Like the coming spring, Saint Louis Anarchy has returned at the end of a cold, dreary winter. Not able to harness the power of the sun that heats the earth, Anarchy’s answer to a drab February is a hotly contested, one-night strong style tournament. The event, dubbed “In Your Hall: Strong Style Series” in reference to Anarchy’s home base at Spaulding Hall in Alton, is the first Saint Louis Anarchy event since “Gateway To Anarchy” on January 10th.
The eight-man Strong Style Series tournament is the highlight of the action on February 21, but there will be a handful of quality contests outside of tournament action. Gateway Heritage Champion Jeremy Wyatt will be defending his crown, if he can survive a bout with Jake Something at Journey Pro Wrestling in Kansas City the night prior.
Last Anarchy, Jeremy Wyatt successfully retained his title in a hectic, dangerous, and pizza-destroying battle with deathmatch aficionado Nick Gage. This go round, Wyatt faces a completely different test in Anthony “Sharkbait” Gutierrez, who’s quickly became one of the premier hybrids of pro wrestling and mixed martial arts showcasing their talent on the independent wrestling scene.
Also outside of the tournament is an Anarchy farewell to The Hooligans, who are wrestling their final match on US soil at Spaulding Hall. The Hooligans have run roughshod on the wrestling landscape over their careers, and reuniting to take them on are two representatives of Viking War Party, Herzog and Warhorse.
Warhorse has blossomed on his own into a bonafide star of independent wrestling. Once just a Little Viking in the War Party, Warhorse is now an ass-ruling Independent Wrestling Television Champion. If there’s anyone in Anarchy deserving of seeing off the Hooligans, it’s Warhorse.
The evening’s showcase event is the Strong Style Series, which promises great matches from the opening round to the final. For the uninitiated in professional wrestling terminology, “strong style” refers to a style of wrestling where competitors rely more on strikes like forearms, kicks, open-hand chops, and generally lean on high-impact moves/slams to try to defeat their opponents. The eight men competing in this tournament are some of the toughest around wrestling as a whole.
Nashville’s Brett Ison and seeming Anarchy regular (at this point) Aaron Williams go toe-to-toe in the opening round. Ison wrote a love note to strong style wrestling on Twitter, and will be looking to show the Anarchy faithful that strong style is “more than guys hitting each other really hard”. Williams is no slouch himself, despite a loss to Thomas Shire last Anarchy, Williams can throw with the best of ‘em.
Another opening round matchup sees a member of Greg Jovi’s dastardly Family, Jake Dirden, taking on the hard-headed Lonestar, Curt Stallion. Dirden is as tough as they come, but the real deciding factor in this match will be if any members of The Family will be joining him ringside for the occasion.
Gary Jay faces Erick Stevens in the third of four opening round contests. The “Stiff Robo Ginger” Gary Jay will be right at home in Spaulding Hall soaking up the #AnarchyAtmosphere, the central headquarters of the Gary Jay Movement. Wrestling fans might remember Erick Stevens from his time in Ring Of Honor over a decade ago, but after a nine-year hiatus, Stevens is back and eager to prove that he hasn’t lost a step.
The final opening round fight sees “The King of Hoss Island” Thomas Shire take on Daniel Makabe. Shire has been trained by the best of the best, and the mastering of his trade has made him a highly respected figure on the Anarchy roster. However, Daniel Makabe might be one of the best in-ring wrestlers going today, and won Seattle promotion 3-2-1 BATTLE!’s “GO!” tournament in December.
Winners of these opening round contests will meet in semis that night, and the winners of those semis will meet in the final, which will likely be a co-main event of the evening with the Gateway Heritage Championship match. The winner of the Strong Style Series earns a spot in May 1’s Submission Series, which will be another eight-person tournament highlighting a more mat-based style of wrestling.
Back outside of the tournament, the show is rounded out by The Kenway challenging “Big Beef” Gnarls Garvin, with both eager to showcase their skills and potentially climb the Anarchy ladder. Kenway, as usual, won’t be at Spaulding Hall looking to make friends. Conversely, “Big Beef” has quickly become a fan favorite, even if it’s just because people like chanting “BEEF! BEEF! BEEF!”.
Last but not least in this roundup is Greg Jovi’s loyal Family facing Anarchy’s best dressed tag team, Evan Gelisticio and Everett Connors. Angelus Layne and Christian Rose will be representing The Family for Greg Jovi, with Family member Jake Dirden occupied with the Strong Style Series tournament. Perhaps Raul The Bear can even the odds if Greg Jovi tries to get ringside.
Not just a flamboyant wrestler, Everett Connors is an entertainer, and will be in charge of the pre-party festivities before the main card kicks off at 7:30pm. Connors will be hosting a mini-hoop dunk contest, and there will also be a promo contest for anyone that thinks they can cut a convincing wrestling promo on a member of the Anarchy roster. I wouldn’t suggest anything too mean, however, because all of those guys could beat you up.
Anarchy’s pre-show festivities start at 6:15pm, again on February 21. Tickets are available online here and general admission will be available at the door of the venue. If you can’t make it to Alton for the action, the show can be watched on IndependentWrestling.TV.
Spaulding Hall’s famous pizza not included with the streaming purchase.
The St. Louis area’s wrestling faithful descended upon Spaulding Hall in Alton on Friday, January 10 for Saint Louis Anarchy’s first show of the new year, Gateway To Anarchy. Spaulding Hall, a Knights of Columbus hall just up the hill from Alton’s main drag, is the home of Anarchy, and the spiritual home of the modern era of St. Louis wrestling. Friday night, Spaulding Hall was jam-packed, with hundreds of fervent fans gathering for a big night featuring all sorts of stars from the independent wrestling scene.
*Spoiler warning for those planning to watch on Independent Wrestling TV, results follow*
Pre-show festivities
Per usual, the night was kicked off by a few surprise pre-show matches. Levi Everett, a humble Amish man who “travels by way of horse and buggy” fought Victor Avalon, who made a mockery of Everett’s butter churn, and became a villain in the eyes of the crowd filing in Spaulding Hall. Everett did not take Avalon breaking his churn lightly, and dispatched of Everett in quick fashion.
In the second match, Anarchy fans were introduced to two more members of IFHY, Shawn Kemp and Johnathan Wolf, who squared off with the Diamond Dogs, Graham Bell and Luke Langley. A few months ago Bell reached an achievement many pro wrestlers dream of, wrestling in Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall, but might be more known to some as the Diamond Dog with the really big cannon. This was a quick but fun match, with the IFHY team of Kemp and Wolf coming out victorious.
In the return of what I’ve dubbed the “Everett Connors Variety Hour”, Connors and Raul the Bear came out to the ring to entertain fans while people found their seats and got food and drinks prior to the start of the main show. Connors asked the crowd for names of wrestlers/people around Saint Louis Anarchy so he could do impressions of them. While I’m not an expert on impressions or impersonations, Connors seemed to just about nail each one, even if he was just saying “Ooooh I’m ______ I’m a bitch”.
The Kenway def. Cole Radrick
The first match of the main card saw the third member of IFHY step into the ring in “Lionheart” Cole Radrick. He squared off with The Kenway, who was sporting a new jacket but the same disdain for those who don’t recognize his talent. Kenway is a very talented jerk, and his skill in the ring can make you forget his disposition. Radrick’s left knee was hurt in the match, and Kenway attacked it with precision until the end. Radrick was forced to tap to the figure four leg lock, stretching the hurt knee till it couldn’t be stretched anymore.
Seishin & Kenny Alfonso def. Ace Perry & Deacon Cash
Perry and Cash (who came to the ring holding a money gun, not sure if the money in it was real) drew the ire of the Anarchy faithful by attacking fan favorites Seishin and Alfonso while they were posing for the crowd to start the match. They probably shouldn’t have angered “The Little Blue Dragon” Seishin, who, once tagged into the contest, was literally breathing fire. Her energy and specifically, her kicks spelled doom for Perry and Cash. Seishin clocked Deacon Cash with a big running knee and pinned him for the finish.
Thomas Shire def. Aaron Williams
A few Anarchy events ago, Shire was getting mixed to negative reactions from the hundreds in attendance. That’s seemingly all changed, and Shire received a hero’s welcome at Spaulding Hall on Friday night. Williams and Shire are a well-matched pair in the ring, and their years of combined wrestling experience was really on display.
Shire possessed the size advantage, but Williams’ striking power leveled the playing field. Shire caught Williams in the UFO (where a wrestler lifts another wrestler on their shoulders, spins around a bunch, and dumps the wrestler back on the ground) which might have been the end of another match, but couldn’t capitalize and pin Williams after it. Shire pinned Williams after a war of attrition, and both men received a standing ovation from the faithful Anarchy crowd.
Curt Stallion def. Gary Jay
In my preview for this match, I said it was a potential show-stealer, and it did not disappoint. For the first say, five minutes of the match, both men were just taunting each other, goading the other on to hit them as hard as they could. “Give me your best fuckin’ shot.” said Curt Stallion, bemused by the fanfare around Gary Jay, arguably the biggest fan favorite in Saint Louis Anarchy. Jay obliged Stallion’s request, and Stallion returned with some stiff strikes of his own.
Not impressed by Stallion’s efforts, Jay continued to pour on the insults. “C’mon Curt, what are you, a bitch?” Eager to prove that he wasn’t, Stallion kicked his strikes up a notch, with both wrestlers already showing bruising from their exchanged blows. If I could compare Curt Stallion and Gary Jay’s match to another, I’d compare it to when a fight happens in a cartoon and all you really see is a big cloud of dust with fists and kicks flying.
The tide of the match turned when Stallion, on the floor outside the ring, jumped up and headbutted a diving/attacking Gary Jay, who crashed head-first to the cold tile of the Spaulding Hall floor. Despite Jay knocking the hell out of Stallion throughout the match, Stallion’s trademark headbutts were the decider. Stallion pinned Gary Jay following the last headbutt, and most importantly, won against one of the Four Pillars of St. Louis Wrestling.
When Curt Stallion returned to Anarchy, he set his sights on those men known as the Four Pillars (Gary Jay, Warhorse, The Besties In The World). After falling short of defeating Warhorse and capturing the Independent Wrestling TV title, a win against Gary Jay has earned him the right to face the remaining pillars, the Besties, in a tag match at a later date.
Angelus Layne, Jake Dirden & Christian Rose def. Evan Gelistico, Everett Connors & Billie Starkz
Without the conniving antics of Greg Jovi ringside, I wondered if The Family would miss their leader in this six-person tag. The match marked Angelus Layne’s first Anarchy action after coming out of retirement, and she looked more than sharp in and around the ring. Even though Greg Jovi wasn’t around, The Family still managed to be fairly dastardly without him, going as low as literally biting Evan Gelistico’s hand as he reached towards his corner for a tag. “Space Jesus” Billie Starkz couldn’t save Anarchy from The Family this time around, and Angelus Layne pinned her for the win.
“First things first, unfortunately Father Greg (Jovi) couldn’t be here tonight, he is busy negotiating for title opportunities and main event matches for Mr. Dirden, Miss Layne, and obviously, myself. Second things second, you may ask why Angelus Layne, a cornerstone of Saint Louis Anarchy, would join The Family. Well it’s because of all of you! She was forced to leave and none of you cared, you all forgot about her, and you all moved onto the next ‘flavor of the week’, Billie Starkz. Third things third, you may ask why we chose to excommunicate Thomas Shire. He thought he was bigger than us, he thought he was bigger than Greg, he thought he was bigger than The Family. Family comes first, and The Family is forever.”
Christian Rose, after the six-person tag match
Hearing his name invoked, Thomas Shire came out to the ring and stared down each member of the family, and attacked each of them. Unfortunately the Family held strength in numbers, and as Shire hoisted Layne to his shoulders for a UFO, he was hit with a low blow and then ganged up on, with Layne knocking him out with a running knee. While beaten down on Friday night, Shire might be winning more fans in Anarchy by squarely positioning himself against Greg Jovi’s villainous Family.
Anthony “Sharkbait” Gutierrez def. Chip Day
While Chip Day might be more known as a heavy hitter across independent wrestling, this match showcased that he’s more than capable of showing his talents on the mat, grappling move for move with the professional MMA talent that is Anthony Gutierrez. Mat-based, methodical wrestling doesn’t get the praise it deserves in independent professional wrestling because it might not look as crazy as guys jumping from the top rope to the floor, but it’s a nuance that changes the flow of a typical show, and these two put on a great display of the style.
I thought the match would tip in Day’s favor when he caught Sharkbait in a triangle, after Sharkbait attempted a huge punch on a downed Day. Sharkbait, as he so often does, wriggled out of the hold and in seconds Day was back on the defensive. Sharkbait ended the match with a big spinning heel kick, pinning Chip Day for the three count and adding another impressive win to his Anarchy record thus far.
The Besties In The World (Davey Vega & Mat Fitchett) def. Larry D & “Big Beef” Gnarls Garvin
Many times in wrestling, fans are asked to pick or root for a winner when they earnestly respect and admire everyone in the ring. Chants of “Both these guys!” or “All these guys!” have become commonplace for crowds who don’t want either side to feel they’re not welcome. When the Besties were in the same ring with “The Best Hand In The House” Larry D and “Big Beef” Gnarls Garvin, Anarchy’s faithful were faced with the same conundrum.
The size advantage for Larry D and Big Beef were apparent early and often, throwing the Besties around, and occasionally throwing them onto one another. The Besties were clearly overpowered here, but possessed the agility and creativity with their offense to level the playing field against their meatier opponents. I’m still thinking about the move where Davey Vega looked to be suplexing his partner Mat Fitchett, but actually threw Fitchett at Larry D for a stunner-type move. Fitchett on Twitter called the move “Boomerang”.
This match, like many on the Anarchy card, spilled out of the ring. Big Beef cleared out what looked to be a third of the building with a huge dive to the outside, with Besties, fans, his teammate Larry D and plenty of chairs caught in the crossfire. The Besties sealed the deal and won the match, proving why they’re one of the best tag teams anywhere in wrestling today.
