“Melee In Mt. Washington” Fundraiser Is Saturday

 By Trapper Tom, Editor, KSWA Digest

For a quarter century, professional wrestling in Pittsburgh has been defined exclusively by the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance (KSWA), and the group’s historic run has begun its final six months. That means that each match means more than ever before.

This Saturday, the KSWA returns to Mt. Washington for “Melee in Mt. Washington 3!” It’s a fundraiser in remembrance of Tanner Morton. Sixteen-year-old Morton was shot and killed in 2020. His memory has left an indelible mark on family and friends in Mt. Washington.

The richest prize in the Commonwealth, the KSWA Heavyweight Championship will be defended as 7-time KSWA champion “The Enforcer” Shawn Blanchard will defend, for the very first time, against the mischievous cat Daniel Exotic.

Of course, Pittsburgh’s reigning and undisputed royalty, “King” Del Douglas will be in Blanchard’s corner as the leader of the Dynasty.

This is an interesting opportunity for the young Exotic. He has cut his teeth in other areas of the Commonwealth and has had some stellar matches, especially against the Golden Triangle Champion Freek E. Doyle.

However, he is up against something different in the tough-as-nails Blanchard. Sparked by his re-emergence as the top wrestler in Pennsylvania, Blanchard will do whatever he can to hold onto the belt. The styles are much different and should lead to a fantastic contest.

Golden Triangle champion Freek E. Doyle, along with Mayor Mystery, will defend the city’s premier title against the former KSWA Heavyweight Champion, "The Apostle" Joshua Kavod. Doyle has become one of the great Golden Triangle Champions of recent times, and Kavod remains a staunch young challenger. Might Doyle overlook the likes of The Apostle? What might the forever sneaky Mayor Mystery have up his tuxedoed sleeve? There’s only one way to find out.

The 5-Star Champion J-Ru has his work cut out for him when he takes on Tyler Grayson. Grayson was the Golden Triangle Champion for a year, beginning in July of 2023. Might the seventh month be lucky for the Leader of the Grayson Nation? Or will J-Ru continue to hold onto the 5-Star championship? This promises to be an explosive showdown between one of the most tenured veterans in KSWA history and one of the most respected upstarts.

The Dynasty’s Kris Kash, with King Del Douglas has been intense since his return to action, and he will face off against former friend, “The Face” Lou Martin. Kash, who is one half of the KSWA tag team champions along with one-time pal Shane Starr, has been an interesting grappler. Gone for long stretches of time, Kash comes back and never misses a beat. Here he goes up against one of the KSWA’s all-time most versatile players. It was announced recently that “Mad Dog” Tony Lutz, a KSWA Hall of Famer and legend in Mt. Washington has received his manager’s license and will be in Lou Martin’s corner. It’s not often Douglas has to worry about anyone across from the Dynasty but the “Mad Dog” will certainly make the King tick.

The KSWA’s former tag team champions, New Glory—“Big” Tony Onyx and Hunter Huffman—will be back together again. Onyx had missed some time due to illness, but he’s back at the side of the military veteran Huffman. Here they take on a formidable duo representing The Freek Show, Man-Child and The Ram with Mayor Mystery. There won’t be much in the way of “chain wrestling” in this hard-hitting affair. Each Megastar is powerful. The Freek Show may have the edge in power, but it will be close. Plus, Onyx continues to improve by leaps and bounds, while Huffman is on a tight trajectory to success. Don’t miss this one.

"Big Country" Matt McGraw returns after several missed events, and he will take on the long-time veteran Justin Sane. Sane has been an unstoppable force, might he be able to get by the extraordinarily powerful McGraw? Might Mayor Mystery be in Sane’s corner? If he isn’t he will still have a presence.

Harley T. Morris, one of the industry’s premier “wrestlers you love to hate,” goes mano-a-mano with Captain Curly John. Morris has vastly more experience, but could the unpredictability of the Master of the Seven Seas bring something besides barrels of rum to the match?

KSWA returns to Mt. Washington and Olympia Park on Virginia Avenue at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 26. Front row tickets are $15 and general admission is $10. For more information, call 412-726-1762. Card is subject to change.

Top 10 Wish For KSWA’s Final Six Months

By Trapper Tom, Editor, KSWA Digest

And just like that, the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance’s (KSWA) final year is down to its last six precious months. Over the past 25 years, the KSWA has been the longest running, in Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. It’s influence continues as industry insiders, fans and the Megastar themselves contemplate what’s next.

As of July 7, there are nine remaining KSWA events in seven different communities in and around Pittsburgh. Whether it’s north, south, east or west of downtown Pittsburgh, the KSWA has another stop scheduled.

If these proposed items are to happen, they may need “double up” on at least one event. With December 6 at the American Legion in Sheraden looming closer each and every day, the professional wrestling community cannot wait for FanFest.

Over more than 400 sanctioned and consistent events over a quarter century, countless memories have been made. Here are 10 more that would be cool to witness:

10. One more match for “Big and Bigger.” The largest tag team in KSWA history, “Big” Mike Malachi (KSWA Hall of Fame 2020) and the seven-foot-tall Jack Massacre made for an impressive tandem. Whether they were fan favorites or dastardly villains, the Krazies couldn’t get enough of the former tag team champions. Both Megastars have moved on from a grueling schedule of matches; however, long-time observers would like to see the Wall Street Journal cover boys once again.   

