Champions Downunder #5: International Stars Capture Aussie Gold

Back for another edition of Champions Downunder, your one stop shop for championship happenings in Australia! We’re looking at championship matches that have taken place over the past couple of weeks, as well as upcoming championship matches that fans will soon be able to sink their teeth into.

Of note over the past week or so, we’ve seen the touring World Series Wrestling brand run across the country, featuring a mix of Aussie and international talent with its Legacy tour. Given the nature of WSW as an intermittently touring promotion, rather than being a mainstay of any state, I felt it was right to give it its own section here, rather than spreading the individual bouts across states as the usual Champions format does.

World Series Wrestling

Night 1- Melbourne (28/03/2025)

• WSW Australian Championship– Shigehiro Irie (c) def. Caveman Ugg
• WSW Women’s Championship– Ash By Elegance (c) def. Jessica Troy via DQ

(This was PWA Champion Jessica Troy‘s return to action following a leg injury in December last year)

• WSW Tag Team Championship– we had a TITLE CHANGE as The Bollywood Boyz def. The Parea (c)!
• WSW World Heavyweight Championship– Nic Nemeth (c) def. Matt Riddle

Night 2- Brisbane (29/03/2025)

• WSW Australian Championship– a TITLE CHANGE as Matt Riddle def. Shigehiro Irie (c)
• WSW World Heavyweight Championship– Nic Nemeth (c) def. Mick Moretti
• WSW Women’s Championship– TITLE CHANGE- Lena Kross def. Ash By Elegance (c)

Night 3- Adelaide (30/03/2025)

• WSW Australian Championship– Matt Riddle (c) def. Dean Brady
• WSW Women’s Championship– TITLE CHANGE- Ash By Elegance def. Lena Kross (c), Jessica Troy & Santana Garrett in a Fatal 4 Way
• WSW Tag Team Championship– TITLE CHANGE- The Parea def. The Bollywood Boyz (c) and The Old Guard in a Three Way
• In a WSW Heavyweight and Internet Championship match, Nic Nemeth (c) def. Matt Cardona (c) & Raj Dhesi (FKA Jinder Mahal) to walk away with both championships!

Night 4- Sydney (31/03/2025)

• WSW Australian Championship– Matt Riddle (c) def. Raj Dhesi
• WSW Tag Team Championship– The Parea (c) def. The Bollywood Boyz
• WSW World Heavyweight & Internet Championships– TITLE CHANGE- Matt Cardona def. Nic Nemeth (c) in a Sydney Street Fight to end the WSW tour with both belts

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And now to the state by state breakdown…

New South Wales

What’s Happened?

• Newcastle Pro Wrestling held their Brawl At City Hall V event on March 21st. In tag team action, Newy Pro Tag Team Champions The Dropouts (c) defended successfully against The Velocities.
• Also, the Invictus Cup Finals took place, with CBK def. the Carny Boiz
• In the main event, for the Newy Pro Heavyweight Championship, Ben Braxton (c) def. EC Brownie in a Steel Cage match.
• At Integrity Born For Greatness on Mar 22nd, Mad Maxx Ramirez (c) def. Kai Drake to retain the Integrity Heavyweight title.
• At Newy Pro Shattered on Apr 5, a shocking title change as North Shore Wrestling def. The Dropouts (c) to win the Newy Pro Tag Team Championship!

What’s Coming Up?

• A monumental title match is on the horizon for PWA, as the returning champion Jessica Troy is set to face her long time best friend, now bitter rival Charli Evans in a Last Wrestler Standing match on April 11 at the Factory Theatre.
• In another headline match on that show, Robbie Eagles will defend the Soul of PWA Championship against Jimmy Townsend. Read all about what Robbie had to say in a PW Downunder exclusive here (includes full interview video): https://www.pwdownunder.com/2025/03/30/robbie-eagles-interview-the-soul-of-pwa-speaks/
• Also at PWA, the PWA Tag Team Championship is on the line as The Regime (Ricky South & Backman) challenge the Backslide Girlz (Shay Kassidy & Kingsley), who are utilising the Freebird Rule.
• At All-Star Wrestling’s Seventh Anniversary show on April 12^th, there will be a triple threat for the All-Star Heavyweight Championship, as Keegan Brettle defends against Sam Cannon and the Puppeteer.
• Also, Jack Dullahan will defend the Eastern States Championship on the same show against the veteran Jay Law.

