There's nothing sweet about Kandi Jewel

Kandi Jewel

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

There's been a renewed interest in women's wrestling on the national level. But long before Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch were wowing crowds on WWE programming, the ladies of the independent wrestling scene were tearing things up. 

At the show, Hot August Night 2 for Stride Pro Wrestling will see the debut of a new wrestler on the roster. Kandi Jewel comes in this Saturday night to face fan favorite Sarah Summers. Both women know each other well and have wrestled for companies around the region, including ICAW.

Kandi Jewel

That's where Kandi made her debut in 2011. She's also faced competitors in several other states, including Tennesee and Mississippi. I have never seen her in the ring, so I'm looking forward to Saturday night's match. Judging from her photos though, you can see despite the name Kandi, she's far from sweet.

Sarah takes to the sky
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

She'll need that tough exterior. Sarah Summers is far from a pushover. Fans have watched her battle other women here at Stride, including Alexxa Flood and Marni Gras. Summers even went toe to toe with the guys as she and Farmer Billy Hills entered a tag team fatal four-way a few months ago. Sarah climbed high that night and crashed into the other competitors on the floor, showing she's tougher than a two dollar steak (sorry JR, I had to borrow that).

So join us Saturday night and find out what kind of craziness might go down at the newcomer faces the veteran from Amazon Island. 

Blame Canada, but why?

Bret Hart
Courtesy: WWE

 By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I've thought about this blog for quite some time and actually brought it up for a brief discussion with Chad during the most recent My 1-2-3 Cents podcast. Why are most Canadian wrestlers portrayed as bad guys? I am not a history buff and should probably not admit that, but I don't recall any sort of tension with the Great White North.

Dino Bravo
Courtesy: WWE

Dino Bravo was the Canadian strongman. When he first arrived in the WWF he was a good guy. But eventually they turned him heel and he adopted the Canada rules and the U.S. drools mantra. He wore the fleur-de-lis trunks and his manager, Frenchy Martin waved the Canadian flag. 

The Rougeaus & Jimmy Hart
Courtesy: WWE

A similar thing happened with Jacques and Raymond Rougeau. The Canadian brothers wore similar gear but were cheered by the fans. But at some point, they too turned heel and took on Jimmy Hart as their manager. The Mouth of the South even had a special jacket he wore with the team that reflected a love for Canada. Eventually, Jacques became even goofier and went full blown bad guy as the Mountie. I should note too that Hart eventually took over the managerial duties for Bravo and The Canadian Earthquake.

Team Canada
Courtesy: WWE

Lance Storm owned the bad guy Canadian gimmick in WCW. He had a stable of support in Team Canada and even recruited the uber-patriotic "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan. The tough guy shaved his scruffy beard and slicked his hair back. He tossed his USA gear to the side and adopted the red, white and Maple Leaf accessories instead. 

The Hart Foundation
Courtesy: WWE

Bret Hart was a bad guy in the United States in 1997 but was hailed a hero at home. Same with the rest of the members of the Hart Foundation, although Owen was the only other true Canadian on the squad. The UnAmericans did it too in later years and added other U.S. allies like England to the mix.

Alexxa & Tony Flood
Courtesy: Steve Belcher (Stride Pro Wrestling)

It happens on the indy scene too. In AAPW it was Sean Vincent and in Stride Pro Wrestling it's Tony and Alexxa Flood. Don't get me wrong, the gimmick works. Fans love to boo someone who isn't from this country, no matter where their nationality originates. But remember, we all trusted Sgt. Slaughter one time and he took up for the Iraqis.

The Legacy title is 'flooded' with contenders

The champ & his contenders
Photos courtesy: Steve Belcher

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Since the creation of the Stride Pro Wrestling Legacy Championship in late 2016, many men on the roster have staked a claim to the gold. Jerry Travelstead won the belt for the first time in an outstanding ladder match against Tony Flood in November. Jerry, like the rest of Stride Pro Wrestling fans and management, was hoodwinked when Alejandro Fabuloso won the championship. Turns out it was Flood under a luchador mask. 

Tony Flood
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

As Flood has run his mouth for months, mostly against Travelstead and Stride GM Sam Hunter, Hunter has decided to see how good the champ is. He'll defend the Legacy Title against three other men. (The match was originally a five-way affair, but JD Wilk has been injured.) Flood faces not just Travelstead, who has been a constant thorn in his side, but also Dexter Roswell and former tag team champion Joey O'Riley.

