REVIEW: Trailblazer Championship Wrestling – RISE (2025)

A Live Professional Wrestling Event

Trailblazer Championship Wrestling has grown with quiet determination and a clear, deliberate strategy – both in how it promotes its events and how it has crafted its identity. At the heart of this evolution are the King Brothers, Jake and Ryan, formerly known in the ring as the Killer City Kings. A few years ago, both men stepped away from active competition, driven by a shared mission: to revitalize professional wrestling in Kansas City, a region long written off as a “dead territory” before the post-COVID resurgence that continues to this day.

What started in 2022 as a modest, small-scale venture in Olathe, Kansas gradually took root. The promotion eventually moved to Ottawa, where it began drawing larger crowds, before settling in Gardner at the Johnson County Fairgrounds – now proudly known as the Trailblazer Arena. Since then, the company has grown steadily, at one point averaging an increase of about 50 additional fans with each event. At the subject of this write-up, it felt like the staff had to unearth every last folding chair from deep within the fairgrounds just to accommodate the crowd. Moments like that are powerful to witness – proof that something special is happening here, built one show at a time.

In 2024, Trailblazer introduced its first title, the Trailblazer Heavyweight Championship (A.K.A “Big Blue”), which was captured by Astonishing Austin Mulitalo last summer. But the company didn’t stop there. Rather than peaking early, Trailblazer set its sights on expanding and elevating its women’s division toward the end of that same year. This long-term investment culminated in the announcement that the first-ever Trailblazer Women’s Champion would be crowned at Trailblazer Championship Wrestling: RISE in May 2025.

There’s been a lot of buzz leading up to RISE, and rightfully so. Women’s professional wrestling is finally getting the honor, visibility, and prestige it has deserved for decades. Promotions that continue to sideline or outright ignore women’s wrestling are increasingly being left in the dust. The days of obnoxious hecklers loudly announcing they were heading to the restroom during women’s matches, often using language far cruder than I’m quoting here, are fading fast. Trailblazer Championship Wrestling has made it clear: women’s wrestling belongs in the main event, and RISE is built entirely around that moment of crowning history.

As someone who has followed the Kansas City wrestling scene closely these last few years, documenting matches and storylines across dozens of shows, I can honestly say this felt like a historic night. Moments like this are why I do what I do as a hobby. I’m beyond excited to witness it all unfold live. So join me as we break down every match from Trailblazer Championship Wrestling: RISE—from returning favorites to first-time Kansas appearances. With a packed house and seating filled to capacity, this was clearly a show that struck a chord – and likely marked a turning point in the Trailblazer legacy.

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!

Gardner Kansas at the Johnson County Fairgrounds 5-24-25

Singles Match – “Rapid Delivery” Rory Fox defeated “Handsome” Scott Hansen by pinfall.
Singles Match – Rocco the Barbarian (w/ Dekin Cane) Defeated “The Suplex Cyclone” Curt Gannon by pinfall.
Tag Team Match – Van “Bam” Winkle and Kit Sackett (w/ Nixi XS) defeated The Wranglers (Bobby Joe Black and Johnnie Jo Black) by pinfall.
Singles Match – Luke Anthony Defeated “The Unnatural Disaster” Salum Gust by pinfall.
Singles Match – Miracle Mike James defeated Zay-K47 by pinfall.
Segment – Dekin’s goons attack Miracle Mike James.
Segment – Presentation of the new Trailblazer Women’s Championship.
Singles Match for the Trailblazer Women’s Championship – “The Phoenix Princess” Aminah Belmont defeated Skylar Sparks by submission. She becomes the inaguaral champion.

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!”

NOTE:

I have been allowed to use some photos from Jamie Brown Studios to break up my text, these will be credited. Thank you Trailblazer management.

My Thoughts:

The opening match of Trailblazer Championship Wrestling: RISE set the tone for the remaining matches early on, with a showdown between the returning “Rapid Delivery” Rory Fox and young upstart “Handsome” Scott Hansen. Fox, whose career stretches back to the late 1990s and includes viral fame from his early MTV appearances, has carved out an impressive path paved with numerous championships – not only in his home state of Iowa but also in Kansas City over the past few decades. His old-school style and no-nonsense mentality stands in stark contrast to the modern, flashier wrestling trends, and frankly, it is a breath of fresh air. As you will soon see, that was sort of the theme for this match, and it came at the expense of Hansen.

