STEAMFest and PCW set wrestling back more than a century

As part of last weekend’s anachronistic festivities at the Steampunk Theatre Entertainment Art & Music Festival (STEAMFest) at Academy Theatre, Platinum Championship Wrestling put on a turn-of-the-previous-century-inspired catch wrestling show featuring three matches. With the Marquess of Queensbury himself refereeing the action, PCW’s show concluded the first day of STEAMFest on Saturday night.

El Diablo Blanco issues a challenge!

Though the show featured regular PCW talents, even those carnival-like gimmicks were given a greater sideshow treatment for the STEAMFest crowd. The first match featured the masked El Diablo Blanco, who issued a challenge to members of the audience. A brave soul named LJ (who was clearly from another time given his jeans-and-T-shirt ensemble) accepted the challenge only to be forced into submission by the more experienced (and incredibly pale) masked Mexican.

Giving new meaning to the term “black Irish,” Brian the Brawler (looking an awful lot like PCW’s Brian Blaze) then introduced himself before doing battle with Mr. Roboto, a masked competitor from the future. After a hard-fought battle, Brian politely bowed to his fallen opponent, shook the referee’s hand and thanked the audience.

Brian the Brawler defeats Mr. Roboto

The main event featured Mason the Mauler (clearly an ancestor of PCW’s own demigod Mason) in battle against longtime rival Marko Polo. Mason and Polo exchanged verbal jabs about their various battles and other conquests around the world before finally locking up in the ring. The two grapplers exchanged numerous submission holds and counters for what was shaping up to be a real mat classic. That is until Polo raked Mason’s eyes in a heinously unsportsmanlike manner, exited the ring, only to return with a strange object that appeared to be a collapsing metal chair. With both the referee and his opponent confused by this technological trickery, Polo then used the chair not for sitting, but as a weapon, hitting Mason first in the gut, then across the back. With no other option, the referee disqualified Polo, who vowed that he would be back at the Academy Theatre each and every Friday for further displays of his physical prowess in the ring.

Marko Polo and Mason the Mauler do battle

Thankfully, Mason was not injured too badly and was eventually able to make his way out of the ring at the conclusion of the show. And this action-packed display was a fitting way to conclude STEAMFest’s first day, which was followed on Sunday by the Thimblerig Circus and other performers. For those looking for more Victorian-era performances, this weekend’s Clockwork Carnival features music, fire dancing and other circus-like attractions. And you can a more contemporary version of PCW every Friday at Academy Theatre.

Review by Jonathan Williams. Photos by Lynda Davis.

Georgia wrestling supporter honored at Georgia Championship Wrestling show

1 Reply

Last Saturday, Susan Meeks, a longtime supporter of Georgia’s independent wrestling scene, was honored with music, wrestling and other fun at Georgia Championship Wrestling’s Friends for a Friend: A Night for Susan, a benefit to help with Meeks’ fight with colon cancer. The night began with a musical performance by Tommy Ray Gurley and also included appearances by TV personalities and matches featuring some of wrestling’s past and present greats.

Susan Meeks with guest Ronnie Hicks from A&E's "Heavy"

Following Gurley’s in-ring performance, matches got underway as former World Championship Wrestling grappler Mike Sanders took on Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker in what was billed as Parker’s final match. This matched ended quickly with a double count out as Parker chased Sanders from the building.

The next match was a three-way in which Ryan Michaels defeated “Sensational” Matt Sells and Chris Lightning. “The Prodigy” T.J. Gray then defeated Scotty Beach, followed by a six-man tag match in which Rob Adonis, “The Real Deal” Jake Slater and “Loverboy” Lee Thomas defeated Convict Spike, Pretty Boy Floyd and “Pretty Young Thing” Frederick.

Terry "Rocker" Lawler and Bambi celebrate their victory

Terry “Rocker” Lawler and Bambi defeated “As Seen on TV” Nigel Sherrod (from MTV2’s Lucha Libre USA) and Peggy Lee Leather in mixed tag action. Southside Trash was victorious over Big Ron Studd and Too Tall Shorts before “Butcher” Bobby Hayes and “Texas Outlaw” Joel Deaton defeated Simon Sermon and Rick Michaels of the Exotic Ones. In the main event, Steve Corino defeated Glacier by disqualification when Mike Sanders interfered. As a result, an impromptu tag team match pitted Glacier and Parker against Corino and Sanders with Glacier and Parker getting the victory.

A standing ovation for Meeks

As a closing to the show, all the wrestlers returned to the ring. A standing ovation was given to Meeks as the Friend Award was presented to her by Parker on behalf of all the promotions, wrestlers and fans she has supported and befriended.

Review by Russ Massa. Photos by Hart Photography.

Atlanta-area promotions stage big wrestling shows following WrestleMania

Leave a reply

The Atlanta area is still abuzz from last week’s WrestleMania festivities, but this weekend offers a few smaller scale options showcasing wrestlers of yesterday and today, as well as some potential future stars.

