SSW delivers action-packed event
OVER 1,000 FANS PACK ‘HORSEPOWER II’ TO SEE LOCAL, NATIONAL STARS
By Mike Pankow
March 15, 2024
A wrestling show with stars such as Skye Blue, “Real 1” nZo and Kevin Thorn along with Midwestern legends like Vic Capri and Marshe Rockett mixed in with great local and up-and-coming talent provided the substance for SSW Entertainment’s stacked “HORSEPOWER II” event at Mahone Middle School last Friday night (March 8) in Kenosha, Wis.
Ryan Kross, aka Mr. Joe, delivers a flying elbow to Cypher during their main event match at SSW’s “HORSEPOWER II” at Mahone Middle School in Kenosha, Wis. on Friday, March 8, 2024. (Photo: Mike Pankow/Windy City Slam)
The charity show, which raised funds for Mahone’s year-end student carnival, drew 1,044 fans to the Kenosha school for a night filled with bone-crunching action and entertainment. The driving force behind the show is veteran wrestler Ryan Kross, who also goes by “Mr. Joe,” a former School Resource Officer at Mahone.
Last year’s event was a rousing success, drawing 783 spectators and did even better in Year 2.
The main event saw “Mr. Joe” Ryan Kross fend off the challenge of the giant Cypher, who was accompanied by Mad Mark of Lunatic Wrestling Federation, a underground company that became legitimate in Chicago’s South Suburbs. Cypher, about 6-foot-8 and over 300 pounds, had control of Kross early in the match before the former bodybuilder rallied for the victory. Kross used a combination of a huge powerslam, a Hulk Hogan legrop and a “Macho Man” Randy Savage-style flying elbow from the top rope to subdue the giant for a 3-count.
“Mr. Joe” thanked the fans afterward and posed for several pictures with his “girls” from the middle school upon conclusion of the event. A few of his former students and the folks from You Are More, a group of mental-health and suicide prevention advocates, carried out signs before Kross’ ring entrance for the main event.
The semi-main event saw “The Punk Rock Prince” Jordan Kross, the son of Ryan Kross who grew up in Kenosha, battle former WWE Superstar “Real 1” nZo (formerly Enzo Amore). “Real 1” did his old WWE pre-match mic schtick while calling Jordan Kross “SAWFT.” As nZo removed his ring jacket, Kross snuck up from behind and rolled up nZo for a pin in less than 10 seconds.
Former WWE Superstar "Real 1" nZo (fka Enzo Amore) cuts a promo before his match against "The Punk Rock Prince" Jordan Kross at SSW Entertainment's "HORSEPOWER II" at Mahone Middle School in Kenosha, Wis., on Friday, March 8, 2024.
“Real 1” took the mic and “gave it to the kid” for being resourceful and put out the challenge for an immediate rematch, which Kross accepted. In a much-longer bout, nZo got a measure of revenge by defeating Kross, getting a 3-count following a JawDonZo (a maneuver similar to Gail Kim’s “Eat Defeat” or “Michin” Mia Yim’s “Sole Food.”) Kross gave the former WWE Cruiserweight Champion a fight and almost escaped with a second victory via rollup pin. Afterward, the two combatants shook hands in a sign of respect nearly six years after they first met at Wizard World Chicago during a meet and greet.
In a highly-anticipated clash, “The Ice Pick” Vic Capri defeated Chicago-born and Kenosha-bred “80’s Bay-bee” TW3 to retain the SSW Unified Championship. Capri and TW3 have a combined run of nearly 50 years’ experience in the wrestling business. In the early going, there was a good mix of old-school grappling and solid strikes. Capri gained the upper hand after he poked Referee Mark Bitters in the eye and took advantage of a distracted TW3 to achieve the pinfall victory.
In the main event of the first half of the show, Kenosha native and stroke survivor Sophia Rose (fka Harley Jane) won the SSW/Sports N’ Signings Women’s Championship in a five-way match, outlasting incumbent champion Brooke Tanner, Shelly “The Bombshell” Benson, “Big Al” Alice Crowley and AEW star and Chicago’s own Skye Blue.
Kenosha native Sophia Rose, left, brawls with AEW star Skye Blue outside the ring during a five-way match for the SSW/SnS Women’s Championship. Rose won the title by pinning Alice Crowley. (Photo: Mike Pankow/Windy City Slam)
It started out as a 1-on-1 affair with the other women on the ring apron awaiting tags to become legal in the match. The bout quickly degenerated into a free-for-all with five competitors in and around the ring fighting. With Tanner and Benson brawling on the outside of the ring and Skye Blue briefly taken out, Rose took advantage and scored the pin on Crowley, who celebrated the victory with many of her family members in attendance.
In a fun and entertaining tag team match, one-time WWE Developmental talent Dr. Jeff Luxon and CBS58 Milwaukee news anchor “Iron” Mike Curkov defeated the tandem of “Notorious” Dave Rydell and Goninzon. The finish came when Curkov hit Goninzon with the stunner and scored the pinfall while Luxon tied up Rydell in a Sharpshooter. Things broke down between Rydell and Goninzon late in the match due to some untimely miscommunication.
In the night’s second match, “The Freakshow Thriller” Salem Crane, a staple in Wisconsin, defeated SSW original and NWA star “All Day” Marshe Rockett after a low blow. Crane and Rockett traded some stiff and vicious chops early in the match, but it seemed like Rockett had the upper hand in that department. Crane took the victory with an undetected nut shot and subsequent pinfall.
In the opening match, former WWE Superstar Kevin Thorn, who also worked as Mordecai back in the day, defeated Jay DeNiro in a battle of big men. DeNiro, formerly known as J-Ca$h, is a veteran in Wisconsin and has also worked for Ohio Valley Wrestling. At the start of the match, Thorn took the mic and said that DeNiro, dressed like a Mafia gangster, looked like a “greasy meatball” and got the fans to chant that at him. DeNiro controlled the early part of the match before Thorn made his comeback and hit an Impaler DDT to score the victory.
At the start of the show, Mad Mark and Cypher stormed the ring and Mad Mark ran down Kenosha and even tried to assault ring announcer and emcee Jesse Booker. A member of security ran out, but Cypher immediately greeted him with a massive bodyslam. Ryan Kross then walked out and said he’d fight Cypher in the main event. And “Mr. Joe” went on to send the fans home happy with a victory in that main event.
Check out a gallery of over 330 photos from SSW’s “HORSEPOWER II”: https://www.windycityslam.com/ssw-horsepower-ii
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/.
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