A Live professional wrestling show held in St. Joseph, MO
If you’ve been keeping tabs on my content via social media, you’ve probably noticed I’m a little behind on my wrestling reviews. The good news? I just wrapped up my semester of classes, and it’s the perfect time to play some much-needed catch-up. Today, we’re jumping back about six weeks to St. Joseph, Missouri, where I attended the first night of a two-show weekend from Tri States Wrestling. This event took place at the Timeout Event Center, a venue that has become one of TSW’s go-to homes over the past year – and for good reason, it’s a cool place.
TSW Spring Break Brawl marked the culmination of months of scheming, strategy, and flat-out hustle from “The Outlaw King of Missouri” Bennett James, as he made his play to dethrone The Iceman and claim the TSW Heavyweight Championship. James has been absolutely prolific lately – working multiple matches per show and racking up an astonishing win-loss record despite being relatively new to the company. But he’s not the only one with a score to settle. “The Natural” Atlas Armstrong continues to voice his frustrations with what he sees as Iceman’s preferential treatment from TSW management. And let’s be honest – when you’re the champ and the face of the company, the bullseye on your back only gets bigger.
With pressure mounting and challengers circling, it was going to take nothing short of a miracle for Iceman to walk out of St. Joe with the title still around his waist. Then again, if anyone could pull off the impossible, it’s him. Join me now as we look back at this show, and discuss what happened!
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The Card:
4/11/25 at the Timeout Event Center, St. Joseph, MO
- Singles Match – Jeremy Wyatt defeated Xac Abstract by pinfall.
- Singles Match – SyKawtic defeats Derek Teter by pinfall.
- Singles Match – TSW Heavyweight Title #1 Contendership Match – Atlas Armstrong defeats El Diablo by pinfall.
- Tag Team Match – Bad Medicine (Dr. Isin & Miranda Gordy) defeat The Main Attraction (Calvin Aldridge & Tobias Storm) by pinfall.
- Singles Match – TSW Heavyweight Title Match – The Iceman (c) vs. Bennett James – Double Pin.
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:
As expected, “The Monarch” Jeremy Wyatt remains the most hated man in all of St. Joseph, Missouri. What began with a few scattered cheers, likely from fans unfamiliar with his reputation (or just big Dio fans?), quickly turned into a chorus of boos. It didn’t take long. Between yelling at kids, tossing a child’s soda bottle, and telling the crowd they were poor and ugly, Wyatt did what he does best: turn the audience against him and enjoy every second of it. When Xac Abstract hit the ring, the stage was set for a classic clash of youth versus experience. Xac came in clearly prepared, though perhaps a little overly cautious, fully aware of Wyatt’s reputation and ring awareness. The match started slowly, with Wyatt offering up his leg in a mock display of sportsmanship, baiting Xac into making the first move. As expected, it was a trap – Wyatt rolled out of the ring and used the full referee’s count to control the tempo, attacking Xac outside the ring until the count reached nine.
Despite the slow start, Xac found his rhythm and displayed some impressive athleticism, including attempts at both a cutter and a piledriver. Wyatt, however, showed veteran savvy throughout, using his ring awareness to avoid the cutter by grabbing the ropes and keeping the match in his favor. The two traded strikes in a hard-fought exchange, and for a moment, it looked like Xac might pull off the upset with a deep ankle lock. But the wily Monarch held on, found his opening, and finally landed the Coronation Piledriver, sealing the win and reminding everyone exactly why he’s still one of the most dangerous men in Midwest wrestling.
Next up was a real contrast in styles as “The New Age Enigma” SyKawtic stepped into the ring with the mountainous “Nothin’ Neater” Derek Teter, a man who physically outmatched his much smaller opponent in just about every way – at least on paper. What SyKawtic lacked in size, he made up for in agility and ring awareness. He wisely kept low to the ground, slipping around Teter’s legs and making it difficult for the big man to land his signature power-based offense, including his chokeslams and slams. But when Teter did catch him? It was like watching a bear toss a ragdoll. He nailed a devastating reverse DDT, followed by a huge suplex, and even dragged SyKawtic’s face across the ropes just to send a message.
The turning point came when Teter discovered SyKawtic’s “big secret” – a prosthetic arm. From there, the tone of the match shifted. SyKawtic capitalized with a flurry of hard kicks and a solid ground game, ultimately using the prosthetic arm as a weapon to help secure the victory. It raises an interesting question: is a prosthetic limb considered a foreign object? It certainly walked a fine line. Teter might have a case to appeal for a rematch or at least challenge the ruling. Either way, it was a clever and controversial win for SyKawtic.
Earlier in the evening, “The Outlaw King of Missouri” Bennett James made his presence felt with a bold proclamation: he was taking the belt, and The Iceman might as well just hand it over. He was full of overconfidence, essentially claiming the title before the match had even begun. But the moment took a turn when Atlas Armstrong came out to address his upcoming #1 Contendership match against El Diablo. Atlas didn’t just have words for El Diablo – he made it clear that both men had a target on their backs, stating that he’d be taking on whoever walked out of the main event with the championship… when TSW returns to Mooresville. Big words for someone who hadn’t punched his ticket just yet. So how did Armstrong fare? Actually- pretty damn well.
