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| The KSWA Class of 2025 from left: former Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, "King" Del Douglas, Sniper, The Latin Assassin, J-Ru and Skippy Hawke. Photos by Tim Steiner. |
By Trapper Tom, Editor, KSWA Digest
Before the event, Sheraden American Legion Commander Don Scholz
led a flag ceremony for fallen veterans. A group of youngsters were in the
ring, holding the American flag, as well as others from the branches of
service. It was a touching pre-cursor to a remarkable evening.
Joe Abby Memorial Tournament Semi Final #1: Blanchard v.
Yinza
The action begins with new KSWA Hall of Famer “The King” Del
Douglas leading Shawn Blanchard to the ring to face Yinza in the semi-finals of
the Joe Abby Memorial Tournament.
The bell rings and Yinza avoids an ambush from Blanchard. He
delivers shoulder blocks into the stomach and a splash. Yinza Monkey flips
Blanchard to begin the vaunted “Three Rivers” but Blanchard slides out of the
ring. There’s a pin attempt once back in that ends at two.
The veteran Blanchard buries an elbow in Yinza and the
Luchadore can’t breathe. On the outside, Douglas gets Yinza in the ropes. Yinza
kicks out of a pin attempt.
Blanchard pulls Yinza down from behind by pulling his mask.
He then kicks Yinza down.
Blanchard gives Yinza the Swinging Neck Breaker and gets a
two-count.
Blanchard hits Yinza with the Sleeper hold. Yinza fights out
of it and hits the Stunner. Blanchard gets a boot on the bottom rope, thanks to
Douglas’ interference.
Blanchard has brass knuckles. He wallops Yinza and wins in
8:10.
KSWA 5-Star Championship: J-Ru vs. Captain Curly John
Referee Jimmy James calls for the bell and this championship
defense is off to the races. The fans are behind challenger Captain Curly John.
J-Ru tries to get a “J-Ru’s Great” chant from the overflow
crowd. They answer with a differing sentiment.
There was an initial collar and elbow lock up but other than
that, two minutes in there was the most minimal of wrestling action.
Once the action starts, Captain Curly John has the distinct
advantage. J-Ru dabs to the outside and continues to stay there until the good
Captain gets out of the ring and chases behind him.
After some nonsense, J-Ru spins around and Captain Curly
John hits him with a fist. Once inside, J-Ru catches Captain and DDTs him into
the canvas. There’s a two count.
There’s a lazy pin attempt with one foot. That ends at one.
J-Ru has Captain Curly in the corner and works on his leg.
J-Ru clips his knee from behind. There’s a pin attempt but Curly gets into the ropes.
A whip attempt lands with Curly falling face-first on the
mat. J-Ru pushes the ref away and goes in for a clothesline. Curly hits him and
there’s a pin attempt. J-Ru gets his boot in the ropes.
J-Ru clubs away at the Captain, hits a low blow and drops
him with a DDT and gets the win 9:42.
Joe Abby Memorial Tournament Semi-finals #2: Shane Starr v.
Harley T. Morris
In the earliest of goings, it’s all Shane Starr. Morris gets
tossed over the top rope and onto the concrete below. But once back inside, it’s
all Morris.
The fans are against Morris, but he’s angry back at them. Starr
tries to get some advantage, but Morris grabs locks of hair and pull him down.
Morris synchs in from behind and Starr begins to break out
of it before Morris pulls to down again.
Once back up, Starr is all over Morris. He drops him and locks
him in the Sharpshooter. Morris taps out in 7:00 and Starr advances to the
finals later in the evening.
KSWA Hall of Fame: KSWA Owner Bobby O introduces the newest
inductees into the KSWA Hall of Fame: Sniper, Skippy Hawke, The Latin Assassin,
“King” Del Douglas and former Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto.
Last Man Standing Match: Rev Ron Hunt vs. Lou Martin
Martin races out and goes right after Hunt. Martin takes him
to the outside and onto the 50/50 table. About two minutes into the match,
Martin pushes Hunt in the ring and the veteran takes that chance to catch his
breath and go full bore against Martin.
Hunt grabs the house microphone and hits Martin with the weapon.
Hunt grabs the official telephone to the Kommission. Hunt is
in control and hits Martin with a cane. Hunt does have some fans in attendance
that want to see him beat Martin; however, the former KSWA Champion rallies and
uses whatever he can against his foe.
Martin grabs the ringside monitor and hits Hunt with it. He
even drops hit on the challenger for “The Face of Pittsburgh.”
Martin has a chain wrapped around his fist. He blasts Hunt
with it.
Martin blasts Hunt with another house microphone. The former
fan favorite falls to the cement floor.
Hunt is back in the ring and low blows Martin. Hunt grabs
the microphone and ring bell. Hunt smashes him in the crotch with it, then hits
him in the head.
Hunt hits Martin with a chair and there’s a count from the
referee to six before he gets to his feet.
Hunt gets a table. He drops Martin in the center of the ring
and hits him with a curb stomp. Jimmy James starts the count. The count is up
to nine before Martin gets to his feet. Hunt puts Martin on the table in the
center of the ring. Martin moves before Hunt hits the table. The fans explode
as Martin goes to the corner. Hunt is on the table. There’s the Swon Ton onto Hunt.
