Wrestling Heats Up Great America as Youth Sports Day Inspires Youth
By Robert Haugh
Amidst a backdrop chorus of screaming thrill seekers and roaring roller coasters a new sound was heard echoing at California’s Great America on Saturday, June 27 when thuds were heard as bodies were being slammed to the canvas.
An array of wild professional wrestling characters appeared at Great America as part of Youth Sports Day, including the high-flying Luchadores Chicano Flame, “Mexican Werewolf” El Chupacabra and Kid Omega --- plus an array of evil villains including the 399-pound “Mountain From Stone Mountain” Larry Blackwell, Kimo “The Heat” Kanaloa, “Italian Assassin” Vennis deMarco, “Nice Guy” Vinnie Massarro, “Insane” Mike Rayne --- as well as colorful and animated fan favorites like “Rock Legend Scum” Adam Thornstowe, Jeckles the Jester, “Son of a Highway Man” Jody Kristofferson, Otis the Big Trucker, “The Showcase” Johnny Plinko and the perennial underdog, the 5-foot-5, 135-pound Kryptonite.
Dazzling thousands of fans throughout the day with array of powerful and innovative wrestling maneuvers, risk-defying aerial attacks and unparallel technical wrestling prowess, there was wrestling excitement for everyone’s palettes. Fans fought off the scorching 100-degree heat to watch in awe as the wrestlers performed bone-shattering maneuvers.
The huge 20-person over-the-top battle royal featuring the best wrestlers from throughout the West Coast had fans gathering in droves as wrestlers were being tossed far and near. In the end, the standing-room-only crowd in Celebration Plaza witnessed Kryptonite eliminate Blackwell with an assist from Thornstowe.
Great America guests also witnessed the stunning debut of the wild El Leopardo Locco, a mysterious masked wrestler from the Amazon jungle managed by the much-despised lawyer from New York, Buddy Sotello, ESQ. Fans also saw two of the country’s fastest-rising female wrestling stars in action as “Punk Princess” Christina Von Eerie defeated Leopardo Locco, while the sassy Davina Rose fended off the brash and arrogant “Glamorous” Ryan Von Kool.
“The Shooter” Tony Jones, as seen in the major motion picture Beyond The Mat was defeated by the ever-popular “Freak Show” Jeckles.
Other rough and tumble wrestling stars appearing included The Channel Surfers: “Sofa King” Ace Davis & “Love Seat” Tomas D. Ortiz, The Associates: Wise Guy & White Collar Criminal L.J. Summers and The West Coast Dragons: Corvus Ventura & Junior Morales and the professional wrestling debuts of the Miracle Fighter and APW Boot Camp student (www.allprowrestling.com) Tremayne Event. The rookies were participants in the battle royale --- both getting tossed out after being obliterated with fierce chops.
The wrestling matches were free to Great America guests as part of Youth Sports Day, which featured a bevy of local youth sports organizations including women’s professional soccer team FC Gold Pride and former U.S. Women’s soccer team captain Brandi Chastain, the San Jose Giants, Santa Clara University Athletics, Santa Clara PAL, San Jose PAL, Lift Up America and more.
For more information on California's Great America season passes and more call 408-988-1776 or visit www.cagreatamerica.com. The wrestling portion of the event was organized by scribe Robert Haugh’s Wrestling For Charity.
