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The Rap Sheet - MSPW-HPW 2/16/2K7
The Rap Sheet – from the Mad Conservative
Midwestern States Pro Wrestling – Hammerlock
2/16/2K7 Stanford, IL

The divide between downstate Illinois and Chicago is none more prevalent than this show…

I'm WAY late on this show, mainly becaue I left my notes at the NGW show the next day and wasn't able to retrieve it until a month and a half later. On the flip side, I'm nearly caught up on the backlog of shows.

This event is going to be remembered for some time to come in my mind as the drive up to Stanford was difficult due to the blizzard conditions that got worse and worse as the night wore on—going home was rough as I could only go about 30 mph on the freeway and actually stopped for breakfast in Lincoln on the way back. The other highly memorable event is the backstage meltdown that went down during the course of this show, exposing how bad the cultural divide is between downstate and Chicago wrestling. I had to explore whether anyone could wrestle on both ends of I-55 as a result of this mess, cause it sure seemed to me that Chicago talent, more specifically MSPW, just did not want to work with downstate. What I should had explored but did not at the time was maybe because of Chicago being an island onto itself that those looking to wrestle in bigger markets should take a look at Indianapolis, being that the drive is about the same. I really don’t know much about the Indianapolis wrestling market at this time, but I’m sure the mentality there is far different from Chicago.

Apparently there are preshow matches, but they started before I arrived at the venue to my dismay, and I missed the first match entirely.

Live from the Church Bar in Stanford, IL. Your ring announcer is Doug Devore. Refereeing the entire show tonight is the Catalyst Cory Carter, keep that in mind for later. Apparently none of the NGW refs were available.

Dave Parker vs. Tripp Strychnine – After about five minutes, Stumpy and Chris Hazard storm the ring to beat up both men and make threats against the Geek Council who they are facing later tonight.

NO WINNER: No contest -> 5 mins. N/A

Dennis Devine vs. Imperio – Bobby Lee claimed Imperio’s ringname was “Dirty Sanchez”. Ummm no, I don’t think so, that’s EXTRMELY OFFENSIVE and Chicago will be all over it lambasting the fed again. Joined in progress, Dennis shoves Carter to knock Imperio down, Imperio with a spinning heel kick for two. Dennis hits a clothesline, but Imperio gets the sunset flip for three. From what I saw it was a basic match, but was trying to get my stuff out to do the work and wasn’t paying full attention.

WINNER: Imperio pin -> ?? mins. N/A

Apparently there were two dark matches because a lot of people showed up wanting to work the show. Not a good idea if the event is already booked. Perhaps they were looking to take spots of last minute cancellations due to the weather. But there were way too many workers around tonight. And that plays into the frustration of the MSPW roster and the backstage heat levels.

Doug Devore comes out thanking everyone for arriving despite the weather. We’re going to witness history and goes over tonight’s lineup. He announces a mini-tournament for the Hammerlock championship and notes that two of the wrestlers cannot be here tonight due to injury, including Silas Young & Mike Flannery. Devore has signed two worthy subs who are facing off NOW!

Alexander D. Doolittle vs. Big Pappa – MISMATCH! Who’s this ADD? Apparently a Bloomington resident but I hadn’t seen him on shows around here before, nor since then. Pappa has his way with ADD, ADD tries working the arm, Pappa misses an elbow so ADD tries some ineffective shoulderblocks…but Pappa powerslams him for two. Pappa misses a charge, ADD dropkicks the back, splash, another dropkick…but ADD runs into a Black Hole Slam for the pin. Wow that was quick.

WINNER: Big Pappa pin -> 2:45 mins. *

Drake vs. Diego Corleone w/ Joey Eastman – Joey’s here??? He’s demanding the mike, Joey says it’s a special night cause we’re in the presence of greatness. He actually names me and everyone else around me are a bunch of virgins. Joey keeps talking until a “shut the hell up” chant erupts. Joey says this is a church they shouldn’t be saying those things! He intros Diego, who was supposed to be here last time. Bobby Lee calls Joey and Diego a couple of homos. The winner faces Pappa for the HPW title later on, the challenge from Drake was made at the last event. They tangle, Drake breaks free, drop toe hold, elbows get one. Diego dodges the charge, he misses a rollup, Drake side slams him for two. Diego dumps him out for Joey to kick him, they fight in the seats, post, toss in, Joey chokes him some more before Diego hits a suplex. Butterfly armbar Diego and does an underhook hairpull. Drake gets a sideslam, can’t pick up Diego so he just slugs him down for one. Diego with the side suplex, Joey grabs at Drake, Diego with a backbreaker and the pin.

WINNER: Diego Corleone pin -> 6:50 mins. **

We are getting a lot of latecomers entering the building, due to the blowing snow.