In a show of just how fired up he was, Atlas didn’t even let El Diablo finish his entrance before attacking him. He set the tone immediately: this wasn’t about playing to the fans or waiting for the bell – this was about business. Armstrong was an absolute ball of piss and vinegar, firing back at the crowd and El Diablo alike, not letting any momentum slip from his hands. The key to his success? Keeping El Diablo grounded. The masked high-flyer is most dangerous when he can get to the ropes and take flight, but Atlas smartly kept him on the mat and in close quarters, where Armstrong’s power advantage could shine. Of course, things couldn’t stay clean for long.
Bennett James made his way back out and began brawling with The Iceman – a chaotic distraction that nearly cost Atlas the match. While El Diablo did manage to string together some of his signature offense during the confusion, the damage from earlier in the match had already taken its toll. Armstrong regained control and secured the victory, officially cementing his spot as #1 contender. Atlas Armstrong will now face whoever wins the main event – and it’s all going down in August in Mooresville, Missouri. And you’d better believe that Bennett James inserting himself into Armstrong’s business didn’t go unnoticed. Things are far from settled between all three of these men.
Next up was a tag team bout featuring The Main Attraction (Tobias Storm and “The Realist” Calvin Aldridge) taking on the newly-formed duo of “The Hypothetical Specialist” Dr. Isin and “The Badstreet Beauty” Miranda Gordy, dubbing the team Bad Medicine. Right out of the gate, Miranda made an impact, literally, using her strength and unorthodox strategy to toss Dr. Isin onto their opponents as a makeshift weapon. It was an unexpectedly effective combo that set the tone for what would become a fairly evenly matched, back-and-forth contest. If there was any clear edge, it leaned toward Bad Medicine, thanks to Isin’s impressive top-rope offense and Gordy’s ability to keep both members of The Main Attraction grounded. The two showcased strong chemistry despite being a new team, each covering the other’s weaknesses in a way that made them feel like a cohesive unit.
Then, chaos struck. The referee caught a stray shot and went down, just the kind of opening that Jeremy Wyatt, like the snake in the grass he is, lives for. Slithering out from the back, Wyatt took the opportunity to ambush The Main Attraction, his future opponents. That interference proved to be the turning point, allowing Bad Medicine to capitalize and pick up the win. The reaction from the crowd was mixed. Many were excited to see the wild-card team of Gordy and Isin pull off the win, but nobody was thrilled that Wyatt once again had his fingerprints all over the result. His mere presence remains a lightning rod for heat, and his involvement here only escalated tensions. This feud would spill over into the next night in Jameson, Missouri, where Wyatt and Wrex Amadeus would defend their titles against the now even more motivated Main Attraction.
As the “King of Missouri” tournament winner, Bennett James has introduced a set of altered stipulations I’ve started calling “King’s Rules.” These rules essentially give him free rein – no rope breaks, no disqualifications, and the referee has to let it all slide. Needless to say, any opponent stepping into the ring under these conditions is at a major disadvantage. I’m sure James walked into this match thinking it was a foregone conclusion that he would start his official inaguration after the show. The Iceman entered the match with his usual blend of confidence and playful swagger, but Bennett James was laser-focused – no selling the antics, no acknowledgment, just ice-cold intent. His eyes cut through the mind games like daggers, signaling from the outset that this was a fight, not a show.
James absorbed a beating early on, but it soon became clear that he was baiting Iceman, “playing possum”, only to turn the tide and mount a devastating comeback. With the King’s Rules in effect, James took liberties you normally wouldn’t see: striking the referee repeatedly without consequence, holding him on the ropes, not breaking counts, and even using brass knuckles. James eventually connecting with his signature discus lariat, and that coulkd have been it. Despite it all, The Iceman nearly had the match won. But rather than risk an actual defeat, James took the easy way out – deliberately kicking senior official Cornelius J. Poppington. That’s when Referee Erin ran in to restore order… only to take a belt shot in the chaos.
The Iceman fought through the madness and went for a suplex, but both men crashed down with their backs on the mat. Just then, TSW owner John Rockhold rushed in, now wearing a referee shirt, and called it a double pin. With no clear winner and no crowned champion, the crowd was left buzzing – and confused. What would this mean for the main event the following night? Would it be a rematch? A triple threat? One thing’s for sure: King’s Rules might make Bennett James feel untouchable, but this ending proved his crown isn’t as secure as he thinks.
Conclusion:
This was a solid show that laid the groundwork for what’s to come – not just the chaos that apparently unfolded the very next night, but also the slow burn build toward Mayhem in Mooresville 4 this August. While a few of the matches dipped into absolute anarchy, the crowd definitely got their money’s worth, and the intensity of these feuds feels like it’s only going to escalate. The storytelling pieces are in place, and the tension is mounting for what promises to be an even more explosive payoff. As I mentioned earlier, I wasn’t able to attend the second night of action in Jameson, Missouri, but I’ve included the official results below so you can keep up with everything unfolding in the world of Tri-States Wrestling:
- Singles Match – James Moore (w/Calvin Aldridge) defeats Wrex Amadeus (w/Jeremy Wyatt) by DQ.
- Missouri Heavyweight Title Three Way Match – Bennett James (c) defeats Jayden Dominic Rose and The Iceman.
- TSW Heavyweight Title Three Way Match – The Iceman (c) defeats Bennett James and Jayden Dominic Rose.
- Singles Match – Dr. Isin defeats Camaro Jackson.
- TSW Tag Team Title Match – The Main Attraction (Calvin Aldridge & James Moore) defeat Jeremy Wyatt & Wrex Amadeus (c).
