REVIEW: Trailblazer Championship Wrestling – Summer Stampede (2025)

A Live Professional Wrestling show

Everybody (generally) loves going to the fair. Carnival rides, animal contests, wild food like deep-fried PB&J sandwiches (which I saw there), rodeos, demolition derbies, and live music are all rolled into one huge event. For some smaller towns, the fair is one of the main highlights of the entire year, drawing in out-of-towners and creating lasting memories. The Johnson County Fair in Gardner, Kansas was no exception, but this year they decided to do something different to give fairgoers something fresh in 2025: hosting a live professional wrestling show from Trailblazer Championship Wrestling.

For a sweltering summer day, a lot could have gone wrong with an outdoor show in a rodeo arena. There were storms in the forecast, and earlier predictions had the temperature creeping close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Thankfully, none of that mattered. The temperature never climbed much higher than 85, which is hot but manageable, and cloud cover from storms that never materialized kept the sun off our backs. It felt as though the wrestling gods were smiling on us.

Trailblazer Summer Stampede marked the first iteration of what I hope becomes an annual tradition: a big outdoor fairgrounds show from Trailblazer Championship Wrestling. Since this one took place on a Tuesday, I had to take a rare day off work to attend. I am glad I did, because despite a few key differences, the show held its own against the company’s larger “regular shows.” One of those differences was the addition of “The Voice of Trailblazer” Marcus Officer stationed in the grandstand press box, chiming in occasionally to help the crowd, many of whom were likely new to wrestling, follow along. It gave the show a unique and fun feel. This was more of an exhibition than a story-driven show, but that doesn’t mean that the show was any less like any other Trailblazer show, it was just very newcomer friendly.

As always, I’ll be going through the matches on the card and breaking down what happened, and how each bout ties into the bigger picture of Trailblazer in 2025. Let’s get into Trailblazer Summer Stampede.

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!

The Card:

RESULTS – Trailblazer Championship Wrestling – Summer Stampede 7-30-25

At The Johnson County Fair – Main Rodeo Arena, Gardner Kansas

Tag Team Match – The Wranglers (Bobby Joe Black and Johnnie Jo Black) Defeated The Thoroughbreds (Talon Graves and “The Natural” Atlas Armstrong) by pinfall.
Singles Match – “Seargent at Arms” Blade Lennox Defeated “Monstrous” Mike Maverick by pinfall.
Singles Match – Rocco the Barbarian (w/ Dekin Cane) Defeated King Sabre by pinfall.
Singles Match – Miracle Mike James Defeated Rey De La Muerte by pinfall.
Tag Team Match – The team of “Yogamonster” Mike Sydal and “2^nd 2 None” Kenny Alfonso defeated The Premier (Campbell Meyers and SK Bishop) by pinfall.
Singles women’s Match – “The Ultimate Diva” Izzy B. Defeated “The Power Rough Girl” Ashlynn Alexander by pinfall.
Tables Match – “The Unnatural Disaster” Salum Gust put “The Suplex Cyclone” Curt Gannon through a table (with help from Rocco and Dekin)
Gold Rush Battle Royale – Traditional over-the-top-rope elimination rules. Bobby Joe Black won a chance at “Astonishing” Austin Mulitalo.
Other competitors: Johnnie Jo Black, Talon Graves, Atlas Armstrong, Blade Lennox, Mike Maverick, Trey Lind, Caleb Hopkins, Rocco The Barbarian, King Sabre, Salum Gust, Miracle Mike James, Rey De La Muerte, Mike Sydal, Kenny Alfonso, Campbell Meyers, and SK Bishop.
MAIN EVENT – Singles Match for the Trailblazer Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Championship – “Astonishing” Austin Mulitalo (C) defeated Bobby Joe Black 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:

The opening match was a tag team bout featuring The Wranglers (Bobby Joe Black and Johnnie Jo Black) against newcomers The Thoroughbreds (Atlas Armstrong and Talon Graves). The Thoroughbreds have quickly become one of the area’s most talked-about up-and-coming tag teams, and it was exciting to see them in Trailblazer. Their entrance, clad in pink Barbie-inspired gear and walking out to “Pink Pony Club,” turned heads, although the song itself is divisive to say the least. On the other hand, The Wranglers once again stormed out to “Cotton Eye Joe,” and as always, the crowd went absolutely wild. Fans were do-si-doing and tapping their feet to that strange blend of Swedish techno and American folk, creating a party-like atmosphere before the bell even rang.