The Highwaymen – Chris Hazard & Stumpy vs. The Geek Council - Dewey Dawson & Gilbert Lewis – If they’re the Highwaymen, why aren’t they out plowing the roads? Gilbert and Stumpy start, Lewis slaps him and Stumpy tags Hazard in. Tag Dewey, clothesline in the corner, monkey flip, sunset flip and pulls down Hazard’s shorts. Ugh, we have to look at his G-String? Hazard beats him in the corner, clothesline, tag Stumpy. They take turns wearing down Dewey, double team but Dewey dodges a charge and Stumpy splashes Hazard…oops. Lewis in with a spinning neckbreaker, legdrop for two. Stumpy throws a knee, Hazard suplex, axe from the second, suplex, choke…and that brings in Dewey and Stumpy to brawl. Stumpy with a boot choke, powerslam, WALKS on him, but misses a second rope legdrop. Hazard in, Lewis escapes him and Dewey tags. Double clothesline, backdrop on Hazard, clothesline on Stumpy, death valley driver on Hazard gets one. Dewey goes up, Hazard catches him, tries a move but it’s reversed into a small package for the pin.

WINNERS: The Geek Council pin -> 11:20 mins. ***

ADD: This was one of better matches on the show and they cut this from the DVD? What were they thinking?

Doug Devore says he promised only the best a month ago, so here comes TNA’s Traci Brooks! Doug thanks Traci for coming, Traci says she’s pleased for everyone who braved the weather, and asks if anyone wants to see some TNA. Out comes Cherry Malone, the Mastermind & CJ Esparza. Cherry says people can make fun of her all they want, but she says that she’s what a real woman wrestler looks like. The crowd gets very noisy and I can’t hear her talk. CJ tries to speak but gets shouted down as a midget. CJ is making some sort of advance to Traci, but she rebukes him. Steve Stone charges out and objects to CJ putting his hands on a girl. Even though he has a match against CJ, but he wants to combine two matches into a mixed tag. And the crowd willingly approves it. Cherry is not happy. And I’m not happy either, cause I felt I’ve been bait and switched having come up here to see this matchup and it was advertised as such. Remember this a bit later. Bobby Lee wants a three way match with Traci Brooks and whoever boyfriend she’s with.

Fatal Four-Way Match
Issan Hadeev w/ Drew Thomas vs. Ricky Powers w/ DeAndre King vs. Sinnister Raul Montenegro vs. Black Dragon – Well it’s gonna be a tornado. Everyone seems to have a flag except Sinnister…someone needs to get him one! Bobby keeps asking me to write things down, next time I’m getting him a separate notebook. Dragon and Powers go after Sinnister, Dragon flips on Sinnister, Powers splash. Double whip, double backdrop, Issan charges and takes out Dragon. Raul goes after Powers, then seems to be leaving—no he pulls a table from under the ring! Don’t rip the carpet! Hadeev gets tossed to the floor, Dragon dropkicks Powers in the corner. Raul goes after Hadeev, but gets LOW BLOWED! Dragon suplexes Powers, Hadeev and Sinnister go at it while the table falls apart. Side kick by Powers on Dragon and sends him out. Hadeev after Powers, suplex for two. Hadeev sends Powers to the corner, he tries to scissors him out but hits the floor himself. Raul pounds Dragon on the floor, running dropkick by Powers on Hadeev. Sinnister throws Hadeev to the floor, Hadeev is doing something to Sinnister…and Raul is bleeding! Hadeev gets thrown through a table but cover only gets two! A bit of confusion, Raul is out, Hadeev is out, Powers pounds Dragon in the corner, Powers with the handspring legscissors, but Sinnister PUNTS him out. Sinnister kicks him on the back, knocks Hadeev into the seats and pins Dragon. Enough action but not as good as other clashes of this type. Hadeev seems to be injured as he caught a shot in the solar plexus.

WINNER: Raul Montenegro pin -> 6:30 mins. **

Mixed Tag Team Match
Cherry Malone & CJ Esparza vs. Traci Brooks & Metal Steve Stone – CJ is calling himself a “man-whore”? Traci asks again who wants to see some TNA, and pulls off the shirt showing off her cleavage. CJ and Traci start the match, CJ slaps Traci on the rear and grabs at her boobs. RAPE!!! Traci knocks him downs and rides him like a horse. Tag Stone, he does the trio and CHOPS him hard! Stone with the suspended suplex for ten seconds gets two. Stone powerslam for two. Mastermind grabs at Stone, CJ with a superkick and choke. Cherry assists with the choking, CJ dropkick in the corner, running forearm and tags Cherry. She kicks him and tags CJ back in for a clothesline. Cherry with a double legdrop on Stone for two. CJ in, Stone comes to life but runs into a boot, CJ with a tornado DDT for two. Shoulderblock Stone in the corner, we want Traci chant, CJ misses a charge, Stone misses the lariat, but gets the super spinebuster! Tags to the girls, shoulderblock, clothesline, splash in the corner, bulldog by Traci for two. Stone hits a clothesline from heck on CJ, Mastermind on the apron, Stone slaps him, Cherry sends Traci into the post, CJ with a LOW BLOW on Stone and blasts him with some weapon getting the pin.

