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The 2020 Mid-Year Report

Posted: Jul 10th 2020 By: C. M. Burnham

2020 is over halfway done and we at Oklafan.com are pleased to release The Mid-Year Report. In this report, we'll look at the top 20 wrestlers of 2019 (as listed in the Oklafan Top 50) and see where they stand today, what they've accomplished and where they might be going. With a little less than 6 months left before the end of the year, some performers might need that extra motivation to kick things into gear. So, without further ado, let's get to it:

1. Sam Stackhouse. Still a viral sensation for the video of his crashing onto Zach Royal and both of them going through a table last year, WFC Champion Sam Stackhouse remains very active despite the COVID outbreak. In January, he became #1 contender to the UWE Title after winning a 1-night tournament, but never got the opportunity at that title due to circumstances beyond his control (And it now appears the #1 contendership is headed elsewhere). Stackhouse also has recently formed a partnership with Mike Starr and appears to be pursuing the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Championship held by Legend Has It. But that partnership has not been as successful as he might wish. And he still has to keep an eye out for Drake Gallows, who may be coming for him at any given moment.
Current ranking: #4

2. Drake Gallows: Speaking of Sam’s former best friend, Drake has had quite a busy 3 months....followed by almost nothing since the COVID outbreak. He won the BCW Title from Father Padge, only to lose it less than two months later to Cody Burns. He ruined every opportunity that he could for Sam Stackhouse to be successful in his career. He turned on his tag team partner MLP after losing a shot at the BCW Tag Team Titles. It’s really been downhill professionally. But personally, it’s been quite an uphill ride as he got married and is expecting the birth of his first child soon. Gallows has not stepped foot in an Oklahoma wrestling ring for 3 months and may well be done altogether.
Current ranking: #26

3. Double D: Double D has been focused primarily on the ASP Title and a battle for the #1 contendership to that belt with O’Brien. It was a battle he ultimately lost, but he did so after winning several battles along the way. He also continues to be a presence in WFC and is booked to face Sam Stackhouse, Paul Puertorico and X-Cal in a Fatal 4-Way match for the WFC Title at the end of July. D is never one to rest on his laurels and desperately wants to put championship gold back in his possession (while not around his waist, as that would obscure his abs).
Current ranking: #5

4. Luke Langley: The WFC Hometown Heroes Champion has not been incredibly active since the COVID outbreak, but prior to that, he was putting on some of the best matches in his career. He lost the BPW Lion Heart Title to Tommy Dean in a match that almost cost Tommy his ear. He and Graham Bell challenged Antonio Vega & Tino Valentino for the ASP Tag Team Title and came oh-so-close to winning those. He even took a shot at the BPW Oklahoma Title against Brian Dixon and champion Derek James. And he seemed to be trying to lure J. D out of retirement, much like he did last year with Jon Cross. Wherever the money is good, Langley is sure to show up and carry out another mission for Black Diamond Industries.
Current ranking: #8

5. Prince Mahalli: The “Diamond in the Rough” has had a rough several months, being put out of action with a couple of herniated discs in his back. And that forced him to relinquish the ASP 5-Star Title and the WCR Texas Title. He returned to ASP recently, but in the role of a referee, and it is still uncertain when he will be fully recovered enough to compete in the ring.
Current ranking: Unrated

6. Paul Puertorico: Puertorico has been venturing quite a bit out of Oklahoma for action and has only logged one match in the state, but it was a victory for him as he and Gemini [2nd] defeated the Zodiac Thrillaz. Rumor has it that Paul has undergone something of an identity crisis while gone from wrestling since the COVID outbreak and may be returning as someone completely new and different.
Current ranking: #31

7. Dexter Hardaway: For a man who is overly aware of his age and the limits on how much time he has left in the ring, Dexter is making the most of every opportunity. He captured the ASP 5-Star Title after Prince Mahalli was forced to relinquish it. He has challenged for the WFC Hometown Heroes TItle, though he was not successful in that. He was pinned with 1 finger by C. M. Burnham. And this Saturday sees him challenge for the BPW Lion Heart Title (And he and Ray Martinez never received their title match for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles). Combine all that with his appearances in Texas and Dexter is probably as busy has he has been in the past 5 years or so. He is looked at as a locker leader (Which is a far cry from being fired from multiple federations, sometimes more than once). He knows how to promote himself (some might say too well). And he proves that you should never give up on what you love. He had demanded to be given the opportunity to once again enter the WFC Freedom Rings Rumble, even if he has to enter at #1. This show of determination, combined with is success in the ring, has proven that Dexter Hardaway is currently the best wrestler in the state of Oklahoma. #NumberOne. #WeAreImpressed
Current ranking: #1

8. Fuel. Much like Drake Gallows, things haven’t gone well for Fuel professionally. He only wrestled on two occasions in 2020 and was forced to put UWE on hiatus due to some issues with the OAC. But personally, things have gone really well for him as he will be getting married in August.
Current ranking: Unrated

9. Tommy Dean. At this point, Tommy has competed on more cards than anyone else in Oklahoma. Since capturing the BPW Lion Heart Title, Tommy has been the picture of a fighting champion, successfully defending his belt while also making it clear that he wants to be BPW Oklahoma Champion again. He thinks he’s the top man in BPW as does Derek James. And their friendly rivalry has yet to result in a clear victory for either man. After winning the Lion Heart Title, he and Reed finally bested London Calling, ending their year+-long WFC Tag Team Title reign. Sadly, the COVID virus shut WFC down before The Chase could show their abilities as champions there, but they are scheduled for their first title defense on July 25th against The Rising. The “King of Tulsa” continues to fulfill the promise that everyone will bend a knee to him if they dare challenge his seat on the throne.
Current ranking: #2

