For one independent wrestler it was not suppose to end this way. The self-proclaimed "Megastar" Angel Blue forced to call it a career two years after her final match.
For over a decade she been down the roads and rings of Texas indy wrestling scene especially Austin-based Anarchy Championship Wrestling. She relished on being hated by the crowd. With a smug self-absorbed over-confident look, she would get in fan's faces claiming to be the greatest and hurl insults. Before getting in the ring she swept her feet back on the apron in direction of the fans. Fans responded to her with loud boos, arguing back with her, and on occasion tossing rolls of toilet paper when she gets introduced in the ring. She continues to antagonize the crowd with insults and singing "We are the champions!" off key. She worked the fans way too well having the fans boo her for everything she did in the ring. Fans wanted her get beat only for her to win in sneaky and nefarious ways.
She shows up at ACW ready to work and get involved. She even popped up not long after being in a bad car accident to talk on the mic giving a passionate speech on showing up despite not able to work because she loved this. She's a two-time ACW Joshi champion, a TV champion, a tag team champion with Jojo Bravo (now known as Jay Serious) and 2013 Queen of Queens tournament winner. Her tag team with Jojo Bravo will always be underrated and underappreciated. The chemistry between the two as reluctant tag partners who try to screw over each other only to get a miraculous victory at the end. She wrestled in Sabotage when it started up and feuded with current AEW wrestler Leva Bates. One of her victories over her was locking Bates inside trunk of a car. It lead to Last Woman Standing match between the two. In 2018 she made her Inspire A.D. debut being surprise tag team partner of Steve O'Reno and became Inspire A.D. Twin Dragons champions with him. Things were going good for her....
Til one Inspire show in Jan 2019. She was in a match against Jenna Lynn and current NXT wrestler Shotzi Blackheart when she took one spot. It was a spot I seen done many times, but this one caused a herniated disc in her neck. Everything she worked for comes crashing to a halt for an unfortunate injury. She had surgery to repair and endure hell trying to make it back. Despite bouncing back and working hard she couldn't able to be cleared for a comeback. Not the way she wants to go out.
Angel Blue is a textbook case on being a heel from going face-to-face with fans to finding hundreds of devious ways to break the rules and win a match. She always been a solid hand in the ring. Part of me want her in the middle of the ring to say goodbye only to go "Sike! I lied! I'm back!" to chorus of boos. It would be the most perfect thing for her. A fan can only dream. Thank you Angel Blue for putting everything in the ring. When I hear Queen - I Want It All I immediately think of you coming out to the ring. You are truly a Megastar.
This post is a combination of indy wrestling show and trading cards.
After a week and half of the state being frozen it thawed out and melted around here on Friday. It went back to our normal warm winter of clear blue skies in no time. After long a week of cold weather destruction and accessing the damage everyone needed a sense of release and get away from reality for a bit. That came Saturday for me with New Texas Pro Wrestling show in Colorado City. I went to a show that day and had a fantastic time with me cheering, booing, waving signs in support of King Rob Love, Jastin Taylor, and Max Heights, and photographing the show.
What does this have do with trading cards? I'm going to back track to another Texas indy fed Sabotage Wrestling. I been to their shows when I was living in Austin at the time. The central Texas based fed (run by Jeffrey Cerda and his crew) would release trading card sets back in 2019. There are 10 cards per series and printed in short supply. Running a fed is no easy task. One of series feature first ever card of AEW wrestler Ricky Starks. Sabotage recently released series 5 card set I pre-order back when it was announced. The set feature current Reality of Wrestling (run by WWE Hall of Famer Booker T) women champion Promise Braxton as well Alex Gracia and Vertvixen who have made appearances in AEW. There are two from that set appeared on New Texas Pro Wrestling show: Kiefer Bartek and Nastico.
Kiefer Bartek is not only a wrestler (trained by Booker T), but runs NTPW taking it various cities around Texas. He have appeared in various Texas feds such as Heavy Metal Wrestling, Inspire, and Metroplex Wrestling as The Sheriff. Nastico is the self-proclaimed best manager of wrestling. The masked man is around DFW indy feds especially DFW All-Pro, the place where he trained and started at, as well traveling around state with his group of guys to numerous feds. He uses social media cutting promos hyping up his appearances and interactively engage with fans and wrestlers.
