Event Report: Championship Wrestling Live From Myrtle Beach

[AUTHOR'S NOTE - MARCH 17, 2015: It would appear as though the show described in this event report will go down as the first and only edition of Championship Wrestling: Live From Myrtle Beach.

Several of the talents who were to appear at the subsequent shows on April 4 and May 2 (namely Jaxson James and John Skyler) have announced they are available for bookings on those dates and the CWLFMB Facebook page has been taken offline. There has been no official word on whether or not the promotion is finished (and with it the likelihood of a physical Hall of Heroes museum), but based on these facts it could be assumed that the group is, in fact, dead.]

Professional wrestling has been a staple in my neck of the woods for generations, and for all that time there have been cities that were particularly kind to the sport of kings. Charlotte, Columbia, Greensboro, Spartanburg - all have played host to events that have earned legendary status thanks to the men and women who made up the rosters of the promotions for which they happened to have been working at the time.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is a legendary town in its own right albeit for very different reasons than those I mentioned previously. "The Redneck Riviera", as it is sometimes referred to (I prefer "Dirty Myrtle", personally), is one of the most popular vacation destinations on the East coast of the United States as it attracts millions of tourists each and every year. While there is some history to Myrtle Beach as it pertains to pro wrestling's past (truth be told, I once sat through a thunderstorm at what is now the Hollywood Wax Museum location in Myrtle Beach to wait and see whether or not a scheduled UWF-TNA house show was going to happen), but its heritage is not nearly as rich as other cities in the Carolinas. Be that as it may, a new promotion has emerged onto the Carolinas' independent professional wrestling scene, setting up shop not too far away from the bright lights of the Grand Strand.

As you might expect, there was a fair amount of hype within the local wrestling community surrounding the reveal of a new promotion, and it was enough for me to label their debut as a can't-miss event. Even though Myrtle Beach isn't exactly a stone's throw away from my base of operations, it was important enough in my mind (especially being the pseudo-documentarian that I am) that it warranted the effort. All that having been said, I'm pleased to say that I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the first show promoted by Championship Wrestling: Live From Myrtle Beach which was held on Saturday, March 7, 2015.

CWLFMB is the brainchild of Greg Price, the man behind the tremendously successful Mid-Atlantic Legends Fan Festivals, and its existence was brought to light in December of 2014. CWLFMB's Spring Showdown Series - three events set to take place across a three month span beginning March 7, extending to April 4, and concluding May 2 - was announced not long after initial word of the intention to bring wrestling back to Myrtle Beach was made known. Talent featured on CWLFMB's events would be a mixture of athletes pulled from the region (such as Kameron Kade, Jaxson James, and others) as well as a few drawn names such as "The Crown Jewel" Chase Owens, Los Ben Dejos (Rios & Cruz), the Bravado Brothers (Harlem & Lancelot), and former WWE Diva/current Impact Wrestling ring announcer Christy Hemme was brought in as a special attraction for fans as well.

Before I go much further I'd like to point out a few things about the venue itself as part of describing the fan experience of having attended this show. The CWLFMB events are being promoted as taking place at the Myrtle Beach Sportatorium. Sportatoriums have become the rage here lately as there will soon be three venues - the CWF Mid-Atlantic Sportatorium (Gibsonville, NC), the Union Fairgrounds Sportatorium (Union, SC), and now this one in Myrtle Beach - operating under that moniker. What makes a sportatorium a sportatorium? Quite frankly I have no idea, but I'll admit it sounds cool.

In reality the venue is actually the X Gym Sports Mall which is located just off highway 501 in the area of Medieval Times and other attractions. The X Gym is an interesting place as it's a gigantic warehouse that's been subdivided into smaller subsections that are either themed towards specific sports (basketball, gymnastics, archery, etc.) or leased out to entities (such as Teazer's Pole Fitness - yes, you read that correctly). If you know your promotions from around the Carolinas you'll know that the X Gym is also the home of C4W Explosive Wrestling. I have no way of confirming this but I'm operating off the assumption that CWLFMB events are more or less using C4W's setup in something of a time share agreement. It's convenient for CWLFMB, however it makes you wonder what C4W is getting out of the deal.

I arrived at the venue around 5 PM with the expectation that doors would be opening in the area of 6 PM. Having been to a C4W event in the past I thought I knew where I was going after I entered the X Gym. However, it's been several years since I went one of their shows and as it turns out they've moved to a different part of the X Gym (located directly beside Teazer's Pole Fitness - yes, you read that correctly). A quick consult with the staff at the front desk had me going in the right direction.

There were three ticketing options for this event: Front row ($20), ringside ($15), and general admission ($10). (I selected general admission because I'm cheap, to be perfectly honest.) When it came time for the doors to open, fans were lined up by what ticket they had purchased with front row going in first, ringside second, and general admission last. Each group had the opportunity to meet Christy Hemme for autographs and pictures as it was part of the admission fee, and I believe most of the roster were available for fans to interact with in the area of their own merchandise tables before the show.

Not being one to particularly obsess over merch (I'm not an autograph hound and no one ever has t-shirts in my size), I instead made my way inside the "Myrtle Beach Sportatorium" to get a seat and settle in before someone else in the crowd could beat me to an ideal spot. I was able to get a great vantage point on the top row of a set of bleachers - bleachers which seemed to have been freshly built seeing as how the wood was still wet and lightly covered with sawdust. It was at this point that I became particularly pleased with my ticketing selection as the difference between a $20 seat and a $10 seat was revealed to be a matter of inches.

The distance between my seat ($10) and front row ($20)

It seemed odd and somewhat precarious to me that there's only one way in or out of the Myrtle Beach Sportatorium (which requires you to walk directly past the concession stand, by the way). Unless you were to jump the guard rail - and I would never recommend anyone do so unless you absolutely want to get your rear end handed to you by a couple wrestlers, a referee, a ring announcer, and maybe a time keeper, too - there's no other way to get out than to walk around the entire perimeter of the venue. The confines are just that, confining, meaning if you should have to get up for any reason during the show you'll be saying "excuse me" or "pardon me" to a whole bunch of folks, depending on how deep your seat is inside the venue. I don't know what the law states about this kind of thing but even with this arena being a subdivision of a larger building you would think there would have to be more than one exit for safety's sake.

The layout isn't the only questionable thing about this venue. The guard rails at ringside are made from wood and there are plenty of sharp, un-padded, un-sanded edges from which little hands and fingers could get splinters. I say "little hands and fingers" but the truth of it is that big hands and fingers could get them too, and not just fans. This same surface is exposed to the wrestlers, and it goes without saying that the lack of padding makes anything outside the ring a risky venture at best.

Speaking of the ring, I believe this particular squared circle has the potential to injure someone significantly. I am not a wrestler, true, and every wrestling ring has inherent risks but an educated eye can see that this particular ring has almost no give to it whatsoever, not even in the areas that are generally considered to be the "softest" part of a wrestling ring (as soft as something made out of tubular steel and 2" x 12" planks of wood can be, that is). There are ways of having a match without the competitors having to take too many bumps, however I would contend that any bump in a ring like this one could lead to injuries. It does make me feel better, though, to know that they've secured a set of pool noodles to the ring posts with what is almost certainly several hundred feet of electrical tape so as to cover the bolts that connect the turnbuckles to the ring.

