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! 

BattleBowl final set

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Stride Pro Wrestling General Manager Sam Hunter has come up with a new concept for the company. It's a bit like the 1991 BattleBowl: Lethal Lottery event, but with an update. Eight team captains were chosen and each of those captains picked a name at random. 

Those teams did battle Saturday night for rounds one and two of the tournament. The winning team will then face off against each other for a future Stride Heavyweight Championship match. The runner-up team will get a title match against the tag team champions. 

Roger Matheus returns
Courtesy: Jamie Myers

I enjoyed the matchups as we had a chance to see guys on the Stride roster in the ring against each other for the first time. For example, Cash Borden was in there against Ax Allwardt. The other big news of the night was the return of Roger Matheus. In October we thought his career was over after an injury suffered in the ring. But with therapy and training, he's back and bigger, badder and better than ever. 

We now know how that final match is going to shape up. "King" Chris Hargas and Cash Borden will face Heath Hatton and Scott Phoenix on Saturday, July 6 back at the Stride Building (1130 N. Division Street).

Results from the show:

Blaine Black pinned Saveyon Ayers.

The Sin City Saints (Tony Flood & Jay Spade) (c) beat Team Frat Fitness (B-Rad & Will Power).

Battle Bowl: Ax Allward & Ryzer beat Jose Magnifico & Brian Richards.

Battle Bowl: King Hargas & Cash Borden beat Bo Sawyer & Bud Gallows after Jason Tiller interfered.

Battle Bowl: Mr. Anthony & Roger Matheus beat Farmer Billy Hills & Dexter Roswell.

Battle Bowl: Heath Hatton & Scott Phoenix beat Hollywood Redneck & Jason Tiller after Bo Sawyer interfered.

Battle Bowl: Hargas & Cash beat Ax & Ryzer. Ax then turned on Ryzer and gave him a piledriver.

Battle Bowl: Hatton & Phoenix beat Anthony & Matheus.

Red Daniels (c) pinned Wraith to defend the Stride Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Title.

An unlikely duo

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Last year at this time, Jay Spade and Tony Flood were embroiled in a classic feud for the Stride Pro Wrestling Heavyweight title. Now, the two are allies and partners and will have a shot at the tag team championships this Saturday night. Say what?!?

I've yet to hear an exact explanation from Spade, who has been a fan favorite since I first met him in 2011. Somewhere along the way, something changed. For the past few months, he'd been living a double life. Not only was he fighting intense battles with Cash Borden and getting cheered by the crowd, but he was also disguising himself in a pair of coveralls and a mask and wielding a lead pipe. He whacked Heath Hatton more than once with it.

Why Spade, why? 

Hatton and Flood had been battling for the heavyweight title when Spade's interference started. When he was eventually unmasked, Hatton, along with the fans were shocked. Even more shocking now, Spade and Flood will relive their rookie year and work together as a tag team.

This duo has been granted a championship match in their first outing. I have no doubt they'll do whatever it takes to beat Farmer Billy Hills and Scott Phoenix. However, I know the champs. They just regained the gold and will fight tooth and nail to keep those belts. 

It's going to be a great battle. Come see the action Saturday (April 6) at Johnston City High School. Bell time is  7 p.m.

Scott Phoenix sets a record

New champs

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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I mentioned it briefly on a recent My 1-2-3 Cents podcast, but I figured it deserved a bit more attention than a quick statement. Scott Phoenix recently made history in Stride Pro Wrestling. He has become the company's first four-time tag team champion. That's quite a feat for a young man who is not even three years into the business. 

It all started for Phoenix when he paired up with indy wrestling veteran Ax Allwardt. Under the guidance of J. Wellington Beauregard, the two captured the Stride Pro Wrestling tag team titles in a fatal four-way match in April 2017. The duo became an icon pairing, with Phoenix adopting some of Ax's old school ways. I found his character refreshing as each month he'd share his digits with a lucky female fan in the audience. The long flowing hair and 80s band look went a long way in the development of Phoenix's character.

In November of that same year J. Wells and Phoenix orchestrated an attack on Allwardt which lead to Maximum Overdrive's loss of the titles. But Phoenix insured he would still remain a champion. He and Dexter Roswell became the champions as Phoenix joined forces with the DR Party. The two lost the belts and over time grew apart before finally splitting up.

Phoenix's singles run was short-lived as Farmer Billy Hills found himself in need of a tag team partner after he and String Bean won the belts. The masked man was injured and Phoenix stepped in to help. Stride Pro Wrestling General Manager Sam Hunter officially granted Phoenix's request to be Farmer's permanent partner and the two were off to the races, defending the titles against all challengers. In February their run came to an end when old partner and rival Dexter Roswell and Mr. Anthony won the belts. The new duo's efforts were less than honorable and it didn't take long for Phoenix and Farmer to regain their gold.

That victory earlier this month put Phoenix in the record books. He is now four times the champ as he and Farmer prepare for future title defenses. Phoenix will be in action this Saturday night in Norris City. Be sure to join us for the action.

