REVIEW: Trailblazer Championship Wrestling - Trailblazer Gold Rush (2024)

A live professional wrestling event held on May 18, 2024, in Gardner KS

To see my preview article, click HERE

I have been hyped for the crowning of the first-ever Trailblazer Heavyweight Champion ever since the belt was unveiled back in February and was so glad to finally get to May 18th for a number of reasons. I have been attending Trailblazer shows since early last year, and slowly but surely, they have grown to be one of my favorite companies in the area. They put on great shows that harken back to the more traditional era in professional wrestling and exist as a solid alternative to big corporate wrestling.

I love the emphasis on them being family friendly without the shows being childish or insulting a fan’s intelligence. It’s easy to go out and have everyone swear and spray blood everywhere for cheap pops and get a crowd pumped up (I won’t pretend I haven’t been hyped for that stuff), but to achieve a similar state without all that takes skill, and Trailblazer know what they are doing.

I mentioned the following in my preview, which sums up how I am glad Trailblazer waited to unveil their belt and crown a champion:

“For the first year of their existence, people would often ask on social media why Trailblazer didn’t have a championship belt, and I think we are currently seeing the reason. Trailblazer took the time to carefully build up their roster, acquainting fans with their characters before pulling the trigger on introducing belts. I feel that it’s far too easy to toss a belt on somebody at the first show you have, but did that person actually earn it? The eight athletes chosen to go for the Trailblazer Heavyweight Championship Tournament toiled for well over a year and cemented their spots in the pecking order, so when one finally ends up with the strap, it will be that much sweeter.”

Once again, this show took place at the Trailblazer Arena in the Johnson County fairgrounds in Gardner, Kansas. There were at least 300 fans in attendance, which is easily their biggest crowd yet. Thankfully, there is still room to grow, as I have a feeling that their next show might need more chairs if this keeps up! It got a bit warm, largely due to it being the hottest day of the year at 85 degrees, but it’s a far cry from the Ottawa days when huge industrial fans were unable to keep the Armory any cooler than like 90 degrees.

If you were unable to make it, or if you just want to relive a solid professional wrestling show, here is my review / summary of Trailblazer Championship Wrestling Trailblazer Gold Rush.

For More about Trailblazer Championship Wrestling, check out their website HERE, Facebook Page HERE, their Twitter page HERE, or YouTube HERE. For a list of my Trailblazer coverage, click HERE, and HERE for all of my wrestling coverage, local and national. Don’t forget to also check them out on Cagematch, HERE. If you are a fan, make sure to drop likes, and reviews, or join their social media pages!

Arcadia Pod Swag?

A lot of work went into a souvenir program in conjunction with Trailblazer Championship Wrestling – a 24 page full color 2023 yearbook featuring highlights and other things that defined the company in 2023! It’s perfect for those that were there for every show and others new to the company. These were available at Trailblazer Gold Rush, and will return at future shows! If you ended up with one of these, I want to hear about it – did you like it? What do you want to see next year if I do one? Thank you all to everyone that purchased one!

The Card:

Trailblazer Championship Wrestling – Trailblazer Gold Rush – 5-18-24

Gardner Kansas at the Johnson County Fairgrounds

“The Grand Regent” Camaro Jackson Defeated Tommy 2 Good
Segment – a word from each of the four semi-finalists for the Trailblazer Heavyweight Championship – Jared Thumb gone due to birth of child – “The Suplex Cyclone” Curt Gannon taking his place
Semi-finals – “The Suplex Cyclone” Curt Gannon defeated “Madman” Max Sterling
Semi-finals – “Astonishing” Austin Mulitalo Defeated Luke Anthony
Nixi XS and “The Phoenix Princess” Aminah Belmont (w/SBC) Defeated “The Little Blue Dragon” Tootie Lynn and Skylar Sparks
“Miracle” Mike James (w/ Dekin Cane) Defeated “YOGAMONSTER” Mike Sydal
The Wranglers (Bobby Joe Black and Johnnie Jo Black) Defeated “The Whole Thang” Rahim De La Suede and Moses the Deliverer by count out
Segment – Marcus relives his childhood of being a lifelong wrestling fan with his parents, only to get into yet another scuffle with Van “Bam” Winkle.
Trailblazer Heavyweight Championship Finals – “Astonishing” Austin Mulitalo Defeated “The Suplex Cyclone” Curt Gannon to become the inaugural champion.

Here are the match cards, as always card was subject to change at any time:

DISCLAIMER:

I make it a point to cover most, if not all, of the matches and provide reports on what happened, along with any significance they may have to ongoing feuds. You might think some of my opinions are dumb, or the way I review things is dumb, and that’s OK! Diversity in preferences is what makes wrestling so great. I strive to maintain a positive outlook because there’s already enough negativity in the wrestling community (in my view), and we can all contribute to making it better. However, it doesn’t mean I won’t offer opinions or criticisms when warranted. Let’s cut the B.S. and, as the old saying goes, “Just enjoy Wrestling!”

