Gary Jay and WHY he is deserving of being in the tournament.
When it was all said and done Gary Jay was bruised, battered and bloodied but was able to defeat the powerhouse Adam Raw.
Many of the fans and his fellow peers have been quick to come to his support. Straight from the office of IWA MID-SOUTH comes the announcement of what they are looking for “ The guy I hear the most about (OR GIRL) between now and August 14th will be the 24th participant in this years 2013 Ted Petty Invitational… but this ain’t American Idol! Don’t make a fool of yourself! If you ain’t got the goods, don’t have people push for ya!”
Let’s take a look at some of men and women that have come to forefront to support Gary Jay in this high honor of being named as a competitor in the 2013 TPI.
Dingo Machete I as a former IWA MIDSOUTH CHAMPION whole heartedly endorse Gary Jay for this year’s TPI.
Jonathan Gresham Gary Jay would be a great addition in my opinion.
Joshua Neal Montgomery Gary Jay is consistently one of the best workers on any card he is booked at all over the country.
Kz Chif Gay Jay is a best who can do any style and can go with anyone.
Chris Eston Gary Jay is a great performer, seen him many times and can honestly say I have never seen a bad match from him, always entertaining!!
Phineas Bartleby Crackers Gary Jay is one of the hardest working guys on the indy scene. Great wrestler, a gifted bad guy. Easy to hate because he’s so damn good at what he does.
Alan Anderson Gary Jay is the total package…he can wrestle as well as work the mic and the crowd. I know if I’m going to a wrestling event and Gary Jay is on the card, I know I’ll at least be seeing one great match. Gary Jay never fails to deliver.
Mike Marnin Gary Jay is one of the hardest hitting and most entertaining guys I’ve seen in the ring! You’d be making a huge mistake if you didn’t put him on this TPI!
Pierre Abernathy – Gary Jay is not just someone who would be great in this amazing weekend of wrestling he is someone who would be a asset to the IWA show as a whole going forward. I book Saint Louis Anarchy and Gary is someone who always goes above and beyond for our fans and he does that everywhere he goes. Its time he gets the chances that others have gotten and he gets to show that even though he is small he is a great worker.
David J. McCutcheon Gary Jay, by far. He was lawn-darted into a wall, for Christ’s sake. The thud! Ow! Give him a break before he breaks something.
Billy McNeil Gotta echo what some others have suggested already, Gary Jay. More people need to be exposed to what that guy has to offer. His dedication to putting on the most memorable and entertaining performance of any given night is astounding.
John Meyer please put gary j in the tpi he’s a hard hitting guy and he loves thumb tack matches and anything goes matches put him in a spot thank u.
Andy Dalton I had the pleasure of wrestling Gary Jay in Dallas Texas a few years back…and have followed him (and the Sub Squad all together) since. Garys creative, hard hitting, and an absolute pleasure to watch. Great talent. Gary Jay for the TPI.
Aaron Roy Gary Jay Chops will make you bleed..
Jonathan Culver -Gary Jay. There is little doubt in my mind he will all but kill himself to make this show fantastic.
David Cox Gary J is easily one of the best “unknowns” out there, but he is also one of the nicest and most poliite persons I’ve ever met. The fact that on the few times, I’ve been lucky enough to share a car with him, he always got his trash out and threw it away. Little thing, shows his character. Too me, that’s the most important thing.
Ryan Masters I’ve known Gary Jay since I was 16 (I’m 22 now) and I’ve met a lot of independent wrestlers since then. Out of all the amazing and dedicated workers, Gary stands out not only in the ring but in a way not everyone may notice. I met Gary by working for the company he wrestled for. I helped with the ring set up, ect. To give credit where it’s due, Gary wasn’t alone but he was on a VERY exclusive list of guys who helped put the ring up and help take it down EVERY night. I’ve seen Gary Jay wrestle an hour long war and still stay up until 1am getting the ring where it goes. It wasn’t his ring and he didn’t get paid extra. He was already a main eventer in the company. He did it for one reason and that was because he wanted to. He probably still does it to this day. He cares so much about what he does. The level he’s on is irrelevant because he puts on main event matches no matter where he’s at or who he’s against. I’ve seen Gary play the biggest face in the company, drawing fans with his name, to being the biggest heel in the company. I know what he’s capable of and so do a lot of people at this point. His name is growing and he deserves this spot.