9. The Return of Curt Wootton. At KSWA FanFest 2015, “Pittsburgh Dad” actor Curt Wootton was in Justin Sane’s corner against Harley T. Morris and his second, David Marbell, in a “Flag vs. Flag” match. Wootton was in Sane’s corner while the Morris and Marbell defended the Mountain State’s honor. With victory at hand for the hometown Sane (although he has interestingly always hailed from Haddonfield, Illinois), Wootton turned his back on Pittsburgh and joined forces with Morris and Marbell. It turns out Wootton attended West Virginia University and didn’t take kindly to the disrespect pointed toward his alma mater. A smashing Battle Bowl appearance followed, and Wootton lost in a six-way match along with his neighbors to the south against The Jester and Party Gras (Sane and Lord Zoltan). A real-life cinema star, Wootton, who was influenced by the “Million Dollar Man” Ted Dibiase, among others, left the squared circle behind for fear of permanent damage to his chiseled jaw. Might a FanFest visit be in his cards?

8. One more match: Bubba the Bulldog vs. Dennis Gregory. Multi-time champions both, Bubba was “Two Belts Bubba” for a while and Gregory enjoyed an entire year as the holder of the Commonwealth’s richest prize…the KSWA Heavyweight Championship. “Team Don’t Care,” led by the Manager of Champions and Mayor of Parts Unknown Mayor Mystery, held tag team gold and were among the division’s most fearsome duos. After all three were inducted into the KSWA Hall of Fame (2022), Bubba had had enough of Gregory and turned on his friend of decades. Both Megastars who have forever lived exceptionally busy lives (Gregory legitimately serves the United States in the military), have gone on to other adventures; however, one more showdown isn’t too much to ask.

7. An incredible training class. Back in 2009 and 2010, an incredible group of college students trained with former KSWA tag team champion “Vicious” Vinnie Stone. Jay Flash, Tony Johnson, Keith Haught, Ty Cross and Edric Everhart became friends thanks to Stone and busted their collected bumps in the KSWA ring when it was located at the former Moose Lodge in Lawrenceville. All won matches and titles in the KSWA. Flash was a KSWA Heavyweight Champion, and “Team Elite” were etched in tag team history. Haught became “The Jester” and for a while was as popular as any KSWA Megastar of his time. Once a foil to “The King,” The Jester became his own man and earned a spot as one of the most respected locker-room wrestlers Western Pennsylvania has seen. All have followed their own path, but observers agree that “Ice Man” Tony Johnson was the most athletically gifted of the lot. Had he stuck around, Johnson would have assuredly been a KSWA Heavyweight Champion. It would be good to see those gentlemen in a KSWA ring.

6. “Mr. Puniverse” Bob Atlas. A staple of the KSWA’s early days, Atlas was a crowd-pleaser. What else can be said about “Mr. Puniverse”? While he might have exaggerated 385 lbs. and 3 percent body fat, Atlas was a showman. Especially in the KSWA’s infancy, fans showed up in droves for him. Might he ride a big wheel to the ring one more time, even just to say hello to his legion of fans?

5. “Mr. Tenacity” Tommy Faime. The first KSWA “original” to be inducted into the KSWA Hall of Fame (2013), Faime was 3^rd KSWA Heavyweight Champion in the company’s history in April 2001. He returned later to win the Golden Triangle Championship 15 years later and challenged Bobby O as the owner of the promotion. But life happens and Faime retired from the ring to pursue a richer personal life elsewhere. A “VIP for Life,” Faime is a beloved Megastar, whether he was breaking rules…or breaking rules.

4. Double A Anthony Alexander. For most of his KSWA career, “The Prime Time Player” has been a fan favorite and once had a poster with his likeness. When he turned his back on fans, they turned down those posters. Unfortunately, “Mr. Big Stuff” has been injured several times over his legacy, but a return…and a rebuff of the Dynasty…would chill spines.

3. Mitch Napier. One of the greatest KSWA Champions in history, Mitch Napier is a two-time holder of the Commonwealth’s richest prize. Napier, who stylistically was the region’s closest clone of Bob Backlund, was a main event wrestler when the KSWA was holding more than two dozen events a year who took on all comers, including his “Best Bros Around” partner BROhemoth. Arguably the toughest and pound-for-pound strongest KSWA Heavyweight Champion of all time, Napier was defeated in August 2018 by “The Gavel” David Lawless following one of the most intense rivalries of that time. “The Best Around” has largely returned to a wholesome, rural life, but made a shocking return to help KSWA Owner Bobby O, Lou Martin and Shane Starr in the UnCivil War in 2023. While Mitch may not be able to win with the Sioux Falls Slam anymore, it would be great to see “The Champ.”

2. Bill Apter. Professional Wrestling’s most respected journalist has long held a place in the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance. A member of the KSWA Hall of Fame (2017), Apter would be the perfect professional to interview key Megastars and staffers leading to the most important “Super Bowl” in Pittsburgh wrestling tradition since Studio Wrestling.

1. Bobby O is the guest referee in KSWA’s final match. Book it now. Whoever holds the KSWA Heavyweight Championship on the morning of December 6 has to defend in the Main Event at FanFest. And despite having the “Iron Man” in Jimmy James, well-respected “Count” Mark Charles III and with Shawn Patrick now serving as Chairman of the KSWA Championship Committee in the referee pool, Bobby O must pull the seniority card. “The Man Who Saved Wrestling in Pittsburgh” has the license, the pedigree and is the most qualified to count one, two, three in the final contest.