Only have a minute? Listen instead

Rio Grande Valley wrestling fans got a huge shoutout from one of the ​​World Wrestling Entertainment’s biggest stars.

WWE superstar Becky Lynch, whose real name is Rebecca Mary Quin, recently sat down with former New England Patriots wide receiver and Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman on his podcast “Games With Names” to discuss her wrestling career.

Around 45 minutes into the conversation, Edelman asked her what she believes to be the best wrestling town.

“In America?” she asked.

“Or the world,” Kyler Schelling, one of the showrunners, clarified.

She named Santiago, Chile and Bologna, Italy as some of the great wrestling towns that she’s performed in with the WWE.

“But in America, gosh, where is, like, number one?” she pondered.

“The rowdiest fans? The best arena?” Edelman asked.

“This would be more like house shows. We don’t do a lot of TV there, but, like, Hidalgo in Texas,” she said. “Amazing crowds.”

The full interview was posted on the Games With Names YouTube channel on Tuesday, and has since reached over 27,000 views.

The clip from the interview was shared on the podcast’s TikTok page, which has garnered over 172,000 views and over 13,000 likes. 

Rio Grande Valley fans have swarmed the comments section of the video, some expressing shock at Lynch’s response and others expressing pride.

“956 baby!!!” said one commenter, with another responding, “That was the most random mention ever I would have never expected that… lmao.”

This post was originally published on this site

ALAMO — The wrestlers of New Breed Wrestling held an anniversary show at The Landmark on Tower in Alamo on Sunday, March 24. The show featured four matches, including a tag team championship match, a six-way ladder match, and a heavyweight championship match.

The crowd played an integral role in the energy during the event, chanting the names of their favorite wrestlers and erupting with applause with each dangerous stunt.

Read the full story here.

---

RELATED READING:

New Breed Wrestling bringing chaos to venues throughout RGV

The post Photo Gallery: New Breed Wrestling’s anniversary show in Alamo appeared first on MyRGV.com.

This post was originally published on this site

ALAMO — The loud clang of wood and metal and early 2000s hip-hop music seeped out through the large opened garage door and into the parking lot of the New Breed School of Wrestling in McAllen.

Inside, 39-year-old Alberto Galvan, who goes by Alberto Vega in the ring, was already drenched in sweat as he ran from one side of the 18-foot by 18-foot wrestling ring — bouncing off the ropes and jumping over a large black dummy at the center of the ring. He did this a few dozen times before finally dropping a seemingly vicious elbow on his imaginary opponent.

A few wrestlers began to trickle into the facility, as he then picked up the 70-pound dummy and fireman carried it as he continued running against the ropes before slamming it onto the mat.

“Is this music OK?” he asked, taking a moment to catch his breath as “Stay Fly” by Three 6 Mafia thumped through a speaker.

“I was going to tell you to turn that sh— up,” Javier Franco, who goes by Mooncat Franco, responded as he stretched.

The wrestlers of New Breed Wrestling were preparing for an anniversary show at The Landmark on Tower in Alamo on Sunday, March 24. The show featured four matches, including a tag team championship match, a six-way ladder match, and a heavyweight championship match.

Galvan, who works in administration for a supply company, has been wrestling professionally for about two years since he moved back to the Rio Grande Valley from Greeley, Colorado. He said that he is usually the first person to show up to practice because he likes to push himself to his limits physically in order to put on a better performance during shows.

“It has to be done. Just like anything — any performance, any sport, any job, if you want to succeed, you want to do well, right?” Galvan said. “We all want to get in there and do well. We know coming through this door and stepping in that ring, it means the world to us. We could be doing anything else in the world. We can be with our families. We can be working on other things. But this is a passion of ours.”

Galvan was eventually joined in the ring by Franco, Julio Lopez, who goes by Big Papi Felix, and a new trainee. Franco, 23, who said that he does not consider himself a trainer, called out commands to the other wrestlers. He joined them as they did up-down exercises and practiced falling flat on their backs on the mat.

