Steve The Teacher At The SETUP show

From left to right, Ken Cifer (WUW-PH and PUSO Wrestling), this blogger and Steve The Teacher (also known as AFAM Steve).  This was at a Meet And Greet which was fun and memorable! 

 

A couple of years ago, August 2023 to be exact, this blogger saw his first Dexcon/WUW Philippines show while vacationing.

 

It was a great show with wrestlers from throughout Southeast Asia wrestling that night.  The Brawl Pit Bulusan in Quezon City was very close to sold out.  This was given the fact that there was a wrestling show one day before at Circuit Makati, a few kilometers south.

 

I got to meet a few wrestlers that day including Steve The Teacher (picture above).  During the unfortunate Covid era, had a chance to learn more about him through video of his time with Middle Kingdom Wrestling in China.  After this session, and the match with Ken at the show, it was more impressing.  Steve The Teacher hadn't wrestled in a match in over two years that night.  However, it didn't look like he had any ring rust from the encounter.

 

Steve has several books that he's written including one called Class In Session.  It is a must read for any wrestling fan.  You can get a copy through Amazon.

 

Moving forward, Steve has wrestled several times since, including the most recent SETUP Thailand show last November.  Mikey Wild, one of the participants in the Rumble match, took advantage, and tossed Steve over the top rope.  It ended any opportunity for a victory in which Benji came out the winner.

 

I've never see Mikey Wild in action, but on video only.  He's definitely an unpredictable presence in the ring.  

 

However, Steve The Teacher has redemption coming.  The two will face off on Saturday, January 18th in a Homeroom Death Match at the SETUP Thailand Bangkok Navigation show.  

 

This blogger doesn't know the full meaning of this but am sure this won't be exactly a wrestling match.  I'm sure the wrestling fans at The Circus Studio will be wide awake when these two go at it.

 

Tickets, other than the first row, are still available.  For more on this match and the other six matches, please visit the SETUP Thailand Pro Wrestling Facebook page.  Thank you.

SPW Champions Never Yield 3 Is SOLD OUT!

Hello everyone!

 

Southeast Asia, and Singapore Pro Wrestling's first wrestling show of 2025, SPW: Champions Never Yield 3, is now officially sold out!

 

The event will take place this Friday at the Foo Chow Building in Singapore.  It begins at 7:30pm with the doors opening at 7pm.

 

Seven matches, including four championship ones, highlight the show.  Looks like a great start for wrestling in Singapore and all of Southeast Asia.

Bayley In The House

Hello everyone.

 

Last night while NXT was on a commercial break, this blogger turned over to the NHL Sharks game.

 

It's nice anytime when a wrestler takes the time out of their schedule to appear anywhere, even a sporting event.

 

The above photo (taken from my cell) is WWE's Bayley being interviewed by Sharks announcer, Drew Remenda.  This blogger knows quite a bit about Bayley.  Whenever her schedule permits, she often attends Sharks and 49er games in the San Jose area.  Also, 49ers tight end, George Kittle will often attend WWE shows in the Bay Area.  

 

However, I was impressed with the knowledge Drew Remenda had about pro wrestling.  He knows WWE pretty well but also talked about famous Canadian born wrestlers as Bret Hart and Edge last night.

 

Thought I would share this with everyone though its not necessarily SEA wrestling.  

SETUP Thailand Bangkok Navigation #7

Hello everyone!

 

SETUP Thailand's show, Bangkok Navigation, is just over one week away...Saturday, January 18th beginning at 6:30pm at The Circus Studio G Village.  Ringside tickets are SOLD OUT but rows two on back are still available.  Please check the SETUP Thailand Pro Wrestling Facebook page on how one can still buy tickets.

 

Next week, this blogger will share the full card of matches.  All of the matches are intriguing, especially the singles match between Paksa and Pro Wrestling Noah's (Japan), Naomichi Marufuji.

 

Both wrestlers are legends in their respective countries ....Thailand and Japan.  Personally, I've never seen either live at a show but on You Tube.  Both Paksa and Naomichi Marufuji have given their all in wrestling shows over the years.  This match alone is one to see.

 

This blogger mentioned a little about this match back on January 1st but wanted to add a little more to this special singles match.  If any of the fans reading this saw the singles match late last year between Paksa and Kenoh, also from Pro Wrestling NOAH, you'll be in for a special one next week!

The SPW SEA Championship Match

This coming Friday, Singapore Pro Wrestling will have their first show of 2025.  SPW: Champions Never Yield 3 will take place at the Foo Chow Building beginning at 7:30pm.  The doors will open at 7pm.