That's enough about the venue and the arena - lets talk about the matches, shall we?

1) "The Southern Savior" John Skyler def. "The Thoroughbred" Jaxson James via springboard tornado DDT

This was every bit the match you would expect from two of the best young talents to have come out of the Carolinas independent pro wrestling scene in recent history. Both of them have traveled far & wide to appear in promotions all over the map and both of them have made in-ring appearances with WWE working as good, old fashioned "enhancement talent". I would like to say that both of them have legitimate chances of working at that next level as fully contracted members of WWE's roster but I don't know that Skyler has the size to get there and I genuinely resent having that feeling because if he had the stature of someone like Jaxson James he'd probably already have a contract. It's a sickening aspect of this business, that a look can overshadow talent, however aesthetics and presentation are a big part of it.

Sadly the crowd seemed to be somewhat out of it through portions of this match as there were times where it seemed as though you could hear a pin drop. It was like we had been transported to Japan where fans sit in near silence while watching wrestling out of respect for what's happening in front of them. The audience did get with it somewhat as the match went on but at least initially they clearly had no idea who to boo and who to cheer.

2) "#REAL" Joshua Cutshall def. Kameron Kade via brogue kick

Much like the first match, here you had a contest with the dynamic being a larger opponent (Cutshall) facing a smaller one (Kade) and the classic conundrum of speed versus size. Kade tends to be a villain rather than a good guy, or at least he has been in the matches I've seen him, so to have him here as the hero was a departure for me. He did fine in the role, though, and showed some fantastic ability to connect with a crowd. This was my first exposure to seeing Cutshall compete in person; he's one of several talents I'd hoped to be able to scout this year so I'm glad to have had the chance to see him live. His entrance music is a heavy metal version of the theme music from THE WALKING DEAD, so he's alright in my book.

- Ring announcer Corky Franks was out for an in-ring interview segment with Christy Hemme at this point. Hemme took the time to put over Myrtle Beach as a vacation destination and showed appreciation to the fans for making professional wrestling what it is.

3) "The Southern Savior" John Skyler def. "Cauliflower" Chase Brown via low blow/roll up

Needless to say, it surprised me to see Skyler out for another match on the card, making this his second bout of the evening which was contested less than 20 minutes after his first match concluded. That's a lot to ask of anyone, even athletes like him. This was a different style of match, though, one that at least at first was more geared towards Chase Brown's catch-as-catch-can style of wrestling that involves a variety of holds and other maneuvers. Brown has gotten something of a loveable loser groundswell of support from fans and he's taken advantage of a few recent booking decisions by other promotions. I'm fans of his and Skyler but this match didn't seem to have the same consistency as other matches I've seen where these two faced one another.

- Tessa Blanchard then came to the ring and cut a promo for her match next month at the April event against "Crazy" Mary Dobson. After she entered the ring she immediately removed the high heels she'd been wearing, saying that she preferred her wrestling boots to them. She was sporting a brace on her right ankle and was noticeably limping as she got out of the ring; hopefully whatever injury she has is one she can work through without it affecting her long term.

4) "The Crown Jewel" Chase Owens def. "Country Jacked" Corey Hollis via package piledriver

Corey Hollis is one of the most athletic wrestlers you're ever likely to encounter. He's a classic cruiserweight who never seems to be in anything other than high gear, making him a real treat to watch against other, similar talents. Chase Owens is still fresh from having spent time in Japan working for New Japan Pro Wrestling where he feuded with the likes of Jushin "Thunder" Liger over the NWA World Junior Heavyweight title, a championship he's held three times. Despite the fact that he's as lauded as he is, Owens didn't seem to show much fire or ring presence here. It looked as though he was trying to play the role of heel tough guy but it came off as though he was phoning it in. The match was enjoyable nevertheless and Hollis proved to be a quick fan favorite with the people in attendance.

5) The Bravado Brothers (Harlem & Lancelot) def. Los Ben Dejos (Rios & Cruz) via Gentleman's Agreement

To make an analogy, up until this match the entire show had been very much a musical composition written without much variation. I won't say it had been a one-note song but it definitely needed something to break up the tone of serious competition that had been established. This is an example of a show where you'd love to have a Colt Cabana, Jake Manning, or Zane Riley pop up.

That said, the combination of these four men wound up being exactly what the card needed to liven up the overall experience. The Bravados and Los Ben Dejos have a lengthy rivalry and they continued it at this event. To say they had more fun with it than I've ever really encountered before when watching their matches would be an understatement. The match began with a lighthearted moment when Cruz snatched a piece of Little Caesar's Pizza from Tessa Blanchard (who was still at ringside for commentary); he needed a beverage to wash down the $5 pie and someone in the audience tossed him a bottle of Pepsi. The shaken bottle of soda did what a shaken bottle of soda typically does when you open it - it spewed everywhere, prompting the CWLFMB towel boy to spring into action. They played off this silly moment and transitioned it into what became a great main event.

With only five matches and a running time of barely 2 hours, the show did feel somewhat abbreviated compared to other indie events. I have a feeling that there were some issues in regard to securing talent for this event seeing as how Skyler competed twice and there were a number of competitors announced as being involved who either cancelled (the American Wolves, Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards) or who were advertised and simply weren't there (Lince Dorado and Mickey Gambino). These could've been scheduling conflicts but they could've also been the result of licensing issues seeing as how the Athletic Commission in the state of South Carolina likes to make sure everyone plays by the their rules. (See what I did there?) The show being as short as it was did mean that the drive home put me back onto my pillow at a more decent hour than otherwise, so there's that.

Overall I would say that this was a good show and that it was worth the drive to see the debut of a new promotion. I don't know that I'll be back for another of the three initial offerings they have planned but I do hope that things work out for the best with CWLFMB. Greg Price has given several interviews where he's mentioned plans to expand the Myrtle Beach Sportatorium so that it can play host to other combat sports such as mixed-martial arts and boxing. In addition, Price is looking to have the Myrtle Beach Sportatorium serve as a home to a physical "hall of fame" wherein inductees to the Mid-Atlantic Hall of Heroes will be enshrined along with memorabilia and other mementos. It would be a real shame if these additions don't pan out as there's been a lot of talk building up the potential this project has for the future of professional wrestling in the region.

Of course it would have been remiss of me not to document my experience with CWLFMB via my YouTube series, RASSLIN' WITH REDBEARD, which you can check out via the link below!



As I mentioned earlier in this event report the next CWLFMB will take place on April 4, and so far the card includes three matches. Tessa Blanchard looks to earn another notch of credibility as she will lock up with "Crazy" Mary Dobson. "The Southern Savior" John Skyler will face "The Crown Jewel" Chase Owens with the winner of this match set to take on Cedric Alexander at the May 2 event. In what is sure to be a very entertaining match-up, the Bravado Brothers will be challenged by Worst Case Scenario (Ethan Case & Elijah Evans IV), and awaiting the winner of that bout on the May 2 card will be Country Jacked (Corey Hollis & Adam Page).

