PW Down Under Australian News Wrap-Up #2
Welcome back to the PW Down Under Australian Wrestling News Wrap-up – ‘The Sophomore Addition’. I certainly hope this effort is not a slump on my part, as I once again wade through the strong swell of Australian professional wrestling news to bring you a summary of newsworthy items from around this great country, so you don’t have to! So once again let’s head around the country and see what is newsworthy this week.
VALE KEN MEDLIN
This week we start with some sad news, with former World Championship Wrestling Australian Light Heavyweight Champion Ken Medlin passing away on Tuesday evening at the age of 82. According to an obituary post from Alison James, Medlin honed his skills in the Glebe Gym under the watchful eye of trainer/local promoter Hal Morgan and due to the swift and quick nature of lightweight competitors like Medlin, it is understood promoter Jim Barnett asked local promoter Morgan to slow down their matches as they were essentially humiliating their larger counterparts. Ken Medlin who competed against he likes of Ken ‘Dazzler’ Dunlop, held the Australian Light Heavyweight title twice, once in 1974 and again in 1977, defeating Alan Pinfold and Mike Dallas, respectively. Accordingly to Online World of Wrestling, Kenny Medlin once participated in a battle royale, where the final two competitors were himself and the legendary icon Andre the Giant. Andre decided he would be happy to split the winners prize money with Medlin. It is pleasing to hear that Medlin has a number of relatives competing and officiating in Wrestling Allegiance Rockhampton in Queensland, who are determined to honour his legacy and keep the Medlin name alive in Australian Pro Wrestling. PW Downunder extends our condolences to Ken Medlin’s Family, friends and fans.
NT
Top End Wrestling’s Saturday Night Fights IV is Saturday 22nd July and the Northern Territory’s only professional wrestling organisation is promising a huge show for attendees tomorrow evening. Barry Starr and Il Magnifico will battle it out to edge ahead in their pretty competitive rivalry, Jack Matz is hoping to be a giant killer, taking on Reaper and Harry Starr is looking to win his bout against Locky Phoenix, without the presence of Barry Starr ringside. So if you are in or around Yarrawonga Saturday Night, make sure you get there!
ACT
Slam! And their board of directors were given a challenge to find an opponent for the power rank rampaging Tommy Knight and it appears they have found their man in powerful striker ‘Dragon Heart’ Kai Drake from NSW. Drake has declared there is no one who can strike like him and he is excited by the opportunity of standing toe to toe with ‘The Prodigy’ with the prospect of rapidly ascending the power rankings and earning a title shot being an offer to good to refuse. Anyone who is familiar with these two wrestlers is fully aware that this is an exciting, fantastic match up from Slam! And professional wrestling fans in the capital are in for a real wrestling treat with this one. Mind you the entire August 12 card emanating from the Woden Southern Cross club is full of fantastic match ups.
TAS
Dominic Knight, The North Esk Champion of Tasmanian Championship Wrestling will give Damien Cage the privilege of being his opponent for his very first defence of the championship at Winter Warfare in just over a week’s time. Knight has declared himself to be ‘Unpinnable’ in the ring, so Damien will most certainly have his work cut out for him in this match. Will Cage find a way to break the unpinnable streak or find another way to win entirely? Or will Knight add to his legacy on this evening? One thing is for sure, both men in this match will have one eye on the contest between Sly Silver and Doomslayer to see who is next in line!
SA
Adelaide Championship Wrestling have released the first episode of a documentary series on its YouTube channel titled ‘Restitution’. ACW’s synopsis of the series is as follows: “Restitution is a captivating docuseries that follows Riley, a former professional wrestler turned ACW General Manager breaking barriers, as the first woman in this role, Riley’s journey is filled with challenges, triumphs, and personal growth. With unprecedented access, the series offers and intimate look at the world of wrestling and Riley’s relentless pursuit of transformation within the industry. Brace yourself for an adrenaline pumping narrative, as Riley fights for Restitution.” The pilot episode focuses on Riley’s retirement from active competition and having to relinquish ACW’s Evolve Championship due to auto immune condition, with her vulnerability on display to viewers, with the next episode due on 30/07/2023.