Flipped
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

This match will be an interesting one. Travelstead and Roswell have both come a long way in their training and are developing into fine talent in the Stride ring. Flood and O'Riley are seasoned veterans of the indy scene. And as we've seen before all four men are pretty fearless when it comes to pulling off high-risk moves. 

Alexxa & Tony Flood
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

Outside factors to be aware of include Roswell's fellow members of the DR Party and Flood's wife and women's star, Alexxa. She's proven on more than one occasion to be the deciding factor in Tony's matches. O'Riley's usual tag team partner Jay Spade will be on the show but has his hands full with problems of his own. T-Dog may be well served to bring the Shaniac to be in his corner, but I think her match at Brave the Storm was a one time deal.

None the less, I'm excited the Legacy Championship exists. It's giving guys on the roster another option in their quest for gold. Can Tony (and Alexxa) survive this fatal four way? Find out Saturday, June 3 at the Illinois Star Centre Mall in Marion. Bell time is 6:30 p.m.

The Floods won't be using the Force

No Jedis in this family
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

All week I'll be writing blogs to countdown to the upcoming Stride Pro Wrestling show "Brave the Storm." It's a benefit (Saturday, May 6) to raise money for families in southern Illinois who recently lost their homes or suffered damage during the February 28 tornado.

Live long and hate Star Wars...
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

I'm having a little fun with today's post since it's Star Wars Day (May the Fourth Be With You). At Stride Pro Wrestling show in December, there was a Star Wars theme. Many of the wrestlers that night came to the ring in some kind of Star Wars garb. That was until Tony and Alexxa Flood hit the ring. The couple donned Star Trek shirts and proceeded to rip into the Star Wars franchise to a chorus of boos. Even I, who am unbiased at the shows, was distraught over their disrespect of Star Wars.

Alexxa with the assist

So it's easy to see the Floods will not be using the Force Saturday night, but they may need it. The husband and wife duo will be facing former Legacy Champion Jerry Travelstead and a mystery partner. T-Dog is still steaming over the loss of the belt, especially the way it happened. Tony disguised himself as El Fabuloso and with the help of Alexxa and a chair beat the champ recently.

Flood vs. Travelstead
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

At this point, it's anyone's guess as to who Jerry will choose to be his partner. There are plenty of people in the Stride locker room who'd like a crack at both Tony and Alexxa. It's a mostly pro-Star Wars environment and it's not just the Sith looking for revenge this Saturday night. See you at Community Consolidated 204 in Pinckneyville. 

A 'Little Bit' about Marni Gras

Marni Gras ready for action
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Long before the Divas Revolution/Women's Evolution in WWE, women's wrestling has been a big part of the independent scene. Stride Pro Wrestling is building a roster of women too. Sarah Summers will step into the ring Saturday night and team with Farmer Billy Hills to battle three other teams in a Fatal Four Way Tag Team Turmoil match for the Stride Pro Wrestling Tag Team Titles. 

Marni vs. Summers
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

Last month, Summers did battle with Stride newcomer Marni Gras. For fans who think Marni looks familiar, there's a good reason. She also wrestles in Cape Championship Wrestling as Little Bit. She's already put it out there that she's returning this Saturday night, but says "I just can't figure out which personality is going to show up." We do know the opponent will be the always dangerous Alexxa Flood. We've seen here in battles with not just Summers, but Farmer too. 

Marni gets aggressive
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

Marni will need to come to Stride with her A game. Last time she was her, she gave Summers a very competitive match. I've also seen her compete at CCW and have been impressed. Her downfall in March though was when she tried to take a shortcut. Summers turned the tables on an attempt to throw glitter and Marni ended up being blinded and pinned.

The women of Stride Pro Wrestling
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

It'll be interesting to see which woman goes to the well for something underhanded first because both Flood and Marni have a reputation for bending the rules. It's all good though as adding more women to the Stride Pro Wrestling roster is definitely a good thing. Little Bit will be a part of Cape Championship Wrestling's first ever Girl Fight. It's the Luna Vachon Memorial Tournament and part of a huge weekend of wrestling coming to southeast Missouri (April 21 & 22). Listen to Monday's podcast for more details on that show. 

Don't cross the boss

Tony Flood chews out GM Sam Hunter
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin


It's not easy being the boss. Just ask Stride Pro Wrestling General Manager Sam Hunter. The Stride Board of Directors selected Hunter for the job more than a year ago. In that time he's faced plenty of opposition from the men and women on the Stride roster. However, fans overall seem happy with Hunter's performance.

Courtesy: Steve Belcher

Some of the backlash he's faced includes Ax Allwardt and manager J. Wellington Beauregard. The two were major thorns in Sam's side as Ax became a combative and cocky champion. Beauregard threatened legal action more than once, but Sam has always stood his ground. It also helps that he has the backing and support from the Stride Board of Directors.