To many in the Midwest he is the most hated man in wrestling today; to his opponents he is their worst nightmare.
Jeremy Wyatt and Steven J Girthy have been dominate in 2011. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
His name is Jeremy Wyatt; pro wrestling’s greatest secret , has wrestled one great match after another from Des Moines, Iowa to ST Louis, Missouri and in every town in Illinois and back in his hometown of Kansas City, Missouri.
In the past Wyatt has earned the nickname “The belt collector” for his ability to capture title after title in multiple promotions against the very best. Wyatt would become the first man to be named the MWR Wrestler of the Year and has won three consecutive matches of the years with three different opponents Michael Strider, Tyler Cook and Tyler Black respectably.
Wyatt has mixed it up with the top names in the sport including the current Ring of Honor World Champion Davey Richards, Former TNA World Champion Samoa Joe, the former ROH World Champion Jerry Lynn, Christopher Daniels, Jimmy Jacobs, Al Snow and Road Dogg Jesse James to name just a few.
Still al the wins, belts, awards and great matches have not brought Wyatt to the forefront of the wrestling world.
Is that about to change??
Wyatt can be ruthless in his attack. A masterful tactician armed with the mastermind Steven J Girthy at ringside he is always one step ahead of his opponents. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
This past weekend the top wrestling manager in the Midwest Steven J Girthy set the wheels in motion at Metro Pro Wrestling to gain momentum to become the NWA World Champion. When It was announced that the former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Colt “Boom Boom” Cabana would be making his way to MPW, could the man that Cabana called “Porky Pig” of been masterfully setting his man up for a NWA World Title match against Adam Pearce?
While Cabana entertained the crowd from bell to bell with his masterful wrestling skills and silly antics, Wyatt And Girthy were at were at there very best and they had to be, Cabana has been to the top with WWE and as the NWA World Champion by defeating none other than Adam Pearce on March 6, 2011 at the NWA Championship Wrestling from Hollywood television tapings earlier this year.
Former NWA World Champion Colt Cabana would fall victim to the The Rebel in the main event at Metro Pro Wrestling. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
Earlier this year the Belt Collector would become only the third man in the history of wrestling to capture the NWA Missouri Title and the NWA Central States Championship as the same time. Harley Race and Bob Orton SR being the other two men. Since that time, Wyatt has been able to keep the NWA Central States firmly on his waist against the likes of Sir Bradley Charles, Trent Stone, Jimmy Rockwell, Ryan Drago and arch rival NWA Kansas Champion Tyler Cook.
The greatest years in the NWA History has had the very best in the Midwest in the middle of the title hunt. Former 8 time World Champion Harley Race would bring honor, respectability and toughness not only to the NWA Title but to Japan and around the World.
With momentum on his side and the great mind of Girthy in his corner is the NWA World Title poised to change hands for the first time in Kansas City since Ric Flair defeated Dusty Rhodes on September 17th 1981 nearly thirty years ago?
With all the positives in this equation there is one huge problem for the Belt Collector.
NWA World Champion Adam Pearce!!!
Make no mistake about it, Adam Pearce is one of the top wrestlers in the world today. It is by no fluke that he is a four time NWA World champion who has sent many challengers packing who felt their time was now home wandering what if.
His resume speaks for itself. Titles around the country, victories against the likes of WWE’S CM Punk, Daniel Bryan ( Bryan Danielson), Delirious, Blue Demon Jr. In a true testament of his greatness Pearce was not only able to be a force in a four-way match between Chance Prophet and Jimmy Rave and Shaun Tampers for the vacant NWA World title on August 30th but would become a four time NWA World Champion.
Wyatt may have been great in the past but if he is to compete with Pearce then he cannot make one
mistake. If so the confident, ruthless NWA Kingpin will capitalize and remain the NWA World Champion.
When the last bell rang at the Turner Rec Center last week a stunned Colt Cabana and Metro Pro Wrestling fans watched as Wyatt and Steven J Girthy celebrated yet another win.
