AXE-MEN BBQ

AXE-MEN BBQ is a competition barbecue team with 14 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2014 and 2018. Their best overall finish is 8th of 35 at the 10th Annual Lambs Farm Barn Burner Bar-B-Q (2015). They are ranked #3909 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#3,909

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1485

peak 1510 · rated over 14 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Oct 17, 2014

latest Oct 19, 2018 · 4 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#1616

Master 2015 · every season

Grand champs

0 reserve

Category wins

0 podiums

Overall top-10s

7% of 14 contests

Avg finish

top 61%

overall standings

Best overall

666.7772 / 720

Master · 10th Annual Lambs Farm Barn Burner Bar-B-Q

Perfect 180s

Current form

631.13 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 639.98 (-8.85)

Walk rate

36%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

174.2972

Chicken · Windy City BBQ Classic

Consistency

±18.74

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 162.63 · weakest Brisket (158.20)

Road miles

1,372

across 14 mapped stops · furthest 221 mi

Schedule strength

43%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1556)

Master avg

639.98 / 720

14 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (6 found in their record)

Each card leads with the number behind the story, straight from their results.

High-water mark

666.7772 career-best overall

92.6% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 666.7772 at 10th Annual Lambs Farm Barn Burner Bar-B-Q — 92.6% of a perfect 720.

Master
Oct 16, 2015

The one to beat

2× one call ahead of them

D.F.G.'S BBQ has finished one call ahead of AXE-MEN BBQ 2 times — their closest competition in the data.

A tough matchup

10–0 behind in the head-to-head

YELLOW RIVER BBQ ahead in 100% of their meetings

YELLOW RIVER BBQ has come out ahead in 10 of their 10 shared contests.

The weak link

−4.4 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 4.43 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 7% of the time against 21%.

Brisket avg 158.20
Chicken avg 162.63
1 call in 14 entries

A strong matchup

4–0 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 100% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of Q-N WITH ATTITUDE in 4 of their 4 shared contests.

Chicken nemesis

10 of 11 shared chicken entries lost

BIG "E" BBQ ahead 91% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, BIG "E" BBQ has out-cooked them in 10 of 11 shared chicken entries.

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Year	Series	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2017 ↗	Master	#2158 (68 pts)	#2206 (73 pts)	#1953 (118 pts)	#2223 (68 pts)	#2046 (98 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#2199 (73 pts)	#1869 (123 pts)	#2024 (118 pts)	#2885 (58 pts)	#2336 (63 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#1616 (130 pts)	#969 (350 pts)	#1776 (120 pts)	#1790 (120 pts)	#1506 (170 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#2576 (67 pts)	#1774 (142 pts)	#1641 (152 pts)	#2618 (67 pts)	#2589 (67 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to AXE-MEN BBQ, each with one reason worth a look.

169 rated teams sit within a point of this rating, so a place on this list means the numbers match — no more than that.

LittleBrothersBBQ

#3,934 of the rated field

1485 power rating

Contests: 11
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 9%
Peak: 1485

1–1 in 2 shared contests (50% to AXE-MEN BBQ)

2 contests in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team AXE-MEN BBQ has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.

rated over 11 contests
last seen Oct 13, 2023

⚔ Head-to-head

Rub'em Right BBQ

#3,895 of the rated field

1485 power rating

Contests: 8
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 13%
Peak: 1502

1–0 in 1 shared contest (100% to AXE-MEN BBQ)

Fewer contests behind them than AXE-MEN BBQ has cooked, 8 to 14, which makes theirs the less settled rating of the two.

rated over 8 contests
last seen Sep 12, 2025

⚔ Head-to-head

SMOKE 2 PULL

#3,911 of the rated field

1485 power rating

Contests: 25
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 4%
Peak: 1521

1–2 in 3 shared contests (33% to AXE-MEN BBQ)

They've been 1521 at their best, 36 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 25 contests
last seen Oct 19, 2018

⚔ Head-to-head

4 Schmidt's and Giggles BBQ

#3,933 of the rated field

1485 power rating

Contests: 5
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 0%
Peak: 1485

0–1 in 1 shared contest (0% to AXE-MEN BBQ)

