A Live Professional Wrestling Show
While I’m just one person – and there’s no way I can realistically cover the professional wrestling scene beyond the Kansas City area (and even that can be a challenge!) – I always welcome the chance to attend shows from promotions I’m not familiar with. Every so often, I get to venture outside my usual 100-mile-or-so radius (or in this case, they come to me!) and experience something I’ve been missing in regions a bit further afield.
That was the case recently when I made the drive over to Topeka, Kansas, for S.K.I.L.L./O.C.W. Trancazos Y Baile (Smackdowns and Dancing), a joint supershow hosted by Topeka’s own Oakland Championship Wrestling (O.C.W.) and Southwest Kansas Independent Lucha Libre (S.K.I.L.L.). The event took place at a local night club called Topeka Social and featured not only the wrestling card we’ll be discussing, but also a variety of family-friendly activities: taco trucks, children’s bounce houses, face painting, balloon animals, and more. For premium ticket holders, there was also access to a concert by the band Conjunto Presidio De SLP – which is where the “dancing” portion of the title came into play. I had my son with me, and since the concert was 18+, we didn’t stick around for that part of the evening, but everything else was still packed to the brim with things to do.
This was technically a second show to go along with a show the previous night that I missed, I’m sure some of the storylines here came from that previous show, and I am sad I had to work that night.
For those in my readership who may be unfamiliar, S.K.I.L.L. is a lucha libre company that typically runs out of Dodge City, Kansas, a massive five-hour drive from where I’m based. That said, several of their talents have made appearances in this area over the years, especially members of The Standard, Chance Carigan and “Illustrious” Rey Leon, as well as the tag team Chancla Violence (Angel De Paz and Bruiserdor Violencia).
O.C.W., on the other hand, is a long-running promotion out of Topeka, though they’ve slowed down considerably in recent years and now run more sporadically. They share talent with Traditional American Pro Wrestling (T.A.P.W.) and a few other Central Kansas outfits, and you’ll spot some familiar faces here too, such as Rocco the Barbarian and Dekin Cane, both of whom are regulars in Trailblazer Championship Wrestling.
This particular event was structured as a company vs. company showdown centered around a rivalry between Angel De Paz and Michael Ortega, with Angel playing something of an invading agent on “enemy” territory. In the opening moments, Angel was visibly irritated that Ortega had the nerve to confront him, particularly when it seemed like Angel had been given authority to oversee the evening’s proceedings. We soon learned that each company had chosen a representative for the main event – a tables match. Ortega brought out “Big Country” Matt Stockdale, though he made it very clear that Stockdale wasn’t his first pick, hinting that he was stuck with him. Angel, naturally, picked his tag partner and close ally Bruiserdor Violencia to represent S.K.I.L.L.
What really excited me about this show was the number of new faces I got to see in action, which ultimately led to me having to ask people “what’s your name again” if I had trouble hearing the ring introductions, which I’m sure was very annoying (I’m Sorry!). It really made me wish I lived closer to central Kansas, because there’s clearly a vibrant scene full of talented wrestlers who rarely get showcased in my area. I’d love to see that change.
At the very least, I sincerely hope that S.K.I.L.L. and O.C.W. continue this working relationship. Shows like Trancazos Y Baile are proof that there’s a lot of untapped potential in both Lucha Libre and when regional promotions collaborate.
The Card:
5/31/25 – Topeka, Kansas at Topeka Social
- Segment – “The Chicano Terror” Michael Ortega and Angel De Paz face off, their companies will battle and their chosen “champions” will be in main event – Bruiserdor Violencia VS “Big Country” Matt Stockdale in a Tables Match. Ortega stresses that Stockdale was not his first choice.
- Fatal Five Way – “The Silent Assassin” Zak Ravik Defeated Zakariah Creed, The Spartan, Damien VaSquez, and El Gecko by pinfall.
- Singles Match – Kyle King Defeated Kalvin “Marquis” LeRoy by pinfall.
- Singles Match – El Alacrán Azul Defeated Mr. Fitness 2 by pinfall.
- T2G Tommy 2 Good Defeated Burt Cameron by pinfall.
- The Standard (Illustrious Rey Leon and Chance “El Diablo Blanco” Carigan) defeated the team of Him the Scarecrowe and Rocco The Barbarian (w/ Dekin Cane) by pinfall.
- Singles Match – “The Diamond” Marco Hendrixxx Defeated Andrew Bridge by pinfall.
- Main Event – Tables Match – – Bruiserdor Violencia (w/ Angel de Paz) defeated “Big Country” Matt Stockdale (w/ “The Chicano Terror” Michael Ortega) by putting him through a table.
