Kylie Rae, Project MONIX return to Freelance Underground
By Mike Pankow
June 25, 2021
Leading up to its return to Itasca’s Church Street Brewing Company, Freelance Underground promised some surprises.
Last Saturday night (June 19), FU delivered big time during it’s “Back to Church Street, Part Brew when Kylie Rae, Project MONIX and Frank the Clown showed up unadvertised to the show.
Kylie Rae grabs the legs of Angel Escalera while standing outside the ring during the match at Freelance Underground: Back to Church Street, Part Brew on Saturday, June 19. (Photo by Mike Pankow)
Kylie Rae, who took an extended break from pro wrestling last fall after working for a few months for IMPACT Wrestling, returned recently at Warrior Wrestling and signed nationally with the NWA. She was the surprise opponent for Angel Escalera, an emerging prospect from the Freelance Wrestling Academy.
Kylie and Escalera went toe-to-toe with the salsa-dancing youngster getting a couple of close near-falls on Kylie. After a hard-fought battle, Kylie got Escalera to tap out the crossface. After the two combatants shook hands in a sign of respect, Kylie was left alone in the ring, soaking up the adulation of the sold-out crowd in Itasca.
Then a familiar tune came over the speaker, Pat Monix (aka Project MONIX) emerged from the curtain to make his first public wrestling appearance in 16 months. MONIX had abruptly retired from wrestling after a match on Feb. 8, 2020, with Jesus Bryce at FU’s show in Joliet.
MONIX took the mic from Kylie and said, “16 months ago professional wrestling unfortunately was taken from me. I’ve seen some doctors. I’ve done some rehab. I’ve seen a neurologist. Sadly, a comeback is simply not in the cards.”
MONIX then said he wants one more match, “but if I’m gonna do this, I’m doing it against the best motherfu--ing wrestler on the motherfu--ing planet.”
“Kylie, I want closure. I want one more match. I want the final phase. I want to go out on my terms. Take my hand, because we are going to tear this place the f--k down. I think I know your answer. I’ll see you in October.”
Freelance Underground quickly announced the match was official for Saturday, Oct. 23 back at Church Street.
Frank the Clown, who has appeared in promotions such as Freelance Wrestling, Warrior Wrestling and Zelo Pro, made his debut at FU following a three-way tag team match. The Bang Bros. (Davey Bang and August Matthews) defeated the FU Tag Team Champions, The Brothers of Funstruction (Yabo and Ruffo) and Hysteria (Cole Radrick & Sage Phillips) in a non-title affair when Bang scored a roll-up pin on Yabo.
With the champions despondent in the ring amidst their circus gimmicks, Frank the Clown’s music hit and the reviled manager came out to a chorus of jeers. Frank called out Yabo and Ruffo and said they should be mowing down the competition. Frank offered them his services, but Yabo squired water on Frank from his trick flower on his lapel and the brothers seemingly rebuffed Frank and left the ring.
In the main event, FU Champion GPA retained his title in his usual nefarious ways, gaining a leverage pinfall on 350-pound “Heavyweight Hustle” Calvin Tankman by hooking the top rope out of the sight of referee Jeremy Tillema.
Freelance Underground Champion GPA grasps an ankle lock on “Heavyweight Hustle” Calvin Tankman. (Photo by Mike Pankow)
It was a tremendous test for GPA, who was nearly outweighed 2 to 1 by the beefy, athletic Tankman, who got a very deep 2-count on a couple of occasions. GPA thought he had the advantage after wearing down the big man’s leg, but Tankman surged back. In the end, GPA’s smarts were just a little too much for the Indianapolis native as he countered a Tankman Driver to score the pin.
In the other championship contest, FU Independent Champion Laynie Luck defeated Billie Starkz in a hotly-contested bout. Showing more aggression since losing her Zelo Pro Women’s Championship, Luck continued her lengthy reign of just over 18 months with the Independent title. Luck avoided a Swanton bomb from Starkz and hooked in the STF to gain the submission victory.
In the opening bout, Storm Grayson defeated JJ Garrett with the knee trigger. Grayson, finally recovered from some nagging injuries and in the best shape of his career, looks like he is on an upward path toward a future championship opportunity. He showed very well against Robert “Ego” Anthony at Freelance Wrestling/Freelance Underground’s “Chicago’s Secret Stash” a few months ago. Garrett, who is a well-respected grappler that recently made an appearance on AEW Dark, resembles Scott Steiner from the early’90s.
In a match featuring two wrestlers making their FU debut, Kayla Kassidy stole the victory from Blair Onyx by escaping the Spider Lock after raking Onyx’s face and rolling her up for the pin.
In an entertaining three-way match, Dan the Dad, on Father’s Day eve, defeated Trevor Outlaw and “One Man Dynasty” Darius Latrell when Dan pinned Outlaw after a backpack stunner (aka Baby on Board). At one point, Dan the Dad tried to ground both his opponents and sent Latrell into the corner for a timeout.
Outlaw’s mother was a ringside with a big sign rooting on her son, but late in the match after Latrell got in her face and Dan defended her honor, she turned on Trevor and wrote Dan’s name on her sign. Shortly after that, the 6-foot-8 Latrell held Outlaw up on his shoulders and Dan hit a crossbody block on Outlaw. With Latrell also stunned from the bump, Dan finished off Outlaw with the Baby on Board.
Later in the evening, Koda Hernandez defeated “Hot Chocolate” Acid Jaz by disqualification after Latrell interfered. Latrell distracted referee Tillema and threw a shiv into the ring. Hernandez tried to use the weapon and missed.
Jaz spit “Swiss Mist” into Latrell’s face and with Tillema distracted, Hernandez pulled a vintage Eddie Guerrero maneuver, faking getting hit with the shiv while Jaz got caught red-handed with the weapon in his hands, causing the referee to call for the bell. With the victory, Hernandez and Latrell gained a measure of revenge on Jaz after losing to Jaz and Marshe Rockett in a tag team match at “Chicago’s Secret Stash.”
Freelance Underground returns to Church Street for a two-day event, “Phase In” which will be taped for IWTV, on Saturday, July 24 and Sunday, July 25. Bell time is 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday and tickets are available now. Announced talent includes GPA, Luck, Outlaw and Lee Moriarty.
For a gallery of 100 photos from the event, click here: https://www.windycityslam.com/freelance-underground-back-to-church-street-part-brew.
Also, check out a Freelance Underground recap as part of Episode 72 of Windy City Slam Podcast: https://apple.co/3xJ08bv.
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.
