On Saturday night, March 22, my son Sam and I made our way up to Indianapolis to check out Wrestle Arts. A registered non-profit, Wrestle Arts puts on shows that not only entertain the fans but support local charities in the Indianapolis area. If the quality of show we witnessed is any indication, they’re doing some great work in the Circle City.
Wrestle Arts 22 took place at the historic Irving Theater in the Irvington neighborhood. The theater has clearly seen better days, but it’s still an incredible space lit with string lights overhead and decked out with art work that reflects the theater’s long history. The seating is as eclectic as the rest of the space. Church pews make up the center section, and vintage theatre seats form the left and right sections.
The ring is set up in front of the stage, and a few select fans were able to sit on the stage, looking down on the ring, where the wrestlers made their entrances. It’s very much a throwback to the early 20th century, when wrestling took place in theaters like the Irving.
Wrestle Arts runs a tight ship. They start promptly at 6 p.m. and end “on time,” usually before 9 p.m. There were only seven matches on the card, and every one of them was a treat. They also offer some unique twists to their presentation. Tag matches employ lucha tags, meaning of one team member goes outside the ring, the other can enter the ring and become legal without a tag. Wrestlers who fight outside the ring get a 20 count instead of 10, and there’s no barrier wall between the ring and fans.
As I’ve heard many times at the Jeffersonville Arena, “If the action’s coming your way, get your stuff and move.”
The opening contest pitted Cincinnati’s Arie Alexander against Chicago’s Regan Lydale. This was my first time seeing Regan in action, and the “Big Hoss Hippie” was impressive. Arie’s always been an outstanding worker, and the two put on a terrific curtain jerker. Lydale’s height provided a contract with Alexander, and a big boot early in the match drew big cheers from the fans.
The second contest was a “card subject to change” moment as Conner Hopkins faced Hunter Holdcraft and Brayden Lee in a triple threat. I’ve seen Holdcraft a few times at Grindhouse, and the former collegiate wrestler is outstanding worker. Hopkins is a delight as a heel, claiming to hail from the Ring of Conner and insisting the match be conducted under his own Code of Conner. For sheer action, this was the most exciting match of the night. Brayden Lee got the victory by submitting Holdcraft.
Two Hoosiers took the ring for the third match between Tripp Cassidy and Dylan Cole. The contest moved at a slower page than the triple threat, but Cassidy and Cole told a classic heel vs. babyface story. Cassidy’s been doing this a long time, and he’s a great heel.
The fourth match was a tag contest between The Highlight Reel and The Carnies. Damon and Damien Reel are big, strong, powerful looking wrestlers with an impressive move set and a strong connection with the crowd. As for The Carnies? Well, they’re The Carnies. Nick Iggy and Kerry Awful have been doing this a long time together, and they’ve got all the hallmarks of a classic tag team. Watching them feels like watching The Rock N Roll Express or any number of long-time “married” tag teams. They’re fluid, they know their ring psychology, and they normally get under the crowd’s skin like no one else.
Not so much here. Indy clearly loves The Carnies, and the boys were content to play moderately nice and put on a babyface vs. babyface match. This was also the first match to go outside the ring, forcing fans to scatter as the action came their way. Kudos to the fans who were surprisingly fast at clearing those first few rows of church pews any time the action spilled out of the ring. The Carnies got the win, and Kerry Awful led an appreciative chant for The Highlight Reel after the match ended.
The show took a timed 10 minute intermission so fans could hit the restrooms and concessions. Special shout out Smash’d, the budget joint around the corner from the Irving Theater. Fans would walk over to Smash’d, place an order, and have it delivered into the theater. Smash’d is one of Wrestle Arts’ paid sponsors and a truly great partner. I didn’t try the burgers myself, but the menu looked great.
Another tag match kicked off the second half of the show. The Mo Betta Mob was scheduled to defend their Tag Team Championships against the Mac Daddies, but with Cassius Starr injured, his father Appollo Starr chose to defend the titles with a fill in: Tyler Lydol of The Original Sins.
The Mac Daddies include Sage Phillips, who I know well from his time at Grindhouse this past year, and Jordan Dye. The Wrestle Arts crew is very high on Jordan Dye, who says his favorite heel is Cyrus “The Virus” Grissom from Con Air. Dye and Phillips had some true heat with the fans, who not thrilled seeing The Mac Daddies defeat Starr and Lydol.
Another home-grown star shone in the sixth contest. I remember watching Rachel Armstrong when she was starting out working for Mad Man Pondo’s Girl Fight at The Arena. She had a certain something back then that has blossomed into true stardom. Rachel put on a stellar match with Shazza McKenzie that had the fans cheering.
I’d love to tell you about the final match that pitted Josh Crane, the Wrestle Arts Champion, against Dex Royal, but I ended up shooting a quick interview with David K. Staggs at Smash’d during the main event. By the time we wrapped up, Josh Crane was walking around the building from the front door to the back, which I have to admit seemed a bit odd. I walked back in the front door and heard “Painted Black,” The Carnies’ theme song, blasting over the speakers.
“You missed it,” said Sam. “Josh Crane won, then the Carnies came out and attacked him. They threw him out the front door.”
Nick Iggy and Kerry Awful were basking in the moment down by the ring, shaking hands and giving high fives. Wrestle Arts is clearly Carnie Country, and that is no complaint on my part.
If you’re in central Indiana, or just inclined to make a road trip, Wrestle Arts will not disappoint. Make a day of it, like Sam and I did. Indy has plenty of things to see and do including some fun shopping and great restaurants. Many of the fans headed to Smash’d after the show, and a few crossed the street to hit up another Wrestle Arts sponsor, Jockamo’s Pizza. Parking is tricky, but it’s worth the trouble.
Just don’t expect a warm welcome from Jordan Dye. The man was trying to get $5 each from fans who wanted to shake his hand and berating them for saying no. Cyrus the Virus indeed!
For more on Wrestle Arts, visit their website or follow them on Facebook.
