SSW does it for the kids in Kenosha
EC3 EVENS SCORE WITH HOMEGROWN JORDAN KROSS IN MAIN EVENT
By Mike Pankow
March 18, 2023
It was a night of fun and merriment for SSW Entertainment’s pro wrestling brand in a charity show at Mahone Middle School just north of the Illinois-Wisconsin border.
SSW drew nearly 800 fans to Mahone Middle in Kenosha on Friday, March 10, for a show that raised funds for the school’s end-of-the-year carnival. The promotion’s connection to Mahone came in the form of SSW promoter Ryan Kross, who previously worked at the school as a security officer.
Jordan Kross, right, prepares to deliver a Kross Cutter to EC3 in the main event of SSW’s HORSEPOWER at Mahone Middle School on Friday, March 10, 2023. EC3 rallied to get the victory. (Photo: Mike Pankow/Windy City Slam)
The main event saw hometown boy and rising Midwestern independent star, Jordan Kross wrestle against former WWE Superstar and IMPACT Wrestling World Champion EC3. The current NWA star evened the score with Jordan Kross after Kross earlier picked up a victory over EC3 at Warrior Wrestling last December in Chicago Heights.
“The Punk Rock Prince” appeared to be on the verge of going to 2-0 against EC3, but the veteran shook off a late flurry and hit a 1-Percenter to gain the pinfall and silence what was, for most of the evening, a raucous crowd.
Following EC3’s methodical entrance, Kross came out hyped up with the crowd at a fever pitch. EC3 employed some stalling tactics outside the ring before Kross finally had enough and rolled EC3 into ring to start the match.
After Kross got the better of some early exchanges, EC3 took control with some weardown holds. Kross tried to rally with a late fluffy of offense, hitting a flatliner, a dropkick from the top rope and a leg lariat, which forced EC3 to retreat to the outside.
Kross then soared over the ropes and nailed his nemesis with a plancha, flooring the veteran. The competitors returned the ring and after a brief moment with EC3 in control, Kross hit an enziguri and followed up with a Kross Cutter.
EC3 celebrates his main-event victory over Jordan Kross. (Photo: Mike Pankow/Windy City Slam)
Kross didn’t go for a cover and went to the well again, but EC3 stepped out the way and grabbed Kross and executed with his 1-Percenter facebuster to secure the victory.
After a subdued celebration, EC3 grabbed the mic and told Kross that he didn’t believe he was ready to “do what it takes” to get the top and dared Kross to take the microphone from him.
Kross stepped up and ripped the mic out of EC3’s hands and said, “I heard you and I will do everything it takes to get to the top.” EC3 retorted, “I believe you,” as the wrestlers briefly exchanged a handshake before EC3 left the ring to Kross in front of his people.
“I consider his respect a victory in my book,” Kross told Windy City Slam following the show. “For as much as I hate the man, he’s been just about everywhere, and he’s done just about everything.
“I fought hard. I did everything I could, but I couldn’t get it done tonight. It’s 1-1. I think all that means is that we’ve got one more left in the tank before we call it a series.”
In the semi-main event, “The Fanny Pack Kid” Kal Herro and CBS 58 Milwaukee news anchor “Iron” Mike Curkov defeated the team of Dr. X and Conquistador Antonio Pistola. The News Rockers, not to be confused with The New Rockers (of Herro and Al Snow), had the fans in their corner.
Curkov has performed in a handful of matches since starting his training in late 2021 and debuted at Blizzard Brawl of that year, teaming with the Gunn Club to defeat The Express (Ryan Kross & Dr. Jeff Luxon) and former WWE Superstar Kevin Thorn.
The veteran Dr. X employed a methodical style in grounding Herro and Curkov at the start. The News Rockers rallied and used some old-school double-team maneuvers including a double noggin-knocker and a rowboat on their confounded foes.
CBS 58 Milwaukee news anchor “Iron” Mike Curkov delivers a Stone Cold Stunner to Conquistador Antonio Pistola, leading to a tag team victory for Curkov and Kal Herro. (Photo: Mike Pankow/Windy City Slam)
Later in the match, Curkov shook off some of the punishment he took to finally tag in Herro, who executed a double takedown of Dr. X and Pistola, setting up Curkov to his now customary Stone Cold Stunner on Pistola to get the 1-2-3 on the Conquistador.
Herro and Curkov celebrated to the approval of the Mahone Middle School crowd. After the News Rockers departed, it appeared that Dr. X and Pistola were going to throw down, but they hugged each other instead.
The show opened with Mahone Vice Principal Steve Germain introducing ring announcer Linda Kay, who kicked off the festivities by introducing the opening contest.
The Heroes of Our Time, who have been recently working in promotions such as Freelance Underground and GALLI Lucha Libre, picked up the victory over OVW and GLCW regular “The Mayan Mauler” Drew Hernandez and Gonzo.
