REVIEW: Kansas City Xtreme Wrestling - Xtreme Freedom (2024)

A live professional wrestling event held in Kansas City on July 20, 2024

One of the biggest summer wrestling events in Kansas City took place on July 20, 2024, when Kansas City Xtreme Wrestling (KCXW) hosted their patriotically themed show, Xtreme Freedom! This marked the company’s debut at a new venue, an Army National Guard armory not far from the stadiums where the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs play. The location proved to be a fantastic spot for the event. Plenty of room for growth and far more room than the armory in Independence, Missouri they used in the winter. While I enjoyed driving like five minutes, this venue works far better! The show boasted eight exciting matches, including a few pre-show bouts and a monumental 30-minute triple threat Iron Man match. KCXW consistently delivers solid, family-friendly entertainment with just the right amount of edge—a balance I particularly appreciate since I often bring my young son along to these events.

The event also featured some fantastic vendors, such as JT’s Crafts, where I managed to pick up some early birthday gifts for my fiancé. As always, there was a nod to community outreach, this time showcasing a recent summer camp organized by the company. The camp offered children a chance to participate in professional wrestling training, potentially setting them on the path to becoming the future stars of wrestling. Join me as we take a look at what happened in this show and discuss any speculation on what could be coming up in later months!

For More about KCXW, check out their Facebook Page HERE, Their YouTube HERE. KCXW is also on Cagematch, HERE (although missing a few years). If you are a fan, make sure to drop likes, and reviews, or join their social media pages!

The Card:

Charlie Graham Defeated Caden by pinfall
Talon defeated Duane by Pinfall
Interview with Leo D. – KCXW original that was first grand slam champion – retired by welcoming new generation of stars.
The United Patriots (Old Glory and The Natural Atlas Armstrong ) defeated Lord Maximus Canine and Dr. Isin by pinfall
Interview with Shooter Shylynn – having to drop the title due to prolonged injury, Lady Pride takes the belt as her own.
El Diablo Vega defeated “The Aerial Attraction” James Moore by pinfall to retain the KCXW Metro Championship in a best out of three falls, falls count anywhere match.
Lady Pride Defeated All Slay Angel Shay by submission – Xtremist Rules Match
Talon and Rad Rico Estevez defeated The Xtremists (“The Chain Wrestler” Jude Vice and “The King of Xtreme” David Cattin) by pinfall w/ help of KCXW roster – Xtremist Rules Match
Tobias Storm Defeated Richard Goldman and Harrison Cruz by pinfall in a 2-on-1 handicap match. Goldman’s check did not please The Iron Pitbull Kenny Kingston so he walked out on him. Tobias throws his hat in as number one contender to whoever wins main event
Hard Luck Hal Rogers defeated Clay Huna and The Realist – Calvin Aldridge In a 30 minute triple threat iron man match to retain the KCXW KC Championship.

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:

To kick off the show, KCXW held two opening matches to showcase the ever-improving skills of some of their rising developmental talent. The first match featured Charlie Graham against Caden. Charlie Graham has been making waves recently, competing in places as far as Jefferson City with Show Me State Wrestling and even participating in that big lucha show I attended back in May. He’s one of those guys I’m always pumped to see because I love witnessing someone start from square one and climb the ladder of success. On the other hand, this was the first singles match I’ve seen Caden in, and if this match was any indication, it looks like KCXW fans will be seeing more of him very soon.

The match was a series of intense back-and-forth flurries of holds and strikes from both men, and it honestly could have gone either way. At one point, Caden had Graham in the corner, pummeling him to the point where I wasn’t sure how he would recover. Ultimately, the more seasoned Graham regained his bearings, delivered a big lariat, and went in for the pin. Charlie Graham stood tall in the ring with one of his first singles wins in KCXW.

Next up was a match between Talon and Duane. Talon is a recent graduate of the Xtreme Wrestling Center, while Duane seems poised to make that step himself soon. The match started with Talon attempting to win the crowd over despite the almost unanimous support for Duane. As far as I know, Talon hasn’t done anything to sour the Kansas City crowd, so Duane must be just super popular, which is well-deserved as he is awesome. Either way, Talon didn’t let the lukewarm reception get to him, and he delivered an absolute banger of a match. Clearly inspired by wrestling legends such as Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero, Talon used their styles to his advantage.

