Ego Pro Chicago delivers hot show
(thumbnail photo above courtesy Nick Consalvo/@cameraguygimmick)
HOMICIDE-KODA HERNANDEZ ROCKS THE FORGE
By Mike Pankow
March 19, 2024
Even if you’ve seen only one Koda Hernandez match, you know that Eddie Guerrero was his idol.
Guerrero passed away when Hernandez was just a young child, but the Freelance Academy product adopted a lot of Guerrero’s trademark maneuvers. However, a dream match with the man who “lied, cheated and stole” would never be in the cards.
Homicide jabs a fork into the forehead of Koda Hernandez during the main event match at Ego Pro Wrestling in Joliet on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Photo courtesy Nick Consalvo/@cameraguygimmick)
The next best thing happened for Hernandez last Saturday (May 16) when he went toe-to-toe with another legendary Latino performer in the main event of Ego Pro Wrestling at The Forge in Joliet. Homicide, who has wrestled for the NWA, Ring of Honor and TNA, celebrated 30 years in the wrestling business by defeating Hernandez in a brutal, no-disqualification brawl.
The match saw doors, chairs and forks used and Hernandez was busted open during the melee. Hernandez, who is one of the hottest performers in Freelance and in the Chicagoland area, almost pulled off the ultimate upset. A former Freelance Underground Tag Team Champion with Darius Latrell, Hernandez’s star is on the rise after a recent victory over Kylie Rae.
It took two Gringo Cutters from Homicide to put Hernandez away. The first one put Hernandez threw a door that straddled two steel chairs, but somehow Hernandez kicked out at 2. Homicide went back to the well and nailed another Gringo Cutter off the top rope and that time Referee Brian Allen completed a 3-count.
Homicide and Hernandez embraced after the match as a sign of hard-earned respect to close out a thrilling variety show in the intimate concert venue in Downtown Joliet.
Veteran wrestler Robert “Ego” Anthony, with over 20 years of experience in the business, recently has taken the dip into promoting his Ego Pro brand. He has handled the one-hour wrestling shows following Windy City ThunderBolts games over the last couple of years at Ozinga Field in Crestwood. He also has promoted shows at Navarro Farm in Frankfort to benefit special needs individuals.
Robert “Ego” Anthony delivers a Team 74 Driver on Ryan Matthews at Ego Pro Wrestling in Joliet on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Photo courtesy Nick Consalvo/@cameraguygimmick)
Last Saturday was his first full-fledged show in his hometown of Joliet and from all appearances, it rocked the house.
In addition to the crazy main event of Homicide and Hernandez, AEW and ROH star and Chicago’s own Colt Cabana and WWE Hall of Famer “The Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart were among the other attractions at the event.
Anthony, himself, was involved in the semi-main event when he took on and defeated a disgruntled Ryan Matthews, who had been complaining for weeks on social media about not being booked for the event.
Matthews, a regular at Ego Pro’s baseball shows, came out early in the show with his chest painted with the words, “Bobert Suks,” and demanded a match. Emcee and ring announcer Mr. Ricolo informed Matthews that he has a match, and it would be against a mystery opponent later in the evening.
Anthony, a former AAW and Freelance World Champion, was indeed the mystery opponent, and he took it to the brash and beautiful one with an array of physical maneuvers, including chops to the chest and vertical suplexes.
Late in the match, Referee Chris Headford was knocked over and Matthews looked to finish off Anthony with a kendo stick. As Matthews was ready to lower the boom, Anthony’s son, Harrison, ran into the ring and covered up his dad. Matthews confronted Anthony’s son, but Harrison responded with a kick to Matthews’ jewels and followed up with a kendo stick blast.
Anthony recovered enough to deliver the Team 74/Mandalorian Driver (Death Valley Driver) to get the 3-count and the victory to joy of the crowd. Father and son celebrated as Matthews writhed in pain.
The show kicked off in grand style with The Tracy Smothers Cruiserweight Classic, a six-man scramble with a mix of veterans and up-and-comers. “Everyone’s Friend” Chico Suave, who holds the Freelance Underground Independent Championship, emerged victorious over a group of competitors including Trik Davis, Sabin Gauge, Alfonso Gonzalez, Sorta Incredible Iverson and Robbie Reeves.
Davis was the longest tenured performer in the match and wore Chicago Bears-style tights with the nicknames of former Bears’ Steve “Mongo” McMichael, Charles Tillman and Craig Heyward emblazoned on them. It was a festival of fun and high spots, much like the traditional opening scrambles at Freelance Wrestling.