Metro Pro Wrestling has not announced who Pearce would defend the title against when he returns to on November 5th at the Turner Rec Center but if Girthy and Wyatt have their way then it could be the NWA Central States Champion vs. the NWA World Champion.
Could history be made on November 5tth and Jeremy Wyatt was able to add his most important belt to his collection? The NWA World Championship!!
“Superstar” Steve Fender (Photo Credit Mike Van Hoogstraat)
One of the best kept secrets in the Midwest is “Superstar” Steve Fender. Fender is currently one half of the arguably one of the best tag teams in the game today with Mark Sterling. Fender and Sterling are currently the WLW Tag Team Champions.
Fender has wrestled around the world including World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and Pro Wrestling Noah.
Fun fact: Fender became the first American to train at the Pro Wrestling Noah Dojo and has the drive and talent to take on stars Takao Omori , Samoa Joe and Trevor Murdoch.
Fierce and methodical Fender wears down the toughest of opponents until they begin to doubt themselves, then its all over.
When MWR’s Josh Ray returned from Iraq, Fender and Steve Anthony was chosen as a Welcome home match at High Voltage Wrestling. The match was so good that we added it in the first MWR Best of the Midwest DVD.
We are proud to announce that the MWR Trading Card #17 is none other than a true Superstar in Steve Fender.
#1 The Northstar Express Darin Corbin and Ryan Cruz– 2008 MWR Tag team of the Year.
#2 Mark Sterling- 2009 MWR Wrestler of the Year.
#3 The Hooligans Devin and Mason Cutter -2009 MWR Tag Team of the Year #4 MsChif– 2009 MWR Female of the Year #5 Mike Sydal – 2009 PWI Rookie of the Year #6 Jeremy Wyatt – 2008 MWR Wrestler of the Year. 2008 MWR Match of the Year Michael Strider, 2009 MWR Match of the Year Tyler Cook #7 Santana G – Midwest Sweetheart #8 Kahagas – The Tokyo Monster #9 Mephisto – Hardcore favorite #10 Tyler Black – Ring of Honor World Champion #11 Sir Bradley Charles – Rising star trained by Lance Storm
#12 Brandon Espinosa -Multi Talented Superstar
#13 Dave Vaughn – The Wrestling Machine #14 “The Future” Donovan Ruddick -The 6’9 Monster
#15 Brandon Aarons – Current Triple Crown Champion in the Midwest. #16 Davey Richards – Arguably the best in the world today.
For a complete list of Missouri Wrestling Revival trading cards as well as WWE , TNA and Japan sets check out the website Wrestling trading cards.com here.
THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS FU-MANCHU MEETS THE WORLD’S LARGEST FU-MANCHU
TNA Wrestlingconfirmed today that it is attempting to break the existing Guinness World Record for Largest Gathering of People With Mustaches at the Hogan Fu-Fest, set for this Friday, February 26.
Hogan Fu-Fest will be held from 2-4 p.m. CT at Mike Shannon’s Steak and Seafood (620 Market Street) in downtown St. Louis, minutes away from the Gateway Arch – which truly is symbolic of the world’s largest fu. TNA’s attempt to break the Guinness World Record is sponsored by Doc’s Harley-Davidson of St. Louis, and endorsed by the St. Louis-based American Mustache Institute (AMI).
AMI Chairman Dr. Aaron Perlut will be present to honor and recognize the golden whiskers of the pop icon, Hulk Hogan.
“We have been in contact with officials at the London headquarters of Guinness World Records, and know TNA fans and Hulkamaniacs will turn out to the Hogan Fu-Fest to shatter the existing Guinness record,” said TNA President Dixie Carter. “We need everyone with a mustache, especially a fu, to show up at Shannon’s in St. Louis this upcoming Friday afternoon.”
TNA Wrestling is holding Hogan Fu-Fest in St. Louis on the same day that tickets go on sale for TNA Lockdown 2010, the pay-per-view extravaganza set for Sunday night, April 18, at the Family Arena in suburban St. Charles, Mo.
Lockdown is TNA’s first 2010 PPV away from the company’s stomping grounds of The iMPACT! Zone at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla.
