Cockaboose Hosts Fall Brawl 2: How Jon Malus Hoodwinked Columbia With A Soda City Spectacular

Jon Malus and Luke Gallows (Photo Courtesy of Wayne Rush)

Beyond the mania of the collegiate bar arena stands the garnet and black ring in front of the concert stage. The colors are fitting based on its location in Columbia, SC.

This is the Thunderdome of sorts for the Loose Cockaboose, the host of Fall Brawl II: The Lethal Lottery.

And as in the Mad Max film, a motley group of assorted characters coagulate in conversation as they enter with their rolling luggage. The wrestlers instantly catch up with each others' travels. Some just saw each other a week ago in Charleston. Some haven't seen each other in months.

It's only two in the afternoon. I'm camped out at the outdoor bar like a character out of Hemingway; beer and notepad handy in a sea of testosterone.

Jon Malus, the facilitator of this show, stalks the hot terrain like a foreman on a construction site. He guides the ring crew in setting up rows of chairs and assembling a multi-section black tarp that will act as a barrier between the audience and the wrestlers' backstage area.

The temperature is in the low seventies. Everyone's working up a sweat. Even Brett Wolverton, the journeyman ring announcer of the independent scene, is hard at work with the sound crew, matching his notes with theirs. It's his 30th birthday today.

As three o'clock approaches, more and more wrestlers enter. Most notably, Luke Gallows makes his entrance. Everyone takes notice when the former WWE star appears. And yet the guy with arguably the most experience, Brad Cain (Lodi) slips by with only a few acknowledgments.

The autograph and question/answer session with the wrestlers begins shortly after three thirty. A satellite bar has been erected across from the outdoor bar. The Cockaboose has created a three pronged approach to snare the fans in a net of beer and alcohol.

The first fans to enter are, of course, the die-hards. They've been waiting for this show for weeks, and it shows with the posters and memorabilia they bring to be signed.

Highlights from the question/answer session include poignant stories by Lodi concerning wrestling post-WCW fame and his laundry list of injuries. I feel compelled to ask BJ Hancock what his favorite Arthur Miller play is based on his t-shirt that says "Death of a Salesman." I resist the urge, fearing my question will elicit a riot of silence and disdain. Discussion over mid 20th century American theatre has no business being mentioned here.

The five o'clock bell time holds up. The wrestlers exit to the back. The number of people gathered has doubled with a combination of wrestling fans and Saturday bar hoppers. By the amount of open containers and mix drinks, it feels more like midnight than late afternoon. I embrace my hypocrisy with my Bud Light in hand. But I know how long this show will potentially last between seven tag matches, five singles matches, and a battle royal. A gentleman wearing a Staff t-shirt seems compelled to ignore that fact as I count his third mix drink going down the shaft. Via con dios amigo...

Josh Magnum (Photo Courtesy of Wayne Rush)

Of the first group of tag matches, the opener with Josh Magnum and Jesse Windham matched up against Xavier Knight and BJ Hancock gets arguably the most pops. Early on, Magnum defied the exposed concrete sidewalk by diving onto Knight and Hancock from the top rope. His athleticism matched up against Knight's is the independent equivalent of Flair and Steamboat.

A cloud of smoke creates a haze around the bar. A growing buzz around the scene emanates from a group of female rugby players who have assembled amongst multiple buckets of beer; a regular alcoholucopia. They're like a wrestling stable of their own with strength in numbers and a bullish attitude towards the competitors.

The second Lethal Lottery tag match pits tag team nemeses DeAndre Jackson of Affirmative Action and Bradford Steele of L.E.G.I.T. against "the Insane" Asylum and "the Prestige" Steven Hunter. Jackson and Steele just competed against one another the previous Sunday in Charleston with L.E.G.I.T. winning the OSCW tag team titles. Their alliance is grudging to say the least. Jackson has an undeniable rapport with the audience. He combines a Men on a Mission look from the 90's with the personality of Arsenio Hall during his talk show days.

Asylum chokeslams DeAndre Jackson (Photo Courtesy of Wayne Rush)

Asylum clearly has no love for Hunter, possibly stemming from a long buried dislike for the Beverly Brothers. (Hunter's color scheme on his tights is purple and silver.) He instantly slaps Hunter around like a Hemingway five letter woman. Asylum wins the match on his own with multiple chokeslams. The conclusion of the match sees the female rugby team venture inside and open a drinking contest amongst themselves.

