Signed Trading Cards: Martin Stone, Tessa Blanchard, David Starr & More

On January 18, 2018 I attended Limitless Wrestling in Westbrook, Maine.  You can read about it here.  At this show I was able to get these 13 cards signed, nine of them I brought with me the other four I bought from the wrestlers at the show.

Martin Stone

Also known as Danny Burch in NXT that is the name that the first card is under.  Released in 2013 under the Topps Europe Limited line as part of the Slam Attax Trading Card Game.  Stone himself was impressed that I had this card as he states it is quite rare with only a few being made.  I bought it on ebay from a seller in the UK.  The second card was released in 2016 as part of a set by the independent wrestling promotion Ignite Wrestling.

Tessa Blanchard

These cards from the Japanese wrestling promotion World of Stardom in their 2017 collection.

David Starr

The first card was released in 2016 by Legacy Wrestling an independent promotion based out of Pennsylvania.  The next two cards I bought from David Starr as part of a set from the SRG Trading card game.  The middle card is his player card and the card on the right is his move card "Look At It" which is when he uses his crotch to strike an opponent in the face.

Deonna Purrazzo

I bought both of these cards from Purrazzo herself, she sells them for $5 each and are available on her website here.  Of course after I met her I was finally able to buy one of her Stardom World cards.

Jeff Cobb

These two cards were made by PWG and wrestling superfan @briandabrain.  The card on the left is from the 2017 set and the card on the right from the 2016 set.

Eddie Kingston

This final card was released by the Chikara wrestling promotion sometime between 2006 and 2010.  The card is not dated.  I was actually quite fortunate to get this card signed because Kingston didn't come out to sign during the show and I just happened the catch him by Ethan Page before the show.

Thanks for reading, please leave a comment, read my other posts, and like my blogs Facebook page and while you're at it check out my weekly podcast Podcast of 1,000 Holds on the Nerdy Legion Podcast Network. 

Later Readers!

The Last Match: The Fabulous Freebirds

The Fabulous Freebirds are one of the greatest and most revolutionary tag teams of all time.  They were unique in that they were a three man team who won the tag team championships and originated what would become known as the Freebird Rule as any two of the three members could defend the titles.

The teamed formed in Mid South Wrestling in 1979 and continued until they disbanded in 1994.  They had success all around the territories including the AWA, WWF, WCW, NWA, Memphis, Florida and more.  They are perhaps best known for the amazing feud in World Class with the Von Erich family.

The Freebirds were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2016.

Michael P.S. Hayes
Last Match: July 25, 1999 WWF Fully Loaded 1999 Buffalo, New York
with The Hardy Boys: Matt & Jeff lost the Tag Team Championships to The Acolytes: Bradshaw & Faarooq in a no disqualification match

Hayes was pinned in the match that cost the Hardys their titles.  Hayes would go on to compete in the WrestleMania X-7 Gimmick Battle Royal.  Hayes was no doubt the leader of the Freebirds and also was with the team for its entire run.  One of the most colorful and flamboyant men in wrestling.

"Bam Bam" Terry Gordy
Last Match: June 10, 1999 NWA Southwest, Dallas, Texas
defeated The New Dr. X

One of if not the best big man in wrestling Gordy began wrestling in 1975 at the age of 14.  After his run with the Birds Gordy had a successful tag team with "Dr. Death" Steve Williams in All Japan Pro Wrestling and WCW from 1990 - 1993.  Gordy is also a two time AJPW Triple Crown Champion, the promotions top championship.

Gordy passed away on July 16, 2001 from a heart attack.

Buddy Jack Roberts
Last Match: April 2, 1993 GWF Dallas, Texas
with Michael P.S. Hayes was defeated by Chris Adams & Kevin Von Erich

Debuting in 1965 after being trained by Ivan Koloff he joined up with the Freebirds becoming the third member in 1979.  He stayed with the Birds through their major run in World Class leaving them in 1987.  Retiring in 1989 he came out of retirement for his final match teaming with Hayes.

He battled throat cancer but died from pneumonia November 26, 2012 at the age of 65.
 

Jimmy "Jam" Garvin
Last Match: August 2, 2000 Lutte 2000 Verdun, Quebec, Canada
with Ronnie Garvin was defeated by The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers: Jacques & Raymond to win the Johnny Rougeau Tag Team Title

Jimmy Garvin began wrestling in 1968 traveling the independents winding up in World Class in 1983.  He began a loose association with the Freebirds during this run.  On June 14, 1989 he returned to WCW as a official member of the Freebirds teaming with Hayes at Clash of the Champions VII winning the vacant NWA World Tag Team Championships.

He teamed with Hayes until 1992 when he left WCW.  He rejoined Hayes and Gordy in Global Wrestling Federation in 1994 as The Fabulous Freebirds until the promotion folded later that year.

Freebirds Match
Last Match: May 28, 1999 Power Pro Wrestling, Memphis, TN
Michael P.S. Hayes & Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy wrestled Glen Kulka & JR Smooth to a no contest

This is the last match of record that I can find involving members of the Freebirds.  It's only fitting that it's the two original members in Hayes & Gordy that have the final official match of The Fabulous Freebirds.

