The Cock and Sock Connection

Socko meets cocko
OTT Wrestling 

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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I'm sure the headline for this blog isn't original, but I hadn't seen it when I thought of it and it seemed like a no brainer. I polled (pun intended) some of my fellow wrestling fan friends and asked if it was too over the top. I am mildly concerned it may offend some, but I've decided if the core audience I'm aiming for isn't offended, then we'll move forward. If you are offended, skip the rest of this and check in again tomorrow.

It seems that the Wrestling Internet Community has been buzzing from a weekend video of Mick Foley and Socko going up against Joey Ryan and his well... penis. Ryan is well known on the indy scene for having the most powerful penis in the world. It was nearly two years ago that he got into a test of strength against a Japanese wrestler and Ryan was able to use his junk to overpower his foe. Since then it's been a staple in a Joey Ryan match. 

But like most things in wrestling, the move draws criticism from some fans and folks in the industry. It's safe to say Jim Cornette is the biggest opponent of the spot (and many other moves done by indy guys in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Chikara Pro and other companies of the sort). Anyway, back to the Foley portion of this, it happened in after a match and Foley along with Mr. Socko tried to beat the King of Dong Style. But Ryan's penis prevailed and Foley ended up getting flipped like many of Ryan's opponents have.

Foley & Cornette

Cornette tweeted after seeing the spot, "I love @RealMikeFoley, sad to see a real star stooping to give credibility to an asswipe nobody like this. Sorry, have to tell the truth." 

A meme from Foley's page

Foley fired back, "So last night in Dublin, there was an incident involving a case of mistaken identity, and a leapfrog that turned an innocent attempt at a mandible claw into something far, FAR more sinister! I know Joey Ryan's #DickFlip has divided the wrestling Community in a way we previously thought only John Cena or Roman Reigns could! It has become the #IWC equivalent of the Trump/Hillary election - ending friendships, even turning brother against brother...brother! Son against Daddy...daddy! It's quite possible Jim Cornette will never speak to me again after seeing this photo - a solid 28 year friendship over in a matter of seconds! So why, you may ask, would I participate in such a potentially divisive penile palming? The answer is simple - look at the smiles. JUST LOOK AT THE SMILES! There is a smile, literally on EVERY face! In the end, isn't that what it's all about? If applying the mandible claw to Joey Ryan's genitalia last night was wrong...I don't want to be right!

Please let me know how YOU feel about this gripping problem!
The #MickFoleyMemorabiliaAuction begins tomorrow at http://rainn.org with 100% of profits going to #RAINN"

Joey Ryan in Cape Championship Wrestling

Now for my 1-2-3 cents on the matter. Wrestling has always had a comical or cartoonish element to it. Jake Roberts covering an opponent with a snake, Brutus Beefcake cutting an opponent's hair and Dusty Rhodes trying to fool us as the Midnight Rider. I love Cornette and I respect his opinion, he's being a bit too harsh and critical of the men and women who are doing these comedy gimmicks. Wrestling is entertainment. There's room for the fun and the seriousness. I've been to a show where Ryan did the YouPorn Plex (Cape Championship Wrestling) and the crowd popped for it. My buddy (Tom Harness) has only been to a couple indy shows in his life and he still talks about Ryan's performance months later.

Joey Ryan in Cape Championship Wrestling
Courtesy: Tom Harness

So it's different strokes for different folks (again, pun intended). Cornette has the right to his opinion as do his supporters. And Ryan has the right to do a gimmick that has made him a more popular performer on the indy scene. I'd heard of him before this but would have never been able to pick him out of a lineup, so the publicity is more likely helping him and helping wrestling. Moves like this are not a detriment to the business. Let's agree to disagree and move along.

Why Farmer, why?

Farmer Billy Hills & JD Wilk

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Stride Pro Wrestling's Hot August Night 2 proved to be a great show. All three sets of champions were successful in their title defenses. Roger Matheus beat Cash Borden. Tony Flood pinned Johnny Blade and Maximum Overdrive beat Farmer Billy Hills and the returning JD Wilk. But it's what happened after that match that has people talking.

During the course of the match, the champs isolated Wilk. Even when he had a couple of chances to tag Farmer into the match, Wilk continued to battle Ax Allwardt and Scott Phoenix. In my 1-2-3 cents, he was excited to be back and wasn't trying to keep Farmer out of the match. However, Farmer viewed things differently.

The embrace

After a scolding, Farmer hugged Wilk and it appeared everything was cool. But then the big man from Mudlick shocked the crowd and attacked JD. He worked on his previously injured shoulder and left the Dream Chaser crumbled in the ring. Suddenly, Farmer's opponent last month, Matheus appeared. The two high fived one another and left the ring along with Sarah Summers.

Pow!