Australian Capital Territory

What’s Happened?

• SLAM Tag Team Championship- The Dropouts (c) def. North Shore Wrestling (29/03/2025)
• Also, SLAM Women’s Championship- Rita Stone (c) def. Shay Kassidy
• In the main event, for the SLAM Heavyweight Championship- Caveman Ugg def. Dan Archer… via DQ as Archer hit a low blow

What’s Coming Up?

• The SLAM Board of Directors have booked a No Disqualification rematch between Archer and Ugg for their 31st of May show!

Victoria

What’s Happened?

• At APW’s Battle To Survive on March 21, Natasha Valentine def. James Marshall (c) to capture the Legacy Openweight Championship
• Also, the Crowe Bros captured the APW Tag Team Championship for a record 3:14, before losing them back to B-Squared!
• For the APW Heavyweight Championship, Josh Redfield def. John Stop Action
• At PCW Evolution on 27th of March, the PCW Slam Champion Jackson Atlas def. Will Walker

What’s Coming Up?

• At MCW High Stakes on the 17th of May, Adam Brooks will defend the MCW Intercommonwealth Championship against Ryan Rapid.
• On April 12th at Alpha Pro’s All Or Nothing 2, the Alpha Pro Tag Team Championship is on the line as the Oner Brothers defend against the Physicals and B-Squared in a triple threat ladder match!

Queensland

What’s Happened?

• In awful news, IPW Heavyweight Champion Sledgehammer announced this past week that he has suffered a bicep injury and as a result is vacating his championship.
• At PWL Cybernight, Strong 94 won the PWL Tag Team Championship, def. Team QWA (c) and Wacol’s Most Wanted
• Wide Bay Pro Wrestling and QWA joined forces for the Rising Tide Show on the 22nd of March, featuring championship action such as a WBPW Interstate Championship match, which saw EC Diamond (c), defeat Solomun Blackwell.
• In other action, Hyper Male Roberto prevailed in a Scramble match to win the WBPW Brute Force Championship.
• And finally, Certified Papi won the Rising Tide Cup!
• At QWA Aftershock on April 5th, Axe Massacre (c) def. Leah Lovegrove and Billie Mac in a triple threat to retain her UPW Women’s Championship.
• Also, in the main event for the QWA Heavyweight Championship, Tim Burr def. Dick Riggs (c) via DQ, so no title change.

What’s Coming Up?

• On April 26th, IPW is holding its World Of Dreams event. The IPW Unified Championship will be on the line as The MUTT defends against the Hench CJ!
• Also, the IPW Women’s Champion Eugenie participates in a special Grudge Match as she takes on Jesse Love.

Western Australia

What’s Happened?

• At EPW’s Collision Course on April 5th, Marcius Pitt successfully defended the EPW Heavyweight Championship against Hayden Zenith
• Also, the EPW Coastal Championship changed hands as Rogan Karguis def. The Great George (c)
• The EPW Tag Team Championship saw the Pulse def. Australian Takeover (c)… albeit via DQ, so no title change.

What’s Coming Up?

• There’s a big champion vs. champion collision coming to Southern Territory Wrestling on April 12th, as Southern Cross Champion Gorgeous Garry challenges Rogan Karguis for his STW Heavyweight Championship!
• Also at that event, Layla Divine defends the Australian Women’s Championship against Eleaine Hope.

South Australia

What’s Happened?

• At Wrestle Rampage’s Misery At The Lion Arts Factory (Mar 29), Misery Loves Company (c) def. Australian Takeover to retain the Australian National Tag Team titles.
• At Riot City Wrestling’s Trial By Stone on April 5th, Zak Sabbath (c) successfully defended his Emerald Crown against Super Sigma
• Also, The Armstrongs won the RCW Tag Team Championship in an elimination match against Kings of Ruin, Old Guard’s Mat “Grimm” Basso & Mr Cliff & Cadie Tre & SWAT.
• And finally, “World Class” Chris Basso (c) successfully defended the RCW Heavyweight Championship against Snaxx in the main event.

What’s Coming Up?

• At Wrestle Rampage on May 24, Havok will defend the Australian National Championship against Edward Dusk in a Dog Collar match.
• On May 31st, Downunder vs. Chris Basso for the RCW Grand Championship.