Live Report: Glow vs. Grit: Roller Derby & Wrestling!

Saturday the 25th of May the wife, myself, and all three of the kids loaded up in Vanna heading north to Bangor for some roller derby and wrestling action!  When I was a kid Saturday mornings with my dad consisted of watching a block of candlepin bowling, roller derby, WWF wrestling and monster trucks.  So I was pretty psyched when this even was announced.  Now my wife isn't a fan of wrestling but she is a big fan of the roller derby, but I was still very surprised when on Thursday she said let's take the whole gang!

No trip to Bangor for us would be complete if we didn't grab a bite to eat at Chick-fil-A, so we had dinner there before heading over to the Cross Insurance Arena.  Tonight would be the first roller derby bout for Canaan & Addison and for Wesley his first time going to the matches.

The kids were free to get in, as was I because I'm a first responder, finally being a 911 dispatcher for 18 years got me a perk!  We sat up high for the roller derby bout so we could see the whole floor and then the kids and I moved down closer for the wrestling portion.

Central Maine Roller Derby was hosting the event as their Northwoods Knockouts took on The Inferno of the Androscoggin Fallen Angels Roller Derby League.  Kate and I have seen both of these teams before against other teams so it's cool seeing the face off against each other.

The bout was very competitive and the score stayed close, so close that at the end of the first half it was 82 - 80 in favor of the Inferno.  At the beginning the Inferno jumped out to a lead getting the score up 16 - 0 before the Knockouts came back and took over control.  Later in the first half  The Inferno were able to catch up taking advantage of a couple power jams.

I didn't bring my good camera, I should have, so the derby pictures I took with my phone are okay at best.

The second half the Knockouts jumped ahead early and and The Inferno just couldn't make the comeback.  Both halves featured some very hard hitting action and some really rough bumps.  These girls definitely bring it on the track. There was about 150 people, which is a great turnout, but looks small in this building.

The final score was 167 - 139 for the Knockouts.  After the bout they have the closing ceremonies including announcing the MVP's.  Addison had an event poster and was able to get many of the girls to sign it.

The wrestling matches, presented by Limitless Wrestling, started shortly after the derby was over.  The majority of the fans moved in closer to the ring side area including the kids and I.  Wrestling is not Kate's thing so she stayed up in our original seats.  Jess was taking photo's ringside and took this great picture of the kids and I for me.

Aiden Aggro pinned Alec Price

Decent match, lots of talking between the two Aggro really showed his athleticism.  My daughter made a comment to Price about his purple trunks, I wish I could remember as it was hilarious.
 

Danger Kid pinned CJ Cruz

This was the best match of the night.  I was really impressed with CJ Cruz and surprised with his skills.  This was fast paced with action in and out of the ring and some really impressive sequences.  I really enjoyed it and would like to see Cruz more.

Triple Threat: Alexander Lee defeated DL Hurst & Frank Jaegar

Fun match, Hurst is a great heel, Jaeger worked his ass off and is improving everytime I see him.  Lee headbutted everything which I enjoy.

Kalvin Strange pinned "Masshole" Mike McCarthy

Strange called the audience trash, my oldest son told him that he was trash, so my four year old kept yelling at him that he was trash.  I found it hilarious.  McCarthy kept doing a spot where he would pick his nose and try to shove it in Strange's mouth.  He finally succeeded after Strange got the pin holding the ropes.

There was only four matches on the card which was prefect because the combination of the two events about just about three hours.  After the show was over the wrestlers came back out to sell gimmicks, Addison got some of them to sign her poster.  Wesley wanted to meet wrestlers and he did so by walking up to them and staring for a few seconds. 

It was a wicked fun night and I hope they do another Roller Derby and Wrestling event.  Sincerely if you haven't taken the time to check out some roller derby you are missing out and need to go and experience it.  Check them out:

Central Maine Roller Derby

Androscoggin Fallen Angels Roller Derby

Limitless Wrestling

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. 

Until next time!

Central Maine Derby Live Report 10/20/2018

On October 20, 2018 the Northwood Knockouts of the Central Maine Roller Derby hosted a bout against the Spitfires of the Capital City Rollers at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.

Katie, Wesley, and I stopped at Chick-Fil-A for dinner before heading to the venue.  Honestly I'm surprised they have their bouts here because it has to be expensive to rent.  They use the main floor, the Center has staff working, I saw at least seven employees, and even though they had about 200 fans in attendance because the venue is so large it doesn't look like there is that many people there.

Tickets were $10 in advance and $12 day of the show, Wesley was free.  They started promptly at 6:00 pm as advertised with the team introductions and then they started right into the bout.  This was our second time attending Roller Derby, the first time was in August you can read about it here, first time for Central Maine Roller Derby.