“These two guys are fuckin’ badass, man.” Mat Fitchett said to the crowd following the match. “Play their music or something because these guys deserve to have this ring.” Fitchett also made note that Larry D has recently signed with Impact Wrestling, and will be plying his trade on TV. The Anarchy crowd offered a “You deserve it” chant as he and Big Beef were applauded throughout Spaulding Hall.
Independent Wrestling TV Title Match: (c) Warhorse def. Fred Yehi
A “big fight feel” descended upon Spaulding Hall as soon as Warhorse’s music hit. Fans far and wide have been captivated by Warhorse, who’s been ruling ass across independent wrestling and, if you follow him, your Twitter timeline. Yehi might be a bit more soft-spoken on social media, but his work in the ring does the talking his Twitter doesn’t.
Warhorse started this match poking the bear that is Yehi, and probably shouldn’t have. Yehi’s retort was brutal, showing the Anarchy crowd why he’s been nicknamed “Savageweight”. Yehi mocked Warhorse’s headbanging and air guitaring while subjecting the IWTV champ to a vicious assault.
It has to be said that Yehi is a prototype for what a wrestler should be in many people’s minds. He’s a violent adonis, his good looks had women in the crowd cheering him on without ever seeing him perform before, and his precise tactics inside the ropes match or best anyone in the sport of pro wrestling today. Yehi slowed the pace of the match down to his liking, and, for the most part, took Warhorse’s rabid fans out of the match.
Yehi captured Warhorse in the Koji Clutch, his go-to submission hold, and a desperate Warhorse fought to the ropes to break the hold. Warhorse was exasperated and put on the back foot by Yehi’s offense, but a big powerbomb (called a HORSEPOWERBOMB by Warhorse on Twitter) shifted the flow of the match. Warhorse rolled through another attempted Koji Clutch by Yehi and snuck a pin on the mat, hoisting Yehi by his own petard.
Following the match, Warhorse and Fred Yehi stared each other down, and Warhorse offered a handshake, and likely, a path for Yehi to follow as he enters the world of Saint Louis Anarchy. Yehi put up a hand, but unwound a middle finger, and soon another with the other hand. Yehi clearly did not come to Anarchy to make friends.
Gateway Heritage Championship Match: (c) Jeremy Wyatt def. Nick Gage
Full disclosure here, this one was a bit too chaotic for me to take notes on my phone during. This match made for a perfect storm of sorts. The crowd largely hated Wyatt. They’ve largely hated Wyatt for some time. Nick Gage came to give the people what they claim to want, a new champion. After Wyatt called Nick Gage “too stupid for the rules” at the last Anarchy Event, No Church In The Wild, he criticized the Spaulding Hall crowd for rooting on this outsider to take his belt.
Before the match had even started, Nick Gage threw my pizza on the floor. Not a whole one, thankfully, but the remaining five or six square-cut slices slammed on the Spaulding Hall tile as Gage tossed the chair the pizza was sitting on. Frankly, it was an honor to lose a quarter of a pizza to a deathmatch wrestling icon.
Wyatt did toss anything of mine thankfully, as his entrance was a bit more meticulous and muted, as it always is. Jeremy Wyatt’s business is usually done in the ring, but naturally, as many Nick Gage matches tend to do, it spilled outside immediately, plowing through the crowd and chairs and even through the entrance curtain, with other wrestlers scurrying to the back as the PVC pipes holding the curtains came crashing down.
Wyatt and Gage took turns throwing each other into chairs that were being held up by fans, or just chairs on the ground, frankly, they were just throwing each other all over the place. One instance of crowd interaction saw a fan throw trash at Wyatt, but the Monarch remained focused on his mission. By the time the match came back to the ring, so did the chairs, with the referee and wrestlers alike both having to tell fans to stop throwing chairs into the ring.
Gage tossed Wyatt onto about seven or eight chairs and attempted to go for the win but Wyatt managed to kick out. Wyatt had to reach into a bag of tricks he doesn’t usually dive into, which included handcuffing Nick Gage, and choking him with the cuffs. Not finished, Wyatt went back under the ring for more mayhem, and came back with a white powder, throwing it in Gage’s face and blinding him.
Gage was staggered, blinded by the powder, throwing punches at Wyatt when Wyatt wasn’t standing across from him. Notably, the referee did nothing about this, even though the ref was calling rope breaks and other laws of pro wrestling earlier on in the match. Wyatt ended the match and the chaos by piledriving Nick Gage through a chair, pinning him, and retaining the Gateway Heritage Championship.
Gage got on the mic afterwards to call out the referee who allowed him to be blinded but called the match down the middle for Wyatt. The crowd chanted “Fuck that ref” in agreement, and I felt honestly very worried for the poor guy. When Nick Gage is on the mic, people listen, and respond.
“I’m gonna keep it real with you motherfuckers because I’m the realest motherfucker in this business. The last few weeks have been tough for me, one of my best friends, I call them my brothers, is in the hospital fighting for his life right now. And you know what? To come here, in front of all you people, and to hear you guys go nuts when I’m out here, it makes me forget about all that shit. So thank you. Let me keep it real, I’m here to stay in St. Louis. And I feel like I’m about to start running things around this motherfucker.”
Nick Gage, following his defeat at Gateway To Anarchy
That bold statement by Nick Gage has put the world of Anarchy on notice. Between the introduction of Fred Yehi to the Anarchy fold and that statement of intent from Nick Gage to stay in St. Louis and make his presence felt, 2020 looks to be a “game changing” year for Saint Louis Anarchy, if the action of Gateway To Anarchy is any indication.
Ethan Cash and Private Eye Slade Porter were victorious in the two surprise pre-show matches, observed by a polite crowd who were potentially more invested in waiting for their pizza to come from the bar. Spaulding Hall’s pizzas, delivered right to you at your seat as you watch the action, has developed a fanbase of its own. I unfortunately missed a share of pre-show match one in line for a pepperoni pizza, but as a journalist, I offer my unbiased review of the famed pizza:
I’m eatin here!
I ordered the true classic slice, a good ol’ pepperoni pizza, no frills, no buffalo or bbq sauces. With the rush of early Anarchy fans attempting to get and eat their pizzas before the main show started, I waited for about five-ish minutes in line and another fifteen or so for the pizza to be brought out to my seat. The pizza, a thin crust, square-cut offering, was what some would call “well done”, with blackened crust around the edges and a bit of char to some parts of the cheese.
While the crust was too crispy to enjoy, the rest of the pizza flourished. Before I knew it, I had powered through half a pizza. A couple in the row in front of me offered me a slice of their pizza, I believed to be a barbecue chicken pizza, but realized I had ate half a pizza on my own and probably didn’t need anymore. This pizza is best enjoyed with friends, because alone you might accidentally eat the whole thing like I did.
Okay, back in the ring, Everett Connors was addressing Raul the Bear, who apparently has been interfering in Connors’ match, unbeknownst to the competitor. Connors announced he had recruited someone to watch Raul and make sure he doesn’t break the rules, and out came “Space Jesus” Billie Starkz. Starkz attempted to teach Raul a handshake/how to play pattycake, and the Bear looked visibly embarrassed when it had some trouble with the routine.
Jake Dirden def. “Lionheart” Cole Radrick
Greg Jovi came out and introduced Dirden and the rest of his goons in action for the night. I originally couldn’t hear his name because the crowd was chanting “Shut the fuck up” very loudly at him. Radrick impressed in 4-way action in his last Anarchy match, and while he was overpowered by Dirden physically, he fought resiliently, and came close to grabbing a win.
Anthony “Sharkbait” Gutierrez def. The Kenway
The Kenway, like The Ohio State University, might not necessarily need a “the” before his name, but like The Ohio State University, his attitude demands the distinction. While I do really enjoy The Kenway’s wrestling style, and his new intro music slaps, I’d be remiss if I didn’t state that the Anarchy faithful gave his dad a more loving reception.
Anthony Gutierrez never looks panicked or overly out of sorts in a wrestling ring, having seen it all spanning his professional mixed martial arts and professional wrestling careers. Sharkbait’s mat training and offense overwhelmed, and he ended the match with a stiff kick to The Kenway’s jaw. The Kenway would need help to the back following the match.
Chip Day def. Aaron Williams
Aaron Williams was greeted with a “Welcome back” chant from the Anarchy crowd, and also received a roaring ovation when he removed his very real tie mid-match. Chip Day, who didn’t quite get the reception he was looking for at Battle of Spaulding, met a much warmer and more welcoming audience at No Church In The Wild. This was the first of several strike-heavy matches. Both men chopped the hell out of each other’s chests, but it was ultimately Chip Day’s stiff kicks that proved the difference.
Christian Rose def. “The Best Hand In The House” Larry D
Christian Rose is the second member of Greg Jovi’s villainous stable in action at No Church In The Wild, with Jovi accompanying him to the ring. Larry D threw his weight around in the best way in this match, using a size advantage to counter Rose. Rose called timeout mid-match, which, if you’re not familiar, is not a thing in professional wrestling, and used the momentary confusion of Larry D and the official to turn the tide of the match. With the referee distracted by Jovi, previously mentioned stablemate Jake Dirden came out and incapacitated Larry D, and Rose sealed the victory.
Gary Jay def. Thomas Shire
When I saw this match on the card, I had a feeling that it had “steal the show” potential. It got out of hand quickly. Shire threw Gary Jay out of the ring early on, setting the tone for the rest of the match. Shire german suplexed Jay onto chairs and the cold, hard tile of the Spaulding Hall floor. Jay and Shire were throwing chairs at each other on the outside, fans running for both safety and a better view. Both competitors have earned a reputation for putting it all on the line, and this match was a shining example of why that is. Back in the ring, an exchange of strikes ended with Gary Jay landing a vicious shot, and he unexpectedly won via knockout.
The finish left some confused, with those in the back without a clear view of the ring wondering why all the sudden Gary Jay’s music was playing. Especially not happy with the finish was Greg Jovi, Jake Dirden, and Christian Rose. They effectively kicked Thomas Shire out by continuing to lay waste to Shire after the match had ended.
In a shocking twist, Angelus Layne, who had previously announced at Anarchy last year she was leaving wrestling following a neck injury, appeared to save Thomas Shire, but then kicked him as she was standing on a chair (a Saint Louis Anarchy no-no, it’s one of the rules) and was joined in the ring by Jovi, Dirden, and Rose. What does the return of Angelus Layne hold for Saint Louis Anarchy?
“Diamond Cut” Ace Perry and The Reigel Twins def. Evan Gelistico, Everett Connors, and “Space Jesus” Billie Starkz
While I had thought “Big Beef” Gnarls Garvin was going to be in this match, it was a pleasant surprise to find out Billie Starkz was in action at Anarchy again. Starkz, or “Space Jesus” has become an Anarchy fan favorite, and showed why in this match. Everett Connors might have the best wardrobe going in wrestling today, and Evan Gelistico was attempting to keep up wearing some great light-up high tops.
The Reigel Twins and Ace Perry are jerks, but very gifted athletes. The Reigels make a dynamic duo, and even pulled a bit of “twin magic” in this match to confuse Everett Connors. The Twins have even caught the eye of the prestigious New Japan Pro Wrestling, recently booked to compete at New Japan’s Lion’s Break events in December. There’s no doubt that the Reigel Twins are starting to make a claim for the hottest tag team going in Anarchy today.
Independent Wrestling TV Title: Warhorse def. Curt Stallion
If you haven’t heard, or haven’t been on wrestling social media lately, you might not know that Warhorse rules ass. Warhorse has consumed the man once known as Jake Parnell, and he’s ascended to new heights, marked by him capturing the Independent Wrestling TV Championship. His reign has been highlighted by kicking guys out of chairs, headbanging, and as previously noted, ruling ass. Curt Stallion is no slouch himself, and while he might not yell as much as Warhorse, his ruthless offense speaks for itself.
A “Both these horses” chant met the two as they squared off for the first time. Stallion seemingly threw everything but the kitchen sink at Warhorse, but the man wouldn’t budge. On several pin attempts, Warhorse kicked out before the ref even counted once. Stallion was befuddled, and figured he just needed to turn up the intensity to best the champion. You simply cannot be more intense than the current iteration of Warhorse, and eventually Stallion tapped, the Independent Wrestling TV champion retaining his crown.
The Besties In The World def. The Workhorsemen
The fan favorites in this one were clear from the outset. As I’ve reiterated in just about every review or preview I’ve written, Anarchy wouldn’t be Anarchy without the Besties. The Besties, in so many words, demanded a rematch with the Workhorsemen at Battle Of Spaulding, and Anarchy made it happen. The Workhorsemen are well respected, but not necessarily liked by the Anarchy faithful.
The precise tag team offense of the Workhorsemen was on display at No Church In The Wild, primarily, attacking Bestie Mat Fitchett’s left leg, his plant leg, and leaving Davey Vega, the other Bestie, watching from the corner. The referee of this encounter was intent to keep the match from boiling over, and kept Davey Vega fairly locked inside the Besties corner, while it seemed he didn’t quite manage the Workhorsemen’s corner as much. Not being able to plant on a hurt left leg, Mat Fitchett couldn’t get enough force behind his strikes to do much damage to either Anthony Henry or JD Drake. It was the heroics of Davey Vega, pulling his hurt Bestie through some tag team offense, that won the match for the good guys.
Following the match, perhaps irritated with a loss on the Besties’ home turf, Anthony Henry took his anger out on his tag partner, to the shock of the crowd and the shock of the Besties still in the ring. Left alone and vulnerable, Drake was defensive when the Besties first approached. Vega reached out for a handshake, and didn’t mean any harm.
“You’re cool with us man.” Mat Fitchett reassured Drake. “That guy (Anthony Henry) is an asshole.” Henry, with his actions, has seemingly ended the Workhorsemen, who were plying their trade all over the globe. Without Drake by his side, one wonders if Henry will be able to reach the heights the team once did.
Gateway Heritage Championship: “The Monarch” Jeremy Wyatt def. Mikey
Mikey, aware that Jeremy Wyatt is in his true element in these “pure wrestling rules” title defenses, attempted a strategy of catching Wyatt off guard before he could even prepare for the match. Mikey took the fight out into the people, throwing himself at Wyatt and the crowd around the ring as well. Wyatt looked legitimately out of sorts and caught off guard by Mikey’s efforts, until the match got back to the ring.