AJ Styles, the reigning TNA World Heavyweight Championship, leads the St. Louis invasion of TNA stars for Lockdown 2010, along with U.S. Olympic Gold Medal winner Kurt Angle, Ric Flair, Jeff Jarrett, Kevin Nash, Mick Foley, Samoa Joe and more.
Tickets for “TNA Lockdown” go on sale Friday, February 26, at http://www.MetroTix.com, the Family Arena box office or charge by phone at 314-534-1111.
WHO: TNA Wrestling’s Hulk Hogan WHAT: “Hogan Fu-Fest” – Judging of Fu Manchu’s to win front row tickets to “TNA Lockdown 2010”; Many prize giveaways, attempting to set a world record for largest gathering of Fu Manchu wearers. WHEN: February 26, 2-4PM WHERE: Mike Shannon’s Steak and Seafood (620 Market Street) EVENT: TNA Wrestling is attempting to break the existing Guinness World Record for Largest Gathering of Mustached People.
After battling in a losing effort for the Lethal Wrestling Alliance (LWA) Tag Team Championship with NickTyson, Dingo talks with fellow wrestlers backstage after the show. His endearing personality engages his Dynamo Training Gym Student Brandon Aarons. They joke about events of the past few days. Despite the calm exterior, a burning desire for pride and success lies within the Independent Wrestling Association-Mid South (IWA-Mid South) Heavyweight Champion.
“I want to go across the world. I want to work for Vince McMahon one day, eventually. I know all the independent guys [say], ‘Oh, I want to work for Vince,’ but I really, really do,” Dingo explains with intense determination burning in his eyes.
Dingo has traveled the country working for promotions such as Ring of Honor, Combat Zone Wrestling, and Full Impact Pro (Florida), as well as numerous Midwest Promotions.
“I mean, that’s the top of the mountain, what else are you going to aspire to? Work for World Wrestling [Entertainment]…I step back to the box, and I realize I’m a little guy, and is it possible for me to win the championship? It is; it’s not beyond means, but is it probable? I don’t know. We’ll see what happens in the future,” he continued.
With the future still uncertain, Dingo focuses on the present, where he travels the country working for Combat Zone Wrestling, Ring of Honor (ROH), Full Impact Pro (FIP) and an assortment of other companies. His ‘big break’ came from Samoa Joe when they worked on the same card, and he told Dingo to come to Chicago, IL. Although Dingo did not wrestle on the show because it was booked full, another opportunity came his way.
“Joe looked at me, and he said, ‘Right now, you make your promise that you’ll come to Detroit, and I’ll make sure that you wrestle in Detroit.’ Joe was retiring that night from Ring of Honor because he was moving on to TNA, and I said, ‘I make you that promise right now,’ and he goes, “Okay.” So, I went to Detroit, and I got on, and that was the rocket that just blew my ass into independent wrestling,” Dingo said.
From that moment on, Dingo immersed himself in his new world and never looked back. Perhaps seeing that burning passion, ROH Star Davey Richards gave Dingo another means with which to excel.
Dingo battles with Kahagas at High Voltage Wrestling on Jan. 10, 2009 as Referee Eric Davis officiates. Photo by Brian Kelley
“Davey Richards really, really helped me out. Davey Richards, as much of a hardass as he can be, every now and then just a tiny bit shines through and if you grab on to it, Davey’ll fuckin’ help you out. But you pay for it. You pay for it. He’s a tough dude. He’s a tough dude…God, he’s tough. He’ll beat the crap out of you.
“Davey helps me—and I know a lot of people too—but very few times is it like, ‘Hey, you’re invited,’ based on your work ethic. And that just really helped me seal the deal,” Dingo said with pride emmiting from his being.
Both Richards and Dingo act as Co-Trainers at the St. Louis-based Dynamo Training Gym, which Dingo, Jim Yount and Crystal Yount opened approximately two years ago. According to Dingo, Dynamo acts as, “a conservatory for wrestling where people can hone their skills,” and not worry about company affiliation.
One of Dingo’s students, who wishes to remain anonymous, attributes nearly all of his success to the training he has received at Dynamo.
