The Commander Does It! Scholz Wins Timmy Moore Battle Royal

Lou Martin (l) and Matt McGraw hoist "Commander" Don Scholz after he won the Timmy Moore Memorial Battle Royal. Photo by Tim Steiner.

By Trapper Tom, Editor, KSWA Digest

The Keystone State Wrestling Alliance (KSWA) first debuted at the American Legion Langley Post 496 in the Sheraden neighborhood within the city of Pittsburgh in October of 2018. The Timmy Moore Memorial Battle Royal was initiated in August 2019.

KSWA’s biggest proponent since the very onset has been Post Commander Don Scholz. A Navy veteran from 1985-1993, Scholz has been a member of the Langley Post since 2012 and one of the primary faces of the community organization. A beloved family man and military brother, Scholz welcomed the KSWA to Sheraden as the group’s new home base after COVID.

Officials with the KSWA have acknowledged that the American Legion staff has embraced the Megastars unlike any other home in 25 years. And Scholz, as well as his wife, Diane, early volunteers like Kurt Pelucci and others who have made a modern-day KSWA experience special.

Over the past few years, the hard-working and jovial Scholz has had professional problems with some of the KSWA wrestlers like “King” Del Douglas and the current KSWA Champion Shawn Blanchard.

Scholz once hit Douglas with an artificial Christmas tree and threatened to do it again. Scholz earned an appearance in Battle Bowl and after being eliminated, struck Douglas with a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) decoration yet again.

Commander Don Scholz hits "King" Del Douglas with a Christmas tree. Howard Kernats photo.

The Commander beat Douglas in an Arm-Wrestling match in October 2023, before losing to Shawn Blanchard in a single’s match at FanFest 2023 with Nikita Koloff and Magnum T.A. in the audience.

In 2024, Scholz teamed with Yinza, the Pittsburgh Luchador to defeat Douglas and Blanchard in a tag team match.

That all led to October 18^th’s Timmy Moore Battle Royal, the last such tournament named for a member of the American Legion and a proud 19-year veteran who passed away in 2018 at the age of 54.

The tournament has offered a remarkable feather in the Megastar’s caps. Shane Starr won the initial tournament in 2019, with Dennis Gregory winning in 2021, in KSWA’s second event back from COVID, Lou Martin was victorious in 2022, J-Ru took home the trophy in 2023, and Yinza won in 2024.

Scholz chops KSWA Hall of Famer J-Ru. Photo by Tim Steiner.

Scholz pulled some strings with Owner Bobby O and Chairman of the KSWA Championship Committee Shawn Patrick to enter this last installment. A Commander known for a quick smile and upbeat demeanor, Scholz turned serious, knowing the gravity of this monumental match. He posted heartfelt social media messages about training, forgoing his legendary libations and focusing on letting that all-important trophy stays in hits Langley American Legion home.

He entered the match with a large assortment of veterans and newcoming Megastars alike. Dressed in classic blue Batman garb with matching basketball shorts and white sneakers, Scholz was on the receiving end of offense, and delivered is own overhand chops to Hall of Famer J-Ru.

After a bombardment of activity, the once-crowded ring started to empty, with Megastars being tossed over the top rope and having both feet touch the cement floor below. Referees Jimmy James and Chris Caldwell were kept busy as Megastars were dispatched. Scholz held on as bigger, rougher rivals like Douglas and Damian Greene were forced to elimination.

Last among the Final Five were favorites “Big Country” Matt McGraw and The Ram, the always steadfast Hartley T. Morris, the classic J-Ru and the single-minded Scholz. He was forced into the ropes. McGraw muscled the Ram as only he could. Morris and J-Ru both saw an opportunity to remove Scholz from the fray. They raced for a double clothesline, but the resourceful Scholz dropped down, pulling the top rope with him. Morris and J-Ru shot over onto the floor and their ouster.

That left McGraw and Scholz looking at each in the center of the ring. McGraw, a multi-time champion and the Commander. McGraw sensed the opportunity. He bent down to one knee in the corner to talk to God. He got up circled around a firm, but outmatched Scholz.

Final two: Matt McGraw and "Commander" Scholz. Photo by Tim Steiner.