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 first match of the evening was a fatal five-way showcasing a group of talents I had never seen before—several of whom primarily wrestle in central Kansas and the surrounding region (mostly for TAPW). As someone who loves discovering new talent, this was an absolute treat. The participants included El Gecko, Spartan, Damien Vasquez, Zak Ravik, and Zakariah Creed – the latter two appearing to be loosely aligned at the start of the match. From the opening bell, it was clear that the primary strategy of the other competitors was to take out the imposing Spartan, who stood noticeably taller and heavier than everyone else in the ring. It was clear that he could toss almost everyone in there like a ragdoll, so Spartan was quickly bum-rushed, overwhelmed by the others, and spilled out to the floor.
Ravik and Creed worked together early on, using a mix of Ravik’s precision striking and Creed’s power-based offense to control much of the match. But as with all alliances in multi-man matches, their teamwork didn’t last long – personal ambitions always take over. El Gecko had a fun flurry of offense, including an impressive rope-walk that really got the crowd fired up. Unfortunately, his momentum was short-lived. Meanwhile, Damien Vasquez looked to be the odds-on favorite for a good stretch of the match. Pound for pound, he seemed to be the most athletically gifted in the ring and had the fans fully in his corner. But his downfall came when he tried to take Spartan head-on. Despite taking a beating early, Spartan absorbed the punishment and came back with a vengeance, catching Vasquez mid-air and countering into a brutal backbreaker followed by an overhead Fallaway Slam that took Vasquez out of the equation.
With Spartan still reeling, and Vasquez still on the floor, Creed, Gecko, and Ravik each tried to capitalize, trading heavy blows and wearing one another down in the process. Eventually, it came down to Ravik and El Gecko. In the final moments, Ravik landed a picture-perfect spinning heel kick right to Gecko’s face, laying him out and sealing the win. This was a strong opener that set the tone for the rest of the evening. It not only delivered in terms of action and crowd energy, but also introduced a number of new talents who made a strong first impression. I’m keeping an eye on Zak Ravik, the dude was awesome.
Next up was a matchup between Kyle King and Kalvin “The Marquis” LeRoy – a bout that quickly turned ridiculous when LeRoy became completely fixated on an audience member who mispronounced his name as the unsophisticated “Lee-Roy” instead of the preferred, almost French, “La-Roy.” This led to an absurd amount of stalling and arguing before the opening bell action truly began. Once things finally got underway, Kyle King opened with a classic test of strength, feigning agony as if Kalvin was overpowering him – only to reveal he was joking the whole time. It set the tone for a match that started with light-hearted antics but would gradually evolve into something far more competitive.
While Kalvin LeRoy is clearly no slouch in the ring and has undeniable charisma, it was apparent that Kyle King came in with a clear physical advantage – he looked stronger, more conditioned, and eventually decided to cut through the silliness. King leaned in with some stiff strikes and shifted the match’s tone to something much more serious. LeRoy did mount a strong offensive stretch, even coming close to scoring a victory via headlock submission, but King roared back with authority. He landed a series of heavy lariats, a scoop slam, a flipping senton off the top rope, and sealed the deal with a thunderous superkick that put Kalvin down for good. With that, Kyle King proved who the real royalty was in Topeka, Kansas.
It was a truly humbling experience for a mere mortal such as myself to witness a physical specimen like Mr. Fitness 2 at this event. Billed as The One Million Dollar Body, Mr. Fitness 2 is – according to him – the strongest man in all of Kansas, and perhaps even the greatest professional wrestler of all time. You might question that claim, especially when faced with the sight of a somewhat disheveled man in a mask, puffing on a cigarette as he made his entrance. But really – would such a man lie to the crowd if it weren’t true? With the event doubling as something of a taco festival, Mr. Fitness 2 wasted no time taking the microphone to air his grievances. In his eyes, there wasn’t a single authentic taco on the premises. Authentic, of course, being defined by his own mother’s recipe: Old El Paso corn taco shells, sour cream, ground turkey, and Mrs. Dash brand seasoning. Unsurprisingly, the crowd reacted with revulsion to this revelation – clearly not the culinary gospel they had hoped for.
Fueled by this taco-related outrage, Mr. Fitness 2 declared that he was there for one purpose only: to destroy a luchador in the middle of the ring as payback for the culinary injustice he had suffered. The crowd erupted in chants of “Lucha! Lucha! Lucha!” as the ever-popular El Alacrán Azul (The Blue Scorpion) made his entrance. A clear crowd favorite, El Alacrán Azul was met with thunderous support. What followed was an impromptu posing contest and Mr. Fitness attempting to call a timeout seconds into the match, and general fitness-fueled absurdity before things finally got underway.
