REVIEW: Fountain City Pro – Light It Up 2 (2025)

A Live Professional Wrestling Event

Fountain City Pro was one of the last companies in “The Big Five” of Kansas City wrestling (FCCP, CSW, KCXW, TSW, and Trailblazer) to kick off their 2025 season. As the new kid on that proverbial block, FCP is gearing up to celebrate its one-year anniversary in March with Light It Up 2. While the company was built, to some extent, from the ashes of Journey Pro Wrestling, its owners have been intentional about carving out a distinct identity. Their approach has helped set FCP apart from its predecessor, ensuring it stands on its own. If you’re looking for a local wrestling show with a true party atmosphere, this is the one to check out. The only thing missing? A bar venue. But honestly, I’m not sure that would be the best idea, after all, we’ve all seen how rowdy wrestling fans can get!

Fountain City Pro has a distinctly modern approach to both its presentation and ethos, evident throughout its entire product. The company operates on the belief that wrestling is for everyone, which works both ways – fans can enjoy the show in a welcoming, safe environment, and they’ll also experience a variety of non-traditional match types and competitors. FCP is one of the few local promotions that regularly features intergender matches and embraces newer trends in the wrestling world. It’s also possibly the only KC company offering a live stream and same-day replays for those who can’t attend in person. Kansas City’s wrestling scene is booming right now, with room for every kind of product. FCP has firmly staked its claim as the local home for the “super-indy” style – and I’m all for it.

Without further ado, let’s all see what happened at Light it Up 2!

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The Card:

Fountain City Pro – Light It Up 2
3-14-25 – Ball Event Center – Olathe Kansas

4-Way Match – El Rey De La Muerte Defeated “The Natural” Atlas Armstrong, “Mr. Unlimited” J. Moore, and Anthony Lopes by pinfall
Open Challenge – Singles – “The Monarch” Jeremy Wyatt defeated “Handsome” Scott Hansen by pinfall
Trios Match – The Team of Chance Carigan, Quest Parker and Noah Clover (w/ Dickie Richards and “Illustrious” Rey León) defeated Team Double Stuffed aka The Main Attraction (Tobias Storm and “The Realist” Calvin Aldridge) and Austin Reddick by pinfall
Singles Match – Heidi Howitzer Defeated Ashlyn Alexander by pinfall
“The God Damned Killing Machine” Luke Langley Defeated “The Master of the Tornado DDT” Fuego Del Sol by pinfall
The Open for Business Invitational – (Single pinfall scramble match) “All Steel” J Fowler defeated Izzy B., “Sexy” Wrex Amadeus, Shain Boucher, Saraya Saber, Shooter Shylynn, and Leon King by pinfall
Singles Match – “The Commissar” Jake Parnell defeated Anakin Murphy by submission
Tag match – The Premier (Campbell Myers and S.K. Bishop) Defeated Only Friends (Logan Knight and Stormi Renee) by pinfall
Singles Match for the Fountain City Pro Championship – “The Grand Regent” Camaro Jackson defeated “The King of Thicc Style” Sam Stackhouse by pinfall.

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:

Light It Up 2 kicked off with what could be considered a “dark match,” though it was characterized as more of an exclusive bonus for those in attendance rather than part of the live stream. This four-way bout featured a mix of familiar and fresh faces – while I’ve seen “The Natural” Atlas Armstrong and “Mr. Unlimited” J. Moore in action before, this was my first time watching Rey De La Muerte and Anthony Lopes. The match was a whirlwind of high-flying, lucha-libre-inspired action, highlighting the athleticism of all four competitors.

Early on, Atlas Armstrong had a solid advantage and really fed off of the crowd due to their familiarity of him. The four initially broke off into pairs, with Atlas and Lopes fighting outside of the ring for a while while J. Moore faced off largely with Rey. J. Moore showcased his incredible aerial prowess with some impressive rope-based maneuvers, but the standout for me was Rey De La Muerte (translated as “The King of Death”), who demonstrated an exceptional level of technical skill and some wild top rope maneuvers. After a massive four-man Tower of Doom wiped out most of the field, Rey took control, wowing the crowd with crisp standing moonsaults and a brutal top-rope double stomp to Atlas. Initially met with a lukewarm reception, Rey gradually won over the audience, leaving the ring as an unexpected fan favorite by the end of the match.