While Mikey is a fun competitor, Wyatt’s prowess on the mat was ultimately too much for him. His critics might say the “pure” rules tilt the tables too far in his favor in his defenses of the Gateway Heritage Championship, but Wyatt prides himself in his technical skills, and one could infer he believes a true Gateway Heritage Champion should be literate on the mat.
After his twenty-third successful GHC defense, Jeremy Wyatt addressed the Anarchy faithful. He brought up the Four Pillars of St. Louis Wrestling, Davey Vega, Mat Fitchett, Gary Jay, and Warhorse, and the credit many give them for building the St. Louis wrestling scene as it exists today. He then mentioned Nick Gage, a man who “comes in here with a different company’s shirt on” who’s beaten Gary Jay and Warhorse at Anarchy this year.
Wyatt made a salient point about the “Anarchy faithful” gleefully cheering for a man representing a different wrestling promotion beating the crap out of some of the Four Pillars that the same crowd worships as local wrestling gods. Next Anarchy show, Nick Gage makes his return to challenge Jeremy Wyatt for the Gateway Heritage Championship.
Wyatt addressed this upcoming match with Gage, and how he usually defends his titles under the “pure” rules and how some think he’s chickening out by only defending the title under those stipulations. Wyatt proclaimed that since Nick Gage is too dumb for those rules and would just get disqualified in a matter of minutes, that he would be waiving the rules. Wyatt vs. Gage, anything goes, for the GHC strap. See you next time at Spaulding Hall.
Lindenwood rallied in their final home game to beat Missouri S&T in overtime, 37-31. In just their first season as members of the Great Lakes Valley Conference, Lindenwood made seemingly easy work of their GLVC schedule. Undefeated in the league, and coming off a big win against NCAA Division II top ten opponent UIndy, the Lions completed their dream campaign with Saturday’s overtime victory.
The game got off to a good start for Lindenwood, forcing S&T quarterback Brennan Simms to fumble on his own 12-yard line on their first drive, and quickly converting for six to give the home team the early advantage. The Lindenwood defense that stifled Uindy in the first half on November 2 looked much more malleable against a perky S&T offense that scored 62 points a week ago, with holes opening up for S&T all over the field. All three of S&T’s first half touchdowns came on the ground in close or in goal-to-go situations.
LU QB Cade Brister’s second touchdown pass was a 17-yard effort made possible by his running back, Nash Sutherlin. Sutherlin made the catch on a short out route, and scampered up the sideline the rest of the way for the touchdown. To help paint how effective each offense was, Lindenwood was forced to punt four times in the first half and committed one turnover, an interception on a ball thrown by Cade Brister. S&T didn’t punt in the first half, but did turn the ball over twice, the early game fumble and an interception in the second quarter.
The Lindenwood defense that gave UIndy fits started to look the part in the second half, as the Miners from Missouri S&T saw holes that were open in the first half close up in the second. Down ten at half, the defense clamping down was critical in Lindenwood coming back in this ballgame, needing to give the ball to Cade Brister and the LU offense to get back ahead. Brister scrambled for not one but two touchdowns in the second half, and rushed for 158 yards on the day, often through the option. The dual threat QB added 187 yards through the air after setting a Lindenwood football record with 531 last week.
Missouri S&T’s best chance to win the football game came with two seconds left in it. The Miners drove downfield but stalled short of the red zone, and kicker Ben Styron just needed to convert a 40-yard field goal to give S&T the win. His attempt was blocked, to the joy of the home sideline. Overtime would have to settle this one.
S&T won the toss for overtime and elected to give Lindenwood the ball. Lindenwood converted a first down and halved the 25-yard overtime field, and then finished with a Cade Brister pass to Glen Gibbons for the touchdown. The extra point was blocked, but it wouldn’t matter, as S&T was stuffed on 4th down on their turn in overtime. Yet again, Lindenwood’s flair for the dramatic and Cade Brister’s confidence under pressure were on display, and yet again, the Lions left the gridiron victorious.
It’s been a great season covering Lindenwood football. While this game will be the last I attend this season, if postseason play is an option for Lindenwood I will be keeping up with those games in some capacity, on Twitter and with reports. I’ve had a blast roaming the sidelines and bleachers of Hunter Stadium this season, and am already looking forward to the 2020 season to see if these Lions can repeat as GLVC champions.
Alton wouldn’t be Alton without Anarchy. Friday, November 8 marks the return of the near-monthly Saint Louis Anarchy to Spaulding Hall in Alton. The event, dubbed “No Church In The Wild”, is sure to add yet another chapter to the lore of Anarchy in St. Louis and throughout the wide world of independent professional wrestling. Each match offers excitement.
Gateway Heritage Championship Match: Jeremy Wyatt (c) vs. Mikey
Like it or not, Anarchy in 2019 starts and ends with The Monarch, Jeremy Wyatt. Wyatt has ascended to a new level since he claimed the Gateway Heritage Championship last May, and hasn’t slowed down one bit. One of the best wrestlers on the mat you’ll find anywhere in the sport of pro wrestling, Wyatt has often implemented “pure wrestling rules” in his title defenses.
Pure wrestling rules dictate that each combatant has three rope breaks to use to escape submissions/pin attempts. If one uses a rope break they lose it, and if one breaks a rule they lose a rope break as well. Notably, this came into play when Wyatt defended the title against Larry D, who’s meaty fists are his primary weapons in the ring. Without being able to use a closed fist, Larry D had to improvise, but ultimately stuck with his guns in a loss.
One of my favorite St. Louis area wrestling matches of all-time is Wyatt’s Gateway Heritage Championship title defense against Jonathan Gresham, a mat-based counter expert who nearly bested Wyatt at his own game. Wyatt’s critics, ones you’ll hear boo him as he makes his way out to the ring at Spaulding Hall, might say he doesn’t wrestle in a way that “wows” them. He’ll tell you he doesn’t give a damn what those critics say, and his lengthy title defense suggests he’s in the right.
Of course, there’s always a challenger who believes they can usurp The Monarch. Enter Mikey, previously of Roscoe Eat Lisa fame. At the last Anarchy event, Battle of Spaulding, Mikey was one of two wrestlers to make a challenge for Wyatt’s GHC belt, and by way of asking first, is first in line to get his opportunity.
At Battle of Spaulding, Mikey talked about how he was cleared from injury, and was making a name for himself as a top competitor in Saint Louis Anarchy prior to being hurt. Mikey is a fan favorite, and the crowd largely agreed that it was his turn to take a shot at Jeremy Wyatt.
Independent Wrestling TV Championship Match: Warhorse (c) vs. Curt Stallion
Few wrestlers around the globe have become the online sensation like Warhorse. As you might have seen on your Twitter feed, Warhorse rules ass, and it’s not just because of his in-your-face ALL CAPS TWEETING or his metal-as-hell promos. In the ring, and in the rows of seats around it for that matter, Warhorse is a commanding presence, whether he’s throwing himself into a crowd of people or suplexing someone through a pile of chairs.
At September’s Battle of Spaulding, Warhorse survived a war with deathmatch icon Nick Gage, that nearly tore down Spaulding Hall as we know it. The ring was destroyed, chairs were thrown everywhere, there was even a flaming skull for good measure. Since he captured the IWTV title, Warhorse has become a true force to be reckoned with in any ring he steps in.
Warhorse’s challenger at this edition of Anarchy is the Lonestar, Curt Stallion, who might be getting more recognition lately for his appearances on EVOLVE, but has consistently been a star of independent wrestling for at least the past two years now. Where Warhorse is a headbanger, Stallion is more a headbutter. Stallion’s forehead is potentially his most lethal weapon, and his matches often come to an abrupt halt when he hits one and knocks his opponent’s lights out. Stallion was a late add to September’s Battle of Spaulding card, and reintroduced himself to the Anarchy faithful as he defeated Chip Day in a slobberknocker.
After the contest Stallion demanded a match against one of the Four Pillars of St. Louis Wrestling. He drew the Warhorse, but the other three pillars, Gary Jay, Davey Vega, and Mat Fitchett, are also on alert with the Lonestar’s return to the Anarchy fold.
The Besties In The World vs. The Workhorsemen
After defeating Jake Dirden and Christian Rose last Anarchy, the usually talkative Besties In The World had one simple message: “Fuck The Workhorsemen”. Saying such a thing in the wrestling business means you gotta have a rematch, those are just the rules. The Workhorsemen beat the Besties at Anarchy’s Circus Maximus event, and have since held a bit of bragging rights over the Anarchy favorites.
As I’ve written before, it’s not Anarchy without the Besties. Davey Vega and Mat Fitchett have become part of the heart of independent wrestling. As stated above, they are two of the Four Pillars of St. Louis Wrestling, a title given to them to honor what they are to the area’s wrestling scene. No longer a secret kept in the midwest however, the Besties are global, but so are the Workhorsemen, who were vying their trade in Germany’s highly regarded WXW promotion less than a month ago.
Thomas Shire vs. Gary Jay
A rematch of a bout held in Atlanta’s ACTION Wrestling last month, Thomas Shire looks to avenge his October defeat to Gary Jay at No Church In The Wild. Shire might not be the favorite face of the over 200 in attendance at Anarchy, but his grueling fight with Gateway Heritage Champion Jeremy Wyatt at the Battle of Spaulding might have won him some new fans in Alton. While Shire couldn’t dethrone the Monarch, he fought like hell trying to, and I personally always respect a wrestler who pulls the shoulder straps of their singlet down to signify that they mean business.
Gary Fuckin’ Jay, the Stiff Robo Ginger, the leader of the Gary Jay Movement, is more than at home at Anarchy. He’s spoken in the past about how much Anarchy means to him, and he’s potentially the true fan favorite in Spaulding Hall. Jay’s willingness to put his body on the line keeps the fans chanting his name, showing the Stiff Robo Ginger their respect for his balls-to-the-wall style of professional wrestling. His last Anarchy match might be considered a signature win for the Gary Jay Movement, as he beat Chris Dickinson with a thunderous shot and pinned Dickinson to secure the W.
The Kenway vs. Anthony “Sharkbait” Gutierrez
The now known as “The” Kenway is looking for retribution, even if the crowd doesn’t really want him to. After losing to Everett Connors, who had a little help from his bear, The Kenway needs a statement win in Anarchy to answer his detractors. A victory over Anthony “Sharkbait” Gutierrez would be that statement win. The affectionately nicknamed Sharkbait has become not just an Anarchy regular, but also an EVOLVE regular for much of 2019. Gutierrez, who sports a 12-3 pro mixed martial arts record as well as an impressive wrestling record, is a fierce opponent in any ring.
Chip Day vs. Aaron WIlliams
Last at Anarchy in a losing bout against the returning Curt Stallion, Chip Day can whack with the best of them. That night, Day took exception to the Anarchy crowd’s seeming disapproval of him, and might have developed a negative attitude towards the Spaulding Hall faithful. Aaron Williams last competed in Anarchy in a losing effort against War Horse at this past May’s Hog Wild event, but is coming off a big win in a three-way battle against Michael Elgin and Jason Kincaid.
Cole Radrick vs. Jake Dirden
With the previously scheduled Craig Mitchell now missing No Church In The Wild, Cole Radrick steps into singles competition with Jake Dirden. After impressing in a multi-man match at the previous edition of Anarchy, Radrick, repping indie faction IFHY, will look to impress and climb the Anarchy ladder. Dirden comes off a tag team loss to the Besties, but stood strike for strike with the victors and then some.
Reigel Twins and Ace Perry vs. Evan Gelistico, “Big Beef” Gnarls Garvin and ???
The Reigel Twins are quick, precise, and a bit dastardly. Victorious over the Diamond Dogs at Battle of Spaulding, the twin tag team adds Ace Perry, who’s looking for revenge facing Evan Gelistico, who won the Battle of Spaulding four-way match he was also a part of. Joining Evan Gelistico is “Big Beef” Gnarls Garvin, who’s all beef and knows how to use it. According to Evan Gelistico on Twitter, Everett Connors will not be joining the team, so the two are looking for a third to level the playing field.
Larry D vs. Christian Rose
Last but certainly not least, the current and three-time IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion Larry D comes back to Anarchy to showcase his fist-oriented brand of wrestling to the Anarchy faithful. In his previous Anarchy appearance, at Circus Maximus, Larry D lost to Craig Mitchell, and looks to rebound. Christian Rose joined Jake Dirden in a losing effort against the Besties In The World, and is in a similar position. Both competitors will be hungry for an Anarchy victory at No Church In The Wild.
All of this exciting grappling action invades Alton’s Spaulding Hall on Friday, November 8. For those outside of the St. Louis area, the event will be live on Independent Wrestling TV.
For those in the area, tickets are available here. Spaulding Hall opens its doors at 6:15 pm for the pre-event party, with regular doors opening at 7. The event proper kicks off at 7:30.
Lindenwood got hot at the right time of the football season. After a rough start, Lindenwood went 4-0 in the month of October, and more importantly, in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. On Saturday November 2, the Lions hosted the Greyhounds from the University of Indianapolis. UIndy came into play ranked #8 in all of NCAA Division II football, bringing an undefeated 7-0 record to Hunter Stadium on the Lindenwood campus.
Jumping to the second quarter, an early field goal and pick-six for UIndy gave the ranked visitors a 10-0 lead as both offenses had their struggles in the first. Lindenwood QB Cade Brister looked sharp, but until the second found no reward for his work. Brister would find a wide open Payton Rose for his first TD of what would prove to be a monumental day for the Lions quarterback.
As the first half wound down, Brister led the Lions downfield through a series of orderly, methodical passes, finding receivers open in UIndy’s rather soft coverage. Brister capped the drive by scrambling and diving to his second TD, his first on the ground, and gave the Lions a 14-10 halftime lead.
Credit to the Lindenwood defense should be given for locking down the usually powerful Greyhound offense in the opening half. UIndy’s offense came into today’s ballgame averaging over 20 points in the first half of their contests, and was held to just a lone field goal in the opening half hour of play.
