AWA RUSH Mankato, MN 5/3/2007

AWA Pro Wrestling RUSH held their monthly card at the Bandanna Brewery in Mankato, MN this past Thursday night.

Arya Daivari won a 3 way elimination match against Matty Star and Jaysin Strife.
Benjamin Sailer beat Arik Cannon with a roll up.
The Junk Squad beat Aaron Corbin & Zac James. This Junk Squad tandem tried out their new version of the junk sandwich.

Jake Taylor beat Shimdog with a little help from the ropes.

The Northstar Express beat Twisted Steal-N-Sex Appeal. Before the match Casanova had another one of his challenges as he and his tag team partner Rob James took on Ryan Cruz & Darin Corbin in a 3 legged race around the ring. NSE won that challenge.

Devin Carter retained the AWA RUSH Youtube TV title by beating El Viejo.

Joey Envy became the new AWA RUSH champion in a 3 way elimination Bunkhouse match with former champion Chris Jordan and Brody Hoofer. Gator Magraw was suppose to be in this match but he announced his retirement from wrestling and picked Hoofer as his replacement in this match. Magraw will wrestle 3 more matches before he retires because of shoulder problems.

ROH St. Paul, MN 4/27/2007

Ring of Honor returned to St. Paul, MN at the National Guard Armory. It has been 8 months since ROH ran at this building and it might be even longer till they return. The crowd was about 500 but not enough for ROH to make the long trip.

In a dark match the team of Bobby Dempsy, Alex Payne and Ernie Osiris beat the team of Ash, Billy Roc and Dingo(announced as Dingo Warrior but we all know there was only one Dingo Warrior.)
In a Shimmer tag team match the MN Home Wrecking Crew (Lacey & Rain) beat Dangerous Angels (Sara Del Rey & Alison Danger). The MN HWC got more cheers from their hometown crowd then they wanted.
A Do or Die match between Micheal Elgin and Rhett Titus was interrupted by the returning Jimmy Rave. Rave made Titus tap out to an ankle lock. Rave then beat Elgin with the same hold.
In a special challenge match Shingo beat BJ Whitmer.

The ROH tag team champions retained their titles in a ultimate endurance match. Other tag teams in the match were Mitch Franklin & Pelle, Gran Akuma & Hallowicked and Jigsaw & Mike Quackenbush.

Brent Albright & Adam Pearce defeat Colt Cabana & Homicide. This was a 'anything goes' match so after a few minutes in the ring it went out into the crowd and I headed for the back.
Rocky Romero won a 4 corner survival match that also included Delirious, Jack Evans and Eric Stevens.
FIP heavyweight champion Roderick Strong beat Christopher Daniels w/Alison Danger by count out.
ROH World champion Takeshi Morishima beat Austin Aries to retain the title.

F1rst Wrestling Minneapolis, MN 4/22/2007

Pro Wrestling returned to First Ave night club in Minneapolis, MN this last Sunday night as F1rst Wrestling debuted in the building.

The card started out with a 4 corner match between The Prophet, Cody O'Neill, Nate Bash and Rob James. This match had some great cruiser weight action. In the end both O'Neill and James had pinned Bash and Prophet to win the match.

The second match of the night was Rain Vs Lacey. These two have wrestled against each other many times in the past and they have also teamed together to form the Minnesota Home Wrecking Crew. On this night Lacey got the win with a hand full of Rains tights.

101 Proof (Bret O'Brian & Venom) beat the I Guys(Marek Brave & Shane Hollister). This was the MN debut for the I Guys.

In his 3rd to last indy wrestling match before heading to the WWE Colt Cabana pinned Aaron Corbin after a frog splash. Lot's of comedy in this match.

What started out as a singles match turned in to a tag team title match for the 3XW tag team titles. Ryan Cruz started against Chris Jordan but Jordans Junk Squad partner Pete Huge got involved which brought out Cruz's Northstar Express partner Darin Corbin. NSE made the challenge for their 3XW belts and the Junk Squad accepted. Cruz got the pin on Huge after Jordan hit Huge with a top rope elbow drop. After the match Huge and Jordan got into an argument and seem to have parted ways.

Brody Hoofer beat Joey Envy. It's nice to see Hoofer drop the 'Big Daddy' name.

