Freelance Underground returns to Joliet roots
By Mike Pankow
November 17, 2019
With its roots based in Joliet some years ago, Freelance Underground put on a top-notch show late last month at the Cantigny VFW.
With Freelance Underground putting its toes back in the water in the Southwest Suburb, Joliet could become a hotbed for local professional wrestling again. Rocket Pro Wrestling has been running shows at St. Joseph Park on Theodore and Raynor for the last several months and is gaining traction as well.
Joliet was dormant for a couple of years since the closing of Pro Wrestling Blitz.
GPA scores the pinfall on Egotistico Fantastico (while Fantastico has Isaias Velazquez in the surfboard) to retain the Freelance Underground Championship in the main event of FU’s show in Joliet on Oct. 26. (Photo by Mike Pankow)
FU, like its sister promotion, Freelance Wrestling, is known for showcasing a lot of top local talent while giving young wrestlers an opportunity to shine.
On Oct. 26, FU’s “Wrestling: It’s What You Crave” delivered solid action from bell-to-bell at its all-ages show at the VFW with a creative finish in the main event that saw GPA successfully retain the FU Championship in a four-way match against Egotistico Fantastico, Isaias Velazquez and Gringo Loco.
In a bout that featured aerial spots from Fantastico and Loco and the usual solid work from Velazquez, GPA proved that cunning and smarts can win out. The man billed from “The Ivy League” scored the pinfall on Fantastico while he had Velazquez in the surfboard. As Ego went for the submission, GPA slid in and recorded the victory.
Fantastico was upset with the champion and demanded a one-on-one match with GPA, but the crafty titleholder declined. GPA already has business with the returning Kylie Rae at FU’s next show in Itasca on Dec. 14.
Kylie Rae, right, dives to make a tag to her partner Laynie Luck during the women’s tag team match. (Photo by Mike Pankow)
Speaking of Kylie Rae, she teamed with Laynie Luck to defeat Elayna Black and Hyan in a women’s tag team match. Early in the match, Black showed Kylie Rae a tarot card of “death” and freaked out the popular local superstar. The heels worked over Kylie Rae for several minutes before she was able to get a hot tag to Luck. It was a spirited ending as Kylie hit a superkick, followed by Luck’s cutter off the top rope, to secure the pin on Hyan, a Houston native who has relocated to the Chicago area.
In an amazing match that went all over the ringside area, Pat Monix (aka Project M.O.N.I.X.) retained the FU Independent Championship over Joe Alonzo. In the weeks leading up to the event, Alonzo and Monix traded barbs with some outstanding promo videos on social media, creating a lot of excitement and tension between the young upstarts.
Pat Monix (Photo by Mike Pankow)
Monix claimed the victory with a double stomp. After the match, it seemed like the rivals had a moment of respect for the other, reminiscent of Monix’s feud with Simon Grimm in Zelo Pro, which concluded earlier this year.
In the opening match, Jesus Bryce defeated old rival Joey Marx after hitting his finisher. Then in a Freelance staple, Danger Mask won a six-man scramble match by outlasting Matt Knicks, Kenny Sutra, Ashtyn Braven, Roy “Flash” Gordon and Craven in a bout that included plenty of high flying.
In a tag team match, the Brothers of Funstruction (Ruffo and Yabo) defeated Cody Jones and Barry Ryte (accompanied by “Sriracha Muchacha” Paloma Starr). The clowns performed plenty of circus tricks, including attacks with balloons and popcorn before securing the victory.
In the semi-main event, the hard-hitting Tony Nas put down “The Green Kid” Storm Grayson. Grayson, who has recovered from an arm injury earlier the year, hit some aerial moves, including a flying elbow before Nas pulled out the victory.
In a pre-show tag team match, young up-and-comer Davey Bang and Shawn Gallaway defeated “One Man Dynasty” Darius Latrell, a former Division I basketball player at UIC, and Hunk Kasady when Bang scored the pin on Kasady.
FU is hoping to make Joliet a regular stop again in 2020 and the crowd at the VFW, which endured a downpour outside for most of the day, was very receptive.
For a gallery from this show with over 100 photos, plus photos from other events Windy City Slam has covered, go to http://windycityslam.com/photos.
Catch Windy City Slam editor Mike Pankow talking local and national pro wrestling every other week on The Broadcast Basement, available wherever you download podcasts or at https://broadcastbasement.podbean.com/.
