Pro Wrestling Epic Pro Wrestling Epic ( PWE ) is an American independent professional wrestling company based in Lincoln , Illinois . Established in 2009 , PWE runs shows in Lincoln , Springfield , Mount Pulaski , Waynesville , and Atlanta , Illinois . PWE is featured at two of the top festivals in the state of Illinois every August , The Lincoln Art and Balloon Festival and the Waynesville Fall Fling . History . The first PWE event , " April Fools " was held at Club Chrome in Springfield , Illinois on April 4 , 2009 . This event featured Al Snow and saw Bloody Harker Dirge become the first champion of the company . In August 2009 , PWE was featured as a part of the Lincoln Art and Balloon festival , a festival that garners national attention . PWE still performs every year at the Lincoln Art and Balloon Festival . In April 2010 , PWE started doing shows at the Mt . Pulaski American Legion Hall on a regular basis . Shows were held reguraly at this venue until May 2013 . In August 2010 , PWE started doing shows at the Waynesville Fall Fling and continue to do so every year . PWE has also held shows at the Capital City Bar & Grill in Springfield , IL , Logan County Fairgrounds in Lincoln , IL , Phanny ' s Bar in Atlanta , IL and most recently at the American Legion Hall in Waynesville , IL . In April 2011 PWE started its Epic 8 Tournament , a tournament that features top independent talent from around the midwest , the winner of the tournament receives a Pro Wrestling Epic title shot . Championships . Current Champions PWE Heavyweight Championship History : Bloody Harker Dirge became the first PWE Champion on April 4 , 2009 when he defeated Al Snow . Dirge would later lose the title to Keith Walker on November 6 , 2009 . Walker was forced to vacate the title on June 19 , 2010 after signing a deal in Japan . On August 28 , 2010 The Mississippi Madman defeated " The Future " Donovan Ruddick to win the vacated title . On June 24 , 2011 the first ever Epic 8 Tournament winner , Brandon Espinosa cashed in his contract and defeated the 450LB Mississippi Madman to win the title . Espinosa would lose the title on April 27 , 2012 to ROH star Jimmy Jacobs . Espinosa would reclaim the belt on November 9 , 2012 by defeating Jacobs in a no DQ match . On August 17 , 2013 PWE would hold two shows , on the first show Blake Steel beat Brandon Espinosa for the title , but would lose it back to Espinosa for Espy ' s third reign as champion at the second show . On October 18 , 2013 Steel and Espinosa would meet again in a 30 minute Iron Man Match , with Steel prevailing to begin his second reign as champion . PWE United States Championship History : Mephisto became the first champion on April 4 , 2009 when he defeated Napalm . Mephisto was stripped of the title by PWE president Anderson Rhodes on June 20 , 2009 . On that same day Mark Sterling would beat Hunter Mathews and Krotch to win the vacated title . On April 17 , 2010 Brandon Aarons would beat Mark Sterling to win the title . Blake Steel beat Aarons for the title on August 21 , 2010 . Steel would hold the title until June 24 , 2011 when Evan Money would claim the belt . Evan Money was forced to vacate the belt on October 5 , 2011 after suffering career threatening injuries in a car accident . On November 12 , 2011 Ace Hawkins would beat Jordan McEntyre to win the vacated belt . Hawkins would hold the title for nearly two years until Matty Montcalm claimed the title on June 29 , 2013 . Hawkins would , however quickly reclaim the title from Montcalm for his second reign as champion on August 17 , 2013 . PWE Tag Team Championship History : Brett Gaykia and CJ Esparza collectively known as " Zero Gravity " defeated Darin Corbin and Ryan Cruz " The Northstar Express " to become the first champions . On June 26 , 2010 the team of " Dead Sexy " Aaron Mathews and Jeff Harris defeated " Zero Gravity " to become champions . On November 13 , 2010 the team of Mephisto and Kurt Styles would defeat " Dead Sexy " to win the titles . On February 26 , 2011 Mephisto vacated the titles due to his partner Kurt Styles no showing the event and him having a cracked skull . On that same night the team of Devin + Mason Cutter " The Hooligans " would defeat the team of Brandon Espinosa and Ace Hawkins to win the titles . On November 9 , 2012 PWE President Ben Simon would strip the Hooligans of the titles thus leaving the belts vacate once more . On that same night the team of the Mississippi Madman and KC Jackson " The Money Makin Jam Boyz " would win a three way Tag Team Match defeating Alex Rudolph and Mephisto and Pierre Abernathy and Evan Gelistico " The Submission Squad " to win the vacated titles . On October 18 , 2013 the team of Mephisto and Dave Osborne would beat the Mississippi Madman in a Handi - cap Match to win the belts . Heritage Wrestling Coalition Championship : The Heritage Wrestling Coalition Championship has also been defended at Pro Wrestling Epic . On June 26 , 2010 at " Damnocracy " " The Future " Donovan Ruddick defeated Champion Jimmy Karryt to win the title .