Posted on

A Legendary Farewell for Larry D

I started writing about independent wrestling nine years ago. One thing I learned early on: never do a write up about a wrestler who says they are retiring. Especially one known for their time on the independents. It’s very clear wrestlers do not retire. Not completely. Like writers, musicians, actors, and other such artists, it’s too much in their blood.

Case in point: Jake Crist. I wrote about his retirement seven, maybe eight years ago when he announced it on social media. I saw him in Ironton, Ohio a few months ago, and last night, November 4, 2023, he make local boy Jackie Thad look like a true threat to steal his Wrestling Revolver Heavyweight Championship in Cynthiana, Kentucky.

Jake’s appearance in this small Kentucky town took place at the request of Generation Next Pro Wrestling promoter, and long-time fan favorite, Legendary Larry D. The occasion: Larry D’s Last Stand. Yes, Larry D, a stalwart of IWA Mid-South who also worked for the NWA and Impact Wrestling, announced months ago his plan to retire after 22 years of wrestling, and a whole lot of family, friends, and rivals showed up to mark the occasion.

Larry D makes a final entrance in the main event Saturday night, November 4, 2023.

I know. I just said I don’t write about retiring wrestlers. But this is not a blog about a retiring wrestler. It’s about a show that celebrated a man, his career, his family (blood and otherwise), and above all else: pro wrestling.

“The Franchise” Shane Douglas made sure to drive that final point home after his match with Gen Next star Nate Gnarly. As Nate stood by, a steel chair in hand, Shane got on the mic and showed he still has it when it comes to cutting a promo. In a fiery sermon-like performance, he denounced all things sports entertainment while praising professional wrestling. He then put Generation Next over as a place where professional wrestling lives and Larry D as a man whose work kept it alive and well.

Douglas was one of the bigger names in the house to celebrate Larry D. Alex Zayne took on Gen Next’s Kellin Craven. Crazzy Steve defeated Gaston LaRue. “The Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart was in the house, greeting fans and signing autographs. And the five woman scramble included Netflix Wrestlers star Amazing Maria as well as Larry’s wife and fellow grappler, Paige Jones.

Everyone who took part in the event had been touched by Larry D in one way or another. Some, like Crazzy Steve and “Unsigned, Don’t Care” Aaron Williams, were colleagues, fellow road warriors, locker room mates. Some, like Maria and referee Aaron Grider (also of Wrestlers on Netflix) were students. Many work for Larry today as part of the growing, thriving independent dubbed Generation Next.

You can judge a man by the number of people who call him a friend, a mentor, and inspiration. By that measure, Larry D stood tall on Saturday night.

Multi-man (and woman) matches abounded on a card jam packed with talent. The six-man Hoss Scramble that kicked off the evening’s second half was a tremendous highlight, featuring super heavyweights Xoziac, Derek Neal, Drew Dillinger, Brandon Taggart, and the Monster, Kongo Kong. The smallest man in the ring was, pound for pound, arguably the strongest man on the show: Shane Mercer. The behemoths hit hard, took to the air, and defied gravity in numerous ways. Shane Mercer hit his improbably backflip off the second rope while carrying Drew Dillinger, and Kongo Kong actually joined in the diving action.

Jake Crist and Jackie Thad followed the Hoss Scramble, setting the stage for the main event. Larry D chose a man he worked with at Impact to be his final opponent, Moose.

Moose had no trouble playing the villain to Larry D.

Can I just say, what a thrill it was to actually see Moose wrestle? As an off and on Impact subscriber, Moose was always one of my favorites. He’s bigger in real life than he appears on TV, and after babyfacing the crowd briefly, he set himself up to be the heel, telling everyone how excited he was to put an end to Larry’s career.

The Legend had been in and out of the arena all night. This was his show, and he not only made sure things ran smoothly, he made time to take photos and sign autographs himself. Everyone wanted to shake his hand, to say thank you, and share the moment. I haven’t known Larry very long, and I still can’t say I know him well. I can tell you he’s a kind and generous man, a true Kentucky gentleman who has given far more to pro wrestling than he has taken away.

