Five Years Later: Western PA's Last Wrestling "Super Show" Was 2012's Deaf Wrestlefest

It's already been five years since Western Pennsylvania hosted its last professional wrestling "Super Show." Deaf Wrestlefest, held on Sunday, April 29, 2012 marked the last time that wrestlers from various regional promotions gathered to help raise funds for the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf.

Organized by local wrestler Ken Jugan, aka the legendary Lord Zoltan, there were a total of 13 Deaf Wrestlefest cards, dating back to 1994. From 1994 to 2002, it was an annual, April tradition. Through decades of work, Jugan was able to line up big name talent like Cactus Jack and the Iron Sheik. Through the years, Koko B. Ware, King Kong Bundy, The Blue Meanie and others also wrestled or participated in other capacities on the popular shows.

But it also became a networking mecca for local professional wrestlers throughout Western PA, Ohio and West Virginia. Wrestlers from all over clamored to be on the show. For many it was a golden opportunity to perform outside of small towns an hour or more outside of Pittsburgh.

During those early years, the show was promoted in conjunction with Steel City Wrestling (SCW), which was considered to be the most prominent independent promotion in the metropolitan Pittsburgh area. That promotion closed shop in 2000, but the event went on without a hitch for two more years.

After the 2002 event, Deaf Wrestlefest took a hiatus. It returned with much fanfare in 2009. In 2009, dozens of local talent from throughout western Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh's Keystone State Wrestling Alliance (KSWA) combined for a 16-match event. Legends Dominic DeNucci and Shane Douglas teamed with Cody Michaels defeated Lou Marconi, Frank Staletto and a returning-from-retirement James J. Dillon. Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake even cut a woman's hair when the wrestler she managed took the pin.

Deaf Wrestlefest once again became a harmonious, fun-filled event for wrestlers, managers and other personalities. Jugan stopped wrestling on the shows, which allowed talent from elsewhere to participate.

The next year, Larry Zbyszko turned his back on David Sammartino in a tag team match, virtually re-enacting his famous betrayal of Bruno Sammartino decades prior. The fun and uniqueness of Deaf Wrestlefest was the showcase for all in the pantheon of independent wrestling.

In 2011, Zach Gowen traveled from Michigan to take part in the event. "Mr. USA" Tony Atlas also wrestled on the card, as did wrestlers from many regional promotions. In addition to towns away from metropolitan arenas, wrestlers from North Carolina traveled with Lord Zoltan's longtime friend and Johnstown, PA native Count Grog (Greg Mosorjak).

It was also a great opportunity for wrestling fans to see great regional wrestlers, as well as the top managers, such as Mayor Mystery and the aforementioned Count Grog. Studio Wrestling personalities such as Frank Durso also appeared to the joy of professional wrestling fans.

At the final Deaf Wrestlefest (Jugan's sons Adam and Blaise had either graduated from the school or were nearing the end of their time there), Jugan was able to bring in Bruno Sammartino and Dominic DeNucci. Sammartino raffled off a replica of his WWWF championship belt, with all proceeds going to the Western PA School for the Deaf.

Ten matches highlighted that event. Wrestlers from Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania highlighted the card. Zach Gowen and his "handicapped heroes" brother Gregory Iron traveled in for the show. WWE Hall of Famer Bushwacker Luke was in the final match, which also featured the last-ever appearance of Frank Keith, a manager, valet and sometime wrestler known as "The Joker." (Keith passed away earlier this year after suffering from a heart malady.)

Preston Steele (a Deaf Wrestlefest favorite), Mayor Mystery's Mercenaries, Shark Boy and a number of Pittsburgh wrestlers shared the card with a who's who from western Pennsylvania's up-and-comers, as well as veterans. Big Bully Busick, who also participated in different capacities over the annuls of DWF was a Special Guest Referee.

The Western Pennsylvania Pro Wrestling Super Show may return some day, but any will be hard pressed to top the 13 years of memories and funds risen by Deaf Wrestlefest.

The Choice(s) Are Clear For Pittsburgh's Sports Persons Of The Year

By Bronson Cayuse

The debut edition of Sports Pittsburgh Magazine hits with a body slam. Pittsburgh Independent Wrestlers--and VIPs of the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance (KSWA) Shawn Blanchard and Lou Martin--are at the top of the list.

More than the Pittsburgh Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger or Antonio Brown, the Pirates' Andrew McCutchen or Garrett Cole, or the Penguins' Sidney Crosby or Marc Andre Fluery, Blanchard and Martin have exuded excellence in their respective sport.

Blanchard, until recently, was the 6-time, "record-extending" KSWA World Champion. Blanchard first won Pennsylvania's most important wrestling belt on August 4, 2000, when he was 25. Roethlisberg was 18, McCutchen was not yet 14 years of age, and Crosby was a few days away from his 13th birthday.

All year long Blanchard has been touting himself as "Pittsburgh's #1 Sports Attraction." It's hard to argue his accomplishments. He defeated Shane Starr for the KSWA title, with the legendary manager James J. Dillon in his corner, on March 28. He successfully defended the title on numerous occasions before losing it to Kris Kash in the "Championship Cavalcade on December 5. Blanchard was forced by the KSWA Championship to defend his title against every other champion in the federation. That meant that Golden Triangle Champion Lou Martin faced off and with 5-Star Champion Mitch Napier, and the new tag team championships Starr and Kash. Kash and Starr, collectively known as "The Lost Boys," won the Commonwealth's most valuable tag team championships earlier in the evening from "Nasty" Nick Crane and Sniper--the Mercenaries--with Mayor Mystery in their corner.

Martin took umbrage to Pittsburgh Magazine omitting him in its "50 Most Powerful People in Pittsburgh." He took to calling himself the "#FaceOfPittsburgh" and was even beat up by the octogenarian Mayor of Homestead--Betty Esper--in June's "Brawl Under the Bridge." Martin had won the prestigious Golden Triangle Championship for the second time in his career on June 6. In addition to the Golden Triangle Championship, Martin is a two-time KSWA World Champion.

Martin has successfully defended his championship throughout the second part of 2015, most recently defeating "The Jester" with WWE legend Hillbilly Jim in his corner.

While Blanchard and Martin--who have perfected a Very Important Person (VIP) existence alongside KSWA Owner Tommy Faime--have routinely won matches by controversial means, they actually are arguably a part of the biggest charitable wing of any Independent Wrestling promotion. The philanthropic branch of the KSWA was the brain child of Owner Bobby O. A small group of KSWA wrestlers and staffers have been known to frequent charitable events and fundraising projects. Martin infamously "Kissed a Pig" on behalf a Pittsburgh-area Boys & Girls Club outing.

Crosby, McCutchen and Roethlisberger (and Brown, Cole and Fluery) were all touted for their community involvement, but none of the other Pittsburgh Sports Professionals brought home or defended championships in 2015. Only Blanchard and Martin made it to the top of their respective fields and meant more to the greater Pittsburgh Community.

Congratulations, Shawn Blanchard (The #1 Sports Attraction) and Lou Martin (The #FaceOfPittsburgh) on being named the very first Sports Pittsburgh "Sports Persons of the Year, 2015."

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--Bronson Cayuse is Editor in Chief of Sports Pittsburgh Magazine