Warrior Wrestling returns with Lucha Libre main event
By Mike Pankow
June 15, 2021
Lucha Libre was front and center during Warrior Wrestling’s return following an eight-month layoff.
Warrior returned to action for the first time in 2021 with the first of three outdoor shows as part of their Stadium Series from Dave Mattio Field at Marian Catholic High School in South suburban Chicago Heights on Saturday, June 5.
Arez, left, and Aramis, top right, battle with Chicago’s Gringo Loco during the eight-man War of Attrition to decide the first Warrior Wrestling Lucha Champion. (Photo by Mike Pankow)
The art of Lucha Libre had been an integral part of Warrior Wrestling shows for two years before the world encountered the coronavirus pandemic that slowed international travel, so Mexican Luchadors were few and far between at shows last summer and fall.
Promoter Steve Tortorello and right-hand man Eric Hamilton wanted to bring back Lucha Libre in a huge way in 2021, not only opening the doors for lucha talent, but highlighting them with a newly-created title, the Warrior Wrestling Lucha Championship.
Aramis emerged from the eight-man War of Attrition main event with the victory. Perhaps, Aramis’ previous experience in War of Attrition back at Warrior Wrestling 8 in Feb. 2020 may have helped him.
To start the match, teams were randomly chosen. In the first phase of the match, Aramis, Arez, Dragon Bane and Laredo Kid advanced past Gringo Loco, Golden Dragon, Canis Lupus and Black Taurus when Laredo Kid pinned Gringo Loco.
For the second phase, Laredo Kid chose Dragon Bane as his partner, but the duo of Aramis and Arez proved to be too much as Arez scored the fall on Dragon Bane.
In the final phase, Aramis and Arez went back and forth until the dynamic Aramis got the pinfall to become the first-ever Warrior Wrestling Lucha Champion. The remaining competitors from the match re-entered the ring to celebrate with Aramis and soak in appreciative cheers from an adoring crowd.
In the semi-main, Trey Miguel retained the Warrior Wrestling Championship in his first defense over Lee Moriarty. It was classic technical match as Moriarity controlled a fair portion of the match with a slow, calculating style, but in the end, the slick Miguel pulled out the victory.
In her return to wrestling after a long layoff, South suburban native Kylie Rae defeated Holidead to retain the Warrior Wrestling Women’s Championship with a crucifix pin. The fans were excited to see Kylie return, gathering in a long line to see her in a pre-show meet-and-greet.
Matt Cardona, right, tries to kick Sam Adonis in the face during their Warrior Wrestling bout. (Photo by Mike Pankow)
In another feature match, Warrior’s resident in-ring heel, Sam Adonis went toe-to-toe with Matt Cardona (fka WWE’s Zack Ryder). After a back-and-forth match, Cardona hit the Rough Ryder on Adonis and then scored the three-count. It was great exhibition of both men’s talents with each guy hitting signature moves.
In a battle of big men with a combined weight of over 700 pounds, Beast Man defeated Kongo Kong after a ring-rattling fallaway slam off the top rope. During the match, the two men and referee Dan Perch engaged in a hilarious spot outside the ring when Beast Man snapped an imaginary football to Perch and tried to block a pass-rushing Kong, who broke through and chased Perch around the ringside area.
In other bouts, IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo defeated Ray Lyn via submission, Jake Something defeated Warhorse in a hard-hitting show-opening match and K.C. Navarro defeated Cole Radrick in a matchup of smaller, quicker competitors.
During the course of the show, Frank the Clown, who was unbooked from the show, tried to crash the party several times.
Just when the show began its live stream on FITE, Frank stormed the ring and started yelling before security dumped him out of the ring and carried him out of the venue. Later in the show, Frank showed up with a lawn chair and grapes and declared that he purchased a ticket. Regardless, Tortorello confronted him and directed security to remove Frank again.
Frank the Clown leads a parade of clowns to the ring after landing in a helicopter just before the main event at Warrior Wrestling. (Photo by Mike Pankow)
Just before the Lucha Libre main event, Tortorello was making announcements and thanking the fans in attendance when what appeared to be a rogue helicopter began circling Dave Mattio Field. The helicopter landed behind the end zone and Frank emerged from the chopper and walked toward the ring with a parade of clowns.
Frank took the microphone in the ring and began blasting Tortorello for his poor treatment of him and his charge, Robert “Ego” Anthony, who was also unbooked. An enraged Tortorello turned things around on Frank, saying that Anthony must face AEW’s “Murderhawk Monster” Lance Archer in a “no holds barred” match at the next Warrior Wrestling Stadium Series show on July 17.
Before the main show, Warrior continued its growing tradition of allowing some emerging Chicago and Midwestern talent display to some of their wares in pre-show matches. In a tag team match, The Bang Bros. (Davey Bang & August Matthews) defeated Trevor Outlaw & “One Man Dynasty” Darius Latrell when Bang scored the pin on Outlaw after a frogsplash. In another tag bout, Icon Lee & Prodigy knocked off The Good Guys (Zak Hunter & Noctus). In a singles match, IMPACT Wrestling’s Sam Beale d. “The World’s Most Huggable Wrestler” Bryan Castle.
For a gallery of 200 photos from the event, click here: https://www.windycityslam.com/warrior-wrestling-stadium-series-2021-1.
Catch Windy City Slam editor Mike Pankow talking local and national pro wrestling every week with Chicago-area wrestling guests on Windy City Slam Podcast, part of the Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network. Episodes are dropping once again early Tuesday morning wherever you download podcasts or at https://windycityslam.podbean.com/.
We are looking for guests to appear on future episodes of the Windy City Slam Podcast! Please contact Mike at mikepankow@windycityslam.com, message him on Facebook or DM him on Twitter.
