What to Watch Coming out of Warrior Wrestling 3....
Warrior Wrestling 3 went down at Marian Catholic High School on Jan. 5 and it was quite possibly, the best event the promotion has put together in its brief history.
The card featured some of the best wrestlers in the world in a jam-packed card. However, prior to the action kicking off, fans who purchased a Fan Fest ticket were treated to a Meet and Greet experience unlike any other. Fans were able to meet their favorite superstars, take photos with them and receive autographs for an amazingly affordable price. Very few, if any, promotions offer this type of interactive experience at a family-friendly cost.
Sam Adonis Picks up the Win… But Pat Monix is Far From DoneOne of the main storylines heading into the event was a clash between “the world’s hottest heel”, Sam Adonis with teammates Super Crazy and Dragon Lee facing off against Adonis’ rival in Warrior Wrestling, Pat Monix. Local favorite Monix was backed by Daga and professional wrestling legend Ultimo Dragon. The crowd erupted when Ultimo Dragon made his entrance and routinely chanted, “You Still Got It” as Ultimo Dragon flashed his skills in the ring. The action spiraled out of control numerous times as both teams scored a pinfall victory before Team Adonis picked up the win. Pat Monix was visibly upset backstage and it’s safe to say, the rivalry between Adonis and Monix is just heating up.
The Rivalry Between Jordynne Grace & Tessa Blanchard Can’t Be ContainedSpeaking of intense rivalries, Tessa Blanchard and Jordynne Grace seem to be on another collision course. The two women were in separate matches on the card but still managed to find one another in the ring. First, Grace defended her Progress Wrestling women’s title against fan-favorite Kylie Rae. Grace retained her title in an entertaining affair, showcasing her heralded strength numerous times throughout the match.
Later in the evening, Blanchard faced off against Britt Baker in a singles match. Baker came close to picking up the win a few times, but Blanchard’s physicality was simply too much for the mayor of Brittsburgh. After the match, Blanchad offered her hand to show respect to her opponent. As Britt accepted the offer, Blanchard began a vicious post-match beatdown. Grace came rushing out from the backstage area and immediately began brawling with Blanchard. Grace and Blanchard faced off with one another at Warrior Wrestling 2 but the match ended in a no contest as both women’s aggression caused the match to spiral out of control.
As Grace and Blanchard began to throw haymakers at one another, Warrior Wrestling officials rushed to the ring to pull the two women apart from one another. Warrior Wrestling promoter Steve Tortorello came to ringside and was clearly unhappy with Grace and Blanchard’s causing the show to come to a standstill. Tortorello announced that if the two fierce competitors couldn’t keep their hands off one another, suspensions would be involved. Almost immediately, Blanchard decked Grace with the Impact Wrestling title belt. Blanchard left the scene but not before shoving Tortorello out of her way before proclaiming, “Tessa B ain’t nothing to mess with!”
Frank The Clown Shows Up To Rile the Chicagoland Crowd Before Assisting Robert “Ego” Anthony Pick Up the Win in the Freelance Free For AllThe Freelance Free For All was put together to feature some of the best local talent in the area. Which is exactly why fans nearly booed Frank The Clown out of the building as he walked his way towards the ring. Never one to be short on words, Frank further agitated the crowd with a barrage of verbal barbs that had everyone ready to run him backstage. Frank introduced Robert “Ego” Anthony as his guy to win the match which wound up to be a spoiler, not a prediction. Still, it didn’t’ come without some controversy. As the referee was distracted, Anthony hit Brian Pillman Jr. in the face with his cane and picked up the victory. The match saw numerous stars from local Freelance Wrestling promotion including Space Monkey, Isaias Velasquez, Matt Knicks, Wardlow, Bryce Benjamin, Gringo Loco and others.
The Lucha Brothers vs. Team White Wolf Leaves Fans in AweIn the evening’s co-main event, two exciting teams showed what tag team wrestling is all about as The Lucha Brothers (Fenix and Pentagon Jr.) faced off against Team White Wolf (A-Kid & Carlos Romo). The two teams put on an amazing show that had Warrior Wrestling fans on their feet throughout the match. Pentagon Jr. and Fenix continued to prove why they’re among the most popular wrestlers in the world with “Animo” and “Cero Miedo” chants routinely breaking out during the contest. Unphased by facing two of the best in the business, A-Kid and Romo performed nearly to perfection. Team White Wolf impressed The Lucha Brothers so much that Pentagon Jr. and Fenix invited the team back to the ring to show respect and raise their opponent’s hands in admiration. Although they did not pick up the W, A-Kid and Carlos Romo validated the hype of being one of the most exciting tag teams wrestling.
Brian Cage Retains the Warrior Wrestling Title in a Thrilling Match Against BandidoWith the rest of the card producing numerous dramatic moments throughout the night, it put Brian Cage and Bandido in a tough spot. Following thriller of a tag team match, Cage and Bandido didn’t have the luxury of a “cool down spot” before stepping into the ring. Still, that didn’t stop the two competitors from putting on a great main event match. Some highlights of the contest featured Cage performing two monkey flips that sent Bandido nearly out of the ring and Bandido catching the massive Cage flying off the turnbuckle, turning it into a powerslam. In the end, Cage was able to retain his Warrior Wrestling belt with a Drillclaw after a pop-up powerbomb to a buckle bomb sequence.
Following the match, Cage grabbed a microphone and told the Warrior Wrestling fans that Warrior Wrestling is quickly becoming one of his favorite places to wrestle for and that the champ isn’t going anywhere. Who is next for the champ? Can anyone stop The Machine?
Bonus: Eddie Edwards Brings the Violence to Warrior WrestlingEddie Edwards has competed for Warrior Wrestling once before against Brian Cage. But that was a standard match and an entirely new Eddie Edwards. Scheduled to wrestle against Austin Aries at Warrior Wrestling 3, Aries would attempt to play mind games with Edwards before the bout started. Aries ran down his opponent, believing himself to be above competing in a No Disqualification match. Edwards responded and said he didn’t come looking for a wrestling match with the former Impact Wrestling champion, he was looking for a fight. Almost immediately the two began brawling in and outside of the ring. The two even went into the stands and at one point, Edwards was stalking Aries like a crazed animal as the two traversed the crowd back to the ring. Edwards made sure his new weapon of choice, a kendo stick, felt the taste of Aries’ skin. He used the kendo stick numerous times including to the face of Aries. Still, Aries showed he could succeed in the world of violence against Edwards and came close to getting Edwards to tap out after a beautiful sunset powerbomb to The Last Chancery. However, it would be Edwards who picked up the win after locking in Aries’ own finishing submission hold with the aid of a kendo stick.
The card featured some of the best wrestlers in the world in a jam-packed card. However, prior to the action kicking off, fans who purchased a Fan Fest ticket were treated to a Meet and Greet experience unlike any other. Fans were able to meet their favorite superstars, take photos with them and receive autographs for an amazingly affordable price. Very few, if any, promotions offer this type of interactive experience at a family-friendly cost.