For more information on CWLFMB, visit them online at these locations:

- LiveFromMyrtleBeach.com
- Facebook.com/LiveFromMyrtleBeach
- Twitter.com/FromMyrtleBeach
- Facebook.com/MyrtleBeachSportatorium
- Twitter.com/MBSportatorium

Event Report: WrestleForce presents AGGRESSION

I feel like I give WrestleForce a lot of coverage, to the point where I - as someone who wants to be able to put the spotlight on independent wrestling in the Carolinas as a whole - almost feel like I need to apologize for not spreading the love (for lack of a better phrase) more than I do. The fact of the matter is that promotions in this part of the world are so spread to the wind that traveling around to shows takes such an investment, financial and otherwise, that it's just not something I can do each and every month. WrestleForce is a local promotion that runs in a venue less than 45 minutes from my home, which makes it convenient. The fact that they're the best promotion in the state of South Carolina makes it ideal.

WF made their debut at a new venue for AGGRESSION, their first event of 2015. Gone are the days of them running out of a bar named for airplane storage - they've moved up to a genuine sports-oriented complex as they're now calling the Spires Recreation Center in Cayce, SC their home. It's a great move for them as I always felt having shows at a bar, while not a horrible option, does create some limitations in terms of being able to attract kids and families to events (not to mention potential sponsors or advertisers). You're not going to get little Bobby's Mom & Dad to take him to a show held in a bar when they were in church a few hours prior. You will, however, get them into a gymnasium in a decent neighborhood just outside of downtown Columbia and that was proven with this show as attendance was fantastic.

The opening match on the card was a real barn burner between the likes of Corey Hollis and former WF heavyweight champion Cedric Alexander. If you're thinking what I'm thinking it's that this match could have been much later on the card as these two are the kind of talents that could justifiably compete for a title anywhere they go. These two didn't seem to mind, though, because they put on a show that set the bar incredibly high for the rest of the night. Truth be told, this is the kind of match I could watch all day long and not get tired of it.



The unenviable task of following that went to a group of wrestlers aligned in teams for a 6-man tag team match where "The Party Man-imal" Zane Riley would join together with the Fortunate Sons (Jesse Windham & Billy Brash) to face the Equal Nation Demonstration (Avgerinos the Great, Jett Black & Kevin Phoenix) who were lead to the ring by their manager "The" Tommy Thomas. Any match involving Zane Riley has at least a chance to be entertaining, and that's exactly what this match was - entertaining!



WF shows don't always feature female competitors, which is a criticism I've seen some fans levy at them. Whether it be for the sake of diversifying a card or simply for providing some eye candy, I can't justifiably argue against the idea that having a consistent women's "division" is a good thing. Regardless, anyone wanting to see the women of WF in action were in luck as AGGRESSION featured the debut of two talented ladies - Lilly Mae and none other than Tessa Blanchard, the daughter of Tully Blanchard.



[SIDE NOTE: Before Lilly Mae and Tessa Blanchard's match, WF social media specialist and ring announcer Brett Wolverton had some issues with his microphone. The problems cropped up during Blanchard's introduction, and she was upset to the point of forcing Wolverton to shout her intro at the top of his lungs. WF's owner "The Fabulous Playboy" Bob Keller emerged from behind the scenes to seemingly save the day with a functional mic, but of course he couldn't let an opportunity to rib Wolverton go to waste...



Poor Brett...]

Next was a match for the WF tag team championship between defending champs The Flock (LODI & Sick Boy) vs. The Bravado Brothers (Harlem & Lancelot). Originally this match was to have been between The Flock and Worst Case Scenario (Ethan Case & Elijah Evans IV) but apparently there was some issue with WCS not having the proper licenses that are required for wrestlers per the South Carolina Athletic Commission. [SIDE NOTE: Ugh...] The Bravado Brothers held the WF tag team straps previously but were never granted a rematch after they lost the titles, which is why they were given the opportunity to replace WCS here. They would have to contend with the bout being contested under FLOCK RULZ, meaning there would be no rules!



After the tag team championship match and intermission there was supposed to have been a match between "The Twisted Metal Rebel" Hexx and "The Inspiration" Brady Pierce, a continuation of a feud stemming from their relationship with "The Midnight Son" Caleb Konley (Hexx was Konley's bodyguard, a role Pierce now commands). Unfortunately it seems as though Pierce had the same licensing issue as WCS as he was not allowed to compete at AGGRESSION per an official ruling by the SCAC. [SIDE NOTE: Double-ugh...] As such, the match ended in a forfeit and the win was awarded to Hexx. The state of their rivalry now sits in limbo as it's anyone's guess where things between the two will go from here.

I'm not sure how many casual fans of World Wrestling Entertainment realize the fact that Ricardo Rodriguez, who was the personal ring announcer for Alberto Del Rio for a number of years, also competed as a wrestler while he was in WWE's employ. He was seen mostly in appearances on NXT programming as the masked luchadore El Local. Rodriguez would make his debut for WF at AGGRESSION, and in an appropriate turn of events he would have his own personal ring announcer for his match against "The Modern Classic" BJ Hancock - none other than "The Party Man-imal" Zane Riley.



I know that labeling a match as a "match of the year" candidate isn't something to be taken lightly which is why I am genuine in doing so for the main event of AGGRESSION. Defending WF heavyweight champion "The Southern Savior" John Skyler would find himself locked inside a 15 foot high steel cage with "The Salem Sinner" Sixx and "The Thoroughbred" Jaxson James, two men who had each won the right to challenge the WF champion. (In order to give credit where credit is due, I applaud the crew WF had in place to install the cage; I've seen that process take an insane amount of time on independent events but they managed to get the thing assembled very quickly and securely.) I don't feel the match needs any more set up than that which is why I'm going to stop talking and let the action speak for itself.



The 2015 edition of AGGRESSION was a great event from top to bottom. I thoroughly enjoyed myself with this show and am very much looking forward to seeing what else WF has in store this year.

WrestleForce's next event will be UNLEASHED, which will feature the debut of former WWE Superstar Eugene, and it is apparently going to involve some level of fan interaction regarding how some (or possibly all) of the matches will be configured. Details and specifics on that are said to be forthcoming. I would imagine there will be a Control Center video released via YouTube in the near future that will spell out exactly what that aspect of the event will entail. UNLEASHED set to take place April 26 from the Spires Recreation Center. Check out the poster for that event and links to their social media sites below!

Facebook.com/WrestleForce
Twitter.com/WrestleForce

Event Report: Ultra Wrestle presents AWAKENS

Several weeks back I made the somewhat lengthy drive from my base of operations in Saint Matthews, South Carolina over to Abbeville, SC to witness an independent professional wrestling event promoted by a company known as Ultra Wrestle. The show - which was entitled AWAKENS, an apparent attempt at getting a rub from the fact that the next Star Wars film is being called "The Force Awakens" - would be UW's first of 2015 and looked to be something of a relaunch for the promotion heading into the new year seeing as how UW ran a handful of events in 2014 but now seems prepared to stake a claim in the western part of the state.