My Thoughts:

The opening match of Trailblazer Gold Rush featured the highly anticipated debuts of two exceedingly popular competitors in the area, each hailing from something like four hours away from Kansas City in each direction (St. Louis and Wichita). Gardner, Kansas served as the centrally-located battleground where these two modern-day gladiators collided in a showdown that nearly tore the house down right off the bat!

On one side was “The Grand Regent” Camaro Jackson, a seasoned veteran who has made waves in other wrestling promotions in Kansas City, including Central States Wrestling and Fountain City Pro, just to name a few. Despite hailing from St. Louis, Missouri, Jackson was welcomed by the Trailblazer Arena crowd as if he was a hometown hero. Renowned for his imposing physique (the dude’s built like a freight train!) and powerhouse style, Camaro Jackson possesses the uncanny ability to unleash explosive bursts of power that few opponents recover from.

Opposing him was Tommy 2 Good, also known as known as T2G, a high-flying dynamo whose aerial acrobatics contrasted sharply with Camaro’s ground-based tactics. Throughout the match, T2G sought to maintain an aerial advantage, aiming to keep Jackson off balance and out of his element. However, T2G’s focus wavered as he engaged in spats with the audience, a common pitfall that often plagues far too many wrestlers. This was a misstep that Camaro astutely exploited.

The match turned to Camaro’s favor after a few big power moves including an impressive exchange wherein Jackson attempted a suplex only to find his initial efforts thwarted by T2G potentially going for a small package. Yet, through sheer determination and raw strength, Jackson powered through, dead-lifting T2G and executing the suplex with precision. A similar exchange happened at the end of the match, resulting in Camaro catching T2G into a massive front powerslam that secured the 1-2-3. This was a great show-opener, and I feel like I can speak for all the Trailblazer fans in attendance, that we all hope both men come back in the future.

Next up was a segment hosted by Marcus to introduce fans to the four finalists for the Trailblazer Heavyweight Championship, which would be decided later that night. “Madman” Max Sterling, “Astonishing” Austin Mulitalo, and Luke Anthony gathered in the ring, but there was a noticeable absence and murmur from the crowd—where was Jared Thumb? Sensing the question plaguing the audience, Marcus quickly addressed it: Jared Thumb was expecting his first child any day and chose to stay close to home in case the big moment happened during Trailblazer Gold Rush. To fill his spot, Trailblazer management had selected “The Suplex Cyclone” Curt Gannon, who missed the previous tournament matches due to prior commitments but held an undefeated streak.

The final two matches would now be Gannon versus Sterling and Anthony versus Mulitalo. Suddenly, “Oh Canada” blared through the poor speakers at Trailblazer Arena, much to the crowd’s dismay. SBC, clutching his trademark Canadian flag attached to a hockey stick, strolled out to defiant “USA!” chants, making it clear he wasn’t there for the fans. As a” manager of champions”, he had his eye on whoever would win the belt and offered his services as a “prize” to the victor.

Most of the competitors treated this indecent proposal with the same disdain as the crowd, except for “Madman” Max Sterling, who seemed intrigued by the idea. He had beef with EVERYONE in the ring – Austin for hitting him with a chain at Emerald City Showdown, Luke for beating him at the first ever Trailblazer show, and Curt for his conduct online, which seemed to annoy Max, as well as being a late addition to the tournament. With that, the next two matches were set….

Before the ring could fully clear from the segment, “Madman” Max Sterling attacked Curt Gannon, giving him no time to prepare and putting him on the back foot for several minutes. Sterling kept Gannon pinned in the corner with uppercuts, shoulder tackles, and heavy body blows, aiming to neutralize Gannon’s repertoire of devastating suplexes. Although Gannon managed to execute one suplex, his stamina was clearly affected, and he struggled with further attempts. However, adversity fuels “The Suplex Cyclone”, and he seemed to start getting a second-wind after a while.

Sensing the tide turning, Sterling resorted to his old tricks, grabbing the large chain he wears to the ring, undoubtedly planning to use it against Gannon. Senior official Vito intervened, admonishing Sterling, but opening a BIG blind spot ripe for a distraction. This allowed a RETURNING SALUM GUST to capitalize, using his almost inhuman strength to attack Gannon. Despite the chaos, Gannon managed to pull off a surprising victory, advancing in the tournament against all odds.

However, after the bell rang, both Gust and Sterling attacked Gannon in a fit of rage. Gust effortlessly lifted Gannon like a ragdoll and choke-slammed him back-first onto the mat. With Gannon potentially injured, the question remained: would he be able to face either Mulitalo or Anthony in the main event?

