ROX-TV invades Ohio for some heavy coverage of “Lightning Strikes Twice in Chillicothe”. The wrestling event was huge and we have brought back the best for you.

Welcome back to the ROX-TV website. As always, I’d like to thank the returning readers for their loyalty and also welcome any first timers to the scene. If you’ve been following, than you already know that ROX-TV had been invited to cover “Lighting Strikes Twice in Chillicothe” and that we had been tasked with capturing all the big time wrestling action for the event.

So, like we always do…when the time came, we mounted up and headed to the event. The ROX-TV street team, which consists of camera workers, interviewers, and writers was ready to capture all the angles of the event and bring back the best to the website. We pride ourselves on “capturing” the vibe and pulse of anything we are working on and that’s what we set out to do. So if you’re a fan of local/indie wrestling than please keep reading. If you just stopped in on a whim, the same applies to you. Please take a moment to fill your glass, grab a snack, and get comfortable because we are taking you to Ohio for a front row seat. Lets get to it….

The Backstory

Prior to this event kicking off, there had been another wrestling event in Chillicothe, Ohio about a month or so ago. ROX-TV had been invited to attend this event as well and it had been a smashing success. Reports came in that  the party had attracted around three thousand paying souls, causing some people to actually have been turned away. The event featured a meet and greet area, where fans could get autographs or a picture with their favorite heroes of the ring. After a few hours, the event shifted gears and the matches began.

This event was so popular with the residents of Ohio and the neighboring areas, that a second event was scheduled. I missed the first show due to prior engagements, but I was prepared to rock this one out. The action was set to kick off on Saturday and we would need to hit the road no later that 6am, to get down there by 11am or so. There was some serious miles to be navigated but ROX-TV would take it in stride. The story usually lies out on the road somewhere and the only way to properly cover anything is “to be there”. There are no substitutes for showing up. It’s extremely difficult to write about something without going and I think that without attending, no article is really going to be worth it’s weight in salt if you catch my drift. Real life happens outside and that’s what is required.

The Drive

The crew split up into two cars and jumped on I-75 south, headed for Ohio. I’m not sure why, but it seems like we’ve been crossing the state line rather frequently as of late. The ROX-TV crew had just crashed Toledo a few days ago to cover the Juggalo Jam, perhaps last weekend? My mind gets moving so fast these days that sometimes everything seems to “bleed” together. We had found Toledo to be rather hospitable, with a nice turn out and good people to interact with. I will include the link for that story below for anyone who wants to learn more about the “OG Juggalo Jam 2022” party.

https://rox-tv.com/2022/04/03/rox-tv-invades-toledo-ohio-for-the-og-juggalo-jam-the-place-was-jumping-the-djs-were-on-fire-and-everyone-got-down-like-the-old-days/

So anyway, the road was calling like it always does. We obeyed the silent demand and hit the street running. There is something very special about a travelling gig, and although it takes some getting used to at first, before long a person can live no other way. Constantly on the move, meeting new people and environments, seeing what others can’t…these things can become addictive in themselves. It’s really a lifestyle and over the last year and a half, I’ve been exposed more and more to the “road life”. Are the days long? Yes. Can driving hundreds of miles in a day become a pain? Yes. But with personal sacrifice comes the reward of experience and nothing can replace that. A person can get used to anything and you could say that I’ve gotten used to “moving” when the time is right.

Like with any other ride, the road can be somewhat repetitive in nature. High speeds, exits, other fucking cars…and a higher than average likely hood of shitty weather. For some reason whenever I need to go somewhere, I get a dose of rain, snow, high winds, or a combination of all three. If that isn’t bad enough, there have been streaks where the coppers are out in full force, preventing a true high speed burn. I take it in stride though and make the best of it.

For the record, the drive from Flint to Chillicothe is roughly around 289 miles one way, and clocks in at about four and half hours, if all goes well. That’s really not too bad. These days, I consider anything under ten hours to be reasonable. You could say that the trip to the Rialto Theatre in Tucson, Arizona really set the standard for a “long drive”. As bad as the drive was, it has a funny way of redefining what was previously a “long drive” and turns anything shorter into a “not so bad” type of deal.

It’s that experience that redefines our “perspectives” and if you want to change the way you think, get the fuck off the couch and go do shit. The more things you do, the more you will be exposed to different people, cultures, and ideas….thus making it impossible to stay locked into your previous mind set. Evolution will start to take hold and you will blossom into a new and better version of yourself. Experience is the way forward. Holdouts will become obsolete and victims of bad information. Don’t be a dying breed. Get out in the world and grow.

History of Chillicothe

For me, the name really did a number on me. It took a minute to get used to and pronounce. Even after I had mastered the verbal judo and was able to say the name correct, it seemed to stick on the tip of my tongue. The name was intriguing and conjured up strange images in my head. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but it seemed to be a throw back to possibly some Native American type of heritage. It was a very unique name. I decided to learn more about that part of Ohio and pass on the nuggets of wisdom to the readers.

I learned that Chillicothe and the region had once been home to the “Hopewell Tradition”. This describes a time when pre-Columbian Native Americans inhabited the land. The time period for this was from 200 BC to 500 AD. The culture had established trade routes as far off as the Rocky Mountains, created large earthworks and mounds, and also settled throughout the river routes of Scioto and the Ohio River Valleys.

