Around the Ring: New champions in Freelance, Warrior Wrestling
(Storm Grayson thumbnail photo above by Nick Consalvo/@cameraguygimmick)
STORM GRAYSON, KC NAVARRO REACH THE TOP
By Mike Pankow and High5Tom
June 24, 2022
There’s been some major happenings across the region over the last couple of weeks as new top champions were crowned in Freelance Wrestling and Warrior Wrestling as Storm Grayson and KC Navarro, respectively, ended long reigns in those promotions.
Mat Fitchett, meanwhile, continued his lengthy reign as AAW Champion by fending off the challenge of veteran Ace Steel.
Windy City Slam takes a spin around its coverage area, including highlights from Freelance Wrestling, Warrior Wrestling, AAW Pro and ICW Milwaukee.
Freelance Wrestling: Storm Grayson continued his meteoric rise on the Chicagoland scene by pulling off the biggest victory of his career, winning the Freelance World Championship from veteran Robert “Ego” Anthony in the main event of Freelance vs. The World last Friday night (June 17) at Logan Square Auditorium on the North side of Chicago.
The Naperville native, who won the Freelance Rumble last month to earn the title shot, completed his ascension to the top of the company after overcoming interference by Frank the Clown, kicking out of Anthony’s finisher, the Mandalorian Driver, and rolling up Anthony with a crucifix pin, which popped LSA huge. Grayson celebrated with the champion as much of the Freelance locker room came up to congratulate him.
Grayson adds the Freelance World Championship to his Freelance Underground Independent Championship, which he has held since last October when he won the title from Laynie in a 6-way scramble match.
The Bang Bros, August Matthews, left, and Davey Bang won the Freelance Wrestling Tag Team Champions at Freelance Vs. The World at Logan Square Auditorium on Friday, June 17. (File photo by Mike Pankow/Windy City Slam)
Culminating a long rivalry with fellow teams The Take It Homewreckers and Pick n’ Pop, The Bang Bros won the Freelance Tag Team Championships in a three-way match where ladders were legal. It was initially supposed to be a ladder match where the belts were to be suspended from the ceiling, but the Homewreckers, Darin Corbin and Bucky Collins, came out and presented doctors’ notes regarding their fear of heights. The match was changed to where pinfalls and submissions were the only ways to win the match and the titles.
Six-foot-8 former basketball player Darius Latrell of Pick n’ Pop pulled off another highlight-reel maneuver hitting a flatliner from a few rungs up on a ladder on a flying Davey Bang, but he just could not get a 3-count. The Bang Bros rallied as Bang hit a Spanish Fly off a ladder on Koda Hernandez and then Matthews nailed a 450 splash to get the pin on Hernandez as Bang and Matthews won the championship.
It was a crowning achievement for the Bang Bros, who were previously the Freelance Underground Tag Team Champions last summer before losing them back to the Brothers of Funstruction. As for Pick n’ Pop, they move on for a chance at the Brothers of Funstruction’s FU titles on July 2 in a triple-threat match with the team of Mason Conrad and Joey Marx.
In a terrific battle, Freelance Legacy Champion Bryan Keith, who has very quickly won over the Freelance Faithful, outlasted the former IMPACT X-Division and Warrior Wrestling Champion to retain his title. Keith finished off the victory with a Soul Fire Bomb.
Project M.O.N.I.X. may be wreaking havoc over both Freelance Wrestling and Freelance Underground for much of the last year, but for some reason, young rising star Xavier Sky continued to have his number. Sky “got one over” on M.O.N.I.X. for the third time in recent months by pinning him following a brainbuster during a lumberjack match. The lumberjacks were comprised of youngsters from the Freelance Wrestling Academy, for which M.O.N.I.X. seems to have a hatred. At one point, M.O.N.I.X. started attacking the lumberjacks one by one until most of them were neutralized. Sky rallied for the victory and the lumberjacks joined Sky in the post-match celebration as M.O.N.I.X. slinked away.
Sky pinned M.O.N.I.X. during a six-man tag team match at the Emporium Arcade Bar in Logan Square a few months ago. Then after M.O.N.I.X. cherry-picked and eliminated a few members of the Freelance Academy during last month’s Freelance Rumble, Sky shocked M.O.N.I.X. by eliminating the young veteran from the match.
Kylie Rae earned a bit of revenge on her one-time tag team partner by defeating Alfonso Gonzalez. With the referee taken out momentarily, Kylie superkicked a steel chair into the face of the Sensei of “Team Alfonso Dojo,” as Gonzalez was trying to use the chair for his own gain, and gained the 3-count.
