This is the very first episode of Metro Pro Wrestling, based in Kansas City. Kansas City has a rich wrestling tradition, going back to Bob Geigel, Harley Race, and the NWA territory days. The first four episodes were filmed in Memorial Hall, the same building where Harley won his first title, as well as where Ric Flair beat Dusty Rhodes for his first. I have always been surprised at how sparse the indie scene is here in KC, so when I found out there was a televised indie starting up, I made a point of watching. While Metro Pro is not available outside of KC yet, they might be putting it on YouTube in the near future.
The show opens with a montage of classic Kansas City wrestling footage. This was the home of Central States Wrestling, after all. The first thing that is obvious to me is that the production standard is already higher than Chikara, Ring of Honor, and most American indies. Being the exclusive property of a cable outlet does that for you, as does having a former WWE writer and producer at the helm.
‘Man in the Box’ plays and Tommy Dreamer comes to the ring. There are E-C-Dub chants and Dreamer gives a pretty decent promo. He hits on the history of Kansas City wrestling, a running theme, and he mentions the Fed to garner some boos. He says there were 17 people at the first ECW taping and that there are more here. By more, he means about 40. Local wrestler Michael Strider is called to the ring, reeking of failed indie guy. He looks just like half the crowd, skinny white guy in a black t-shirt and camo shorts with short hair and a goatee. I have
never seen him work, but I bet there is a side Russian legsweep involved. Strider and Dreamer give some verbal fellatio until they call Trevor Murdoch out. Trevor has lost some serious weight and looks about ready to get called back up. Trevor gives some more verbal fellatio, though his is more polished, and they are interrupted by Superstar Steve Fender. I am automatically inclined to like anyone called ‘Superstar’ that I have never heard of. Fender is aligned with the Barrio Boys, Angel and Domino. Angel is the same Angel from ECW and Domino
is not the same Domino from the Fed. Or X-Force, for that matter. There is some back and forth and a six man tag is booked for next week.
We are 15 minutes in and no one has wrestled yet. Yup, this is modern American wrestling. Mark Sterling, no doubt one of the centerpieces of the company, gives a promo. He is in great shape, but his thinning long hair and Dr. Venture voice make him hard to take seriously. He is a heel champion with a relatively hot female manager so, of course, he is a raging misogynist. Still no wrestling.
The first match is Tony Morales vs. Primetime Paul Diamond. Ever wonder what would happen if John Cena and Evan Bourne had a baby? Primetime Paul Diamond is the answer. With his Capri pants and eyeblack, I find it really hard to take him seriously, but at least he is not wearing jean shorts and a wifebeater. Match is fairly rote, with Morales using cheapshots and Diamond using high flying hijinks to counter attack. Morales is the smartest indie heel ever, working the gut of a high flyer. Morales catches a top rope crossbody and lays down a
pretty nasty gutbuster. Dean Malenko would be proud. Diamond gets the win with a Contra Code/ Sliced Bread #2 off the ropes.
A fat dude introduces himself as Steve Girthy and gives a promo about discovering talent before he goes back to looking at porn on his laptop. Managers with no charisma, no look, and no mic skill are so indie. I pity the worker so bad on the mic they need this dude to step in for them.
Midwest Ground and Air give a promo and declare themselves American Ground and Air. Okay then.
The aforementioned American Ground and Air, Nate Bash and Benjamin Sailer vs. the New School, Jack Mecidol and Dustin Uhrich. Bash is the dreadlocked Air part of AG&A and Sailer is the pasty Ground. Jack Mecidol looks like Kid Romeo and has allegedly been given a tryout by the Fed. Uhrich has the build for his designated hitter gimmick, and by that I mean he has a gut. Both teams are pretty solid, though AG&A have obviously been teaming longer. Things go well until the Barrio Boys take out Sailer and the New School get the pin. Metro Pro is said to be
focusing on tag team wrestling and I could abide with more like this.
The AG&A give another brief promo and threaten the Barrio Boys. Can I just say that this is better paced than most wrestling I watch these days? Also, more logical. Wow.
The Main Event is Viking Warrior vs. Mark Sterling, Central States Champion. Viking Warrior is a pretty meh babyface, but Sterling comes to life in the ring. His promos are bad, but his ringwork is very nice. Dude works the fish hook and the neckbreaker like it is 1973. Viking Warrior has some limp offense, but Sterling is crisp and entertaining enough for two. No, really. A top rope thing fails and Sterling locks on the Sharpshooter to finish. Solid main event and I am now a believer in Mark Sterling.
A special shoutout goes to the announce team. The heel/face work was solid and I really dug how each guy brings a little flavor to the largely thankless job of face announcer and heel color guy. The mutual bagging on Iowa was a highlight of the show.