After the show I thanked all the wrestlers and everyone involved for a good show and wish them a safe drive back just like I always do. I went to Nastico and Kiefer Bartek separately showing them their cards and their eyes lit up. Nastico was ecstatic when he saw the card. It was first time he saw his own card and want me take photos of him autographing and showing it off. Kiefer, IMO the best card of the set, told me its a dream of his to be put on a trading card. Like Nastico, its first time he saw his as well. I witness the joy out of them when they finally saw themselves immortalized on a trading card. I'm sure its the feeling of thousands when they see themselves on a card for first time ever.
Nastico signs his card
Nastico shows off his official Sabotage Wrestling card
The end of MPX Wrestling show on a Saturday night of November 7, 2020 in Bedford, TX marked the coming end. It was coming end of in-ring career of Baby D with her final match scheduled on December 11 at Mission Pro Wrestling show in Buda, TX. After getting pinned in a match stipulation she must leave the fed she gave a heartfelt speech it was her last match in MPX thanking the fans for the support throughout the years. It marks the end of her six year journey up and down the roads of independent wrestling scene.
The first time I seen wrestle in-person was in June 2015 at Anarchy Championship Wrestling Queen of Queens event, at first, under the name Baby Dumplings. She would shorten it to Baby D and within those five years she became one of premier woman wrestler in Texas. Whether in MPX, Sabotage, Branded Outlaw Wrestling, or various feds she poured her heart and effort with a charismatic charm in the ring. She was fun and entertaining in the ring from singles to tag team as either with Phoebe as Fun N Sexy or Steven Kirby as Punch Drunk Love winning titles along the way. Outside the ring she have a pure heart of gold taking time with fans like me. She's willing lend a hand to fellow wrestlers. She will always be a champion to me. Thank you Baby D! You will be missed in the ring. Wish you well outside of it.
2018 was wild year for me in Texas wrestling travels. I gone through the land of Anarchy in a world of Inspire driving down the Old and New Texas roads like a Branded Outlaw into the Metroplex all the way to the Heavy Metal dose of Reality with no act of Sabotage for Squared Circle action. Those travels to the shows are well worth with plenty of highlights to be seen and told. You have to be there.
I want to thank the wrestlers, referees, and the crew at Inspire Pro,
Sabotage, Anarchy Championship Wrestling, Branded Outlaw Wrestling, MPX, Heavy Metal Wrestling, Reality of Wrestling, Old School Wrestling, Squared Circle Pro, New Texas Pro, Heel/Face
Wrestling, and the weekend friends and fans I met along the way for the shows and fun moments.
This going be split up in multiple parts. Enjoy part 1!
Len-X and Davidson in
a Ruthless Cage Match - Jordan Len-X and Ryan Davidson battled each other
in Inspire Pro to hate fueled battles ending with no winner. Inspire Pro
management put these two inside a steel cage to settle a winner. Both battered
each other all over the cage that one side almost collapsed when Davidson
rammed Len-X into the cage. Davidson introduce a chain to use only to backfire.
Len-X wraps the chain around his knee and drops Davidson face onto his
chain-wrapped knee for the win.
Matthew Palmer
In-sensitivity Part I - things have not gone well between Matthew Palmer
and Roxy Castillo since he won the right of her services. It's mainly due to
his antics despite Castillo attempts to make him curb it. Palmer kept pushing
those buttons that night as he revealed his limited edition t-shirt calling
himself King of the Black Women. After taking a loss against J. Serious things
got much worse as Massive came in and attacked him. It was over him
disrespecting lucha libre history when he was the masked Void and ripping it
off revealing himself from five years ago.
Inspire Pro Announces
Return to AFS - The former Marchessa Hall was home for Inspire Pro from its
debut til it was sold and renamed AFS Cinema. The management wouldn't allow
wrestling leaving Inspire Pro hosting shows first at ball room at Norcross Mall
for few shows then Austin
Sports Center.
Late 2017 AFS management let them run a show. It was a success that they
decide let Inspire Pro run remaining 2018 shows at the building.
