Scariest of All-Time: Wraith

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

It's day 10 of the countdown and another member of the Stride Pro Wrestling roster to talk about, Wraith. He appeared in January 2018 decked out in black and a mask covering his face. He entered the ring in darkness and made quick work of his opponent, eventually carrying the young man's lifeless body from the ring.

Wraith quickly became established as one of the top wrestlers on the Stride roster, winning both the Stride Cup and the Legacy Championship in one night. His ghoulish behavior continued as he recruited other disciples to join his path of destruction, most notably Ryzer. Wraith dominated most of the year before eventually fading away in 2019.

The word wraith means a ghost or ghostlike image of someone, especially one seen shortly before or after their death.  Who says wrestling doesn't teach you anything... 

AUDIO: Wrestling Under the Influence

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Welcome to the first episode of Wrestling Under the Influence this decade! I’m joined by Ryzer, from Stride Pro Wrestling. He and I enjoy the Unfiltered Wheat American Classic by Boulevard Brewing Company. We pair this beer with the ‘American Dream’ Dusty Rhodes and his son, the ‘American Nightmare’ Cody Rhodes.

Give it a listen here and don't forget to subscribe!

STRIDE PRO WRESTLING: Old school vs. new school

Created by Sam Hunter

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Another big match signed for Thursday night's Bash at the Ballpark features Ax Allwardt vs. Ryzer. This is a grudge match that's been months in the making. Ax is Stride Pro Wrestling's first-ever heavyweight champion. Ryzer, as his name might suggest is, in my opinion, the fastest rising star in Stride. 

The bad blood originates from the Battle Bowl tournament where Ax and Ryzer found themselves on the same team. Things seemed to be fine until the unlikely duo lost. Ax flipped out and attacked the youngster. Now Ax has embraced his 'old school warrior' mindset even more. He's dubbed himself the Millenial Nightmare and from the 'Decade of Decadence circa 1984.

As much as I respect Ax and what he's done for the local indy wrestling scene, I worry that he's shortsighted with his views on Ryzer. The kid has a lot of talent and I predict by this time next year he will have won gold here in Stride. He's a hard worker and a natural athlete. Perhaps it's that one-two punch that gets under Ax's skin.

The brawl between these two will not be pretty. But it will be one you won't want to miss. 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! 

It's not always lonely at the top

Red Daniels & Ryzer
Courtesy: Jamie Myers 

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

There's an old saying "It's lonely at the top." That expression has been notably true in the world of professional wrestling. You see, when you're the champ, there's a huge target on your back. But in some cases, we see other stars eyeing a prize other than the 10 pounds of gold.

That was very much true this past weekend at the Scars 'n Stripes show by Stride Pro Wrestling. In the main event, the heavyweight champion, Red Daniels defended against Ax Allwardt. But before we get to that, there's this...

Ax pummels Ryzer
Courtesy: Jamie Myers

Earlier in the night though, Ax, who recently went back his more vicious attitude, interrupted the ceremony for Ryzer. Ryzer has been training at the Stride school and Saturday night was his night to become an official graduate. Ax blamed Ryzer and other youngsters like him for ruining 80s wrestling with today's product. Ax took the certificate Ryzer was to receive and ripped it to shreds. He then attacked the rising star until instructor Heath Hatton pulled Ax off. 

Now, back to the main event. Ax was taking liberties with the rules and finally snapped and punched referee Lane Austin in the face. Then as he went for his chain, Ryzer emerged from the locker room, grabbing the loose end and preventing the villain from injuring the champion. 

Ax was disqualified and what looks like a new relationship between Red and Ryzer became apparent. The two celebrated in the ring, sending the fans home happy. However, I'm sure Ax will be back with a vengeance as he wants the gold still and to prove a point against Ryzer. Stay tuned, Stride returns on Saturday, Aug. 3 and a big event planned on Thursday, Aug. 29 at Rent One Park in Marion. 

Saturday, Bloody Saturday

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

This Saturday night blood will be shed at Strideiversary. It's a guarantee as Wraith and Ryzer will do battle in Stride Pro Wrestling's first ever First Blood Match. The rules are simple, the first wrestler to bleed loses. 

Wraith made the challenge recently, speaking for the first time. He and Ryzer were one time inseparable. But tension grew between the Man from Beyond the Grave and his young disciple. In a contest like this, Wraith seemingly has the advantage. Not only is he bigger than Ryzer, but he also has the benefit of wearing a mask which will clearly be more difficult to draw blood. I'm instantly reminded of Kane vs. 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin from King of the Ring 1998. 

However, Ryzer has quickly become a shining star in Stride Pro Wrestling. He was made for this business. He has the look, the passion and the aptitude to go far as a pro wrestler. Wraith is cold and calculating and will do everything in his power to prove a point and hurt the man he brought into Stride. This will be nothing less than a fight between two former friends which always adds to the story. The fans will be invested in this one and on the edges of their seats until someone gets busted open. 