Sam Adonis Picks up the Win… But Pat Monix is Far From DoneOne of the main storylines heading into the event was a clash between “the world’s hottest heel”, Sam Adonis with teammates Super Crazy and Dragon Lee facing off against Adonis’ rival in Warrior Wrestling, Pat Monix. Local favorite Monix was backed by Daga and professional wrestling legend Ultimo Dragon. The crowd erupted when Ultimo Dragon made his entrance and routinely chanted, “You Still Got It” as Ultimo Dragon flashed his skills in the ring. The action spiraled out of control numerous times as both teams scored a pinfall victory before Team Adonis picked up the win. Pat Monix was visibly upset backstage and it’s safe to say, the rivalry between Adonis and Monix is just heating up.
The Rivalry Between Jordynne Grace & Tessa Blanchard Can’t Be ContainedSpeaking of intense rivalries, Tessa Blanchard and Jordynne Grace seem to be on another collision course. The two women were in separate matches on the card but still managed to find one another in the ring. First, Grace defended her Progress Wrestling women’s title against fan-favorite Kylie Rae. Grace retained her title in an entertaining affair, showcasing her heralded strength numerous times throughout the match.
Later in the evening, Blanchard faced off against Britt Baker in a singles match. Baker came close to picking up the win a few times, but Blanchard’s physicality was simply too much for the mayor of Brittsburgh. After the match, Blanchad offered her hand to show respect to her opponent. As Britt accepted the offer, Blanchard began a vicious post-match beatdown. Grace came rushing out from the backstage area and immediately began brawling with Blanchard. Grace and Blanchard faced off with one another at Warrior Wrestling 2 but the match ended in a no contest as both women’s aggression caused the match to spiral out of control.
As Grace and Blanchard began to throw haymakers at one another, Warrior Wrestling officials rushed to the ring to pull the two women apart from one another. Warrior Wrestling promoter Steve Tortorello came to ringside and was clearly unhappy with Grace and Blanchard’s causing the show to come to a standstill. Tortorello announced that if the two fierce competitors couldn’t keep their hands off one another, suspensions would be involved. Almost immediately, Blanchard decked Grace with the Impact Wrestling title belt. Blanchard left the scene but not before shoving Tortorello out of her way before proclaiming, “Tessa B ain’t nothing to mess with!”
Frank The Clown Shows Up To Rile the Chicagoland Crowd Before Assisting Robert “Ego” Anthony Pick Up the Win in the Freelance Free For AllThe Freelance Free For All was put together to feature some of the best local talent in the area. Which is exactly why fans nearly booed Frank The Clown out of the building as he walked his way towards the ring. Never one to be short on words, Frank further agitated the crowd with a barrage of verbal barbs that had everyone ready to run him backstage. Frank introduced Robert “Ego” Anthony as his guy to win the match which wound up to be a spoiler, not a prediction. Still, it didn’t’ come without some controversy. As the referee was distracted, Anthony hit Brian Pillman Jr. in the face with his cane and picked up the victory. The match saw numerous stars from local Freelance Wrestling promotion including Space Monkey, Isaias Velasquez, Matt Knicks, Wardlow, Bryce Benjamin, Gringo Loco and others.
The Lucha Brothers vs. Team White Wolf Leaves Fans in AweIn the evening’s co-main event, two exciting teams showed what tag team wrestling is all about as The Lucha Brothers (Fenix and Pentagon Jr.) faced off against Team White Wolf (A-Kid & Carlos Romo). The two teams put on an amazing show that had Warrior Wrestling fans on their feet throughout the match. Pentagon Jr. and Fenix continued to prove why they’re among the most popular wrestlers in the world with “Animo” and “Cero Miedo” chants routinely breaking out during the contest. Unphased by facing two of the best in the business, A-Kid and Romo performed nearly to perfection. Team White Wolf impressed The Lucha Brothers so much that Pentagon Jr. and Fenix invited the team back to the ring to show respect and raise their opponent’s hands in admiration. Although they did not pick up the W, A-Kid and Carlos Romo validated the hype of being one of the most exciting tag teams wrestling.
Brian Cage Retains the Warrior Wrestling Title in a Thrilling Match Against BandidoWith the rest of the card producing numerous dramatic moments throughout the night, it put Brian Cage and Bandido in a tough spot. Following thriller of a tag team match, Cage and Bandido didn’t have the luxury of a “cool down spot” before stepping into the ring. Still, that didn’t stop the two competitors from putting on a great main event match. Some highlights of the contest featured Cage performing two monkey flips that sent Bandido nearly out of the ring and Bandido catching the massive Cage flying off the turnbuckle, turning it into a powerslam. In the end, Cage was able to retain his Warrior Wrestling belt with a Drillclaw after a pop-up powerbomb to a buckle bomb sequence.
Following the match, Cage grabbed a microphone and told the Warrior Wrestling fans that Warrior Wrestling is quickly becoming one of his favorite places to wrestle for and that the champ isn’t going anywhere. Who is next for the champ? Can anyone stop The Machine?
Bonus: Eddie Edwards Brings the Violence to Warrior WrestlingEddie Edwards has competed for Warrior Wrestling once before against Brian Cage. But that was a standard match and an entirely new Eddie Edwards. Scheduled to wrestle against Austin Aries at Warrior Wrestling 3, Aries would attempt to play mind games with Edwards before the bout started. Aries ran down his opponent, believing himself to be above competing in a No Disqualification match. Edwards responded and said he didn’t come looking for a wrestling match with the former Impact Wrestling champion, he was looking for a fight. Almost immediately the two began brawling in and outside of the ring. The two even went into the stands and at one point, Edwards was stalking Aries like a crazed animal as the two traversed the crowd back to the ring. Edwards made sure his new weapon of choice, a kendo stick, felt the taste of Aries’ skin. He used the kendo stick numerous times including to the face of Aries. Still, Aries showed he could succeed in the world of violence against Edwards and came close to getting Edwards to tap out after a beautiful sunset powerbomb to The Last Chancery. However, it would be Edwards who picked up the win after locking in Aries’ own finishing submission hold with the aid of a kendo stick.
Photos from Warrior Wrestling 3
Courtesy of Basil Mahmud: www.basilmahmud.com/Warrior-Wrestling/2019/Warrior-Wrestling-3/
Courtesy of Winy City Slam: www.windycityslam.com/photos/
Courtesy of Winy City Slam: www.windycityslam.com/photos/
Meet The Lucha Bros.
Pentagon
The man known as Pentagon Jr. began his climb up the professional wrestling ranks in Mexico’s prestigious AAA promotion in 2010.
After going through a few names, the luchador debuted as Pentagon Jr. in 2012. Naturally, he began a feud with Octagon Jr., continuing the rivalry between the original Pentagon and the original Octagon. Once Octagon Jr. left the promotion, Pentagon Jr. struggled to get any sustained momentum going in AAA. He would win the AAA tag team titles with Joe Lider after joining the Los Perros del Mal but would eventually drop the titles back to Angelico and Jack Evans.
While Pentagon Jr. was competing in AAA, he was picked up by the brand new Lucha Underground promotion. It was here where Pentagon Jr. truly became an international star. Breaking arms for his unknown master, Pentagon Jr. competed against some of the best Lucha Underground had to offer in its initial season. At the end of Lucha Underground’s first season, Pentagon Jr. eventually defeated Vampiro who revealed himself to be Pentagon Jr.’s master.
