#FBF MPWj Maple Grove, MN 12/21/2003

Promotion: Midwest Pro Wrestling
Time/Date: 7pm Sunday December 21, 2003
City, State: Maple Grove, MN
Venue: MPW training center

MPW had events every Sunday in their training center in Maple Grove,MN.

Joessiah VS Super Steve. I'm not sure if his name was Super Steve or something else but he acted like he was a superhero. Joessiah now goes by the name Officer Rob Justice.

The Smoking Section ( Chris Jordan & Mason Quinn) defeated Schoolboy & Gator Magraw.

Aaron Corbin VS Benjamin Sailer.

Kaos Cody O'Neill VS The Punisher Rob James.

Josie defeated Ms. Natural.

Casanova put Arik Cannon to sleep with a sleeper hold.

#FBF MPW Maple Grove, MN 1/17/2004

Promotion: Midwest Pro Wrestling
Time/Date: Saturday 7:300pm January 17, 2004
City, State: Maple Grove, MN
Venue: MPW training camp

With these flashbacks I can't always tell you who won the match as I was not taking notes at the time. I try to take a photo of the ref raising the hand of the winning wrestler but that doesn't always happen.  That's one reason why I really like to do this blog as it's a record of all the matches that I've photographed. There used to be message boards where fans would post results/reviews of the matches. Too bad those message boards are no longer around. Message boards are a thing of the past.

This event was one of MPW's big Saturday shows. They had events every Sunday but once a month they had a bigger Sunday event. This one was a big deal as they brought in AJ Style and Christopher Daniels. Both of those guys were at an event in Wisconsin the night before.

MPW cruiser weight champ Kid Krazy defeated Casanova, El Viejo and Kaos (Cody O'Neill) in a 4 man elimination match to retain the title.

The Schoolboy VS Sheriff Johnny Emerald.

Cowboy Gator Magraw VS Aaron Corbin.

"The Fallen Angle" Christopher Daniels pinned Arik Cannon.

AJ Styles pinned Shifty. I think that Shifty only wrestled in one more match after this one. Styles came back to MPW to win the Universal championship.

While going through these photos I saw this one of a fan holding up a sign. That fan can now be seen wrestling on NXT on the WWE network. Oh yeah, there is a young fat Venom in that photo as well.

Chikara comes to Minneapolis

In just two weeks Chikara will make it's Minnesota debut. Thursday October 22, 2015 in Minneapolis, MN at Mill City Nights. All ready announced to appear at this event are The Colony, Chuck Taylor, Dasher Hatfield, Icarus, Eddie Kingston and Arik Cannon.This may be the first time that Chikara will promote an event here in MN but it's not the first time that a group of Chikara wrestlers have made the trip to MN for another wrestling promotion.

MPW Invitational

Back in September 2003 Midwest Pro Wrestling had a weekend training camp with Skayde ( who later on became the head trainer at the Chikara Wrestle Factory). Attending this training camp were 6 Chikara wrestlers. MPW had two events that weekend on Saturday and Sunday night and called them the MPW Invitational.

On Saturday night September 20th Chris Hero defeated Casanova.

 The Midwest Shockers (Cody O'Neill & Joey Envy) defeated Eddie Kingston & Sitoci and Icarus & Gran Akuma in 3 way tag team elimination match.

 Sumie Sakai  defeated Ran Maru and had her hand raised by Chikara referee Bryce Remsberg.

 On night two, Sunday September 21, Arik Cannon defeated Chis Hero.

The Midwest Shockers (Joey Envy & Cody O'Neill) defeated Gran Akuma & Shawn Daivari.

 The main event was American Gigolo & Ran Maru VS Skayde & Sumie Sakai with referee Bryce Remsburg. Skayde & Sakai won the match when Sakai pinned Gigolo. I love in ring posed photos.

My first published photo in Pro Wrestling Illustrated was from this match. It appeared on the last page of the February2004 issue of PWI.

World Series of Wrestling

In 2005 MPW was visited by 7 wrestlers and 1 referee from Chikara. This time the two promotions battled against each other in the World Series of Wrestling, a best of seven match series. The guys from Chikara were at MPW for two nights April 30 and May 1, 2005.