MJF Makes a Statement
- Michael Jacob Friedman made his Inspire Pro debut taking on Kody Lane making
him tap out in victory and kicking him in the groin afterwards. He made his
presence known again attacking Andy Dalton with a kendo stick and joining The
New Movement alongside Ashton Jacobs and T-Ray Watford.
ACH Guts Out
Performance - 24 hours before facing Shane Strickland ACH checked in ER
clinic. He checked out and made it to the show. Despite looking worse for wear
and in pain, ACH pulled out gutsy performance in a victory over Strickland.
Sabotage War of
Genders 2 - Sabotage put bragging rights on the line between men and women
wrestlers with lineup of wrestlers (Thunder Rosa, Barbi Hayden, B-Boy, Joey
Ryan, Human Tornado, Rocket Boy Wilson, Baby D, Phoebe, Andy Dalton, Angel
Blue, Erica Torres, Hyan, Leva Bates, Sammy Guevara, Fuego del Sol, Heather
Monroe, Kylie Rae, GPA, J. Serious, Rey Ortiz, Jordan Len-X, Double D, Ivory
Robin, and Nikki Knight) within the various states. Pressure to win caused some
to do whatever it takes to win for their genders from weapon shots, low blows,
and holding on the ropes or grabbing the tights during a pin.
Creation of Fun N
Sexy - with half of Sabotage tag champion, Skyler Slice, out of action,
Phoebe spent the show searching for her replacement. After Baby D sent Human
Tornado a crushing defeat Phoebe joined in the ring (and get suplexed on top of
Human Tornado) picking Baby D as her new partner and holder of 1/2 of Sabotage
tag team titles. Since then it was dancing and grooving fun with hula hoops all
over the state afterwards.
Going be very sexy partnership
The Night Angel Blue
and Andy Dalton Made Texas
Wrestling Hell Froze - when Sabotage announced 8 person intergender tag
fans were shocked the captains of the teams were Andy Dalton (men) and Angel
Blue (women). So shocking that one fan yelled, "This shouldn't be
happening at all!" at the show. Both teased fighting each other at the
start but Angel decide let her tag partners handle it first. Then came the
moment as every member of the team abandon the match leaving Angel and Andy in
the ring together. Angel teased only to deceive with a low blow to Andy giving
her advantage. Andy fought back hitting her with a running licked boot and a
brainbuster. Angel low blows Andy again to the win the match for her team. It
wasn't end up of it as Dallas Championship Wrestling booked singles match between
the two. With call backs to the match at Sabotage Andy got his revenge beating
Angel at DCW. It was awkward but like Vince McMahon said it is best for
business.
Very Awkward
PSYCHE!
The Art of Sabotage
- GM Donovan Troi conniving and corrupt ways in the past shows including
barring former Sabotage champion Delilah Doom from the show. Sabotage board of
directors gave him one night to makes things right at the show or will be
fired. Later in the night Fuego del Sol took on Sabotage champion Heather
Monroe for the title and won. It was short-lived celebration as Queen Erica
Torres came along with members of Latinos Taking Over attacked him and immediately
demand a match for Sabotage title. GM Troi said if both parties agreed it will
go on. Fuego del Sol agreed and both fought with Torres getting the victory to become new Sabotage champion. Troi went from sympathetic to cracking a
maniacal laughter as it was a ruse. In case Monroe lost the title, Troi put use of his
backup plan on getting it back with Erica Torres as champion under Latinos
Taking Over faction....and it worked.
Champ for 15 minutes
Queen Erica Takes It
Joey Ryan Calls Mia
Khalifa Out - Mia Khalifa drew the ire of wrestlers and fans blasting
wrestling. Thunder Rosa and Sabotage invited
her to the show. One of wrestlers she blasted, Joey Ryan, called her out to the
ring after his match. After confirming she meant what she said he want her
touch his dick which her bodyguard put him in fireman's carry. Ryan slipped out
then stuck his trademark blow pop in Mia's mouth and dickflipped her bodyguard.
Mia would take a training lesson with Thunder Rosa and Chris Marvel at Hybrid
School of Wrestling realizing its not easy as it looks.
