SETUP Bangkok Navigation Update #10

SETUP Thailand's show this coming Saturday, Bangkok Navigation, is now SOLD OUT!

 

However, if you are reading this, and still want to go to the show, PLEASE visit the SETUP Thailand Pro Wrestling page and follow some instructions under their latest post.  You may still be able to see the show if you see what is mentioned!

 

Since this will be the last post before the Saturday show, once again, here are the list of matches below.  Thank you to SETUP Thailand for all the posts leading up to now.  Good luck to everyone involved (wrestlers, staff and management).  Like any pro wrestling show preparation, they work hard to make the show the best for the fans. 

 

To the fans attending this Saturday, please enjoy the show!  Am looking forward to finding out what happened.  Here's the list...

 

1. FATAL FOUR WAY INTERGENDER MATCH
Matcha vs Pondhub vs Kru Pol vs Gunn

2. IWA JAPAN WORLD TITLE TOURNAMENT : HOMEROOM ‘DEATHMATCH’
’Steve’ The Teacher vs ‘Holy Hell’ Mikey Wild

3. PREMIER BRITISH WRESTLING WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Kevin Weng vs Daz Black (c)

4. IWA JAPAN SETUP WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Flame Drake & Blick Drewz vs Good Deal (Anont Alonzo & Mister Suchart - c)

5. IWA JAPAN WORLD TITLE TOURNAMENT : SPECIAL SINGLE MATCH
‘Freelance’ Shota vs ’Smiling Angel’ Monomoth

6. IWA JAPAN WORLD TITLE TOURNAMENT : SPECIAL SINGLE MATCH
Jonathan Johnson vs Masa Takanashi

7. [MAIN EVENT] TATSUKUNI ‘KINROKU’ ASANO MEMORIAL’S SPECIAL SINGLE MATCH
Paksa vs Naomichi Marufuji (Pro Wrestling NOAH)

PSE Thailand One Year Anniversary Show

Hello everyone.

 

PSE Thailand will be having their One Year Anniversary show on Saturday, February 1st.  The venue is the PSE Performance Center in Pattaya.

 

The promotion has been very busy getting ready this major show.  There have been some nightly shows over the past few weeks.

 

One match has been mentioned for the anniversary show thus far.  August Artois, the FIP World Heavyweight Champion, will face popular wrestler and co-owner, Sunny Z for the the title.

 

Artois is no stranger to the wrestling fans in Thailand.  Back at the IWA/SETUP 30th anniversary show at The Circus Studio, Artois successfully defended his title against Shivam in an exciting match.

 

For more information on the show, including tickets, please visit the PSE_Thailand Facebook page.  Also, PSE_Thailand can now be found on You Tube with several videos posted.  Please subscribe and check it out!  Thank you. 

Wrestling Seminar In Singapore

Trent Seven and numerous featured wrestlers from SPW, ROR, Grapplemax, PUSO Wrestling, Malaysia Pro Wrestling and Vietnam Pro Wrestling attending.  Thank you to Carey Wasz from Vietnam Pro Wrestling who took the photo and to SPW who was host for the seminar.

 

Hello everyone.

 

First off, thank you to the numerous wrestling fans in messaging me over the past few days.  They were concerned, especially living in California where there is a horrible wildfire still burning.  The fire is roughly 400 miles south from where I live.  Several of my friends and relatives do live in Los Angeles County and are safe as this post is being put together.

 

In Northern California, we could very easily go through what our friends in the south are experiencing.  We've been getting the winds.  The fact that we've had rainfall over the past month has helped unlike in Los Angeles.  Again, thank you everyone for the concern!  

 

Last weekend when thinking, and looking, for something positive to post,  this blogger learned and saw photos of a seminar that was hosted by Singapore Pro Wrestling.

 

It's been mentioned to this fan that most of the wrestlers, in the above photo, are champions now or were champions at one point in their career.  Also, it was an amazing training session.  Trent, who was an NXT champion, took the session "to another level."  

 

Again, thank you to Singapore Pro Wrestling for hosting as well as Casey for taking the photo.  Casey has provided great photos of VPW shows for several years now!  Also, thank you to The Eurasian Dragon, not only for the okay, but sharing his experience with a couple of wrestlers from ROR.

 

Since doing this blog, there have been times like this throughout Southeast Asia promotions.  This blogger has seen it in photos and/or video at various shows.  There have been the great "Meet And Greets" that have had wrestlers from outside the country take part in.  Also, having seminars are definitely priceless no matter the experience a wrestler has.

 

This is another feel good story in a year where pro wrestling in Southeast Asia will continue to grow.  And it's only two weeks into 2025!

