STRIDE PRO WRESTLING: Tag team turmoil

Created by Sam Hunter

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Just over a year ago I stepped into the wrestling ring for what I thought was going to be the last time. That cage match was like nothing I ever experienced. 

Then a few weeks ago I stepped up and helped my friend Heath Hatton as he struggled against Stride Pro Wrestling Tag Team Champions Jay Spade and Tony Flood. The Sin City Saints were double-teaming my buddy who was fighting alone after his partner, Scott Phoenix was attacked prior to the match. I should add that the Saints shoved me the previous month during a presentation of the new tag team belts.

Despite my efforts to help Heath win the match, I was low blowed by Flood and the champs were disqualified. General manager Sam Hunter instantly booked the match for Bash at the Ballpark. We're hours away for that event at Rent One Park. I'm not going to lie, I'm nervous as hell about this but looking forward to having one more match and an opportunity at the gold. 

Come out to Rent One Park tonight. Tickets are just $7 and include five wrestling matches and a baseball game (the Southern Illinois Miners take on the Lake Erie Crushers). Bell time is at 5:35 p.m. We'll see you there! 

STRIDE PRO WRESTLING: Ca$h is King

Created by Sam Hunter

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Well, the title on this might make Stride Pro Wrestling's 'King' Chris Hargas upset, but let me explain. Cash Borden is now the king of championships. He is currently the Stride Pro Wrestling Heavyweight AND Legacy Champions. For the first time in the company's history, one man holds both singles titles. 

It all came to be nearly two weeks ago at the Pulaski County Fair. Borden beat Red Daniels for the heavyweight title in a brutal match on the fairgrounds. The action spilled to the outside of the ring. Bales of hay were involved in the course of the match, which you can strike up to another first in Stride.

However, Cash's luck may be running out. The champ has to defend the title against Daniels who is hellbent on recapturing the gold. Red was arguably Stride's most defending champion beating the likes of Ax Allwardt, King Hargas and Heath Hatton. 

Both men are coming for a fight. The action will be intense once again. Come out to Rent One Park, Thursday, August 29. Tickets are just $7 and include five wrestling matches and a baseball game (the Southern Illinois Miners take on the Lake Erie Crushers). Bell time is at 5:35 p.m. We'll see you there! 

STRIDE PRO WRESTLING: Old school vs. new school

Created by Sam Hunter

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Another big match signed for Thursday night's Bash at the Ballpark features Ax Allwardt vs. Ryzer. This is a grudge match that's been months in the making. Ax is Stride Pro Wrestling's first-ever heavyweight champion. Ryzer, as his name might suggest is, in my opinion, the fastest rising star in Stride. 

The bad blood originates from the Battle Bowl tournament where Ax and Ryzer found themselves on the same team. Things seemed to be fine until the unlikely duo lost. Ax flipped out and attacked the youngster. Now Ax has embraced his 'old school warrior' mindset even more. He's dubbed himself the Millenial Nightmare and from the 'Decade of Decadence circa 1984.

As much as I respect Ax and what he's done for the local indy wrestling scene, I worry that he's shortsighted with his views on Ryzer. The kid has a lot of talent and I predict by this time next year he will have won gold here in Stride. He's a hard worker and a natural athlete. Perhaps it's that one-two punch that gets under Ax's skin.

The brawl between these two will not be pretty. But it will be one you won't want to miss. Come out to Rent One Park, Thursday, August 29. Tickets are just $7 and include five wrestling matches and a baseball game (the Southern Illinois Miners take on the Lake Erie Crushers). Bell time is at 5:35 p.m. We'll see you there! 

AUDIO: Wrestling with the 80s: SummerSlam 88

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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It's a new installment on the My 1-2-3 Cents podcast: Wrestling with the 80s. For the first episode, I'm joined by Jason Skull from the Skullbuster WrestleCast. We discuss SummerSlam 88 in great detail, including the buildup and fallout of the event. We also look at how things were going in the NWA during this same time period. 

Give it a listen and don't forget to leave a review! Check out the audio right here.