The next season of Lucha Underground saw Pentagon Jr. rename himself as “Pentagon Dark” in an attempt to capture the Lucha Underground title. He would do so to close Season 3 of Lucha Underground and go on to hold the championship until Jake Strong cashed in his Gift of the Gods Championship clause at Ultima Lucha Cuatro.
It was during his Lucha Underground run that saw Pentagon Jr.’s phrase, “Cerro Miedo” become the calling card of the masked wrestler. A catchphrase at first, it soon became such a huge part of the Pentagon Jr. mystique and fans quickly gravitated quickly to the mindset of Zero Fear.
Pentagon Jr. continued to become a fan favorite across the regional scene in the US and eventually found himself in Impact Wrestling earlier this year. Due to his popularity and skill in the ring, Pentagon Jr. quickly won the Impact world title by defeating Austin Aries. He would lose the belt back to Aries and move on to one of the top rivalries in 2018 against Sami Callihan. The two men have a natural chemistry and put on some of the best matches from this past year, culminating in a brutal clash at Impact Wrestling’s Slammiversary event.
Along with reaching incredible heights as a single competitor, Pentagon Jr. has also formed one of the more popular tag teams in recent memory with his brother Rey Fenix known as “The Lucha Brothers.” The two masked wrestlers have won the numerous tag titles and are the current Major League Wrestling (MLW) tag team champions. Both Pentagon Jr. and his brother Rey Fenix are formidable singles competitors but together, they may be unstoppable.
At Warrior Wrestling 1, Pentagon Jr. faced off against Matt Sydal and DJZ in a thrilling triple threat match. Pentagon Jr. took part in the main event at Warrior Wrestling 2, a War of Attrition match that saw some of the best wrestlers square off to become the inaugural Warrior Wrestling champion. Despite Pentagon Jr. not leaving Warrior Wrestling 2 with the title, he was without question one of the most popular wrestlers at the event.
Rey Fenix
Much like his brother Pentagon Jr., Rey Fenix got his first big break in professional wrestling while working for the Mexican promotion Lucha Libre AAA (or simply AAA).
Fenix would win the inaugural AAA Fusion Championship in 2013 in a four-way match against Los Perros del Mal member Daga, Crazy Boy and WCW cruiserweight legend Juventud Guerrera. During his time in AAA, Fenix would travel overseas to Japan. He would compete for a few promotions including Pro Wrestling Noah.
Fenix would also get a call from the upstart Lucha Underground promotion in 2014. During the first season, Fenix and his brother Pentagon Jr. would engage in a fierce rivalry that would see Fenix catapult himself into title contention. Although he came up short against Prince Puma for the Lucha Underground title, Fenix became the first wrestler to defeat Mil Muertes. To close out the first season of Lucha Underground, Fenix would overcome six other competitors to win the Gift of the Gods Championship, guaranteeing him a shot at the title. After losing and regaining the Gift of the Gods belt, Fenix would eventually raise the Lucha Underground title by defeating Mil Muertes once again.
The masked wrestler would hold on to the title until Matanza won a 20-man Aztec Warfare bout. Fenix would find gold around his waist once more when he along with Aero Star and Drago captured the Lucha Underground Trios Championship. At Ultima Lucha Tres, Fenix ended the rivalry with Marty “The Moth” Martinez by defeating him in a Mask vs. Hair Match. He would continue to wrestle for Lucha Underground during their most recent season, culminating at Ultima Lucha Cuatro where he defeated El Dragon Azteca Jr. in a 2-out-of-3-falls count anywhere bout.
More recently, Fenix has also been featured on Impact Wrestling, competing both with and against his brother Pentagon Jr. Thus far into his run with Impact Wrestling, Fenix has proven to be one of the most exciting wrestlers. Always finding new ways to launch his offensive attacks, fans are always left in awe of his ringcraft. His success in the United States propelled him to become the AAA Mega Champion by pinning Jeff Jarrett at Triplemania XXVI.
For Warrior Wrestling, the luchador would make it to the finals of the War of Attrition match to crown the first ever Warrior Wrestling champion. At Warrior Wrestling 3, Fenix and his brother Pentagon Jr. will once again form The Lucha Brothers and take on Matt Sydal & A-Kid.
The man known as Pentagon Jr. began his climb up the professional wrestling ranks in Mexico’s prestigious AAA promotion in 2010.
After going through a few names, the luchador debuted as Pentagon Jr. in 2012. Naturally, he began a feud with Octagon Jr., continuing the rivalry between the original Pentagon and the original Octagon. Once Octagon Jr. left the promotion, Pentagon Jr. struggled to get any sustained momentum going in AAA. He would win the AAA tag team titles with Joe Lider after joining the Los Perros del Mal but would eventually drop the titles back to Angelico and Jack Evans.
While Pentagon Jr. was competing in AAA, he was picked up by the brand new Lucha Underground promotion. It was here where Pentagon Jr. truly became an international star. Breaking arms for his unknown master, Pentagon Jr. competed against some of the best Lucha Underground had to offer in its initial season. At the end of Lucha Underground’s first season, Pentagon Jr. eventually defeated Vampiro who revealed himself to be Pentagon Jr.’s master.
The next season of Lucha Underground saw Pentagon Jr. rename himself as “Pentagon Dark” in an attempt to capture the Lucha Underground title. He would do so to close Season 3 of Lucha Underground and go on to hold the championship until Jake Strong cashed in his Gift of the Gods Championship clause at Ultima Lucha Cuatro.
It was during his Lucha Underground run that saw Pentagon Jr.’s phrase, “Cerro Miedo” become the calling card of the masked wrestler. A catchphrase at first, it soon became such a huge part of the Pentagon Jr. mystique and fans quickly gravitated quickly to the mindset of Zero Fear.
Pentagon Jr. continued to become a fan favorite across the regional scene in the US and eventually found himself in Impact Wrestling earlier this year. Due to his popularity and skill in the ring, Pentagon Jr. quickly won the Impact world title by defeating Austin Aries. He would lose the belt back to Aries and move on to one of the top rivalries in 2018 against Sami Callihan. The two men have a natural chemistry and put on some of the best matches from this past year, culminating in a brutal clash at Impact Wrestling’s Slammiversary event.
Along with reaching incredible heights as a single competitor, Pentagon Jr. has also formed one of the more popular tag teams in recent memory with his brother Rey Fenix known as “The Lucha Brothers.” The two masked wrestlers have won the numerous tag titles and are the current Major League Wrestling (MLW) tag team champions. Both Pentagon Jr. and his brother Rey Fenix are formidable singles competitors but together, they may be unstoppable.
At Warrior Wrestling 1, Pentagon Jr. faced off against Matt Sydal and DJZ in a thrilling triple threat match. Pentagon Jr. took part in the main event at Warrior Wrestling 2, a War of Attrition match that saw some of the best wrestlers square off to become the inaugural Warrior Wrestling champion. Despite Pentagon Jr. not leaving Warrior Wrestling 2 with the title, he was without question one of the most popular wrestlers at the event.
Rey Fenix
Much like his brother Pentagon Jr., Rey Fenix got his first big break in professional wrestling while working for the Mexican promotion Lucha Libre AAA (or simply AAA).
Fenix would win the inaugural AAA Fusion Championship in 2013 in a four-way match against Los Perros del Mal member Daga, Crazy Boy and WCW cruiserweight legend Juventud Guerrera. During his time in AAA, Fenix would travel overseas to Japan. He would compete for a few promotions including Pro Wrestling Noah.