Level with AXE-MEN BBQ on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 5 contests
last seen Oct 16, 2020

⚔ Head-to-head

The Sauce And All That Goes With It

#3,923 of the rated field

1485 power rating

Contests: 15
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 20%
Peak: 1485

15 contests and no Grand Championship yet — a rating made of 20% top-10 finishes rather than wins.

rated over 15 contests
last seen Nov 8, 2019

⚔ Compare careers

Close Butt No Cigar

#3,918 of the rated field

1485 power rating

Contests: 12
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 8%
Peak: 1485

This is the highest they've ever been rated, 12 rated contests in — a team sitting at its own career peak.

rated over 12 contests
last seen Oct 23, 2020

⚔ Compare careers

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
BIG "E" BBQ	11	1	10	9%	⚔ compare
THE SMOKE HUNTERS	10	1	9	10%	⚔ compare
YELLOW RIVER BBQ	10	0	10	0%	⚔ compare
DESIGNATED SMOKIN' AREA	9	4	5	44%	⚔ compare
JH OLD SCHOOL	9	1	8	11%	⚔ compare
VALET PORKING	8	3	5	38%	⚔ compare
Mac Attack BBQ	7	2	5	29%	⚔ compare
MUD'S BBQ	7	1	6	14%	⚔ compare
QUAU	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
TIM'S FULL BELLI DELI	7	0	7	0%	⚔ compare
BLUE ISLAND BBQ CO.	6	3	3	50%	⚔ compare
Steamboat BBQ	6	2	4	33%	⚔ compare
Risky Brisket	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
RACK MASTERS BBQ	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare
Its 5 Oclock Somewhere	6	1	5	17%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	14	3	174.2972	150.2856	162.63	top 55%
Pork Ribs	14	1	169.6800	143.3488	160.58	top 53%
Pork	14	2	170.8228	149.0856	158.57	top 66%
Brisket	14	1	170.8344	149.0744	158.20	top 59%

“Calls” = top-10 category finishes (getting called to the stage). Scores here are the final weighted totals KCBS publishes; per-criterion appearance/taste/tenderness marks aren’t in the public results feed.

By field size and state

By contest size

Field	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
Medium (20–39)	3	0	top 60%
Large (40+)	11	0	top 62%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
IL	9	top 57%
WI	4	top 74%
IN	1	top 49%

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook-off	2	28	top 76%	Oct 19, 2018
Red, White & BBQ (Day 2)	2	20	top 56%	May 28, 2016
Red, White and BBQ (Day 2)	2	29	top 80%	May 23, 2015

More numbers

Busiest season 2015 6 contests

Contests a season 2.8 across 5 seasons in the data

Most contests held in IL 9 of 14 contests · 3 states in all

Contests visited 11 3 of them more than once

Opponents faced 317 finished ahead 251 times, behind 361

Longest layoff 1.5 yrs Apr 28, 2017 → Oct 19, 2018

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

20181 milestone

Oct 19 Most recent contest Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook-off

20162 milestones

May 28 10th tracked contest Red, White & BBQ (Day 2)
May 28 Peak power rating (1510) Red, White & BBQ (Day 2)

20154 milestones

Apr 24 First overall past 90% of a perfect score650.7200 Wabash Ribber Fest
Sep 11 Career-best single call (Chicken)174.2972 Windy City BBQ Classic
Oct 16 First overall top-10 10th Annual Lambs Farm Barn Burner Bar-B-Q
Oct 16 Career-best overall score666.7772 10th Annual Lambs Farm Barn Burner Bar-B-Q

20142 milestones

Oct 17 First tracked contest 9th Annual Lambs Farm Barn Burner Bar-B-Q
Oct 17 First call 9th Annual Lambs Farm Barn Burner Bar-B-Q

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+11.3	10th Annual Lambs Farm Barn Burner Bar-B-Q	Oct 16, 2015
+7.1	Red, White & BBQ (Day 2)	May 28, 2016
+5.8	Windy City BBQ Classic	Sep 11, 2015
+3.4	CCS Fest: CCS Spring Festival & BBQ Competition	Apr 22, 2016
+1.7	Wabash Ribber Fest	Apr 24, 2015