STRIDE PRO WRESTLING: Ladies' night

Created by Sam Hunter

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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In yesterday's post, I mentioned history being made at least twice this Thursday night at Rent One Park in Marion, Illinois. Stride Pro Wrestling will crown the first-ever No Limits Champion as well as the first-ever Women's Champion. 

Women's wrestling has grown in popularity over the years. When I first started watching wrestling in the mid-80s, the ladies had few opportunities. Now there are all-women companies out there providing a huge spotlight for female wrestlers. WWE has also done a lot in recent years to change the perception of women's wrestling.

Now Stride Pro Wrestling is going to recognize the women on the roster. Admittedly we have not had a lot of women's matches but that has changed recently. Zooey Moore has worked hard learning the ropes (pun intended) at the Stride school. She's poised now to face off against Keri Gold Thursday night. It's winner take all. 

Gold has years of experience and will stop at nothing to be the first to hold the Stride Pro Wrestling Women's Championship. We've seen just how ruthless she can be in the ring before. However, Zooey has worked hard to get to this match. It's going to be two very determined women ready to prove their the most worthy of holding the gold.

Come out to Rent One Park, Thursday, August 29. Tickets are just $7 and include five wrestling matches and a baseball game (the Southern Illinois Miners take on the Lake Erie Crushers). Bell time is at 5:35 p.m. We'll see you there! 

STRIDE PRO WRESTLING: 10 men, 1 belt

Created by Sam Hunter

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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"History will be made tonight!" is one of wrestling's greatest cliches. This Thursday night though, I can say without hyperbole history will be made at Stride Pro Wrestling's Bash at the Ballpark event. I'll talk more about the women's championship in Monday's post. However, today, I'm talking about another new title being added to the company.

Thursday night 10 men will compete for the No Limits Championship. But this will be no ordinary match. The newly minted belt will hang above the ring and whoever climbs a ladder and retrieves the title first will be the new champion.

So who's in this epic battle? Roger Matheus, Farmer Billy Hills, "The King" Chris Hargas, Dexter Roswell, "Warbound" Bo Sawyer, Will Power, B-Rad, Scott Phoenix, "T-Dog" Jerry Travelstead and Brandon Espinosa. Lots of seasoned guys and some relative newcomers in this battle which will make it so unique. It also makes it hard to predict. 

Come out to Rent One Park, Thursday, August 29. Tickets are just $7 and include five wrestling matches and a baseball game (the Southern Illinois Miners take on the Lake Erie Crushers). Bell time is at 5:35 p.m. We'll see you there! 

VIDEO: Go Figure Friday: Tag team figures

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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In less than a week I'm stepping back into the ring. This time I'll be teaming up with Heath Hatton against the Stride Pro Wrestling tag team champions, Jay Spade and Tony Flood. That match is happening Thursday, Aug. 29 at Rent One Park in Marion, Illinois. BE THERE!

So to gear up for the match, I'm sharing a few of my favorite tag team action figures on this week's Go Figure Friday. Take a look! 

AUDIO: Wrestling Under the Influence

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Cheers to another edition of Wrestling Under the Influence. This month Red Daniels, former Stride Pro Wrestling champion, is my guest co-host. We drink Stone IPA by Stone Brewing Company and talk all about 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin. Red also talks about his time in Stride as well. 

Be sure to listen right here. If there's a beverage you think I should feature on the show, let me know! 

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Bash at the Ballpark

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Pro wrestling and baseball don't seem like they'd go hand in hand, but believe it or not they do. Baseball stadiums make a great venue to see the men and women of the squared circle do their thing. There is, of course, the infamous Showdown at Shea in 1980 that featured Bruno Sammartino vs. Larry Zbyszko cage match and Hulk Hogan against Andre the Giant long before WrestleMania III. 

Managing Velvet Sky 

The summer before my freshmen year of college WWF ran a house show at Busch Stadium. However, we were on vacation and I didn't get to attend. However, I've been to a few independent shows at ballparks and even had a chance to 'manage' Velvet Sky at TNA's Basebrawl event and announce a match for GWF's show at Rent One Park in 2016. 

I'm excited to say that Stride Pro Wrestling is venturing into the baseball concept too. On Thursday, August 29 Bash at the Ballpark happens at a Southern Illinois Miners' game. The team is taking on the Lake Erie Crushers. Fans will see two matches prior to the game and three matches once the game ends. 