Fans haven’t seen Salum Gust in a Trailblazer ring since his devastating loss to Bobby Joe Black in a lumberjack match in the late summer of 2023. That feud easily made my list of the top Kansas City-area wrestling rivalries and marked the beginning of the upward trajectory for The Wranglers we’re seeing now. What could Salum Gust be up to in 2024? Is he content being a hired hand for Max Sterling, or does he have plans for retribution? Only time will tell if Gust aims for a comeback or if he’s set to wreak havoc in a different capacity.

Next up was a highly competitive bout between two of the best athletes in the area: “Astonishing” Austin Mulitalo and Luke Anthony. Many fans doubted if Mulitalo could compete after a freak accident with Jared Thumb left him with a hyperextended knee, potentially sidelining him. However, Mulitalo worked hard to rehab and return to ring shape. While he appeared largely at full strength, his injured knee was an obvious target.

The match was a back-and-forth battle, with both men competing respectfully. The crowd was torn on who to support. At one point, Luke Anthony began targeting Mulitalo’s injured knee—not maliciously, but as a potential shortcut to clinch a main event spot. Anthony set up for a big moonsault, but Mulitalo dodged and countered with a spear, securing the win. Both men put on an excellent performance, but the almost unthinkable happened: “Astonishing” Austin Mulitalo, even with a bum knee, moved on to the finals.

Here is the bracket before the final match:

This match was sure to be a powder keg! From the moment it was revealed that “The Phoenix Princess” Aminah Belmont would be tagging with Nixi XS, tensions were high. Aminah made it clear she had no interest in the tag team idea. She was going to attend the show solely to demand an apology from management for Trailblazer Official Allaney “putting her hands on her” during her last match. Her plan was to take the appearance fee and leave. Nixi XS, on the other hand, had already expressed her displeasure about teaming with someone she didn’t like in a social media post, making the match seem doomed from the start.

Fast forward to May 18th, and “The Little Blue Dragon” Tootie Lynn seemed ready to take on both Aminah and Nixi alone. However, she was backed up by Skylar Sparks, formerly known as Allaney, and her mystery partner for the evening! With no apology forthcoming, the fight was on! The match had solid back-and-forth action, but there were two secret ingredients that fans have grown to loathe whenever Aminah is in the ring. Firstly, SBC is a force to be reckoned with and can almost single-handedly turn the tide of any match due to his uncanny ability to know exactly where the referee is looking and capitalize on it. Secondly, Tootie should really stop bringing nunchucks to the ring! Once again, Aminah got a hold of them and used them to her advantage, effectively securing the win.

Here’s hoping enough people buy the limited edition Send SBC Back to Canada! shirts, and we can have some peace for a few shows! Marcus mentioned proceeds would go towards a one-way planet ticket earlier on.

In the lead up to this match, fans finally got an answer to whether “The Midwest Mouth” Dekin Cane had located his missing brother, Rocco The Barbarian, and it appears to be a resounding “NO.” After his loss earlier in the tournament, Rocco didn’t take well to Dekin and has been nowhere to be seen since. At Gold Rush, Dekin came out managing none other than Miracle Mike James, a sometimes client who always seemed to have more of a hired-hand arrangement, especially from the vibe I’ve gotten from interviewing both men. However, this time they seemed to be on the same page for what could be James’ biggest match yet in Trailblazer Championship Wrestling, taking on none other than the legendary Mike Sydal. Many of you may recognize Sydal from Ring of Honor or All Elite Wrestling, where he often competes alone or with his brother Matt.

Sydal seemed to be having a lot of fun in this match, even stealing and wearing Dekin’s signature hat at one point, only to get rolled up for his trouble. Both men put on a clinic of high-flying and acrobatic wrestling prowess, full of near falls and the high-flying moves one expects to see when either of these guys are in the ring. Unfortunately, Dekin’s wrench is always the great equalizer, and it once again found Mike Sydal’s body as “a cool place to hang out.” This was a blow Sydal never recovered from, and James’ big double foot stomp from the top rope sealed the deal.

The fans seemed pretty mad, with some children attempting to exact revenge on Mr. James, which he was thankfully able to escape from!

The Wranglers have been riding high after their massive win against the St. Louis team, The Top Guns, way back in February and were looking to start a winning streak at Trailblazer Gold Rush. Unfortunately for them, they faced a formidable team: Moses The Deliverer and “The Whole Thang” Rahim De La Suede. These two have racked up numerous big wins, appeared on NWA programming, and held championships across the area, especially in World League Wrestling. If Rahim and Moses could work together, it would likely have been an easy win for them—but that’s where it all fell apart.

