Signed Trading Cards: Anthony Greene Series II

I attended Limitless Wrestling "Welcome to the Dance" on March 9th and there I bought another set of trading cards from Anthony Greene. You can read about the show here.  Once again this is a high quality set of cards that I recommend you add to your collection.

To get your own set contact Anthony Greene on his many social media platforms:

Twitter: @retroag Instagram: retroag_ Facebook: Anthony Greene

The cards were made by Todd Graham of Proving Ground Brand where you to can get your own custom trading cards made.  Following the link above of catch him on Facebook.

There are nine cards in the set number and are numbered 10 - 18, going along with series I.  They measure the standard 2.5 x 3.5 inches and the design is based on the 1991 Impel WCW trading cards.  The cards are printed on a thick wax card stock.

Front of Card 18

Back of Card 18.  The backs of the card each feature a different interesting fact to go along with the photo on the front of the card. 

also signed by the Platinum Hunnies

To get your own set contact Anthony Greene on his many social media platforms:

Twitter: @retroag Instagram: retroag_ Facebook: Anthony Greene

The cards were made by Todd Graham of Proving Ground Brand where you to can get your own custom trading cards made.  Following the link above of catch him on Facebook

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 Headbangers WWE Team Champions?

I pride myself on me wrestling knowledge and considering I was eighteen in 1997 during one of the hottest years in wrestling I can't believe I forgot this but, The Headbangers were the WWE Team Team Champions!

NWA Tag Team Champions: February 17 - March 30, 1998

I remember them winning the NWA Tag Team Championships and their feud with the Oddities over the Tag Team Champions of the Universe foam belts.  But, I have no recollection of them holding the WWE Tag Team gold until listening to a recent episode of Something to Wrestle.

On September 7, 1997 in Louisville, Kentucky at In Your House: Ground Zero the Headbangers won a fatal four way match for the vacant Tag Team Championships.  They were the clear underdogs in the match with opponents The Godwinns, The Legion of Doom, and Owen hart & The British Bulldog I'm sure no one expected the Headbangers to win.

The months leading up to the PPV the Headbangers were on a tremendous losing streak at house shows and on television primarily against The Godwinn's.  After winning the championships they didn't start out well losing to the Godwinn's in three minutes the next night on Raw in a non-title match.

On TV they would feud with The Godwinn's and their new manager Cletus, but pick up wins on the house shows first against Rocky Maivia & Kama and later Savio Vega & Miguel Perez Jr.

Their biggest win as champions came on September 20, 1997 in Birmingham, England at the One Night Only PPV where they defeated Savio Vega & Miguel Perez Jr. at 13:34 with the Bombs Away on Perez.

Phinneas I. and Henry O. Godwinn

Their twenty eight day reign came to end in St. Louis, Missouri at In Your House: Badd Blood on October 5, 1997 when the Godwinn's won the championships when Phinneas pinned Mosh.  The Headbangers would beat the Godwinn's in a non-title lumberjack match the next night on Raw, however the Godwinn's would lose the championships to the Legion of Doom October 7th.

The Headbangers never recaptured the WWE Tag Team championships, however they did win several regional tag team championships over the years.  2019 marks their 25th year teaming together.

I've seen the Headbangers live three times:

March 29, 1998 WrestleMania XIV, Boston, Mass
The Headbangers were in the opening 15 team battle royal that was eventually won by LOD 2000.

April 26, 2012 Live Pro Wrestling, Waterville, Maine
CCW Tag Team Champions: The Headbangers: Mosh & Thrasher defeated The Prestige: Ryan Waters & Matt Magnum with the Stage Dive on Waters.

March 7, 2015 Boston Pro Wrestling Marathon Day 2, Abington, Mass
Falls Count Anywhere: “Real Deal” Brandon Locke w/ Adam Barisano pinned “Taskmaster” Kevin Sullivan after the match Sullivan beat up Barisano and then the Headbangers: Mosh & Thrasher attacked Barisano attempting the Stage Dive but Barisano botched it.

The Headbangers were supposed to wrestle on Day 3 of the Boston Pro Wrestling Marathon but the promoter cancelled the final day of the show last minute. At both the show in 2012 & 2015 I chatted with them and got some cards signed. They were super cool to talk to and were genuinely nice guys.

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 The Wrestling Insomniac on the Nerdy Legion Podcast Network. 

Later Readers!

Signed Trading Cards: Tommy Dreamer, Teddy Hart, Retro AG, & more

On Saturday March 9th I attended Limitless Wrestling "Welcome to the Dance" where I got these trading cards signed.  You can read my report about the show here.