Rather than leaning on flashy high spots or over-the-top theatrics, Fox took Hansen to school with hard-hitting, fundamentals-driven offense. Meanwhile, Hansen often seemed more concerned about maintaining his allegedly immaculate hairstyle than engaging in a serious wrestling match. When he did mount some offense, it was usually followed by hamming it up for the crowd – only to eat a stiff shot from Fox moments later. Sure, Hansen managed to land a few sneaky attacks, even dumping Fox onto the floor at one point, and on paper, with his youth, athleticism, and sheer arrogance, it looked like he might have the upper hand.

That illusion unraveled late in the match when Hansen went for a wild, crowd-pleasing moonsault, soaring nearly across the entire ring, only to completely miss as Fox wisely rolled out of the way. That miscalculation proved costly. Fox capitalized with a devastating top-rope crossbody followed by a sunset flip that sealed the deal and earned him the pinfall victory. It’s not everyday that one sees a wrestling match end with a sunset flip, and the crowd went absolutely wild for it.

This was an impressive win for a legendary indy veteran who’s often overlooked in today’s scene, and a perfect example of why the old-school style still works – and works well. Hansen learned the hard way that underestimating a long-time veteran is a mistake you only make once. Rory celebrated with the children in the audience, which always go wild for his matches, and left a hero. I for one can’t wait to see him back in a Trailblazer Championship Wrestling ring, continuing to show everyone how it’s really done.

Next up was a long-awaited rematch going all the way back to 2023, as “The Suplex Cyclone” Curt Gannon squared off once again with Rocco the Barbarian, who was, of course, accompanied by his nefarious manager, the “Midwest Mouth” Dekin Cane. Their first clash became an infamous moment in Trailblazer Championship Wrestling history as Gannon suplexed Cane so hard the foundations of Ottawa, Kansas practically trembled, and there’s still debate over whether the man briefly left Earth’s atmosphere. I actually interviewed Dekin Cane about that traumatic experience back in 2023, and let’s just say the emotional scars ran deep.

But this wasn’t a simple rehash of the past. Everyone involved in this match has evolved since then. Rocco has been training with a ruthless determination, grinding his way up the ranks in both the singles and tag team divisions. After scoring a major win over Rory Fox last fall, Rocco looked more dangerous than ever – and Curt Gannon knew this wasn’t going to be a walk in the park. Especially after coming back after a training injury that sidelined him for a few months.

From the opening bell, Rocco and Cane made it clear they weren’t playing games. Before Gannon could even deliver his usual entrance or soak in the crowd’s admiration, they blindsided him – mirroring what they did to The Wranglers earlier this spring. The attack robbed fans of that small, satisfying moment with one of their favorites, and it set the tone for the entire match.

Gannon was fighting uphill from the start, trying to regain his footing after the early ambush. Every time he looked to mount a comeback with his signature suplex offense, Rocco had an answer – grabbing ropes to block suplexes, shifting his weight, and forcing Gannon to expend precious energy. On the mat, Curt had some success with ground-based strategy, but Rocco’s growing mastery of the iron claw (in multiple variations) helped him absorb and neutralize much of the offense.

As the match built to its boiling point, it seemed like history was about to repeat itself. Gannon had finally gotten the upper hand, and the crowd reached a fever pitch when it looked like he was going to suplex Dekin Cane again. The arena was ready. But this time, Cane slithered his way out, saved at the last second by timely interference from Rocco. Dekin returned the favor by placing Rocco’s foot on the rope at one point, and helping him secure the win. This was a far more methodical and calculated match than their chaotic 2023 encounter. And while Gannon showed flashes of the powerhouse who fans adore, Rocco’s preparation, Cane’s manipulation, and the early ambush proved too much. One thing is clear – Curt Gannon still has gas in the tank, but if he wants redemption, he’ll have to fight even harder next time.

Next up was a match I had personally sponsored – fitting, considering I’ve long been a fan and unofficial documentarian of the Wranglers, Bobby Joe Black and Johnny Joe Black, as they blaze their trail through Kansas City’s tag team scene and beyond. Back when I first started doing interviews, Bobby Joe was one of the very first people I reached out to, especially after his breakout win at the 2023 Trailblazer Championship Wrestling Bunkhouse Brawl and his ensuing feud with “The Unnatural Disaster” Salum Gust. I just knew my readers would want to hear from him. So it goes without saying: if the Wranglers are booked on a Trailblazer card, I’m there, cheering them on – no matter how steep the odds. And lately, the odds have been brutal.