El Alacrán Azul quickly took control, dazzling with his athleticism – even against a self-proclaimed Adonis like Mr. Fitness 2. The match saw a series of underhanded tricks from Fitness: cheap shots, roll-ups out of nowhere, and a face-first throw into the turnbuckle. But none of it could keep Azul down. Eventually, the masked luchador fired back with a flurry of suplexes and high-impact offense, finally scoring the pinfall victory to the delight of the crowd. In the end, it wasn’t Old El Paso tacos or ground turkey that triumphed – it was lucha libre, and Mr. Fitness 2 was left to sulk as the Blue Scorpion stung his pride.
Next up were two familiar faces from the local scene: Tommy 2 Good (T2G) and Burt Cameron, both mainstays in promotions I frequent around the region. T2G came out with a slightly different look this time, more of a cowboy flair, and referred to himself as “The Outlaw” throughout the night. He certainly lived up to that moniker, especially in how he interacted with the crowd. Let’s just say subtlety and sportsmanship were not on his agenda. On the other hand, Burt Cameron instantly won me over (again) when he entered to the ska-punk classic “The Impression That I Get” by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. I’ve often heard wise men say that “the only true art forms in this world are professional wrestling and ska music“, and on this night, Burt had both on tap.
The antics started early. T2G wasted no time trying to control the pace, rolling out of the ring and literally disappearing. With the referee starting a count-out, Cameron searched around the ring – only for T2G to reappear on the other side, having crawled out from underneath, now wearing a Lone Ranger-style mask, trying to blend in with the crowd. Outlaw indeed. Once the action resumed, the match swung back and forth with both men taking turns on offense. Burt Cameron’s size advantage was on full display, powering through T2G’s offense and delivering some beautifully timed takedowns and shoulder tackles. Meanwhile, T2G, perhaps out of desperation, focused on keeping Cameron grounded – tying him up in the ropes or trapping him in the corner whenever he could.
At one point, Cameron was draped across the second rope, and T2G went for a running kick. In true karmic fashion, Burt dodged at the last second, and T2G crotched himself in spectacular fashion on the middle rope, earning a collective groan and laugh from the crowd. Despite the crowd firmly behind Cameron, the match ended on a sour note. T2G, ever the outlaw, took out the referee and landed a cheap shot on Burt to score the quick and dirty pinfall. The crowd booed hard, clearly not thrilled with the outcome. Personally, I hope this isn’t the end of this feud – because Cameron deserves a shot at revenge, and I think a rematch with higher stakes could tear the house down.
This match played with my emotions more than I’d like to admit. For a brief moment, it seemed like the unexpected fan favorites were none other than “The Midwest Mouth” Dekin Cane and Rocco the Barbarian – two men I’ve come to know as notorious scoundrels who specialize in cheap shots and pillaging rings across the state of Kansas. Teaming with them was the imposing and mysterious masked figure known only as Him The Scarecrowe – a man who looked like he’d rather be anywhere else than sharing a corner with Cane and Rocco. Across the ring stood The Standard—Illustrious Rey León and “The White Devil” Chance Carrigan – a duo I’ve seen more times than I’d like and frankly can’t stand. So yes, I did what felt right in the moment: I cheered for the Barbarian.
For a while, Cane and Rocco actually played it straight. Dekin, shockingly, kept things above board, and Rocco stayed on what could almost be called “his best behavior.” Maybe they pulled the wool over OCW management’s eyes, but I got the sense they were trying to do the same to us, the fans. That said, dysfunction was never far off. Miscommunication plagued their team as Him The Scarecrowe, clearly disinterested in their partnership, seemed determined to fight solo. It backfired, and the big man became the primary target of The Standard’s offense. At one point, Chance Carrigan nearly tapped him out – but the Scarecrowe roared back with a valiant effort, regaining some control of the match.
Then came the moment that I knew was likely to happen. Just when it looked like Him the Scarecrowe was about to tag in Rocco and turn the tide, Rocco the Barbarian proved exactly why I should’ve trusted my gut. He and that loathsome manager of his, Dekin Cane, abandoned ship. They jumped off the apron and left Scarecrowe to be devoured by León and Carrigan, who quickly pounced and picked up the win. Lesson learned. Never doubt your instincts – especially when it comes to Rocco and Dekin. They are who we thought they were. And if OCW management had any illusions about the two of them turning a new leaf, I think that façade just crumbled in spectacular fashion.
