Kekoa Says Goodbye To ECWA
The Flyin’ Hawaiian wrestles his final ECWA match on Dec. 5.
Kekoa has become a hero to little girls both inside and outside the ring.
After ECWA Heavyweight Champion Joey Ace smashed a beautiful sign that a young fan made for him, Kekoa came to the rescue, consoling the teary-eyed girl and vowing to make Ace pay for his heinous act. The Flyin’ Hawaiian brought the fight to the champion, repeatedly taking him down and then closelining him over the top rope. It looked like Kekoa was going to take a nasty spill, too, but the incredible athlete skinned the cat, following up with a somersault plancha to the artificial turf.
The crowd rallied behind Kekoa as he rocked Ace with his patented chops before planting him with a huge flapjack. His adrenaline flowing, Kekoa broke out into his tribal dance, signaling that the end was near. Somehow, Ace evaded a superkick and when Kekoa tried again, Ace dodged and referee John Finegan went down. Ace showed his true colors yet again, retrieving the championship belt with evil intentions on his mind. Before he could strike, though, “The Closer” Joe Martinez ran out and stopped Ace, grabbing the belt it of his hands, only to crack Kekoa’s skull himself!
Even though Ace retained the gold, the fans weren’t leaving PretzelMania IV feeling salty, especially that little girl. Kekoa shook the cobwebs, pulled himself back to his feet and knocked out Ace with a superkick. Then, Kekoa brought that girl into the ring and she stood tall over the sleazy champion, soaking in the adulation of the crowd.
“Her dad reached out to me immediately after the show,” Kekoa told The Wrestling Estate. “He’s like, ‘I’m her dad and I’m supposed to protect her, but I felt so vulnerable in that moment. You stepped in and did it for me.’ He was so appreciative. Even though we’re not on a WWE level by any means, the impact we can make is still pretty cool. Sometimes, you forget that.”
A 14-year veteran of the squared circle, Kekoa has made an impact in ECWA for over a decade. He’s won every championship in the promotion and has competed in the prestigious Super 8 twice. He’s weathered management changes, major injuries, new venues and fluctuating attendance. Excelling in both singles and tag team action, he’s been one of the most popular performers the promotion has ever had. “Excellence is not only actions, it’s also in deeds,” says the legendary Mr. Ooh La La. “Kekoa has demonstrated this time and time again. It’s an honor to call him a friend.”
On Dec. 5 at ECWA’s Christmas Spectacular, Kekoa will say goodbye.
His life, like everybody else’s, has changed this year. Two days before PretzelMania IV, he became a father. He and his wife Sammi Pandora (a fellow wrestler and familiar face in ECWA) welcomed their baby girl Kaylee into the world. The trio will be moving to Florida the day after his last ECWA match. Although he’s not been signed by WWE, he’ll be pursuing opportunities in the industry. He can’t specify what they are at the moment, but they did come about while working as an extra for WWE in August.
“I’ve learned that anything can happen and tomorrow is never promised,” Kekoa says. “If you see an opportunity, take it. If it means you have to uproot everything, then by all means go.”
.@KekoaPro wrestles his final @ECWA1967 match on Dec. 5. pic.twitter.com/zHeirZ5rM9
— The Wrestling Estate (@TheWrestlingEst) November 25, 2020
Courageous Warrior
Kekoa (that’s his real name) grew up on WWE, but was fortunate to experience independent wrestling on a regular basis.
The now defunct Bethlehem, PA-based Hardway Wrestling, formerly known as the Eastern Wrestling Federation, was just down the street from his high school. He and his friends would go to the local CVS after school and pre-order front row seats. One of the Hardway regulars – Mike Mongoose – ended up being one of Kekoa’s trainers at Lehigh Valley Wrestling Training Academy.
“Every now and then he’ll send me an old-school clip because he knows I’m such an old-school guy,” Kekoa says. “I never really got into this high spot style of wrestling. He’ll send me clips of Dusty Rhodes and Ricky Steamboat and Honkytonk Man.”
The Dragon is who Kekoa most resembles not only in the ring, but also physically. So much so that the owner of the wrestling school wanted to call him Richie Steamboat until learning that Steamboat’s actual son (then an aspiring wrestler) was named Richie. Unable to come up with any other ideas by the time of his debut, Kekoa decided to use his real name, which is Hawaiian for “warrior.”
After repeatedly being denied a spot in ECWA because the roster was full, Kekoa finally landed the opportunity of a lifetime when Mid-Atlantic Champion Chris Wylde’s scheduled opponent got injured. “It was our best match, which kind of sucks because we’ve wrestled each other numerous times since then,” Kekoa says. “But I’m glad that was our best because when I came through the curtain, Joe Zanolle said here are the dates for the rest of the year. I got a job because of that match.”
Zanolle, who took over ECWA in December of 2019, considers Kekoa a pillar of the longest-running independent promotion in the United States. “From his debut match with Chris Wylde, he instantly made an impression on the ECWA fans,” Zanolle says. “And it’s very understandable: he’s a great wrestler, he has a good look and he has an ability to connect with people. What’s not to love?”
