Author: Ben Simon

By Ben Simon

MMWA Heavyweight Champion Brandon Espinosa, Battle Royal Champion Lynn Mephisto, Jimmy D, and Dave Osborne will meet Gary Jackson, Brian James, and The Lumberjacks in an elimination tag match on October 12.

It all started with a piledriver.

In August, Jackson and Mephisto battled to a wild no contest outside the ring.  The melee culminated when Gary piledrove Lynn onto a white plastic table.  See the carnage on our Facebook page.

Then on September 14, Mephisto showed up for a rematch in a neck brace and said he couldn’t compete.  Suddenly, Brandon Espinosa stormed the ring and attacked Jackson.  Mephisto landed a spike piledriver onto Gary and the “Gorgeous” one was immobilized in the ring.

Commissioner Tim Miller confronted the duo in a rage and made the elimination tag bout for October 12.  The four-on-four elimination tag team match will make history; it is the largest non-battle royal in South Broadway’s recorded history.

The starting handicap may be in favor of Mephisto and Espy’s team.  Gary Jackson was taken to the hospital last month after the piledriver.  Here is what we know:

Jackson told referee Jim Harris he could not feel his legs for several minutes.  He felt a tingling in his neck.  At the hospital, Gary learned he had suffered a stinger.  He is fully mobile.

Of course, Gary says he’s fine now but his opponents will certainly target his neck.  After all, the most dangerous move one man can execute on another in wrestling may be the spike piledriver.

Also on the card, Ace Hawkins hopes to celebrate his birthday with a win over the fastest rising rookie in the area, Da’Marius Jones.  Jones is coming off a surprise victory over Espinosa last month in a non-title match.

The following information is paraphrased from the WLW Facebook page.  Like it for updates.  The Saint Louis wrestling community is hoping for the best.

We can confirm that members of the WLW wrestling family were involved in a very serious head-on crash. Those involved were Jack Gamble (Fan Page), his wife Casey, their infant daughter Rylee, and David DeLorean.

They were returning from a wrestling event held in Saint Louis. They were struck outside Gerald, Mo. on Hwy 50.  The Missouri State Highway Patrol has not released the accident report due to the fatality of the driver that struck the Gambles. Until the report is released, we will only deal with facts.

As of 4 P.M. Sunday, July 14th, Rylee has been released to her extended family.  She sustained a small scratch.  The police officers, EMT’s, and doctors noted that she was secured in the infant seat that was properly attached in the back seat of the car.

David DeLorean has been released from observation and was encouraged to go home and be with his family. His condition can be best described as banged, battered, and bruised.

Jack has had the first of many surgeries that will be required to repair his fractures and broken bones.  He also has a concussion.  He is resting.

Casey is in critical condition.  She has sustained severe trauma, mainly on her left side.  She is heavily sedated and has been placed on a ventilator.  She is not on life support.  She was communicating with medical staff until the decision was made to sedate her.  Her medical team has a strategy mapped out, but it will take some time to address all the areas of concern.

The other car of the WLW family (Jon, Breanne, and Josh) were following the Gambles but were not involved in the accident. They stayed on scene and communicated with families and friends and aided in the investigation. They were urged by the families of the Gambles to go home and rest.

Harley Race, Jason, and other WLW staff members are at the hospital.  We would also like to thank Dynamo Pro Wrestling for their quick response in this time of need, along with all the wrestlers from the area that have stopped and offered their assistance.

By Patrick Brandmeyer

It was a long and winding road between title reigns for Brandon Espinosa.

He had held the Junior Heavyweight, Television, and Battle Royal Championships in the MMWA, but the “big belt” is the goal of any wrestler in a promotion. Winning the King of St. Louis Cable Tournament in October of 2011 paved the way for him to challenge for the Heavyweight Title…and he definitely helped his cause by defeating then-champion Gary Jackson in the final.

Many people expected him to cash in his opportunity at the earliest possible show…but he bided his time until he was ready. He suffered a disqualification loss to Jackson in December, but was granted a rematch in January 2012 and finally won the belt.

During that time period, Espinosa was branching out in his wrestling career. He had become a consistent competitor on the roster of Ohio Valley Wrestling and also won championships in other Midwest promotions. With his focus divided, one had to wonder if the MMWA Heavyweight Title was foremost on his mind.