Abbeville is about as far west as you can go in traveling through the state of South Carolina without winding up in Georgia. It's not too far from Augusta, GA, but it is most definitely what a lot of people would consider a town in the middle of nowhere seeing as how there's not much to do there. As such, when something like professional wrestling "invades" (I have always hated seeing that word used in relation to a wrestling event; no one in wrestling politely enters, they always invade, wreck, or destroy - and people wonder why it's so difficult to get venues to rent out their facility for wrestling), people will come out to see it because it's something fresh, new, and exciting that they don't get to see very often, if ever. For this reason (along with the fact that UW's ownership did their job in actually promoting the event), AWAKENS was a tremendous success. The floor seats and bleachers were full, the gimmick tables were busy, and the concession stand had a line 10-15 people deep at times.

Starting off the show was this match between Alan Price and "The Thoroughbred" Jaxson James. Price has seen action with promotions around this part of the state and with a few entities running shows in the area of the low country. James is one of the top prospects in the Carolinas at this point in time, and he's only going to get better. That said, I will say that when I watched this match live I wasn't thrilled with it as it seemed clunky in spots. However, a second viewing told me a different story, one I didn't immediately notice the first time around.



For the second match on the card Chase "Cauliflower" Brown would meet Dean Richards. This was my first exposure to Richards; he seems to have plenty of ability but his physique is definitely a work in progress. What he lacks most, in my opinion, is a sense of charisma which is something that Brown has albeit in an odd kind of way. Chase fancies himself as an old school shooter or catch wrestler and he comes off as a kind of loveable grappler you can't help but cheer for. The match these two wound up having would prove to be a real physical test for both men as it went in a direction you don't often see on the independent scene.



Before you read further I'd like to make a comment about this next match. Yes, it involves Alan Price - yes, Alan Price was already in a match on the AWAKENS card. You see, our friends at the South Carolina Athletic Commission (SCAC being the division of LLR that oversees legitimate combat sports like boxing, mixed martial arts and...Professional wrestling?) made an appearance at this event and, as it would turn out, a few of the scheduled participants had to be removed from the card for failure to secure the proper licenses. As much as I would like to think that the SCAC isn't just a group of old fashioned Boss Hogg types disguised as government officials and that their role is a legitimate one in making sure things are being done properly (a sentiment that I detailed in a blog entry last year - Wrestlers & Promoters vs. South Carolina's Athletic Commission), there's this side of the coin where it seems like they should have better things to do than come around and tell a few people they can't put on costumes and dance with one another. It is what it is, and the show must go on!

This contest was a throwback to a different era, where wrestlers didn't have to do insane moves and all but kill themselves to elicit a response from the crowd. You don't see this kind of wrestling all that often anymore as the current generation of pro wrestlers have seemingly all been trained with the same mentality that the developers of a video game like Mortal Kombat have in mind when they're preparing a new title. By that I mean most matches seem to be nothing but a series of in-congruent moves strung together without any purpose that eventually culminate in one participant or the other succumbing to some random maneuver when their invisible health meeter has been depleted. Something that you see even less frequently than effective ring psychology is the performance of a manager like "Big Business" James McHone. The trio of him, Deon Johnson, and Boomer Payne made for a truly entertaining assemblage, one that Price and his tag team partner "Mr. Sleeze" Erik Thompson would have a hard time overcoming.



I feel obliged to tell you that Brice Anthony is one of my oldest friends from the world of independent professional wrestling - actually, he is my oldest friend from the world of independent professional wrestling. He and I were part of a promotion that ran in & around Lancaster, SC back 10-15 years ago. I say "he and I" when in reality he was a wrestler and I was something of a glorified gopher boy/photographer/web designer who did whatever was asked of me because it meant I got to be a part of a pro wrestling company. Brice's career in the ring has had a number of stops and starts but his passion for competition burns as bright now as I've ever seen it. He's a more mature hand and it is plainly evident in contrasting the kind of things I saw him do when we were younger to how he now enjoys making the fans hate him with not much more than the expression on his face.

For his match at AWAKENS, Brice would lock horns with local favorite Hoss Hagood - or Hoss Hayseed as Brice's manager, "Big Business" James McHone, referred to him. The main event of the show is still to come but, for my money, I felt like this was the best match of the evening.



Capping off the card was the main event, a tag team match featuring four of the best and brightest young professional wrestlers competing in this neck of the woods. AWAKENS would end with Avgerinos the Great and Josh Powers, better known as The Living Daylights, squaring off against TK Stark and Jett Black, a flashy, athletic duo calling themselves Chemical Z.



As I have watched talent come and go from this region over the years, I have oftentimes asked myself who will be left to continue on with things once the top tier guys & girls get opportunities in greener pastures? While I will be completely honest in saying that I feel fantastic about the fact that wrestlers who cut their teeth in the Carolinas move away because of the fact that business is better in different parts of the world, I always worry that the scene here will dry up and vanish or otherwise be left with nothing but backyard-level companies and wrestlers. That day may come but it's not here yet thanks to promotions like Ultra Wrestle and its roster.

The next Ultra Wrestle event is tentatively scheduled for March 28 in McCormick, SC. For details on that and everything else relating to UW, be sure to check out their social media sites at the following links.

Facebook.com/UltraWrestle
Twitter.com/UltraWrestle
YouTube.com/UltraWrestle

My Still-Way-Too-Early-to-Tell WrestleMania 31 Predictions

As of this writing we are but a few days removed from the 2015 edition of the Royal Rumble, World Wrestling Entertainment's January pay-per-view. If you know anything about the 2015 Royal Rumble you undoubtedly know that it was an event ripe with controversy. For the second year in a row WWE opted to take a creative direction that did not sit well with what I'll call a rather vocal, albeit possibly misguided segment of their fan base. Last year the uproar came when Batista returned and earned a WWE title shot by winning the Rumble match despite working a part-time schedule (he was back to promote the Guardians of the Galaxy film). Now the hullabaloo seems to be stemming from their having Roman Reigns win the Rumble match as opposed to someone else, namely Daniel Bryan.

I'm not going to delve further into the post-Royal Rumble shenanigans than that because every media outlet from Time to FOX Sports has chimed in on it. What I'd sooner talk about is the fact that WrestleMania 31 is quickly approaching and there's a whole lot up in the air at this point in time regarding the card. When I say "a whole lot", I'm talking 90% seeing as how the only match we know for sure is happening is the WWE World Heavyweight Championship bout featuring Reigns as he attempts to dethrone current champ Brock Lesnar. Everything other than that is purely hypothetical because no one knows (other than Vince McMahon himself, and there are those who would argue even he doesn't have a clue) what's going to ultimately take place at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California approximately two months from now. That being the case, I'm here to bring you my still-way-too-early WrestleMania 31 predictions!