Intervening between the tag team matches is the women's match between Pandora and Tracy Taylor. The match goes back and forth with various shifts in momentum for each lady. The frat boys that have gathered in the audience show their respect and decorum, shouting phrases like "punch her in the baby maker!" repeatedly. Classy gents. In the end the "Island Girl" Taylor gets the win over the punk rock kabuki Pandora.

Tracy Taylor and Pandora (Photo Courtesy of Wayne Rush)

Still no word on who won the drinking contest between the ruby players.

I see guy with the Staff t-shirt again. He's staggering badly. He's trashed. It's only half past six. So are many others. The drunk collegians stumble with cocktails in hand and wear fierce combative eyes.Who knows when an impromptu match will break out in this crowd.

A bombed out Pitbull-looking gent is circling the "2 Bitches and a Broom" table like a drunken vulture, apparently spitting out insults at the girl running the promotion. This continues off and on for the rest of the night. It's like having Days of Your Lives in your living room while trying to watch Ali-Frazier.

Next up in the Lethal Lottery is Michael Frehley teamed with "the Salem Sinner" Sixx versus the Black Butler and Chrisifix. It should be noted that Chrisifix proudly wears an "I Killed Jesus" t-shirt that must sit well with the Christian fans. The Black Butler is by far the most unique gimmick that has appeared yet. Clad in full butler costume with long black hair, his movement is very staccato and mechanical. But it's Sixx (who resembles a lost member of Slipknot) who proves to be the difference maker, dominating everyone in the match.

Chrisifix and Michael Frehley (Photo Courtesy of Wayne Rush)

Twilight starts to settle in, and I'm wondering how the fans are enjoying the show. They're excitement maintains with every match so far, but can Malus sustain it for the rest of the night? I had asked him how he could put together a show with no buildup or storylines for the fans to fall back on.

And then Yasir Ackbar comes out; the classic Middle Eastern anti-American archetype. He launches into a rant immediately, condemning the West. And then what music plays afterward? Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA."Sgt. Solitude emerges, waving Old Glory.

Malus just won his audience over for the rest of the night.

It's historical booking genius to have the Arab and the American forced to coexist as a tag team. God bless American foreign policy that has allowed that region of the world to continuously hate us.

But Malus has merely given us the tasty entree. Their opponents are the dessert for those of us that leave room for it. One is Stevie Stifler, the self proclaimed "Queen of the Mountain." That's right, Queen of the Mountain. You know what I mean...

Who on earth should be paired up with the "Queen of the Mountain?" Hoss Hagood, that's who! A country strong redneck! (Seriously, read his t-shirt.) Oh, that cunning Malus. This was his plan all along. Build the show around easily understood and identifiable gimmicks that produce a reaction from the audience. Like agit-prop theatre in early 20th century Europe.

Yasir Ackbar and Sgt. Solitude (Photo Courtesy of Wayne Rush)

Of course it does not take long for Solitude and Ackbar to get caught up in their nationalistic dislike for one another, and it inevitably leads to their defeat and Hagood and Stifler's advancement to the Battle Bowl battle royal. Ackbar's double cross of Solitude seals the deal for their demise.

Full fledged darkness overtakes the landscape. Two flood lights attached to the sound stage overhang power on to back light the ring. The lack of illumination makes the next match all the more brilliant and confusing at the same time. Mostly because the twin Mack brothers, TJ and Kirby are matched against one another rather than together in their usual tag team situation. My chest instantly recalls the numerous chops both men gave me six years ago in Charleston as Mr. Showtime found himself at their mercy. My next Bud Light eases the muscle memory pain.

John Skyler appears as Kirby's partner; Dirty as TJ's. The speed of the match quickly hits a fifth gear, which, again, makes watching in the near dark all the more exciting. It's Skylar and Kirby who advance to Battle Bowl.

The next tag match announced brings out the other halves of Affirmative Action in Nick Kismet and L.E.G.I.T. in Brandon Paradise. This time the enemies are pitted against each other with Kismet teaming up with Brady Pierce and Paradise drawing the off center masked man, El Flexador, who immediately becomes the focal point of the match with his pandering toward the crowd. In a cunning twist to the end of the match, Paradise and El Flexador get the win, but Flex unmasks to reveal himself as... BRADFORD STEELE! Thus, both members of L.E.G.I.T. advance to Battle Bowl.

But not so fast, my friend, says Brett Wolverton, exercising a position of power and authority. The real Flex stumbles to the ring, the victim of an apparent mickey slipped to him by Steele. Wolverton declares Steele ineligible for Battle Bowl, giving Flex his rightful place in the battle royal, despite being drugged. But Flex declines, admitting he's still too weak to compete. A substitute will be named later.