Battle of Gender
Supremacy Main Event - the main event saw Thunder Rosa and Sammy Guevara in
battle of genders as both sexes tied at 4-4 going into the match. Thunder Rosa kicked Guevara can all over the ring after being
disrespect prick towards her. Guevara turned the tide toward his favor with
both matching each other in the match. Thunder Rosa
would hook anklelock on Guevara making him tap but the match must end in a
pinball. The match would end on a time limit draw leaving the gender wars battle
at 4-4-1. Soon this followed......
War of Genders
Aftermath - after the match Latinos Taking Over came in the ring attacking
Thunder Rosa with Queen Erica Torres giving her Sky High. Just as LTO approach
Sammy Guevara on joining he attacked them only to get overwhelmed by the
numbers game. Leva Bates, Baby D, Phoebe, and Jordan Len-X came in the ring to
chase LTO out. Sabotage officials immediately fire Donovan Troi from his GM
spot for continual abuse of power. His replacement was former WWE wrestler and
manager Ricardo Rodriguez.
Mr. B Ends Johnny
Axxle Career - For six years Mr. B and Johnny Axxle been on opposite sides
of the corner, teamed together, won ACW tag team titles, split up, and fighting
each other with no clear winner. The former Holes decide ACW is no longer big
enough of them they decide to end this feud in I Quit Loser Must Retire match. Both
brutalized each other fighting up the balcony and on stage then back in the
ring as neither one would give up. Mr. B used the chairs to his advantage
hitting Windy City Drop and Killswitch on Axxle right onto the chairs. Mr. B
would about to behead Johnny Axxle after sticking his head on the seat and
going up the top rope when Axxle said "I quit" ending the match and
his career.
ACH Gives Marcus Rose
a Beatdown - two years in the making. Back track to ACW Lone Star Classic
2015 as ACH had his final match before heading to ROH. After the show in comes Marcus
Rose billing himself as "Better Than ACH."Cue to Childish Days of Our Delusions 2016 as
ACH made his return after a year in ROH roasting Rose. Rose went straight for
few shows before reverting back to his asshole self. At Childish Days of Our
Delusions 2017 he laid out the challenge to ACH in disrespectful way setting
the stage toward showdown at Guilty by Association. Marcus Rose went for sneak
attack before the bell, but ACH quickly turned the tide taking him to Beatdown City knocking the disrespect and
arrogance out of him much to delight of the crowd. ACH finished Rose off
leaving him with a busted lip. ACH and Rose went for post match handshake only
for Rose to kick him in the balls continuing his dastardly ways.
Showtime and
Architect Go At It - Scot Summers became second wrestler to be inducted in
ACW Anarchy Elite. Not only he thanked the fans, but in a huge surprise wanted
to fight Darin Childs who last wrestled his last match eleven months ago.
Childs accepted as he and Summers brawled all over in and out The Mohawk in
impromptu match. Childs would be victorious in a bloody fight.
Taylor Brothers Battle on Ladder of
Superiority - Back at Evolution of the Revolution 2017 Zac turned on his
brother DG after a loss. Since striking out solo Zac would win ACW U-30
championship at Childish Days of Our Illusions after pinning his brother DG
with Taylor Driver in six-men elimination match. Now both brothers go at it
one-on-one in a ladder match for ACW U-30 title. They channel all the past
hidden resentments using ladders and chairs on each other. DG would drives knee
onto Zac's chin off ladder and was within reach when Zac bash him from the
chair. He would drop DG with fireman carry slam on to the chairs and it was
enough time for him to climb and grab ACW U-30 title retaining it.
Steve-O Exorcise His
Demons Against DeMarco - for months another Steve been in been on thorn of
Steve O'Reno side as in Steve DeMarco. Like a large shadow looming over him
he's been costing O'Reno matches superkicking, insulting, and tormenting him
claiming to be the best Steve. DeMarco tries to get in O'Reno head before the
match which he responded with a superkick of his own. DeMarco tried to put him
down, but O'Reno fought back and pinned him conquering and exorcising his
demons against him.
