Stride Pro Wrestling makes it into PWI

Thanks, Mike Bessler

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Growing up a wrestling fan in the 80s meant a steady supply of the 'Apter magazines.' Back then, Pro Wrestling Illustrated was by far the industry leader. The first copy I bought was the October 1984 issue. Kerry Von Erich was on the cover holding the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. 

After that initial purchase, it became a habit to go to our local drug store and pick up the latest PWI. I added The Wrestler and Inside Wrestling to my collection. WWF Magazine and Wrestling Superstars were also staples. I continued this habit through middle school, high school and even college, ending my buying in 1995 when the internet became a faster way to learn about pro wrestling. Much to my wife's chagrin though, all those back issues are sitting in our garage. 

I'll admit I haven't bought a copy in years, I did pick up an issue in 2012 after meeting write Mike Bessler at an indy show. It was All American Pro Wrestling. I was doing color commentary and even had my first match in AAPW. Mike did a great piece in his Independent Roundup column in the September 2012 issue. Bessler puts over AAPW Main Event from earlier in the year and talks about a situation that had happened between Mike Masters and a heckling fan. We certainly appreciated the shout out in the magazine.

After my most recent match against Roger Matheus at Stride Goes Steel, Mike reached out to me again. We did an interview and I figured there would be a write up online about it. Mike said his editor enjoyed the story and much to my surprise, I got a message from a fan this week with a pic of the write-up. Not only did Stride get a mention in the hard copy of the magazine but a photo from the event also appeared.

I'm excited for a couple of reasons. Yes, I made it into a magazine that has been a part of the pro wrestling landscape for decades. But also Stride Pro Wrestling, a small indy company in Marion, Illinois is now sharing the pages of a magazine that has covered WWF(E), NWA, WCW, AWA, New Japan, ROH, Chikara, Midsouth, UWF and countless other wrestling companies. It's an honor to be a part of the issue, which ironically is the October 2018 issue. Some 34 years to the issue of me buying my first PWI I am now a part of this amazing magazine. Matheus, Cash Borden, my daughter Brooke and my buddy Tom Harness all get shout-outs too. 

Thank you, Mike, on behalf of myself, My 1-2-3 Cents and Stride Pro Wrestling. We appreciate the support. Now, how about a spot in the PWI 500 this year? 

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I know wrestlers on the PWI 500

Bradon Espinosa vs. Farmer Billy Hills at Cape Championship Wrestling
Photo by: My 1-2-3 Cents

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I still remember buying my first pro wrestling magazine. I was 11 years old. It was the December 1984 issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Barry Windham was on the cover and my favorite wrestler at the time, Kerry Von Erich was the poster inside. I bought every issue of the magazine from that time until the end of 1995, when the internet and Rec Sports Pro Wrestling (and my lack of space) took over. One of my favorite issues became the annual PWI Top 500. 

The first issue came out my freshman year in college. Hulk Hogan stood on top of the rankings in 1991. It made sense. He had a solid year, regaining the WWF Championship and defending the honor of America against the Iraqi-sympathizer Sgt. Slaughter. The unique thing about the Top 500 though was getting to learn more about wrestlers I'd never heard of before.

Espy goes to the top
Photo by: My 1-2-3 Cents

Now, some 27 editions later, I'm finding that I now know (like in person) some of the wrestlers who have made the list. I haven't seen everyone on the 2017 list, but I do know Brandon "Espy" Espinosa has once again been ranked. I met Espy during our days with All American Pro Wrestling. He was quite a talent then and has only continued to excel in the years that have passed. He has traded the Missouri Wrestling Revival Championship with his former partner in AAPW, Ace Hawkins this year and continues to wrestle around the country. In 2016 he did a show with Stride Pro Wrestling as well. 

"Golden Boy" Greg Anthony vs. Heath Hatton in AAPW
Courtesy: Jason Wilkey 

"Golden Boy" Greg Anthony has graced the PWI 500 list too. I also met Golden Boy in AAPW, where he wrestled everyone from Heath Hatton to The Mississippi Madman. He's recovering from a recent heart procedure but has been an established member of the NWA: Midsouth roster for years now.

Yep, that's me with Matt Cross (and guests)
Photo courtesy: Missouri Wrestling Revival

Matt Cross, who first came to prominence on Tough Enough several years ago, also wrestled a couple of times for AAPW. He too has been on the PWI Top 500. He continues to rise on the indy scene and is one of the top guys in Lucha Underground right now. 

