By Lance Reece | Wrestlezona | 88.7 The Pulse
On Saturday, February 7th, Wrestlezona took a road trip.
I represented Wrestlezona and 88.7 The Pulse alongside one of my good friends and 88.7 The Pulse alum, Lenore Carey, as we traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico to cover Thrill of Tradition at the historic El Rey Theatre. The event was presented by Duke City Championship Wrestling, recognized as the official National Wrestling Alliance territory of New Mexico.
From the moment we walked into the venue, you could feel it. This was not just another independent show. This was a night built on pride, history, and something that felt bigger than the building itself.
The NWA World Title Returns to New Mexico
The headline says it all.
For the first time since 1987, when Ric Flair defended it in the state, the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship was defended in New Mexico. The Ten Pounds of Gold returned to the Land of Enchantment.
The National Wrestling Alliance has been around since 1949, making it the longest lasting professional wrestling promotion in the United States. Now owned by Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins, the NWA carries decades of lineage, prestige, and responsibility. When that championship walks into a building, it means something.
I had the chance to sit down with reigning NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion “Thrillbilly” Silas Mason before his match against hometown favorite Hobo Hank. It was Mason’s first time in DCCW, and he carried himself exactly how you would expect a traveling world champion to. Confident. Focused. Fully aware of the history on his shoulder.
That night, the Albuquerque crowd poured everything they had into supporting Hobo Hank. The El Rey Theatre was loud, passionate, and completely invested. In the end, Silas Mason retained the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship, adding another chapter to the legacy of the Ten Pounds of Gold.
It was one of those moments where you stop and think, “We just watched history.”
Fred Slow Has a Lot to Say
Earlier in the evening, I sat down with DCCW owner, promoter, and on-air personality Fred Slow.
If you know anything about Fred Slow, you know energy is not an issue.
He was fired up. He was passionate. And he was more than willing to give a piece of his mind about DCCW, its growth, and what it means to represent the NWA in New Mexico. Whether talking about his roster or the direction of the company, Slow made it clear that DCCW is serious about building something lasting in the Duke City.
You may agree with him. You may not. But you cannot question that he believes in what he is doing.
“2 Scoops” Goes for Gold
Wrestlezona fans will recognize the name Tommy “2 Scoops” Test.
A previous guest on the show and a frequent competitor for PCWAZ here in Arizona, Test had a major opportunity at Thrill of Tradition as he challenged 4Sale for the DCCW Heavyweight Championship.
Before the match, I spoke with Tommy about the moment. You could tell he understood what was in front of him. A title match in a hot building, against a champion who does not come alone.
4Sale, represented by Antoine Giovanni and Ronin, had Chelsea Dodson and Matthew Roblez in their corner. The numbers always matter. Despite a strong effort from Test and loud support from the crowd, 4Sale retained the DCCW Heavyweight Championship.
New Tag Team Champions Crowned
The DCCW Tag Team Championship match delivered one of the most chaotic moments of the night.
Pretty City Express defended against The Country Gentlemen, AJ Cazana and KC Cazana, with Joe Cazana in their corner. After a wild finish that saw both teams score a double pin, confusion filled the El Rey Theatre.
That confusion did not last long.
Joe Cazana overruled the situation and declared the victory in favor of KC and AJ, officially crowning The Country Gentlemen as the new DCCW Tag Team Champions. The decision drew a strong reaction from the Albuquerque crowd and instantly became one of the most talked about moments of the show.
A Passionate Albuquerque Crowd
The rest of the card showcased the depth of DCCW’s roster, including Carmen Guepardo battling Taylor Yorke, a fast paced three way between Robbie Avion, Valak Vile, and Johnny Magna, and Bryan Idol facing Mondo Avion.
But what stood out most to me was the crowd.
Albuquerque showed up and showed out. They cheered hard for their heroes and made sure the villains knew exactly how they felt. That kind of energy makes a difference. It elevates everything.
For Wrestlezona, it was an honor to be there to cover a night that blended tradition, championship prestige, and local pride all in one building. A big thank you to Fred and the others from DCCW for the opportunity to come out and cover the full event.
For more information on Duke City Championship Wrestling, visit Duke City Championship Wrestling.
Visit here for more information on Wrestlezona, and be sure to tune in this Sunday at 8:00am on 88.7 The Pulse for our full coverage of Thrill of Tradition from Albuquerque.