Badstreet: Brad Armstrong 

Last Match: February 12, 2011 A Nightmare to Remember Villa Rica, GA

defeated by Kyle Matthews

During the Freebirds run in WCW Brad Armstrong donned a masked competing as the mysterious Badstreet.  His association with them was short but I felt should be included.

Sadly Armstrong passed away on November 1, 2012 at the age of 50.

Thanks for reading, please leave a comment, read my other posts, and like my blogs Facebook page and while you're at it check out my weekly podcast Podcast of 1,000 Holds on the Nerdy Legion Podcast Network. 

Later Readers!

IWE Live Report 2/9/2018 featuring Shane Douglas

On Friday February 9th Canaan, Alex, and I met Roy, Mikey, & Phil in Fairfield at the Community Center to take in a night IWE: Independent Wrestling Entertainment featuring "The Franchise" Shane Douglas.

This was first IWE show since last July when Teddy Hart was on the card.  I really like the Fairfield Community Center as a venue.  I've been attending matches here since 2004 and tonight marks my 53rd show at this building.

This is my third time seeing Douglas live and he is always so nice and approachable to talk to.  He is very passionate and opinionated about the sport of professional wrestling.  This was my first time getting my picture taken with him.

I asked him how he felt about fans still chanting E-C-W even thought the promotion shut down 17 years ago.  He responded that he's honored that something he participated in has had such a longing effect on the wrestling.  But also pointed that out as a bad thing that nothing else has had such an impact on wrestling to overshadow it. 

In Ring: "Shatterproof" Derek Shorey cut a promo stating that Todd Harris was not in the building and the promoted Livewire Championship match would not be taking place.  So he laid out and open challenge that was answered by the Middlesex Express.  Eventually Strange came out evening up the odds and making it a tag team match.

"Shatterproof" Derek Shorey & Kalvin Strange defeated The Middlesex Express: Steven Broad & Steven Lust with Chad Epic when Shorey pinned Lust after a swanton bomb

This was a great match.  What I like about the Middlesex Express is that they are an established tag team with matching gear and a tag team name.  Steven Broad has an 80's throwback look with a killer mustache and dynamite hair.

Shorey has improved tremendously since the last time I saw him.  He has a good look and moves around the ring very well.  He gets some impressive air with his swanton and other high flying maneuvers.
 

Ian Griffin with Alex Cain & Sara D'Errico defeated Tommy Lane with a splash mountain

I haven't seen Griffin in a couple years so it was nice to see him again.  I've always enjoyed his in ring work.  This was pretty much a long squash match the Lane getting very little offense in and getting pinned clean in the center. 

"The Franchise" Shane Douglas pinned Maine State Champion: "Big Moxie" Matt Mahoney with a school boy in a non-title match

Surprised this was on third, figured this would close the show.  A basic but good match, Douglas cut a pre-match promo stating lets give them a wrestling match.  Then after a few minutes of Mahoney getting the upper hand on Douglas he resorted to nefarious means.

The match spilled to the floor and Douglas had is head comically rammed into the canvas several times in rapid succession.  After a few more minutes of action Douglas rolled up Mahoney with a school boy for the pin.

We didn't get a belly to belly suplex, but it was a fun match and it was great to see Douglas wrestle live in such an intimate setting.

Post Match: Douglas cut an impassioned promo about pro wrestling, what it means to him and the fans.  He also took a couple shots at Vince McMahon and the WWE.  Mahoney stated what an honor this was for him and that he's been nervous all week.  Douglas then took a moment to honor is fallen comrades in the Triple Threat by introducing Bam Bam Bigelow and Chris Candido. 

Anyweight Champion: Jimmy Limits pinned Rob Marsh with Adam Ricker & Chad Epic after a Mafia Kick in an open challenge match

This was an open challenge that was answered by the tag team champions.  Epic teased not knowing who was going to accept the challenge.  The fans chanted for Marsh and we got who we wanted.

This match was ok.  I've seen both of these guys put on some decent matches and I'm a huge fan of Rob Marsh but they just didn't seem to mesh tonight. 

Mason X pinned Kenny Roberts with a chokeslam

Best looking Mason X so far and Kenny Roberts is very charismatic.  Mason is supposed to be a monster killer, but the match went on too long in my opinion.  Some good moments but should have been much shorter.

Ian Griffin with Alex Cain & Sara D'Errico pinned "Alpha Dog" Jason Rumble after hitting with a foreign object

Alex Cain was supposed to compete in this match but claimed a knee injury would prevent him from doing so so we got our second dose of Ian Griffin for the evening.

I was surprised to see Griffin get two wins in the same night.  After the match Rumble got his hands on the object then sent the fans home happy by laying out Griffin and dancing.

It was a fun night of wrestling because I got to see my friends and quite frankly any night at wrestling is a great night. 

The next time IWE returns to the Fairfield Community Center is on March 9th featuring a Trios Tag Team Tournament.

Thanks for reading, please leave a comment, read my other posts, and like my blogs Facebook page and while you're at it check out my weekly podcast Podcast of 1,000 Holds on the Nerdy Legion Podcast Network. 

Later Readers!