The field has been set for the first-ever Collision Cup tournament, featuring eight of the Midwest’s best and brightest rising stars.
The one-night, single-elimination tournament will be the cornerstone of Pro Wrestling Collision’s debut event on Jan. 19 at the Southern Illinois University Carbondale Student Center Ballroom D.
Pro Wrestling Collision was launched in December 2012 by Chris Hagstrom, former executive producer for All American Pro Wrestling. The company recognizes Edmund “Livewire” McGuire as its inaugural Heavyweight Champion, Ace Hawkins and Brandon Espinosa as its Tag Team Champions and Joey O’Riley as its No Limits Champion.
The winner of the Collision Cup will be named the number-one contender to McGuire’s Heavyweight Championship.
First round matches for the tournament include:
Christian Rose vs. Kyle Sykes: Rose has been strengthening his reputation as he continues to travel the Midwest. The hard-hitting striker has caught the attention of many, especially with his recent victory over Matt Hardy. Sykes is a relative rookie looking for the opportunity to break out of the pack and make a name for himself. Last summer, he teamed with independent superstar “M-Dogg 20” Matt Cross and earned the veteran’s respect.
Matt Cage vs. Joey O’Riley: These two long-time foes have done battle more than 50 times across the Midwest, stunning audiences with their performances everywhere they go. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to say the technician Cage and high-flyer O’Riley have become the Midwest independent scene’s equivalent of Christopher Daniels and AJ Styles. Both men admit they bring out the best in each other, and the fans will surely see that when they lock horns once again.
Brandon Espinosa vs. Heath Hatton: This match pits two fan favorites, who are also good friends, against each other. Espinosa is one-half of the Pro Wrestling Collision tag team champions, while Hatton is coming off a banner year in 2012, when he competed on WWE pay-per-view and challenged then-NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion Adam Pearce. In the first round, though, only one of them will be able to advance, and he’ll have to beat a friend to do.
Alex Castle vs. Ace Hawkins: Castle has demanded management give him an opportunity, so they did just that, pairing Castle against the other half of the Tag Team Champions. While Hawkins may be outsized in this contest, don’t count him out. The young star has earned a number of accolades, including Pro Wrestling Illustrated Rookie of the Year in 2011, and proven himself. Castle is looking to send a message to management, while Hawkins is out to prove his size and reputation as a tag team competitor won’t hold him back in singles competition.
In addition to those four first-round matches, the event will also feature two semi-final contests, as well as the tournament finals.
Three non-tournament matches have also been scheduled for the evening. They include:
Zakk Sawyer vs. “Farmer” Billy Hills vs. Justice: Sawyer, the protege of Cage and Rose, looks to prove himself in this match against two much larger opponents. Hills and Justice are both strong fan favorites, which may also play against Sawyer. This triple threat match will be contested under one-fall-to-the-finish rules.
Angelus Layne vs. Twinke Starr: Women’s wrestling makes its debut on the premiere event, as well. Layne, though, has made her displeasure with this match known. She wanted to compete in the Collision Cup and feels management has made a mockery of her by matching her against Starr. Starr, meanwhile, is looking to use her fan support to rally the crowd to victory and put Layne back in her place.
Bull Bronson Open Challenge: Bronson is a destructive man, and he has taken out competitors across the Midwest and the South. Without an opponent named for the event, Bronson issued an open challenge. His challenge has been accepted, and more details will be revealed soon.
Pro Wrestling Collision debuts Jan. 19 in Carbondale, Ill. Tickets are $5 and are available at prowrestlingcollision.com. The show begins at 7 p.m.
For more information about Pro Wrestling Collision, visit prowrestlingcollision.com, facebook.com/prowrestlingcollision or twitter.com/pwcollision.
