2econd to none: Billie Starkz celebrates 1 year as champion
COLORFUL STAR RETAINS OVER LADY FROST IN MAIN EVENT
By Mike Pankow
March 2, 2023
One of Billie Starkz’s biggest senior-year moments probably won’t be in her high school yearbook, but it’s pretty memorable, nevertheless.
The 18-year-old Louisville, Kentucky, native celebrated one year as 2econd Wrestling’s inaugural champion by defeating Lady Frost in the main event of “Identity Theft” at the Bernard Weinger JCC in Northbrook on Sunday, Feb. 19.
Lady Frost, left, reels from a blow from 2econd Wrestling Champion Billie Starkz in the main event of “Identity Theft” on Sunday, Feb. 19. (Photo by Mike Pankow/Windy City Slam)
Starkz outlasted Frost, who has been making her name on the independents over the last few years with stops in promotions such as IMPACT Wrestling, Ring of Honor, Warrior Wrestling, AAW and Zelo Pro. It was another impressive notch in the belt of Starkz, who has begun to get some national attention in recent weeks with matches in MLW and on AEW Dark.
Earlier in the evening, Rabbi Jeremy Fine hosted the Holy Hot Seat to congratulate Starkz’s milestone of holding the 2econd Wrestling Championship for nearly a year. Starkz, also the Black Label Pro Champion, won a tournament to crown the promotion’s first champion by defeating Arik Cannon in the final on March 6, 2022, at “Flood Zone.”
Frost took exception to the celebration, jumping Starkz from behind and nearly starting a brawl outside the ring. Frost vowed to extricate the title from Starkz before she was led to the backstage area by the referees.
In the match, Frost used her gymnastic abilities to keep Starkz off balance, but she couldn’t quite put a freeze on Starkz’s momentum. Starkz hit a Gory Bomb and floor Frost and finished off the title defense with her trademark Swanton Bomb to the approval of the sold-out crowd.
2econd Wrestling presented another fun, family-friendly event to Chicago’s North Suburbs with meet and greets with former WWE Superstars, The Brooklyn Brawler (Steve Lombardi) and Cameron (aka Ariane Andrew), an appearance by former WWE Cruiserweight Champion Swoggle and surprise combatants Frontman Jah-C and Carlos Romo, with the latter making his 2econd debut.
The women of 2econd Wrestling also opened the show as Heather Monroe defeated the debuting Kayla Kassidy after a jaw-jacker. The “Killer Bae” acted as the heel, putting Kassidy in the unlikely role of babyface as she received some cheers from the crowd.
Monroe, who recently moved to the Chicago area, has been a regular at Chicago independents such as 2econd, Freelance and Freelance Underground. Monroe used underhanded tactics throughout the match to subdue Kassidy, who has WRESTLED in national promotions such as the NWA and MLW.
Jackson Larkin, cornering Jordan Kross, made himself known at “Identity Theft” with a victory over Kross and David Ali in a triple-threat match. Larkin also speared Ezio Orlandi after Orlandi’s loss to Frontman Jah-C later in the evening. (Photo: Mike Pankow/Windy City Slam)
In a triple-threat match, Jackson Larkin picked up one of the biggest victories in his young career by outlasting David Ali and Jordan Kross. Larkin, with his manager Jason Midas at his side with his bedazzled jacket, displayed his power against both of his foes and capped off the victory over with a side slam and pin of Kross.
Both Kross and Ali felt the wrath of the jacked Larkin, who may not have been afforded the same opportunities as other young Chicago-area trainees and decided to make a huge statement at 2econd Wrestling.
“Endseeker” Dante Leon was supposed to face Cannon, who had to cancel his appearance due to illness, but instead squared off against Romo, who wrestled Kross the night before for Warrior Wrestling.
The thrill-seeking Leon picked up the victory over the charismatic punk after hitting Romo with a senton splash to the back. It was a high-energy bout with aerial mastery and precision strikes that spilled out of the ring and among the fans for a little bit before Leon sealed the win.
Another young, rising Chicago star “Beyond Alpha” Ezio Orlandi was ready face Super Thunderfrog for the 2econd Wrestling Maxwell Street Heritage Championship, but Thunderfrog couldn’t make the trip. Orlandi instead faced Frontman Jah-C, the co-holder of the AAW Tag Team Championship.
Orlandi seemed to be on the verge of victory, using his powerful arsenal to offset Jah-C’s experience. For whatever reason, Orlandi’s manager Midas jumped on the ring apron when Orlandi had Jah-C down in a pinning position. When Orlandi stood up to question his manager’s judgement, Jah-C rolled up Orlandi from behind to get the 3-count.
“One Man Dynasty” Darius Latrell stalks former WWE Superstar Swoggle during their tag team match. (Photo: Mike Pankow/Windy City Slam)
As Jah-C celebrated his win outside the ring, the Brooklyn Brawler confronted him and chased him away from the ringside area. That left an opening for Larkin to attack Orlandi, delivering a spear to effectively mark the separation of Midas from Orlandi.
In the semi-main event, Swoggle and Brogan Finlay defeated Pick n’ Pop, one of Chicago’s hottest tag teams. In a match that was mostly comedy, Swoggle and Finlay outwitted “One Man Dynasty” Darius Latrell and “Prince 100” Koda Hernandez.
Of course, you had the brief showdown between the 6-foot-8 former basketball player Latrell and the 4-foot-5 Swoggle (aka Hornswoggle). Swoggle hit a chokeslam on Hernandez and then Finlay dropped a flying as both men covered Hernandez to get the 3-count, foiling the Freelance Underground Tag Team Champions’ chance for victory.
2econd Wrestling will return to the Chicago area with “Altarcation” at Durty Nellie’s in Palatine on Thursday night, April 27. Starkz will defend the 2econd Wrestling Championship against a yet to be determined opponent (if she can survive Brooke Havok at “Mitzvah Mania” in Los Angeles on WrestleMania weekend). Also, EFFY will make his 2econd Wrestling debut and will be joined by stars such as Cannon, Laynie Luck, Missa Kate, Blair Onyx, Sean Login (aka Sabotage Sean) and Pick n’ Pop.
Check out a gallery of over 175 photos from “Identity Theft”: https://www.windycityslam.com/2econd-wrestling-identity-theft.
Check out past and present 2econd Wrestling talents Billie Starkz, Jordan Kross, Laynie Luck, Missa Kate, Zach Gowen, Kayla Kassidy, Ezio Orlandi and Rabbi Jeremy Fine on past episodes of Windy City Slam Podcast. Plus, Pick n’ Pop will be joining the show in Episode #161 which drops on Tuesday, March 7 wherever you find 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.