They were soon joined by Steven Badillo, who goes by James Blackheart, the current New Breed heavyweight champion. The seasoned wrestlers offered tips and guidance to the new trainee as he learned the ropes, literally.

“Just take your time. Focus on getting it right,” he told him.

As they watched the new trainee run against the ropes, he continued to offer advice.

“You’re not hitting the ropes. You’re letting the ropes catch you,” he said. “You need to hit the ropes.”

“We all can kind of see a little bit of ourselves in him,” Galvan said. “We’ve all been him. We’ve all been there, curious, nervous, tired, a little beat up from the ropes. … We would not be where we are if people didn’t do that for us. There’s a lot of that in wrestling — always paying it back. That’s kind of the tradition of the brotherhood of wrestling.”

The day prior, Franco practiced with his tag team partner Daniel Galvan, who wrestles under the name Daddy Daniel Ismael. Together, they are known as the Moon Daddies and are the current tag team champions.

“It’s just so much fun, even though it hurts a lot,” Galvan said. “You just take some time and you heal and you get better. For those that aren’t aware, pro wrestling is just a magical world and I’m so grateful to be a part of it.

Badillo, who recently wrestled with AEW during their Feb. 4 show at Bert Ogden Arena, said that he wants people to become aware of the local talent and the hard work that his fellow wrestlers are putting in.

“I want new people to show up, I want new fans, I want everyone to see the talent that is here at home,” Badillo said. “People don’t realize how good we are down here. If I get all these new fans, I turn everyone into a believer in New Breed Wrestling, and it’s like, ‘Yo, these guys are for real,’ that’s what I want people to take home.”

“We’re real right here, and we’re at home.”

New Breed Wrestling is owned and promoted by Daniel Villarreal Valdez, who also wrestles under the name Danny Chance. He began training for wrestling during his junior year of high school just after his family moved to the Valley from Chicago.

On Sunday at The Landmark on Tower, he walked at a fast pace throughout the venue and the backstage area, overseeing everything and making sure that everything was up to speed.

“I’ve always been told that if you’re nervous before your match, it just shows that you still care,” he said as his fellow wrestlers prepared for the show. “I do get nervous to an extent. I’m more nervous about the turnout. I’m nervous about the wrestlers, the show, the production value, the quality that I’m putting out there. If I have a bad feeling about a match like the day of I’ll change it.”

Backstage, the wrestlers sat around a table as a large TV showed a college basketball game between Clemson University and Baylor University. As they put on their gear, some took time for quiet reflection while others did push ups and went over their upcoming matches.

Danny Coronado, who goes by The Juicy One, is in plain clothes. He was not wrestling on Sunday, but he stood backstage with his arms crossed and watched intensely as the six participants of the ladder match made some last minute preparations.

As someone who has trained this group of wrestlers, he said that he gets especially nervous before the wrestling events.

“I’m always nervous for them every time that they’re going to go out there and perform, not just here but anywhere,” he said.

Lopez, who goes by Big Papi Felix, took control of the pre-match preparations and gave out instructions to his fellow wrestlers about the match. Sunday’s event marked his fifth ladder match.

“From past experiences, it can be chaotic,” Lopez said. “People can get hurt, and I just want to make sure it is organized where it looks good for the fans, and on top of that I want to make sure they can come out walking in all honesty. It’s a big role, but it doesn’t hurt to have that kind of support.”

Describing the ladder match as chaotic was putting it lightly. The match was complete and controlled mayhem from start to finish with wrestlers striking each other with the ladder and folding chairs, launching themselves at their opponents from the top turnbuckle to the outside of the ring, and at least one wrestler being slammed through one of the ladders.

The crowd played an integral role in the energy during the event, chanting the names of their favorite wrestlers and erupting with applause with each dangerous stunt.

Among those in attendance was 32-year-old Ashley Juarez of La Feria, who wore a blue and red luchador mask and called herself Da Barber. She said that grew up a wrestling fan but lost interest as she grew older. The New Breed Wrestling events have since ignited her love for wrestling.