WINNERS: CJ Esparza & Cherry Malone pin -> 9:20 mins. **½

Why’d they change the match? We go to intermission, and I ask Brooks that question as she comes out to do autographs. As part of the backstage turmoil, for some reason the MSPW guys wanted to change it because they thought Cherry couldn’t have a good match against Traci. As a result, the advertised encounter only got like less than a minute and I’m disgusted with this turn of events. Supposedly MSPW forced the change in match or would had pulled Traci out of the show, though Traci was unaware of what was going on with the booking changes. Cherry, bless her heart, stays out of the politics and just goes along with things. Meanwhile Steve Stone goes up to referee Cory Carter to talk about what was done wrong in the match and Carter tells him he don’t have time he’s got ten matches and his is over, being he’s the only referee for everything. Stone gets mad about it, and the tensions build up from there. Hopefully Traci Brooks will get booked again via other channels, going AROUND MSPW to do it, and the match will be held. Who knows when that’s gonna happen if ever though, since TNA has put restrictions on using their talent by indy feds. There’s other details but it’s a bit much to recount everything.

Survivor Series Match
Conner Riley, Chuck Ray & Eric Ruffington vs. Blake Steel, Andy Roberts & Dangerous Drew Thomas w/ Issan Hadeev, Nikki Knight & Mr. Rizz – Drew & Conner start. Drew works the arm, and has his corner choke away, LOW BLOW, rope walk legdrop. Conner however gets a jumping flatliner outta nowhere and pins Thomas.

Drew Thomas, you have been voted off the island. Conner Riley pin -> 2:40 mins.

Conner gets rolled up however by Andy and pins him at 2:45 mins.

Andy Roberts comes in with a shoulerblock, Chuck Ray takes him down, splashes him in the corner, Andy escapes, tags Blake. Chops Chuck, clothesline cover gets two. Andy chokes Chuck outside as Blake ties up Carter. Andy covers cheaply for two. Blake chokes away, Andy with hard chops, but Chuck splashes him in the corner. Nikki slaps Bobby Lee in the front row! Oh man. Andy with a jawbreaker for two. Tag Blake, they work over Chuck, a chant of “let’s go Jesus” erupts. Chuck Ray with a double suplex, he goes up, Blake trips him up, Andy with a kick to the face and gets the pin on him.

Chuck Ray, you have been voted off the island. Andy Roberts pin -> 8:10 mins.

Eric Ruffington jumps in, clotheslines Roberts, powerslam gets two. Andy gets a clothesline, flying elbow, superkick is blocked, Ruff with a PILEDRIVER and the three.

Andy Roberts, you have been voted off the island. Eric Ruffington pin -> 9:10 mins.

Oh it’s a showdown, but the ref is distracted, Rizz jumps in the ring and clobbers Ruffington and Steel takes the pin. The ref saw Rizz in the ring but did nothing? BULL! Highway robbery. BAD CALL TripC!

WINNER and SOLE SURVIVOR: Blake Steel pin -> 9:50 mins. ***

“Axis” William Hatcher & Justin Dredd vs. XXXPlicit Content – Danny Scott & Bailey Mannix – Bailey & Axis start. Hip toss and dropkick Bailey, tag DDS and Dredd. Shoulderblocks have no effect, DDS suplexes him. Tag Mannix, flip double team, butterfly suplex, bad powerbomb gets two. Lungblower, dropkick double team, suplex in the ring gets two. Bailey with a slam and tags DDS. Reverse DVD double team gets two. Dredd gets a backcracker on Mannix, dropkick in the corner gets two. Dredd with the Edgecution for two. Spinning heel kick gets two. Mannix with the full nelson suplex and tags DDS. DDS clears the area, ROCK BOTTOM on someone. Dredd goes to the floor, Axis hits some sort of move, goes after Bailey, Dredd is in a bad way, Axis hangs Mannix in the corner, and stomps his face to the mat. DDS in, neckbreaker of sorts on Axis, BOOT, the turnbuckle falls off, Axis manages a sunset flip on DDS and gets the upset pin.

WINNERS: Axis & Justin Dredd pin -> 12:30 mins. ***½

Bailey Mannix gets all pissy about being told to keep the match moving by the ref among other things and tries to leave the building right away after the match—going so far as to having Doug Devore tell people to move their cars or they will be towed because they are “blocking a firelane”. Bobby Lee wants me to write that he f’in rules, but he’s really a fruit loop.