Both men are spent but Martin gets to his feet and get the
nod. 15:40
Joe Abby Memorial Tournament Finals: Blanchard vs. Starr
After 25 years, referee Mark Charles III found brass knucks in
the boot of Shawn Blanchard before action began. The bell rings and both long-time
foes face off.
Blanchard pulls Starr down from behind via the long locks. “I
yelled at him,” referee Charles answers to Starr’s objections.
Blanchard gets some offense against Starr. Starr recovers,
kicks Blanchard goes for the Shaprshooter. He rolls him up. Blanchard shakes it
off. Starr struggles. Douglas helps by pulling Blanchard to the ropes.
On the outside, Blanchard runs away from Starr and once back
inside, the lays the double ax handle on the fan favorite. He whips Starr’s
throat into the bottom rope.
Starr fights back. He misses a splash in the corner.
Blanchard goes to the top rope. Starr meets him there. He tosses Blanchard
across the ring and into a 2 ½ count.
Starr drops an elbow on Blanchard’s leg. Blanchard tries to
pull out of it.
Blanchard pokes him in the eye.
Blanchard hits Starr with the Spinebuster. Starr kicks out
at two. Starr is up and kicks Blanchard. There’s a clothesline and an attempt
at the Sharpshooter. Blanchard rolls him up and gets the win in 10:55.
Shawn Blanchard was the very first Joe Abby Memorial
Tournament winner in 2008 and the last in 2025.
KSWA tag team championships: Triple Threat Match
Anthony Alexander injured his shoulder in training for this
match. That means that Kris Kash didn’t have a partner. KSWA Owner Bobby O
drafts Shane Starr, the former Lost Boys, to be partners for one night.
It’s a disgruntled Kash starting out with Big Tony Onyx. Kash
is not happy with this development. Onyx tosses Kash across the ring.
Onyx suplexes Kash and tags in Hunter. Kash starts to get
the upper hand. Then, Huffman clotheslines Kash. Kash tags in 2016 KSWA Hall of
Famer T Rantula.
T-Rantula gets Huffman in the corner for a series of
overhand chops. Huffman fights back with a head butt to T’s chest but the giant
isn’t having any of it.
T hits Huffman with another overhand chop and drops him with
a big boot. T-Rantula tags in Big Country who hits T with two overhand chops. There’s
a suplex from McGraw and a running clothesline.
Kash is in and he puts some shots on Huffman. Then Starr is
tagged in. He bodyslams the tag champion. Starr plants him again. Two count.
Kash is in and chops Huffman. He tosses Hunter to the
outside. Kash dives over the top and onto Huffman. The Lost Boys drop a double
elbow on Huffman. Starr tags in T Rantula. T tosses Huffman into Starr’s corner
where Huffman slaps his chest.
Starr forces T in the corner and overhand chops him. Starr
takes off his t shirt. T hits Starr with a couple of overhand chops. Then a
third drops him.
Out of nowhere, Starr scoops T-Rantula up and body slams him
in the center of the ring.
There’s a two count.
Starr rolls into his corner and tags Kash. T-Rantula boots
Kash and goes for the pin. He’s up at two.
Kash is forced into the corner where T hits him again.
Starr pulls Kash outside. There’s an overhand chop that moves
the table at ringside. McGraw is tagged in. There’s a pin attempt. Kash fights
back. But McGraw is too strong. He press slams Kash.
Kash tags McGraw to go after a freshly-tagged Hunter. McGraw
tags in Onyx but the referee missed it.
T is tagged in. He attacks a rushing in Onyx. T choke slams
Huffman. Onyx is tagged. Op[]\McGraw is tagged in. He slams Onyx. The Lost Boys
rush in. Kash covers McGraw for the win. The new KSWA tag team champions are
Kris Kash and Shane Starr. 15:40. The Krazies who are familiar with one of the
KSWA’s most historic tag teams, go wild!!
KSWA Championship: Jason Gory v. Joshua Kavod
The two foes trade offense.
On the outside, Gory runs Kavod’s hand into the ring post. The
champion and challenger trade blows. Gory says, “There’s your champion.” The
offense continues. Gory stomps on Kavod’s hand.
Gory gets Kavod in the ropes and attacks him there. Kids at
ringside throw snacks at Gory.
Kavod fights back but is kicked in the guts.
Gory catches Kavod when he goes for a flying leg scissors.
Kavod reversed the move into a tilt a whirl DDT.
The two spent Megastars trade blows. Kavod forces Mark
Charles away from the corner. Kavod goes for a suplex.
Kavod hits Gory with a modified power bomb.
Gory recovers and hits a DDT. There’s a cover and a two and
a half count. Gory misses with the stomp.
Gory catches Kavod’s leg and bites his shin. Gory hits a Canadian
Destroyer. There’s a two count.
Gory goes to “mist” Kavod, but the champion ducks and the
challenger hits referee Mark Charles III directly in the face. Shocked, the
always “with it” official pulls out a handkerchief, whips his glasses off and
admonishes the rule breaker. Always crafty, Gory goes to strike The Count, but
he’s ready. He blocks the punch, supplies a kick to the gut or lower and STUNS
Gory! Gory goes flying.
The fans go crazy. Kavod lands Gory with a firm boot to the
chin. In 13:55, Kavod win the win and KSWA Championship retention!