As I mentioned, I haven't seen the complete list for 2017, if I missed someone on this year's list that I do know, I apologize. Congrats to Okada for being the first Japanese wrestler to top the list and to everyone else who made the cut. Check out the standings right here.

The 3 R's: Reading, 'Riting, & 'Rassling

Curled up with a good book

By Kevin Hunsperger 
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

I'm glad to see that the WWE has been doing a public service in trying to get more kids to read.  I know the Wrestlemania Reading Challenge has been going on for years, and I would imagine it's turned some kids on to books who may have never had much interest in reading in the past.

I'm one of those kids.  Despite having to read EVERYDAY for my job, I HATED reading with a passion growing up.  I rarely read for pleasure.  It was always a choir to read and then make a book report on the topic at hand.

Just some of the collection

Whenever there were Reading Days at school, (that was when they devoted a 30 minute chunk of time when EVERYONE in the school stops what they're doing and picks up a something to read), I always brought one of the many wrestling magazines from my collection.  Back then I got Pro Wrestling Illustrated, The Wrestler, Inside Wrestling, and WWF Magazine on a monthly basis.  Then I would add to my collection with special issues and quarterlies like Wrestling Superstars (I loved the dream match features they'd do).  So while my class mates were reading actual books or things like People or Time magazine, I'd be thumbing through PWI and catching up on an article I may have overlooked previously.

College was bad too.  Reading for class was a huge choir.  Reading books for pleasure never happened.  But I did continue to grow my collection of magazines. I had brought a milk crate full of them with me and had them on hand in the dorm for backup reading.  I became a lending library of sorts to the other wrestling fans on my floor who wanted to relive some part of the past.  These were the days before the Internet, so it was the best way to find out some forgotten nugget of information.

My "wrestling book" library

Into adulthood and the evolution of the Internet, I stopped buying the magazines.  But then wrestling books became popular.  In all seriousness, the first book I read cover to cover as an adult was Mick Foley's "Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks"  I followed up with "The Rock Says" and then became addicted to stories written by wrestlers.

They didn't have to be biographies either.  I bought a copy of Foley's "Christmas Chaos" for my young son after it was released.  A couple of years later I read his fiction story "Tietam Brown."

It seems that the success of Foley and the Rock's books opened the flood gates for more autobiographies to be published under the WWE banner.  I'm sure they weren't the first wrestlers to write their memoirs, but they were certainly the two who got my attention to reading.  It wasn't just WWE wrestlers churning out their live stories either.  I read "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase's first book as well as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan's "Chairshots", both published away from the WWE banner.  I even bought and read Missy Hyatt's "First Lady of Wrestling."  It's a great read, especially if you grew up watching Missy.  If I wasn't buying the books, I was heading to my local library to check them out, which for a small town, the Tippecanoe County Library had a surprising number of titles written by wrestlers.

All this reading did lead me to read other books as well.  I started reading bios by my favorite journalists and other entertainers.  Then I dove head first in the my first series, Harry Potter.  Those stories captivated me in a way I didn't think possible.  I started the series after JK Rowling had finished writing book seven, so I never had to wait for the next book to be released.  I would also finish a book before watching the movie.  It's just better that way.  Then I got a smart phone and my reading interest plunged because of my obsession with social media, Words with Friends, and now blogging.

Just a few of the covers

When it comes to the wrestling books I've read, I have to say Chris Jericho, Mick Foley, and Bret Hart are my favorite authors.  I think reading Bret's "Hitman" tainted me when I tried reading Shawn Michaels' book.  I just couldn't believe anything Shawn was saying, which isn't fair to the Heartbreak Kid, but what are you going to do?

I know this probably sounds weird, but thank you WWE for opening my eyes to reading, and for continuing to encourage children to read today.  Heck, if there was a chance to go to Wrestlemania on the line when I was a kid, who knows how many stories I would have been introduced to back then?

As Good As Gold

"The Golden Boy" Greg Anthony
One To Watch

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

I bought my first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1984.  I can still remember it, heck I still have it.  It was the December 1984 issue, Barry Windham was on the cover and my idol Kerry Von Erich was the centerfold.  For the next 11 years I bought the publication.  I've still got them.