Fenix would also get a call from the upstart Lucha Underground promotion in 2014. During the first season, Fenix and his brother Pentagon Jr. would engage in a fierce rivalry that would see Fenix catapult himself into title contention. Although he came up short against Prince Puma for the Lucha Underground title, Fenix became the first wrestler to defeat Mil Muertes. To close out the first season of Lucha Underground, Fenix would overcome six other competitors to win the Gift of the Gods Championship, guaranteeing him a shot at the title. After losing and regaining the Gift of the Gods belt, Fenix would eventually raise the Lucha Underground title by defeating Mil Muertes once again.
The masked wrestler would hold on to the title until Matanza won a 20-man Aztec Warfare bout. Fenix would find gold around his waist once more when he along with Aero Star and Drago captured the Lucha Underground Trios Championship. At Ultima Lucha Tres, Fenix ended the rivalry with Marty “The Moth” Martinez by defeating him in a Mask vs. Hair Match. He would continue to wrestle for Lucha Underground during their most recent season, culminating at Ultima Lucha Cuatro where he defeated El Dragon Azteca Jr. in a 2-out-of-3-falls count anywhere bout.
More recently, Fenix has also been featured on Impact Wrestling, competing both with and against his brother Pentagon Jr. Thus far into his run with Impact Wrestling, Fenix has proven to be one of the most exciting wrestlers. Always finding new ways to launch his offensive attacks, fans are always left in awe of his ringcraft. His success in the United States propelled him to become the AAA Mega Champion by pinning Jeff Jarrett at Triplemania XXVI.
For Warrior Wrestling, the luchador would make it to the finals of the War of Attrition match to crown the first ever Warrior Wrestling champion. At Warrior Wrestling 3, Fenix and his brother Pentagon Jr. will once again form The Lucha Brothers and take on Matt Sydal & A-Kid.
Meet the Challenger.
The masked Bandido is an enigma that seemingly came out of nowhere in 2018 to become one of the hottest attractions in professional wrestling.
Bandido began training as a young teenager and blossomed into a star in Mexico as part of the LUCHA LIBRE Elite promotion. Bandido would become the welterweight champion and defend the title prior to the promotion closing. Although Bandido would gain notoriety in LLE, it was in The Crash Lucha Libre promotion that propelled Bandido to become a household name.
Bandido and his tag team partner Flamita, known as “MexaBlood”, became tag team champions in The Crash Lucha Libre promotion. Bandido’s performances in the promotion left fans speechless and it was becoming even more clear that Bandido’s career was projecting well beyond Mexico.
He would travel to Japan to work in the Dragon Gate promotion in January and June of 2018, become tag champion in Progress Wrestling and appeared at the massive indie supershow, All In. Bandido would also find himself as one of the key participants in the 2018 Battle of Los Angeles (BOLA) tournament by Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG). He’d defeat T-Hawk, his usual tag partner Flamita and the bad boy Joey Janela before falling in the finals against powerhouse Jeff Cobb.
His performances in BOLA and All In combined with recent work in Mexico’s Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide reportedly put Bandido on the WWE’s radar. However, the indie wrestling star has thus far not signed a deal with the industry leader.
WWE’s loss is Warrior Wrestling fans’ gain as Bandido will challenge fellow star Brian Cage at Warrior Wrestling 3 for Cage’s Warrior Wrestling 3 title. The two men are some of the most entertaining wrestlers in the ring and there has been plenty of buzz surrounding this title matchup. The talent level possessed by Bandido and Cage is more than enough to sway even the most jaded wrestling fan to check out Warrior Wrestling 3 on Jan. 5, 2019.
Bandido began training as a young teenager and blossomed into a star in Mexico as part of the LUCHA LIBRE Elite promotion. Bandido would become the welterweight champion and defend the title prior to the promotion closing. Although Bandido would gain notoriety in LLE, it was in The Crash Lucha Libre promotion that propelled Bandido to become a household name.
Bandido and his tag team partner Flamita, known as “MexaBlood”, became tag team champions in The Crash Lucha Libre promotion. Bandido’s performances in the promotion left fans speechless and it was becoming even more clear that Bandido’s career was projecting well beyond Mexico.
He would travel to Japan to work in the Dragon Gate promotion in January and June of 2018, become tag champion in Progress Wrestling and appeared at the massive indie supershow, All In. Bandido would also find himself as one of the key participants in the 2018 Battle of Los Angeles (BOLA) tournament by Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG). He’d defeat T-Hawk, his usual tag partner Flamita and the bad boy Joey Janela before falling in the finals against powerhouse Jeff Cobb.
His performances in BOLA and All In combined with recent work in Mexico’s Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide reportedly put Bandido on the WWE’s radar. However, the indie wrestling star has thus far not signed a deal with the industry leader.
WWE’s loss is Warrior Wrestling fans’ gain as Bandido will challenge fellow star Brian Cage at Warrior Wrestling 3 for Cage’s Warrior Wrestling 3 title. The two men are some of the most entertaining wrestlers in the ring and there has been plenty of buzz surrounding this title matchup. The talent level possessed by Bandido and Cage is more than enough to sway even the most jaded wrestling fan to check out Warrior Wrestling 3 on Jan. 5, 2019.
Meet the Champ.
The Swolverine. The Machine. Mr. GMSI. Champion. Brian Cage might be the man of a 1,000 nicknames but after witnessing what the Impact Wrestling star can do in a wrestling ring, fans know he’s earned every one of the monikers.
Cage’s love of professional wrestling began at an early age. The passion for pro-wrestling lead Cage to become a fan of Chris Kanyon. A chance meeting between the two at a WWE RAW show would mark the beginning of a friendship between them. Cage would make his wrestling debut in the Main-Event Wrestling Federation, a promotion Cage and his friends started. And who did Cage face off against in his debut match? Who else but Kanyon?!
Following Kanyon’s advice and leadership, Cage would eventually become part of the WWE developmental system in 2008. Although his WWE run did not produce the results he hoped for, Cage would gain valuable experience before heading out to the regional scene in 2009.
Cage would make stops in Pro Wrestling Guerilla (PWG), NWA Hollywood and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) before truly making his mark in the new Lucha Underground promotion. Cage became an immediate impact player, challenging Prince Puma (WWE fans know him as Ricochet) for the Lucha Underground title shortly after debuting with the promotion. His feud with The Mack really showed fans that Cage was ready for the big time as the two had a brutal Falls Count Anywhere match at Ultimate Lucha. Following the success of Lucha Underground’s inaugural season, Cage would eventually find himself in high-profile feuds with Johnny Mundo, Pentagon Jr., Mil Muertes and others in the Lucha Underground promotion.
His success in the wildly popular Lucha Underground propelled Cage to the rebranded TNA, now known as Impact Wrestling. He became a force to be reckoned with, racking up wins left and right on his way to the Impact Wrestling X Division title. Cage has found himself in highly entertaining matches with Rey Fenix, Matt Sydal and more recently, Sami Callihan inside the Impact Wrestling ring.