10. Alex Royal. Did you remember that Alex Royal won the UWE Apex Title from Sam Stackhouse before COVID shut down wrestling? He never talks about it. He never brings the belt with him. It’s like he’s forgotten about it. Instead, Royal is now focused on another shiny thing: The BPW Oklahoma Title. He took the belt (though he isn’t champion) from Derek James and will face James in the ring this Saturday to prove who deserves it. Aside from that, Royal simply does whatever he pleases, whenever he pleases. No one can tell him what to do. And while we at Oklafan are sure that he will complain about it, we believe actions have consequences. Conduct unbecoming a champion doesn’t get you very far on our list.
Current ranking: #44

11. Brawler Morrison: He won the BCW Buzzsaw Title at the UWO event in March, but did not show up to the BCW event to defend it. That pretty much sums up Morrison. If he wants to be there, he will be (and he seems to want to be at ASP and BPW, as he is regularly present there. If not, he will pass. But wherever he goes, he doesn’t care if he wins or loses (though, obviously, he enjoys winning). He just wants to hurt people and live up to his name.
Current ranking: Unrated

12. Tego: Tego hasn’t competed in Oklahoma in 2020. He and Mr. Wobble lost the WCR Tag Team Titles to Devastation, Inc, shortly before COVID shut down all wrestling shows. And then COVID struck Tego and he is currently recovering from that.
Current ranking: Unrated

13. Fuego del Sol. While Fuego hasn’t been at an Oklahoma show in 2020, he certainly has been making his presence known as he has competed twice on AEW Dark. Eyes are certainly on him and hopefully this means great things for the high-flyer. But even if things don’t pan out there, he will never forget where he came from and the Oklahoma fans that he has.
Current ranking: Unrated

14. Reed. He & Tommy Dean captured the WFC Tag Team Titles...and then he disappeared. Even before the COVID virus broke, Reed was not present at shows, despite being a champion. But those months leading up to the capture of the title saw amazing performances from him and hopefully, the return of WFC will see the Chase get back to their winning ways.
Current ranking: #11

15. Brian Dixon/Gavin Dixon: Dixon has spent much of 2020 doing what he does best: running his mouth and upsetting people. He still wants to be BPW Oklahoma Champion again, but can’t seen to beat Derek James for that. He challenged his former Compound stablemate, Sam Stackhouse, for the WFC Title and came up short there. Dixon looks like a man at a loss, almost as if he needs some guidance to lead him back to the greatness that he had before.
Current ranking: unrated

16. Steven Cruze: Another casualty of the COVID outbreak, Cruze was already struggling as he and NCWO Champion Maddox Jones were clearly not on the same page for their matches in WFC. Cruze also a couple of appearances for BPW, but was just as unsuccessful there. He has been reluctant to compete since the COVID outbreak, as he and his girlfriend had a baby shortly after the pandemic began.
Current ranking: Unrated

17. Mr. Nasty: Quite clearly, there’s something wrong with him. Nasty, who revealed last year that he seemed to be struggling with multiple personality disorder, has now embraced the old Mr. Nasty persona (or at least something close to it). He is certainly no longer Bishop Nasty and he’s not the heart and soul of WFC has he once was. He is a violent, unpredictable man, though this hasn’t brought him a lot of success in the ring. He engaged in a feud with Dimitri Alexandrov and they will have a grudge match at WFC’s return on July 25th. He also issued a challenge to the man that is, in so many ways, the yin to his yan, UWE Champion Jon Cross. Cross has demanded that this is the final confrontation between them and Nasty has insisted that the match be for the UWE Title. If and when UWE returns, this match will headline and it may well be the final match for one or both men. Until then, Nasty continues to cause havoc wherever he goes.
Current ranking: Unrated

18. Brandon Groom: Groom seems to be finding the pressures of running BPW in Tulsa to be a bit time-consuming as he does not compete in the ring as much. He had a great match with Wesley Crane, but it appears to have been a one-time thing. Groom teased the possibility of a match with Tim Rockwell in a friendly rivalry between WFC and BPW, but that does not appear to be likely now as WFC has left Perfect Practice. Groom still has plenty left to offer in the ring, he just seems to be preoccupied elsewhere.
Current ranking: Unrated

19. MLP/Mascara La Parka: He and Drake Gallows lost the ASP Tag Team Titles to Tino Valentino and Antonio Vega. Then, they lost a bid for the BCW Tag Team Titles against the Brotherhood of Holy Hell. And then, MLP lost his tag team partner as Drake turned on MLP. And that was basically the end for him. He only competed on three cards in 2020 and may be stuck in Mexico, unable to return to the US as many other foreign wrestlers are.
Current ranking: Unrated

20. Killbane: After years of coming so close, Killbane finally captured his first title: The BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles with Thrash. And that really shouldn’t be the case as Killbane has all the talent to be a top guy in practically any federation he goes to. He just has a tendency to run his mouth and upset management almost everywhere he goes and most of them won’t put up with him. So he is welcome in BPW and he is welcome in UWE and everywhere else he seems to have issues with. That doesn’t stop him from finding places to exhibit his skills outside of Oklahoma, but as someone who seemed to be about to break out and achieve something close to his potential, Killbane now seems marginalized and he only has himself to blame.
Current ranking: unrated.