Ax Allwardt makes history

Hatton & Allwardt

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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I kinda glossed over a significant factoid from over the weekend in Sunday's blog about Cinco de Strideo. Ax Allwardt has once again earned a spot in the Stride Pro Wrestling history book. He and Heath Hatton won the Stride Pro Wrestling tag team titles for a second time, making Ax the first three-time tag team champion. He and Hatton are also the only tag team in Stride to win the belts twice as a team.

Ax wins the title

Of course, Ax is the very first Stride Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Champion. He held the belt for the first six months of the company's existence. A few months later he and Scott Phoenix won the tag belts. I enjoyed this duo, known as Maximum Overdrive. Ax clearly took the upstart Phoenix under his wing along with manager J. Wellington Beauregard, but as we all know latter two would turn on Ax and screw him out of the tag team championships.

Two-time champs

He went on to find an unlikely partner in Hatton and the duo has really clicked. I've enjoyed their work in the short amount of time they've been working as a unit. Saturday night's match in which they recaptured the titles was well reviewed by those in attendance. I really didn't get to see it. But I will see the rematch and you can too. The Midwest Monster Hunters have enacted their clause for a rematch at Stride Goes Steel in the 'Ville all steel cage match show on May 26. Be there.

Click the photo for this week's podcast

Ax will 'smash' Phoenix

Maximum Overdrive's final title defense
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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There's an old saying, 'fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me." Ax Allwardt has been fooled once. He won't be fooled again. At the November Stride Pro Wrestling show, Ax was sold out by not only his longtime manager and friend J. Wellington Beauregard but also his tag team partner Scott Phoenix. The duo was known as Maximum Overdrive and was Stride Pro Wrestling's longest reigning tag team champions. 

Phoenix and J. Wells have pledged their allegiance to the DR Party and Scott and Dexter Roswell are the new tag team champions. I loved the pairing of Ax and Scott. Clearly, Ax and J. Wells had taken Phoenix under their wings and helped him grow as a wrestler. But something happened along the way and Ax got screwed over.

Ax pops Dexter Roswell
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

If you ask either J. Wells or Phoenix, they claim they dumped Ax because of his age. Yes, the Old School Warrior is a veteran of the ring, but there are plenty more piledrivers left from the former Stride Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Champion. Ax is not a happy man. He wasn't ever a happy man, but now it's even worse. He has a lot of pent up rage and anger that will no doubt come through on Saturday, Dec. 9. That's when he gets his hands on Phoenix. It'll be the first time the two have faced off. And Mr. Beauregard better keep his distance, as I'm sure Ax has something in store for his former manager too.

Phoenix "taps"
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

No matter what the motivation was for turning on Ax, the end result won't be good for the DR Party, Scott Phoenix nor J. Wellington Beauregard. That's just my 1-2-3 cents, but I would never, ever bet against a guy like Ax Allwardt. He's not a man to be messed with and that lesson is about to be taught old school style.

Allwardt gets axed

Taken prior to their tag team title defense

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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One of the greatest tag teams in indy wrestling and dare I say in all of Stride Pro Wrestling has come to an end. In a shocking turn of events, not only did J. Wellington Beauregard turn his back on Ax Allwardt, but so did Ax's partner Scott Phoenix. Maximum Overdrive has come to a screeching halt and I blame the DR Party, specifically Dexter Roswell for this demise.

Months ago Roswell introduced J. Wells as the benefactor for the DR Party. But something didn't feel right as Ax and Scott seemed to start playing second fiddle when it came to their manager's attention. Roswell and his cronies, including Brian Richards, Andrew Edwards and Nathan Bragg would pop up costing Maximum Overdrive matches or just interfering when they didn't need to be around.

The frustration came to a boiling point in October when Ax delivered his patented piledrive to Richards and tried to do the same to Roswell, but that little weasel was able to get away. This all led to a handicap match for Roswell against Maximum Overdrive. J. Wells stayed true to his word and remained neutral for the contest.