Tommy Dreamer

This card is from the ECW set that was released in 2000 as an accompaniment with the Original San Francisco Toymakers ECW Bash of the Brawlers Action figures.

I'm not sure how many cards are in this set but I have cards signed by Dreamer, Lance Storm, Jerry Lynn, Steve Corino, and Super Crazy.  Other unsigned cards that I have are Tajiri, Rob Van Dam, Sandman, & Sabu.  Other cards that I have seen are Chris Candido, Axl Rotten, Nova, Balls Mahoney, Little Guido, Rhino, Justin Credible, Mike Awesome, & New Jack.  Each wrestler has two cards.

These cards and the NWA Wonderama cards are my two favorite sets to get signed because it represents my two favorite times in wrestling to go back and watch.

"Retro" Antony Greene

This card was released in the Highspots crate in the month of March 2019.  I got this card direct from AG as he had extras.  Above is the front of the card which is signed by the Platinum Hunnies and below is the back of the card signed by Greene. Typically I don't like getting the back of cards signed but the set up of the back of this card is wicked cool.  These HighSpots cards are really nice and I've managed to get a few direct from the wrestlers, it would be nice if Highspots sold them apart from the subscription box.

Teddy Hart

I have searched thoroughly in the past for a Teddy Hart trading card and as far as I know this is the only trading card out there that he is featured on.  This card is from the Limitless Wrestling Moments set that was released after the Limitless Wrestling Series I set.  This moment is from September 2017 when Josh Briggs accepted Teddy Hart's open challenge for the next show.  I got it signed by Briggs back in December at Limitless Wrestling No Control in December 2018.

Brett Domino

This card is from the Limitless Wrestling Series I released in 2018.  I had the card signed by DL Hurst at Let's Wrestle Rumble in January 2019.  You can pre-order Domino's first t-shirt via his twitter @brett_domino

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 The Wrestling Insomniac on the Nerdy Legion Podcast Network. 

Later Readers!

Limitless Wrestling Report March 9, 2019

Saturday March 9th Limitless Wrestling returned to the Westbrook Armory for "Welcome to the Dance" featuring the crowning of the inaugural Limitless Wrestling champion!

Alex rode down with me and we recorded for the podcast on the way down and back, that episode is posted now so go have a listen.  On the Road to Limitless Wrestling with Alex.  We met Mikey at Angelone's West in Westbrook before the show for some of the best pizza in Maine.  This is the last open location as the Portland one recently closed.  I wrote a blog about it a couple years back, I really love the pizza here.  Pizza By Angelone.

Doors opened promptly at 6:30pm for the VIP's which I was one because originally The Hurricane, Shane Helms was advertised but three days before the show the WWE pulled him, I had a couple cards that I wanted signed by Helms.  They made Dreamer the VIP, which I was cool with because I still didn't have a photo with Tommy Dreamer and I had him sign his other ECW trading card that I had.  These cards were released back with the ECW figures that the Original San Francisco Toymakers released.  They had two different Dreamer cards, I have the other one signed.

To say that this was a packed house is an understatement, I've never seen so many people crammed in this building.  The even removed the gimmick tables from the back and side of the venue for standing room, and it was a raucous crowd!  I'm so happy to be have a promotion in Maine that others from around the country look at and wish they had close to them like I used.

Other than my photo with Tommy Dreamer I also got one with Andy Williams & Pepper Parks: The Butcher and the Blade, and Brandon Kirk.  I also got a few cards signed and you'll see what in another post.

Let's get to the matches:

Pre-Show

DL Hurst pinned "Smart" Mark Sterling

Sterling came to the ring with a referee demanding an opponent.  DL Hurst came out and got a big ovation for his return after being out so long with a leg injury.  It was good match, Hurst seemed to moving well.  He got the pin with a moonsault into a pin on a standing Sterling.

Main Card:

Teddy Hart pinned Darby Allin

DAMN!  This was tremendous and lived up the the hype I built up in my mind.  Both of these guys are so good and both displayed there unique offense.  Allin took a beating this match but battled back several times, but in the end Teddy got the pin after on of is signature moves, a splash mountain into a sitout powerbomb but Darby did a full flip before landing.  Crazy!

MSP: Alexander Lee, Danger Kid, & Aiden Aggro defeated the Shook Crew: Bobby Orlando, Bryce Donovan, & Max Casterwhen Aggro pinned Orlando

My first time seeing the Shook Crew and these guys were great. Another solid and entertaining match by MSP continuing their winning streak. I can't wait to see what trio they bring in to face MSP next.