Farmer wrestles as a bad guy in Cape Girardeau. But the fans here in southern Illinois have always embraced him. I've known Farmer since our days in All American Pro Wrestling, which has been six years. I never thought I'd see him take a cheap shot against a friend. I'm curious to see what's next for Farmer and how this apparent relationship with Matheus is going to develop. Hopefully, we'll get some answers September 9.

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

Foreign Object Friday: Dexter Roswell's tie

Dexter Roswell in the house
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Since making his debut in Stride Pro Wrestling in December, Dexter Roswell has wrestled every match in dress pants, a dress shirt and tie. It's reminiscent of IRS in the early 90s in WWF. While Roswell and his fellow DR Party members have used some dirty tactics in the past (ie. the campaign sign), I'd never seen Roswell use his tie as a weapon.

Choking out Cash Borden

That all changed at the most recent Stride show. During his match against Cash Borden, Roswell wrapped his tie around the neck of the Undead Outlaw. Referee Lane Austin was distracted by Roswell's new manager, J. Wellington Beauregard at the time so that perhaps explains these new actions. I'm also assuming J. Wells and his other charges, Ax Allwardt and Scott Phoenix encouraged these actions prior to the match.

While I don't condone the breaking of the rules, I have wondered for seven months when the man who wants to make Stride great again would use his ties as a weapon. Now I have to wonder if General Manager Sam Hunter will enforce a dress code for wrestlers to ensure no one is seriously injured by an opponent's wardrobe. 

Roswell in control
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

Will the tie come into play Saturday night? Roswell leads his supporters Nathan Brag and Brian Richards into battle against T-Dog Jerry Travelstead, Eugene Drip and Jose Magnifico. The action starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Illinois Star Centre Mall in Marion. 

Hatton & Spade: Good friends, better enemies

"This Saturday night, I plan to beat the crap out of my friend
@jchap087" - Heath Hatton's Instagram update

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Yes, I am stealing the title for this blog from In Your House 7: Good Friends, Better Enemies. You know the one, it was when Shawn Michaels defended the WWF Championship against Diesel in 1996. It all ended with "Mad Dog" Vachon's prosthetic leg being used as a weapon. The show was titled such because Michaels and Diesel had been friends through their years in the WWF, but put on some pretty good matches against each other too. The same can be said about Stride Pro Wrestling's Heath Hatton and Jay Spade.

Six man tag action
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

The two have been friends for as long as I can remember. They were both good guys in All-American Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Collison. Even in Stride, they've been allies. The two have been tag team partners and opponents (in a recent fatal four-way), but not one on one since 2011. They wrestled one time in IWAU. Hatton won that encounter.

Before the fatal four-way
Courtesy: Brittany Chapman

Six years and several companies and championships have passed and both men have improved their in-ring game. They're two of the most popular wrestlers in Stride. But each is hungry for the heavyweight championship. Hatton has had a taste of the gold and Spade wants to sink his teeth in his first singles title with Stride. There's no doubt each man will pull out all the stops to win this number one contenders' match Saturday night. Each earned the right to be in the match after tumbling to the floor at the end of the Rumble match last month.

Spade kicks Hatton
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

Before that Rumble match happened though the friendship hit an iceberg (see what I did there?) as the two lost a tag team title match to Maximum Overdrive. Hatton hit Spade with a couple of spears that would have broken a lesser man in half. The boil over is the result of miscommunication during the TLC match in which Hatton lost the title to Roger Matheus. Spade kicked the champ and put him through a table. There have been other miscues and mistakes since that show in May. 

This battle will no doubt be epic. It's something I've wanted to see for a long time. But when you factor in the number one contender spot as well, there will be no stopping either man. Join us Saturday night at the Illinois Star Centre Mall in Marion for this battle. Bell time is 6:30 p.m.

There's nothing sweet about Kandi Jewel

Kandi Jewel

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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There's been a renewed interest in women's wrestling on the national level. But long before Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch were wowing crowds on WWE programming, the ladies of the independent wrestling scene were tearing things up. 

At the show, Hot August Night 2 for Stride Pro Wrestling will see the debut of a new wrestler on the roster. Kandi Jewel comes in this Saturday night to face fan favorite Sarah Summers. Both women know each other well and have wrestled for companies around the region, including ICAW.

Kandi Jewel

That's where Kandi made her debut in 2011. She's also faced competitors in several other states, including Tennesee and Mississippi. I have never seen her in the ring, so I'm looking forward to Saturday night's match. Judging from her photos though, you can see despite the name Kandi, she's far from sweet.

Sarah takes to the sky
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

She'll need that tough exterior. Sarah Summers is far from a pushover. Fans have watched her battle other women here at Stride, including Alexxa Flood and Marni Gras. Summers even went toe to toe with the guys as she and Farmer Billy Hills entered a tag team fatal four-way a few months ago. Sarah climbed high that night and crashed into the other competitors on the floor, showing she's tougher than a two dollar steak (sorry JR, I had to borrow that).

So join us Saturday night and find out what kind of craziness might go down at the newcomer faces the veteran from Amazon Island. 

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.