What follows should not be considered gospel as I am attempting to assemble the contents of the event based on current angles, storylines, and trends. Even so, as my previous efforts at predicting the WrestleMania matches have proven (which you can see for yourself here and here), I have a decent knack for predicting the winners - now we'll now see how good I am at predicting the body of the show as well as the outcomes.

PRE-SHOW:

1) WWE Divas Championship Match - Nikki Bella vs. Natalya/Paige/Brie Bella

The Divas division is as big of a mess as it has ever been seeing as how the ladies who make up this portion of the roster seem to be there to provide fodder for the Total Divas program on the E! Network more so than anything else. Nikki Bella has held the Divas title for a number of months and she's faced random challengers without anything resembling a consistent adversary. The Bellas have been in a number of matches, either tags or one-on-one contests, with Natalya and Paige so they are likely challengers. It was announced in the past few days that Paige will challenge Nikki for the title at the Fast Lane pay-per-view, so it's possible that the feud will carry over into WrestleMania. Now that Daniel Bryan has returned to active competition it only makes sense that his wife, Brie Bella, would begin to see the error of her ways in sticking by her ne'erdowell sister. I'm leaning towards this being a Bella vs. Bella match as it would make for an attention-getting scenario.

PREDICTION: Nikki vs. Brie
WINNER: Brie Bella

2) WWE Tag Team Championship Match - The Usos (C) vs. The Ascension vs. New Day vs. The Miz & Damien Mizdow vs. Tyson Kidd & Cesaro

The tag team division has been something of a revolving platform throughout 2014 although the Usos rule the roost currently. It's tough to say where WWE might decide to take things as there have been a few other teams to have glimpses of success as the Usos have traded the belts with both the Miz & Mizdow as well as the Dust Brothers (Goldust and Star Dust). Despite being a new pairing Tyson Kidd & Cesaro are growing in terms of popularity through their in-ring performance. A New Day (technically a trio made up of Big E Langston, Xavier Woods, and Kofi Kingston) and the Ascension (Konnor & Victor) are also relative newcomers to the division and there's been a lot of effort made lately to get attention on both groups but especially so for the Ascension. It feels like the Ascension are being made out to be the next challengers for the tag straps, despite the fact that of the options available they're probably the least popular choice.

PREDICTION: The Usos vs. The Ascension
WINNER: The Usos

3) NXT SPECIAL ATTRACTION/CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH - Sami Zayn (C) vs. Kevin Owens

If you are a wrestling fan and you have never watched a match from the rivalry of El Generico (now known as Sami Zayn) and Kevin Steen (now known as Kevin Owens), you should immediately stop what you're doing and go check out as much material involving the two of them that you can possibly get your hands on. Much like Batman and the Joker, it appears as though these two are destined to be at each others throats forever, and that's a beautiful thing. If they're given time to shine, they might make some of the main events look bad by comparison.

WINNER: Kevin Owens

MAIN CARD:

1) Dean Ambrose vs. Dolph Ziggler/Sheamus/Wade Barrett

Some combination of these guys will be on the card, I'm convinced of that. Dean Ambrose is one of the more popular talents on the roster and he's still fairly fresh off of a really spectacular feud with Bray Wyatt that served to elevate the former leader of the Wyatt Family as well as Ambrose (or so it did in my opinion). As for who Ambrose will face, I am leaning towards a confrontation with Wade Barrett since Barrett is the current WWE Intercontinental champion and it only makes sense that every title/title holder get an appearance on what is certainly the biggest event of the year.

PREDICTION: Ambrose vs. Barrett
WINNER: Dean Ambrose

2) Seth Rollins vs. Randy Orton

This is a feud that has been simmering away for a number of months as Seth Rollins took Randy Orton out of action by way of a series of curb stomps into various objects back around November of 2014. (This was a method for getting Orton off television for a while so that he could film a movie.) Rollins has been on a roll ever since then and he still has the Money in the Bank briefcase which he can choose to use at any point in time to challenge the WWE champion, whoever that may be. With all that in mind, I think he gives Orton a happy homecoming by doing the job here.

WINNER: Randy Orton

3) Daniel Bryan vs. Dolph Ziggler/Sheamus/Wade Barrett/Kane/Big Show

Much like the Ambrose match I discussed above, this is a match that has potential to go a lot of different ways with the only definitive aspect being Daniel Bryan's involvement. Bryan has a had long-running feud with Kane that appeared to have been put to bed permanently on a recent edition of SmackDown when Bryan defeated Kane in a casket match. Thus, I am eliminating Kane as well as Wade Barrett as possible opponents. Sheamus is still on his way back from injury and I feel like throwing him into WrestleMania would be a mistake; let him continue to rest and come back after Mania. A match with Big Show would be a classic David vs. Goliath contest and it could be a fun contest, but I think the match that would give fans the biggest pop and likely steal the show would be Bryan vs. Dolph Ziggler. It feels like a match made in the hearts of purist wrestling fans everywhere and I cannot find any fault in the pairing.

PREDICTION: Daniel Bryan vs. Dolph Ziggler
WINNER: Daniel Bryan

4) John Cena vs. Rusev

Rusev is the current WWE United States champion, and he's also got the "Ravishing Russian" Lana at his side. In a different era, Rusev would have likely been in line for a main event match against the likes of Hulk Hogan or Sergeant Slaughter thanks to his role as a villainous "super athlete" from a part of the world that still smells faintly of communism. For at least the time being he's going to be involved with a program pitting him against John Cena, which could potentially be disastrous to his momentum. As you may recall, Bray Wyatt was in Rusev's position at last year at WrestleMania 30 and afterwards Wyatt was so far buried in terms of his credibility that he had to be rebooted as a character. Wyatt spent months re-establishing himself and Cena went on to continue being Cena. I hope Rusev can grow from this and if he wins I think it will mean he's in line for bigger opportunities in the near future.

WINNER: Rusev

5) Triple H vs. Sting

You don't often see a match anymore that will literally go down in history as being an important, relevant contest in the overall spectrum of the professional wrestling industry, but this is exactly that. Sting is an icon in the world of wrestling, a man whose carry spans three decades and that features feuds with almost every big name in the sport throughout that same length of time. He accomplished that in spite of the fact that, until last year, he had never been signed to a WWE contract. It's difficult to believe but he's never had a match for WWE - that will change come WrestleMania 31 when he's challenged by Triple H, a man who himself has had a historic career. This may be the one and only time Sting ever competes in a WWE ring, and I for one expect it to be a tremendous contest.

WINNER: Sting

6) The Undertaker vs. Bray Wyatt

The professional wrestling world reacted like they'd been told their significant other had an incurable disease when Brock Lesnar pinned the Undertaker at WrestleMania 30. Taker's undefeated streak ended and many thought so too had his career as a professional wrestler. As it has turned out, there is another dark soul lingering within the WWE roster, that being none other than Bray Wyatt, a man many consider to be the most interesting character WWE has produced since the Undertaker. It's only fitting that they go to war with one another.

