On the Road - July

July is a busy month, regardless of what you do and it's picking up for all of us at Mitchell's Mess & More. Looking forward to getting together with the gang for a big month! Come out, look at us, talk to us, buy stuff. Wilmington, Mooresville, Denver, Charlotte!

It started in 2004...

 It started in 2004...Adam Jaxon and Ken Magnum started training with Gary "Viper" Benfield and debuted in American Pro Wrestling (Spartanburg, SC) for owner, Chief Jay Eagle.  They used different names back then:  Ethan Cage & Kris Pain. These guys are family - they were a great classic tag-team (called The UnderGround) and we had a lot of fun together. This was the beginning of the journey for me and I'm forever thankful they let me tag along with them. 

Below are some photos from that year:

Just like everybody involved, we started out as fans and we happily ran into Barbarian several more times down the road.

The bear belonged to Jimmy Kindrid...Ken didn't care. 

Blond hair courtesy of "Hot Shot" Shane Austin

The "I Hate Viper" head wrap.

The fireball injury head wrap. 

July 4, 2004 - High Velocity Wrestling in Hendersonville, NC at Jackson Park - what was published...

...and what you didn't see: 

Mitchell's what now?...

You now see the new graphics on the side of the website - when I decided to blow the dust off of this site, I thought it would be a good idea to also promote our friends at Mitchell's Mess & More.  They are a family operated wrestling and sports card vendor from southeastern North Carolina, more importantly they are good friends who I consider part of my own family. Tre & Mitchell are a father and son who started this business several years ago and now attend wrestling & sports card shows, conventions, car shows, barn raisings, brises...anywhere they can set up a table. 

I was searching for a "con family" for awhile and then Tre and I crossed paths at a convention. He and I were actually on the same wrestling shows back in 2005 -2009, as Tre was a referee.  In the following months we added the other members of our little group (Adam, Burke, Michelle, K9 Nova) and now talk almost daily. Mitchell isn't a bad boss either - as long as we follow his rules while working the tables, he'll let us come back. I'm lucky to have this little group and love 'em. 

So, if you're near one of their upcoming shows, please stop by and see them - they also do live sales!

STAY TUNED....

 Something may be happening....

Return to the cheap seats...

22 January 2022

Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium

Spartanburg, SC

Big Time Wrestling

While I have attended 'rassling shows since my "retirement" I usually did not take a camera opting instead to just enjoy the show.

I've been getting the "itch" the last few months though, so I sent my 

Nikon D80 to the shop and took it with me to watch Big Time Wrestling in Spartanburg. Got to see some old friends and sit in the upper level. 

Lodi vs. Brock Anderson (w/ father, Arn). In Anderson fashion, Brock focused his attacks on one part of the body. 

 

 

  

George South vs. Jerry "The King" Lawler. Two of my favorites. I don't care what anyone says, I enjoy watching George whip a crowd into a frenzy and he did it here. 

 

 

FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) vs. Rock n' Roll Express. This and the South v. Lawler match made me feel like a 'rassling fan again.  R&R announced that this was the beginning of the farewell tour and at the end FTR paid homage to the veterans. 

  

  

Crimson Mask, Part 1

I love shooting bloody wrestling pictures.  Not all the time, but I never missed an opportunity to get a good bloody face pic.  I had several wrestlers who made sure to "freeze" so I got a good shot.  Used wisely, blood adds drama, anger, sympathy and vengeance to a match.  Used unwisely, it looks amateurish and desensitizes the crowd.

I came across these pictures below this morning and thought I would share them.  This was a six man tag match between Ethan Case, Law and Tattoo against Wicked, Torment and _____(?-I can't for the life of me remember his name, if anyone can help),  I can't recall the events that led up to this brutal match, but here you go.  From 21 January 2006, Southern Wrestling Association in Forest City, NC:

Phoenix?