Boo: Bring on the Carnage

Carnage chokes out Curly
AAPW Collision
Photo courtesy: Adam Testa

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

The very first independent wrestling show I ever attended in southern Illinois was an IWA:Midsouth show called "April Blood Showers."  I was actually the ring announcer for the night, so I got to hang out backstage and meet all the wrestlers.  Among the talent on the card that night, a masked man by the name of Carnage.

He was a massive individual, very menacing and certainly living up to the name that his moniker implied.  He battled CJ Otis that night and even though Carnage didn't get his hand raised, Carnage displayed brutality and raw strength that I would come to see again and again on the southern Illinois indie scene.

Shortly after All American Pro Wrestling had its debut show, I attended an event a few weeks later (I was in Europe for the inaugural show).  Carnage was on the show and defeated Ax Stevens.  Again, Carnage impressed me, going toe to toe with Stevens (who is now Ax Allwardt).  This time the hooded menace won.

Inflicting pain on Jay Spade
AAPW Fan Fest 2011
Photo courtesy: Adam Testa

Little did I know that many years later I would be a part of the AAPW family and calling matches involving Carnage.  He ended up being one of the final participants in the first ever Saluki Maroon Melee during the second episode of AAPW Collision.  The much larger Mississippi Madman tossed Carnage to the floor before eliminating Allwardt for the win.  Carnage also showed up at last year's Fan Fest, defeating Jay Spade in a body slam challenge.  The much smaller Spade actually slammed Carnage from the top rope after a failed attempt to fly.  However, the referee was knocked down before the move, and didn't see the slam.  Being the diabolical player that he is, Carnage took advantage of that fact and easily slammed Spade and won the contest.

We haven't seen Carnage lately in AAPW, but through the years he's proven to me and the fans that he is a force to be reckon with.  He's likely lingering in parts unknown, perhaps plotting to destroy all that is good in the world.  He's one dude I would not like to run into in a dark alley.

Decide My Fate

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger on Twitter

Since Chad has been doing a Chikara preview of High Noon (coming to Internet pay per view on November 13), I decided it was prudent for me to plug the wrestling show I'll be a part of that day.  This will affect fans in southern Illinois, southeast Missouri, western Kentucky, and northwestern Tennessee mostly, but anyone can watch All American Pro Wrestling "Collision" online anytime.  Just click this link for past episodes.

Championship match!

Coming up on Sunday, November 13, we are putting together a Fan Fest.  It's a truly interactive event and the fans will decide the matches we do that afternoon (2 p.m. at Black Diamond Harley Davidson in Marion, IL)  AAPW Champion Edmund "Livewire" McGuire will defend his title against one of five opponents.  Fans can choose from "Old School Warrior" Ax Alwardt,  "3G" Eric Wayne, KC Jackson, the Mississippi Madman, and the undefeated Pokerface.  No matter who the fans pick, this will be a great contest.

Tag team titles

The AAPW tag team champions Curly and Heath Hatton will defend the belts and fans will decide against which team.  The Convoy, Team XXX, "Playboy" Paul Rose & Christian Rose (no relation), Memphis Heat, and Rage/The Furries.   There's also a match between the masked villan Carnage and the popular underdog Jay Spade.  Fans will decide if these two face off in an arm wrestling contest, an over the top rope challenge, a submission match, a bodyslam contest, or a one arm match.

Someone's going to get a pie in the face as "The Golden Boy" Greg Anthony takes on the opponent of the fans choosing.  They include: Chris O'Neal, "Dynamite" Seth Knight, Mike Masters, Christian Rose, and the All American.  Again, whoever loses this contest will take a pie to the face.

Vote for pie!

And finally, the "match" my broadcast colleague Chris Hagstrom (who's also the new promoter and Executive producer of the show).  Fans will decide if Chris and I will have a dance off, a pose down, a pie eating contest, a hotdog eating contest, or best imitation.  I'm looking forward to this, as it's meant to be a fun part of the Fan Fest experience.

Here's the catch though, you only have until Sunday night, November 6 to make a decision.  Voting ends at 6 p.m. CST, so again, head to AAPW's website and vote.  If you live in the area, head out on November 13, doors open at 1 p.m., belltime is 2 p.m. at Black Diamond Harley Davidson in Marion.  Also, check out other upcoming events.  The first season on WSIL TV 3 is going well, and we hope that you will continue to support All American Pro Wrestling!