Southern Illinois Championship Wrestling 1/7/2024

Southern Illinois Championship Wrestling 1/7/2024

 Heb Simmons (red) and Lucky Pete Larson (black) are our commentators. They run down the card.

Waco vs Billy McNeil

Larson says it's "logical" that Waco is from Waco, Texas, then sings The Simpons' song when they mention Billy is from Springfield. Larson then asks who has the weight advantage and Herb says it's Waco because he has the mask on. Larson then asks where Waco is from. They discuss who the masked man might be and Larson said he's sure it's not Billy McNeil.

Waco is backed up into the corner and Larson said it could be Dory Funk Jr. under the mask or Ric Flair. Billy takes Waco down and Herb says Larson never used to be able to do that. Waco clubs his back and hits a big chop. Waco slams Billy then legdrops him for 2. Billy's head is banged off the buckles and he takes an uppercut. Waco leg lariats him over the middle rope.

They trade shots. Waco suplexes him then backbreakers him. Waco stretches him over his knee then chinlocks him. Billy chinlocks him then takes a lariat. Waco chokes him with tape and Larson calls it a greco roman nerve hold. Waco goes for a pin with the foot on the chest. Billy top rope M. Bison stomps him then top rope elbow drops him over the back of the neck. Billy then picks up the win.

It was a simple and decent opener with Billy getting beaten up then making his comeback to win it.

Superstar Steve Fender is interviewed. He said he was victorious last week against Central States Champion Bobby D. He said since he's a champion, that should get him in the title hunt. Steve isn't the champ but says he is. He says he will be the champ of anything he wants to be and is throwing his name in the title hunt right now. He says all he needs to do is find a partner and he can win the tag titles. He the nsays he really wants the Central States title and says he is coming for Bobby D. 

"Roughcut" Rick Ruby vs Johnny Joe Black

Ruby is in the green. They shoulder battle and Black crossbodies him. Ruby shoulders him over then clubs him. Ruby rakes Black's face over the top rope. Ruby clubs him and bangs his head off the buckles. Ruby corner splashes him then does some kind of backdrop then legdrops him. Ruby grabs the win.

It was a short squash here. Nothing wrong with it but we didn't get a great look at either guy here.

The LA Hustlers with Lucky P. Larson vs The Top Guns

The Top Guns of Brandon Barretta and Joey Vinetti come out. The Top Guns seem to want to take the place of Bryce and Luke. The LA Hustlers say no but Bryce and Luke let The Top Guns take their place.

The Guns are nailed from behind then hit stereo shoulderblocks. One of the Hustlers is slingshotted in then he takes a double elbow and legdrop. Joey chinlocks one of them then Brandon slams the other. Joey is dropped on a Hustler. A Hustler misses a lariat then takes a corner spear and lariat.

Brandon hits a lariat then Joey hits a double axe handle off the 2nd rope. Joey goes for a headscissors in the corner but ends up over the top. Joey then hits the headscissors takeover in the other corner. Brandon takes a briefcase shot to the head when the ref isn't looking. Brandon suplexes a Hustler.

Joey and the other hustler get in. Joey 1v2's them. He then throws one into the other, dropkicks him and makes the Hustler ddt his partner. Joey's headscissors get caught then the other Hustler hits him with a chain for the DQ.

Brandon fights off both opponents after and boots one of them. Brandon then hits one of the Hustlers with the chain.

I didn't really like any of this. You can't just substitute teams in a match. The DQ finish wasn't good with The Hustlers using the chain right out in the open. Joey had a rough night here with failed headscissors spots and should probably drop that move.

"Trending" Trent Daniels is interviewed. He's too busy playing on his phone for this. He ignores the questions and said he wants to talk to his people over the rednecks and hillbillies here. He said he is more popular than anyone else in SICW and said he will be #trending at the end of the night.

Sean Vincent vs Billy Joe Black

"Your Canadian Hero" Sean Vincent

 

"Big Nasty" Glenn Williams is with Sean. Sean puts a headlock on  then Billy reverses a wristlock. Billy flying back elbows him. Sean rakes the eyes then chokes him with his leg over the 2nd rope. Sean then jumps on his neck over the middle rope. Sean mudhole stomps Billy then facewash kicks him.

Sean hits a death valley driver and picks up the win.

This was just a quick squash here with Sean picking up the win. 

