Date: March 1, 2025
Venue: Spencer Armory
207 East Main Street
Spencer, West Virginia 25276
Tickets: General Admission (Advanced) $10.00
General Admission (Door) $15.00
Parking: Adjacent Parking Lot
Promoter: Jessica McCumbers
Snacks: Chips $ 1.00
Water $ 1.00
Soda $ 1.50
Candy $ 1.50
Hot Dog $ 2.50
Nachos & Cheese $ 2.50
Ring Announcer: Vince Riviera
Merchandise: Unwilting Tatiana T-Shirt $20.00
Titan Troy T-Shirt $20.00
Jagermeister #FUMA T-Shirt $20.00
Beefcake Cowbell $ 5.00
Referees: Smartie Marks
Michael Luckey
Social Media: route33wrestling.weebly.com/
facebook.com/rt33wrestling
route33wrestling.bsky.social
instagram.com/route33wrestling
youtube.com/channel/UCNkfUpIZW9pDAFuRam822lw
threads.net/@route33wrestling
Stream: payhip.com/Route33Wrestling
According their website, Route 33 Wrestling was “founded in 2017 by stuntwoman and actor-combatant Jessi McCumbers (aka. “The Boss Lady”), Route 33 Wrestling is a 100% woman-owned and -run pro wrestling company located in the heart of Spencer, WV. Route 33 Wrestling’s core goals are to make quality live sports entertainment accessible to all, and to put the ‘professional’ in ‘professional wrestling.'”
The Spencer Armory features 6,000 square feet of main auditorium event space – plus a large stage for bands, presentations or performances. Additionally, the Armory has a 200 sq ft kitchen for serving concessions, spacious restroom facilities, and a classroom wing for additional overflow space. This event took place in the main auditorium which provides plenty of space and great lighting for various events, including professional wrestling.
There did not appear to be much room for parking when I arrived early at the Spencer Armory. However, as I watched people arrive from my car, I realized that a great number of folks who lived in town were walking there from some other location which made it feel like this was a happening…and it was, as the events of the night would later prove.
All tickets were general admission to the show. However, all who purchased advanced tickets received a wristband which allowed them to skip the line. This is a great idea to reward folks for buying early, in addition to the five dollar advanced purchase discount. The entrance to the show was on the side of the building and led directly into the auditorium. Off to the right side as you enter, is the opening that leads to the concession stand.
Around the edge of the room, several performers had merchandise tables set up, including Jagermeister who spent nearly the entire pre-show hour pumping up the crowd for his match against the hated Michael Anthony. Jager was not the only one, though, as Brox Boulder, Titan Troy, Beefcake, Chaz Monroe, and John D. Crazy Hillbilly could all be seen interacting with fans and getting them hyped for the show. Ms. McCumbers made an announcement that, at the Route 33 merchandise table, there would be a sign/poster making station for the kids to make signs before the show, as well.
In the weeks leading up to the event, Route 33 had been posting teasers for a new championship that would be decided by way of a tournament that would take place over the next several months, culminating on September 6. Two (of four) first round matches had been announced, but the title itself and details of the tournament were to be unveiled at this show. But first, there was other business to attend to.
MATCH #1
MICHAEL ANTHONY vs THE JAGERMEISTER
The show kicked off with a grudge match between former friends, Michael Anthony and Jagermeister. Jager got the early edge off of a miss in the corner with a barrage of headbutts and a couple of charging spears in the corner. Jager jumped on Anthony’s back and locked in a sleeper hold, while yelling his theme for the match, #FUMA, (which stands for F U Michael Anthony).
Anthony eventually escaped the hold by flipping Jagermeister over his head. From there, the bad guy slowed things down and dominated Jager with various choke holds. Jager tried to fight back, but Anthony continued to use his power to keep Jager subdued, all while taunting the crowd with his success.
Anthony would get too cocky, though. After whipping Jager into the opposite corner, Anthony motioned like he was checking his watch, which gave Jager plenty of time to regroup and move out of the way when Anthony finally decided to charge. Jager snuck out to the apron and choked Anthony from behind and the rally was on. Jager climbed to the top rope and hit a double axehandle for a near fall. However, Anthony was up first. When Jager charged, Anthony reversed into a spine buster, then hit the World Breaker slam to pick up the victory.
