Since the fall of 1984, they have all taken their turns grappling in a familiar style. The Ice Dragon, Rock-n-Ronnebaum, Bulldog the Butcher, Mr. X, The Ring Warriors, Luxury Lane, the Sheik, Sgt. Smash, Slick, the Barbarians, the Super D's, Killer Kampa, Merciless Mike, Jackknife Jacob and Kid Kelsey. So has the one and only Crusher. That's in Crusher Crossen, a name which certainly should not to be confused with da Crusher, the one who made Milwaukee famous.

It is a name of significance, nonetheless. Crusher Crossen, a 123 pound, soon-to-become high school junior, is champion of the National Wrestling Federation, the NWF as it is officially known. More specifically, especially to those who watch the public access channel of Group W cable television Tuesday and Thursday nights, he is best of the best on the program titled: "Kids Wrestling".

And it is indeed kids wrestling. Except for one or two individuals, no one over the age of 18 is allowed to participate in the NWF. The NWF is basically a collection of high school, junior high school and elementary school aged individuals from the Anoka, Coon Rapids and Blaine area who perform as if they were actual professional wrestlers.

There are body slams, flying drop kicks, leg scissors and suplexes. They grab hair, throw chairs, jump off the top rope, gouge eyes and shout insults into the microphone during post match interviews similar to their larger, older and professional counterparts of the American Wrestling Association, the World Wrestling Federation and the National Wrestling Alliance. But they are not professionals, at least not yet.

The NWF had its start on bed mattresses. It was taped and promoted as a kids' wrestling cable television show, but came across more as if a look at the bunk house antics of some rambunctious youth. Subsequent changes had to be and were made. As a result, the wrestlers moved from mattresses to a 10 X 10 foot ring in a garage. Eventually, as the program gained popularity on cable television, attracting new wrestlers and creating new ideas, a bigger ring replaced the miniature model. And when an insurance agent said wrestling could not take place in the garage -liability reasons- the group of wrestlers moved again, finally settling last winter and spring in the basement of Fred Moore Junior High School where they used the ring belonging to the Coon Rapids Golden Gloves boxing program.
The NWF is once again on the move, looking for an indoor home. Some video taping this summer has taken place outdoors with a cameraman stationed on a rooftop and announcers set-up on card tables at ringside. But the NWF is making a bigger step. That step is regular wrestling features in the Anoka Armory. One took place late this spring and the second is scheduled July 26. Spectator admission is $3--money that will help defray costs.

Crossen, Crusher Crossen, that is, heads the NWF. Not only is he the world champion, but also the promoter, match-maker, television producer, director and tape editor. He also serves as the NWF's key decision maker-the individual who determines what wrestlers win, lose or are disqualified. Phony? "It is no different than what Verne Gagne or Vince McMahon have," said Crossen. "But there is one thing, you can't fake a body slum or fake a drop kick." With u little help from an older advisor, all the wrestlers in the NWF are pretty much self-taught in the art of this non-amateur wrestling. For most, it has meant practicing how to full or how to execute a drop kick. Maneuvers of that nature seldom come naturally for the wrestlers.

And the wrestlers are pretty much given a creative free hand in what they do in the ring. Crossen does not distribute a script, but instead allows u time limit and informs the combatants how the match is supposed to end. During one recent taping session, Crossen, put his sparkling NWF world championship belt on the line against the lee Dragon. The match lasted no more than seven minutes and ended when the lee Dragon took a folding chair away from ringside television commentator, C.J. Pregler, and attacked the champion. Mayhem ruled the ring for the next two minutes, while Crusher Crossen mysteriously disappeared. After cutting for a commercial break for the video tape, Crossen appeared moments later on the ring apron with blood pouring down his forehead. He also had some very choice words for his foe.

Hype? Certainly. Crossen, who solicits advertisers for a souvenir program, along with borrowing money from his parents, who he pays back, would love to see a big crowd attend the next NWF wrestling card at the Anoka Armory. He points out that the world tag team champion Barbarians will be there, so will the National tag team champion Invaders. And competing for the Lightweight tag team title, will be what he calls the crowd favorite Super D's team. The Super D's are a pair of fifth graders who will try to wrestle the titles away from the Rough Russians. There are other wrestlers, including himself, on the card just as there are other crazy matches scheduled which Crossen hopes will be pulled off without a hitch.

There was a hitch the last time during the NWF's armory presentation. That was a weak piece of plywood that supported the canvasscovered ring floor. After several matches of body slamming and falling wrestlers, the plywood cracked and sagged. This meant the battle royal, scheduled as the NWF's main event that evening, had to be cancelled. A bunk house match was presented in its place.

A recently purchased full-size, heavy duty professional model wrestling ring is expected to fare much better when the action becomes heated.