Pro wrestling fans fired up for Battle in Birdville 5 at Citizens Hose

All the manpower and equipment at Citizens Hose Fire/Rescue EMS in Harrison couldn’t stifle the heat that was emanating right in front of their station Saturday.

It was the fiery spirit of a little more than 200 Western Pennsylvania pro wrestling fans in the lot off Burtner Road cheering and jeering for Keystone State Wrestling Alliance superstars at Battle in Birdville 5.

One attendee even brought a megaphone to ensure the athletes and their managers got his message.

“We’ve been coming here for years (and) they’ve always treated us great,” said Tony Trozzo, known in pro wrestling circles as “The Future” Shane Starr and one-half of KSWA’s tag team champs.

“Great crowd. Great company. It’s going to be sad not coming back up here anymore, but we gave one heck of a show for the last one. I think they enjoyed it. The crowd was hot.”

Brief history

The Keystone State Wrestling Alliance is closing up shop in December after 25 years.

Saturday marked the fifth and final installment of the Battle in Birdville fundraiser that started with a connection between Trozzo and John Kesicki, distinguished life member and first responder for 44 years. Both are ATI steelworkers in its specialty metals mill in the township’s Natrona neighborhood.

Kesicki recognized his co-worker at a KSWA event for Brackenridge’s Pioneer Hose Company years ago.

“There’s a lot of heckling going on with the workers,” said Kesicki about mill work after a wrestling show. “We didn’t know how it would go, but then we got a lot of community support.”

Nine sponsors, the most for a Battle in Birdville, gave between $75 to $500 to offset costs.

“We’re going to miss doing this,” Kesicki said. “It’s been a good event for us and we make a good bit of money at a one-day event. Plus, they’re a fun gang to work with. They support us while they’re here.”

Battle in Birdville is also used as a recruiting tool for Citizens Hose and ABC Transit, a major sponsor.

The fire station doors were open and trucks pulled out onto the lot so everyone can see what Citizens has to offer. ABC provides one of its buses as a backdrop and billboard for contributing entities.

Citizens EMS Director Jim Erb said the attendance is about what the company expected, given the event’s growth through the years.

Between $3,000 and $5,000 is usually raised through a 50-50 drawing, basket raffles, concessions and admissions.

Erb said they hit their $5,000 goal in 2024 and he was confident they would financially repeat at the last show.

“We’re sad to see the KSWA have to ring the bell the final time,” Erb said. “Very grateful for what they have done for our organization. We didn’t know what to expect, but over the last five years it’s something that we as members of the department look forward to. It’s a fundraiser that all the members can enjoy.

”John should get most of the credit as far as the organization. Him and his relationship with KSWA are what blossomed to make it what it is. KSWA has a very dedicated following.”

Erb said he hopes the department is able to partner with another promotion and keep the tradition going, or possibly add a community day to the calendar.

Matthew Roush Jr., 13, of Freeport was in Saturday’s crowd wearing a Shane Starr T-shirt.

“My dad works with him, and he’s a pretty cool guy,” the young fan said. He called the show entertaining and full of action.

His father, Matt Roush, has been at the mill about three years. The family has been to several KSWA shows.

“It’s always a good time,” Roush said. “(Starr) puts on a good show. We saw him in Freeport a couple times at the old junior high. I actually saw him before I worked (at the mill). And (when) they took me around (ATI) on my tour and said, ‘This is our local wrestler star.’ Now that I know him, we try to see him when we can.”

The matches

There were six matches on the card, including a pair of title defenses.

New KSWA Five Star champ Tyler Grayson retained his title against The Ram.

Grayson became champ about a week earlier in an ambulance match at Battle in the Borough 7 in Verona after he defeated then belt-holder J-Ru.

J-Ru began his climb back up the title contender ladder in Birdville with a victory over Capt. Curly John.

Ian Taylor of Penn Hills, known to wrestling fans as BROhemoth, was unable to follow up his Verona win with another. He lost a close one to “Handsome” Harley T. Morris.

“The Apostle” Joshua Kavod defeated Michael McMoney, whose ring attire reminded several fans, particularly the one with the megaphone, of Barney, a purple dinosaur from the popular 1990s children’s TV show.

Starr, despite having the most fan support, could not overcome KSWA heavyweight champ Shawn Blanchard.

It was Starr’s second straight loss to Blanchard in as many weeks. The steelworker said he expects to hear a mouthful this week from his co-workers.

Out of retirement

“The Pride of Springdale” Shawn Patrick came out of retirement to referee matches of J-Ru and Harley.

Patrick, who turned 60 the night before the Citizens Hose show, stepped away as a referee in December 2023 after suffered a serious back injury. The KSWA Hall of Famer stepped in for ref Mark Charles III, who could not attend Saturday’s show.

Patrick has more than 35 years experience as a referee for multiple promotions.

“I tried to step away,” Patrick said. “It’s like the mafia. They keep pulling me back in.

“I got to be honest, I’m a referee. I’m not anything else. I tried announcing. I tried managing, and I’m not any good at those things. I’m a referee.”

There are about six shows remaining including Pizza, Pints and Piledrivers 5 at Gino Brothers Pizza Bar in Sharpsburg on Aug. 30 and the Fan Fest/Toy Drive/Finale at American Legion Langley Post 496 in Pittsburgh on Dec. 6.

More information is available at kswa.net.