It’s one thing to be involved in stories with such stellar names, it’s quite another to often steal the show. It’s easy to see why top promotions want to have Cage involved in their shows. He has a look that just screams pro-wrestling with his trademark mohawk, Wolverine-like beard and bulging biceps. While it’d be easy for Cage to be shoehorned into the powerhouse brute role, the Warrior Wrestling champion has shown a rare athletic ability in the squared circle. He can match power with the larger stars and keep up with the smaller cruiserweight style wrestlers. Simply put, Cage is the total package when it comes to a professional wrestler.
That’s why Cage became the first ever Warrior Wrestling champion at Warrior Wrestling 2, defeating a handful of the top stars of the indie scene in a “War of Attrition” match. Capable of having a great match with seemingly anyone, Cage is a great candidate to be the flag bearer for any promotion.
Cage will make his first defense of the Warrior Wrestling title at Warrior Wrestling 3 on Jan. 5, 2019 against the popular Bandido. The two men are without question 2 of the most popular wrestlers throughout the indie scene and it’s almost a certainty the two will earn Match of the Night honors. A Cage match is worth the price of admission alone but when added to the stacked lineup Warrior Wrestling 3 will present, it’s a no brainer. The holiday season may be over by Warrior Wrestling 3, but tickets make for the perfect gift. After all, you can’t really put a value on seeing some of the best wrestlers on the planet live and in person.
Cage’s love of professional wrestling began at an early age. The passion for pro-wrestling lead Cage to become a fan of Chris Kanyon. A chance meeting between the two at a WWE RAW show would mark the beginning of a friendship between them. Cage would make his wrestling debut in the Main-Event Wrestling Federation, a promotion Cage and his friends started. And who did Cage face off against in his debut match? Who else but Kanyon?!
Following Kanyon’s advice and leadership, Cage would eventually become part of the WWE developmental system in 2008. Although his WWE run did not produce the results he hoped for, Cage would gain valuable experience before heading out to the regional scene in 2009.
Cage would make stops in Pro Wrestling Guerilla (PWG), NWA Hollywood and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) before truly making his mark in the new Lucha Underground promotion. Cage became an immediate impact player, challenging Prince Puma (WWE fans know him as Ricochet) for the Lucha Underground title shortly after debuting with the promotion. His feud with The Mack really showed fans that Cage was ready for the big time as the two had a brutal Falls Count Anywhere match at Ultimate Lucha. Following the success of Lucha Underground’s inaugural season, Cage would eventually find himself in high-profile feuds with Johnny Mundo, Pentagon Jr., Mil Muertes and others in the Lucha Underground promotion.
His success in the wildly popular Lucha Underground propelled Cage to the rebranded TNA, now known as Impact Wrestling. He became a force to be reckoned with, racking up wins left and right on his way to the Impact Wrestling X Division title. Cage has found himself in highly entertaining matches with Rey Fenix, Matt Sydal and more recently, Sami Callihan inside the Impact Wrestling ring.
It’s one thing to be involved in stories with such stellar names, it’s quite another to often steal the show. It’s easy to see why top promotions want to have Cage involved in their shows. He has a look that just screams pro-wrestling with his trademark mohawk, Wolverine-like beard and bulging biceps. While it’d be easy for Cage to be shoehorned into the powerhouse brute role, the Warrior Wrestling champion has shown a rare athletic ability in the squared circle. He can match power with the larger stars and keep up with the smaller cruiserweight style wrestlers. Simply put, Cage is the total package when it comes to a professional wrestler.
That’s why Cage became the first ever Warrior Wrestling champion at Warrior Wrestling 2, defeating a handful of the top stars of the indie scene in a “War of Attrition” match. Capable of having a great match with seemingly anyone, Cage is a great candidate to be the flag bearer for any promotion.
Cage will make his first defense of the Warrior Wrestling title at Warrior Wrestling 3 on Jan. 5, 2019 against the popular Bandido. The two men are without question 2 of the most popular wrestlers throughout the indie scene and it’s almost a certainty the two will earn Match of the Night honors. A Cage match is worth the price of admission alone but when added to the stacked lineup Warrior Wrestling 3 will present, it’s a no brainer. The holiday season may be over by Warrior Wrestling 3, but tickets make for the perfect gift. After all, you can’t really put a value on seeing some of the best wrestlers on the planet live and in person.
Check out this incredible main event
For Warrior Wrestling 2 on 9/2/18!
The card so far:
Announced talent thus far:
"I fly to hurt people, not to look pretty."
Darby Allin ready for a fight
with Jay Bradley.
By Kyle Symes
The world of professional wrestling is full of unique, larger than life characters. And yet, Darby Allin has managed to stand out more than most.
He’s managed to build a reputation not only for having a unique look, one that extends to his social media accounts but also for being among the toughest wrestlers to step inside a ring. It’s no surprise Allin’s toughness has become one of his greatest traits. He’s endured more than most would in two lifetimes, including living off 5-dollars a week in food and living in an abandoned warehouse in Seattle.
Beyond his living conditions and lack of monetary resources, Allin’s life has been shaped by heartache. The wrestler paints half his face in the colors of a skeleton. While most would credit this touch as something Allin does to stand out among the crowd, the roots for Allin’s appearance were shaped by tragedy.
“My uncle was drunk driving when I was very young while I was in the car. He crashed and unfortunately passed away. So, the face paint stands for 50% of me being dead inside and not having a lot of trust for anyone.”
As you’ll see after looking into Allin’s past, getting thrown through tables and other weapons of hardcore wrestling are nothing compared to what he’s gone through outside of the ring. These real-life trials and tribulations have helped Allin become one of the toughest wrestlers in the game today.
“Coming up from a real background of pain and not talking out of my ass about being a tough boy,” Allin said while talking about his reputation. “I've filmed stunts for MTV Tony Hawk and the list goes on. I've been taking a beating forever.”
It’s fair to say Allin may be in for another physical battle of attrition at Warrior Wrestling 2 as he faces off against pro-wrestling veteran Jay Bradley. Standing at 6’5” and weighing 280-pounds, Bradley is an imposing figure. But Allin isn’t fazed by the task ahead of him. Facing bigger men in the ring is nothing new for the 5’9”, 180-pound Allin.
“I respect Bradley, but in all honesty, he may kick my ass but that's just physical pain,” Allin said. “It'll take a whole lot more to really keep me down. I've dealt with dude's that throw around their weight my whole life, what else is new? Making bets on how far he's going to throw me? Let's make a bet on how much blood I make him spill.”
It’s safe to say this match isn’t shaping up to be a technical classic. No, when Allin faces off against Bradley at Warrior Wrestling 2 on Sept. 2, it’s going to be a modern-day horror classic. And that’s just the way Allin would want it.
Fast Five
1. Favorite match you've been a part of? (Darby Allin vs. Walter)
2. Favorite wrestling move? (The Last Supper)
3. If you could pick one person (dead or alive) to have a dream match with, who would it be and why? (Mike Vallely. He’s the only pro skater that’s worked as a pro wrestler)
4. Favorite story from "the road" (your travels as a professional wrestler)? (Being with my fiancé Priscilla Kelly and getting into wild road adventures.)
5. What can fans attending Warrior Wrestling expect from Darby Allin vs. Jay Bradley? (Nothing to look pretty or like a dance I'm not playing. I fly to hurt people not to look pretty.)