WINNER: The Undertaker

7) WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match - Brock Lesnar (C) vs. Roman Reigns

At the time of this writing there is some doubt as to whether or not the WHC match will go on as scheduled due in no small part to the backlash that occurred after the Royal Rumble pay-per-view. It's unclear if Roman Reigns will be the only challenger Lesnar will face or if he'll even be Lesnar's opponent. Regardless, I'm going forward in presenting this as the main event of the card because that's what current plans reflect.

Rumor is that Lesnar wants to return to the world of mixed martial arts and if that's true then he won't be hanging onto the WHC for very long (unless Vince McMahon and Dana White have orchestrated some incredibly intricate deal wherein a WWE title could be featured on UFC programming and vice versa, that is - I think that's about as likely to happen as me getting into Metallica). Reigns has been recognized for quite some time as the next big thing in terms of talents to be pushed to the next level, however he is still very much in need of help in getting over with fans when it comes to his promo work. He's like many other performers over the years in that regard who had amazing physiques and a great look yet were lacking in the area of charisma and the gift of gab. This is a tough call, and it's made more so by the fact that the Money in the Bank contract could come into play at any moment in time.

WINNER: Roman Reigns

NOTABLE POTENTIAL EXCEPTIONS:

- Goldust vs. Star Dust

This is being teased on TV right now and could be on the main card but I don't know that it is as valuable as the matches I've laid out herein. It's an attraction, for sure, just not one I am convinced will be worthwhile.

- Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal

The AGMBR was featured on the WrestleMania 30 card and Cesaro was the winner of the match, but there's been no inclination as of yet that it will be a part of WrestleMania 31. This would be a way to get a lot of talent involved in the card but I don't think it's necessary when there are better contests that could be presented.

- Kane & Big Show


These two members of the Authority could be plugged into a number of different matches, the trick is whether or not they'll get those spots or even have a spot.

- Eric Rowan, Ryback, Wade Barrett, Luke Harper

These four men are stuck in limbo as far as their involvement with WrestleMania 31 is concerned. It would be entertaining to see Rowan and Harper go at it in some kind of gimmick match where they could get into some sort of insane arrangement. Barrett is one of my favorite members of the WWE roster and I hate that he as well as the Intercontinental title don't get the respect they deserve. Ryback is a meathead that I don't particularly care for one way or another, so no big loss there.

- Sheamus

There is a better than decent chance that WWE will pull the trigger on Sheamus' return prior to WrestleMania 31 and have him face Daniel Bryan, which would serve as a continuation to a quasi-feud they've had going ever since WrestleMania 27. I persist in the notion that Sheamus, who is apparently 100% after having been sidelined for the past few months with injuries, should be held off until after WM31 so that he can have a fresh start in a new program.


- AJ Lee

AJ Lee is one of the best female wrestlers in the world and yet she likely will have no place in the WrestleMania 31 card. She's been dealing with a neck injury as of late but depending on what you read and what you believe she's not as bad off as it would seem. That plays into the possibility that she might be getting the shaft thanks to the fact that her husband, CM Punk, is - well - CM Punk.

The Sudden Proliferation of Bad Wrestling Posters - Part 5

It has been more than three months since I've made a contribution to this running series of blogs dedicated to shining a big, bright, shiny light on what are more often than not dull, dark, and usually depressing documents meant to serve as professional wrestling posters. Why the gap in coverage of this all-important topic in this day and age? I would like to say it's because the promotions responsible for such drivel have dried up and withered away but I don't think I could ever be so lucky as to have that happen. Crap-can indie wrestling federations are like the mythical hydra in that regard - cut off one head and two more appear. There's an old saying that the only critters left on this planet after World War 3 or some other type of global holocaust occurs will be cockroaches. I'm fairly certain that somewhere, even after the bulk of humanity has been annihilated, there will still be a middle school gymnasium with a ring made out of old car parts, railroad ties, and garden hoses set up inside of it where half a dozen or so "professional wrestlers" shall gather to entertain their fans, the cockroaches.

Lets begin this entry with a flyer for an upcoming WrestleForce event entitled AGGRESSION.

I have to applaud WrestleForce because they've truly stepped up their game in terms of flyers over the course of the past year. They've gone from having what were decent posters at best to work like this that is eye-grabbing, colorful, and well designed in terms of the overall layout. I know that there are those who will look at this and say "Oh, someone's playing a lot of Grand Theft Auto, huh?" because of the similarities between this poster and artwork produced by Rockstar Games for use on the GTA series of video games. Imitation in this arena isn't a bad idea seeing as how that beloved 18-35 year old male demographic is going to see this and immediately recognize the design as something potentially interesting. Besides, gaming and wrestling are two forms of entertainment with overlapping fanbases, so it's an organic method of drawing in potential consumers.

Next we have the poster for the debut event from AML Wrestling - "AML" meaning America's Most Liked. Not to sound too snarky here but I will say what others are probably thinking by stating that it might be a bit early for them to proclaim themselves as "America's Most Liked" wrestling when they haven't even had their first show yet.

I like this poster as it has an American Gladiators feel to it, which is fitting seeing as how AMLW has clearly put a significant amount of money into this production since they're bringing in names like Sean Waltman, Matt Hardy, and others. I'll add that the logo is fantastic; I'm a big fan of symmetry in design and there's plenty of it to be had in this piece.

Now we'll take a look at a poster from Premiere Wrestling Federation, a company owned and promoted by Steve Corino. This was for their January event, entitled SOUL SURVIVOR.

This is a fine example of a clear, concise poster that isn't overloaded with graphics but still accomplishes everything that a good poster should in serving as an advertising mechanism. I appreciate PWF's effort towards having an event title pair up with a featured match. So often it seems as though promoters just pick a word to go along with their show as a title or tag line because it looks cool when you spell it out in a certain font style without ever thinking of how it should influence the card.

Ultra Wrestle is a relatively new company that launched in 2014 but looks to make strides in 2015, starting with AWAKENS, which will be their first event of the year.

I can't say that I dislike this poster but I'm not 100% sold on it either. I get what they're doing here in trying to get a bit of a rub from Star Wars' momentum. (In case you've been under a rock for the past 3 months, it was announced last year that the next Star Wars film will be called "The Force Awakens".) Even so, there's a lot of text and I feel as though images of the talent from more than just two matches could have been involved. As I mentioned, UW is a young promotion - hopefully once they have a greater library of stock photos to work with they'll be able to incorporate more of their roster onto posters.

We've been on an uphill climb thus far but the path is about to take a very abrupt and misguided left hand turn into the inane! Here's the poster for HARDCORE HOMECOMING, Milestone Wrestling's next event.

This is pretty mild as far as Milestone Wrestling's posters go in terms of being a random mish-mash of imagery and text. As much as I want to make fun of this poster, there's a certain artistry to it that is keeping me from being too derogatory in addressing it. The background looks like an Andy Warhol painting, but then you've got Mike Levy and the Burke County Boyz (it's spelled with a "Z" because of course it is - kind of like putting an "X" where it doesn't belong in a word, purely for the visual) and that's the end of anything beautiful about it. If you'll notice there's only one match announced on the flyer - someone asked them about this on their Facebook page, and a representative from MW replied along the lines of "Whatever we decide to bring it will be a blood bath", so if the flyer doesn't entice you hopefully the promise of potential exposure to blood-born pathogens will.