In the midst of the match, I spot Josh Magnum making his way through the fans to the back of the outdoor bar. He's unassuming in his ball cap and street clothes, and finds a spot on a brick hedge to lean against while drinking his screwdriver and enjoying a cigarette. It's an image right out of the movie Hud with Paul Newman.

Lodi (Photo Courtesy of Wayne Rush)

The eighth and final Lethal Lottery tag match pits Lodi and Ace Armstrong against another uneasy alliance in Jay Batista and Ken Magnum. Lodi's entrance is an instant energizer for the calming crowd. And it's badly needed because the temperature has dropped ten degrees. Most fans did not bring jackets. They're seeing their breath now. The drunkards are morphed into lethargic bar flies. The guy with the Staff t-shirt is passed out inside, head buried in the table.

The die-hards get their shot in the arm from Lodi and his "Welcome to the Jungle" entrance. The match itself sees Batista and Magnum battle each other more than their opponents, but it's Lodi who gets double crossed by Armstrong, causing their elimination. Lodi sits stunned in the middle of the ring. But the Columbia fans reward his appearance nevertheless.

To determine the final competitor in Battle Bowl, a singles "shoot out" is set up, ironically and fittingly, with "The Shooter" Vordell Walker and Billy Brash. Coming off of his victory against Luke Gallows a week prior in Charleston, Walker immediately takes Brash to task with a calculating offense that sets up for his trademark brainbuster, submission combination, causing Brash to tap out quickly.

Following Walker's victory is another singles match outside of the Lethal Lottery and Battle Bowl, featuring the recently crowned NWA Future Legends Cup winner Zack Salvation against Micah Taylor. Another high quality match that demonstrates far and away how deserving Salvation was of his honor. 

Following Salvation's victory is the Battle Bowl battle royal,  And it's not like a Royal Rumble set up where the wrestlers come out after a minute or so to join the fray. No, no, sir. This Battle Bowl is going to be a white line nightmare that begins with all fourteen men in the ring at the same time.

Before it begins, however, Wolverton announces El Flexador's replacement for Battle Bowl. Expecting someone from earlier to be chosen like Magnum just to see a hypothetical suicide dive off of the stage roof into the ring, the crowd is stunned when the replacement turns out to be Grandmaster Flex, a clever reinvention of the El Flexador character.

Malus! You've hoodwinked me again!

The chaos immediately erupts with the wrestlers charging one another like the running of the bulls. It's a punch and kick frenzy. I want to say I'm picking one of the big guys like Asylum, but somehow it never works out for a big guy in a battle royal. At least not historically by the numbers.

John Skyler and Xavier Knight (Photo Courtesy of Wayne Rush)

John Skyler has the hometown edge, that's for sure.

After the initial frenzy the bodies start exiting via the top rope. Skyler survives many an attempted elimination spots ala Shawn Michaels when he went bell to bell back in 1995. So does Xavier Knight. Eventually, they're both going at it, and it's classic wrestling drama. Either guy could win this thing, and they're two of the final three men left.

How can this possibly end? Who of these two will win Battle Bowl?

Neither.

They're both eliminated by Hoss Hagood in one fell swoop! Hagood wins Battle Bowl! Hagood is the first TLC Battle Bowl champion! Wolverton presents him with his trophy. No one saw the ending coming. Being a sucker for historical call backs, I was expecting someone to come out and bust apart the trophy ala Bret Hart on Bad News Brown at Wrestlemania IV.

Hoss Haygood wins Battle Bowl (Photo Courtesy of Wayne Rush)

But the night is not over yet. Two marquee matches remain. The fans aren't going anywhere, for next they are treated to a match that pits WWE against TNA. Luke Gallows versus Chase Stevens.

Stevens is first to enter, and he blasts the Columbia crowd with insults. Classic heat.

Luke Gallows enters to AC/DC's "Back in Black," and the Straight Edge Society member reveals a Budweiser long neck in hand. The crowd goes nuts for Gallows and his character change. Stevens calls him out on his defection. Gallows responds with a beat down. A bedlam beat down that finds its way to the outside.

Gallows shows a charisma never before seen during his run on WWE television. Perhaps this kind of character turn is what he needs to get back to WWE on his own someday; without the burden or reliance on a tag partner or stable. His match with Stevens is more than worth the five dollars for admission. A ticket for this match would be at least double or triple that price in a national promotion. He goes over clean on Stevens.