 

This blogger is intrigued with the SPW Southeast Asian Championship Match.  It is a four way match involving the champion, Da Butcherman, former champion, Aiden Rex, Shivam (SETUP Thailand and the current MYPW SEA Champion) and Jake De Leon (former PWR and MWF Champions).

 

Everyone but Jake De Leon has won an SPW title at least once.  The question is will his opponents overlook him?  He's certainly hungry enough to win the belt and take it back to the Philippines.

 

 

Shivam and Da Butcherman each have one current championship right now and both are looking for a second!  

 

Also, Aiden Rex is hungry to reclaim the title he lost.  He has been quiet lately and, perhaps, he has a game plan that the other three wrestlers don't know about.  

 

With a four way, the stakes are high.  The current champion does not have to be pinned to lose his or her title.  This match will be a great one.

 

For more, including tickets, please visit the SPW Facebook page.  The show appears to be a great one and hopefully, wrestling fans in Singapore won't miss it!     

One Final Battle In The Valley Update!

Hello everyone!

 

I know Filipino wrestling fans will love hearing this.  Personally, NJPW ought to get their act together but this blogger will let them pass this time.

 

The NJPW World TV Championship will be on the line as El Phantasmo, the champion, will take on Filipino Pro Wrestling Champion, Jeff Cobb in a one fall match.  It will be for the TV title only!

 

This will be the first time seeing Cobb since the G1 Special in July 2018 at the Daly City Cow Palace.

 

Also, there will be an elimination tag team women's match between Viva Van, Hanako, Maika and Mina Shirakawa against Anna Jay, Trish Adora, AZM and Johnnie Robbie.

 

Finally, a strong survivor match will pit Zane Jay against Viento.  

 

For $60 that I paid, there will be nine matches on the program that will begin at 7pm at the San Jose Civic Auditorium.  

Two Matches Added For Battle In The Valley

Hello everyone.

 

Earlier today, New Japan Pro Wrestling announced a couple of added matches for the show, and they are championship matches.  How lucky this blogger is on this one!

 

El Desperado (c) vs. Taiji Ishinori for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.

AND

Konosuke Takeshita (c) vs. Kushida for the Never Openweight Championship.

 

If I could have afforded it, I would have gone to both the NJPW and WWE RAW shows over the three day period.  However, I decided on this because of the possibility that this might happen.

 

Definitely looking forward to this show on Saturday night!

 

 

PSE Thailand

Back in August 2023, before deleting, and starting this blog, this blogger did a post about a third promotion in Thailand.

 

A wrestler from the Philippines, whom this blogger knows in CJ Serafin (now Liwanag Serafin) took part in a show in Pattaya, Thailand.  From what I remembered, it was a two day show that had wrestlers from Thailand, China, Singapore and the Philippines involved.

 

Until recently, this blogger was totally unaware that PSE_Thailand, the promotion still existed.  A wrestling fan in Southeast Asia messaged me to mention the group.

 

Well, this blog is always a learning curve for me.  In April 2024, PSE_Thailand began having shows, roughly an average of about one every two months.  The company is owned by two pro wrestlers in Sunny Z and Benji.  Both have wrestled in Thailand shows, particularly the SETUP promotion, the number one promotion in the country.

 

Wrestlers throughout Southeast Asia have come to Pattaya, and mostly, the PSE Performance Center to perform at their shows.  

 

PSE_Thailand's last show was in December with their next show to take place on Saturday, February 1st.  The One Year Anniversary show will feature a title match between the FIP World Champion, August Artois against Sunny Z.

 

Will continue to post on all PSE_Thailand upcoming events.

SPW Champions Never Yield 3 Update #5

 

Hello everyone.

 

This coming Friday, January 10th, Singapore Pro Wrestling will hold their first show of 2025, Champions Never Yield 3.  The event takes place at the Foo Chow Building beginning at 7:30pm.  Doors open 30 minutes earlier at 7pm.

 

Here's the lineup of the show.  Please remember that the show is subject to change.

 

Here are the matches currently scheduled, including four championships, on the line. 

 

International Dream Match: Trent Seven, a freelancer currently with Over The Top Wrestling in Ireland vs. "The Statement" Andruew Tang.

 

SPW Southeast Asia Championship Four Way Match: Jake De Leon (PUSO Wrestling - Philippines) vs. Da Butcherman (SPW) (c) vs. Aiden Rex (SPW) vs. Shivam (SETUP Thailand).

 

SPW Queen Of Asia Championship: Yuki Kamifuku (c) vs. Alexis Lee.

 

SPW Tag Team Championship: The Juicy Boyz (The Wonderboy & Miles Karu) (c) (MYPW) vs. Jack N' Cheese (SPW).