Kris Statlander pinned Christian Casanova

Casanova came out and cut a promo about Helms being afraid of him and how Stokley isn't here tonight because of his making fun his clothes.  Statlander then came out to accept Casanova's challenge to a good ovation.

This was a great match, Casanova is very good and Statlander has been killing it for months now where ever she is.  It was good back and forth match and Kris got the pin after spiking Casanova on his neck and shoulders.  Look pretty vicious from my vantage point.

Platinum Hunnies: Angel & Ava Everette pinned Bret Domino

This was a fun match, some great comedy by Domino especially after a stink face from Angel.  Bunnies got the pin after some good double teaming.  Post match Domino attacked them throwing Angel to the floor and before he could do anything to Ava DL Hurst ran in with a crutch chasing Domino out.

Hurst then turned on Ava and wrecked her with a crutch shot to the back, looked very painful.  He then cut a promo on the fans for forgetting about him and Anthony Greene.  Greene chased the reunited Hurst and Domino off.  I'm looking forward to Hurst vs. Greene in the future!

ECW Rules Match: "Dirty Daddy" Chris Dickinson pinned Tommy Dreamer

Match started out with some wrestling and respect being shown.  Then Dickinson kept goading Dreamer and calling him an old man.  The battled on the floor and all around the ring.  Dreamer got his hands on some spring time Oreo's and smashed them in Dickinson's face.  During another moment they exploded all over the ring and the guys wrestled on Oreo crumbs for the remainder of the match.

Dreamer brought a trash can out with a chair and kendo stick.  He wrecked Dickinson with can busting him open and then went to town on him with the kendo stick.  A table was set up in the corner of the ring.  Dreamer ate a drop-toe hold on the backrest of a chair, ugh, don't know why he still does that, looks wicked!

Eventually Dickinson ending up putting Dreamer through the table and getting the pin on the Hardcore Icon.  Post match Dickinson cut a promo celebrating Dreamer and wrestling.  Dreamer then praised Dickinson and us the wrestling fans.

On a side note I have been a fan of Tommy Dreamer for over 20 years back to those ECW days, wrestling I watched live thanks to my buddy Jay's satellite dish.  Seeing  Dreamer come out to Man in the Box I got all emtional, I just can't help it sometimes.

Scramble Match: Brad Hollister defeated Josh Brigs, "Buzzkill" Pat Buck, Antoine Nicholas, Jake Something, and Donovan Danhausen pinning Antoine Nicholas

Killer match nice seeing some new guys like Something, Pat Buck, and Danhausen.  I'd like to see Danhausen back in a singles match up.  Antoine took a horrific beating from literally everyone in the match.  I felt bad for the guy.

Something and Briggs squared off a few times and that's one match that I do want to see live in a Limitless ring.

Ashley Vox submitted Brandon Kirk

I really liked this match and Vox took a wicked beating through out, in the end though she prevailed getting another big win.  At one point Kirk attempted to drive skewers into Vox's head but she reversed it on Kirk. 

Thick Boys: Puf & Jay Freddie defeated The Butcher & The Blade: Andy Williams & Pepper Parks when Parks was pinned

It was great seeing Williams and Parks live, my first time for the both.  Williams looks like a jacked up Dr. Mindbender, not sure if it is intentional but it is awesome!  Once again the Thick Boys had an illegal double pin on Parks.
 

Limitless Wrestling Championship: MJF defeated "Retro" Anthony Greene, JT Dunn, & Ace Romero pinning Anthony Greene to win the championship

Damn great match!  These four guys didn't showed why the deserved to be in the main event fighting for this title.  For the beginning of the match it was primarily The Kings staying together, until Dunn hit Death by Elbow and MJF threw Dunn to the floor to steal the pin.

The match went to the floor and around the ring.  They went through the crowd to the lockers, this time Greene and Dunn climbed on top, with Greene falling off and then Dunn jumping on everyone.

Back in the ring the finish came when Dunn hit everyone with Death by Elbow, the last being MJF which caused Dunn to fall out of the ring and MJF to fall back on top of Greene for the three count.

There was a huge pop when MJF won the championship, I think part excitement and part disbelief.  I myself was rooting for Anthony Greene to pick up the win.  In my opinion he has been the true ace of Limitless Wrestling over the years.  Post match Ashley Vox came out challenging MJF who accepted, I'm guessing for the next show.