“Up to this point, (UIndy)’d been averaging 14 points in the first quarter, they’d been averaging 10 points in the second quarter. They’d been getting a lot of their points in the first half. To hold the offense to zero points in the first quarter, they were kind of out of their element. They just weren’t used to it, they’ve never played from behind, they’ve never really played through four quarters. We knew if we could get ‘em through the fourth quarter we had a really good chance. They just haven’t played a full game. They haven’t had to, they’ve had leads and never had to come from behind. We have, we’ve been in these games and we’re used to them. All those games earlier in the season that frustrated us prepared us for games like this.”
Lindenwood head coach Jed Stugart, speaking to Lindenwood’s radio broadcast following the game
Brister and the Lindenwood offense picked up right where they left off at halftime. A big pass and catch from Cade Brister to Nash Sutherlin really swung momentum in favor of the home team, making the score 21-10, and reinvigorating the slightly chilly home fans packed into the west side of Hunter Stadium. Not stopping there, Lindenwood tacked on another score, yet again through the air, as wideout Glen Gibbons hauled in Brister’s effort in the endzone. The Lions had scored four unanswered touchdowns, and #8 UIndy’s sideline was stunned silent.
UIndy hasn’t faced any adversity this season that matches being down 18 on the road. The Greyhounds have done most of their damage early in games and gave their defense more breathing room, as Lindenwood ball coach Jed Stugart alluded to in previous quotes. The offense wasn’t clicking at all, all day for UIndy. Dual-threat QB TJ Edwards was attempting to score all the points back himself, and while he put up an impressive display on the ground and threw for 180 yards, his team was in a hole late.
I have to emphasize Cade Brister’s outstanding performance on the day for Lindenwood. Brister threw for 531 yards, a Lindenwood University record at any level of college sports. Brister was responsible for 4 scores, 3 through the air and his short scramble on the ground. Completing over 64% of his passes, Brister was locked in all day, and UIndy had no answers for the Lions air raid.
At 28-10, UIndy started clawing back. Their first score since the early pick-six was a Paul Buisman field goal, coming with just 12:34 left in the fourth quarter. The Greyhounds sandwiched a TJ Edwards touchdown run between two LU field goals, and pushed the score to 34-20 with about two minutes still on the clock.
UIndy still held out hopes for a late victory, marching down the field and scoring in a minute and a half to pull within a touchdown, the score 34-27. An onside kick attempt followed, and failed, and Lindenwood kneeled out the remaining time. Not quite as dramatic as some of Lindenwood’s previous home games, but likely the biggest Lindenwood win of the year, knocking off a top-ten team in NCAA Division II.
“We believed we could win, there’s no doubt about it.” Head coach Jed Stugart said speaking with Lindenwood’s radio broadcast after the game. Win they did, and now the Lions are serious contenders for a GLVC crown, the lone undefeated team in the conference after handing UIndy their first GLVC loss of the year.
The Lions close out their home schedule with Senior Day next Saturday, hosting Missouri S&T, who will be confident coming off a 62-0 rout of Southwest Baptist. S&T boasts a similar 6-3 record, but has had mixed results in conference play, notably getting blown out by the UIndy team Lindenwood handled.
Complete with a battle horn and a War Horse, Saint Louis Anarchy stormed Spaulding Hall in Alton, Illinois on Friday night for their aptly named Battle of Spaulding event. As the name Anarchy suggests, the evening could be best described as controlled chaos. Chaos is something the Saint Louis Anarchy faithful have become used to over the years.
(obligatory spoiler warning to those planning on watching on Independent Wrestling TV, results below)
Billie Starkz def. Rahne Victoria
Billie Starkz promised to make Rahne Victoria smile. I don’t know if she was successful in that venture, but she did hit Victoria really, really hard. Starkz, known as Space Jesus to her fans at Anarchy, soaked up chants and cheers from those who bought tickets to the Anarchy pre-party. Rahne Victoria will look to rebound after falling just short on Friday night. I cannot confirm whether or not she made a kid cry at Anarchy like she did at Dynamo Pro.
After the pre-party match, Everett Connors, with his bear in tow, came out to get to know the audience before the main show started. One fan threatened the bear, and Connors had to play peacemaker and diffuse the situation before it got out of hand. Connors attempted to get to know some fans, while some rudely snubbed his innocent attempt at trying to befriend the crowd.
Anthony “Sharkbait” Gutierrez def. “Big Beef” Gnarls Garvin
Going into this match, I knew to expect pain. Sharkbait and Big Beef are gaining reputations for making guys hurt in their own unique way. Gutierrez, who’s embraced the “Sharkbait” moniker, has twenty-nine wins in MMA, and his signature leg kicks chop his opponents down no matter what ring he’s in. Sure, Big Beef’s expertise is less technical, but what Garvin lacks in grappling technicality he more than makes up for with big clubbing blows that keep him in any match.
Reigel Twins def. Diamond Dogs
(First, I have to apologize for not previewing this one, as I didn’t quite figure out the whole card when hastily preparing my preview for Battle of Spaulding. Sorry!) Both tag teams came out to positive response from those inside Spaulding Hall, but throughout the match the crowd started to support the Diamond Dogs more. Maybe it was their really cool cannon that shoots out a fireball when they enter. The Reigel Twins are incredible athletes, and their high-octane tag team style that demands that athleticism. The Anarchy crowd didn’t like them winning in controversy, after distracting the referee.
“Lonestar” Curt Stallion def. Chip Day
Another match I did not preview! But unlike the previous which was merely my own oversight, this match was a late addition to the card, and a surprise return to Anarchy for Curt Stallion, who bathed in the roar of the fans in attendance. A “(expletive) em up Stallion, (expletive) em up” chant broke out when the two competitors stared each other down in the ring. Chip Day clearly felt unappreciated in comparison, and looked to take his frustrations out on Curt Stallion’s body. Day’s shots echoed throughout the hall, Stallion coiling back from each blow. Lonestar has a difference maker in his pocket however, and pulled out his trademark headbutts and sealed the victory.
After the match, Stallion grabbed a microphone. He proceeded to talk to the Anarchy crowd about the Four Pillars of St. Louis wrestling. (the four pillars being Gary Jay, War Horse, Davey Vega, and Mat Fitchett, the four most popular St. Louis wrestlers in the independent wrestling scene) “It wasn’t until I came here from Texas and laid down the foundation that the Four Pillars stand on” Stallion claimed. He then demanded a match with one of the aforementioned Four Pillars.
The Besties In The World def. Jake Dirden and Christian Rose
As I tweeted, it wouldn’t be Saint Louis Anarchy without the Besties In The World. The duo have become international, even winning a tag team title in the UK, but are still most at home within the confines of Spaulding Hall. Jake Dirden and Christian Rose were not as impressed by the “Truly, Madly, Deeply” entrance as the fans in attendance. The Besties played their hits, as the knowledgeable Anarchy fans cheered along with their tag team offense. Dirden and Rose have less frills to their attack, and they had the strength advantage in this battle, and seemingly had the match won, dominating much of the pace. At one point, Davey Vega accidentally superkicked his Bestie, Mat Fitchett, and drew audible gasps from the crowd. Despite a strong showing from Dirden and Rose, the Besties pulled it out in the end, to the joy of the majority of the crowd. As they left, they had one message: “Fuck the Workhorsemen.”
Gary Jay def. Chris Dickinson
Some might have seen this match as a warmup for “The Dirty Daddy” Chris Dickinson, who faced former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett a mere day later at the former champion’s “Bloodsport” event. Gary Jay made sure Dickinson didn’t look ahead to that fight too much, absorbing the violent, technical, precise blows and slams and giving his own right back. Dickinson was made aware he had a real fight on his hands, and looked to end the fight quickly with some ferocious brainbusters, targeting the head and neck of Gary Jay.
Gary Jay, the “Stiff Robo Ginger”, the leader of the Gary Jay Movement that is largely headquartered at Spaulding Hall, has become a fan favorite for his willingness to throw it all on the line. As ever, his tenacity was on display in this match, most notably when he dove out of the ring in an attempt to attack a downed Dickinson. Gage flew threw the air headfirst, Dickinson dodged the dive, and Jay crashed into the steel folding chairs that surrounded the ring. According to guys who were foolish enough to have a cigarette outside during this match, you could hear the thud of Gary Jay crashing into chairs from the sidewalk. In a flurry of an exchange of blows, Jay landed a knockout shot, and pinned Dickinson for a huge statement win.
Mikey, one half of the tag team Roscoe Eat Lisa, made a surprise visit to Anarchy and claimed that he was nearing the top of the Anarchy food chain before he was injured. Now back healthy, he made a challenge, politely demanding a match for Jeremy Wyatt’s Gateway Heritage Championship. We’ll have to wait and see if this challenge comes to fruition.
Evan Gelistico def. Cole Radrick, Ace Perry, Kody Lane in a four way
Evan Gelistico touted that he would have new gear for this four way matchup, and came to the ring prepared, with a golf club, aluminum baseball bat, and hockey stick. The match was hectic, but luckily Evan Gelistico didn’t have to hit anyone with a golf club. Despite falling short of the victory, IFHY’s Cole Radrick really won over the Anarchy fans, even having his hand held high by Gelistico after the match. Anarchy faithful should be on the lookout for more Cole Radrick in the future.
Everett Connors (accompanied by Raul the Bear) def. Kenway
No one likes Kenway. Even his own dad boos him from front row. Maybe in response to this, he’s ditched his first name, and refers to himself as “The Kenway”. His attitude toward the Anarchy fans has never won him any cheers, and he likes it that way. Everett Connors came to the ring absolutely dripped out. Clean Yeezys, a clear plastic(?) shirt, and neon green shorts almost made me forget that he was Anarchy’s version of “Rudy” a short time ago. Connors still even gets the occasional “Play Like A Champion Today” chant, referencing the plaque Notre Dame football players tap on their way to the field. I was wondering if the Yeezys would limit Connors’ mobility in the ring, and he went down in a heap, which made me wonder if he twisted his ankle with a lack of proper footing. Connors was faking the injury, and bought himself time and separation from Kenway, eventually sneaking a victory and making Kenway look foolish in the process. No bears were hurt in the happenings of this match.
Gateway Heritage Championship Match: Jeremy Wyatt (c) def. Thomas Shire
Under the title reign of mat technician Jeremy Wyatt, the Gateway Heritage Championship belt has always been defended under “Pure Wrestling Rules”. Those rules state that a wrestler only gets three rope breaks to save themselves from submission moves, and if a wrestling rule is broken, such as using a closed fist to strike an opponent, a wrestler loses one of those rope breaks. Unfortunately for Thomas Shire, that left him without one of his biggest weapons, his striking offense, but Shire is no stranger to mat work himself. Before the show, Stepstool Sarah, the ring announcer for Saint Louis Anarchy, tried to get a feel for who was the fan favorite in the title match. The crowd booed Shire. They booed Jeremy Wyatt even more, and prompted a “Shire’s better” chant. Shire fought valiantly, and maybe won over some hearts and minds of the people, but the champion prevailed yet again. Jeremy Wyatt has now defended the Gateway Heritage Championship 19 times, and his grip on Saint Louis Anarchy remains as tight as ever.
Nick Gage def. War Horse
This match was wilder than advertised. Fans often don’t know what to expect when Nick Gage steps into the ring. Combine that with the 1000 mph engine that War Horse is seemingly constantly running on, (he even tweets in HIGH ENERGY ALL CAPS) and you have a perfect recipe for a one-on-one war. Maybe five minutes into the match War Horse demanded a pile of chairs on the Spaulding Hall floor, and fans were quick to oblige. War Horse hit Gage with a painful snap suplex that left the Game Changer Wrestling Champion reeling on the floor, holding his head in pain from the chair impact.
With people no longer in their chairs, the crowd was basically a mob forming around wherever the wrestlers were, which wasn’t always in the ring. I’m not even sure who brought the flaming skull to the ring, but Nick Gage piledriving War Horse on it even if it meant he nearly burned himself in the process, was a highlight of the night, and of the year of wrestling as a whole for me. War Horse’s rebuttal to the flaming skull piledriver was a chair covered in thumbtacks, which bloodied Gage, who may or may not actually feel pain. War Horse also instructed the ring crew to disassemble the ring, taking the mat off, and exposing the wooden boards underneath. The two combattants slammed each other onto the hardwood more times than was probably necessary. Gage hit his signature piledriver on the boards and covered War Horse for the three count, to end the last battle at Battle of Spaulding.
Gage’s work for the evening was not done. After the war was over, he grabbed the microphone, and addressed the raucous wrestling fans surrounding the ring.
“Where’s my motherfuckin’ gang at?” Gage called for his feverish fans. “You motherfuckers know I’m the realest motherfucker in this business. I come to this fuckin’ company because this fuckin’ company is called Anarchy. So that means, anything fuckin’ goes, and that’s right up my fuckin’ alley. I love that shit. You got a fuckin’ world champion here that goes by the fuckin rules. That’s some fuckin’ pussy shit if its in my book.”
“Nick Gage, You are no king, you are no god, you’re just a future fucking number, and we’ll do it on my time.” said Gateway Heritage Champion, Jeremy Wyatt, in response.
“Since I’ve been here, I’ve beat two of the top motherfuckers here. You know what that means. Me and you. For the fuckin’ strap. This gang motherfucker don’t play by the fuckin’ rules. It’s MDK all fuckin’ day. St. Louis, I fuckin’ love you.”
Nick Gage, ending the show and sending a message to Jeremy Wyatt
Anarchy’s back in a big way. The near-monthly celebration of professional wrestling returns to 405 East 4th Street in Alton for the Battle of Spaulding on Friday, September 13. The card is packed, top to bottom, and looks to be one of the wildest nights Spaulding Hall has ever seen. So much so, in fact, that the proprietors of Spaulding Hall had to double check with those in charge at Anarchy to make sure the night wouldn’t get too out of hand.
War Horse vs. Nick Gage: I’ll start this preview with the match that is likely the reason the owners of the hall are concerned: Nick (expletive removed) Gage faces the War Horse, Jake Parnell in what could be the most violent match in the storied history of Saint Louis Anarchy. Nick Gage might be the hottest name in professional wrestling anywhere right now. He leaves a trail of carnage and blood in his wake. Gage is very familiar with Anarchy, having beaten down crowd favorite Gary Jay at the Anarchy vs. Everybody event in March of this year. I personally have a chunk of the ceiling title Gage used to bash Gary Jay over the head, complete with some of Gary Jay’s own blood, as both a souvenir and as proof of the chaos Nick Gage can bring to the ring.