In a traditional scramble match, Freelance Underground Champion Calvin Tankman prepared his title defense next month against “Iron Demon” Shane Mercer with a victory over five other men, including Chico Suave, Frontman Jah-C, Cole Radrick, Angel Escalera and Bradley Prescott IV when “Heavyweight Hustle” hit the Tankman Driver on Prescott to lead to the pin.
Jessie V, Mark Wheeler and Taylor Rising defeated Sam Beale, Jason Hotch and Blair Onyx in a physical six-person tag team match when Wheeler pinned Onyx after an assisted lungblower. During the course of the match, Onyx injured the AC ligament in her shoulder and she announced on her social media that she would miss some in-ring time.
In tag team action, the First Couple of Chicagoland independent wrestling, GPA and Laynie, continued its dominance by defeating The Premier (SK Bishop & Campbell Myers). Laynie hit a Unicutter and pinned Bishop following a low blow by GPA behind the official’s back.
Also, prior to the main event, Freelance Wrestling founder, “The Purple Papi” “Marvelous” Matt Knicks came to the ring to thank the fans for their support of eight years of Freelance. Trevor Outlaw, who has been on the mend from knee surgery since late last fall, came out to confront Knicks only to get greeted by a knuckle sandwich.
—Mike Pankow
Warrior Wrestling: In a wonderfully-booked, highly-entertaining War of Attrition match with many twists and turns, KC Navarro cashed in his GMSI Medallion and won the Warrior Wrestling Championship in the main event of Warrior Wrestling 23 last Saturday night (June 18) at the DeltaPlex in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Navarro wasn’t originally entered in the War of Attrition match that featuring reigning champion Will Ospreay, Brian Pillman Jr., Jake Something, Swerve Strickland, Jeff Cobb, Lance Archer, Brian Cage and current Warrior Wrestling Lucha Champion Sam Adonis. Cage and Adonis were late entries into match, replacing the injured Matt Cardona and the absent Davey Richards (family matter), respectively.
The final fall came down to Ospreay and Pillman as the incumbent champ faced the former champ, but a few minutes into the last stage, Navarro came out, pushed Ospreay off the top rope and through a table that was set up at ringside and attacked Pillman.
KC Navarro celebrates with the Warrior Wrestling Championship after winning the main event at Warrior Wrestling 23 in Grand Rapids, Mich. on Saturday, June 18. (Photo courtesy FITE)
Navarro cashed in his medallion to make it a triple-threat match, akin to what Seth Rollins did at WrestleMania 31 in the WWE Championship main event between Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns. And like Rollins, Navarro made the most of his opportunity.
When it appeared Ospreay was recovered enough to give himself a chance to retain his title, Cage’s music hit. Cage looked like he was going to attack his former friend Navarro before quickly turning to clothesline Pillman and deliver a drill claw to Ospreay. Then Navarro hit Pillman with his finish, the Jesus Piece, and got the 3-count to win the championship. Navarro and Cage were reunited and celebrated Navarro’s victory together in the ring despite fighting each other less than three hours earlier.
The WOA began as a 4-on-4 tag team match with the randomly-selected teams being Ospreay, Pillman, Something and Strickland against Cobb, Archer, Cage and Adonis. After some intense action, Pillman secured the first fall by rolling up Adonis.
Pillman then chose Ospreay as his partner for the next stage – a traditional 2-on-2 tag match. When it looked like Pillman was about to pin Something to win the second fall, Ospreay quickly struck and hit his Hidden Blade back elbow on the back of Pillman’s head and took the pin on Something himself. In a smart strategy, Ospreay attempted to pin Pillman immediately upon the start of the third stage. Pillman kicked out and the match continued until Navarro’s shocking run-in.
Ospreay’s reign ends at just over six months. He had held the Warrior Wrestling title since Warrior 17 in December when he outlasted Trey Miguel and Blake Christian in a triple-threat match in Tinley Park.
Frank the Clown’s quest to eradicate Athena for Warrior Wrestling and take her Warrior Women’s Championship again failed as the AEW star defeated up-and-coming AQA with the Oface (formerly the Eclipse). Before the match, Frank and is child prodigy, Trevor Outlaw, held a farewell party for Athena with a cake and everything. Frank announced that he had secured the services of AQA by signing her to a one-night contract with a team option, much like he did with Janai Kai at Warrior 22.
