KSWA Hall Of Fame Adds 6, Blanchard Is Abby, Surprising New Tag Team Champions!

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!