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.