Wrestlers that competed in Real Pro Wrestling’s Season One captured a total of nine U.S. Nationals titles in either freestyle or Greco-Roman this past weekend in Las Vegas, Nev. Of those nine, six freestyle wrestlers won titles, with the seventh U.S. Nationals title coming from high schooler Henry Cejudo (121 lbs.).
In Greco-Roman, three of the five Season One wrestlers competing won titles. The other two placed second.
The victories show the quality of competition that Real Pro Wrestling has brought to sports fans worldwide. Only the best were selected to compete in Season One, and with the eight franchise cities close to being named for Season Two, fans can only expect more of the same when it comes to athlete selection.
Overall, 25 of the 56 Season One wrestlers placed in this event. 27 others did not compete, meaning that 86 percent of the Season One wrestlers that did compete in the U.S. Nationals placed in the top eight of their respective weight classes.
The Iowa Stalkers, which won the RPW Season One team title, had four placewinners at the U.S. Nationals, including one champion. The Oklahoma Slam, which finished third in the Season One team race, led all teams with six placewinners, including three champions. The Minnesota Freeze, which finished last in Season One with only one team point, had three placewinners, including one champion.
RPW wrestlers winning U.S. Nationals crowns in freestyle were Zach Roberson of the Iowa Stalkers (132), Chris Bono of the Chicago Groove (145), Donny Pritzlaff of the Pennsylvania Hammer (163), Mo Lawal of the Oklahoma Slam (184), Daniel Cormier of the Oklahoma Slam (211) and Tolly Thompson of the California Claw (264).
Pritzlaff pulled off what was considered the biggest upset of the weekend, downing two-time World medalist and RPW Season One champion Joe Williams of the Chicago Groove in three periods in the finals. In fact, Pritzlaff also had to post a comeback against the Oklahoma Slam’s Tyrone Lewis in the semifinals to even advance.
Roberson first made a name for himself internationally after he placed second in RPW’s Season One. Now, after four wins in Vegas, he is the wrestler that everyone at 132 lbs. is gunning for in freestyle.
The other four wrestlers all repeated as U.S. Nationals champions.
Neither Lawal or Cormier, both former college wrestlers at Oklahoma State, were challenged in the event. Lawal gave up only two points in his four bouts, which included outscoring Iowa Stalker Lee Fullhart 3-0 in the finals. Cormier outscored his opponents 27-0 in four matches.
Both Lawal and Cormier won individual titles in RPW’s Season One.
Bono won spirited battles in the semifinals over Iowa Stalker Doug Schwab and in the finals over Bill Zadick, both of whom have become rivals of Bono in recent years. The Groove star had to go three periods in each of those bouts before coming away with another U.S. Nationals title.
Thompson, a runner-up in RPW’s Season One, had to come from behind in his championship rematch with former college star Steve Mocco. After losing the first period 3-0 to Mocco, Thompson rallied with a 3-1 second period win and a 1-0 third period win for his second straight U.S. Nationals title, and third overall.
And one has to believe that four stars just out of college will be heavily considered for Season Two rosters following their performances past weekend “Nate Gallick (3 rd at 132), Teyon Ware (7th at 132), Zack Esposito (8th at 145) and Mocco (2nd at 264).
All four of these wrestlers won at least one NCAA title in college. Ware and Mocco each won two individual crowns, and RPW executives are salivating at the opportunity to bring them in for next season.
In Greco-Roman competition, Lindsey Durlacher of the Chicago Groove (121), Joe Warren of the Oklahoma Slam (132) and T.C. Dantzler of the Minnesota Freeze (163) all won U.S. Nationals titles.
In his first three bouts, Durlacher only surrendered one point. In the finals, he used his veteran ways to win after losing the first period.
Warren was even more dominant, pinning his first three opponents before outscoring his finals opponent 10-0. The Greco-Roman rules that were introduced following the 2004 Olympics have only helped Warren, an emotional and explosive wrestler that is always looking for a pin first.
Dantzler, whose eyes get big as soon as the reverse lift clinch position begins, was not challenged in his three bouts on his way to the title either.
All three of these wrestlers competed in the World Championships last year and are favorites to be wrestling in them this year as well.
But one thing is for sure, all nine of these champions are sure to be back for Season Two of Real Pro Wrestling as well. Could Cejudo be the first Lebron James of RPW, or more appropriately, Moses Malone, by jumping from high school to the pros?
There’s only one way to find out “watch. The highly-anticipated second season is currently scheduled to get underway in late fall, following the 2006 World Championships.
RPW Wrestlers and their placements at the U.S. National Championships
Freestyle:
Matt Azevedo, California Claw (2nd at 121)
Ramico Blackmon, New York Outrage (5 th at 163)
Chris Bono, Chicago Groove (1st at 145)
Daniel Cormier, Oklahoma Slam (1st at 211)
Jared Frayer, Oklahoma Slam (4th at 145)
Lee Fullhart, Iowa Stalkers (2nd at 184)
Damion Hahn, Minnesota Freeze (3rd at 211)
Joe Heskett, Iowa Stalkers (4th at 163)
Andy Hrovat, Chicago Groove (5th at 184)
Brian Keck, Oklahoma Slam (8th at 264)
Eric Larkin, Texas Shooters (6th at 145)
Mo Lawal, Oklahoma Slam (1st at 184)
Jared Lawrence, Minnesota Freeze (5th at 145)
Tyrone Lewis, Oklahoma Slam (3rd at 163)
Donny Pritzlaff, Pennsylvania Hammer (1st at 163)
Zach Roberson, Iowa Stalkers (1st at 132)
Tommy Rowlands, New York Outrage (3rd at 264)
Doug Schwab, Iowa Stalkers (3rd at 145)
Tolly Thompson, California Claw (1st at 264)
Joe Williams, Chicago Groove (2nd at 163)
Greco-Roman:
T.C. Dantzler, Minnesota Freeze (1st at 163)
Lindsey Durlacher, Chicago Groove (1st at 121)
Mike Ellsworth, Pennsylvania Hammer (2nd at 145)
Brad Vering, New York Outrage (2nd at 184)
Joe Warren, Oklahoma Slam (1st at 132)
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