This match, in particular, had danger written all over it. Their opponents? None other than the ever-despicable Van “Bam” Winkle and his recently reconciled tag partner, the ruthless Kit Sackett – who had just betrayed Marcus Officer in a fashion so cold it practically redefined the term “Judas move.” That heel turn at the last Trailblazer show sent shockwaves through the fanbase, and Winkle wasted no time stirring the pot again. Grabbing a mic before the bell, he announced he was done chasing the legendary Miss Wendy, a former WLW Women’s Champion and beloved local ring announcer, and had instead aligned himself with a new “Artist Agent,” (whatever that means) the vile and cunning Nixi XS.

For longtime fans, the unholy alliance of Van “Bam” Winkle and Nixi XS is the kind of pairing that sends chills down your spine. It’s like watching a black hole open up in your hometown. Nixi has already built a notorious legacy in Trailblazer’s women’s division – lying, cheating, and clawing her way to victory at the expense of the Gardner crowd’s collective sanity. Add Kit Sackett to that mix, and you’ve got a trio that could tilt the entire tag team division into chaos.

Once the match was underway, Winkle zeroed in on Johnnie Jo Black, mocking and berating him in front of the crowd and painting him as the Wranglers’ weakest link. He tried to overwhelm Johnnie early, but the younger Black brother hung on long enough to tag in Bobby Joe, who charged in with raw power and fury, delivering a flurry of offense against Kit Sackett. For a brief moment, momentum shifted in favor of the Wranglers.

But the wild card in this match was Nixi XS, whose interference changed everything. At one point, she yanked Bobby Joe’s ankle mid-climb on the top rope, nearly causing him serious injury. With Bobby Joe stuck outside, Johnnie Jo was left to be battered by both Winkle and Sackett. Every time Bobby Joe tried to help, Nixi would bait him into the ring or distract the referee, effectively neutralizing him. The frustration was visible – Bobby Joe seethed in his corner, powerless to stop the slow dismantling of his brother.

Eventually, Bobby Joe got a long-awaited tag and went to work with a vengeance. Winkle, in his ridiculous purple turtleneck, had it pulled up over his head and stumbled blindly around the ring, nearly getting pinned in a moment that felt straight out of a Looney Tunes episode. But the chaos worked in Winkle’s favor. Just when it seemed like the Wranglers might turn the tide, disaster struck. Johnnie Jo tagged back in, only to be lured toward ringside, right where Nixi XS was waiting. She sprayed him in the face with what looked like paint or some sort of aerosol makeup product, temporarily blinding him. It was over from there.

Van “Bam” Winkle and Kit Sackett made short work of the disoriented Johnnie Jo, sealing yet another heartbreaking loss for the farmhands from Turner, Kansas. The Wranglers have been one of Trailblazer’s most beloved teams, but this match may mark a dark turning point in the tag division. With this new trio of villains running roughshod over the company, one thing’s for sure: we’re going to need a miracle, or maybe divine intervention, to restore balance in the Trailblazer tag ranks. May the gods help us all.

Luke Anthony walked into this event with something to prove. After a heartbreaking loss at March’sTrailblazer Championship Wrestling: Madness, where he fell short in his quest for the Heavyweight Title against “Astonishing” Austin Mulitalo, it would’ve been easy to spiral. To make matters worse, Mulitalo added insult to injury by assaulting Anthony after the match had ended – an attack so vicious it earned him a suspension. But Luke Anthony refused to be defined by defeat. Determined to climb back up the ladder without starting over from scratch, he came into this show ready to make a statement – and to do so, he had to overcome one of the most imposing forces in the Midwest: “The Unnatural Disaster” Salum Gust.

Facing Gust is no small task. He’s widely regarded as one of the strongest men in Trailblazer Championship Wrestling, with a highlight reel full of jaw-dropping displays of power. Fans still talk about the time he hurled 350-pound “Iron Pitbull” Kenny Kingston across the ring like a ragdoll. Luke Anthony, nowhere near that size, had every reason to be cautious. But caution doesn’t win matches – heart, strategy, and fearlessness do.

