Thank you, Mike Masters

Courtesy: Sam Hamblin 

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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When I got involved in independent wrestling in 2011, one of the first people I met was Mike Masters. He had been wrestling for years at the time and literally that first meeting was on TV as I was interviewing Chris Hagstrom, the new executive producer for All American Pro Wrestling's new show Collison. That meeting ended with me whacking Mike across the back with a metal folding chair. Take a look below...

I didn't know it at the time but the seeds were being planted for me to have a match against Masters at AAPW's Main Event show (which was recorded and distributed on DVD). Masters was a true pro to work with the entire time. I honestly didn't want to get into the ring and wrestle when the idea was first proposed because I HATED the Michael Cole-Jerry Lawler feud. I just didn't think announcers belonged in the ring. 

However, I was convinced and loved every minute of our match, except for the ending. An errant chair shot resulted in Mike requiring six staples to close the wound. However, Masters was a true pro through it all and never once pointed the finger of blame at anyone involved. His willingness to 'put-over' a middle-aged news anchor and commentator still means the world to me more than eight years later. He never complained or scoffed at the idea and took great care of me during the course of the match. I believe the success of this encounter is what enabled me to go on and have a handful of other matches. So if you hate my work in the ring, blame Mike. :)

Masters & his son
Courtesy: Jamie Myers

I'm writing this post today though because Mike Masters has retired from the ring. Last year, he returned to the ring for one last run with Stride Pro Wrestling. Along the way, he re-established himself as one of the greatest bad guys on the local indy scene. There's just something about Mike that gets fans to boo him. 

After it was announced that Saturday's show would be Mike's last, the fans stopped booing and started cheering. That's the true sign of a professional. No matter how much you hate a character in the ring when you realize he or she is a real person, you can't help but respect them. Wrestlers make many sacrifices, not just with their bodies but with spending time with family and friends and all for little or no money. 

Courtesy: Jamie Myers

So again, I thank Mike Masters for our time together in AAPW as well as his many years of wrestling and entertaining fans here in southern Illinois. Any young wrestlers or anyone wanting to break into the business, I recommend following Mike's example. He's a true pro in every sense of the word. 

Ain't nothin' gonna to break my Stride

Sold out crowd
Stride Pro Wrestling 

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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This isn't a blog about the 80s hit Break My Stride. Instead a moment to congratulate the men and women who are a part of Stride Pro Wrestling. Since starting in March of this year the indy wrestling company has seen steady growth.

The show over the weekend Hot August Night was held in the new home from Stride Pro Wrestling and also saw an attendance record. More than 200 fans crowded into the CMA Dojo in the Illinois Star Centre Mall in Marion, Illinois. It was exciting to see so many new fans coming out to support independent wrestling.

Stride Pro Wrestling trainees

The young talent training at the Stride Pro Wrestling school have done an amazing job learning the craft. They are also there to help set up and clean up after each month's show. Some of the trainees are starting to get some time to get in the ring at shows. The future looks bright! 

Having homegrown talent and established wrestlers from different parts of the region perform each month is the perfect tag team for success. Thank you to the fans who have supported Stride Pro Wrestling. Thank you to the men and women who get in the ring each month to perform for the fans. It's an exciting time to be a fan of independent wrestling in this region.

Hey Roman, shut up

Roman Reigns
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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The intention of this post isn't to be mean spirited.  When I tell Roman Reigns to shut up, I actually mean it in the nicest way possible.  Wrestling fans seem to love to critique the current WWE World Heavyweight Champion to no end.  Many of these same fans were marking out for Roman when he was in the Shield.

The Shield
Courtesy: WWE

I've thought about what's different now, other than the obvious he's no longer affiliated with Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose.  Roman's skill set has changed.  Superman Punch and the spear are his two big go to moves still.  The difference now is he's talking.  If the WWE Creative Team isn't going to turn him heel (and I don't think they have to) then they should return to Roman's roots and make him the strong, silent type.  

Many will argue you can't have success in wrestling or sports entertainment if you can't talk.  I don't believe that. Leave the talking to those who can do it.  Make Roman Reigns a destructive ass kicker who doesn't speak or is just a man of few words.  When he cuts a promo these days there's little emotion involved.  He's repeating lines someone has written for him.  That works for some people, but not everyone.  Fans pick up on this and that's part of the reason he gets booed.

Roman & The Rock
Courtesy: WWE

While he's trying out this new style, work with him behind the scenes on promos.  You can't teach charisma, but you can teach someone how to fake it long enough to get a point across.  He's from the same bloodline as one of the greatest talkers of all time, so let the Rock work him.  And please, stop trying to make him the second coming of the Rock or John Cena.  Let Roman be Roman.

 

"Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff scarred me for life

Mr. Wonderful: The bendie 

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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Growing up in the 80's I had most of the LJN WWF wrestling figures.  They were not dolls!  I would come up with dream matches all the time as I clunked the big rubber wrestlers around the ring.  After the first couple of rounds of the larger figures, LJN introduced us to smaller, bendable Superstars.

I didn't have nearly as many of these, but I did have was "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff.   One Saturday night I was bored and laying in bed watching "The 3 Stooges" on KPLR (St. Louis readers know what I'm talking about).  I was about 13 at the time, old enough to know what I was about to do was stupid...

In one hand I had the Mr. Wonderful figure.  The other hand a pocket knife.  I proceed to cut down Orndorff's spine with the blade.  To this day, I don't know what possessed me to do this.  But what happened next is even more mind boggling.  With the knife stuck in his back, I rammed Mr. Wonderful into the wall.  When I did, the blade folded down and sunk into my right index finger.

You can kinda see the scar in this 

I immediately dropped the weapon and my victimized wrestling figure. I ran into the bathroom in an attempt to clean up the blood.  After a few minutes of pressure, my parents determined I did not need stitches.  I can still remember trying to explain what had happened and why I did it.  

Some 30 years later I still have the scar on my finger.  It's not a badge of honor like most scars.  Instead I view it as a moment of stupidity in my teenage life.  Moral of the story: don't play with knives, the experience isn't "wonderful."  

Kudos to Michael Cole

Cole keeps his cool
WWE Raw

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

It's Tuesday afternoon and I am finally getting a chance to watch the September 10th edition of Monday Night Raw.  The latest update from WWE is that Jerry "the King" Lawler remains in stable condition after suffering a heart attack during the live broadcast.

Michael Cole remained calm, cool, and collected throughout the ordeal.  My hat is off to him for his strength during the situation.  Of course on camera Cole and the King are rivals at the broadcast table and in the ring, but in real life the two are friends.  They're a team and have a partnership that has now endured the unthinkable.

I've been a huge critic of Cole's but the way he conducted himself Monday night should be commended.  He fought back the emotions to help the viewers at home feel more at ease.  No one knew for sure what was happening, as I'm sure Cole was in the same boat, only getting information over his headset.

You never know what's going to happen on live television, especially in the world of wrestling.  Thank you Michael Cole for showing strength and courage.  Thank you to the other WWE superstars, referees, announcers, and other staff for continuing on with the show.  When a friend and colleague goes down in front of your eyes, it's not easy to carry on in front of thousands of fans in attendance and millions more watching at home.  And finally, get well soon King.  We want to see you back on Raw when you're back on your feet again.