Grapplemax Amplify 6 Update

Hello everyone!

 

Grapplemax Pro Wrestling Singapore will host their first wrestling show of 2025 on Saturday, January 25th.  The event, Amplify 6 will take place at the Grapplemax Studios beginning at 7:30pm.  Doors open 45 minutes earlier at 6:45pm.

 

One match has just been announced, and a good one.  A three way Grapplemax Openweight Championship #1 Contender's Match will feature Divya, Ben Sachak and Christian.  Currently, Hotshot is the Openweight Champion.

 

Ban Sachak has wrestled mostly in tag team competition and was very close along with Big Dave in winning the tag team championship a couple of months ago.  Now in singles competition, he's looking for his first Grapplemax Openweight Championship.

 

Christian has held one title, the Wrestle Square Cruiserweight Championship.  He held the title for 266 days, the fourth longest in the belt's history.  He has also done well in tag team action, particularly the team of Ships Ahoy with his partner, Sarah.

 

Divya, from India, is a five time women's CWE Diva titleholder.  She has wrestled in the Grapplemax shows over the past six months mostly in tag action.  She is definitely looking at making Grapplemax as well as wrestling history with another major title around her waist.

 

This blogger has seen video of all three wrestlers. Definitely, this should be a very good, and interesting match to watch live.

 

For more information, including tickets for the show, please visit the Grapplemax Pro Wrestling Singapore Facebook page.  Also, Grapplemax can be found on You Tube.  Please subscribe!  Thank you.

SPW Champions Never Yield 3 Results

Hello everyone!

 

Here are the results from Singapore Pro Wrestling's event, SPW: Champions Never Yield 3. The event took place on Friday, January 10th before a sold out crowd at the Foo Chow Building in Singapore.

 

The event was "wild" and entertaining from the videos seen.  Also, the island had rain, am told, the entire day.  Despite the heavy traffic in the area, the show went off really well.  Thank you to SPW, the staff, performers in and out of Singapore, and the fans for a great and memorable evening.  Also, thank you for providing the results.  The next SPW show, am told, will be in March.

    

International Dream Match: Trent Seven d. "The Statement" Andruew Tang.

 

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

 

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

 

SPW Tag Team Championship: Jack N' Cheese d. The Juicy Boyz (The Wonderboy & Miles Karu) (c) (MYPW) by disqualification.  The Juicy Boyz retain the SPW Tag Team Championship.

 

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

 

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

 

SPW Singapore Championship Number One Contender Gauntlet Match: Dr. Gore d. Bryson Blade, Riky Malek,  Riz, "The Hustler" Ray and Emman.  Dr. Gore is now the number one contender!

SETUP Thailand Bangkok Navigation Update #9

Hello everyone!

 

SETUP Thailand's upcoming show, Bangkok Navigation, will take place this coming Saturday night at The Circus Studio G Village in Bangkok.  Doors open at 6pm with the first match at 6:30pm.

 

This fan is excited about the upcoming IWA Japan x SETUP Tag Team match.  The Good Deal (Anont Alonzo & Mr. Suchart), the current champions, face Blick Drewz and Flame Drake for the coveted championship.

 

Blick Drewz and Flame Drake are new to SETUP Thailand but not new to the wrestling scene in Thailand.  Flame Drake mentioned to me recently that Blick was his senior wrestler when they were at TOP Dojo, one of Thailand's other promotions in the country.

 

Also, Flame Drake and Mr. Suchart are friends and it was mentioned that both wrestlers were fans at SETUP's inaugural wrestling show back in 2020.

 

Since this blogger has mentioned three of the four wrestlers, I want to mention Anont Alonzo for a moment.  There is no question that he's a very good quality wrestler whether it's in singles or tag team competition.  I've seen it on video.  His opponents know this as well as the fans watching.

 

It will be interesting how the match plays out.  If it was me instead of either Flame Drake or Mr. Suchart, I'm trying to help our team win. Definitely, the importance is not only winning the match, but either winning or retaining the title.

 

The fans are definitely looking forward to the outcome of this and the other matches on the show.

 

Front row seats are sold out for Saturday's show.  Please visit the SETUP Thailand Pro Wrestling Facebook page on remaining tickets.  Thank you!

PUSO Wrestling Livestream 1 Results

Hello everyone!

 

Here are the results from PUSO Wrestling's Livestream 1 show on Sunday night, January 12th.  The streaming event on You Tube was at the Brawl Pit Bulusan in Quezon City, PH.  The link to the show will be below the results.  Please subscribe and click the link for viewing.

 

Good to see everyone again in action.  After holidays, it's spring training right now for every SEA promotion.