Limitless Wrestling returns to Westbrook on Friday, May 11th, featuring the return of "All Ego" Ethan Page.  Tickets on sale Monday March 18th at 7pm.

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 The Wrestling Insomniac on the Nerdy Legion Podcast Network. 

Later Readers!

Ronnie Garvin: His NWA World Championship Matches

Photo Credit: Slamfest Bob

Ronnie Garvin

NWA World Heavyweight Champion from September 25, 1987 - November 26, 1987 

My first memory of "Rugged" Ronnie Garvin as a kid was when I was nine during his run in the WWE from 1988 - 1990.  Which is why I always call him "Rugged" Ronnie Garvin and not "Hands of Stone."  When I found out that he had beaten Ric Flair for the NWA World's Championship I couldn't believe it.  To me he was a comedy wrestler, not someone that I took seriously enough to have been World Champion.

Later in life I learned to respect his in ring ability and that his wrestling style in WWE was nothing like his style in Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and the rest of the NWA.  Sort of how the Bushwackers were a comedy act but the Sheepherder's were a blood and guts team.

I was always under the impression that after Garvin won the title from Flair his first match and first defense was two months later at Starrcade.  This furthered to lower my opinion of him and his title run.  Recently I decided to look into it and see if that was the case, and I learned that it wasn't.

Garvin with Jim Crockett

Turns outs he wrestled his first title match just two days later in Greensboro against Big Bubba Rogers.  He would go on to wrestle a full load of house shows through October and November defending the championship along the way against Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, Arn Anderson and others.

He also wrestled in several tag team match teaming with Nikita Koloff & Dusty Rhodes.
He wrestled several matches on the weekly television shows against jobbers.  He even wrestled in a War Games match at the Nassau Coliseum.

It's been said that he was just an interim champion as Crockett wanted to have Ric Flair in a title match at Starrcade, which was the same day as the inaugural Survivor Series, where the fans knew Flair would win the title back.  Other turned the opportunity down except Garvin who thought it would be his only chance to hold the championship.  I have a hard time believe this as I can't imagine anyone would turn down the opportunity to be the NWA World Champion for even one day.

In the end thought, Ronnie Garvin was a fighting champion and even though all of his high profile matches were on the house shows, he still deserves our respect for his run as the NWA World Heavyweight Champion.

The following matches can be found on the WWE Network:

NWA World Championship Wrestling
September 26, 1987 - 51 minutes into the episode the finish of Garvin winning the title
October 10, 1987 - 54 minutes in: Ronnie Garvin vs. Mike Force
October 17, 1987 - 64 minutes in: Ronnie Garvin vs. Tommy Angel
November 7, 1987 - 34 minutes in: Ronnie Garvin vs. Alan Martin

Starrcade 1987, Chi-Town Heat

List of matches with Ronnie Garvin as NWA World Champion.

September 25 1987 JCP House Show, Detroit, Michigan
Steel Cage: Ronnie Garvin pins NWA World Champion:"Nature Boy" Ric Flair to win the title
Garvin pinned Flair after about 35 minutes with a sunset flip off the top rope.

Footage from this match was played on World Championship Wrestling on 9/26/1987 and on WorldWide on October 3, 1987 the match aired with David Crockett on commentary.

September 27 1987 JCP House Show, Greensboro, North Carolina
NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin defeated Big Bubba Rogers

September 28, 1987 JCP House Show, Greenville, South Carolina
NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin defeated NWA Tag Team Champion: Arn Anderson

September 29 1987 JCP Television Taping.  Misenheimer, North Carolina

NWA Pro - Aired October 10, 1987
NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin defeated Tommy Angel

Worldwide - Aired October 10, 1987
NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin & NWA World Television Champion: Nikita Koloff wrestled NWA Tag Team Champion: Arn Anderson & NWA United States Champion: Lex Luger to a draw

October 5, 1987 JCP House Show, Greenville, South Carolina
NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin defeated NWA Tag Team Champion: Tully Blanchard

October 6, 1987 JCP Television Taping, Spartanburg, South Carolina
NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin defeated NWA Tag Team Champion: Tully Blanchard

Worldwide - Aired October 17, 1987
NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin defeated jobber with Garvin Stomp at

October 7, 1987 UWF TV, Cleveland, Ohio
NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin defeated NWA Tag Team Champion: Tully Blanchard by disqualification

Ric Flair and Lex Luger interfered with Luger ramming Garvin's head into the ringside table busting him open.  The Road Warriors and Paul Ellering made the save