Kekoa quickly ascended the ranks in ECWA, beating Wylde for the Mid-Atlantic Championship in 2011, winning the Tag Team Titles with Aden Chambers in 2012 and dethroning Papadon for the Heavyweight Championship in 2013. His first heavyweight title defense was against Ahtu, a jacked powerhouse with unlimited potential who left the sport before making the big time.
“He came to me and said, ‘I trust you to carry us through this match,’” Kekoa recalls. “A lot of big guys are afraid of how they look in the ring because they don’t want to take away from their size. Not only did I have to tell the story of him being a monster, but I also had to be a legitimate champion. It was a challenge, but I pulled it off. I wish there was somebody else I could face at his size and with his aggression so I could replicate that match.”
Another fond memory is when Kekoa faced Mike Mondo at the ECWA 46th Anniversary Show. Mondo had WWE experience as a member of the Spirit Squad and was fresh off a run in Ring of Honor. “The company trusted me to go against a name, which elevated me to the Heavyweight Title,” Kekoa says.
His all-time favorite match is when he defeated his partner Aden Chambers in the latter’s retirement match. “I have such respect for him,” Kekoa says. “All the boys came out and surrounded the ring. It was in the old Newark Boys and Girls Club – crowds were a lot bigger then. We had more returning fans, so they were completely invested in our story.”
Aloha and Laki Maika’i
In addition to being a pro wrestler, Kekoa is an entrepreneur.
In 2018, he founded Workrate Entertainment, a one-stop shop for wrestling promoters. The company rents out rings (including a 20×20 like WWE has), audio and production equipment, lighting and an entranceway. As a matter of fact, ECWA has used Kekoa’s ring for a couple years.
“How many times do you scroll on Facebook and see a promoter asking who has a wrestling ring,” Kekoa says. “Or somebody looking for a DJ or a promoter’s license? I figured it would be a lot easier if just one person had all this stuff. Especially for these smaller companies trying to get going, I can help them out.”
His reputation is rock solid. For example, the first time a New York independent promotion booked him, he was asked to show up by 2 p.m. Kekoa showed up an hour early and had everything set up well before showtime. The promoter couldn’t believe that someone who lived three hours away showed up early while the last ring guy lived in New York City and was still an hour late. “My focus is professionalism, which is very lost in this industry nowadays,” Kekoa says. “Too many people treat pro wrestling as a hobby and not a profession.”
Kekoa has been instilling that professionalism into the next generation of grapplers. At the urging of a local gym owner, the veteran opened Workrate Entertainment Wrestling Academy in the Poconos. Initially reluctant to open his own school, he gave it a shot after considering the future of the industry.
“Not that I don’t have confidence in myself by any means, but I don’t have a name in this business,” Kekoa says. “However, I’ve gone to so many wrestling schools around this country and I very much disagree with how people are training wrestlers nowadays. It’s a huge problem because trainers let guys try something and tell them ‘okay, that’s close enough.’ No, it’s not close enough.”
After being away from the ring for five months during the COVID-19 pandemic, former ECWA Heavyweight Champion Mike Law went to Kekoa’s school to shake the rust off. Law admits to struggling during the three hours of nonstop drills. But he still does those drills today.
“I can’t deny the guy hustles, works hard and looks like a million bucks,” Law says. “He’s been at the cusp of a huge breakout and I don’t know what else he needs to get to that level.”
The rental business will relocate to the Orlando area, but Kekoa has closed the wrestling school. He’s now focusing all efforts on honing his own craft. “If the most experienced guy on a show has less experience than I do, then how can I get better,” Kekoa says. “Living in the Poconos, it’s tough being around people who can get me to the next level. I can’t get that professional critique that I seek.”
As long as ECWA’s Christmas Spectacular doesn’t get canceled due to COVID-19, Kekoa will get a chance for revenge after Martinez screwed him out of the championship in November. They’ve had a long history together in promotions throughout the Northeast, so it’s a fitting end to the Flyin’ Hawaiian’s run. “He’s someone who has always pushed me to my limits and forced me to become a better performer,” Martinez says. “Whether as a teammate or opponent, he has made me better each and every time. But the one thing he is better at than being a pro wrestler is being a brother.”
It’ll be one more night for Kekoa to make memories for his loyal fans, wiping away their tears and being their knight in shining armor.
“I remember this one mom told me she has two sons and they fight over who gets to be Kekoa when they play wrestle,” he says. “Having everybody’s love and support over the years is beyond a blessing. I could never thank the fans enough. Being able to accomplish my dream and do what everyone told me I couldn’t has been an amazing feeling. Wrestling has been everything to me.”
ECWA’s Christmas Spectacular takes place Saturday, Dec. 5, at The Jersey Dugout in Morganville, New Jersey.
ECWA events are also available on IWTV.
For tickets and more information, visit ecwaprowrestling.com.
You can also join the ECWA Pro Wrestling Facebook group for the latest news, match announcements, promos and more.
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