This Friday, Ryse Pro Wrestling, a blue collar league founded in 2016 by longtime veteran, Brandon K, will have its annual presentation at the Fayette County Fair, a portion of the festivities that has become an anticipated event for both the fans and the performers. Based in Uniontown in the same county, Ryse became an institution in that region of western Pennsylvania, as Jason Clements, the man behind the Brandon K wrestling persona, wanted to bring sports entertainment to his hometown.
Typically, the league that was founded on its combination of established veterans and aspiring hopefuls that learned the ropes at the organization’s training center, The Stronghold, holds events in the Uniontown Mall complex. A converted Sears building was transformed into a wrestling arena with lights, a video wall, and of course, the squared circle to provide a stage for the performers to showcase their talents to the consistent audience.
However, when the company ventures to the fair grounds each summer, complete with funnel cake, lemonade, games, and a Ferris Wheel, among all the other aspects that made the event a staple of the July tradition, it adds another layer to the competitive nature of the sport.
The answer as to why everyone has an extra edge when they prepare to compete at the EQT Pavilion is simple, hundreds and hundreds of customers at the fair will get the chance to see them compete. If a young athlete wants to make a name for themselves, the circumstances are there for them to make a statement. Just last year, former WWE Star Donovan Dijak, who was the Ryse Grand champion at the time, had an absolute classic at the fair grounds with two-time Ryse champion, Cowpoke Paul, one of the top students to emerge from the Stronghold. In the time since, Cowpoke has become one of the most in demand youngsters of the independent circuit, zigzagging around several different states to compete on any given weekend.
One of the perks for the pro wrestling event held there is that the action is included in the admission to the fair, allowing for an affordable option for the fan base for a night of entertainment.
The main event of this year’s Fayette County Fair presentation is the culmination of a very bitter rivalry that has been bubbling for months. Former tag team champions, Tad Jarvis and Jayce Mara had their reign end abruptly last year. Given that they broke into the sport together at the promotion’s training school and their solid set of fundamental skills, many expected the pair to redefine the Ryse tag division with a dominate run with the belts.
“At first it was like anything else, I was super nervous but after a while you learn that training at the Stronghold you have so much support and trainers who help and motivate you become the best version you can be even when you can’t see it, but they do,” Tad explained.
“Training at Stronghold Wrestling Academy wasn’t just training — it was an awakening. Top-notch facility, elite fundamentals, and no wasted motion. While other schools are pumping out cosplay wrestlers doing flips with no footwork, Stronghold builds professionals. Look, anyone can slap on gear and play wrestler. This doesn’t happen at the Stronghold. Brandon K will bring something out that lies deep down in you,” added Jace
It took just three seconds for their title run to end and their careers to take two very diametrically opposed paths.
Mara, a thrill seeker that allowed his fascination with horror movies to influence his pro wrestling style, turned his back on Jarvis, launching an unprovoked attack when the team dissolved following the title defeat.
“It was fun, I enjoyed tagging with Jace. That’s until he became the monster he is now. We had a lot of great times and plans,” said Jarvis.
“Teaming with Tad at first, was super cool. As I shamefully admitted before, I used to look up to Tad. When we decided to team up, I thought that we could be dominate. It was a learning experience, teaming with Tad brought out a monster in me. I realized that I hate him, I hate the fans, I hate all of the guys in the back, and I’m only in it for me,” answered Mara.
To settle the score, Ryse management slated a three match series with the first being a traditional match, the second as a dog collar match, and the third was designed as a 25-minute iron man match. Mara took the first bout, putting the pressure on Tad, who responded with a victory in the dog collar match. It was thought that the rivarly would be settled with who could garnered the most falls in the iron match earlier this month at The Ryse Rumble, one of the biggest cards on the organization’s calendar.
When the iron man match didn’t yield a clear winner after an intense 25-minute battle, where the two traded falls as they competed not only against each other, but also the clock as the time limit elapsed, the Ryse officials knew that they needed something definitive to finally conclude this bitter feud.
So, at the Fayette County fair this Friday, the series will undoubtedly see it’s conclusion when the former friends turned bitter enemies compete in the first-ever Bunkhouse Brawl in Ryse’s nearly 9-year history. There are no disqualifications, count outs, or referee stoppage. Anything goes and many pundits expect a wild bout as the conclusion to the feud.
“These are two guys that have worked incredibly hard, they are competitive guys. They’ve had this conflict for months, and the way we decided to settle it was to give them that main event spot at the fair, it’s a signature event for us, and will be the chance for them to settle this in the Bunkhouse Brawl,” said Dean Radford, a longtime veteran that works as one of the head organizers and co-head trainer at the Stronghold.
Tad Jarvis, a veteran of the United States armed forces, consider this bout the biggest match of his career, and is ready to bring his combat skills into the ring. While Mara has drawn the ire of the dedicated Ryse fan base, Jarvis has steadily built a fan following over the course of his six-year career. Tad is a homegrown Ryse grappler, and his taken has taken him across the Pittsburgh scene, but his still considers the Uniontown group his home base. Dubbing himself “the social media icon,” Jarvis endeared himself to fans when he includes them on his Facebook live streams as he makes his way to the ring. Furthermore, at the end of the night when the ring is being torn down and the chairs of being picked up, it’s not uncommon for Tad to be seen taking time with the fans to sign every autograph and pose for every photo-op, even after a tough defeat, just to show his appreciation for the support that has allowed him to become one of the recognizable competitors of the area.
“The Bunk house match is going to be so much fun.Nothing is off limits and I think this is exactly what we needed to finish this especially in where we both grew up,” commented Tad.
On the flip side, Mara is a three-year pro with a chip on his shoulder. In just a few years in the Ryse league, he already become a multi-time champion, winning the promotion’s Ascension championship before his previously mentioned tenure as a tag champion alongside Jarvis. Mara has taken a much different in his career, not shying away from taking the low road or breaking the rules in his pursuit of success.
“I grew up in Fayette County. This fair was where I used to come as a kid, dodging the greasy hillbillies and watching the same nasty mud cricket women stagger around like they own the place. It was a place full of noise, sweat, and desperation,” remarked Jace.
So, the match is signed and preparations of being made for Ryse’s return to the Fayette County Fair this Friday. The fairgrounds are an appropriate setting for the Bunkhouse Brawl as the fight is expected to spill into the hay, the mud, and the beer. Hundreds of fans are expected to witness the action, as the wrestling event is included in admission to the fair.
“If Tad knew what was good for him, he’d give up now. He should go grab his usual order of 15 corn dogs, six orders of fried oreos, three funnel cakes, and seven large lemonade and watch this show from where he belongs in the bleachers,” concluded Mara.
For more information about the Ryse event, you can go to https://www.facebook.com/rysewrestling
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Until next week
-Jim LaMotta
Email [email protected] | You can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, & Threads @jimlamotta89
