#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.

PWI 500 2012

The annual Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500 issue is now out on news stands and has been out for a few weeks in digital form. It’s always fun to see this list every year. But this year I was a little sad when I checked out the list. This was the first year since 2003 that there were no photos I took in the list. Because of that I decided to post some old photos I have of some of the wrestlers in the top 100. So enjoy a look back at some of the top stars of today.
#1 CM Punk. In 2004 Punk teamed up with Ace Steel to take on Dan Maff & BJ Whitmer in a Chicago street fight. Punk & Steel won the match. His ranking that year in the PWI 500 was #89. Chicago Ridge, IL.
#2 Bobby Roode. VS Booker T from 2008. That year Roode was #89 on the list. Spencer, IA.
#4 Daniel Bryan. In 2005 Bryan was known as Bryan Danielson and he wrestled in a match against Claudio Castignoli who is now known as Antonio Cesaro in the WWE. Danielson was # 76 on the list in 2005. Hammond, IN.
#6 Jun Akiyama. VS TAKA at Korakuen Hall. Tokyo, Japan. In 2005 Akiyama was ranked #76 on the list.
#7 Davey Richards. If you are a fan of Richards then check out his hard hitting match against Low Ki from the 2006 IWA Mid South TPI. Midlothian, IL.
#12 James Storm. VS Rhino. Spencer, Iowa.
#13 Austin Aries. VS Adrian Serreno. Minneapolis, MN.
#20 Kevin Steen. At the 2005 IWA MS TPI Steen went to the final round but lost to Matt Sydal. Hammond, Indiana.
#27 Mr. Anderson. Not long before Andeson went to OVW he took on rookie Thoruf Marius (Erick Rowan in FCW) in 2003. Maple Grove, MN
#28 AJ Styles. VS Shifty. Maple Grove, MN.
#32 Rodrick Strong. Strong went to  the finals of the 2006 IWA MS TPI against Arik Cannon and Low Ki. Midlothian, IL.
#39 Jay Lethal. VS AJ Styles. Spencer, IA.
#44 Colt Cabana. At the 2005 IWA MS TPI Cabana got a shot at the heavy weight title against champion Jimmy Jacobs. Hammond, IN.
#46 Seth Rollins. At the time of this photo Rollins was known as Tyler Black. Hammond, IN.
#48 Chris Daniels. In 2004 The Fallen Angel showed up in Midwest Pro Wrestling to take on Arik Cannon. Maple Grove, MN.
#51 Somoa Joe. As the ROH champion Joe defended the title against Homicide. Chicago Ridge, IL.
#54 Michael Elgin. Back in 2006 a young Elgin made his way to the midwest for the NIW Impact Invitational. Cottage Grove, MN.
#59 Johnny Gargano. VS Mat Fitchett. Minneapolis, MN.
#61 Takashi Morishima. Defending his ROH title against Austin Aries. St. Paul, MN.
#62 Adam Pearce & #64 Carl Anderson. Pearce & Anderson team up to take on Arik Cannon & Baby Slim at an NWA Midwest show in Cottage Grove, MN back in 2006.
#63 Jay Briscoe & #65 Mark Briscoe. VS CM Punk & Colt Cabana for the ROH tag team title. The Briscoe’s lost the titles at the end of this match in Chicago Ridge, IL.
#82 El Generico. VS Chris Bosh. Midlothian, IL.
#96 Evan Bourne. Before he was in the WWE Bourne wrestled as Matt Sydal. In this match from the 2006 Ted Petty Invitational for IWA Mid South Sydal beat El Generico.
#97 Rhett Titus. Back in 2007 Titus was in an opening match against Michael Elgin at an ROH event in St. Paul, MN.

2010 PWI 500

The 20th annual Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500 hit news stands a couple of weeks ago. Former TNA champion AJ Styles was named the #1 for the grading period of June 1st, 2009 through May 31st 2010. This was the first time that a TNA wrestler was named #1 in the PWI 500. The photo here was taken back in January 2004 when he came to Midwest Pro Wrestling to face Shifty.

Ranked #3 on the list is CM Punk. In the photo Punk is with Colt Cabana (#101) after they won the ROH tag team titles in Chicago Ridge, Il in April 2004. A little bit of a role reversal as Punk is showing his less serious side. Cabana recently started a podcast called "Art of Wrestling" that can be found at welovecolt.com and on itunes. So far he has done 4 episodes that have featured Shawn Daivari, Punk, Chad Collyer and Bull Pain. I've listened to all 4 shows an really enjoyed them. They are funny and informative. If you are a fan of pro wrestling then you really should listen to Art of Wrestling. Then email him and tell him I told you to listen to his podcast.

