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Joe Galli Wrestling at Mission Pro?

by Zak Ralph
written by Zak Ralph

Photo: National Wrestling Alliance

This coming Friday, Mission Pro Wrestling will be hosting Shoot To Thrill, a charity wrestling event for the benefit of the Salvation Army in San Antonio. The MPW event will feature premiere talents such as KiLynn King, Madi Wrenkowski, and Fuego Del Sol. However, it may not be solely professional wrestlers getting in on the action. San Antonio radio personality Chris Sifuentes of The Billy Madison Show has issued a challenge to NWA’s Joe Galli.

Is Chris biting off more than he can chew? Joe Galli is best known as the voice of National Wrestling Alliance, working commentary for the company since the inception of NWA Powerrr two years ago. When I asked about this escalating conflict with Chris, Joe made sure to point out that he’s done much more in the wrestling industry.

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“Not a lot of people know this about me. But you know, I didn’t just sit in the commentary booth, and that was my first introduction to the sport of professional wrestling. I’ve been a worker for many, many years. I’ve been in this business for 12 years, and the majority of it has been working in the ring. So I’m no stranger to danger, and if somebody wants to dance, well, I’ve got my dancing shoes on and we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”

Joe makes it very clear that he is ready to square off with Sifuentes, but what he will do and what he wants to do are two very different things. Joe would much prefer resolving this matter without coming to blows.

“Chris, who’s part of the Billy Madison Show, I have been a fan of for a very long time. The Billy Madison Show airs here in San Antonio. It’s also syndicated in several other markets as well. And it was a number of years where I was living in Palm Springs, California, which was one of their smaller markets.” As such, Chris’s voice was often present in Joe’s commute routine. “I would listen to them on the radio. So I’ve been a big fan for a long time, and I don’t want to hurt anybody that I like.”

While remaining optimistic that he and Chris won’t have to settle their differences in the ring, Joe is sure to end the thought with a stark warning. “I’m hoping that cooler heads prevail,” he says, before adding coldly, “But as I’ve said on Twitter, if you’re going to come at me at Mission Pro Shoot To Thrill… it benefits of Salvation Army, but you better bring an army of your own.“

Please credit Zak Ralph or The Smark & Friends Podcast with any of the above highlights and transcriptions. Thank you!

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Brothers in Arms: Mitch Clarke and Lumberjack Larry Woods

by Spencer Love
written by Spencer Love

There’s little doubt that Mitch Clarke and Lumberjack Larry Woods are one of the most beloved tag teams in the Alberta independent wrestling scene. Since their respective debuts for Monster Pro Wrestling, both Mitch and Larry have proven to be two of the most popular members of the MPW roster. The two truly represent the very essence of being Albertan, with both bringing a unique element to their partnership that makes them one of the most dominant duos in Alberta today.

Clarke, fighting out of Edmonton, has earned his reputation as one of the most dangerous wrestlers in Alberta today. Since transitioning from the UFC to wrestling, the former fighter has developed a style all his own inside the squared circle, seamlessly incorporating a variety of holds and submissions from his UFC days into his in-ring arsenal. His 11-5 record inside the Octagon speaks for itself, and recent marquee matches against Nasty Nate Nixon have only proven that Clarke is one of the wrestlers to watch in the Albertan independent scene.

Woods, from Elk Point, Alberta, is simply one of the most entertaining wrestlers in Western Canada. While the Lumberjack is certainly a terrific technical wrestler in his own right, Woods is best known for his endless enthusiasm both in-and-out of the ring. His boundless energy serves not only to fire up a crowd but wear his opponents down to the point of submission.

“We feed off of each other,” explains Clarke. “Larry is a ball of energy and I’m the technical powerhouse. Larry brings my energy up and I tend to centre him a bit more.

“The big thing is neither us have quit in us.”

Since their formation, the team has shown that not only can they win the hearts of wrestling fans, but dominate inside the ring as well. The current MPW Tag Team Champions are experiencing their most successful run yet, both together and individually. Woods has parlayed his recent success into a main-event match against Michael Richard Blais in his hometown on May 31, while Clarke recently headlined MPW’s Lloydminster debut.

While both Woods and Clarke have experienced previous success, 2019 has truly elevated the duo to the upper echelon of Albertan independent wrestling.

The Beginnings:

The duo’s beginnings weren’t exactly out of a desire to team together, says Lumberjack Larry, but a necessity.

“If I remember correctly, I was just coming back from having ACL surgery,” comments Woods of the duo’s formation. “I was getting jumped show after a show by the Catalyst since Rick Jules was the one that wrecked my knee at the 2017 MPW Ripper Royal. I finally had a tag match against the Catalyst and needed a partner. Mitch Clarke was happy to help me out.”

“(When) Larry was coming back from his injury, I had unfinished business with them as well,” states Clarke. “There’s always safety in numbers, especially when dealing with groups of cheating wrestlers.”