The world of professional wrestling is full of unique, larger than life characters. And yet, Darby Allin has managed to stand out more than most.
He’s managed to build a reputation not only for having a unique look, one that extends to his social media accounts but also for being among the toughest wrestlers to step inside a ring. It’s no surprise Allin’s toughness has become one of his greatest traits. He’s endured more than most would in two lifetimes, including living off 5-dollars a week in food and living in an abandoned warehouse in Seattle.
Beyond his living conditions and lack of monetary resources, Allin’s life has been shaped by heartache. The wrestler paints half his face in the colors of a skeleton. While most would credit this touch as something Allin does to stand out among the crowd, the roots for Allin’s appearance were shaped by tragedy.
“My uncle was drunk driving when I was very young while I was in the car. He crashed and unfortunately passed away. So, the face paint stands for 50% of me being dead inside and not having a lot of trust for anyone.”
As you’ll see after looking into Allin’s past, getting thrown through tables and other weapons of hardcore wrestling are nothing compared to what he’s gone through outside of the ring. These real-life trials and tribulations have helped Allin become one of the toughest wrestlers in the game today.
“Coming up from a real background of pain and not talking out of my ass about being a tough boy,” Allin said while talking about his reputation. “I've filmed stunts for MTV Tony Hawk and the list goes on. I've been taking a beating forever.”
It’s fair to say Allin may be in for another physical battle of attrition at Warrior Wrestling 2 as he faces off against pro-wrestling veteran Jay Bradley. Standing at 6’5” and weighing 280-pounds, Bradley is an imposing figure. But Allin isn’t fazed by the task ahead of him. Facing bigger men in the ring is nothing new for the 5’9”, 180-pound Allin.
“I respect Bradley, but in all honesty, he may kick my ass but that's just physical pain,” Allin said. “It'll take a whole lot more to really keep me down. I've dealt with dude's that throw around their weight my whole life, what else is new? Making bets on how far he's going to throw me? Let's make a bet on how much blood I make him spill.”
It’s safe to say this match isn’t shaping up to be a technical classic. No, when Allin faces off against Bradley at Warrior Wrestling 2 on Sept. 2, it’s going to be a modern-day horror classic. And that’s just the way Allin would want it.
Fast Five
1. Favorite match you've been a part of? (Darby Allin vs. Walter)
2. Favorite wrestling move? (The Last Supper)
3. If you could pick one person (dead or alive) to have a dream match with, who would it be and why? (Mike Vallely. He’s the only pro skater that’s worked as a pro wrestler)
4. Favorite story from "the road" (your travels as a professional wrestler)? (Being with my fiancé Priscilla Kelly and getting into wild road adventures.)
5. What can fans attending Warrior Wrestling expect from Darby Allin vs. Jay Bradley? (Nothing to look pretty or like a dance I'm not playing. I fly to hurt people not to look pretty.)
“Classic” Wrestling Strongman
Jay Bradley Set to Take on
Indie Sensation Darby Allin
By Kyle Symes
There’s just something about a classic that tugs on our heartstrings. Whether it’s a classic car, your favorite vacation spot as a kid or just something from your past that transports you to “the good old days.” Jay Bradley is what some would consider, a classic incarnation of a time gone by in the world of professional wrestling.
Long before frog splashes, moonsaults and suicide dives became common place, most matches involved a heavy mix of brute force combined with intensity. Bradley, a towering heavyweight (6’5, 280-pounds) won’t be going to the top rope often and isn’t going to fly effortlessly through the air. That isn’t to say his style in the ring is all steak with no sizzle.
“Sometimes guys are so worried about doing things so fast, it all becomes a blur,” Bradley told Warrior Wrestling. “Do I think it helps me stand out? Maybe so. Is it everyone’s favorite flavor of ice cream? I’m sure it’s not. But there aren’t a lot of guys my size now. 20 years ago, everyone was huge and the cruiserweights were the minority. Now it’s almost reverse, guys at 180-210 pounds are kind of the norm. I think there’s a place for me out there to give people something else or surprise them when I do something extra.”
It’s a style that Bradley finds comfort in not just because of his size, but because that’s how he was first introduced into the world of wrestling. Like many current wrestlers, Bradley’s love of the business began at an early age. Calling himself a stereotypical WWF kid, Bradley became entranced by much more than just the larger than life characters he saw on TV.
“My mom used to not let me watch it,” Bradley said. “I don’t know if she just didn’t like it or if she thought it’d make me violent, but I used to sneak around to see it. I was mesmerized by the whole WWF spectacle, the over the top characters, the lights, the colors and overdeveloped bodies that looked like superheroes.”
Of course, every superhero needs villain and during this time, there was arguably no greater villain than Big Van Vader. The former collegiate football player made the transition to wrestling and became one of the most terrifying wrestlers in the industry with his mastodon mask that would have smoke shoot out from it. After becoming a sensation in Japan, Vader would sign with WCW and go on to have several legendary battels with the likes of Sting, Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan and Cactus Jack before eventually signing with the WWF.
Realizing there was more to wrestling than just the WWF, Bradley decided to branch out and diversify his wrestling entertainment. He enjoyed watching Vader run amok through WCW but began to appreciate the smaller, faster guys in various promotions.
“Vader was a monster killing everyone. His presentation, his aura, he was so intense and intimidating,” Bradley said. “I also enjoyed guys like The Barbarian and Dusty Rhodes. As I got more involved in wrestling I started seeing guys like the Guerreros and Malenkos having more athletic matches which lead me to watch the stuff in Japan. I started watching guys like [Jushin] Liger, [Yoshihiro] Takayama, Minoru Suzuki and [Kenta] Kobashi Terry Gordy, and ‘Dr. Death’ Steve Williams in ECW. I started realizing there was more out there than just WWF. As I discovered more of that stuff, I was enamored by these guys. They weren’t ridiculous over the top characters. These guys could be the guys in your gym. Yeah, they were big and athletic, but they didn’t look the part of a wrestler. I didn’t want to be the wrestling clown or wrestling profession. I wanted to be the guy going out there and beating some ass.”
Despite his current frame, Bradley said he was a late bloomer in terms of growing into his adult size. Still, that didn’t stop him from attempting to play as many sports as he could. Eventually, that lead him down the path of professional wrestling. He started training at Steel Domain on the North Side of Chicago, the same gym that produced familiar names like CM Punk and Colt Cabana. After going through some initial struggles due to an overactive thyroid, Bradley began to earn experience competing in independent promotions, including IWA Mid-South. Just six years after beginning his journey, Bradley earned a contract with the premier organization, the WWE.
“It was a dream come true. It was pretty surreal,” Bradley said. “I remember getting there and being told I’m having a match. Tommy Dreamer, who was head of the talent development at the time, was trying to get me a tryout for a couple of months at the time. He just told me, ‘We need to get you a match in front of an agent and the right people and you’ll do fine.’ I wrestled for the Heat show which aired on their website back then I think. I had the match and found out the next day they were signing me to a deal.”
Dubbed “The Monster of the Midway” Bradley Jay, he would be sent to the WWE’s developmental league at the time, Deep South Wrestling. There he would capture the Deep South Wrestling Heavyweight title on three occasions along with wrestling dark matches for both Raw and Smackdown! events. Once WWE began their relationship with the Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), Bradley made the move and would go on to become the first man to hold the Deep South and OVW Heavyweight strap. Bradley would continue to wrestle in OVW and even made his way to the main roster, appearing on Smackdown! in the Fall of 2008.