Something was said between the two, McGraw walked to the top rope and in a moment of paramount class, stepped over the top rope, dropped to the apron and allowed his feet to touch the floor below.

Don Scholz was the winner of the Timmy Moore Memorial Battle Royal! The supportive crowd got to their feet and waved commemorative red, white and blue towels provided by Scholz himself. It was in celebration of one of their own and they appreciated their hero.

McGraw re-entered the ring, along with long-time friend Lou Martin to lift Scholz high into the Sheraden sky in celebration.

The Timmy Moore Memorial Battle Royal trophy does stay home after all.

Doyle And Starr: A Golden Series For The Ages

Freek E. Doyle has Shane Starr in a predicament. Photo by Yalina Yuschick.

By Trapper Tom, Editor, KSWA Digest

It goes without saying that Freek E. Doyle’s reign as the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance (KSWA) Golden Triangle Champion has been historic. At more than 450 days, Doyle has been a successful titleholder since defeating Tyler Grayson at Brawl Under the Bridge.

Freek, who began as a manager and then tag team partner with Man-Child, set his sight on gold. Last year’s “KSWA Digest Megastar of the Year,” Freek has successfully defended Pittsburgh’s championship against a premier array of challengers.

Doyle has set his sights on antagonizing Shane Starr, a former three-time Golden Triangle Champion and one of the most popular Megastars in KSWA’s remarkable, 25-year history.

Starr found himself attacked by the Freek Show and Doyle himself in his hometown of Sharpsburg. Perhaps cheated out of a fourth championship by Doyle, Starr (only Justin Sane with 5 reigns has more), went to KSWA Championship Committee head Shawn Patrick and KSWA Owner Bobby O with a unique idea. Suggesting a “Best of Five” series of matches, Starr offered his August 30 loss to Doyle at Gino Brothers as a 0-1 launching point.

Bobby O and Patrick quickly agreed, and Starr has won the last two one-on-one contests. With October 18^th’s second-to-last KSWA event right around the corner, Starr could wrap up the series. He would then enter FanFest as Golden Triangle Champion.

However, Doyle has the Freek Show at the ready. There isn’t a strategic mastermind more prepared than Freek E. Doyle. He assuredly plans on retiring the Golden Triangle Championship at the end of the year. Justin Sane, The Ram, the mammoth Man-Child and the Manager of Champions, Mayor Mystery will all be called upon to maintain Doyle’s clench on the Golden Triangle Championship. [Starr did take out Mayor Mystery last month.]

The importance of the Golden Triangle Championship cannot be understated. Except for the KSWA Heavyweight Championship, the Golden Triangle Championship is the most storied belt in Pennsylvania.

Justin Sane was the first titleholder in 2000, and Hall of Famers Bobby Badfingers, “Big” Mike Malachi, The Latin Assassin, La Lucha, Bubba the Bulldog and even Frank Durso have had their names etched in KSWA history with the Golden Triangle Championship.

“The Face of Pittsburgh” Lou Martin and Double-Anthony Alexander, Kris Kash and “King” Del Douglas have all gallantly hoisted the Golden Triangle Championship; however, perhaps no one has characterized the verve of the gold than the one-time “Future” Shane Starr. A self-made champion who entered the KSWA upon his 18^th birthday 20 years ago, Starr has encapsulated the fighting spirit of the Steel City’s tentpole championship.

This is what makes this best-of-five series so significant. Two of the hardest-working Megastars currently on Pittsburgh wrestling’s official roster, Doyle and Starr, take equal pride in the Golden Triangle Championship.

Starr was the reigning Golden Triangle Champion when he defeated Martin for the KSWA Heavyweight Championship nearly 12 years ago. The KSWA Championship Committee forced Starr to relinquish the Golden Triangle strap, but he fought tooth-and-nail to keep it.

The current champion, Doyle has worked himself into elite condition. While he has taken the occasional short cut, Freek clearly takes the Golden Triangle very seriously.

As Pittsburgh’s professional wrestling organization winds down, Freek E. Doyle and Shane Starr have made this best-of-five series one of the organization’s finest.