Following that is a recent poster from Southeastern Pro Wrestling for an event they dubbed NEW YEARS RESOLUTION. Regarding that event title, I will say that in the past two months I have seen more shows with some variation on the phrase "New Year's Resolution/Revolution" than I thought conceivably possible - some that were and were not grammatically correct (there's supposed to be an apostrophe in "year's" that some seemed to leave out for whatever reason - I'm guessing ignorance and stupidity), and some that went so far as to incorporate backwards letters or numbers into the spellings.

I harp constantly about the fact that wrestling posters should highlight a handful of the talent scheduled to appear on the card - young, good looking, physically fit athletes who appear to be ready to pop off the printed page - via clear, posed stock images. Why? Because you can't promote shows only to the people who know the wrestlers by their names, you have to promote shows to everyone and that includes the potential audience that (despite the assumed popularity of a given talent) might never have heard of or seen them before. That and the fact that there are those "fans" out there who will come to shows because they aren't actually wrestling fans, if you catch my drift (judging by some of the comments that get left on the matches I upload to YouTube there are a LOT of people watching wrestling who don't know an arm bar from a suplex; I'll stop there and leave that information for you to digest).

The images of the wrestlers on this poster are so small that they look like thumbnails, totally devoid of any detail whatsoever. I'm not just talking about how they appear when you look at this poster on your monitor/tablet/phone/etc. Imagine a printed version of this poster and bear in mind the fact that most documents of this type would be, at most, 16" x 20" in size. You wouldn't get a clear view of them even if it was 3' x 2.5'!

I grew up in Lancaster, South Carolina which isn't too far from Monroe, North Carolina. I don't ever recall there being wrestling around Monroe when I was a kid, but if New Life Wrestling (the company for which this flyer corresponds) was around back then I'm glad I never saw one of their posters because it likely would have damaged my point of view on indie promotions.

Here is an example of a poster loaded with images that were culled, for the most part, from action shots and cropped down so as to be suitable for use on a flyer. (I have no idea what is going on with the "wrestler" I'm assuming is in black & white face paint for the NLW championship match; by the look of things dude could be an alien, is all I'm saying.) This is one of the most carnal sins wrestling promotions make these days because there's no reason you shouldn't have stock photos of all your talent. Buy a bed sheet that's an odd solid color, download GIMP or some other free image editor, get yourself a decent camera, and have them pose for 4-5 photos once they're dressed to compete on your show - guess what, by the next time you run an event you've got a whole bunch of material to work with in making your posters!

I do have respect for whoever made this poster because it genuinely appears as though the effort was there. Someone went through the trouble to chop images of NLW's roster out of other photos so they could be used on the flyer, and trust me when I say that can be a painstaking process. Pardon my French but to make use of an phrase quite popular amongst wrestling critics, they tried to make chicken salad out of chicken shit.

I want to briefly point out the title for that NLW show, REVOLUTION IV: A NEW BEGINNING. If you follow that logic, one can assume that there have been three "revolutions" prior to this one, and none of them were apparently effective seeing as how there's now going to be a fourth revolution. Whoever is leading that revolt should probably rethink their strategy, unless their strategy is to go around in circles in which case the title really is ironic (because sometimes words have double meanings).

We're getting towards the bottom of the proverbial barrel here now, and Southern Fried Championship Wrestling has the honor of being the upper crust of the worst this time around as they've published not one but TWO posters as of late that have drawn my ire.

The first event was called HALLOSCREAM and the second NEW YEARS NIGHTMARE (there's no apostrophe in the flyer so I didn't use one either). I am going to go out on a limb here and take a guess that SFCW utilizes the tried and true method of naming their events with the most clever thing they could think of based on what time of year it is. As such I expect their February event to be called VALENTINES VINDICATION, their March event to be FIGURE FOUR LEAFED CLOVER, and their April event to be EASTER EVISCERATION. See, it's not that hard - you just take something the month in question is known for then combine it with either a violent act or a wrestling-related term and, presto, you have your gimmick!

I'm not going to bother with going into more of a rant about the backgrounds, color choices, or the stock imagery being awful because I would be beating a dead horse, however I will add on a more serious note the fact that Anarchy Wrestling out of Cornelia, Georgia was recently purchased by SFCW's ownership. Anarchy has a rich history behind it as having been where a number of well known talents cut their teeth in the business (men like AJ Styles, Abyss, Xavier Woods, and others) and hopefully the new owners will be able to maintain that legacy rather than muck it up.

All Pro Classic Wrestling is (or possibly was; more on that in a moment) a promotion based out of Mullins, SC that, if memory serves, seemed to pop up onto my radar about half way through 2014. They never drew too much of my attention because they seemed to exclusively use a crop of performers from a region of South Carolina known for turning out competitors that are only slightly beyond backyarders in terms of their actual wrestling ability. Here's the poster for REDEMPTION, their November 2014 event.

I took an art class in high school and I remember one of the projects we had that semester was to make a collage using images we found in newspapers and magazines. I made this really creepy and rather dismal scene that had a passenger jet crashing into the letters "FAA" with background elements that were all either on fire or looked like they were part of a cave. (Don't ask me what my inspiration was, I think I just wanted to make something that looked mildly offensive for the sake of making something mildly offensive.) I tell that story because this poster reminds me of that collage in that it's a jumbled mess of logos, text, and stock photos that don't at all work well with one another. I can't stress enough how important having a clear idea in mind is when designing a flyer. It's like Steve Martin once said, "Here's an idea, have a point!", otherwise you wind up with something like this.

APCW had been promoting their January 3 event up until a few days before it was scheduled to happen, then without much notice at all it was cancelled. It was later made public that the reason for the cancellation was that they had issues getting the ring to the venue. I found that particularly silly seeing as how in the realm of professional wrestling the ring is arguably the most essential piece of equipment there is (although George South has proven that otherwise seeing as how he and his students once held a show for a community event in a grassy field after there were issues with the ring they were supposed to have used that day). Ironically enough, images of the ring APCW had used in the past were posted in a for sale ad on Facebook.

So was the show cancelled because they couldn't get the ring to the venue or was it cancelled because the ring had been sold? Only in indie wrestling, folks!

Last and certainly least I bring you another pair of flyers, this time from New Millennium Championship Wrestling hailing from Kings Mountain, North Carolina. These posters were for events called DEADLY GAMES and ROYAL BASH, titles that immediately reek of gimmick infringement seeing as how they're rather similar to WAR GAMES (the classic event that began back in the heyday of the National Wrestling Alliance and continued on into the World Championship Wrestling era) and the ROYAL RUMBLE (World Wrestling Entertainment's annual January pay-per-view) but that's where the similarities to anything awesome end.

