Centmas Vacation

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By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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"Shitter's full!" It's an iconic line from my favorite Christmas movie of all time, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.  Since the holiday season is upon us, I decided to add a design to the My 1-2-3 Cents store on Pro Wrestling Tees. Thanks to my brother Jason for helping create it, based on the poster from the movie.

One thing I will be doing this year with this particular shirt, since it is Christmas themed, is donating a portion of the proceeds from each one sold to the Ugly Christmas Suit Guys fundraiser. This year, Tom Harness and I are teaming up again to raise $5,000 for the Honor Wreaths for Veterans program. You can learn more about what that is here.

Please consider making a purchase and showing off Mondo Griswold in a shocking scene. And remember a portion of the money you spend is being donated to a worthwhile cause not just here in southern Illinois but around the country. Some of the money raised locally is going to be used for wreaths to be put on graves at Arlington National Cemetery too. 

As always, thanks for the support. It's greatly appreciated on so many levels.

Will Wraith rise again?

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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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.

 

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Former champions set to collide

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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When Stride Pro Wrestling hosts its first show at its new location (1130 N. Division St. in Carterville, IL), a first-time matchup will happen. At least a first for Stride. Ax Allwardt will battle Tony Flood. The two have never met in singles competition here in Stride and this contest promises to be a highly competitive one.

I say that for a number of reasons. The winner of this contest will be named number one contender to the Stride Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Title. Each man has held that championship before and lay special claims to it. Ax remains Stride's longest reigning champ (he's also the first) and Tony held the belt on two separate occasions (Jay Spade and Heath Hatton are also in that class). 

Credit: John Cramner and Dewayne Daniels

Ax and Tony competed in a fatal four-way match against Frank Wyatt and Hatton at the first Stride show in March 2016 to crown the first champ. As mentioned, Ax won that battle and went on to have several successful defenses including against Hatton, Farmer Billy Hills and Chris Hargas. Since losing the belt, he's become Stride's first (and I believe only) three-time tag team champion. 

Courtesy: Steve Belcher

Flood meanwhile has held the Legacy Championship twice in addition to his two reigns as Heavyweight Champion. He's had highly competitive defenses as well, taking on the likes of Hargas, Jerry Travelstead and Spade.  

In addition to their talent in the ring and on the mic, both men are tougher than a two dollar steak. We saw that toughness when Flood split his head open last month on a ladder during his match against T-Dog. Ax has shown us he's afraid of no man and has delivered countless piledrivers on anyone who has crossed him, including referees.

Be sure to join us this Saturday night (Nov. 10) at 6:30 p.m. The Stride Pro Wrestling Arena is located at 1130 N. Division St. in Carterville. Google it if you can't find us! 

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AUDIO: 'Lucha Royalty' Taya Valkyrie

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By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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It's been a crazy week and this one is no less hectic. So I pulled some audio from 'Lucha Royalty' Taya Valkyrie's interview on the Impact Wrestling media podcast. She talks about her career both in Impact as well as Lucha Underground. The discussion also goes toward Valkyrie's husband, Impact Wrestling Champion Johnny Impact. 

You can listen here. And be sure to tune in next week for the first installment of 'That Didn't Age Well.' 

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Home sweet home

Stride's new home
1130 N. Divsion St.
Carterville, IL

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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I've documented the issues Stride Pro Wrestling has had with having a home base for nearly a year now. The company was born in March 2016 with a spot inside the Illinois Star Centre Mall. People who live in southern Illinois know the struggle that building has had for years and in December 2017 our last show was held in the facility.

However, the mall management allowed the Stride School to stay open and wrestlers were able to continue their training there. But we had to find other spots to host shows as we waited eagerly for the mall to fulfill promises made about being able to hold pro wrestling events again. Eleven months later nothing changed and it was time to find a new home for Stride Pro Wrestling.

That's where Kevin and Lori Jones came into the story. The couple owns a building at 1130 N. Division Street in Carterville. It is the perfect place to have wrestling shows and continue with the training facility. I'm excited to see how the fans respond to our new location. 

Our first show in the new Stride Pro Wrestling Arena is set for Saturday, Nov. 10. Bell time is 6:30 p.m. Please come out and support the hard work and effort that has gone into finding a new place. Thanks to everyone who has been there for Stride through the years.

Hargas gets a shot

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Chris Hargas turned his back on the fans of Stride Pro Wrestling a couple months ago and aligned with manager J. Wellington Beauregard. While I don't typically endorse wrestlers lying and cheating; I must admit Hargas has become a hot commodity in Stride.

It was just last month he earned a championship match against Heath Hatton (along with Ax Allwardt in a fatal three-way). Hatton won the match by pinning his tag team partner. So Beauregard has petitioned General Manager Sam Hunter for another title opportunity. It's happening Saturday, Nov. 10. Hargas will go one on one with Hatton for the title.

Hargas and Hatton have a rich history against each other. They've wrestled against each other not only in Stride but in other wrestling companies in the midwest. Both men will, as always, bring 100% into this match. Hatton wants to hold onto his title while Hargas is hungry to once again have gold in Stride. J. Wells may play a huge factor in this contest. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

You can witness the action in the Stride Pro Wrestling Arena. It's located at 1130 N. Division Street in Carterville. Bell time is 6:30 p.m. 

 

VIDEO: Matches announced for the 'SHOULD have' tournament

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Twenty-three names were submitted for the My 1-2-3 Cents 'Who SHOULD Have Been WWE Champion' tournament. The top eight made it into the tournament and I did a Facebook live announcing the participants and the matches. You will be able to vote via Facebook every day until a winner is crowned. See the announcement here. 

By the way, a few names that didn't make it in the submission list that I would like to add include Kerry Von Erich, Paul Orndorff and John Morrison. Remember vote in the tournament each day but you have to submit via the poll on Facebook to make it count.

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