Wraith to haunt a former WWE Superstar this weekend

Wraith vs. Ellsworth 

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Stride Pro Wrestling returns to Mt. Vernon this Saturday (April 14) for a fundraiser show. We're helping the YouthBuild program of Marion and Jefferson Counties. The show is at Roadhouse Harley Davidson and will be Stride's first outdoor event (weather permitting, otherwise will go inside). 

Wraith stalks Farmer
Courtesy: Tom Harness

Former WWE Superstar James Ellsworth is coming in for this fundraiser and has been granted a championship match against Wraith. He picked up the Legacy Championship on our March 3 show. You may remember Wraith also won the Stride Cup that evening. He recently defended the title against 'Farmer' Billy Hills but used his sidekick Ryzer in assaulting the big man from Mudlick, Kentucky. Those tactics earned Wraith a disqualification and angered General Manager Sam Hunter to the point that he made the match between Ellsworth and Wraith.

Carmella & Ellsworth
Courtesy: WWE

We know Ellsworth gained fame in WWE after losing a match to Braun Strowman during Strowman's push after being separated from the Wyatt Family. Something about Ellsworth resonated with fans and he became more popular (initially) than Strowman (I truly believe that statement). I loved the work Ellsworth went on to do on SmackDown Live, playing the lovesick "boyfriend" of Carmella. The act lasted as long as it could and WWE released Ellsworth.

I wouldn't feel bad for him though because that opportunity has given new life to Ellsworth on the indy scene. He's making his own decisions and working for companies when he wants. That's how he's arrived at Stride Pro Wrestling. It'll be interesting to see how Ellsworth holds up against Wraith, who is not only a ghost but a big one at that. We've seen Ellsworth defy the odds and take it to men much bigger, stronger and better than him. He does have two hands, but does he have a chance against Wraith? And what role will Ryzer player that night? And don't forget Chase King who was apparently recruited to join the ghoulish gang. 

The meet & greet with Ellsworth begins at 4:30. Contact Jamie Woodworth Myers for more info on this show and how you can get your tickets.

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Stride Pro Wrestling gets chaotic

Lane Austin and me

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Wow, what a night. I still have that 'wrestling buzz' this morning as I write this blog post. Saturday night was an absolute thrill and for a number of reasons. The biggest being that so many people came together for a common cause, to help our friend Lane Austin. The benefit show in his honor was a huge success with fans, wrestlers and just folks from the community coming out to support Lane and indy wrestling. 

We're on the road to Stride Goes Steel in the Ville on May 26. It's an all steel cage show in Pinckneyville on May 26. It's a fundraiser for Pinckneyville High School. So mark your calendars now.

The new DR Party?

The DR Party got mocked early in the night by Stride Pro Wrestling tag team champions Ax Allwardt, Heath Hatton, Barry Karafa from CCW, Redneck Mania and the great Lane Austin himself. That all lead to a tag team title rematch later in the night between Ax and Heath and Dexter Roswell and Scott Phoenix. The champs won by disqualification in a match that was high paced and very intense. I honestly thought Hatton broke Dexter in half with a spear. It was a great match, to say the least. After the DQ nearly every wrestler on the roster showed up in pairs, taking out the two in the ring before them. That all ended with Ace Hawkins flying high and performing a waterfall splash on most of the guys outside the ring. 

New champ

Tony Flood finally fulfilled his destiny but cheated to win the Stride Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Title. After the ref got knocked down, Flood clocked Spade with a metal pipe and slapped another Sharpshooter on the champ. Despite protests from some of the other good guys in the locker room who came out to help Spade, it looks like the decision will stand.

Wraith
Photo courtesy: Tom Harness

Farmer Billy Hills was assaulted by Wraith and Ryzer as the Farmer challenged for the Legacy Championship. In the end, Wraith was disqualified. Arron Brooks had a good outing with Ryzer earlier in the show, with the rookie Ryzer getting an impressive win. Jason Tiller made his debut against Jose Magnifico. And Bo Sawyer was on the losing effort against Hawkins. Brooks ended up distracting the Midwest Monster Hunter in that match.