Dexter's tag team title and tie
Courtesy: Dexter Roswell

But as it looked like the champs had the match won, Phoenix suddenly tapped out to Roswell. Special guest referee Jerry "T-Dog" Travelstead couldn't do anything about it but call for the bell. I then announced that Dexter Roswell was the new tag team champions. Moments later though things became crystal clear and Roswell handed one of the belts to Scott Phoenix. Ax had been double-crossed by both his partner and long-time manager. J Wells celebrated with the new champs as they got the hell out of dodge.

I don't know why all these events happened. But I do know Ax Allwardt is tougher than a two dollar steak and doesn't care who gets in his way, he's going to be ready to kick some ass. He has lost his tag team championship, his partner and his manager. He has nothing else to lose. The DR Party and J. Wells need to be afraid of that. 

Fun Fact Friday: J. Wellington Beauregard

J. Wellington Beauregard
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Even though he'd been involved with pro wrestling here in southern Illinois for some time, I didn't get a chance to meet and work with J. Wellington Beauregard until 2012. He came into All American Pro Wrestling and purchased the contract of Ax Allwardt from manager Gaylord Stephens. The two have gone together like peanut butter and jelly. J Wells took Ax to both the Stride Pro Wrestling heavyweight and tag team champions. 

Beauregard has been on the My 1-2-3 Cents podcast, but we barely scratched the surface. So I asked the manager of champions to share some insight that fans don't always hear about. Here's what he told me.

High School days

This first fun fact isn't a shocker. J. Wellington Beauregard was voted Teacher's Pet in high school. 

J. Wells and Trish

He has a dog named Trish. The pooch is named after WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus. He got his dog the same month he started his pro wrestling training.

Meeting "the King" 

J. Wells is big Elvis Presley fan. He and his dad both enjoy the King's music and have visited Graceland four times.

And a bonus fact, the first person from wrestling J. Wells met was the late, great "Sweet" Sapphire. She managed Dusty Rhodes briefly during his 1989-90 WWE stint. 

Come see J. Wellington Beauregard as his two teams, Maximum Overdrive and The DR Party collide at the Illinois Star Centre Mall in Marion. Bell time is 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4. See ya there.

Decisions, decisions

Maximum Overdrive & Deter Roswell w/J. Wellington Beauregard

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Professional wrestling fans can be fickle, but so can those involved in the business. Managers can change their preference in the blink of an eye, even within their own stables. Remember in 1989 when "King" Harley Race battled King Haku at the Royal Rumble. Both men were in the Heenan Family and when Haku emerged the victor, he left with Bobby Heenan and Race was soon gone from the company. Heenan pulled a similar stunt with years earlier between Rick Rude and Paul Orndorff.

But this blog is about J. Wellington Beauregard. He's the current manager of the Stride Pro Wrestling tag team champions Ax Allwardt and Scott Phoenix. In addition to managing Maximum Overdrive, J. Wells also managers the DR Party. Since this arrangement happened, there's been hints of dissension coming from Allwardt.

During Saturday night's Stride show at the Illinois Star Centre Mall, tempers flared. Roswell was teaming with Maximum Overdrive. To start things off Phoenix offered his digits to Roswell's mother. This didn't sit well with Dexter or his parents. And through the course of the match, the champs kept Roswell from tagging in. Clearly frustrated, Dexter tagged himself in. This set off Ax who argued with J. Wells outside the ring. Roswell found himself getting pinned by all three members of the opposing team (Joey O'Riley, Aaron Brooks and JD Wilk). An interesting note, when Phoenix tried to break up that pin, he was stopped by Ax. This lead to more arguing between the champions. I must admit I got so caught up in the war of words and nearly missed announcing the winners.

Piledriver
Courtesy: Dalton Kennerly

Moments later, Dexter slapped Ax who was set to piledrive the DR Party leader. That's when Brian Richards, the enforcer of the party, attacked Ax. But it didn't take long for Richards to find himself on the receiving end of Ax's finisher. 

Clearly, Beauregard has some serious fence-mending to do amongst his team members. Not only is Allwardt at odds with the DR Party, but he is not quite on the same page with Phoenix either. Maximum Overdrive continues to reign as tag team champions. Now they'll defend against the DR Party on Saturday, November 4. My advice to J. Wells is to leave with the one who brought you to the dance.   