MSPW Heavyweight Championship
(c)Jason Hades vs. Brett Gakiya – Takedown Hades, they wrestle on the mat, Brett with a tilted side slam, flying neckbreaker Hades, suplex gets two. Hades with a monkey flip, side suplex gets two. Springboard into a reverse DDT by Brett for two. Headscissors, spinning heel kick by Brett gets two. Brett with a running dropkick for two. Hades with a running Juvy Driver gets two. Brett gets the sleeper, Hades flips him off. Brett with a fisherman’s spinning neckbreaker for two. Brett goes up, Hades intercepts for a superplex for two. Suplex is blocked, Hades Fisherman’s suplex for two. Hades goes to a reverse full nelson and Brett taps.

WINNER and STILL CHAMP: Jason Hades submission -> 10:35 mins. ***¾

HPW Heavyweight Championship
“The Strangler” Diego Corleone w/ Joey Eastman vs. Big Pappa – Joey says this match shouldn’t happen, well go home! Give Pappa the belt! Stallfest to start, to the point Doug Devore says if he doesn’t enter the ring then Pappa wins by forfeit. At this time the announcement is made to move cars. Someone notes Stanford doesn’t have a towing company in town. Pappa gets the shoulderblock, Diego with a poke, chops him to no effect. Bearhug Pappa, elbows in the corner, splash in the corner, another splash. Joey jumps in but nearly crashes into the Diego. Pappa knocks their heads together and fights Diego on the floor. Diego with a dropkick to the leg and Pappa hits the floor. Diego pounds away, Xaviera goes icing Joey…hehe. Joey does an incantation as Diego works the leg with a toe hold. Pappa tries appealing to the crowd but Diego works the leg some more, getting a chop block. Diego with the figure four, Pappa turns it over, Pappa with the powerslam. Pappa tries to do something but his knee keeps giving out. Carter decides he can’t continue and stops it.

WINNER and NEW CHAMP: Diego Corleone KO -> 15 mins. **¾

Big Pappa appears to have blown out his knee, as several people come out to check on him, but Diego goes psycho as he keeps wanting to attack Pappa and doesn’t care he won the title. Shockingly Pappa tried to wrestle on that bad wheel the next night at NGW, even though he was limping badly and should have had a sub put in his place.

Couple days later, DDS posts stuff on Chicago’s board, I being an inquiring mind wanted to know what happened…then it gets into a fierce debate over Chicago vs. downstate, as I find out they wanted to dump most of the downstate talent and keep about a dozen locals among other things. All in all, Hammerlock was supposed to be designed for downstate talent to work another place to work during the weekend as well as get experience working some Chicago and St. Louis talent. MSPW didn’t want to go along with that, so they broke ties with HPW. HPW in the future will have to book talent from Chicago on an individual case by case basis and through other channels. Downstaters are pretty much limited on Chicago options, leading me to believe they’re better off trying to go to St. Louis, the Quad Cities, Memphis or Indianapolis. As with Illinois politics, the culture between Chicago and downstate is vastly different and incapable with each other.

Well there you have it, the clearest warning to everyone around downstate Illinois to be very careful who you book from Chicago and how many, cause you never know what might happen if they don’t get their way. As a result of this mess, I’ve advised everyone reading the STLWC in a Fact or Fiction column that if anyone downstate books Chicago talent to limit themselves on how many they use and to absolutely not allow them to get into a position where they can hold the show hostage to force things their way. By doing the limits, if someone tries to pull such a stunt, the promoter still has the power to say to them ‘if you guys don’t want to play with us then fine go home, we’ll find someone else’. That will do a lot more to keep things like this from happening again, and keep potential troublemakers away. Three months later, as I’m typing this rap sheet, a new St. Louis area fed has booked a group of guys from MSPW. I had wondered if the MSPW roster was gonna work anywhere other than PWI (ironically, Tobi Hope was running bets on how many shows it would take before there was a split—course he can’t seem to keep his own fed going without having to go on a long hiatus every year), PWI is down until September, so they’re gonna make their debut for OSWA. The owners read the fact or fiction column, the reporting I did on the incident, and the big firefight debate on the issue I engaged on Chicago’s board so they’re well aware of what happened with HPW, and should be prepared for any BS that gets pulled.

This show had ELEVEN matches in all. Supposedly the video of this is on PW Torrents, but I can’t get it, cause I don’t wanna mess with all the hoops to sign up. Someone I know has the video, but I haven’t yet come up with something he is willing to trade it for just yet.

The Verdict: The bulk of the show had some good matches, even if I had figured in low ratings for the opening dark matches, it wouldn’t had dragged the show down. The guys up north thought the entire show stunk bad, which I don’t agree with, cause I’m giving this an overall…

Thumbs up.