Top 10 Moments Of 2017: #3--Rock n Roll Is King As Ricky & Robert, Tito Santana Highlight Biggest FanFest Yet


December 31, 2017
By Trapper Tom, Editor, KSWA Digest

The Keystone State Wrestling Alliance (KSWA) returned to the former KSWA Arena for FanFest since 2013. At that time, "Luscious" Johnny Valiant, Bucky Palermo and Zach Gowen helped highlight the event. Bobby Badfingers won the 5-Star Championship. Some things have changed in just a few years.

On December 6, 2017, appearances from the Rock n' Roll Express and Tito Santana helped buoyed a card that had more than 550 Krazies sitting on the edge of their seats.

In a Wildcard match for the 5-Star Championship, Bob Badfingers outlasted a field of challengers that included Yinza, "Big Country" Matt McGraw, Del Douglas and then-champion Justin Sane.

Shane Starr and Kris Kash secured an official spot as the Number One Contenders for the KSWA Tag Team Championships in a crowded four-team exhibition. In the Four Corners match, they defeated Zak Hunter and Harley T. Morris, Jack Massacre and Lucio Deveer and Big Mike Malachi and Jay Flash.

Anthony Alexander beat Tommy Faime for the Golden Triangle Championship in a match between two long-time veteran Megastars. Faime, a Hall of Famer, was not able to best Alexander, who almost assuredly will join him sometime in the future.

Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson, the Rock n Roll Express, were able to beat the VIPs--Shawn Blanchard and Lou Martin. The match began with Morton telling the overflow crowd how much he loved wresting in Pittsburgh and the Civic Arena. The VIPs arrived and charged that the Rock n Roll Express wasn't the best tag team in the building. That set up their previously-announced match. It was later announced that "Dr. Devastation" Lou Martin had an emergency appendectomy only a few weeks before FanFest. His health might have been limited; however, the injury didn't seem to limit him inside the squared circle.

Tito Santana also had kind words for Pittsburgh before his showdown with Lord Zoltan. A feud 34 years in the making, the two old-school warriors battled it out for supremacy. In the end, it was the long-time fan favorite who dispatched his opponent.

T-Rantula and The Jester successfully defended against Bubba the Bulldog and Dennis Gregory (with Mayor Mystery). The match nearly ended differently, as Gregory successfully pinned The Jester for the three count. Initially, referee Shawn Patrick didn't see Gregory's feet on the ropes. However, the pin was reversed and the match restarted. T and The Jester were able to retain. After the match, Gregory stole the KSWA tag team titles and ultimately secured a rematch for January.

And then in the Main Event, BROhemoth challenged KSWA Heavyweight Champion Mitch Napier. After an impressive showing at Brawl Under The Bridge III in Homestead six months earlier, BROhemoth attacked his way to this Main Event opportunity. The challenger gave the Champion everything he had, but Napier wowed the nearly 600 fans with a Sioux Falls Slam in the finale.

In addition to all of the action, the Krazies continued to do what they do best by donating untold amounts of toys for needy children in Allegheny County.





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