From the opening bell, Salum Gust unleashed his trademark brutality: tossing Anthony across the ring, stomping him with full body weight, and choking him against the ropes with the top rope used as leverage, all while daring the referee to stop him. At one point, it looked like Gust might grind his way to a submission victory. But Anthony dug deep, shifting tactics and taking to the air. He fought back with a flurry of dropkicks and aerial assaults, aiming low and targeting Gust’s legs like a lumberjack chopping away at a redwood.

Then came the moment that brought the crowd to its feet – Anthony muscled Gust into a fireman’s carry, an astonishing feat of strength and willpower. He slammed the giant to the mat and ascended the turnbuckle, hitting a picture-perfect Sky Twister Press for the 1-2-3. A clean win. A statement made.

One curious detail: Dekin Cane, Gust’s ever-present and notoriously devious manager, was nowhere to be seen at ringside. Whether this absence was tied to his near-suplex experience earlier in the night, or whether there’s a deeper pattern emerging, similar to the strange situation with his other client Miracle Mike James, remains to be seen. Regardless, this was a signature win for Luke Anthony. Not only does it put him back on the path toward the Trailblazer Heavyweight Title, but it further cements his place as one of the brightest rising stars in Kansas City pro wrestling today.

One of the most surprising and compelling moments of the night came when Miracle Mike James squared off against Zay-K47, who was making his Trailblazer debut. While the spotlight may have initially been on the newcomer, fans were equally, if not more, curious to see what would unfold with Miracle Mike James, whose strained relationship with manager “The Midwest Mouth” Dekin Cane has been simmering for nearly a year.

For months, James has seemed caught between wanting to compete on his own terms and being shackled to Cane’s increasingly chaotic interference. While there was once a fragile alliance, it has unraveled in spectacular fashion. Cane’s actions have repeatedly sabotaged James’s momentum, turning easy victories into close calls and turning the audience’s sympathy into concern. The breaking point came in a recent match when James explicitly told Cane to stay backstage, only for Cane to reappear uninvited, nearly costing him the win yet again. Though Cane handed him a foreign object that secured the victory, it was clear a collision was inevitable.

As the bell rang, Mike James entered alone, no stablemates, no entourage, NO Dekin Cane. Instead, he came out wielding a huge spike clenched between his teeth, a tribute to the late Sabu, the ECW icon who had passed away earlier in the week. He also pointed to the sky in respect for his fallen hero, in the same fashion Sabu had always done for his uncle – The Original Sheik. The image was electric and James was locked in and as unpredictable as ever. Zay-K47, despite the advantage of youth and size, was stepping into a dangerous fight.

Zay-K47 opened strong, tossing James around with authority and using his athleticism to dominate early. But Mike James is a veteran forged in the unforgiving world of deathmatch wrestling, and he brought a twisted bag of tricks. He gouged at the eyes during submission holds, ripped off one of Zay’s muscle tassels, and used it as an improvised garrote. James operated with ruthless creativity, a man who seemed less interested in rules than results. After weakening Zay with a brutal series of attacks, he cinched in a deep camel clutch and nearly forced the submission. there was a bit more back and forth and finally James hit his top rope foot stomp for the win…..But the most shocking part of the night was still to come.

Just moments after James’s victory, out came Dekin Cane flanked by Rocco the Barbarian and “The Unnatural Disaster” Salum Gust. For a tense moment, no one knew what was about to unfold. Were they here to congratulate James? To recruit Zay? To pick a fight? The confusion gave way to chaos as the three circled James, seemingly demanding that James humiliate his opponent further.

But Miracle Mike James wasn’t having it.

In a stunning act of defiance, James stood up to his former handler. He knocked Cane off the apron and brandished the spike once again. Then, in a shocking twist, Zay-K47 rose to his feet and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with James, and together they fended off the would-be ambush. Dekin Cane’s goons, stunned and reeling, beat a hasty retreat as the crowd roared in disbelief and celebration.

And just like that, the fans got what they had been waiting months for – the redemption of Miracle Mike James. No longer shackled by Cane’s manipulations, James finally stepped into the role many fans had hoped he would embrace – not a squeaky-clean hero, but a gritty, defiant, battle-scarred rebel. He may still be a loose cannon, but he’s our loose cannon now, and in Trailblazer Championship Wrestling, that makes all the difference.