The duo’s first match together was a triple threat against the Supreme Squad and the Catalyst at the 2018 MPW Summer Scorcher. From the onset, the pair’s chemistry was evident. Woods boundless energy meshed seamlessly with Clarke’s submission-based offence to lead the pair to a win in their debut together.

“Little did I know that this would be more than a match,” Woods finishes, “but the beginning of a brotherhood.”

Tag Team Success

It was evident following their first match together that there was palpable chemistry between the two. It sparked a desire in both Clarke and Woods to continue teaming alongside each other.

The results were instantaneous.

On August 4, 2018 – less than one month after first teaming together – Mitch and Larry reached the apex of the Monster Pro Wrestling tag team division, winning their first MPW Tag Team Championships.

“We have a job to defend the Tag Titles, and we want to be the best Tag Team in Alberta,” commented Clarke following the victory.

While the pair would, unfortunately, lose the championships that October to King B and TY Jackson at MPW Vindication that October, it only served to fan the flames of Clarke and Wood’s desire to be the top tag team in the province.

Reaching the Top

[/media-credit] Mitch Clarke and Larry Woods hold their MPW Tag Team Championships following their victory on March 23

Despite the loss of their tag team championships, Mitch and Larry continued to build their case as lynchpins of the MPW tag team division. The duo continued to wrestle hard-hitting matches with the likes of the Catalyst and the Tattooed Terminators, consistently impressing the MPW faithful with their stellar blend of entertainment and technical prowess. The duo was able to earn a second opportunity at the tag team titles, and on March 23, Mitch and Larry became two-time MPW Tag Team Champions with a statement victory in the Renegade Tag Team Battle Royal.

“We work so well together because we have a passion for wrestling and the drove to be the best,” explains Woods. “We’re constantly working and training coming up with new tag moves and building our chemistry as wrestlers and as brothers.”

However, the pair evidently wasn’t satisfied with simply regaining their championships. Both Mitch and Larry entered the 2019 Leo Burke Cup as singles competitors, the duo’s first true tests alone since forming in 2018. It was a chance for the two to both make statements, and the two certainly did.

On May 4th, Mitch and Larry became the first-ever co-winners of the Leo Burke, joining the likes of Chris Perish, Tyler James and Steve Rivers as victors in the fabled tournament. It was yet more evidence that the pair have become two of the top prospects in the Alberta independent scene.

However, despite their success as singles competitors, says Clarke, there are no plans for the duo to split up any time soon.

“The successes as a tag team keep us together,” Clarke states. “Neither of us are selfish or looking just for personal glory, it’s about the team. Nothing has changed, we both keep working hard and just want to show we’re the best tag team out there.”

It’s a statement Woods echoes.

“(Our bond) has only gotten stronger. We are both very competitive athletes.”

Woods chuckles before making his final statement.

“I would be lying to you if I didn’t say I would like to have a rematch,” he laughs. “A little Balboa and Creed rematch.”

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Alberta Independent Wrestling: Where Do We Go From Here?

by Spencer Love
written by Spencer Love

Doors weren’t just opened in Albertan wrestling this weekend – they were blown off their hinges.

It was a landmark weekend for professional wrestling scene in the province, with three shows hosted between the 11th and 12th throughout Alberta. Real Canadian Wrestling, Lakeland Pro Wrestling and the Prairie Wrestling Alliance were all in action this weekend, and as can be expected from any of the province’s numerous promotions at this point, all three were outstanding shows; however, a number of in-show and post-show developments that truly sent shockwaves throughout the scene.

First, some background.

Alberta Indy Dream Matches

Even prior to this weekend’s developments, Alberta wrestling was set to make a statement on January 11th and 12th. Not one, but two first-time-ever matches would be taking place over the course of two days, with “God’s Gift to Wrestling” Michael Richard Blais set to face off with Pride in Radway, Alberta, with RCW Canadian Heavyweight Champion Christian Strife set to face off with Mitch “Danger Zone” Clarke the following evening in Bonnyville.

Both were dream matches for many in the Alberta independent scene, despite only the former being advertised as such; the open-door policy (or lack thereof) in the Edmonton and Calgary areas had all but eliminated the possibility of either match occurring within city limits. The fact these matches were even booked was a statement in itself and provided an exciting opportunity for some of Alberta’s smaller wrestling scenes to truly get a glimpse of the talent contained in the province.

January 11th

On January 11, 2018, professional wrestling returned to Radway, Alberta for the first time in 31 years. Both the match card and the seats were packed, with many eager to get their first glimpse of live pro wrestling in over three decades. To be blunt, it was an outstanding show from front-to-back; from the opening match of Dean Richtor vs. Cameron Stevens, the action was fantastic, and the crowd was equal to the task. It was an excellent wrestling event, period; whether it be the terrific in-ring work from all involved, the RCW debuts the Canadian Wildlife Federation and Kylie Morgan – who some may recognize as the excellent manager of now-PWA Tag Team Champions the League – or simply the experience of watching a show for the first time in a new location, it truly was a unique show for all involved.