Next up was a friendly yet highly competitive lucha libre exhibition between Andrew Bridge and Topeka’s own “The Diamond” Marco Hendrixxx. As the hometown favorite, Hendrixxx received a thunderous reaction from the crowd – anyone unfamiliar with the roster might have assumed he was the top star of both promotions combined. Across the ring stood Andrew Bridge, who immediately made an impression with a sharp, hybrid style blending traditional lucha libre with fluid martial arts-inspired movement. While Bridge may have had the edge in agility and aerial technique, Hendrixxx was clearly the powerhouse in the ring – tossing Bridge around with ease whenever he got his hands on him.
The match was back-and-forth, with both men pushing each other to their limits. However, the tide shifted in Hendrixxx’s favor during two crucial moments – both times as a result of Bridge’s high-flying tendencies. The first came when Bridge attempted a top-rope maneuver, only for Hendrixxx to explode onto the second rope and counter with a massive release suplex that rattled the ring. Later, with both men outside, Bridge again went for a high-risk springboard moonsault, but the move left him as damaged as his opponent as Hendrixxx almost caught him. Worn down from his relentless aerial attacks, Bridge was vulnerable – setting up Hendrixxx to turn one of Bridge’s lucha-style moves into a devastating powerbomb for the win. Marco Hendrixxx walked out of Topeka not just as the hometown hero, but as a conquering champion in the eyes of the crowd – friends, family, and fans alike rising to their feet to celebrate his hard-fought victory.
Finally, it was time for the main event of the evening: a colossal tables match between two of Kansas’s biggest heavy-hitters – OCW’s “Big Country” Matt Stockdale and SKILL’s own Bruiserdor Violencia – accompanied by their respective company owners, Michael Ortega and Angel De Paz.
From the start, it was abundantly clear that the luchadors wanted nothing to do with the stipulation. The very concept of a tables match seemed to fly in the face of lucha libre tradition, and both Bruiserdor Violencia and his manager/tag partner Angel De Paz made their disapproval loud and theatrical. Every time Stockdale attempted to bring a table into play – whether from under the ring or borrowed from the crowd – it was met with stern opposition, almost as if he were committing a grave insult. While this chaos unfolded, Michael Ortega sat silently in the crowd, observing. His demeanor was a stark contrast to Angel De Paz’s animated outbursts. Ortega looked like a man torn – seething with disdain for both Stockdale and the invading promotion he viewed as a threat to his territory.
Both Stockdale and Violencia are massive men, but it quickly became apparent that “Big Country” had the size advantage. Despite being dwarfed, Violencia proved to be the more agile of the two, ducking, weaving, and frustrating the OCW powerhouse at every turn. When a table finally made its way into the ring – despite the luchadors’ protests – it became a centerpiece of the struggle, with both men doing everything they could to avoid being driven through it. Just when it looked like Stockdale was about to seal the win – Violencia splayed across the table, and Stockdale climbing to the top rope to finish it – the unthinkable happened. Michael Ortega sprang into action, nailing Stockdale with a kendo stick and sending him crashing through the table instead.
The crowd was stunned.
What appeared to be an inter-promotional war turned out to be an elaborate ruse. The rivalry between Ortega and De Paz had been a smokescreen. As they stood side by side, united and grinning, Matt Stockdale lay broken among the splinters – used as a pawn in a twisted alliance. With the luchadors standing tall and the fans filtering out with a bitter taste in their mouths, one question lingered: Will retribution come? Perhaps, in time, a return to Topeka will give “Big Country” the chance to even the score.
Conclusion:
Despite going into the show only recognizing about 20% of the talent and having little to no knowledge of the existing storylines or dynamics between the wrestlers, I walked away thoroughly impressed – and already hoping for more. The venue, Topeka Social, proved to be an absolutely ideal location for a wrestling show. It was the perfect size, with ample space for fans and plenty of potential for future growth. If another collaboration like this happens, I sincerely hope they can secure this venue again – it added a great atmosphere to the event.
What made the evening even more special was the overall experience beyond the ring. Between the face painting, balloon animals, taco trucks, and the ever-popular bouncy castle (where my son spent nearly all of intermission), this was more than just a wrestling show – it was a full-on family event. My son had an absolute blast, and it made for a really fun and memorable night for both of us. Personally, I was especially excited to finally see live events from both SKILL and OCW, two promotions I had previously missed – one due to simply not knowing their schedule, and the other because they typically run too far from where I’m willing to travel. Getting to see both under one roof was a rare treat.
All I can say is: if these two companies ever reunite for another show and I don’t have anything wild going on that weekend, you better believe I’ll do everything I can to be there. This was an awesome experience – fun, fresh, and full of potential – and I hope it’s just the beginning of something special in the Topeka wrestling scene.