 

Joey Rosas & Jomar d. Alien Friend & Danny Zamora.

Isaiah Valencia & Nigel San Jose d. Hakai Mateo & Fabio Makisig.

MSG's - Migs Valdez & Chelsea Marie d. Bahay ng Liwanag's - Kapatid na X & Serafin Liwanag.

Joya, Roxxy (WrestleFest DXB of Dubai) and Main Maxx d. Super P., Patricia Ligaia and El Kapitunero in a six person intergender tag team match.

 

     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5Zgg8Z9x-M

Battle In The Valley Results

Hello everyone.

 

While on the train home, here are the results from NJPW Strong event, Battle In The Valley.  The show was held on Saturday night, January 11th at the San Jose Civic Auditorium.  The action was exciting.  The show was one of the best in history.  A near sellout crowd was boisterous, loud, appreciative and enthusiastic throughout the night.  The show lasted about three hours and 45 minutes.  Hopefully, the results are correct since I'm a little sleepy right now doing this.

 

The highlight of the night was an emotional and memorable match as Japanese women's legend, Sumie Sakai wrestled in her final encounter.  Though she was pinned in the tag team match, she showed the fighting spirit that Japanese women wrestlers are taught and have!

 

Been to three of these now.  The one a couple of years ago that had Okada and Ospreay was really good but overall, this show may have been a little better.

 

Here are the results:

 

Tomohiro Ishii and Gabe Kidd (c) for the Strong Openweight Championship ended up a 30 minute draw.

 

Nelson Isaacs & Jarel Nelson (c) d. Rocky Romero and Yoh for the Strong Openweight Tag Team Titles.

 

Viva Van, Harako, Maika and Nina Shirakawa d. Anna Jay, Trish Adora, AZN and Johnny Robbie in an eight woman elimination match.  Maika threw Anna Jay over the top rope to win.  Several fans sitting next to me mentioned that Viva Van has signed with AEW!

 

Jeff Cobb vs. El Phantasmo (c) ended up a double countout for the IWGP TV Title.  Cobb did not bring the FPW title with him.

Sumie Sakai was pinned by Hiromu Takahashi in a six person intergender match.  Evil and SHO were supposed to be on Sakai's side but turned on her during the match.  Takahashi had Mayu Iwatani and Yuka Sakazaki in his corner.

There was about a 10 minute ceremony afterwards with most of the locker room attending.  It was to honor her 27 year career with congratulations and a 10 count with the timekeeper bell.  This blogger, and most of the fans, did not have dry eyes during the ceremony.  She was given a standing ovation by the fans.  

 

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

 

Zack Sabre Jr. d. Hechecero in a not title match.  After the match, at a future date, the two wrestlers will face one another for the title. 

 

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

Congratulations To TOP Dojo

Hello everyone!

 

Thailand Origin Pro Wrestling or TOP Dojo is celebrating their five year anniversary this year.

 

The promotion, besides one of the other two wrestling promotions in Thailand, SETUP Thailand, hosted their first show in February 2020.

 

The event, Reborn - Fighting Spirit Event #1 took place on February 29th at the Motorway Dojo, just east of the downtown area in the Suan Luang area.

 

The first show done, in a wrestling mat format, had four matches.  Jibzy, Thailand's second female wrestler, and first women's champion, owner- P-Nutz, Golem Thai, Hideo, Blick Drewz, Kuma, Jay Yuu and Oath wrestled in the first show.

 

Currently, P-Nutz, Golem Thai, Kuma and Jay Yuu continue to wrestle for TOP Dojo.  Blick Drewz is still wrestling, and with SETUP.  Newer talent such as Wassana, Silver Bullet, Best Boonpa and the King Of Thai Wrestling Champion, Prince Benny, will provide exciting moments in 2025!  A person to watch in 2025 is Baphobia.

 

This blogger is still reading up about Gatoh Move and its history prior to this promotion.  In the meantime, congratulations to TOP Dojo and in its five years as a promotion.  In a few weeks, there will be an announcement of an upcoming show.  I'm sure the fans are looking forward to a few shows at the Motorway Dojo and elsewhere!

 

TOP Dojo can be found on Facebook, You Tube and other social media outlets.       

SETUP Thailand Bangkok Navigation Update #8

Hello everyone!

 

The upcoming post will be about two important singles matches that haven't been covered.  This may be a little long, but please be patient.  

 

Before sharing it, there's one important clarification regarding the blogger's last post on Steve The Teacher.

 

Per several sources, and since I wasn't there for the show, something important was not mentioned about the SETUP Rumble.  Mikey Wild was officially not a part of the match which changes the complexion of what happened that day.  There were other things that happened in the Rumble, but that is for another time.