The Heroes are comprised of veteran wrestlers Mason Conrad and Joey Marx and their experience shone through against the misfit duo of Hernandez and Gonzo.
Conrad and Marx overcame the power and strength of Hernandez and frustrated their opponents with double-team moves and a little high-flying. Hernandez grew annoyed with Gonzo and abandoned his partner. The Heroes took advantage of the young Gonzo as he fell victim to a finish as both Conrad and Marx covered him for the pin.
Next up, another Kenosha guy, “The 80’s Baybee” TW3 was set to take on NWA’s Pyscho Boy Fodder in a 1-on-1 match. After a few instances of Fodder’s second J-Cash intervening on Fodder’s behalf and referee Mark Bitters poised to disqualify Fodder, TW3 took the mic and said he didn’t want to win that way and challenged Fodder and J-Cash to a 2-on-1 handicap match.
Between the rugged Fodder and Diesel-like J-Cash, it appeared for a while that TW3 would have to eat his words. However, the local veteran rallied to kick Fodder out of the ring and isolate the 6-foot-6 J-Cash. After a high-cross bodyblock and a Trouble In Paradise kick, TW3 secured the 3-count on J-Cash to win the match.
In the final match before intermission, SSW Champion John Fate returned after a three-year hiatus from the company to retain the title over “Notorious” Dave Rydell. Fate came out wearing a red, white and blue Punisher style helmet and gave it to a young fan at ringside.
The face-painted Fate came out like a house of fire, but Rydell stemmed the early tide and took control of the match for a bit, working on Fate’s leg, including slamming his leg on the ring post, and choking him with the help of the ring ropes.
Rydell looked like he was going to polish off Fate with a White Noise-style maneuver, but Fate countered and rolled up the wily veteran for the 3-count.
After intermission, Germain came back out to whip up the crowd before “Ice Pick” Vic Capri and Gonzo came out to interrupt. Capri asked Germain who he was and trashed Wisconsin before striking Germain and flooring him.
The lights dimmed and Ryan Kross emerged from the entrance. Then Kross dashed to the ring and challenged Capri to a match. Kay confirmed the match was on and Kross attacked Capri, hitting him with a flying shoulder tackle with tremendous momentum. Kross chased off Gonzo and continued his assault on Capri.
Kross, better known as “Mr. Joe” at Mahone, got the crowd involved in the match, dragging Capri into the bleachers and letting young fans chop his opponent. After the combatants returned to the ring, Capri and Kross exchanged some stiff blows.
Bitters eventually was smashed in the corner and rolled out of the ring. Kross went for a cover, but there was no ref to make the count. Kross yelled for someone to check on Bitters on the outside. Capri attacked Kross and nailed him with a knee strike and went for his own cover. A substitute official ran out from the back and made the count, but Kross kicked out a 2.
Ryan Kross (aka “Mr. Joe”), right, prepares to ram “Ice Pick” Vic Capri’s head into the corner turnbuckle. (Photo: Mike Pankow/Windy City Slam)
A frustrated Capri then attacked the substitute ref and blasted him with a steel chair. Capri turned toward Kross and appeared ready to strike “Mr. Joe” with the chair before Germain entered the ring and grabbed the chair away from Capri.
Kross took advantage of the distracted Capri, hitting a backdrop driver to gain the pinfall, which was counted by Germain after he took off his black shirt revealing a referee shirt.
The crowd went crazy for “Mr. Joe’s” victory. However, a ticked-off Capri tried to gain a measure of revenge, attempting to set up Kross for his trademark Sliced Bread. Kross stopped him and set Capri up on the top of the corner post and delivered a superplex, which elicited a thunderous roar from the crowd in stereo with the hard crash in the middle of the ring.
After the match, Kross took the mic and gave an emotional address to the fans and students at Mahone, saying that this was his last day as an employee at the school. The crowd responded with nothing but love for “Mr. Joe.”
SSW delivered a show with great performances from the babyfaces and some great old-school heel week and once again proved to be an authority on pro wrestling in Southeast Wisconsin.
"The Punk Rock Prince" Jordan Kross reacts following his loss to EC3 at SSW's "HORSEPOWER" at Mahone Middle School in Kenosha, Wis. on Friday night, March 10, 2023. Kross also talks about his upcoming Warrior Wrestling match against Beast Man.
Check out a gallery of over 325 photos from “HORSEPOWER”: https://www.windycityslam.com/ssw-horsepower-3102023.
Check out past and present SSW talents Ryan Kross, Jordan Kross, Kal Herro, Mike Curkov, Dave Rydell, Vic Capri, Marshe Rockett, Backwoods Brown, Salem Crane, Shelly the Bombshell and Skye Blue on past episodes of Windy City Slam Podcast wherever you find podcasts or at https://windycityslam.podbean.com/.
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.