Next up was an open challenge issued by St. Joseph, MO’s own “Handsome” Scott Hansen. He kicked things off by reflecting on his introduction to Fountain City Pro, recalling how he initially appeared at the first Light It Up event as a last-minute replacement. Over the past year, Hansen had improved tremendously, culminating in a victory over “Sexy” Wrex Amadeus – one of Kansas City’s fastest-rising stars. Now, with a microphone in hand and a chance to prove himself, Hansen wasn’t looking for just any opponent – he wanted one of Kansas City’s best.

And that’s exactly what he got…..As the unmistakable opening notes of Rainbow in the Dark by Dio echoed through the Ball Event Center, it became clear that “Handsome” Scott Hansen was about to face wrestling royalty: The Monarch Jeremy Wyatt.

The crowd erupted – not just with excitement, but with fury from some. Many in attendance remembered Wyatt’s reign of terror over Central States Wrestling, where he held two different championships and racked up a combined three-year title run between DWF and CSW. Add in his current dominance as a Tri-States Wrestling Tag Team Champion, and it was no wonder the fans weren’t thrilled about his arrival. Wyatt is a wrestling mastermind – not just in terms of his technical ability (which is undeniable) but in his ability to manipulate the rules and cut corners, securing victory by any means necessary. Love him or hate him, history remembers the winners, and in the 2020s, Kansas City professional wrestling has been Wyatt’s kingdom.

Despite the daunting challenge before him, this was easily the best I’ve ever seen “Handsome” Scott Hansen. A lesser competitor might have crumbled under the pressure, especially with chants of “Wyatt’s gonna kill you” ringing through the crowd. But Hansen didn’t fold. He took control early, and for a brief moment, it looked like we were on the verge of witnessing an upset of historic proportions. That all changed when Hansen took a brutal whip into the corner, shifting the match in Wyatt’s favor. What followed was a systematic dismantling – joint manipulation, vicious corner chops, and calculated attacks that chipped away at Hansen piece by piece. Even when they traded shots on the mat and Hansen mounted a second wind, Wyatt weathered the storm.

Hansen hit a huge exploder suplex and followed up with standing moonsaults, but it wasn’t enough. Wyatt found his opening, countered a top-rope attempt with a devastating videogame-like uppercut, and sealed the deal with a superplex, a piledriver, and the pin. The Monarch had claimed another victim, signaling his intent to climb the title ladder once again. However, in an unexpected moment after the match, Wyatt extended a handshake to Hansen. Whether it was genuine or just another mind game remains to be seen, but for a brief second, it seemed like even The Monarch had to acknowledge the fight Hansen put up.

The third match was a trios match featuring the still somewhat unlikely duo of “The Realist” Calvin Aldridge and Tobias Storm – better known as The Main Attraction, or as they would obviously prefer, Team Double Stuffed (who had matching gear this time!)—teaming with Austin Reddick to take on FCP newcomers Quest Parker and Noah Clover, along with a mystery partner. After an almost unbearably long entrance theme and plenty of stalling, their partner was revealed to be none other than Chance Carigan alongside his manager Dickie Richards, and a currently injured Illustrious Rey Leon, who walked out gingerly on crutches.

After some initial confusion over which of Carigan, Parker, or Clover would start the match, it was finally determined that Quest Parker would kick things off. Team Double Stuffed wasted no time going to work, showing surprising cohesion as a team. Both Reddick and Tobias displayed impressive strength, executing stalled vertical suplexes and other flashy “showboat” moves until the match inevitably descended into chaos. Bodies started flying out of the ring, and even Rey Leon tried to get involved – surprisingly moving well despite his injury. As expected, he attempted to interfere with his crutches.

Meanwhile, Chance Carigan took a step back, assuming something of a leadership role with his team, which initially worked in their favor. Both Clover and Parker strung together some solid offense, while Carigan tagged in at key moments to lock in gnarly submission moves and quick suplexes. Just when it seemed like Team Double Stuffed was breaking through and gaining momentum, a miracle happened. No longer burdened by his “injuries,” Illustrious Rey Leon suddenly sprang onto the apron and struck Austin Reddick in the back, stopping a match-ending Lion Tamer at the last possible second. Carigan capitalized with his finisher, sealing the victory for his team.