After successful defenses against Ace Hawkins and LaMarcus Clinton, he needed help from bodyguard Eric Brewer to hang on against Gary Jackson in April. Espinosa lost the title back to Gary in May and disappeared from the St. Louis wrestling scene for most of the calendar year.

While Espinosa traveled all over the Midwest and made his name on the national scene, he felt like there was unfinished business on the home front. To finish the business, being financially stable is important and to do that, borrowing and financing from GAD capital is the answer. You can also try this for more information. When he made his surprise return to the South Broadway Athletic Club in December, he made his intentions clear: He wanted to regain his championship status.

He wasted no time in defeating Max Archer for the Junior Heavyweight Title, but another man had his eye on the Heavyweight Title: Espinosa’s former trainee Dave Osborne. Osborne had won the second annual King of St. Louis Cable Tournament and wanted the belt for himself.

Espinosa was sidetracked by another name for his past as A.J. Williams returned to the ring after a lengthy absence. The two renewed their rivalry with a thrilling twenty-minute time-limit draw in January, then Espy cost Williams his chance to win the TV Title in February against Jimmy D.

While this was going on, Osborne captured the Heavyweight belt from Jackson…meaning Espinosa had a new target.

Despite his issue with A.J., Espinosa’s primary goal never changed. When Osborne signed an open contract to defend his title at the June show, Espinosa was one of two men(along with Gary Jackson) to step up to the plate. Even after losing the Junior Heavyweight belt to A.J. earlier in the evening, Espy was ready to reclaim South Broadway’s top prize.

The chaotic nature of a triple threat match came into play as Osborne seemed to have the advantage over Jackson with a submission hold. However, Espinosa stunned him with a flying kick off the second rope and scored the pin, winning the Heavyweight Title once again!

Espinosa won’t have much time to rest on his laurels as the challengers will be lining up. Former titleholders Osborne and Jackson both want their shots. Old rivals like Ace Hawkins may have their eyes on the top spot. Will A.J. Williams be satisfied with the Junior Heavyweight Title or will he want to dethrone Espy once again? We’ll find out in due time…but for now, Brandon Espinosa is the top guy in the Mid-Missouri Wrestling Alliance!

By Ben Simon

You’ve seen the billboards, you’ve heard the radio spots.  You’re ready to attend the metro area’s biggest independent wrestling event in over a quarter-century.  This is a two-day event at Argosy Casino Alton.

On Friday, May 10th, KSDK’s Frank Cusumano will host a Q&A session with the legends.  They are: Harley Race, Baron Von Raschke, “Cowboy” Bob Orton, Gerry Brisco, Greg Valentine, and Larry Matysik.

On Saturday, May 11th, SICW will host the wrestling event.  The Classic Wrestling Championship is on the line as Ricky Cruz defends against Flash Flanagan.  Greg Valentine & Chaz Wesson take on Dave Vaughn & The Big Texan in a tag bout.  Also, Ron Powers will battle Bull Schmitt with Bob Orton as the guest referee.  Plus, four more matches!

The action starts at 7pm on both nights.

Go to ArgosyAlton.com or call 1-800-711-4263 to get your tickets now.  Because this is a casino, you must be at least 21 to attend the event and have a valid undamaged ID.

Southern Illinois Championship Wrestling and Argosy Casino Alton hope to make this a regular partnership.  Be a part of St. Louis wrestling history.

By Ben Simon

The historic South Broadway Athletic Club hosts a great card this Saturday April 6th, headlined by three major bouts.

The MMWA Heavyweight Championship will be on the line when Big Dave Osborne makes his first defense against Gary Jackson in a rematch of their bout on February 16th.

Even though Osborne won with his own skill and no underhanded tactics, he still must prove that he’s not a fluke.  Jackson is in an uncomfortable place as well; he’s not a champion.

Jackson’s leg injury is almost entirely healed now too.  The “Gorgeous One” must dodge Big Dave’s attacks to his right leg.  The match may depend on it.

Last month, it was “Pick Your Poison” for Junior Heavyweight Champion Brandon Espinosa and A.J. Williams.  Each man would choose the other’s opponent.  Espinosa demolished J-mal Swag, a debutant and protege of Williams’.