The match started with Bobby Joe squaring off against Atlas, quickly overpowering him and launching him into the turnbuckle before tagging in Johnnie Jo. Talon Graves came in shortly after but found himself taking a surprising amount of punishment from Johnnie, who was uncharacteristically vicious in his attacks. The Wranglers kept Talon isolated in their corner, hammering him with their do-si-do lariats and corner splashes. Eventually, Talon and Atlas turned the tables and managed to trap Johnnie, dishing out their own offense with European uppercuts and DDTs. Atlas looked close to sealing the win, but Johnnie clawed his way to a tag. Bobby Joe roared back, countering a powerbomb attempt before tagging Johnnie back in. The Wranglers sealed the victory with a Russian Leg Sweep and clothesline combo on Talon, kicking off the night with a big win and plenty of energy from the crowd.

The second match was a treat for Kansas City fans, as it featured two of World League Wrestling’s most promising stars: “Sergeant at Arms” Blade Lennox and “Monstrous” Mike Maverick. Their styles could not be more different. Maverick is nearly seven feet tall, a towering brute, while Lennox, a military veteran who lost a leg, has turned what some would consider a disadvantage into an inspiring story of resilience. These two had butted heads before with Maverick holding two wins over Lennox’s single victory within the last year. Nobody in Gardner was sure what to expect in this match, but the fans were definitely NOT backing maverick, who made it really clear he wasn’t there for them in any way whatsoever.

Maverick wasted no time taunting Lennox, insisting he was only cheered because people pitied him, and spent the early minutes tying him up in the ropes and testing the patience of Trailblazer’s newest referee, Doug. At one point, Maverick had Lennox locked in a crushing bear hug, making it nearly impossible for him to recover. But Lennox’s determination shined through as he hacked away at Maverick’s legs, and when the big man least expected it, Lennox rolled him up for a shocking pinfall victory. The crowd exploded, rallying behind Lennox not because of sympathy, but because he proved himself to be a world-class athlete who could hold his own against anyone.

Next up was the debut of Trailblazer’s newest high-flyer, King Sabre, a direct protégé of “Yogamonster” Mike Sydal. Young, hungry, and masked, Sabre was clearly eager to make his mark in Kansas City wrestling at Summer Stampede, but this would be no easy task. His opponents for the evening were Rocco the Barbarian and his ever-scheming manager, “The Midwest Mouth” Dekin Cane, who strutted out in summer attire that included a Hawaiian shirt and sock garters – something I didn’t think anyone actually wore in real life. He assured us this was his “summer wear,” and honestly, it was probably a smart choice given the heat that day.

The fans were immediately taken by King Sabre, with kids lining up to do his “claw” symbol handshake and wish him good luck – something he would definitely need. Rocco nearly prevented the match from starting at all, repeatedly shoving the referee out of the way, but order was eventually restored. From the opening bell, Rocco’s size and strength advantage kept Sabre on the defensive. He used brutal holds, including his now-familiar Iron Claw variation, to ragdoll the masked high-flyer and show off his raw power. For Rocco, who has dealt with a string of embarrassments and some in-fighting within Dekin Cane’s little army, beating a newcomer was a chance to steady his footing in Trailblazer and maybe even climb back up the ranks after more than a year of setbacks.

Sabre fought valiantly, weathering the storm until he could finally get to his wheelhouse – the ropes. After connecting with an impressive Sliced Bread #2, the crowd sensed a possible upset. He followed it with a clinically precise superkick, but Rocco answered with a massive big boot that dropped Sabre flat. That was all she wrote, as Rocco scored the win and reclaimed a bit of momentum in his turbulent run.

It’s still surreal to hear the crowd erupt in cheers for Miracle Mike James, a man who has bloodied both himself and countless opponents while traveling what he calls “The Miracle Mile.” Long known as a lone wolf who never takes guff from anyone, his two-year stint under the management of Dekin Cane ended in spectacular fashion – and perhaps for the better. One has to wonder how James feels about his newfound popularity with the crowd, but fans have seen him drifting “towards the light” for a while now, and he honestly seems happier these days.

His opponent for the evening was another high-flyer, the masked luchador Rey De La Muerte. His name translates to something like “King of Death,” which really makes you wonder about the guy’s headspace. From the opening bell, Rey slowed the match down by constantly dipping in and out of the ring – so much so that even Marcus, over the loudspeaker, called him out for stalling. Once things got going, both men went toe-to-toe, trading holds and counters until James gained some momentum by trapping Rey in the corner with a series of massive uppercuts.

