Friend Encounters: Sug D and Troy Babbs

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

Today I am featuring two legitimately great guys. I am proud that both are my friends.

Sugar Dunkerton (or Sug D or any of his other wrestling monikers) is one of the most talented and charismatic wrestlers on the Independent scene. I first met Sug many years ago when he was in a tag team at Resistance Pro Wrestling. His RPro path was classic, going from a successful and popular tag team to an eventual Heavyweight champ. As the champ, Sug really came into his own. He became quite a leader in the locker room, while being the face of RPro to the fans. His entrances were electric. It might sound cliche, but he really had an aura about him. It was a fun time at RPro.

I met Troy Babbs on the convention scene. Whether a volunteer, an attendee or even part of the Johngy's Beat crew, Troy is a lot of fun. When he is working the cons, he is a valuable asset and a great ambassador for the promoters. As an attendee, he is loads of laughs.

These two guys truly are two quality people. I have met many people through conventions and pro wrestling, but Sug and Troy rank among the best.

They reconnected at a wrestling show a couple  years back. I can't imagine the fun and hijinx when these two got together. I wish I was there and I hope to see both again this year. It has been too long since I have sen either of these men.

Troy Babbs and Sug D in Carmel, IN-January 2018.

Sug D Is All Elite

Whether he is called Sug D, Suge D, Sugar D, Sugar Dunkerton or anything else, I am a big fan of the man. More importantly, I am a friend of his.

Sug D was part of the tag team Lockup at the beginning of RPro. Lockup was a popular and excellent team that won the tag team titles. He would eventually join the solo ranks and ultimately became the heavyweight champ. He worked extremely hard to get to the top and he worked even harder while at the top.

Sug really came into his own as champ. He wqas a leader in and out of the ring. The fans loved him and so did the lockerroom. He was a great champ and represented RPro well.

While he hasn't wrestled in the Resistance in a while, Sug has been quite busy, wrestling here and overseas. I love seeing my friend chase his dreams and succeed.

Recently, Sug made his debut on All Elite Wrestling. He lost to Sammy Guevara in a solid match. There is no shame in losing in wrestling. It's all part of the bigger story. Hopefully, this leads to more appearances for Sug at AEW.

It also got him the Pineapple Pete name from Chris Jericho. That is some kind of accomplishment.

The wrestling business is tough. There are only so many spots on a roster and even less spots on television. The fact that Sug got a televised match is a great accomplishment. We are all proud and happy for our friend.

I miss seeing Sug at events, but he is on to bigger things. I am sure our paths will cross again and I look forward to the usual big hug Sug gives. Until then, I'll keep following him and cheering his success.

Sug D and me in Summit, IL-January 2014.

On the Beat at The Resistance "Revelations"

The Resistance held Revelations last Friday night. Naturally on May 4, there was a Star Wars theme to the evening. Sticking with that theme, I'd have to say the night of action was out of this world!

Before the show even started, Frankie the Clown entered the ring and announced he was now in charge and the fun was just beginning. In our interview with him, he went into a little more detail, but he also left us wondering about the possibilities.

The night started with newcomers Excalibur and Chainsaw facing off. Chainsaw, with his partial face paint and interesting hair, took the victory. I was impressed with both men, though.
Shane Mercer and Hy Zaya defended their tag team championships of the Resistance against newcomers History in the Making, the team of Brian Douglass and Sless Taylor. HITM dove onto the tag champs before the bell was run. Mercer took the brunt and was out of the ring for a long time. Hy Zaya absorbed a two-on-one beating for the entire time, until Mercer was able to recover enough. It went back and forth a bit at that point, but the tag champs showed why they are champs in eventually securing the win to retain their titles.
In a #1 Contender match, the Minnesota Man Muffin Cody Reis upset Cobra, who was missing his usual manager Justin King. Cobra and Rob Fury, who was here with the Age of the Geeks cosplay group, argued during the match and fought after the match.

There was even action during the intermission when the Death Nut Challenge was held. My broadcast partner Tommy Else faced off against Scotty "Wonderboy" Steiner, who lent his talents to the deejay spot all night. Scotty gave a valiant effort, but tapped out after one hot peanut. Ever the ultimate company man, Tommy ate the next three successively hotter peanuts, defeating Scotty and conquering the Death Nut Challenge. I do have to wonder if Tommy will defend that title on future shows.

In a battle of two powerhouses, Daniel Eades beat Brady Pierce. Pretty evenly matched in size and strength, these two really took it to each other.

Newcomers Sugar Dunkerton and Chip Day had an entertaining match, which saw Suge use his sometimes unorthodox moveset mixed with solid techinical wrestling to defeat Day, who gave Suge an excellent challenge.