Be a part of Strideiversary. The show is this Saturday night (March 2) at 600 N. Carbon Street in Marion, Illinois. Bell time is 6:30 p.m. See you there!

Click to shop

Wraith speaks!

Wraith
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Thirteen months ago a masked and mysterious man showed up in Stride Pro Wrestling. For weeks he had not given anyone his name. Then a message came into the Stride Pro Wrestling front office proclaiming the mystery man was to be known as Wraith. 

Wraith & Ryzer
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

Wraith dominated his opponents and won the first ever Stride Cup and the Legacy Title on the same night. He also recruited a young disciple named Ryzer. Ryzer was not only a loyalist to Wraith but also served as a mouthpiece.

Ankle lock
Courtesy: Jamie Woodworth-Myers

Then in the fall the two parted ways and have engaged in some brutal altercations. Ryzer distracted Wraith during his Stride Cup match against "The King" Chris Hargas which lead to the first time cup winner to be eliminated. At the end of the night, after Hargas defeated Ryzer to go on to the finals, Wraith reemerged. He snatched the mic from my hand and for the first time spoke. "March 2. First blood match." 

General manager Sam Hunter was standing ringside at the time of this announcement. He nodded and signed off on the match. This tells me how much hate there is between these men and just how personal things have become. Wraith wants to hurt Ryzer and no doubt Ryzer wants to do the same. 

So now it's set on Saturday, March 2 at Strideiversary it'll be Wraith and Ryzer in Stride's first ever First Blood Match. Join us at 600 N. Carbon Street in Marion, Illinois.

Show your Stride pride

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

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

Why Cash, why?

Cash Borden, Legacy Champion 

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Because Stride Pro Wrestling Legacy Champion Arron Brooks wasn't able to defend the title at Christmas Break over the weekend, General Manager Sam Hunter stripped the champ of the title. That made way for the main event that included Wraith, Ryzer, Cash Borden and Jay Spade competing for the vacated title. Spade and Borden have teamed up in recent months and there's been a hint of dissension between the two.

That all came to a head Saturday night. Cash didn't show up for the match, despite winning the right to be in the main event earlier in the night in a tag team match with Spade. Then about halfway through a mysterious man, covered from head to toe and carrying a lead pipe returned to ringside. We saw this man earlier hit Heath Hatton with the same pipe to help "King" Chris Hargis and Tony Flood win a tag team match.

Borden wins
Courtesy: Jamie Woodworth-Myers

The mystery man made his way into the ring after Wraith and Ryzer were dumped to the floor and Spade had his back turned. The lead pipe was used and the man unmasked himself to be Cash Borden. Borden proceeded to beat Spade severely and pin him to claim the title.

He cut a scathing promo and demanded I announce him as the new champion more than once. He proceeded to beat the crap out of Spade, bringing true meaning to the term 'Christmas break'. Fans were stunned as we helped Spade back to the locker room. 

Courtesy: Jamie Woodworth-Myers

I appreciate Borden's help earlier in the year in my battles with Roger Matheus. Cash proved that just because he's not the biggest dog in the fight he's among the toughest. Add in the hardcore matches he's competed in for other companies and you'll understand Cash is the real deal.

I worry what his new attitude is going to look like. 2019 may very well be the year of Cash Borden here in Stride Pro Wrestling. But don't count Spade out just yet. I'm sure he's resolving to straighten out Borden's bad attitude in the New Year.

Don't cry, order today

Will Wraith rise again?

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

At the October Stride Pro Wrestling show, Locker Room Melee, Wraith lost the Legacy Title to Arron Brooks. It was part of a fatal four-way ladder match. Not only did Wraith lose the championship but his disciple and seemingly only friend in Ryzer. The two brawled during the course of the match and at press time do not plan to be together this weekend.

As we've established, Wraith doesn't have much to say. In fact, we've never heard the man from beyond the grave speak. However, his actions speak clearly. He's been one of Stride's most dominant wrestlers in the nearly three-year history of the company. He won the Stride Cup tournament and the Legacy Title on the same night and had numerous successful defenses before dropping the gold.

That being said, you can't underestimate Brooks. He'll go into Saturday's title defense prepared to retain. He's said before he wants to be a fighting champion and this will mark his second defense since winning the belt less than a month ago. He retained against Joey O'Riley a couple of weeks ago. 

You won't want to miss any of the action. We're at the new Stride Pro Wrestling Arena at 1130 N. Division Street in Carterville. It's an intimate set up with no bad seat in the house. Bell time is 6:30 p.m. We'll see you there.