Just as quickly, though, Rey tipped the scales back in his favor, poking James in the eye after nearly colliding with the referee. From there, Rey controlled the pace for quite some time. His biggest mistake came when he got leveled by a double clothesline, putting him on the back foot and giving James the opening he needed. From there, Mike connected with a monkey flip, followed it up with a terrifying dive into the crowd onto Rey, and sealed the victory with his deadly top-rope double stomp. Your winner: Miracle Mike James.

Trailblazer Championship Wrestling has been turning heads this year with bold talent acquisitions, pulling in some of the top names in the area – wrestlers who are often mainstays for other promotions – only to have them make shocking appearances in Trailblazer. For Summer Stampede, management pulled out one of their biggest surprises yet: none other than SK Bishop and Campbell Myers, better known as The Premier, arguably the biggest drawing tag team in Kansas City over the last decade. Their opponents? “2nd 2 None” Kenny Alfonso and “Yogamonster” Mike Sydal. For many local fans, this was the definition of a dream match.

The Premier came in with their usual reputation – perhaps not the most beloved, but always ready to sarcastically and ironically “make sure tag team rules were adhered to” while doing everything possible to hoodwink their opponents. What followed was a masterclass in pure athleticism, as all four competitors, in peak condition, left the crowd stunned at nearly every turn. Highlights included Sydal pulling off a top-rope headstand before landing a Yoga Splash on SK Bishop, prompting Myers to loudly insist the move was illegal. Sydal and Bishop traded submission attempts, while both teams relied on quick tags to keep momentum. Campbell, of course, used some of his signature shortcuts to swing the match in The Premier’s favor, leading to a prolonged 2-on-1 beatdown on Alfonso while Sydal argued with the referee.

When Mike finally got the tag, the match exploded. He tore through The Premier like an angry ninja, flipping and rolling his way into control. Just when it looked like they had Sydal cornered, he turned the tables with a breathtaking double handspring back elbow, followed it up with a superkick, and tagged Alfonso back in. Kenny nailed Myers with a cutter variation to seal the victory for his team. Better luck next time for The Premier, but judging by the thunderous “This is awesome!” chants, it’s safe to say they’ll be back – and ready to settle the score.

For the evening’s women’s match, fans were treated to “The Power Rough Girl” Ashlyn Alexander making her Trailblazer debut and going face to face with “The Ultimate Diva” Izzy B. Izzy carries herself like she’s better than everyone else in the arena – prettier, more deserving, and far above the “losers” she insults at every turn. She’s the high school mean girl turned up to eleven, dripping with ultra-obnoxious energy. Thankfully, her opponent was Ashlyn Alexander, who has no time for that kind of drama and simply wants to smash through anyone in her way.

Izzy tried to take the upper hand by jumping Ashlyn before the bell, but all it did was fire Alexander up. From that point, Ashlyn charged through her like a wrecking ball, showing off the raw strength and power that makes her the perfect foil to Izzy’s tall and over-reaching frame. Built like a powerlifter, Ashlyn is nearly impossible to take down once she gets moving. Izzy, however, was no stranger to her opponent and wisely kept her trapped in the corner and tied up in the ropes to slow down the momentum. The crowd thought it was over when Ashlyn connected with her crushing bottom-rope cross-body, but Izzy shocked everyone by kicking out, countering a fireman’s carry, and snatching the win with a sudden roll-up out of nowhere.

“The Suplex Cyclone” Curt Gannon stepped into an open spot at Summer Stampede to face “The Unnatural Disaster” Salum Gust in a tables match, reigniting their bitter feud from early 2024. Fans will recall that Gust’s ambush in the Trailblazer Championship Wrestling Title Tournament nearly sidelined Gannon, and had it not occurred, Gannon might very well be champion today instead of Mulitalo. The choice of match seemed strange at first, given that Gust’s manager, Dekin Cane, has a notorious fear of suplexes and tables alike. But in hindsight, it looked like a carefully laid trap by Cane, who was willing to risk his client’s neck if it meant stacking the deck against Gannon.