Luke Gallows and Chase Stevens (Photo Courtesy of Wayne Rush)

Up to this point, Malus has pitched a gem in setting up this show. To close it out, he finds himself matching up against the "Insane Lumberjack" Timber in what has been promoted as a Soda City Street Fight. Regardless of the nomenclature, it's a match that goes to the outside, and anything not nailed to the ground goes flying, These two know how to put on a good street fight as they tear apart the security rails. Why not? It's the main event. Tear the house down!

And they do. And everyone from the back finds there way to the ring to assist in a recall to Battle Bowl with a few classic gimmicks reemerging from the wrestlers who have already appeared. In the sea of humanity, Malus, the "Peroxide Juggernaut" catches Timber with a DDT that gives him the victory.

Timber and Jon Malus (Photo Courtesy of Wayne Rush)

A heartfelt beer bash is shared between everyone in the back; a thank you to each other and the fans for attending. Malus personally thanks the fans with a closing delivery on the mic. As the clock strikes ten, the die-hards finally start to file out. It has been a marathon show, which in other promotions would have been an issue with maintaining the attention of an independent wrestling crowd. But Malus has put on a masterpiece that is evidence that not only can he tell a story in the ring as a performer but can assemble and facilitate a show as well as anyone.

I leave the Cockaboose not only treated as a journalist to a first hand account of wrestling delight, but more importantly I leave entertained as a fan.

But I still wonder if the guy in the Staff t-shirt made it home?

Columbia Fans Flock To See Lodi

Photo courtesy of Wayne Rush

Through the back door of the Loose Cockaboose bar sits a wrestling ring set up in front of a stage. The amphitheater design is a juxtaposition of classic Greek theatrical design and Panama City in Florida (sans ringside pool). The show is a unique and ambitious concept that references classic WCW lore: The Lethal Lottery.

Well over twenty wrestlers are gathered for what stands to be a marathon show of tag team matches culminating in a winner-take-all battle royal.

The show has not begun yet.

As a treat for the fans attending, a special autograph and question/answer session is organized with all of the competitors being on hand to gland hand the patrons. Most of the men gathered garner state or regional celebrity in professional wrestling. The die hard fans that travel up and down I-26 follow them like rock starts. But this particular show also has a couple of "name" draws to spark attendance.

One is "The Natural" Chase Stevens, a former star of Impact Pro Wrestling. His recognition is validated by numerous requests by fans for photographs. He is more than willing to oblige with a very genial attitude.

On the end of the table is Luke Gallows, former WWE star, who just last week worked a show down in Charleston. And as in Charleston, he garners the most attention from fans as he sits with assortments of memorabilia.

And then somewhere in between both Stevens and Gallows sits Brad Cain with a baseball cap on his head and wearing unassuming clothes. A few fans stop by his section but for most he just blends in with the other independents.

Maybe they don't recognize him without the blonde sideburns.

Maybe they don't recognize him without the poster board signs.

The ones that do recognize Cain remember him as Lodi, the one-time manager of Raven's Flock turned tag team partner of Lenny Lane back in the late 90's of WCW.

His career began in 1997 as a student of C.W. Anderson, and he was later picked up by WCW the same year where he continued his training at the Power Plant. The name "Lodi" came around as a reverse spelling of "Idol" because Cain resembled rocker Billy Idol with the bleach blonde hair.

Lodi was inserted into WCW story lines as a manager to a group of wrestlers who acted as underlings to Raven. The natural name for the stable was Raven's Flock, and Lodi's role as manager was unlike any classic rendition of the role.

He carried signs to the ring, often times with humorous phrases that were directed at himself or members of the Flock. Later, the signs were upgraded to Trojan horses for weapons such as Stop signs that became momentum shifters in matches involving the Flock.

Lodi's entrance would become sort of a cheerleader's bounce that brought considerable attention to a stable that avoided the microphone like the plague (with Raven as the exception). At a time in the height of the Monday Night Wars, Raven's Flock was almost as popular an attraction on WCW television as the NWO, mainly for the opponents they would try and ambush like Diamond Dallas Page or Chris Benoit. But it was also Lodi's willingness to be the outlandish, bombastic, and often times squashed manager of the Flock that could incite an audience time and time again.

The life span of the Flock was cut short in 1998 after Perry Saturn defeated Raven in match that set the members of the group "free" of their obligation to Raven. Lodi would unfortunately be sidelined for an extended period of time after fracturing an ankle in a match. He would not return until 1999.