October 8, 1987 JCP House Show, Hammond, Indiana
NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin defeated "Nature Boy" Ric Flair

October 10, 1987 WTBS Studios Taping, Atlanta, Georgia
NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin pinned Mike Force

October 10, 1987 JCP House Show, Greensboro, North Carolina
NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin defeated "Nature Boy" Ric Flair

October 11, 1987 JCP House Show, Cincinnatti, Ohio
NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin defeated "Nature Boy" Ric Flair

October 11, 1987 JCP House Show, Columbus, Ohio
NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin defeated "Nature Boy" Ric Flair

October 12, 1987 JCP House Show, Greenville, South Carolina
"Nature Boy" Ric Flair & NWA United States Champion: Lex Luger defeated NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin & Robert Gibson

October 16, 1987 UWF House Show, Kansas City, Kansas
Beat 2 Out of 3 Falls: NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin defeats "Nature Boy" Ric Flair

October 17, 1987 WTBS Studios Taping, Atlanta, Georgia
NWA World Champion: Ron Garvin pinned Tommy Angel
Garvin finished Angel in short fashion and cut a promo post match about his match with Flair at Starrcade

October 17, 1987 JCP House Show, Baltimore, Maryland
NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin defeated "Nature Boy" Ric Flair

October 18, 1987 JCP House Show, Detroit, Michigan
"Nature Boy" Ric Flair & NWA United States Champion: Lex Luger defeated NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin & "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes

October 20, 1987 JCP House Show, Fayetteville, North Carolina
"Nature Boy" Ric Flair & NWA United States Champion: Lex Luger defeated NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin & "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes

October 30, 1987 JCP Television Taping, Norfolk, Virginia

NWA Pro - Aired October 31, 1987
NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin pinned George South
Garvin won the match in about two minutes

Worldwide - Aired October 31, 1987
NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin pinned Johnny Ace
Garvin won in 47 seconds with a punch in the face

November 2, 1987 JCP House Show, Greenville, South Carolina
NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin pinned The Warlord

November 3, 1987 JCP House Show, Rock Hill, Soutth Carolina
NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin & NWA World Television Champion: Nikita Koloff wrestled "Nature Boy" Ric Flair & NWA United States Champion: Lex Luger

Photo credit: Slamfest Bob

November 4, 1987 JCP House Show, Portsmouth, Ohio
NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin & NWA World Television Champion: Nikita Koloff wrestled "Nature Boy" Ric Flair & NWA United States Champion: Lex Luger

November 7, 1987 WTBS Studios Taping, Atlanta, Georgia
NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin pinned Alan Martin
Garvin beat this guy up like he owed him money, brutal.

November 8, 1987 JCP House Show, The Omni Atlanta, Georgia
NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin defeated Gladiator #1 & #2 in a handicap match

November 9, 1987 JCP House Show, San Francisco, California
NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin & Jimmy Garvin defeated "Nature Boy" Ric Flair & NWA United States Champion: Lex Luger

November 12, 1987 WTBS Studios Taping, Atlanta, Georgia

Worldwide - Aired November 14, 1987
NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin pinned Larry Stephens in under two minutes with the Garvin Stomp

November 13, 1987 JCP House Show, Hampton, Virgina
NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin & NWA World Television Champion: Nikita Koloff  defeated "Nature Boy" Ric Flair & NWA United States Champion: Lex Luger when Garvin pinned Flair

November 16, 1987 JCP House Show, Inglewood, California
"Nature Boy" Ric Flair & NWA United States Champion: Lex Luger defeated NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin & UWF Heavyweight Champion: "Dr. Death" Steve Williams in an elimination match, Garvin was pinned by Flair and Luger & Williams were counted out of the ring.

November 21, 1987 JCP House Show, Washington DC
NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin defeated NWA Tag Team Champion: Arn Anderson

November 25, 1987 JCP House Show, Long Island, New York
War Games: NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin, "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, NWA Western States Heritage Champion: Barry Windham, and The Rock n' Roll Express: Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson defeated Big Bubba, NWA World Tag Team Champions: Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson and United States Tag Team Champions: Midnight Express: Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane when Rhodes submitted Eaton with the figure four leg lock

November 26, 1987 Starrcade 1987, Chicago, Illinois
Steel Cage Match: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair pins NWA World Champion: Ronnie Garvin to win the NWA Championship

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 The Wrestling Insomniac on the Nerdy Legion Podcast Network. 

Later Readers!