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Wednesday, October 31, 2018

My 1-BOO-3 Cents: Your Halloween pics

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Happy Halloween everyone. Each year I ask for your pics as it relates to the holiday. This year did not disappoint. Enjoy the selections and be sure to post your Halloween (or cosplay) photos next year. 



"Rowdy" Ax Allwardt

"Ravishing" Billy Wilson

Chris Slammer's guns trump the knife

Jake Montalvo will always believe

They're here...
The Karafa Family

The Mouth of the Northeast (and Scotland)
Martin Endersby 

You will always remember the name of...
Nathan Goolsby 

'Stubby J' and his crew are ready to settle the score

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Monday, October 29, 2018

AUDIO: Midwest Monster Hunter Bo Sawyer

Bo Sawyer and friends
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

It's Halloween week and we're celebrating on the My 1-2-3 Cents podcast with Midwest Monster Hunter Bo Sawyer. The former Stride Pro Wrestling tag team champion shares his story. Plus I answer another #AskMy123Cents. 

Listen to the show on the Jittery Monkey Podcasting Network here.

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Saturday, October 27, 2018

VIDEO: Evolving to Evolution


@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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It's another #AskMy123Cents. This time Matt Nelson asks, 

To you, what steps does the WWE need to make in order to make you actually believe they are serious about the Evolution/Revolution?

Friday, October 26, 2018

Brother vs. brother happening this weekend

O'Riley vs. Brooks
Courtesy: United Wrestling Coalition

 

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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Stride Pro Wrestling's Legacy Champion Arron Brooks is getting into the promoting business. He is hosting a fundraiser show in Rockport, Indiana. It's set for Sunday afternoon at 4 and is raising money for the family of one of Brooks' close friends Jakob Lester. The young father of two died in a car crash last month. He was just 25 years old.

The show features many of Stride Pro Wrestling's top stars. In the main event, Brooks will defend the Legacy title for the first time against his brother and former tag team partner Joey O'Riley. It's also a falls count anywhere match. This will be a great way to cap off the show, which will undoubtedly showcase the talents of everyone who steps into the ring that day.
Happier times
O'Riley and Brooks formed a team in Stride after O'Riley's regular partner Jay Spade started pursuing a singles run. It paid off for Spade as he became a two-time Stride Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Champion. O'Riley and Brooks gelled well together as you might imagine brothers would. However, O'Riley for some reason snapped back in April at a Stride event in Mt. Vernon. The brothers brawled their way from the ring but O'Riley dropped below the radar for months before recently making his return to Stride. The two have faced each other before but not in Stride.


Courtesy: United Wrestling Coalition

Joey has had a great year. Not only has he had success in Stride along with other independent companies, but he also made an appearance on WWE's 205 Live. On that show, he wrestled as Murphy Myers and faced Jack Gallagher. Brooks too has had a great 2018. He won a huge five-man steel cage match in May to become the number one contender to the Legacy Title. A couple months later he beat Wraith, Ryzer and Spade in a ladder match to claim the prize.


Could Sunday's defense be the first and only for Brooks or can he beat his brother and return to Carterville and defend the belt at Stride's new location on Saturday, November 10. More details are coming soon.


Thursday, October 25, 2018

VIDEO: #AskMy123Cents Evolution

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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WWE Evolution is this Sunday. So it's the subject of this week's #AskMy123Cents. Sam Banks wants to know which Superstar from the past I'd most like to see on the show. The answer(s) are in the video.





Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Who SHOULD have been champion?



By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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Pro wrestling fans have debated for years on who SHOULD have been the WWE Heavyweight champion. I've even blogged about it more than once. However, I want to hear Your 1-2-3 Cents on the subject. So I'm creating a tournament that will play out on the My 1-2-3 Cents Facebook page over the next several weeks. 

Here's how it works...

Submit up to eight nominees via the My 1-2-3 Cents Facebook page DM or email my123cents@gmail.com. The top eight nominees will then be put into the tournament. Matches will be randomly drawn and you will have a chance to vote on the winner via Facebook poll.

So, who can be considered? 

Superstars not on the current WWE/NXT roster.

Superstars who never held the WWE or World Championship (WWE's big gold belt). 

Submissions are not limited to just Superstars who competed in WWE.

I'd like to keep it to Superstars who SHOULD have been and not ones who COULD be one day (ie. Kenny Omega, Cody Rhodes, etc.)