Upon his return, Lodi would team with Lane and form the West Hollywood Blondes, a tag team that would garner more controversy and notoriety rather than success.

During a time period in wrestling where the envelope had to be continuously pushed in order to preserve and strengthen its fan base, WCW and WWE would hit and miss with a variety of character turns and story lines for its talent. Lodi and Lane had the distinction of being the tag team that became notorious for being homosexually characterized in their actions and appearance.

Feeling the pressure from GLAAD because of the negative image created by Lodi and Lane, TNT and WCW would pull the plug on the tag team, and once again Lodi would be absent from television.

A couple of subsequent returns with Lane in repackaged teams were not noteworthy and quickly fizzled. Cain was released by WCW in 2000 also amid rumors of substance abuse and alcohol addiction.

The journey for Cain post-WCW involved a couple of false starts with Impact Wrestling and the NWA based out of Charlotte, but he found work in the independent wrestling scene around the country.

During the question/answer session before the beginning of The Lethal Lottery, Cain stands in the ring with a few of his fellow wrestlers appearing in the show. Gallows and Stevens are present as well.

A question is asked about what the worst injury any of them have suffered. A few of the younger wrestlers cite ankle sprains and light ailments. Gallows references his shoulder surgery while in WWE. Cain steps forward and leaves the crowd hesitant after revealing a one-man M.A.S.H. list of injuries including two broken necks, seven concussions, two knee surgeries, numerous ankle surgeries, and the recent distinction of being knocked out for the first time during a match. For a guy remembered as being a manager for most of his career, it's a testament to a love of the business.

The most poignant moment in the question/answer session comes when Cain reveals a story not too dissimilar from the autograph session that took place earlier. He talks about sitting at a table in a mall with a couple of other wrestlers, again, signing autographs. Except the fans are walking by in ignorance. Cain realizes it is the shaved side burns and shaved blonde hair that have created his anonymity. He and one of the guys he is sitting with actually stop the fans and ASK them to give an autograph.

"When you're trying to make it in the business, you dream of the success. Then you make it in the business, and you start to get tired of the success and the grind of it all. And then when you're out of the business, you're back to dreaming about the success again. It's really something you have to appreciate when you have it because you miss it when you don't," Cain admits with a microphone in the rings.

The Lethal Lottery starts at five o'clock with the random pairing of tag teams. A women's match and a couple of promos from other wrestlers are weaved in between. It is not until around eight thirty that Cain is finally paired with a partner. The temperature has dropped ten degrees in Columbia. What was once a sunny afternoon has descended into jacket wearing weather.

But when the music hits, Cain appears as Lodi, fittingly with a sign over his head proclaiming "Lodi needs coffee!" He bounces with the same energy he exuded back in 1998 as if he was transported from an arena thirteen years ago. Cain journeys around the security railing and runs to the outdoor bar where a group of collegiate frequenters of the Loose Cockcaoose are casually discussing some mundane subject. Cain energetically approaches in wrestling attire and proclaims "What's going on back here? Let's go!" before running back to the ring.

Cain may not have main evented a major pay per view or won a world title in his career while on the national circuit. And maybe in some way it's a career that was left mildly unfulfilled in its resume. But Cain's effort in front of the crowd in Columbia does not leave any of the fans unfulfilled.

Magnum, LEGIT Claim Titles at OSCW Event, Walker Triumphs

Photo courtesy of Wayne Rush

With a seven match card highlighted by a guest appearance by former WWE star Luke Gallows, OSCW entertained the fans of Hanahan, South Carolina with a show that saw two titles change hands and a new faction gain momentum and prominence in the organization.

As advertised, Gallows brought his Straight Edge Society persona to bat against "The Shooter" Vordell Walker in a match that was a crisp, technical contest in every sense of the word. Living up to his moniker, Walker countered Gallows' size  advantage with a balanced attack of kicks, grapples, and close quarters attacks that kept the WWE star at bay for most of the match, eventually leading to a carefully timed roll up that gave Walker the victory. The effort Gallows provided showed he has not slowed down nor his skill set diminished one bit since his release from WWE a year ago.

Making his OSCW debut was Charleston native Pete Kaasa, a young man well publicized in the area as he currently trains at WWA4 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was paired off in an impromptu match with Lord of the Ring winner and LEGIT big man, Hans Baumgardner. Kaasa far and away had the largest following in terms of fans at the Hanahan Recreation Center, and if his premiere bout was any indication, then the future looks very bright for Kaasa.