War Horse has also made quite a name for himself in the wrestling world. His hard-hitting, tactically reckless style has made him a key fixture for many promotions across the country. To that end, he and the previously mentioned Gary Jay just had a match for Game Changer Wrestling, the de facto home of Nick Gage, at their Two Cups Stuffed event in Chicago on August 30. With that in mind, Gage is aware of what War Horse brings to the table. War Horse, being a fan-favorite at Anarchy, has the home-ring advantage, but there will be plenty of fans in attendance loyal to Gage, meaning this main event will have a big fight feel like no other.
Billie Starkz vs. Rahne Victoria: Circling back, Friday’s festivities start with “Space Jesus” Billie Starkz facing Rahne Victoria in a match during the pre-party of the event, before the 7:30pm bell time. Both women here are taking the St. Louis wrestling scene by storm. Billie Starkz has developed a passionate following at Anarchy, and Rahne Victoria has already been known to make kids cry at St. Louis area wrestling shows. Neither like each other. Billie has vowed to make Rahne Victoria smile, which is the last thing she wants to be told to do. Just because this is during the pre-party doesn’t mean it’s skippable, as these two should put on quite the show.
Anthony “Sharkbait” Gutierrez vs. “Big Beef” Gnarls Garvin: When Michael Strider vs. “Big Beef” Gnarls Garvin was first booked for this Anarchy show, people were expecting a hard-hitting encounter from two wrestlers who take pride in their meaty whacks, two wrestlers who send chills through the spine of those in attendance with the sound of their strikes. Unfortunately, Strider has to miss Anarchy, but in his stead enters Anthony “Sharkbait” Gutierrez. Sharkbait has become an affectional nickname for Gutierrez, and despite his slight stature, his striking offense is starting to make waves in midwestern wrestling. Friday night will see which great nickname comes out victorious in Spaulding Hall.
Kody Lane vs. Cole Radrick vs. Ace Perry vs. Evan Gelistico: Due to Sharkbait filling in for Michael Strider in the match just mentioned, that meant his spot in the four-way battle against Kody Lane, Cole Radrick, and Ace Perry was filled by Evan Gelistico, a man who’s always up for a fight. According to his Twitter account, Gelistico has even had some new ring gear designed for his latest Anarchy appearance. This four-way match has the potential to get out of control and almost promises to.
Kenway vs. Everett Connors: Those familiar with Saint Louis Anarchy know that Kenway and Everett Connors could steal the show. Kenway hasn’t necessarily made friends in Anarchy, and the crowd lets him know it. He made a real name for himself in a Dog Collar match at the last Anarchy event, Circus Maximus, in a wild match with Evan Gelistico. Connors has been around Anarchy since 2015, and has charmed the Spaulding Hall audience with his work both in the ring and on the mic, even featuring in a rap battle at Anarchy against Mat Fitchett. These two don’t see eye to eye, and Anarchy faithful know both can pull great things out of their locker.
Besties In The World (Mat Fitchett & Davey Vega) vs. Christian Rose and Jake Dirden: It wouldn’t be Anarchy without the Besties. St. Louis’s most dynamic duo have become crowd favorites all over the globe, and they’re appearing on some of North America’s and the UK’s biggest independent wrestling events. Whenever “Truly Madly Deeply” hits at Spaulding Hall, the place erupts for the Besties as fans emulate Vega and Fitchett in the ring. Rose and Dirden have their hands full, and won’t have the majority of the crowd on their side, but that’s never stopped them from throwing their weight around the ring.
Chris Dickinson vs. Gary Jay: Gary Jay seems to find himself in some of Anarchy’s and the indepedent wrestling scene’s most intense matches. Whether it be his legendary battle with Kylie Rae at Anarchy’s Ladies Night this past April, his gruesome affair with Nick Gage a month prior, or more recently his Casket Match with War Horse for Zero 1 USA in central Illinois, Jay has a flair for the extreme, and is willing to put it all on the line like few others in professional wrestling today. At Battle of Spaulding, he faces what some consider a living legend in Chris Dickinson. Dickinson’s training in mixed martial arts, and propensity for leveling his opponents with vicious strikes. Trained by greats including the late St. Louis wrestling legend Harley Race, not only does Dickinson strike fear in his opponents through his impact, his demeanor in the ring has won him supporters of all types over his near twenty-year career.
Gateway Heritage Championship Match: Champion Jeremy Wyatt vs. Thomas Shire: To this date, Jeremy Wyatt has defended the GHC belt for over 300 days. Through his unique style, a charisma all his own, and a ruthless yet effective mat-based offense, Wyatt has ruled Anarchy to the dismay of its loyal fanbase. One of my favorite St. Louis area wrestling matches of all-time is Wyatt’s title defense against Jonathan Gresham, a mat-based counter expert who nearly bested Wyatt at his own game. At Circus Maximus, Wyatt beat War Horse, proving he could counter a heavier hitter. In Thomas Shire, he might be facing one of the heaviest hitters in midwestern wrestling. Shire, trained by wrestling legend Dory Funk, has a unique feel in the ring. An imposing 6’3” brick house who walks with confidence and swagger in the ring. A swagger he will need to end Jeremy Wyatt’s long reign over Spaulding Hall.
Saint Louis Anarchy’s Battle of Spaulding event starts at 6:15pm with the pre-party, with general admission doors at 7, and the rest of the show kicking off at 7:30pm. You can get tickets here. For those not able to attend, the show will be live on Independent Wrestling TV.
With the heat index soaring into the mid 90s, the men’s Trailblazer soccer side hosted Missouri Baptist University’s Reserves on a muggy early September day at Tim Rooney Stadium. Returning with the heat are many sweat bees, which, like wasps at the Godfrey Ball Park, I find are part of this very glamourous job.
Simply put, there isn’t a whole lot to discuss about the Trailblazers encounter with Missouri Baptist’s Reserve team because the game was over before it began. LC striker Tony Bodul netted a hat trick in less than twenty minutes, and he wasn’t the lone scorer for the Trailblazers in that span, with Reshaun Welkes and Kaleb Bassett adding goals of their own.
With the palpable heat and humidity, the referee called for a water break after about twenty minutes of action in the first half. After said break, head coach Ryan Hodge started rotating the Trailblazer lineup, giving players who started the game on the bench some extra minutes. With the result of the game sealed barring catastrophe, it was a good time to get bench players meaningful minutes. Perhaps one of them will capture the eye of Hodge and break into the starting side next time around.
The second half started the same way the first did, with a Tony Bodul goal before I even really looked up at the field. The game became a glorified practice for Lewis & Clark early, and with so many goals coming so easy, their main focus was on possession of the ball. When a soccer team scores so much, it becomes trivial to keep attacking for more goals, and no one knows that more than the experienced Trailblazer coaching staff.
A consolation MoBap goal briefly lifted the spirits of the visitors and their fans, but it was answered by a 7th LC goal just minutes later. Ontario native and Trailblazer captain Reshaun Welkes only featured for a few minutes of action, with the game wrapped up so early and having already scored a goal early on. The final from Godfrey: Lewis and Clark 8, Missouri Baptist Reserves 1.
The win takes the Trailblazer men to a .500 record on the young campaign, winning their last two after losing their first two. The men’s soccer team is back in action Saturday, September 7, as they travel to Southeastern Iowa to face the Blackhawks.
It’s been five (5) long years since the last time Illinois Fighting Illini football has touched a postseason bowl game. 82 out of 130 FBS teams make a postseason bowl game, effectively meaning that Illinois has been in the bottom 50 of the FBS. Furthermore, only two other Power Five conference teams, Kansas and Oregon State, have had a postseason bowl drought for as long as Illinois has, effectively meaning that Illinois has been one of the absolute worst Power Five football teams.
This troubling information begs the question Illini football fans have wondered since Lovie Smith was hired as head coach three years ago. ‘Is this the year?’ Well, yes and no. Yes, this is Illinois’s best chance to make a bowl game in the Lovie era. No, it’s not necessary for the Illini to make one for Lovie to keep his job.
It won’t be incredibly hard to improve on last season. Antithetical to the smashmouth defensive style that made Lovie Smith a head coach in the NFL, the 2018 Illini defense was porous and weak to put it kindly, placing 124th out of 130 FBS teams in overall team defense according to sports-reference.com’s rankings. Avoiding gargantuan losses, such as last year’s home defeats to Iowa (63-0 on senior day, probably the worst game of football I have ever seen) and Purdue (46-7, on homecoming weekend) will also keep Lovie’s proverbial hot seat fairly cool.
Speaking to media at the annual Illinois football media day, Lovie acknowledged his team’s lack of defensive bite compared to the teams he coached in the NFL. “I used to be known for (creating takeaways/turnovers), that used to be my background. We have to be able to make those plays. It’s not enough to stop the opponent or hit them hard. We have to get the ball back to score, and we haven’t done that enough.”
A blow to the defense, both on and off the field, is the loss of All-Big Ten defensive lineman Bobby Roundtree this season. Roundtree suffered an awful spinal injury while swimming this offseason, and has been in hospital care since. He led the Illini in both sacks (7 ½) and tackles for loss (12 ½) last season.
‘‘We will miss an outstanding man and outstanding football player, an outstanding leader, just everything about Bobby Roundtree,’’ head coach Lovie Smith said at media day. ‘‘We’ll miss him. But the way our team can honor him is with its play. He’ll always be involved and be close this year.’’
Excitement is growing on the other side of the football. The Illinois offense was putrid if not just flat out dull in 2017, ranking 127th overall in the FBS and averaging a measly 15 points per game. They jumped 34 spots in that ranking last season, and averaged 26 points per game. If the Illini defense last season could have actually managed to tackle a few guys, they might have even gone to a bowl game.
Joining that improving offense this season will be two things the Illini have been lacking in recent years: an experienced quarterback and a highly touted quarterback recruit. Brandon Peters, a quarterback who transferred from perennial football power/relevant force Michigan, brings legit experience to the depth chart. Isaiah Williams, a highly sought-after recruit from Trinity Catholic in St. Louis, is already being pegged to be the star Illinois has desperately craved.
But who starts this season? One can assume that Lovie and his staff didn’t bring in Brandon Peters to sit on the bench as Isaiah Williams gets his footing on the turf in Champaign, so expect the opposite. Peters should be starting, allowing Williams to learn from the sidelines, and whenever the opportunity comes, Williams can relieve Peters if need be and take snaps for himself and show the coaching staff what he really brings to the Illini.
Brandon Peters isn’t the only transfer to bolster the Illini on the offensive side of the ball. Two wide receivers are coming from another perennial football power/relevant force in USC, Trevon Sidney and Josh Imatorbhebhe. Both were highly touted coming out of high school and give Peters two reliable targets, and give the team more options. Last year, Offensive Coordinator Rod Smith’s offense relied heavily on the running backs and mobile quarterbacks who could run. This year’s offense has threats all over the field.
Simply put, the Illini will be as good as their defense allows them to be. New recruits and more experience will help the defense, but losing Bobby Roundtree is a big blow to the defensive front. If the defense can simply not let games get out of hand, the offense might have the firepower to keep the Illini alive in any contest this season.
“If you ask me if I think we’re ready to compete and contend, absolutely.” Lovie Smith quipped at media day. He has faith in the progress they’ve made, but acknowledges there’s work to be done. “We have to be better, coaching staff wise, bringing in better players, facilities and all that. But we’re excited to see the progression.”
A fairly relaxing non-conference schedule for the Illini against Akron, UConn, and Eastern Michigan *should* give the Illini a 3-0 start to the season, meaning a bowl game would only be 3 wins out of 9 games away. Seems doable! However, if they struggle in these non-conference games, the conference schedule will be an uphill battle. Everyone that they beat, and everyone that beat them, is better this season.
Ultimately, what Illinois fans and onlookers should be hoping for is steady, marked improvements to how Lovie Smith’s Illini play football. Lovie doesn’t need to make a bowl game to keep his job if he can prove to the fanbase and most importantly Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman that the team is on the upswing. Sure, bowl games are nice, a big television audience watching the (checks Google) Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl and a check for a few million dollars that the players will never see, but simple continued improvements would be considered a success for an Illini football team that hasn’t seen stability in ages.
Boitumelo Rabale in action last season. The Lesotho captain is in her sophomore year at LC.
Long before Major League Soccer was planning on coming to St. Louis, colleges in the area were churning out great soccer and great soccer teams for decades. Lewis and Clark’s soccer team is no exception to that rule.
“We’ve had a lot of good players. Players see the reputation of the school and want to play here.”
Tim Rooney, longtime Lewis And Clark soccer coach
Tim Rooney serves as a head coach to the women’s team, and assistant to the men’s team. Rooney himself has been a central stalwart of Lewis And Clark soccer, winning over 800 games between the men’s and women’s teams. He was inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame in 2009.
As always, he’s more focused on the season ahead than talking about previous accomplishments. Asked about what he looks for in training and preseason, Rooney emphasized fitness. “We’re trying to get fit, trying to get touches on the ball, trying to make a bit of progress every day.” Rooney continues, “We’re going through the motions and players will start to stand out as the season starts.”
Rooney’s women’s side hosted the LC Alumni women in the first match of a preseason doubleheader at Tim Rooney Stadium on August 10. The alumni games are both practice and a celebration of the past student athletes who showed off their talents on this same field.
Two goals from LC midfielder Boitumelo Rabale and another from Candice Parziani gave the current Trailblazers a 3-2 victory over the LC Alumni. Rabale made waves last season with a long range goal against Butler that was shared across social media, and has brought the talent that made her the captain of the Lesotho women’s national team to the Trailblazers.
The men’s team, led by head coach Ryan Hodge, looked comfortable in their alumni encounter, at times running circles around the alumni side facing them. Talking to Pete Hayes of the Alton Telegraph, Hodge touched on that conditioning. “We won’t have to put as much time in on fitness if everyone has done their summer fitness training. And we’ll be able to tell who did.”