After a stellar match between two of Booker T’s prized pupils, Athena, the former NXT Women’s Champion, came out on top. Athena and AQA decided to team up after the match and made Outlaw’s night a living hell by stomping his face into the cake and humiliating the brash young upstart.
Adonis retained his Warrior Wrestling Lucha Championship by pinning rising star Rey Leon after a 450 splash and qualifying to take Richards’ spot in the WOA match. While trying a flip over the ropes onto Leon, Adonis busted the back of his head open, yet survived not only to hold on to his title but wrestled valiantly in the main event a little later.
Cage pinned Navarro in the opening match of the night after hitting a drill claw on his rival and getting the 3-count. Cage advanced into the WOA as he assumed Cardona’s spot.
In tag team action, Violence Is Forever (Dom Garrini & Kevin Ku) defeated the high-flying tandem of Myron Reed and Dante Leon when Garrini made Leon pass out to a triangle choke.
Chelsea Green made her return to Warrior for the first time since Warrior 2 when she pinned Tootie Lynn after an unprettier. Green had a visual tapout as Lynn had her in a submission hold, but referee Jeremy Tillema was down and didn’t see the tap.
Warrior makes a quick return to action on Sunday, June 24 with a matinee show, right down the street from the United Center, which will host the AEW and New Japan joint venture “Forbidden Door.” The card begins at 2 p.m. and new Warrior Champion Navarro will defend the title against new IMPACT X Division Champion “Speedball” Mike Bailey. Also, the Rascalz of Miguel, Reed and the returning Zachary Wentz take on Christian, Nick Wayne and Fuego Del Sol.
The Women’s Wrestling Army will have a TV taping during the VIP Fan Fest, which features a Mission Pro Championship match between the champion Holidead and Kai. The Fan Fest will have all the wrestlers from Warrior main card as well as special guests Chris Hero, longtime broadcaster Kevin Kelly and Fightful’s Denise Salcedo.
—Mike Pankow
AAW Pro: Mat Fitchett continued his impressive reign as AAW Champion with a victory over his old mentor Ace Steel in the main event of a loaded AAW show, entitled “Crush and Destroy,” on Saturday June 11 from Logan Square Auditorium in Chicago.
The opening match saw Davey Vega (with Hartenbower & Sabotage Sean Logan) against the hard-hitting Gary Jay. Both guys are from St. Louis and put on a classic Midwest wrasslin’ match but Vega outlasted the wily veteran as Vega reversed a roll up into a brainbuster on Jay.
After the match, Manders is upset and wants his title shot, but Hartenbower thinks otherwise. In an impromptu match that saw two hosses beat the tar out of each other, Manders outlasted Hartenbower to make his case for the No. 1 contendership.
Heather Reckless defeated Sierra to become No. 1 contender to the AAW Women’s Championship during AAW’s “Crush and Destroy” on June 11. (File photo by Mike Pankow/Windy City Slam)
In a No. 1 contenders match for the AAW Women's Championship, Heather Reckless, who also holds the Chicago Style Wrestling Women’s Championship, took on Milwaukee’s Sierra in a matchup we’ve seen across multiple promotions in the region. These two are top contenders for a reason and this match showed it. In the end, Reckless was able to squirm out of the backpack stunner for the roll-up win.
Next up, former AAW Champion Fred Yehi faced Karam in a classic big man vs the “wrestler” matchup. Karam is one tough wrestler, but in the end, Yehi hit Karam with a vicious spinning backfist and gets him into the rear-naked choke for the submission. Afterward, Yehi took exception with Manders, who is at commentary, for claiming the next title shot. An intense war of words ensues, and we will have to wait to see what happens next month.
“The Last Real Man” Silas Young faced Brayden Lee in another case of the veteran reminding the young upstart that he has a few tricks up his sleeve. In a great back-and-forth that included an impromptu promo battle, the crowd actually turned on the babyface Lee. This however was the fire that Lee needed, and he responded. Lee gave Young all he could handle with several near falls, but in the end, Young was able to use Lee’s momentum against him to stack him up for the pin. What a roller-coaster of a match – and shoutout to former Windy City Slam Podcast guest Ref Dan Perch for letting this match flow.
In a battle for the AAW Tag Team Championships, Dante Leon and Shane Hollister challenged the champions, a unique team to say the least, Hammerstone and Ace Perry. Hammerstone and Perry are the odd couple, and Hollister and Leon are new partners, creating a fun contest. Hammerstone and Perry are really clicking, showing their chemistry, to get the win as Hammerstone is just too powerful and nailed that nightmare pendulum on Hollister.