Lacking a long vertical base, Kaasa's toned physique and conditioning made working with a bulky Baumgardner a clash of style that, at times, showed Kaasa's inexperience but also demonstrated his resilience and high risk ability.A corkscrew attack from the top rope to the outside forced the entire crowd to collectively hold its breath. But what was most telling of the young man's dedication to his craft was his reemergence after his hard fought loss to Baumgardner to watch the rest of the show with the crowd, taking in and studying what his peers were doing in the ring.

Baumgardner's win was not the only one for Reginald Vanderhoff and his faction LEGIT. Despite an ongoing war of words with OSCW General Manager Bob Keller, Vanderhoff found his tag team of Bradford Steele and Brandon Paradise challenging the OSCW tag team champions Affirmative Action (Deandre Jackson and Nick Kismet) with the straps on the line. Vanderhoff might have opened the show throwing the proverbial (a literal) book at Keller and OSCW, but he came away with a position of power and influence with Steele and Paradise usurping the tag team champions and capturing the belts.

With Baumgardner already laying claim to a Lord of the Ring championship and Steele and Paradise wearing the tag team titles, LEGIT, pun intended, found its legitimacy in OSCW with its showing in Hanahan.

In an elimination-style four way match, Calie Casanova put his hardcore title on the line against Roughouse Matthews, Michael Frehley, and returning Charleston veteran Tank Lewis. By the time all four men had hit the ring, the action was already spreading to the outside, and Frehley found himself the early odd man out via a devastating Burning Hammer by Matthews. Lewis, looking very trim and well conditioned, brought his mat wrestling A-game, but in a no disqualification hardcore match, that worked against him and eventually was ousted via a low by Matthews, who himself nearly swept the field to become the new hardcore champion. But Casanova, being a wily hardcore veteran, retained his title in a feud that does not look to have reached its zenith with Matthews, judging by the post match confrontation between the two superstars.

Another impromptu adjustment GM Keller made during the night was announce a replacement opponent for Hexxon, who was scheduled to face Jesse Windham but who couldn't compete due to "circumstances beyond his control." Keller's replacement was none other than Jon Malus who hit the ring like a peroxide juggernaut, unloading on Hexxon and rekindling their rivalry from over the summer. The match ended prematurely, however, when the previously banished Killian O'Con appeared from the crowd wearing a Barack Obama mask. His interference propelled Keller to set up a future tag team battle between the team of Hexxon and O'Con against Malus and Windham. The date of said match is yet to be determined.

The two premiere OSCW singles titles were hotly contested as well during the evening's proceedings. Asylum, the resident Tower of Terror in OSCW and current World Champion, put his title on the line against mega-face Josh Magnum. A natural character in the vein of a classic Burt Reynolds character from the 70's, Magnum's natural good ole boy demeanor charmed the crowd as he battled the imposing champion. Despite numerous near falls, including one following a devastating spine buster, Asylum was unable to catch Magnum in his trademark choke slam, and after a second 450 splash by Magnum, the Bellevue Bomber's reign as champion was over. To add insult to injury, Asylum's post-match attack was halted by a chair shot from Magnum that allowed the new champion to escape.

Based purely on the scope of its domain, it is fair to call the Universal Title the richest prize in OSCW, and John Skyler looked to further add to his burgeoning resume of noteworthy achievements by capturing the belt from Sgt. Solitude. Clad in his "I retired Bob Keller" quoted t-shirt, Skyler used a variety of cerebral tactics to sucker Solitude into giving chase to him outside of the ring. Despite being heavily jeered by the audience, particularly by a raucous section of preteen boys, Skyler nearly prevailed after dodging one of the champion's patented spear attacks. But his luck didn't roll twice when Solitude charged and scored with his finisher for the pin and retained his belt. A match that showed plenty of illusion to epic confrontations in pro wrestling history when the aged veteran is challenged by the young upstart.

Before the night ended, it was announced that OSCW will be returning to action on November 20th as part of the "November to Remember" benefit show. Details to come in the coming weeks.

Beyond Festus and WWE: The Continued Journey of Luke Gallows

Luke Gallows wipes the sweat from his head and catches his breath backstage.

He has just finished a technical wrestling clinic with "The Shooter" Vordell Walker after main eventing Old School Championship Wrestling's latest event, his fifteenth match of the week.

Gallows (real name Drew Hankinson) is no stranger to the road, having worked with WWE from 2006 through 2010. But even so, he's taking the expression "road warrior" to Mad Max heights in his transition to the independent circuit.

