This timeline is an attempt to put together all of the pieces that led to the financial debacle of Black Christmas at Easley High School on December 11, 2021.
September 25, 2021
SuperStar Wars Wrestling holds their first event of 2021
October 10, 2021
SuperStar Wars Wrestling announces Thanksgiving Thunder at the Spinning Jinny in Greenville, SC
October 26, 2021
MTC Events is announced
Vendors for the First Show are Announced:
Charity Partners announced for First Show:
The Story behind MTC Events:
More about MTC Events
October 27, 2021
SuperStar Wars Wrestling announces Partnership with Lariato Pro Wrestling Guild
October 29, 2021
MTC Events announces their first show for December 11
October 31, 2021
MTC Events announces the Koloffs for the First Show at Market at the Mill
It is rumored that JC Smith of MTC Events and Big Cliff’s BBQ offered Superstar Wars Wrestling $10,000 to put on this first show to bring entertainment to Pickens County and make a splash. As talent was announced for the show, it was clear that this show would have a much bigger budget than most indy shows.
November 1, 2021
SuperStar Wars Wrestling announces Tag Team Match for Thanksgiving Thunder
MTC Events announces Devin Cruise for Market at the Mill Show
MTC Events announces The Good Brothers for Market at the Mill Show
November 2, 2021
MTC Events announces the Heatseekers for Market at the Mill show
MTC Events announces John Skyler for Market at the Mill show
November 4, 2021
More Talent Announced for Thanksgiving Thunder
November 5, 2021
MTC Events shares more about their vision
November 6, 2021
A rumor is going around that a big sponsor has flaked out for the Spinning Jinny show and that SuperStar Wars Wrestling will be cancelling the show.
Sometime this week a customer asked JC Smith about the upcoming show at the Market at the Mill. He said he was hoping to draw 1500-2000 people with the goal of eventually drawing 4-5000 at the Market.
November 12, 2021
SuperStar Wars Wrestling announces the cancellation of the show at the Spinning Jinny and a new date of March 5, 2022 at Eastside High School.
MTC Events announces a venue change for their December 11 show. It is rumored that the Market at the Mill wanted a cut of all the ticket sales and concessions, and that this is why the venue was changed.
November 13, 2021
MTC Events announces that the new venue and show flyer will be released on November 14th.
November 14, 2021
MTC Events releases the first Black Christmas poster which does not list Big Cliff’s BBQ as a sponsor. The show was moved to Easley High School where wrestler Jake Jacobs attended. Some say he was pivotal in helping secure the venue, but this has been disputed.
MTC Events shares another post with more information about the show.
November 15, 2021
SuperStar Wars Wrestling shares the Black Christmas poster.
MTC Events shares information on how to buy tickets.
MTC Events shares about Toys for Tots
November 16, 2021
MTC Events hits the streets to hang up show posters now with the Big Cliff’s BBQ logo.
MTC Events announces that my 3 cents will be conducting interviews at the show
November 17, 2021
MTC Events announces vendors for the show at Easley High School including Big Cliff’s BBQ.
November 20, 2021
SuperStar Wars Wrestling announces online ticket sales
MTC Events shares Neal Koloff’s aka booker Jeff Lewis Neal post about online ticket sales.
MTC announces Paul Specht will be one of the referee’s for the show at Easley High School.
November 22, 2021
MTC Events and SuperStar Wars wrestling both announce General Admission Ticket Prices have been cut to $5.
November 26, 2021
MTC Events announces they are selling tickets live at the Barnyard flea market.
November 27, 2021
MTC Events announces they are selling tickets live at the Barnyard flea market.
MTC Events posts match announcements for Black Christmas. Caprice Coleman is set to appear in the 25 man battle royal, but would be booked for Ring of Honor’s Final Battle on the same night. Coleman never shared the Black Christmas event on his Facebook Page. https://www.facebook.com/capricecolemanism
SuperStar Wars Wrestling shares Gary Michale Cappetta’s post about Black Christmas
November 28, 2021
MTC Events announces a new sponsor for Black Christmas
SuperStar Wars Wrestling shares more match announcements
December 2, 2021
MTC Events announces more sponsors
MTC Events announces new ministry partners for Black Christmas
December 7, 2021
Travis Trammell and JC Smith of MTC Events and Jeff Lewis Neal appear on Pickens Local to promote Black Christmas
Watch the interview at https://fb.watch/9XpBgWJHv6/
Throughout the week, JC Smith was asked to have cash ready for the show on Saturday to pay the wrestlers. At some point during the week, he made it clear that he was more comfortable writing checks so he could keep track of things for his records. Independent wrestlers are used to being paid in cash and typically balk at being paid with a check.
MTC Events releases a promotional video featuring Travis Trammell, JC Smith, and Jake Jacobs.
SuperStar Wars Wrestling releases promos from Doc Gallows and Neal Koloff
MTC Events announces a giveaway contest
December 8, 2021
The permit for Black Christmas is approved by the South Carolina Athletic Commision for Promoter John Collins. This event was never added to the calendar on the commission website. See the permit here.