After a fairly competitive first half, the Trailblazers set themselves apart from their alumni counterparts, scoring goals in quick succession in the second half to put the game out of reach for the alumni squad, winning the game 5-1. A hat trick from freshman forward Tony Bodul did most of the damage for Lewis And Clark.
Last season standou Rashaun Walkes looked sharp in preseason action, something Ryan Hodge was hoping for. Speaking to Pete Hayes of the Telegraph, Hodge added “Rashaun will hopefully pick it up from last year. He’ll be our captain and we’ll look for good things from him, obviously.”
The Trailblazer women and men have just started their preseason campaign. The men’s team begins regular season play on the 23rd, welcoming Marshalltown to Godfrey. The women’s side starts their season on September 4th when they travel to Lincoln Trail College.
Anarchy favorite Gary Jay faces the well-traveled Jigsaw Friday at Saint Louis Anarchy’s Circus Maximus
Anarchy’s back, baby. It’s been one year since the rebirth of Saint Louis Anarchy, and each show they’ve ran in that time has served as a reminder of just what makes Anarchy so special.
“What makes everything work and what makes everything so special is the atmosphere and the people.” Said Gary Jay, who’s a favorite wrestler among the Saint Louis Anarchy faithful. “It’s like nothing else I’ve ever experienced. When you put people in that room it’s like magic.”
Spaulding Hall in Alton, Illinois, the home of Saint Louis Anarchy, is a magical place when it’s full of ravenous wrestling fans. Whenever independent wrestling legend Nick Gage came to Anarchy earlier this year to fight Gary Jay, Spaulding Hall was electric. Not a single person in the crowd sat down during that match. Hell, I still have a piece of the ceiling tile that Nick Gage broke over Gary’s head. A great wrestling souvenir.
When I asked Gary Jay for his favorite match that he’s wrestled at Spaulding Hall, he brought up that night.
“You want to talk about a crazy, ‘big fight feeling’ atmosphere, that’s exactly what that night was. That was a very special night for Anarchy.”
Gary Jay, on facing Nick Gage at “Anarchy vs. Everybody”
When thinking of a favorite match that he wasn’t in, Gary chose one of my personal favorite Saint Louis Anarchy matches. “My favorite match that I wasn’t involved in would be Jeremy Wyatt vs. Jonathan Gresham in a Pure Wrestling Rules match. Two of the best wrestlers in the world going at it in that building” You can watch this contest on YouTube for free here and get a taste of why fans and wrestlers alike love Saint Louis Anarchy.
Looking ahead to the next Anarchy show, this Friday night’s Circus Maximus is the de facto one-year anniversary of the return of Saint Louis Anarchy, after almost two years inactive while owner Matt Jackson worked with the National Wrasslin League.
The Circus Maximus card is jammed with great matches and great talent. Davey Vega and Mat Fitchett, better known as The Besties In The World, square off against a hard hitting duo in The WorkHorsemen. The Besties have blossomed, from local darlings to worldwide indie wrestling favorites.
As Gateway Heritage Champion, Jeremy Wyatt has often opted for the use of the “Pure Wrestling Rules” match, as he did in the match against Jonathan Gresham mentioned earlier, and Friday at Circus Maximus he squares off against the War Horse. War Horse always has command of the crowd and puts everything, including his body, on the line each time he steps in the ring, all the makings of another legendary championship match.
In other action on the card, Everett Connors faces Chuck Mambo, who’s fought in British promotions PROGRESS and International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom. Craig Mitchell dukes it out with Larry D, which has the looks of a big brawl full of big shots.
Matt Kenway and Evan Gelistico look to settle their score in a dog collar match. For the uninitated, this means that each wrestler will have a dog collar around their neck, and those collars will be connected with one chain, so the competitors are never more than five feet from one another. This looks to be one of the most intense matches of the evening.
“Every match on this card could steal the show and I expect everyone on the roster to go out there and give it everything they have. To me, people should be on the lookout for each match to give them something special.”
Gary Jay, on Circus Maximus
Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t preview Gary Jay’s match vs. Jigsaw. Jigsaw has plied his trade in great promotions all over for a long time. Winning Chikara’s Young Lions Cup in 2004, fighting in Ring of Honor, Impact, and several other great promotions over the years.
“I definitely approach things differently.” Gary Jay explains, asked about if he changes his approach when facing such experienced talent. “Jigsaw has been wrestling all around the world and I consider him to be one of the best there is. Fact is I have to bring my ‘A’ game, and I have to dig deep to see what I am really made of.” Gary notes that this isn’t an opportunity that comes around every day, either. “Jigsaw does not travel much anymore, so the fact that he’s coming to Anarchy is a big deal.”
Gary is coming off a brutal victory against Thomas Shire at Anarchy’s Hog Wild event last month, and looks to keep his momentum going this Friday when Jigsaw comes to town.
You (yes you!) can experience Saint Louis Anarchy this Friday, July 19, at the infamous Spaulding Hall (405 E 4th St) in Alton, Illinois.
Oh yeah. THAT. Kind of a big deal! St. Louis’s beloved perpetual losers are perpetual losers no more. The watch parties and the parade are easily some of my best memories, not just as a Blues fan, but as a fan of sports in general.
Downtown overrun with people from all walks of life clad in their Blues gear on some fairly warm and muggy June afternoons and evenings reminded me of why I love sports. It’s the people. Walking back to the train and high fiving fans that were pouring out of the watch parties and singing Laura Branigan’s “Gloria” in celebration will forever live in my memory, and is definitely the height of my nearly 27 years of sports fandom/existence on this earth.
Frankly, it’s still setting in that they even did it. Even as I stare at a puck on my desk that tells me the Blues are, in fact, 2019 Stanley Cup Champions, it’s surreal. I assume if I surround myself with enough merchandise that tells me the St. Louis Blues are the 2019 Stanley Cup Champions I’ll eventually feel normal saying they won something.
The last I wrote about hockey, I was making a case that the sport is volatile. The Tampa Bay Lightning had just been bumped from the playoffs after an NHL-record setting regular season. Here is the end of my last hockey blog:
“While sure, fans can hope and dream for the Stanley Cup trophy to parade down Market Street in downtown St. Louis, perhaps that in itself is a bit too optimistic, given the odds and precedent set in previous seasons. But it’s the NHL playoffs! The ridiculously impossible is possible.
If Tampa Bay can lose, why can’t St. Louis win?”
Fear And Loathing of the NHL Playoffs, April 18, 2019
Folks, St. Louis won. Hell I think I’m convincing myself more and more as I write this. They won! They were the worst team and hockey at a time that didn’t matter and the best team in hockey when it did.
That “worst to first” narrative has been popular when talking about the St. Louis Blues and their newfound Stanley Cup. Sure, turning the ship around in a matter of months is incredible. Craig Berube was the voice the locker room needed all along, and rightfully was the first person in the organization to get a personal day with the Cup this summer.
There’s a deeper “worst to first” narrative that goes back much longer. The worst I, and many others, have ever seen the Blues was 2006. Ownership was changing hands. 05-06 was the season that killed the Blues record setting playoff appearance streak, and killed it in spectacular fashion, finishing dead last in the NHL.
That season, the Blues were far and away the worst team in hockey. Attendance to games had been cut in half, the team was nowhere near talented enough to compete. The Blues leading scorer that year was a 38-year-old Scott Young. Their starting goalie was Patrick Lalime, backed up by the incomparable duo of Jason Bacashihua and Reinhard Divis.
The next season, Dave Checketts and John Davidson in management vowed to be better, which never came to fruition. This was the start of a six-year span where the Blues only made the playoffs once, in 2008-09, and were quickly eliminated in that singular appearance.
In 2012 Tom Stillman led a local ownership group in purchasing the majority of the St. Louis Blues from Dave Checketts’ group, and very recently purchased the remaining minority. While many will look to the ice for the Blues struggles in this “post-lockout” period, one can look at the Blues since this time for an example of what a dedicated owner will do for a franchise.
Stillman, like seemingly fewer and fewer owners in professional sports, actually spends money on his team to succeed. Which, from a fan’s perspective, is what you demand from the billionaires that own your favorite teams. Just ask a Cardinals fan how they feel about their billionaire owner building a high rise past center field instead of signing a starting pitcher this offseason.
In the 2017-18 NHL season, the Blues failed to meet expectations, and failed to make the playoffs. Last summer, Stillman and Blues general manager Doug Armstrong set out to make sure that failure wouldn’t repeat itself.
Ryan O’Reilly was signed, and he became the central element in the Blues attack, adding a dimension and complimenting other scorers, such as Vladimir Tarasenko. Tyler Bozak’s addition, if nothing else to those who might have only watched their playoff run, made for this now infamous quote:
“I want to win a Cup. So damn bad.
That’s why I signed in St. Louis. There’s your headline. Print it.”
Tyler Bozak, The Player’s Tribune, “For Toronto”
It’s taken me a month of stewing and nearly 900 words to really have this set in. At the time of the Stillman group’s 2012 acquisition of the Blues, often maligned NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said “I know he won’t rest until the players are hoisting the Cup.
Photo from a home double-header against Jefferson College April 9. Photo by Jan Dona, L&C Media Services.
A beautiful afternoon for baseball welcomed the Lewis and Clark Trailblazers home to the Godfrey Ball Park on Sunday, where they hosted the Spoon River College Snappers in a doubleheader, their second of the weekend. The first doubleheader happened on Spoon River’s home turf in Canton, where both sides won a game.
The teams had seemingly become quite familiar with each other over the weekend, and you could feel the tension on the diamond at the Godfrey Ball Park as the day waned on.
Game 1: Lewis and Clark 11, Spoon River 1 (F/6)
After Spoon River jumped out to a 1-0 lead early on the back of a few hits, Trailblazer pitcher Conner Pinsker really settled down, fanning two in the next inning, and didn’t allow another run all game. In the fourth inning, Spoon River’s Trey Kazubowski gave a pitch a long ride that went just foul for a loud strike two. Next pitch, Pinsker struck out Kazubowski swinging, a great recovery after his previous pitch was sent about 380 feet.
On the offensive side, LC’s bats were humming, and Spoon River starter Colin Fenili couldn’t find the zone consistently. Three runs in both the 2nd and 4th innings chased Fenili, who gave up nine hits to Trailblazers in the process. Landon Cummins relieved him, and was clearly not right. Cummins couldn’t get over, or control, his pitches. He hit a few LC batters, and walked another, and gave up three hits, accumulating three more runs. He was relieved by Jarrot Stealy, who got out of the long 5th inning after giving up a sac fly.
That’s when player and coach frustrations started to show, and also when an umpire decided to aggravate those frustrations. After striking out in the 6th, the previously mentioned Trey Kazubowski was ejected from the game, and therefore not eligible for the second of the doubleheader. I was about 20 feet from him, separated by fence and dugout, and while players were chirping at the umpires, he specifically was just getting his equipment from what I could see and hear, and yet he specifically was thrown out.
“We’re losing 10-1” said Spoon River coach John Dyke, “You don’t need to say a thing to the umpires.”
Dyke’s frustrations also turned to his players. “It’s all ‘I didn’t do this, I’m hurt, it’s all me, me, me’.”
Now while not hustling is one thing to complain about, a pitcher trying to pitch hurt and failing to do so probably isn’t the thing to get mad at here. That’s a coaching decision to put him out there and simply a failing of coaching to let him pitch hurt and then complaining about it.
In fitting ironic fashion, a mental lapse by Spoon River’s catcher scored the run-rule winner for Lewis and Clark, a pass ball walk-off. Something I’m sure coach John Dyke was thrilled to see.
Game 2: Lewis and Clark 3, Spoon River 1
The second game proved to be a much tighter contest, till the very end. Spoon River had slightly more luck at the plate in this game, facing LC starter Zach Seavers, but that luck rarely became runs. A triple and an RBI double in the 3rd inning led to the lone Snapper run in game two, rarely enough to win a ball game.
Trailblazer bats were largely stifled by Spoon River game two starter Jake Fosdyck in this pitcher’s duel. Godfrey Ball Park’s vaunted infield grass played a part in some of the hits he gave up, producing some infield hits that would have been routine outs on some other diamonds. Lewis and Clark tied the game 1-1 in the 5th, setting up a tense final few innings.
A 6th inning fielder’s choice scored Dylan Walker of LC, and Jake Fosdyck’s good day on the bump ended the next at bat, when he was ejected from the game by the same umpire who ejected Trey Kazubowski in game one. Fosdyck didn’t agree with the call at first, and let the umpire know, who very quickly threw him out of the game. He was relieved by pitcher/infielder James Shaw, who gave up an RBI single to Chris Iazzetta to make it 3-1 in favor of the Trailblazers in the 6th.
Zach Seavers went back on the mound to close out his complete game, and gave up a few more hits in the process. With runners on and only one more out to win the game, Lewis and Clark coach Randy Martz went out and asked his hurler if he could get one more out. Seavers stepped up to that challenge in a big way, and confidently recorded the final out of the ballgame.
Winning three of four against Spoon River propels the Trailblazers to an impressive 26-13 record on the campaign. They close out the season with another home-and-home doubleheader series, facing off with Heartland Community College.
Women’s professional wrestling is going through what some would call a “revolution”. Wrestling promotions of all shapes, sizes and locales are a crucial part of this revolution. These promotions are showcasing women wrestlers and women’s wrestling in the same light that men had been shown for years prior.
On April 26, Saint Louis Anarchy hosted St. Louis’s first ever woman-centric wrestling event, Ladies Night. The evening was filled with top-caliber talent, from wrestlers that have been in televised wrestling promotions like WWE and Impact (formerly TNA), to wrestlers that are fan favorites across independent promotions in St. Louis and all across the country.
The evening at Spaulding Hall lived up to the hype. St. Louis area favorites Tootie Lynn Ramsey and Savanna Stone squared off in what could become one of St. Louis’s great wrestling rivalries. These two women are more than used to each other, and this match wasn’t their first encounter. Their match set the bar for the rest of the evening.
In other Ladies Night action, Shotzi Blackheart, who’s wrestled all across the independent circuit and on tv with Impact Wrestling, faced the “too turnt party unicorn” Laynie Luck, who won over those who didn’t know her with her fun attitude and serious skill in the ring. Their match was a true battle, with Laynie taking to Twitter afterwards to say the match was one of her best all year.