Jason Silver Takes ACW
Big Prize - main event of ACW Guilty by Association was a double jeopardy
match between ACW heavyweight champion J. Serious vs Sky de LaCrimosa and Jason
Silver vs Gregory James at same time with winners of their match facing each
other for the title. They went at each other all over the ring with the trio
taking aim at J. Serious in unseating him as champion. Ricky Starks would
interfere in behalf of J. Serious trying take out Sky, James, and Silver. He
gets dropkicked out and trio took out J. Serious with Sky pinning him. Silver
and James fought it out and often double team on Sky to soften him up. Silver
pinned James leaving the former Lost Boys to battle for heavyweight title. Both
battle in and outside the ring with use of a ladder and chairs. Silver plants
Sky on the chair with a cutter and hitting 450 splash to win ACW heavyweight
title.
Lost Boy don't cry. He became champion
Unholy War Against
Silver - after the match Gregory James enter the celebrate with Jason
Silver only to attack him. It started 11 months war between the two with James
vowing be the only one to unseat Silver for ACW heavyweight title and take out
any comers at all costs that gets in the way of the unholy prize.
Branded Birthday Show
- while 95% of my birthdays were bad, this was the 5% that were good. Branded
Outlaw Wrestling had a show on my birthday and I made the drive to Live Oak for
it. I had fun time watching the in-ring actions and cheering/booing with the
crowd along getting birthday wishes from Scotty Santiago, Ethan Price, and Mike
Dell after the show. BOW champion Massive took on Brent McKenzie in the main
and retain with help of The Horde. Birthdays are best spent watching live
wrestling.
ACH and Kody Lane Takes ACW
Tag Team Titles From 2 Bad Motherfuckers - for almost two years Masada and Killah Kash held ACW tag team titles taking on
all-comers in vicious body beating and mutilating matches. ACH and Kody Lane, a
wrestler ACH taken under his wing, were the next challengers. Both teams mat
wrestled and stayed level til Masada and Kash
overpowered them with the younger Lane getting most of the punishment from both
veterans. ACH and Lane battle back with Lane using one of ACH signature moves,
a ropeflip cutter, on Kash and pinned him ending the match. 2 Bad Motherfuckers
tag team title reign was over and in comes Team Super Academia ruling ACW tag
team scene.
The Immortal Takes
Round One Against the Unholy - Jason Silver defends newly won ACW
heavyweight title against Gregory James. James sneak attacked him just as he
was coming to the ring and suffered a cut from it. They brawled in and out the
ring using chairs and attempt to toss each other over the balcony. Former J.
Serious got in the act heckling both of them from balcony as they fought in the
ring. James was about put a stake into Silver til Silver's former partner and
frienemy Sky de LaCrimosa speared him. Silver victory rolled James into a win
retaining his title. The war wasn't over between these two. It was the
beginning.
Princess Zombie
Anarchy Redemption - last time Jimmy Jacobs was in ACW (2013) he was KO'd
in his match against JT LaMotta and couldn't finish. After years away include
working behind the scenes for WWE he made his return taking on ACW TV champion
Ricky Starks. Both matched each other move for move to even kicking out of each
other specialty moves. After trading each other with spears Starks would hit a
tombstone on Jacobs to win the match. Despite the loss Jacobs proud to end the
match on a good note instead leaving the ring knocked out.
Matthew Palmer
In-Sensitivity Part II - Massive got a bone to pick with Matthew Palmer
after he disrespected his culture. Palmer's manager Roxy Castillo assure
Massive there be no trouble. Then Palmer comes out to La-Coo-Ca-Racha theme throwing
tortillas to the crowd making Roxy pissed off and storming out of the ring.
Gino attacked Palmer in the match joining forces with Massive over his
disrespect.
Pinfall Wizard and
Bad Bad Boy Goes to War - Steve O'Reno and Joey Janela went on 20 minute
ring tearing war. They started out with technical mat wrestling (Steve's forte)
going into hardcore wrestling (Joey's forte). Both of these men hitting moves
and planting each other onto chairs. Joey took one too many risks landing on to
a chair and Steve finished him off with blue thunder onto the chair for the
victory. Both men shook hands after hard fought battle and the fans never
forgot it. They voted this the best Inspire Pro match of 2018.