Next up was a women’s match between Heidi Howitzer and “The Rowdy Rough Girl” Ashlyn Alexander, both making their return to KC after some time away. Heidi Howitzer was coming back from an injury she suffered last summer, while Alexander had previously appeared in one of the Guy’s Snacks Invitational matches in 2024 – though this marked her debut in what could be considered “a normal match.” Then again, nothing is ever truly normal when you’re in the ring with Heidi Howitzer. With a distorted sense of what wrestling is, she often channels her inner Deadpool, breaking the fourth wall and bantering with the crowd more than most. At one point, for example, Howitzer encouraged the audience to start clapping to “give Alexander energy,” a moment that was both hilarious and reminiscent of something you’d see from Jack Gamble in WLW way back in the day.

Ashlyn Alexander, however, is a wrecking ball of a competitor with a low center of gravity, and once she had enough of Howitzer’s shenanigans, she went to work. Using her powerful hip attacks, she attempted to demolish Heidi and keep her grounded. But eventually, Howitzer struck with a stunner, sealing the win. With that, Heidi Howitzer was officially back in 2025 – hopefully the FCP woman’s division is ready!

I’ve been a longtime cheerleader for “The Goddamn Killing Machine” Luke Langley, and no matter how despicable he may be, he’s undeniably one of the best wrestlers in Kansas City, bar none. While his arrogance can sometimes be his downfall, he rarely needs cheap shortcuts to win. Instead, he methodically dismantles his opponents until he can deliver his deadly brainbuster and seal the deal. His opponent for this match was none other than internet wrestling royalty – the former AEW, ROH, and YouTube star – “The Master of the Tornado DDT” Fuego Del Sol. Notably absent was Langley’s usual cornerman, Greg Jovi, which would spell disaster for most competitors. But Langley isn’t most competitors.

This match was an intriguing clash of styles, with Fuego’s fluid lucha libre technique coming up against the sheer explosive power of Langley. Langley’s strategy was clear: keep Fuego grounded and away from the ropes, cutting off any chance for him to execute one of his signature DDT variations. Fuego fought valiantly, managing to get Langley in his grasp multiple times, but every time he seemed to build momentum, Langley was right there to shut him down. This was a war of attrition, with Langley slowly wearing Fuego down until he was vulnerable to the inevitable brainbuster. 1-2-3 and Langley packed it away.

Langley came in with something to prove – even without Greg Jovi at ringside – and he did just that. He made it clear that he’s coming for gold. But just as he stood tall in victory, familiar music hit the loudspeakers. Out came none other than “Moonshine” Mantell, whiskey in hand, locking eyes with Langley in a tense stare-down. Seeing the reigning Central States Wrestling Champion step into Fountain City Pro raises a big question – what could this mean?

Light It Up 2 featured the first-ever “Open for Business Invitational” match – a seven-way scramble with a single pinfall. The competitors included J Fowler, Izzy B, Leon King, Saraya Saber, Shain Boucher, Shooter Shylynn, and Wrex Amadeus. As expected from a scramble match, this was pure chaos, offering a thrilling showcase of Fountain City Pro’s deep and diverse talent pool, from various styles to different experience levels. I was already familiar with a number of the competitors, but it was great to see fresh faces like Leon King and Saraya Saber in the mix. Of course, I was somehow both happy and disgusted to see Wrex Amadeus in action – a wrestler who may not always appreciate how I report on him, but whose in-ring talent is undeniable. Perhaps I was secretly rooting for him on a base level. It was also a welcome sight to have Shain Boucher back in Kansas City. As one of CSW’s best tag team wrestlers in 2023 and 2024, his presence added an extra layer of intrigue to the match.

Everyone had their moments to shine, but the biggest wildcard going in was definitely “All Steel” J Fowler. A man who came painfully close to becoming the inaugural FCP Champion last year, Fowler is now laser-focused on reclaiming his spot at the top. By the end of the match, it was clear that this was his night. Fowler unleashed absolute destruction on the mat, laying waste to nearly everyone before standing tall as the victor. One thing is certain, FCP management got his message loud and clear. Now, it’s only a matter of time before J Fowler is breathing down Camaro Jackson’s neck once again.

“Deathwish” Anakin Murphy squared off against “The Commissar” Jake Parnell, formerly known as WARHORSE – the leader of Nihilation and a persistent thorn in Murphy’s side. Heading into this match, Murphy was absolutely livid with Parnell after months of mistreating his younger brother. The bad blood between them stemmed from an event at St. Louis Anarchy in September 2024, when Parnell issued a cruel stipulation: if Murphy couldn’t beat him, his little brother, Kenny Kalix, would be forced to join Nihilation. Since then, Kalix has been trapped in an increasingly degrading role as Parnell’s manservant – something that has enraged Murphy for months.