Like the previous bout, Talon had a bit more of an experience edge, considering he has already been traveling around the area, wrestling the likes of “The Natural” Atlas Armstrong in Sedalia, Missouri. Duane will get there, but his efforts were just not enough, and he succumbed to a pin and a three count. Overall, both pre-show matches were fantastic and really got the crowd hyped up. If you attend a KCXW show, be ready to be seated and watching 30 minutes after the doors open, as the pre-show is truly an actual pre-show rather than the advertised bell time.

The next segment was somewhat bittersweet as it largely served as a retirement announcement from KCXW star Leo D. Although Leo hasn’t been around for a while, he was the lifeblood of the company for a number of years. Not only was Leo a former KCXW champion, but he was also the first Grand Slam Champion, meaning he held all of the company’s belts except any women’s championships. Leo got choked up delivering his announcement and introduced some of the stars of KCXW in 2024, including El Diablo, Tobias Storm, and Clay Huna. Thank you for all you did, Leo D.! It looks like your hard work has left KCXW in good hands.

Lord Maximus Canine, formerly a fan favorite under the moniker Bigg Dogg, entered this match with the intent to rub salt in the wound of his former protégé, Old Glory, previously known as CK Cosmic. Cosmic was on the verge of hanging up his boots until Canine took him under his wing and challenged him to a match. Although Canine ultimately won, he instilled a new sense of self in the downtrodden man. However, Canine spat on that entirely by helping “Hard Luck” Hal Rogers steal another belt win at the end of the same show, vowing to finish off Cosmic when he got the chance. Abandoning his American values, Canine adopted the mantle of a pretentious British nobleman, seeing the fans as mere subjects he could lord over. That chance came at Xtreme Freedom when it was announced that Canine and a mystery partner would challenge the team of The United Patriots, Old Glory, and “The Natural” Atlas Armstrong, to defend America’s honor.

So, who was the partner? It appears that every pretentious snob needs some sort of flunky to look down on, and that unfortunate role fell to none other than “The Hypothetical Specialist” Dr. Isin in this match. Isin has been making rather questionable choices since his return to KCXW, particularly in his recent feud with El Diablo. Strutting out in medieval garb as if he sauntered out of the Renaissance festival and bowing to Canine was just another odd choice. Isin did his best to take most of the damage in the match for “his lord,” even using himself as a projectile at one point, but it all amounted to nothing when The United Patriots really got going and pulled out a big win.

I mentioned before that both Armstrong and Old Glory have incredibly distinctive styles, yet they complement each other well and have recently showcased their prowess on episodes of KCXW Showcase. Despite being a recent tag team, they were able to put together some impressive offense, including their devastating combo Blockbuster/spinebuster that I’m sure can seal the deal for just about anyone. For all his groveling, bowing, and posturing to Canine, all Isin’s loyalty got him was a sucker punch for his trouble. We shall see what happens in the future, but if I were Isin, I’d be looking to settle the score.

Another bit of sad news hit the show as KCXW Women’s Champion Shooter Shylynn entered the ring on crutches, which she had been using frequently as of late. For those who didn’t know, she suffered ACL and meniscus tears in one knee and sprained her LCL in the other last fall. I actually discussed this with her in a recent interview that you can find HERE. Unfortunately, she announced that she would be relinquishing the belt right then and there. Apparently, complications have arisen, delaying her return. Suddenly, Lady Pride came out and declared, “Possession is nine-tenths of the law,” and took the belt for herself. I am stunned that no KCXW officials were there to stop this travesty, and hopefully, something happens soon. It was a sad moment that nobody wanted to see, but I feel like the fans will be very excited when Shylynn returns.