I won’t spoil this match any more than I have the others. The show is available on pay-per-view, and I’d encourage lovers of Larry D and good, grassroots professional wrestling to watch. I will say that Larry D went out in the most traditional, emotional fashion you could imagine. Moose switched back to babyface, expressed his love for Larry, and stepped aside as Larry’s family joined him in the ring.

Tears flowed all over the building as Larry took a seat and Paige unlaced his boots and removed them. She took Larry’s pads as well, laying them on top of the boots. Shane Douglas’s words rang true: this is professional wrestling. This is as traditional a finale as any professional wrestler ever had.

Larry took to the mic and thanked the crowd. he thanked his family, assuring them he was at peace with his decision, a decision he’d made for them. Wrestling take a man or a woman many miles all over the country, all over the world. As much as wrestlers sacrifice for the business they love, their families often sacrifice more. Larry made it clear, this choice was about his family. They hugged. They cried. They celebrated.

Then Larry assured the fans that while part of his story had come to a close, a new one was beginning. The best is yet to come for Generation Next, and anyone who wanted to be a pro wrestler was welcome to sign up and train at Legends Pro Wrestling Academy in Cynthiana.

 

It was especially fun watching the event alongside a former high school classmate who lives in nearby Georgetown. Lisa’s not what you’d call a wrestling “fan”, more a spectator who got into watching thanks to her teenage son and her friendship with me. We were both near the top of our class in high school, and she went on to graduate from a Big Ten university and become a highly decorated school teacher.

Outside of those circumstances, she’s one of the last people I’d ever expect to see walking into such a place. But she cheered and gasped and applauded and laughed as hard as anyone in the building, proving that there’s something about the drama of pro wrestling that connects with everyone.

I’ve witnessed some huge wrestling events in person: Wrestlemania 27; the Survivor Series debut of The Shield; ALL IN in 2018. As exciting as those shows were, some of my favorite memories took place in smaller towns on smaller shows. I love all my friends and family at FTC in Ashland, Kentucky. I enjoyed the night I spent in Somerset with two dearly departed friends: Tracy Smothers and Hurricane JJ Maguire.

You can add Cynthiana to that list. Generation Next has something special going on. The fans were packed shoulder to shoulder all the way to the rafters Saturday night, and they were more energized start to finish than the AEW crowd I saw in Louisville just three days prior. The wrestling was enjoyable. Every match had something special, and the big name guests were more than willing to put the young stars of Gen Next over.

More than anything, Gen Next has Larry D. He may never set foot in a ring to wrestle another match, but he has a new mission. The loving family man and ridiculously busy entrepreneur (How many businesses are you running, Larry?) pledged to continue pouring his experience and wisdom into a promising roster of kids down in Cynthiana. Larry certainly belongs on the short list of great pro wrestling teachers in Kentucky, a list that includes Al Snow and Bobby Blaze.

Click here to follow Gen Next on Facebook.

Click here to follow Legends Pro Wrestling Academy.

Click here to order the pay-per-view replay.

Posted on

20 Years On, IWA Mid-South May Have Its Best Roster Ever

It had been a while since I paid a visit to Southern Indiana’s legendary wrestling promotion, IWA Mid-South. I’m not big on blood and hardcore and deathmatches, a hallmark of IWA-MS, and truth be told, I decided to go tonight for one reason: OI4K. I’m a big fan of Jake and Dave Crist and their frequent companion Aaron Williams. All three have been regulars at IWA-MS for some time, and when I saw Dave Crist was scheduled to face another favorite in Shane Mercer, I decided it was time to go.

It was a trip worth taking.

