Champions Downunder #3- QLD Wrestling Matters

In what is bound to be the biggest edition of Champions Downunder to date, I’d like to start by thanking Michael Lee, who graciously provided a great deal of information to assist in covering upcoming events. He’s a gentleman, a class act, and did an excellent job as announcer/MC at both Rock N Roll Wrestling and NJPW Tamashii up in Queensland.

So Champions Downunder. We look at championship happenings from all over the country, both what’s happened and what’s coming up. That includes major title matches (which this article has plenty of), as well as any non-title marquee events that Australian pro wrestling champions may be involved with. If you missed the first two, you can read them here and here.

Without any further ado… let’s do this!

Queensland

What’s Happened?

• We’re gonna start with the biggest Australian win of the weekend- on AEW Grand Slam Australia, Toni Storm won the AEW Women’s Championship in a thrilling main event. After multiple finisher kickouts, Timeless Toni bested Mariah May with an inside cradle to claim the gold. She’s come so far from her rookie days!
• In other AEW Grand Slam action, Buddy Matthews faced Kazuchika Okada for the AEW Continental Championship. Ultimately it was a losing effort for the Aussie as Okada retained, but it was a valiant effort by Matthews, particularly considering that he hurt his ankle during his entrance. Here’s hoping it was just a tweak and nothing too severe.
• Brisbane’s own Harley Cameron faced Mercedes Mone for the AEW TBS Championship. Although Harley brought the wrath (and the Mercedes puppet), it was not enough to take the title from the talented Mone.
• On the AEW/ROH Global Wars show (taped in front of the live crowd before Grand Slam), Lee Moriarty def. Robbie Eagles to retain the ROH Pure Championship. Despite Moriarty using the ropes to achieve the tainted victory, the Sniper of the Skies adhered to the Code of Honor in the post-match.
• Over to the massive PWL/Renegades Supershow… the main event saw Robbie Eagles put the Soul of PWA Championship on the line in his triple threat with Mitch Ryder and Zeke Andino. Eagles would end this showcase of Aussie wrestling with the Soul firmly in his grasp.
• In other Supershow title action- Aysha retained the Renegades of Wrestling Women’s Championship against Lena Kross and Lil Marz.
• Team QWA (Trent O’Day & Sam Cannon) won the PWL Tag Team titles in a four way ladder match, defeating the Dropouts, The Ambush & Strong 94.
• Eugenie & Billie Mac defeated the Backslide Girlz to become the second ever OPW Women’s Tag Team Champions. This ends the reign of Kingsley & Shay Kassidy at a very impressive 10 months.
• In the Supershow opener, EC Diamond won a scramble match to retain the Queensland Openweight and IPW Unified Championships, defeating Anth Cava, Bojack, Craven, JJ Furno & Moko Kai.
• It wasn’t all glory for champions in QLD, as the Champions team lost to the All-Stars team in the ten-man special attraction tag match. Edward Dusk, Emman Azman, Jesse Love, Matt Hayter & Yeet Stevens def. Jake Taylor, Lexi Nixon, Ricky Utomi, Thirteen & Zak Sabbath.
• Over to the Caxton for Rock N Roll Wrestling! The special attraction there was the team of the former Broncos- Daniel Vidot (former WWE star Xyon Quinn) and former Broncos captain Alex Glenn, making his pro wrestling debut. The footy stars teamed with Lee Morrow and defeated Otis, EC Brownie and the Rock N Roll Champion Moses in a wild six man tag team match.
• Rock N Roll Elite Champion Morgan Rose defeated Lachy The Tradie in an intense Caxton Street Fight, following a stomp on the apron through a steel chair. Rose also walked away with some bonus money for his efforts, getting some $5 and $10 notes stapled to his forehead by Tradie!
• The first ever Caxton Cup champion was crowned in a battle royal! The Caxton Cup went to Toa, representing Kulture, last throwing out Chad Atlas following a couple of devastating Spears!

What’s Coming Up?

• QLD aren’t stopping there with the Supershow, as Wide Bay Pro Wrestling are holding their Target Undeniable show on Feb 22. The first championship match announced for the show sees the WBPW Tag Team Champions, Undeniable (Rip Rielly & Logan Pearce) defending against Andrew Irons & Bones.
• Also on Feb 22, Venom Pro Wrestling has their Reshuffling The Deck event. The Tag Team Champions Dallas Sommers Army defend against Zaddy and a mystery “friend”.
• Feb 22 is a loaded night, as IPW are also hosting Ladder Wars! Zeke Andino faces EC Diamond for the IPW Unified Championship in a ladder match, and the IPW Heavyweight Champion Sledgehammer defends his gold against Toa… with Chad Atlas as special referee! All 3 men clashed at Rock N Roll Wrestling during the Caxton Cup battle royal, so tensions could be set to explode at Ladder Wars!

