Every independent promotion likes to boast its own version of Wrestlemania. Eastern Iowa’s SCW Pro is no exception. On April 27th, they hosted Epic, their biggest show of the year. Nearly standing room only in the Blue Grass Community Center to see all SCW’s championships being defended, and rivalries ended.
SCW Pro Iowa Championship: The 1 Called Manders (c) vs. The Corn Boi
The 1 Called Manders has been touring the country while defending the Iowa Championship. The Corn Boi looks to regain the championship that Manders took from him at the Prestige Rumble in January. Per tradition, this was a hard-hitting affair with numerous, stiff strikes, leaving both competitors battered and bruised, yet daring each other for more. Both the champion and challenger survived each other’s finishing maneuvers, but it was the Corn Boi who emerged victorious after an avalanche choke slam to put the cowboy away. This match is arguably one of the best matches in SCW Pro history, even surpassing their match of the year candidate earlier this year.
…we will ignore that Manders later took his frustration out on a wrestling podcaster, stealing the podcaster’s shirt in the process.
QC Cup: Jon Bonhart (c) w/Mark Storm vs. Krotch w/JP Finger
Krotch is looking to regain the QC Cup and vanquish his rivals, whereas Bonhart has been rejuvenated since Mark Storm returned and took the youngster under his wing. JP Finger has returned to SCW Pro, looking to regain the trust of the crowd by being an equalizer against the machinations of Storm. Prior to the match, Finger surprised Storm by handcuffing Storm to himself. Bonhart gave everything he could to keep the veteran down, but Krotch is known for his resilience. However, Storm was able to gain a distraction while the ref was too close to the ropes. Krotch took his revenge on Storm, but took his eyes off the prize, allowing Bonhart to his finishing combo on his way to retain the Cup.
JT Energy vs. Deonn Rusman
Energy has been a thorn in Rusman’s side ever since Energy blamed Rusman for costing Energy the Iowa Championship earlier this year. “The Feline Phenom” utilized mind games and an underrated submission game against his stronger foe. Rusman is known as “The Iceberg” for a reason, proving to be able to withstand Energy’s offense and taking Energy out with a spear to achieve victory.
Dante Leon vs. Shain Boucher
Leon has seemingly attempted to unalive Boucher several times over the course of the year, concussing Boucher at the Black & the Brave training facility and throwing Boucher off the balcony at Wildwood Saloon. To celebrate this grudge, we started this match with a tie up and utilized some flippies. It didn’t take long for both competitors to turn up the heat, taking the battle out of the ring and around the ringside area. Leon even unleashed a vicious tombstone piledriver on the ring apron! Boucher persevered, but when it looked like victory was near, Leon intentionally spit blinding mist into the referee’s eyes, causing a disqualification. I’m just happy that they’ve decided that the mist is illegal, and they solved ref bias.
If Hollister Loses, He Must Join the Chosen: Shane Hollister vs. Eric Eznite
Hollister has been battling the Chosen for months, running Eznite’s gauntlet to earn this final shot. However, if Hollister is not victorious, he will be saved. Before the match could even begin, the Chosen launched an attack, resulting in a battered Hollister and the Chosen, minus Eznite being barred from ringside. The action was back and forth, with neither competitor gaining a definitive advantage. The ref was taken out and the Chosen returned to cause havoc. Hollister looked to defy the odds until he accidentally took out the replacement referee with an errant buzzsaw kick. However, it was not to be, and Eznite picked up the victory. Afterwards, Eznite forced Hollister to shake and raise his hand, under threat of having Hollister’s history stricken from the SCW record books.
SCW Pro Tag Team Championship: JaxAmore (c) vs. Super Hick Party vs. The Chosen vs. Partners in Rhyme: The Remix
Big multi-team match for the SCW Pro tag team championships. It was everything you would expect from so many people being in/near the ring. Malik Champion took the brunt of offense before things broke down. Everyone got their big moves in, and the Super Hicks even got to jump off the top rope to the floor. In the chaos, the Partners in Rhyme took the pin and became new tag team champions!
Unsanctioned Match: James Thomas vs. Ript Studwell
Thomas banished Studwell from SCW Pro at last year’s Anniversary show but has proven himself to be a nuisance to Thomas ever since. Thomas has had enough and is willing to break the unwritten rules of wrestling by involving the police. Luckily, the two agreed to a match that SCW refused to sanction. If Thomas wins, he gets a formal restraining order against Studwell. Studwell will be reinstated into SCW Pro if he is victorious. The referee is only there to count the pinfall. Thomas’ personal security, Brandon Becker, started a beatdown early on, before Thomas sent him away. Weapons were liberally used by both competitors, with Thomas’ belt doing most of the visible damage. Becker made his return but was taken out by an errant chair shot by Thomas. Studwell made good use of the odds being evened, dispatching his foe to successfully be reinstated into SCW Pro.
SCW Pro Championship: “The Devil Dog” Dustan Moseley (c) vs. Mason Beck (Special Referee Marek Brave)
Due to Beck dispatching a cadre of referees, Marek Brave made himself the special referee for this match. Unfortunately, the impartiality of Brave came into question when footage from last month was released of Brave and Beck talking after the events of Oh Hell Yeah. It wasn’t long before the veil would be removed, and Brave started favoring the challenger with fast counts. Not that it would have been needed, as Beck physically dominated the champion in a way previously unseen, yet the “Devil Dog” refused to stay down. Things would pick up, after Beck accidentally booted Brave in the in the face. With things breaking down, Beck went to use a steel chair on the champion. However, Brave had revived himself, and shockingly took the chair from Beck, setting the motion of events that allowed Moseley to finish the Walking Horror Film Beck with the jackhammer.
SCW Pro ended their biggest show of the year with an event that sent the crowd home happy, despite the threat of thunderstorms looming. This event, much like previous events, demonstrates why SCW Pro is one of the best kept secrets in the Midwest professional wrestling scene, and well worth a view if you are in the Quad Cities, Iowa area.
It would also be worth noting that a member of the SCW Pro family, Garrote/Austin Acree has been undergoing cancer treatment. The next show on May 18th, was announced as a benefit for him, with all ticket sales going towards Austin’s medical bills. If you cannot make it to the show, Austin has a GoFundMe for direct contributions at https://gofund.me/53f47791.
Rob Kamerer is the host of the MLW Con-Fusion podcast and contributor for the Urban Wrestling Network. When not watching MLW, he is a not so low-key fan of independent wrestling, and SCW Pro in particular. Rob can be found at most social media under the handle @thenovaofcass.
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