Following the aftermath of two WrestleMania weekend shows last Thursday and Friday, Platinum Championship Wrestling returns to its weekly routine tonight at Academy Theatre. While last week’s matches, such as the first blood bout between Pandora and Aisha Sunshine and the return of Najasism, are sure to carry over at tonight’s show, the card also features the debut of Marco Polo against Mr. Eric and a main event in which the Curry Kid (with “Screamin'” Marty Freeman) takes on commentator Shane Mackey, wrestling as the costumed Canadian Sheik.

Tomorrow, there are two indie shows featuring some of the biggest names of yesterday and today taking place near Atlanta. First, Kingdom Championship Wrestling puts on JesusMania in Griffin (south of Atlanta) touting names such as Lex Luger, Ivan & Nikita Koloff, “Wildfire” Tommy Rich and “Thunderbolt” Patterson. There will be a block party from noon to 6 p.m. with food, games and music from Never Forsaken, Tymbral and the Adam Howell Band, with matches immediately after.

Just west of Atlanta, in Douglasville, Georgia Championship Wrestling is putting on Friends for a Friend: A Night for Susan, a star-studded benefit show to assist a local wrestling fan who has colon cancer. Confirmed matches include the Exotic Ones against “Texas Outlaw” Joel Deaton and “Butcher” Bobby Hayes, former World Championship Wrestling stars “Above Average” Mike Sanders vs. Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker in his final bout and a tag team match pitting Southside Trash against the 7-foot-2-inch Big Ron Studd and midget star Too Tall Shorts. The main event features former WCW star Glacier against Ring of Honor’s Steve Corino (with Roxy Cotton). Other confirmed appearances include Ernest “The Cat” Miller, Raven, Luke Gallows, actor Robert Pralgo (The Blind Side, The Vampire Diaries, 12 Rounds) and a pre-show performance by singer Tommy Ray Gurley.

Platinum Championship Wrestling. $8. 8 p.m. April 8. Academy Theatre, 119 Center St., Avondale Estates, Ga. 404-474-8332. www.platinumchampionshipwrestling.com, www.academytheatre.org.

JesusMania. Free. Block party begins at noon, bell time is 6 p.m. Living Waters Church, 2290 Fayetteville Highway, Griffin, Ga. 770-228-2558. www.livingwatersgriffin.com.

Friends for a Friend: A Night for Susan. $12 for front row, $10 for general admission, $6 for children ages 12 and younger. Doors open at 5 p.m., Tommy Ray Gurley performs at 6:15 p.m., bell time is 7 p.m. April 9. Community Fellowship Ministries, 612 Cohran Store Road, Douglasville, Ga. 706-409-1553. http://wrestlingnewscenter.blogspot.com/2011/04/friends-for-friend-night-for-susan.html, www.community-fellowship.org.

Steampunk gathers even more steam with STEAMFest and Clockwork Carnival

Leave a reply

Photo courtesy Dim Horizon Studio

Over the past few years, steampunk has grown from a niche attraction at fantasy conventions and other geek gatherings to a nation-wide movement incorporating post-apocalyptic accessories such as tubes, goggles and various pieces of recycled and repurposes bric-a-brac into Victorian-era garb hued in browns, grays and striped patterns. A direct spin-off of the cyberpunk literary movement of the ‘80s and ‘90s, and inspired by the likes of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, steampunk is in a galaxy (or at least alternate history) far, far removed from our own reality.

Continue reading at:

http://clatl.com/culturesurfing/archives/2011/04/07/steampunk-gathers-even-more-steam-with-steamfest-and-clockwork-carnival

Jerry “The King” Lawler to throw out first pitch for Gwinnett Braves

Leave a reply

"The King" holds court at Coolray Field tomorrow night. (Photo courtesy WWE)

The Gwinnett Braves open their 2011 season tonight in a home game against the Durham Bulls. But when the two teams take the field again tomorrow night, they’ll be graced by wrestling royalty as Jerry “The King” Lawler throws out the first pitch. It’s been less than a week since Lawler made Michael Cole tap out in front of a record-breaking Georgia Dome audience at WrestleMania XXVII (only to have the anonymous Raw general manager award the match to Cole via disqualification). Tomorrow night, however, the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Famer won’t have to worry about Cole’s annoying antics as he enjoys a night of minor league baseball and meets fans for photos and autographs in an atmosphere much more casual than last week’s WrestleMania festivities.

Jerry Lawler returns to the Atlanta area less than a week after WrestleMania. (Photo courtesy WWE)

Gwinnett Braves vs. Durham Bulls. $18-$37.50. 7:05 p.m. April 8. Coolray Field, 1 Braves Ave., Lawrenceville, Ga. 678-277-0300. www.gwinnettbraves.com.

Ray Stevenson plays folk antihero Danny Greene in Kill the Irishman

Leave a reply

Ray Stevenson as Danny Greene

Before taking on the mythical role of Volstagg in the sure-to-be-hit Thor later this year, Ray Stevenson portrays a more recent historical figure in Jonathan Hensleigh’s Kill the Irishman. Based on the true story of Danny Greene, a 1970s antihero credited with taking down Cleveland’s crime syndicate and crippling the nation’s mob scene, Kill the Irishman features a stellar cast including Val Kilmer, Christopher Walken, Vincent D’Onofrio and Stevenson in the starring role. And although they all do a great job of portraying the vile nature of everyone involved in the infamous turf war that resulted in numerous bombings during the summer of 1976, it doesn’t keep the story from becoming slightly confusing at times.