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-12.9	Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook-off	Oct 19, 2018
-9.9	Red, White and BBQ (Day 2)	May 23, 2015
-9.3	The Great Wisconsin Tune Up BBQ Competition	Apr 28, 2017
-5	Red, White & BBQ (Day 1)	May 27, 2016
-3.1	Heritage Days BBQ Showdown	Jun 24, 2016

Scores over time (% of a perfect score — tap a meat to add it)

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Season by season

Season	Contests	Top-10s	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2018	1	0	0%	top 98%	82.8%	82.8%
2017	1	0	0%	top 91%	85.1%	85.1%
2016	5	0	0%	top 57%	92.5%	90%
2015	6	1	67%	top 54%	92.6%	89.7%
2014	1	0	100%	top 62%	88.3%	88.3%

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
Oct 19, 2018	Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook-off Union Grove, WI	41 / 42 (596.3772)	33 (153.1084)	41 (143.3488)	39 (149.6800)	35 (150.2400)
Apr 28, 2017	The Great Wisconsin Tune Up BBQ Competition Manawa, WI	21 / 23 (612.9256)	20 (150.2856)	11 (157.6456)	21 (150.2288)	15 (154.7656)
Oct 21, 2016	Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook-off Union Grove, WI	28 / 51 (641.5428)	41 (153.6456)	13 (165.6916)	33 (158.2400)	25 (163.9656)
Jun 24, 2016	Heritage Days BBQ Showdown Belvidere, IL	22 / 33 (638.6052)	12 (166.8228)	13 (167.3940)	27 (151.9084)	24 (152.4800)
May 28, 2016	Red, White & BBQ (Day 2) Westmont, IL	20 / 55 (666.1944)	15 (171.4172)	13 (167.9772)	17 (170.2744)	43 (156.5256)
May 27, 2016	Red, White & BBQ (Day 1) Westmont, IL	32 / 42 (638.0912)	35 (159.3484)	36 (157.6800)	34 (157.6456)	17 (163.4172)
Apr 22, 2016	CCS Fest: CCS Spring Festival & BBQ Competition Indianapolis, IN	24 / 49 (656.4228)	37 (162.2284)	18 (166.3088)	34 (161.6572)	18 (166.2284)
Oct 16, 2015	10th Annual Lambs Farm Barn Burner Bar-B-Q Libertyville, IL	8 / 35 (666.7772)	22 (160.5600)	12 (166.2744)	6 (169.1084)	7 (170.8344)
Sep 11, 2015	Windy City BBQ Classic Chicago, IL	23 / 61 (654.2056)	6 (174.2972)	47 (154.8228)	36 (162.8344)	25 (162.2512)
Aug 28, 2015	Grill Games Kenosha, WI	25 / 49 (642.7196)	6 (170.8456)	36 (152.5028)	35 (156)	15 (163.3712)
May 23, 2015	Red, White and BBQ (Day 2) Westmont, IL	52 / 58 (624.9944)	43 (160.5256)	37 (161.1316)	53 (153.0628)	51 (150.2744)
May 22, 2015	Red, White and BBQ (Day 1) Westmont, IL	29 / 41 (634.2168)	22 (163.4284)	35 (149.0972)	28 (159.4284)	18 (162.2628)
Apr 24, 2015	Wabash Ribber Fest Mt. Carmel, IL	24 / 46 (650.7200)	29 (161.1200)	13 (169.6800)	10 (170.8228)	39 (149.0972)
Oct 17, 2014	9th Annual Lambs Farm Barn Burner Bar-B-Q Libertyville, IL	26 / 42 (635.8628)	10 (169.1428)	9 (168.5600)	37 (149.0856)	36 (149.0744)

AXE-MEN BBQ

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Best ToY finish

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

Avg finish

Best overall

Perfect 180s

Current form

Walk rate

Best single call

Consistency

Strongest meat

Road miles

Schedule strength

Master avg

Storylines (6 found in their record)

High-water mark

The one to beat

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

Chicken nemesis

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

By meat

By field size and state

By contest size

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

More numbers

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

📉 Toughest weekends

Scores over time (% of a perfect score — tap a meat to add it)

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Season by season

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Career map (orange GC · green top-10 · grey the rest — tap a pin)