“They put on a great show every Sunday, and for free. That’s crazy,” Juarez said. “I’m becoming a fan again thanks to these guys. I mean, they put on a great show, and they make it easy to follow.”

New Breed Wrestling will be bringing their show to The Moon Rock in Harlingen on Saturday for a free event that begins at 5 p.m.

---

To see more, view staff photographer Delcia Lopez’s full photo gallery here:

Photo Gallery: New Breed Wrestling’s anniversary show in Alamo

The post New Breed Wrestling bringing chaos to venues throughout RGV appeared first on MyRGV.com.

This post was originally published on this site

CYPRESS – The job, finally, is done.

For this year, at least.

Edinburg High’s Cassandra Medrano finished what she started and rallied back to win the Girls 6A 100-pound UIL State championship Saturday at the Berry Center. Medrano (38-0) completed her perfect season with a dominant 7-3 decision over Flower Mound’s Lillian Zapata, with a 53-3 record this season.

It is the fourth straight year a girls wrestler from the RGV has won a wrestling state title. Medrano’s semifinal victory came against defending state champ Jubilee Rendon of El Paso Franklin, who defeated Medrano in last year’s semifinals and finished third this year with a 53-1 record. Medrano’s final two opponents combined for a 104-4 record.

On Saturday, however even they had to take a back seat to the Valley’s newest state champion, the junior Medrano.

“That was 365 days of preparation and fixing the mistakes from last year,” head coach Abel Saenz said. “She enjoyed the semifinals and she quickly got focused, but the ultimate goal was what just happened.

While her finals opponent was among the best in the state, Medrano controlled the entire match.

“I saw a little bit of feat. She looked worried,” Medrano said. “She was looking for a hip toss, but I didn’t give her an opening for that.

“But this year was my year to be queen of Texas and queen of the Valley and nobody was going to take it from me. I worked so hard and if I had lost that match I would’ve been so depressed and gone straight home and to the gym for next year. I’m still going back to train for another state championship.”

Medrano’s semifinal match was one that could’ve been a final. Rendon and Medrano were both undefeated. Medrano lost to Rendon in last year’s state championship and Medrano never forgot it.

Still, she trailed 7-3 with less than a minute remaining in that semifinal.

“I kept my composure,” Medrano said.

“She has a Hail Mary move that she hasn’t thrown yet ad you can see on the video me telling her we gotta go 100,” Saenz said. “She threw it, the grabbed the arm and she won. She hadn’t done that all year.”

After the match, Medrano had one more spectacular move to unleash. She ran over to Saenz, gave him a huge hug, then hip-tossed him to the mat.

“I told him if I win, we’re going to do this. We’re going to do it,” An ecstatic Medrano said. “

Now comes the beginning of the trip for a second straight girls title, accomplished for the first time in the Valley in 2022 and 2023 when McAllen Memorial’s Serenity De La Garza went back to back wining state titles along with two straight undefeated seasons.

“I’m going to enjoy this for an hour or for a bit,” Medrano said. “But I have another (club) tournament next week and I need to get ready for that to win a second title next year.”

The post Queen Cassandra: Edinburg’s Medrano crowned state champion appeared first on MyRGV.com.

This post was originally published on this site

Cassandra Medrano was stunned. Everything happened so quick.

Thirty seconds earlier it looked as if she was going to the consolation bracket.

Instead, she was heading to the state championship match.

Edinburg High’s 100-pound wrestler was the only Valley wrestler to advance to the state finals Saturday morning at the Berry Center, pinning defending state champion Jubilee Rendon — 51-0 at the tine — when time was running out and she trailed 7-3.

Then she did what she’s done a few times this year, and went for a Hail Mary. It worked. She grabbed Rendon’s arm, through her and in three seconds, not only did the tides turn, but the match was over and Medrano, with an ear-to-ear grin leapt into the arms of coach Abel Saenz, tears flowing from coach and wrestler – with one match still to go.