I have four photos in the PWI 500, Randy Orton, Jack Swagger, Cody Rhodes and Chris Masters. Go out and buy an copy now. If you can't find the 2010 PWI 500 on news stands you can now order it on line at the PWI blog.

ECHO Pro Sartell, MN 5/30/2009

For the second night in a row ECHO Pro wrestling held an event at the Bernick arena in Sartell, MN. The roster for both nights were mostly the same with just a few changes.
In the opening contest "6% Bodyfat" Rob James challenged any fat slob to a match. Venom came out for that challenge and defeated James.

TNA wrestler AJ Styles was scheduled to be in the main event against Shannon Moore who was unable to attend. Unfortuantly Styles was unable to wrestle as well because of an injury that took place at a TNA tv taping earlier in the week. Styles came out to tell the crowd that he could not wrestle. Brody Hoofer came out to complain about not getting the chance to beat Styles in the main event on this night. Styles told Hoofer and the fans that he brought a replacement from TNA for his match.

Kamekazi Klecker defeated Josh Calisto when the match was stopped due to Calisto not being able to continue after he hit his head on the concreat floor from the move in the photo to the left. 911 was called and an ambalance was set for Calisto. Later in the night Calisto returned from the hospital and appeared to be ok.

M-Dogg Matt Cross & O.D.B. defeated "Playboy" Pete Huge & Allison Wonderland and Joey Envy & Ann Brookstone in a 3 tag team match.

Arik Cannon defeated Horace the Psychopath in a Sartell street fight that never made it into the streets of Sartell. Cannon got the pin on Horace after a senton from the ring apron on to a table. Both men were a bloody mess after this match.

The Northstar Express defeated Faith in Nothing and Midwest Ground & Air in a 3 tag team match. ECHO Pro champion Darin Corbin pinned Christian Faith. Not sure if this means that Midwest Ground & Airs Minnesota win streak is over or not seeing as how they didn't get pinned in this match.

Billy Gunn (He came out to his old WWE DX music) defeated Big Brody Hoofer in the main event. The appearance of Gunn was a real surprise to the crowd and they got really loud when he came out. With the DX music playing the fans didn't really know who was coming out as it could have been one of 2 men from TNA. But I think that the word most have gotten out to one fan in the front row who was wearing a Billy & Chuck t-shirt. Really, who owns one of those shirts yet alone wears one to a wrestling show?

TNA Spencer, IA 4/4/2008

Two Fridays ago I headed down to Spencer, Iowa for a Total Nonstop Action house show at the Clay County Event Center. From my house it was a 3 1/2 hour drive so I was very happy that my friend Rob agreed to ride down with me. Thanks Rob. Through PWI I got a v.i.p. pass. It was very nice to see/hear such a loud crowd there in Spencer.

In the opening contest Curry Man defeated Sonjay Dutt.
The next match was advertised as a singles match between O.D.B. and Gail Kim but Jacqueline came out and said Jim Cornnette added her to the match to make it a 3 way dance. O.D.B. won this match by pinning Jacqueline with a roll up. While I was down in Iowa on this night back home in Minneapolis the local FOX 9 news did a story on O.D.B.. The footage for the piece was filmed 2 months ago when she appeared at a F1RST Wrestling card.
BG James defeated Kip James with a roll up.
Rhino defeated James Storm after a spear. Storm came out after the second match but it was announced that he was not cleared to wrestle because of injurys from the last ppv. Storm came out once again after the the last match after Rhino called him out. They wrestled a full match with no signs of any injury from Storm.

TNA tag team champions AJ Styles & Tomko defeated Somoa Joe and TNA X division champion Black Machismo to retain the titles.
Booker T pinned Robert Roode in a no DQ match in the main event. Neither Payton Banks or Sharmell were at ring side for this match. It was announced that TNA would return to Spencer, IA but no date was given.

3 years ago today> IWA-MS TPI

The twelve first round matches of the 2003 IWA-MidSouth Ted Petty Invitaional took place this night 3 years ago in Salem, IN (Northwest of Louisville, KY)

Jimmy Jacobs w/Becky Bayless beat Sal Rinauro.
Nigel McGuinness beat Brad Bradley.
Ian Rotton beat Mickie Knuckles.
AJ Styles pinned Todd Sexton.
Jonny Storm defeated M-Dogg 20.
Sonjay Dutt beat Nate Webb.
Chris Hero beat Arik Cannon w/Alison Danger.
Alex Shelly defeated Chris Sabin.
B-Boy beat JC Bailey.
Jimmy Rave pinned Colt Cabana.
Danny Daniels beat Ken Anderson.
Jerry Lynn beat Michael Shane.