“[Dingo has] helped me with everything wrestling wise. He taught me 95 percent of the things I know from wrestling; he’s taught me about respect and what not to do and how to act, in front of fans and in front of other wrestlers, and he’s gotten me to IWA already, and I’m sure he’ll get me to bigger and better places in the future,” the student said.
Dingo pummels Pierre Abernathy in his and Nick Tyson's attempt to win the LWA Tag Team Titles on May 30, 2009. Photo by Kari Williams
The IWA-Mid South Heavyweight Champion can attest to that claim through his own experiences and his own connections in the wrestling industry.
“If you really want to earn it, and you do earn it, we’ll help you go to places like IWA, places like FIP, if you want to go to Ring of Honor. We have connections with TNA. I came up in the same school as Delirious and MsChif and Daizee Haze and Evan Bourne. We’re all from the same group. We’re all from the same mold. We’re all doing things on the road. Delirious, and MsChif and Daizee all work for Ring of Honor and Shimmer. Evan Bourne works for the [WWE]. That’s what we do. We provide the ability to move it on,” Dingo said.
As a student of Dingo’s since July 2006, Aarons can attest to his trainer’s statement.
“[Dingo] has more experience and knowledge as a wrestler than anyone one in the area, and he knows what you have to do to take it to the next level. He wants the best out of the wrestlers he trains, and he is willing to work with you if you are willing to give it all you have,” said Aarons.
A protégé of Dingo’s, “Spitfire” Davey Vega, has earned a wealth of knowledge in the three years that the two have worked together.
“He has increased my stamina, my agility and my overall confidence in myself as a person and a wrestler. He has also helped me get my name out by allowing me to travel with him and the opportunity to learn from him and my peers,” Vega said.
Dingo takes on Michael Strider in a Dog Collar Match at CSW on March 8, 2008. Photo by Brian Kelley
Dingo looks at wrestling as a ‘you get what you give’ type of business that he holds dear to his heart.
“Basically, wrestling is about paying it forward, and if you earn your keep [at Dynamo] through rigorous physical activity, I will show the wealth of what I’ve learned. And that’s the way I was taught. You give this gift, and if you’re deemed worthy, you’ll get the receipt of the gift. And it’s really hard. It’s very, very hard. Very rigorous. People think that it’s not all that bad, but it’s amazingly hard,” Dingo said with a sincere seriousness about his voice.
Aarons echoes Dingo’s warning. After three years of training with the IWA-Mid South Champ, Aarons continues to learn. On April 18, 2009 Aarons had the opportunity to wrestle his mentor in LWA. This was Aarons chance to prove that he is a legitimate competitor, that he could hang with, in his opinion, the best in the Midwest.
“I knew what to expect coming into the match, but Dingo is amazing. He has so many things he can puill out of know where, and even though I have been training with him for three years, he still caught me off guard—Proof that with experience comes great skill, which he attains to the maximum degree,” said Aarons.
Brandon Aarons (center) has trained with Dingo since July 2006, which has helped him advance his career. Aarons and Dingo are pictured with A.J. Styles from when Aarons began training. Photo courtesy of Brandon Aarons
A number of wrestlers, including “Thee” Brandon Espinosa and Aarons, have named Dingo as one who taught them the most about the business. Aarons went so far as to say that he “would not be the wrestler I am today without him. I would not have the confidence and intelligence on the business that I have today without him.”
With nervous laughter, Dingo said, “I feel very worried and very blessed and very honored by that. I worry because I don’t want them to get hurt or ruin themselves doing stupid stuff that I did because I tell them to go out there and give there all. And sometimes their all means they’ll put themselves at very, very big risks, but I feel very blessed and honored at the same time. I don’t have any children, but I liken it to seeing you put that thought process [in their heads], and they turn around and make good out of it.”
The zeal with which Dingo both trains and performs in front of the crowds makes him a role model for other wrestlers just breaking into the business.
“There is nobody in the world that I look up to more than Dingo. Nobody. Not my parents. Not Bruiser Brody. Not Jesus. Nobody,” the Dynamo Trainee said.
Dingo prepares to go to war against Jeremy Wyatt in the NWA-CSW title match from August 2009. Photo by Kari Williams
In the next five to 10 years, Dingo hopes to go to Japan and earn a contract or work for TNA or WWE. He realizes the difficulty that sits in front of him, but has no desire to hang up the boots. He will push forward and pursue his dream.