In the main event Arik Cannon beat Tyler Black. This was billed as 'MTV Wrestling Society X stars

NIW Amery, WI 4/15/2007

Nothern Impact Wrestling was back in Amery, WI at the TAC for Spring Breakthrough:Formal Edition. Last year the Formal Editon was held in Crystal, MN and there were a bunch of fans that came in formal wear but not as many this year.
The opening match of the night saw Darin Corbin defeat Kleck Micheals.
Ryan Stone w/Spiderbaby beat Ryan Sax. Too many Ryan's on this card. The loser of this match should have lost the rights to use the name Ryan.
NIW Impact champion The Prophet retained his title in a triple threat match against Rob James and Arya Daivari. This match was mostly a two on one as Daivari joined forces with James to try to beat The Prophet.
Malikite w/Spiderbaby beat Ryan Cruz. I think Spiderbaby may have had something to do with the out come of this match.
Arik Cannon beat Joey Envy.
The NIW tag team champions The Junk Squad beat 101 Proof to retain their titles.

AWA RUSH Mankato, MN 4/5/2007

Last Thursday night I made my way down to Mankato, MN to photograph AWA Pro Wrestling RUSH at the Bandanna Brewery for the first time. Cowboy Gator Magraw started RUSH back in October 2006 and has been running monthly cards from the same place. I was going to go to last months card but it was cancelled because of a blizzard. I was taking posed shots so I was not able to photograph all the matches on this night.
The first match of the night was a triple threat match between Arik Cannon, Casanova and Rob James. The match started with a Casanova special challenge which was a joke telling contest. Cannon won the challenge with a dirty joke and got the pin on Rob James after a brain buster.
Shimdog beat Matty Star.
Joessiah, "Hollywood" Brian Sager, & The Prophet beat Zak James, Benjamin Sailer, & Jake Taylor.
Gator Magraw was suppose to wrestle the team of Pete Huge & Kleck Micheals with a 'mystery partner' but no one showed up to the ring with Gator. With the help of a Joey Envy super kick Pete Huge got the pin on Magraw.
AWA RUSH Youtube champion Devin Carter retained his title against Jaysin Strife.
In a special Ladies match Rain beat Mystik.
AWA RUSH champion Chris Jordan beat El Viejo to retain his belt.

NIW Amery, WI 3/11/2007

Northern Impact Wrestling returned to The Tac, formerly known as the Northstar Event Center.
In the opener of the night Tommy 'Spiderbaby' Saturday & Malikite beat Bobbi Mafi & Sean Slade. It's been a while since I've seen old Spiderbaby in the ring.
In a battle of brothers Venom w/ Rain beat Rob James. The event opened with a Spiders Web interview segment with the brothers. James brought up somethings from their past such as who got the Sega Geniss for xmas. Great stuff.
James Thomas beat Kid Krazy and Trent Jones in a three way dance. Kid Krazy hit his world of pain but Thomas took Krazy and tossed him out of the ring and go the pin on Jones. Smart move on the part of Thomas.
NIW Impact champion The Prophet retained hit title against Bret O'Brian in a hard fought match.
The Junk Squad beat Arik Cannon and the Northstar Express in a wild 6 man tag match.

AWF Hayward, WI 3/10/207

From the LCO Casion in Hayward, WI the American Wrestling Federation presented 5 big matches, I photographed 3 of them before I had to leave.

Big Daddy Hoofer beat Joey Envy. Last time at the LCO Casino Envy was the referee in the first match. Looks like he is moving up the AWF ladder.

Allison Wunderland pinned Rain.

I think JB Trask won a three way dance with James Thomas and The Black Stallion. I'm not sure about that ending though.

MIW Clearwater, MN 3/3/2007

The stars of Minnesota Independent Wrestling were in action at the Clearwater American Legion on Saturday March 3rd, 2007 for 'Battle for the Belt'. There were 5 matches with the winner going on to a 6th match that was for the vacated MIW heavyweight title belt.

Chris Jordan beat Gator Magraw in the first match of the night. Jordan had to be one of the favorites to win the MIW title as he already has 2 other belts right now.

'Live Wire' Johnny Parks beat Jean Marius. This was my first time seeing Marius who comes from Canada.
Shimdog beat Cooter to advance to the championship match.

Joey Envy beat Pete Huge to move to the main event.
Big Daddy Hoofer beat Rob Stardom in a submission only match.

MIW promoter/referee Terry Fox rasies the hand of new MIW heavy weight champion Big Daddy Hoofer.

MXW Cottage Grove, MN 2/23/2007

Minnesota Extream Wrestling held a card in the mecca of MN indy wrestling, the Cottage Grove National Guard Armory on the last Friday night of February 2007.
Ann Brookstone beat Mystik. This was my first time seeing Mystik as she is very new to the sport. Brookstone has lost a lot of weight as of late.
Cory O'Neill defeated Aaron Corbin with a shinning wizard.
Jake Taylor & Brain Sagar beat Benjamin Sailer, The Asylum & Sammy Savard.
In the main event the X-Dogs beat Dysfunction & Silas Young. The Blue Meanie was advertised for this main event but he was not there.