3 reasons to attend Stride Pro Wrestling tonight

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Of course, there are more than three reasons to come out to the Illinois Star Centre Mall for tonight's Stride Pro Wrestling show. Supporting indy wrestling is so important. The wrestlers you'll see tonight live and work in southern Illinois. By coming out to this show (or any indy show) helps put food on their table. It gives them a sense of purpose as they pursue a dream and it keeps you, the fan, entertained for a couple of hours at a pretty affordable cost ($10 for adults and $5 for kids).

Those are the general reasons to support indy wrestling. But for some specifics on tonight's show, look no further.

1. Jay Spade gets a second chance at winning his first singles championship in Stride Pro Wrestling. He and Roger Matheus will tangle in a best-two-out-three falls match. The two had an epic match last week in Pinckneyville. The rematch will be nothing short of amazing. What Spade lacks in size and power, he makes up in heart. Matheus has been the most dominant force in Stride. That vicious streak has only increased since winning the title in May. One man wants the gold, the other doesn't want to let it go. It's gonna be a fight for the ages for sure.

2. Tag team chaos will ensue. The defending Stride Pro Wrestling tag team champions Maximum Overdrive will face three worthy contenders. AT Brooks & Joey O'Riley, JD Wilk & Jose Magnifico and the DR Party will all get a shot. Here's the rub. Ax Allwardt & Scott Phoenix are managed by J. Wellington Beauregard. But so are the members of the DR Party. Who will J Wells choose? He's in a dilly of a pickle for sure.

3. It's always a fan-friendly experience. The men and women on the Stride Pro Wrestling roster spend time talking with fans before, during and after each show. Pics and autographs are always an option. And tonight we're celebrating Halloween. Come in costume and see what your favorite Stride star will be dressed like too.

Don't forget, doors open at 6 p.m. Bell time is 6:30. We're located near Dillard's at the Illinois Star Centre Mall in Marion. (Card subject to change.) 

Cashing in on tag team gold

By Sam Hunter

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Tag teams have come in gone in Stride Pro Wrestling. But one constant for most of 2017 has been the current tag team champions Ax Allwardt and Scott Phoenix. When J. Wellington Beauregard first put this duo together, I never dreamed they'd not only win the tag team titles so quickly but hold on to them longer than any other team has in Stride's history. They were a makeshift duo has made things work.

Cash Borden, Lane Austin and Joey O'Riley
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

Now there's a new team breathing down their necks, who came together on a whim. Cash Borden and Joey O'Riley have proven to be great tag team wrestlers in the past. Cash teamed with Dalton Diamond and Joey and Jay Spade held the Stride Tag Titles earlier this year. Both men embarked on a singles career, but last month found themselves fighting a common enemy in the DR Party.

That match had lasting implications as it was an opportunity to get a tag team championship match. Cash and Joey wrestled like a well-oiled machine. If you didn't know any better, you'd think they had been partners for months, if not years. These two pose the most credible threat to Maximum Overdrive since winning the belts in the spring.

Maximum Overdrive
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

But the champs won't just fall to their challengers. Time and time again they've fought back when it looked like they were down and out. And with J-Wells lurking outside the ring, you never know what might happen. Plus, if the issues with the DR Party have been cleared up, the champs have an even bigger advantage going into this matchup. 

The action comes to Community Consolidated School 204 in Pinckneyville this Friday night. A meet and greet with Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat" starts at 5 p.m. The wrestling action follows starting at 6:30 p.m. Call (618) 357-2419 for ticket information.

Disciplinary Action gets ready to go old school

Maximum Overdrive
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Tag team wrestling has been a big part of Stride Pro Wrestling. This Saturday night will be no exception. The tag team champions, Maximum Overdrive, are gearing up for a contest against Disciplinary Action. Ax Allwardt and Scott Phoenix, along with their manager J. Wellington Beauregard have put together a string of impressive title defenses. I'll go out on a limb and call them Stride's most dominant tag team champions. I'll have to check the record books too, but I think the duo is the longest reigning tag champs the company has had. 