Alexxa Flood gets an ear full
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

For the most part, Sam is pretty even keel. But that demeanor has changed as he has become more comfortable with his job and his role in Stride. Tony and Alexxa Flood have needled the GM for months now, so much so that Sam was forced to fire Tony. However, a loophole has seen the return of the Northern Saint, albeit under a mask at first. After it was revealed that Flood was the man behind the El Fabuloso character, Sam exploded. I've never seen this type of rage come from the usually calm boss. It's just a sign how badly the Floods have managed to disrupt the harmony within the Stride Pro Wrestling family.

Heath Hatton & Sam
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

On a more positive note, Sam has signed several memorable matches. We've seen Heath Hatton capture the Stride Pro Wrestling Championship in a West Frankfort Street Fight. Jerry Travelstead's career went to new heights as he climbed the ladder to success and the Stride Pro Wrestling Legacy Championship. And this Saturday night, it's Tag Team Turmoil. The Midwest Mafia defends in a fatal four way elimination match. Farmer Billy Hills and Sarah Summers, Team Triple X and Maximum Overdrive are the challengers. Join us at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Illinois Star Centre Mall.

The Fabulous Tony Flood

The Fabulous Tony Flood 

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Fans, wrestlers and management of Stride Pro Wrestling have been fooled for the last few months. At the show in January, general manager Sam Hunter fired Tony Flood for attacking and injuring Legacy champion Jerry Travelstead prior to a title defense. Flood was physically removed from the building by security but somehow ended up backstage later in the night, dressed as a luchador named Alejandro Fabuloso. 

El Magnifico & El Fabuloso
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

El Fabuloso debuted that night as the tag team partner for El Magnifico. I'd never given it much thought as both luchadors showed up to Stride shows already with their masks on. They spoke broken English and I haven't really used my Spanish minor from 20+ years ago much so I never had much interaction with either man. 

Ref bump

At the No Love Lost show in February, Fabuloso won a fatal four-way to become the number one contender to the Legacy Championship. Then at the One Year Anniversary Show in March, Fabuloso got his shot. Late in the match, referee Lane Austin got knocked down and that's when Alexxa Flood emerged with a chair. She hit the champ a couple times with it. Fabuloso stopped that attack, only to blast T-Dawg several more times, rendering the champ unconscious and pinning him for the belt. 

Attacked!

GM Hunter was understandably upset with the actions and demanded Fabuloso unmask immediately. He did and Tony Flood then explained his actions and how he'd even fooled Hunter. When Alejandro Fabuloso signed the contract he actually did it as Anthony Flood, making the deal to return ironclad. But Hunter has promised Flood isn't going to catch a break. So the next few months should be interesting, to say the least.

The happy couple

Congratulations to Flood for fooling all of us and finally capturing gold in Stride. However, I don't envy you at all as your actions (along with Alexxa's) may end up costing you in the long run. Good luck.

Battle of the sexes

Alexxa & Tony Flood vs. Farmer Billy Hills & Sarah Summers
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

A feud that's been brewing for quite some time in Stride Pro Wrestling involves the very popular Farmer Billy Hills and the "Canadian Saint" Tony Flood. These two competitors have a rich history of not only being opponents but partners. But that's all behind them now and they've had some classic matchups in the nine months Stride has been around.

Once again the ladies in each man's life is getting involved in the action. Sarah Summers will team with Farmer to take on Tony and Alexxa Flood. Earlier this year we saw a variation of this match in the form of a six person tag. Tensions have risen since that night August. 

Summers battles Flood
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

Just last month Summers showed up ringside during the fatal four-way to determine the number one contender for the Stride Pro Wrestling Legacy Championship. Tony Flood happened to be a part of that contest. Long story short, there was an incident with a chair and Alexxa being knocked out and Tony ended up going face first into the post outside the ring.

Courtesy: Steve Belcher

This intergender match will be a great one no doubt. All four competitors have made it clear in the past that they have no problem with men and women facing off in the ring. As JR would say both Sarah and Alexxa are tougher than a two dollar steak. I'm more worried about the well-being of Farmer and Flood. 

Test of strength
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

Speaking of which, I look for both men to be more aggressive than usual. There are now two singles championships up for grabs in Stride Pro Wrestling and each is deserving of an opportunity. General Manager Sam Hunter should be watching this match closely to see who is worthy of a future match for either belt. But hey, that's just My 1-2-3 Cents (get it?)