In an epic encounter, Josh Alexander, the reigning IMPACT World Champion, took on ACH in a battle of two of the best in the world. These were two former AAW Heavyweight Champions squaring off, but only ACH has a banner up for AAW and that doesn’t sit well with the “Walking Weapon.” This match was two artists showcasing the fact that they are literally two of the best to ever do it. They left it all on the mat, but Alexander got just a smidge more as he hit the C4 driver for the win. The crowd was appreciative, chanting “both these guys” and I agree.
Ren Jones is holding a workout challenge that is first answered by Black and Brave student Corn Boi but the Swag Champ makes short work without even taking off his jacket. Then the next opponent is Levi Everett, and Everett gives it to Jones but Ren hits that pumphandle slam for his second victory of the night.
The classic immovable object vs. immovable object affair took place when Russ Jones and SCHAFF literally collided against each other. These two have been on a collision course in AAW for a while. This battle of monsters was reminiscent of King Kong vs. Godzilla, but in the end Chuck Smooth handed SCHAFF the brass knucks and he knocked Russ Jones out for the pin.
Then in a match where both men desperately needed a victory, veteran Mike Bennett took on “Big Beef” Gnarls Garvin. The winner would recapture some momentum on their AAW quest, and the loser will have to go back to the proverbial chalkboard. Both men have battled Yehi and Alexander and came up short but became fan favorites in the process. And this match only built that momentum more, and to be honest it stinks someone had to lose this match. Both men left all on the line, but “Big Beef” hits a huge splash for the victory.
The main-event battle between Fitchett and Steel for the AAW Championship may have been more of a grudge match than a championship match. Steel, a former NXT coach and current AEW coach, was a huge mentor to Fitchett until he turned his back on him a few months back. Steel takes it to Fitchett but is never able to hammer that last nail in the casket. At the end, Smooth slid a chair to Steel, but it backfired as Fitchett kneed the chair into the cranium of Steel to get the win.
—High5Tom of the Midwest Wrestling Roundup Podcast
ICW Milwaukee: Just days before his nationally-televised AEW Dynamite match against from AEW Championship Hangman Adam Page at the UWM Panther Arena in downtown Milwaukee, Ring of Honor legend “The Last Real Man” Silas Young threatened to win the ICW Championship. However, Young couldn’t wrest the title away, defeating Drake Daniels by the result of a disqualification in the main event of “For the Family” last Friday night (June 17) at Da Bar in West Allis, Wis.
The show opened with General Manager DYSfunction coming out to thank everyone for coming out and that he has a surprise entrant for the main event. Then Separate Ways by Journey hits the speakers and Bobby V comes out. He has a proclamation, and his new Stud Stable is going take over ICW.
Then like an elephant coming out of the jungle, The Drake Dynasty came out and told Bobby that “they run ICW” and they run him off. Daniels snatched the mic and said that CJ Cole has been on a losing streak and if he doesn’t win this match, he is out of the Drake Dynasty. Getting fed up with the Drake Dynasty, DYS jumped in to bring some order and announced Young will be Drake’s opponent in the main event.
The Drake Dynasty is more than irritated with DYS’ announcement and they leave while Cole is awaiting his opponent when Sierra’s music hits and these two go right at it. After a very intense and hard-hitting match, Cole nailed Sierra with a running knee but is too exhausted to make the cover. When he finally did, she rolled up him with the crucifix pin for the 1-2-3. Then as promised the Drake Dynasty comes out and beat Cole down and to officially kick him out of the Drake Dynasty.
Next are two of High5Tom’s favorites in a grudge match brewing from their feud over the ICW Midwest title. “Marvelous” Ethan Matthews with Val Malone battling “The Spectre” Jayden Mercer. This match, like their entire rivalry, has been intense since the beginning with Mercer taking the late advantage. However, Malone distracted Mercer by stealing his mask, allowing Matthews enough time to hit his version of the Famouser for the win.
In a first-time singles matchup in ICW, the returning Blazing Ben took on “Dastardly” Nell Dillinger. Once again, these two hit each other the everything (minus the kitchen sink), but in the end, Ben went for the DYS Driver but Dillinger raked the eyes and got the sneaky rollup for the victory.