Suave hit the Chico Slam on Gonzalez and got the 3-count. After Suave left the ring, Gonzalez got in the face of Referee “2Juice” Andy Long. Long got into the spirit of 3:16 Day and nailed Gonzalez with a Stone Cold Stunner.
Next up was an unannounced tag team match that saw The Brothers of Funstruction, former champions in places such as Freelance Underground and POWW Entertainment, defeated the team of Joey “Jet” Avalon and Benny Bargas.
The clowns of Ruffo and Yabo were up to their old tricks against the rumble-and-tumble combo of Avalon and Bargas. Yabo popped a balloon in the face of Avalon, leading to the pin.
In a battle of athletic bruisers, AAW and DREAMWAVE mainstay Hartenbower picked up a huge victory over “The Land Shark” Conan Lycan. Lycan, the reigning Chicago Style Wrestling Champion, missed a 450 splash from the top rope and Hartenbower quickly took advantage and nailed a spear, leading to a 3-count.
Frank The Clown, right, throws powder in the face of Colt Cabana during an arm-wrestling contest at Ego Pro Wrestling in Joliet on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Photo courtesy Nick Consalvo/@cameraguygimmick)
Then, there was the quirkiest segment on the program with the arm-wrestling contest between Cabana and fan-turned-manager Frank The Clown. Frank had Hart in his corner and Cabana’s second was White Sox mascot Southpaw, the big, green furry creature for Chicago’s South Side baseball team.
In typical pro wrestling/arm wrestling form, FTC played the cowardly heel with his posturing and stalling. Somehow, FTC extracted some powder and threw it in the face of Cabana, enabling him to slam down his arm for the victory.
Southpaw stepped up and delivered a headbutt to FTC, then Cabana nailed FTC with a “Flying A—hole” in the corner. Southpaw followed up with a stunner to lay out Frank to the enjoyment of the crowd.
After the levity of the arm-wrestling farce, friends and tag team partners Davey Bang and August Matthews squared off in a classic 1-on-1 affair.
It was a mix of high-flying and grappling between the former Freelance Wrestling Tag Team Champions, who can no longer use their original tag-team name due to a cease-and-desist order. Bang won the crowd pleaser with a 450 splash. Bang and Matthews embraced after the match.
In a match with some lighthearted moments and some heavy hitting, “Yours Rudely” Trevor Outlaw defeated “Uncle T” Solomon Tupu in a highly-anticipated bout between the consummate heel and fun-loving brute.
To start the match, Tupu got the upper hand by throwing some of his prop cash in the face of Outlaw. The match then degenerated into a brawl in the audience where fans took turns chopping Outlaw in the chest, including members of his own family. There was water and beer splashed about as the two men fought outside the ring.
Back in the ring, Outlaw returned the favor to Tupu and threw the cash in “Uncle T’s” face to set up a Pedigree and a huge pinfall victory.
Lockport native Regan Lydale celebrates her team’s victory after she pinned Aminah Belmont as Referee Brian Allen calls for the bell at Ego Pro Wrestling in Joliet on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Photo courtesy Nick Consalvo/@cameraguygimmick)
In a featured women’s tag team match, Sierra and Regan Lydale defeated “Chicago’s Sweetheart” Missa Kate and Aminah Belmont. Each side featured a young veteran and an up-and-comer.
Sierra and Missa Kate, still in their 20s, are already seasoned veterans on the Midwest scene. Sierra is the reigning AAW Women’s Champion and co-holder of the CSW Tag Team Championship with Avalon while Missa Kate is the current 2econd Wrestling Championship among her accolades.
Things broke down for the team of Missa and Belmont as Missa accidentally hit her partner with a Kick-fil-A and Lydale, from nearby Lockport, hit a pump-handle slam (Rhea Ripley’s Riptide) as the “Big Hoss Hippie” got the pin on Belmont.
The response to the show – and the excellent mix of talent – may lead to more Ego Pro Chicago events like this one back at The Forge in the future.
Special thanks to Nick Consalvo (@cameraguygimmick) for allowing us to use some of his awesome photos from the event. Check out his full gallery of photos from Ego Pro: https://cameraguygimmick.smugmug.com/Ego-Pro-Wrestling/Ego-pro-Wrestling-3162024.
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 Instagram or X (formerly Twitter).
