I have been a wrestling fan for as long as I have been alive. I have also lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for all of my life. On April 21, a Saturday night out on the town in Waukesha, I got the opportunity to connect my two loves courtesy of a new and exciting local wrestling promotion, Brew City Wrestling.
The owner of this local phenomenon, former professional wrestler and now trainer Frankie DeFalco, has a lot of knowledge and history to share about wrestling promotions. In his promotion, abbreviated BCW, a lot of that history can be explored in just one night. DeFalco, who names the events after monthly themes, plans a show every month which showcases wrestling professionals from Wisconsin, other parts of the Midwest, and all around the world. Last night’s show was the “Spring Slamboree” and indeed – it was a slamboree featuring champions, debuts, bumps and bruises, and high-flying action.
I quickly learned of this excitement when I attended my first BCW show just last month after receiving an invite via a flyer at my usual wrestling spot, WWE RAW. The excitement on Saturday night was due in large part to an unusual spectacle of attendance, which DeFalco noted as one of his proudest moments.
“Tonight was one of the rowdiest crowds we’ve had here,” said DeFalco. “The fans were very emotionally and physically into the matches tonight. If it weren’t for the fans, there would be no Brew City Wrestling.”
Known as “The Thumper” in the WWE, NWA, and AWA, DeFalco is used to crowds of all sizes, so he was able to handle it, greeting and checking in fans as they entered looking to find great food and their seats before the show.
The crowd of over 300 Wisconsinites and wrestling fans gathered in closely where they’ve gathered every month since the first show in February at the new Elks Lodge 400 location to watch all of the action up close and personal. Up close and personal is just one of the many things fans got all night.
A mixed tag match saw the “Demi-god” Funnybone clear the way as he came crashing down onto Evil Dysfunction on the right side. Bottles splashed all over the floor and seats collapsed. The crowd roared.
Funnybone wasn’t done yet. A second later, he grabbed his partner, “Blue Phoenix” Vanessa Azure, atop his head and threw her over the top rope onto both opponents, Evil Dysfunction and Evil Sierra. After having a fireball thrown in his eye, Funnybone grabbed DeFalco and ordered him to make a match between him and Evil Dysfunction. At which point, the rowdy crowd started chanting, “Make the match!” DeFalco couldn’t resist the orders of the fans and made Funnybone against Evil Dysfunction in a Flaming Casket Match for next month’s show on May 19.
DeFalco got involved plenty in this event, which is something he does on occasion.
“He had whispered something into my ear, and I was like, ‘Are you serious?’” said DeFalco. “So, on May 19, right back here at the Elks Lodge, it’s going to be Funnybone against Evil Dysfunction in a Flaming Casket Match.”
The mixed tag match was surrounded by up and close personal action from beginning to end. Fans experienced the debut of BCW newcomer, Bax, in the opening match featuring Shooter Scott Marciano. Bax’s debut wasn’t too pleasing, as he took a hard shot to the head by veteran Marciano. Bax will have a chance at revenge once he makes his in-ring debut at next month’s show in a tag match with a partner of his choosing against Marciano and a partner of his choosing.
“Shooter Scott hit me pretty hard there. But I’m ready for next month to get revenge,” said Bax.
More hard hits came in the match of champions, as Tokyo Monster Kahagas took on “High Octane” Onyx Andretti for the World Heavyweight Championship. Kahagas stormed through the crowd with Andretti in a tight headlock and from there was an all-out brawl on sponsors tables and even the food table. Mayo, ketchup, and blood splattered on the outside, as the two men continued pounding each other until Kahagas retained at the ring of the bell.
The hard bumps and bruises switched off in the women’s championship match between “The Mermaid” Tess Valentine and “Midwest Slayer” Stacey Shadows, which ended in interference and Valentine flying over the top rope. This high-impact match prompted another match announcement. Next month, it’ll be Evil Sierra, Stacey Shadows, and Lina De’Ora against Vanessa Azure, Tess Valentine, and Melanie Cruise, who makes her return to BCW after 3 years in a six-woman tag match.
Azure, who’s had a storied rivalry with Evil Sierra, is eager to get in the ring again with all of her competitors.
“Individually, they are very strong and very powerful. But hopefully, all of us together can take all of them down and go home with the win,” said Azure after the show.
The action-packed evening concluded with a backstage area full of eager fans waiting to greet the top performers of the night. As did I as a local, a wrestling fan, and a sports reporter.
There I sat all night with a recorder, food and drink, and a wrestling T-shirt reading “Shut Up Jerry” ( courtesy of my wrestling friends over at shutupjerry.com ) amongst all the fans, friends, and performers.
DeFalco thanked everyone, as he does always, and it was goodnight.
I left with the impression I had from attending last month’s show: There’s a new action-packed event ready to grab ahold of Milwaukee.
Brew City Wrestling returns to the Elks Lodge 400 on May 19 at 7:30 p.m. More information and how to purchase tickets can be found on BCW’s website, brewcitywrestling1.com.