The building was raucous from the start and was completely frenzied by the time former PWA Champion Michael Richard Blais and CWC Canadian Champion Pride squared off for the Alberta Indy Dream Match.

It’s hard to undersell the importance of this match; truly, it was a dream match in every sense of the word. The sight of Pride and MRB across a ring from each other was something many hardcore Albertan fans never thought they would see and throughout the entirety of their 30-minute classic, the building nearly shook with noise. It’s a match that can’t be described as anything but must-watch, with both Blais and Pride pushing to prove themselves as the best professional wrestler in Alberta.

Unfortunately – or fortunately, depending on how you look at it – it’s a question that still remains after the events near the conclusion of the match

Late in the match, just following a devastating MRB Brainbuster to Pride, an unidentified assailant ran into the ring brandishing a championship belt and began to assault both Pride and Blais, ending the match in a no contest. While it was a disappointing finish to an otherwise classic match, the anger turned to shock when the assailant was revealed to be none other than PPW Heavyweight Champion and Monster Pro Wrestling roster member Chris Perish. The tagSTRUGGLE member continued to assault the other two competitors before grabbing a microphone and verbally lambasting both Pride and Blais. There are few better on the microphone than Perish, and his fiery promo to close the show was one of the best heard province-wide in years.

As Perish alludes to in the above tweet, it’s hard to undersell the impact of Friday’s show. Between the three wrestlers closing out Friday’s show, five separate promotions and three separate championships were featured. More importantly, it set the stage for a continued feud between three of the top names on the independent scene in the province – and that’s without mentioning the formidable backup that each wrestler comes prepared with. While nothing has been confirmed as far as Blais goes, a match between Pride and Perish was set for February 23rd in Bruderheim, Alberta. Despite previously facing off, the two haven’t battled since Pride’s recent hot streak began. It’s yet another tilt that can be described as an indy dream match, and one that Albertan wrestling fans should be very, very excited for.

While Friday night in Radway featured some incredible developments, it was truly only the spark that set the fire for what was to come.

January 12th

Unfortunately, due to injury, the second advertised match between Christian Strife and Mitch Clarke was unable to take place. It did, however, set the stage for further developments on the previous night’s events.

Fresh off of his shocking appearance in Radway the previous evening, Chris Perish entered Bonnyville looking for a shot at Pride prior to their previously announced February 23rd match for RCW. Entering the show-opening Battle Royal for a match with Pride in the main event of the evening, Perish looked primed to win before interference from the First of the Fallen caused the PPW Champion to be eliminated.

However, it didn’t mean Perish was out of action for the evening. With neither of their scheduled opponents able to compete, the tagSTRUGGLE member took on the aforementioned Christian Strife in a champion-versus-champion thriller. Again, it was another match that wrestling fans had anticipated for a long while, but city boundaries had prevented from happening. For the first-time-ever, the RCW Champion would face off with the PPW Champion, and both men left it all on the line in what was a fantastic match. Yet again, however, it was another dream match ruined by the actions of others.

In eerily similar events to the evening before, Pride interrupted the match as it neared an incredible climax. It was the former Jack’s smirking revenge for Perish’s interference in Radway, with Strife as collateral damage in what is now sure to be a four-way feud.

Pride, however, received his just desserts during the evening’s main event. During the main event match between Pride and battle royal winner Adam Sky, Perish emerged to distract the RCW Jr. Heavyweight Champion and allowed Sky to roll him up for the victory. Immediately following, the former CWC Champion absolutely decimated Pride in yet another statement to build on the night before.

Both Pride and Perish made statements on Saturday, and while neither was able to gain an upper hand over the other prior to their match in Bruderheim on February 23, both showed why they’re two of the top names in Alberta today. Now, with Christian Strife also speaking out against the events of the 12th, the independent scene in the province has never been more unpredictable.

What’s Next?

Well, the doors have officially been opened, to say the least.

This weekend saw five different championship belts represented across three different promotions. Subsequently, the main event scene province-wide is already being talked about on a level not seen in years. Officially, the only development to come out of the weekend is a scheduled match between Chris Perish and Pride on February 23rd; however, unofficially the scene is as unpredictable as ever in the most positive way. Outside of a post-match promo, Michael Richard Blais has been conspicuously silent on the matter, and it’s only a matter of time before the former Prairie Wrestling Alliance Champion strikes. Additionally, it will be interesting to see where Christian Strife gets involved after making comments online that Pride’s “receipts were in the mail”.

As mentioned, I don’t believe we’ve even begun to see all the key players in this inter-promotional feud get involved. Envy already made her presence known throughout Friday’s main event in Radway, and her impact on Pride’s success can’t be understated. However, it’s not as though Perish, Strife and Blais don’t come well-equipped with some backup of their own. It’s only a matter of time before tagSTRUGGLE, the Western Lions and Strife’s numerous allies in the RCW locker room come calling.

It’s a damn exciting time to be an Albertan wrestling fan. Buckle up, folks – we’re just getting started.

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