The match of the evening for many fans was between Kylie Rae, one of pro wrestling’s most popular and relentlessly positive stars, and Gary Jay, a local and Anarchy favorite who found himself thrown into the all-women’s card when Hudson Envy had to be pulled due to an injury she suffered earlier in the week. Their match was special, and even a little emotional.
“I have knocked out some of the best in the world in this building,” said Gary Jay, still in the ring after the match against Kylie, “I’ve beaten some of the best, and some of the best have beat me, but goddamn, you’re one of the best [expletive] wrestlers in the world. Smiley Kylie, you’re the greatest athlete I’ve ever been in the ring with. Man, woman, gender doesn’t matter. You’re the real deal. Thank you.”
Kylie joined him in the ring and gave him a big hug and both received a long standing ovation,. They were played off to Kylie’s music (the Pokemon theme song) as fans chanted “Please come back!” to Kylie Rae. A true Anarchy moment that those in attendance will remember for a long time.
The main event of Ladies Night then had a lot to live up to. The final match of the evening saw former WWE and independent star Kimber Lee face Allie Kat, who’s fast becoming a favorite across not just the country but the world.
Kimber Lee is one of the hardest workers on the wrestling circuit of any gender, and her work paid off when she made it to WWE’s 2017 Mae Young Classic, the promotion’s now-yearly women’s tournament. She’s also wrestled for World Wonder Ring Stardom, a Japanese women’s wrestling promotion seen by many as among the world’s best promotions for women’s wrestling. She competed in their Five Star Grand Prix tournament just last year.
Allie Kat, who is half-woman-half-cat-half-wrestler, walks around the ring for pets from fans and asks other wrestlers to scratch her belly. But don’t let the feline appearance fool you, Allie Kat is one of the hardest hitting women on the planet, and shows it in the ring.
Their match was a dramatic brawl that had a little bit of everything. Technical grappling, fierce striking offense, big moves outside of the ring, and even beer pong. The Spaulding Hall crowd went wild for each devastating blow or kick, and really got riled up when both Allie Kat and Kimber Lee chugged cups off the beer pong table. After the match both competitors hugged it out in the ring and left to another large ovation from the Anarchy crowd.
Anarchy’s Ladies Night was a big hit. Those in attendance witnessed St. Louis wrestling history. Local favorites, international stars, and most of all, great wrestling, something Saint Louis Anarchy has become known for both in the area and across the wrestling landscape.
Ladies Night was proof positive that wrestling is for everyone.
The main event of Ladies Night, the area’s first all women’s wrestling show. Photo credit: Saint Louis Anarchy
For years in the sport that is professional wrestling, women were often a sideshow. Their matches were not serious nor treated as such, but the industry has seen great change over the past generation. This Friday Saint Louis Anarchy is putting on the St. Louis area’s first ever all-women’s wrestling event, Ladies Night, in Alton’s own home of wrestling, Spaulding Hall.
“This event features women from all over the United States as well as St. Louis favorites.” said Matt Jackson, Owner of Saint Louis Anarchy. The main event match of the evening sees independent wrestling stars Kimber Lee and Allie Kat going toe-to-toe under the bright lights in Alton’s Spaulding Hall.
Asked about the significance of an all-women’s event, Jackson didn’t pull any punches. “It’s very important. For years women were looked at in a certain way in pro wrestling. That has drastically changed in recent years and I want to show that change to those in St. Louis. These women are some of the best athletes in the world.”
And he knows athletes in wrestling. Jackson is as seasoned as they come. “I’ve been in the business for seventeen years” he says, “Saint Louis Anarchy has been around since 2011. Before that it was Lethal Wrestling Alliance which began in 2001. Anarchy did not run shows between December 2016 and July 2018, due to me taking a job with National Wrasslin League.”
“I feel St. Louis has been one of the most important territories in wrestling, dating back to the ‘Wrestling At The Chase’ days.” adds Jackson. Wrestling At The Chase was a historically significant wrestling show in St. Louis, airing weekly on KPLR from 1959 to 1983. Legends like Ric Flair and Harley Race made a name for themselves in the Khorassan Ballroom at Chase Park Plaza, for which the show was named.
“I don’t enjoy most of the current St. Louis wrestling scene which is why I started Anarchy. Anarchy is more than a wrestling show, it’s a brand. Our fanbase here is the most passionate in wrestling.” Jackson emphasizes. “Adults with families cried when Anarchy came back. People have met their wives and husbands at our events. For some it’s the only place they feel they belong.”
“It’s way more important than just a show.”
Matt Jackson, Owner, Saint Louis Anarchy
Jackson isn’t just hyping his promotion when he says that either. Speaking as a wrestling fan writing this, you can feel that energy and passion when you’re packed into Spaulding Hall. Fans are enthusiastic for everything, from ferocious slams in and out of the ring, to a server from the bar bringing someone in the crowd a buffalo chicken pizza.
To experience the unique atmosphere of Anarchy and witness St. Louis’s very first all-women’s wrestling event, head to Spaulding Hall (405 East 4th Street) in Alton this Friday night.
Doors open at 7 pm, and the event begins at 7:30 pm.
Tickets are available online here, and also at the door of the event.
Follow @stlanarchy on Twitter for more information.
Enthusiastic Tampa fan. Wonder how they’re feeling now. (credit: WFLA)
All season, regardless of sport, passionate fans of sports teams across North America have one goal: Playoffs. Anything short of that goal is seen as failure, and oftentimes just making the playoffs is not adequate for a franchise deemed “competitive” by its fans and onlookers. Despite this, all parties involved know just how chaotic and precarious the playoffs can be.
For whatever reason, the NHL playoffs possess a volatility not seen in other sports.
Take the latest, and potentially greatest, example of this volatility, the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning were the best team in hockey by an incredible margin, having one of hockey’s best-ever regular seasons. But the mighty Lightning were stymied by the fairly upstart Columbus Blue Jackets, and were swept out of the playoffs in four straight games.
“For six days in April, Columbus was the better team.” said Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper.
Nobody knows how or why this happens. Why did a team that dominated the National Hockey League for 7 months all of the sudden find it impossible to win? Asked after the end of the series, Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said “If we had the answers, we would have found a way to win the game. It sucks.”
In not understanding why his team dropped out of the playoffs in four straight games, Stamkos found that the only way to understand the NHL playoffs. You can’t understand it.
All preconceived notions of what should or shouldn’t happen fly out the window. Matchups that yielded standard, run-of-the-mill games in January are now suddenly hectic encounters, both teams scrambling for every inch on the ice. To try to decipher a rhyme or reason to it beyond “both teams are really trying hard out there” is a fool’s errand.
Almost harder to understand is how the Blues, largely considered to be dead and buried in December, are not just in the playoffs, but are now two wins over Winnipeg away from the second round. The Blues have survived trials and tribulations to reach this point, including firing former head coach Mike Yeo and teammates getting into fights during practices.
That all happened *after* team general manager Doug Armstrong had made a case that the Blues were a playoff team and Stanley Cup contender. Luckily for the organization and its fans, somewhere in January the Blues found their rhythm, and most importantly, a goaltender.
Blues fans are incredibly familiar with April. In 51 seasons of existence in the National Hockey League, the Blues have only missed the playoffs 9 times. Unfortunately, and it pains me as a Blues fan to write this, despite making the playoffs in over 80% of the seasons they’ve played in,
the Blues have never won a Stanley Cup. Ever.
While sure, fans can hope and dream for the Stanley Cup trophy to parade down Market Street in downtown St. Louis, perhaps that in itself is a bit too optimistic, given the odds and precedent set in previous seasons. But it’s the NHL playoffs! The ridiculously impossible is possible.
The Arch in St. Louis is known as the “Gateway to the West”, in honor of St. Louis’s part in the westward expansion of the United States. A few miles north of St. Louis, Spaulding Hall in Alton, Illinois serves as the Gateway To Anarchy. The wrestling event of the same name on January 10 marks Saint Louis Anarchy’s first show of the new decade and year. The once near-monthly Anarchy is becoming a monthly fixture in 2020, and the events of Friday’s Gateway to Anarchy show will likely set the table for the year in Anarchy to come.
Gateway Heritage Championship Match: (c) “The Monarch” Jeremy Wyatt vs. Nick Gage
The matchup that’s been months in the making, the ultraviolent Nick Gage demanded a shot at Jeremy Wyatt for “the fuckin’ strap” and on Friday he gets it. The Gateway Heritage Champion for 458 days as of this writing, “The Monarch” Jeremy Wyatt has ruled Saint Louis Anarchy and every promotion in which he has defended his Gateway Heritage Championship in. In twenty-five defenses of the GHC belt, Wyatt has gone an improbable 24-0-1, the one blemish coming recently, in an arduous 60-minute time limit draw with Gary Jay in December at Journey Pro Wrestling in Kansas City.
Wyatt, a mat-based wrestler who’s in his true element when he can slow things down in the ring and keep less technically sound wrestlers guessing, usually defends the Gateway Heritage Championship under the stipulation of “pure wrestling rules”. Those rules state that each combatant has three rope breaks to escape submissions or pin attempts, and that using a rope break or breaking a rule (such as using a closed fist or weapon) costs you a rope break.
This stipulation has come into play in several title matches and is partially a reason Wyatt is still the champion. However, for this encounter with Nick Gage, Wyatt waived the rules, claiming the Gage is “too stupid” for the rules, and would just disqualify himself.
Calling Gage stupid is a bold move, to say the least. Nick Gage is, in this humble writer’s opinion, the fiercest and most dangerous competitor wrestling today. He piledrove Warhorse through a flaming skull! He bashed Gary Jay across the face with a fluorescent light tube! He’s done much more to many other wrestlers and essentially left a pile of beaten and bloody wrestlers in his wake since his return to pro wrestling.
Whenever Nick Gage enters a room to fight, the energy changes, it’s something you can feel as soon as his Metallica entrance music hits. Gage recently lost his GCW crown, per se, losing the GCW World title to AJ Gray (who then lost it to Rickey Shane Page) last month. Gage will be hungry to snatch the Gateway Heritage Championship and put some gold back around his waist.
Warhorse vs. Fred Yehi
Once just a viking named Jake, in 2019 Warhorse evolved to a full-fledged Ruler of Ass, headbanging his way across independent wrestling and claiming the Independent Wrestling TV Title in the process. He’ll kick and stomp a hole through anyone and headbang in the ring afterwards. One of the Four Pillars of St. Louis Wrestling, Warhorse is a beloved figure in Anarchy and frankly anywhere he pops up for a match. Which, as of last weekend, includes a record store without a wrestling ring in North Dakota.
When I saw the Saint Louis Anarchy Twitter account tweet that Fred Yehi was going to be a big part of the Anarchy roster in 2020, I was immediately giddy with excitement. I first heard of Yehi a handful of years ago when a friend showed me this backyard wrestling match Fred Yehi had ages ago in front of dozens of kids in lawnchairs. A young Yehi was doing moves I’d only seldom seen in any wrestling ring, let alone someone’s backyard.
Fred Yehi is a unique talent, not many in the world of wrestling possess his combination of technical skill and physical prowess. Yehi matches up well with anyone of any size, with a number of matches in EVOLVE against current and former WWE or Impact Wrestling stars, including WALTER, TJ Perkins, Jordynne Grace, and Brian Cage. He unsuccessfully challenged Jeremy Wyatt for the Gateway Heritage Championship in Journey Pro in August 2019, but will be gunning for that title in 2020.
The Besties In The World vs. Larry D & “Big Beef” Gnarls Garvin
To dust off an old chestnut here, Anarchy wouldn’t be Anarchy without the Besties. They are the half of the Four Pillars of St. Louis Wrestling and truly the heart of wrestling in the St. Louis area and beyond. The Besties are beloved worldwide, and by the nature of the wrestling business, has put a target on their back wherever they go. They’re champions in multiple time zones, and many believe they’re the best tag team in independent wrestling.
Aiming at the target on the back of the Besties will be Larry D and “Big Beef” Gnarls Garvin. Garvin will be eager to make an impression with the Anarchy faithful and those watching at home on Independent Wrestling TV, tweeting that he was excited to have this match against what he called the best tag team in America today. Larry D has made his impression already, primarily with his fists, which the Besties will want to avoid if they want to leave Spaulding Hall victorious.
Gary Jay vs. Curt Stallion
As of now, the man who has come closest to dethroning “The Monarch” Jeremy Wyatt is the “Stiff Robo Ginger” Gary Jay. As noted earlier in this preview, Jay and Wyatt’s match at Journey Pro Wrestling’s “Die Hard Is A Christmas Movie” event ended as a 60-minute time limit draw, with Wyatt retaining the belt.
Gary Jay has made his wrestling home at Spaulding Hall, the official headquarters of the Gary Jay Movement. The crowd erupts for the man when he arrives, when he leaves, and mostly, when he wins. One of the Four Pillars of St. Louis wrestling, Jay is an embodiment of the great wrestling in the area, but that title has put him directly in the crosshairs of Curt Stallion.
When “Lonestar” Curt Stallion returned to Anarchy he told the Spaulding Hall crowd that he was what made St. Louis Wrestling great, not Jay, Warhorse, or either Bestie. After losing to Warhorse and failing to capture the Independent Wrestling TV title, he faces one of the few men who fights with a calculated recklessness like he does in Gary Jay. This match has “show stealer” written all over it.
Chip Day vs. Anthony “Sharkbait” Gutierrez
Two of the meanest kicks in the business square off at Gateway to Anarchy in Chip Day and Sharkbait. An incredibly successful MMA fighter with a 29-6 record across professional and amateur mixed martial arts, Gutierrez soaks in Finding Nemo-esque “Sharkbait ooh ah ah” chants at Spaulding Hall as he delivers clubbing, harsh kicks to anyone in his path.
In what feels like a perfect matchup, the only man in Anarchy who can go kick-for-kick with Sharkbait is Chip Day. Day is coming off a great match with ACH at an Atlanta Wrestling Entertainment show less than two weeks ago, a nearly thirty minute brawl which saw him lose his GWC belt to the man who vacated it when he originally signed a WWE contract. With a win, Day could prove that he deserves to be in the conversation for the Gateway Heritage Title.