"I've stayed very busy," Gallows admits since his departure from WWE in November of 2010. "We just finished a taping in LA for the Wrestling Revolution Project where we taped 62 matches in three days, and I'm gearing up to head to Australia soon for a show."

Despite the busy schedule, Gallows shows no signs of wear or fatigue as he dresses in his camouflage shorts after his match, and he is not too tired to talk about Festus, the character that elevated him to a certain degree of fame in WWE.

"I enjoyed Festus. He was a character for the kids; the guy who went nuts when the bell rang. That's what Festus will be remembered for, and that's not a bad thing. It's just like Jake Roberts. What will he be known for? He's the guy who brought the snake to the ring. It's an instant association you make."

Although Festus fell into a long line of WWE "monster" characters that prayed upon simplistic archetypes, Gallows pulled from what sources he could from pop culture to add relevancy and nuance to his in-ring performance. He cites Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men as a major influence in creating the dichotomy of simple mindedness and irrepressibly of Festus.

It is that reliance and awareness of the pop culture around them that Gallows feels is the meat and potatoes of what has generated success for WWE and professional wrestling. "That's what made the Attitude era so popular. You had characters that were hip and cool and in touch with what was going on with the times versus the previous era of cartoon characters the WWE generated that were more over the top."

Almost never is it uncommon to hear someone who was released by WWE to vent anger or start a soap box rant about unfair treatment. It is mostly seen or heard in interviews or even during in-ring segments of competing promotions. But Gallows shows a remarkable optimism and professionalism when addressing the subject and maintains a pleasant and engaging demeanor while signing autographs for the OSCW fans.

"I didn't hate WWE. In fact, my goal would be to return, but if I made it back I would want to be my own solo act. As Festus I was in a tag team predominantly with Jesse, and then with the Straight Edge Society that was Punk's group. I want to come back and be my own thing."

And with his impressive and continued work load on the independent circuit combined with only being 27 years old, Gallows has plenty of time and experience ahead of him in his career. The healthiest ingredient in maintaining his journeyman status is his ability to still continuously find enjoyment with the business. "I can have just as much fun at a show like this as I would with a full Smackdown audience in a arena. I love the business. As long as I'm wrestling, I'm having fun."

And then Gallows calmly puts on a camouflage hat that matches his shorts and grabs his bag.

He makes his way to the exit, taking a few last minute pictures with the other OSCW guys and laughs at one last question.

I ask Gallows what people ask him the most while he's on the road at different shows, anticipating a response somewhere along the lines of career advice.

On the contrary. "Believe it or not, it's whether I know The Rock."

Malus Puts Together Ultimate Wrestling Show In Columbia

The booming base in Jon Malus' voice is a telling reflection of the man that has stepped between the ropes of wrestling rings for ten years. He commands your attention, but his intention is nothing but pure honesty.

As a wrestler, he combines size, power and finesse in a manner resembling ECW legend Balls Mahoney with a look like a member of the band Disturbed. Make no mistake, Malus is intimidating. But beneath the surface lies, dare we say it, a promoting genius.

"I'm not a promoter," Malus insists multiple times in our conversation. But what he has done, if not as a promoter, is create a unique wrestling following that has not been prevalent in Columbia, South Carolina for many years.

Having worked many shows in South Carolina under the promotions of CWA and OSCW, Malus definitely had his name circulating around the southeast wrestling landscape, which led to a chance telephone call.

The Loose Cockaboose, a restaurant/bar in direct proximity to Williams Brice Stadium has been a frequent stop for the Gamecock faithful on football game days. What Malus found was that the establishment was looking for something a little different than what they used to getting with local bands and collegiate sporting events.

"They wanted to put together a wrestling show, but the thing was none of them had ever put together a wrestling show or had any experience in the wrestling business. I was given a budget of $800 and one month to put together a show. That was in the spring of 2010."

With the time and money constraints working against him, Malus envisioned a tight five match card to maximize the budget he was given with high quality talent. Again, Malus found his plans altered.

"The venue wanted a seven hour show; kind of an all-day wrestling event. I knew it was impossible to have a card that filled an entire seven hour slot. So I worked it out to have local bands play in between blocks of matches."

In the end, Malus had six intermissions between sets of two wrestling matches a piece. The crowd was mostly sparse throughout the show. It was a learning experience for Malus and for the Cockaboose.

If there is one thing Malus is adamant about (besides not being a promoter) it's about evaluating and recruiting good talent. He quotes Dustin Rhodes, whom he cites as one of his favorite wrestlers to work with and talk to. "Dustin told me simply, 'If you're good at something, never work for free.'"