The boys from Ohio delivered as they always do, but this was hardly a three man show. Every match on the card tonight delivered, from the opening bout between Desmond Xavier and A.J. Gray to the main event with Larry D. and John Wayne Murdoch. Top to bottom, this was the best wrestling show I’ve ever seen from IWA-Mid-South and one of the best independent shows I’ve ever witnessed.

 

Corey Storm and Myron Reed were two of the younger stars of IWA-MS who impressed in the early matches. Reed is a Louisville veteran with a ton of talent and charisma, and he took an action-packed three way match from Teddy King and Brett Havoc. Storm is just fifteen years old, but he looked like a a seasoned veteran in the ring with Jake Crist. He’s getting the education of a lifetime, working with veterans like Crist, and it’s very clear he has a bright future ahead.

Aaron Williams had a hard-hitting bout with Japanese star Shigehiro Irie. Despite his alliance with the hated manager The Rick, Williams had a strong following in the crowd. Ian Rotten stunned Williams and the crowd after the match by announcing that Williams will face Jessica Havok next week.

Two more members of OI4K, Zachary Wentz and Trey Miguel, had a show-stopping tag match against the Player’s Club, Mance Warner and Ray Waddell. Wentz is the current heavyweight champion at Rockstar Pro Wrestling in Dayton, and he and Miguel put on a clinic with Warner and Waddell.

Dave Crist vs. Shane Mercer followed the tag match and stole the show in every way possible. Mercer and Crist are two of the best kept secrets in the Midwest. Mercer is all power; Crist is a high-flyer. The crowd was electric for the entire match, and when Crist got the win, the fans leapt to their feet with a standing ovation.

As soon as the match was over, Dave Crist grabbed a microphone and told the fans they were witness to one of the best shows he had ever been a part of. Christ praised the fans for their dedication and heaped even more praise on the young stars of IWA Mid-South. “Ian Rotten has an incredible eye for talent,” he told the fans, and he encouraged everyone to, “Tell a friend, bring a friend, and make IWA Mid-South the best promotion in the Midwest!”

It would be a bold statement to say that the current incarnation of IWA Mid-South is the best ever. This is, after all, the promotion that helped launch the careers of superstars like CM Punk, Chris Hero, Daniel Bryan, and Seth Rollins. That said, it’s clear that something special is happening in Southern Indiana.

IWA Mid-South is in their 21st year. They are packing the Arena in Jeffersonville every Thursday night and the Memphis Flea Market (where Rotten says fans can see more of the hardcore action they are used to) every Saturday. That’s no small feat, running twice a week, and with Joey Ryan, Gary Jay, and Jessica Havok on the card for next week, it’s only getting better.

If you like great wrestling, I’d encourage you to check out IWA Mid-South Thursdays at the Arena. And if you like violence for violence’s sake, you won’t want to miss their Saturday shows (including this weekend’s King of the Crimson Mask show) in Memphis, Indiana.

Congratulations to Ian and the entire crew at IWA Mid-South. Thanks for an amazing night of wrestling.

Posted on

The End of IWA Mid-South?

15219367_10211256468433234_1316175058918177984_nWrestling has not been this hot in Louisville in decades.

While OVW rides a wave of enthusiasm fueled by their increasingly talented roster and their 900th TV taping, turmoil has erupted across the river.

Two years ago when I released Bluegrass Brawlers, I highlighted two Indiana promotions that, at the time, were running regular shows: the venerable IWA Mid-South, and Destination One Wrestling. Running monthly under former Ian Rotten student Rick Brady, D1W brought in some terrific talent including OI4K, Crazy Mary Dobson, the Indy Card Mafia, and Tracy Smothers. A series of unfortunate events forced D1W to go on permanent hiatus in 2015, and the promotion hasn’t been seen since.