The Europeans who came into the area (remember America wasn’t really a thing yet and the eastern part of North America were colonies of England, an important fact when the genocide and land taking was applied to the conversation. The bad guys weren’t American, the country didn’t exist, they were European settlers. I think people tend to forget this fact in the modern times. English imports conquered the land, not present day Americans).

The Shawnee Native Americans inhabited the land near Chillicothe and were indigenous Algonquian speaking peoples. By the 18th century, the Shawnee were in Ohio, Alabama, Kentucky, and Indiana. In 1758, a group of Shawnee established a settlement there, after their lands were flooded in Kentucky. In 1795, there was the signing of the “Greenville Treaty”, which forced the Shawnee from the land. A year later the town of “Chillicothe” would be founded in 1796 by General Nathanial Massie. The name referred to the Shawnee word “Chala-ca-tha” (which was Chillicothe in English and meant “principal town”). Around 1798, Ohio incorporated the area of Ross County, and Chillicothe became the capitol of the “Northwest Territory”. That was the un-organized lands of the United States after the Revolutionary War with England. 333

 

Ohio was a free state and newly freed African Americans began settling in the area of Chillicothe, creating a vibrant community, who assisted “runaways slaves” on the underground railroad heading north. “White Abolitionists” (White people of European descent, had sought to end slavery from colonial times until the civil war ended in 1865) helped with that movement as well.

Arrival at the show

We arrived at the spot and already, a line had formed at the front doors. The ROX-TV team unloaded the gear and headed in doors to set up for the filming. The Rude Boy, who would be interviewing some of the stars of the show, also had a table set up in the fan meet and greet area, where he was selling copies of “My Life The Funhouse” (available on Amazon as well), signing autographs, and promoting “Big Time Memories”. The place was already bursting with activity, and the legends of various wrestling promotions were all on hand for the celebration of the sport and the history.

It was exciting and the air felt charged with electricity. I remembered some of the legends in the room from my time in the 1980’s and a young kid, watching wrestling. Among the most recognizable names included “Koko B. Ware”, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Sergeant Slaughter, and one of the Bushwackers. There was other legends including Sabu, Rob Van Dam, and many more. The lines to meet these guys were long, with fans stretching out the doors of the gym and around the corner. Fans had brought various items to be signed and get their pictures with their heroes. Everyone was in high spirits and the good will was abundant.

The meet and greet area would be banging for the next couple of hours. I was starting to get hungry again and decided to investigate the concession stand. I’m not sure what it is about concession stands, but they always take me back to my childhood. No matter what event you were at, the “Concession Stand” had the shit you wanted. Classic fare always included Pizza, Hot Dogs, Chips, Nachos, candy bars, pop, coffee, and of course the greatest time machine of all….popcorn.

Getting to work

After the meet and greet time, it was then “go time”. The ROX-TV crew sprang into action and started gathering content, setting up cameras, getting interviews with the talent, and preparing for victory. We ran a total of four cameras, with two stationary spots, as well as two “rovers” along the ringside to capture all the action. The team knew the objectives, the best angles, and were ready to get on with the mission.

The matches would be starting soon and it was time to show and prove. One of the more moving aspects of the show, which I felt reflected very highly on the participants and Ohio natives who had come to the event, was when it was time for the “Star Spangled Banner” and also a prayer for the attendees, the country, and the safety of the wrestlers. Respect was paid in full and everyone in the building observed this. It made me feel good, in such divisive times in America, that different races, cultures, and people could all come together as one for a moment of true solidarity.

Be wary of any institution or movement preaching division, because a house divided is how control is maintained. If we all come together as humans, we can realize our true potential and pose a threat to the “ruling class” which by my estimation doesn’t care that much for the common man anyway. 3:33

Ring of Fire

I took up a post in the press box, while DJ Carlito and the Animal hit the ringside. The Rude Boy was running the mother board, with all the feeds displayed, monitoring the quality and effectiveness of the content capturing. We also had two junior members along for the ride. Bob Roxxx and Rude Boy’s sons respectively. They were getting a taste of the “ROX-TV” way and functioned as runners when needed. All together, the seven man team had their shit together. 10:11

There were many matches, including some of the big names from the meet and greet aspect, a few hours earlier. The crowd was in rare form, cheering on their favorite wrestlers and booing the “bad guys’. I felt like I was back in Michigan during the late 1980’s and it felt pretty good. The old familiar blanket covered me up with nostalgia and I had a great time. I won’t go into the matches as much, so you will just have to watch for yourselves when ROX-TV presents the show on our YouTube Channel.

The event had an intermission halfway through and the crowd re-upped on concession stand favorites and a quick stretch of the legs. After the break, there were four more schedule bouts, which were very exciting and definitely crowd pleasers. The event was a smashing success, and proof that lightning can strike twice. So keep an ear out, the content will be coming soon and if you’re a fan of the good shit, than you’ve found your source. Until next time, thanks for tuning in and be safe…3/3

Signing Off,

Mike Shepard

ROX-TV Editor

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