Aaron Williams vs. Thomas Shire
Aaron Williams just had a fierce bout with Impact Wrestling’s Sami Callihan at Rockstar Pro Wrestling. Two days after that squared off with Gary Jay at an IWA-Mid South show that left both combatants bruised and battle torn, and Thomas Shire knows exactly what that feels like, having lost a tough tussle with Jay at the last Anarchy show, No Church In The Wild.
Thomas Shire’s mixture of technical talent and very non-technical toughness makes him an interesting package in the ring and a tough match for anyone. “The King Of Hoss Island”, Shire trained in Japan, an All-Japan, Funking, and Funaki dojo student, and that expertise comes out in his matches. He even does a Baba special takedown. What’s not to like?
The Kenway vs. Cole Radrick
Two young competitors attempting to climb the Anarchy ladder from different sides, The Kenway and Cole Radrick are as similar as they are different. The Kenway, a brash, over-confident yet talented wrestler who added a “The” to his name, versus Radrick, the IFHY representative who has won the hearts and minds of the Anarchy fans through hard work in the ring. Both men look for a win to start 2020 on the right track.
Seishin & Kenny Alfonso vs. Ace Perry & Deacon Cash
Deacon Cash, who I apologize for believing was named “Ethan Cash” and writing as such on the previous show, looks to make a name for himself alongside Ace Perry, who snagged a win with the Reigel Twins at No Church In The Wild. Their opponents, Seishin and Kenny Alfonso, are rising stars, both with big futures in wrestling based on what they’ve done already. Seishin is a black belt who’s become a staple of the STL wrestling scene, and Alfonso is looking to make more waves in Anarchy after facing the Besties In The World at Journey Pro in December.
Christian Rose, Angelus Layne, & Jake Dirden vs. Evan Gelistico, Everett Connors, & Billie Starkz
Greg Jovi’s treachery has infiltrated Anarchy, much to the chagrin of the Anarchy Faithful. Luckily for those faithful, their “Space Jesus”, Billie Starkz, is teaming up again with Everett Connors and Evan Gelistico to go toe-to-toe with the villainous stable. Everett Connors originally enlisted Billie Starkz to teach Raul The Bear how to be a good bear, which, so far, has worked.
The Gateway to Anarchy opens Friday, January 10. For those outside of the St. Louis metro area, the show will be streaming live on Independent Wrestling TV.
For those in the area, Spaulding Hall opens its doors at 6:15 pm for the pre-event party, with regular doors opening at 7. The event proper starts at 7:30.
After a brief respite from action thanks to the fall/Thanksgiving break, the women’s basketball Trailblazers looked to pick up their fourth straight win, hosting the Lady Warriors of Rend Lake College. Heading into the December 9 contest, Jaron Young and the Trailblazer women righted the ship after a rocky start, and look to avenge their November 18 loss to Rend Lake, where they were blown out, 98-61.
As L&C found out in their previous encounter with the visiting Lady Warriors, their opposition is loaded with talent, and can run up the score on anyone lacking effort on defense. The Trailblazers, not wanting to fall victim to such a scoreline at home, had to play a drastically different game than the one they played before Thanksgiving.
The first half was more like a track meet than a basketball game, with both teams running up and down the court and almost scoring at will. Rend Lake was lethal from beyond the three-point arc, and the Trailblazers were playing an entirely different game, working the ball into the paint and getting looks around the basket that resulted in points or free throws.
“We shot it a lot better from the line tonight, we didn’t shoot great, but we shot terrible from the line against (Rend Lake) last time.” Trailblazer head coach Jaron Young said following the game. Young also touched on his team’s effort down low in rebounding, which led to many easy looks for L&C in the key. “They’re real physical, and they rebound well, we made it a point in practice this week that we rebounded well against this team.”
The Trailblazer women held a slim, two point lead, 47-45 after a frenetic first half of basketball. The defense for the Trailblazers locked down, and the Lady Warriors of Rend Lake struggled to find the basket in the third quarter. Rend Lake scored just ten points in the ten minute period after scoring forty-five in the previous twenty.
“We try to keep teams as close to 60 as possible, they had 45 at the half, we talked about how defensively we needed to do a better job, and that we needed to stop #2 (Rend Lake star scorer Madison Buford) because she can play.”
Jaron Young, Lewis And Clark women’s basketball head coach
Notable in this contest was that the referees, for the most part, swallowed their whistles, and allowed a physical contest between two physical teams, that occasionally got chippy. Rend Lake’s head coach Dave Brown took exception to the way the officials were calling the game all night, as did the dozen or so Rend Lake fans sitting behind me, and was somewhat silenced after drawing a technical foul.
The fourth quarter was about survival for Jaron Young and his team, as a talented Rend Lake offense attempted to claw back into the ballgame. Some silly turnovers almost gave the visitors the contest, but the end saw L&C hang onto their lead, and pull out a 77-72 victory, with big nights on offense for Marika Owens, Shaquira Cardine, and Mary Penland-Holmes. The trio combined for 51 of Lewis and Clark’s 77 points on the evening.
After a big revenge win, the Trailblazer women are winners of four straight, and have grown drastically as a team in a short time span. Their next challenge will see them travelling to the city to take on the Archers of St. Louis CC on Sunday, December 15. For more information about the women’s basketball team or any Trailblazer sport, visit LC.edu/Athletics.
Coach Jed Stugart and everyone in the Lindenwood Lions football program knew what kind of game they were in for hosting the 24th ranked team in NCAA Division II, the Truman State Bulldogs. The Bulldogs came into Saturday’s contest 5-0 on the campaign, and some D2 football analysts think they should be even higher than their current ranking.
Truman ranks even higher in ESPN college football analyst Bill Connelly’s SP+ rankings, which, for the uninitiated, is a method of measuring a football team’s efficiency, which takes team quality and game tempo and a number of other things into consideration. Truman ranks 9th in Connelly’s SP+ for D2 football, and he even claims on this tweet of the D2 rankings that Truman State is underrated. For reference, in the same rankings, Lindenwood sits 76th.
Despite a beautiful day and pristine conditions, Lindenwood started the game with not one, but two fumbles, one on the opening kickoff, and one on the second play from scrimmage. That was about the amount of excitement they created as a whole in the first half, quarterback Cade Brister couldn’t ever develop a rhythm on the offensive side of the football. The Lions defense looked up to the task early, forcing silly mistakes out of the Bulldogs from Truman State, holding them scoreless and largely hopeless in the first quarter.
Truman’s quality began to show in the second stanza, as they started to lock down even tighter on defense and started to make inroads on offense. Truman QB Jaden Barr started finding his targets, throwing for 135 yards in the first half, and the Bulldogs found the endzone twice through the quick feet of their tailback, Jordan Salima, the first of which you can see here on my Twitter. On the back of those two scores, and their stifling defense, Truman State took a 14-0 lead into halftime.
The offensive strategy for Lindenwood had to change to break the tough Bulldog defense, and that directive was to start running a no-huddle, pass heavy offense. Outside of occasional scrambles from Cade Brister, Truman contained the Lindenwood rushing attack, and forced the Lions to change course from their first half plans. After Truman took a 17-0 lead with a field goal, Cade Brister threw for all 65 yards on the following drive including the 1-yard touchdown pass to Erik Henneman to give LU their first points of the day.
Lindenwood looked to be gaining momentum in their hurry-up offense, finding receivers in open space and moving the ball well and looking to bring the game within a field goal, when Cade Brister was hit as he started his throwing motion, fumbling the ball which was recovered by Truman State. Truman State capitalized, and scored a quick touchdown, which would make the 4th quarter an uphill march for the Lions to make a comeback.
And march they did, after relying heavily on the pass in the 3rd quarter, Lindenwood mixed up the offense more, and got some crucial rushing yards which then set up another Cade Brister touchdown pass, this time to his other favorite target, Payton Rose, to bring LU back within two scores.
A key defensive stop gave the Lions the ball and 8 minutes to make a comeback, where the rushing attack would play an important factor yet again. Nash Sutherlin provided the threat to try to open up opportunities for Cade Brister through the air, but unfortunately for the Lions, Brister was intercepted when attempting to hit Payton Rose in the endzone, giving the ball back to Truman with just 5 minutes of game remaining.
Lindenwood would get another chance, down 10 with 3 minutes left on the clock. Running the ball proved most effective on this drive, but unfortunately running eats time, and 3 minutes became 80 seconds quickly.. Brister found Erik Henneman for his second touchdown catch on the day to bring the score to 24-21 with 1:16 left, giving them a fighting chance. The Lions lined up for an onside kick, and after a pile of bodies was separated, the officials found LU had recovered, giving them their one last chance, a minute remaining, and fifty yards between them and the endzone.
The final drive for Lindenwood didn’t start as they would have liked, going backwards a few yards and not stopping the clock in the process. Truman forced 4th down, but Brister kept a cool head and found Erik Henneman for a first down to keep the drive alive. Every decision is amplified in these final stages of football games, and Brister looked more than cool under pressure.
A Brister pass over the middle to Payton Rose connected and gave LU 1st and goal to go at the Truman State 1 yard line, with 14 seconds left of game time. Hurriedly, I got my phone out and Periscoped this highly climactic ending. The first shot to the endzone was caught, but the intended receiver, Erik Henneman, was out of bounds. The second pass found paydirt. Completing his hat trick, Henneman caught his third touchdown pass of the day.
The extra point gave Lindenwood a four point lead, their first of the game, with just six seconds left on the clock. Truman State tried the hook and ladder desperation play as time expired, but nothing came of the chaotic play, and Lindenwood pulled off the huge upset, beating Truman State by the final score of 28-24.
As illustrated in my first few paragraphs, this wasn’t a game I was necessarily expecting Jed Stugart’s team to come away with, nor do I think many in attendance familiar with Lindenwood and Truman’s football teams did. Betting lines (hopefully) don’t exist for NCAA Division II football the way they do for Division I or the NFL, but one would have imagined Truman State was a two or three touchdown favorite today. Instead, Lindenwood handed them their first loss of the season.
Lindenwood has now won two straight, and is building momentum for the last half of their campaign. After this week’s big win against Truman and last week’s victory at McKendree, the Lions are 3-3 going into next week’s contest, where they will host Saginaw Valley State. For more information on Lindenwood Football and all Lindenwood sports, visit LindenwoodLions.com.
In the very first matchup of top 25 NJCAA Division 1 women’s soccer sides of the season at Tim Rooney Stadium, #8 in the country Lewis and Clark hosted the #20 side, the Blue Storm from Southwest Illinois College, more cordially known around here as SWIC. L&C entered play with a 11-2-0 record, while SWIC came to Godfrey boasting a 12-1-2 record of their own.
The game would prove to be an incredibly tight contest, both because the teams are in the top 20 of junior college soccer in the country, and because of the sweltering heat, which seems to be lasting later and later every year. The lack of energy due to heat and exhaustion gave some added help to the already strong defensive units, and kept the vaunted offenses of both sides at bay in the first half, with neither team able to break the deadlock in the first 45 minutes.
The sun continued to beat down on the pitch at Tim Rooney Stadium, and as the second half wore on tiredness became a real factor. The extra step or two that a cooler temperature would offer the energy for was the difference in several passes, runs, and offensive chances. Even NJCAA leading scorer Boitumelo Rabale couldn’t make a breakthrough, often left stranded up top without her fellow Trailblazers supporting her attempts to attack.
Despite the desperate pleas of “Run to the ball!!” from the Trailblazer fans in attendance, the team was gassed. SWIC was gassed. Both teams would have probably rather played a game of futsal in the air conditioned gym. Despite the heat and exhaustion, the game was incredibly tense, maybe due in part to said heat and exhaustion. Every play was a fight to maintain possession. This is in incredible contrast to every other game L&C has played, other than their two losses.
Most scoring chances came late in the game, off of free kicks and corner kicks, as open play was a bit of wash between the evenly matched and evenly tired sides. The Storm made inroads in the late stages, and if not for the heroics of L&C goalkeeper Mercedes King, would have probably won the game in regulation. With minutes remaining in regular time, King rushed out to meet a breaking Blue Storm attacker and made a tackle to knock the ball to the corner. Without a goal scored, we headed to extra time to decide a winner.
It wouldn’t take much extra time to find the golden goal. L&C charged down the field and forced a corner kick. The kick created frenzy in the box, and who else but Boitumelo Rabale turned the loose ball into the SWIC goal, winning the game 1-0 for the Trailblazers, in what’s definitely been the most gripping contest at Tim Rooney stadium this season.
Tim Rooney’s side is back in action at his namesake ground this Saturday, as the Trailblazers welcome Parkland.
Men’s game: Lewis and Clark 4-0 SWIC
Unfortunately for SWIC, their men’s soccer team is not quite the threat that their women’s team has been this season. Where the women are ranked #20 in all of NJCAA Division 1, the men’s team have had their struggles this season, bringing a losing record to Tim Rooney Stadium.
On the other side, the Trailblazer men have been almost as impressive as the women’s team. Also nationally ranked, also a threat on offense, and they made their talent known right away. A sixth minute goal from Reshaun Welkes pushed L&C ahead early on. Ten minutes later, L&C sophomore Luke Mellon latched onto a pass across the face of goal to add to the early lead, and the Trailblazers never looked back. Another Reshaun Welkes goal just before halftime, a superb individual effort, seemingly put the game out of reach for the visiting Blue Storm before they played 45 minutes.
It didn’t magically stop being hot for the men’s game, both sides grew weak and sloppy in the second half, with L&C’s firm grip on the game slipping a little. SWIC started to ask questions of the tiring Trailblazer defense, but to little avail. Kofi Awuah netted a fourth for Lewis and Clark with about twenty minutes left in the match, putting any notion of a Blue Storm comeback to rest.
The convincing win for the men and nail-biter for the women sees both teams improving their record after this in-conference clash. Men’s coach Ryan Hodge’s side has six days till their next contest, as they travel to St. Charles on October 8. For more information about the soccer teams and all Trailblazer athletics, visit LC.edu/athletics.
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