I always enjoy getting away from Jeffersonville and Louisville to check out wrestling in other areas. Last year I traveled to East Carondelet, Illinois and experienced the fan frenzy that surrounds SICW, a promotion run by the great Herb Simmons. It’s small town wrestling at its best: a packed crowd, popular babyfaces, and dastardly heels. This week’s excursion to Kentucky Zone Wrestling in Somerset, Kentucky felt a lot like SICW with the fan frenzy as hot as the air in the Shopville Elementary Gym.
I sensed the excitement about the evening’s activities as soon as I drove into town. At the T-intersection that leads to Somerset, I saw a sandwich sign by the road that announced there was “Wrestling Tonight” at the gymnasium. Promoter Dennis Spradlin told me there were 14 signs set up around town, and the show had already received press coverage thanks to the impending release of master of ceremonies Hurricane JJ Maguire’s autobiography at the event. I’m told there was good word of mouth buzz about the book and the show around town as well.
It was 87 degrees at bell time, and the un-air conditioned gym was balmy, but that did not stop a crowd of about 200 from packing into the building. This was KZW’s annual Caged Fury show, an evening of cage matches each with multiple contenders. KZW’s roster includes a lot of long-time Central Kentucky stalwarts, but there were some promising young stars as well, guys who are already making am impact beyond the Kentucky/Tennessee region.
The highlight of the evening was the confrontation between Team Evil, a group of five heels managed by the notorious David Barnabas Spector, and Team JJ, a contingent led by JJ Maguire featuring four top babyfaces and the legendary Tracy Smothers. Competitors entered the cage at two minute intervals ala the Royal Rumble, but all stayed in until the babyfaces won the match by pinfall. The good guys grabbed hold of Spector and brought him into the ring, holding him in place for Tracy Smothers to do some real damage.
And that’s when it got really great.
Instead of leveling Spector, Tracy took out the babyfaces, shocking the crowd. “He’s double crossed ‘em!” a fan shouted, making my night and capturing the spirit of the evening. Tracy grabbed a microphone and shot on the state of Kentucky and the fans, leading to a 30 day suspension from KZW’s startled co-owner JJ Maguire.
Several matches were set for upcoming shows in the chaotic final moments, as angry good guys demanded a shot at the villains, and the fans went out with a fury, hoping that maybe next time, Spector and his goons would get theirs. Fans were also reminded that the action resumes not next month but this coming Saturday, September 21, in nearby Williamsburg.
KZW has truly filled a niche in their community, offering the fans of south central Kentucky a welcome live wrestling promotion that delivers the action they love. If you’re in the region or just curious to check them out for yourself, you can follow them on Facebook.