That changed the night of the 20th anniversary show for IWA Mid-South, when Tracy Smothers faced IWA-MS Champion JJ Garrett with the title on the line. Smothers was on the ropes against the younger champ, but just when it seemed like Garrett had the match won, the lights went out and a man wearing a mask appeared on the apron. Garrett grabbed the guy and removed the mask to reveal “The Rick” Rick Brady!  The Rick’s sudden appearance gave Smothers the distraction he needed to hit Garrett with his stick and pin him. Once out of the ring, Tracy announced that the IWA title will now be known as the D1W title.

Over the next few weeks, The Rick promised that D1W was taking over and baited Ian Rotten into putting 50% of his company up vs. the chance to finally get his hands on The Rick for 5 minutes alone. Rotten took the bait and a six-man dog collar match was booked to settle the matter. Rotten selected Nick Depp, John Wayne Murdoch and JC Rotten to represent team IWA while  The Rick chose Mitch Ryder, Legendary Larry D and Derek Neal to represent team D1W.

The six men brawled all over the building on Thanksgiving night. During the closing minutes JC Rotten went down and grabbed his knee in pain. He fought his way back into the ring and was caught by Mitch Ryder and put into a figure four leglock. He immediately tapped. JC’s valet Tori entered the ring to check JC and was grabbed by Larry D. The fans were horrified, fearing for Tori’s safety, when Larry grabbed the girl in a huge hug! JC popped to his feet, revealing his knee injury to be a lie. He wasn’t hurt and he had just betrayed his father. The IWA locker room emptied out, but the D1W contingent beat them down in the ring.

Ian Rotten himself came off to chase away the D1W crew, but it was too late. The Rick now owns half of IWA Mid-South, and Ian and The Rick are now 50/50 partners.

I realize some of you Smarks reading this are rolling your eyes right now. “It’s all a work! You know Ian would never put up ownership in IWA!” That attitude is everything that is wrong with the IWC. Folks, this is old school. This is what packed gyms and arenas for decades before the WWE conquered the wrestling world, and guess what? It still works!

Right now, D1W/IWA Mid-South is as hot as they’ve ever been. They’re running twice a week on Thursdays in Clarksville, Indiana at Jammerz Rollerdrome and Saturdays in Memphis, Indiana at the Flea Market. Their fans are energized, and so too are the D1W fans who have missed their favorite promotion. The Rick is steamrolling IWA fans left and right on Facebook, and Tracy Smothers is proving (as he has over and over) that he’s one of the most underrated heels of any generation.

Will D1W take over, or will Ian save his beloved IWA Mid-South? Whatever happens next, the real winners are the fans enjoying a true old-fashioned blood feud!

Posted on

Thanksgiving Night Wrestling Anyone?

Thanksgiving used to be one of the biggest nights of the year for the WWE. That’s the night they used to hold the Survivor Series Pay-Per-View. The WWE may have done away with Thanksgiving night show, but for fans in the Louisville area, you can still catch some non-stop action thanks to IWA Mid-South.

IWA-MS has a killer card lined up this week for your post-turkey entertainment, starting with the legendary Chris Hero facing the IWA-Mid South (or is it the D1W?) champion Tracy Smothers.

Rachael Ellering will also be in town Thursday night facing Randi West.

Other matches on the card include:

 

Ian Rotten vs. “The Chairman” Joey Owens;

The Rejects (John Wayne Murdoch and Nick Depp) and JC Rotten VS “Marvelous” Mitch Ryder, “Legendary” Larry D and “the Real Deal” Derek Neal in a Triple Dog Collar Six Man Tag;

A Lone Survivor match featuring Team Cole Radrick (Cole Radrick, Andrew Hunter, Brother Reed, Tripp Cassidy plus one more member) VS Team Johnathan Wolf (Johnathan Wolf, “Category 5” Corey Storm, Mickey Muscles, Aidan Blackhart plus one more member);

“Hybrid Monster” Zodiak vs. “The Mouth of the Mid South” Mance Warner;

Malcolm Monroe III vs. Travis Titan

Bell time is 7:30 at Jammerz Rollerdrome in Clarksville, Indiana.

For more information, visit the event page on Facebook!