Author: Clint Dye

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…

Saturday night in Waterloo, Iowa, history will be made as Absolute Pro Wrestling presents Gold Rush. That night, two men – Ethan Everheart and Matty Star – will climb a ladder to reach the ultimate prize. The prize is the Absolute Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Championship, and with it comes the historical significance of being the first-ever APW Champion. An honor both men are driven to capture for opposite reasons. “Leaving with the championship around my waist would mean all the hard work has paid off and that I’m on top of the Absolute Pro Wrestling food chain.” – Everheart “I’ve…

It’s the spookiest time of the year, so, with that in mind, today’s WCW RetroView looks back at WCW Halloween Havoc 1990. This was the second-ever Halloween Havoc and is held under the National Wrestling Alliance.  The following year marked the first Halloween Havoc under the WCW banner. Beginning the show is a masterful, 80’s special effects-driven preview video before the camera cuts to inside the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois.  Welcoming us to the show is the voice of a young Jim Ross, who is joined by Paul E Dangerously. Complete with an old-school Dracula costume. We quickly cut to the back…

Madhouse Wrestling Presents Little Show of Horrors. At Madhouse Wrestling’s debut show in March, AJ Smooth defeated James Jeffries and One Called Manders on the same night. His victories earned him the honor of being the very first Madhouse Wrestling Heavyweight Champion. That same night, Clay Cooper damn near stole the show with a highlight reel performance in a six-man scramble match. Cooper’s victory in the scramble earned him a future championship opportunity. That opportunity came at Madhouse Wrestling: Outlaw State of Mind. That night, Cooper and Smooth went to hell and back, fighting across the Countryside Wedding and Event…

This Saturday in Waterloo, Iowa, the race to crown the first ever Absolute Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Champion begins. Coming from the minds of Jason Prentice, Grant Hatton, and Brandon Eubanks, APW held its debut show in May. Read about the creation of Absolute Pro Wrestling here It was an exciting night that established a high bar for the quality of pro wrestling that will take place at future APW shows. After their first show, promoter Jason Prentice felt it vitally important to keep delivering that high standard of wrestling and set the course to crowning their inaugural champion. “It’s crucial…

RetroView fans, it’s time for war. This week returns to one of my favorite annual WCW events, I’m talking about WCW Fall Brawl 1994 featuring War Games. For this RetroView, were going back nearly thirty years. Dustin Rhodes rivalry with the Stud Club takes center focus in the show’s main event. It’s War Games, where Dustin teams with his dad Dusty Rhodes and the Nasty Boys to take on Terry Funk, Arn Anderson, Bunkhouse Buck, and Col. Parker. Also on the card are three championship matches, and a number one contenders match between Sting, the Guardian Angel, and Vader.  We…