After the match, Anthony took to the mic to demand a title match from the Boss Lady. Much to Anthony’s chagrin, the Boss Lady left the decision up to the fans, who voted with a resounding “NO.” Unfortunately, this would not be the last we heard of Michael Anthony.
WINNER: MICHAEL ANTHONY
MATCH #2
BOMANI vs JEFFREY JOHN
Jeffrey John tried to use his speed to counter the power of Bomani early in this match, but had little success. John would eventually make his mark when Bomani charged and John pulled the top rope down, sending Bomani crashing to the floor. John followed, but was distracted by Gorgeous Morgan Taylor at ringside, which allowed Bomani to regroup and attack.
When the action returned to the ring, Bomani was in firm control of the match. John tried to mount several rallies, each of which were thwarted by the power of Bomani. Later, though, after a near fall on a second rope fall away slam, Bomani lifted Jeffrey John up for a choke slam.
John escaped, unleashed a flurry of punches, then hit a second rope flying upper cut. Bomani, still on his feet, tried to counter with a power bomb, but John easily escaped. Jeffrey followed with a superkick and a fireman’s carry takeover, and looked to put the match away, but Morgan Taylor jumped up on the apron to create a distraction.
The distraction allowed Bomani to sneak up and hit a front slam. When that garnered just a two count, Taylor slid his title belt into the ring and told Bomani to use it. The referee took the belt and argued with Taylor, while Bomani grabbed a steel chair to use behind the referee’s back.
However, Bomani swung the chair, John ducked, the chair hit the top rope and rebounded right into Bomani’s face. With Bomani reeling on his knees, John hit a running shot to the back of Bomani’s head and made the cover for the win. After the match, Jeffrey John grabbed a microphone and told Morgan Taylor that he is coming for him.
WINNER: JEFFREY JOHN
MATCH #3
JOHN D. CRAZY HILLBILLY vs JORDAN CARLYLE
WILD AND WONDERFUL WEST VIRGINIA TITLE TOURNAMENT 1ST ROUND MATCH
Prior to the next match, the Boss Lady, Jessica McCumbers, came to the ring with referee Smartie Marks to unveil the new championship that had been teased for weeks. McCumbers announced that the title will be called the Wild and Wonderful West Virginia Championship, reminded everyone that the tournament would take place over the next few months, starting with the next match.
Before the bell rang, Jordan Carlyle went to the corner, stole John’s hat, and put it on his head. In response, John grabbed Carlyle’s sequined shawl and pranced around the ring with it on his shoulders. Angered, Carlyle confronted John, who immediately poked Carlyle in the eye. Moments later, the hillbilly grabbed a purple nurple on Carlyle, then nailed Carlyle with a loud chop to the chest.
Carlyle turned the tide with a clothesline reversal off of an Irish whip, and followed with a leg drop off the ropes, then another one to the crotch. Carlyle continued to maintain control with rope chokes, and eventually got a near fall after a neck breaker, then another with a forward somersault cutter.
Frustrated he could not put the hillbilly away, Carlyle untied the tag rope from one corner and looked to choke John with it. The referee intercepted Jordan and prevented the choke. This also gave John D. time to regroup. The hillbilly hit an atomic drop, then a reverse atomic drop, followed by a big boot. From there, John D. lifted Carlyle into suplex position then converted it into a driver to get the win and advance in the tournament.
WINNER: JOHN D. CRAZY HILLBILLY
MATCH #4
HERO NAPIER vs JMD
JMD snuck a low blow to Hero Napier before the bell rang, then choked Hero in the corner as the bell rang. Napier rebounded, after JMD argued with the referee about the choke, and unloaded with a flurry of strikes to JMD who immediately retreated to the outside.
Hero followed and a brawl ensued, with Napier getting the upper hand. At one point, Napier walked JMD around the ring and allowed fans to take shots at him. When the action returned to the ring, Napier took control with a body slam, side slam, and suplex for a near fall.