Curtis Wylde is interviewed. He said he was hoping for a happy holiday but it's not that way for everyone. He said his buddy Jason Breed is on the shelf with a broken leg and he wants thoughts and prayers for him. Wilde says he has mouths to feed and bills to pay. He said The LA Hustlers don't think about that. He said he has been there before and says it's getting personal and dangerous here.

Wilde says you are talking danger, you are talking about Curtis Wylde. He said Pete Larson and The LA Losers need to step on through the wildside. He said he's getting redemption for Breed. This was a good promo. 

They said its time for Promoter's Corner but then we cut to a match from Wrestling at The Chase.

Kevin Von Erich vs Roger Kirby

They lock up and Kevin backs him up. Roger does a nice taekdown by the arm and hammerlocks him. Kevin rolls through and the video freezes, though the audio keeps going. Kevin side headlocks him then headlock takeovers him. Kevin does a nice headlock takeover counter out of the hiptoss.

Roger goes for it again and takes another headlock takeover. Kevin is put on the buckles then takes knees. Roger chinlocks him and Kevin tries to fight out. Kevin does a nice shoulder throw and yanks Roger off the ropes with an armlock. They trade shots in the corner and Kevin hits a nice dropkick.

Roger begs off then is thrown. Kevin does a flying headscissors. The announcer talks about Kevin Von Erich being inspired by Joe Stecher and says he can crush sacks of wheat with his legs. Roger hits some clubs and they trade shots. Kevin elbow drops him then handstand knee drops him.

Kevin is thrown into the buckles. Kevin hits some clubs to the back then Roger blocks Kevin's claw. Kevin does the stomach claw  and Roger grabs the hair. The time limit then expires.

I'm never a big fan of showing classic matchups as its time filler and there's always something else that could be put in there instead. This was a decent match though. These guys were so much better at the basics than anyone in wrestling is today and all of their strikes had some nice fire and power behind them. I loved the headlock takeover counter off the hiptoss.

Promoter's Corner with Lucky Pete Larson and The LA Hustlers

Larson says The Top Guns are The Squirt Guns and kicks the announcer out. He says they are nothing but punks and don't deserve a shot. Larson says to get a good look at the belts because they will only see them that way. He said they forgot more about wrestling than The Top Guns know. He said to stay out of their business. He said Curtis Wylde's partner is out the shelf because they took him out. He says they will put Wylde in a hospital bed next to his friend anytime. He said then neither of his kids can have a christmas because he doesn't care. He said Little Joe is not there as he kicked the crap out of him. The female interviewer then says it's time to wrap it up for break as Larson continues.

Peyton Ayres with Stephen E. vs Curtis Wylde with Wildfire

They said Ayres is from Cairo, Egypt. Danny Boy (a face) is on commentary and was apparently involved in some situation recently. Wylde avoids the lockup. Wilde hits some really nice punches then Ayres splashes him. Ayres rakes Wylde's face and chokes him over the middle rope. Stephen E. takes a cheap shot on Wilde then Ayres foot chokes Wylde. They trade forearms for punches then Ayres hits corner spears. Ayres chokes him over the middle rope then clubs his back.

Wylde hits punches then is pulled down by the hair. Ayres elbow drops him then chokes him. Ayres misses a splash. Wylde back elbows and boots him then hits some punches. Wylde elbows him in the head then running forearms him. Stephen E trips Wylde and throws in a weapon. Ayres hits Wylde with it. Ayres then picks up the pin.

It was a short match here. Wylde had some good punches and Ayres was fine as the big man here.

Danny Boy gets in the ring and tells the ref what happened. The ref tells Ayres to open his fist and reverses the decision, disqualifying Ayres.

Overall thoughts: SICW is an old school promotion and I like it. The lead commentator Herb Simmons was a decent old-school, face announcer. Pete Larson is your usual over the top and somewhat goofy heel manager. They stick to the basics and they have thicker dudes who over 200lbs. If you are looking for old school style wrestling with clear faces and heels, I think this may be what you are looking for. There were some issues here though. They had a Promoter's Corner segment that they cut away from then aired. They aired an old school match to fill time. I didn't really like the finish to the Hustlers/Top Guns match and I would have liked to have seen the matches be a little longer. I think it might be worth a look just to see something different. The execution wasn't always there but the ideas and logic were.