Disciplinary Action
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

Jerry Travelstead aka T-Dog and Josh "Stone Cold Plumster" Plumlee are educators by day. The two have a passion for professional wrestling like few people I've met before. They've taken that drive and desire and have trained in the ring. T-Dog was the first Stride Pro Wrestling Legacy Champion. Now he and Plumlee, known as Disciplinary Action get a shot at tag team glory.

Plumlee pins Phoenix
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

Plumlee enters this match with a huge advantage. You may remember back in May he and "Cowboy" James Storm beat the champs in a non-title match at the Brave the Storm fundraiser in Pinckneyville. Some may argue that T-Dog is no James Storm, which I agree. But that match ended with Plumlee pinning Phoenix. T-Dog's passion and desire to improve can't be underestimated in this match. If the champs get too cocky Saturday night, there could very well be new champions crowned.

Maximum Overdrive with J. Wellington Beauregard
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

No doubt J. Wells has been preparing his team for this defense. Ax has done a great job taking Phoenix under his wing as Maximum Overdrive has gelled nicely since forming after Ax lost the Stride Pro Wrestling heavyweight title. They're not ready to give up on those belts either, so this match up will be one for the ages. It's old school vs. new school in the middle of the ring. See you Saturday night at 6:30 p.m.

Last call: Hot August Night 2 is TONIGHT

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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The men and women of Stride Pro Wrestling hit the ring for Hot Summer Night 2. The action is happening at the Illinois Star Centre Mall in Marion, Illinois. It's a short drive from southeast Missouri, western Kentucky and southwestern Indiana. 

Seven matches have been announced, including three championships on the line. "Big" Roger Matheus, Tony Flood and Maximum Overdrive are all set to defend their titles. Here's a look at the card.

Stride Pro Wrestling Heavy Championship Match
Roger Matheus (c) vs. Cash Borden

Legacy Championship Match
Tony Flood (c) vs. an opponent to be named by Sam Hunter

Stride Pro Wrestling Tag Team Championship Match
Maximum Overdrive (c) w/J. Wellington Beauregard vs. Farmer Billy Hills & JD Wilk

Number One Contender Match
Heath Hatton vs. Jay Spade

Grudge Match
Red Daniels vs. Chris Hargas

Women's Match
Sarah Summers vs. Kandi Jewels

6 Man Tag Match
The DR Party w/J. Wellington Beauregard vs. Jerry Travelstead, Eugene Drip & Jose Magnifico

He's back! JD Wilk set to return

JD Wilk is coming back to Stride Pro Wrestling
Courtesy: JD Wilk (Facebook)

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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"Super" Cena may have met his match in Stride Pro Wrestling's JD Wilk. The up-and-comer has suffered a couple of injuries to his shoulder that put him on the shelf. The most recent injury looked like JD would spend the rest of 2017 recovering. However, I can announce here that JD Wilk will return to the ring this Saturday night. He and "Farmer" Billy Hills have been granted a shot at the Stride Pro Wrestling Tag Team Champions, Ax Allwardt and Scott Phoenix.

Farmer vs. Roger Matheus
Courtesy: Farmer Billy Hills

Wilk's return is an unexpected and pleasant surprise. He's worked hard to get to where he is here in Stride as well as in Cape Championship Wrestling. His time off rehabbing has paid off as the doctors have given him the clearance to step back through the ropes. And what better way to return than with a championship match. Farmer last month failed to beat Stride Pro Wrestling Champion Roger Matheus, but General Manager Sam Hunter believes Farmer deserves another shot at gold.

Maximum Overdrive & J. Wellington Beauregard
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

Farmer is no stranger to the tag champs. He and Bob Orton faced Maximum Overdrive for the belts a couple months ago. Chris Hargas and Farmer have also wrestled Allwardt and Phoenix. The champs and their manager J. Wellington Beauregard will stop at nothing to win and no doubt will target Wilk's shoulder Saturday night. That's why he and Farmer need to be cautious and smart about this encounter. 