Although he’d achieved his goals by making it the WWE, his tenure with the company would be brief. Still, it was an experience Bradley credits with helping him become a better performer.
“I spent time in Deep South that worked really well for me. They moved me to OVW, which brought me to another level as a talent and a wrestler in the ring,” Bradley said. “I was on the road with the Raw brand at the time and doing dark matches before TV, gaining a lot of experience. I was around the atmosphere, learning from and sharing the locker room with guys like Steve Regal, Arn Anderson, Barry Windham, Ricky Steamboat and Dean Malenko. You can’t help but get better being around those people. You’re surrounded so much experience and knowledge, and if you’re hungry for it, they’ll keep feeding it to you.”
Following his WWE tenure, Bradley appeared on some regional promotions including Chicago’s AAW before signing a deal with Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling. Bradley went through two stints with TNA and was able to make a trip to work in Japan for Wrestle-1 along with returning to OVW after the WWE ended their partnership with the promotion. Despite the negative image TNA had at the time (LOLTNA!), Bradley is one of the few wrestlers who has positive things to say about his time with the company.
“Did I experience some crap there? Absolutely,” Bradley said. “It goes without saying. But here’s why I look at it as a positive. They signed me to a contract. I got to wrestle full time and pay my bills as a full time pro wrestler. Yeah, I could bitch and moan about how they should’ve done this or done that but at the same time, I probably could’ve done this or that too. The story of the company at that time has been beat to death. Everyone knows the story. But my perspective is that I got a spot when a bunch of other guys didn’t. I was absolutely blessed to wrestle full time.”
Helping Bradley maintain an active schedule, Warrior Wrestling 2 will pit Bradley against an up-and-coming indie wrestling favorite, Darby Allin. The two could not be any more different. Bradley is a heavyweight who features a classic style while Allin is billed at 5’8” 180-pounds and has made a name for himself in part due to the insane amount of punishment he’s willing to go through in his matches. In boxing and MMA, a cliché phrase is “styles make fights” and it’s certainly true with this one.
“I’ve seen some of his stuff. I’ve watched a handful of his matches,” Bradley said. He’s making a name for himself. He’s a very scrappy, undersized guy who doesn’t quit. He’s got a very unique and interesting look. We’ll see how far he can go and how much he can take against a guy more than twice his size.”
Wrestling fans can enjoy watching Bradley and Allin go at one another on Sept. 2, the day after All In. Allin vs. Bradley is just one of a handful of matches on the card which features a handful of former World Champions, including professional wrestling legend Rey Mysterio. Fans can also enjoy a meet & greet session with the wrestlers prior to the action kicking off at 7:30 p.m. Click here for all your ticket information needs.
Fast Five
Favorite non wrestling activity – Probably eating and looking at memes.
Favorite match – I don’t necessarily have one favorite match. But I greatly enjoyed the stuff I did in Japan in [Pro Wrestling] Noah.
Favorite Move – The Stan Hansen lariat is always awesome. The Vader powerbomb or “Dr. Death” powerslam is what I like to do and like to watch.
Dream match? – Honesty I thought there’d be no chance to get a dream match because the guys I’m into have passed on or retired but recently [Takeshi] Morishima has announced he’s come out of retirement. Hopefully when I go to Japan next I can cross paths with him. I got to fight Vader a few years ago which was cool. I wish I could get in there with Stan Hansen and Terry [Gordy] but Stan is happily retired and Terry is no longer with us.
Favorite story from “the road” – John Cena getting me drunk at an airport.
There’s just something about a classic that tugs on our heartstrings. Whether it’s a classic car, your favorite vacation spot as a kid or just something from your past that transports you to “the good old days.” Jay Bradley is what some would consider, a classic incarnation of a time gone by in the world of professional wrestling.
Long before frog splashes, moonsaults and suicide dives became common place, most matches involved a heavy mix of brute force combined with intensity. Bradley, a towering heavyweight (6’5, 280-pounds) won’t be going to the top rope often and isn’t going to fly effortlessly through the air. That isn’t to say his style in the ring is all steak with no sizzle.
“Sometimes guys are so worried about doing things so fast, it all becomes a blur,” Bradley told Warrior Wrestling. “Do I think it helps me stand out? Maybe so. Is it everyone’s favorite flavor of ice cream? I’m sure it’s not. But there aren’t a lot of guys my size now. 20 years ago, everyone was huge and the cruiserweights were the minority. Now it’s almost reverse, guys at 180-210 pounds are kind of the norm. I think there’s a place for me out there to give people something else or surprise them when I do something extra.”
It’s a style that Bradley finds comfort in not just because of his size, but because that’s how he was first introduced into the world of wrestling. Like many current wrestlers, Bradley’s love of the business began at an early age. Calling himself a stereotypical WWF kid, Bradley became entranced by much more than just the larger than life characters he saw on TV.
“My mom used to not let me watch it,” Bradley said. “I don’t know if she just didn’t like it or if she thought it’d make me violent, but I used to sneak around to see it. I was mesmerized by the whole WWF spectacle, the over the top characters, the lights, the colors and overdeveloped bodies that looked like superheroes.”
Of course, every superhero needs villain and during this time, there was arguably no greater villain than Big Van Vader. The former collegiate football player made the transition to wrestling and became one of the most terrifying wrestlers in the industry with his mastodon mask that would have smoke shoot out from it. After becoming a sensation in Japan, Vader would sign with WCW and go on to have several legendary battels with the likes of Sting, Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan and Cactus Jack before eventually signing with the WWF.
Realizing there was more to wrestling than just the WWF, Bradley decided to branch out and diversify his wrestling entertainment. He enjoyed watching Vader run amok through WCW but began to appreciate the smaller, faster guys in various promotions.
“Vader was a monster killing everyone. His presentation, his aura, he was so intense and intimidating,” Bradley said. “I also enjoyed guys like The Barbarian and Dusty Rhodes. As I got more involved in wrestling I started seeing guys like the Guerreros and Malenkos having more athletic matches which lead me to watch the stuff in Japan. I started watching guys like [Jushin] Liger, [Yoshihiro] Takayama, Minoru Suzuki and [Kenta] Kobashi Terry Gordy, and ‘Dr. Death’ Steve Williams in ECW. I started realizing there was more out there than just WWF. As I discovered more of that stuff, I was enamored by these guys. They weren’t ridiculous over the top characters. These guys could be the guys in your gym. Yeah, they were big and athletic, but they didn’t look the part of a wrestler. I didn’t want to be the wrestling clown or wrestling profession. I wanted to be the guy going out there and beating some ass.”
Despite his current frame, Bradley said he was a late bloomer in terms of growing into his adult size. Still, that didn’t stop him from attempting to play as many sports as he could. Eventually, that lead him down the path of professional wrestling. He started training at Steel Domain on the North Side of Chicago, the same gym that produced familiar names like CM Punk and Colt Cabana. After going through some initial struggles due to an overactive thyroid, Bradley began to earn experience competing in independent promotions, including IWA Mid-South. Just six years after beginning his journey, Bradley earned a contract with the premier organization, the WWE.
