The absolutely dreaded year of 2020 is in the books, and in truth, I wouldn't want to reflect on or relive most of it. The corona virus turned the entire world upside down, political unrest dominated the news cycle, and the health concerns of the pandemic crunched the small business model of independent wrestling. Make no mistake about it, I can say it with all sincerity, when fans buy a ticket or digital download for Ryse Wrestling, you will see a solid event and undoubtedly get your money's worth. Those behind-the-scenes work as tirelessly in the office as the athletes work in the ring to make sure the fans that support Ryse get quality entertainment. One of the many upsides of the Ryse environment is that it allows fans a close view of live pro wrestling without putting the boots to their wallet. From a business prospective, the reasons to keep Ryse affordable to as many fans as possible also made it stuck in terms of production during the pandemic. Ultimately, it was determined that it wouldn't have been wise from a business or safety stand point to produce events with or without live attendance.
So, the Ryse 2020 calendar was cut short, and as much as I don't want to reflect on the dismal time in the world since COVID dropped an elbow on the globe, I think it's important to discuss some of the aspects that initially shaped what should've been possibly the biggest year for the organization in its existence.
While we made it to just four events before society turned into a battle royal about almost every topic possible, I was very impressed with the direction that Ryse was headed, and look forward to when it picks back up because of the pieces that were put into place previously. Forgive me if this becomes somewhat of a mishmash of the squared circle as different portions occurred at different times.
I was very happy to see Troy Lords make his Ryse debut at the start of 2020. Troy, a nearly 20-year pro, is as solid as anyone inside the ring ropes and was vastly underrated for a portion of his career. Despite his bizarre antics over the past few years, he rejuvenated himself, adding a completely fresh chapter to his resume. As far as I'm concerned Troy is a major asset for any organization and it will be interesting to see his path in Ryse, specifically for the variety of opponents he might compete against in the promotion.
Another note from the start of 2020 was the rounds match, a spin off of the British World of Sport style, between Shirley Doe and Lee Moriarty. This is one of my favorite matches that I've ever called because it was completely unique to what is usually seen on the independent circuit, and they delivered a quality bout. Furthermore, as villainous as he is toward Ryse, you must give Doe credit for the transformation he made in recent years. He looks like he did nearly 15 years ago and the work he's done physically translated to some very good matches, which speaks volumes to his dedication to the sport after such an accomplished career.
While we were still in January, a time that seems like it was several years ago as opposed to just a calendar year ago, Ryse made its debut in Baldwin, PA at the Hough building, a very nice venue that brought a good crowd to watch the company in a new area. As much as The Stronghold was probably my favorite building to call shows, it was great to get to broadcast in Baldwin, especially because the administrators of the venue appreciated the efforts of the roster. A side note, the Hough building is a full gymnasium and thus there were several flights of stairs to get to the locker room, which was maintained very well, and as some might know, my mobility isn't nearly as solid as my skills on the mic. I tweeted about this after the event, but I want to thank them again here, both Duke Davis and Calvin Couture stopped specifically to ask if I was okay with the steps. Speaking of Calvin and Baldwin, he was scheduled for perhaps the biggest match of his career when Ryse was booked to return their in March, but the pandemic delayed that opportunity for him. Something that must be said about Calvin is that he has all the skills to be big star in the industry and if I had to guess, I'd say he doesn't realize how talented he is yet.
As far as that title match, Tony Johnson, who won the title at the conclusion of 2019 after a storied journey to the championship, really didn't get the chance he deserved to shine because of the pandemic. Tony Johnson's evolution as an athlete under the Ryse banner is one of the success stories of Pittsburgh wrestling and hopefully, he gets back in the championship picture because there's a lot more for him to accomplish.
Just a few weeks before that cancellation, Ryse held what would be its final event at the cinema known as the Stronghold. I will keep this portion brief, as it wouldn't be productive to dwell on, but if I remember correctly, Brandon K addressed the situation when he announced Ryse would move away from the building. When Covid shut down the world, a major revenue source for the promotion, it's training school and live event venue, were stuck in limbo. Brandon K is one of the most respected figures in Pittsburgh wrestling circles, and I will say this without any political spin, he's the best promoter I've ever worked for in my nearly thirteen years involved in professional wrestling. He's honest and a good dude, traits very rare for a promoter. Quite frankly, Brandon has too much integrity to risk the health of his wrestlers or fan base to run live events. He put health concerns over profit, another rare trait in this industry. So, Ryse attempted to negotiate a rental fee that would keep all the equipment used to produce Ryse events at the Stronghold, but also not financially damage the company when its main revenue sources were shut down. The property owners of the complex where the Stronghold was located didn't agree, prompting Ryse to relocate. This is just my opinion on the matter, but I believe those property owners were looking for a faster way to pad their pockets than to conduct commerce. Ryse Wrestling was easily the best business venture within that complex, but greedy was the property owners ruined that. Now, the biggest draw University Drive has is when Rural King has a sale on bird seed, or we can just blame Lewis, who took the venue with him when he exited the promotion.
So, while I probably won't ever reflect fondly on 2020, as I mentioned, the pieces are in place for what should be a bright return for Ryse in Baldwin when the world stops melting in 2021. Lee Moriatry, Tre Lamar, Ziggy, Tony Johnson, and many more provide such quality entertainment for the fans. Finally, on a non-wrestling note, if you're reading this, I request that you do a small part to make the world a better place in 2021. Be considerate of others and try your best to treat everyone better.
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