Since the beginning of the season, the junior grappler has said time and again, ‘the job’s not done.’ Now that she has beaten the defending state champion, and wrestler who defeated Medrano a year ago in the same round, Medrano promised there wouldn’t be a let up.

It’s still not done – there’s one more match, for the state title.

Medrano is the lone Vally wrestler to advance to the 2024 UIL State Championship final match in Cypress, later today but four other wrestlers – Sharyland’s Aiden Baker, Edinburg Economedes Maddox Quinonez, Edinburg Vela’s Danielle Silva and McAllen High’s Arsyn Sadlier have all clinched a spot on the podium and will wrestle for third through fifth later today.

Sadlier will face Joy Ortiz from El Paso Chapin (32-5) for third place after Sadlier fell to Brijatte Garcia of Burleson Centennial by decision 4-2. After taking an early lead, Garcia was clearly in no hurrry to play offense and kept arms’ distance the remainder of the match.

Sadlier (45-1), a junior, will face Aubree Schubert of Liberty Hill (24-9) for third. Silva wrestles Olivia Ontiveros (43-7) of El Paso Bel Air for fifth. Quinonez, from Edinburg Economedes, matches up with Dorian Jaramillo (52-9) of El Paso Pebble Hills and Baker (43-4) is set to meet Enrique Uribe of Frisco (62-17) for third at 113 pounds.

Pharr Vanguard Rembrandt’s  Isy Nieto, who finished third in the Region IV-5A tournament woke his way through the consolation bracket to become the Valley’s first medalist of the year. Nieto, a senior with a 21-5 record, captured sixth in the 120-pound division.

Edinburg High’s Kenia Islas captured sixth and made the podium, finishing her season with  a 51-6 record for the Bobcats

 

 

The post Stunning win for Medrano sends her to state championship match appeared first on MyRGV.com.

This post was originally published on this site

Edinburg High’s Cassandra Medrano became the first, and only, wrestler at state this year to advance to the finals, winning a thrilling match with a pin more than halfway through the final period.

“I don’t know what happened but she came at me and I knew she wanted to go back to the finals,” Medrano said through tears of joy. “But it’s my time to go.”

Medrano, 37-0, trailed 7-3 heading into the final period and with less than a minute to go, pulled off the stunner against Jubilee Rendon, the defending state champ and the same wrestler who defeated Medrano a year ago in the same round. Rendon fell to 51-1 on the season. Medrano claimed the pin at the 5:28 mark.

Rendon dominated most of the match but Medrano didn’t let down. Heading into the third period, her coach Abel Saenz told her to remain calm.

“I’ve been in this position before and I know myself and knew I had to hit a Hail Mary because it was now or never,” Medrano said. “I hit the switch. I grabbed her arm and just threw her. I didn’t even know ifI had the lock right.”

From being beaten to claiming a no-doubt-about-it pin took less that three seconds and Medrano’s arm was raised.

“I was blow away,” Medrano said. “I didn’t know what to do. This was my turn to make it to the finals, not hers.”

Medrano will now face Lilian Zapata of Flower Mound (52-2) this afternoon for the 100-pound Class 6A state championship.

The post Medrano becomes first to reach state title tilt with thrilling pin appeared first on MyRGV.com.

This post was originally published on this site

Name: Arsyn Sadlier

Grade: 11

School: McAllen High School

Weight class:145

Record: 44-

Times at state: 2

Hype song: Cowboys from Hell- Pantera

Favorite Move: Front Head Pinch

Favorite Cheat Meal: Dim Sum

Favorite Food: Cornish Pasty

Who/what inspires you: I am inspired by my parents and their versatility. My mum dropped out of high school and proceeded to get degrees from Juliard, Eastman, and a Doctorate from Indiana University as a concert pianist and composer. My dad has done everything, though he is an opera teacher now, he was a firefighter, fry cook, cook decorator, and countless other things, even now e can fix anything that needs to be fixed with a quick YouTube video. I am inspired by both of their lives because they taught me that whatever I do, I can succeed and make a career.