You see, you can’t find two guys more diametrically opposed to each other than Rahim and Moses. While opposites sometimes complement one another, Rahim has a bit of a tendency to showboat and, for lack of a better thing to say, “act the fool” in Trailblazer Championship Wrestling. Moses, on the other side of the coin, is very serious and seemed to take this ridiculousness from his partner pretty hard. Not only did Rahim miss cues, he didn’t capitalize on big moves with pins, taunted the crowd, and argued with Moses more than one would have expected. Eventually, this all unraveled when Rahim almost certainly would have won the match with a HUGE 450 splash, only to allow the action to spill into the outside. Due to not paying attention to their surroundings, both Moses and Rahim were counted out and The Wranglers got that winning streak.

Moses and Rahim seemed to be having some VERY strong words with each other after the match, and I have a feeling this might not be over as of yet.

There’s one thing you don’t do, and that’s mock somebody’s family, much less somebody’s mama. One Trailblazer star learned that the hard way at Gold Rush. Marcus was out talking to the crowd before the main event about his childhood, overcoming a speech problem, and his love of professional wrestling. He discussed how he would hide behind a curtain and have his mother announce him like Howard Finkel while he ran out to wrestling theme music as a child. His parents were at ringside, and he asked his mom to do it one more time for him, this time in a real ring. Cue The Ultimate Warrior’s music, and out ran Marcus shaking the bejeezus out of those ropes!

Without skipping a beat, the smooth tones of Steve Lacey’s Bad Habit came on the speakers signaling Miss Wendy’s worst nightmare – Van “Bam” Winkle was on his way to the ring! This time he was sporting an industrial sized can of hairspray and a slicked back hair helmet to match. He grabbed the Mic and, in a very ill-advised bit of revenge from February, called Marcus’s mom ugly and other unsavory things. As you can imagine, this did not go well. Better luck next time Van, hopefully this ends you trying to one-up Marcus once and for all.

Here we have it, the final match for the Trailblazer Heavyweight Championship—a big showdown between “Astonishing” Austin Mulitalo and “The Suplex Cyclone” Curt Gannon. Both of these guys were huge fan favorites, with the crowd firmly behind them. While Curt was nursing wounds from a brutal beatdown at the hands of “Madman” Max Sterling and “The Unnatural Disaster” Salum Gust, Mulitalo was reeling a bit from his knee being targeted in his semi-final match. The playing field was fairly level. The styles of these two men contrast somewhat, with Curt having a background in martial arts and boxing, while Austin favors a more high-flying and quick-paced style.

It was fairly evenly-paced until Austin, going for his big spear, accidentally nailed Senior official Vito instead of Gannon. Ganon tried to suplex Austin, but got hit with a double-knee face-buster, and the crowd counted well past three with Vito still face-down on the mat. SBC ran out and tried to coax Austin into cheating, using the belt to beat Gannon, and perhaps unintentionally that’s exactly what happened. SBC seemed to be on the chopping block as well until the unthinkable happened, rather than hit a pleading SBC, Austin nailed Gannon a second time, rolled him up and got the win.

Don’t take my word for it, check this out:

What an absolutely tarnished victory! I don’t know how Austin Mulitalo, a man that climbed through three tiers of this tournament when most wanted him to quit, would stoop so low as to align with SBC but here we have it. Both men embraced and guzzled champagne after the show, creating perhaps one of the most dominant stables in all of Trailblazer Championship Wrestling. With the likes of Austin Mulitalo, Aminah Belmont, and possibly Nixi XS under his wing, SBC is unfortunately doing everything he has told the fans he was doing from the outset – manage champions. I’m just hoping somebody can let some of the air out of this man’s sails before he becomes too insufferable. It appears that, whether we like it or not, 2024 is the year SBC conquered Trailblazer Championship Wrestling.

Video:

This uses photos that I took at the event!
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In Closing:

I think it’s pretty safe to say that this was one of, if not THE, best show Trailblazer Championship Wrestling has done. The crowd was on fire, and the Trailblazer Arena was packed with well over 300 screaming fans. When a company works hard to build up a brand and win over the crowd, cool stuff like this happens, and to think that, from what I’ve been told, the first Trailblazer show had only like fifty fans at it! Here we are, getting close to the two-year mark for the company, and there are no signs of slowing down. A new champion has been crowned, and a follow-up show is just around the corner. I won’t pretend like I wasn’t upset by the actions of “Astonishing” Austin Mulitalo at the end of this show – he’s gone so long building up his fanbase, and to align himself with SBC….ugh…..it’s just upsetting.

I’m a big mark for Battle Royales and Rumbles, so seeing that Bunkhouse Brawl 2 is coming up in June, I’m VERY excited. Bunkhouse Brawl was my first Trailblazer show, so this will likely hold a lot of short-term nostalgia for me, and I can’t wait! Hope to see you all there!

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