JMD shifted the momentum back in his direction with a eye poke followed by a boot choke. From there JMD rammed Napier’s head into the turnbuckle, choked Napier again, then hit a side Russian leg sweep for a near fall. A confident JMD then stood on the second rope and began arguing with fans at ringside at that point with Hero seemingly down and out.
Of course, JMD’s cockiness gave Hero time to recover. Napier got up and pulled JMD off of the second rope, hitting JMD’s head on the buckle. Both men were down momentarily, but exchanged blows as they rose to their feet. Finally, Hero yells “What’s that?” and points. When the referee turned his head, Hero hit a low blow kick, then lifted JMD into a fireman’s carry and dropped him on his face for the win.
As soon as the match ended, the video board near the curtain showed live footage of Michael Anthony attacking Jagermeister outside the venue. Anthony was taunting Hero Napier, trying to get Hero to follow and daring Hero to come find them. Hero took off like a bat out of hell.
WINNER: HERO NAPIER
MATCH #5
THE UNWILTING TATIANA vs REESE RAMONE
WILD AND WONDERFUL WEST VIRGINIA TITLE TOURNAMENT 1ST ROUND MATCH
The second first round match in the Wild and Wonderful West Virginia title tournament kicked off the second half of the show. Reese Ramone seemed to have no intention of locking up with Tatiana at first, pretending to need to stretch to cause as much delay as possible. Once the competitors engaged, they went back and forth with some impressive chain wrestling which led to multiple resets.
Eventually, Tatiana would take control and get a near fall after a headbutt and a belly-to-belly suplex. As a result, Reese Ramone escaped to the outside of the ring and refused to get back inside. Fed up, Tatiana approached the apron and struck Ramone. As the referee tried to separate the two, Reese Ramone attacked Tatiana from behind.
Now with the advantage, Ramone climbed back into the ring and choked Tatiana with her boot in the corner, then charged with a spin kick. Ramone tried a backslide, but managed just a one count. Tatiana fell into one corner and Ramone charged. Tatiana evaded the charge, then used a snap mare to set up a leg drop for a near fall of her own.
Not finished, Ramone tried to counter with a cross arm breaker. However, Tatiana successfully blocked the move and never let Ramone lock it in. Moments later, Tatiana rolled over into a pin, which broke the hold, but Ramone immediately followed with a standing leg drop that nearly won her the match.
Tatiana would fire back with a clothesline reversal of an Irish Whip, then whipped Ramone into the ropes and hit a side slam. When that failed to end the match, Tatiana hit another leg drop, then a Saito suplex, and made the cover to advance in the title tournament.
WINNER: THE UNWILTING TATIANA
MATCH #6
GRAPPLING, INC. (c) vs BEEFCAKE & CHAZ MONROE
ROUTE 33 TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Early in this tag team title match, Beefcake locked Brox Boulder into an abdominal stretch. Boulder escaped with a hip toss that caused Chaz Monroe to run in. Titan Troy also ran in and threw Chaz out of the ring, allowing Brox and Troy to hit a really cool monkey flip combination move that showed off their chemistry as a team.
Chaz pulled Troy outside the ring soon after, beat him senseless, then rolled him back into the ring. Beefcake was waiting and hit a fall away slam, then choked Troy on the ropes. With Troy’s neck draped across the ropes, Chaz Monroe ran in and hit a knee to Troy’s back.
When that garnered just a two count, Monroe locked Troy in a sort of half bow and arrow, then converted that to an arm bar. Monroe tagged Beefcake, who immediately knocked Boulder off of the apron to facilitate more double teams on Titan Troy. As Boulder argued with the referee, Beefcake grabbed a camel clutch and Chaz Monroe grabbed a Boston Crab on Titan Troy for what appeared to be a tortuous move.
Somehow, Troy escaped and tried to make the hot tag, but Chaz Monroe ran around the ring and pulled Brox off the apron by his feet. Monroe hit a flying body press on Titan Troy for a near fall, tagged Beefcake, then leap frogged over his partner to get more oomph on a splash.