Announced for the show, the new Stride Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Champion Ca$h Borden will defend against the former champ Red Daniels. The first-ever Stride Pro Wrestling Women's Champion and first-ever No Limits Champion will be crowned that night (in separate matches). The No Limits Title will be determined in a 10 man ladder match.

Heath Hatton & me
Courtesy: Jamie Myers 

Also, The Sin City Saint, Tony Flood and Jay Spade, are defending the Stride Pro Wrestling Tag Team Titles against Heath Hatton and me. Yes, I'm stepping into the ring again, this time for a title opportunity. I know I don't belong in the ring with these three, but I felt I had to stand up and help my friend Heath who was being double teamed by the champs. Ax Allwardt and Ryzer will meet in a grudge match too. 

So join us Thursday, Aug. 29. Your ticket covers the ball game and the wrestling. And it's DOLLAR BEER (AND SODA) NIGHT. Bring a chair and enjoy the wrestling BEFORE and AFTER the game. We'll see you there.  

VIDEO: Go Figure Friday: Radz Twistz

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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I found something pretty sweet for this week's Go Figure Friday. Walmart carries something called Radz Twistz. It's a WWE Superstar toy, poster and candy all in one package. Take a look at this week's Go Figure Friday for the details.

A fair fight

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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August has been a busy month already for Stride Pro Wrestling and will be the busiest time the company has ever experienced. Hot August Night III was a great success as was the show we co-hosted with IWA Productions a week later. This Friday night, we head to the Pulaski County Fair for Pulaski Punchout and then we're off to Rent One Park on Aug. 29. More on that to come.

Pulaski Punchout is shaping up to be a great card and will feature all your favorites on the Stride roster, including a grudge match between Roger Matheus and Scott Phoenix. Heath Hatton, Jerry Travelstead, Chris Hargas, Ax Allwardt, Ryzer, Dexter Roswell, Mr. Anthony, Farmer Billy Hills and many more will compete that night. 

Photo courtesy: Jamie Woodworth Myers

Red Daniels will also be defending the Stride Pro Wrestling heavyweight title against Cash Borden. Borden, of course, is the Legacy Champion and despite this being held at the fair, I highly doubt we'll see a fair fight. Borden showed his ruthless side once again by attacking Daniels during his title defense against Mike Masters at Hot August Night III. The brutality involved there resulted in a trip to the ER for the champ. 

Cash has shown us time and time again he'll do whatever it takes to retain his Legacy Title. Remember the amazing dog collar match he had with Jay Spade back in March? Now Cash will go as far as he can for the biggest prize in all of Stride. However, Red has been one of the most defending champions since winning the gold unexpectedly at Strideiversary. Heath Hatton, Ax Allwardt, Chris Hargas and Wraith have all fallen to the champ.

It's going to be a great match and a great night in general. Come to the Pulaski County Fair to see this show. Bell time is 7 p.m.

AUDIO: What If... Jericho stayed

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Chris Jericho is one of my favorite pro wrestlers of all-time. But what if he'd stayed in WCW and not jumped to the World Wrestling Federation in August 1999? Chad Smart and I chat about it in this week's episode (the very first What If... edition of the podcast).

Listen here. Share your thoughts and be sure to offer up suggestions for future discussions. 

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VIDEO: Go Figure Friday: Let Them Eat Cake

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Let's eat cake! This week I show off my "Macho Man" Randy Savage cake topper. This is circa 1990. Take a look and don't forget to subscribe. 

AUDIO: 2 is Greater Than 1

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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I recently blogged about changes coming to the My 1-2-3 Cents podcast. The first of those changes is officially complete. 2 is Greater Than 1 is a new monthly feature with Tyler 'Heath' Hatton of Stride Pro Wrestling. 

In the first installment, we talk about the late, great Harley Race, the importance of storytelling in pro wrestling and what's next for Stride. Listen here.

VIDEO: Go Figure Friday: International Beer Day

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Happy International Beer Day. Instead of doing a video with a Steve Austin figure, I picked someone outside the wrestling world. But he's no stranger to drinking beer. It's Homer Simpson of course.