The first big title challenge of the night was between “The Aerial Attraction” James Moore and “The Aztec Demon from the Year 3000” El Diablo. Both men were vying for the title of KC’s best high-flyer as well as the literal title of KCXW Metro Champion, and I was genuinely intrigued to see how this match would unfold. Given that it was a 2 out of 3 falls, falls count anywhere match, I knew it would be chaotic, but I had no idea just how right I would end up being. These two men have some history, as it was not very long ago that Moore was part of a series of attacks on El Diablo while he was feuding with “The Realist” Calvin Aldridge. While El Diablo didn’t seem to harbor a grudge when I spoke with him earlier in the summer, I’m sure beating Moore here would be somewhat cathartic.

The match quickly descended into mayhem as both competitors started fighting in the seating area and the space between the chairs and merch stands. It was an all-out brawl, with various chairs and the building’s hard concrete walls being utilized. The men exchanged one fall each after some brutal spots on the stage and outside wall, including James Moore’s insane dive from a golf-cart style utility vehicle onto the cold cement floor, landing on El Diablo. This move was absolutely crazy and showcased just how far Moore was willing to go to claim the belt. I would venture to guess that this image of Moore standing on the roof of the cart poised to do the unthinkable will be in KCXW highlight reels for years to come and will come to be one of the standout moments from this show.

When they finally returned to the ring, a painting ladder came into play; both men seemed determined to end the match by crushing their opponent against the hard metal rungs. Somehow, El Diablo managed to dig deep and secure a big win with his blockbuster and swanton moves, the very maneuvers that have won him so many matches during this championship run. El Diablo continues his reign as Metro Champion, and despite the chaos and brutality both men endured, the two actually shook hands after the bout—could this signify a change of pace for James Moore?

To be honest, James Moore usually comes out with all of his friends from the Main Attractions, and their interference often sways matches. With none of that happening during this match or the main event, I’m wondering if something has shifted within their camp. Either way, this was an incredible match, every bit as awesome as I expected it to be!

In the Xtremists’ crusade against everything “cute, fun, and silly,” Lady Pride has set her sights squarely on “All Slay” Angel Shay, branding her as the #1 enemy of their vision for a “better KCXW.” This feud ignited on the June 2nd episode of Showcase when Lady Pride lured Shay to the ring with taunting her. Once there, Pride provoked Shay by mocking their past friendship and making callous remarks about her personal struggles, including the death of her mother. She was joined by David Cattin and Jude Vice, who proceeded to assault Shay mercilessly. Angel Shay, however, wasn’t going to let this slide. She sought revenge with a fiery determination, catching Pride off guard at the gym. Armed with a kendo stick and driven by a fierce desire for retribution, Shay brutally attacked Pride and even forced her head into the gym’s toilet, making her pay for the earlier humiliation.

This match was one of the two “Xtremist Rules” bouts of the night and featured Lady Pride making her entrance with an assortment of weapons and her ill-gotten prize—the KCXW Women’s Championship. Despite Angel Shay’s early offensive, which included some brutal strikes with a cookie sheet, Pride’s resilience allowed her to turn the tide and gain control. Things took a dark turn when Shay found herself chained to the ring posts, subjected to a relentless assault with a kendo stick. The brutal exchange continued until Pride secured a vicious Guillotine choke, forcing Shay to tap out in defeat. This result was disheartening, and I sincerely hope this isn’t the end of their feud. Lady Pride still needs to answer for her actions and relinquish that tainted championship belt!

The Xtremists’ celebration was short-lived as their next match didn’t go quite according to their sinister plans. On paper, a match between Rad Rico Estevez and Talon versus David Cattin and Jude Vice seemed heavily one-sided despite the younger talents’ determination. However, it appeared that Rico and Talon had an unexpected ally—the entire KCXW locker room, fed up with the random attacks and chaos perpetrated by The Xtremists over the months. What began as a two-on-three match quickly descended into a full-blown brawl.

The Xtremists found themselves overwhelmed as the locker room—including Trey, Duane, Charlie Graham, Bert Candy, and others—stormed the ring, delivering a collective beatdown to Cattin and Vice. The scene turned into a chaotic pile-on, with everyone joining in to bury the villains and secure the pin. This decisive act of unity from the locker room sends a strong message: KCXW is fighting back against The Xtremists’ nefarious schemes and won’t stand idly by while they continue their disruptive plans. Here’s hoping this serves as a powerful lesson to these vile individuals.

