Revenge is coming...

Created by Sam Hunter

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Thursday night was a big one for Stride Pro Wrestling. New champions were crowned at Rent One Park as Stride presented Bash at the Ballpark. Cash Borden won the newly created No Limits Championship. Keri Gold is the first-ever Women's Champion. Heath Hatton and I picked up the tag team titles. And Red Daniels is once again the heavyweight champion. 

I'll go into more detail on the tag team title win on the next episode of My 1-2-3 Cents the podcast. Episode 250 (2 is Greater Than 1) drops Monday morning. However, I can tell you this may end up being one of the shortest championship reigns in company history. Heath and I are defending in a rematch against Tony Flood and Jay Spade on Saturday, Sept. 7.

Created by Sam Hunter

Our match is among a handful matches already signed for Stride Pro Wrestling's Revenge show. It's at the Stride building, 1130 N. Division Street in Carterville. 

Red defends against Cash. There's a grudge match featuring Dexter Roswell against his former assistant Dalton Anthony. And we'll see for the first time ever Mike Masters battle 'Warbound' Bo Sawyer.

It's going to be fun. I'm hoping the aches and pains subside by Saturday night. I'm also hopeful we are successful in our first title defense. At age 46, well actually, never in my life would I have thought I'd be writing such a blog. Thanks to all who supported and made this possible.

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! 

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.  

Scott Phoenix could top Scott Phoenix

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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I've written before about the record Stride Pro Wrestling's Scott Phoenix set in the world of tag team wrestling. He is the only Stride star to win the gold with three different partners. He and Ax Allwardt, known as Maximum Overdrive won the belts in 2017. Then he screwed over Ax and won the titles with Dexter Roswell. Then after becoming a good guy, Phoenix had two championship runs with Farmer Billy Hills.

Now Phoenix is in the unique position to beat his own record. On Saturday night (Aug. 3) at Hot Augst Night, Phoenix and Heath Hatton will team up to take on the Sin City Saints, Jay Spade and Tony Flood. Phoenix and Hatton were part of the Battle Bowl Tournament and finished second, making them the number one contenders to the tag team titles. The winning team, Chris Hargas and Savveon Ayers will battle each other to determine the number one contender for the Stride Heavyweight Title (more on that later this week). 

Phoenix is a graduate of the Stride Pro Wrestling School. He's one of the first to come through the program. The training he received from Hatton and others in the lockerroom has served him well. And with Hatton by his side, I'd have to say the chances of a four-peat for this young star are pretty impressive. Not that I shouldn't be biased in my thoughts, but I'd love for Flood and Spade to get their comeuppance after being shoved by the champs earlier this month. But I digress... 

It's a great opportunity for Phoenix and the fans of Stride Pro Wrestling. Hot August Night is one of FOUR shows scheduled for August. We'll see you at the Stride facility, 1130 N. Division Street in Carterville. 

AUDIO: Not the push I wanted

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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This past Saturday night, the wrestling action got a little too close for me. The Stride Pro Wrestling tag team champions, Tony Flood and Jay Spade, decided to give me a push. The force sent me to the mat. I'm okay, but a bit embarrassed by what went down. 

You can listen to a review of Saturday night's show on this week's podcast. Click here. Thanks!

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.

60 minutes, 2 champs, 1 night

New champ!

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Each week it seemed Tony Schavonie would say on Monday Nitro, "This is the greatest night in our great sport." And usually, we ended up being overly disappointed afterward. However, I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that Strideiversary on March 2, 2019, will go down as the biggest and best show in the company's history.

From top to bottom this show had everything wrestling fans crave. Plenty of action, a little violence, some comic relief and lots of pure wrestling action. I got goosebumps watching parts of it and am extremely proud to have been a small part of such a big night. 

I have a full recap planned for Monday's My 1-2-3 Cents podcast as history was made on several fronts. Today though, I'm focusing on the new Stride Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Champion, Red Daniels. But to do that, we have to do a quick history lesson.

Buried Alive
Photo by Steve Belcher

Red Daniels is the first graduate of the Stride Pro Wrestling school. He worked hard to get through the training and entered into a pretty intense feud with Chris Hargas in 2017. The rivalry came to an end when Hargas buried Red alive in December 2017. We hadn't seen nor heard from Daniels until recently he did an interview with me, revealing he's been working backstage at Stride to train the men and women coming through the Stride School. 

At Strideiversary the now "King" Chris Hargas (who has turned his back on the fans) was pitted to face Bo Sawyer in the finals of the Stride Cup Tournament. The winner was to receive a contract for a title match at any time. As Bo made his way to the ring, his former partner Jason Tiller attacked and Hargas joined in. Because the bell hadn't rung yet, there was nothing the ref could do. Sawyer was rendered unable to compete and General Manager Sam Hunter, with a shovel in hand, announced he's dug up Red Daniels.