 

Get the Centmas Vacation shirt here

Climbing to success

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

The very first time the Legacy Title was on the line it was in a ladder match. It happened in Pinckneyville, Illinois when Jerry Travelstead beat Tony Flood in the tournament finals. Now, nearly two years later the belt is on the line again, in a ladder match and in the same exact place, Community Consolidated School District 204.

This time, Wraith faces three men; Arron Brooks, Jay Spade and Wraith's sidekick Ryzer. All four men have had issues with one another all summer long. It all started after Brooks won the number one contendership for the belt at Stride Goes Steel. Spade and Ryzer started an issue not long after that. In fact, Ryzer prevented Spade from regaining the Stride Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Title from Tony Flood. So now, GM Sam Hunter is forcing all four guys to work out their differences in a match that has the potential to steal the show Saturday night.

I don't think I'm speaking out of turn, but I believe this is the first ladder match for all four men, at least here in Stride. That I know for sure. We've seen Ryzer, Brooks and Spade all climb that top rope and even scale the cage at Stride Goes Steel. There's no fear factor among anyone involved here. Plus, each man wants a piece of the championship pie. Ryzer and Brooks have never held gold here while Spade has been a tag team champion in addition to the Heavyweight champion.

What I'm looking forward to seeing is how Ryzer and Wraith work together. Ryzer has been a flunkie of sorts for Wraith since they paired up in March. He's a huge factor as to why Wraith still holds the Legacy Title. Case in point, the video above. Will Ryzer still help Wraith win no matter what, or could he have an appetite for gold? And what personality will Brooks bring to the ring with him that night?

Find out this Saturday night. CCSD 204 in Pinckneyville is the place to be. Bell time is 6:30 (come early for a meet and greet with Impact Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee Abyss) Learn more here. 

Click to shop

TerroRYZERING Arron Brooks

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Yeah, I know the title is a bit lame, but it's to illustrate a point. Since Arron Brooks became the number one contender to the Stride Pro Wrestling Legacy Title in May, champion Wraith and his main man Ryzer have done everything possible to make Brooks' life a nightmare. I'd go so far as to say Ryzer has done most of the heavy lifting here, which is understandable since for some reason he's under the control of Wraith.

Wraith and Ryzer
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

Brooks has been beaten up and attacked by Ryzer a couple of times, including taking a shot to the head from Ryzer with the Legacy Title. This lead to Wraith successfully defending the belt. Most recently, Wraith and Ryzer joined forces in tag team competition. Again, the duo from beyond the grave overcame Spade and Brooks. 

Brooks vs. Ryzer
Courtesy: John Cramner and Dewayne Daniels

Now, this Friday night (Sept. 21) Brooks gets his hands one on one against Ryzer. I know there's a lot of pent-up rage and anger that will come Ryzer's way. Brooks will likely deploy a ground assault with a flurry of kicks before heading to the top rope. However, Ryzer is no slouch. His first year in Stride has been impressive so far. Simply put, he won't take any abuse from Brooks without returning it in extreme amounts. The two have met in singles competition before so this rematch will be an interesting one to watch.

Wraith could, of course, be a factor in this match. Will he return the favors he owes his charge? Or will he be too busy worrying about Cash Borden who gets a title shot Friday night too? My advice to Brooks, have an ally nearby. You never know what tactics a desperate man or spirit will use to win. Be there Friday night at Gallatin County High School for all the action.

Click to shop

The Undead Outlaw goes beyond the grave

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
Listen to the podcast

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Despite being knocked off track recently by Roger Matheus, Cash Borden is looking to make a comeback of sorts. I talked in a recent post about Borden string of losses, mostly to Matheus and the feud that boiled over between the two. I've said it before and I'll say it again, there are few people as tough as Borden. I borrow the line from JR all the time, simply put, he's tougher than a two dollar steak.

Wraith & Ryzer

That's why I like his chances this Friday night as he challenges Wraith for the Legacy Title. Despite being nearly unstoppable since his debut in January and his winning of the Legacy belt and Stride Cup tournament in March, Wraith does seem to have a weakness. Maybe not a weakness, but a definite vulnerability. That is he needs someone to have his back when he heads into battle. Over the last few months, we've seen that man be Ryzer. The disciple like figure to Wraith has helped the champion retain his title against the likes of Farmer Billy Hills and Arron Brooks.

Cash vs. Roger Matheus
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

That relationship is something Cash will have to be aware of. I have no doubt he's done his homework and will be ready for whatever the duo from 'beyond the grave' will throw at him. After all, you don't become the Undead Outlaw by being a slacker. This will be an amazing contest and I suspect we'll see both Cash and Wraith be highly competitive against each other. Even though he doesn't talk, Wraith values that Legacy belt. He also seems to appreciate the relationship with Ryzer and vice versa. 

Be there this Friday night. Stride Pro Wrestling heads to Gallatin County School. Bell time is 7 p.m.

Click to buy