Chairshot!
Photo courtesy: Tom Harness

Things got personal between me and Roger Matheus again. He shoved me out of my chair during his match against the returning Cash Borden. This is the third or fourth time Roger has put his hands on me and I had enough. So before he could assault Cash, I took the chair and nailed him in the head with it. It honestly felt good to give this bully a taste of his own medicine, but I fear I've awoken an even more dangerous monster. This Saturday night, I've now been assigned to be the special guest referee between Matheus and Cash at our show in Mt. Vernon. 

That event will also feature Wraith vs. James Ellsworth (yes, that James Ellsworth). More matches will be announced this week. The show is a fundraiser for YouthBuild and is being held at Roadhouse Harley Davidson in Mt. Vernon. Check out Stride's social media for tickets. 

                                   

A 'shocking' new auction to help Lane Austin

You could soon own this figure

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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A couple of months ago I held a contest on the My 1-2-3 Cents YouTube channel to increase the subscriber base. Anyone who subscribed was entered to win the WWE Elite Shockmaster action figure. My buddy Chad Smart (of Positive Cynicism) picked it up at Comic-Con a couple years ago. Long story short, an old friend and former colleague of mine, Michael Roth won the prize. 

However, Michael has donated the Shockmaster figure back to the My 1-2-3 Cents prize vault. With the Stride Pro Wrestling Lane Austin Benefit Show happening tonight (Saturday, April 7 if you're reading this after the fact), we've come up with a new way for people who can't be at the show to donate. 

When you make a $5 donation via PayPal you will not only be helping Lane, but you'll also have the opportunity to own the Shockmaster figure. On Monday, April 16 all those donors will be put into a randomizer and whoever is picked will receive the action figure. So if you want to be involved, make that donation via PayPal to kevinhunsperger@gmail.com. Every penny donated will go to help with Lane Austin's medical expenses. 

Lane Austin and me at a Stride Pro Wrestling show
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

For those who haven't seen the previous posts, Lane is Stride Pro Wrestling's senior referee and has been hospitalized recently due to complications from type 1 diabetes. His medical bills are mounting as he faces treatment three days a week for several hours at a time. That's also limited his availability to work. So let's come together and help a great guy. 

Wrestling auctions coming to Stride Pro Wrestling

Items you can bid on Saturday night

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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In yesterday's blog post, I talked about the upcoming benefit shows Stride Pro Wrestling is a part of. On Saturday night, we're coming together for referee Lane Austin. In addition to the great wrestling action and delicious food that will be on sale, several Stride wrestlers are donating items for a handful of silent auctions.

The DR Party
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

Cash Borden is donating some ring gear. El Magnifico is donating autographed items from the Honky Tonk Man and Road Warrior Animal as well as one of his famous lucha masks. The DR Party and their manager J. Wellington Beauregard are throwing in an autographed tie, clipboard and one of Scott Phoenix's hairbands. 

Autographed Test action figure

Our friends at Podzilla 1985 are donating a PWU t-shirt. Cape Championship Wrestling is giving away tickets to their Supershow later this month. There will be other tees, action figures and other pro wrestling memorabilia up for grabs. Please bring some extra cash to the show to support Lane as he faces mounting medical bills after being hospitalized recently. 

Don't forget, we're at the Carterville Community Center. Bell time is 7 p.m. Doors will open around 6:30 p.m. See you there. 

The benefits of indy wrestling

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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I've talked before about the fact that pro wrestling loves to give back. We've seen it on the national stage with WWE and their partnerships with the Susan G. Komen For the Cure, Make a Wish and Special Olympics. But that's a multimillion dollar company. Smaller indy companies are also quite generous.

