Author: Clint Dye

Happy new year to everyone who gives this a read. My first RetroView of 2023 continues the journey down the WCW pre-nWo with WCW SuperBrawl VI. Coming out of Starrcade, WCW is gaining more steam as a challenger to WWE.  The stars that left WWE are doing big things in WCW and it’s only months away until Scott Hall changed everything. SuperBrawl VI begins a hype video. It gives a breakdown of the action to come and I have to tell you, this is a stacked card.  Macho Man Randy Savage versus Ric Flair in a steel cage match for the WCW…

With 2022 officially in our rearview mirror, it’s time to continue my countdown of the best matches of the past year. All five of the promotions we had the privilege to photograph in 2022—Central Empire Wrestling, Impact Pro Wrestling, SCWPro, Madhouse Wrestling, and Absolute Pro Wrestling—have been well represented.  You can read part one, featuring matches 20-16, here, and Part two, featuring matches 15-11, here. Today, we’re looking back at matches 10-6, but first, a few honorable mentions.  During the very first Madhouse Wrestling show a six-man scramble match was held featuring Clay Cooper, Jimmy Wylde, Saint, Ricky Bronson, Dustan…

It’s the end of the year, and that means it’s time to reminisce about the best and my favorite matches I was able to be ringside for. In 2022 we were able to shoot 236 matches across five promotions – Central Empire Wrestling, Impact Pro Wrestling, SCWPro, Madhouse Wrestling, and Absolute Pro Wrestling – here in the state of Iowa as we review the top 20 independent matches of 2022 – 15-11. Last week, we reviewed the 20 best, focusing on 20-16. You can read about those matches here. Today, the spotlight focuses on matches 15-11.  Much like their first…

To say that 2022 was a banner year for photographing pro wrestling would be an understatement. During the year, we were able to shoot ringside for five different promotions in the state of Iowa as we review the top 20 independent matches of 2022 – 20-16.  Five promotions with their own style and approach when it comes to the sport of professional wrestling. Between the five promotions – Central Empire Wrestling, Impact Pro Wrestling, SCWPro, Madhouse Wrestling, and Absolute Pro Wrestling – in total, pictures were taken for 236 matches.  These 20 independent matches were some of the best throughout the…

Time for another WCW RetroView. Today we continue this unplanned tour through WCW leading up to the nWo. The last show was WCW World War 3 – 1995; today, we follow up with WCW Starrcade 1995.  Starting off is a video with a voice-over telling us that WCW has accepted New Japan Pro Wrestling’s challenge for a best-of-seven World Cup of Wrestling Tournament. We get a full match rundown during the video before Tony Schiavone welcomes us to the “Granddaddy of them all.”  Schiavone is joined by Bobby “The Brain” Heenan and Dusty Rhodes. The American Dream does a fantastic job building…

At the beginning of 2022, Impact Pro held what they thought was going to be their final show at the Forte Center in Des Moines, Iowa as Impact Pro Wrestling Presents Farewell Forte. It was a memorable night, capped off with James Jeffries winning the IPW Championship from Bryce Jordyn.  As fate would have it, the Forte is bringing back Impact Pro Wrestling for an even bigger grand finale. This Saturday, November 26 will be the very last IPW show inside the Forte Center. Bringing to an end a relationship that has lasted longer than a decade.  “I think after 20 years…

It’s that time once again. For tonight’s RetroView, we look back at WCW World 3 – 1995.  Watching this one with my 11-year-old Emmett and 8-year-old Degan, and they made the choice for the first World War 3 event.  We jump right into this show with Tony Schiavone and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan welcoming us to the show. They go back and forth on who they think will be the winner of the 60-man, three-ring battle royal to become the new WCW Champion.  We cut to Mean Gene Okerlund who is interviewing Sting, Macho Man Randy Savage, and a black-clad Hulk…

With a jam-packed Blue Grass Community Hall full of family, friends, SCWPro fans, and fellow wrestlers watching on last Saturday, November 12, Latin Thunder removed his mask and his tradition defined. With a tear in his eye, Juan Fourneau, the man behind the mask – handed the symbol of luchador excellence – something he’d worn for nearly a decade, over to his opponent and former tag team partner, Kevin Gutierrez, known to wrestling fans as Corn Boi. Tradition Defined | Latin Thunder Loses Mask At SCWPro The two, collectively known as Thunder Corn, were once SCWPro Tag Team Champions. But…

Matty Star Becomes First Ever Absolute Pro Champion. The Absolute Pro Wrestling Championship was mere inches away from Ethan Everheart’s grasp. Waterloo’s hometown boy had climbed to the top of the ladder and was about to do it; he was going to become the very first Absolute Pro Wrestling Champion. Then it all came crashing down.  Everheart, who had been in an absolute war with Matty Star, was in the grasp of Lars Metzger, a man with malicious intent. A devastating spear through a door put Everheart down for the count. With his opponent incapacitated, Matty Star made his ascent up the ladder.…

With WWE recently announcing that War Games will officially be returning at this year’s Survivor Series. I figured what better event to cover for my two WCW RetroViews during the month of November. So today, we’re starting off with WCW Fall Brawl 1998.  WCW 1998, you could sum up perfectly by calling it a hot mess with a pinch of greatness still in it. The nWo had long worn out its welcome, but they were still holding out hope it would once again reignite their numbers. Their attempt to capitalize on the good old fashion nostalgia came in the form of…