WA
You may have seen the messages across social media recently from a number of professional wrestling figures talking about it, but the talk is just about done. Tomorrow night July 22 at Sensational Showdown, ‘The Australian Sensation’ Craven may have his last ever wrestling match when he goes all or nothing, career vs title against STW Champion Chris Target. If this is the last time we see Craven in the ring, PW Downunder would like to congratulate him on a wonderful career and thank him for his contribution to Australian professional wrestling, but if it isn’t we may just see one of the crowning achievements of his career on Saturday Night. New Horizons Pro Wrestling is also running a show on 22nd July and have finalised a strong card that is indeed a ‘Path to Greatness’. This path needs to be taken before they reach their ‘Crossroads’ later this year and there are title implications littered throughout the card. Jarrad Slate will defend the Art of Fighting Championship against Corvius Kaine, an Indygurlz number one contenders match will take place between Amber and the ever dangerous Delta and the Warrior Rising Championship is on the line in a triple threat match between War, The Great George and Orion James.
QLD
“Showtime” Jake Nova will return to Venom Pro Wrestling on July 29 at their show Overload 7, where he will compete in the annual 20 wrestler Guy Fermanian Memorial Rumble where the victor will receive an all important and guaranteed title opportunity. I know there will be plenty excited to see Nova back wrestling in Queensland and will be keen to see whether he can emerge the victor on the night. Meanwhile, Renegades of Wrestling have made the first match announcement of the Queensland leg of the ROW vs GCW tour and it features popular characters all around with Queensland fan favourite Outback Adam battling ‘The Bad Boy’ Joey Janela, this will be a great match and I don’t think Janela is quite ready for what to expect when he faces Outback Adam! Finally, World Series Wrestling have announced some wonderful Queensland wrestling talent will join the fast approaching ‘Full Throttle’ tour. Bobby Bishop, Yeet Stevens, along with Top Tier’s Mitch Ryder and Tim Hayden will appear on the tour and mix it up with the international names on the tour such as TJP and Matt Cordona. It is fantastic to see Queensland wrestlers getting opportunities they deserve and is a feather in the cap of Three Count Academy – Well done to all.
VIC
Another addition of PCW Ignition hits July 22 and it is a stacked card! ‘The Official Ego’ Matt Hayter is back in Melbourne and comes to PCW and will wrestle new PCW National Champion, ‘The Unhinged’ Waik and attempt to end his reign before it can really get started. Elsewhere on the card, Cass Stone will battle a returning Daniel Swagger in a match that has a history of violence behind it, The Mongrels will face Cletus Blood and Bush Kelly in tag team action, Shen and Ryan Rapid will duke it out and Australian Wrestling Legend Krackerjak and the talented Jake Taylor will wrestle. Returning to Renegades of Wrestling and JXT will return from a lengthy stint on the sidelines to represent ROW against Game Changer Wrestling, where he will join the aforementioned Krackerjak in another two exciting talent announcements for the tour. Speaking of exciting, Maki Itoh’s whereabouts during the tour have firmed up. She will battle the highly regarded Aysha for the ROW Women’s Championship on the Melbourne leg of the tour, after meeting Charli Evans the night before in Sydney.
NSW
PWA’s ‘It’s Coming Home’ Card on July 29 is beginning to really take shape with a couple of solid match and talent announcements with Caveman Ugg announced its the final competitor in the ladder match for an anywhere, anytime title opportunity, Cherry Stephens getting the opportunity to put hands on Belinda Pierce who brutally betrayed her at the last event and the hard hitting PWA Championship match between two of PWA and Australia’s best has been confirmed when ‘The Example’ Ricky South defends his championship against Jack J Bonza. With all championships on the line and a golden opportunity awarded to the winner of the ladder match, this event has the potential to lead to a shift in the landscape of Pro Wrestling Australia. Mat Diamond has been announced to return to World Series Wrestling’s tour and will join Jack J Bonza, The Velocities, Mick Moretti and The Rebellion – Jess Troy and Lena Kross on the tour – It is awesome to see ‘The Diamond Standard’ back in WSW. Newcastle Pro Wrestling meanwhile have announced ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ on August 11 at Newcastle City Hall, featuring a 30-Wrestler Rumble match, which falls one day before All-Star Wrestling Australia’s show ‘Steel City Madness’ on August 12. It has the potential to be a wrestling weekend bender for the diehard fan, or may potentially affect the attendance for both shows. The All-Star show will feature their Heavyweight champion Wes Williams defend his title against the always dangerous ‘Grub’ Otis, The Brettles battling Jesse Daniels and ‘Handsome’ Billie Mac, Morgan Rose attempting to add more gold to his waist as he battles Aries for the Eastern States Championship and Hell Yeah has been announced as former WWE Superstar and United States Champion Orlando Jordan’s opponent for the show.
So again there you have it, there is plenty going on around the country in each state and territory when it comes to professional wrestling for you to feast upon. Please get out there and support the fantastic local product at a venue near you!