In a rematch for the Women's championship, challenger Roni Nicole defeated champ Holidead in a match that went all over the building and even outside. The new champ is deserving, but Holidead should be proud, as well. Congrats to both women on two great matches.

Before the evening ended, it was announced that the next show will be Saturday, June 30, as The Resistance presents Chapter III: Death Becomes Her. Eight women will battle in a Queen of the Death Match Tournament. Once again, the folks at The Resistance have created a unique event, which will surely keep their buzz growing. This is going to be epic!

Check out LiveDieResist.org for all info on The Resistance. Also, follow The Resistance on Facebook!

Special Dark Suge D Ushers in the New Era at Resistance Pro!

On Saturday January 17, Suge D (aka Sugar Dunkerton, Special Dark and many more monikers) was scheduled to wrestled Acid Jazz at Resistance Pro's "Animals."  Instead, due to then-champ Marshe Rockett's injury, Suge found himself fighting Scotty Young for the RPro heavyweight title.

Young gave Suge a great battle, but Suge came out victorious.  After a little Suge-style celebrating with the crowd, I caught up with the new champ in the lockerroom to get his first interview as RPro champ.

You can read about the whole event in my story on  Tru School Sports at On the Beat at Resistance Pro's "Animals."  Before you do that though, check out the first interview with Suge D, the new RPro champ.

On the Beat with Resistance Pro at "Rust in Peace"

Resistance Pro's Halloween themed "Rust in Peace" was another night of great wresting action, along with spooky, funny and odd costumes worn by wrestlers and fans.  It made for another memorable night at RPro.
JohngysBeat.com scored our first interview with RPro Security member Scottie Steiner.  The namesake of Big Poppa Pump and the son of RPro staffer Heidi discussed his future goal of wrestling, along with other fun stuff.  Scottie, aka Big Scott Vader, won last year's costume contest as ScottDust and should have won this year.
Special Correspondent Jonathan McMahon got an interview with Sugar Dunkerton.  Special D is always a treat and is always entertaining.
JMac also talked to Mad Man Pondo.  Pondo discussed his role in video games, his role at RPro and more.
Lastly, I talked to Professor Kliq who was back at RPro.  The talented musician and wrestling fan talked about his latest projects.  It is always a pleasure seeing and talking to Professor Kliq.

The next RPro show is "...And Justice For All" on Friday in Lockport.  Check out ResistancePro.com for all of the details.

Bear Down Sunday: Game 6 Atlanta Falcons

The Chicago Bears are 2-3 and facing the Atlanta Falcons who are also 2-3.  Is it too early to say the Bears must win this game?  It is close.

When I think of Atlanta, I think of Sugar Dunkerton (Sug D, Special Dark, etc).  Sug is one of the most entertaining wrestlers in Resistance Pro.  The guy has oodles of talent and charisma.  He has been primarily used in tag teams, but lately has struck out on his own as a singles wrestler.  Either way, gold is in his future.

What does Sug D have to do with the Bears winning?  Not much, other than he is from Atlanta.  Win or lose, I just hope they are as entertaining as he is.

Sugar Dunkerton and me in Chicago, IL-March 2014.

Friendly Encounters: Sugar Dunkerton and Trina Michaels

This is a weekly series featuring my friends meeting celebrities.

Sugar Dunkerton is one of the most entertaining wrestlers on the indy scene.  Sug has been a valuable member of the Resistance Pro roster as a singles wrestler and as part of the tag team Lock Up.
You can look at Sug's pants (if they don't hurt your eyes), his hair or his bright smile.  The man draws you into his circle.  He has charisma and flair.
Obviously Sug also has a way with the ladies.  He met Trina Michaels at a few indy wrestling shows in the Atlanta area.
I don't know if they ever worked together, but I bet they would make an interesting pair.  The only problem might be if she is jealous of his hair or clothes.  Gotta love Special D!

Trina Michaels and Sugar Dunkerton in Atlanta, GA-April 2011.

Friendly Encounters: Sherry Garrity and Sugar Dunkerton

This is a weekly series about friends who have met celebrities.

This Friendly Encounter represents the Chicago Bliss and Resistance Pro, two of my favorite organizations.   I am proud to say I had a little something in putting these two groups together.
Pictured there is Sherry Garrity, the media liaison with the Bliss.  Sherry's duties and importance go way beyond that title though.  Sherry has made my press credentialization very easy this season.  It has been a pleasure working with her.
Sug D, Sugar Dunkerton, Special D, Dark Chocolate or whatever he is calling himself these days is one of the most entertaining wrestlers at RPro.  He is always good for a laugh (especially in those unique pants), but he is also deadly serious in the ring.  Sug has a bright future.  He will hold RPro gold of some sort at some point.
The two met at an RPro event, one of several where the Bliss made their presence felt.  The Bliss-RPro partnership has produced many fun moments.  The picture below is a good representation of those moments.

