



Jessica McCumbers, the owner of Route 33 Wrestling, in the ring at the armory at Spencer. McCumbers is a single of a couple of girls owners of a wrestling business. (Photo Offered)
SPENCER — A Spencer lady who enjoyed theatrical combat in college has taken her interest to the wrestling ring.
Jessica McCumbers owns Route 33 Wrestling, a single of the couple of expert wrestling corporations owned by a lady. Route 33 stages bouts at Armory in Spencer and characteristics a group of about a dozen skilled grapplers.
McCumbers herself made use of to wrestle, but decided in 2021 it was less complicated to market matches than get in the ring.
“It’s a lot less complicated to run a business when I’m not fighting for my life,” she stated.
She and her husband, Joshua, began Route 33 Wrestling in 2018. Joshua wrestled, as well, and was recognized as the Mountain King.
From left, A.J. Alexander offers Riley Rose a backbreaker in a Route 33 Wrestling show at the armory in Spencer. Route 33 is owned by Jessica McCumbers. (Photo Offered)
Points had been going OK, but then COVID-19 and the pandemic pulled the mat out from beneath them. Route 33 Wrestling, since of the emergency regulations to protect against the spread of the deadly virus, didn’t organize a show for two years in 2020 and 2021.
Then the pandemic began to lessen and the regulations stopping substantial audiences in indoor venues began to slacken.
“We came back with a vengeance final year,” she stated.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: You can pay a visit to Route 33 Wrestling’s YouTube account for videos.)
Amongst the wrestlers in the Route 33 Wrestling troupe is Becky Keaton, who wrestles beneath the name Sarah Bubbles.
Jeremy Rodriguez dives at Beautiful Morgan Taylor, two wrestlers with the lady-owned Route 33 Wrestling in Spencer. (Photo Offered)
“My story basically is a small bit distinctive than the other folks,” she stated.
Keaton didn’t like wrestling when she was expanding up. Two years ago when going by means of a divorce, a pal who was instruction as a wrestler recommended she, as well, take the instruction.
It could enable with releasing pent up aggravation, she stated. Keaton fell in appreciate with the sport and is now approaching one hundred matches in her profession.
Route 33 wrestling is the very best organized show, the very best promotion and requires the very best care of its wrestlers, Keaton stated. The business tends to make certain the small issues are suitable for the wrestlers, she stated.
“Some wrestling promotions treat wrestlers like we’re fortunate to be there, but Route 33 is distinctive since they make the wrestlers really feel like they are fortunate to have you on their show,” stated Keaton, who is the education coach for Head Start out in Pike County, Ohio.
Rebecca Keaton, who wrestles as Sarah Bubbles, gets reday to physique slam an opponent. Route 33 Wrestling, owned by Jessica McCumbers, is the very best wrestling promotion business to perform for, Keaton stated. (Photo Offered)
“That’s the very best wrestling promotion business I’ve ever worked for,” she stated.
Route 33 Wrestling holds matches each and every other month at the Armory in Spencer. The subsequent show is Could six.
“Our greatest aim suitable now is placing on excellent entertainment,” McCumbers stated.
Route 33 Wrestling’s steady of stars consist of Robbie E. Guy, who now performs for WWE, Gary Gandee, who wrestled Kevin Owen in the 2017 Smackdown, and Chris LeRusso of Pittsburgh, a former champion who worked for the Ring of Honor in 2017.
“He’s a excellent guy,” McCumbers stated.
Chris LeRusso (Photo Offered)
McCumbers is a excellent owner, according to LeRusso. Most promoters are not concerned with excellent manage, but McCumbers requires the actions for a excellent show for the wrestlers and the audience, he stated.
LeRusso stated he’s worked for as quite a few as 80 corporations in his wrestling profession. She is the only lady owner for whom he has wrestled.
“Jessi has completed a excellent job bringing a extremely expert item to Spencer, W.Va.,” stated LeRusso.
McCumbers became interested in theater at age 9 when she took a ballet class. As a student at the University of the Arts at Philadelphia, she became fascinated in stage combat just after taking a class on the method.
“I just fell in appreciate with theatrical violence,” she stated.
McCumbers also graduated from the International Stunt College at Seattle ahead of returning to West Virginia exactly where she met Joshua, a pal, and they set up a wrestling business.
“That guy now is my husband,” she stated.
Jess Mancini can be reached at jmancini@newsandsentinel.com.






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