In the first match MPW cruiser weight champion The Prophet defeated Icarus. MPW 1 Chikara 0

 Emil Sitoci VS Joessiah ended in a draw when both men could not get to their feet before a 10 count.

 "Sweet and Sour" Larry Sweeney pinned The Punisher (Rob James). MPW 1 Chikara 1

 Claudio Castagnoli (WWE's Cesaro) defeated Casanova. MPW 1 Chikara 2

 Kid Krazy defeated Hallowicked. MPW 2 Chikara 2

MPW Universal champion Joey Envy defeated Chris Hero. MPW 3 Chikara 2

 "Lightning" Mike Quackenbush pinned Arik Cannon. MPW 3 Chikara 3.

 On Sunday May 1, 2005 the main event was a 6 man tag to determine  the winner of the World Series of Wrestling. Quackenbush, Hero & Castagnoli defeated Cannon, Krazy & Version 2 (Ryan Cruz) to win the MPW/Chikara World Series of Wrestling. That's right, the visiting promotion won.

Be sure to check out Chikara on Thursday October 22 at Mill City Nights. Then mark your calendar for the next F1rst Wrestling event at First Ave, Friday January 8, 2016. 

MPW training center shut down

MIA:Sheriff Johnny Emerald
On January 2, 2007 trainees at the Midwest Pro Wrestling Academy learned that Sherif Johnny Emerald/Terry Klinger shut the place down without notice. This is the blurb that was on the MPW website that told about the training camp.

"Midwest Pro Wrestling Academy is nationally recognized and has trained WWE, NWA/TNA, ROH and indy wrestling talent now wrestling throughout the country. Our staff are professionally trained, experienced and certified. Midwest Pro Wrestling Academy was established in 1999 and has graduated over 50 students. We are fully insured and registered with the State of Minnesota as well as documented with the federal government. Hours of operation, class schedules and tuition payment plans are available to meet each students needs. Numerous camps and clinics are available throughout the year taught by nationally known trainers. Midwest Pro Wrestling puts on monthly shows at First Avenue in downtown Minneapolis right next to the Target Center..."

Ummm yeah. Lot's could be said about that paragraph.

3 years ago today in MPW

October 19, 2003 Midwest Pro Wrestling @ the MPW arena in Maple Grove, MN.
The Smoking Section, Chris Jordan & Mason Quinn, were fueding with the Midwest Shockers, Kaos (Cody O'Neill) & Joey E. The Smoking Section started off the MPW sunday night show sitting in ring and ripping on the Shockers on the mic. Jordan must have raided Kaos's gear bag as he was wearing his shorts.
The main event of the night was Arik Cannon VS Kaos. The match ended when the Smoking Section came out the beat on Kaos. Joey E and Prettyboooy Delgado came down to even things out.

I miss the MPW Sunday shows but I don't miss the MPW arena. From the black walls to the black ring ropes to the seats on opposite sides it was not a good place for photos.

MPW Minneapolis, MN 9/26/2006

From First Ave night club in Minneapolis, MN Midwest Pro Wrestling Academy held their monthly card that showcases their newest trainees. There were two special guest on this Tuesday night as Nora "Molly Holly" Greenwald and Tina "Ivory" Moretti made this the first stop on their 'Wedding Tour Wrestling Road Trip' on their way to Trish Stratus's wedding in Toronto.
Tina was the special guest referee for a match between Lorenzo Conners and 'Playboy' Pete Huge. Lisa ended up getting knocked out when she got in between Huge and Conners. As Conners made a pin Tina's road trip partner Nora came out to make the 3 count.
Arya Daivari made his debut in a match against Craven Knyte. Arya is the younger brother of wwe manager Daivari. Arya got the win.
Spiderbaby lost to Apostle 13 with JB Trask as the referee.

MPW Minneapolis, MN 6/27/2006

So these MPW First Ave shows have pretty much turned into the old MPW Sunday shows where they showcased there new trainees.
The second match of the card was between two of the newest MPW trainees as Johnny Ridlin beat Craven Knyte.
In the 4th match of the night Mitch Paradise answered The Big Bad Booty Daddys challenge and he got the win.