I don't know where to begin with this, quite frankly. They chose to use Comic Sans as the font for the poster, which says a lot about the person responsible for it (i.e., childish, immature, and completely lacking good taste - I didn't come up with those character traits myself, mind you, I'm just citing the BBC). I am hoping I'm wrong here but the image of the wrestler (I assume he's a wrestler, anyway) on the right looks like it could have been a prison booking photo. I don't know if it's the jumpsuit or the forearm tattoos that make me think that. By contrast, the guy on the left has a double chin and no discernible muscle tone whatsoever yet he's trying to puff himself up by crossing his arms, a pose that everyone knows only real tough guys use. He's wearing sun glasses and he's got a super-cool replica of the "winged eagle" WWE championship belt (arguably one of the most identifiable belts ever yet one that gets made over by indie feds all the time as their "world" championship belt), so he's clearly not someone you should mess with if you know what's good for you!

NMCW took a different approach with the flyer for ROYAL BASH, their January 2015 event.

I would call it minimalist but I think lazy might be more fitting. To answer a few burning questions right up front:

- No, the date of the event isn't on the poster.
- Yes, this show was held on January 17.
- Yes, I had to spend more time than I'd like to think about verifying what the date of the event actually was.

No announced matches, no images of talent scheduled to appear, just a whole lot of tildes (~). When you're running a wrestling promotion and your posters look like this, it's time to rethink the decisions you've made that have brought you to where you are in life.

Introducing the Professional Wrestling Awards of the Carolinas

The Carolinas have long been heralded as the origin of greatness in the realm of professional wrestling. Men, women, and promotions now considered to be legendary in their scope of influence on the future of professional wrestling began here in this, the region we call home. It is in this tradition of greatness that the Professional Wrestling Awards of the Carolinas will carry on in celebrating the achievements of talent working in the Carolinas.

For more information about the PWACs, visit the official group page on Facebook

Founded in 2014, the electorate of the Professional Wrestling Awards of the Carolinas is made up of a rotating seven-member panel of individuals who are in some way involved in the Carolinas independent wrestling scene. Categories included in the PWACs are:

Announcer of the Year

Referee of the Year

Rising Star

Feud of the Year

Female of the Year

Tag Team of the Year

Wrestler of the Year

Nominees for the PWACs are submitted by panel members; the list of nominees is narrowed to three competitors based on the highest percentage of nominations received. Winners are selected by panelist voting on the remaining contenders in each category. Whoever receives the most votes is declared the winner of a particular category.

Membership for the first panel of the PWACs will be made up of the following individuals.

Robert “Redbeard” Truesdale

Blogger/Documentarian

Robert “Redbeard” Truesdale has followed the Carolinas’ independent professional wrestling scene as a fan for nearly 15 years. Truesdale – who was a self-described “gopher boy” in his late teens for a long defunct promotion out of Lancaster, South Carolina – is well-traveled, having attended events in all corners of the Carolinas. He documents his wrestling-related road trips on his blog, Redbeard’s Rambling, as well as Rasslin’ with Redbeard, a YouTube series dedicated to depicting the experience of being an indie wrestling fan in the region.

Harrison South Worth

Photographer/Trainer

Even though his name may not be immediately recognizable, Harrison South Worth is a man who’s been a part of the independent professional wrestling scene in southern states (not just the Carolinas) for decades. Worth, who is a financial administrator as well as an athlete, has served as a trainer, promoter, and creative consultant for a number of federations at various points in his life. If you follow many of the top promotions and wrestlers in the Carolinas on social media, you’ve likely seen his photography (Worth Wrestle Photos) appear in your timeline. Indeed, he has an eye for talent and the credibility to make his thoughts count.

Chris Moister

Referee

Experienced journeyman referees are like the bass players of professional wrestling – their presence is acknowledged but their value is rarely made a point of because their role is that of support and not of star. Perhaps better known to observant fans as Ray Boring, Chris Moister is a veteran of the United States military who has grinded his way into being recognized as the head official for several promotions. Through his work ethic and commitment to consistently performing his duties as referee at a high level, he has become “the man in charge of all the action” for companies based in Georgia, both North and South Carolina, and will soon make his way into Tennessee.

Brett Wolverton

Ring Announcer

Much like referees, quality ring announcers are individuals whose contributions to professional wrestling are either underappreciated or woefully ignored altogether. That said, the fact that Brett Wolverton can be seen almost any given weekend handling the ring announcing duties (as well as providing television commentary and in some locales even serving as commissioner of the company) at events from Charleston to Cornelia and from Charlotte to Cayce means that he’s earned his place as someone who’s capable of adding an air of respect and professionalism to any given show. While Wolverton’s capacity to trade barbs with fans and unruly, villainous mouthpieces is evident, his distinctive delivery and his effort to maintain a dapper presentation distinguish him from the rest.

“The Fabulous Playboy” Bob Keller

Professional Wrestler

If it was scientifically possible to measure the amount of energy needed to convince a person that they hate someone else, “The Fabulous Playboy” Bob Keller would be as suitable a medium as any for facilitating such a study. Walking in the footsteps of infamous wrestling personalities such as “Classy” Freddie Blassie and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, Keller has the rare ability to verbally eviscerate anyone he encounters through a combination of snares and insults. Even though Keller excels in the part of a scoundrel he can play a more straight-laced role as well which is why his versatility as a performer makes him a valuable commodity for any promotion. When he isn’t riling up his competition or the fans at ringside, Keller is working behind the scenes in a number of roles to help keep an event on track. Keller’s influence on independent professional wrestling in the Carolinas will continue to be felt through the work he does as operator of the WrestleForce School of Pro Wrestling.

Abel Adams

Professional Wrestler - Retired

When the subject of respected veterans comes up in regard to talking about local independent professional wrestlers, the list of names one can legitimately speak of is short. Be that as it may, a name that is consistently and deservedly involved in those discussions is that of Abel Adams. Best known as being one-half of Team Ego with his partner Will Snap, Adams’ reputation as a locker room leader and ring general precedes him. Having had at least a hand in developing the careers of competitors such as “The Southern Savior” John Skyler, Steven Walters (Dash Wilder in World Wrestling Entertainment’s NXT division), and IMPACT Wrestling’s Gunner, Adams contribution to independent professional wrestling in the Carolinas is most evident and will continue to be on display for years to come.

Brad “Lodi” Cain

Professional Wrestler

If you were a fan of professional wrestling during the late 1990s and paid attention to World Championship Wrestling, then you more than likely encountered one or more of the in-ring personalities of Lodi. Whether it was his run as “the sign guy” in Raven’s Flock, the unforgettable pairing he had with Lenny Lane in the West Hollywood Blondes, or the follow-up thereof with Lane as Standards & Practices (the team that would introduce the world to Stacey Keibler) the man has performed in front of untold thousands of fans and been on millions of TV screens all over the world. When he’s not beating his clientele skinny as owner of the personal fitness studio Your FLEX Appeal, Lodi – a North Carolina native, graduate of East Carolina University, and former member of the United States Army Reserve – can these days be found most any weekend of the month entertaining fans with his unmistakable sense of showmanship.

For more information on the PWACs, please join the official group page on Facebook by clicking this link.