Next, the lethargic Craig Covenant and his half-drunk flask faced the always-over Chucky Bates. Despite being less than in a fighting condition, Covenant put up a good fight, but Bates was just too much. Covenant put Bates in a sleeper, but the Demented One powered up out of and hit Covenant with the backpack bomb and Bates’ winning streak continued.
Next up the Sez Crew of Simon Sez and Armando Alvarez in a handicap match versus Kodiak. At first, the colossal Kodiak was able to fend off the Sez Crew but Alvarez’s quickness and Sez’s toughness caught up to Kodiak. Then Blazing Ben came in to back up Kodiak and became his partner, making it an impromptu tag team match.
Kodiak was getting beaten down but has enough to get the hot tag to Ben who comes in like a house of fire getting several close pins. In the end, Sez outsmarts Ben and whacks Ben with his signature Brass Knuckles and Alvarez hits the Swanton, leading to the Sez Crew claiming the victory.
Then there was the four-way elimination match for the ICW Alternative Title with “The Unholy” Shawn Priest, “The Prince of Lucha” Juan Hernandez and “Public Enemy” Eric Dillinger trying to dethrone the champion Oso Turco. Match started off in chaos as all four competitors start punching each other with the champ ending up standing tall and pulling off Cannonball rolls to all three of his opponents.
Then Oso battled with Priest even hitting a spear, however Hernandez sneaks in and hit a worn-down Oso with a lungblower and Oso is the first eliminated, meaning there would be a new champion crowned. Then Dillinger and Priest get into a chop battle where Dillinger got the upper hand and then hits a superkick into a Pedigree on Priest for the 3-count. And it is down to Dillinger and Hernandez. After both these competitors left it all on the mat, Hernandez got Dillinger in a fireman’s carry but Dillinger elbowed Hernandez to his knees where he nailed the Pedigree as the "Public Enemy" became the new ICW Alternative Champion.
Next for the ICW Midwest Title in a rematch from last month, partners turned bitter enemies as Rayvin Raddix challenged champion Gunner Wixx. Raddix used her speed and wits to keep Wixx chopped down to the mat where she took it to him. Then Raddix attempted to get Wixx into a fireman’s carry and Wixx’s size is too much for Raddix. Wixx got to his feet, picks Raddix up and nailed the Tombstone for the win, by the skin of his teeth. After the match, Wixx continued the beatdown and Oso came out for the save and announced he wants Wixx’s Midwest title.
Country Air has achieved a high level of success in the Milwaukee area over the last year, but Zach Hendrix, left, and Doc Simmons lost their ICW Milwaukee Tag Team Championships last weekend. (File photo by Mike Pankow/Windy City Slam)
For the ICW Tag Team Championships, the team of Drake Dynasty members Jarrod Jaxx and the Marman challenged the champs and former guests of the Windy City Slam podcast and High5Tom favorite Country Air (“The Outlaw” Zach Hendrix and “The G.H.O.A.T” Doc Simmons. In yet another all-out slugfest, these two teams beat the snot of each other.
And as Marman and Jaxx trained Hendrix and Simmons, Country Air took all that knowledge to the two veterans. However, MarJaxx just showed they taught Country Air everything that they know but not everything MarJaxx knows. When Hernandez and Nell Dillinger came out for a distraction, Jaxx and Marman hit a double DDT on a beaten-down Simmons and they won the ICW Tag Team titles.
In the main event, Young defeated takes on one of Wisconsin's best in ICW Champion Drake Daniels. This was a classic veteran against young upstart match and these two delivered. It was a great back-and-forth with both men pulling out all the tricks from their playbook. Then when Young was ready to finish off the champ with his signature move Misery, in comes the MarJaxx. “The Last Real Man” was able to fight them off and ended up hitting Misery, when Wixx ran in and grabbed Ref Jerry Gummo and stopped the sure 3-count.
Gummo tried to give Young a fair shot before calling for the bell due to the interference of Wixx, Marman and Jaxx. After the match, the Drake Dynasty beats down Young when Oso, Priest and Bates come in, but the Drake Dynasty takes it to them until Cole comes in for the save. DYS comes out and is hot that the Drake Dynasty ruined a hot main event and declares that Cole will get a title shot next month against Daniels.
—High5Tom of the Midwest Wrestling Roundup Podcast
Listen to Ep. 124 of Windy City Slam Podcast, with more analysis from Freelance and Warrior Wrestling shows, plus special guest Mason Percs of POWW Entertainment: https://bit.ly/3ya72cX.
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 drop 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.