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AUDIO: In this corner (with Stride Pro Wrestling)

Courtesy: Julie Campbell 

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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I tried something different on this week's podcast. I set up my equipment in the corner of the locker room of the most recent Stride Pro Wrestling show. Some of the guys stopped by for a quick conversation on indy wrestling.

Check it out here and be sure to join us this Saturday night for the return of the Stride Cup Tournament. We'll see you there. 

 

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On the road with Stride Pro Wrestling

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Stride Pro Wrestling is venturing out for the first time since finding a new home in Carterville in November. But don't worry, we'll be back at the facility on Division Street on February 9. However, on Saturday, Feb. 2 Stride takes over Central Junior High School. The address is 1500 E. 9th Street in West Frankfort.

The event that night is a fundraiser for the school. Several teachers are getting involved in the action and will be teaming up and fighting for their school. The main event will see the crowning of the Stride Pro Wrestling Champion, as the championship was declared vacant earlier this month. Heath Hatton and Tony Flood will battle it out to determine who gets the gold.

"The King" Chris Hargas faces Ax Allwardt. If Ax wins, he gets a match against his former manager J. Wellington Beauregard. Beauregard, who manages the King, will be the guest referee for the match. However, an enforcer will be on hand too. 

Former friends Wraith and Ryzer will do battle as do Legacy Champion Cash Borden and Jay Spade. The issues between all four men have become extremely personal, especially the battle between Borden and Spade. Whoever wins that match will have a new contender to deal with too, as Jason Tiller takes on Brandon Espinosa and Joey O'Riley in a triple threat match for the number one contendership to the Legacy Title. Tag team champions Farmer Billy Hills and Scott Phoenix put their belts on the line against the hair of Dexter Roswell and Mr. Anthony. That'll be a great one to see how it goes down too. 

It may be cold outside, but the action will be heated on Saturday night. There are still a limited number of meet and greet tickets up for grabs ($20 each). Send a message to here for more details. Bell time is 7 p.m. 

Show your Stride Pride!

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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It's a new year but old feuds are simmering here in Stride Pro Wrestling. New rivalries are starting to heat up too. Everything comes to a head this Saturday night (Jan. 5) at the Stride Pro Wrestling facility at 1130 North Division Street in Carterville.

Heath Hatton and Tony Flood have seemingly been at each other's throats since the inception of Stride back in March 2016. The two unsuccessfully competed for the Heavyweight Title in a fatal four-way match. Now Hatton is the champ, having beaten Flood for the gold. The title will be on the line this weekend.

Another old rivalry pits Ax Allwardt against "The King" Chris Hargas. These two have no love lost, mostly stemming from Hargas' partnership with Allwardt's former manager J. Wellington Beauregard. The two are hellbent on beating the crap out of each other. They'll do just that Saturday.

Farmer Billy Hills and Scott Phoenix are a relatively new duo and the Stride Pro Wrestling Tag Team Champions. They'll face a couple thorns in their sides in Dexter Roswell and Mr. Anthony. The revamped DR Party looks to unseat the champions after a brutal attack last month.

Two other new feuds featuring auld (old) acquaintances will also be a part of Saturday's show. New Legacy Champion Cash Borden teams up with Wraith to battle Jay Spade and Ryzer. Borden and Spade were friends and partners and Ryzer at one time did much of Wraith's dirty work. Those friendships have been tossed out like last month's Christmas tree. This will be a great grudge match, to say the least.

Be sure to join us Saturday night. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids. Doors open at 6, bell time is 6:30 p.m. We'll see you there. 

Show your Stride pride and save between Jan. 3 & 7

Harvesting the gold

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Many farmers have been in their fields harvesting their crops for the last month or so. Farmer Billy Hills has also been doing some harvesting, but you won't find his crop of choice growing in the field. Instead, Farmer harvested gold in the form of the Stride Pro Wrestling tag team titles.

Farmer Billy Hills
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

He and Stringbean won the belts back in September. But Farmer's homegrown partner suffered an injury was no longer able to defend, so now Scott Phoenix has been named the new co-holder of the belts. Phoenix recently found himself at a crossroads, having been kicked out of the DR Party by its founder Dexter Roswell. He also lost the managerial services of J. Wellington Beauregard, so the opportunity to team with Farmer came at the perfect time for Phoenix.

Phoenix & Allwardt

He's been tag team champion with Ax Allwardt, Roswell and now of course Farmer. Phoenix is the only man on the Stride roster to hold the titles with three different partners. He and Farmer work well together and it's good to see Billy take Phoenix under his wing and give him a shot (as they've had a history of not always getting along).

This Saturday night at Christmas Break the champs defend against form champs the Redneck World Order. Hollywood Redneck and Cole James hope to repeat as champs. It'll be a great contest that you can witness live and in person at 1130 N. Division Street in Carterville. Don't forget to bring a pro wrestling action figure for the Stride Pro Wrestling/My 1-2-3 Cents Toy Drive. You could win a prize too! 

