RSVP To Warhorse’s Big Bad Bitchin’ Christmas Party
All proceeds go to Markus Crane’s recovery fund.
After you open your last present on Dec. 25, don’t think the merriment is over.
Three days later, Warhorse is throwing a Big Bad Bitchin’ Christmas Party and everyone’s invited.
Synergy Pro Wrestling owner Colin West has offered the Midwest sensation to take over the holiday event and book all his friends/favorite foes. It’s a special treat for fans in the New Jersey area who don’t often get to see some of these remarkable performers in person. Warhorse himself has only competed at one Synergy event – the inaugural Garden State Invitational in July.
“I’ve always thought he was one career decision away from blowing up, and he found it this year,” West says. “Warhorse is such a perfect blend of the heavy metal badassery of Metallica, Slayer, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, but he’s also very socially aware and woke. He blends 1985 with today. It’s his sense of humor underneath all of it that makes it work. He’s making fun of people who take themselves too seriously.”
The lineup for this event mixes some Synergy favorites with fresh faces, established indie names and hungry up-and-comers. For example, Synergy Champion Frightmare (who won the belt back from Matt Macintosh at Black Friday) will defend the title against Tony Deppen, who has honed his craft all over the world this year. West expects this high-octane encounter to be the match of the night. “Deppen could proudly wear the championship in any promotion he wanted to right now,” West adds.
In a non-title match, Pro Wrestling After Dark Champion Serpentico will collide with Brandon Kirk, who will need eyes in the back of his head after assaulting the legendary Homicide at Black Friday. In a triple threat, MLW’s Jordan Oliver will meet Pinkie Sanchez and the debuting Saieve Al Sabah. West recruited Sabah for this event immediately after seeing his performance against X-Division Champion Ace Austin at Go Pro Wrestling’s first show in September. “He’s one of those guys from the Southeast that you need to know about,” West says.
A couple of other newcomers to the region are Graham Bell – the only pro wrestler with a bazooka – and Thomas Shire, the King of Hoss Island. We’ll also get a rematch from Black Friday as Eric Corvis looks to avenge his loss to Gary Jay, who didn’t realize LSG (who Jay substituted for) cheated on his behalf. Representing Dropkick Depression, Mitch Vallen will take on CHIKARA standout Callux in what West predicts will be the “loudest match of all time.”
BIG CALLUX. IS COMING.
SEE YOU LOSERS. ON DEC. 28.@synergywrestle https://t.co/JhYSaGyDuA pic.twitter.com/b0VJDG9ZWS— BIG CALLUX. (@CalluxPW) December 18, 2019
Of course, there’s one match that may get louder…and crazier…and bloodier. In a no disqualification tornado tag, Bear Country will collide with the unholy alliance of Jimmy Lloyd and Shlak. “It’s the match you put on right before intermission because you don’t know how much time you’re going to need to clean up,” West says.
Lloyd was invited to Warhorse’s Big Bad Bitchin’ Christmas Party after invading Synergy’s previous event and cutting a profanity-laced tirade that shook the family-friendly environment. Although West says he wasn’t thrilled with the hijacking and language, he admires Lloyd (fresh off beating Kirk in CZW’s Cage of Death) for what he has become to wrestling – “a cult icon in the deathmatch community.”
Unfortunately, there’s one invitee who won’t be able to attend the party. Markus Crane, another deathmatch specialist, was slated to be Warhorse’s opponent in what would be their first one-on-one battle.
On Dec. 8, Crane was admitted to an emergency room in Las Vegas due to issues from a preexisting head injury. After being evaluated by the medical staff, it was determined that he needed emergency neurosurgery. The surgeon performed a craniotomy, where it was discovered that there was an infection eroding the skull and leaking in to his brain. At that time, the surgeon needed to remove a plumb-sized portion of his skull to allow treatment for the infection. The doctors did everything possible and were able to start with the antibiotic treatment.
Even though the first steps have went well, Crane has a long road to recovery ahead of him. His family has decided to raise funds for the incoming medical expenses, a future cranioplasty that will need to be performed to repair the skull, antibiotic treatments, recovery therapy, specialized care and transportation back home. To date, more than $17,000 has been donated to his GoFundMe.
West and Warhorse have decided to help by giving all the event’s proceeds to the fund. That includes ticket sales, concessions, 50/50 raffle sales, posters and a special illustration of Crane done by Dartallion Allen Jr., who designed the event poster. “It’s about doing right by somebody we really care about,” West says. “The show would have been better with him on it. We wish he was here.”
Warhorse will still defend the IWTV Independent Wrestling Championship and has handpicked Crane’s replacement: KTB. A rising star on the indie scene, KTB came up short in the finals to crown Synergy’s first champion in 2018. “I don’t get why he’s not everywhere,” West said in his shoot interview with The Wrestling Estate. “He’s a star that makes stars. What was Marko Stunt’s first big match? KTB. Why was everybody chanting ‘No Legs’ WrestleMania Weekend? Because he worked KTB. More important than having a star in your company is you need a guy who can make them.”
In addition to the action, Warhorse will have a live guitarist on hand and the pre-game will include beer pong with his significant other Tam Tam Bigelow, who will also handle ring announcing. “This isn’t your typical face-heel wrestling show,” West says. “This was built with fun in mind. It’s going to be larger than life and full of personality. It’s less PG than a normal Synergy show, but it’s a one-time holiday special.”
Warhorse’s Big Bad Bitchin’ Christmas Party takes place December 28 at the Polish Falcon’s Nest in Hillsborough, NJ.
For tickets and more information, visit www.synergywrestling.com.
Watch at 7 p.m. EST on independentwrestling.tv.
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