That's it. Pretty simple. Get your nominees in. We'll start the pairings on Monday, Oct. 29.

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Tuesday, October 23, 2018

VIDEO: Roman Reigns is NOT faking cancer



By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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Some have speculated Roman Reigns' announcement about battling leukemia is a work, something to make him a more sympathetic babyface. I share my thoughts on that notion and why it's that's not the case in today's YouTube video.


Monday, October 22, 2018

AUDIO: Arron Brooks on his character, haters and more



By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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Arron Brooks recently won the Stride Pro Wrestling Legacy Championship. Almost immediately, some haters started taking to the internet to criticize the new champ's look. We talk about that and much more in this week's My 1-2-3 Cents podcast.


Arron is promoting his first show too. It's happening on Sunday, Oct. 28 in Rockport, Indiana. Bell time is 4 p.m. and it's a benefit show.  

Listen here and don't forget to rate and review the show on whichever listening platform you use. Thanks!



Friday, October 19, 2018

BOO BLOG: Forget Michael Myers, watch out for Cash Borden



By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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Forty years ago Michael Myers started terrorizing the people of Haddonfield, Illinois. He returns to the big screen this weekend as the Halloween movie gets a reboot. Even though Michael is the best-known monster from Haddonfield, one of its other residents is just as menacing when it comes to the squared circle. 

Cash flying
Cash Borden isn't the biggest, strongest or fastest man on the Stride Pro Wrestling roster. But I would argue he's among the toughest. Cash has had his ups and downs here, starting off as a tag team wrestler with Dalton Diamond to engaging in a high profile feud with Roger Matheus. Cash has also competed for the Stride Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Title and Legacy Championship. 


Because Stride is a family-friendly environment, Cash often holds back when he's in the ring. However, some of his evil side was exposed when he tasered Matheus back in May. His battles with Bull Bronson and Madman Pondo also pushed the limits with the Stride crowd. 


However, Cash wrestles around the region and has taken on all comers. He's not afraid to mix things up and bring the necessary weapons with him. Cash has shed a lot of blood, sweat and tears for pro wrestling. He takes his craft seriously and I think it's safe to say fans appreciate that. Some of the photos I've seen make me believe Cash would give Michael a run for his money if the two ever crossed paths in Haddonfield. Cash is also picking up his branding and marketing game. Find him on Instagram and be sure to connect. 
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Thursday, October 18, 2018

Rest in Peace "Dirty" Dick Slater

RIP "Dirty" Dick Slater
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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Early Thursday morning (Oct. 18) reports started surfacing that pro wrestling legend "Dirty" Dick Slater had died. I was leery to share the news or even write this blog because literally at that time and for more than an hour it was just people sharing it. There were no links attached and no websites had verified, other than the standard line "multiple sources are reporting..." 

However as the day went on, WWE confirmed the news. For some reason, Slater's ill-fated WWE run comes to mind when I think of him, but his career was so much more than that 18 months or so he spent up north. My first recall of Slater was ahead of his departure to Stamford. I remember reading about him during his run in Mid-Atlantic and Mid-South, including his feud with Jake "The Snake" Roberts.

"The Rebel"
Courtesy: WWE
When Slater arrived in the WWF (then) in 1986, I assumed he'd resume his battle Roberts, but it never really happened. He was a good guy with the moniker "The Rebel" added to his persona. There was never a big push for him in WWE. I recall a few enhancement matches on Superstars of Wrestling and a bout against "Magnificant" Muraco on Saturday Night's Main Event. Other than that, there were no WrestleMania moments or pay per view paydays for Slater.

The Hardliners
My next best memory of Slater was his run in WCW. He was part of Gary Hart's team hellbent on destroying Ric Flair and Sting. (Muta and Terry Funk were also involved.) Then Slater and Dick Murdoch wrestled as the Hardliners and took out Scott Steiner sometime in 1991. I know Slater stuck around and had various partners and feuds in that era, however, I think his greatest success predated my fandom. I know while researching him, Slater held the NWA Television Championship, Mid-Atlantic Championship and the UWF TV Title too. He actually has quite a list of accolades in the business.


Like so many Legends in the pro wrestling business, Slater left us way too soon. At just 67 years old, he had plenty more life to live. My condolences go out to Slater's family, friends and fans. Rest in peace.

