"The Regent" Joshua Kavod Is KSWA Digest's "Megastar Of The Year"

Pittsburgh PA

31 December, 2021

4:46 PM

Description

by Thomas Leturgey It might be difficult to realize that "The Regent" Joshua Kavod has only wrestled 11 times in the Keystone State Wrestling Alliance (KSWA). Rarely has a talent arrived on the scene with such momentum that he receives multiple first-place ballots in the annual voting for KSWA Digest "Megastar of the Year." In an industry where some matches are reduced to meaningless vanity projects, "The Regent" Joshua Kavod is a throwback. When some athletes define themselves with attributes that take away from their skill and overall in-ring professionalism--in 2021--Kavod bucked that vapid, trend, and brought integrity and sportsmanship to the forefront. Never afraid to shake hands and kiss babies, and eager to profess his faith in the Lord, "The Regent" has been a professional wrestler who has filled that character void. A true locker room inspiration (detailed in an October 19 feature story https://patch.com/pennsylvania/across-pa/regent-soars-top-pittsburgh-wrestling-scene), Kavod has led where some others have balked. His explosive in-ring energy, and ability to connect with the crowd also leads to positive impression. Kavod debuted in the KSWA this year, and bounded into the ring against J-Ru, a veteran Megastar who re-invented himself this year and received at least one first-place vote from the KSWA Digest Editorial Committee. The two long-time friends/rivals wrestled for the first time this year when J-Ru was the Five-Star belt holder at Camp Guyasuta in Sharpsburg on April 14. At the conclusion of that match, Kavod was cheated out of a win. That only set the KSWA Championship Committee with a trajectory to future stardom. Less than a week later, Kavod and J-Ru once again opened up a KSWA event, this time at JB's Roadside Bar and Grill in West Deer. That August 20 affair saw J-Ru win once again, this time by disqualification. The very next day at Battle of the Borough in Verona, Kavod secured his first victory of the year in a tag team contest with "The Ram" Anthony Drake against "The Good Guys." The very next week, in only what could be described as an upset, Kavod defeated veteran Super Hentai at the Citizens Hose Ambulance Service "Battle in Birdville" in Natrona Heights. That match between two extremely talented athletes, and high-flyers, was a highlight of an outstanding card. But the grit and determination shown by The Regent impressed the KSWA Championship Committee even more. For him to be able to stand toe-to-toe with the legendary Super Hentai was a feather in Kavod's cap. Millvale Days on September 17 provided set backs for Kavod as he fell short to J-Ru in another match for the vaunted 5-Star Championship. The very next day, tag-team champion Yinza defeated a stacked crowd in Kavod and "The Professional" Harley T. Morris in a Triple Threat Match. On September 25 at Langley Post in Sheraden, Kavod once again was on the losing end of a Triple Threat Match, losing alongside Ric Rumsky against the surging BROhemoth. It should be noted that BROhemoth also scored well in this year's final voting. A proposed rivalry with KSWA Champion Anthony Alexander (another vote winner) and the returning Mitch Napier promises to continue with BROhemoth's almost constant ascent. On October 2 at MJ's Steel City Saloon, Kavod found himself on the losing end of a Dennis Gregory thrashing. The Regent did continue to make a splash with this outing. Gregory remains one of the KSWA's most physical and hard-hitting Megastars. In a two-week period, Kavod survived matches with BROhemoth and Gregory. Not many 175-pound future-champions could come through those entanglements unscathed. On October 16, after missing the week prior's Children's Miracle Network fundraiser, Kavod returned to challenge J-Ru again for the 5-Star Championship. This match, at the Three Rivers Harley-Davidson "Glenshaw Sportatorium," saw a shocked crowd witness Kavod defeat the hardscrabble J-Ru for the 5-Star belt. The crowd went wild, and Kavod celebrated before being attacked post-match, by the veteran. Kavod was helped from the ring, but his faith in his abilities only intensified. A true fighting champion, Kavod faced his friend, "The Ram" Anthony Drake for his first title defense at Pioneer Hose Station on November 13. The two have known each other for a while and wrestled in regional promotions. Kavod survived what can only be described as a valiant effort against an athlete, while still learning, has improved by leaps and bounds since his own debut earlier in the year. Plus, it was a display in character for Kavod to have his friend challenge. And at the grand-daddy of the KSWA Calendar for 2021, FanFest, Kavod successfully defended against J-Ru, Ric Rumskey and Malakai Gage in a Fatal Four-way Match. The contest, at Three Rivers Harley-Davidson in Glenshaw, re-imagined FanFest for a new generation; a Genesis that includes The Megastar of the Year, Joshua Kavod. [This year's KSWA Digest "Megastar of the Year" was voted on by an invited group of KSWA executives, staffers and wrestlers alike.]