Malus saw by having to fill a large time slot with only $800 that he had to recruit a lot of local wrestlers who were more than willing to work for free just to get on a card. Unfortunately, and it was no strike to their effort, a lot of the talent was not seasoned enough to put on a good show.

But Malus and the venue were committed to putting on a second show. A better show than the first.

That would take place in the fall, aptly named Fall Brawl 2010.

The second show from Malus and the Cockaboose featured a budget double the size of the first show and a lot more planning before hand, not to mention a lot more trust in Malus' ability to find high quality talent to feature on the card. "For the second show, we brought in twice the number fans as the first. The signature of the card was bringing in Gunner from TNA."

With a certain amount of success derived from Fall Brawl 2010, Malus stepped up his game in putting together the show this past spring. He scored a coup by booking Bill DeMott, who at the time was garnering huge ratings as one of the trainers of the rebooted Tough Enough for WWE.

Again, the turnout was greater than the previous two shows.

Now with the pressure of topping himself again, Malus has pulled out all of the stops in putting together Fall Brawl II, which is slated to take place Saturday, October 22. To change the format of the show, he is introducing a throwback to the classic days of WCW:  The Lethal Lottery.

Back in 1991, WCW introduced Battlebowl as a part of the Starrcade pay per view, which combined elements of the WWE's Survivor Series and Royal Rumble gimmick matches. The idea was to have randomly created tag team matches (of course pairing faces with heels at some point) and have the victors compete in a battle royal at the end of the night to declare one undisputed winner.

In creating his Lethal Lottery, Malus has assembled quite the collection of wrestlers, with over twenty competitors from nine states. The rules will be consistent with the classic Lethal Lottery rules, with the winner being declared the first TLC Lethal Lottery Champion.

Running alongside The Lethal Lottery will be three singles matches, including a mega showdown between Malus and the "Insane Lumberjack" Timber. It is a match Malus admits that has been a long time coming.

'Timber and I have been working the Carolinas for years, but we've never wrestled each other on the same card. That's something I'm really looking for ward to. That's why I love an event like this."

And Malus doesn't skimp on other perks to spending five dollars for his wrestling show. Along with having a burgeoning card of quality talent and matches, fans will also have the opportunity to attend a meet and greet with the wrestlers performing as well as receive autographs starting at 3pm with the actual bell time slated for 5pm.

When asked about what he envisions for his show next spring, considering the amount of size and effort put into Fall Brawl II, Malus merely laughs. "I'm not going to lie, I've been thinking about it. But it's going to be really hard to top this."

The Loose Cockaboose Sports Bar & Grill

936 South Stadium Road

Columbia, SC

$5 Admission

Superstar Meet & Greet: 3pm

Bell Time: 5pm

Former WWE Star Gallows Main Events Charleston Wrestling Show

After a summer that saw two appearances by Reid Flair along with the crowning of a new Lord of the Ring, OSCW heads into the fall of 2011 with an aura of excitement and uncertainty surrounding their October 16th show.

A lot of buzz was created with the breaking news that Luke Gallows, known primarily for his run as Festus in WWE as well as part of CM Punk's "Straight Edge Society," would be booked to face 'The Shooter" Vordell Walker in the main event slot.

Gallows since being released from WWE earlier this year has kept quite busy with numerous appearances both domestically and internationally. (The infamous Nigerian show is quite a story that can be heard in detail as part of Dave Lagana's pod cast heard here. A great listen.)

In other action, the OSCW Universal Championship will be up for grabs when Solitude defends against John Skyler.

Two men who have been on a collision course over the last two months will finally lock horns with the prize of the OSCW World Title on the line when the towering Asylum defends against mega fan favorite Josh Magnum.

Two other OSCW titles will be on the line with the team of Affirmative Action defending their belts as well as the OSCW Hardcore Title being defended in a Fatal Four Way match, which is rumored to include the South Carolina return of local journeyman, Tank Lewis.

Not to be left unmentioned, however, is the looming presence of Reginald Vanderhoff and his group of disgruntled OSCW superstarts, known collectively as L.E.G.I.T. Vanderhoff's promos over the last couple of weeks have continued to raise questions as to the role this group will play in not only the upcoming show but the future of OSCW as well.

Show Details
Sunday, October 16th
Hanahan Recreation Complex Gymnasium
3100 Mabeline Rd. Hanahan SC
BellTime 6pm (doors open @5pm)

Adult Admission (cash at door) $10
Kids 12 & under $5