"Dr. Devastation" Tops The List Of Pro Wrestlers In Pittsburgh

Fans of the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance (KSWA) call him “Garbage Pants.” He is the two-time former World Heavyweight Champion and he wears a pair of plastic workout pants in and around the ring. The fans, called “Krazies” by all of the wrestlers, playfully ride the bad guy Martin. He answers that he just “likes shiny pants.”

Martin, 38, was recently announced as the “Top KSWA Megastar of All Time” in a poll conducted by the pro wrestling organization’s Championship Committee. The KSWA began running semi-regular events in Pittsburgh starting on February 18, 2000 at Peabody High School. It anchored itself in the Bloomfield neighborhood in those early years, most often at the now-shuddered VFW. In 2004 the promotion settled into the former Moose Lodge on 51st Street in the Lawrenceville neighborhood. The organization has now moved up to the Teamster’s Temple on Butler Street and in various fundraising locales in and around the city.

Martin, who grew up on the North Side and calls Pittsburgh home, began wrestling 17 years ago with his friend, Shawn Blanchard. At 5’11,” and a shade less than 200-lbs, Martin is more a cruiserweight than bulky behemoth, but he is as tough-as-nails when donning the garbage pants, tights and T-shirt.

As extremely young wrestlers, he and Blanchard worked in a variety of start-up promotions before branching out to the KSWA.

Over nearly 15 years the KSWA has created a charitable reputation in and around Lawrenceville. Since 2005 the organization has hosted a “FanFest/Toy Drive” in which fans bring toys that will be donated to the Allegheny County’s “Holiday Program” for needy youths in the region. They have also spearheaded fundraisers for Gilda’s Club, PA Connecting Communities, the Sharpsburg Volunteer Fire Department, various Catholic schools, as well as smaller events benefitting people who suffer from cancer and diabetes. The organization has welcomed a Make A Wish child and spreads joy at Halloween and Christmas for local children. Since 2008, the KSWA has put on wrestling matches during Lawrenceville’s Fireworks Celebration at Arsenal Park around Independence Day.

A wily veteran—who has twice held the KSWA World Heavyweight Championship, has four-times held the KSWA Tag Team Championship and once held the Golden Triangle belt—Martin has always been a formidable foe inside the squared circle. Criteria for the ranking consisted of championship pedigree, career longevity, as well as cultural significance. Martin was among KSWA wrestlers featured in an art project at the Mattress Factory of Modern Art on Pittsburgh’s North Side. He has also been a staple for quite a few years at the annual Horror Realm Convention in Pittsburgh’s South Hills, and Kumite Classic health expo in Monroeville. It’s that versatility that sets him apart from everyone else, said the Championship Committee in a release.

“Big” Mike Malachi, one-half of the KSWA Tag Team Champions—who was recently featured on the front cover of the weekend edition of the Wall Street Journal and front page of the Weekend section of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette—was runner-up in the polling. Blanchard was third.

Other notables on the list included Lord Zoltan, the legendary grappler who has been locking up with opponents in hundreds of venues for nearly 40 years. Zoltan, who is one-half of the longest-running tag team champions in KSWA history, was the highest-ranking wrestler to not have won the KSWA World Heavyweight Title. Wrestlers in their 20’s—like “Ice Man” Tony Johnson and Jay Flash—who have also been featured in the New Pittsburgh Courier for their athletic aptitude, also made the list.

Martin usually carries a black, 34,” 32-oz” baseball bat and a scowl to the ring. He said he was more than a little surprised by the ranking.

The KSWA is gearing up for its annual two-day visit to Millvale Days on September 12 & 13. A St. Raphael Parish Elementary Catholic School Fundraiser is scheduled for September 27, the annual Sharpsburg Volunteer Fire Department Station 265 Fundraiser is on the calendar for November 8, and FanFest 2014 is on December 6 at the Teamsters Temple. It has already been announced that WWE favorite The Honky Tonk Man will be in attendance. For more information go to kswa.net.