This next match was one of the highlights I was eagerly anticipating, not only because I sponsored the match (shameless plug), but also because after months of absurd antics, I was ready to see Tobias Storm deliver a well-deserved beating to Richard Goldman once and for all! Goldman entered the ring accompanied by “The Iron Pitbull” Kenny Kingston, whom he had been paying to be his lackey over the past few months. However, something was off. It seemed Kingston’s checks from Goldman were too small, and Kingston decided to back out right there in front of everyone. Faced with the prospect of going up against Storm alone, Goldman quickly called in another goon— the imposing Harrison Cruz—to be his new enforcer.

Cruz is a beast, towering over Tobias and potentially even more intimidating than Kingston. His only drawback is a lack of experience compared to Tobias, and the fact that he was being used by Goldman as a mere pawn. Goldman’s plan was for Cruz to absorb the punishment while Goldman waited for his opportunity to swoop in for the pin. However, this strategy might have worked against anyone other than Tobias, who is deceptively strong and extremely athletic, truly living up to his title as “pound for pound the strongest man in KCXW.”

Eventually, Tobias got his chance in the ring with Goldman and made an absolute mockery of him in front of the KC fans. After delivering a jaw-dropping vertical suplex and executing his signature moves, Tobias Storm secured the win. Goldman only has himself to blame for this defeat. Following the match, Storm made it clear that his next goal is to challenge the winner of the show’s main event for the KCXW Kansas City Championship!

Iron Man matches can be a tough sell for many wrestling fans. Historically, the one-hour versions can drag, only picking up momentum towards the end with a flurry of pinfalls. That’s why I was particularly intrigued by this 30-minute Iron Man match featuring three competitors, a unique twist that made it stand out from the norm and kept it engaging throughout. The participants were “The Realist” Calvin Aldridge, “Big Brother” Clay Huna, and the reigning KCXW Kansas City Champion, “Hard Luck” Hal Rogers. With various circumstances potentially leading to his downfall, this was clearly Hal’s match to lose. However, Hal’s cunning strategies kept him in the game.

The fan favorite was undoubtedly Clay Huna, who had been dismissed by Aldridge as a mere afterthought and taunted by Rogers as someone who “could never secure the big win.” Huna came into the match fired up and nearly clinched victory, but one factor held him back—Hal’s underhanded tactics. In wrestling, using an outside object can lead to disqualification, but in an Iron Man match, that doesn’t end the bout. Hal exploited this by using weapons to gain an advantage, giving his opponents a fall, and then capitalizing on it to score pinfalls himself. At one point, Hal was significantly behind, only to pull ahead by executing this strategy. Despite the referee’s protests, Hal was operating within the rules, and his tactics ultimately paid off. Hal Rogers remains the KCXW Kansas City Champion. Whether you love him or hate him, and no matter how many “Hard Luck Sucks” shirts you wear, it’s undeniable that Hal knows how to win matches and is nearly unbeatable right now.

One pinfall during the match was incredibly close, and the referee’s decision in favor of Hal could have denied Clay Huna a crucial point to tie the match. This controversial call might set the stage for a rematch, which seems increasingly likely given the circumstances.

Conclusion:

KCXW Xtreme Freedom was yet another action-packed night for KCXW, delivering an exceptional show overall. I heard from several people who attended this as their first KCXW event, and they had nothing but positive things to say about the company afterwards. The blend of a heartfelt send-off for one of KCXW’s legends (Leo D.) and a spotlight on the new generation of talent created a memorable experience, making it feel like a defining moment for the company as it moves forward in our post-COVID-19 world. KCXW has a bright future, and I’m glad to be able to see it unfold.

Next Up:

Sadly, due to other commitments, I will be unable to attend KCXW XCellence 2024, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be able to provide some content related to the show. stay tuned for a preview coming up at some point, and possibly some other KCXW content as well.

If you plan to go, please head on over to their website and buy your tickets NOW!