Gust gained the early advantage, throwing his weight around and brutalizing Gannon on the apron, from what I understand is the hardest part of the ring, and dragging the fight outside where chairs quickly came into play. Gust somehow managed to whack himself after a mistimed chair swing, which opened the door for Gannon to rally with a barrage of suplexes and chair shots. With momentum on his side, Gannon dragged a table out from under the ring, clearly poised to seal the win. That’s when Cane’s master plan kicked in. The familiar music of Rocco the Barbarian hit, distracting Gannon just long enough for Gust to recover. With Rocco’s interference tipping the scales, Gust powerbombed Gannon through the table for the tainted victory.

This wasn’t just another win for Salum Gust, it was another checkmark in Dekin Cane’s growing list of orchestrated screwjobs. For the second time in recent months, Gannon found himself undone not by his opponent, but by Cane’s army of cronies. The beating left him unable to compete in the Gold Rush Battle Royal later that night, robbing him of a clear shot at becoming number one contender for the Trailblazer Heavyweight Championship. And you can bet Cane is smiling wide, knowing he’s once again pulled the strings and left one of Trailblazer’s toughest competitors in ruins.

The Gold Rush Battle Royal was a traditional over-the-top-rope match with the winner earning a shot at “Astonishing” Austin Mulitalo’s Trailblazer Heavyweight Championship later that night in the main event. The match featured nearly all the male talent seen earlier in the evening, with a few notable exceptions – Curt Gannon was absent due to the injuries suffered in his tables match, while Trey Lind and Caleb Hopkins, one-half of the Trailblazer announce team, made surprise appearances. Hopkins came to the ring decked out head-to-toe in Mulitalo merch, vowing to defend his favorite wrestler’s honor against the constant “Austin Sucks” chants led by fellow announcer Marcus Officer. Caleb’s master plan was to win the battle royal and simply lay down for Austin, preserving his title reign and giving the champion a night off. Unfortunately for him, the entire field saw through the scheme and immediately ganged up to toss him out, leaving Caleb to slink back to wherever he may have come from.

From there, chaos erupted as grudges carried over from earlier in the night and short-lived alliances rose and fell. The Premier even tried to halt the action mid-match to question why competitors weren’t using tag ropes, only to be promptly dumped out for his trouble. Eventually the field narrowed to the final two: Salum Gust and Bobby Joe Black, a shocking callback to my very first Trailblazer show. Just like that 2023 event, history repeated itself, and Bobby Joe once again pulled off a huge win at Salum’s expense. “Mr. Battle Royal” Bobby Joe Black punched his ticket to the main event with another career-defining victory.

Bobby Joe Black stunned the crowd just minutes before the main event by winning a chance at “Astonishing” Austin Mulitalo’s belt, but it was clear he came in at a disadvantage. Austin had spent much of the evening tucked away in some sort of VIP dressing area, only emerging earlier to antagonize the crowd. Now he was set to face a man who had already wrestled two full matches earlier in the night. The contrast in stamina was obvious from the start. Bobby has the heart of a lion, but when you put your body through the ringer like he had, taking on a fresh opponent at 100 percent is nearly impossible, especially one who isn’t shy about using “certain methods” to secure victories. Austin opened the match by exploiting Bobby’s weakest points, locking him in headlocks and grinding holds to wear him down even further.

Just when it looked like Austin might cruise to an easy win, Bobby caught a second wind, firing back with a string of heavy slams and setting up for a huge top-rope move that could have sealed the deal. Unfortunately, Austin rolled through the attempt, countering into a quick pin and stealing the victory. “Astonishing” Austin Mulitalo remains Trailblazer Heavyweight Champion until at least October. Even in defeat, Bobby Joe Black proved how much he has grown in the last two years. His performance solidified him as a bona fide main-event star in Trailblazer Championship Wrestling. There will be another chance, and when it comes, Bobby Joe Black will be even better.

Conclusion:

Sure, Trailblazer Summer Stampede was technically just another Trailblazer show, but being outdoors and part of a county fair gave it a completely different vibe. The card seemed structured with fairgoers in mind, many of whom may not have even been familiar with wrestling. That said, Trailblazer didn’t hold back at all, and the in-ring quality was right on par with their usual events. Seeing surprising names like The Premier, Ashlyn Alexander, and The Thoroughbreds made the night even better, and the crowd was clearly having a blast. When it was all said and done, my son and I capped the evening with tacos from one of our favorite Gardner spots, El Luchador Restaurant’s food truck, along with some giant lemonades before heading home. All in all, it was a far better way to spend a Wednesday night than being stuck at work.