Soon though, Titan Troy would escape the enemy corner long enough to hit a springboard cross body and make the tag to Brox Boulder. Brox hit the ring with a spinebuster to Chaz Monroe, then tagged Titan Troy right back in.
At this point, all four competitors are in the ring. Beefcake lifted Troy into a Gory Special and converted that into a stunner. Brox Boulder then speared Beefcake. As Beefcake rolled outside the ring, Chaz Monroe hit a German Suplex on Brox. As Boulder rolled out of the ring, Titan Troy lifted Chaz up for the rotating fireman’s carry suplex finisher that allowed the champs to retain.
WINNERS: GRAPPLING, INC.
MATCH #7
GORGEOUS MORGAN TAYLOR (c) vs THE MOUNTAIN KING
ROUTE 33 OPENWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
The Mountain King did not take kindly to Gorgeous Morgan Taylor talking trash to his wife, the Boss Lady, and furiously attacked the champion as the bell rang. The champion powdered and tried to get a breather, but the Mountain King followed. The Mountain King was getting the better of the ringside exchange until Bomani caused a distraction and Taylor attacked from inside the ring.
Taylor was in firm control from that point. The champion choked the Mountain King with the ropes, ran his face along the top rope, hit a series of shoulder blocks in the corner, and followed with a splash. From there, Taylor began working the leg of the Mountain King as he slowed the pace of the match down.
Soon, though, the Mountain King would rally off of a missed hip attack in the corner. Mountain King hit a clothesline and a body slam, but Taylor would counter by driving the challenger into the corner. Taylor went for the Unprettier, but Mountain King reversed into a cutter out of nowhere, then called out Bomani.
The big man slowly got into the ring as Mountain King told the referee to let it go. Bomani unloaded with chops and whipped Mountain King into the ropes. Mountain King responded with a big boot and a DDT. At that point, Morgan Taylor snuck in with a foreign object and knocked Mountain King out cold with the referee’s back turned facing Bomani. When the referee turned back around, the champion grabbed a sleeper hold on the mat to make it look as though that is what knocked the challenger out. With no reason to believe otherwise, the referee called for the bell.
After the match, the champion and Bomani attacked Mountain King again until Michael Anthony ran in and attacked Mountain King himself. Figuring Anthony had it covered, the champion and Bomani fled to higher ground. At the same time, the Boss Lady had had enough. She grabbed a kendo stick, ran into the ring, and hit Anthony with it. Anthony released his grip on the Mountain King, turned to McCumbers, and lifted her up for a World Breaker slam. There is yet no word from Route 33, but I have to imagine the Boss Lady will take action against Anthony at Route 33’s next show on May 3.
WINNER: GORGEOUS MORGAN TAYLOR
It had been a couple of months since I had been to a live independent wrestling show. This event made me remember why I love it so much. The fans in Spencer are funny and unique (especially white board/megaphone guy, who might have been my favorite).
Very few of the fans ever took their phones out during the show, they just enjoyed it in the moment, which was so cool to see. Also, there is an air of familiarity between the performers and the fans, and the general sense that this town is very invested in Route 33 Wrestling.
As I have stated before, as an adult, I enjoy hardcore matches and wrestling with other types of adult content from time to time. However, as a father, I know that such things are not always suitable for the whole family. Professional wrestling is family entertainment at its core and Route 33 understands the assignment.
There were seven entertaining matches on this card, none of which contained blood, cursing, or anything else that was not PG. As a result, families from the entire town, and beyond, can come to a Route 33 show and not worry about what their children might see. The sign making station, made available at Route 33 shows, is another example of the family friendly atmosphere. I have never seen one at another show and it is a great idea that creates excitement and engagement for the kids before the show even begins.
All in all, I had a blast in Spencer, West Virginia. The wrestling was fun and entertaining, several storylines were moved forward and anticipation was very much built for Route 33’s next show on May 3. Keep an eye on their social media and website for ticket and other information. It looks to be a show that is not to be missed.
The Indy Wrestling Experience 