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

My variations of WWE's 'World Cup'

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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I'm having some fun with the upcoming World Cup tournament WWE has planned for the Crown Jewel event. I'm staying away from the controversy surrounding the location. (For the record, I think it's a good idea to move the event.) Since all the competitors were born and raised in the USA, I decided to offer up some alternatives from both WWE, Impact Wrestling and the indy scene. 

WWE Current Roster (NXT included)
Daniel Bryan - USA
Kevin Owens - Canada 
Pete Dunn - United Kingdom
Finn Balor - Ireland
Cesaro - Sweden
Andrade “Cien” Almas - Mexico
Rusev - Bulgaria 
Jinder Mahal - India

WWE Legends (Competed in the 80s or 90s)
Sgt. Slaughter - USA
Tito Santana - Mexico

British Bulldog - United Kingdom
Iron Sheik - Iran
Nikolai Volkoff - Russia
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper - Scotland
Yokozuna - Japan
Andre the Giant - France

WWE 80s & 90s Lower to Mid Carders
Cpl. Kirschner - USA
Outback Jack - Australia
Tiger Chung Lee - Japan
Killer Khan - Mongolia 
SD Jones - Antigua and Barbuda
Giant González - Argentina 
Boris Zhukov - Russia
Tony Garea - New Zealand

Impact Wrestling (Past & Present)
Kurt Angle - USA
Bobby Roode - Canada
Konnan - Mexico
Taiji Ishimori - Japan
Rob Terry - United Kingdom
Bhupinder Singh - India

Grado - Scotland
Basile Barka - France

Stride Pro Wrestling (four men, double elimination)
Heath Hatton - USA
Tony Flood - Canada
Jose Magnifico - Mexico
Wraith - Punjabi, India (his fall residence) 


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Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Thank you, Roger Matheus

Roger Matheus
Courtesy: Steve Belcher
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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I'm fairly certain I'm breaking all kinds of wrestling rules with this post, but I figured it's my blog and my opportunity to make a shout out. So here goes nothing. 

On Monday, former Stride Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Champion Roger Matheus posted the following on his Facebook page:  

"I have to step away from wrestling. I have multiple injuries in my back and knee and it's taken its toll. I appreciate everyone that has supported me, I'll never be able to thank you enough."

Courtesy: Steve Belcher
It's shocking news, to say the least. I knew Roger had some nagging injuries, but I had no clue it was something that would lead to an early retirement.

I first met Roger in early 2016 when he came to Stride Pro Wrestling. I didn't talk much with him at that time as his intimidating presence inside the ring could be felt backstage, at least from my perspective. I quickly learned though that Roger is a down to earth guy who loves his family, his country and the world of professional wrestling. I had a chance to chat with him about his background on a My 1-2-3 Cents podcast about 18 months ago. You can listen here.

Whacking Roger
Of course, if you've followed Stride Pro Wrestling or this blog you know Roger and me had a pretty big storyline for the first half of 2018. It all started when he threw me into the ring after interfering in a championship match. This all lead to him power slamming my 12-year-old daughter and a cage match between us. 

Crossbody block
Courtesy: Jamie Woodworth-Myers
I think it's obvious I have no business in a wrestling ring. I'm a 45-year-old ring announcer with a Dad bod. However, the powers that be thought it would be good for me to see action once again (I also wrestled in 2012). When the idea of Roger being my opponent was pitched, I balked, fearing the Mad Viking would literally destroy me in the ring.

Roger kicks me
Courtesy: Tom Harness
However, I can't say enough about Roger and his approach. Yes, there were legit kicks and he did toss me around like a rag doll at times. But I felt safe in there with him. It took lots of interference but I ended up with the win and in the months since then, Roger has been booked as an unstoppable monster.

Matheus & Abyss vs. The Midwest Monster Hunters
That's the hard part of his retirement. He was back on track to reek havoc on Stride Pro Wrestling once again.I'm grateful to have had a chance to be in the ring against Roger and to have seen his last match (a tag team event with Abyss against the Midwest Monster Hunters). Also, thanks for taking care of my baby girl with that slam.

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Monday, October 15, 2018

AUDIO: Stride Pro Wrestling's 'T-Dog' Jerry Travelstead

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@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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This week on the My 1-2-3 Cents Podcast my guest is Jerry Travelstead. Known as 'T-Dog' to Stride Pro Wrestling fans, Travelstead has made a name for himself inside and outside the ring. He's the company's first Legacy Champion. But he's also a champion of raising money for different causes.

Listen to what Jerry has to say about all those efforts and his time in the ring right here.

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