A Sweet Deal for Tag Team Wrestling

KOA, Aaron Epic & Sugar Dunkerton
Photo courtesy: Lewis Marien

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents

Regular readers of this blog or those who watch My 1-2-3 Cents on YouTube, know that I complain a lot about the tag team scene on the national level.  I am however, impressed with the way things are looking on the independent scene.  Chikara continues to impress me, but today I want to focus on Pro Wrestling Collision.

For the purposes of full disclosure, I am on the commentary team for PWC, and bottom line the point of this blog is to promote our next show, which is Saturday, April 27 at the Boys & Girls Club of Carbondale.  Bell time is 7 p.m.

Ace & Espy vs. the Submission Squad
Photo courtesy: Lewis Marien

I feel like tag team wrestling means something in Pro Wrestling Collision.  Champions Ace Hawkins and Brandon Espinosa have defended their titles more than any other champions in the company.  They've faced the inter gender duo of Alex Castle and Angelus Lane, the Submission Squad, and King Entertainment.  Each one of these matches has resulted in a victory for Ace and Espy.  KOA, the Kings of Armory, will return to face the champions Saturday night.

Sugar Dunkerton and Aaron Epic make up this duo.  They're .500 in Pro Wrestling Collision and favorites among the fans.  The two made an excellent impression on the fans and with those in the locker room.  I'd seen Sugar work before in Chikara as both a member of FIST and The Throwbacks, and I like his style.  He's a great person outside the ring as well.  I don't know a whole lot about Epic, but I was impressed with his work and attitude at the show KOA was on.

Espy & Ace climb the ladder of success
Photo courtesy: Missouri Wrestling Revival

I can't say enough about Ace and Espy either.  This team has been in some of the best matches on the card.  Their battle against Matt Cage and Christian Rose last fall took ladder matches to a new level for me.  It ranks among the best matches I saw in 2012 and I'm honored to have had the privilege to call it.

If you live in the tri state region, I highly recommend the drive to Carbondale.  For $10 you're going to get a great night of wrestling action, not just from these two exciting tag team, but also Collision champion Heath Hatton will defend his gold.  Joey O'Riley's No Limits title is up for grabs against Zakk Sawyer.  Plus, in what may be the grudge match of the year so far, Shane Rich looks to gain revenge on the behemoth Bull Bronson.  This rivalry has been intense to say the least.  Plus Matt Cage will tangle with Farmer Billy Hills.  More matches will be announced Saturday, so if you make it out, please stop by and say hello.

Monday Mayhem: News of the Day

John Cena & the Rock
Wrestlemania 30 Press Conference
Photo courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Admittedly, My 1-2-3 Cents is not a wrestling news website.  However, I came across several items today and instead of writing several different blogs, I figured I'd put them all in one.  For most fans, this "news" is actually old at this point, but humor me in reading until the end.

Wrestlemania in the Big Easy:  The cat was let out of the bag on this one a couple of weeks ago, but the WWE made it official today (February 18) that Wrestlemania 30 (XXX) is coming to New Orleans.  The event will be held Sunday, April 6, 2014 at the Super Dome.

My reaction:  Two things come to mind, please don't let the power go out.  And please don't give us Rock-Cena III (thrice in a lifetime).

Rock retains, looks toward Wrestlemania 29
Photo courtesy: WWE

Rock Retains, Faces Cena at Wrestlemania 29: The Rock retained the WWE title at Elimination Chamber Sunday night, which means as of right now (1:34 p.m. CST on February 18) he'll defend the championship against John Cena.  This will be a rematch of last year's hotly promoted "Once in a Lifetime" match between the two.  Of course with the circumstances of Rock winning the title and Cena winning the Royal Rumble, the WWE is able to make these changes seem "legit."  I should also mention that Jack Swagger has won the right to face Alberto Del Rio at Wrestlemania.

My reaction:  I've ranted before about not liking Wrestlemania rematches, especially in back-to-back years.  There are rumors that CM Punk will be added to the mix to make it a three-way for the title.  I don't know if the WWE had planned on Rock-Cena II all along or if they reached a point last year that they realized they still haven't pushed anyone to the main event.  Either way I think it's not a good sign for the current product and I wonder where things will stand six months to a year from now after the Rock has (presumably) returned to Hollywood.  I'm going to digest the Swagger win a little further before commenting on it.

KOA to make Collision debut
Photo courtesy: Pro Wrestling Collision

Sweet Deal for Pro Wrestling Collision: Indy wrestling stars Sugar Dunkerton and Aaron Epic, who wrestle as the team KOA, make their Pro Wrestling Collision debuts this Saturday.  The two will be at the taping at the Boys & Girls Club of Carbondale.  Bell time is 7 p.m. on the 23rd.  Tickets are $10.

My reaction: Regular readers know I work for Pro Wrestling Collision.  I'm excited to see a couple of up and comers on the indy scene wrestle here in southern Illinois.  Another admission, I don't know a whole lot about KOA.  I do know Sugar's work in Chikara where he was a member of the Throwbacks and FIST.  I'll be doing my homework this week so I can call the action that these two stars are going to be a part of.  Like Pro Wrestling Collision on Facebook to get more updates on Saturday's show.