New South Wales

What’s Happened?

• PWA kicked off their year with their first Black Label event, Tag Race, on Jan 31st. We had a major title change as the Backslide Girlz (Everett Connors & Shay Kassidy, with Kingsley at ringside) defeated Aaron Jake & Bel Pierce to become the PWA Tag Team Champions! It is uncertain why it was Everett and Shay rather than Kingsley being in there, and also time will tell whether the Backside Girlz will hold/defend these titles under Freebird Rules.
• Triple title matches at IWA Drifters Wharf on Feb 2nd, as Scott Green def. Jax Jordan to retain the IWA Trans-Tasman Championship, Ben Braxton def. Randal to retain the Newy Pro Heavyweight Championship, and Jimmy Townsend def. Dazza to retain the IWA Heavyweight Championship.

What’s Coming Up?

• At PWA at Selina’s on March 7, Robbie Eagles will once again defend the Soul of PWA Championship, this time against Jude London. With his Velocities tag partner Paris De Silva unable to get the job done against Robbie back at Mounties Mania in December, will things turn out differently for Jude “The Dude”?
• A major main event has been signed for the next PWA Black Label at Factory Theatre on the 11th of April. The injured PWA Champion Jessica Troy returns to action to face heated rival Charli Evans… in a Last Wrestler Standing match!
• All-Star Wrestling Australia holds Survival of the Fittest on Feb 22. All-Star Heavyweight Champion Keegan Brettle puts it on the line against international star Austin Aries.
• Jack Dullahan defends the All-Star Eastern States Championship against Tony Cruise.
• Sam Cannon & The Puppeteer defend the All-Star Tag Team Championship against The Belief.

Victoria

What’s Happened?

• At Adrenaline Professional Wrestling‘s Breakout 51, Xavier Black retained the APW Hardcore Championship against Karn Krueger in what was voted Match of the Night by APW fans.
• In the Breakout 51 main event, APW Breakout Champion Nova Nicholls successfully defended against Charlie Rose.
• At Mayhem Pro’s Showcase on Jan 31st, The Physicals def. Team Relentless to advance in the Tag Team Championship tournament.

What’s Coming Up?

• The semi finals and finals of the Mayhem Pro Tag Team Championship tournament go down at MayhemMania on March 8th.
• At APW New Beginnings 4 on February 21st, Nova Nicholls defends her APW Breakout Championship against Jordan Samson
• Also at New Beginnings 4, James Marshall challenges Kris Law for the APW Legacy Openweight Championship
• At PCW Risk on the 22nd of February, Orion Mencin defends the PCW Slam Championship against Jackson Atlas
• Also, the PCW Tag Team Championship is on the line as the Black Diamonds defend against The Marauders

South Australia

What’s Happened?

• Wrestle Rampage held their Clash at the Lion Arts Factory on Feb 8. New Tag Team Champions were crowned as Amber & Gothic Greg def. Joey Graham & Punch-Drunk Istria.
• In other championship action on the card, Havok def. Nick Armstrong to remain the Australian National Champion

What’s Coming Up?

• Riot City Wrestling is invading the Adelaide Fringe Festival with the Big Top Beatdown on March 1st. Lots of championship presence in an eight person tag as the Kings of Ruin take on The Old Guard.

Western Australia

What’s Happened?

• EPW held it’s Hot Summer’s Night event on Feb 8th. In championship action, The Great George def. Chris J. Lazarath to retain the EPW Coastal Championship.
• Also, in the main event, Australian Takeover retained the EPW Tag Team Championships, defeating DNT and The Pulse in a Three Way Riot Den match.

What’s Coming Up?

• The EPW School of Pro Wrestling has a Showcase on Feb 22. It will feature an EPW Pride title match between Noah Greene (c) and Del Cano.
• STW has announced championship matches for its In Your Town event on March 1st. In tag championship action, Best For Business defend against Bad Blood. And for the Southern Cross Championship, it’s Gorgeous Garry vs. CJ Johnson.

Tasmania

What’s Coming Up?

• Tasmanian Championship Wrestling is holding their biggest event of the year on Feb 22, Annihilation XII. North Esk Champion Jaxon Parker defends against Elliott Greyson.
• For the TCW Championship, Andy Rhodes defends against Aaron Lynch, who is cashing in his Joker’s Wild opportunity.

ACT

What’s Happened?

• At the SLAM Rumble event, Dan Archer def. Hugh Beauty following a low blow and Paradox Piledriver to retain the SLAM Championship.
• The Dropouts def. King’s Court to retain the SLAM Tag Team Championship

What’s Coming Up?

• By virtue of winning the SLAM Rumble, Caveman Ugg will challenge Dan Archer for the SLAM Championship on March 29th.

We’ll be back with more in a couple of weeks time. Wherever you are, whatever you do, be sure to support Aussie wrestling!

Until next time, take care.