Saint Louis Wrestling

Brandon Espinosa is #329 in the 2011 Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500 ranking.  The TV Champion is not satisfied.  Espinosa is regularly heralded as one of the best grapplers in the Midwest.  The TV Champion is not satisfied.  Espy has captured almost every MMWA championship there is to capture.

Yet, the TV Champion is still unsatisfied.  There lies the issue: he doesn’t have the MO/IL Heavyweight Championship, currently held by Gary Jackson.

After defeating Dave Vaughn for the TV Title two months ago (with a subsequent defense against a game Ace Hawkins), “Thee” Brandon Espinosa feels a match with Jackson is the logical next step.

Over the past several weeks, Brandon has taken to blowing up the MMWA’s Facebook page with brash declarations:

I’ve defeated ROH and TNA stars Jimmy Jacobs, El Generico, Jay Lethal, a 500-pound monster known as Mississippi Madman.  I’ve ended the career of A.J. Williams, hold four championships, and have become tomorrow’s superstar… I have held every MMWA singles championship (except one).  I am demanding a heavyweight championship match against Gary Jackson.  I’m not wrestling until I get Gary Jackson!

Executive Producer Tim Miller responded with agreement for Espinosa’s wish and stated that title shots for the next several months are being scheduled.  Miller did not explicitly grant Espinosa a title shot.

Gary Jackson has been the MO/IL Heavyweight Champion since December 4th and has defended against The Big Texan, Mark Sterling and Sean Vincent.

South Broadway hosts “MMWA Christmas in July” this Saturday night.  However, Johnny Courageous may not be sleeping on his queen mattress with visions of sugar plums in his dreams.

The holder of both the MO/IL Junior Heavyweight and Battle Royal Championships, Courageous will defend both on Saturday.

The Junior Heavyweight challenger is a newcomer to the St. Louis area, Bill Murray.  We hear that Murray has moved to the area from Louisiana to diversify his wrestling repertoire.  A victory for the title would be outstanding.

The battle royal will be a crazy match.  The Battle Royal title changes hands just about every time it is defended.

The new TV Champion Brandon Espinosa will be in action.  Although it took a low blow on Dave Vaughn to win that title last month, the match was a classic.  Now, Espy sets his sights on collecting all the belts.

There will be a raffle with big prizes, including St. Louis Cardinals tickets, wrestling tickets and merchandise.  Also, rumor has it Santa Claus will be in the house.

“The War Machine” will come tearing through St. Louis Saturday.  Former NWA Heavyweight Champion Rhino will meet Mark Sterling in the main event.  Sterling won the drawing for the right last month.

The “Kansas City Killer” Sterling has been studying videos of Rhino, surely to acquaint himself with the Gore, Rhino’s explosive spear.  Sterling has been conditioning five days a week to beat this national star.

The now-independent Rhino has been going around the country, demolishing top stars in each region.  Sterling, the #1 Heavyweight Contender in the unified rankings, is hungry to grab that national spotlight and shine it on himself.

Also on the card, Gary Jackson defends the MO/IL Heavyweight Championship against the returning Phil E. Blunt.  Blunt challenged “Gorgeous” Gary last month, reminding Jackson that Blunt was never pinned to lose his title.

Finally, young Dave Vaughn puts his TV Championship on the line against “Thee” Brandon Espinosa.  This should be a grappling masterpiece (but if Espy has his way, look out for a knockout punch).

SICW has ceased its working relationship with me, its former announcer and webmaster.  As a result, this is no longer the official web site of Southern Illinois Championship Wrestling.  There is no official web site for SICW.

The implications are that SICW events will no longer be featured on St. Louis Wrestling in HD (on YouTube) and SICW events will not be promoted on the front page.  This is not my choice.

My baby is St. Louis Wrestling in HD.  The production value on the local level is unmatched.  The YouTube channel “StLouisWrestling” is the most viewed indy wrestling channel in the Midwest.  There are reasons for it: good wrestling and good production.

For the sake of continuity, the schedule, rankings and results will still be updated.  At this time, nothing has changed regarding the MMWA.

I wish SICW good luck with their new TV and event formula.  I send out a big thank you to Herb Simmons and Larry Matysik, who mentored me and gave me my first gig as a ring announcer.

This Friday at 8pm, meet Dory Funk Jr. at the East Carondelet Community Center.  The former heavyweight champion of the world will be signing autographs and taking photos with fans.

You can be a part of this great opportunity for $20.  A ticket to this meet-and-greet will also admit you to the following night of action at the Community Center.