 

The Steve The Teacher-Mikey Wild match next Saturday is definitely one that wrestling fans at The Circus Studio need to see!  

 

This blogger stresses that what is posted here on the blog IS factual as much as possible.  I don't do this to be a Dave Meltzer nor the dirt sheets that you see on social media.  Not into that!

 

Thank you to the sources who messaged me regarding this.  There is nothing wrong with messaging when something written needs correcting!  It's not taken as criticism but a learning experience.  Definitely, am not and never will be a know it all!  Most important, it's appreciated here!  Thank you as always.

 

Moving forward, SETUP Thailand and wrestling fans should really be excited about the upcoming show.  Besides Paksa vs. Naomichi Marafuji, Kevin Weng vs. Daz Black and Steve The Teacher vs. Mikey Wild, there are these two singles matches.

 

Masa Takanashi vs. Jonathan Johnson

Shota vs. Monomoth

 

Masa Takanashi has been busy wrestling in Japan for various promotions since August both in singles and tag team action.  He was last in a SETUP ring at the 30th anniversary show when the Calamari Drunken Kings (w/Chris Brookes) lost the IWA SETUP Tag Team Title in a 3-way match.

 

Jonathan Johnson had a great 2024.  He held the SETUP Thailand Openweight Championship for 315 days, longer than any wrestler on record.  In his last match, he lost in controversial fashion.  Please check You Tube on what happened.  You can say in the case of both wrestlers here, both are looking to get back into the win column as soon as next Saturday.

 

In the other singles match, Shota is a wrestler that this blogger believes is exciting to watch from some video.  He wrestles for several promotions in Japan.  I don't recall if he's wrestled in Thailand before, but remember him at a Vietnam Pro Wrestling show last May.  Fans there were impressed with his performance.

 

What can this blogger say about Monomoth!  In 2024, Monomoth, not only wrestled before sell out crowds at The Circus Studio, but also in the Philippines, Japan and in America with the GCW Promotion at a Philadelphia show.  One can say that this singles match will be exciting to watch as well.

 

For more on tickets (front row is sold out as of this post), please visit the SETUP Thailand Pro Wrestling Facebook page.  Thank you.

Two Venues

This blogger has been asked often regarding a first wrestling show and a first Southeast Asia show due to the blog.  I'll divide this quickly into two portions and two venues.

 

My first wrestling show, after beginning to follow pro wrestling in 1968, was at the Cow Palace in Daly City (about 12 km. from downtown San Francisco).  I took in an event on 11 July 1970 before around 15,000 fans.

 

The five match wrestling card had some known names such as Pedro Morales (former WWWF Champion), Freddie Blassie, Haystacks Calhoun and Peter Maivia, the late godfather of WWE superstar, The Rock.

 

The main event was a between bitter rivals, Pat Patterson (c) vs. Ray Stevens.  Today, it would be called a match that would go on until a wrestler could not continue.  Stevens had forfeited the United States Regional Title about a year before because of injury.  Patterson, his scheduled opponent at the time of the mishap, defeated Pedro Morales and became champion.

 

The match went five falls and was one of the most grueling matches ever.  Stevens won when Patterson could not respond by the count of 10.

 

Stevens and Patterson carried pro wrestling in the Bay Area during the era.  They were great singles wrestlers and were also a tag team, perhaps the best in the Territory Era.

 

Over 50 years later, it was a new adventure for this fan.  In December 2022, this blogger went to his first pro wrestling show in Southeast Asia.

 

Pictured above is the Peta Theater Center in Quezon City, Philippines.  It was home for, at the time, the Manila Wrestling Federation.

 

That night with a great gathering of around 300 fans, MWF provided the fans with 10 matches including two title encounters.  The fans were knowledgeable, were really into the action, and were well behaved, something that is great to see.

 

Being from America, one didn't know what to expect that afternoon and evening.  However, it was every bit as enjoyable as the one at the Cow Palace.  To this day, I'm grateful for the support and everything that happened that night.  It was definitely a day not to forget and to appreciate!

 

Since then, I've been to several more shows in the Philippines at Circuit Makati and at the Brawl Pit Bulusan.  The venues have been electric and enjoyable.

 

This year, the plan is to expand traveling in the region.  Since Thailand is the furthest from where I live, will definitely make the journey.  The country has always been exciting with the views, culture and the food.  There are three wrestling promotions there and the hope is to see all of them (at least two!).

 

Since I have running and wrestling fans in the Philippines, yes, I will be back this year as well.  Please be patient though!