A.J. Williams defeated his opponent, a masked man named “Arachnia,” with a superkick.  However, Arachnia attacked Williams with a chair and revealed himself to be none other than Espy himself.

Brandon Espinosa dared acting Commissioner Tim Miller to suspend him.  Miller declined but made a match between the two for this Saturday for the junior heavy crown.  When Espy complained, Miller added that if Brandon doesn’t defend the title, he will be stripped of it.

Phil E. Blunt and Brian James will take on Jimmy D and The Big Texan on April 6th as well.  The Big Texan interfered multiple times to help Jimmy D steal a victory and retain his TV Championship last month against Blunt.  The tag match was made after Brian James saved Phil E. from a beat-down.

Not much is known of Blunt and James’ relationship.  However, Jimmy D and Texan have worked together before and are the likely favorites.

By Ben Simon

Jimmy D will defend his TV Championship this Saturday at the South Broadway Athletic Club against the returning Phil E. Blunt.

“Extreme Chaos” Jimmy D won the vacant TV Title last month against A.J. Williams.  Williams’ adversary, Brandon Espinosa, attacked A.J. and allowed Jimmy D to pick up the pinfall.

Usually a fan favorite, the manner of Jimmy D’s victory has lost him fans.  The former Bodily Harm member has expressed no regret for Espinosa’s involvement.  A win is a win.

“Wrestling’s Dope Man,” Blunt last competed 16 months ago in a match where (oddly) he teamed with Jimmy D against the Lumberjacks.  Despite the long layoff, Phil E. gets this shot as a gesture to his past merits.

Blunt was going to wrestle last month at Broadway, but the Missouri Office of Athletics said he didn’t complete the correct forms.  After speaking with the former champ yesterday, I can assure you, Blunt will be bringing his papers.

By Ben Simon

In his second title shot ever, Big Dave Osborne defeated “Gorgeous” Gary Jackson on February 16th to win the MMWA Heavyweight Championship.

The end came at the ten-minute mark when Osborne countered the Texas cloverleaf and rolled up Jackson.  After a 100% clean, fair-and-square pinfall victory, Dave Osborne is the champ in the most historic promotion in the region.

Osborne was sharply focused on the big match with Jackson, which was his redemption of the King of Cable Cup he won in September.  There was no yelling before or during the match by Big Dave.  It was just a wrestling match where the better man prevailed.

Gary Jackson went into the match with a leg injury sustained the week prior.  Gary limped but he insisted that his injury played no part in the outcome of the match.  His loss ended a nine-month title reign.

Osborne recently held the Battle Royal Championship, which is how he got his moniker: Mr. Over-the-Top.  He lost that title due to misinformation; he didn’t think it was on the line when it was.

Osborne debuted on January 15th, 2011 with a loss to Webmaster Stevie K.  Since then, he has cut a drastic amount of weight and improved his maneuvers through a strict training regimen.  Now, we have a dangerous man on our hands.

The South Broadway titles also got a new name after the card ended.  The MMWA Heavyweight and Junior Heavyweight Championships will be known as such; the “MO/IL” state affiliation has been dropped.

By Ben Simon

Gary Jackson had better walk carefully, in more ways than one.  The South Broadway heavyweight champ did not have a good weekend.  At a SICW card on February 9th, the champ challenged for Ricky Cruz’s Classic Wrestling Championship, seeking to become the first undisputed MO/IL Heavyweight Champion in over two years.

Gary got trapped in an Indian deathlock late in the match.  Jackson would not submit.  To inspire the crowd’s faith, he chose to recite his “rules” while in the hold.  After a minute on his belly, it was apparent that Jackson would not escape.

Rule Number One: I came out to win!…

-Gary Jackson

There was no “Two.”  Gary Jackson lay unconscious on his face.  He had passed out from the pain.  Jackson was helped out of the ring after the match.  He was unable to put significant weight on his legs.  As of writing Wednesday night, Gary confirmed he will be able to wrestle this weekend.

Enter Big Dave Osborne and Brandon Espinosa.  Osborne still retains his King of Cable trophy to cash in a title shot.  The junior heavyweight champ, Espy is gunning for “Gorgeous” Jackson, too.

The South Broadway Athletic Club hosts wrestling this Saturday, the 16th.  Regardless of his opponent, will Gary Jackson make it out in one piece?