Over the years, independent wrestler has went from being called the Marty Jannetty of the tag team The Juicy Product, to the hottest free agent in independent wrestling, to one of the best independent wrestlers in the world today. I myself, would have to agree with David Starr being the best independent wrestler in the world. Starr continues to put on classic matches to back up his fantastic promos leading up to those matches. David Starr has the full package. Each year he gets better and better, with 2019 being no exception.
I’m going to take you guys on a journey through David Starr’s 2019 in independent wrestling. Part one will be taking a look at some of the US promotions he’s made an impact in. Part two will be taking a look at the international promotions he played a big part in during 2019. Look for part two in the next couple of days.
Header photo credit: @Beezzzzy
AAW
At the end of 2018, WRSTLING said goodbye to two members in Trevor Lee and Jeff Cobb. But at the Windy City Classic XIV, the stable led by David Starr, interrupted Sami Callihan’s AAW Heavyweight Championship win with a set of new members to the group. Now joined by Curt Stallion and Jake Something, Starr led the new incarnation of WRSTLING, alongside Eddie Kingston to rid of Sami and his Killer Cult. Getting rid of Sami meant bringing the Big F’n Belt to WRSTLING.
The two men continued to be at odds with eachother while Callihan picked off each member, defeating the new members in singles matches. Sami defeated Curt Stallion in February and Jake Something in March. This led to AAW’s 15th Anniversary show, Epic, in April. Starr and Kingston was scheduled to take on Callihan along with Jessicka Havok, in a Bourbon Street FIght. Impact Wrestling pulled Callihan from the event.
All this led to their May 11th match at AAW’s Take No Prisoners. After months of feuding, the match would take place at the Logan Square Auditorium.
Beyond Wrestling
The former “Ace of Beyond Wrestling” had a terrible end to 2018, losing to Chris Dickinson in less than 15 seconds at Heavy Lies The Crown ’18. Starr became obsessed with Chris Dickinson. This obsession led to a loss to Kris Statlander at Beyond Wrestling’s Treasure Hunt Tournament.
Because of this obsession, Starr challenged Masato Tanaka to a match at the premiere episode of Beyond Wrestling’s new live weekly show, Uncharted Territory. This match took place days ahead of Dickinson’s match with Tanaka at Blackcraft Wrestling (moment of silence). Starr looked to take out Tanaka before his match with Dickinson at The Collective ever took place.
During the main event of Episode 1, an old rival of Starr’s made an appearance. Joey Janela was back in Beyond Wrestling. Janela’s return made Starr switch his focus away from Dickinson. Janela wanted another match with Starr and he got it at Americanrana ’19. These two men had already fought in an Anything Goes Match, Fans Bring The Weapons Match and a No Ropes Barbed Wire Match. So what match could these two men have that could top all those? Janela and Starr battled one last time at Beyond Wrestling’s biggest show of the year in an Anything Goes 60 Minute Iron Man Match. The two men put on a classic.
After Americanrana, Beyond Wrestling’s live weekly show, Uncharted Territory took a brief hiatus. Beyond Wrestling returned with Season 2 of Uncharted Territory in October. With Starr making limited appearances in the United States, he only competed in two matches during season 2. One of those matches was with Mercedes Martinez. This ended up being a match of the year candidate as well as what could be one of the top intergender matches ever. The other match was another intergender match against Leyla Hirsch. Another match from Starr that was one of the best of that season.
Starr squared off with Erick Stevens at Beyond Wrestling’s final show of the year, Heavy Lies The Crown ’19. Starr was one of Stevens’ dream opponents and the two men ended up having fantastic match to close out the year.
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla
Starr made his PWG debut in 2018, but his 2019 with the promotion out of California was even bigger. He didn’t start the year on the highest of notes, losing to Jonathan Gresham at PWG Two Hundred. With another loss a few months later, this time to Brody King, Starr had a lot to prove going into that year’s Battle of Las Angeles.
See you in Los Angeles, dickheads.@OfficialPWG #BOLA
🎥 @Y2jimbob pic.twitter.com/VByBiD2Q6z— Charles Max Barsky (@TheProductDS) September 17, 2019
Starr entered BOLA with a chip on his shoulder and the responsibility of carrying the weight of independent wrestling on his back. Starr defeated Orange Cassidy in the opening round of the tournament. This bought us to the final night of BOLA, where Starr picked up victories over Darby Allin, and then PWG Champion Jeff Cobb. Defeating Cobb meant he made his way to the finals, where he squared off with Jonathan Gresham and Bandido. Starr would go on to get eliminated in the finals.
Miscellaneous
Starr delivered such a great short promo for his match with John Morrison at Blackcraft Wrestling’s No Apologies. Too bad the promo lasted about 10 times longer than the actual match.