Last year something cool happened.  PWI featured my friend and colleague in the business, Chris Hagstrom.  At the time Chris was the executive producer of All American Pro Wrestling, a company I was doing play-by-play for.  It was awesome to know that all our hard work had paid off and AAPW was being mentioned on the same pages as WWE, TNA, and Ring of Honor.

In the most recent issue of PWI, another friend in the business stepped into the national wrestling spotlight.  "The Golden Boy" Greg Anthony graces the pages of PWI.  The magazine did a feature on Anthony, who is a competitor with Traditional Championship Wrestling.  He's a part of their "One to Watch" segment.  Golden Boy is no stranger to PWI, as they ranked him at number 434 in the most recent PWI 500.

"Golden Boy" in action
Photo courtesy: Jason Wilkey

Big props to Anthony, who has worked very hard to get where he is today.  I know The Golden Boy doesn't look like you're typical wrestler, but inside that ring he's like his catch implies, "good as gold."  I had the opportunity to work with Anthony in AAPW.  I always enjoyed him in the ring, as he was a throwback to the old school legends.  His work on the mic was always on par too.  I always enjoyed being in the promo area when it was time for the Golden Boy to do his work.

Getting pied
AAPW Fan Fest 2011

Anthony always took time to give me advice with my delivery as a commentator and helped me prepare mentally for my professional wrestling debut.  He also took a pie to the face (actually dozens) during a Fan Fest event.  I'm proud to say I got to pie him as well.

I haven't seen the Golden Boy in more than a year, which is unfortunate.  I'm not able to travel as much as I'd like to and watch other independent promotions, but I'd highly recommend if Greg Anthony comes to your town, check him.

#1, Really? Really?

Courtesy: PWI

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger on Twitter

Let me start this off for all the new readers, I am a big fan of the Miz.  I think he is one of the best overall performers in the WWE right now in terms of wrestling and mic skills.  You have to consider both of those elements to truly be a superstar these days.  The Miz has that "it" factor as far as I'm concerned.

That being said though, I'm a bit surprised to see that Pro Wrestling Illustrated has named him #1 in it's annual Top 500 ratings for 2011.  The magazine has been rating wrestlers for 21 years now.  I have issues of the first several years.  Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, Sting, Shawn Michaels, and Steve Austin were in the top spot in the early years.

Randy Orton, Triple H, John Cena, and AJ Styles have been number one most recently.  Some names that never made the top spot: "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Ric Flair, Edge, the Undertaker, and the Rock.  Since this rating system started in 1991, I can almost see why Savage and Flair weren't number 1.  But both men did have reigns as WWF champion in 1992.  And they each held the WCW world title in the late 90's.

The 2011 issue isn't out on stands yet, and so far PWI has only announced the Miz as #1.  He's certainly improved a lot over the last year.  But to qualify him as the #1 wrestler in the world, I question.  Of course I know I'm getting caught up in the technicality that wrestling is predetermined.  This isn't "real".  I know I get it.  Maybe I'm making a mountain out of a mole hill.  Again, big fan of the Miz.  Just not sure why he's been named the best.

Look at his world title reign.  He struggled in his feud with Jerry Lawler.  I wouldn't have had a problem with that if it was 1985.  Lawler is an announcer primarily (at least in the WWE) and the fact that he had come up with wins over a young, up and coming champion really bothered me.  The way he won the belt was also "questioned" by the WWE, cashing in the Money in the Bank briefcase and taking advantage of an injured Randy Orton.  Did he have one credible title defense outside of the match with John Morrison on Raw?

Me & the Miz in 2010

Even though he got the win over Cena at Wrestlemania, it was marred by interference by Alex Riley and the Rock.  Since losing the title back to Cena, he's had his ass handed to him by A-Ry and was pinned by Roddy Piper on Raw recently.  (I know that was with A-Ry as the special guest referee).  I also understand this was AFTER the editors made their selection.

I'm not sure if the magazine bases this honor on the calendar year or the accomplishments so far of that year.  By those standards, I would (as much as I hate to say it) go with either Randy Orton or John Cena.  Based on the last month or so, I'd put CM Punk as #1, but I'm kind of a mark like that.  Again, don't get me wrong, the Miz is one of my favorites, but to put him at the top of the mountain, I just struggle with that.

So who would you put at the top?  Does my argument against the Miz make sense?  Miz, if you're reading this, it's nothing personal.  One day I think you will deserve the honor of being #1.

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