Sugar Dunkerton and Sherry Garrity in Willowbrook, IL-May 2014.

On the Beat with Resistance Pro Wrestling at "The Battle Rages On"

Last month's Resistance Pro event was "The Battle Rages On' at St. Francis de Sales high school.  It was a new venue for R Po, but not for me.  I grew up in the shadows of SFDS and my sisters went there.  For some reason, I chose Mt, Carmel, but I digress.

R Pro blew the roof off of SFDS with another great night of action.  I had my chair stolen twice (opnce by Mickie Knuckles and once by Jocephus Brody).  My young cousins loved the action and interaction all night long.

Young Noah even got into the action a bit, by conducting a few locker room interviews.  Noah did some interviews for JohngysBeat back at Wizard World in August of 2013, but these were his first at R Pro.

Noah interviewed the ever-interesting team of Team I.O.U., Nick Iggy and Kerry Awful).  That interview was interrupted by "The Ego" Robert Anthony (whom Noah had interviewed at WW).  Chris Castro also entered the scene, but did not actually get interviewed.  Instead, he sort of popped in and out of the conversation.  If this all sounds confusing, it's just part of the standard fun at R Pro.

Prior to these locker room interviews, I had the pleasure of getting the returning John Skyler for our first interview.  I also got Sugar Dunkerton for teh first time without his Warden Myers on hand.

Lastly, once again, Jesse Corgan avoided me.  This time he even was rude to my cousin.  Does Jesse have a heart?

The next R Pro show is "Don't Tread" on Friday.  R Pro is going back to th barn in Willowbrook.  I look forward to another great night of wrestling action and fun.

 

On the Beat with Resistance Pro's Positive Outreach Program

JohngysBeat.com is all about meeting celebrities.  Over the years, I have written about hundreds of celebrities.  Today, I am writing about being with a music legend, two wrestling company owners and several wrestlers, but more important than that, I was with students from the Southside Occupational Academy for the debut of the R Pro Positive Outreach Program.  The full report, including an interview with C Red, the man behind POP, can be found on the Patch at On the Beat with Resistance Pro's Positive Outreach Program.
R Pro's Creative Director Billy Corgan (also of the Smashing Pumpkins) believed in POP so much that he took time from his insanely busy schedule to be there and speak.  R Pro owners Jacques and Gabriel Baron were both there.  Wrestlers Eric St. Vaughn, Matt Knicks, Marshe Rockett and Suge D were also joined by Michael Bradley and Stoney McGee (both of many roles within R Pro).  This was a large assemblage of talent and all believed enough in the cause and in R Pro to make this happen.
The goal of POP is to be a positive force in the community.  I have seen for the last two years how things don't begin and end with the ring of the bell.  It might sound cliche, but R Pro is really one giant family.  People don't just show up for wrestling and then leave.  We see each other, talk regularly, support each other and do the things that a family does.  I have never felt more accepted by any organization.
The goal of POP and R Pro was to be a positive in the lives of these students (and others in the future).  I gave a bit of my time and walked away feeling more positive than I ever had before.
Thank you C Red.  Thank you R Pro.  I love you all.

The Resistance Pro crew in Chicago, IL-September 2013.

On the Beat with Warden Myers and Lockup at Resistance Pro Wrestling

Resistance Pro Wrestling started a tag team tournament at their first show.  The tourney ended several shows later with Lockup, lead by Warden Myers, winning the titles.
This is an interesting tag team.  I am sure everything in wrestling has been done at some point, but I do not recall a good guy tag team being managed by a bad guy manager.  Oh sure, there have been numerous occasions of wrestlers or teams being forced to wrestle for a heel manager, but those usually stem from a lengthy storyline where they lost a match and it came with that stipulation.  Lockup does not fit that mold.
Warden Myers is the heel manager forcing Suge D and Epic to wrestle for him.  In the ring, these two talented wrestlers are eager to show their abilities.  They do not back down from anyone.  Once the match ends though, they are forced back into shackles by Warden Myers.
Will they ever get their freedom.  It is wrestling and logic dictates that eventually we will see some sort of split, but wrestling does not always follow logic.  Sometimes, swerves are thrown into the picture.
Exactly where does this leave Lockup and Myers?  I don't know, but it has me intrigued.  Warden Myers and Lockup did not give us any idea where the future is for them in this interview either.  I will be following this saga until the end.
Maybe some more of the story will be played out tomorrow at Mane Attraction, as Resistance Pro puts on another show.  For more info on Lockup and R Pro, go to ResistancePro.com.