By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
While the sun blazed and turned the area around the Dr. Alfredo Gutierrez Amphitheater into something of an outdoor oven, a different kind of heat was building inside the Joe Ramos Center.
Texas Wrestling Entertainment, based out of San Antonio, held its inaugural Red, White and Bruise event inside the Joe Ramos Center as part of the City of Del Rio’s Fourth of July activities. More than 200 people packed the gymnasium as they turned out to watch five pro wrestling matches. Despite the lack of any air conditioning or fans inside the gym, people used homemade fans and beverages to help cool themselves off during the three-hour show.
The show was originally presented to the Fourth of July committee by then city employee Leno Hernandez. Once Hernandez was elected to the city council the responsibility of organizing the event fell mostly upon the shoulders of Lazaro Castro, the city’s parks and recreation superintendent. Castro said he was pleased with the turnout and said there’s a chance TWE could return to Del Rio this fall.
He also added that there is a pro wrestling promotion out of Eagle Pass that has shown interest in holding a card here. Castro said he was working with them to hold an event here possibly later this year.
The TWE card featured fan favorites like JLP, Sabino Blaze and Women of Wrestling’s Sylvia Sanchez, who has competed in Del Rio under the name Myka. It also featured newcomers like Seraph Noir, Shania and Jimmy Jack.
One of the more unique matches featured City of Del Rio Mayor Al Arreola and City Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez in a staged grudge match in which they were represented by Blaze and Texas Champion Kike Caballero. After some back and forth verbal banter in the ring, Arreola and Gutierrez exited the ring and stood near the corners of the wrestlers representing them – Blaze for Arreola and Caballero for Gutierrez.
The match was hard hitting and featured Blaze in the role of the heel, but in the end it was a slap from Gutierrez, who snuck into the ring behind the referee’s back, that allowed Caballero to get the pin on Blaze.
During and after the show, TWE promoter and head trainer Rudy Gonzalez thanked the fans for attending the event and called Del Rio “a second home” for the company. Originally owned by WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels, TWE has been coming to Del Rio and putting on shows since the early 2000’s. Pro wrestlers who have competed for the company while visiting Del Rio include Brian Kendrick, Bryan Danielson, Lance Cade and Alex Gracia. Gonzalez has also brought wrestlers from a variety of other promotions including Bob Holly, Essa Rios, Lita, D’Lo Brown, Samoa Joe, Brian Cage, Super Crazy and Mil Muertes.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
