Last year when it was announced that the APCO International Conference was going to be held in Baltimore, Maryland my boss asked me and my fellow Operations Managers if we would be interested in going to the conference. The answer was yes, absolutely!
Fast forward to July 26th and we are in the Ford Explorer driving to Baltimore for the conference. You can read about that on my Labbe Family Voyages here: Mike's Work Adventure in Baltimore
I knew straight away that I wanted to go and see the Wrestling in Maryland historical marker sign. I had learned about it over a decade ago and this would be my first chance to see the sign as I had never been to Baltimore before.
The other thing I was hoping to do was go to wrestling in Maryland, specifically Baltimore where wrestling history has been made numerous times in the past. In 1977 "Superstar" Billy Graham defeated Bruno Sammartino to end his second reign as WWWF Champion in Baltimore. Sting defeated Ric Flair at the 1990 Great American Bash to capture his first NWA Worlds Championship in Baltimore.
I was really hoping that either AEW, TNA, or WWE might have a show in the city while I was there, no such luck. There are two independent promotions MCW Pro Wrestling, formerly known as Maryland Championship Wrestling, founded in 1998 and EWA Maryland founded in 2004 that run regularly.
A couple months prior to the conference MCW Pro Wrestling announced Summer Slamboree taking place in "Baltimore" on Sunday July 27 at 7pm. I secured my front row seat about 2 weeks out from the show once I knew for sure that I would be able to attend.
Once we got checked into the hotel and registered for the conference Jessica and I headed out to explore. The first stop we made was at Wrestling in Maryland sign. It was erected in 2007 and is located at the Camden Light Rail Station near Camden Yards.
I decided to go with the classic wrestler pose from the 1950's and 60's for my photo. We did some more exploring checking out Edgar Allen Poe's grave, the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum and took in a ballgame at Camden Yards.
Sunday I had a full day of conferencing starting at 8am and running until 4:30pm. After getting changed up hoped in the vehicle and headed out to the show. Even though it was listed as being in Baltimore the show was in Dundalk, an unincorporated community and suburb of the City of Baltimore about 10 miles from the hotel.
This summer Coke released Diet Cherry Coke exclusively at Kroger grocery stores, we do not have any Kroger's in Maine. It was also available at the Kroger family of grocery stores, including Harris Teeter which they have in the Baltimore area. On the way to the show I stopped at one and picked up 3 twelve packs plus a few other items for the room. It POURED while I was in the grocery store so I waited for the quick passing shower to stop.
I got the venue, the North Point Plaza Flea Market, well before doors opening at 6pm so I left and went to the Burger King down the road for to hit the drive thru.
This flea market is a lot nicer than the flea market I went to wrestling at in Brewer, Maine. MCW had a great set up standard height ring, nice entrance way, ringside barricades, vendors, merch tables, and concessions.
The packed in an excellent crowd, clearly a large group of regulars like we have at Limitless Wrestling. I knew the names they had on the show that had WWE runs, but I wasn't familiar with the bulk of the wrestlers on the show.
It always fun seeing the wrestlers that you know, but it's also fun being introduced to wrestlers you've never heard of or seen before. They opened the show with a moment of silence and tone the bell 10 times for Hulk Hogan. Let's get to the matches!
MCW Pro Wrestling
July 27, 2025
North Point Flea Market, Dundalk, Maryland
Spencer Slade submitted “Mecca” Brian Johnson with Hellfire McGuire
This was a fantastic opening contest! Slade is a cross between Kurt Angle and a Steiner with his style in the ring. Great technical wrestling with some shenanigans by Johnson that backfired, really got the crowd hyped up.
Jadis Quinn & Simone Valentina defeated Alec Odin & Tina San Antonio when Valentina pinned San Antonio
Solid mixed tag team match, I have seen Tina San Antonio wrestle before in person and on IWTV with Wrestling Open. It always catches me off guard her name and gear present her as a cowgirl gimmick, but her accent is a Cyndi Lauper-esque New York accent.
Women’s Champion: Amara Voyd defeated Tiara James by referee stoppage
Voyd appears the be the leader of a stable with The Devil's Business tag team, she made her entrance has Quinn and Valentina were exiting and it lead to a scuffle between Valentina and Voyd that was very well done. I had seen James previously in January for Limitless Wrestling against Gabby Forza.
Amara, according to the internet, has only been wrestling about a year, still looking a little green, but what she does she does well, boat loads of potential.