“It’s hard to imagine because I’m a small person. I’m not going to deny the fact of what I am, but at this point in this time from this moment on, I’m putting myself on the line because it’s now or never,” Dingo said.
From bell to bell, from New Jersey to Florida, whether he wrestles the first match on the card or the last, one can rest assure that Dingo will not leave professional wrestling without leaving his mark—not only in the Midwest, but throughout the country.
As “Irresistably Flawless” Brandon Aarons saunters to the ring, “Girls go crazy!” becomes his battlecry. With each flamboyant step, he anticipates cries of excitement from the girls in attendance. He foresees them fawning over his Greek god-like physique, hoping he does so much as cast a glance in their direction. The moment he steps through the ropes and flaunts his athletic prowess he lets his personality flourish. When Aarons secures victory, he delivers See You Next Tuesday, a fireman’s carry into a modified lung blower, and covers his opponent for the three count.
Brandon Aarons shows why he is 'irresistably flawless' prior to his match against Mark Sterling on Jan. 2, 2008. Photo by Kari Williams
The Newport Beach, CA native began his career three years ago with Gateway Championship Wrestling (GCW) and has since trained with Lethal Wrestling Alliance (LWA) and Dynamo Training Gym, where he currently resides under the tutelage of Dingo. Noticing he needed something extra to stand out, Aarons established a serious training program in which he goes to the gym five days a week.
“[Other wrestlers] go to the gym all the time [and] get buff. Me? I was a little, skinny kid. Plus, I wanted to get the girls. So, I figure, I can go out somewhere, and I see all the girls looking at me, and I’m like, ‘Alright, this is cool.’ And then I see all the old guys looking at me, and I’m like, ‘You know what? I must be really good if the old dudes are checking me out too’,” Aarons said.
Once his desire to work at a more rigorous pace developed, Aarons had the opportunity to wrestle on the National Wrestling Alliance—Central States Wrestling (NWA-CSW, now Dynamo Pro) television taping in April 2008 against Adam Rich and Tony Brock in a three-way for the first Young Dynamo Cup. Boosting his credibility is the fact that he has worked on cards featuring stars such as Al Snow, Samoa Joe, Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin.
“I wrestled in front of almost 300 people up in NWA Dynamo in Kansas and then Espy [and I] wrestled as B.A.B.E.WATCH [with] IWA Productions…in January. [In the next year, I want to] wrestle in front of more people, get my name out there, get more publicity, do as much as I can to let people know that Brandon Aarons is the next breakout star in the midwest,” Aarons said.
Brandon Aarons and Brandon Espinosa formed B.A.B.E.WATCH in May 2008 and currently have their sights set on gold.
Aarons joined forces with “Thee” Brandon Espinosa in May 2008 when their tag team, B.A.B.E.WATCH, debuted in LWA. The duo has wrestled for LWA, New Midwest Wrestling and High Voltage Wrestling (HVW), among other companies. The skill set they possess, and the attention they receive, allows them to stand out, despite Aarons keeping their key moves secret.
“[Espinosa has] his Mexican flying burrito skills, and I [have] my ridiculously good looking things that I do, which is everything. Plus, Espy and I get fan mail. Granted 99 percent of females that attend wrestling shows are complete trash, and I would never converse with them in my entire life—not even through a mutual friend…But B.A.B.E.WATCH…stands for ‘Girls, girls, girls want our bodies, but they cannot touch us so we wrestle ugly dudes and beat them unless they cheat. You know, like the Ego [Express] did on Jan. 24, the day after my birthday,” Aarons said.
Espinosa utitilizes the time spent together to develop their proficiency and skillfulness in the ring.
“As singles competitors, we are able to show one another what is great about each other, which helps us create our tag team aurora. Strategies are pretty much the same [though]. [We] use each other to the other ones advantage,” Espinosa said.
Having a love for the sport since he was 11 years old, Aarons understands his expectations and responsibilites as a wrestler but while balancing a full time college schedule knows he is limited.