“It was a dream come true. It was pretty surreal,” Bradley said. “I remember getting there and being told I’m having a match. Tommy Dreamer, who was head of the talent development at the time, was trying to get me a tryout for a couple of months at the time. He just told me, ‘We need to get you a match in front of an agent and the right people and you’ll do fine.’ I wrestled for the Heat show which aired on their website back then I think. I had the match and found out the next day they were signing me to a deal.”
Dubbed “The Monster of the Midway” Bradley Jay, he would be sent to the WWE’s developmental league at the time, Deep South Wrestling. There he would capture the Deep South Wrestling Heavyweight title on three occasions along with wrestling dark matches for both Raw and Smackdown! events. Once WWE began their relationship with the Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), Bradley made the move and would go on to become the first man to hold the Deep South and OVW Heavyweight strap. Bradley would continue to wrestle in OVW and even made his way to the main roster, appearing on Smackdown! in the Fall of 2008.
Although he’d achieved his goals by making it the WWE, his tenure with the company would be brief. Still, it was an experience Bradley credits with helping him become a better performer.
“I spent time in Deep South that worked really well for me. They moved me to OVW, which brought me to another level as a talent and a wrestler in the ring,” Bradley said. “I was on the road with the Raw brand at the time and doing dark matches before TV, gaining a lot of experience. I was around the atmosphere, learning from and sharing the locker room with guys like Steve Regal, Arn Anderson, Barry Windham, Ricky Steamboat and Dean Malenko. You can’t help but get better being around those people. You’re surrounded so much experience and knowledge, and if you’re hungry for it, they’ll keep feeding it to you.”
Following his WWE tenure, Bradley appeared on some regional promotions including Chicago’s AAW before signing a deal with Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling. Bradley went through two stints with TNA and was able to make a trip to work in Japan for Wrestle-1 along with returning to OVW after the WWE ended their partnership with the promotion. Despite the negative image TNA had at the time (LOLTNA!), Bradley is one of the few wrestlers who has positive things to say about his time with the company.
“Did I experience some crap there? Absolutely,” Bradley said. “It goes without saying. But here’s why I look at it as a positive. They signed me to a contract. I got to wrestle full time and pay my bills as a full time pro wrestler. Yeah, I could bitch and moan about how they should’ve done this or done that but at the same time, I probably could’ve done this or that too. The story of the company at that time has been beat to death. Everyone knows the story. But my perspective is that I got a spot when a bunch of other guys didn’t. I was absolutely blessed to wrestle full time.”
Helping Bradley maintain an active schedule, Warrior Wrestling 2 will pit Bradley against an up-and-coming indie wrestling favorite, Darby Allin. The two could not be any more different. Bradley is a heavyweight who features a classic style while Allin is billed at 5’8” 180-pounds and has made a name for himself in part due to the insane amount of punishment he’s willing to go through in his matches. In boxing and MMA, a cliché phrase is “styles make fights” and it’s certainly true with this one.
“I’ve seen some of his stuff. I’ve watched a handful of his matches,” Bradley said. He’s making a name for himself. He’s a very scrappy, undersized guy who doesn’t quit. He’s got a very unique and interesting look. We’ll see how far he can go and how much he can take against a guy more than twice his size.”
Wrestling fans can enjoy watching Bradley and Allin go at one another on Sept. 2, the day after All In. Allin vs. Bradley is just one of a handful of matches on the card which features a handful of former World Champions, including professional wrestling legend Rey Mysterio. Fans can also enjoy a meet & greet session with the wrestlers prior to the action kicking off at 7:30 p.m. Click here for all your ticket information needs.
Fast Five
Favorite non wrestling activity – Probably eating and looking at memes.
Favorite match – I don’t necessarily have one favorite match. But I greatly enjoyed the stuff I did in Japan in [Pro Wrestling] Noah.
Favorite Move – The Stan Hansen lariat is always awesome. The Vader powerbomb or “Dr. Death” powerslam is what I like to do and like to watch.
Dream match? – Honesty I thought there’d be no chance to get a dream match because the guys I’m into have passed on or retired but recently [Takeshi] Morishima has announced he’s come out of retirement. Hopefully when I go to Japan next I can cross paths with him. I got to fight Vader a few years ago which was cool. I wish I could get in there with Stan Hansen and Terry [Gordy] but Stan is happily retired and Terry is no longer with us.
Favorite story from “the road” – John Cena getting me drunk at an airport.
Video courtesy of Rob Malinowski at Tailored Vision Media. www.tailoredvision.com
Warrior Wrestling in the News
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/news/ct-sta-ent-wrestling-st-0511-story.html
https://patch.com/illinois/chicagoheights/warrior-wrestling-marian-catholic-what-know-if-you-go
http://www.beverlyreview.net/news/school_news/article_e4a84148-52de-11e8-acbf-93c9ac508886.html
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/community/chi-ugc-article-warrior-wrestling-comes-to-marian-catholic-2018-04-08-story.html
Recap in Chicago Daily Southtown (May 2018)
https://patch.com/illinois/chicagoheights/warrior-wrestling-marian-catholic-what-know-if-you-go
http://www.beverlyreview.net/news/school_news/article_e4a84148-52de-11e8-acbf-93c9ac508886.html
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/community/chi-ugc-article-warrior-wrestling-comes-to-marian-catholic-2018-04-08-story.html
Recap in Chicago Daily Southtown (May 2018)
Warrior Wrestling on the Air
Video courtesy of Rob Malinowski at Tailored Vision Media. www.tailoredvision.com/
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Photos courtesy of Mary Compton
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Photos courtesy of Jim Piacentini
Steger, IL
Steger, IL
Photos courtesy of Matthew Black
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Photos courtesy of Basil Mahmud
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Warrior Wrestling featured on the NWA's "Ten Pounds of Gold"
Special thanks to David Lagana.
Be part of something special!
Warrior Wrestling 1 (5-11-18)
You don't want to miss out on your chance to be part of something truly special as stars from around the globe descend on the Chicago area for this unique event!
From WWE and IMPACT stars to world-famous luchadores to innovative state-of-the-art indy wrestling, this show will have it all. You won't want to miss this event!
From WWE and IMPACT stars to world-famous luchadores to innovative state-of-the-art indy wrestling, this show will have it all. You won't want to miss this event!
Get ready for unbelievable action!
Warrior Wrestling 1 (5-11-18)
ALBERTO EL PATRON (w/ Ricardo Rodriguez) vs. (fka) JACK SWAGGER
REY FENIX vs. PENTA EL CERO MIEDO vs.
MATT SYDAL vs. DJZ
EL HIJO DE DOS CARAS vs.
EL HIJO DEL FANTASMA
JAMES ELLSWORTH vs. (fka)HORNSWOGGLE w/ special guest referee Frank the Clown
MOOSE vs. BRIAN CAGE
TESSA BLANCHARD vs. SANTANA GARRETT
Robbie E and oVe (Ohio Vs. Everything) vs.
PAT MONIX, MATT KNICKS, STEVIE FIERCE
NWA HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION NICK ALDIS vs. SAM ADONIS
DEONNA PURRAZZO vs. CHELSEA GREEN
SPACE MONKEY & SHANE SABRE vs. MARK WHEELER AND KOBE DURST