Horn tooting time as I am working with Stride Pro Wrestling on several upcoming benefit shows. In fact, we're partnering with IWA-Productions for an event Friday night (April 6) in Ina. That show is a fundraiser for Spring Garden Middle School. The next night, we're gearing up to raise money for our favorite referee Lane Austin. That show is at 7 p.m. at Carterville Community Center. Lane is dealing with complications from Type 1 Diabetes and the money raised will go toward his medical bills.

A week later, on Saturday, April 14 Stride Pro Wrestling heads to Mt. Vernon. Roadhouse Harley Davidson hosts this fundraiser which is for YouthBuild, a program that helps students in Jefferson and Marion Counties of southern Illinois. James Ellsworth will be the special guest that night and will be wrestling. So far though, an opponent has not been named.

May 5 is Cinco de Mayo and we're having festivities of our own. Stride's best and brightest will be in the ring to support a Marion youth softball team. The location for that show is to be determined. Later in the month, Saturday, May 26, it's Stride Goes Steel in the 'Ville as each match will be held inside a steel cage. That show is at Pinckneyville High School and is a fundraiser for the football team and the education foundation. Matches have not been announced yet, but that evening will be a HUGE one for Stride. It's Memorial Day weekend, so mark your calendar now.

Plenty more events are planned for the summer months. No official details are being released at this time, but stick around here and on the Stride Pro Wrestling social media pages. 

                                   

That's what friends are for

Spade flies high
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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It's funny what a little bit of gold and the prestige of being called "champ" can do to a relationship. Stride Pro Wrestling Champion Jay Spade and Tony Flood spent their formative years together in Christopher, Illinois. The two met in sixth grade and bonded over their love for professional wrestling. A few years later the two broke into the business together.

They were partners and opponents in those early days. The two then went their own ways working for different companies around southern Illinois. In 2016, they both ended up on the Stride Pro Wrestling roster. Spade was involved in tag team competition with Josh Totten and reunited later with Joey O'Riley. Flood pursued the Legacy Champion and won it twice. 

Flood slams Spade
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

In February, Flood won the Stride Rumble and became the number one contender to Spade's Heavyweight Championship. The two battled it out in the very school they met. Spade picked up the win much to the delight of the hundreds of fans in attendance. A week later, they picked tag team partners for their war. Flood and Wraith beat Spade and Farmer Billy Hills that night, ensuring Flood gets a rematch.

So that brings us to this Saturday night. April 7 at the Lane Austin Benefit Show it'll be a rematch for the Stride Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Title. Spade defends against Flood. May the best man win. See you at the Carterville Community Center. 

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WWFools Day

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Since it's April Fool's Day, I figured I'd take some time to honor some of my favorite 'fools' from the world of pro wrestling. I don't mean anything negative with the term fool here. Instead, these guys added some fun for fans and created memorable moments along the way. 

Doink
Courtesy: WWE

Doink the Clown is one of my favorite gimmicks in all of wrestling. When Matt Borne arrived in the WWF in late 1992 as the evil clown, I was impressed. I loved the way he was portrayed. The ending to his match with Crush at WrestleMania 9 is one of my favorite memories of that show. I know from a marketing perspective it made sense to turn Doink good and add Dink and new merchandise opportunities. But I wish they would have kept him evil.  

Colt Cabana
Courtesy: ROH

Colt Cabana is someone I've had to the pleasure of meeting and actually talking with backstage at shows. He gets the 'comedy' style and does a great job getting fans invested in his matches. Not everyone can pull off comedy in the world of entertainment or in the ring. But Colt is one of the best. Plus he has done a great job creating a brand.

Ole!
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

Jose Magnifico is the most fun-loving wrestler on the Stride Pro Wrestling roster. He hails from Mexico... Missouri and weighs in at 123 two-pound burritos. He comes to the ring with his trademark sombrero and pinata. The fans love him, especially when he whacks an opponent with that pinata and candy starts flying. I've had a chance to do the Mexican Hat Dance in the ring with Magnifico. He really knows how to get the crowd going.

Who are your favorite fools of the ring?

 

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