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: 

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?