But with all the backstabbing and politics involved, it would be difficult to tell the story accurately without it being a little convoluted. From union leaders and cops to loan sharks and hitmen, everyone in Kill the Irishman resorts to heinous tactics, Greene included. But what sets him and his Irish-American cohorts apart from the clearly villainous mobsters is that, in the end, Greene is ultimately trying to create a better world for those he cares about, even though his tactics often bring them emotional distress and physical harm.

Danny Greene and his crew prepare to clean up the neighborhood

Like a cross between Robin Hood and the Punisher (a role Stevenson played in 2008’s Punisher: War Zone), the charismatic Greene tries to provide for his family, his neighborhood and his kinsmen the only way he knows how. With claims that he is descended from Celtic warriors, it just so happens that violence is usually the only way this tough guy knows how to resolve a conflict. Greene becomes a modern-day folk hero as he evades multiple attempts on his life and gets the best of the mafia (the luck o’ the Irish is clearly on his side), the police and everyone else involved in this gangland war.

Loan shark Shondor Birns (Christopher Walken) and Danny Greene (Ray Stevenson) doing business

Like every other character in Kill the Irishman, Hensleigh and Stevenson do an effective job of establishing that Greene is not a good guy. But, during one of the film’s most important moments, an old woman of Irish descent tells Greene that there’s a little good in all Irishmen. And in the end, that proves to be true of Greene, as he ends the mafia’s stranglehold on Cleveland despite employing many of their own heartless tactics.

Kill the Irishman. Directed by Jonathan Hensleigh. Starring Ray Stevenson and Vincent D’Onofrio. Rated R. www.killtheirishmanmovie.com.

Review by Jonathan Williams

WWE SmackDown competitors Curt Hawkins and Trent Barreta look to prove their post-WrestleMania worth

3 Replies

Curt Hawkins photo courtesy WWE

Curt Hawkins and Trent Barreta have been relatively successful as World Wrestling Entertainment tag team competitors, even co-holding the Florida Tag Team Championship in WWE developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling a couple of years ago. More recently, however, the two SmackDown superstars have been battling each other in singles competition on WWE’s Thursday night show Superstars. Just a few days after Barreta picked up a victory over Hawkins on last week’s edition of Superstars (and only a few hours before the two would take part in a pre-WrestleMania lumberjack match between Sheamus and Daniel Bryan that eventually turned into a battle royal won by the Great Khali), Hawkins and Barreta put their differences aside long enough to sign autographs at WrestleMania Axxess. They also took a moment to talk to Wrestling with Pop Culture about their post-WrestleMania future.

Curt Hawkins, you got your start with WWE in the Atlanta area at Deep South Wrestling. What’s it like being back in Atlanta for WrestleMania?

Hawkins: It’s kind of bizarre. It’s like full circle. I’ve come through before and I used to live here, but to be here for a week is cool. It’s even more bizarre that Bill DeMott, who was the trainer and head coach for Deep South, just recently came back on board for Tough Enough. So it’s really cool.

Barreta takes down Hawkins. (Photo courtesy WWE)

You were in Deep South Wrestling with a lot of people, including current WWE Champion the Miz, who are now on the WWE roster. How does it feel to be part of that group of people who have all gone on to bigger things with WWE?

Hawkins: It’s a shame that Deep South folded. I don’t think it gets the credit it deserves. A lot of stars were produced out of there. Luke Gallows was a big part of that and there’s tons of other guys. I think just because it was only around for two years that it doesn’t get the credit it deserves, because it produced a lot of stars and began a lot of careers.

At the WrestleMania Art Auction, we saw a piece of art that you did of Shawn Michaels flying through the air. He’s obviously had a big influence on you. What are your thoughts on him going into the Hall of Fame?

Hawkins: The reason Trent and I both are here is because we grew up watching him and he absolutely captivated us. He’s the reason we both became wrestlers, he was the inspiration. He’s my favorite wrestler of all time and it meant a lot for me to be there to see him get inducted. I made sure I was going to be there and I had goosebumps.

Barreta: I think he’s the best of all time. Nobody even comes close to him. Pretty much everything Curt said I agree with and to be there was unreal.

Hawkins: We used to live together in Tampa when were training in FCW and we pretty much watched his matches all day long.

Barreta: Even now, when I watch matches I pretty much only watch old Shawn stuff. He’s always good.

Trent Barreta photo courtesy WWE

Neither of you is officially involved in WrestleMania. What are you plans post-WrestleMania?

Hawkins: We’ve been busting our butts on Superstars trying to get noticed. So we’re just trying to get things moving and maybe not just do them on Superstars anymore. I think people are starting to notice and see how hard we’re working.

Interview by Jonathan Williams and Jason Von Stein