Photo Courtesty of Brandon Aarons
Due to his hardwork and dedication, Aarons, along with others such as Mike Sydal, was named as one of the next wave of breakout stars on Missouri Wrestling Revival (MWR) Owner Josh Ray’s, “2008 Year End Awards and Reflective Celebration” post. Aarons feels that he deserves the credit bestowed upon him.
“I don’t blame [MWR] at all [for selecting me] because if I’m going to train this hard, I better be getting something out of it. But guys like Mike [Sydal], he’s pretty talented. I mean, he’s probably almost just as good as me. Almost. You know, he’s got charisma; he’s got skill. Something I think that I possess as well because I’m irresistably flawless,” Aarons said.
Brandon has battled some of the best the Midwest has to offer, here he punishes Mark Sterling at LWA ( Photo Credit Brian “Flair” Kelley)
Wrestling for approximately two years, Sydal became an interim member of B.A.B.E.WATCH in Dec. 2008 and appreciates the recognition bestowed upon himself and Aarons.
“It was nice to read that, honestly, because it means people are noticing our hard work. I know both of us can live up to those expectations. We both work hard in and out of the ring, always training in the ring and in the gym,” Sydal said.
Aarons feels secure with his work ethic and plans to prove Ray correct in the coming months. The irresistably flawless one competed in a number one contender’s match for the Heavweight Title against “Future” Donovan Ruddick, J.C. Bravo and Dorian Victor on March 6 for LWA to attest to that fact. In the same month, he wrestled in HVW against Kahagas, who ranked at 373 on Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s PWI 500 for 2008.
At HVW on March 14, Brandon Aarons accompanies Brandon Espinosa to the ring for Espinosa's Livewire Championship match against Gary Jay. Photo by Kari Williams
“I can guarantee that I can get a reaction out of anybody no matter what I do, whether I’m shaking hands or pulling down my tights to expose my rock hard abs. I [have] skill, I [have] talent, I [have] charisma. My pecs are good. My triceps are good. My biceps are good. I’ve got rock solid thighs, I’ve got great hair. Those guys on that list, some of them might have some of it, some of them may have none of it, but I have all of it,” Aarons said.
The flamboyant Sydal has grown to know Aarons and thinks highly of his some-time partner.
“Brandon Aarons is a young, hungry, up-and-comer with a great body—a nice hard, tight, young body. He is a skilled wrestler with a chiseled and hard, tan look with a young face. [He has a] great boyish face with a toned physique that captivates you so you can’t look away,” Sydal said.
Aarons can back up such statements because he has girls “sending [him] e-mails [and] messaging [him] on MySpace.” Despite his claims, many fans harass Aarons with accusations of being homosexual, which he firmly denies.
B.A.B.E.WATCH plans to broaden their horizons within the next year. ‘We hope to wrestle as much as we can, capture as much gold–because it looks so good around our waists–and spread the word and looks of B.A.B.E.WATCH,’ Espinosa said. Photo by Brian “Flair” Kelley
“We look good. We wear professional-looking gear. I look professional. Espy looks professional. Mike definitely looks professional. His brother is Evan Bourne from WWE. You can’t get more professional than that…What’s gay about us? We don’t do anything gay. We wrestle. That’s what we do. We wrestle. We perform. We get out there. Take names. Kick ass …So, definitely not gay. Not gay at all,” Aarons said.
After working with Sydal semi-regularly for three months, Aarons has no problem with Sydal’s addition to B.A.B.E.WATCH.
“Us good looking guys, we have to stay together because in the wrestling business. It’s hard to find good looking guys, just as hard as it is to find good looking girls…The three of us together has been awesome. B.A.B.E.WATCH as a whole is obviously, Brandon Aarons and Brandon Espinosa, but what do we want? We want babes. What does that ‘S’ stand for? Sydal. He’s the missing link, so if he wants in, he’s in,” Aarons said.
Regardless of the fans’ perception of the irresistably flawless one, he and Espinosa hope to excel as a team, with Espinosa stating that they are on a quest for gold. Before the dashing duet proves themselves in tag team title matches, Aarons must first contend with his opponent at LWA’s next show on April 4 in O’ Fallon, IL. For booking information, contact Aarons through brandonaarons@yahoo.com or www.myspace.com/thegenerickid.
Missouri Wrestling Revival 