Black Label Pro continues its run as one of the top Midwest indie promotions to emerge in the past few years and they return home to South Bend, Indiana after taking part in WrestleMania week in New Jersey. The Player’s Brawl takes place this Saturday night, broadcast live on IndependentWrestling.tv, hosted by WWE Hall of Famer The Godfather (and his other alter ego, Papa Shango).
Logan Stunt vs. Marko Stunt
Last year, the wrestling world was introduced to one of the Southern and Midwest indies best-kept secret in Marko Stunt, following his appearance at Game Changer Wrestling (GCW)‘s Joey Janela’s Lost in New York. But just months into seeing his career skyrocket, he suffered a broken leg. He returned over WrestleMania week, but since he’s been out, his brother Logan Stunt has begun to make a name for himself. It’s brother vs brother, as the Stunt boys tangle up in South Bend.
Weird World (Alex Kellar & Evan Adams) vs. Rory Gulak & Ophidian
Weird World are making their Black Label Pro debut, but they’re not a new team by any means. The tandem is one of the top tag teams out of Ohio’s Absolute Intense Wrestling (AIW), and former AIW Tag Team Champions. They’re taking on a team of two CHIKARA veterans in the technician Rory Gulak (brother of WWE Superstar Drew Gulak) and the snake charmer himself, Ophidian. Weird World are going to be looking for a big win in their BLP debut, but the two CHIKARA vets are tough competition.
The Work Horsemen (Anthony Henry & JD Drake) vs. IFHY
The Work Horsemen are one of the top US indie tag teams right now. Former EVOLVE Tag Team Champions, they’re also the reigning Freelance Wrestling Tag Team Champions, as well as champs with Atlanta Wrestling Entertainment (AWE). And they’re not just great as a tandem, they’re accomplished singles grapplers as well – Anthony Henry is the reigning Full Impact Pro (FIP) World Heavyweight Champion, while JD Drake is the World Wrestling Network (WWN, EVOLVE and FIP’s parent organization) Champion. IFHY are a young emerging tag team from Indiana that has spent the last year developing with Indiana’s Paradigm Pro Wrestling (PPW), Pro Wrestling Freedoms and Southern Underground Pro (SUP). The team is comprised of young stars who are multi-generational wrestlers. Shawn Kemp is the 20-year old son of 18-year indie veteran TJ Kemp (of Hoosier Pro Wrestling), while Jonathan Wolf is a third generation wrestler, son of 23-year indie wrestler Joey Owens (of PPW, IWA Mid South, and Insanity Pro Wrestling) and grandson of 39-year pro Don Basher, who competed in Central Wrestling Federation/NWA Indiana and others since 1985. IFHY is looking to make big waves in their home state, and a win over the Work Horsemen would be a huge feat.
Anthony Greene vs. Gary Jay
For a few minutes on Saturday, Anthony Greene was your Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW) World Heavyweight Champion (before losing it to David Starr), but despite losing the belt, 2019 has been a huge year for Anthony Greene momentum-wise. Greene and his Platinum Hunnies have broken out in the past year, working with Beyond Wrestling, CZW, Chaotic Wrestling, Limitless Wrestling, Alpha-1 and scores more. But the fun may hit a roadblock when it runs through one of the most underrated grapplers in the US right now in Gary Jay. A fierce striker with a killer instinct, he won’t be in a party mood come Saturday. A longtime regular with his hometown St. Louis Anarchy as well as IWA Mid South, BLP, and others, Jay is a force to be reckoned with.
Butcher & The Blade (Andy Williams & Pepper Parks) vs. Sadkampf (Dominic Garrini & Kevin Ku)
An exciting matchup between two of the best new tag teams to come out of 2018. In one corner is Buffalo’s The Butcher & The Blade, featuring former IMPACT star Pepper Parks (aka Braxton Sutter) and big man Andy Williams. These two longtime friends finally paired together after Parks departed IMPACT and have been making their own impact of late, competing for Smash Wrestling and Capital City Championship Combat (C4) in Canada, as well as Empire State Wrestling (ESW), Bar Wrestling, Blackcraft Wrestling and more in the US. Sadkampf is a pairing of the North and South, as Ohio’s Dominic Garrini (who’s competed regularly with AIW, EVOLVE and others) teamed up with Nashville’s Kevin Ku to form a competitive unit that has been picking up big wins of late.
Allie Kat vs. Joey Ryan
Joey Ryan continues to take his Dong Style around the world and on Saturday he stops in South Bend, Indiana to test the might of his muscle once again. But his opponent has feline tendencies that like to play with toys and her claws are a little sharper than most, as Allie Kat prepares to teach Joey Ryan and his penis a lesson once and for all.
Maria Manic vs. Allysin Kay
This won’t be Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels, but it will be a brawl for the ages. Maria Manic is one of the toughest wrestlers on the planet who doesn’t care what gender you associate with – she’s willing to bleed for her victories, but prefers to make her opponents bleed more. The rising star is facing former Shine Champion and 2x IMPACT Knockouts Champion Allysin Kay (formerly Sienna), making her BLP debut.
BLP Indiana State Championship: “Warhorse” Jake Parnell (c) vs. Logan James vs. AJ Gray vs. Bear Bronson
“Warhorse” Jake Parnell continues his meteoric rise, entering 75 days as BLP Indiana State Champion and putting his title on the line in a tough fatal four-way. The St. Louis native is set to face some hungry young stars who are looking for a taste of BLP gold. Logan James is a rising young star from Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) he is breaking out with the likes of IWA Mid South, St. Louis Anarchyand All American Wrestling (AAW), while AJ Gray is another Southern star making the rise, working with the likes of AIW, Glory Pro, and Game Changer Wrestling (GCW). He’s also the reigning PPW Champion out of Jefferson, Indiana. Bear Bronson is a graduate of New Jersey’s Create-A-Pro Wrestling Academy, and at 23-years old is starting to carve his mark in the US indies.
Nick Gage vs. Jordynne Grace
In an absolute shocker of a matchup, the reigning GCW World Champion and King of American Hardcore, Nick Gage, takes on one of the strongest wrestlers in the world pound for pound in IMPACT Knockout Jordynne Grace. Grace is no stranger to danger – she’s faced the likes of Brian Cage, “Hot Sauce” Tracy Williams, LuFisto and others and is more than willing to take on any fight.
Winner Takes All: BLP Heavyweight/BLP Tag Team Championship: Space Pirates (Space Monkey & Shane Sabre) (c) & “All Ego” Ethan Page vs. Kobe Durst (c), Tre Lamar & Jake Lander
It’s a Winner Takes All, as a special 6-man main event puts both the BLP Heavyweight Championship and BLP Tag Team Championship up for grabs. Ethan Page is the former BLP Champion who lost his title to protege Kobe Durst, and now they’re going to war again with all the gold on the line. On Page’s squad, he’s joined by BLP Tag Team Champions Space Pirates (who also hold the gold from Page’s Alpha-1), while Durst is joined by Glory Pro, ZERO1 USA and IWA Mid South rising star Jake Lander and Midwest sensation Tre Lamar, who is part of the AIW stable No Consequence.