 

The post McHi’s Sadlier one win away from state title match appeared first on MyRGV.com.

This post was originally published on this site

Check out Edinburg Vela 114-pound wrestler Danielle Silva’s profile. Silva is wrestling this morning for a shot at the state championship.

Name: Danielle Silva 

Grade: 12

School: Robert Vela High School

Weight class: 114

Record: 24-5

Times at state: 3

Hype song: Fireball- Pitbull

Favorite Move: Ankle pick 

Favorite Cheat Meal: Double Cheeseburger from McDonald’s 

Favorite Food: Spaghetti 

Who/what inspires you: My two brothers who both wrestle in college and had amazing high school wrestling careers, my parents and their sacrifices and of course our beloved friend who recently passed away this season, Lisa Torres.

 

The post Vela’s Silva up soon with trip to state finals at stake appeared first on MyRGV.com.

This post was originally published on this site

Edinburg High’s undefeated 100-pound wrestler Cassandra Medrano will compete shortly for a shot to advance to the UIL State Wrestling finals. Check back for results.

 

Check out her profile:

 

Name: Cassandra Medrano 

Grade: Junior 

School: Edinburg High School 

Weight class: 100

Record: 36-0

Times at state: 3 

Hype song: Britney spears “Work Bitc

Favorite Move: Banana Split 

Favorite Cheat Meal: Tacos 

Favorite Food: Chicken Alfredo

Who/what inspires you: My team of coaches 

 

The post Medrano up shortly for her semifinal match appeared first on MyRGV.com.

This post was originally published on this site

CYPRESS — Edinburg High’s Cassandra Medrano will face defending state champion Jubilee Rendon — the wrestler who eliminated Medrano in a semifinal last year — today in a highly anticipated semifinal match in the 100-pound division of the UIL state wrestling tournament at the Berry Center in Cyprus.

The two are a combined 87-0 and the only two undefeated wrestlers in the brackets, but they ended up on the same side, forcing what many believe should be the final match instead of a semifinal.

Medrano advanced with a pair of pins that combined took just 2 minutes, 40 seconds. Rendon won by an 11-0 major decision and a pin at the 3:20 mark.

Four other wrestlers, including regional champions Danielle Silva of Edinburg Vela, Arsyn Sadlier of McHi and Aiden Baker of Sharyland, also won their first two matches along with Rio Grande City’s Aiden Valdovinos. Those five wrestlers are two victories away from a state title in their respective weight classes.

For Medrano, the state tournament has become an annual trip, making it for the third time. But this time, the junior expects some change in the semifinal.

“I feel like I have everything on point,” she said. “I’ve worked on my shot, I haven’t made any mistakes — there is no room for mistakes — and I’ll be doing good (today) as well.

“I just go out there and do me. I feel comfortable with the environment and wrestle how I wrestle. I do what I do, and this is my get-back year.”

Baker showed some endurance in his two matches to the 113-pound semifinal, improving to 43-3 with a pair of long, drawn-out pins. First, he shouldered Andre Moyton (27-8) of Carrollton Creakview in 3:43, then pinned Victor Ramirez of Dallas Hillcrest (51-4) in 4:28.

Silva upped her record to 27-7 and will face the Region III champ — Akeelah Moore of Melissa with a 36-0 record — in a semifinal.

Sadlier took 2 minutes, 20 seconds to improve to 43-0 and will face Region II champion Brijatte Garcia (37-4), with the winner shooting for gold. The second win Friday was huge mentally for Sadlier.

“This last match really made the difference mentally for me,” Sadlier said. “That was the match I lost first last year at state, and to go out there and finish it meant a lot at this point.

“I’m a more technical wrestler this year and understand the sport. And I’m not just here to be here. I’m here to win and (today) I’m going to be my best self.”

[email protected]

The post Five RGV wrestlers alive for state titles appeared first on MyRGV.com.

This post was originally published on this site