Red and the briefcase
Courtesy: Jamie Woodworth-Myers

The pop from the crowd was deafening. I got goosebumps as Red hit the ring and battled his old nemesis. Red scored the pin and the audience went nuts again. He left with his briefcase and cup and then it was time for the main event. Heath Hatton and Tony Flood put it all on the line in a 60-minute iron man match. I'm proud of how both men performed, despite the interference from a masked man we've seen torment Hatton for months now.

Spade turns
Courtesy: Jamie Woodworth-Myers

Hatton ended up winning the match five falls to four. However, his celebration was short lived. He unmasked the mystery man revealing his now former friend Jay Spade. Spade and Flood then destroyed Hatton with a double superkick to the face. That gave way to an opportunity of a lifetime as Red quickly cashed in and made short work of the new champion.

Just like that, Stride Pro Wrestling had two champions in a matter of moments. Red Daniels, in his words, went from six feet under to the top of the mountain. Congrats.  You've earned this. Spade and Flood though, I pity you guys. You've picked the wrong guy to screw over. 

 

Every dog has his day

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Stride Pro Wrestling will soon celebrate three years of entertaining pro wrestling fans in southern Illinois. On Saturday, March 2 it's Strideiversary and the company is pulling out all the stops to have an entertaining show. I'll be highlighting some of the matches over the next week on this blog. 

First up it's a Dog Collar Match between Legacy Champion Cash Borden and Jay Spade. A very intense and personal rivalry has developed between these two men. The rules are quite simple. Each man will wear a dog collar and a chain will connect the two. That will keep either from escaping his opponent. 

Valentine vs. Piper
Courtesy: WWE

I have no doubt this will be one of the most brutal matches Stride Pro Wrestling has ever seen. Dog Collar Matches are fairly rare. As far as I'm concerned, the most famous is the battle between U.S. Champion Greg Valentine and Roddy Piper at Starrcade 1983. Things turned ugly quick in this match, with both men bleeding after repeated hits with the chain that bound them. Piper won the match (but the title wasn't on the line, that's not the case with the Legacy title).

Cash attacks Spade

Spade and Borden will not hold back on Saturday night. Cash may be the most sadistic man to ever wrestle for Stride. He has a history of brutally violent matches in other companies. This match is going to be right in his wheelhouse. However, don't count Spade out. I don't recall seeing Jay with some much fire before. Quite simply, he's pissed off and Cash Borden is going to feel the brunt of that rage.

But really the fans are going to be the winners Saturday night. Stride has never seen a Dog Collar Match before. It's one of many firsts for the company that night. Join us at 600 N. Carbon Street in Marion. Bell time is 6:30. 

Show your Stride pride

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

My favorite Stride Pro Wrestling moments of 2018

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By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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It's the end of the year and I'm taking a few minutes to reflect on 2018 in Stride Pro Wrestling. The company had plenty of highlights for sure and I'm looking forward to 2019. As I share these memories, keep in mind they are from the shows I was a part of. I missed two shows in 2018, one due to a family commitment and the other because I was in Las Vegas for the Impact Wrestling tryout. 

Wraith & Ryzer

Wraith dominates the Stride Cup/Legacy Championship Tournament. Wraith was a dark, mysterious figure who showed up in Stride in January. He destroyed everyone in his way and eventually won the tournament and introduced us to his Disciple Ryzer. Unfortunately that same night, JD Wilk got injured and had to retire from the ring. That night in March stands out to me for both of those moments.

Tony Flood and Jay Spade swap the Stride Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Title. Both of these guys spent years in the ring. I have a great deal of respect for their work ethic and what they're able to do in the ring. Watching these former friends trade the greatest prize in Stride over the course of several months was thrilling. Despite their years of experience in the ring, the future is still bright for both of them. I look forward to what they'll do in 2019.

This One is for Lane. In April the entire Stride Pro Wrestling roster came together to support one of our own. Referee Lane Austin, who is a diabetic, had to go on dialysis and eventually ended up on the transplant list for a new kidney and pancreas. The show of love for our friend that night was amazing. It's just one of the many shows Stride helped raise money for in 2018. 

Heath Hatton and Ax Allwardt win gold. Bitter enemies in the ring for years, Hatton and Allwardt put their differences aside and teamed up to win the Stride Pro Wrestling Tag Team Titles from the DR Party. Dexter Roswell, Scott Phoenix and J. Wellington Beauregard were a constant thorn in the sides of Allwardt and Hatton. 

My return to the ring. I never, ever dreamed I'd have a chance to step through the ropes and wrestle. It happened the first time in 2012. Then again in May of this year. My opponent this time was Roger Matheus. I can't thank he and Tyler Hatton for having enough faith in me to do this. I'm a 45-year-old with a dad bod and limited skills in the ring. Roger made me look and feel like a million bucks. Of course keeping with the story, thanks as well to Cash Borden and Tom Harness for saving my ass.

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