At intermission I was waiting in line to see if Tiara James had any trading cards, the guy in front of me gave her a container of them that his friend had, had made up for her she was excited and surprised. I bought one for $5, she signed it and I got a photo with her.
Four Corners Match: Entitled Inc: Austin Kingsley & Zakar Shah defeated The Detractors: Lor Diaz & Mark Brutal, The Helm: Drew Blackwood & Tyler Root and Aristote & James Ellsworth with Justice Dicola
This was a very short match. A few minutes in they started a train wreck spot diving / jumping in various ways from the ring to the floor. We get the big set up spot where one guy is going to go for a big tope con hilo but instead he gets grabbed and rolled up for a three count.
I thought it was great! It was very unexpected made since because everyone was tied up on the floor and shocked the crowd. Only issue I had was the show match was very short.
Chris Slade pinned Patrick Clark (Velveteen Dream)
Slade is a big fan favorite, he had won the Shane Shamrock Memorial Cup the previous weekend. Clarks minions tried to interfere but it backfired
Ken Dixon, Mike Walker, & Nick Comoroto defeated The Dolomac Dojo: Tony Macko, Chukwu & Reno with Ghost
The team of Ken Dixon, Mike Walker, and Nick Comoroto came out to "Real American" by Rick Derringer, Hulk Hogan's WWE entrance music. Tony Macko's look and gear is clearly inspired by Sho'nuff from The Last Dragon.
Reno, not sure how long he has been wrestling, but he was bumping his ass off for everyone. I was really impressed by him.
Danny Grandview with Maia Martinez defeated Ryan McBride with Christyan
The ring announcer notated that Ryan McBride was making his return to MCW Pro Wrestling, checking cagematch his last match had been December 30, 2023. During the match after Maia Martinez interfered Christyan came out. The storyline is that Grandview used to date Christyan and dumped her for Maia, he chose poorly. Christyan is TALL most of it in the legs. She's just getting started in wrestling, would have like to see her have a match.
Street Fight: The Zukkos: Ryan & Ronnie defeated Tag Team Champions: The Devil’s Business: AK Bain & Clay Jacobs with Amara Voyd to win the titles
I was not familiar with anyone in this match, and the crowd was HOT for it. The Zukko's have a greaser gimmick and are fans love them while the Devil's Business are quite hated.
The story they told in the match was fantastic, how they divided up in and around the ring, the use of plunder, the set ups, the spots, they made them all mean something. The emotion the took from the audience bringing us up and taking us down was amazing.
Eventually Amara Voyd interfered and with the seeds planted earlier in the evening, there was a big reaction when Valentina ran in to attack and stop Amara.
When the Zukko's got the pin there was a legit eruption from the crowd, the emotions that both Ronnie and Ryan showed after winning spread through the crowd.
This match may not have been a Meltzer 5 star classic, but the combination of the crowd, the story told, was overwhelming and was a prime example of how professional wrestling is so amazing. It's why I love wrestling.
I took the time after the show and waited while the Zukko's worked their way through their enormous line to tell them just that, and I took the picture with the champs the the belts. I'm already pestering Randy to bring them to Limitless. Would love to see them vs. Swipe Right, TDT, AG & Channing, really any team.
Riddle had his working boots on! We I mean technically kicked his flip flops off at the beginning of the match but you get what I mean. I remember Joe Keys from back when he teamed with Rob Locke as Dixon Line, or as they were known in Chikara Jasper Tippins and Donald Kluger Dez Peloton.
By any name there were a great tag team, and I was not surprised to see Keys put on such a high caliber main event match against Matt Riddle. We even got a Dusty finish straight out of Jim Crockett Promotions. The ref got bumped by Keys, shenanigans happens, Riddle battles back, second ref runs in, makes the 3 count awarding Riddle the title, the crowd erupts!!
Uh-oh!! The first ref is in the ring waving his hands, he takes the title from Riddle, and gives it back to Keys. Riddle has won the match because Keys got himself disqualified. I can't believe how hard the audience was sucked into this finish. I love it because they pulled it off to perfection, but I felt like I was the only one that knew what was coming.
I really enjoyed the show as a whole, everyone was friendly, the wrestlers worked very hard to put on a great show, and the production was good. I wouldn't hesitate to go again.
This was my 12th show of the year, my all time total is now 368. This was my first live wrestling show in Maryland, my 11th different State to attend wrestling in. For those wondering I've also checked off 2 Canadian Provinces as well.
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Until next time!