The rules were the same this time as last, however straight way this bout had much more aggressive play and faster paced action.  These girls played rough and were knocking each other down, throwing big blocks and really going at it.  There was also less penalties in this bout.

It started off even but just before the end of the first half the Knockouts took decent lead and didn't let up in the second half.  In the end they won by 100 points with the final score being , I believe, 236 - 136.

Northwoods Knockouts

The Spitfires

Comparing the two I would say I really like the intimacy of the Lewiston Armory better, but the sounds system here was amazing and clear.  I enjoyed the game play at both but was really into the aggressiveness of tonight's action!

We both had a great time and will definitely be back for another bout.  I didn't bring my bring my camera so these pictures were taken with my phone.

The Northwoods Knockouts are part of  Central Maine Derby based in Bangor, Maine.  The league started in 2012, you can read more here: Central Maine Derby

The Spitfires are part of the Capital City Rollers based out of Fredricton, New Brunswick, Canada.  The league started in 2010, you can read more here: Capital City Rollers

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!

Helter Swelter: AFA Roller Derby live report 8/18/2018

Growing up Saturday Mornings were not just cartoons there was some live action excitement in there as well.  The line up changed depending on the season but it was typically Candlepin Bowling, Monster Trucks, Roller Derby, Professional Wrestling, and Creature Double Feature.

I've played Candlepin Bowling many, many times, I've been to several Monster Trucks shows, and I pretty sure you know about my love of professional wrestling.  Roller Derby though, always eluded me mostly because it just didn't exist in Maine.

In 2006 A&E started airing the show Roller Girls, about the banked track all girls Texas Roller Derby league.  I loved this show, I hadn't seen Roller Derby on my television since the WSL Roller Jam that ran from 1999 - 2001.

This show started a resurgence on all girls Roller Derby including Maine Roller Derby based out of the Portland, Maine area.  Try as I might for different reasons I never made it to a bout.

A couple weeks back my coworker told me about roller derby being at the Lewiston Armory.  Looking into it I had never heard of the Androscoggin Fallen Angels Roller Derby before but was excited to read about their team The Inferno and their upcoming bout on August 18, 2018.  The best part was the doors opened at 5:30 pm for a 6pm opening whistle, I had time to go before work!

To my surprise I asked my wife if she wanted to go and she said yes.  So after dropping the kids at her mothers, she was taking them and their cousins camping for the weekend, he headed out for a rare night out on the town.

We got the venue about quarter past five and I saw my coworker Andrea with her family.  Doors opened promptly at 5:30 and it was only $7 for adults and I counted roughly 150 in attendance at intermission, which I think is an good house.

I love the Lewiston Armory, I have been there for many wrestling events and once in high school a full contact Karate Tournament.  The venue has a balcony on three sides and I was surprised to find the old wooden seats at are quite comfortable and did not feel crammed in at all.  We also had a great view of the whole track and all the action.

The bout was between The Infernos of the Androscoggin Fallen Angels and the Upper Valley Vixens of Twin State Derby.  The bout started just about on time, my only complaint is that we couldn't hear the MC on the PA system it just sounded like a foreign language.

They play two thirty minute periods with a 15 minute intermission.  You can read the full official rules here, but the basics are five members play at a time and scoring is accomplished in two minute jam sessions.  The jammer for each team starts at the back of the pack and works there way forward to the front of the pack and then around to the back of the pack again.  Each player on the other team they pass they score a point for their team.  Jammers can score as many points as possible in the jam session and only the lead jammer can call off the jam before the two minutes are up.

Jammers trying to break through the pack

The Inferno started off strong and jumped to an early lead but the Vixens quickly made a comeback taking the lead and never looking back.  The final score was I believe 194 - 118 in favor of the Vixens.

Being out first bout I'm not familiar with all the players but the stand outs for the Inferno's that I could tell where the jammers Seitanic Beast and Queen Bootycca.  The VIP of the game though was Jagged Little Pill on the Vixens.  She was a tremendous jammer and on two occasions I saw her score twenty points in one jam session.

All of these girls are tough and work very hard on the floor.  They are not kidding when they say it's full contact as they are constantly pushing and bumping each other jockeying for position.  Seitanic Beast tooked a wicked fall near the end of the bout and was removed from the game.  I hope it's nothing serious.

Jagged Little Pill of the Vixens becoming the lead jammer

Next time I'm going to bring my good camera but here are some shots I got with my phone.

Jagged Little Pill maneuvering around the packs to score points

I loved it and my wife really enjoyed it.  We will definitely be returning for another Inferno bout and checking out the other Leagues around the State.

Maine Roller Derby Leagues

Androscoggin Fallen Angels

Maine Roller Derby

Central Maine Derby

Rock Coast Rollers

Aroostook Roller Derby

Upper Valley Vixens - New Hampshire

Calling off the jam

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!