Though both men initially tried to “play nice” and keep things to a traditional wrestling match, Murphy’s pent-up fury eventually boiled over, and the fight spilled out into the crowd. At one point, I came dangerously close to having both men land in my lap when the chair in front of me became a launching pad for an aerial attack. Perhaps Murphy went into this battle a bit cockier than he should have, but a brief lapse in focus proved costly. Parnell capitalized, locking in his rear choke submission and forcing Murphy to tap out. But Parnell wasn’t done. Even after the match, he continued to brutalize Murphy, seemingly aiming to send a final, humiliating message. Then, just when it seemed like all hope was lost – something completely unexpected happened.

Jeremy Wyatt. Yes, The Monarch himself ran out to confront Parnell and, shockingly, extended a hand to Murphy. If I had made a 2025 BINGO card, Jeremy Wyatt doing two good deeds in one night wouldn’t have even been on my radar. It’s like we’ve entered Bizarro World!

Stormi Renee has spent weeks mocking Campbell Myers and SK Bishop, dubbing them “Dirty Little Hamsters” in response to their self-righteous crusade to “better” Fountain City Pro’s tag team division. The Premier clearly have a chip on their shoulder, likely because they weren’t invited to FCP’s initial shows, and have positioned themselves as the division’s so-called “saviors.” Adding fuel to the fire, it’s heavily implied that The Premier don’t respect an intergender tag team like OnlyFriends, seeing them as unworthy of contention. But if Logan Knight and Stormi Renee were out to prove something, they certainly made a statement in the early goings of this match. OnlyFriends came out swinging, stringing together some truly impressive tag-team offense, including their backpack cannonball, and using quick tags to keep the momentum firmly in their favor. Their strong bond of pure friendship seemed to give them boundless energy, controlling the match for a large portion of time.

However, the tide turned when The Premier connected with stereo top-rope frog splashes on Logan Knight, shifting the momentum in their favor. From there, they systematically wore down both members of OnlyFriends, waiting for the perfect moment to cheat their way to victory. In the end, SK Bishop provided illegal leverage from the outside, allowing Myers to steal the pin on Knight, a cheap but effective win for The Premier. There was fear that fans were about to see Knight walk out in anger, but he thankfully kept his composure and OnlyFriends lives to fight another day.

“The Grand Regent” Camaro Jackson put his title on the line for the first time against one of the most talked-about wrestlers on social media, the walking behemoth known as “The King of Thicc Style” Sam Stackhouse. At 6’3” and a staggering 450 pounds, Stackhouse moves like a man half his size, making him an absolute nightmare to contend with in the ring. While Jackson is a powerhouse athlete in his own right, boasting quads that could probably crush a car, he was still physically dwarfed by the sheer mass of Stackhouse. From the opening bell, Jackson had one mission: take Stackhouse off his feet and keep him there. But that’s easier said than done when just knocking him over takes an absurd amount of strength and momentum. The crowd quickly got into the action, chanting “Meat! Meat! Meat!” as these two powerhouses traded brutal strikes.

At one point, Stackhouse, who had been toying with Camaro, decided it was time to turn up the intensity, ripping his shirt off and going full throttle. The fight eventually spilled to the outside, briefly terrifying the audience as it seemed Stackhouse was about to dive into the crowd. Thankfully, that disaster was averted. Stackhouse then shifted his focus to Jackson’s legs, eventually catching him with his infamous spinning heel kick, a move that spells disaster for most opponents. But somehow, Camaro Jackson powered through. In a jaw-dropping display of strength, Jackson landed a thunderous corner powerbomb on Stackhouse, followed by a massive top-rope lariat, finally toppling the human redwood. 1-2-3, and that was that.

Conclusion:

As I mentioned before, this was my first time attending a Fountain City Pro show live, as my work schedule had kept me from making it to Friday night events in the past. The pacing and structure of the show reminded me of the 2022 Central States Wrestling events at the Camelot Ballroom, sparking some nostalgia alongside the excitement of seeing many new wrestlers I wasn’t familiar with. Some matches were downright chaotic, even spilling onto the ballroom floor, sending the crowd into a frenzy. But with a mix of wild brawls, standard one-on-one bouts, and a high-energy scramble match, there was something for every kind of wrestling fan. Overall, it was a fantastic experience, and I’m making it a goal to attend all four shows this year.