SuperStar Wars Wrestling thanks their Title sponsors
MTC Events announces that Black Christmas will be an Impact Plus taping
December 9, 2021
MTC Events announces new matches added to Black Christmas
MTC Events posts a promo from Eric Young
MTC Events posts a promo from Tim Storm
MTC Events posts a promo from John Skyler
MTC Events posts a promo from Bozworth
December 10, 2021
MTC Events announces the winner of the giveaway
MTC Events posts a promo from Luka Daniels
MTC Events posts a promo from Landon Hale
MTC Events shares a post that Sports and Culture Sports Media will be at the show
MTC Events thanks all those involved with Black Christmas
December 11, 2021
MTC Events shares a promo from Elijah Proctor
At some point during the show, this image was leaked with the payroll for the show. While this totaled to $10,775 it did not include flights, hotels, or some of the talent in the battle royal. Those numbers easily pushed the total past $12,000 for the show. The list included wrestler’s legal names because checks were going to be written which is a red flag at an indy wrestling show. Names have been redacted. Many of the wrestlers were notably upset about being paid with a check. It is rumored that JC Smith threatened to put a hold on all of the checks until he got his share of the ticket money to cover the expenses.
December 12, 2021
Just after midnight, MTC Events posted:
December 13, 2021
MTC Events announced that they would continue their partnership with SuperStar Wars Wrestling
On Monday, several wrestlers reported that they had successfully cashed their checks and it appeared that a crisis might be averted.
December 14, 2021
Jeff Richards posted a show report on Georgia Wrestling History at http://gwhnewsandnotes.blogspot.com/2021/12/lpwgsuper-star-wars-wrestling-results.html. Here are a few of the NOTES: Only no-show this time around was Heath (Slater), who cancelled at least a week in advance… Former GA mainstay Scottie Wrenn was in attendance… Approximately 180-190 folks paid $5 for the slashed general admission seating (bleachers). However, gimmick sales were brisk as compared to the 9/25 show in Taylors, SC… The show lasted two hours and 25 minutes… Even if the show was a money loser, everyone got paid according to the promoters. Plans for 2022 include a show in either February or March (depending on whom you ask). Possible site locations include Pendleton, Greenwood or Anderson. The November 24th proposed show in Greer, SC was cancelled due to “extreme high interest” for a lower seating capacity building…LPWG returns to Dublin, GA for “Deadly Force” on March 12, 2022.
The picture below was shared on Facebook by someone taking pictures for the event.
December 15, 2021
MTC Events shared an interview with Tim Storm from the show.
Throughout the day, news began trickling in about wrestlers having their checks from the show come back showing insufficient funds from JC Smith of MTC Events and Big Cliff’s BBQ. Some have said there was a hold put on some or all of the checks which, according to a friend who is a banker, would have returned a hold notice instead of an insufficient funds notice. Either way, many talents have not been paid.
Matt Sigmon posted on Facebook:
Some talents are not only unhappy about the bounced checks, but various other aspects of the weekend including travel and lodging. As of this writing, I am aware of at least 11 wrestlers who have not been paid for their appearance at Black Christmas. These are not insignificant amounts especially during the holiday season.
Larry Goodman of Georgia Wrestling History wrote a brief article about the Fallout from the show at http://gwhnewsandnotes.blogspot.com/2021/12/superstar-wars-financial-fallout.html. Here’s his follow up piece: http://gwhnewsandnotes.blogspot.com/2021/12/update-on-superstar-wars-financial-woes.html
No public comment has been made by SuperStar Wars Wrestling or MTC Events about the incident although privately they have distanced themselves from JC Smith. Superstar Wars Wrestling is working to insure that all the talent is paid before the holidays.
With local wrestling crowds drawing between 50-400 in the area, any show with a budget north of $10,000 is going to be a money loser for someone. In 2015, 3 Count Pro Wrestling drew close to 600 with Ric Flair at their Country Santa show at Pickens Middle School just across from the aforementioned Market at the Mill. A typical show in the area drawing 300, as Black Christmas did, would be a great money maker. Factor in the fact that 3 Count was running their annual Country Santa show nearby in Greenville featuring the return of hometown hero, Austin Jordan. That show drew close to 300 with a much, much lower budget. Every legally run show in South Carolina has to submit a Gate Receipt form to the Athletic Commission within 30 days of the show. All of these are available through the Freedom of Information Act. I’ve seen shows gross anywhere from $190 to over $7000 this year. When wrestling shows are being planned someone in the room has to know the history of the area and what’s been accomplished before. In the Tri-County area, having a $10,000 gate while selling General Admission tickets for $5 would be next to impossible without a premium ticket level for a major name. At some point, Mr. Smith realized this show was not going to draw 1500 people nor recoup most of his expenses. He either didn’t have the $10,000 to cover the costs or he simply felt cheated and stopped payment on the checks. He was in over his head and he wasn’t alone.
There are certainly no winners in this situation and most of the fans who attended Black Christmas were oblivious to the backstage drama even to today. Kudos to all of the talent who put on a great show despite knowing something wasn’t quite right. Hopefully, they can get what’s owed to them and put this Black Christmas behind them.