Finally, it was time for the history-making main event at Trailblazer Championship Wrestling: Rise – the match to crown the inaugural Trailblazer Women’s Champion, pitting Skylar Sparks against “The Phoenix Princess” Aminah Belmont. This wasn’t just about a title. This was the culmination of years of tension, animosity, and unfinished business between two women who knew each other far too well.

Long before she stepped between the ropes as a competitor, Skylar Sparks served as a referee for Trailblazer. And it was during those early days that she repeatedly called out Aminah Belmont’s antics, setting the tone for a rivalry that has been simmering for quite some time. That heat spilled over during a chaotic six-woman tag last year and ignited again when Aminah arrogantly claimed that there were no women left in Trailblazer worthy of facing her. Skylar Sparks, never one to stay quiet, stepped up and challenged her – daring Belmont to put her ego on the line in a match to crown the first-ever Trailblazer Women’s Champion.

On one side, you had Aminah Belmont: the winningest competitor in Trailblazer over the last two years, a calculating technician with an indie resume to die for. On the other side, Skylar Sparks: trained by the legendary Harley Race, resilient, proud, and tougher than Missouri leather. This was always destined to be a battle for the ages, and the fans knew it. Streamers filled the ring in a colorful eruption as both women stood toe-to-toe before the bell. Surprisingly, Belmont came to the ring empty-handed, no talcum powder purse, no stolen weapons, no hocket sticks, no foreign objects like she’s become notorious for wielding in the past. Was this a new, focused Aminah Belmont? Or just a wolf in sheep’s clothing waiting to strike? Fans didn’t have to wait long for their answer.

Skylar Sparks opened the match with fire, charging Belmont before she could even catch her breath. The fight quickly spilled to the outside where Sparks delivered a flurry of strikes and nearly lifted Belmont for a massive power move, only for Aminah to counter, almost stealing a crucifix pin. Aminah slammed Skylar into the corner and unloaded with vicious chops and her signature submissions. But if you don’t keep Skylar down, she will come back swinging – and that’s exactly what happened. Sparks rallied back with a massive suplex and a series of fierce blows that had the crowd erupting in her favor.

Then came the turning point.

Belmont stunned the crowd by hoisting Skylar up for a Styles Clash and followed with her now-lethal Sharpshooter, a submission she’s turned into her calling card. Skylar, gritting through the pain, managed to drag herself to the ropes, refusing to quit. A flurry of offense followed from both sides as momentum shifted again, until Belmont rolled out of the ring, grabbed the women’s championship belt, and, in classic Aminah Belmont fashion, hurled it into Skylar’s face behind the referee’s back. Dragging her dazed opponent back into the ring, Belmont locked in a second Sharpshooter. This time, there was no escape. Skylar Sparks, defiant to the last breath, was rendered unconscious, and the referee had no choice but to call for the bell.

Winner by submission: Aminah Belmont.

With that, the confetti rained down and history was written – Aminah Belmont stood tall as the first-ever Trailblazer Women’s Champion. But once again, her victory was tainted, earned through trickery rather than honor. Even as the crowd booed, the moment could not be denied: the Phoenix Princess had claimed her crown. In the end, the era of the Trailblazer Women’s Championship begins with a controversial champion, and the hunt to unseat her is already underway. For Skylar Sparks, this isn’t the end – it’s only the beginning of the fight back.

Conclusion:

History has been made – Trailblazer Championship Wrestling has officially crowned its first Women’s Champion. While the ending may have left some fans divided, there’s no denying that Aminah Belmont now stands at the top of the women’s division. Like it or not, the Phoenix Princess has the gold – and the rest of the roster is on notice. I, for one, can’t wait to see who steps up to challenge her next.

And the action isn’t slowing down! Trailblazer just announced a BONUS event in conjunction with the Johnson County Fair – an unplanned addition to the summer calendar. Keep an eye on Trailblazer’s socials for more details as they break.

Top to bottom, this was an incredible show and a testament to Trailblazer’s continued rise as one of the Midwest’s most exciting wrestling promotions. Every match tonight added fuel to the fire building toward Monster’s Brawl in October – an event that’s quickly becoming Trailblazer’s signature yearly spectacle. If tonight was any indication, expect surprises, chaos, and unforgettable moments ahead.