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Black Friday for wrestling fans

Shop now!

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Thanksgiving and Black Friday have become a hot time to shop for Christmas. While millions will stand in line outside brick and mortar stores in the cold; you don't have to do that for the pro wrestling fan in your life. The best part about it is when shopping at any of these sites I'm about to mention you're supporting local and indy wrestling talent.

Pro Wrestling Tees: Black Friday sale goes until Monday, Nov. 26. I'd love it if you shopped the My 1-2-3 Cents store. You can do so here. But also check out the other stores and deals. You can save between 20 and 40 percent on your purchases. 

Promo code: MY123CENTS

COLLARxELBOW: I'm a sponsored athlete (their term, not mine) for this company. They have a great variety of pro wrestling t-shirts, hats and other merchandise. You can save up to 30 percent on your purchase. Use promo code MY123CENTS at check out.

Jittery Monkey Podcasting Network: Co-founder Greg Mehocko has opened a store with Jittery Monkey merch. You can shop online and support the shows. Also be sure to rate & review on your podcast listening platform. Shop here. 

Billy Club: 'Farmer' Billy Hills is a long time friend of mine. We met years ago in All American Pro Wrestling. Billy is a co-holder of the Stride Pro Wrestling tag team titles. He's also got his own store with tons of great merchandise. As a proud owner of a pair of Farmer socks, I can tell you his products are great. Check everything out here. 

Other stars in Stride have merch available at shows. So bring some cash to the next event on Saturday, Dec. 8 at 1130 N. Division Street in Carterville. It's just one of the ways to support indy wrestling. 

WWE Hall of Famer heading to IWA-Productions

Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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One of the greatest tag teams of all time is without a doubt the Road Warriors. I remember at an early age seeing Hawk and Animal in action in the AWA. The duo was like no other at the time. Face paint, crazy haircuts, spikes and lots of muscle. The Legion of Doom rolled through everyone they faced eventually winning the gold in the AWA, NWA and WWF. 

Courtesy: WWE 

Sadly, half of the team, Hawk, died in 2003. Animal has continued on and had a brief run in WWE in 2006. I saw him at the Bacon, Bagels and Biceps Brunch at WrestleMania 22. Then in 2011, I was in the crowd as the Warriors and their longtime manager "Precious" Paul Ellering were inducted into WWE's Hall of Fame.

Now the Legend is headed to southern Illinois. Animal will be at IWA Productions this Saturday night (Nov. 17) at the Mt. Vernon Elks Lodge. Tickets for the evening, just ten bucks and proceeds go to the Team Cuff Youth Wrestling program. Many of you read my blogs about Stride Pro Wrestling and you'll see many members from that roster Saturday including Ax Allwardt, Dexter Roswell, Heath Hatton, El Magnifico, Jay Spade, Farmer Billy Hills and Hollywood Redneck.

I'm looking forward to this show as it'll be my first opportunity to meet Animal. It's also been more than a month since I've announced an entire show. Last weekend I did the Impact Wrestling tryout but it's not quite the same as announcing in front of a live crowd of fans. Be sure to join us. Bell time is 7 p.m.

Buy the Centmas Vacation shirt here

New champions crowned in Stride Pro Wrestling

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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Wow, I picked the wrong Stride Pro Wrestling show to miss. There were three title defenses Friday night and two-thirds of them resulted in new champions. It may be the first day of fall, but things are certainly heating up for the company.

New champ

First, Heath Hatton has regained the Stride Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Title. He beat Tony Flood for the belt with Jerry Travelstead as the special guest referee. Hatton first won the Stride Championship in November 2016, beating his former tag team partner Ax Allwardt. He held the gold until Roger Matheus won Stride's first ever TLC match. You can see the history of the championship below.

Hatton and Flood have a storied history. Just a year ago they exchanged the Legacy Title twice over the course of eight days. Flood will no doubt want a rematch. However, it seems he has taken issue with T-Dog once again as well. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out. Stay tuned as Stride heads to T-Dog's home turf of Pinckneyville on Oct. 6.

Beauty & The Bean

The brand new team of "Farmer" Billy Hills and Stringbean are the Stride Pro Wrestling Tag Team Champions. 'Beauty and the Bean' as some are calling them formed for the very first time Friday night. The duo outlasted three other teams, including the defending champions, the rWo (Redneck World Order), The DR Party and K2 Brothers in an elimination style match. The DR Party first eliminated the Kellis Brothers. Farmer and Bean beat the rWo and then the DR Party after a miscommunication between Dexter Roswell and Scott Phoenix. That lead to their breakup.

The new champs will have a list of contenders looking for a shot. Between the abovementioned teams (except Roswell & Phoenix) and others like the Midwest Monster Hunters and new variations of the DR Party; Farmer and Bean will have a full plate of defenses. I'm looking forward to the upcoming months. It's always a great time to be a fan of Stride Pro Wrestling, but right now things are getting intense. 

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