JD Wilk vs. Dexter Roswell
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

Wilk and Farmer may not be a regular team, but they no doubt have the ability to come up with an upset and walk away as Stride Pro Wrestling Tag Team Champions. The champs haven't faced an aerial specialist like Wilk and what a homecoming it would be for JD who is one of the most determined competitors I've ever seen. 

Maximum Overdrive kicks it in high gear

Maximum Overdrive
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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When Stride Pro Wrestling returns to the Illinois Star Centre Mall this Saturday night (July 8) the tag team champions, Maximum Overdrive will have their toughest challenge to date. In my 1-2-3 cents, Ax Allwardt and Scott Phoenix, have been fighting champions, but when they step into the ring with former heavyweight champ Heath Hatton and former tag team champ Jay Spade they will have their work cut out for them.

Ax shows off his strength
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

Maximum Overdrive, along with their manager J. Wellington Beauregard, has been fighting champions. But their tactics have been less than honorable on many occasions. They won the belts under less than suspicious circumstances. In their title defense against Farmer Billy Hills and "Cowboy" Bob Orton, they were disqualified. The champs looked pretty dominate though when they beat Eugene Drip and Jose Magnifico. 

Hatton & Spade
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

Hatton and Spade are hungry. They're both coming off of recent attempts to capture the Stride Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Title. The two have been friends for years, dating back to their days in All American Pro Wrestling. At recent Stride shows they've had some hiccups, but after talking to both men recently they seem more than focused on capturing the Stride Pro Wrestling tag team titles.

So get a first-hand look at what will no doubt be a classic title defense. Again, the family friendly event is this Saturday night. Bell time is 6:30 at the Illinois Star Centre Mall. Tickets are just $10! 

Flood & Travelstead heat up Summer Showdown

T-Dog & Flood in action
Courtesy: Robert Young

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Stride Pro Wrestling hit another home run with its latest show, Summer Showdown. This event was a fundraiser for the YouthBuild program of Marion and Jefferson Counties. More than $2,500 was raised to help young adults better their lives. Even though it's not officially summer, the heat was on for a great night of wrestling action.

Jay Spade soars
Courtesy: Brittany Chapman

In the coming weeks, you can watch the matches on the Stride Pro Wrestling YouTube channel. But a few quick hits, Roger Matheus is still the Stride Pro Wrestling Champion winning the Fatal Fourway against Heath Hatton, Jay Spade and Red Daniels. And Maximum Overdrive (Ax Allwardt and Scott Phoenix) are still the Stride Pro Wrestling tag team champions. They lost the match, but it was by disqualification against "Cowboy" Bob Orton and "Farmer" Billy Hills. The hall of famer was a great guest and we thank he and Herb Simmons for making the trip down south.

T-Dog wins, or does he?
Courtesy: Sharon Hefner

The other big headline of the night and the one that may be the most talked about is the Legacy Championship match between Tony Flood and the former champ "T-Dog" Jerry Travelstead. The two had a highly competitive match, I'd say their best contest to date, which is saying a lot because these two typically put on a great show. They not only wrestle, they tell a story while in the ring. I'm proud of what both men and even the devious Alexxa Flood contributed to the match. 

Tony Flood isn't making new fans
Courtesy: Asa Gray

The final moments saw some trickery by Flood. I won't spoil it for those wanting to watch on YouTube in a few weeks, but just know I've never been involved in a wrestling show where fans have yelled at ME about the finish to a match. One man poked me in the chest and demanded justice for T-Dog. He called the decision bull sh!t and told me it needed to be reversed. He was so worked up, I thought he'd pop Tony Flood as he walked back to the locker room. Another fan confronted me before I went to the restroom at intermission and also criticized the finish and the call by referee Brandon Tolle. Then when I finished my business, he was waiting to continue giving me an earful. 

Main event time
Courtesy: Brittany Chapman

Summer Showdown was a success on many counts. Fans are still buzzing on social media today, which is exactly what you hope for when putting together a wrestling event. Thanks to all who supported the cause and Stride Pro Wrestling. I know fans drove for hours in some cases to be a part of the event. It's appreciated more than you know.