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One Man's Career Is Over On June 18th!

Posted: Jun 3rd 2022 By: CMBurnham

Pro wrestling often brings out the worst in families. Cousins battle cousins. Brothers battle brothers. Husbands and wives split. And now, after a heated argument, either a father or his son will see their career end on June 18th.

For nearly 25 years, Striker has been a presence in professional wrestling in this region. While health issues have forced him to take time away from the ring, he always returned to continue waging war against anyone put in his way.

And like many fathers, Striker was very proud when his son, Maddox Jones, wanted to follow in the family footsteps. Jones broke in teaming with Striker as Prone To Violence as the experienced father showed his son the ropes (literally, in some instances), helping him carve his path in this business.

But the cracks quickly became apparent between the two, dating back to 2014 in WFC. There, the growing pains became overwhelming as Striker and Maddox both had their eyes set on the WFC Hometown Heroes Title. Striker gained that title, but Maddox never did. And that did not set well with the youngster. Even worse, on one occasion, Striker beat Jones to earn his way into a 6-Pack Challenge for the HTH Title. It seemed like the student had quite a ways to go before he could even claim to be equal, much less superior, to the teachers.

Jones spent plenty of time in WFC and IZW plying his trade, understanding who he was and honing his skills. He did everything he could to distance himself from his father's image, even when the two of them were on the same cards. That helped boost his confidence, but to really take the biggest step in his career, he had to appeal to something in his father's past. Or rather, someone. When Jones def. Striker to become the inaugural NCWO Champion, it was with the presence (and some might say the assistance) of Bad Brad Michaels, the leader of the Old School Assassins and someone that Striker considered one of his closest friends at one point. That victory not only shocked Striker and the fans present at the first NCWO event, but in many ways it shocked Jones as well. He had finally captured championship gold and he had done it by pinning the shoulders of the man who had guided him along the way to this victory.

Two years later, Jones found himself with the opportunity to capture another championship and he was not going to let that one slip past him. Korvin Sage had been forced to relenquish the EPW Title due to injury, so at the "Thirst For Gold" event, Jones and Mitch Onyx faced off for that vacant title Jones came out victorious, adding another title to his resume. Sadly, the same could not be said for Striker, as he lost the EPW All-American Title to his long-time nemesis, Logan Knight.

Sometimes fate just makes things work out in ways you do not expect. Less than 24 after winning the title, Jones found himself standing across the ring from Striker, preparing to put the EPW Title on the line. While Striker was proud of his All-American title reign, he wanted what he had never been able to have before: a shot at the top belt in that company. Both men had things to prove. Jones wanted to show that he could be a long-term champion and could stand on his own, without his father or Brad Michaels beside him. Striker wanted to show that, even though the majority of his career was behind him, he could still come through and win the big one.

And that's exactly what he did. Not quite 24 hours after beating Mitch Onyx for the title, he was forced to turn it over to the new EPW Champion, Striker! The "Resurrector of Reality" had done it again. And even after nearly 25 years, the veteran competitor was overwhelmed with emotion as the belt was handed to him.

Jones was overcome with emotion as well. But not the same kind as his father. Jones felt embarassment. Shame. Anger. And unable to control those, Jones grabbed the microphone and issued the biggest challenge of his life. He told his father that at the next EPW event, on June 18th, he wanted his rematch. But he wasn't willing to to go through all that he had been through before in the past 10 years. It was time for one or the other of them to be out of the way....permanently. So Striker demanded that, in addition to the EPW Title being on the line, both men's careers were on the line as well. Whoever lost this match would walk away from wrestling. For good. No managerial status. No special referee status.

One of these two men will NEVER come back to wrestling ANYWHERE ever again.

It's said that people are willing to take the most drastic actions when they feel they have nothing to lose. But both Striker and Jones have EVERYTHING to lose in this situation. Their title. Their career. Possibly their family connection. Come June 18th, the fans will see what promises to be a very emotional match. And they will see one of these stars for the very last time in pro wrestling.