 

SPW Singapore Championship: CK Vin (c) vs, Black Arrow.

 

Tag Team Match:  The Midnight Bastards vs. Destroyer Dharma & Mighty Mighty.

 and

SPW Singapore Championship Number One Contender Gauntlet Match: Dr. Gore vs. Bryson Blade vs. Riky Malek vs. Riz vs. "The Hustler" Ray vs. Emman.

 

Ringside and balcony tickets are sold out as of a few days ago.  For more information, including tickets, please visit the SPW Facebook page.  Also, SPW can be found on You Tube.  Thank you. 

Battle In The Valley 2025

Hello everyone!

 

Coming off an amazing and memorable weekend of wrestling whether it was in Japan or America or anywhere else, 2025 has started out with a bang.

 

A couple of years ago, after a Battle In The Valley show in San Jose, California, this blogger thought about not ever attending another NJPW show.

 

It wasn't because the show was bad....actually, it was pretty good.

 

The problem was with NJPW officials.  I took some photos from the rafters of the San Jose Civic Auditorium and was not only harassed by NJPW officials, but was escorted out of the building.  They thought I was taking videos though I proved to them it wasn't.

 

Well, it's about two years later.  San Jose is very fortunate to have two wrestling shows in the next week.

 

On Monday, January 13th, WWE RAW will take place at the SAP Center.  It will be the second RAW that will be on Netflix.

 

On Saturday (this coming), I just secured a ticket for New Japan Pro Wrestling's Battle In The Valley.  It will be my first wrestling show since last August when I attended the first PUSO Wrestling show in Quezon City, Philippines.

 

When this blogger saw who was appearing on the show, the decision to go to this event was a lot easier.  Here is the show lineup.....

 

Gabe Kidd (c) vs. Tomohiro Ishii for the Strong Openweight Championship.

Zach Sabre Jr. vs. Hechicero.

West Coast Wrecking Crew (Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs) (c) vs. Roppongi Revice (Rocky Romero & ROH) for the Strong Openweight Championship.

Sumai Sakai Retirement Match featuring Team Sakai (Sumai Sakai, Evil and SHO) vs. Team Hiromu (Hiromu Takahashi, Mayu Iwatani and Yuka Sakazaki).

TDMK (Shane Haste & Bad Dude Tito) vs. Fred Rosser & Matt Vandagriff.

 

I'm told that the Main Event has yet to be announced with a few days to go until the show.  Could we possibly see an appearance by Kazuchika Okada or Will Ospreay?  Their battle a couple of years ago was one of the best matches I've eve seen!

 

Looking forward to seeing ZSJ again (2018 was the last time at the G1 Special).

 

I'll have a recap on my blog within 24 hours after the show.

Hammerlock Pure Wrestling

Some of you are wondering about the title of this post, Hammerlock Pure Wrestling.

 

Certainly, it's not a Southeast Asia wrestling promotion.  It's not in Australia either.  It happens to be in Ontario, Canada, northeast of where this blogger lives.

 

Though this blogger focuses on Southeast Asia, Asia and Australia wrestling, I wanted to share something new.   Here is what is leading to this post.

 

Back in December 2022, I attended my first wrestling show in Southeast Asia and in the Philippines.  The show was called Noche Buena that was promoted by the Manila Wrestling Federation.

 

One of the wrestlers in the show, Ken Warren, would win back the SETUP Thailand 24/7 wrestling championship in a handicap match in which he defeated three wrestlers.

 

After the show, along with future Filipino Pro Wrestling's LegenDarius, we had the opportunity to meet Ken following a post show press conference.  

 

Ken was not only gracious and professional, but spent time with both of us.  We talked about pro wrestling both on the major scale and independent levels.  Also, we talked about the Philippines great beaches.  It was a memorable moment since he was only the second pro wrestler to AWA legend, Nick Bockwinkel that I met.

 

Early in 2023, Ken decided to move to Canada and over time, would begin wrestling in a North American promotion called Hammerlock Pure Wrestling.  The promotion is based out of London, Ontario.  If you look at a map, the city is nearly between Detroit, Michigan and Toronto, Ontario, two major metropolitan areas.  

 

Hammerlock Pure Wrestling was founded in 2022 with their first show, a year later in February 2023.  Looking at Cagematch, Ken wrestled in his first Hammerlock show in November.

 

As I was preparing to do this, Ken has done a couple of promos.  What I found was the fact that he did wrestle for three promotions in 2024.

 

I'm going to share the latest promo that he did which is the link below.  In the meantime, all the best to Ken in his future endeavors in North America.  I'll post any of his future shows on this blog.

 

   https://fb.watch/wWNAAGdQDj/