On Saturday, Dory Funk Jr. will team with Danny Boy Hawkins and Gary Jackson to take on Ron Powers, Sean Vincent and Kevin X in the most anticipated six man tag in SICW history.

Hawkins’ and Powers’ relationship has ended and with Vincent as Powers’ new “lackey,” you know we will see an explosion.  As well, Gary Jackson and Kevin X still have not determined the superior man in their series.

Also on the card, see Dave Vaughn vs. The Big Texan, Chaz Wesson vs. Waco, Tony Raze vs. LaMarcus Clinton, plus Bobby D vs. Luke Spencer, the champion of the Funking Conservatory.

The tag team champions, Abe and Gabe, return tonight to action at the South Broadway Athletic Club.  The brothers have been absent from the MMWA since January due to an illness in the family.

The boys are ready to take on all comers.  Abe (pictured left) sent an email with a warning for the roster:

“We talked to (promoter Tony) Casta this week.  Let them know… the “bulls of the woods,” the “mountain wreckin’ machines” will be back!”

Upon returning, the Lumberjacks’ inactivity will end and they will be reinstated on the rankings page.

On Saturday night, listen closely.  When you hear the electric chainsaws revving from Jackyl’s “The Lumberjack,” you know the LJ’s are on their way.

SICW is at Belle Clair Fairgrounds Park tonight for the first wrestling card there in about 25 years.  The main event will be Ron Powers and his new supporter, Sean Vincent, taking on Danny Boy Hawkins and “Cowboy” Bob Orton.

Orton is not just another special guest for this match.  In March, Bob Orton was the man who suggested that Hawkins’ match against Powers be stopped for fear of injury to Danny Boy.

The match was stopped and Powers was declared the Classic Wrestling Champion.

Redemption is on the mind of Danny Boy, who holds no grudge against Orton for looking out for his health. To learn more about health and surgery, visit Matthew Galumbeck, MD at http://www.vahealthprovider.com

Don’t miss this exciting night of wrestling for only $10.

Last month, Ron Powers stopped Danny Boy Hawkins to become the second Classic Wrestling Champion.  The match was a beating.  On advisement from “Cowboy” Bob Orton, referee Keith Smith Jr. called a halt to the bout.

You see, Powers just wouldn’t pin his former friend to end it.  The punishment didn’t stop.  It even spilled outside the ring and toppled the announce table.

This Saturday, SICW returns to East Carondelet.  Ron Powers’ first challenger will be “The Icon” Chris Hargas.  Powers said he is the “king of the mountain.”  It will be difficult to knock the 280 lb legend off of it.

For only $8 at the door, come see St. Louis Wrestling at the SBAC.  Gary Jackson is down to his last line of defense: the MO/IL Heavyweight Championship.  Whether he defends it remains to be seen.

Johnny Courageous is the new Junior Heavyweight Champ.  He will be there as well as #1 contender Ace Hawkins and many more.

TV Champ Dave Vaughn is out for blood after he knocked the title off Jackson last month.  See the match above plus words from Gary Jackson.  Will this match be made?

All Danny Boy Hawkins wanted to do was share the spotlight with his good friend, Ron Powers.  Powers doesn’t share.  The Classic Wrestling Championship is on the line as Danny Boy fights #1 heavyweight contender Ron Powers.

Since Powers’ attack on Hawkins last month, the big man has become obsessed with the Classic title.  He even sent a letter to MWR’s Brian Kelley addressing Danny and Executive Director Herb Simmons:

To whom it may concern,
If you are pregnant, weak at heart, cry easily, or faint at the sight of pure physical torture, do not go to East Carondelet this Saturday night. Danny, I’m glad to see your confidence is intact, because this is the only way I can get you in the ring, and that confidence will dissipate quickly once we lock up. Here is a training tip: practice falling down. The past is the past. I will punish you beyond belief. Please ask your mother, Julie and the girls to stay home. They don’t need the trauma. Herb, this is just the beginning of the end for you. I will run through everyone in your dressing room quicker than you can get more wrestlers on speed dial. After Saturday, Herb, I will be your champion. Southern Illinois will bow, and there is NOTHING you can do about it.

Sincerely Yours,
Ron Powers

Powers still does not have a motive for his betrayal other than greed and jealousy.  He even goes as far as to threaten his promoter.  Hawkins has to win and stop this out-of-control Powers.

Unfortunately, this has turned into a vendetta.  Fortunately, it will be fun to watch.