One year ago today, the end of MPW

The first photo here is from June 25th, 2005. The last match had ended from the 'monthy' Saturday show at the MPW arena when Terry Klinger AKA Sheriff Johnny Emerald, MPW owner, called all the wrestlers down to the ring and most of the 25 fans were still in the building. As wrestlers were leaving the locker room they were wondering what Sheriff was calling them out for. One of the wrestlers thought that maybe he was going to thank them for putting on a great show even though there were so few fans there. Once all the wrestlers were out of the locker room and around ther ring Sheriff told everyone there that MPW was closing the doors for good after the show tomorrow night. This was the first that any of the workers had heard of it and it had nothing to do with the low attendance that night as it was something that Sheriff had planned for a while. He said that he was done with promoting shows but he was still going to have a training center that would be opening up in 2 months. Upon hearing that the next show would be the last Arik Cannon, then the booker for MPW, started making the matches for the next night which would be a free fan appriciation show.
Once again we see Sheriff in the ring but this time with a much bigger audiance as the fans of indy pro wrestling in the Minneapolis area came to this free show to say good bye to MPW. The stands were actually fuller the what is seen here as this was at the end of a very long show. There were 12 matches in all as they tried to get everyone on the current roster in a match. Two trainees even had their first match on this show. A dvd of this event can be purchased from Arik Cannon at his web site.

MPW Minneapolis, MN 4/25/2006

From the house that Prince built Midwest Pro Wrestling held their monthly card on this last Tuesday night in April 2006. I didn't photograph all the matches as I was not sure if I was going to go to the card on this night so I didn't charge up all my flash battery's.
In the opening match Craven Knyte (yes, that was spelt right) beat Zero Kincade.
Once again Rain was set to wrestle Jessica Dalton, aka O.D.B. To make things interesting Dalton decided to make this a looser never wrestles at First Ave ever again. The crowd booed this stipulation because they didn't want to see either of these two ladies leave First Ave. But the crowd had to say good bye to Dalton as she fell victim to the raindrop and a 3 count from Rain.
In tag team action Mitch Paradise brought out a partner who had the hots for The Junk Squad, Tommy 'Spiderbaby' Saturday. The Junk Squad beat Paradise and Saturday as they handcuffed Paradise and double teamed Saturday.
Animal Sam beat Arik Cannon.

MPW 3/28/2006 Minneapolis, MN

From First Ave in Minneapolis, MN Midwest Pro Wrestling presented 7 matches on this last Tuesday night of March 2006. With my wife at 3 days past the due date of our baby she still didn't feel it happening yet so with her blessing I went to the monthly MPW card.
In the opening match Tony Money beat Craven Knyte. These two are some of the newest MPW academy trainees and have, I believe, lest then 5 matches between both of them. They both have different gear since the last time they wrestled. Knight lost the tank top he used to wear and it looks like he got rid of the moon boots. In Money's first match he didn't even have gear so it's great to see him look like a wrestler this time.
In the second match of the night it was Germany Vs the U.S.A. as The Asylum wrestled Corp. Alexander. This was Alexander's First Ave debut and only the third time I've seen him wrestle. The first two times he wrestled as Roman Dinari. Now he is a 'war vet'. The Asylum picked up the win with a little help from his manager Vinnie Banks.
Big Daddy Hoofer beat Chris Jordan.
Mitch Paradise beat Kid Krazy in a rematch from 2 months ago. This time Krazy didn't bleed. Go to Kid Krazy's myspace page to message him to let him know you want to buy his dvd.
Rain was to face Jessica Dalton in a lumberjack match but Dalton no showed. Not sure whats going on with Dalton but she missed the last two cards she was scheduled on here in this area. With Dalton out of the match The Big Bad Booty Daddy happily took her place. Rain beat BBBD with a lung blower after he got a little too fresh with her.
Magnus Maximus beat 'Playboy' Pete Huge.
MPW cruiserweight champion Nate Bash defeated Zero Kincade. I was disappointed with the lack of respect some wrestlers in the crowd showed this match.