This blogger was a little hesitant about doing the following post. Since another year of my life, and Christmas are happening soon, now is a good time to do this.
After "wrestling" with the post, this blogger wants to share the following thoughts about Pinoy Wrestling in 2024. Hopefully, no one will be upset with what is mentioned here. If anyone feels that way, please feel free to message SFWayne on Facebook or comment here on blogger.
The year of 2024 began with three wrestling promotions in the Philippines as well as an independent group. The country had Dexcon (independent group), Filipino Pro Wrestling, World Underground Wrestling - Philippines and the Manila Wrestling Federation.
Remembering 2023 as I do, this blogger was able to attend four wrestling shows amongst the three promotions while on vacation. Being there, viewing what was happening, seeing, listening to, and reading fan reaction, the world of local pro wrestling in the Philippines was, perhaps, at an all time high.
The fan bases were, and are, amazing! From the day I started doing this blog, the wrestlers and staff from each promotion have been very cooperative and respectful. Am grateful to all of you. Going to a wrestling show in the Philippines is the best!
The year 2024 started well with everyone. There were shows with all four mentioned and it appeared that things were going well. Being outside the Philippines, you would have never known that something was about to change.
Unfortunately, the Manila Wrestling Federation didn't make it into May. The company folded after one major show in April, Kasasayan.
This blogger won't go into what happened. All of us, hopefully have moved on from a very bleak and unfortunate time back then. Roughly 40 employees from the promotion were wondering if they would ever wrestle, work the event, or let alone perform again?
Thanks to Fabio Makisig and many others, a new promotion, PUSO Wrestling was formed in June. In a few weeks, in August, the promotion hosted their first show. By the end of November, the company hosted three shows, the roster has grown and the promotion now has their initial Pusong Pinoy Wrestling Champion. The Pinay (women) wrestlers have grown as well.
This blogger doesn't know if there is another promotion on the planet that had to endure what PUSO Wrestling did! They did, and the promotion is here to stay! On this end, I'm grateful to everyone in the promotion to be involved in a small way, and will continue to do so in 2025!
Filipino Pro Wrestling needed to prove themselves as well. While PUSO Wrestling was growing, FPW was starting their second year as a company. The promotion has had to endure things of their own. Coming off a productive first year, would the sophomore jinx hit the promotion?
Fortunately, it didn't. Yes, there was the move from the PMC Spotlight Theater to Baked Studios but they were still in Makati. Though this blogger has not been inside the venue, it appears from wrestling fans that this is a better place for the promotion.
FPW had five shows this year. Their pinnacle event was the October show. Jeff Cobb, wrestling with New Japan Pro Wrestling these days, won the FPW title from Mike Madrigal. Mike had held the belt for 547 days, an enormous amount in any promotion. Also, in 2024, FPW opened up an FPW Academy for possible new talent. From this, the roster is slowly growing. Hopefully, the women wrestling scene will grow in 2025!
Right now, FPW has their shows from the past year on their You Tube channel. Please check it out.
World Underground Wrestling - Philippines had their show on July 7th this year in Tagay Na! which was a sellout and a huge success. WUW - Philippines has also been involved with the numerous Dexcon shows that happened this year.
Speaking of Dexcon, what a year for the group! The organization had events such as Wrestle Storm, Dexcon Decada and Jam Of The Joshi's/Graveyard Shift. All of the shows have been "dynamite" with various local and wrestlers from Asia participating. Thanks, as always, to Linus, Rosh, Cholo and others involved. They are always trying to bring the best of wrestling talent to the Philippines. I'm sure 2025 will have more surprises for Pinoy wrestling fans.
This blogger is grateful to see the cooperation between promotions. The latest PUSO Wrestling show had Robynn from FPW participating in the Pinay Gauntlet match. There were several wrestlers from FPW who were invited, and appeared at the show. In seeing this, it's a good sign. When doing this blog, promotions from countries such as Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia are doing this as well. Hopefully, the fans at the PUSO event in November appreciated the talents of Robynn. I had a chance to see her firsthand at my only FPW show in August 2023.
The Pinoy Wrestling scene going into 2025 is in good shape just as it was last year. Continued growth and improvement is important. Surely, all the promotions know this going into the new year.
Happy Holidays everyone!
